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Wednesday 01 May 2019 9:00 am Sirius Minerals shares drop as it raises $425m for North Yorkshire mine By: August Graham Sirius Minerals today revealed it has exceeded its $400m (£306m) fundraising target, but its shares were priced at the lower end of expectations. The London-listed company, which is raising cash to build a fertiliser mine in North Yorkshire, raised $425m from a new share issue. Read more: JP Morgan backs Sirius Minerals $3.8bn financing package for Yorkshire mine The company said it had won agreements from investors to buy around 1.62m shares, but at 15p per share, the book-build comes in at the lower end of its 15p to 18p target range. Now existing shareholders will also be offered a change to buy one share at the same price for every 22 they own. Shares fell 8.8 per cent to 15.88p this morning. The project will be the first new deep mine in the UK for 40 years when it is completed in 2021, and it is expected to support more than 1,000 jobs. "I am pleased that we have had such a positive response to the launch of our stage two financing solution which is key to unlocking the vast and long-term potential of our project," chief executive Chris Fraser said. "The order books were oversubscribed, providing scope for a modest increase in the funds raised, further strengthening our financial position as we turn our attention towards securing the next phase of our stage two financing requirements." Yesterday the firm announced that JP Morgan was backing the financing package, which is expected to total around $3.8bn. The bank is set to provide a $2.5bn revolving credit facility. The cost of building Sirius' potash mine, which is expected to hold enough reserves for a century of extraction, was revised up by $600m last year to $3.6bn. Read more: Sirius Minerals set to unveil £2.5bn equity and debt package Fraser added: "I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire Sirius team and our partners who remain fully supportive and committed to the success of this project." Sirius Minerals Sirius Minerals shares suspended ahead of Anglo takeover Sirius stock surges after Anglo American takeover approved Anglo takeover becomes Sirius' last hope as alternative falls through Anglo takeover is Sirius' last hope as alternative falls through Anglo American makes £405m bid for Sirius Minerals Sirius Minerals seeks $600m in investment for flagship project Hundreds of jobs in peril as Sirius Minerals project under review Sirius problems: Yorkshire mine shares plunge Sirius Minerals shares plummet 25 per cent as it suspends £411m bond sale for Yorkshire mine Sirius Minerals suspends $500m Yorkshire mine financing bond sale Sirius Minerals on course to finish fundraising in September

DESIGNED FOR OUT-AND-OUT, UNCOMPROMISED SPEEDIf you're looking to build a bike to go fast uphill, downhill, around corners and especially on the straight, base it around the Formentor frame. A triumph of function and form, it is as potent to ride as it is beautiful to look at. · Internal cable routing, DI2 compatible. Frame set - Frame, Fork, TA, heads set and Collar ($5100). Complete Ultegra R8000 Hydro + DT Swiss R32 Splined and J.Guillem Alloy parts ($8300).

Ready Player Two: read an interview with Ernest Cline and listen to his soundtrack for the book David Pescovitz 11:10 am Wed Nov 25, 2020 Ernest Cline's long-awaited sequel to Ready Player One is out this week! My copy of Ready Player Two just arrived and I can't wait to dive back into the Oasis. Above Ernie's Spotify "soundtrack" for the book. And below, here's a bit from an interview with Ernie in Entertainment Weekly: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So when did you first start thinking of ideas for the sequel? ERNEST CLINE: I tried to set up the possibility of a sequel when I wrote the first novel. As I was finishing the first book, and I knew the first book was going to be published, ideas started to formulate in the back of my head. I don't think I really started writing until they started production on the movie, which got me back into living in the world of Ready Player One. That's when I started to really write the sequel. Also, I knew then there was like a ticking clock because if the movie does well, then they're going to want to make a movie sequel. And if there's no book to base the sequel on, then that won't stop them. So that motivated me and it was great because as we were finishing the movie, Steven started to ask me questions about what the sequel might be about so he could get that into the ending of the first movie. It was also great because I was in [the book's shantytown village] the Stacks — on the set of the movie — in this recreation of things from my imagination. So it was hard to think about anything else once I was there. I had to then stop and do [promotion for the film] and now I've been working on it nonstop for the last two years. While there are obviously many reasons to do a sequel, did you have any trepidation after you managed to have a first-time writer's dream experience with the first book, which was such a home run in every way? Were you concerned about doubling down? It did give me a huge amount of anxiousness going into writing it. I know from my own experience — like with the Star Wars prequels — that expectations are often resentments waiting to happen. The higher your expectations, the more you're setting yourself up for disappointment. The great thing about my first novel was that nobody knew who I was and people could discover it. Once it became more popular I would see people who heard it was so great from their friends, then they would go into it with expectations. So I knew everybody would even be going into this story with expectations, including me and including Steven Spielberg. He would call occasionally and ask if it was done. Nothing will light a fire under you like getting one of those phone calls, and I knew fans were waiting too. At the same time, I wasn't going to let anyone rush me. It's a strange sort of storytelling. I worked on Ready Player One for almost a decade. I was still working full-time jobs during that time, but I would work on and off and sometimes set it aside for as much as a year, but I'd always come back to it. I believed in the story and I knew I had to finish it. The way that I would do the puzzles is very elaborate. Each of the puzzles is its own elaborate puzzle box and weaving all the riddles and puzzles and the '80s references into the story takes a lot of thinking and like trial and error. So it's different than other writing projects. I really wanted it to be as good as I could make it and as fulfilling as the first book. I think a lot of people are going to enjoy it. I know some people's expectations might not be met and I'm braced for that too. How to read Donald Duck 50 years after the CIA fomented a coup in Chile on September 11, 1973 There is no blue or red pill like there is no spoon. It's all purple haze. Classical liberal enlightenment thought as distilled through political pundits, free-market professors of all disciplines,… READ THE REST Lumpen: the politically infused funk music band of the Black Panther Party The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. What images do these words invoke? Are they different after the movies about the Black Panther comic book, particularly the one with the CIA… READ THE REST Font of Dune: the mystery of the science fiction series' classic book cover typeface Fonts in Use explores the mystery of the typeface used on 1970s U.S. editions of Frank Herbert's Dune books. It's difficult to track down because it's a hand-made derivative of… READ THE REST

Shawn Kenaley Shawn Kenaley is an instructor in the Horticulture program. He holds a B.Sc. in Forest Ecosystem Science from the University of Maine. After earning his bachelor's, Shawn served as a research technician within the Biological Control of Non-Indigenous Plant Species Institute at Cornell University. Additionally, he was Assistant Editor of the Gray Card Index and was a curatorial assistant at the Harvard University Herbaria. Following stops at Cornell and Harvard, Shawn earned his M.Sc. in Forestry from Northern Arizona University and his Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science from West Virginia University (concentrating in Forest Pathology and Plant Pathology, respectively). After his graduate studies, Shawn returned to Cornell serving as a post-doctoral associate conducting extension services and research on the pathology of trees and shrubs. At Cornell, he was also a research associate, which involved examining pathogens of bioenergy and ornamental grasses. In addition, Shawn spent time as the teaching laboratory coordinator at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research. In this role, along with his education director, he was responsible for executing professional development programs for middle and high school STEM teachers, and he developed classroom laboratories to explore plant biology and genetics. Shawn has taught grades 7-12 and college-level classrooms, including plant anatomy and physiology, fungal physiology, general plant pathology, integrated pest management, mycology, plants in agriculture and bioenergy systems, and urban tree health. He teaches introduction to horticulture, plant materials, applied plant pathology, and soil science. Rob Wink Rob Wink is a professor in the Environmental Conservation and Horticulture department. After attending FLCC from 1987-89, Dr. Wink continued his education earning a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Forest Biology and Resources Management from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). In 2002, he received his PhD from SUNY ESF in Environmental Forest Biology with a concentration in Forest Entomology. Dr. Wink has taught at SUNY ESF and SUNY ESF Ranger School. He began teaching at FLCC in 2001. In 2008, Dr. Wink received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is passionate about entomology, plant physiology, forestry and ecology, and continues to conduct research. Berna Ticonchuk Berna Ticonchuk is Program Coordinator for the Horticulture program and is an adjunct instructor for various horticulture classes. She is also in charge of managing FLCC's greenhouse and helps support horticulture classes and activities. In addition to her career at FLCC, Berna serves as a certified applicator with the Department of Environmental Conservation, is a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, and is a New York State certified nursery and landscape professional. Prior to working at FLCC, Berna had a 20-year career in public gardening in the Rochester and Canandaigua area. She is a member of the City of Canandaigua Tree Advisory Board, the Western New York ReLeaf Council, and the Education Committee of Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park. Berna holds an A.A.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from Community College of the Finger Lakes and a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science from SUNY Empire State College. Get a Hands-on Education As a Horticulture student, you'll gain skills in areas such as landscape design and greenhouse operations. A.A.S. Horticulture A.A.S. Horticulture: Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Track Horticulture Certificate Horticulture Home Page

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Home » Blogs » WEAContent's blog Posted by WEAContent | December 02, 2019 Listen to a previously unreleased live version of Sunshine Of Your Love below. Plus, initial pre-orders get an exclusive 12 x 12 art print free! Universal Music Canada has announced a brand new 4CD box set 'Goodbye Tour – Live 1968.' Slated for release on February 7, 2020, it has three complete U.S. concerts recorded in October 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum, Los Angeles Forum and San Diego Sports Arena plus Cream's farewell U.K. performance from November 26, 1968 at London's Royal Albert Hall. 'Goodbye Tour – Live 1968' has a total of 36 tracks, of which 19 are previously unreleased. A further 10 - from the Royal Albert Hall - have only ever been available on DVD. The complete track list is below. On its original release in February 1969, 'Goodbye' combined live performances with a handful of studio recordings. It reached the Number 1 slot in the U.K. and Number 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart. The original release's live tracks were recorded at the Los Angeles Forum. Speaking of the band's performances in a press release announcing the set, Eric Clapton said, "Cream was a shambling circus of diverse personalities who happened to find that catalyst together…any one of us could have played unaccompanied for a good length of time. So you put the three of us together in front of an audience willing to dig it limitlessly, we could have gone on forever…and we did…just going for the moon every time we played." 'Goodbye Tour – Live 1968.' was produced by Bill Levenson. The Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego concerts were mastered from the original 1968 analog mix reels by Kevin Reeves at Universal Mastering, Nashville, TN. The London concert was mastered from the original 1968 analog transfer reels by Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Transduction, Athens, GA. Rolling Stone magazine's David Fricke wrote the liner notes for the book included in the set. Pre-Order at https://cream.lnk.to/GoodbyeTourLive68StoreExclusive free 12 x 12 art print limited to initial orders only CREAM: GOODBYE TOUR - LIVE 1968 TRACK LIST All tracks previously unreleased, except * DISC ONE: Oakland Coliseum (October 4, 1968)01. White Room 6.19 *02. Politician 5.22 *03. Crossroads 3.5704. Sunshine Of Your Love 5.3505. Spoonful 16.4706. Deserted Cities Of The Heart 5.26 *07. Passing The Time 10.4008. I'm So Glad 7.07 DISC TWO: Los Angeles Forum (October 19, 1968)01. Introduction by Buddy Miles 1:3902. White Room 6.5303. Politician 6.41 * 04. I'm So Glad 9.37 *05. Sitting On Top Of The World 4.53 *06. Crossroads 4.2507. Sunshine Of Your Love 6.2708. Traintime 8.1109. Toad 12.55010. Spoonful 17.27 * DISC THREE: San Diego Sports Arena (October 20, 1968)01. White Room 6.4202. Politician 6.2603. I'm So Glad 7.5304. Sitting On Top Of The World 5.4505. Sunshine Of Your Love 5.1306. Crossroads 4.1307. Traintime 9.3908. Toad 14.0309. Spoonful 9.12 DISC FOUR: Farewell Show at Royal Albert Hall (November 26, 1968)01. White Room 8.0202. Politician 6.3703. I'm So Glad 6.5304. Sitting On Top Of The World 5.0605. Crossroads 5.0306. Toad 11.2207. Spoonful 15.4708. Sunshine Of Your Love 8.3709. Steppin'Out 5.02 Listen to a previously unreleased version of Cream's Sunshine Of Your Love from the upcoming box set and first revealed by Classic Rock: https://www.ericclapton.com/news/creams-goodbye-tour-live-1968-available-february-7-2020-55251 /* custom social shrare */ Submitted by WEAContent on December 2, 2019 - 6:00am ericFeedUrl: https://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-creams-goodbye-tour-%E2%80%93-live-1968-available-february-7-2020 Blog media new: Eric Clapton blog Eric Clapton & His Band Wraps U.S. Tour At Amway Arena,... Clapton Rocks Cologne

The rapidly transforming automobile landscape is giving rise to several developments that are aimed at addressing the next-gen consumer requirements. Although large-scale innovations are witnessed in the fuel-engine powered vehicles, the energy-efficiency requirements and the growing emphasis given to environmental safety are giving rise to the various vehicle variants such as—electric and hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles are capturing significant popularity over time, owing to their greater contribution in reducing carbon emissions. Hybrid vehicles are considered as a crucial aspect in the future mobility. Factors such as improved emission results, fuel economy results, and burgeoning tax incentives in leading nations are pushing consumer preference towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Automotive manufacturers seek to address emerging environment-friendly alternatives in the form of hybrid vehicles. The projected rise in fuel costs and the alarming environmental scenarios are influencing automotive manufacturers to shift towards hybrid technology. Leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles are focused towards cashing on the opportunities reflected by the lucrative markets. Furthermore, the global preference shift from internal combustion engine-powered vehicles towards electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles is greatly influencing the production of hybrid vehicles. Although not stated in official statements presently, the key cities such as Athens, Paris, Madrid, and Mexico City have expressed that plans to remove diesel-powered cars by 2025. These being not the only ones, Norway also plans to opt out of providing conventional vehicles by 2025, France by 2040 followed by the United Kingdom in 2050. The government is indicating the globe that there is a crucial need to shift towards zero emission vehicles, this being a notable aspect for carmakers. Companies such as Ferrari are increasingly moving towards hybrid vehicles wherein they commit to offer over 60 percent of its vehicle mobiles to be built upon hybrid powertrains, by 2022. In the wave of the hybrid vehicles trend, the governments are increasingly extending their activities in favor of expanding the hybrid vehicles landscape. In light to promote sustainable transport, governing bodies are extending schemes for individuals incorporating hybrid vehicles. The increasing hybrid vehicle commitments by governments are expected to play a crucial role for manufacturers of hybrid vehicles, as they boost the sales of hybrid vehicles. The government of Malta, Europe has plans to offer €2.5 million in grants for the individuals that are opting for clean transport such as electric, hybrid, and other low emission vehicles. The applicants that would register the M1 Hybrid Vehicles with CO2 emissions that would range from 40 to 65 gram per kilometer would be eligible for a grant up to €2000. Europe is not alone in carrying out such initiatives. The Asian countries are also increasingly promoting the implementation of hybrid vehicles. The Indian government, on account of the intensive campaigning of automobile manufacturers, has sought incentive schemes for buyers of hybrid cars that are equipped with lithium-ion batteries of 0.5-2 kilowatt hour. While the previous high GST rates on hybrid cars were are set back for automakers, new incentive schemes would define the scope of hybrid vehicles in the nation. Furthermore, according to the recent notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways initiated in a bid to minimize pollution, end-users could now retro-fit electric or hybrid systems on the existing vehicles. Such government initiatives are expected to boost the growth of the hybrid vehicles landscape across leading economies. Current Focus: Are we Infrastructure-Ready for Hybrid Vehicles? The feeble infrastructure for charging electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles witnessed across the globe is expected to be a major challenge for the growth expected by the manufacturers of hybrid vehicles. With the increasing requirements of hybrid vehicles, it is equally significant to offer substantial charging infrastructure, which could promote the use of hybrid vehicles across the globe. Leading governments need to prioritize this aspect to ensure effective deployment of hybrid vehicles. Although hybrid vehicles sale is surging, the lack of charging points could hinder the growth of the hybrid vehicles landscape. The UK, for instance, has witnessed a similar scenario. While on one hand, the sale of electric and hybrid vehicles rising substantially, the country witnessed a lack of charging points to address the demands. The Institute of the Motor Industry in the UK, stated in its 2018 research, that there is a shortfall of electric vehicle charging points and the number of professionals trained to work of hybrid and electric vehicles. The lethargic infrastructure network in the UK is contributing to major difficulties in making efficient use of these vehicles. On the contrary, there are some positive transformations witnessed in other parts of the world. For instance, the government of New South Wales (NSW), Australia expressed its plan to make significant investments in the avenue. Under its 'Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan', the NSW government aims to address the ongoing shift towards cleaner mobility. Owing to this, the government will invest nearly $3 million in fast charging points for electric and hybrid vehicles on major regional gateways and $2 million for charging points in car parks. Hybrid Vehicles or Electric Vehicles? While there are several initiatives taken to boost the production of vehicles equipped with hybrid vehicles, and the ongoing government initiatives for supporting the hybrid vehicle trend, the comparison between hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles remains vital. In the current scenario, with the complete dependency of electric vehicles on battery charging points, they exhibit a potential challenge for markets such as India, where the charging infrastructure is currently weak. With lack of dependence on re-charging infrastructure, hybrid cares are capturing the major market in terms of its reliability and ease of use. Furthermore, the low-emission requirements are triggering innovations in the automobile space, thereby boosting the plug-in hybrid vehicles business. Electric vehicles come along with two vital challenges that are cost and infrastructure, making automotive OEMs to shift towards hybrid vehicles that not only mitigate these challenges but also deliver benefits such as low emission, fuel economy, and efficiency. The hybrid vehicle production landscape has witnessed tremendous growth owing to this. Various automakers such as Ford, Renault, and Toyota are progressively increasing the production of hybrid vehicles. While the future scope for both electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles looks promising, it would be right to predict that hybrid vehicles would gain major attention from automotive OEMs and consumers. Although the hybrid vehicles landscape witnesses automotive manufacturers' struggles with lack of infrastructure and electric vehicle preference, market experts are optimistic over the future opportunities held by the hybrid vehicles market. As both, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles garner consumer attention in the current market scenario, the infrastructure requirements are also expected to be looked upon with priority, thereby significantly boosting the growth of the hybrid vehicles market. The hybrid vehicles market study uncovers similar transformations witnessed in the hybrid vehicles landscape. To gain an insightful glance in the hybrid vehicles landscape, click here.

Home Environment MICRO-FATE project to investigate microplastic in the Pacific Ocean MICRO-FATE project to investigate microplastic in the Pacific Ocean An international team of researchers are intending to find out where microplastic accumulates in the ocean, how it is degraded, and the effects that it has on the environment. A five-week expedition from Vancouver to Singapore will see the research team take and conserve samples for upcoming laboratory analysis, in addition to performing initial experiments. To date, there is no detailed data on where microplastic accumulates and how much exists in the oceans, with previous estimates relying on computer modelling, individual data, and observations from the air. Dr Annika Jahnke, from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, said: "We want to provide substantiation for these estimates and to find out what happens to the plastic in the ocean and what effects microplastic has on the environment." One of the researchers' primary objectives is to collect samples from the surface water, the water column, and from the seabed, to find out more about the vertical distribution of the plastic particles and to identify potential gradients with regard to concentration, composition, age, and coverage with biofilms. The analysis of the samples from the seabed is also expected to provide information on plastic material in the sediments and on where microplastic ends up in the sea. Environment Ocean plastic Microplastic Featured

Michael Lee Begley June 20, 1974 - January 1, 2021 Michael Lee Begley, age 46, husband of Cynthia (Couch) Begley of London, Kentucky passed away Friday, January 1, 2021 at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He was the father of Austin Begley of Florence, Kentucky, Autumn Begley of Columbus, Ohio, and Kimora Begley and Mia Begley both of London, Kentucky; the son of Anna Lee (Couch) Begley of London, Kentucky; the brother of Doug Begley of Richmond, Kentucky, and Diana Allen of London, Kentucky; and the step-father of Harvest Gifford of Dayton, Kentucky. He was also blessed with three grandchildren, Brantley Begley, Dougie Walls, and Corbin Walls. He is preceded in death by his father, John Begley; and by his sister, Charlene Jones. Funeral services for Michael Lee Begley will be conducted Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in London Funeral Home Chapel with Teddy Couch and Greg Begley officiating. Burial will follow at A.R. Dyche Memorial Park. The family of Michael Lee Begley will receive friends at London Funeral Home after 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021. Serving as pallbearers will be: Austin Begley, Doug Begley, Jacob Begley, T.J. Nelson, Dustin Miniard, Rickey Begley, Johnny Browning, and Joey Browning. All families respectfully request that all visitors wear a face covering and adhere to social distancing recommendations. Michael Lee Begley, age 46, husband of Cynthia (Couch) Begley of London, Kentucky passed away Friday, January 1, 2021 at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He was the father of Austin Begley of Florence, Kentucky, Autumn Begley of... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Michael Lee Begley created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories. Michael Lee Begley, age 46, husband of Cynthia (Couch) Begley... Send flowers to the Begley family.

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. You can't solve a problem with the same kind of thinking that created it." Let's avoid an essentially pointless discussion. We can distinguish digital art from art pursued in another medium by the intrinsic dependence on computers for its realisation. The thing about digital art is that it takes its technology seriously, it must take its technology seriously, because it is the computer which realises the signal we are calling art. And the nature of the computer, of technology, is that it breaks down. Programs run out of memory, systems crash, information is garbled as it falls before the cursor. 2. glitch as a component of the creative process, where the software/hardware/wetware conflicts play a necessary (even if unexpected part in the generation of the artwork. The ongoing pursuit of (artistic) development becomes a performance in itself. Here the glitch is a driving force for a play between the human and the machine, while the outcome is simply a fleeting target, that can be adjusted and even radically changed on the fly. As computer systems become increasingly complex, resembling more complete worlds than mere tools, the processes that make them work are far beyond the reach of people who do not participate in the actual technology development. For the average computer user, we know that this thing called "information"... code, microcode... is what makes computers work, but we don't know how. It is hidden, incomprehensible; we can't touch it, we don't need to deal with it on a day-to-day level. The modern computing environment is a seamless landscape of point'n'click, a Pavlovian field of buttons and bright links. And it has a strict behavioural grammar÷we are all so accustomed to the WIMP interface that we are often unaware of this. "Content" must be contained by windows. Point and click, scroll and slide. You need a trigger-happy mouse finger. While her finger happily clicks around, arranging layered windows, the viewer is drawn into the seductive world of digitised catalogs, where content remains trapped in the clutches of stereotypical 'click'n'go interaction design and is iconised to flashy hotspots, screaming next to a Buy button. The WIMP interface creates an illusion of objectness. The metaphors from the physical world are relentlessly mapped to the digital: an ocean of electronic books, magazines, tv and radio-stations is flooding the little that is left of experimental digital interface design. We can click there or there, rather like choosing Coke or Fanta from a soft-drink machine. When the virtual enters the physical it is mostly through billboards, as a new addition to global advertising campaigns. It is not seen as a whole new realm, but as a swarm of virtual blurbs, conceived as small, self contained units, buzzing around our heads 24/7. An example: Yahoo is advertising their new web-site and internet service: Yahoo travel in San Francisco through a huge billboard that shows the yahoo interface in the american 50ies style' All blue and pink and glowing neon lights. Saying please, trust us, don't look any further, drive home and login, we will take you to the "Yahoo world of Safe Travel", read through the experiences of others and learn the world the easy way. A window into virtuality, that will take you back into the isolation of your home, where the whole world speaks your language. And there is an encycloapedic aspect to this. The quest to progressively reveal a hidden meaning. From Grolier's encycloapedia to the web, mainstream multimedia is about seamless content retrieval. We rarely come in contact with the world behind the screen, the reams of code, the protocols and puppet strings. The information which creates this landscape for us. The world behind the screen is suffocating under the burden of the interface. And the interface has nested itself on the surface of the screen, and appears to be paralysed in that position, not allowing the general user to discover the layers behind it. The interface must be violated. Scratched and cracked or pulled out of the screen into the physical space so that its borders become elastic and transparent, revealing the world behind. Historically, "information" is a theoretical entity... it has its origins in cybernetics, in the idea that the universe of objects is interpenetrated by ethereal "information patterns" that might be divined and controlled. It is a fragile entity. Information is exactly the entity on which the hyped new-economy is based. Information is a buzz-word used to guarantee the objectivity of the virtual free-market. However, if its building blocks are so ethereal, this economy is much more inconsistent, incomplete and fragile than we are lead to believe. There is a huge glitch between reality and virtuality. They are two separate entities, where the digital realm somehow became independent from the world in which it originated. The two worlds are mapped onto each other, but are not truly interacting. Instead of making the technology a part of our life, we made our life a part of the technology. A statistic with which more statistics can be calculated. Did you know that various corporations are already madly attempting to estimate of your life-value from the minute that you are born? That they are going to target their advertisement campaigns directly to you, based on the statistical information that they carefully collected while you were sound asleep with your bottled water of brand X next to your bed and a book from an e-bookstore on your chest. And they will tell you that it is scientifically proven that this new product has been chosen for you based on objective information. The opposite is true: understanding the chaotic laws of hypercapitalism means understanding that information is the contrary to absolute, objective or stable. Claude Shannon defined it as a probability function with no materiality, no dimensions. A pattern. An essence. It can be divorced from its context, from its body. Ideally, it is infinitely reproducible. Like zeros and ones in a computer program. And this is important: we are speaking about cybernetics because it is more than a metaphor, more than rhetoric, because it works. Computers are cybernetic systems. They store, create and retrieve this "theoretical" entity--information. .... limits itself to making isolated conventional forms in conventional space, dressing them in rhetorical conceit, and leaving the world unchanged." "Noise" is deviation from the defined parameters of the signal. It is the corollary of information. Noise interferes with perfect reproduction, the presumed goal. It interferes with translation from code to code. Viruses, errors and incompatabilities--these insert change into fragile patterns, the web page we are trying to download, the program we are trying to run. Noise is the enemy of the seamless interface. Noise or error allows us to reveal the worlds that our are a part of. It removes the interface and leaves the users helpless.... while they are listening to the same message for the 50th time: All our help-desk collaborators are busy. Please hold the line. "All that is not information, not redundancy, not form and not restraints is noise, the only possible source of new patterns." Noise draws us to the surface of the computing environment, to reflect on how the tool system is shaping us, on how arbitrary its behavioural and procedural grammar is. I'm here to talk about artists who work with noise and error, the corollary of information. While Belinda talks about the aesthetics of the glitch, I'm here to talk about the glitch as a process: where the participants do not represent, but perform, infect each otherâs worlds with alien loopholes, (mis)interpretations, and errors. Using glitches, interaction becomes more insipred drifting within inter-reality membranes and less a predefined menu browsing of digitized shop-windows. The glitch as last resort without a shopping mall attached to it. A forest of live wires. They play with the puppet strings. This is what we mean by "the glitch". The glitch draws our attention to the fragility of information as a cybernetic entity. The glitch interferes with perfect reproduction. It interferes with the goal of a seamless, stable system by playing with the concept of information, code, microcode and pattern itself. The space in between the interfaces is not a concern. And it is exactly in this space where d-art can function as a subversion of the polished make-believe future of the information era. Noise undermines the illusion of objectness created by the point'n'click interface. You will notice in some of the examples we give you that the code usually hidden from the computer user seems to wriggle its way to the surface of the screen, that the behavioural protocols encountered in mainstream multimedia either don't work or don't apply. Their navigational systems often mimic and parody the modes of sorting and accessing information on the web. They are an attack on the assumed functionality, interactivity and "user-friendly" interface of the web. Code stripped of functionality, code drawn from the innards of computer hardware and set loose across the surface of the screen, code as an end in itself. Miles from the glossy, java-enabled, flash-heavy "interactivity" of the web. The word interaction has been reduced to pointing, clicking, scrolling and dragging of cute moving objects on the screen. 1. Mutual or reciprocal action or influence; as, the interaction of the heart and lungs on each other. Does any of this happen when interacting with web-pages? There is a lot of theory around what happens when a person hits a link, but essentially, the only truly interactive, mutual influence here is that your pockets are being emptied and their filled. And this has to happen as seamlessly as possible, so that your credit card number floats weightlessly to their database. I had the most revealing experience trying to purchase software from MASCHIN3NKUNST. The site was messing with me until I got to the purchase form, where I truly did hesitate a second before I entered my credit card number. Only because the interface was playing with web-protocols and error messages. Only because they showed me explicitly how fragile the system actually is. Information, by nature, is open to corruption. We know this as computer users. A single keystroke can render a message unreadable--if at any time we change the parameters of the "signal" in cybernetics, we automatically render the remainder "noise". Information lapses in and out of comprehensibility. This is what I mean by the "fragile" nature of information patterns, usually hidden from us. There is a limit to the glitch aesthetics. It often becomes an end in itself, where the user still cannot engage in a generative proces with the machine. The glitch should be viewedas something anchored in the same system as information, and as information is 9as said earlier) the building block of our society, the glitch is an essential part of our world as well, not simply an adjunct to an aesthetic movement. The GUI interface is set on top of the machinic universe in order to make the user more efficient and comfortable. The multidimensional topologies that could emerge from the collaboration between the human and the machine have been prematurely bound to the cartesian system of x-y (and unconvincingly to z) coordinates and binary responses. In today's CHI world, it's all about control. Not interaction or responsivity but linear control. Control that does not account for noise in its predetermined course of action. The noise is the complaint of a spoiled, irresponsible child. >Please don't let integer or whatever his/her name is back on the list. noted. ultra sanitary mammalian pollination system. 1979 when i was 1 + making 01 ultra noise. Particularly in sites like ; :,:; ,.; and ;:,:.;:; , reams of unparsable and corrupt code seem to lampoon the transmission of web-based sound, text and graphics. Hyperlinks lead nowhere, a keystroke activates a hidden script which renders the entire page gobbledigook. If you've ever tried to work your way through ;:;:;.:,.,:,: with a trigger-happy mouse finger and a desire to extract meaning, you'll understand what I mean. Errors can have meaning. They are our portals to the machinic universe in which we spend most of our days. However, the machine is usually silent, or better said, muted by the interventions of software and multimedia designers. A discussion of digital art would be remiss without mentioning, and beginning, with ;: : :, :: ;. ;:; :; : was started in ;:,:,::;:;.,,: in the early 90's. Amongst other things, it is famous for mercilessly crashing browsers around the world. It is also famous for turning the familiar web interface inside-out. It deploys the hidden codes and glyphs of Internet protocol as central aesthetic components, a protocol which despite the liberatory rhetoric that surrounds it is put to work in the world enabling largely banal content. What we need to build is not yet another gate to the 'age of access', but a media de-tox chamber, where we can sweat out the unnecessary icons, protocols and constraining interaction methods..... and above all, where we can wash away the content that has polluted both physical and virtual reality before they had a chance to evolve and grow closely together. jodi >> leitmotiv string, "we serve no content", rests uncomfortably in the encyclopaedic world of the web. There is no central meaning, no content to be progressively unveiled. Just lots of peripheral visions. It is on the periphery of understanding and intuition where we can expect unpredictable interaction to happen. When we move away from the well known paths. Where we don't know what to expect. It lives on the other side of the web, the side filled with incompatibilities and error messages, machines speaking to machines in a language we don't speak. In this space physical metaphors of superhighways, windows, desktops and elevators does not exist. A far cry from flash, proprietary browsing. It comprises page after page of apparently incomprehensible code. When the standardised interface has been stripped away, and the machine spits out all the complaints, that's when we start to interact, trying to comprehend both the machine proceses and the brain-waves of its creators. Here our worlds truly meet, and we engage in clumsy negotiations, trying to translate each-other's worlds into each-other's languages. Translation becomes a living system, through which the two realities warp into a hybrid tangled one. The "index" to 7061, for instance, scatters a grid of luminous green lines and fragments of machine code across the page. Memories of Commodore 64 meltdown. As with all ;:::,:; sites, the index is particularly random, and plays on the user's feeling of being lost in hyperspace after all, most of the time spent on the web is useless shuffling. Instead of shuffling, we need to start drifting, making meaning of the unknown world by allowing it to influence our progression. The roads are not built for us, we make them up and draw their maps as we go along. The computer is not a representation machine. It is a performance machine, engaged in shaping of itself through a generative process..... and most of its generation depends on our parameters and variables. The visitor has difficulty working out if the broken hyperlinks, script-generated gibberish and hung system messages belong to her or to the site. Actually, they belong to the technology. The technology alone does not engage with our world. We ask questions, the technology answers, but it answers with something which we fed into it.... and we fed into it a rigid, mapped and marked structure of reality, one which does not respond to the living world. The glitch is dangerously political, anarchic. It draws attention to the constructed nature of information, usually hidden from us. The most obvious recent example of the glitch between physical and informational reality was the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, where the obsolete maps served as a tactical excuse in a heavily technologically monitored zone. We are told that Nato's 'accidental bombing' of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was due to the mission's use of maps made years ago: the embassy shouldn't have been there. Topographical data previously collected from the site became digitally partitioned from the altering physical field and in an ironic return redescribed itself back onto the original surface with the conviction of ammunition. Present culture confesses the relative, inherently representative condition of the photo-graphic image, yet it's authority is uncontested within the self determination of the military/scientific complex. The infinite transportability of the photograph suggests that it need not have any responsibility to its field for military and market agendas. This forgetful office between an object and its representation cannot be as succesfully exploited by the recorded sound, which, in order to be experienced, must re-manifest in/as a continuum of material events fundamentally vunerable to acoustic and mnemonic contingencies. This innate re-modelling of the recorded subject in playback threatens any investment in an aural substitution of objecthood. Anyway, we have made sound busy with its own substitution - music stands in for the rememebring of sound. It inserts an element of play into the corporate genome, like a virus. It brings us back to the surface, to an awareness of the tools which are progressively colonising us. Maybe this sentence would sound more realistic if we would say: to an awareness of the market whose tools are progressively colonising us. The machine is _not_ a colonial being. Humans are. Especially humans striving for power. Money. Speed. Even culture is not a safe haven any more. Reduced to bits, interchangeable and reproducible, a lot of digital art and culture is just a pretty name for a new commodity: cultural capital. I'm not going to say that all digital art is about noise, viruses, error, the glitch, because it's not. But the projects which have inspired me, from which I have composed my own personal 'history of error', most certainly are. The next piece I want to talk about is MindVirus, an electronic magazine from Adelaide, Australia. It was created by a group of artists called ;.;..:;;: , and the first edition came out in 1994. The CD-ROM was distributed in plastic agar-jelly dishes with "infectious substance" stickers on the top. I don't think any of us ever really knew what they were on about. MindVirus involves navigational skills and sensory apparatus that have been written out as incidental in mainstream multimedia. Sound, pattern-recognition, proprioception and an element of randomness become central to the navigational experience. In MindVirus ;:,.;:;:, after I'd spent a couple of hours watching fish swim backwards across the screen, I was given the option of pressing "restart" for fear of strange interfaces and alternative paradigms. The mainstream of digital design still thinks of intraction in terms of presentation. However, strange and unexpected interfaces can draw the participant into the generative process of the work (the constructuion of the now). The one interface that many people don't know how to operate any more is their own body. When the coming into existence of a responsive reality depends on being conscious of their bodies, movements and physical social interaction, some people freeze. And when they freeze, so does the time and space of the responsive environment. The synthesis is interrupted. The only problem was that the familiar "restart" button began to blink and skid across the screen in a most user-unfriendly fashion, with my cursor in hot pursuit. In MindVirus 3.7, the reader is presented with a pair of monekys involved in an inexplicable cue-card experiment as they try to access "meaningful" information. Habitual point'n'click action doesn't seem to yield results. The monkeys, it seems, are conducting a psychological experiment on the faceless "user"--are you actually interacting with this machine or just responding to coloured links? Some of you may remember this. its field of links and hotspots dead to the eye. On touching the mouse, the user finds that she affects the sound emanating from the speakers. Slight movements introduce new bass loops and interstellar bleeps. she must re-adjust herself to a sound-based interface. Some people have a problem with searching for the interface, if it is buried under the surface of the screen, or when it bleeds off its edges. Especially with sound-based interfaces, that do not allow distracted clicking, an engaged involvement is demanded. Sound moves in and out of existence, and does not tolerate slack. Movement through sound is much more continuous then movement through a visual interface. The total user control is impossible, as different timelines intersect. The interaction becomes more a free play in time and less a rule baseg game in space. The initial reaction is one of bewilderment: am I controlling these noises or are they pre-programmed? In fact, they are built on the fly by the user's movements. Is it broken, or is it meant to sound like that? That's the reaction Keith Netto, a Melbourne-based artist, also gets to his a-life program, Sonicform. Sonicform came out in 1998, its stated mission to create a java-based sound environment for the web which capitalises on the nature of networked information--its capacity to infect and be infected by other information. In each individual version of the Sonicform system, there are basic 'sound fragments' attached to images in the top left-hand corner of the screen at startup. These sounds are then combined by users into a time-based system known as a 'transform'. This is a string of serial code, like a genome, which instructs certain sounds to evolve, switch on and off or remain inactive over a given time. Each instance of Sonicform is linked via the net to 'sonicserver' and consequently all other versions of itself which are being executed at any point in time. It implements a threshold-triggered feedback loop to graft each set of instructions back into the main sound stream as it evolves. Talking about mutual influence between humans and information systems leads us naturally towards a long discussion about a-life, expanding hybrid universes, flesh machines etc. However, we have decided to concentrate on the catalyst of these processes and will not dive into the processes themselves in this presentation. What we have been calling the "glitch" is usually the enemy. It is the enemy of a stable system, of a seamless user-interface, of the point'n'click universe. The glitch also draws our attention to the arbitrary and constructed nature of information itself. What happens to life in our embodied actual when the object of our investigations becomes the virtual replicator? = life form [gene konglomerat] the only possible source of new patterns.

1. Skip if taking too much time but mark it to recall. 2. Deduction is essential. Eliminate one blank at a time. With two-blank questions, try eliminating some answers based on just one blank. If one word in an answer doesn't make sense in the sentence, then you can rehect the entire choice. 3. Look at + and – and the double negatives. Be aware that some of the most difficult sentence completion questions conttain negatives, which can make following the logic of the sentences challenging. 4. Much of it relates to adj and adv and their noun forms. 6. Use your own synonym before choosing the ones given. 7. Guess the blank before looking at the choices. Figure out what sort of word(s) should fill the blank(s) before looking at the choices; then look for a choice that is similar to the one(s) you thought of. Nevin Blumer (MA Applied Linguistics, BEd, TESL DIpl) is the TPS Director and instructor for SAT for over 20 years.

This week Education International—the world's largest federation of unions, representing 30 million education employees in 170 countries and territories—signed onto the Global School Health Statement developed by ASCD and the International School Health Network. The Global School Health Statement was developed out of the first Global School Health Symposium, a multi-level, multi-sectorial discussion involving more than 60 leading education, health, and school health experts from across twenty countries held in Thailand in August 2013. Since then it has been introduced at a series of Global School Health Symposia and discussed at a series of key global events. This week, IBM released its annual predictions of the five technology innovations that will change the way we live in the next five years: The 5 in 5. This year's predictions center around emerging computing systems that will learn, reason, and engage with us in a more personalized way. Post written by Jasmine Sanborn, a senior digital and visual journalism student at Loyola University Chicago. She hopes to follow her passions for conservation and comics and someday join the ranks at National Geographic or Marvel Comics. Elizabeth Hebert's 2013 ASCD Annual Conference session, "Inspired to Learn: How School and Classroom Design Can Energize and Support Learning," explored the role design plays in our daily lives. School buildings and their design are obvious but often overlooked aspects of the learning environment, said Hebert. Hebert argued that updated and developmentally focused design spaces not only support but also inspire student learning and help cultivate creativity in children.

Here you can read the summary for the 12 zodiac signs. Scroll down to find your sign. It starts with Aries and Taurus and finishes with Aquarius and Pisces. To read the complete prediction for any zodiac sign, click on the title of each sign.. The influx of planets will be beneficial to your love, and so Venus will not leave your heart: it will lead you to happiness (as long as you don't get too stubborn). Your day will be sunny, with pleasant encounters. It is a good day to bring to a successful conclusion agreement involving large sums of money as well as interesting financial transactions. If you have to go to the operating room today, don't worry, everything will be fine! Your body is made of steel even if you don't believe it. You'll have a quiet Monday where things will go to plan. If you had a fight with your partner, everything will be solved by having a heart to heart. Beware of con artists today! If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Don't fall for seemingly miraculous products, you know they're rubbish. You're very much in tune with the spiritual world today, and your sixth sense is switched on. With great power comes great responsibility. A bad relationship in the past has left you with too many wounds. You always put a barrier between you and a stranger who approaches you. You don't want to know anything about anyone, much less have a partner. The stars invite you to innovate, to experiment with a new business. It won't be the first time you lead a business project, but you're as nervous and excited as a first-timer. Gemini, you notice how your body has undergone a certain change. After leading a more active life, you feel lighter. You will have a bad mood on the first day of this week, which will also be the last day of this March. Beware of anyone who wants to provoke you, because they can find you! Before you will arise various ways to make a lot of money and quickly, but analyze for a moment the situation. Do you really think it's all legal, or do you see some shadows in the businesses they're proposing to you? If you've been feeling sad and melancholic, today you can shake off those feelings that lead you nowhere and start vibrating with joy ad hope. You won't regret giving a new opportunity to your past relationship. Don't act in a self-indulgent or extravagant way. A new situation will make you consider changing your job or activity. Weigh all its pros and cons, don't act impulsively. Your lucky number today is 101, which is an indicator of change and transformation. You'll be prone to blows and cuts. Be careful when handling tools and driving. Virgo will feel very close to their partner, where they will be able to understand each other without having to cross a word. You only have to look into each other's eyes to know what they think of each other. You can make the most of your savings. Instead of keeping them in the bank or at home you should consider investing money in real estate. Concerning your health, even if you don't have any important appointments today, you should never neglect your personal hygiene. The more love you give, the more you receive. Today your friends will be receptive and eager to hear from you. Take an active part in the events in your neighborhood or city. You'll have a great time meeting new people. You'll feel very dissatisfied at work. Change your way of thinking because resentment and intrigue are useless. A friend will ask you to for help in his/her career. Don't worry about getting sick, worry about resting well. If you've been sleeping on the same mattress for a long time, maybe it's time to change it. There's no use crying over spilled milk. Rather than tormenting yourself over past failures, focus on your future projects. Wallowing doesn't do you any favours. You've been working on a project that the world might not be ready for just yet. Don't take it to heart and keep working on it. The time will come, be patient. Reading can help expand your horizons, broaden your mind and free your soul. It will also help you avoid obsessions. You've experienced some disappointing days in love, especially if the stars have not so far blessed you with a stable and lasting relationship. But the fate of the single centaurs changes from today in an exciting way. The conditions in which you work are essential and a priority for you to develop your activity properly. Have you considered that disorder and abandonment of your work environment can affect your performance? The stars notice excesses in physical activities that, if not accompanied by an adequate diet, can give you a scare or two. It looks like you'll be winning that family problem that gives you so many headaches. Don't try to argue with people who won't understand your point of view. Jupiter in the area that refers to your hidden enemies can bring you some problems regarding legal matters, paperwork and the payment of fees or taxes. The stars favour you today with a very positive cycle of your biorhythm that you could enjoy by enjoying the nature around you. If you live somewhere that's close to the beach or a lake, go for a walk. It is unlikely that you feel well during this transit, the tense aspects between planets will make you have tantrums easily. You get even angrier when you don't understand your own feelings. It's time to give order to your life; At home or at work, you go through your tasks as if you were a tornado. Although it's generally advisable to have a broad idea of the circumstances, now you should think about the details. True spirituality begins when you stop trying to change others and being more inspired to change yourself with every day. Flirting is harmless, until you get caught. If you'd like to be in a polyamorous relationship, you should agree on it beforehand. Then you'll be free, but so will your partner. People have notices you at work, and there's new opportunities coming your way. The changes will be positive, and you'll enjoy the increase in your income. You'll have a very intense day, but you'll be in good health and happy. Remember to put your legs up once in a while to improve your circulation.

