Evaluation of the preference to and behavioral effects of an enriched environment on male rhesus monkeys.
Two environments were provided to laboratory rhesus monkeys to determine if the animals spent more time (for the purposes of this study, defined as the cage side preference) in an enriched cage side than an unenriched cage side. The side (right or left) of a double-wide cage in which the animal spent the most time (as determined by Chi square analysis) was initially determined during baseline observations. The "nonpreferred" side was then enriched during the experimental phase of the study. The enrichment consisted of a perch, a Tug-A-Toy suspended inside the cage, a Kong toy suspended on the outside of the cage, and a grooming board mounted on the outside of the cage.was caught in 2006 and jailed for eight years.

His offending is still the largest benefit fraud - the second largest amount stolen was $571,000 in 2008.

Mr Hughes said the benefit system was regularly swept and client data matched with nine other government agencies, including Inland Revenue, Internal Affairs, Housing New Zealand, Corrections, ACC and Customs.

The OIA papers also reveal the MSD has set up an internal fraud unit and nine staff members were dismissed last year for benefit fraud totalling $87,995, compared with two workers sacked for stealing $8701 six years ago.

Mr Hughes said the ministry took its responsibility for administering taxpayer funds seriously and communicated this to staff.

"Because of the position of trust they hold, we treat staff benefit frauds more seriously."

He said 29 of the 30


Monday, November 20, 2017

On the Origin of Species

Editorial Cartoon Portraying Darwin as an Ape

Charles Darwin was a known and well-respected scientist in 19th Century England. But few knew that for 20 years, he'd been holding back a theory that would radicalize our understanding of Biology and the history of life on Earth. He held it back because he knew all too well how intensely it would clash not only with the scientific thought of the day, but especially with religious belief. It has been a source of controversy from the moment he finally published his theory in his famous book, On the Origin of Species.1

Royal Guard

A human clad in shining silver armor stands tall on a war ravaged battlefield. A goblin boar rider charges his detachment. He plants himself firmly between the oncoming threat and his comrades, soaking up the brunt of the attack with his massive tower shield.

A group has entered a dungeon in search of treasure, and has found themselves in the midst of many deadly traps. As the party’s cleric falls prey to a sprung crossbow trap, the Royal Guard rushes between him and the bolts, forcing him out of the way and saving his life.

Royal guards are the best of the best; only the most elite warriors are selected to undergo their rigorous training. Also known as Kingsguard, these legendary warriors are instilled with a code of honor


a Lakers "insider" as saying it was Bryant's insistence on getting away from O'Neal that prompted the trade to Miami.

Bryant also said he feels owner Jerry Buss misled him three years ago by telling him one thing and coach Phil Jackson something else about the team's goals.

Bryant said he was told the team would immediately try to rejoin the NBA's elite. But he said Jackson told him that Buss was not bringing him back as coach following the 2003-04 season because the Lakers were committed to reducing payroll and rebuilding long term.

"We are aware of the media reports. However, Kobe has not told us directly that he wants to be traded. We have made it very clear that we are building our team around Kobe and that weintend for him to be a Laker his entire career. We will speak directly to Kobe and until we do that, we will not comment publicly about this."

Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, did not respond to several messages left by The Associated Press.

The Lakers won championships from 2000-02 and reached the NBA finals again in 2004, losing to the Detroit Pistons in five games. The team was broken up at that time. O'Neal was traded, Jackson left and other stalwarts - Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and Rick Fox - went elsewhere or retired.

The Lakers failed to make the playoffs the following season. With Jackson returning before the 2005-06 campaign, they finished seventh in the Western Conference in each of the past two years, but were


eliminated by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.

The Lakers appeared to be a title contender through the first half of this season, going 26-13 despite several injuries to key players. But they lost 27 of their last 43 games to finish 42-40 before losing to the Suns in five games.

Bryant urged the team at season's end to do what it takes to get back into contention. He essentially repeated those comments last weekend in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

On Sunday, he suggested former Lakers general manager Jerry West should return. West left the team in the summer of 2000 and was succeeded by current GM Mitch Kupchak.

West, an employee of the Lakers for about 40 years as a player, coach and executive, is undercontract as the Memphis Grizzlies' president until July 1. He turned 69 this week and has remained a close friend of Kupchak's. West has said he has "no plans to seek employment with any other organization."