Let's Try Plan C Cruising World Editor Mark Pillsbury is in Nova Scotia exploring the Bras d'Or Lake on board an Alpha 42 catamaran. By Mark Pillsbury For years now, I've had it in my mind that I wanted to explore Bras d'Or Lake, Canada's inland sea, located at the heart of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. I always thought that would mean hitching a ride with someone headed east from Maine, or sailing my own boat across the Bay of Fundy. But then, Paul Jamieson, owner of Sailing Cape Breton, called the office and suggested a charter instead. How fast could I say, "yes?" Thisfast. The plan was for my wife, Sue, and me to drive to Portland, Maine, the last week of July, and from there, take the overnight ferry to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. That all went swimmingly. We boarded our ship on Saturday evening, had a sound night's sleep and awoke to pea soup fog on Sunday. Perfect, eh? Eight hours and 300 miles later, we pulled into the parking lot of the Lynnwood Inn in Baddeck, a lovely little town at the heart of Bras d'Or Lake. The first order of business: We met our hosts, Paul and his wife, Donna, and rendezvoused with marine photographer Bob Grieser. The second order of business was to have dinner. Over a feast (best fish cakes and homemade beans I can recall, in case you were asking), we quickly realized that Plan A — to set sail across the lake the next morning, cove hop for the week and then return to tour the famed Cabot Trail the following Saturday — would need to be revised. Our boat, it seems, a new Alpha 42 catamaran, had been walloped by headwinds on its delivery north from New York and was still at sea. So on to Plan B. The next morning we hopped into Paul's truck and struck off for the Glenora distillery for breakfast at the only single malt maker outside of Scotland. After a tour, we headed for the Cabot Trail and Cape Breton's highlands. As we climbed the twisting roadway, cliffs plunged to the ocean below and cloud-covered mountains hovered overhead. Spectacular and breathtaking are two words that come quickly to mind. Monday night, we stayed at the Keltic Lodge, a 1940s gem of a hotel, perched overlooking the ocean at Middle Head in Ingonish Center. Just offshore, Ingonish Island lay shrouded in mist. This expansive bay is one to visit again, I noted. Our travels Tuesday took us on a tour of Highland Links, one of several golf courses that make Cape Breton a destination of choice for discerning ball whackers. From there, we drove to the ferry that runs across the 100-yard wide entrance to St. Ann's Bay and then back to Baddeck, where the boat, Cape Bretoner 1, sat waiting at the dock. An hour later, we were sailing. In a fresh breeze we reached off across St. Andrew's Channel, tacked, and then sailed closed hauled to the Washabuck River and a tight little anchorage in Deep Cove. With the hook down and not a ripple on the water, we spent the evening munching on mussels and Donna's fish chowder and strawberry shortcake. What a way to end our first day on the water. Overnight rain gave way to gray, but warm skies this morning. A swim got Paul and I moving early, and eventually we made enough noise to wake our mates. Breakfast was Donna's bacon and Swiss cheese quiche, and then we were off, bound across St. Patrick's Channel to pick up more crew for a daysail through the narrows to the south. And then we weren't. Trying to maneuver to pick up our guests, Cape Bretoner was suddenly quite awkward to steer, which happens when two engines and two saildrives have only one prop between them. So now we're moored. The sun's shining, the lake's lovely and we're cooking up Plan C. Stay tuned. Stay tuned for more updates from Nova Scotia as Mark explores the inland sea. Mark Pillsbury

Samona – "Bloom" – Warm, embracing, and reflective! Staff — April 15, 2022 The artful and refined floral imagery on the cover of the single "Bloom", is a clear indication of the fresh, fragrant and colorful sweep of the music inside. I hardly need say that it simply oozes quality. Pure class from start to finish, the track ensures that multi-talented contemporary Gospel vocalist, Samona's star remains firmly in the ascendancy. Born in Oakland and raised in Sacramento CA, the eloquent songstress is inspired by her relationship with God, who has brought her through a plethora of adversities. The enigmatic singer-songwriter also uses her music as a vehicle to express her perspectives and tell stories. Essentially, her music runs deep with humanity, and the power of the grace of God. Samona raises the musical bar on "Bloom", strengthening her own formidable songwriting skills to meet the challenges she places on herself. At the same time her faith and gratitude just keeps running deeper. "You make me bloom like a flower in springtime. I am growing everyday. You make me bloom, you nurture and care for me, and always tend to me, like a beautiful rose," declares Samona proudly. It's both a veritable testament to the singer's absolute appreciation, while also being a nod to her incredible musical savvy. Samona's impressive musical range and undeniable charisma shines through "Bloom". She displays the kind of vocal immediacy and vulnerability possessed by few pop singers. Warm, embracing, and reflective, her voice brings a comforting joy, which is inspiring, affirmative, and universal in its appeal and intention. "Boom" is abundant with love, faith, gratitude, and wisdom. Moreover, it is delivered by one of the most persuasive and nuanced voices in contemporary Gospel. The song is a testament not only to the power of Samona's personal faith, but also the possibilities of spreading that testimony of faith across the world. The singer lets her energy and commitment work towards spreading her compassionate message, in the hope of touching audiences worldwide. This is a time where a lot of great music is being released. "Bloom" is one release that certainly should not get lost in the shuffle, and not just because of the track record of the artist. Her message is distinctive and clear. Samona takes listeners through her own worship and praise experience and exposes her thankfulness. As you listen, you will no doubt be encouraged to look deeper into your own situation and see the greater picture of your faith and belief mechanisms. The melody and vocals swiftly catch listener's interest, but the lyrics are what count here because that is the real message underneath the contemporary beat. Samona has always been a great representation of what it means to be a Christian woman and artist, and this track only pushes that ideal even further. "Bloom" is a song of testimony that the power of God is strong and real. Whether we are observing the struggles of the world, or working through our own personal battles, the power of God is always ready and able to change our lives. The key is being able to recognize, accept, and acknowledge that power. Something Samona has already achieved. OFFICIAL LINKS: INSTAGRAM – FACEBOOK – SPOTIFY Tags: BloomCaliforniaGospelPraise & WorshipSamona Next post Between Giants - "Comfort Me" sets you off into a musical wonderland Previous Article Bailey Elora has performed and shared the spotlight with many reputable bands and artists Den Kayo – 'Getting High (Radio Edit)' keeps his consistency coming! MELAKU and the search for "Peace"

'My footsteps may be slow but I will get there' Paralyzed by a bullet during an armed robbery, a man from the Eastern Cape graduated from the University of Fort Hare (UFH) exactly 14 years later. Fikile Ngcani from Comfimvaba matriculated in 2013 at age aged 31. He was shot in the head during an armed robbery in Johannesburg on May 18, 2008. The gunshots left the 40-year-old paralyzed on the right side of his body, damaging his bladder and causing damage to his bladder and speech impediment. "I went to the local shop to buy airtime. As I was about to enter the store, I heard shots and orders to lie on the floor, which I did. I was shot while lying face down on the ground," he said. After recovering in hospital for three months, he decided to move back to the Eastern Cape. "I lived with my grandmother who had no income. We only had one meal a day and there was no money for transportation to physical therapy. I became hopeless," he said. He wasn't ready to give up, however. "I dropped out of school in 11th grade. I knew it would be difficult to get back into the school system, but I was determined." Fortunately, he was accepted into a local school where he was placed at the age of 28 in the 10th grade. Class. "My high school bachelor's pass was my ticket to the university," he said. Ngcani applied to the UFH and initially studied business administration and work psychology (BCom). In 2016, in the second year of his BCom studies, Prof. Willie Chinyamerindi nominated Ngcani for an essay writing competition. His essay, My steps may be slow, but I will make it there, earned him the first prize of R40,000. Ngcani enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2019. With only one hand to write, he managed to complete his studies in the prescribed manner in three years. "My current goal is to earn an honors degree. However, I have to pay off my student debt first. I'm hoping for financial support to achieve my goal. "Only now do I realize how far I've come since the day of shooting. I've faced so many obstacles, but I never gave up," Ngcani said. He needs to secure employment as he relies on his disability allowance. Support independent journalism by subscribing to The Sunday Times. Only 20 R for the first month. Previous SA health scientists monitoring monkeypox outbreak, have test kits Next Has SA entered a new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic?

What do you want to achieve? What's important to you? As a financial adviser, I can tell you that almost all my clients are driven by a desire to protect the ones they love and to make sure they are looked after financially. Today, I am sharing seven steps with you to help you achieve this too. Give your loved ones peace of mind that your assets will go to the right people. There is no such thing as "common law partners" which means a partner might not be entitled to anything of yours, even if you live together, unless you are married or in a civil partnership. Plus, did you know that orphaned children can end up in the care system if you don't nominate a guardian for them in your Will? 2. Nominate a Power of Attorney. There are two types of Power of Attorney; one giving power to look after your health and welfare and one giving power to look after your money and finances. It's worth remembering that spouses do not automatically have the right to do this for you and once you have lost capacity it's too late to arrange these safeguards. You can now set up Lasting Power of Attorneys online with the Office of the Public Guardian. 3. Insure what you can't afford to lose. You are far more likely to be off work for a long time than you are to die before retirement, but most of us only have death in service insurance. Check how long your employer will pay sick pay to you and at what rate? Statutory Sick Pay is only £92.05 a week which certainly doesn't go very far! Review your insurance arrangements to make sure the bills will still be paid if you couldn't work anymore. Most of us arrange life insurance so that the mortgage can be paid off and our funeral costs can be met. If your policy is not held in trust, it can take months, even years, to access this money and it will form part of your estate, potentially creating a tax bill that must be paid before probate is granted and the money is released. 5. Nominate someone to receive your pension. Many of us have lots of old pensions from previous jobs. Review them and make sure you complete the nomination form so that, on death, the pot you worked so hard for goes to the right person. HMRC collected a record £5bn in Inheritance Tax payments last year, but careful planning can reduce or even eliminate your bill. It's vital to take stock of your assets and understand the allowances in place, then determine which methods of passing on assets during life or after death best suit you. Do your loved ones know where your Will is? Do they know where your accounts and policies are? Have you introduced them to your financial adviser? Few people like discussing death, but having instructions in place will make an already difficult time that little bit less distressing for the people you have always looked after. Lauren Peters, senior financial adviser at Fiducia Wealth Management, is a chartered financial planner. She also holds the pensions specialist and later life specialist qualifications. You can contact Lauren directly via lauren@fiduciawealth.co.uk or via 07850 873126. This article was also recently published in the Moulsham Times.

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Optometrist, 1.0 FTE Washington Permanente Medical Group (WPMG) is a clinician-led, self-governed and independent multi-specialty group practice, providing care to the more than 700,000 Kaiser Permanente patients in Washington state. We work unencumbered by traditional health care obstacles and without silos; prioritizing people over profits, collaboration over ego, and driven by a singular goal: our patients' health. At WPMG, we take care of the whole person, with a team to address the fundamental, social, and emotional needs that contribute to total health. We are clinicians motivated by the desire to make a purposeful difference in the communities we serve, and in how health care is delivered. Kaiser Permanente-Washington Permanente Medical Group- is seeking a 1.0 FTE Optometrist to join our Burien Medical Center (0.5 FTE) and Capitol Hill Medical Center (0.5 FTE) in Washington State. The ideal candidate will have a Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited School of Optometry and preferably have completed a one-year Optometry Residency program. Our practice locations include ophthalmological and contact lens services. Our medical centers are fully equipped with the latest technologies and our teams includes skilled, well-trained, certified ophthalmic techs that provide support to our doctors. We have a full service Optical dispensary at our Burien and Capitol Hill location and use Epic at all practice locations. Capitol Hill Campus is a multispecialty medical center. Lab, Radiology and Pharmacy on site. Office hours are 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday, with Urgent Care open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Benefits include: Full malpractice indemnification (including tail coverage), medical/dental/vision benefits, 401(k) & employer-paid retirement contributions, paid vacation, CME, long-term disability, long-term care benefits, and the ability to become a shareholder in our group practice. Learn more about WPMG benefits. Seattle is a seaport city and the seat of King County. With an estimated 686,800 residents, Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The city is situated on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. A major gateway for trade with Asia, Seattle is the fourth-largest port in North America in terms of container handling as of 2015. Named by Kiplinger's as one of the "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade," the Seattle metropolitan region is a great place to live, visit and do business. It's home to some of the most recognizable global companies including Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Nordstrom, REI, and Alaska Airlines. Whether you're looking for economic opportunity, cultural events or educational excellence, you'll find it--and much more--in Seattle. We are dedicated to building lifetime relationships with peers and patients in Washington State's richly diverse communities. Many know the Pacific Northwest as an attractive tourist destination with beautiful scenery, friendly people, and a host of cultural and recreational opportunities. These elements, and others, make Washington an excellent place to live. Equity, Inclusion and Diversity In our local communities and across the nation, Kaiser Permanente sets the standard for respectful care. With multicultural staff, equity, inclusion and diversity councils, medical interpretation resources, outreach efforts, educational programs and more, Kaiser Permanente puts people first in our medical centers and beyond. As part of Kaiser Permanente, Washington Permanente Medical Group (WPMG) seeks to create equity in our communities, eliminate health disparities, and always put patients--the heart of everything we do--first. Following the guidelines in our National Diversity Agenda, every member of our team strives to: Provide culturally responsive and appropriate medical care to improve the health and satisfaction of all people in our increasingly diverse membership Recruit and retain clinicians and staff that enhance our workforce Grow our membership by providing exceptional service and clinical care to all communities in our region Creating a diverse workforce, an inclusive environment, and equitable opportunity for employment, growth, and advancement are deeply linked to our mission, our business, and our economic future. WPMG continues to add programs that build and maintain a workplace where we engage with our members, communities, and each other--with dignity, respect, and cultural understanding. As part of our commitment to our employees and the members and patients we serve, we integrate diversity into all aspects of our operations. Maintaining a workforce with industry-leading levels of diversity through deliberate planning, development, and outreach is critical to fulfilling our mission, sustaining our business objectives, and providing the best level of care to our members and patients. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status. Internal Number: OPTOM02161 Connections working at Kaiser Permanente - Washington Permanente Medical Group

• Be ready for the opportunities to share Christ that come your way. • Allow God to rule your thoughts and emotions. • Keep your conduct above criticism. Father, I am fully aware of my shortcomings and failings. Help me to stay focused on you and your strength. May my beliefs and behavior match up. May my words and walk honor you. May my testimony be an inspiration to others. I ask you to give me wisdom in my responses to others today. I surrender my time, talent and treasure once again. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Along with the demo, as it's more or less already done. Just needs some fine tuning here and there. But please let's continue using this thread for its purpose: "Want to join the Team? And whats needed..." ok? I cannot help with graphics, animation, or music, but I can help with dialogue -- if you still need help with that. I designed a fan-game called Star Trek: the Continuing Voyage a few years back www.startrekthecontinuingvoyage.com, so you can take a look at my work and see if you think I could help with anything. I have done a fair amount of writing, some of it is published on the web. My wife has a degree in film and took classes in script writing while in college, so I would certainly be able to get her input as well. Hi AlwaysAdventure, and thanks for the kind offer. I'll check the game to have an idea of your skills and let you know. But as I tell to anyone, any help in the dialogue section won't become necessary very soon as dialogues for the demo are already 100% complete and those for Ch.2 are almost done as well. Stay with us in the meantime, though. Have a cup of green tea and join the crew on this cruise in the sea of sparks and metal! Well, let me know if you do need any help at some point. Your Loom project is definitely the most exciting yet, and hopefully it will be the one to succeed. My wife has some interest in voice acting as well, I don't know if you need any of that, or how professional it has to be, but let me know.

Average timelines for popular renovation projects With more emphasis on home because of the pandemic, many people are considering renovation projects, which are significant undertakings. Whether up to the do-it-yourself challenge or working with skilled and experienced contractors, timing is a big consideration. The home improvement experts at HomeAdvisor note that the following are some general timelines for popular renovation projects when working with a contractor. · Home addition: Short of a full-scale demolition and rebuild, home additions are the most time-consuming projects homeowners can undertake. HomeAdvisor notes that its survey of customers who recently completed home addition projects reported that the average time from start to finish was between three and four months. Certain variables, including the scale of the project and the local permits process, can extend the time it takes to complete a home addition. · Kitchen remodel: Scale is a big factor to consider when estimating the time needed to complete various home improvement projects, and kitchen remodels are no exception. Some HomeAdvisor users reported projects taking as long as four months, though the average time reported was roughly six weeks. Projects that require major overhauls like rearranging the plumbing and moving walls will likely take longer than more cosmetic projects that are limited to replacing cabinets and countertops. · Bathroom remodel: More than 1,000 homeowners surveyed by HomeAdvisor reported that bathroom remodels took about 4.5 weeks from start to finish. Small-scale remodels that focus on painting the walls a fresh color and replacing existing tiles can be completed in less than two weeks. But like with kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels that involve replacing plumbing fixtures and removing walls figure to take much longer than that. · Siding installation: HomeAdvisor users report that new siding projects take roughly two weeks from start to finish. That estimate is the same regardless of which materials homeowners are replacing and installing. · Replacement windows: Homeowners who want to replace all the windows in their home can expect such a project to take roughly three weeks. HomeAdvisor notes that such a timeline need not concern homeowners worried that they will be forced to brave the elements during the length of the project. Much of a contractors' time during a window replacement project will be spent on upfront measuring and then ensuring a tight fit once the windows have been installed. Priorities for the New Congress

Love this tarot card? It's Shadowscapes Tarot. Click to buy it now. The King of Cups in tarot cards may represent an actual person in your life. He represents a supportive person who is kind, fair, and skilled in both law and business, and who is very accountable for his dealings, such as in lawyer or a judge or a doctor. (Traditionally these have previously been male figures, but this could be a woman who embodies these characteristics as well). The King of Cups will expect you to be accountable for your actions and emotions as well. He may be connected with a religious or worldly organization, legal, or other position of authority. In communications he is forthright and diplomatic, knowing how to skillfully bring harmony to a situation. The King of Cups showing up in a reading can indicate that real love can enter your life now. It may mean that a long term relationship is in your future. It can mean the relationship will be very meaningful with deep emotions. Are you having any legal issues or problems? In general you can expect all matters to go well, particularly those of a legal nature. But be sure not to lose your cool in any legal matter. Stay focused and patient. It's important to keep your head and wits about you, even if you are involved in a matter that is highly emotionally charged. Go with the flow and don't let anything upset your emotional balance. Make sure you are on top of, the master of, and in control of your emotions. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated, duped, or emotionally controlled or pushed to the edge by any means. The King of Cups symbolizes someone who is savvy to all worldly matters and most definitely in charge. Patience and grace.

Laurent Perves, Chief Marketing Officer of Vacheron Constantin joined the Maison in December 2016. As a member of the Maison's Executive Committee, he leads the Product Marketing, Communication, Heritage and Digital teams. He has 15 years of experience managing global brands, building product portfolios and holistic communication campaigns as well as developing business in the fields of beauty and luxury goods. Laurent began his career at the LVMH group as Change Manager, focusing on Business Intelligence training programs and corporate communication. He then worked for ten years in the Prestige Products Division of Procter & Gamble, where he occupied various functions in Market & Consumer Intelligence, Product and Communication Management, Commercial Management and Regional Business Development on a wide portfolio of brands, before reaching a Global Brand Leadership position on Gucci Parfums. He joined the watchmaking industry in 2014 as Head of Brand Communication for Audemars Piguet, building specific capabilities in digital and trade marketing while reinventing the brand communication campaign through innovative executions and channels Moreover, he is a Visiting Professor at Paris Dauphine University where he owns and conducts Communication seminars for the "Luxury Management" Masters program. Laurent Perves graduated from ESSCA (Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Commerciale d'Angers) with a Master in Economics & Marketing, he completed his education with a Master in Processes Engineering & Project Management at Angers University (ISTIA) as well as a Master in Political Sciences & Organization at Paris Dauphine University. Click to show previous image Click to show next image Fiftysix day-date petrol blue dial: A MR PORTER exclusive Celebrating the new collection Égérie, Vacheron Constantin exhibits two centuries of feminine creations in Tokyo Vacheron Constantin opens its first boutique in Germany in Frankfurt am Main Vacheron Constantin and sports watches: An exhibition in Taipei from December 7th, 2020 to January 3rd, 2021 Vacheron Constantin announces its first boutique in Portugal "Les Collectionneurs" Tokyo and Osaka, 7th December – 31st December 2020 Presslounge

Onboarding – by Choice or by Chance? "Onboarding starts with satisfying the most basic of Maslow's psychological needs: belonging. and the bare necessities of office life. Many of us have been called upon to transfer our knowledge. Most often, it is when someone is retiring or changing positions, creating the need to transfer tacit or informal knowledge. What about those times we are called upon to transfer and develop new knowledge for new hires? Creating the environment, the learning materials, and the know-how for new knowledge to be assimilated in a relatively short period of time can be daunting. Typically, companies do it in one of two ways—by plan (choice), or by chance. The Last can be First. Depending on the position, oftentimes, the last person to hire on is the best person to train the new hire (or be part of that process). Why? They just learned how to navigate from point A to point B, and can not only transfer that knowledge, but fill in the gaps they experienced. Maximize Group Size. Hire in groups when possible, especially with Generations Y and Z who grew up in large cohorts and are accustomed to collegial environments. They learn quicker, and will learn from each other if they are grouped, which also provides efficiencies for the trainers. Overcome Technical Speedbumps. Get all the technical stuff up and running before they arrive. A 'start up' checklist of every system access, email, and other protocols enables them to hit the ground running and feel productive quickly. For systems that can only be accessed by them on their first day, have an IT resource on hand at the start to remedy any speedbumps. Rules of the Road. Initiate a candid "Rules of the Road' discussion. Talk openly about the culture and environment to let new employees know where the unspoken landmines are. Create Space. Create an open (no walls) logistical space so that all new hires can work together in proximity for a time, even if it's a few days. This addresses the isolation new employees can feel during the in-between times when their trainer/trainers or subject matter experts are doing their 'day job,' and there is a gap. While their permanent workspace awaits them, these temporary digs can be advantageous for collaborating and training. Online Learning. Many new hires have grown up acquiring new knowledge through online learning. If it is not possible to create an online learning environment—much like a familiar online college course—then document all important procedures and information. Having a variety of video clips talking about key points, and both electronic versions as well as some hard copy versions of key materials, enables flexibility in their mobility and learning style preferences. Functions and Fit. Setting an agenda of speakers, utilizing video clips, and other media to address the group on what other departments are responsible for, how these functions fit, where they personally fit into the organization, and how they can best work together as they go forward can strengthen both the onboarding, and onward experience. If feasible to do this by walking around or getting around, even better. Mix it Up. A combination of classroom style learning, mixed with road trips to other locations or venues, and social events, helps to round out and strengthen the onboarding experience. Executive Exposure. Schedule executives to meet up offsite at a favorite coffee house and just hang out with them, welcome them, and get to know them. If that is not feasible, set 'walk around' times with key executives for them to stop by and introduce themselves and share their vision for the future. Learning from New Hires. While the new hire experience is still fresh, survey at intervals, such as 30-60-90 days. Survey results can sharpen your onboarding process even more when their fresh insights and comments are translated into action items for improvement. Whether by choice or by chance—onboarding happens—and it is a critical component to employee start-up success and retention. Dr. Marian J. Carpenter teaches in the DeVoe School of Business as Key Adjunct Faculty.

Current (https://current.org/2011/06/move-to-block-wnetnew-jersey-network-deal-fails-in-nj-senate/) Move to block WNET/New Jersey Network deal fails in NJ Senate By | June 28, 2011 The New Jersey Senate was one vote short of blocking WNET's agreement to take over the New Jersey Network, the Star-Ledger reported Monday night (June 27). A similar resolution had overwhelmingly passed the Assembly last week. Public Media NJ, a nonprofit subsidiary of WNET/Thirteen, takes over the NJN TV operations Friday (July 1). Some lawmakers were not pleased. "New Jersey's taxpayers will be on the hook for millions of dollars annually to support the continued operation," Sen. Loretta Weinberg said, noting that the state will spend at least $4.7 million a year. "So while we hand this network off to a New York operator, we are not saving that much money." The newspaper summed up the protracted fight: "The Senate vote followed months of political showmanship, public hearings, and a Legislative report that agreed with [Gov. Chris] Christie's view that state-run TV is no longer viable for New Jersey."

« Detail-oriented, thorough and cash-rich were keys to Obama win in Florida | Main | Bush/Graham chef headed to the Obama White House? » Martinez: The GOP is "going to be relegated to minority status" Mel Martinez warned on Meet the Press that Republicans need to notch up the efforts to include Hispanics -- or face minority status as a party. "The fact of the matter is that Hispanics are going to be a more and more vibrant part of the electorate, and the Republican Party had better figure out how to talk to them," Martinez said, asked about why Hispanics had flocked to Democrats last Tuesday. He cited some GOP'ers anti-immigration rhetoric as a turnoff for many Hispanic voters. "I've been preaching this for a long time to my colleagues within my party," he said. "I think that the very divisive rhetoric of the immigration debate set a very bad tone for our brand as Republicans." He noted a "very dramatic shift" in Hispanic support from President Bush to John McCain, adding McCain "did not deserve what he got. He was one of those that valiantly fought, fought for immigration reform, but there were voices within our party, frankly, which if they continue with that kind of rhetoric, anti-Hispanic rhetoric, that so much of it was heard, we're going to be relegated to minority status." Martinez said he disagreed with House Minority Leader John Boehner, who criticized the choice of Rahm Emanuel -- a sharp-elbowed Illinois pol -- for Barack Obama's chief of staff. "I think you need someone in that job who you can trust, who's going to cover your backside, and who's smart and can run the trains on time." Martinez said, calling Emanuel a "good choice." Posted by Lesley Clark on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 at 11:15 AM in Mel Martinez | Permalink

We design powerful, collaborative solutions to meet your sourcing needs. You get direct access to suppliers without the middlemen. We help reduce your COGS, increase your quality assurance and drop the money direct to your bottom line. We're committed to delivering you reliable results through our proven processes, systems and experienced team. We get to the bottom of the problem and find the root cause of it, and give you the sustainable solutions. This summer we found ourselves in quite a bind with a single sourced supply chain out of Asia. The Insight Solutions team had provided visibility to root cause challenges as well as suggested solutions in Asia. The team is professional and detail oriented with action plans to address any potential issues. The South China manufacturing trek was a huge success and would not have been as successful without your assistance. The China companies visited were of a high standard and were refreshingly relevant to NZ businesses both from start-up to more established businesses. The Insight Solutions team did a fantastic job and helped to speed out product NPI life cycle and take our operations to the next level. Their detail oriented work style, strong negotiation skills, risk and solid team management added great value to our business strategy.

Parkeston may refer to: Parkeston, Essex Parkeston, Western Australia

Located virtually adjacent to one another and separated by 1,327 nautical miles, the Malaysian and Sri Lankan destinations of Kuala Lumpur and Colombo both offer stunning and diverse cityscapes; from contemporary architecture to colonial buildings; but they also have their own quirks. Thought of travelling to both but wondering which one will best suit you? Check out the information below and decide for yourself. If you cannot choose, you can always go on a cruise from Port Kelang to the Port of Colombo. An eclectic and cultural hub, those who visit Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, will be treated to the city's ongoing development and in contrast its diverse and rich history. Split into various areas, with the main one referred to as the Golden Triangle, it is comprised of Bukit Bintang, KLCC and Chinatown districts. The city also has great transport links, including extensive train and bus networks, so you will be able to navigate easily from one attraction to another. From its luscious parks to its contemporary skyscrapers, this colourful and sensory destination boasts a range of different activities and attractions to suit all. Malaysia is a region home to some of the Earth's most amazing wildlife and with the 110-acre Kuala Lumpur Zoo and Aquarium, it's never been easier! Home to a selection of mammals, reptiles and fish, as well as more specific reserves including the KL Bird&Butterfly Parks, there's plenty to discover and makes for a great day out. Get acquainted with the local community and head out on a shopping adventure to some of Kuala Lumpur's glamorous malls. With the Pavilion KL, Suria KLCC and Mid Valley Megamall's all to choose from, you will be in your element if you are a retail therapist! Amongst the tallest towers in the world, the Kuala Lumpur Tower and Petronas Twin Towers showcase true man-made artistry. With natural wonders such as the Batu Caves and Klang Quartz Ridge also available for visitors to explore, you can see the best of what man and nature has to offer in this beautiful cityscape. Regarded by many as Kuala Lumpur's ultimate party venue; Changkat Bukit Bintangis close to many of the city's main landmarks including the Starhill Gallery and the Jalan Alor Food Street. An avenue known for its vibrant bars and clubs that play the latest house, electro and remixed pop and hip-hop, you can ensure to make unforgettable memories whilst experiencing authentic Malaysian nightlife. Kuala Lumpur remains hot and humid throughout the year, making it the ideal destination to visit whenever your heart desires. If you are looking for a cooler climate, the mountainous valleys are worth staying in. Like most tropical locations, KL is not exempt from the odd bout of rain and cold breezes but generally, the city is one of the least affected places in Malaysia by monsoon winds. With its sprawling street markets, colourful silks and aromatic spices, the Sri Lankan city of Colombo is home to extravagant Buddha viharas, captivating museums, mosques, churches and flourishing flora. Once recognised as one of the important ports known to Indian, Persian, Chinese and Roman traders, the city has retained these cultural influences to date. Whether you are looking to immerse yourself in the city's culture or bask in the sunshine, a visit to Colombo has something for everyone. Colombo boasts a number of beautiful churches and cathedrals, including St. Anthony's Church in the Kochchikade area which is also a national shrine. There are also beautiful Buddhist temples, including Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple which is bursting with colour and stunning statues. If you are looking for a slightly different experience, the Old Dutch Hospital is worth visiting. Believed to have existed since 1681, this building used to be where Dutch East India Company officers were looked after when they encountered health problems. There are a number of open areas and beautiful beaches in and around the city of Colombo. One of the most popular parks in the city is Viharamahadevi Park due to its vastness and proximity to some of the city's most historical buildings, including Independence Memorial Hall. It also provides plenty of shade for those looking to keep cool in the humidity. Alternatively, if you want to feel the sand between your toes, Mount Lavinia Beach is located on the outskirts of the Sri Lankan city and is near to a variety of lovely restaurants as well as stunning seascapes. The beach is also the home of the local Turtle Conservation Project, where you can go and release hatched sea turtles back into the wild. Due to its seafaring past, Colombo is known for its mixed cultures and cuisines. One of the top recommended restaurants in the city is called Table One and is located in the Shangri-La Hotel in Galle Face. Here, you can experience international flavours with a local touch while admiring fantastic views of the Indian Ocean. There is a wide range of city tours available depending on your preferences. From walking tours to Jeep and Tuk Tuk tours, there are plenty of ways to see the city and its sights. If you fancy venturing slightly further afield, embark on a Sri Lankan safari! Like Kuala Lumpur, Colombo boasts fantastic weather all year round. Monsoon season generally happens between June and September but outside of those times, Colombo is full of heat and some humidity. With Oman Air, flights are available through Holiday Genie and you can enjoy the perks of a luxury world class airline at a competitive price, meaning you can experience affordable luxury from the moment you step on the plane to touching back down in the United Kingdom. With double daily departures from London Heathrow and daily from Manchester, the possibilities are endless. To make an Oman Air flight booking as part of your Colombo or Kuala Lumpur package holiday, please call our Sales team on 020 8475 7671.

The startup of operations at the multi-user dock accounted for the entire increase, with over 5.5 million tons handled, which made up for the drop in shipping caused by the labour dispute at IOC Rio Tinto early in the year. The successful startup of the Bloom Lake iron mine, whose production exceeded projections. Congratulations to Quebec Iron Ore, a subsidiary of Champion Iron Mines Limited. Delivery by Socie´te´ ferroviaire et portuaire de Pointe-Noire (SFPPN) of its conveyor to connect the new dock and the successful startup of its handling and storage operations. Challenges surmounted with aplomb by multi-user dock operator Logistec, in charge of operations and maintenance, and by the Port's multi-user dock team. The Port made a splash in September with the acquisition of 17 works by local artist Jean-Pier Synnott for display at the Monseigneur Blanche terminal. The outdoor exhibit near the docks provides an additional cultural attraction, not just for cruise ship passengers and tourists, but also for everyone in the Sept-I^les area. Also in September, the Port had to shut down the Pointe-aux-Basques intermodal terminal pending its securing the funds for the necessary repairs and modernization. Pointe-aux-Basques is the gateway for supplies en route to the hinterland and a port of call supplying the isolated villages of the Lower North Shore. Another highlight was the arrival of Tacora Resources in November, which completed its financing to restart the Scully Mine and purchased part of New Millennium Iron's contract with the Port to become a new user of the multi-user dock. Tacora will significantly increase the Port's annual volumes, adding a projected 6 million tons per year, and will invest close to $50 million in early 2019 to adapt the SFPPN facilities. In December the City of Sept-I^les and the Port released the results of the Environmental Observatory for the Bay of Sept-I^les's five-year study, with the data and findings from phases I, II, and III. The data and studies found the environment to be in good condition overall and will serve as a baseline for future protection and management of the Bay of Sept-I^les's priceless ecosystem. The 2018 cruise ship season clocked in as the second best the Port has ever had, with five ships and 7,960 passengers and crew members. And who could forget the second visit of the Queen Mary 2 in September, along with a visit by Myle`ne Paquette to talk about her perilous Atlantic crossing! Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-I^les is one of North America's largest ore-handling ports, with an expected volume of more than 30 million tons in 2018. The port facilities at Sept-I^les play a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. Annual economic impacts are estimated at nearly $1 billion and close to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Pre-trial settlement of tax disputes. Tax dispute resolution. Features of the procedure. In which cases is it necessary. The procedure for resolving tax disputes is regulated by law. The conflict can be settled in court and pre-trial, but conflicts over the calculation of taxes are associated with difficulties for one of the parties. After all, in fact, the dispute is between a citizen, a company and the state. Features of tax conflicts Russian tax legislation defines a tax dispute (hereinafter referred to as the Tax Dispute) as a conflict between a taxpayer and a state body. A taxpayer is understood as an individual, as well as an organization, a commercial and non-profit company. The actions of officials that affect the interests of the taxpayer may also serve as the basis for a dispute. As a rule, we are talking about employees of the tax inspectorate. The law proposes to resolve such a conflict in an administrative or judicial manner. The main feature of tax dispute resolution, as we have already mentioned, is that one of the parties to the conflict is always the state represented by the Federal Tax Service. The tax authority represents the interests of the state, which complicates the matter. Therefore, such disputes are handled by qualified lawyers familiar with tax law and related areas. The legislation allows disputes to arise on various grounds. This means that conflicts initiated by the tax authorities are most often associated with non-payment or violation of the deadlines for payment of tax fees. Individuals or organizations have much more grounds to initiate proceedings. The reasons may be related to: Recognition of normative legal acts and decisions made in accordance with them as unlawful. The purpose is to recognize the issued decisions on the payment of taxes or fines as invalid. A complaint about the inaction of the tax authorities regarding the reimbursement of part of taxes. Thus, both taxpayers and tax authorities can initiate a dispute. Administrative procedure for resolving a tax dispute If you have doubts about the correctness of the actions of tax officers, do not rush to file a lawsuit in court. Contact an experienced lawyer or a law firm that will resolve the conflict in a pre-trial manner. Firstly, most disputes are resolved by a settlement agreement. Secondly, such an action strategy is more economical in terms of financial and time expenditures. And only if it does not work out in any way to settle the matter in peace, it is worth thinking about going to court. Some types of conflicts allow the parties to choose their own strategy of action. That is, you can decide for yourself which order of conflict resolution to prefer. However, there are types of disputes that require the plaintiff to first try to settle the case administratively. Without this, the law does not allow you to go to court. So, the administrative or pre-trial procedure assumes that you will contact a higher authority with a complaint or statement. Whereas the judicial settlement of tax disputes requires that you defend your rights and interests in court. Pre-trial resolution of tax disputes: features of the procedure Pre—trial settlement of tax disputes is an alternative to judicial proceedings designed to eliminate violations of the rights of Russian taxpayers as soon as possible. A division specially created in the system of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, whose exclusive responsibility is the pre-trial resolution of tax disputes, is engaged in responding to violations, as well as auditing mistakes made. The Tax Code of the Russian Federation provides two options for protecting the rights of individuals and organizations (Article 137): appeal against actions and/or acts of tax authorities in court. pre-trial resolution of disputes. It is important to know that the Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 153-FZ of July 2, 2013, determines that a taxpayer can appeal against the actions and/or acts of tax authorities in court, only after consideration of his complaint by higher tax authorities. Pre-trial settlement of tax disputes for Russian taxpayers has several advantages: there is no need to pay state duty. the complaint is considered promptly. Pre-trial procedure for the settlement of tax disputes: stages The pre-trial procedure for the settlement of tax disputes can be divided into several stages: • sending a complaint by the applicant to the tax inspectorate, which is a party to the dispute. • redirection of an appeal from a lower tax office to a higher one within three days. • acceptance of the appeal by a higher authority for consideration or refusal to do so to the applicant. • notification of all parties involved about the time and date of the meeting. • the request by the tax authorities of additional materials that will help to consider the case on the merits, as well as the independent presentation by the taxpayer of additional documentary evidence of violation of his legal rights. • the very consideration of the complaint by the tax authorities and the adoption of an informed decision on it. • informing the applicant about the decision. It is important to know that the complaint is filed no later than one year from the moment when the individual or organization became aware of the violation of their legitimate rights and interests, and the appeal — before the entry into force of the act of the tax authority (within a calendar month, starting from the date of delivery of the resolution to the taxpayer). Consideration of a complaint on the settlement of tax disputes on the merits Individuals and companies who believe that their rights have been violated, make, and send a complaint to the regional branch of the tax service (higher tax authority) through the local tax office, which is a party to the dispute. If the act on bringing the taxpayer to responsibility has not yet entered into force, the applicant submits an appeal. In all other cases — a complaint. The tax authority whose actions and/or acts are being challenged is obliged to forward the document with all related materials to the higher regional office within 3 days after receipt of such an appeal. The final decision of the tax service must be sent to the applicant within the same period. The request must specify: Full name of the individual applicant and his place of residence (respectively, if the applicant is a legal entity, his name and location are indicated). the act that is disputed or the essence of the action/inaction of the tax authorities. name of the tax authority that is a party to the dispute. the basis for filing a complaint — the essence of the claim. applicant's requirements. the way in which the taxpayer wants to receive an answer to his appeal. The Regional Tax Administration considers the appeal on its merits and makes a final decision on it no later than: a calendar month, if this is an appeal against an act bringing the taxpayer to responsibility. 15 working days in all other cases. The Tax Code of the Russian Federation determines that the settlement of tax disputes ends with one of the possible options (Article 140): the tax division refuses to satisfy the applicant's claims by virtue of legislative norms. tax authorities recognize the act and/or actions of officials as illegal and subject to partial or complete cancellation. If the taxpayer is not satisfied with the decision, he can file a claim with the court for further protection of his civil rights. When it is necessary to resort to pre-trial settlement of tax disputes? If the subject of the conflict is the decision of the tax inspectorate based on the results of the audit, the law requires that the parties first try to resolve the conflict in a pre–trial manner. And only if it didn't work out, you need to go to court. If you wish to challenge the results of a desk or on-site inspection, the court will not consider the claim without evidence that you previously tried to resolve the case by administrative means. The law also provides for other cases when you should first try to solve the problem by administrative means, and only then file a lawsuit in court. For example, this applies to disputes related to the appeal of non-normative tax acts, actions of officials or non-fulfillment of their duties. Such conflicts between taxpayers and inspectors as disagreement with the imposed fine, recovery, suspension of account transactions by the tax authorities are resolved administratively. If the inspection staff refuses tax deductions, this issue is also easiest to resolve without going to court. Advantages of pre-trial resolution of tax disputes Most of the conflicts affecting tax law are resolved administratively. Even in this case, it will not be superfluous to consult with lawyers and instruct them to conduct the case. Pre–trial settlement of the conflict is the best option, which has many advantages: Short terms of consideration of the complaint. A higher authority, where you can file a complaint, will be obliged to consider your application within a few days or weeks, whereas litigation can last for years. Absence of state fees and court fees. Resolving the issue in court is always more expensive from a financial point of view. Because when applying to the court, you must first pay a fee. The costs of legal representation in court are higher than for consultations and support in resolving disputes in an administrative manner. Having considered your complaint, the higher tax authority may leave it without satisfaction or decide in your favor. In this case, the higher authority has the right to cancel the non-normative act or decision. Moreover, the decision of the tax authority can be canceled both completely and partially. Also, officials can make a new decision, recognize the actions of the tax authorities as illegal. But it is not necessarily possible to resolve the conflict by administrative means. If the decision of a higher instance does not suit you, you can file a statement of claim to the arbitration court. When can I go to court? Any natural or legal person who disagrees with non-normative acts, actions or decisions of officials has the right to file a lawsuit against the tax inspectorate. If the tax inspectorate unlawfully creates obstacles to entrepreneurial activity, this may also become the subject of a lawsuit. The deadline for filing a claim is limited. You have 3 months from the moment when it became known about the violation of rights and interests. After this period, the arbitration court will not accept the claim. In turn, the arbitration court must consider the application within 3 months after filing the claim, and not just consider, but also make a certain decision. It may turn out that the decision of the court of first instance will not suit one of the parties. Then she can appeal it to the Court of Appeal. Stages of judicial settlement of tax disputes Receiving a copy of the decision of the higher authority to which you filed a complaint. Preparation of a claim and its submission to the arbitration court together with evidence. Consideration of the case by the court and deciding, handing it over to both sides of the conflict. Appeal to the Court of Appeal if the results do not suit one of the parties. Is it possible to avoid tax disputes? The statistics of judicial practice show that every year the number of initiated court cases on tax disputes does not decrease. On the one hand, this is due to the position of the tax authorities to collect the maximum possible amount of taxes and tax arrears. On the other hand, the imperfection of the mechanisms of the Federal Tax Service gives grounds for filing a lawsuit by private individuals. To reduce the risks of tax disputes, it is necessary to follow the following rules: Monitor ongoing business operations in terms of future tax problems. Assist tax inspectors in conducting a tax audit. How can taxpayers file a complaint with the Federal Tax Service? The complaint is filed in writing on paper or in electronic form, signed by the applicant or his representative. The taxpayer can submit the document in person or by sending it by mail. How will the taxpayer receive a response to the complaint from the Federal Tax Service? Decisions on the complaint of individuals and organizations are sent by the tax authorities to the applicant in the same way that the appeal was received by them, namely: — on paper by mail. — in electronic form through the personal accounts of the portal of Public Services or the official website of the tax service. How can the applicant find out about the progress of the complaint? For more operational interaction of fiscal authorities with taxpayers, an online service "Learn about the complaint" has been created. With its help, the applicant, without leaving home, can find out the following information about his complaint: — incoming number and date of receipt of the document to the tax authorities. — the final deadline for consideration of the appeal. — the status of the document now. — information about the results of the review. How can the applicant find out the result of consideration of the complaint? The online service "Solutions to Complaints" was created by the tax authorities specifically to provide information on the results of consideration of taxpayers' appeals. In the service, information is displayed in the form of decisions of the tax service in the context of categories of taxpayers, articles of the Tax Code, names of taxes, fees, and payments, as well as topics of tax disputes. Assessment of the risk of bankruptcy of the enterprise Disputes under a construction contract. Features of conducting such cases in court Termination of the contract of purchase and sale of a share in an LLC. In what cases is such a measure necessary to protect your rights? USN: payment procedure – Valen How to legally avoid VAT and save on payroll taxes When an increased personal income tax does not apply to Russians who have left

The Pelican Brief » Cast (Movie) Cast Members Darby Shaw Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American actress and producer. She established herself as a leading lady in Hollywood after headlining the romantic comedy film Pretty Woman (1990), which grossed $464million worldwide. She has won three ... more » Gray Grantham Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, director, and producer. He has received two Golden Globe awards, one Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory (1989) and ... more » Thomas Callahan Samuel Shepard Rogers III (November 5, 1943 – July 27, 2017), known professionally as Sam Shepard, was an American actor, playwright, author, screenwriter, and director whose career spanned half a century. He won ten Obie Awards for writing and ... more » 1 photo » John Heard Gavin Vereek John Heard Jr. (March 7, 1946 – July 21, 2017) was an American film and television actor. He had lead roles in several films, including Deceived, Chilly Scenes of Winter, Heart Beat, Cutter's Way, Cat People, and C.H.U.D., as well as supporting roles ... more » Tony Goldwyn Fletcher Coal Anthony Howard "Tony" Goldwyn (born May 20, 1960) is an American actor and director. He portrayed the villain Carl Bruner in Ghost, Colonel Bagley in The Last Samurai, and the voice of the title character of the Disney animated film Tarzan. He stars in ... more » Smith Keen John Arthur Lithgow (LITH-goh; born 1945) is an American actor, musician, poet, author, and singer. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Tony Awards, six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, four ... more » Hume Cronyn Justice Rosenberg Hume Blake Cronyn, Jr., OC (July 18, 1911 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian-American actor of stage and screen, who enjoyed a long career, often appearing professionally alongside Jessica Tandy, his wife for over fifty years. more » James Sikking FBI Director Denton Voyles James Barrie Sikking (born March 5, 1934), credited as James or James B. Sikking, is an American actor known for his Emmy-nominated role as Lt. Howard Hunter on the 1980s NBC TV series Hill Street Blues. He also starred on the ABC TV series Doogie Howser ... more »

Q: Is the Gradle version in Ubuntu 20.04 modified to support newer Java versions? After upgrading to Ubuntu 20.04, I am now on Java 11.0.9.1 and Gradle 4.4.1 (the latter being over two years old and long superseded by the time 20.04 was released). This combination works fine—despite the Gradle release notes starting that Java 11 support was only introduced with Gradle 5.0. gradle --version reports Gradle 4.4.1 and Java 11.0.9.1. However, in one of my projects I use Gradle wrapper and have updated it to 4.4.1 as well. When invoked through Gradle wrapper, Gradle refuses to work with Java 11, despite the Gradle version being nominally the same as the installed one (4.4.1). Does Ubuntu ship with a modified build of Gradle (e.g. with added support for newer Java versions)?

Gerrie and Martie Malan were married in 1970. He started out in a new career in the South African Correctional Services soon after and remained with that department for 25 years. The couple were transferred many times through the years and also moved between Cape Town and Pretoria twice a year for eight years while Gerrie was a member of the Correctional Services' parliamentary staff. Needless to say, while Martie worked for shorter spells during those 25 years, she was mostly found in the role of homemaker, raising their three children in what was often difficult circumstances. After being released on pension through sheer burnout in 1995, Gerrie became a lecturer in Correctional Services Management for the Technikon SA, which was later amalgamated with the University of South Africa. It was in this time that they left the reformed church in which they were both raised and embarked on a search for biblical truth through the Pentecostal and Charismatic environments. This journey proved to be a learning experience second to none. It provided wonderful experiences, but unfortunately also exposed them to man-made doctrines and practices they found raising more and more questions as they studied the Scriptures intensively. Martie had in the meantime taken up studies in Bible-based counselling and was soon joined by Gerrie. While she specialised in the area of emotional healing, he focused on spiritual warfare. Once again they gained valuable knowledge - even in the sense of identifying unbiblical practices. Gerrie progressed into further studies in ministry and carried on untill he completed a doctorate in Systematic Theology. His thesis focussed on the "born again" and "in Christ" concepts and it has already given birth to his first book, The Lamp Of The Lord, a focus on the biblical concepts of soul and spirit. Martie's focus turn ed to intensive Bible study on various doctrines, including the biblical end-times content, but setting aside all the popular modern books and audio-visual material that so strongly influences the human mind. A home fellowship of five in April 2001 quickly grew into a weekly meeting of 50. The group eventually became a formalised congregation (Hosea Christian Family Church). This congregation later amalgamated with another, with Gerrie and Martie taking up leadership of the Bible College. Today they are not connected by membership of any denomination, and free of denominational chains and stumbling blocks, they are able to focus on se arching unhindered for biblical truth to the many questions they have developed from their journey through the Reformed, Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions. Unlike many others who have turned their back on the Bible in similar processes, they feel they have gained much more understanding of the Bible's simple truth when it is stripped of the many centuries of philosophising and pollution that has robbed humanity of the kingdom living God wanted for them. Before relocating to the Hibiscus Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in September 2013, they fellowshipped at a small congregation in the town of Koppies in South Africa's Free State Province, where the pastoral couple understood and appreciated their heart to rightly divide the word of truth. Currently they are not attached to any denomination or congregation and are focusing on their writing and sharing their understanding through this website and their various free e-books. The resources available on this website are part result of Gerrie and Martie's search to discern biblical truth amidst the many man-made doctrines on end-times issues Christians are being confronted with. While they have no wish to be controversial, both accept that their work will often be controversial as they unavoidably address traditions and holy cows of the many organisational Christian environments. They are simply two pilgrims on a journey seeking to understand the Bible, the word of truth, in its true and intended context. Their approach is not one of trying to prove or disprove any specific doctrines, but to present their renewed understanding of the Scriptures as they study them anew. By doing that, they hope to contribute constructively to the Bible study of their readers. In the end, none of us can pass the responsibility for our understanding and beliefs on to others,but have to take that responsibility on ourselves. The frightening array of doctrines confronting Christian believers clearly underline the danger of allowing others to interpret the Bible for us, while we blindly take anything they say for the truth.

learn to read app for kids 3-7: Duolingo ABC home / digital literacy / iPad for learning / learn to read app for kids 3-7: Duolingo ABC Duolingo ABC is a free app that teaches children ages 3 – 7 how to read. Did you get that? Free app. That teaches children ages 3 – 7 how to read. It's developed by learning scientists. This app includes over 300 fun, mini- lessons that teach the alphabet, phonics, and sight words. And friends, kids love it. Here's the skinny. . . Duolingo ABC — Learn-to-read app for kids 3-7 I think it's important to note that I am by no means saying that you should hand your child a device with Duolingo ABC loaded on it and expect that in no time flat your child will read. I'm not saying that using this app is the only way or even the best way to teach a child to read. I am saying, as a Reading Specialist and educator for the past 20 years, that I am really impressed by Duolingo ABC and wholeheartedly stand by it as an amazing and worthwhile literacy skill-building app for children. And in this world of ours, where apps are available by the thousands and our kids are surrounded by noise in every direction, this app is one of the best I've seen. First, a little Duolingo ABC background Honestly, I receive dozens of inquiries each week asking me to review this app or that, this new literacy-related software or that. But when I heard from my friends at Duolingo, I was intrigued. Sure, I knew Duolingo from the language-learning app, but I had not known that Duolingo had created anything for early literacy. "We created Duolingo ABC to tackle the global problem of illiteracy," said Luis von Ahn, CEO and Co-Founder of Duolingo. "Teaching people how to read and write can change lives. By taking everything we know about how people learn languages, and how to keep learners motivated with gamification, we believe we can make a dent in global literacy rates." I. Love. This. Duolingo has taken their expertise in creating a successful, accessible (and free) language learning system and turned their attention to literacy for early readers. As the country shut down this Spring to COVID-19, Duolingo worked feverishly to fast track and release its first literacy app to give parents more resources to teach their children ages 3-7 to read. In September, Duolingo greatly expanded the app to offer more complex lessons for 1st graders and refined it to include parents' most-asked for features. Find the app here: Duolingo ABC Duolingo ABC is still in development. The app is currently only available in the App Store in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the United States. Duolingo ABC is only available on iOS, but there are plans to release an Android version in the future. Our experience with Duolingo ABC My 3-year-old niece, Cecilia, had the chance to try out the app, and she loves it. I am over the moon thrilled that she's using her screen time on something meaningful instead of passively consuming random video content. Duolingo ABC is a game that she has no idea is helping her build super-important reading skills. Her mom—my sister—loves that Cecilia now has something to do while her older sister is doing her virtual schoolwork. And not just 'something' to work on–but an activity that is engaging, research-backed, and age-appropriate. Duolingo ABC is an activity that will help our littlest learners get closer and closer to reading! How awesome is that? And my 6-year-old niece, Ruby, tried the app. She loved it, too! Ruby was able to breeze through the letter recognition, so we skipped to her settings and chose the middle level for her. Of the three levels, we indicated that she was past a beginner and knew some letters and sounds—just not most letter sounds. We wanted to set her up for success from the start. Ruby loved the combination of reading, writing, and playing, but by far her favorite was the short stories. The "Cool Cat" and "Five Fish" story made her giggle and smile big with pride as she read along, repeated sentences, and listened to the story. I think it's awesome that an app like this can work so well for multiple children in a family. I know Duolingo ABC would be a necessary and well-loved addition to any ECE classroom! What we love about Duolingo ABC We love most everything about Duolingo ABC, but in particular, we love that: the whole thing is built to feel like a game: learners earn stars and progress through the learning path it's up-beat and engaging it's intuitive even for our littlest learners the app is totally and completely ad-free (yayyyy! Nothing annoying or distracting as our kiddos play!) letter-writing activities include both lowercase and uppercase letters the personalized lessons actually teach names there are 300+ fun, bite-sized lessons teaching the alphabet, phonics, and sight words the app can be taken on-the-go in a 5 minute car ride and fit any busy schedule the whole app is aligned with Common Core standards and based on recommendations by the National Reading Panel it includes new first grade curriculum that includes 50 new lessons has been added this month up to 8 profiles can be added which is perfect for pod learning! I love that the whole mission of Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. Q & A with Dr. Cindy Blanco, learning scientist at Duolingo Dr. Cindy Blanco is a learning scientist at Duolingo and a former college instructor of Spanish and linguistics. She is an expert in language learning, bilingualism, and data analysis. I had a chance to ask Dr. Blanco a few questions earlier this month. Take a look– 1.) Duolingo ABC is the first ECE app of its kind by Duolingo. What made Duolingo pivot towards this audience? Our mission is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available, and literacy is crucial to unlocking education and success at all ages. Having strong literacy skills unlocks not just access to reading, but access to math, science, information, the whole internet! Research has shown that students with low reading levels are more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, repeat school years, or even drop out of school entirely. We see Duolingo ABC as part of this same goal of making the world more accessible and equitable for everyone. Our decision to develop Duolingo ABC was also influenced by our CEO, Luis von Ahn, and his experiences growing up in Guatemala, where the connection between literacy and access to education and job opportunities were especially clear. 2.) How did the team decide on the types of activities and challenges in the app? Why is it coined "learning kids love"? We really believe that learning should be fun and engaging, and so you see this approach throughout all our products. We want our learners to love uncovering more of the world, and to feel curious and motivated to keep learning! And this is especially true for our littlest learners, those using Duolingo ABC. That's why all the activities in Duolingo ABC have been created for the goal of learning, because we know that learning and playing don't have to be separate. Our app doesn't have any fluff, there are no games or gimmicks for the sake of a game or "break" from the work of learning; instead, our approach is to make every activity and every challenge engaging. 3.) What sets Duolingo ABC apart from the many other similar ABC apps in this category? Duolingo ABC is uniquely committed to making every part of a child's experience totally focused on learning, and all totally for free. Our curriculum development is rigorous in order to make sure every single activity has learning value and helps achieve a particular learning objective. Parents notice this right away – they tell us that after just one day, they can tell their kids have learned more than after weeks of using other apps. The learning path is also straightforward and easy to navigate, so that kids aren't overwhelmed by distractions and too many choices. We also rely on the expertise of our literacy experts not just for the teaching material, but also how to present it to children: we wanted every part of the experience to be manageable even for the tiniest of kids, who can't yet read instructions, are still learning to use technology, and are developing fine motor skills. We wanted caregivers to download the app, set up the account, and then be able to turn it over to the child. It's so satisfying for kids to have that control of their experience and their learning, and caregivers can be confident that their screentime is being well-spent. 4.) Duolingo ABC is advertised as a "fun, hands-on way for your child to learn to read". What methods does this app employ to teach reading? We start by first establishing specific learning objectives for each level based on decades of literacy research (e.g., What letters and sounds should a kindergartener know?), and then we create activities to achieve those specific learning goals. Our literacy experts are really sensitive to the particular conceptual connections kids need to make for each sound-letter pair, and to what makes sense developmentally at each age. Then we make sure the game elements are built right into the activities, so that the activities lead kids step-by-step along the learning path. We also think of Duolingo ABC as a one-stop shop for reading skills: we incorporate phonics, decoding, sight words, and comprehension into our lessons. This comprehension component is really important because we want to show kids what a treat it is to read, so each unit starts and ends with a fun, silly story to really show what kids can do with the skills they're building. Our curriculum is also really mindful of the different stages of development children are moving through, so for example, 3- and 4-year-olds see limited game mechanics in the exercises and lessons to keep them from feeling frustrated and to help boost their confidence. For older kids, there are more gamified features to keep them engaged and motivated, like "hearts" and daily stars. We've also thought about the physical process of writing and the motor skills needed to write squiggly little letters. So we scaffold writing, too: we know little fingers are still inaccurate when learning to tap buttons precisely, and we take that into account. This is also true for tracing exercises and tapping other buttons–we're generous for younger kids, and the program's expectations gradually change for older learners. 5.) How would you recommend caregivers use this app with their children? How would you recommend teachers use it with their students? After you and your child set up a new account, you can let them take the lead! Kids can use Duolingo ABC totally on their own, with no grown-up help needed. The path, lessons, and functionality are intuitive and kid-friendly, and all instructions are narrated. Our preschool and kindergarten lessons are already available in the app, and just earlier this week we added our first ~30 first grade lessons, too. There will be more first grade, and soon second grade, lessons to come later this school year. Of course, caregivers and educators can use the app together with their children, too! It could be especially fun to read the stories together, where you can engage about the characters and pictures, and your child can impress you (and themselves!) with what they've learned. Because Duolingo ABC is designed to be a comprehensive curriculum, teachers can use the course as a core resource or as a supplement to classroom instruction. The app also works as great additional practice or a reward! We can imagine teachers assigning a particular number of lessons or minutes of practice, and since the units are transparent in the learning path, teachers can opt to assign them by letter-sound unit. Teachers and caregivers can also skip ahead in the learning path, if a child already knows some letters, so the grown-up has the control to unlock the right amount for each learner. 6.) If you had one thing to say to all families about Duolingo ABC, what would you tell them? Duolingo ABC was created by literacy and curriculum experts to make learning engaging, approachable, and fun. It's the best kind of screen time, because it's interactive, driven by learning objectives, and creates opportunities for caregiver-child interaction. Caregivers are under enormous pressure to play all roles for their children right now, and it's simply too much. Duolingo ABC lets parents do the loving, caring, and playing, and we'll take care of providing excellent teaching. Thank you so much, Dr. Blanco! These answers really helped me understand Duolingo ABC a bit better! Now what should you do? downloading the app to try it out for yourself today sharing this post with your friends who have children ages 3-7; forwarding this post to your local preschool directors; giving information about Duolingo ABC to your MOMS Club, MOPS Club, playgroups, and chat groups; telling your neighborhood sitters about this app so they can try it with the kids they watch; sharing this post with your bus stop friends, your carpool, or your bffs. I'd love to hear who you think would really love to know about Duolingo ABC, and I'd love for you to share this post with him or her! Download the Duolingo ABC app today! fyi: This post was written as part of a partnership with Duolingo ABC, but as always, the thoughts and opinions are all my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator. everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home: classes, crafts,… how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep how to teach kids the ABCs: 5 fun ways About amy mascott teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro · http://about.me/amymascott tweet with me: @teachmama the learning match: connecting families with educators Next Post:how to talk to kids about politically-charged violence in dc

Home கட்டுரை Debate over cattle slaughter Debate over cattle slaughter The proposed ban on cattle slaughter by the Prime Minister has little ethical merit in it. The only purpose it serves, if at all, is that a majority of Sri Lankans will 'feel good' of having moved their abattoirs overseas; out of sight, out of mind. But the demerits of the proposal are many. This proposal will pump ammunition to the cynics who see politics in a poor light. Saving unproductive cattle only adds to the dwindling pastureland to feed the bovines, and as Dr. Waidyanatha has pointed out in a recent article 'total banning of cattle slaughter would with time drag the country into a serious dilemma of increased competition between productive cattle such as cows and draft bulls and unproductive ones, bulls and old cattle, for limited pasture and fodder'. Furthermore, we are bound to see many of the unproductive cattle slaughtered in the illegal meat market. Nicely packaged imported beef can also increase the number of beefeaters. However, the Prime Minister must be thanked for opening up public debate over the much more important issue of the welfare of animals. The practice of eating meat or not eating it is a different issue and the moral protest is a salutary signal to highlight cruelty to other species in this world, for we humans owe it to those who cannot protest. As a civilized nation, we have to control the tyranny of humans over non-human animals. The suffering that we cause to the voiceless animals is abominable and to call ourselves civilized by the same breath is laughable. The debate is also sidetracked by numerous animal lovers because 'they also have two cats and a dog'. Then there are the Buddhists (monks included) who preach that consuming the flesh of animals is blameworthy only if the animals were killed specially for you. That kind of defense not only trivializes the issue but also irritates reasonable minds. Those Buddhists refuse to understand the laws of supply and demand and are quite happy to pass over the moral responsibility to breeders and slaughterers. That is a disservice to a mostly rational doctrine. What may have prompted the PM maybe his sympathetic emotions to the plight of cattle that are killed in so many cruel ways? Australia once had to ban the live export of cattle and sheep due to public protests, after the Australian TV channels aired the inhuman killing of these animals in foreign lands. Australian inspectors were flown to many of these foreign lands to educate the abattoir workers on humane methods less stressful to the animals. Whether the countries changed the cruel practices is another matter. Unfortunately, many cultural and religious proclivities stand in the way of science and ethics. The issue has to be disabused by taking out the emotional, sentimental arguments of animal lovers. Sri Lankans only know of a few horror stories about the treatment of animals but even in this country, hot-iron branding, castration, dehorning are carried out under most barbaric conditions, when science is at hand to prevent such unnecessary cruelty. An Animal Welfare bill is a welcome consequence of the Prime Minister's interest if such eventuate from this public debate. Legal monitoring of large-scale production of animals, breeding centers, and abattoirs, by compassionate honest officers of the crown, and occasional boycotts of those who contravene good practices are morally justified for the sake of animals. The environmentalist has better arguments for the culpability of the meat industry in the world for the damage that it does to the planet earth. Cattle ranching in Brazil has contributed to the reduction of rain forest cover with dire climate change consequences. A single kilo of meat requires nine kilos of grain, and given that the US alone slaughters in excess of 10 billion cattle in one year, this shows what a luxury diet meat is on this crowded planet. The lives of billions of people and other species are threatened for the insatiable taste of a hamburger. It is a huge cost that should stir the conscience of the world. To be rational and pragmatic, it is well nigh impossible to stop humans eating beef, pork, chicken, and rabbits and, for that matter, any that walks, flies, and slithers. All that well-meaning civilized people can and should do is to stop the cruelty, avoidable cruelty, to animals killed either for consumption or other benefits. In Sri Lanka, the manner in which animals are usually handled, transported, and slaughtered is often very cruel and disgusting. It would be a great relief if there are at least humane methods of slaughter in place as in developed countries, and laws regulating slaughter technology are of extreme importance. We, as consumers, are indirectly responsible for the existence of cruel practices involved in producing meat of many kinds. The question we need to address is the welfare of animals in general and the prevention of unnecessary cruelty and stress of any kind. To assist, appease or please any community or economic interest group is miniaturizing our civility. In this modern era, science and rationality must dictate how we treat members of species other than ours. -Dr. D. Chandraratna-

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CRAIG MOERER RECORDS BY MAIL Sell us your collection! Blues & R&B Soundtrack & Cast girl happy it's september / just one moment fire, water, earth & air TOM BROWNE funkin' for jamaica / momo JAY B. LOYD i'm so lonely / i'll be all right joy ride / drag TOUSAN the wild sound of new orleans JAKI WHITREN raw but tender hobo's lullaby slide it in HELENE DIXON roll over beethoven / a teenager sings the blues DOBIE GRAY my baby / same i don't care / come go with me FLASKET BRINNER JADE STONE & LUV mosaics (pieces of stone) SIOUXSIE & BANSHEES livin' for you BOOKER T. & MG'S and now! zombi 2 / zombie flesh eaters rider on the rain never had it so good / let's go get stoned bill haley & comets KUNI KAWACHI & FLOWER TRAVELLING BAND ARCHIE WHITEWATER neon steeple kissin' cousins i can't seem to forget you / mono transparent radiation DICK MORRISSEY QUARTET the last blast GONG & DAEVID ALLEN ORLONS the funky piper / what does it take sophisticated sounds, soul for the connoisseur immediate hits - mod rarities BEMIS CO. it's easy / thanks be LOST SOULS it won't work out baby / give me your love live at the apollo the many grooves of ALFONZO TERRY WOODFORD gonna make you say yeah / hit the ground the shape of jazz to come JO STAFFORD jo + jazz AMON DUUL II the candlestickmaker V.O.S. TRIO yesterday and today decca mod masters • circular grooves volume 2 the marvelettes stereopathetic soulmanure SONNY CRISS jazz - u.s.a. MSD'S FIRESIGN THEATRE don't crush that dwarf... the walnut valley spring thing SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL '66 PETER, PAUL & MARY late again merry christmas darling / times change mortika; recordings from greek underworld LARRY JON WILSON melt not my igloo / ohoopee river bottomland CAMILLE BOB brother brown / 2 weeks, 2 days, too long beggin' my baby / somebody told me PERCY FAITH angel of the morning ITZHAK PERLMAN & ANDRE PREVIN it's a breeze all i want for christmas is you / winter snow DAVID GRISMAN the rounder album HERB ALPERT & TIJUANA BRASS BONNIE KOLOC hold on to me jack orion hawaiian steel guitar classics COUNTRY GAZETTE what a way to make a living! street musicians of yogyakarta how can you be in two places at once? CHARLES BROWN merry christmas, baby i've got a tiger by the tail CHOCOLATE & CONTEMPORARIOS chocolate aqui LUIZ BONFA bonfa JOEY PASTRANA / DICKIE GOODMAN my victrola / luna trip HARMONIZING FOUR that old time religion LEE JACKSON / CLYDE LASLEY christmas song / santa came home drunk live? SELDOM SCENE the new seldom scene album Dale Farr EARL KING: Trick Bag CARL PERKINS: Honey Don't WARREN SMITH: Ubangi Stomp DR ROSS: Boogie Disease HOWLIN WOLF: I Asked For Water OTIS RUSH: I Can't Quit You Baby MUDDY WATERS: Long Distance Call JIMMY REED: I Want To Be Loved DREAMLOVERS: If I Should Lose You SHERADES: My Love JOHNNIE RAY: Cry SOLOMON BURKE: Everybody Needs Somebody TOMMY TUCKER: High Heel Sneakers SHAWEES: No One To Love Me HIDEAWAYS: Can't Help Loving That Girl Of Mine CASTELLS: My Girl Awaits Me JOE HINTON: Funny LILLIAN LEACH & MELLOWS: My Darling The Roots of Rock and Roll..38 Years of playing my own 45s,LP's, CD's every other Friday at 3:00 PST on KBOO radio and KBOO.FM streaming KBOO.FM Bukka White Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White (November 12, 1909 – February 26, 1977) was an African-American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" is a phonetic spelling of White's first name, placed on the labels of his early recordings. He preferred the proper spelling of his name, "Booker," as he was named after the well-known African-American educator and civil rights activist Booker T. Washington. White was born south of Houston, Mississippi. He was a first cousin of B.B. King's mother (White's mother and King's grandmother were sisters). He is remembered as a player of National resonator guitars. He also played piano, but less adeptly. He typically played slide guitar, in an open tuning. He was one of the few, along with Skip James, to use a crossnote tuning in E minor, which he may have learned, as James did, from Henry Stuckey. White started his career playing the fiddle at square dances. He claimed to have met Charlie Patton soon after, but some have doubted this recollection. Nonetheless, Patton was a strong influence on White. He first recorded for Victor Records in 1930. His recordings for Victor, like those of many other bluesmen, included country blues and gospel music. Victor published his photograph in 1930. His gospel songs were done in the style of Blind Willie Johnson, with a female singer accentuating the last phrase of each line. Nine years later, while serving time for assault, he recorded for the folklorist John Lomax. The few songs he recorded around this time became his most well known: "Shake 'Em On Down," and "Po' Boy." His 1937 version of the oft-recorded song "Shake 'Em on Down," is considered definitive; it became a hit while White was serving time in Parchman. One of his most famous songs, "Parchman Farm Blues", about the Mississippi State Penitentiary (also known as Parchman Farm) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, was released on Harry Smith's fourth volume of the Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol. 4. Bob Dylan covered his song "Fixin' to Die Blues", which aided a "rediscovery" of White in 1963 by guitarist John Fahey and Ed Denson, which propelled him into the folk revival of the 1960s. White had recorded the song simply because his other songs had not particularly impressed the Victor record producer. It was a studio composition of which White had thought little until it re-emerged thirty years later. Fahey and Denson found White easily enough: Fahey wrote a letter to "Bukka White (Old Blues Singer), c/o General Delivery, Aberdeen, Mississippi." Fahey had assumed, given White's song "Aberdeen, Mississippi", that White still lived there or nearby. The postcard was forwarded to Memphis, Tennessee, where White worked in a tank factory. Fahey and Denson soon traveled to meet White, and White and Fahey remained friends through the remainder of White's life. He recorded a new album for Denson and Fahey's Takoma Records, whilst Denson became his manager. White was at one time also managed by experienced blues manager Arne Brogger. Later in his life, White was friends with the musician Furry Lewis. The two recorded an album (mostly in Lewis's Memphis apartment), Furry Lewis, Bukka White & Friends: Party! At Home. White died of cancer in February 1977, at the age of 67, in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1990 he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (along with Blind Blake and Lonnie Johnson). On November 21, 2011, the Recording Academy announced that "Fixin' to Die Blues" was to be added to its 2012 list of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients. The Led Zeppelin song "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper", on the band's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III, was based in large part on White's "Shake 'Em on Down." "Custard Pie", a song on Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti, also references "Shake 'Em on Down." The 1963 recordings of White's song "Shake 'Em on Down" and spoken-word piece "Remembrance of Charlie Patton" were both sampled by electronic artist Recoil (mostly a one-man effort by Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode) for the track "Electro Blues for Bukka White" on the 1992 album Bloodline. The song was reworked and re-released on the 2000 EP Jezebel. In 1995, White's "Aberdeen, Mississippi" was covered as "Aberdeen" by guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his debut album, Ledbetter Heights. It reached number 23 on the Billboard (North America) Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1996. On January 26, 2010, Eric Bibb released Booker's Guitar (TEL 31756 02) through Telarc International Corporation after becoming inspired by the hidden stories Bibb felt through holding White's famous guitar. White's song "Parchman Farm Blues" was recorded by Jeff Buckley, and was released posthumously on the bonus disc of Buckley's album Grace: Legacy Edition. Article courtesy of www.wikipedia.org © 1996-2020 Records By Mail LLC

BigOven was started by a software veteran who loves to cook. Steve was standing in a grocery store in 2003, wishing he could look up his family recipes, as well as a vast cookbook of options to make the most of what was freshest that day. With BigOven, you can take your recipes anywhere, make grocery lists and easily share your favorite creations with your friends, family or even your future self when you need them. An innovative leader in the category, BigOven was the first recipe app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, and has been downloaded over 13 million times, with over 3.3 million registered members. We're building a Kitchen Cloud platform with our API, connecting home cooks with the foods they love, allowing developers, bloggers and webmasters to add recipes and shopping lists to their apps. We're located in the Downtown neighborhood of Knoxville, at 106A W Summit Hill Dr SW, Knoxville, TN 37902. With BigOven, you can take your recipes anywhere, make grocery lists and easily share your favorite creations with your friends, family or even your future self when you need them. An innovative leader in the category, BigOven was the first recipe app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, and has been downloaded over 13 million times, with over 3.3 million registered members. Our Kitchen Cloud platform enables new recipe, shopping and nutrition applications with our API, connecting home cooks with the foods they love, allowing developers, bloggers and webmasters to add recipes and shopping lists to their apps. How can BigOven be a better solution for you? Drop by the Feedback Section or Company Blog and send us your thoughts. We're listening!

Beach to Head Sackler Gallery Show only digital media Show only finding aids Smithsonian Museum & Research Centers Information Close Browse records and papers documenting the history and research of major Smithsonian divisions. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by museum or research center. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (5543) United States National Museum (4110) National Museum of Natural History (3870) National Zoological Park (3203) National Museum of American History (2999) Smithsonian Institution Building (1178) Freer Gallery of Art (881) Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (548) National Museum of the American Indian (358) Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (304) Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (258) Smithsonian Records Information Close Browse official records created at the Smithsonian Institution's museums, research centers, libraries, and archives, now in the Smithsonian Institution Archives' collections. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by major topics or disciplines. Museum Studies (3377) Traveling Exhibitions (134) Paleontology (65) Mammalogy (37) Vertebrate Zoology (35) Mineralogy (31) World War I and II (30) Meteorlogy (23) Invertebrate Zoology (20) International Education (19) Herpetology (8) Tropical Biology (2) Smithsonian Secretaries Information Close Browse records and papers of the Smithsonian Secretaries, from 1846 until today. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by individuals who have held that office. Joseph Henry (954) Alexander Wetmore (462) Sidney Dillon Ripley (368) Spencer Fullerton Baird (355) Charles D Walcott (253) S. P Langley (201) C. G Abbot (187) Leonard Carmichael (155) Ira Michael Heyman (90) Robert McCormick Adams (56) Lawrence M Small (53) G. Wayne Clough (36) Expeditions Information Close Browse records and papers documenting scientific and collecting expeditions either affiliated with the Smithsonian, or with which Smithsonian researchers participated. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by geographic regions predominantly represented in expedition records. Polar Regions (2302) Personal Papers Information Close Browse papers and special collections created by institutions and persons who have contributed to and collaborated with the Smithsonian. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by major topics and disciplines. Aeronautics (249) Mammalogy (159) Museum Studies (99) Meteoralogy (25) Herpetology (25) Mineralalogy (16) Vertebrate Zoology (9) World War I and II (6) Professional Societies Information Close Browse records of professional societies closely associated with the Smithsonian, that focus on areas of scientific research and museum studies. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by major topics and disciplines. Preservation of Materials (17) Marine Biology (9) Mineralalogy (1) Meteorlogy (1) Invertebrate Zoology (1) Oral Histories Information Close Browse oral and video history collections containing interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff, and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. Pre-set filters help narrow searches by major topics or disciplines. Tropical Biology (19) Smithsonian Employees (10) Mammalogy (6) Ichthyology (4) Marine Bilology (2) Botanny (1) Milo C. Beach, chair of the Department of Art at Williams College is named director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, a component of the Center for African, Near Eastern, and Asian Cultures on February 21. Beach, Milo Cleveland Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Chronology of Smithsonian History Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 371, Box 4, "The Torch," April 1984, p. 1. Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1984. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1985, p. 410. Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu Art museum directors

CRIMEWATCH US CRIMEWATCH PA West York Borough Police Department Chief of Public Safety Matthew Millsaps 1381 W. Poplar Street West York, PA 17404 www.westyorkcrimewatch.org Follow Crime Map Incident Blotter RTK Request CrashDoc Accident Reports Local Links/Resources CRIMEWATCH Network sars-cov-19.jpg West York Borough - State of Emergency COVID-19 Please be advised that as of 12:00 pm, March 12, 2020, the Hon. Bruce Vick- Mayor of West York Borough, has declared a State of Emergency that will remain in place for 30 days. This was subsequently ratified by Borough administration and approved by the West York Borough Council. This State of Emergency specifically relates to the current status of an increased number of diagnosed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Pennsylvania and the Northeast United States. milsaps_matthew_5_original.jpg WELCOME TO THE WEST YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT Welcome to West York Police Department's web portal on the CRIMEWATCH Network. We ask that you use the information found on this site responsibly. Working in partnership with the community we can proactively prevent crime, support victim recovery and hold offenders accountable. Matthew Millsaps, Chief of Public Safety crime_watch_icon_w_circle_r.png SIGN UP FOR FREE NOTIFICATIONS! Now you can receive alerts through email about crime and arrests in your local community. Click here to sign up for free. phone_website.png MOBILE APP AVAILABLE Download the CRIMEWATCH mobile application and stay up to date with crime in your area. Our app lets you browse nearby crime and anonymously submit tips to authorities. Borough Snow Emergency Declared Mayor Bruce Vick has declared a Snow Emergency for West York Borough, effective Wednesday 12/16/2020 at 11:00 am and continuing through Thursday 12/17/2020 at 6:00 pm. The Primary snow emergency routes are: Hoke Street W. King Street Highland Avenue W. Market Street Adams Street Please move... Druck, Keith A - (1 count each) Robbery On December 9, 2020 at roughly 9:30 a.m., Keith Druck (47) of Monroe Street, York, PA, entered the M&T Bank located at 1401 W. Market Street in West York. Druck approached the bank teller and presented a threatening note demanding cash. The teller complied with his demands and he took approx. $... (1 count each) Robbery Shooting Incident Last night (Sept. 15, 2020), at 10:21 pm, West York Borough Police responded to the area of W. King & Dewey Streets for the report of a shooting. Police discovered a crime scene which indicated multiple shots were fired from a pistol by an unknown assailant. This resulted in a 22 y/o man to be... Case Status: MANNS, DANGELO STEPHON - Rape; Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse; Sexual Assault; Aggravated Indecent Assault; Indecent... Based on responses received from the public overnight, The West York Police did, this morning, with the assistance of the York City Police & York County DA's Office take into custody a suspect related to the rape that had occurred in West York on Tuesday. After further developing the... Rape; Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse; Sexual Assault; Aggravated Indecent Assault; Indecent Assault; Burglary West York Police Investigate Rape Case The West York Borough Police are actively investigating a Rape that occurred on the Borough's North Side Tuesday morning. We are asking for the public's help identifying the suspect. At roughly 6:00 a.m. a female resident awoke to find a male suspect in her residence. Armed with a knife, the... Smith, Jonathan Michael - (1000) counts Child Pornography (Felony 2) and 1 additional charge Today, July 8 2020 the West York Borough Police Department executed a search warrant at a Borough residence arresting Jonathan M. Smith (1493 W. Philadelphia Street) for both, the possession & dissemination of literally thousands of images of child pornography. This investigation began in late... (1000) counts Child Pornography (Felony 2), (F-3); Dissemination of child pornography Beatty, Takanii Dante - Patronizing Victim of Sexual Servitude (F1) and 3 additional charges West York Police, aided by the US Marshall's Service York Joint Task Force have taken into custody Takanii Beatty (09/01/1974) of York for a felony warrant stemming from a West York Borough Police Human Trafficking Investigation. Beatty has been charged with several offenses, including Patronizing... Patronizing Victim of Sexual Servitude (F1), Rape By Force (F1), Statutory Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault Pough, Shavar - (1 count) Possession Of Firearm Prohibited (F1) and 2 additional charges On Feb. 8, 2020 at 9:28 p.m., West York Police were dispatched to the first block of Dewey Street for a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located evidence of a gunfight and ultimately a victim that had fled the scene was located. In our investigation, we were able to determine that the defendant,... (1 count) Possession Of Firearm Prohibited (F1), (1 count) Firearms Not To Be Carried Without A License (F3), (2 Counts) Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) Howard, Mark Anthony - (18) 4303 (a)(1)-Endangering Welfare of Children-Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense and 1... Mark Anthony Howard is wanted under an active warrant for felony child endangerment and assault of a child. If you have any information please notify 911 and the West York Borough Police Department at 717-854-1975. (18) 4303 (a)(1)-Endangering Welfare of Children-Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, (18) 2701 (a)(1) Simple Assault Weedon, Emahn Marquez - (1 count) Possession Of Firearm Prohibited (F1) and 2 additional charges On 2/8/20, Emahn Weedon did possess a stolen firearm (of which he is prohibited by felony conviction of possessing any firearm) and did shoot at an individual during a gunfight occurring in the first block of Dewey Street. He turned himself in before MDJ Clancy on 2/18/2020 (1 count) Possession Of Firearm Prohibited (F1), (1) Count of Receiving Stolen Property (F-2), (1 count) Firearms Not To Be Carried Without A License (F3) Markel, Thomas L. Sr. - (1 count) Possession of Controlled Substance (M) Misdemeanor Drug Act Violation (1 count) Possession of Controlled Substance (M) Corley, Wade H. - (1) Count Felony Megan's Law Violation - Failure to Comply With Registration Wanted for Felony violation of Megan's Law Registration (1) Count Felony Megan's Law Violation - Failure to Comply With Registration Wilson, David - (1) count of Terroristic Threats and 1 additional charge Officers were dispatched for males waving a gun in front of victims home. Males were to no longer be on scene on officers arrival. Investigation revealed that Wilson was on facebook live waving a gun in front of the victims house. Wilson was also commenting and posting on facebook that he was to... (1) count of Terroristic Threats, 2 counts of harrassment Suspicious Person - Impersonating an Officer UPDATE 11/21/2019 2100 HRS (9;00PM) Based upon assistance from the Community as a result of this initial post, as well as vigilance of officers and a local business, this evening, WYBPD Officers did apprehend the suspect in this case. The suspect is a juvenile & we are still working to develop... Incident Type: All Other - Criminal Indecent Exposure Arrest Police received a phone call from a concerned father who advised that his daughter, on Monroe St. is upset due to her neighbor exposing himself by sun bathing. While on the phone, police received a dispatch to the exposed male. On scene complainant stated "I don't know what to do,I have children, I... Recently a local business reported a series of fraudulent transactions on their corporate card. These charges were made from a foreign address. This is a reminder to please keep your accounts safe and continually check for any charges that you did not authorize. Additionally, "freecreditreport.com... DUI Accident- 1 Arrested, No One Injured At 14:45 Monday afternoon, officers responded to the 1200 block of West King Street for reports of a vehicle backing into another while trying to park. Upon arrival, the operator of the vehicle seemed to be under the influence of alcohol. Being unaware of why the police had been called, the driver... Drug Violation (Bath Salts & Meth Intoxication) Early Monday morning, West York police observed a male sitting on the curb talking to himself in the area of W. King Street & Hoke Street. When approached, the male started rolling around on the sidewalk, and stated that he was high on bath salts and meth. Police called for EMS & after... Yesterday evening around 9:30 pm, WYBPD Offcers were called to the 1st Block of Dewey Street for a report of shots fired. Upon their arrival, they found evidence of a shooting and ultimately located a victim who had non-life threatening injuries. A police investigation determined that multiple... Drug Sting Leads to Arrests On Wed. January 15, 2020, West York Borough Police conducted a surveillance & sting operation on an individual who had been identified as a drug dealer. Around 12:15 pm, this suspect (who was a juvenile) did deliver an amount of drugs to another individual. As police officers closed in to... Attempt to identify retail theft The West York Borough Police Department is attempting to identify the pictured suspect in a retail theft. Theft took place at the Smoker's Outlet located at 1636 W. Market St. on 11/29/2019. If you can help identify please contact West York Borough Police at 717-854-1975. Please be advised that as of 12:00 pm, March 12, 2020, the Hon. Bruce Vick- Mayor of West York Borough, has declared a State of Emergency that will remain in place for 30 days. This was subsequently ratified by Borough administration and approved by the West York Borough Council. This State of... House Fire - 1st Block South Highland Avenue This evening (12/19/2019) at 4:41 p.m., West York Fire & Police units were dispatched to 11 S. Highland Avenue [West York Borough] for the report of a structure fire. Within less than 1 minute, Police units arrived on the scene and discovered a multi-story detached home with smoke & fire... Bulldog Wins the National Dog Show Thor the BULLDOG just won the National Dog Show! Have a safe & Happy Thanksgiving everyone. #BulldogsStickTogether York United Plate Patrol Delivering free meals Thanksgiving Day! Please call or text 717-825-8079 to place an order. West York- Snow Emergency Ticketing in Progress 12-16-2020 @ 13:38 PM West York Borough Snow Emergency Declared West York Bank Robbery 12-09-2020 @ 10:09 AM West York Police Arrest Two, Get a gun off the street West York Police Make Arrest in Rape Case About CRIMEWATCH All site content on the CRIMEWATCH portal is the specific and unquestionable property of the appropriate law enforcement agency that maintains, manages and administers content. Content is subject to change at any time. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. CRIMEWATCH Technologies, affiliates and subsidiaries are in no way responsible for accuracy, timeliness, or relevancy of the information populating this site. English Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Dutch French German Hindi Italian Japanese Korean Portuguese Russian Spanish CRIMEWATCH® and the Eye Design are registered trademarks of CRIMEWATCH Technologies, Inc. © 2021 CRIMEWATCH Technologies, Inc. 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[Update] SaskTel and MTS Confirm iPhone 4S Coming Soon by Gary Ng – Tue, October 11, 2011 Update 2: SaskTel's website and has been updated to show October 28th as its release date, as seen below (which coincides with the rumoured MTS date): Update 1: We received an unconfirmed tip MTS will release the iPhone 4S on October 28th (thanks KC). For SaskTel and MTS customers, great news is coming your way. We noted earlier Apple's website indicated the iPhone 4S was 'not available' from both carriers, but that has changed. SaskTel and MTS have confirmed they will offer the iPhone 4S to its customers. Sasktel has updated its website with an 'iPhone 4S Coming Soon' graphic: Whereas MTS Allstream confirmed the news on Facebook: There has been no mention of pre-order availability, but I would expect these carriers to either offer the iPhone 4S on launch day or soon thereafter. Thanks @JordanHollins for the heads up! First iPhone 4S Hands-On With Siri Hits the Web [VIDEO] Tue, October 11, 2011

Yodasnews.com Five Year Giveaway Party! Special Events that will test your creativity, trivia nights and much more! Bookmark this page and keep checking back at Yodasnews.com as we announce how you can take some of these great prizes home! And that's not it! We have more figures, busts, kits and more that we will be giving away! Keep checking back all month long! For your chance to win this impressive item, all you need to do is send an e-mail to yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "Happy 5th Yodasnews.com". All e-mails must be received by the end of the day on Tuesday, February 20th, 2009. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. If the winner resides in the United States, shipping will be free. International winners will be responsible for shipping costs as well as all customs and/or import fees. Only one entry per person/email address will be accepted. However, you can earn a second BONUS entry by submitting a picture of yourself with your favorite Clonetrooper collectible to the following address: yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "BONUS EFX ENTRY". You never know if we add in more prizes for unique or creative pictures, so keep that in mind when shooting! Please double check your Subject lines. We are expecting a large turnout and will be auto-sorting these entries by subject title. Also be sure to read the terms and conditions at the bottom of this page. Make a Play-Doh Style or Clay maquette or mini-bust of Yoda celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Yodasnews and submit a picture to Yodasnews. Yoda must be sculpted out of a clay like, dough like medium only. Accessories do not have to be clay or dough related (e.g. – real candles, Hasbro lightsaber). Email your picture to yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "Clayoda" The best Yoda as judged by Jeff and Mark will win choice of ANY Single Prize from row 2 to 8 above! YOU pick what you want from over 20 items!!! Giveaway ends on 2/8/2009 at Midnight EST. Up to 3 creations per person can be sent. Good Luck! Get the camera out this weekend for our fourth Five Year Anniversary Giveaway. This is usually a YN Reader Favorite so we are again offering a great high end collectible to the winner. All you need to do is take a picture of yourself in a interesting or unique (but safe) place with a sign reading, "Happy 5th Anniversary Yodasnews.com", and the best picture as judged by the non-participating staff members will win an Attakus Sandtrooper Sergeant Exclusive Statue! Only 750 were made and they retailed for over $340. You will get a brand new factory sealed statue delivered 100% free anywhere in the USA (see terms at the prize page.) Feel free to include any information about the location if you think it will help! UPDATE 1:14pm EST - Ben O. was the first person to send in the correct entry, this giveaway is closed. Thanks for all who entered. Here is a contest for all of you trooper fans and army builders out there! A successful field commander is always fully aware of the resources at his disposal. Here before you are TEN close-up shots of various Republic and Imperial soldiers, and your task is to identify either the specific type of soldier OR the specific character (yes, some of them could have names like Cody or Gree—although those two are only examples). In the interest of fairness, you need to be VERY specific on the following: 5, 7, and 10. You do NOT need to specify which figure line. You only need the name that appeared on the packaging. All of these figures are from 2000 – 2009. Good luck and may the Force be with you!! Click the images below to see them full screen at our prize page and send in your guesses to yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "Know Your Troops". Giveaways ends as soon as we get a correct answer so get moving! All you need to do is send us a picture of you either in your collection room, at a Star Wars theme park, with your favorite Star Wars actor, or anything that shows your Star Wars fandom. The picture does not need to be current, it can be one you have taken in the past or from a vacation, we will be posting all the images on a special page here later this month! Send the image to Yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "I Love Star Wars". There is no limit to the number of pictures you can send in but they must be actual images, no photoshop or image altering is allowed. All images must be received by 2/18/2009. We will pick FIVE images from the bunch and EACH one selected will win a Yodasnews 5 Year Prize Pack which may include waves of Hasbro Figures, Mini Busts, Comics and more. You'll have to wait until your box arrives to see what you won but you can get an idea of what is up for grabs at the top of this page! For your chance to win a Luke & Yoda - Dagobah Training ( Sideshow Exclusive Edition) Premium Format, all you need to do is send an e-mail to yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "Luke and Yoda". All e-mails must be received by the end of the day, February 28th, 2009. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. If the winner resides in the United States, shipping will be free. International winners will be responsible for shipping costs as well as all customs and/or import fees. Only one entry per person/email address will be accepted. Good Luck! Below is a word scramble of ten names/words from both Canon and EU Star Wars material. The first correct entry (spelling counts) will win a mystery prize pack! Send in your guesses to yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "Word Scramble". Send in your guesses to yodasnewsanniversary@gmail.com with the subject line "Word Scramble 2". If you do not agree to that, please do not send in your entry.. All entries must contain your full name and mailing address; incomplete entries will not be honored. Phone number may be required from the winner for shipping purposes due to the value of the item. By submitting your entry you grant Yodanews.com the right to print your name (first name only and state if you prefer) on the website as the winners are announced each day. All picture submissions must be via e-mail and you also agree to allow us to use that image and post it on our website for this and future promotions. No Items will be shipped until the conclusion of the giveaway, then please allow 2-4 weeks for processing, packing and shipping. You will be notified via e-mal when your prize has been shipped. Yodasnews.com reserves the right to change any prizes or cancel this giveaway at anytime should it become necessary. You must send in your entries using the correct links and addresses on this page, if you send to any other address your entry will not be accepted.

What I like about this book is the fact that adversity does not necessarily mean death. While it would have been easy for Sandberg to base the whole book on her experience (and, granted, most of the situations referred to relate to her), she makes an effort to cover several facets of adversity that hit each of us in our daily lives. Like anything, adversity lies in the eyes of the beholder - while some can cope with failure and see the opportunity to learn, others may have simply have invested too much to let go so easily. From then on, Sandberg looks into specific instances and tries to list a series of steps one can take to conquer the above assumptions. Again, nothing new but I did find it a well thought out exercise in organising and making certain the right tools are there to help and protect us in difficult times. Personalisation: two mantras spring to mind and which I also found in the book -- "believe in yourself" and "you're only human" (or something of this kind). If the adversity is indeed a mistake on my part, it is my actions that have produced it, not my character. Whew! it's as easy as that, people! Be ashamed of what I did, so that I make certain I improve instead of feeling guilty and small and worthless. Also: be realistic, be hopeful, be true to yourself. Granted, theory is much better than the practice, which is where the second motto comes in handy. No one is perfect: recognize our imperfections as part of our human heritage, and we can build up our resilience and self-esteem. Pervasiveness - a.k.a the power of networking. And not the networking in order to get a promotion - here it is the support of family / friends / colleagues / society. No man is an island, said John Donne and this is all the more true when adversity hits. However optimistic / hopeful / resilient we are, we are human and we need the support of fellow humans to a. show/remind us the good side of life and b. to help us sustain injuries and gently show us the way back to a balanced life. I found it interesting that Sandberg also makes a point about the support structures businesses and society must have for their members - something I thought (as a European, I admit) was not that much in high regard in the USA. Pleasantly surprised, this is the only way forward. Care for your employees/citizens, and they will care for you. Option B also talks about the more complex cases of refugees and children and how the same principles, albeit somewhat more elaborate, can be applied to build resilience. I admit I was intrigued so see these two categories included, but as I kept on reading, not only did I admire the thoroughness of the work carried out for this book but I now also look at them from a different perspective (see above, the power of networking - treat the others as they want to be treated). Yes, welcome back. This one sounds interesting but I too would be annoyed by the constant Zuckerberg/Facebook mentions.

Parents often want to restructure their family corporation through an estate freeze, to minimize the impact of corporate taxes in the event of death and for creditor proofing. If this is not done properly, the gifted shares will not be excluded from a child's family property accounting in the event of a failed marriage or common-law relationship. In general, an estate freeze puts a limit on the growth in the value of the parent's shares, and transfers expected future growth to the next generation (i.e. their children). This strategy can provide the existing shareholder(s) (typically the parents) with income tax savings and estate planning flexibility. In some circumstances, to accomplish the estate-freeze, a nominal value of issued common shares in the corporation owned by a parent are gifted to a son or daughter, and then the balance of the shares are exchanged for fixed-value preference shares, owned by the parent(s), having a redemption value equal to the fair market value of those shares at the time of the estate freeze. The 2010 Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision in McNamee v. McNamee is a very important decision because it may restrict the ability of parents to gift all or part of a family corporation so as to exclude the gift under a family property accounting. It has been appealed, but as of yet the Ontario Court of Appeal has not rendered a decision. The McNamee case is relevant in Manitoba because property division, pursuant to The Family Property Act, does not apply to any asset acquired by a spouse or common-law partner by way of gift or trust benefit from a third person, unless it can be shown that the gift or benefit was conferred with the intention of benefiting both spouses or common-law partners. Shares "gifted" to a son or daughter as part of an estate freeze would typically be excluded from his/her property accounting. However, documentation that appears to evidence an intention by a parent to make a gift of shares may on careful examination by a court be found not to meet the legal definition of a gift. In McNamee, the husband's father, on the advice of his accountant and corporate lawyer, executed a corporate restructuring and estate freeze. The husband and his brother received common shares, which had no value at that time, and the father took back preferred shares which had a value equal to the business as of the date of the estate freeze. However, there were two unusual aspects to the McNamee estate freeze. The father's preference shares were voting shares, so that he could maintain absolute control, and the quantum of the dividend that he could pay himself was not limited. Approximately four years later, after the son separated from his wife, it was determined that the husband had little knowledge about the corporate restructuring that had taken place, even though he had signed some documents. He did not know about the Declaration of Gift until after the separation. After the separation the wife took the position that her husband's shares, which were by then worth more than $400,000.00, were not a gift from his father, but transferred pursuant to a contract that he would continue to work and receive potential growth in the company and provide benefits to the father. She argued that the necessary elements of a gift from father to son were not present, and therefore the value of the husband's shares should be included in the family property accounting. Delivery by the donor to the donee completed. After a careful review of the evidence, and even in the face of a declaration of gift, the judge found that the shares had not been gifted to the son, and therefore the value of the shares at the date of separation was included in the family property accounting. The outcome of the McNamee case could have serious implications for those who have received shares as a result of an estate freeze. While this case had some unique aspects, it will open the door to family law lawyers examining all of the circumstances that gave rise to the gift. It may be that whenever there is an estate freeze to children who remain involved with the company, the receipt of shares is not a true gift, but a payment for past and future services. We look forward to the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision.

Phylogenetic Classification of Bony Fishes – Version 4. SAIAB specimen collections are historically of fishes. Whilst our frog specimen collection is progressing very well our literature holdings have been sparse. Retired Professor Eddie van Dijk, resident in Stellenbosch, has now donated his life's collection of African amphibian literature to SAIAB, comprising some 11,000 reprints, reports and books. This comprehensive collection is well organised, with an associated database, and forms a unique resource that complements our growing frog specimen collection. He has compiled bibliographies on African Anura (frogs and river frog toads), African tadpoles, African fossil frogs, and African vertebrate ichnology (tracks and other trace fossils). The following links are to bibliographies on his old website. Diversifying the natural history collection has been an on-going focus of curation at SAIAB..

There's a Battle Outside, and It is a Ragin'…. Posted: March 30, 2017 in World On The Edge Two months after my husband and I graduated from Spring Hill College and were married, I began teaching at Fourth Grade at Holy Spirit School in Tuscaloosa and he began Law School at the University of Alabama. My classroom was a makeshift one. At the time, the Catholic Schools were overflowing, so my classroom had been made from the lunch room. Over the top of a partition, wonderful smells of baking bread flowed into the room, churning the stomachs of teacher and students. The mother of one of my students was the school baker. Every morning in Holy Spirit's kitchen, she made fantastic rolls, and sent any left over home with the teachers. She was a tall German woman who had immigrated to America, a single parent who I never saw without a baker's cap. A woman who exuded love, she took pride in her citizenship, her job, her faith, and especially her son. Even today, I remember the face of her son, as well as the faces of my other students. They were faces of freshness, of optimism, and of potential. But precarious changes were coming. Vietnam had become a full-blown war, and fingers were pointing, condemning capitalism, and touting 'free love' and 'free money' for everyone. "The Times They Are A Changin'" Bob Dylan sang. Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call. Don't stand in the doorway. Don't block up the hall. For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled. There's a battle outside and it is ragin'. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. For the times they are a-changin' I don't know how many of my Fourth-grade students absorbed and acted on the call for change, but young people like to be part of a group, so I think many surely did. Those faces of freshness, optimism, and potential may have heard the call for change with wonderfully good hearts, but very tender ears. I was young then, too, and also heard the admonition that came during the height of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley—Don't trust anyone who's over the age of thirty. Some of us who experienced those many 'changes' first-hand are now decades away from their beginnings, so we can come to some conclusions at least. We needed to get rid of dirtied water, but we should not have thrown the baby out with it. We should not have thrown out a proven morality. We should not have thrown prayer out of the schools, and denied life to the most vulnerable–the person in the womb. We should not have turned over the true meaning of Tolerance to those who would intentionally misuse it for political purposes. Except, we did. And then, we tolerated anything and everything under its guise. Like badly behaving children, not only ignored anyone who disagreed, but we also ignored the laws of God, as if they didn't matter at all. And worst of all, we made LOVE a false platitude. The worst of hypocrisy. History repeats itself, of course, and those under thirty back then are well over it today. Now battles are ragin' again. And once more, the times are changing. Except this time, the bulk of Americans have had enough of the old, false tolerances. People long to return to the real God of love, not the previous government's hackneyed platitudes. So, let's put a new face on the old song, and sing it with new meaning, loudly as it was sung years ago. Marriage: Can it Make Us Holy??? Will You Let Me Fall???

Bees are in decline but backyard hives won't save them Some experts say the trend of backyard beekeeping could at best do little to save bees, and at worst leave certain species worse off By Catherine McIntyre September 23, 2017 Honeybee. (Shutterstock) A sweet, waxy breeze rises into my face as I stoop over the barrel, spinning the contraption inside with a crank. I suck in the smell, open-mouthed, and can nearly taste the honey as it flies out of the spinning combs. I'm at Fort York National Historic Site in downtown Toronto, harvesting honey with a group of aspiring beekeepers. They meet every Saturday for workshops on tending honey-bee hives, run by bee hobbyist couple Shawn Caza and Melissa Berney, collectively known as Toronto Honeys. The two started their own hives in 2012, around the time honey-bee hysteria became its own documentary genre, with titles like The Last Beekeeper and More than Honey playing indie movie houses. It had been about six years since colony collapse disorder—a phenomenon whereby honey bees disappear from their hives for no apparent reason—was first reported in the U.S., and the buzz around threats to bee populations and food security had begun to crescendo. Caza says his own bee fascination was triggered by the desire to live a more "sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle." Beekeeping is a hot quarter of the urban agriculture trend sweeping the country's gentrifying neighbourhoods. Compelled by warnings of declining pollinator numbers, city dwellers have been planting bee-friendly gardens, petitioning the government to ban harmful insecticides (specifically neonicotinoids, the oft-cited bee nemesis) and—most ambitiously—hosting backyard honey bees. Just about every urban centre in Canada has at least one Toronto Honeys equivalent: there's the Halifax Honey Bee Society; the Regina and District Bee Club; and, in Vancouver, Hives for Humanity. One company, Alveoli, has installed and manages hives on more than 600 commercial and residential properties in cities across the country. RELATED: Birds, bees, and drones: The new face of Canadian agriculture The trouble, say some experts, is that the rationale underlying this fixation may be woefully ill-informed. At best, they say, the trend will do little to save the bees, some of which are indeed at risk; at worst, it could leave certain bee species worse off. There are over 800 different bee species in Canada, each with sometimes similar, but ultimately unique habitats, needs and threats. As Sheila Colla, a York University ecologist, explains, using one species, the honey bee—and an invasive one, at that—to save a whole taxonomic family is futile and, frankly, bizarre. "We would never do that with other animals," says Colla, an expert on bees. "It would be like throwing some Asian carp into Lake Ontario to save the fish. It doesn't make any sense." Certainly, honey bees are useful for pollinating food crops, but so are wild bees: some studies show wild bees are two to three times more effective. And non-bee pollinators—wasps, ants, butterflies—are equally important. Honey bees tend to hog the spotlight (and sometimes the pollen and nectar), though, because they give us honey, and because they're actively managed by beekeepers who track the size and health of their colonies. When hives near neonic-treated crops start dwindling, for example, their advocates speak up. For that reason, these bees are, contrary to popular assumption, unlikely to suffer devastating population declines. Wild bees are at far greater risk. Colla notes that between a quarter and a third of wild bee species worldwide are at risk of extinction, thanks to climate change, insecticides and habitat loss. Another plausible reason for their decline, she says, is managed bee colonies, including those of honey bees. Take the rusty-patched bumble bee, the sole endangered bee species in Canada: in the 1970s, it was one of the most common bees in eastern North America. Since 2004, it's only been seen twice. "There's no way pesticide use can explain a decline like that in 30 years," says Colla, rebutting the popular go-to cause for bee declines. Instead, she and other researchers hypothesize that managed bee colonies—perhaps honey bees or bumble bees managed for greenhouse crops—carried a fatal disease that wiped out this wild species. The question is whether there's any stopping the momentum of honey-bee activism, driven as it is by educated, wealthy, connected urbanites. Beatrice (Bea) Olivastri has been in the environmental movement for 45 years and has never seen Canadians so riled up over a conservation issue. "Acid rain is the closest thing I can think of," she says, "and that was nowhere as strongly embraced as this is." RELATED: Are bee hotels the answer to saving a species? One master's student at York University was so intrigued that she made the phenomenon her thesis topic. In her forthcoming research paper, Allison Nicholls analyzed comments submitted to the preliminary Ontario Pollinator Health Action Plan, and the most notable finding was the sheer volume of public interest. More than 52,000 members of the public commented on the initiative, which is absurd, says Nicholls. "Typically, a couple hundred is considered pretty good." Most of those comments concerned bees, despite the plan's focus on pollinators in general. And the folks who mentioned bees tended to refer to them as one species, often the honey bee, says Nicholls. "They would say things like: 'The bees are really important for the food chain, and also they give us honey!'" Some hobbyist beekeepers are beginning to have misgivings. Jillian Ruhl, a member of the Halifax Honey Bee Society, got into beekeeping for the same reason so many people do: she saw an alarming documentary on the topic. But a few years into managing her own hives and reading extensively about pollinators, Ruhl is conflicted. "It scares me that too many hobby beekeepers are going to come onto the scene and not know how to handle things like diseases properly," she says. "There's a potential ecosystem at risk." Calla says that if people truly want to save the bees, one option is to do nothing. "Humans are notoriously bad at managing the environment," she says. "One of the best things they can do is step back, learn about what species we do have, and not try to manage." FILED UNDER: beekeeping bees environment honey bees

In Italy, many older people live far from immediate family and need help taking care of their basic needs — like washing, taking their medicine, getting dressed or any number of other simple daily activities. That means Italy needs caregivers. The president of the INPS, the Italian government's institution that controls social security, has suggested that migrants could help meet Italy's growing need for caregivers. To get a clearer picture of caregiving work, we spoke to someone who has experience working with both migrants and caregivers: Emanuele Petrella, head of the WELLcHOME SPRAR center in Rome, run by the cooperative Idea Prisma 82 (of which Mr. Petrella is an associate). The center implements projects that help both people who need caregivers and migrants interested in becoming caregivers. From 2006, the cooperative Idea Prisma 82 has helped train and orient over 150 "assistenti familiari." In the interview, we asked Emanuele a few questions about what a caregiver is and what the job entails. How do I get into this line of work, and what does this kind of job look like? What are the usual duties of a caregiver? "Assistenti familiari," as caregivers are called today, help manage and support the daily life of the person they care for. They supervise the person's health, interactions with the community and help him or her access social events and services, as well as any health services he or she needs. Do caregivers usually work at private homes or in elderly care facilities? They can work in both kinds of environments. Can caregivers care for only the elderly or also for people with disabilities? Both, and they can also care for people with mental disabilities. Does a person need to have specific training to become a caregiver? Yes, they do. This is a good example of an entry-level course for assistenti familiari offered by a foundation which is specialized in the caregiving sector in Italy. In it, you can find the requirements to enroll in the course, what will be covered during the course, how much it costs and how often you must attend. Is it necessary to speak Italian to become a caregiver? Yes, absolutely. Having at least a "terza media" diploma, done in Italy and at an accredited institution like a CPIA, is also helpful. How long do courses for caregivers usually last? They usually last at least 80 hours. Do the institutes/schools which provide this training for caregivers also help them find jobs? Yes they do. Some programs provide their students with practical work experience that help them build the relevant skills they'll need for caregiving jobs, and also give them job orientation. Some can also help students find internships and/or work bursaries after their training is complete. However, these are usually the best programs. Here is a good example of this kind of program which offers their students internships. How many hours does a caregiver usually work per day? At least 8 hours per day, but in some cases that require more attention or specialized attention, it can be as many as 24 hours per day. What's a typical net salary for a caregiver in Italy? Usually about €700 or €800 per month. What is the difference between a "badante" and an "assistente familiare"? In the past we referred to caregivers as badanti, but now now we call them assistenti familiari. The "badante" figure in the past was seen more as someone who took care of the elderly in their homes. Today, the role of the "assistente familiare" is more complex, and he or she takes care of not only the elderly, but also of daily housework and other tasks like driving the person in their care. Assistenti familiari can also take care of people with physical and/or mental disabilities. In your experience, are there many migrants working as caregivers? Does your cooperative receive many requests from migrants who want to become caregivers? As a cooperative that provides reception, social inclusion and integration activities for foreign citizens who have migrated to Italy, we can say that the caregiving sector is a good one for migrants to find employment in. Are you aware of any diaspora associations that help migrants find work in the caregiving sector in Italy? There certainly are many diaspora associations in Italy, but I don't think any of them work specifically in the caregiving sector. However, there are both regional and national programs such as the "Fondo Migrazione e Integrazione," that provide educational and job placement activities for migrants in the caregiving sector. These programs are accessible at both the level of the regional governance office (for example, "Regione Lazio") and through the Ministry of Interior. Do caregivers need to be self-employed? That can mean a lot of tax paperwork. Not necessarily. They can become part of a social cooperative that provides caregiving services, or they can create a direct working relationship with an individual they provide care for. Any advice you would give to someone wishing to become a caregiver? Learn the language well and choose the right kind of course that offers you the appropriate training and an internship. It's also important to stay current with new practices in the sector, and so keeping yourself up to date with these and continued training after you've begun working full-time are also important parts of the job. Passion and competence are important for these kinds of jobs. When you're dealing with the well-being of another person, and taking responsibility for people in vulnerable conditions who could be at risk of marginalization, you need to care. The website Il Cerca Badanti is a job portal for assistenti familiari and also gives families the opportunity to post want ads. It also provides additional resources and information for assistenti familiari regarding contracts, hours and unions you can consult for help with these issues. The website Welforum.it is used as a tool to collect and present all regulatory and legal information relevant to the social welfare sector in Italy. In it, you can also find important research on social welfare policy in Italy, and how it relates to migrants working in the caregiving sector in Italy. For any other information or questions you may have, you can always message us on our Facebook page. All photos courtesy of UNHCR.

Where learning is challenging and fun, teaching is innovative and desired results are achieved. Discover your child's strengths! Sign up for Learning Point Junior and enjoy $900 discount! Our teachers lead us through the doors of learning and inspire us to excel. Where each child is valued, where values are imbued. Learning Point is an established private education centre which has been providing quality English Language enrichment courses for more than two decades. Our presence and influence in the market have also been enhanced by expanding our expertise in our Mathematics and Science programmes, which form an integral part of our centre's educational curriculum. The P1 Headstart Programme continues from the RFS Programme and gives your child a headstart in his first year in primary school. The Mathebolic Programme: Primary 1 and 2 help students attain numeracy skills, hone thinking skills, and develop the ability to apply heuristics in problem solving. Covers the latest syllabus stipulated by the M.O.E. The Secondary Science programme aims to nurture creative, innovative, and independent learners who have a keen sense of interest in Science. The JC programme focuses on the 17- and 18-year-olds. This programme aims to help your child excel in his handling of the General Paper in the GCE A-Level Examination. As a mother, I am particularly impressed with the excellent programmes and the teaching culture of Learning Point teachers. The systematic and effective teaching methods, rigorous curriculum, comprehensive teaching materials and the patience, care and concern of her teacher have enabled Rose to make great progress within a short time and develop a strong interest in learning and a love for reading. I am very fortunate that my daughter is in such an excellent education centre – the lessons have helped her to lay a strong foundation in English. "I have joined Learning Point at the age of 5. Coming from an English speaking family, I never thought I needed a lot of support for my first language. I was wrong. Learning Point has provided me a range of skills which allow me to become more confident in all aspects of my academic English learning. Particularly over the last 24 months, the Learning Point curriculum has prepared me for the rigors of the formal examinations. For example, my written English has improved and I am now able to score fairly high marks for my comprehension assessment. "Thanks to Learning Point, I have successfully achieved an A2 for Additional Mathematics for the 'O' Levels. The notes and worksheets provided by Learning Point have been such a great help to me as the challenging questions have made me learn to think out of the box. As such, I am truly thankful to have attended the lessons at Learning Point. "I am Law Wing Sum, a student with Learning Point for 8 years. I have just received my 'O' Level Results and I am writing this email to show my appreciation to the teachers who have taught me and enabled me to score well. I scored A2 for English and A1 for Additional Math, with anL1R5 of 7. I have been taking English lessons with Learning Point since Primary 2 and Additional Math lessons since Secondary 3. I was taught by Ms Jasmine for A Math in Secondary 4 and her guidance enabled me to improve significantly. At the start of the year, I was constantly getting E8 for my school's A Math exams.During A Math lessons, when we did practice questions and worksheets, I always lagged behind the other students. Ms Jasmine understood that I was weaker than the other students and patiently explained to me how to do each and every question in a very clear manner. Before every lesson started, she also encouraged us to raise questions regarding the homework given and spent time to go through them, ensuring that we understood all the topics taught. Without her guidance, I would be unable to achieve an A1 for A Math in 'O' Levels. I am truly grateful for her dedication which allowed me to improve tremendously within a short period of time. I was also taught by Mrs Jo-Ann Lee for English since Secondary 2. She made lessons very interesting and also constantly encouraged us to keep ourselves updated with the current affairs. Before the start of each lesson, she would ask us to share articles that we have read during the week and discuss the issues with us. This has greatly helped me to build up content to write for essays and for "Spoken Interaction" during oral examinations. In addition, she would also give us tips to improve our writing and teach us very useful strategies to tackle questions in Paper 2. I am very grateful for her guidance that enabled me to do well consistently in English.

CES On-Line Only Starting March 1 Earlier this month, CGFNS launched their on-line CES reporting system. Starting on March 1, 2010, CES paper reports will no longer be mailed. Each individual report will be available for one year, after which it will no longer be available On-line reporting will not be available to applicants who were issued a report before February 2, 2010. Applicants who are issued a report between February 2 and March 1 will receive a paper copy of the report in the mail and also be able to view and download their report online. USCIS Neufeld Teleconference The USCIS held a February 18 teleconference aimed at addressing the myriad of questions and rumors that have surfaced since the publication of the Neufeld Memorandum a few weeks ago. The Neufeld Memo purports to clarify USCIS policy on the legality of H-1B workers who are placed at third-party worksites. Several times on the call USCIS officials reiterated that the Memo is not new law, but merely an explanation of their current interpretation of law. The attendees would have none of it. Dozens of immigration attorneys, including MU's Chris Musillo spoke on the teleconference. A litany of criticisms was hurled at USCIS. Members of AILA and other industry trade groups also spoke up on the teleconference and condemned the Memo. The criticisms ranged from the surreptitious nature of the development of the Memorandum, to the absence of legal due process, to the unintended consequences in related areas of law, such as DOS immigration officials at airports misapplying this DHS Memorandum. The loudest disapproval was directed at the underlying law supporting the Memorandum. MU contends – and many other immigration attorneys – that the Memorandum is simply not adequately grounded in law. For that reason many called on the USCIS to withdraw the Memorandum. In the Memorandum, the USCIS found that existing law does not define "employer-employee" relationship. But this is wrong. Existing law does define an "employer-employee" relationship at 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(ii). An "employer" is one who may "hire, pay, fire, supervise, or otherwise control the work of any such employee". The Neufeld Memorandum pays lip-service to these five factors and attempts to distinguish the "right to control" characteristic as a superior characteristic. MU recently has had several H-1B's approved in spite of the Memorandum. That having been said, MU recently has seen a new "stock" RFE on a few of our client's cases. At this point, it is unclear how USCIS officials will analyze H-1B third-party worksites in light of this new "stock" RFE and the Memorandum. On the teleconference, USCIS announced that there would be a second teleconference. The date of the teleconference is not set at this time, but it is expected that the call will take place in early March. PTs qualifying under the EB-2 Green Card For many non-Indian and non-Chinese natives, the EB-2 Permanent Residency visa (green card) provides an fast and cost-effective alternative to the H-1B process. MU has successfully applied for the EB-2 for many Physical Therapists who have five years of progressive experience in occupation after the attainment of their Bachelors degree. We now believe that we have a successful strategy for Physical Therapists who hold an FCCPT "first professional degree" evaluation, even if the Physical Therapist does not have five years of post-Bachelors degree progressive experience. If you are interested in having an MU attorney review your matter for applicability as an EB-2 Permanent Residency green card, please contact Chris Musillo or Cindy Unkenholt. Schumer's Future and the Senate Leadership Curse In the recent past there has been no surer way to ingloriously leave the Senate than to be named leader of your party's Senate delegation. This recent fate may soon fell Democrat and Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada. As Sen. Reid's re-election chances continue to dim, Sen. Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) jockeying for the position could be the final nail in the coffin for CIR in 2010. Since becoming Majority Leader, Sen. Reid has been under constant attack in his home state. Several Republicans have lined up to face Sen. Reid. The polls suggest that the race is a toss-up and the trend lines point to a Reid loss. Some are beginning to point to Sen. Schumer as a likely candidate to succeed Sen. Reid as Democrat Senate Leader. In order for CIR to pass, it will need the leadership of someone who is not worried about his or her political future since immigration is too hot-button an issue for someone who is concerned about their future. If Sen. Schumer decides that the Majority leadership is in his future, he would be unwise to stump for immigration reform until he secures the leadership position. If does secure the Democratic leadership, Sen. Schumer may decide to revisit CIR at a point in time when passage looks better – i.e. when national unemployment is not around 10 percent and Democrats do not look to be hemorrhaging seats in both the Senate and House. In the meantime, targeted immigration reform may be the play for politicians interested in specific issues, such as liberalized healthcare immigration. For Sen. Schumer to seek CIR while surreptitiously stumping for the Senate Democratic Leadership position would be carelessly risky and tell us that Sen. Schumer has not learned about the Senate Leadership Curse that has felled many recent Leaders. Sen. Reid's predecessor, Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) came under the spell of the Curse. Sen. Daschle was often pegged as the "Chief Obstructionist" by Republicans. South Dakota voters bought into the meme and refused to re-appoint him to the Senate in 2004. The Senate Leadership Curse is not limited to Democrats. Trent Lott (R-MS) was forced out of the Republican Leadership position in 2003 after some inflammatory and arguably racist comments surfaced. Sen. Lott would unceremonious resign his Senatorial seat in 2007. Sen. Lott was succeeded by Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) as GOP Senate Leader. Sen. Frist took a few questionable positions on right-to-life issues and eventually would announce that he was resigning his majority position and leaving the Senate. With Lott's exit, the Republican leadership was handed off to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is the current Republican Senate Leader. Under McConnell's stewardship, the Republicans lost many seats in 2008, leading some to question McConnell's ability to head the Senate Republicans. In Sen. McConnell's home state, libertarian Rand Paul is raising impressive amounts of money in his bid to win the open 2009 Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Jim Bunning. Mr. Paul is not the Republican Party's "establishment" candidate. If Mr. Paul is successful it will signal that rank-and-file Republicans are unsatisfied with the current national Republican leadership. While Sen. McConnell's leadership is being questioned, his feet are on sounder ground than Sen. Reid's. With polling numbers continuing to spell doom for Sen. Reid's re-election, Sen. Schumer's chances for the Majority position look brighter. If Sen. Schumer is elected Majority Leader, he will want to avoid the Senate Leadership Curse. However since Sen. Schumer's 2010 re-election is thought to be a forgone conclusion, he will not have to defend his record until 2016. With a six year cushion before re-election, Sen. Schumer may be the ideal Senator to champion immigration reform, but in 2011. Neufeld Memo: First H-1B Cases Approved MU is pleased to report that it has received our first H-1B decisions under the Neufeld Memorandum. All of these first cases have been approved. Approvals have been received from both H-1B Service Centers. All of these H-1B cases were either filed or received RFEs after the January 8, 2010 publication of the Neufeld Memorandum. In all instances, H-1B employers placed employees at third-party worksites. MU argued that the employer retained legal authority to hire, pay, fire, supervise or otherwise control. We used a variety of approaches in these first cases tailoring our approach to the facts at hand. We have received approvals for cases involving IT professionals and healthcare workers. It is important to note that these approvals do not mean that the application of post-Neufeld Memorandum cases is settled. Under the Neufeld Memorandum, USCIS may seek additional evidence about the employer-employee relationship in instances where the employee works at a third-party site. USCIS may be delaying application of the Memorandum for some later point in time. Or, these first few cases may have simply not received stricter scrutiny. Nonetheless these first few cases indicate that H-1B cases can receive approval even if the employee is employed at a third-party worksite. Labels: H-1, MU News, USCIS The Department of State was a little ahead of the game. It has just released the March 2010 Visa Bulletin. The relevant dates are: EB1 – all current EB2 – all current, except China (8 JUL 05) and India (1 FEB 05) EB3 – all 15 DEC 02, except India (01 JUL 01) and Mexico (01 JUL 02) Changes since February 2010 Visa Bulletin: EB1 – none EB2 – slight progress: China (about 6 weeks); India (about one week) EB3 – notable progress for All Others (about 3 months); slight progress for India (about one week); no progress for Mexico. Back in December 2009, the DOS predicted best case scenarios where the cut-off dates would be in the summer 2010. Those predictions were (with MU comments on the likelihood of meeting this prediction): EB2: China: July through October 2005 (good prediction – July 05 already) India: February through early March 2005 (good prediction – Feb 05 already) Worldwide: April through August 2005 (much progress must be made) China: June through September 2003 (seems reachable) India: January through February 2002 (seems reachable) Mexico: January through June 2004 (modest progress is necessary) Philippines: April through August 2005 (much progress must be made) New NCLEX Standards The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) will raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination (the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses), effective April 1, 2010. The new passing standard is -0.16 logits, which is 0.05 logits higher than the previous standard of -0.21. The methodology behind the decision-making is explained in NCSBN's 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan. It is expected that this will reduce the number of qualified nurses entering the marketplace, which should grow the nursing shortage. The US Department of Labor says that nursing will be the occupation in shortest supply in this upcoming decade. AILA responds to Neufeld Memo AILA has sent a comprehensive letter to USCIS Chief Counsel Roxana Bacon arguing that the USCIS ought to set aside the January 8 Neufeld Memorandum Guidance that purports to limit approvals of H-1s in instances where the Beneficiary is employed at a third-party worksite. The letter, which reads like a legal brief, calls into question the core legality of the issuance of the Neufeld Memorandum, and challenges the reasoning throughout the Memorandum. The letter's key points are: 1. The issuance of the Neufeld Memorandum is a substantive change to existing law. Such changes to law by Memorandum are illegal under the Administrative Procedures Act. Under the APA, regulatory agencies like USCIS must first publish proposed rules in the Federal Register. Then, the agency must allow the public to comment on the changes. The USCIS must then consider and respond to the public comment. 2. The entire reasoning of the Neufeld Memorandum is unsound. In the Neufeld Memorandum, the USCIS found that existing law did not define "employer-employee" relationship. AILA contends, correctly MU thinks, that existing law does define "employer-employee" relationship at 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(ii). An "employer" is one who may "hire, pay, fire, supervise, or otherwise control the work of any such employee". Therefore the USCIS' use of Supreme Court cases and common-law is improper since the definition is already right there in the definition. 3. To the extent that the USCIS applies the definition, it limits its focus to one of these five characteristics -- control – and fails to explore the other four characteristics – hire, pay, fire, and supervise. 4. Even if the USCIS feels that it needs help in defining "employer-employee," the USCIS completely misapplies the relevant Supreme Court decisions. Cases such as Clackamas speak to the idea of balancing all characteristics and not limiting the analysis to the control characteristic. 5. When Congress last amended the relevant statutes in the law IMMACT90. It expressly sought to expand the definition of employer, not restrict it. USCIS is not legally allowed to violate Congress' express intent. Posted by MU Law at 8:54 PM 1 comment: Labels: H-1, USCIS

Australian Boat Mag Editor Peter Webster is one of Australia's most experienced photo-journalists, having specialised in marine journalism and publishing for more than 40 years. During that period he's tested well over 1,600 ("I lost count years ago!") powerboats, yachts and trailer boats. He's personally owned about 40 boats, and especially loved about 10 of them. A frequent consultant to the Boating Industry, he's renowned for his support of Australian boat building and his 'telling it like it is' style of journalism. He was the founding Editor of Australian Boating magazine in 1973, and continued in that position until it closed down in the 1989 recession. In the intervening years, he founded the Australian Boating magazine group and created many well-known marine titles including ■ The Cruising Skipper ■ AB Sailboards ■ Commercial Fisherman & Boatowner ■ Trailerboat Fisherman ■ Tournament Fisherman ■ Luxury Boats Of Australia ■ Performance Sailing. When the AB publishing group closed down in 1989 following the 'recession we had to have', Ruth Cunningham purchased the Trailerboat Fisherman (TBF) masthead. Working with Peter and other members of the Webster family, Ruth re-established TBF, which they ran together until early 1993. During this time, TBF grew to become the biggest selling boating magazine in Australia. However, a decision to take on another shareholder (to consolidate and grow the TBF business) proved disastrous. In 1993, serious issues over the management and direction of TBF erupted, and unable to work with the major shareholder, they both quit the business. This resulted in them being forced to start all over again, with nothing behind them except a very grim determination to get back up with a brand new monthly magazine, asap. Their new business, Sea Media Pty Ltd, began in 1993, making brochures and doing marine photography. The first issue of their new title, Australian Fisherman & Boatowner ("F&B" as it became known) was published in April, 1994. With Peter Webster's considerable editorial experience and Ruth Cunningham's many years of management, marketing and general commercial skills in the marine chandlery world, the two colleagues combined to make Sea Media a unique marine publishing business. For nearly 20 years, Sea Media was one of the best known and most respected marine publishing groups in Australia, with many titles covering the marine field. They included such well known titles as Australian Fisherman & Boatowner ("F&B") the national monthly magazine, and the immensely successful Plate Alloy Boats of Australia (PAB) series. This was first published in 1998, and thereafter at approximately two year intervals, and included PAB #2,3,4,5 and 6. Other well known titles they produced and published included Powercats of Australia, 4WDs Trailers & Rooftopping and F&B's MakeOver & Renovations. However, despite a very strong stable of marine publications, the impact of the GFC in 2008-9 and subsequent catastrophic weather events through 2010-11, took their toll on the entire marine industry, driving the recreational boat manufacturing sector into a severe and continuing recession virtually identical to that being experienced by the automotive industry. Concurrently, Sea Media's newsagency sales and advertising fell into an unstoppable downward spiral, forcing the business to close, in December 2011. In January 2012, shell-shocked but determined to look after the thousands of subscribers who had supported them over the years, Peter & Ruth started yet again, forming a stripped-back company with the internet friendly name Boatmags Pty Ltd. This time, they embraced the digital publishing world from the outset, realising that the 'old days' of printing monthly boating magazines were drawing to their inevitable end. But so too was Ruth's enthusiasm for marine publishing. All the things she loved about the business were no longer happening. Skippering the camera boat(s), the field trips around Australia, the boat building projects (the backbone of the PAB series of printed books) and using her specialised knowledge of magazine printing and distribution, were all being put on the back-burner as the business changed over to the new norm; the computerised, internet-based world of digital publishing. Whilst Ruth embraced this exciting technology, she felt that after 25 years it was time for a change, and in January 2013, she announced her retirement from publishing, and has since returned to the challenges of the marine chandlery world. At this point, Peter's wife Mary stepped forward and took over Ruth's 50% share of the business, completing a circle she had begun right back in 1973, when she and Peter first started Australian Boating magazine, before Mary had pulled back to concentrate on the role of full time mother of four youngsters, then aged from 2-8. These days, Peter and Mary, a sixty something couple with their four 'children' ("who are long gone off our hands, and doing their own thing") and grandparents to eight, are as passionate about boating and fishing as ever, and stimulated by the new multi-media challenges - and potential - to take marine editorial standards to a new place, combining traditional editorial skills with the new delivery mediums. According to Peter "What we now call "magavision" is a hugely exciting concept. This is where the journalist links the printed word (the hard facts and data, basically) with comprehensive video coverage (the beautiful or exciting imagery of the video) in the same production: a PDF magazine with "magavision" delivered through the internet, into the pages of a magazine the readers can keep forever." "This is the future of our world of marine media." Mary's new mission in life is to look after each one of "her" subscribers on a very personal, caring basis that has resulted in so many people learning how to enjoy the online digital (PDF) magazine experience even if most of the core ex-print subscribers had no idea in the beginning, of how easily they could make the switch from a printed magazine to the iPads, tablets, laptops and PCs we use today. Mary's calm, patient explanations and re-assurance ("If you still get stuck, ring me - we're going to get you through this!") has helped hundreds of readers embrace the online delivery, and really enjoy the PDF structure of Australian Boat Mag. Together, Peter & Mary make a formidable and highly experienced team, working in the complex, cyclic world of Australian boating, fishing and associated adventures.

Established in 2000, EP-TEC Malaysia is a value-added distributor of a high-end technology equipment that focus on collaboration products for both the enterprise and education market. Inspired by economic growth, we are here to expand the business scope to serve the enterprise market. We believe that we have the best solutions for our customers who interested in increasing their organization's efficiency and effectiveness, which will lead to a higher level of performance and productivity. We believe the best way to improve the quality of our nation is to improve our young generation through education. We take responsibility in providing the best teaching aids available today for any education institution in Malaysia. Our passion is to make sure Malaysia's young generations have an equal opportunity to learn and have access to the world of information.

Santa Maria in Portico (Campitelli) (Cardinal Titular Church) Sanctae Mariae in Porticu Show: All | General Information | Ordinaries | Historical Summary | Affiliated Bishops, Living | Affiliated Bishops, Deceased Bishop(s) Michael Louis Fitzgerald, M. Afr., Cardinal, Cardinal-Deacon Type of Jurisdiction: Cardinal Titular Church Established: 26 June 1662 Cardinal-Deacon Title Past and Present Ordinaries Francesco Maidalchini † (26 Jun 1662 Appointed - 11 Oct 1666 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria in Via Lata) Louis de Vendôme † (18 Jul 1667 Installed - 12 Aug 1669 Died) Gasparo Carpegna † (23 Feb 1671 Installed - 18 Mar 1671 Appointed, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Pudenziana) Felice Rospigliosi † (27 Feb 1673 Installed - 17 Jul 1673 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria) Girolamo Casanate † (17 Jul 1673 Installed - 2 Dec 1675 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of San Cesareo in Palatio) Benedetto Pamphilj, O.S.Io.Hieros. † (1 Sep 1681 Appointed - 30 Apr 1685 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of San Cesareo in Palatio) Luigi Omodei (Jr.) † (10 Apr 1690 Appointed - 18 Aug 1706 Died) Melchior de Polignac † (27 Sep 1724 Appointed - 20 Nov 1724 Appointed, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Via) Carlo Collicola † (10 May 1728 Installed - 20 Oct 1730 Died) Giacomo Lanfredini † (12 Apr 1734 Installed - 16 May 1741 Died) Carlo Maria Sacripante † (29 May 1741 Appointed - 10 Apr 1747 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria ad Martyres) Henry Benedict Mary Clement Stuart of York † (31 Jul 1747 Appointed - 12 Feb 1759 Appointed, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere) Flavio Chigi (Jr.) † (12 Feb 1759 Appointed - 12 Jul 1771 Died) Ignazio-Gaetano Boncompagni-Ludovisi † (18 Dec 1775 Appointed - 29 Jan 1787 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria ad Martyres) Filippo Carandini † (23 Apr 1787 Installed - 12 Sep 1794 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Eustachio) Charles Erskine of Kellie † (28 Mar 1803 Installed - 20 Mar 1811 Died) Stanislao Sanseverino † (22 Jul 1816 Appointed - 21 Mar 1825 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria ad Martyres) Belisario Cristaldi † (15 Dec 1828 Appointed - 25 Feb 1831 Died) Adriano Fieschi † (13 Sep 1838 Appointed - 27 Jan 1843 Appointed, Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria ad Martyres) Lodovico Altieri † (24 Nov 1845 Appointed - 17 Dec 1860 Appointed, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano) Francesco Pentini † (19 Mar 1863 Appointed - 17 Dec 1869 Died) Bartolomeo Pacca, Jr. † (23 Sep 1875 Appointed - 14 Oct 1880 Died) Francesco Ricci Paracciani † (30 Mar 1882 Appointed - 1 Jun 1891 Appointed, Cardinal-Priest of San Pancrazio) Francesco Segna † (21 May 1894 Appointed - 4 Jan 1911 Died) Giovanni Battista Lugari † (27 Nov 1911 Appointed - 31 Jul 1914 Died) Francis Aidan Gasquet, O.S.B. † (6 Dec 1915 Appointed - 5 Apr 1929 Died) Massimo Massimi † (19 Dec 1935 Appointed - 6 Mar 1954 Died) Carlo Chiarlo † (18 Dec 1958 Appointed - 21 Jan 1964 Died) Charles Journet † (22 Feb 1965 Appointed - 15 Apr 1975 Died) Corrado Bafile † (24 May 1976 Appointed - 3 Feb 2005 Died) Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo † (24 Mar 2006 Appointed - 19 Nov 2017 Died) Michael Louis Fitzgerald, M. Afr. (5 Oct 2019 Appointed - ) 26 June 1662 Established Cardinal Titular Church of Santa Maria in Portico (Octaviae) (suppressed) Cardinal Titular Church of Santa Maria in Portico (Campitelli) Affiliated Bishops, Living Michael Louis Fitzgerald, M. Afr. (Cardinal-Deacon: 5 Oct 2019) Affiliated Bishops, Deceased Lodovico Altieri † (Cardinal-Priest: 24 Nov 1845 to 17 Dec 1860) Corrado Bafile † (Cardinal-Deacon: 24 May 1976; Cardinal-Priest: 22 Jun 1987 to 3 Feb 2005) Ignazio-Gaetano Boncompagni-Ludovisi † (Cardinal-Deacon: 18 Dec 1775 to 29 Jan 1787) Filippo Carandini † (Cardinal-Deacon: 23 Apr 1787 to 12 Sep 1794) Gasparo Carpegna † (Cardinal-Priest: 23 Feb 1671 to 18 Mar 1671) Girolamo Casanate † (Cardinal-Deacon: 17 Jul 1673 to 2 Dec 1675) Carlo Chiarlo † (Cardinal-Priest: 18 Dec 1958 to 21 Jan 1964) Flavio Chigi (Jr.) † (Cardinal-Deacon: 12 Feb 1759 to 12 Jul 1771) Carlo Collicola † (Cardinal-Priest: 10 May 1728 to 20 Oct 1730) Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo † (Cardinal-Deacon: 24 Mar 2006; Cardinal-Priest: 20 Jun 2016 to 19 Nov 2017) Belisario Cristaldi † (Cardinal-Deacon: 15 Dec 1828 to 25 Feb 1831) Charles Erskine of Kellie † (Cardinal-Deacon: 28 Mar 1803 to 20 Mar 1811) Adriano Fieschi † (Cardinal-Deacon: 13 Sep 1838 to 27 Jan 1843) Francis Aidan Gasquet, O.S.B. † (Cardinal-Deacon: 6 Dec 1915; Cardinal-Priest: 18 Dec 1924 to 5 Apr 1929) Charles Journet † (Cardinal-Deacon: 22 Feb 1965; Cardinal-Priest: 5 Mar 1973 to 15 Apr 1975) Giacomo Lanfredini † (Cardinal-Deacon: 12 Apr 1734 to 16 May 1741) Giovanni Battista Lugari † (Cardinal-Deacon: 27 Nov 1911 to 31 Jul 1914) Francesco Maidalchini † (Cardinal-Deacon: 26 Jun 1662 to 11 Oct 1666) Massimo Massimi † (Cardinal-Deacon: 19 Dec 1935; Cardinal-Priest: 18 Feb 1946 to 6 Mar 1954) Luigi Omodei (Jr.) † (Cardinal-Deacon: 10 Apr 1690 to 18 Aug 1706) Bartolomeo Pacca, Jr. † (Cardinal-Deacon: 23 Sep 1875 to 14 Oct 1880) Benedetto Pamphilj, O.S.Io.Hieros. † (Cardinal-Deacon: 1 Sep 1681 to 30 Apr 1685) Francesco Pentini † (Cardinal-Deacon: 19 Mar 1863 to 17 Dec 1869) Melchior de Polignac † (Cardinal-Deacon: 27 Sep 1724 to 20 Nov 1724) Francesco Ricci Paracciani † (Cardinal-Deacon: 30 Mar 1882 to 1 Jun 1891) Felice Rospigliosi † (Cardinal-Deacon: 27 Feb 1673 to 17 Jul 1673) Carlo Maria Sacripante † (Cardinal-Deacon: 29 May 1741 to 10 Apr 1747) Stanislao Sanseverino † (Cardinal-Deacon: 22 Jul 1816 to 21 Mar 1825) Francesco Segna † (Cardinal-Deacon: 21 May 1894 to 4 Jan 1911) Henry Benedict Mary Clement Stuart of York † (Cardinal-Deacon: 31 Jul 1747; Cardinal-Priest: 16 Sep 1748 to 12 Feb 1759) Louis de Vendôme † (Cardinal-Deacon: 18 Jul 1667 to 12 Aug 1669) Code: web_d, v3.3.1, 22 Nov 2019; Data: 22 Nov 2019

Consumers bought fitness bands and smartwatches in droves, but many of those devices have ended up in sock drawers due to a broken user experience. Wearables are starting to evolve past smartwatches into shirts, pants, tattoos, hats, glasses, shoes, sporting goods, and more, as sensor technology improves to eliminate the need for wrist worn devices. The value of wearable technology is not in the hardware – which should be unobtrusive and almost automatic – but in the data that is collected from the devices. Consumers are experiencing trouble trying to make sense of it all. According to Argus Insights a new report on Wearables shows the disconnect between the user experience, expectation of usefulness, and the app. For example, Jawbone Up is leading 'delight' as a great 'all in one app,' but at the same time users express discontent with the Jawbone bands. Argus Insights says that mindshare predicts demand. Its software platform and reports provide comprehensive visibility across a given market, showing detailed analysis of the specific attributes that determine what is delighting and disappointing actual consumers by brand and by product. The platform is data-agnostic, but typical data sources include review data from leading retailers (star reviews) and a variety of social data (Twitter, Instagram, etc.). The new report shows that both Nike and Jawbone apps are earning praise and relatively higher delight scores while Fitbit, Samsung and other apps are consistently seeing low consumer satisfaction. The major areas of consumer discontent include trouble syncing data, apps crashing and frustration with installation. The report also shows that consumers are happiest with the fitness, calorie tracker and heart rate monitoring information available from the wearable apps. Consumers are enjoying Nike and Jawbone apps, though complaints of a fragmented app ecosystem span across consumer feedback. Users are looking to have all the information they want and need in one place, so integration among apps is very much appreciated. Jawbone Up is leading delight as users dub it a "great all in one app," and are especially impressed with the accessible insights from the SmartCoach. The ability to keep track of food intake, calories, sleep patterns, steps, heart rate and even integrate with other apps to track different exercises all contribute to the high rate of consumer approval. While Nike is no longer a big player in Wearable hardware, smartwatch users like to use the Nike+ Running app to track their runs but are frustrated that Nike+ Running does not sync with other apps. While delight for Nike and Jawbone Apps is on the rise, Fitbit, Samsung and other apps are seeing consistently low consumer satisfaction.

Prince Henry 'the Navigator'. A Life / Peter Russell Peter Russell's Henry 'the Navigator' is one of those rare books which has had classic, or rather legendary, status even before it was published. The Dutch Slave Trade 1500-1850 / P. C. Emmer This is a short book on what turns out to be a rather bigger subject than might have been expected from the title; not because the Dutch slave trade was so important, but because Emmer uses it as an entry to a wide range of issues concerning the Atlantic slave trade in general and its historiography. A Nation Upon the Ocean Sea: Portugal's Atlantic Diaspora and the Crisis of the Spanish Empire, 1492-1640 / Daviken Studnicki-Gizbert In a seminal article on Portuguese merchants published 35 years ago (1), David Grant Smith suggested (on p. 247) that emigrants from Madeira 'constituted a sort of gentile Diaspora', highlighting how family ties and friendships originating on this small Portuguese Atlantic island 'endured and formed the basis for a network of commercial relationships'. How Taiwan became Chinese: Dutch, Spanish, and Han Colonization in the Seventeenth Century / In this book, Tonio Andrade tells the story of a wild and uncultivated island originally inhabited by aboriginal hunters and traders. Le monde de l'Itinérance / eds. Claudia Moatti, Wolfgang Kaiser, Christophe Pébarthe Reports of the death of the Mediterranean – on some accounts from pollution, on others from conceptual redundancy – have proved exaggerated. Conceptually, at least, 'The Mediterranean' flourishes as never before: an idea more than a sea. It seems ubiquitous on web sites and in book and journal titles as well as on conference posters, not to mention political action plans. How the Old World Ended: The Anglo-Dutch-American Revolution 1500-1800 / Jonathan Scott Jonathan Scott, Professor of History at the University of Auckland, in his recent book, How the Old World Ended (2019), has provided an intellectual bridge between the early modern period and the modern world, which was born out of the Industrial Revolution. (-) Remove 16th-17th Century filter 16th-17th Century (-) Remove Maritime History filter Maritime History Latin America and West Indies (2) Apply Latin America and West Indies filter Imperial and Colonial (5) Apply Imperial and Colonial filter Economic History (2) Apply Economic History filter Political History (2) Apply Political History filter Social History (2) Apply Social History filter Global History (1) Apply Global History filter International History (1) Apply International History filter Local and Regional History (1) Apply Local and Regional History filter Science and Technology (1) Apply Science and Technology filter

Q: arshaw Jquery full calender not working in force.com enterprise edition I have used this http://www.codebycody.com/2013/06/create-calendar-view-in-salesforcecom.html to integrate jquery calendar.. It's working fine with developer edition but same code if i copy in force.com enterprise edition m not getting information in the calendar.

The main difference centers around the use of 1/2 volume in each reaction so as to get twice as many sample preps for the same price. This was validated on 2 extremely similar samples from Gabo by DED in July of 2014, and the final data was indistinguishable between the 1x volume sample and the 0.5x volume sample. This has subsequently been used in more than a dozen (4-15-15) other preps without incident. The default fragmentation protocol is now NEB fragmentase rather than Covaris. This protocol is for standard applications. Please click here for rare variant within a population protocol. Low retention (maximum recovery) tubes and filter tips should be used at every step. Regular tips commonly used for EtOH removal during wash steps. Before starting make sure ligated adapters are available in cardboard box labeled 'Anealed adapters'. WFI water should be used for all steps where water is needed. Aliquots of water should be taken from bottle to avoid contamination. A 2 barcode system comprising internal and external barcodes is currently being employed (it allows to mix different samples in a single tube for multiplexing the sequencing, thus economical; it is different than dual barcoding strategies which use 2 different external barcodes). There are 8 annealed adapters, each corresponding to 1 of 8 internal barcodes (IBC). External barcode(s) (EBC) are added to samples in the PCR step. Identical EBC can and should be pooled together to meet the sequencing core's minimum requirement of 10million reads per sample this should give ~70-80x coverage ("single-end" reads; see Coverage calculator) of E. coli genomes which is the current standard. NEVER pool identical IBC as this type of pooling can not be reassigned at the data analysis step. Sample should never be vortexed, always thoroughly mixed by pipetting. This is done to avoid sample getting near the top of the tube and increasing contamination risk during magnetic bead clean up. "Freshly prepared 80% EtOH" for cleanup reactions should be prepared daily, and be made combining 100% EtOH with WFI water. Always have the next master mix prepared to add to the tubes after wash. Never leave the beads in tubes without liquid on them for very long (< 3 min) as they will dry and ruin your prep. Several different alternative options are available, steps which have alternative strategies are marked as such. Note, this step is not necessary each time. Check the C lab -20, NGS 2 rack, "EBC + IBC Design Anealed Adapter" paper box for annealed adapters (small tubes not IDT tubes). If annealed primers are old, best to trash and remake. Do not trash IDT tubes. Using mismatched identifier numbers will cause complete failure of ligation, or terrible data. After this step, adapters should NEVER be warmed above 25C. Alliquot 2µl to 10 PRECHILLED 600µl low retention eppendorf tubes. Make sure tubes are labeled. Store barcodes 'anealed adpaters' box. Harvest DNA from sample using Invitrogen PureLink Genomic DNA kit using standard protocol. It is important to elute in elution buffer rather than water. Use Qbit to determine concentration. The goal of this step is to transfer 500ng of sheared DNA in 25µl to a low retention eppendorf tube. Pull Ampure beads to allow to warm to room temperature. Set Fragmentase on ice and set Fragmentase 10X buffer at room temp to allow to thaw. For reproducible results, pre-vortex (~2 seconds) all reactants prior to use. Set heat block (with water on the wells) to 37°C and corroborate temperature with a thermometer. *Beware some heat-blocks may have a timer and will stop prematurely if not set properly. *Important:* Fragmentase is viscous, so pay attention you are not adding extra and remove excess by lightly tapping the pippette tip against the inside of Fragmentase tube. When pippetting into the reaction mix, pipette up and down several times making sure complete transfer has been achieved. Incubate at 37°C for ~27 minutes. Note: A typical 20uL reaction with 1ug gDNA will take ~27 minutes for ~300bp fragments (tested with DNA eluted in Tris pH 8.5 with ~400ng/mL concentration). A test reaction should be performed with a sample that has been extracted with exactly the same conditions (i.e., same method, reactants and elution buffer) as the samples that will undergo sequencing prep. This is critical, since small variations in buffers or DNA extraction methods can dramatically affect digestion times required for the desired fragment size. Run 500ng-1ug from these test reactions on a gel to determine results. Preferably, fragments will be anywhere from 300-500bp; fragmentation to smaller than 300bp should be avoided. STOP rxn: Fragmentase reactions must be stopped (5µL of EDTA 0.5 M pH 8.0) to prevent further digestion of your product. Best way (fast and precise) to do this is to have another set of PCR tubes ready with 5µL EDTA pre-chilled on ice and a promptly transferring the completed reactions into them (you can use a P100 pipette set to 30µL) making sure to pipette up and down to mix well. Using half-amount Fragmentase (1uL in 20uL rxn) can be performed at a little over double the time (2.4X). For example, for half-fragmentase reactions with 1ug gDNA in 20uL, we've seen that it took 32 minutes to fragment to ~900bp fragments and 62-72 minutes to achieve ~300 bp size. Don't worry if you get a large smear, as long as enough material is observed <500bp, next steps will narrow fragment size range with size selection. Mix by pipetting up and down till homogeneous mixture. Incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes for DNA to precipitate onto beads. Place tubes on magnet until liquid is clear (usually ~5 minutes). Carefully remove and discard supernatant without disturbing the beads. Add 200 µl of 80% EtOH. Allow to incubate more than 30 seconds at room temperature. It is not necessary to resuspend the beads. Repeat for a 2nd wash. Allow beads to dry at room temperature for all ethanol to evaporate. Make sure all beads come off the wall and into solution. Devin and Tyler of the iGEM team have confirmed that this reaction CAN be completed in the presence of beads. Move blue heat block to -4C, and set to 20C before starting so heat block will adjust temperature accordingly. Place PEG on benchtop to warm to room temperature depending on if beads are already in your reaction. To each 35µl reaction, add 60µl of room temperature PEG/NaCl Solution. Make sure heat block is set to 30C and holding. Incubate 30 minutes at 30C. Remove block from base, and place on bench in cold room. Set block to 20C. Check back periodically (at least 15 minutes rxn time needed) for block to stay at or below 20C once back in base. Ice buckets can be used instead of cold room bench for better heat dispersal. To each 25µl reaction, add 45µl PEG/NaCl Solution. Make sure heat block is holding at 20C. Protocol assumes ~300bp shearing, if different sized inserts, adjust Adapter amounts. Pull Ampure beads from 4C and PEG/NaCl solution from -20C and set on bench to warm to room temperature. Mix by pipetting to homogeneous mixture. Incubate 20C for 30 minutes. Remove tubes from heat block, turn heat block off, bring back into lab. The ligation buffer interferes with the normal precipitation of DNA, therefore must be washed before size selection. To each 25µl reaction, add 25µl PEG/NaCl Solution. Resuspend in 100µl of WFI water. To each 100µl reaction, add 60µl PEG/NaCl Solution. Carefully transfer ~155µl of supernatant to a new tube. It is critical that no beads be transfered with supernatant. To each new tube containing 155µl of DNA smaller than 450bp add 20µl of Ampure beads. Resuspend in 50µl of WFI water. Take note of which external barcode is being added on this step for the purpose of pooling multiple samples. Primers are located in C lab -20, NGS 2 rack, EBC + IBC Design Anealed Adapter paper box. Size selcted DNA added to PCR reaction should not include beads. Store remaining DNA at -20C in labeled tube. This will be used if the PCR is unsuccessful, or if further optimization is required. Beads can be left in this DNA. Minimum number of cycles should be preformed to maximize diversity (complexity). This is especially important for mixed population sequencings. Typically 5-7 Cycles is sufficient (for 1µg of amplified library generated). Optional: it's ok at this point to use 1µl direct from the PCR products to measure DNA concentrations with Qubit. Adding one more cycle won't generally double the DNA concentration, but two more cycles likely would if there are already signs of at least some amplification (e.g., >15ng/uL). Safe Stop: It is ok to pause procedure at this step, store the PCR tubes with product at -20C and continue another day. Furthermore, even more PCR cycles can be added later, since PCR mix components remain active for at least 2 weeks in freezer. To each 25µl reaction, add 25µl of room temperature Ampure beads. Resuspend in 25µl WFI water or TE. Use 1 µl of supernatant sample (mixed with 3µl of the corresponding TapeStation buffer) for TapeStation; reagents (D1000 ladder and D1000 buffer for DNA) and gel strips located in Deli fridge Lab A, top shelf. TapeStation tips (black box) and 8-tube-strips are kept at room temp in Lab A. A multipippetor to load the special tips on the TapeStation is available at the instrument's site. If you haven't used the TapeStation before, you must first check-in for training with Elizabeth Kahane or Courtney Bridges; the instrument is currently MBB 1.124 (Harris Lab). Do not put beads into tape station as they can cause things to run funny. You will use 1 of the gel strip channels (usually the first lane) for ladder (1µl Ladder + 3µl TapeStation buffer); if done correctly, the program will automatically label each band's size. If substantial dimer contamination, rewash, possibly adding slightly less PEG/NaCl solution than a 1:1 ratio. If product not visible, toubleshoot PCR step first, possibly by increasing 2-3 cycles as this is the cheapest and most likely failure step. Use 2 µl for Qbit. Pool samples with different IBC and identical EBC into a single submission tube for Core. This should be done based either on the Qbit readings, or on the fraction of correctly sized product from the tape station if different amounts of Adapter contamination detected (requires that correctly sized peak be significantly greater than the off product). See Dan for current information about submitting for sequencing. The current standard method of DNA fragmentation is Fragmentase. Prior to July of 2016 Covaris shearing was the standard method. The shift was precipitated by the cost discrepancy and increasing number of samples being analyzed. Each Covaris tube is $5 and can not be reliably reused for both cross contamination and structural integrity issues. Successfully done with 500ng of sheared DNA in 25µl. Place between 1µg and 4 µg of DNA in a covaris microtube (total µg can be increased to 10, but should never be necessary, or decreased below 1µg if necessary). Bring total volume up to 50 or 130µl using Invitrogen Elution Buffer. Covaris only recommends 130 and 50 µl with the microtubes as other volumes can create air bubbles and lead to poor shearing. Signup for an appropriate amount of time in the GSAF core, and take all samples to core. Use appropriate shearing conditions for the Covaris instrument either from Barrick lab folder, or GSAF folder (if GSAF protocol used, save copy to Barrick folder). For standard sequencing projects, ~300bp is a good target size (if other size used adapter concentrations need to be adjusted). Consult Covaris manual for other size distributions. Transfer 1µg of sheared DNA to low retention eppendorf tube. Adjust volume to 25 µl using speedvac if necessary. Volume must be 25 µl, different amounts of DNA can be used with subsequent adjustments to adapter amounts. If attempted, update appropriate sections with working concentrations. Store remaining sheared DNA at -20C at a minimum until sequencing data is back, it can be used to save a Covaris tube if sample fails, or for other experiments.

Smythe, Nicholas D., interviewee Nicholas D. Smythe Oral History Interview, 1990 Nicholas D. Smythe Oral History Interview This interview with Smythe by Pamela M. Henson covers his family background, education, early interest in mammals, and career at STRI, including his research and administrative activities. He also discusses changes occurring in the scientific intellectual community at large. Nicholas David Edward Smythe (1934- ), a Biologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), joined the staff in 1970. He was born on December 15, 1934, in Kent, England. He received his bachelor's degrees in zoology and psychology from the University of British Columbia in 1963 and received the Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Maryland in 1970. In 1962, he married Tanis D. Smythe, who also worked at STRI, and they raised two children at STRI. Smythe received the major impetus for his career from John Eisenberg, whom he studied under at the University of British Columbia and followed to the University of Maryland. In 1965 he received a Smithsonian Predoctoral Fellowship to study tropical mammals at STRI for two years. After Smythe finished his Ph.D. at Maryland, he taught a course in Costa Rica for the Organization for Tropical Studies in 1970. In the fall of 1970 he was contracted to develop STRI's Environmental Sciences Program, which involved establishing baseline studies of climate and its effect on vegetation. While Smythe continued his studies of the frugivorous mammals the paca (Cuniculus paca) and agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), he spent much of the later 1970s and early 1980s as STRI's first Conservation Coordinator. His efforts in educational outreach and political lobbying contributed to the incorporation of STRI into the expanded Barro Colorado Nature Monument and the establishment of the adjacent Parque Nacional Soberania. Between 1982 and 1987, Smythe received two grants from the W. Alton Jones Foundation to research the prospects for domesticating the paca and for garden hunting in tropical forests as alternatives to destruction of the rain forest to raise cattle. He received grants from Scholarly Studies for two more years to continue the successful paca program and later examined the relationship between the palm, Astrocaryum standleyanum, and the predators that disperse its seeds. During his career, Smythe has written seventeen articles and book chapters on tropical ecology, particularly on the relationships between small mammals and plants. At STRI, Smythe also supervised graduate student and postdoctoral research, consulted on wildlife management with universities in Costa Rica and Venezuela, and served as liaison for STRI with INRENARE, the Panamanian national institute of natural resources. The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives' record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted by researchers or student on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Nicholas David Edward Smythe was interviewed for the Oral History Collection because of his distinguished scientific career and long tenure at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as both researcher and administrator. Additional interviews of Smythe can be found in Record Unit 9580 STRI Oral History Interviews and Record Unit 9553, Conservation of Endangered Species Videohistory Interviews. Additional information about Smythe can be found in the Records of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute which are also housed in the Smithsonian Institution Archives. The Nicholas David Edward Smythe interview was conducted in June 1990 by Smithsonian Institution Archives historian, Pamela M. Henson. The interview discusses his background, education, and early interest in zoology; career at STRI; recollections of staff and life on Barro Colorado Island (BCI); discussions of his major research interests and accomplishments in conservation administration; thoughts on graduate education; and changes at STRI over the years. The interview consists of 2.0 hours of tape recording and 81 pages of transcript. Smythe, Nicholas D. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Barro Colorado Island Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Smithsonian Institution. Environmental Sciences Program Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Canal Zone Biological Area United States. Canal Zone Biological Area, Barro Colorado Island Tropical biology Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9585, Nicholas D. Smythe Oral History Interview Covers his family background and education; his research, educational, and administrative activities at STRI, c. 1940-1990, including: Family background; secondary and university background; influence of John Eisenberg; interest in mammalian social behavior; Smithsonian Predoctoral Fellowship at STRI in 1965; experiences on BCI in the 1960s; return to STRI with Environmental Sciences Program (ESP) in 1970; significance of dissertation research on the agouti (Dasyprocta punctata); baseline studies of climate and food supply; STRI staff and social and intellectual changes; changes in living conditions on BCI; murder of worker on BCI in mid-1960s; problems of off-island communications; transportation to and from BCI; Smythe family accomodations; choice of tropical research over teaching; children's education; establishment of and research under ESP; impact of Panama Canal Treaties on STRI; role as Conservation Coordinator; role in establishing new parks in Panama; return to research in early 1980s; tracking agoutis and pacas (Cunicula paca) by camera; relationship with students on BCI; changes in intellectual climate on BCI; emphasis on high achievement in American culture; intellectual influences in ecology and evolution; movement of seminars from BCI to Panama City; consequences of increase in researchers on BCI; lack of contacts with scientists in Washington, D.C., area; origins and theory of paca domestication experiment; application to W. Alton Jones Foundation; outcome of experiments; effect of applied research on scientist's role and goals; fate of domesticated pacas; Smythe's assistants; origins of role as Conservation Coordinator; participation in education programs; poaching at Barro Colorado Nature Monument; difficulty of working with University of Panama; and current research on palm, Astrocaryum standleyanum, and seed dispersal. Audio Recordings of Interview: Total Recording Time: 2.0 hours Original Masters: 4 7" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes

March 2019 here at Deramores was all about the theme of Giveaways. Everyday throughout March we introduced a brand new giveaway to our customers. Simply click on the button below to view our lucky winners. Alongside all of these fantastic giveaways, we had a variety of new and exciting yarns and patterns that are perfect for spring/summer. To find out which of the new products really caught the attention of customers, check out our highlights below! This month saw some eye-catching colours and interesting textures from numerous brands including West Yorkshire Spinners and King Cole. Check out a few of them below. From the Calypso range, King Cole brings you Caribbean Calypso; an even softer, tropical yarn with a crinkle texture and bright, lush, variegated shades. An evolution in colour, ColourLab DK is bursting full of rich bright colour. Reared, sheared and spun in Britain, this 100% Wool yarn is exquisitely brilliant and the quality is second to none. Creative Silky Touch fascinates with a fine gloss. The 100g- ball consists of 100% premium micro acrylic, which makes the yarn incomparably soft. Creative Silky Touch is also completely free of animal fibres. Creative Sport DK contains 50% cotton and 50% acrylic. It is available in 10 solid trend colours. A remarkable feature of the yarn is the lightness in appearance, which makes it predestinated for summer clothes and accessories. With delicate heathered tones, Dream Light is a light DK-weight yarn in a blend of viscose, wool and polyamide. Easy to work with and easy to care for, this yarn will knit up wonderful jumpers, scarves, snoods, mittens and gloves. Perfect for summer, James C. Brett Driftwood DK gives your project a smooth light finish. This yarn is anti-pilling acrylic meaning that your projects are sure to last and will continue to look new. With the beginning of spring now upon us, there's no better time to get your knitting needles out and create something that will keep you warm but is still breathable for the season ahead. Check out some of our NEW bestselling FREE patterns from March. Craft up this ladies striped shawl perfect for the warmer months in Lion Brand Coboo, half cotton, half rayon form bamboo. This light breathable yarn is perfect for all you summer knits. A Nautical Sweater for your handsome little ones in our very own Deramores Studio Baby DK. Part of our Studio range, this hard wearing, versatile, 100% Acrylic yarn is ever so soft and ideal for babies as it's lightweight and perfect for sensitive skin. Knit up this sparkly striped scarf in Stylecraft Cabaret, A kaleidoscope of colour, Stylecraft Cabaret wool is a self-striping polyester and acrylic DK blend is a feast for the eyes. March showcased a variety of different crochet designs suitable as gifts to a range of ages; from a cuddly toy that's perfect for your little ones to an elegant shawl from Carmen Heffernan. Take a look at what is trending below. Having a long, stressful day? Then this Chevron Hot Water Bottle Cushion is perfect for you to keep you nice and warm in bed or on the sofa. The brilliant Zoë Potrac has designed this unique design just for you in King Cole Big Value Super Chunky and Tufty. Use your favourite skein of gradient yarn to make this beautiful, flowing shawl wrap designed by Carmen Heffernan. This lightweight shawl is perfect for those Summer nights out. How cute is this Teddy Flat Toy in Patons Fab DK!? Delight your little one with a snuggle bestie that is available in two adorable colourways. March's colour packs were bursting with value and vibrancy, we've taken a look at some of the most popular packs available in March below. This colour pack full of these rich blue shades from the Novita range Nordic Wool. Novita Nordic Wool is part of our natural collection range, as the name suggests, the wool is made in the Nordic Region. Some Spring inspiration brought to you by Wilma Westenberg from Wilmade. This collection of 10 balls of our very own Deramores Studio DK range contains soft, pastel, pink shades which reflects the floral blossoms of Springtime. Giving you the blocks and the stripes, knit up something magical with this bright and eye catching colour pack in West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK. An evolution in colour, ColourLab DK is bursting full of rich bright colour. Value packs here at Deramores are a great way to purchase yarn whilst saving money if you are buying in bulk or are simply purchasing a few of the same yarns. Take a look at a few of our customers favourites below. An even more economical range by King Cole; Big Value DK now as a 50g ball. The same lovable range of 100% premium acrylic blend which is soft and gentle. Comes in range of bold colours for you to try. An easy-care blend of acrylic, wool and rayon, a go-to choice for many-a-garment. We've created these great value packs, giving you more of the yarn you love at a more economical price. Schachenmayr's Catania Color yarns boast bold colour and luxury fibres, allowing knitters and crocheter's alike to take pride in making the most striking creations. Perfect for interesting spring or summer knits for you and little ones! For any order placed through Deramores, you will now receive a FREE mystery pattern with every order! Deramores Rewards is our loyalty program. It's our way of thanking you for shopping at Deramores and for every £1 spent at Deramores, you'll earn 5 "Derapoints" that can be redeemed for coupons in £2.50, £5, £10 and £25 amounts. Nobody likes to pay more than they have to and at Deramores we don't believe you should. That's why we've taken our most popular brands and price-matched them against our top competitors to bring you everyday low pricing. We also offer FREE Premium Tracked delivery for orders over £25. Stay tuned to see what February brings, or sign up to our newsletters to receive our latest news and offers!

Lionel Lee looks just like any other student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He does well academically, enjoyed track and field in polytechnic, and had completed National Service (NS). You might have even seen him solve a Rubik's Cube in under 20 seconds at the recent SPD Charity Show 2019. However, Lionel is living with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism that includes difficulties in communication and social relationships. Here's more about Lionel, who is also a recipient of the Asia Pacific Breweries Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities last year. My name is Lionel and I'm 23 years old. I'm currently an undergraduate at the Nanyang Technological University studying mathematical sciences. I enjoy exercising, exploring nature, listening to music and speed solving Rubik's Cubes. I'm also working on broadening my social network. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was four. I think, feel and process thoughts differently from most people. As such, my intentions and behaviours are often misunderstood by others. I experienced developmental delays in speech and in pragmatic language use. I'm easily distracted and get overwhelmed by my surroundings, such as noise, people, texture and lighting. I take longer to respond to auditory information and find it challenging to finish tasks on time as I'm slower at planning and organising mental processes. I rely a lot on structure, repetition and routine and lose focus easily when there are too many changes. I'm often misunderstood by others and viewed as weird especially when I interrupt others as I get excited over things of my interest. Others think that I am self-centered and lack courtesy. Since I'm very direct and blunt with my words, I may sometimes unknowingly offend others and that makes some people avoid me. I often feel left out and ignored in group conversations as I would be in my own thoughts and shut out what others say. Thus, it is challenging for me to make friends and deal with people. I was fortunate to receive a lot of support and encouragement from teachers and allied educators during my school days. My allied educator from secondary school taught me social skills and helped me facilitate friendship groups in a very structured setting. My family played a big part too, especially my mother, who has patiently guided me in social skills using plenty of visual aids. I'm proud of my Asperger's Syndrome. It has played a huge role in my passion for mathematics. Due to the structured nature of mathematics, I'm able to focus well and enjoy learning and thinking through it. I enjoy abstract and logical problem solving that involve numbers and patterns. I also have photographic memory for numbers and a great eye for details. I am keen to step beyond my boundaries to engage the community in Asperger's Syndrome awareness and advocacy sessions. I want to take every of life's challenge that I face in my stride and do my best so as to inspire and uplift others. I aspire to work as a mathematics researcher, contributing to the development of 21st century mathematics, making full use of my strengths. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is not limited to just Asperger's Syndrome. It refers to a broad range of conditions and different people with autism face different challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and non-verbal communication. Whereas Lionel is able to make good of his life, others who have more severe forms of autism require constant and lifelong care. On this 12th World Autism Awareness Day, let us commit ourselves and promote the inclusion of people with autism. Our support can empower them to develop their potential to the fullest and be a part of mainstream society.

These are some simple rules to follow when in a courtroom. * Stand when a judge enters until they say "You may be seated", a bailiff says "All rise", when a judge exits, or if there is jury is present anytime they enter or leave. * Do not chew gum, or eat food in court with the exception of water at the counsel tables. * Do not use tobacco products in the courtroom. * ALWAYS BE ON TIME!!!!! If one of these rules are broken the presiding judge can hold you in contempt of court, which could result in a fine or time spent in jail.

Right click on the text to open the context menu (or press and hold on it using a touchscreen device). Then click on the "delete branch" option in the context menu. Alternatively, on a desktop device, hold either the [ctrl] or [alt] keys, and hover over the text of the item. An (X) will appear which you can click to remove it. When a branch is removed it will remove the item and all of the child items connected to it. To remove an item without removing its children, hold the [ctrl] key, or the [alt] key after opening the context menu, and the delete branch icon will turn into the icon to remove just one item. Check out more of our handy keyboard shortcuts, too!

UK To Reject Copyright Term Extension For Songs So reports the BBC. Tags: copyright / gowers / sound recordings / term extension / uk Skewed Concept of Copyright This is a particularly interesting quote… ["You can make a record in 1955 and have been getting royalties," he said. "Suddenly they're gone."] Why on Earth should you be allowed to make money on something you made and sold over fifty years ago in the first place? Isn't the general purpose of copyright to encourage the continued creation of useful arts? If I'm allowed to wrench money out of someone for a product I made over half-a-decade ago, that's not encouraging me to continue making art, it's telling me that I can retire after making a few products and then live off of them for the rest of my life. I understand that copyright has its purpose, which is to grant a temporary monopoly on the sale and use of your product so that you're allowed enough of the dangling carrot to keep on making useful art. Emphasis on TEMPORARY: doesn't it then make sense that copyright should extend just a couple of years to begin with instead of lasting your entire life and then some? a simple young student With all the respect i think that there is a very big difference between the EXTENSION OF COPYRIGHT DURATION in general, and the extension of the duration of Performers royalties on sound recordings. Also as far as creativity is concerned I don't think that there is any problem with creativity in USA, where the duration is almost double than in UK. It is still rules the Music Industry whether we like it or not. "Suddenly they're gone" but some others make money from that. "Suddenty they're gone" but the composer continue making money from performers contribution; in fact from his/her work.

Bank and finance Manufacturing and Energy Distribution, luxury goods and CPG Digital twin of warehouses, factories and stores Reflex Logistics Solutions Eyesee Inventory-taking drone Adelia Studio Development Platform Our customers testify All our references 21/03/2018 - 2017 annual results: Hardis Group reports growth of 19% 2017 annual results: Hardis Group reports growth of 19% The company posted turnover for 2017 of €99.1 million, up 19% on 2016, surpassing the objectives of its three-year plan, which will be complete at the end of 2018, a year ahead of schedule. Operating income jumped 9% to €7.2 million. The workforce increased by 20% in a year. In the space of five years, turnover has grown by 81% and the number of employees has increased by 64%. Hardis Group, a digital services company and independent software vendor, announces its results for 2017. Turnover grew by 19% to €99.1 million, against €83.3 million in 2016 and €95 million forecast in early 2017. Operating profit was up 9%, reaching €7.2 million, against €6.6 million in 2016. The workforce increased by 20% to more than 1,000 employees. These figures are the result of the company's strategic transformation plan, which began in 2013. Hardis Group is expecting turnover growth of 14% in 2018. 2017: strong growth and international expansion Of the €99.1 million in turnover, 69% originated from service activities. With a value of €39.8 million, Business Applications services contributed 60% of the total for services. Salesforce integration activities reached €3.5 million, including contributions from Bluetis and Synefo, two integrators acquired in 2017. "Our ambition is to double this figure in 2018 (€7 million) with the creation at the beginning of the year of a new strategic business activity called Cloud Platform, focused on the integration and development of professional applications with Salesforce, AWS, Google and Facebook. We are also going to focus on artificial intelligence with these partners and IBM Watson", says Nicolas Odet, CEO of Hardis Group. Business Consulting activities represented €11.1 million, up 28%, driven by the transformation needs of organizations, ways of working (open innovation, DevOps, agile methods, etc.) and information systems. Turnover for cloud hosting and consultancy services (Cloud Operations) reached €17.8 million, up 17%, half of which came from Reflex, its logistics software suite. "Applications from AWS, Google and Azure will also be important growth drivers for Cloud Operations", Nicolas Odet continues. As for its software publishing activities, logistics applications (Reflex Solutions) represented €27.8 million. In total, they now amount to €37.1 million within Hardis Group's turnover (including consultancy, integration and cloud hosting services), up 23% on 2016. The sales of licenses and services for the development platform Adelia were worth €2.5 million. 2017 saw Hardis Group opening two subsidiaries in Spain and Switzerland, acquiring two external companies, beginning construction of the new head office in the Presqu'île area of Grenoble, redeveloping all Hardis Group agencies and winning an Honoree Award at CES in Las Vegas for its Eyesee drone inventory application. "We've also reached 1,000 employees, compared to 600 five years ago. Our business plan and the opportunities we offer in terms of innovation and our internationalization help us attract talent", comments Yvan Coutaz, Executive Vice President. 2018: innovation, transformation and internationalization For 2018, Hardis Group is expecting 14% growth in its turnover and 19% growth in its operating profits which should reach €113 million and €8.5 million respectively. In terms of service activities, the company will continue to transform its offering and as an organization to meet the needs of its clients in terms of innovation, agility and value creation within the following target sectors: banking, insurance, distribution, industry, energy and logistics. It will pursue its active co-innovation policy, with leading players and promising start-ups, in the fields of artificial intelligence, smart devices, data intelligence and robotics. At the same time, Hardis Group will strengthen its offering in terms of designing and integrating "cloud native" professional applications through its strategic Cloud Platform business activity. Lastly, Hardis Group will accelerate its activities and Reflex client projects at an international level, in Spain, Benelux, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, the United States, South America and China. "We believe that our profession will undergo a profound transformation. We must enable our clients to benefit from the cloud and to add value to their data by offering applications which combine third-party cloud components, the market's professional software packages and Hardis Group's service", Yvan Coutaz explains. In terms of the workforce, 200 new employees will be welcomed in 2018. Hardis Group will continue with its initiatives to achieve Great Place to Work certification. Contact the press service of Hardis Group Apply in one click Customer extranet 34, rue de la Tuilerie 38170 Seyssinet-Pariset informations@hardis-group.com ©2019 - Hardis Group - All rights reserved Respecting personal data

Canada not rushing to appoint next head coach following Benito Floro's exit September 14, 20166:19PM EDT Daniel SquizzatoContributor Follow@ DanielSquizzato The Benito Floro era is over. For now, that's pretty much all we know for sure. The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) on Wednesday confirmed that it would not be renewing Floro's contract, one week after the men's national team's 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign officially came to an end. "We would like to thank Benito Floro for his professionalism and integrity during his tenure as coach," CSA president Victor Montagliani said on a media conference call on Wednesday. "Benito, being a professional, knows what this business is all about." Who will be Canada's next full-time manager, as they work towards the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup? "There's no timetable, there's no rush," said Montagliani. "But we also want to be exhaustive and cast a net rather than a fishing rod, and see how we want to move forward." Well then, what about an interim manager, to lead the team into the friendlies it is planning to play in October and November? "We'll now sit down and look internally how we're going to deal with the rest of the year," said Montagliani. "We'll make that announcement somewhere down the road here, before the next fixtures." As far as in-house options go for the interim position, one candidate is Michael Findlay, who served as an assistant under Floro and managed the team to a 1-1 draw with Ghana in October 2014. Another one is CSA technical director Tony Fonseca, who took the reins for a pair of friendlies in March 2013 before Floro was hired. When it comes to who will have the onerous task of trying to lead Canada to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the array of options should be much wider. But, as the team's recent experiences in World Cup qualifying demonstrate, there is no surefire recipe for success. Holger Osieck came in with a high profile and international experience, but could not take Canada to the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifying despite leading them to the 2000 Gold Cup crown. Frank Yallop, a former Canadian international, made the move from managing the San Jose Earthquakes, but could not reach the Hex with the national team either. Dale Mitchell and Stephen Hart both rose up through the coaching ranks in the Canadian system, but neither could take the Canucks to the final round of World Cup Qualifying (though Hart will be there with Trinidad & Tobago). And of course, Floro, who has traveled the globe over a 35-year managerial career, could not get the team to the Hex. While some are clamoring for the next full-time manager to be Canadian, Montagliani said the federation will keep an open mind in its search. "We didn't exclude any nationality in our last search," he said. "And we're not going to exclude any nationality – especially our own – with respect to the next search." Adding another layer to the story is Montagliani's ascent into the upper echelons of the world's game. He was elected president of CONCACAF last May, and is a vice president of FIFA, which has undoubtedly provided many connections that could assist in finding Canada's next manager. But by virtue of winning that CONCACAF election, Montagliani is required to step down as president of Canada Soccer by spring 2017. Regardless, what Montagliani wants is for the next full-time coach to carry forward some of the positive elements of Floro's three-year term with Canada, including the growth of the player pool and the ways in which the team prepares for the World Cup qualification process. "We've taken a long-term approach to the program, knowing that we need to build," he said. "This was the first block. I think Benito has brought a lot to the program from a tactical/technical perspective. "What the program needs now is another elevation. In a lot of ways, we need to double down on this program." As for Floro, Montagliani said the 64-year-old Spaniard understood the situation after the team failed to reach the Hex, and that there are "no issues" there. "That's part of the game, it's the nature of the business," said Montagliani. "It's football, and now we need to move on."

Nick May Signs to Wrestle at Michigan State University hybelschris Four year varsity wrestler Nick May signed to Michigan State University (MSU) this fall. May was the high school wrestling state runner-up for his weight class (189lbs) last year and is currently leading the Knights in a crusade to another successful season. "I feel that it was an accomplishment [signing to MSU], and I look forward to the next chapter of my life," said May. May spent the majority of his off season training in preparation for the state competition this season. To further prepare he played his third year of varsity football as a linebacker for the Loy Norrix Knights. After the season came to an end, he turned his attention to the mat. Before he started his senior wrestling season he signed a four year commitment to the Michigan State Spartans. "It felt good [signing] knowing it's one step closer to all [my] hard work paying off," said May. Nick May poses for a picture with the rest of the May family. He is the second oldest in a family of four, and the first to go to Michigan State. Photo Credit / Chris Hybels #LoyNorrix loy norrix high school Nick May Scott May

∞ https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8tb192d/ Guide to the California and the Pacific photograph album Bernath Mss 468 Finding aid prepared by Zachary Liebhaber, 2014. UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections Santa Barbara 93106-9010 special@library.ucsb.edu URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections Title: California and the Pacific photograph album Identifier/Call Number: Bernath Mss 468 Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections Physical Description: 0.92 linear feet (1 oversize box) Abstract: 287 black-and-white photos (some captioned) of various scenes and locales in California, Hawaii, Guam and the Philippine Islands. Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library The collection is open for research. Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained. [Identification of Item], California and the Pacific photograph album, Bernath Mss 468. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. 287 black-and-white photos (some captioned) of various scenes and locales in California, Hawaii, Guam and the Philippine Islands. A number of photographs include sailors aboard ship. The album also includes a reference ("Program of Music") to the U.S.S. Ohio dated 1906. See collection file for lists of photo captions. Subjects and Indexing Terms California -- Pictorial works Guam -- Pictorial works Hawaii -- Pictorial works Philippines -- Pictorial works Flat-oversize 1 California and the pacific photograph album circa 1906

Tag: nathan haas Tour Down Under 2018 – Stage 2 Preview; Unley -> Stirling Stage 1 Recap The race got off to a flyer with the usual sprint finish into Lyndoch. However, it wasn't either of the two pre-stage favourites who took out the day but instead Andre Greipel delivered the win for Lotto. That result now means the German has won his opening UCI race of the year for the past three seasons on the trot. A pretty impressive record that! Ewan managed to hold on for second, while a fast finishing Sagan took third. Will they all be up there competing at the end of stage 2? Let's have a look at what is in store for them. The riders will leave Unley from a different side than normal, facing the climb of Tea Tree Gully within the opening 15km. @LaFlammeRouge From there, the road rises and falls throughout the Adelaide hills as the riders head towards Mylor which marks the second sprint point of the day but more importantly, the start of the final circuits around Stirling. As you can see, the course rolls a lot in the opening 11,5km, but it is just ever so slightly downhill on average in terms of gradient. Interestingly, the whole circuit apparently has 489m of elevation gain according to Strava/Veloviewer, but I'm definitely taking that with a pinch of salt; 400m seems more accurate than closer to 500m. The key part of the day though is the 7.6km drag to the line that comes in the final third of the circuit. At an average of 2.4% for the duration, in theory it shouldn't be too difficult for pro cyclists. However, this all depends on how aggressively certain teams approach the day. If it is a benign day then we could easily see some of the sprinters who were in the mix on Stage 1 up there again, if not, then it will be one for the puncheurs. The final few hundred metres to the line are almost on a false flat, with a little kick up to the finish. Tackling the rise 4 times could certainly sap the legs of the fast men and puncheurs, especially if we get difficult conditions. Speaking of which… It looks set to be an even hotter day for the riders than on the opening stage with it feeling like 34ºC come the end of the stage. Source: Accuweather There will be a breeze in the air to hopefully help cool them down but I don't think it will be of much help! They will be pleased to know that there will be a tailwind as they head through the Adelaide Hills towards Stirling. However, it does mean they will face the headwind on their run in to the line while on the circuit. Timing of your effort will be crucial! Can the sprinters hang on? A quick history of sterling Stirling finishes While the finish was not used in 2017, it has been used the majority of the editions prior to that but I'm only going to focus on 2011-2016 as a guide because that is when it became "World Tour". 2011 – Matthews took the win in his neo-pro year, beating Greipel and Goss. Only a group of 24 finished on the same time as the winner but there were 59 in total within 13 seconds. Some splits in the final few hundred metres then. There was also a crash near the end of the stage that saw some riders caught behind. ~60 rider sprint. 2012 – Will Clarke wins solo, with Matthews beating Gerrans for second place; with the likes of Valverde, EBH, Freire and GVA all making up the top 10. 65 riders came home on the same time behind the solo winner. 2013 – An aggressively raced day that saw Slagter take an exceptional win; opening up his sprint from 300m and blowing everyone off his wheel. Goss and Gilbert rounded out the podium with only 27 riders finishing in the front group. 2014 – The biggest group that Stirling has seen, with roughly 100 riders arriving together, it was Ulissi who took the win ahead of Gerrans and Evans. 2015 – Lobato put on a puncheurs masterclass to take the day, beating Impey and his own team-mate Gorka Izagirre to the line. I miss early 2015 Lobato. Anyway, only 48 were there to witness him win, less than half from the previous year. 2016 – A wonderful win from McCarthy as he just pipped Ulissi to the win, with Dennis coming home third. It might have been a slightly different result as the likes of Gerrans and Haas crashed out, who knows though. I certainly didn't care as I had rather aptly came in from a night out in Stirling (Scotland) to watch him win at 100/1. Good times! So what can we take from all of this? It really depends on how aggressively the day is raced as to how big a bunch makes it. There is a chance if the bunch is on a go slow day that we could see ~100 guys arrive together. However, I think we'll see an aggressive day and a whittling down of the peloton that will mainly be driven by Katusha and Bora. Both of those teams have riders capable of winning this stage (Haas/Restrepo & McCarthy/Sagan), but also taking valuable bonus seconds in their quest to win Ochre come the end of the week. The intent was there on Stage 1 when going for the intermediates and I see it being no different for stage 2. I think some of the sprinters might make it, but them being able to compete is another thing. Only Sagan out of the main guys has a good chance. In fact, this stage is Sagan's for the taking, but it all depends on if he has to work for McCarthy or not. Possible Contenders There are the obvious guys such as Sagan, McCarthy, Haas etc. but given that I have already waffled on for a good bit and there will be plenty of others who will cover the key guys well, I'm just going to go straight to three outsiders who I think might stand a chance. Maybe… Patrick Bevin. It will either be him or Gerrans that will be sprinting for BMC but I certainly would give the Kiwi a shot at it. He's known much more as a time trial rider however he does pack a fast punch; he came from nowhere to finish second in the opening road stage of the Tour de Suisse last year. Furthermore, he finished 11th yesterday and in an interview with CyclingNews, Porte said that his team-mates will be racing to take bonus seconds away from his rivals. He's one to keep an eye on! Alexander Edmondson. The newly crowned Aussie RR Champion is another who's sprinting prowess caught my eye at the Tour de Suisse last year where he picked up two 4th places. It was his 4th place on stage 2 that was more impressive though as a breakaway duo won the stage honours ahead, he beat the likes of Swift, Felline and Ulissi in the uphill drag to the line; only being bested by Colbrelli. I have my doubts about Ewan making it in this stage, so Mitchelton might just turn to him. Or Impey. Jasha Sütterlin. A name that I know one reader will like, the German is one of the two chosen "sprinters" here for Movistar with the other being Barbero. In stage 1 he was close to being in or around the top 10 but collided with the FDJ rider who eventually crashed and that cost him any chance of going for some kind of result. On Movistar's website they said the pair will both try again on stage 2. Given the speed he showed in the PCC, I think he could be another to keep an eye on. Could the Spanish team manage another two riders on the podium in 2018? We'll most likely see Sagan romp home to victory, but where is the fun in going with that? So being two previews deep into the season I'm already reverting back to type; Alexander Edmondson to win. Clearly in great shape now as he gears towards the Commonwealth Games, Mitchelton Scott will capitalise on the others marking each other, with Impey delivering the national champion into the perfect position for him to power home. Happy to take some small 0.5pt EW punts on the riders I've listed above (all prices with Bet365) Edmondson @ 300/1 Bevin @ 125/1 Sutterlin @ 250/1 Thanks as always for reading! Who do you think will win today/tonight/tomorrow? Could we see an outsider take glory or will it be the usual suspects? Anyway, By mytwospokesworthin Tour Down Under, Uncategorized January 16, 2018 1,452 WordsLeave a comment Tour Down Under 2018 – GC Preview So with the women's race now finished, it is time for the men to take centre stage over the coming week with the riders battling it out to take home Ochre. A race that has been dominated by the Australians in recent years, with the last 4 GC titles going to the home riders; expect to see some fast racing coupled with sweltering temperatures. It might not have the best race route in the grand scheme of the cycling season but given its position as the season opener, I think most of us will take it! After finally getting his hands on the GC win last year the King of Willunga (a.k.a Richie Porte) is back here to defend his crown along with a strong BMC team. In fact, the last 3 winners of the race are all riding for that outfit this year, which is very ominous for the rest of the field. However, they won't have it all their own way and there are certainly some other riders out there who could challenge their dominance. First, let's have a quick look at what is in store for the riders over the six days of action. I won't bore you here though, as I'll have plenty of time over the coming week to drain you with an in-depth route analysis of each stage. This will simply be more of an overview! There are three stages that are most likely to have the biggest impact on GC, although that could change if the wind blows strongly on some of the more exposed days. We saw the women's peloton battered by cross winds through the Barossa Valley. Stage 2 is the first important day with the traditional finish in Stirling. @LaFlammeRouge16 A rolling circuit that will see the peloton whittled down, some of the stronger sprinters will be happy to see that the organisers have reduced the number of laps that they will complete. Back in 2016 when Jay McCarthy won this stage, the riders had to contest with 6 laps, but this time it will just be 4. In theory, this should make it easier and see the stage switch from a puncheurs finish to more of a strong sprinters day. However, this of course all depends on how aggressively the teams race. If the fast men of the peloton are eliminated from the group then it is a great chance for the likes of Haas and McCarthy to pick up some valuable bonus seconds in their fight for GC. Stage 4 will see the peloton tackle a new finish here at the Tour Down Under, featuring a climb that is well-known by the local Aussies. Norton Summit is not a new climb for the Tour though, with it being used right at the start of Stage 4 in 2016. It took the riders roughly 11'30 to complete the climb that day but I imagine that time will be faster this year round given it's position on the course. Once over the "summit" the riders will have 7.5km left but instead of a drop straight down, they'll instead face a kilometre or so of false flat before an uncategorised ramp up Woods Hill Road. Could this be a launchpad for a late attack? With only 3.5km of shallow descending all the way to the line, it certainly could be. Stage 5 will once again play host to the summit finish of Willunga Hill. If the GC is still close at this stage, then it will all come down to the final ascent of Willunga. Porte has owned this climb for the past four years and he'll hope to make it five in a row this time. Will it be enough for the overall title though? From a tactics point of view, it is much easier to ride a defensive race on Willunga than attacking one, as it is a difficult climb to make massive gains on. Although lil' Richie might have something to say about that… GC Contenders Given the recent form of the Australians at this race, they've won 6 out of the last 7 years, then it is really hard to back against them on their own turf. Porte comes into the race as the bookmakers favourite and rightly so given his performances on Willunga the past few years. If everything is kept together on stages 2 & 4, with his opponents not gaining any bonus seconds, the race is his to lose. However, this is the least suited route to Porte for a while and I think he'll desperately miss the Paracombe finish that we had last year. He might well win on Willunga again, but I don't think it will be by as big a margin as he has done in previous years. McCarthy will be waiting in the wings, hoping to capitalise on the new stage and sprint for some bonus seconds on days 2 and 4, feasibly giving himself a 20 second buffer going into Willunga. He's a rider that I have grown fond over and one that I had backed when he took out the stage in Stirling in 2016. At the Aussie Nationals recently, he looked incredibly strong, sprinting away from the chase group in the closing few hundred metres. His trajectory in this race has been on the up as well, with a 4th in 2016 and a 3rd last year. Will he go one or two steps higher this time around? Haas is a rider similar to McCarthy and he too will be looking to nab some bonus seconds on stages 2 & 4. With a winter move to Katusha, the former Dimension Data rider comes here in some good form with a 5th place finish in both the road race and time trial at the Aussie Champs. An attacking rider, he will no doubt give it a go on Stage 4 in an attempt to get clear. However, I sometimes think that he is too attacking; using up a lot of his resources before it is necessary. Will that be his downfall again? Can a non-Aussie win? Some might suggest Sagan has a chance, especially after his strong showing in today's criterium. However, he will be here for training more than anything, possibly getting involved in a few sprints but nothing more than that. Ulissi is a very solid finisher and will no doubt again be in or around the top 5 but I can't see him having enough form early in the year to take the win. Yet, he is the type of rider who could well prove me wrong! His team-mate Rui Costa might be another to watch, he was flying at the start of last year. Bernal arrives here as Team Sky's best chance on paper, the young rider is truly exceptional. His form will be unkown but as we've seen with Henao in the past, Colombians seem to go well here. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go with the best on Willunga, but his lack of a sprint might let him down for the overall. I'll go for none of the above to win though. Instead, I'll suggest that Rohan Dennis will take home another Tour Down Under title. The current Aussie TT champion blitzed away his opposition recently, putting over a minute into a very lean Luke Durbridge and almost two minutes into team-mate Porte, regaining his title with ease. He DNF'd the road race, but I think he was using that race as training more than anything else. Almost have way through his "4-year GC plan", this should be the year where he takes another step forward in that quest. He certainly looks very fit going by some of the pictures I've seen floating around social media over the past week. There has also been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between himself and Porte as to who the leader of BMC will be for the week, both downplaying their own chances and talking up their team-mate. First race mind-games! With the introduction of the interesting finish on stage 4 this year I think it is very beneficial for a team to have two possible winners in their squad and I'm sure BMC will use that to their advantage. Norton Summit looks ideal for the powerhouse and Dennis certainly has the TT engine to attack and hold a gap, especially with Porte and possibly Gerrans behind marking out any efforts to close him down. Being in Ochre going into Willunga means BMC will be able to ride a defensive race, and who wouldn't want the King of Willunga himself to act as a super-domsetique for you that day?! Porte should be able to keep things together and Dennis won't lose enough time to be toppled, with Porte even nabbing the bonus seconds away from his competitors on the line. First race of the season so it would be rude not to have a flutter on the GC market. I tweeted it out a few days ago but… 1pt EW Dennis @ 20/1 with Coral/Ladbrokes. Thanks as always for reading and any feedback is greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoyed my first men's preview of the season. I'll be back with daily stage previews of the Tour Down Under starting from tomorrow. Anyway, Amstel Gold Race 2017 Preview The Ardennes classic that isn't in the Ardennes! Amstel Gold Race returns once again this year as the opener for our Ardennes classic week, with the 52nd edition of the race. The cobbled classics in the north of France and Belgium are finished with the attention now turning to the rolling hills of the Ardennes and Limburg regions. We're in the latter on Sunday for Amstel! Last year saw a late attack over the top of the Cauberg from Gasparotto and Valgren. They managed to just hold on to the line, with the Italian taking an emotional victory, dedicating the win to team-mate Demoitié. Behind, it was Colbrelli who won the bunch sprint for third place. If I'm honest, the reason I prefer the Cobbled Classics over the Ardennes is because the cobbled races are much more attacking (they've been even more attacking this year) whereas the likes of Amstel come down to a sprint up the final climb. However, that might change this year due to two reasons; teams seem more keen to attack from far out, and the fact the final ascent of the Cauberg has been taking out. At 261km in length and with 35 ascents in total, it's not for the faint-hearted! @LasterketaBurua Although they go over a lot of climbs in the first three-quarters of the route, I expect those climbs to more sap the legs than anything else and for the race to really heat up when we're into the last 50km of the day. The fast passage of 4 climbs in succession; Kruisberg; Eyserbosweg; Fromberg; and Keutenberg between the 220km and 235km will be a launch point for some "early" attacks in my opinion. We've seen this in the past with the likes of Nibali surging away at this point to put the hurt on the riders behind. Considering the way that the one-day races (aside from MSR) have gone this year so far, it is probably advised for most teams if they stay attentive and try to get at least one rider up the road at this point. Preferably it should be at least a second or third favourite in the team and one they would be relatively confident in winning the race so they have to do no effort whatsoever behind. I say "early" as it would be early for this race considering its history but there would only be roughly 30km to the finish from that point. We've had winning moves go from further out this Spring so far! The almost 10km of flat between the Keutenberg and the Cauberg will be important in the race. Good co-operation ahead could see that group build a large gap if a lot of the favourites teams are represented and there is an unwillingness to chase behind. Likewise, the opposite scenario has an equal chance of playing out. The Cauberg still could play a significant part in the race as it could be another launchpad for attacks. Once over the top, there's only about 18km left in the race and not long until the penultimate climb; the Geulhemmerberg. Not an overly difficult climb, it does have some steepish ramps but it's position at the end of the race is the main challenge. We then end with the Bemelerberg. Again it's not an overly difficult climb, but depending on the racing before hand, we could see some small gaps here. There are then roughly 5km or so of flat before the sprint to the line, or will it… How will the race pan out? I expect an attacking race, although that might be wishful thinking more than anything else. With the change of finish, the puncheurs can't sit and wait because if they do, it's game over as the "sprinters" we have here should be able to cope with the last two climbs easily. Therefore, I expect attacks to come on the section of 4 climbs I highlighted above (at around 40km left), but I would not be surprised to see something relatively dangerous go even earlier than that. It all then depends on who and what teams have made the split. As we saw in Brabantse on Wednesday, Direct Energie were very keen to chase to help Coquard but Sunweb were very disappointing in support of Matthews. The latter have a much stronger team here in support of the Aussie but they aren't the type of riders you would rely on to chase down attacks all day. The race is delicately poised between being a great afternoon of attacking cycling, or a snoozefest that's controlled for a reduced bunch sprint. But if there is one race this week that has a chance of being won by what I would call a proper outsider, it is Amstel. There are obvious candidates for the win such as sprinters Matthews/Coquard/Colbrelli and Ardenne's specialists like Gilbert/Valverde/Kwiatkowski, but as I think there is a chance we might get a relative shock of a winner and I'm nearly at 900 words already, I'm going to just name a shortlist of riders to keep an eye on in varying circumstances. So apologies if you were wanting an exhaustive list! Lilian Calmejane. Aside from Van Avermaet, the Frenchman is arguably the form rider of the year; picking up 6 wins so far this season if you include his three GC wins. Most of his successes have come on rolling terrain and Amstel is the perfect platform for him to continue his outstanding season. Admittedly, this is a step up compared to the races he has been winning, but with a GT stage win already to his name, he must be confident! For him to win, he'll need to be one of the riders involved in a far out attack and with a lot of teams represented, they stay away. He's got an OK sprint compared to some other climbers, but more than likely he'll have to come to the line solo. Allez Lilian! Nathan Haas. The Aussie had a great start to the year, finishing a very impressive 4th in the Tour Down Under and coming home 10th on the Green Mountain stage in Oman. Since then he's struggled with allergies, particularly in Catalunya where he had to withdraw but his return to racing in Brabantse was promising. In fact, he looked good and was attentive at the front of the peloton in the final lap. The race on Wednesday will hopefully have opened the legs up and he'll be an even greater fighting force come Sunday. I'm sure he'll just be hoping for a bit more luck… Alexey Lutsenko. The Astana rider won the U23 World's on this course back in 2012 after catching everyone by surprise and opening up his sprint early. Funnily enough though, it's the change of course this year that gives him another chance of victory. The removal of the Cauberg helps the Kazakh as the professional peloton ride the climb more aggressively in Amstel than they did in that U23 2012 Worlds. With a solid sprint he has a chance of being up there in a reduced bunch gallop, but it's his attacking nature that gives him the best chance of taking victory; whether that be from a breakaway or making a move in the final 3km as everyone hesitates behind. With his third in Dwars this season he's highlighted his abilities as a rider and that big win is just around the corner for him I think. Jens Keukeleire. A talented rider for a while who seemed to be hampered by bad luck or just underperformed when called upon. However, that changed in the second half of last season when he first of all won a stage in Slovenia but then followed it up with a very impressive sprint victory in the Vuelta. This year he's been a bit off again so far, but it looked as if he was back to his best in when second in Gent Wevelgem. This change of course in theory should suit him and it will be interesting to see what role he takes in the Orica team along with Albasini/Gerrans/Impey. Definitely not a favourite, but he has a slim outside chance! I'm still torn between this race being great or extremely dull. Obviously I hope if it's the former! The route change really throws a cat amongst the pigeons in terms of predictions and you'll struggle to find anyone predicting the race with confidence. Nonetheless, I'll go for an exciting race and a win for a rider who's been chasing that big win for a while, and his first part of the season has been aimed at this event. Nathan Haas to win! Definitely not a race to get heavily involved with; Haas 0.5pt EW @50/1 with various (take the 4 places at Coral if you can) Keukeleire 0.25pt EW @200/1 with Bet365 (take 150/1) I tweeted out the Calmejane and Lutsenko picks midweek but they've since shortened. Calemjane 0.25pt EW @250/1 (take 100s available but no less) Lutsenko 0.25pt EW @200/1 (take 125s available but no less) Thanks for reading and always any feedback is greatly appreciated. Who do you think will win? Will it be an open race or a dull one where everything stays together until the end? I'll have my women's Amstel preview out tomorrow so return for that! Anyway, By mytwospokesworthin one day classics, Uncategorized April 14, 2017 1,573 Words2 Comments Volta Catalunya Stage 4 Preview; Llívia -> Igualada If I'm being honest, I didn't catch much of today's stage. Only the last 600m in fact, I was too busy watching Dwars! From what I saw, it seemed a fairly benign day and we got a sprint to the finish line between the two pre-stage favourites. It was Valverde who came out on top over Martin, exacting some revenge for Movistar who felt hard done by with the reversal of the commissaire's decision this morning! Yates came home in third to pick up some bonus seconds, with the blog pick of Bardet coming 4th. Van Garderen holds a 41 second lead on the GC over team-mate Sanchez, but there are a whole host of riders queuing up behind the BMC duo if they were to falter. Will we see any GC changes tomorrow? Let's have a look at the route. A weird route that starts with almost 100km of very shallow descending! Source: @LasterketaBurua There is a sprint point on top of a small hill after only 6.2km so I expect the GC teams to keep the bunch together for that. It looks ideal for the likes of Valverde to nab a few bonus seconds. We then have the long, gradual descent before the next main obstacle of the day; the cat 3 Alt del Pubill. Only 2.9km long and averaging 6%, it's not overly difficult and I imagine the peloton will roll over it. The course then rolls for the next 70km before we reach the main challenge of the day; the Cat 2 Turó del Puig. At 5.3km and only averaging 5.4% the GC riders won't be troubled here, but due to its proximity to the finish line it should be tackled at a fair pace. This should see the end of the sprinters chances for the day. Apologies for the poor quality image below, the road book doesn't offer much to play with! They'll then descend all the way until 2km to go where we have a fairly technical finale. Two 90-degree turns and a roundabout feature in the last kilometre. It's a typical Spanish end to the day and will no doubt be suitably manic! That is of course if we end up with some type of sprint. How will the stage pan out? With the peloton very much spread out on GC already there is a good chance we could get a breakaway stay away tomorrow. The position of the last climb will make it too hard for Bouhanni and Greipel to make it over with the peloton but it's not hard enough to cause some GC gaps. We could quite well see the type of sprint I thought we might get on Stage 1, where there's a peloton of around 50 guys who come to the finish together. Valverde might fancy his chances of winning the sprint and taking some more bonus seconds along with it. However, that will mean another day of work for Movistar when they don't have to and I'm sure they'd rather save their efforts for the brutal finish on Stage 5. So I'll go for a break, and give it a 70/30 chance that it makes it. Breakaway Contenders There are many, many riders who will be given plenty of freedom tomorrow so it's just a case of me once again trying to give some (hopefully) well-reasoned logic behind my picks and of course a bit of luck for them to make it. It's not helped when there's a bout of illness going around the peloton just now and we're none the wiser as to who is actually fighting fit. Oh well, here goes nothing! The Aussie is here building form for his next goals in the season (Amstel) and what better way to do that then out in the break?! He admitted that he was suffering on the first day but sounded hopefully that it blew the cobwebs away. Tomorrow's stage looks ideally suited to his characteristics, with the climbs not being too difficult. Packing a fast sprint, you wouldn't want to bring him to the line. Petr Vakoc. Like Haas, the Czech rider is here building form for his classics campaign. An 8th place finish on stage 1 where the run in to the line didn't really suit him highlights to me that he's going fairly well at the moment. A proper brute of a rider, the Cat-2 at the end of tomorrow's stage will be on his limit but if the right riders are up the road, he certainly has a chance. Jordi Simon. One of only 4 Funvic riders left in the race, the Catalan native will have pressure from his team to perform here. Not only that, but I'm sure he will want to perform too as tomorrow's stage passes his hometown. An explosive climber, he isn't the most well-known rider in the peloton and doesn't have too many results to his name. A third place at nationals last year was his best finish, but hey, stranger things have happened! Damien Howson. The Orica man took a much deserved GC win in the Herald Sun Tour earlier in the season. A great reward for being a super domestique for Chaves last year! On his return to European racing he finished a respectable 19th in Industrio, helping Yates to victory. Far enough down not to be a GC threat, he would be one of the favourites if he made the break due to his climbing and TT prowess. Break wins and I'll go for Quick Step to continue that feel good factor within their team and Petr Vakoc to take the win! He'll use his explosive kick to attack away from his breakaway companions on the steady gradients of the final climb and not be seen again until they cross the finish line! Crapshoot of a stage and not one I want to get massively involved with; 0.25pt WIN on all the selections. Vakoc @ 28/1 with B365 Haas @ 33/1 with B365 Simon @ 200/1 with B365 Howson @ Not quoted, so I'll go with… Clement @ 300/1 with Bet365 (similar build to Howson, decent climber but strong TTer). Thanks again for reading! How do you think tomorrow will play out? Will we see a break make it, or will it come down to a reduced bunch kick, or even a late attack? Anyway, By mytwospokesworthin Uncategorized, volta ciclista a catalunya March 22, 2017 March 22, 2017 1,067 WordsLeave a comment Cadel Evan's Great Ocean Road Race 2017 Preview Now in its third year, the Cadel Evan's Great Ocean Road Race (herein CEGORR) has produced exciting racing over the first two editions. The inaugural race saw Gianni Meersman take a very reduced bunch sprint win after the peloton was decimated due to crosswinds out on the course, while last year's race saw Pete Kennaugh win solo after attacking on a climb with roughly 12km to go and holding off the bunch. There seems to be no set pattern as to how this race can be won and it's this unpredictability that makes it a great watch! The course remains unchanged and will feature one large loop (113km) around the south Geelong area, followed by 3 laps of a circuit closer to the city itself. The first 50km of the race are almost pan-flat, easing the riders into the day. We'll see the usual 4/5 man break get away here and quickly build up a good gap as the main contenders team's behind control the race. The latter part of the loop does get hillier and depending on how strong the wind is we may get some splits here. However, if the wind isn't playing ball then it will be over to the circuits around Geelong to thin the peloton out. The main challenge on the circuit is the Challambra Crescent climb (link here) which averages 10% for 1km. The climb actually has a few sections where it pitches above 20%. It's a real leg breaker, but expect the peloton to cover it in under 3 minutes during the race! From there, we have a fast descent before another couple of short ramps up Queen's Park and Hyland Street. The latter comes at roughly 6km from the end of the race and is 600m long, averaging 5%. However, the final 200m of the climb is closer to 14% and this is the last proper springboard for the puncheurs to make a difference before the shallow descent and flat run to the finish. Weather wise, it looks as if the riders will get perfect conditions out there on Sunday; clear, sunny skies and not too hot at around 26 degrees Celsius. There is some discrepancy between various sites as to whether or not the wind will have any part to play in the day. Everywhere seems to agree that it will be a SE wind, just how strong varies! I guess we'll have to see on Sunday how strong it actually it is, but nonetheless, it is coming from the correct direction to cause some problems. As mentioned before, the first two editions of the race have produced different outcomes; a reduced bunch sprint and a solo winner. The first edition saw the wind cause chaos, whereas last year it was the circuit around Geelong that caused most of the issues. However, both races have had around 30 riders finish less than a minute behind the winner. What does that tell us? That it will be a hard race either way and we should be in for some good, aggressive racing! There are your obvious riders here who should make the finale in almost any situation. I'm thinking along the lines of Haas, McCarthy and Gerrans. These type of riders can handle the climbs and have a very strong sprint on them, but also are attacking enough to try to slip away from a small group. McCarthy has never raced here before, but Gerrans was 5th last year and Haas has been 3rd and 6th. I'll be very surprised if all 3 aren't in the top 10 come Sunday. Saying that, they will need a tough race to ensure that they will be fighting out for the win because there are other riders who are faster than them at the end of the day. Which leads us on to the sprinters… With the main obstacle of the course being a 3-minute climb, then the strong sprinters can make it to the finish with the peloton. We saw that last year with the likes of Howard, Bonifazio and Ligthart finishing 2nd->4th. Steele von Hoff even came home 11th and he's not a great climbing sprinter. Of course, Meersman won the race back in 2015 too! Therefore, I think the likes of Edward Theuns, Danny Van Poppel, and possibly even Sam Bennett could feature at the pointy end of the race. They will need team-mates left to control the peloton in the closing kilometres but with strong squads supporting them then this could well be the case. Anyway, that's enough of the guys who occupy the top 6 in the betting market. On to what you're all here for; losing (value?) outsiders! Travis McCabe. The American is a strong sprinter who's capable of making it over some sizeable climbs too. His 3rd place on a rolling stage at the Tour de San Luis last year is testament to that. After only turning pro in 2014, he's this year taking the step up to ProConti level with United Health Care after spending the past few years on the US Continental circuit. With Greg Henderson as the team's road captain, he'll have a wealth of experience to rely on, but can he hold his nerve? I imagine he'd prefer it to be a tougher race to get rid of the proper fast men like Bennett etc but not overly tough. A fine balance is required! If so, he'll fancy his chances against Gerrans and co in a straight out sprint. Cameron Bayly. The IsoWhey rider will be here taking part with the national team so expect an attacking race from them. They have some strong youngsters but I would think that Bayly and Meyer will be the protected riders. Finishing 4th in the Road Nationals, Bayly certainly has the climbing legs to compete at this race. He also has a very quick burst of pace but it is his strong engine that would benefit him the most if he managed to get a gap. I was very impressed with him at the criteriums at the start of the year and if he's kept his form then he is definitely one to watch. Can he pull off a solo win á la Kennaugh? Jhonatan Restrepo. Off the back of a 10th place finish on GC at the Tour Down Under, the young Colombian will be in a buoyant mood. Clearly on good form, he is another good climber with a fast kick. He'll need a bit of luck to go his way and a selective race but in professional cycling stranger things have happened. Haas is favourite to win and I would love that to happen for my season-long fantasy team, but I think he won't win because of that very reason. (That he's favourite, not because he's in my team. Well…maybe that too!) I do think we will get a selective race whether that be through the climbing on the circuit, by the winds out on the road, or both! This will reduce the peloton to around 20 riders or so heading into the final lap. With only a few team-mates for the "big" riders it leaves the opportunity open for one of those team-mates or a "lesser" rider to attack as the bigger riders mark each other behind. Step in Cameron Bayly! As I've already used a picture of him above, here's one of my dog instead: Bailey. The Aussie has the desired characteristics and attributes to fit the bill perfectly; solid climber, big engine and relatively unknown. Even if a small group of 5 riders manages to escape then he certainly has the speed to finish it off! So what do we reckon then, a Bayly DNF?! Or will he take the biscuit 😜 0.25pt EW Restrepo @ 66/1 with various (would take 50s) 0.25pt EW McCabe @ 100/1 with Ladbrokes (would take 66s) 0.25pt EW Bayly @ 200/1 with Betfair/Paddy power (would take 100s) Thanks again for reading! How do you think this race will unfold? Does an outsider actually have a chance for once? As usual, any feedback is greatly appreciated. Anyway, By mytwospokesworthin Uncategorized January 27, 2017 January 28, 2017 1,368 WordsLeave a comment Tour Down Under Stage 5 Preview; McLaren Vale -> Willunga Hill Jack Bauer almost made it all the way but was caught within the final 5km and we did end up with a bunch gallop to the line after all. Like GroundHog Day, it was once again Ewan who took out a great sprint victory, beating Sagan and Van Poppel to the line. Is he unbeatable on current form? Pretty much yeah, but we'll have to wait until Sunday to find out as tomorrow is the classic TDU GC finish up Willunga Hill. Link to the Strava stage profile There's not really much to talk about the route for this stage. The laps around McLaren Vale are very straightforward, so like every year, this day comes down to the double passage of Willunga Hill. A fairly steady climb, it averages 7.6% for the 2.9km with it's steepest sections coming in the first half and it "flattening out" in the final kilometre. On the first ascent we normally see some thinning out of the peloton and are maybe left with 30-40 riders or so coming into the final run up Willunga. The past few years has seen the leading GC teams control the climb until roughly 1km left where we normally see a full-out sprint from Porte all the way to the top. He did the same thing in 2016 too… Both attacks are made at 1.2km to go and amazingly he fully drops Dennis/Henao at the exact same S-bend. More of the same this year?! With the commanding lead he has, Porte will be able to ride a more defensive race here than he's used to. But will he want to? The King of Willunga could potentially make it three in a row here and with the way he soared up Paracombe on Stage 2 I wouldn't put it past him. He's not really giving any hints as to how he'll race it, suggesting he can ride conservatively but if the option is there to go for the win he will. Hmmm. You never know, he might be happy to let a break take the win and bonus seconds, but that's very unlikely! Or at least the other teams will chase the break down to fight out for the win if BMC don't play ball. With the 20″ gap over his nearest rivals, Porte could just mark Chaves/Izagirre/McCarthy out of the race. Therefore, I think there is a good chance he might give a bit of leeway to those who are further behind, i.e. 30 seconds plus. Henao was very unlucky on stage 2 with a double puncture and did remarkably well to still get up for 12th on the stage. So he clearly has very good form at the moment. Second here last year to Porte he definitely has a good chance to go one better this year! Woods was third here last year and like Henao currently sits 33″ behind Porte on GC. I can imagine there will be a lot of people who fancy his chances but he wasn't overly impressive on Paracombe in my opinion. Especially in comparison to his explosive nature that he showed last year at this race. So it's a no from me, but I am willing to be surprised and proven wrong (again)! Ulissi sprinted to 4th on this finish in 2016 and came home in the main group on Stage 2 so clearly has some decent form. Probably not a rider who will win solo, he could win a 2 or 3 man sprint of lesser riders. Haas seems to be riding better than ever here but this climb is on his limit so he'll have to pull a remarkable performance out the bag to podium. As we have him for GC I'm quite happy to just leave him be for this stage. There are a lot of other riders who could potentially pull off an early attack that goes unmarked and stays away to the end but I won't name the entire top 20 on GC. Nobody's got time for that! So a usual here are a couple of outsiders to keep an eye on during the coverage. If Izagirre is struggling look to another Movistar rider, Jesus Herrada, as their man for the day. A very solid climber with a good sprint he will need to catch the others napping as he probably won't be able to ride the likes of Chaves/Porte etc off of his wheel. Nonetheless he does have the class to finish a race off as was shown at the Dauphiné last year. One outside Aussie who I do like for this kind of surprise, un-marked attack is Nathan Earle. Finishing 11th on Paracombe was a great result and he certainly is flying right now. A rider who may not be as respected in terms of his climbing ability by the rest of the peloton, he is a danger if he gets an easy 15 seconds. I do expect the Uni-SA team to go a bit berserk this stage! I'll go for a Sergio Henao win. He was terribly unlucky on stage 2 and will want to justify his good form with victory! Coming back from a double puncture to finish in the main bunch is no mean feat and being 33 seconds down on Porte will only be to his advantage. If he gets a 5 second gap he'll win. Vamos! Or Porte decides to go for the win and creams everyone… 2.3pts WIN Sergio Henao @9/2 with Boylesports (would take 4/1) 0.1pt WIN Jesus Herrada @80/1 with Betfair (would take 66s) 0.1pt WIN Nathan Earle @150/1 with various bookmakers Plus this "fun" H2H treble with Bet365. 0.5pt Thanks again for reading! Who do you think will win up Willunga? Will Richie still be the King? As usual any feedback is greatly appreciated! Anyway, Those are My Two Spokes Worth By mytwospokesworthin Tour Down Under, Uncategorized January 20, 2017 991 WordsLeave a comment The curtain raiser for this year's cycling calendar will once again be the Tour Down Under, a race which I've grown fond over the past few years. I'm not sure if that's because we've been starved of action over the winter break or if it is becoming one of the more exciting races of the season. Probably a mixture of both, if not slightly more the former! Nonetheless, the organisers have made a few tweaks to the normal parcours and we have what is arguably the toughest TdU route in history. So let's have a look at what's in store for the riders over the coming week. Stage 1 sees the riders tackle 145km from Unley to Lyndoch. Three laps around a large finishing circuit with a few hills could create a surprise. However, with the gradients being so small on these climbs and only 1,600m of elevation gain, then this should be one for the sprinters. With a very simple-run in, this should be a fast finish to the opening road stage! Stage 2 is the Queen stage of this years TDU in terms of climbing metres, seeing the riders return to the finish in Paracombe that Rohan Dennis won back in 2015. The laps around Stirling will certainly sap the legs before the tough finale. Unlike 2015, the riders approach the climb differently and the road actually heads upwards for around 10kms, with the main section before the climb to Paracombe itself coming in at 3.9km averaging 4%. Could this make all the difference? I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but expect some fireworks! Stage 3 sees the peloton head south from Adelaide towards Victor Harbor. Potential cross-winds and a committed team could see a GC shake up. A tired peloton could be put under stress on the closing circuit's climbs (1.7km at 2.5% and 1.3km at 3.7%) but it should end in some type of bunch sprint. Stage 4 is an up and down day and actually has the second largest amount of elevation gain at the TdU. Nonetheless it should be a sprint at the end of the stage, but it could be the only breakaway day we get if no one wants to work behind. Interestingly, the finish kicks up at around 2.1% average for the final kilometre. Stage 5 and the traditional stage finish up Willunga Hill. Nothing else to say really, this stage is all about that 6-7 minute effort at the end. Stage 6 once again sees the race close with a 90km criterium around Adelaide I can't wait for the couple of sheer walls that the riders face 😉. Also, this is just one lap as I have neither the time nor patience to repeat the route 20 times! We might see some GC riders go for time bonuses if the race is that close but this stage is all about the sprinters as you'd expect. Who'll close the race with a win? So overall it is a tougher race than previous years but it's still very much in the balance between the proper climbers and the puncheurs. Willunga is tough, but ultimately it is only a 7 minute effort and the same goes for Paracombe. There are no 30 minute climbs here on which the really light guys can make a massive difference, this race will once again come down to seconds and I expect the top 10 to be separated by no more than a minute. Who's going to be in contention for the title then? Richie Porte (a.k.a The King of Willunga) is the favourite and rightly so. He's untouchable on that climb when in good form and he will find the extra climbing before Paracombe to his liking. The problem with Richie is that he doesn't have the ability to pick up bonus seconds elsewhere and that the steeper gradients of Paracombe aren't his cup of tea. Nonetheless, if he is in form then he should win on Willunga and possibly podium up to Paracombe which should be enough to win the race. However, we don't know where his form is at due to him skipping Nationals. If he really wants to challenge at the Tour de France, is it not too early to be at 90% here? Hmmm, it could go either way with him! Supporting him will be Rohan Dennis who is capable of taking up the leadership role if Porte isn't at the top-level. Orica come in with two leaders; Esteban Chaves and Simon Gerrans. This will be the Colombian's first time racing in Australia and he'll be competing at the Herald Sun Tour later in the month. This route would be ideal for him if he was in top form but I get the feeling that this could be more of a PR stunt from him and the team. Instead, it will be Gerrans who will lead the main charge for Orica as he looks to pick up his 5th Overall victory here. This will be the last chance to do so as he finally appears to be dwindling as a rider going by his form last year. I'm not convinced he can manage it but he's sure to leave everything on the road! Plus it is January and we are in Australia so you never know! Sky also come into the race with a two-pronged attack of Geraint Thomas and Sergio Henao. The latter was 3rd overall here last year and I'd expect him to be their main rider again, although Thomas may stretch is legs at some point. Henao is the main challenger to Porte in my opinion. The other rider in the above photo is also a contender for this race, Michael Woods. After coming to the sport late, he took a breakthrough 3rd place on Willunga last year. If he's improved from then he can certainly contend once again this year, plus he's been putting in some impressive rides on Strava. Will that translate to results? I'm not so sure as he still seems to be lacking the tactical awareness needed for bike racing, but hey, if he can ride everyone off his wheel then he doesn't need to! I can't see Sagan doing anything GC wise here, instead his teammate McCarthy looked very strong and more importantly lean at the Bay Crits and Road Nats and certainly could contend. Aside from these guys, it is a fairly open field and I do think there is a chance that an outsider could sneak onto the podium so in MyTwoSpokesWorth tradition I'll highlight 3 to watch out for. (There is a slight bias as 2 of them are in my Fantasy Team for this season. This may be a recurring theme and I can only apologise 😜) Another who was testing his legs at the Bay Crits and took 3rd place at the Road Nats. He seems really fired up for this and it's his main goal early on in the year before taking a break and going to the Giro. A bit of a stop start season in 2016, his performances in Canada looked a return to form and he seems to have continued that over the Australian summer. Not the best natural climber in the field, he'll need a bit of luck to go his way but I wouldn't write him off! His fast kick could be crucial to pick up bonus seconds. Petr Vakoc is the second of my fantasy riders and there's good reason for that; he's an incredible talent! After an OK TdU last year, his opening to the European season was amazing. Having been out in Australia since before New Year he seems fired up to lead Etixx at the first race of the season. A proper brute of a rider, his strength should see him be able to match some of the lighter climbers and with a Tour de France now in his legs he should be even better this year. I'm intrigued more than anything to see what he can do. My final rider is one had a solid year and I was very impressed with on several occasions but his results didn't quite show it; Jan Bakelants. Top 20 in the Vuelta followed some good showings in the Tour he just didn't take any big wins. Like Vakoc, he was very strong at the start of the European cycling calendar and I'm hoping that will translate to something here! A toss-up between Porte and Henao for the win I think and it's quite tough to call. Porte could well be peaking for the Tour but will want to make a statement here and Henao hasn't raced since the Olympics so both of their form really is unknown. I'll go for the King of Willunga himself to take the win, with Haas rounding out the podium! I just hope the racing is exciting and unpredictable as it could potentially be! Although saying that, easy stages make my job easier. 😏 I distanced myself from GC betting towards the end of last year and it's something I'll probably be doing this year too. Nonetheless, I think there is a bit of value in small stake punts on my 3 outsiders. 0.1pt EW Vakoc @80/1 with various bookmakers (would go to 66/1) 0.1pt EW Haas @ 66/1 with Bet365 (would go to 50/1) 0.1pt EW Bakelants @ 80/1 with Bet365 (would go to 66/1). Thanks everyone for reading, it's good to be back! Any shares/RTs would be much appreciated as usual and any feedback via Twitter is always more than welcome. Who do you think will win? Does an outsider have a chance of sneaking onto the podium? I shall be doing daily previews of the stages, aside from the People's Choice Crit as I have no time for that! Anyway, Vuelta Stage 12 Preview: Los Corrales de Buelna -> Bilbao For once the break didn't make it and we got back-to-back GC stage winners. This time round it was Froome who pipped Quintana in a sprint to the line. The Brit always goes well after a rest-day as I highlighted in yesterday's preview! The gaps were not big to the rest of the GC contenders but if it wasn't a two-horse race before today, it definitely is now, and boy do we have a race on our hands! GC action should be put on pause tomorrow and we're set for a really interesting stage. An up and down day with a flat finish. An un-categorised climb to start the day will be a bit of rude awakening for some. If it's anything like today's stage then the break may not go until the Cat-1 climb. Not the toughest cat-1 climb, it probably is given that categorisation due to it's length. The average gradient of 6% should be manageable for the riders, unless of course the pace is still on and the break hasn't formed. If it does form here, it will be awfully strong. The stage though is defined by the double ascension of the Cat-2; Alto El Vivero. The road book is back to it's best today, with no graphic for the final climb. The directions and diagrams are also a bit vague, but I'm sure I have the right approach… After a few days off, the Strava profile makes a return. View it here. Profile of the final 20km. The final climb itself is 4.2km long at 8.4% average gradient. Like a lot of the climbs in this area, it is very irregular. The toughest section comes almost right at the start, with a kilometre (0.3 -> 1.3km) averaging 11.8%. There are a couple of false flats along the way for the riders to recompose themselves and push hard again. The same finale was used in the opening stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco in 2015: That day saw Michael Matthews take a reduced bunch sprint finish. How will tomorrow's stage pan out? The stage itself is a nightmare to predict, with a few options that are very feasible. We could well see the morning break stick and fight out for stage glory as there is a reasonable amount of climbing and the sprint teams won't be confident of their riders making it over. Saying that, it's not impossible for a team to control the race and go for a sprint (as we saw in 2015). Felline, Sbaragli, Van der Sande, Valverde & Gilbert will all probably fancy their chances in that situation. However, it is a lot more difficult to control the finale of a grand tour and if the break is brought back, we could well see a late attack stick. See, it's not easy! The sprinters above that I've mentioned are the only ones I can really see make it over the final climb. Out of them, I'd probably say that Felline has the fastest flat sprint after a tough day, so he should be the guy to look out for in that situation. As for late attackers, Luis Leon Sanchez would be the perfect candidate. He looks incredibly strong just now and has the TT engine to hold off the bunch. So could Tobias Ludvigsson who's climbing better than ever and should make it over the climb if we're getting set for a reduced sprint. Breakaway Candidates There's a template of rider who I'm going with here. Someone who can climb, but also packs a decent sprint! JJ Rojas. The Movistar road captain may be told to get in the breakaway to defend their lead in the Team classification. Sky (who looked strong today) and Cannondale (who will have at least two men in the move) are both less than 10 minutes behind. The Spanish team do love to win that competition, so will start defending it soon. It could start tomorrow. Rojas has turned himself in to a jack of all trades and should be able to cope with the final climb. He has a good turn of speed and would probably be the favourite if a small group of escapees came to the line together. Pello Bilbao. The Caja rider, like a lot of them, is local to the area. He's been a bit lost in this race so far, having a few crashes etc. However, he does seem to be slowly re-finding himself and building some form. A guy who on his day can climb with the best, he really should have won the GC in Turkey this year but had to withdraw due to illness. This type of profile suits him very well. I've already highlighted him for a stage earlier in this Vuelta but he didn't make the move that day. The climb will be on his limit but considering his performance on stage 4, then he has a chance of being in contact with the lead riders as they summit. Like Rojas, he has a very solid sprint after a tough days racing. You don't want to be leading him out in the finale! I'm unsure how the stage will go, but I lean towards a breakaway. That of course all depends if there are a few of the "sprint" teams who co-operate and bring the break back. Nonetheless, I'll stick my neck out on the line and say that the break will win. I think you know where I'm going with this one. Especially considering my fondness with suggesting riders for whimsical reasons… Bilbao to win in Bilbao. Simple and poetic. I can't pass up a rider who has the same surname as the finish town and is from the region! Small punts on the three breakaway guys 0.3pt Bilbao at 40/1 (Various) 0.1pt Haas at 100/1 (Various) 0.1pt Rojas at 200/1 (Bet365 & BF) After today's successful H2H I'm hoping to find one for tomorrow, but nothing has caught my eye/I've not done enough research. If I do find something, I'll update it on my Twitter! Hope you enjoyed the read, apologies for it being shorter than normal! How do you think the stage will play out? As usual, any feedback is greatly appreciated. Anyway, By mytwospokesworthin Uncategorized, Vuelta a Espana August 31, 2016 1,067 WordsLeave a comment

A very small percentage of ALS patients receive benefits from private companies that sell long-term care insurance policies. If you enrolled when you were healthy and have been paying monthly premiums, your policy may prove extremely valuable. Comprehensive long-term care policies assist with non-medical services (dressing, bathing, eating, etc.) in a variety of settings, such as care facilities and your own home. You cannot purchase a long-term care insurance policy after you have been diagnosed with ALS, or after you have begun showing symptoms. If you have already been paying for a policy, contact your insurer as soon as possible to learn about your benefits. Get a list of the non-medical agencies they partner with and then ask your local ALS Association chapter if any of the covered providers are trained to work with ALS patients.

In 2015, I let go of many things. I didn't really count how many things I kept or got rid of, but I think I can say that I purged about 75% of my stuff, if not more. However, I look around my apartment and think I could get rid of more things. I have a bin with odds and ends in my closet. I have no idea why I'm keeping these items. I threw them all in there because I didn't really know where to put these things, and yet, I don't think I've ever used any of it. When I set up my closet after moving in last September, I hung all of my clothes on the rod on the left side of my walk-in closet. As I wore items and washed them, I hung those pieces on the right. Some items haven't moved. There are also clothes in my dresser drawers that I haven't worn in about a year. I have empty bins and baskets, a bookcase, a mirror, and a few lamps we no longer use that I've put away in the storage area. Many of my kitchen utensils are still in the box I set up earlier this year. All of the hard copy books I've kept remain unread, except for one that I've been reading here and there for the past several months. So what's the deal? Why have I kept these things? I think I just misjudged the value those items had for me. I went through a big purge. There was just so much to go through that it seems only normal to me that I'd have to make adjustments later on. Things I thought I'd use have gone unused. I've also added to our furnishings since. For example, I bought different lamps that suit our new place better than the ones I already had. It all seems perfectly acceptable to me as long as I don't hold on to the things that no longer serve me. Well, I'll re-evaluate my things again. I'll box up the bin of odds and ends and write a date on it. If I haven't used anything in the box by the selected date, it'll be donated without further consideration. I'll remove the clothes that are still on the left side of my closet and start over again with what's left on the right side. I know I haven't worn many of those in a while either. I'll give these away before this summer. I'll give my kitchen utensils another 3 months to prove their usefulness to me. Otherwise, they'll also get donated. I'll read one every month or two, and then I'll give it away once I'm done. It's not a failure, not even a surprise. Circumstances and people change. What seemed useful last month might be totally useless to me now. Time to give these things a new home. Let them be useful to someone else. I've joined a "Buy Nothing" group in my neighbourhood. Mr. Romantic was the one who told me about these types of groups. It's an online group where you can donate or receive (ask for) items or services. No money can be exchanged for these things. It's a nice way for neighbours to help each other out and to meet. Now I'll get to contribute to the group, and maybe make new friends as I do so.

Microcirculatory effects of somatostatin in acute pancreatitis. Somatostatin, a 28-amino-acid inhibitory polypeptide has been advocated for the treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and acute pancreatitis. This study examines the effect of somatostatin in acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in piglets (n = 12), weighing 8-12 kg. Six animals served as controls, and received only fluid resuscitation (0.9%, NaCl, 20 ml/kg/h). Six animals received somatostatin treatment consisting of a 15 micrograms/kg bolus i.v. given simultaneously with the induction of pancreatitis, and treatment continued with an intravenous infusion (15 micrograms/kg/h) for 5 h. Cardiac output, heart rate, blood pressure, arterial pO2, hematocrit and serum amylase were recorded before and each hour during the experiment. Regional blood flow in the gastrointestinal area was measured using the microsphere method. The microspheres labelled with three different isotopes were administered before the experiment and at 2 and 5 h, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the cardiac output (p less than 0.05) and an increase in systemic blood pressure in the somatostatin-treated group (p less than 0.025). Pancreatic blood flow decreased by 43% following somatostatin infusion. The decreases at 2 and 5 h were highly significant (p less than 0.005). Blood flow to the mucosal but not muscular region of the stomach was decreased by somatostatin. This study suggests that somatostatin might be harmful in acute pancreatitis due to its adverse effects on pancreatic blood flow and cardiac output. However, somatostatin may be effective in reducing gastrointestinal bleeding. If the drug is used clinically, careful monitoring of the cardiac output is necessary. Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Ohio. Previous Document: The enantiomeric error frequency of aspartate aminotransferase.

Publisher's Editorial Norm Kent Say what you will, 2009 and 2010 have been good years for gay Americans under the presidency of Barack Obama. We helped elect the right man President of the United States. So yes, Mabel, there has been a difference. First of all, the wrongs visited upon the lesbian couple in Miami a few years ago may be righted by an executive order the President authorized last week on his plane ride back to the Capitol from a Florida fundraiser. No longer will same sex partners be denied the right to visit their loved ones in a hospital. It's our front page story, and it is a significant legal victory for same-sex relationships. Second, President Obama continues to support measures to overturn the ban on gays in the military, effectively disarming the misguided proponents of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. Activists are genuinely and legitimately perturbed this has not happened more quickly. They have this newspaper's support. Still, the bottom line is that the President has raised the issue and not run from it. The days of 'DADT' are grinding to a halt. Your Turn to Step Up to the Plate This marks the 12th issue of South Florida Gay News.com We hit the ground running and we are now in full stride. We have printed and published over 1,000 articles and 500 pages of news in less than 90 days. Our website has surpassed over 2,500 page views on Mondays, the day we publish, and we are receiving 1,000 plus visitors daily. Our South Florida Gay News.com facebook page has close to 700 fans, and we have nearly a thousand subscribers for our daily e-mail headline blast. Our publication has launched its 'Read Red' and 'Read All Over' campaign, based on our distribution of over 100 indoor news racks and 50 outdoor ones. When the paper is distributed on Monday mornings, three sets of independent contractors drop off the South Florida Gay News to over 360 locations in the tri county area, from Washington Avenue in South Beach to Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. Saluting 'Midge' Costanza and History Margaret "Midge" Costanza, 77, passed away last week, almost 33 years to the day she forged LGBT history in America. In lieu of a news story we commemorate her life in this editorial. The White House. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Until Saturday, March 26, 1977, its doors had never been opened to lesbians and gay men and straight allies. But on that historic day, more than a dozen women and men entered the West Wing of the presidential residence to meet with Midge Costanza, the director of President Jimmy Carter's Office of Public Liaison. Coming Out Today Liberates You Tomorrow It is Opening Day in Baseball. Baseball is the passion of my life, the center of most of my existence. Coming out as an athlete and baseball player was not in harmony with that universe of homophobic athletes I grew up around. Constantly, in the locker rooms and on the field, the most denigrating remark you would hear is that "you play like a faggot." That's the way it was. In some places, that is the way it still is. The world evolves though, and now everyone is rushing to come out of the closet, from Hollywood to baseball fields, so much so that our tongue in cheek cover and piece this week- in an otherwise serious issue- is that coming out of the closet has become the fashionable and trendy thing to do. In fact, we have created a waiting list for those seeking sunlight and affirmation as friends of Dorothy. Dame Edna would be proud. Two Days at a Pride Festival Publishing this newspaper takes a lot of time and energy, but the two days I spent at Pridefest were kind to me. So many of you overwhelmed me with praise and compliments on the energy and excitement we here at SFGN have created in the community. "Finally," I heard over and over again, "a paper with content; with real news." The truth is real news has always been there if other publications chose to invest in you and take the leap of faith necessary to believe you mattered. You are the news, and we just report it. South Florida may once have been a playground of just sun and fun but even in the year 2000, in the early days of The Express Gay News, I saw a vibrant gay community actively emerging. Times are tough today, for sure, harder than they have ever been for most of us. To continue our mission, this newspaper will continue to need your support. But there is reason to believe in ourselves and our unlimited capacity. The LGBT community is stronger and more diversified than it has ever been. The Spirit: HIV in 2010 A Pride Day Coloring Book The Past Comes Back to Haunt Tiny Tina No Forgiveness for 'Ex Gay' Icon OUTRAGE! Gay Men's Chorus Taken Hostage by a Bar Guide Your Community Newspaper CBS Embarrasses Itself by Rejecting Same-Sex Ad Atlanta Gay Bar Raids are a Gross Injustice A Friend Dies of AIDS Adam Lambert's Gutsy AMA Performance Wins Acclaim and Critics Gay America Wins a Place at the Table

Age Gap: Where are the middle-aged women on screens? By Rebecca Shaw 3rd Jun, 2016 Olivia Wilde and Liam Neeson play lovers in Third Person (2013) Try to imagine the most haggard and decrepit old actress you can think of. Who comes to mind? That's right, it's Olivia Wilde. The almost-objectively stunning Wilde recently revealed that she had been rejected for a role playing Leonardo DiCaprio's wife in the The Wolf of Wall Street because she was too old. At the time, she was 28 and Leo was 37. The part ended up going to Australian actress Margot Robbie, who was 21 at the time. The role in question involved portraying a real-life woman, who was 29 during the time the movie was set. I am no mathematics expert (or 'mathologist' as I believe they are called), but these numbers don't seem to add up. Neither do the numbers in a story that Maggie Gyllenhaal told last year when she revealed that she had been told she was too old to play the lover of a male actor in a film. At the time Maggie was 37 years old, and the actor? Fifty-five. Years. Of age. Again, not a mathologist, but according to my extensive calculations, this makes Maggie 18 years younger than that actor. And yet still too old to play his love interest. Of course, this is nothing new. It's been shown over and over again that male actors can comfortably age into their 40s, 50s and 60s, while their love interests remain in their 20s and 30s, in some kind of actress cryogenic recycling system. Almost none of these male actors are paired with women their own age, or even within shouting distance of women their own age – which is actually lucky because some of the men are so old that they wouldn't hear the shout. Last year Vulture published a breakdown of the film careers of some of the biggest female stars in the world, including Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence. Besides the Spider-Man movies, Emma Stone is consistently paired with men much older than her, including recent movies with Sean Penn and Colin Firth (both 30 years her senior). Jennifer Lawrence is the same, almost exclusively (outside of Hunger Games) playing opposite actors at least 15 years older than her. Because they are starring in big movies, with big-name established male leads, and because these movies are usually written and directed by middle-aged men about their own stories, this also means that someone like Jennifer Lawrence will often have to 'age up' in her roles. As a 25-year-old, she is playing roles that, in an ideal world, would be suitable for actresses in their 30s or 40s. Not only does this mean that we don't get to see actresses like Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence literally acting their age, but more importantly, it also means that older actresses that could play those roles in really interesting ways are passed over. Male actors can comfortably age into their 40s, 50s and 60s, while their love interests remain in their 20s and 30s. Of course, Hollywood doesn't give us enough women's stories in general. In 2014, only 12 per cent of movies featured a female protagonist, a number that dropped from the previous two years. And when it does show us women onscreen, it's often only an extremely narrow type of woman. Hollywood's idea of diversity is movie after movie starring 25-year-old beautiful thin white women, as well as the occasional 'gift' movie starring 60–70-year-old beautiful thin white women like Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep. The young women are the whores; the older women are the crones. Often all that is left for those in-between is to play someone's mother, in a movie probably not about the mother. A mother, or a witch. Meryl Streep has told the story that the year after she turned 40, she was offered three different roles as a witch. How are there even that many movies about witches? Is there some kind of mother-witch combination character we could let them play to increase diversity? So what happens when they are too old to be considered fuckable by 55-year-old men, but too young to be considered for the roles given to 60-year-old women? If it feels like they just disappear from the face of the earth, it's because they practically do. A study carried out by the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism found that in a single year, across more than 400 scripted movies, TV shows and digital series from ten major media companies, almost 80 per cent of characters aged 40 or over were men. Eighty. Per. Cent. Not even 80 per cent of people love Beyoncé (which is wrong by the way, it should be 100 per cent). And of course, most of those men will be paired off with actresses in their 20s. For women, no such luck. The roles begin to dry up, they begin to be told they are too old to play a viable romantic role, and then if they do come back into the public eye after time away, they are ridiculed for ageing, like Renee Zellweger. "What happened to her face?" people scream. Um, she aged like a normal human? Shocking, I know. When we don't get to see women on film aging out of their 20s, and we don't get to see their faces developing laugh lines, experience, age and character, this is what happens. We are the ones who miss out. We are missing out because there aren't enough women making movies portraying their own lives. We still have to rely on men to make the decisions about the stories and faces that we get to see. They've proven again and again that they are not up to the job. They have proven that what they care most about is the standard definition of youthful beauty to the exclusion of everything else. And that everything else is what we should be allowed to see. We all miss out when such a large group is shoved to the side. We all miss out when we toss women aside once they pass the age of 35. There is so much untapped potential, so many interesting and diverse and amazing and beautiful women we could be witnessing play out their lives on screen. As the number of women behind the scenes grows, we will see this happen more and more. But I wish it would happen faster – I'm getting old. Rebecca Shaw (aka @brocklesnitch) is a writer and creator of the parody Twitter account @notofeminism, which was developed into an illustrated book with Affirm Press. She is on the writing team at Tonightly with Tom Ballard, and has written for Junkee, The Guardian, Daily Life et al. She is also in constant competition with Ruby Rose to become Australia's favourite lesbian. More from Rebecca Shaw 23.01.18 — News — Kill Your Darlings Announcing the winner of our Japan giveaway Announcing the Winner of the KYD Unpublished Manuscript Award Announcing the winner of our Ubud giveaway 06.07.17 — Culture — Alice Robinson Learning How to Dream: Watching 'Anne with an E' 29.03.16 — Books & Publishing — Veronica Sullivan Confronting Multiplicity: An interview with Alison Whittaker Happy Holidays from KYD

Police, protesters clash at 'Occupy Cal' BERKELEY, Calif. Latest Developments: Arrests: There were 32 arrests this evening, 7 people were arrested earlier in the afternoon. 3:49 a.m. Update: Things still remain peaceful and the crowd seems to have shrunk down considerably. The police are still standing by monitoring things. 2:40 a.m. Update: Two new tents went up around 1:45 a.m. and they might be people from the "Occupy SF" protest that had just arrived at the time. Things are currently still peaceful. 1:45 a.m. Update: "Occupy Cal" protesters held a general assembly to discuss what their next actions are and have voted amongst themselves to hold a strike and not show up to class on Tuesday, Nov. 15. They also plan to meet every day until Tuesday at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. to have a general assembly meeting to prepare for the strike. One person set up a tent and police have not yet gone after it, but many others are sleeping in sleeping bags, which is in violation of the university rules. The police are still present and silently monitoring the demonstration. The crowd is down to about 1,000 people and earlier tonight there were 1,500 at the height of the demonstration. 12:46 a.m. Update: The crowd is talking with each other and considering a strike sometime next week. Earlier reports we have received today said the Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday night not to send mutual aid officers to assist in the Occupy protests. 12:04 a.m. Update: 1,500 Occupy Cal demonstrators are now sitting in front of Sproul Hall. Things are peaceful. Around 11 p.m. Wednesday night we reported that a protester took a beating at the end of a baton on the UC Berkeley campus. Police there were trying to put a quick end to an occupation, just as it was getting started. Police said people can protest outside Sproul Hall, just not camp out. So when the tents started going up, the law started moving in. Around 9 p.m. there was a crowd of about 200 people and riot police moved in on them to take away their tents. The police swept into the plaza from two sides and immediately engaged the students who were three-deep with arms linked around the eight Occupy Cal tents that they were protecting. The crowd of spectators immediately rushed in to meet the police face-to-face and began chanting "peaceful protest, peaceful protest." As the tension escalated, plenty of people started feeling the business end of a Billy club as the officers bull-dogged their way toward the tents and began tearing them down. The crowd stayed in their face the whole time chanting, "shame, shame" and several of them were wrestled down and placed in plastic handcuffs. Earlier Wednesday night, vice chancellor Harry Legrand warned the crowd they would be arrested if they camped out, used sleeping bags, cooked, or even slept in Sproul Plaza. He was booed off by the crowd and about two hours later the police marched in with a strategic plan to pinch off the protesters and regain the tiny patch of grass that was "Occupy Cal." "I think is a really horrible effort at crowd control if you want to call it that. I also think there's some really bad tactical decisions being made by the administration towards peaceful protesters. So how is this going to end and what is the positive for the administration, the university? It's certainly not positive for the community?" asked Greg Levin from the Cal history department. "I thought it was excessive force. I think there's some tents on the lawn, I get that they're breaking a rule, but I think that the force that we saw was far in excess of what any were committed, if any were committed at all," said Cal student Ralph Boniello. "I just think it really wrong when students can't assemble peacefully. There's no space on campus for us to assemble 24 hours in this magnitude. So UCPD, when we're just standing here and UCPD is shoving students out of the way, is beating students with batons, that's unacceptable," said student senator Andrew Albright. In the afternoon, SKY7HD was over the crowd at U.C. Berkeley's Sproul Plaza when a large group of people gathered earlier in the day. Most of those people had cleared out, but an encampment similar to ones found on other Occupy sites has started to form. It was not a surprise when students made the formal announcement of the occupation. They promised it would be peaceful and non-violent. Sproul Plaza was chosen because of its association with the freedom of speech movement and peaceful demonstrations. Before the announcement of the occupation, there was a rally and then a march where demonstrators stopped in front of a Bank of America branch. Tuition hikes are the reason the demonstrators are at Sproul Plaza. Students have been hit with several fee increases and face even more tuition hikes. "There is no system of accountability, therefore things fall through the loopholes of irresponsibility," one student said. The chancellor of U.C. Berkeley sent out an email to students saying the school stands "ready to support our campus community in leading the movement in a way that is productive, dignified and consequential." The letter goes on to say the university will not allow students to set up tents or encampment structures.

24-page Mini Book - Measures: 4¼" x 5½" A-l-l a-b-o-a-r-d for railroad safety! Safetypup® teaches kids the importance of staying away from railroad tracks. Mini book covers information on all aspects of railroad safety. Topics: Railroad Warning Signs & Signals; The Dangers of Throwing Things on the Track; Railroad Property; No Trespassing; Freight Cars; Multiple-Track Crossings; Cars & Trains; School Buses & Trains; Railroad Bridges; Train Tunnels; Nighttime or Bad Weather.

Have "faith" that when you step outside of your comfort zone.the Universe supports you in every way as you pursue your higher purpose! Laws of Attraction: Give more; Get more. You reap what you sow. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Law of Attraction) POWERFUL!!! The Most Powerful Law In The Universe!

Package Per Capita in USD: 1.83 No amount/estimate: 24 June 2020, The government announced a COVID-19 Special Credit Loan to provide loan to farmers to relieve the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural sector. Both paddy and crop farmers are eligible to apply for the special relief loan until September 2020 with an interest rate of 5% per annum. No amount/estimate: (i) April 2020, Deposit auctions have been halted to maintain adequate liquidity in the interbank market; (ii) 9 April 2020, the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) announced a temporary reduction in banks' required reserve requirement ratio from 5% to 3.5% of deposits till September 30; (iii) April 2020, It also announced a temporary revision to the formula for calculating the liquidity ratio, increasing the weight of government treasury bonds with a remaining maturity of more than one year from 50% to 90%, until September. No amount/estimate: April 2020, The kyat has been allowed to adjust flexibly, with limited rules-based intervention to manage excessive exchange rate volatility. No amount/estimate: The CBM (i) cut the policy interest rate by 0.5 percentage points on 12 March 2020 and by 1 percentage point on 24 March 2020, and has announced a further 1.5 percentage points reduction to be effective 1 May 2020; (ii) May 2020, Deposit rates will be subject to a lower minimum rate of 6.5%, secured lending rates will be subject to a lower maximum of 11.5%, and unsecured lending will have a lower maximum rate of 14.5%. No amount/estimate: 23 April 2020, The CBM announced the extension of the deadline for compliance to certain prudential regulations (enacted in July 2017) by three years from end-August 2020 to end-August 2023 to enable banks to support the economy cope with the impact of COVID-19. 03 - Direct long-term lending info_outline MMK100,000,000,000 USD71,326,676 03A - Long-term lending info_outline MMK100,000,000,000 USD71,326,676 April 2020, A COVID 19 Fund worth MMK100 billion (USD70 million, 0.1% of GDP) has been established at the Myanmar Economic Bank to provide soft loans to affected business (particularly the priority garment and tourism sectors and small and medium enterprises [SMEs]) at reduced interest rates. 05 - Health and income support MMK38,300,000,000 USD27,318,117 05A - Health support MMK300,000,000 USD213,980 (i) April 2020, The allotment of MMK300 million (USD0.2 million) to the Ministry of Health and Sports for additional health-related expenditures; (ii) No amount/estimate: April 2020, Waiver of the "specific goods tax," customs duties, and commercial tax on "critical" medical supplies and products related to the prevention, control, and treatment of COVID-19. 05B - Income support MMK38,000,000,000 USD27,104,137 No amount/estimate: April 2020, Income and commercial tax payments due in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year have been made extendable to the end of the fiscal year. No amount/estimate: (i) April 2020, Starting 20 April 2020, the customs department has reduced duties for businesses operating with the Myanmar Automated Cargo Clearance System; (ii) April 2020, Exemption for the 2% advance income tax on exports to the end of the fiscal year has been announced; (iii) April 2020, The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism announced that fee for renewal license of hotels and tourism businesses will be exempted for one year up to the end of March 2021. No amount/estimate: April 2020, Households without a regular income will be provided for with food during the upcoming long holidays; and electric bills, for up to 150 units, are exempt for most until the end of April 2020; (ii) April 2020, The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population will provide 40% of the social security fees for about 1.3 million insured workers from factories and workshops that are temporarily suspended for health inspections. 05B5 - Indirect income support MMK38,000,000,000 USD27,104,137 April 2020, The National Food Reserve has been allocated MMK38 billion. 05B6 - No breakdown (income support) No amount/estimate: May 2020, Up to 10% of FY 2019/20 initial budget expenditure (excluding those implemented by foreign loans and grants) of each ministry will be re-allocated to fight against COVID-19. 08 - International Assistance Received MMK2,847,209,640,000 USD2,030,820,000 08B - International loans/grants MMK2,847,209,640,000 USD2,030,820,000 08B1 - Asian Development Bank MMK406,650,100,000 USD290,050,000 (i) 29 January and 17 February 2020, Greater Mekong Subregion Health Security Project (USD6.60 million); (ii) 7 February 2020, Strengthening Regional Health Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion-Additional Financing (USD0.33 million); (iii) 24 April 2020, Policy Advice for COVID-19 Economic Recovery in Southeast Asia (USD0.15 million); (iv) April 2020, Country Support under TA 9950-REG: Regional Support to Address the Outbreak of COVID-19 and Potential Outbreaks of Other Communicable Diseases (USD2.87 million); (v) 24 July 2020, Due Diligence and Capacity Development of Trade Finance Program Banks (Subproject 3) (USD0.21 million); (vi) 28 July 2020, Transport Sector Reform and Modernization (Additional Financing) (USD0.27 million); (vii) 10 August 2020, Sustaining the Gains of the Regional Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (Additional Financing) (USD0.05 million); (viii) 21 August 2020, COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program (USD250 million); (ix) 1 September 2020, Supporting Microfinance and Lending Partner Financial Institutions in their COVID-19 and Post-pandemic Response (USD0.16 million); (x) 8 October 2020, Greater Mekong Subregion Health Security Project (Additional Financing) (USD30 million); (xi) 02 December 2020, Promoting Transformative Gender Equality Agenda in Asia and the Pacific (Supplementary) (USD0.05 million); (xii) 5 February 2021, Climate Resilience Capacity Building for Women in Poultry and Fish Farming (USD0.10 million); (xiii) 7 September 2021, Due Diligence and Capacity Development of Trade Finance Program Banks (Subproject 4) (USD0.16 million) [update]. 08B2 - Other MMK2,440,559,540,000 USD1,740,770,000 (i) May 2020, The World Bank has approved a USD50 million credit for the Myanmar COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, as part of global emergency support operations through a dedicated fast-track COVID-19 facility (loan); (ii) 29 May 2020, The World Bank approved a (a) USD350 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to increase the output and efficiency of power generation and improve the resilience of Myanmar's electricity system to climate change and disasters; and (b) USD110 million in additional financing for the Essential Health Services Access Project, implemented nationwide since 2015; (iii) 26 June 2020, USD200 million to boost agricultural productivity and support farmers in the wake of COVID-19; (iv) 26 June 2020, The IMF has approved USD356.5 million emergency assistance for Myanmar under the Rapid Credit Facility and the Rapid Financing Instrument to support the government's COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan that aims at minimizing the pandemic's impact by stimulating the economy and boosting expenditures especially on health and social safety nets; (v) 21 July 2020, The US Government is providing more than USD18.5 million to support Myanmar's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e. (a) approximately USD10.3 million for health and (b) USD8.2 million in disaster and humanitarian assistance, including to support vulnerable people and host communities during the pandemic; (vi) 15 August 2020, The Government of Japan provided medical equipment to Myanmar under a grant aid worth JPY2 billion (USD18.1); (vii) 1 September 2020, The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing JPY30 billion (approx. USD280 million) concessional loan to the Myanmar Government to support resilient economic recovery through implementation of COVID- 19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) and related policies for investment/trade promotion and financial sector strengthening; (viii) October 2020, Additional Financing to Myanmar COVID-19 Emergency Response Project USD7.67 million; (ix) 13 January 2021, The IMF has approved the second emergency financial assistance equivalent to about USD350 million under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI). (i) April 2020, Travel restrictions have been announced, i.e. suspension of visa issuances and international flights, and closure of several land borders; (ii) 7 July 2020, Myanmar government announced that it is opening for domestic travel, but incoming international travelers will not be allowed until the end of July 2020; (iii) July 2020, Restrictions on visa issuances and international passenger flights have been extended to 31 July 2020; (iv) 2 September 2020, The temporary ban on international commercial flights was extended to 30 September 2020. (i) April 2020, The government announced measures to limit the spread of the virus including quarantine requirements and ban of mass public gatherings; (ii) April 2020, Yangon and Mandalay will be under lockdown during the long holidays (10–19 April 2020); (iii) Government employees have been instructed not to travel home and will be compensated for this period; (iv) A National Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of 2019 Novel Coronavirus has been established to coordinate the authorities' response. A second committee, the Control and Emergency Response Committee on COVID-19, was setup on March 30 to help with stricter administrative measures to control the spread of the virus, including quarantine migrant workers coming from neighboring countries.

The federal investigation marks the first time prosecutors have brought a cash-for-Cuba case in the ongoing battle against Medicare fraud in South Florida, which leads the nation in dollars fleeced from taxpayers. Despite arguments from Sanchez's lawyer on Monday that his client was not a flight risk and has family ties to Miami, U.S. Magistrate Jonathan Goodman ordered the defendant be held without bail. "The fact that [he] has made more than 78 trips out of the country over the years" was a major reason, the judge said. For years, Sanchez was a player in a global money-laundering organization that spanned from Montreal to Havana, prosecutors said. Though no one else has been charged so far, prosecutors say Sanchez, who owned a check-cashing business, was in a position to launder millions in government checks and wire payments doled out to crooked providers between 2005 and 2009. He was charged last week with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. "Oscar Sanchez was a financier for fraudsters and a capitalist for the Cuban banks," prosecutors said in a court motion. While Sanchez was a target of the ongoing investigation, prosecutors say dozens of crooked Medicare providers — who offered HIV and medical equipment services — all took part in the laundering scheme set up for one reason: To hide the money. With millions pouring in from Medicare, suspects opened 15 bank accounts in Canada and Trinidad to move the money from the United States, court records state. In one major tactic, the ringleaders plunked down millions to buy reams of money orders — 20 boxes in all — and then put the money into an account in the Royal Bank of Canada in Montreal. To make the purchases, they used a host of names, including a famous alias: Bill Clinton. Then, after the money was concealed in the bank accounts, it was immediately wired to several accounts at Republic Bank in Trinidad. Investigators later found out that the accounts were not actually opened in Trinidad, but at the branch of Republic bank in Havana, records state. In addition, the bank had firm instructions on two of those accounts to wire all the money immediately into the Cuban banking system. So far, prosecutors, who are gathering their information from financial records and unnamed witnesses, said they have traced $63 million into Cuban banks — nearly half tied to Sanchez's case. "This is not a traditional money-laundering case," prosecutors said. One reason that the rogue healthcare providers turned to Sanchez was because he acted like a money machine: providing much-needed cash to them while they were waiting for their money to be laundered, prosecutors charged. Fast, efficient "The defendants' money laundering operation was faster, more efficient, and financially benefitted everyone involved, including [Oscar Sanchez], who charged a fee for his services," prosecutors wrote. In all, 70 medical company owners in South Florida submitted more than $374 million in claims to Medicare, and were reimbursed about $70 million. Many of those providers wanted to withdraw their proceeds in cash to "purchase luxury items or to pay illegal kickbacks," Davidson wrote. Though prosecutors charged that Sanchez would be a flight risk if released on bail — saying he traveled from the country 78 times since 2002 — defense lawyer Peter Raben said most of the trips were to Mexico where his client owned a condo. He said charging Sanchez in the international money-laundering ring was "a big red herring" to taint his client, who has no prior convictions. Prosecutors say Sanchez was part of a much larger scheme to get money into Cuba, a Communist country that does not extradite fugitives from the United States. As part of the Sanchez case, prosecutors are asking the court to seize seven homes he owns in Miami-Dade, Lee and Collier counties as well as two vehicles to recover the millions in laundered money. Experts who have watched Miami-Dade emerge as the nation's Medicare fraud capital say the Cuban government's involvement would not be too far-fetched — though they have no proof to back it up. Andy Gomez, a senior fellow of Cuban studies at the University of Miami, said he has heard from sources in Miami and Cuba that the Castro government extorts Medicare bounty from criminals who are allowed to travel freely between here and the island nation. More than two dozen people charged with Medicare fraud have fled back to Cuba over the last five years, and many more are suspected of hiding there. "The Cuban government knows what's going on,'' Gomez told The Miami Herald last year. "The government knows who the fugitives are, and the bigger they are, the more the government expects to be paid by them … It's a way to obtain hard currency and a way to discredit the Cuban-American exile community.'' Yearslong probe Kirk Ogrosky, a former lead prosecutor of Medicare fraud, said the latest case comes after years of investigation into the Cuban connections. "U.S. taxpayer money intended for Medicare has been flowing out of South Florida for decades,'' Ogrosky said. "If the Department of Justice really wanted to stop this mess in Miami, they would explain to the elderly how their participation in these schemes help support the Cuban government and Castro's people. "Some portion of whatever is left over gets funneled out of the U.S. to places like Cuba, where American taxpayers have no chance of getting it back.'' Police needs help finding this man who committed an armed sexual battery in Miami Beach Broward County Sheriff's Office search for beanie bandits He raped her when she refused sex without condom, cops say. It might not be his only crime Beanie bandits steal more than subs at a South Florida Subway Could you live in 100 square feet? Cost of living in Keys goes up as home size goes down

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(Reuters) - Britain will unilaterally agree to follow all European Union food safety and animal health regulations for at least nine months in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit, to protect British farming, the Telegraph website reported on Friday. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs won clearance for the plan from the cabinet committee last week, the website said. The United States wants Britain to entirely eliminate or reduce barriers for U.S. agricultural products after Brexit to boost the chances of a bilateral free-trade deal.

When Adam and Andi have a disagreement at the office, they must find a way to solve it so it doesnt become a problem at home. Also, the kids try to extend Lowells stay at their house after realizing hes an amazing cook. Episode 3 "Put Him on the Ground" When Adam sees a kid push Emme, he convinces Teddy to dish out some old-school justice to defend his younger sister, to Andis dismay. Also, Adam and Don persuade Joe to hire a nurse to help out after his upcoming knee surgery. Episode 4 "Adams Wall Hole Bowl" Episode 5 "The New Old School" When Adam catches Kate sneaking back into the house at night, he is determined to fix the behavior with old-school parenting tactics. Also, Andi is dismayed when she cant find many baby pictures of Emme. Episode 7 "Hotel Hanky Panky" Adam and Andi are eager to book a night away in a hotel after Teddy keeps sleeping in their bed. Also, Kate is allowed to stay home alone; but she doesnt follow Adam and Andis strict rules. Episode 9 "Adam Acts His Age" Episode 10 "We Dont Need Another Hero"

4400 E. Division Street Directions Evansville, IN 47715 Genesis of Evansville Executive Demo's For Sale Why Own A Genesis Genesis Technology Genesis Brand Awards History of Genesis Structure My Deal tools are complete — you're ready to visit Genesis of Evansville! Done with the tools you need? You're ready to visit Genesis of Evansville! Get Driving Directions At Evansville Genesis, nothing brings us more pride than seeing our favorite brand acknowledged for its many admirable traits. Check out some of the recent awards and accolades that the Genesis brand has received, and then stop in to see why everyone is raving about the Genesispremium vehicles. The Car Book's 2016 Best Bet Distinction The Car Book has been around for decades, acting as a resource for buyers who are looking for the best performance and the best safety features. The book selects cars based on everything from repair costs to crash test results, and found that the Genesis brand excels in these important categories. 2015 and 2016 IIHS Top Safety Pick + In order to earn the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a car must have good results in multiple types of crash tests. These include a side-impact crash test, a rear-impact test, a frontal crash test, and more. When equipped with the available Automatic Emergency Braking, the Genesis got excellent ratings in all of these tests in both 2015 and 2016, earning it this recognition. NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the government's program that rates vehicles based on their safety. The 2015 Genesis sedan received the highest rating from the NHTSA thanks to the smart safety features from Hyundai. Highest Ranked Mid-Size Premium Car in Initial Quality for Two Years in a Row from J.D. Power The J.D. Power Initial Quality awards look at the first 90 days of a vehicle's life and awards those vehicles who show the fewest issues during this time. The Hyundai Genesis sedan was tested next to 100 other premium vehicles in the J.D. Power 2013-2014 Initial Quality Studies, which collects its information directly from new car owners. The Genesis proved to be the most reliable and highest quality of them all two years in a row, showing the least amount of problems for new owners and thus making it an appealing option for car shoppers. Experience the new Genesis lineup today at Evansville Genesis in Evansville, IN. Explore all your options with our G80 & G90 models, and we would be thrilled to help you. Find Your Genesis Today I understand I do not have to consent as a condition of purchase or to receive any services. By checking this box, I agree Genesis, Genesis dealers and/or their vendors may use the number provided to make telemarketing calls or texts via automated technology. Carrier charges may apply. By submitting your information, you agree to the sharing of your information between Genesis Motor America and its authorized dealers.

Texas Wesleyan lands first football recruits in 75 years campussportswriter | Apr 15, 2016 11:39 am Texas Wesleyan University discontinued football back in World War II, but is set to return as an NAIA team in 2017 and got its train rolling with a great kickstart yesterday. Per a report from John Henry of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the university signed its first four recruits. The four recruits are the following: offensive lineman Ty Lee, wide receiver Bailey Dozier, defensive end and running back Jarod Erwin and wide receiver and outside linebacker Carlos Porras. Per Henry's report, they will spend the 2016 season as a "redshirt leadership class" of 75 student-athletes. Dozier hails from the Dallas area's Arlington High School, Erwin from Fort Worth's Temple Christian School, Porras from Fort Worth's Carter-Riverside High School and Lee from Fort Worth's Saginaw Chisholm Trail High School. Texas Wesleyan will also hold open tryouts for the football team in May, so it does appear that school administrators are committed to building a winning team. Stay tuned to Campus Sports for further updates on this story! *Featured Photo (above) credit to NBCDFW Report: Hue Jackson prefers Jared Goff over Carson Wentz FootballNAIA

3,000 Acres of Hunting, Fishing, Sporting Clays, & More! The Ten Mile River Preserve ("TMRP") is a private membership club for the outdoor enthusiast. Located on the Eastern border of Dutchess County, just 84 miles from Mid-town Manhattan TMRP offers hunting, fishing and sporting clays for its members and their guests surpassed by none. The property consists of over 3,000 acres of upland hunting fields, and hardwood ridges doted with conifer swamps and cover to provide a haven for furred and feathered animals. The TMRP landscape also incorporates 200 acres of lakes, and 3.5 miles of the Ten Mile River which flows thru the middle of the club. Sporting Clays – 28 station World Class course with four exciting and challenging clay target games. Shooting Instruction is also available at any clay target venue. Shooting Range – Shotgun, Rifle and Pistol Shooting. Shooting Instruction is also available.

David Campbell Claims His Son Is The Reincarnation Of Princess Diana Actress Lashana Lynch Makes History As First Woman Cast As 007 In New 'James Bond' Movie What Beyonce Whispered To Meghan Markle When They Met Turns Out, 1 In 8 Men Think They Can Beat Serena Williams In A Game Of Tennis Lea Michele Shares Moving Post In Honour Of Corey Monteith On The Anniversary Of His Death Scarlett Johansson Claims She Has The Right To Play "Any Person" She Wants Kylie Jenner Finally Addresses Whether She Misses Jordyn Woods Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Just Met Beyoncé And Jay Z What Kate Middleton And Meghan Markle's Body Language At Wimbledon Says "I Confronted My School Bullies" Pink Shuts Down The "Parenting Police" In Emotional Instagram Post Amanda Seyfried Slams Influencer For 'Glorifying An Unhealthy Body Image' Here's How Kit Harington Nailed His Jon Snow Audition Hint, it involves some very King in the North-esque behaviour - by Hannah-Rose Yee Kit Harington was always destined to play Jon Snow, the Best Bastard, the King of the North (and our hearts), right? Wrong, in 2009, when Game Of Thrones was merely a twinkle in producers David Benioff and D.B Weiss' eyes, Harington was just another British actor with a plummy accent, fresh out of drama school, hoping for the next job to pay the rent. Game Of Thrones GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY But he nailed the Game of Thrones audition for Jon Snow, and the rest, as they say is history. And how did he do that, we hear you ask? With some very Jon Snow-esque behaviour, actually. In a recent interview with W magazine, Harington revealed that he turned up to his audition for the HBO show looking pretty run down and with a glaring black eye… after he got into a fist fight in McDonalds (of all places). "I went into McDonald's with this girl I was sort of dating at the time, and it was late at night and there was no seats," begins Harington's epic tale of woe. "I asked this guy and this girl he was with if we could sit at the same table, and they said yeah. We sat down, and quite quickly, he started being really rude to the girl I was with, you know, calling her names." "And then he called her something like an ugly pig, or something worse. And I got up and said, no no no, you can't call her that, get up. So I called him up for a fight, which I had never done before. […] I realised that I had to at that point throw the first punch, otherwise I'd look like a complete wimp. And I got battered." Jon Snow GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY Poor Jon Snow. Reduced to fisticuffs in the early hours of the morning while a quarterpounder and cheese goes slowly cold in the background. But the black eye wasn't for naught, as it lent Harington a smattering of tough guy bravado, something he credits with sealing the deal with Game of Thrones producers. (And something he sorely needed, considering he's a direct descendant of King Charles II and a member of Britain's brigade of stiff-upper-lip, cucumber sandwich type actors alongside Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne). "I think that man who punched me in the face may have helped me get the job," Harington joked. FREE Endota gift - Worth $110 When you subscribe to marie claire!

44426 Atwater Drive David Dulansey Chief Information Officer & General Counsel David Dulansey joined IPA in 2007 and is IPA's Chief Information Officer and General Counsel. In his role as CIO, David oversees operations concerning IPA's technology infrastructure and is responsible for maintaining data security. As General Counsel, he advises IPA's business divisions on legal matters and enforces compliance with IPA's intellectual property licensing. He is a member of the Maryland and Virginia Bars as well as the American Bar Association. David holds a BS from the University of Maryland and a JD from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Read more on how IPA helps improve our clients' return on capital investments. Learn more about About IPA Learn about IPA's evolution as a company, from our founding in 1987 to today. Learn more about Our History Read more on how we achieve success while remaining committed to our core mission and values is key. Learn more about Our Mission & Values Discover our unrivaled proprietary databases and our continuous approach to research and development. Learn more about Our Databases

I recently bought an old shakuhachi. I think it is quite old. Testifies about it the color of mature bamboo and relatively small holes. Possible dates from the Edo, maybe Meiji, I can not judge accurately. However, a mystery for me is another matter. This flute have six finger holes. On top of the flute are standard 4 hole, but on the bottom of flute are two thumb holes. I have not yet encountered anything like it. Both bottom holes look old and probably it is not any additional adjustment. Could anyone of you advise what I actualy bought? Does anyone have any idea how to play on such shakuhachi? Thank you in advance for any advice or information. P.S. I am sorry for my horrible English. welcome. Two thumb holes looks strange. I am curious how this instrument can played. For the lower octave you have to close both thumb holes. Maybe the best solution is to close one thumb hole permanently. It looks like the flute starts to crack on the front holes. You might want to bind it to prevent cracking. thank you for your feedback. Exactly how you write - two holes for thumb it is really a bit much . But because both openings really do look like the original, I wonder how on this flute played the previous owners. Now flute does not play - among other things due to crack at the bottom. So to wrap and seal will be necessity. It looks like very old. Two holes is strange. I have not seen like that. It seems that this shakuhachi maker intended to imitate a chinese 笛子's sound with thin skin笛膜. So it has two holes. Upper hole is likely for skin. It seems not standart shakuhachi. For shakuhachi practicing, close the upper hole completely. I hope my judgment is correct. thank you for your insider's view, but ... I admit that I do not understand how is possible practically play this flute. How does can it work in practice? I apologize for my lack of imagination. I would really like to know it. Once more thank you, Harald. I already understand it. So my flute is of a kind of curiosity. I think I will keep as it is - as curiosity.

Unfortunately, we've encountered some unwanted and unexpected issues we had to deal with and due to them, we were forced to implement one more rule. One team had withdrewn from the league, Andreiuta Vero is that team. They've played some matches and due to it we could not cancel their other matches. Every tea, which they should have played with, will get 6 points. Some players did not show up to play their scheduled match even if they were informed with one day before. Only one player showed up of each team which had to play, in this case it is impossible to apply the rule of league referring at absentee, because belote is a team game and we can not awarde the points to any of those two teams. When only one player of each team will show up to play their scheduled matches, the points will be awarded to nobody and those matches will be canceled. Belote is a team game and the rules for the league were made for each team and not for the players who take part in. Therefore we can not apply them per players, we can just per team. We always make our best to inform each player on the time, so please be more respectfull to us, organizers and players you have to play with. We did not force anybody to take part in this league, all the players have signed up on their own. So please be more responsible and try to not bother our good organizing, because our goal is to have entertainment watching all the good matches you play, and not to have penalised teams. Kind regards, belote league team!

Now corporations are running public high schools. But in this case, it'll prepare students for high-demand science and technology careers and maybe even funnel them into a job at the company. What happens when a corporation helps create a high school? We've already seen hints of what it looks like with P-tech, IBM's six-year vocational high school in Brooklyn, where students learn extensive science, math, and engineering skills and after six years, get a high school diploma, associate degree, and a priority path to a job at IBM. Now the business software company SAP is trying its hand with a similar model. At Business Technology Early College High School (BTECH) in Queens, students have just started school, like their peers across the country. They are taking classes like physics, history, and physical education. But in the afternoon, they get a heavy dose of business or technology programming, depending on the major students have selected, and they stay in school all the way past 4 p.m. During their last two years, they get to spend time in real-world internships. And at the end of six years, students walk away with their diploma, an associate degree in business systems or engineering technology, and skills that are highly tailored to a job at SAP or one of its partner companies. The idea for the public school, a collaboration between SAP, Queensborough Community College, the New York City Department of Education, and the Early College Initiative at the City University of New York, was thought up by SAP two years ago. "We started funding STEM programs, after-school programs, and we started to get a little bolder. We wanted to provide a direct IT career pathway to students," says Jackie Montesisnos Suarez, head of SAP's North American corporate social responsibility team. This is the first year for the school, which now has a freshman class of 125. In the early years, the school is similar to a regular high school. Ninth and 10th grade have a strong emphasis on soft skills–like verbal and speaking skills–instead of technology. The school promises an emphasis on literacy and critical thinking, to ensure that kids who decide a tech career isn't for them don't get left behind. But then there are the differences. Kids choose a business or technology major. Every student gets a mentor from SAP on day one; teachers get mentors as well. "We want to make sure we're guiding the teachers and offering them professional development opportunities," says Montesisnos Suarez. In 10th grade, students begin to take college coursework. In the final two years, they move out of the high school altogether and onto the Queensborough Community College campus, where they switch off between classroom work and internships. SAP's imprint on the curriculum is easily apparent. The company did "backwards mapping" on many of the courses, taking entry-level descriptions of jobs at SAP–one around a developer role, another around a business/sales role–and mapping coursework to the skills required for those jobs. "We interviewed people in those jobs at SAP–people who have been in those jobs a long time–to see what you really need to be successful in the roles," says Montesisnos Suarez. Throughout their time at the school, students also have access to SAP products, making them more prepared to either work at the company or work at other companies that use those products as well. Like IBM, SAP isn't guaranteeing students a job at the end of their six years, though they will have an advantage over other graduates simply because of their technical experience. "We're working on building up internships and job-shadowing within the school. If they do that, they'll be competitive at any tech company," says Montesisnos Suarez. Instinctually, a corporate-sponsored high school seems like it could pose problems–if people are up in arms about Bill Gates creating school coursework, a big company can't be much better. But the difference is that Gates wants to revolutionize the way history, a basic school subject that can be manipulated to advocate for specific world views, is taught. SAP and IBM only get a say in the vocational, skills-based coursework–in courses that are essentially training for post-graduation jobs. These companies have insight into the job skills necessary today in the STEM world. Any protestations aside, the six-year vocational training high school model seems to be catching on. P-tech schools are sprouting up across New York state, and SAP is opening up similar schools in Vancouver, Boston, and other cities in the near future. With over 8 million STEM jobs predicted by 2018, the kids who go to these schools will be better prepared than most.

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The World Through Ben Carson's Surgical Magnifying Glass Refugees Risk Death Traveling Through European Winter Newsweek Magazine 'Fallout 4' Is the Most Complex Entertainment of Our Day, but Does That Make It Art? By Mo Mozuch On 11/02/15 at 11:30 AM EST A screenshot from the game "Fallout 4." Bethesda Game Studios Tech & Science Video games Video Game Review Fallout Gaming The air-raid siren wails. Its shriek drowns out the screams on the street. You clutch your wife's hand and run to the shelter. This is not a drill. Your neighbors panic. The bombs are coming. The door to the shelter won't open. The bombs are coming, but the door won't open. This is not a drill. A flash, so bright you see the bones of your hand, and a violent, invisible force that throws you to the ground. Darkness. A terrible heat follows. A hatch opens beside you. You fall in. You smell smoke and singed hair. Blind and burning, your last thoughts are of your wife: Did she hold our baby tight? Blackout. Welcome to Fallout 4—one of the most highly anticipated video games of the past decade. This isn't Super Mario saving his princess or a massive Minecraft map or a cascading stack of crushable candy. It is a richly layered, deeply constructed open world full of dystopian science fiction. Set in a postapocalyptic wasteland outside Boston, Fallout 4 takes place 200 years after a nuclear holocaust. Players assume the role of survivors who return to the surface after getting frozen in a vault. They squint into the sun as the vault door creaks open, tasked to explore this bizarro world that's part Lost in Space and part Mad Max. Related: APA Says Video Games Make You Violent, but Critics Cry Bias The opening scene described above is just a taste of what Fallout 4's creator, Bethesda Game Studios, has spent seven years designing. Fallout 4 features 110,000 lines of spoken dialogue (the script of Apocalypse Now is about 7,500 lines). It's estimated that players will have 30 square miles to explore, including a faithful layout of what Boston, from Paul Revere Mall to Fenway Park, would look like if it survived a nuclear war. In the time it takes to fully explore Fallout 4, players could watch the Godfather trilogy straight through 40 times. Fallout 4: Newest Video Game in Post-Apocalyptic Series Announced APA Says Video Games Make You Violent, but Critics Cry Bias The Case for Violent Video Games Downtime Culture Revisiting American Journalism's Ballsier Days Horizons Tech & Science Video: Ants Act Like Both Liquids and Solids Periscope Tech & Science Two Numbers: Bacon Is Carcinogenic, but So Is the Air You Breathe Periscope World Even With One-Child Policy Lifted, China Becoming 'World's Largest Old-Age Home' The Law Can't Keep Up With Technology…and That's a Very Good Thing R.L. Stine, Master of '90s Kid Horror, Enjoys an Unexpected Renaissance You're 100 Percent Wrong About Mondays The Kremlin Knows What You Like...on Facebook Smith Island Is Sinking Into the Chesapeake Bay Thanks to Climate Change Cover U.S. Now Is the Time to Visit Zimbabwe Ugandan Children of Women Raped by LRA Fighters Face Threats Amphetamines Fuel Both Sides of the Syrian War Aging Trans People Are Systematically Locked Out of the Health Care System Features World What Happens When Ukraine's Foreign Fighters Return Charvet: The Vatican of the Shirt The Lost U.K. Child Abuse Testimonies Periscope Business Walgreens Vs. the American Dream Rijksmuseum Exhibition Explores Dutch Fascination With Asian Luxury Goods Fallout 's aesthetic cheekily evokes '50s-era sci-fi and the naïveté of early Cold War–era pop culture. The soundtrack, which will be available on vinyl, runs the gamut from malt shop hits to classical music to burn-in-the-fires-of-nuclear-hell gospel. Robots look more Ed Wood than Michael Bay, and in-game tutorials mimic the tone of those "Duck and Cover" safety films. It's one of the most visually striking and narratively immersive games ever made. But despite its many artistic elements, some critics are hesitant to consider a video game, any game, a work of art. In 2005, film critic Roger Ebert wrote that "no one in or out of the field has ever been able to cite a game worthy of comparison with the great dramatists, poets, filmmakers, novelists and composers." Ebert argued that games are played while art is not, and that games are created to make money, not emotions. The rebuttal to Ebert's argument comes, surprisingly, from Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. In 2011, he wrote the majority opinion for Brown v. EMA, a case about a California law that banned the sale of video games to minors. Video game fans latched onto the passage that read, "like the protected books, plays, and movies that preceded them, video games communicate ideas—and even social messages—through many familiar literary devices…. That suffices to confer First Amendment protection." For Todd Howard, executive producer of Fallout 4 and the head of Bethesda Game Studios, there is only one reason some people wouldn't consider video games to be art. "They haven't played the right game yet," Howard tells Newsweek at the company's suburban Maryland studio. "What they probably don't know is that there are games for everybody." Ebert eventually hedged a little. "It is quite possible a game could someday be great art," he wrote in 2010 in the self-effacing editorial "Okay, Kids, Play on My Lawn." Ebert's caveat was that no game had yet met the criteria for popular art. Does Fallout 4 ? It is certainly popular. Poised to be one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed video games of the decade, it's the biggest project to date for Bethesda. The game developer's 2011 fantasy epic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim sold more than 18 million copies worldwide. Fallout 3 , released in 2008, has sold roughly 10 million. Both titles won game of the year at the Game Developers Choice Awards, an annual gathering of industry leaders, in addition to the dozens of awards the games received from industry press outlets such as IGN, PC Magazine and GameSpot. Chris Melissinos, curator for the Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibit "The Art of Video Games," says video games must be art because they are made of art. "Inside a game like Fallout 4, you can observe landscapes and sculpture and orchestration and narrative arcs and principles of design," he says. "All of these things that, on their own, we put on a pedestal or hang on a wall or write into a book to be published." A view of the game "Pac-Man," one of the 14 video games that are part of the "Applied Designs" exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art in New York on March 1, 2013. Jemal Countess/Getty Howard explains how the team attempted to make Fallout 4 an immersive, artistic experience. "We look for elegance. Not simplicity," he says. "What we're trying to do is what we think is best about video games. We're going to put you in another world. Who would you be? What would you do?" In Fallout 4, the players make ethical decisions and determine moral consequences—often within classic sci-fi scenarios. If a robot looks human, acts human and thinks it's human, should it be treated like a human? Do colonies of irradiated lepers deserve to live in isolation or does the threat of a pandemic justify genocide? These moments are full of what Scalia called "social messages" and are born of literary devices as old as Karel Capek's self-aware automatons in the play R.U.R., which premiered in 1921, or Mary Shelley's postapocalyptic plague survivor Lionel Verney from her 1826 novel The Last Man. Related: The Future, as Told by 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3' "Fallout stands apart as an art form because not only is it narrative, not only is it artistically proficient, it is appropriating multiple areas of Americana and culture," Melissinos says. "It's directly based on your moral compass, how you view the world and how you want to see things unfold. And that's why it holds as art. And it holds as some of the most introspective and personal type of art that anybody can engage in." Howard compares the experience of playing the game to watching a film. "In an open game like ours, the player becomes the director." And where critics like Ebert might argue that a scenario in which a creator gives up control of his or her work takes away its artistic merit, the concept of participants changing the outcome of an artistic work also encompasses elements of performance art and goes back to at least the 1960s, when Brazilian theater director Augusto Boal invited his audience to become "spect-actors." Boal's typical performances involved a scene in which a character was oppressed by an antagonist, and audience members were invited to pause the scene, replace the victim on stage and change the narrative in a way that resolved the conflict in the hero's favor. Sounds like a video game. "Games can tap into that aspect that something live is happening," says Drew Davidson, the director of the Entertainment and Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University. "You have these wonderfully evocative experiences where you feel like your choices matter." Davidson says the ETC was born out of a partnership with Carnegie Mellon's performing arts program and that its founders—a mix of technologists and theater buffs—saw video games as an extension of performance art, since both contain elements like setting, narrative and voice acting. Howard says video games also have a unique emotional advantage over other media. "There is the range of emotions lots of entertainment can give you, from fear to excitement to sadness," he says. "Games can do that. But the one emotion that only games can [create] is pride. Pride in what you accomplish." Though naysayers will continue to naysay, at least for now, Fallout 4's creators believe that games will prove their artistic merit. "There's no question what we do is art. And it's an evolving art, as all art over the ages has been," says Istvan Pely, the game's art director. "It takes time to gain acceptance, but I think this will become the main medium for people to be entertained and to explore the human condition. Which is what art is all about—making people feel things and experience things." Melissinos, who included Bethesda's Fallout 3 in the Smithsonian exhibit, agrees. "It's a variety of all the different art forms," he says. He adds, somewhat loftily, that games represent "the apex" of everything humans know about art at this point in the culture. "Video games are not only an art form; they are one of the most important art forms that have ever been at the disposal of mankind." Unlike other art forms, though, video games are not built to last—technology fades at a much faster rate than plaster and ink. So while critics nitpick the lost meaning of a colored slab of dead wood, let's take time to engage the greatest entertainment technology of our era—regardless of whether it deserves space in a museum. 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Hamas Spokesman Says Relations Between Hamas And Saudi Arabia Are "Developing Positively"; Hamas Political Leader May Visit The Kingdom By gmbwatch on March 18, 2015 Daily Islamist media is reporting on comments by a Hamas spokesman who said that relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia are "developing positively." According to the Middle East Monitor report, another Hamas leader has said that he hopes that Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal will visit Saudi Arabia: Relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia are 'developing positively', the organisation's spokesman Ismail Ridwan said, adding that the group hopes this will lead to lifting the siege on Gaza and opening the Rafah crossing. Speaking to the Anadolu Agency, Ridwan said: 'We are keen to develop our relations with Saudi Arabia, which has always stood with the Palestinian issue. We hope that the head of Hamas's political bureau Khalid Meshaal visits Saudi and this visit contributes to regaining natural relations with the kingdom.' On Sunday, during a discussion panel in Gaza, senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar said that there is a 'prospective visit for Meshaal to Saudi Arabia.' He also stressed: 'Hamas is keen to maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia.' Al-Zahar said that any new information about Meshaal's visit to Saudi Arabia would immediately be announced. If this visit happens, it would be the first of its kind since June 2012. In addition, Al-Zahar said: 'Saudi leads the Gulf in addition to being a large country in the region. It is seeking good relations with Hamas because of the political changes in the region as well as because of the control of the Houthi rebels in Yemen.' Relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia are not 'perfect' because, journalists claim, of the connection between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, while observers claim that Hamas's rapprochement with Iran is the reason behind Saudi's 'worries' regarding Hamas. In March 2014, the GMBDW reported that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) had designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization and said a committee would be set up to determine the groups to be outlawed. Despite this development, the GMBDW has been monitoring activities in the Kingdom that suggest its commitment to fighting the Muslim Brotherhood maybe less than it has claimed. Since the above comments were made by Hamas itself, they may or may not turn out to be accurate. The GMBDW will continue to monitor the situation and bring you the latest developments. Egyptian Court Says Hamas Political Wing Also Terrorist Organization - 04:00 AM RECOMMENDED READING:: "Inside The World Of 'Non-Violent' Islamism" - 04:03 AM Five Top Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Received Life Sentences; Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie Already Sentenced To Death - 04:05 AM Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Condemns Court Ruling Declaring Hamas Political Wing As Terrorist Organization - 04:00 AM Jordanian Government To Declare Its Muslim Brotherhood Independent From Egyptian Organization - 04:03 AM Former "Muslim Brotherhood Spokesman In The West" Meets With Egyptian President - 10:15 PM Tunisian Muslim Brotherhood Leader Says Only When Palestine Is Liberated Will Muslims Be Free - 10:25 PM Muslim Brotherhood Under Pressure In Canada - 10:00 PM Los Angeles Police Chief Partners With MPAC; Organization And Its Leaders Have Long History Of Extremism - 10:03 PM Qaradawi Organization Issues Latest Condemnation Of Egyptian Court Designation Of Hamas Political Wing - 10:05 PM Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood Faces Biggest Crisis In 70 Year History - 10:00 PM FEATURED STORY: Obama Appoints Special Envoy For Middle East; Robert Malley Worked For Organization With Two Trustees Part Of Global Muslim Brotherhood - 04:29 PM Houthis Say Muslim Brotherhood In Yemen Cooperating With Al Qaeda; Important MB Leader In Yemen Was Close To Osama Bin Laden - 10:00 PM Two UK Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Join Other Extremists In Letter Claiming Demonization Of Muslims In Britain - 10:03 PM Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Leader In Exile Disavows Jordanian Brotherhood Splinter Group - 10:00 PM RECOMMENDED READING: "Doing God's Work: A Look At The Islamic Movement In Israel " - 10:03 PM Wagdi Ghoneim At It Again; This Time He Says "Treachery Runs in "Christians' Blood - 10:03 PM Hamas Political Leader Meets Iranian Shura Council Speaker In Doha - 10:03 PM Financial Times Says UK Muslim Brotherhood Investigation Report Postponed; UK Media Gets In Wrong About The Brotherhood And Terrorism - 10:45 PM Egypt Seeks Death Penalty For Notorious Antisemitic Cleric Salah Sultan - 08:39 PM Tariq Ramadan's Research Center Holds International Conference In Europe For The First Time - 10:00 PM Hamas Spokesman Says Relations Between Hamas And Saudi Arabia Are "Developing Positively"; Hamas Political Leader May Visit The Kingdom - 10:03 PM WAMY Deputy Leader Says West Out To Tarnish Islam - 10:00 PM Hamas Twitter Campaign Not Working Out; Users Are Mocking Group - 10:03 PM OBITUARY: Hamas Co-Founder Dies At 80 - 10:00 PM UK Islamic Electoral Groups Tied To Global Muslim Brotherhood - 10:00 PM Copenhagen Approves Mosque Proposed By Group Once Led By Notorious Danish Imam - 10:00 PM CAIR Leader Nihad Awad Also Attended February Saudi Counterterrorism Conference - 10:03 PM US Muslim Brotherhood Coalition Calls For Resignation Of Jeb Bush Advisor; Jordan Sekulow Said To Support "Anti-Shariah" Movement - 10:00 PM Islamic Conference Organizer In Australia Has Met With Youssef Qaradawi - 10:00 PM Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood Expresses "Regret" Following Saudi-Led Airstrikes - 12:45 PM Hamas Launches New Website; US Company Continues To Provide Protection Services - 09:00 PM Egyptian Court Annuls Earlier Ruling Designating Hamas As Terrorist Organization - 09:03 PM Saudi Religious Organizations Express Support For Saudi Intervention in Yemen - 09:00 PM Saudi Muslim World League Will "Reorganize" Italy's Muslim Community - 09:03 PM Former Tunisian President To Sail With Latest Gaza Flotilla - 09:00 PM

The government has announced that partially driverless lorries or small conveys will be tried on UK roads by the end of next year. The Netherlands has already trialled this technology on a small convey where the lead truck had control of the second. The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has been awarded a contract to carry out these tests on what they refer to as a 'platoon' of vehicles. The test is expected to include up to 3 HGV's where the lead lorry controls all the acceleration and breaking. The AA has said that the 'platoons' do however raise safety concerns. The TRL will very shortly start testing on test tracks with road trials expected at the end of 2018. The read lorries will not be completely human free in the trials. The lead HGV will control acceleration and breaking being mirrored to the rear HGV's but with the initial tests, steering will be controlled by a human. There is also a benefit to emissions and air pollution. As the 'platoons' will be travelling closer together, it can be expected to see that the lead vehicles pushes air out of the way for the rear vehicles improving their fuel consumption. With less risk on company's HGV Insurance and reduced fuel costs, it is hoped that these saving will be passed onto the consumer. The government has been promising such projects since 2014 but has been met with hurdles in the form of many European countries refusing to take part in 'platooning' trials. – DAF Trucks made by Dutch Manufacturer. – Ricardo which is a British smart tech transport firm. – DHL which is a German logistics company. 'Platooning Vehicles' is not new and has been seen in a number of other countries such as Japan, Germany and the US. Edmund King, president of the AA has said that British road provide a unique challenge not seen in other countries. Edmund's stated: "We all want to promote fuel efficiency and reduce congestion but we are not yet convinced that lorry platooning on UK motorways is the way to go about it," he said, pointing out, for example, that small convoys of lorries can block road signs from the view of other road users. It goes without saying that safety has to come first but, could this revolutionise the UK haulage industry reducing costs for all across the UK?

Blood & Bone — Available Now! The Brotherhood has returned, with a demon-summoner in Paris. Adam must go to the City of Lights to do battle with an ancient evil. Luke is keeping secrets that may test the limits of Adam's strength and endurance. There is a greater evil behind The Brotherhood than anyone knows. S.H. Roddey returns to the Shadow Council Archives, the tales of bygone days in the world of Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter, with Blood & Bone, a tale of intrigue, revenge, magic, lust, and love with ripples that will be felt throughout history. The evil Brotherhood has captured a woman capable of summoning demons, and they plan to unleash her evil upon the City of Lights, Paris. Adam has been enlisted by his sometimes friend, sometimes companion Vlad Dracula to rid the world of this evil.

Game Description: Released Jul 2007 without sponsor, colourPod is an innovative defense game that requires double think to both collect coloured fragments (thereby accumulating coloured powers) and destroy colourless fragments. The game progresses with more complex coloured abilities and more cunning enemies in the ultimate goal to restore as many pixels as possible. colourPod has more than 75 000 plays on Kongregate, won weekly 3rd prize, and maintains a rating of 3.59 with more than 600 favourites. It also won daily 5th prize when released on NewGrounds. The sequel to colourPod will be released early August 08. It has been been reprogrammed completely, and is better in absolutely every way. It's going to be BIG. So, get your piece of the pie now by buying a non-exclusive license to colourPod.

When Chaos Came To Town – Episode I: Everybody Wants To Rule The World There once was a time in this business when they had the eyes of the whole world in theaters! But that wasn't good enough for them, oh no! They had to have control of the homes of the whole world, too. So they opened their big libraries and out came VHS. DVD! STREAMING! — apologies to Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and D.M. Marshman Jr. I have never heard as many people as confused about where the filming television industry is headed. Of course, you have media out front, full of piss and ignorance as ever, endlessly explaining the most simplistic perspectives possible, shifting in the wind as each exec or agent makes a pronouncement between their salad and portioned gluten-free entree. Truth be told, my head is spinning. And it's not so easy to spin my head. There have always been moments of WTF in the early moments of paradigm shifts, which is what we are in right now. But there were also some guard rails… mostly about making money. So let's get right into the meat of it… Making a nice profit on content is no longer the central goal in Hollywood. I have been coming at this from many directions over recent weeks and I promise I will show my work… but I don't want to bury the lede. After considering the actions of players large and small, trying to put a broader motive on the choices being made (aside from the too-easy blaming of COVID), and looking towards the logical outcome of the choices being made, my current conclusion is that Hollywood has become an industry unsatisfied with being in the business of making a profit, year in and year out. The Industry is now in the thrall of the crap shoot of Wall Street, spurred in no small way by Netflix envy (as well as misunderstanding Netflix), and that simply being successful is no longer success enough. The evolution of streaming is not too much unlike the evolution to sound movies. Back in 1927, a cash-strapped Warner Bros. released The Jazz Singer, pushing forward with the sound technology they had controlled in-house for at least a couple years. They didn't make a leap so much as were pushed into it by fear of bankruptcy. It was a huge hit, making Warner Bros. a ton of money, saving and super-powering the studio. But even more significantly, it put the onus on all the other studios to make the conversion to sound. (See: Singin' In The Rain) Netflix introduced streaming—then called "Watch Now"—in 2007, a decade into the company's history. It was computers-only and was poor quality. They had about 7 million subscribers to the subscription DVD service and cracked a billion dollars a year in revenue for the first time (as well as shipping their billionth disc). So they should have been ecstatic. But they weren't. They were stuck without a track to a higher level of growth. Netflix had also started an initiative in 2006, Red Envelope, to develop original programming on DVD… and by 2007, they already knew it wasn't working. Netflix sensed the decline in the domestic DVD business and knew that consistent mail distribution was problematic outside of the U.S. There was no next leap in delivering DVDs in envelopes. It wasn't the only reason they initiated the streaming effort… but it was significant. Over the next five years, with the combination of delivery and streaming, Netflix quintupled their membership numbers and tripled their revenues. But the company still was not the high flier that it would become. In 2010, Netflix expanded streaming to Canada and then to other regions. By the end of 2012, they had six million international streaming subs. In 2013, the international streaming subs leapt 62% to 9.7 million. In 2014, 72%. In 2015, 64%. 2016, another 50%. And then, in Q3 2017, Netflix's international paid subs (52.7 million) passed their domestic paid subs (51.4 million) for the first time. That is when, I propose, the entire filmed entertainment was turned upside down, leading to where we are today. At that time, in the third quarter of 2017… what was becoming undeniable to the legacy companies on every side of the $200b+ domestic television business was… well… The World. All of the production companies and major studios license content across the globe, profitably. For decades, everyone was thrilled to fight over the turf that they had worked so hard to develop. But Netflix, the very successful canary in the coal mine, made them realize—proved to them—that they might be limiting their opportunities. For instance, Comcast (NBC) can't lay cable across France and ABC (Disney) isn't welcome to broadcast their network in any other part of the world. Streaming expands the market in a way that allows these companies to remain in control of their content and the revenues (pending deals in each national territory). Netflix was proving that the world market could not only be bigger than the domestic market, but as theatrical movies had shown, dwarf it. As of Netflix's last quarterly report (July 2021), they had 74.4 million subs in the US & Canada and 133.3 million in the rest of the world. For the first time in the Netflix streaming era, there was a quarterly loss of domestic subs. Every other region remained up. No one much cared. Back in 2017, when Netflix tipped towards international. Disney's combined revenues from Media Networks (broadcast & cable) and Studio Entertainment (movies) were $26.8 billion. Netflix's total revenues were $11.7 billion. By 2020, Disney's combined revenues from Media Networks and Studio Entertainment were $38 billion and Netflix's total revenues were $25 billion. This is in spite of, for Disney, a significant impact from COVID. As internet service gets better, streaming (including, potentially, virtual cable offerings) will continue to eat into the cable/satellite business. But these companies don't have to wait for that process to come to fruition in America. There are more subs overseas than here at home. And the bigger money needed to make this transition will come from there. This is why I feel the lagging major streamers have years to get their acts together. Comcast and Viacom (And Disney) will all be making more money in domestic legacy cable and satellite than in streaming for at least three-to-five more years (not to mention Parks, in the portfolios of Disney and Comcast). The transition is not going to be quick. It wasn't for Netflix and it will be faster for others… just not fast. Streaming is a replacement for cable and satellite. The average domestic household in America spends about $90 a month on cable and satellite. With streaming as the delivery mechanism, there is suddenly the real potential of more than a $100 billion a year spent by households for streaming services. Netflix has been mostly an add-on service, with households willing to expand their spend by $10-$17 a month. But for there to be two or four or six services to be paid for every month, the money needs to come from somewhere… and the only realistic somewhere is the cable and satellite bill. So let's do the back of the napkin math on the streaming future… at $15 a month, 5.6 million households = $1 billion a year. That puts Disney, for instance, at a revenue breakeven for their filmed entertainment production and distribution businesses in this transition at about 225 million subscribers (not at $8 a month… $15… the bundle). Clearly, two things are critical… international subscriptions and the price point. (Netflix's Average Revenue Per User last quarter was $11.70. So they too are still below this hypothetical that is, in part, driving this market.) Those who are still high on Netflix have decided to believe in a 400 million+ household subscriber universe. That's double their current business. They have been growing at around 30 million subs a year, worldwide, in the last five years and will probably be close to that again this year. But the sub train is clearly slowing and the focus for investors is moving to profit, which has not been a strength for Netflix to date. Then, of course, it all gets much more complicated, because the costs needed to compete successfully in this direct-to-consumer business is a giant, evolving question mark. Netflix has been seen as the standard because of their success on Wall Street, but that Wall Street success has allowed them the indulgence of ever-expanding content spending. This won't work for anyone else. And it seems that we may be at the end of it working so well for Netflix. But that is another Episode… 2 Responses to "When Chaos Came To Town – Episode I: Everybody Wants To Rule The World" William R Burns Jr says: Sports streaming in the US is about $85 billion a year… Porn almost $100 billion. book publishing about $130 billion worldwide. cable TV almost $100 billion. Live performance theater, live concerts etc. Film theatrical? $40 billion worldwide. In the eyes of the corporate behemoths that own most of the entertainment industry, traditional cinema serves purposes well beyond, amd bigger, than the split they get back from AMC… or China. The profit from theatrical is basically budget dust. it's not as if these corporations need theatrical to generate stories, or even spectacle, any longer. Prestige filmmaking has a much smaller attendance than art museums… More like Broadway. David Poland says: Yes… but what the theatrical window does a uniquely good job of doing is developing a connection of content with audiences. It is much more indelible than TV has proven to be.