It was West who brought Bryant to the Lakers, trading center Vlade Divac to Charlotte in the summer of 1996 for the rights to Bryant - the 13th pick in the NBA draft. Bryant was only 17 at the time.

On Tuesday, Bryant did a series of radio interviews bashing the Lakers.

"That place is a mess," Bryant said, referring to the Lakers' front office. "If we're not making strides here to improve this team right now, to be aggressive in that nature, then what's the point of having me here?"

That same day the 74-year-old


when they acquired him from Miami three years ago, paying him about $8 million.

Bryant has made the All-Star team in each of the past nine seasons, clearly establishing himself as an NBA great before age 30. Only one active NBA player, Kevin Garnett, has a longer tenure with one team than Bryant. Garnett has played 12 seasons for Minnesota.

The Lakers won 20 playoff series from 2000-04 but have won four postseason games and no series in the past three years. Since O'Neal left, they've received little from the draft, trades or free agency.

Bryant has stated repeatedly in the past that he was a Lakers' fan since childhood, and wanted to be a Laker for life. But the O'Neal matter and his feeling of being misled by Buss appearhave changed things.

"The fact of the matter is that many people don't know what really went down when I was approaching free agency because I have stayed quiet about it this whole time," Bryant wrote on his Web site. "The real facts are that Dr. Buss requested a meeting with me during the '04 season long before I opted out of my contract, and he told me he had already decided not to extend Shaq, as he was concerned about Shaq's age, fitness and contract demands.

"Dr. Buss made it clear that his decision was final, his mind was made up, and no matter what I decided to do with free agency, he was still going to move Shaq."

O'Neal said on the Philadelphia Inquirer's Web site he believed Bryant


most dominant player in the league... Lebron is getting there, but right now it's Bryant all the way... Additionally, he's getting towards the end of his career... I know he's still not all that old, but he's already talked about retiring... Not seriously or immenently, but he's discussed the fact that he's been in the league for near 10 years, and despite being young his body is beaten up. For those reasons I can't fault the guy for not wanting to go through some contract slashing, price cut, cost savings re-build and wanting to be on a contending team...The leader of the International Monetary Fund now embroiled in a criminal assault case in New York City was cleared in 2008 of harassment charges after an affair with an IMF economist.

But it's that kind of behavior that should make the world wonder about trusting the IMF, Rep. Ron Paul said Sunday.

The 2008 Republican presidential candidate told "Fox News Sunday" that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was pulled off an Air France flight moments before take-off from New York Saturday and arrested on charges of a criminal sex act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment, said the whole course of events "is a bit ironic."

Paul, who makes no secret about his disgust of IMF policies, said Strauss-Kahn demonstrates why the Fund has problems.

"These are the kind of people that are running


arrest. Though a New York City police spokesman said Strauss-Kahn does not have diplomatic immunity, the officer could not say with certainty whether that's accurate, but said the department is reviewing his status.

The IMF also said it's not commenting on the arrest but issued a statement saying, "The IMF remains fully functioning and operational." The Wall Street Journal reported that John Lipsky, Strauss-Kahn's first deputy, has been in the acting managing director role since Strauss-Kahn left D.C. for New York.

It's not the first time that the thrice-married Strauss-Kahn has been in trouble for his relationships. In 2008, an outside lawyer hired by the IMF to investigate three complaints made about Strauss-Kahn's behavior concluded that he did not force an ex-lover to accept a payout from the IMF andmove to another organization.

The executive board at the IMF took no action against Strauss-Kahn but warned him about behavior toward female staff. Strauss-Kahn reportedly offered an apology to the board. His wife, French newswoman Anne Sinclair, wrote it off as a "one night stand."

At the time, French commentators claimed the investigation's timing was suspicious since it coincided with the IMF push toward a global currency.

"It's very odd that it comes just at the moment when people are talking about the IMF and its head taking a lead role in creating a new global financial order which will not necessarily be to the advantage of wealthy, right-wing Americans," a French economist and government adviser told Britain's Observer newspaper.

But Paul said the IMF's moves toward a world currency are "a


Professional formation: extending medicine's lineage of service into the next century.
In his 1910 report on medical education, Flexner emphasized the importance of competency in basic sciences. Less widely recognized is that he also emphasized the necessity of liberal education. On the Flexner Report's 100th anniversary, medicine is challenged to realize Flexner's full vision for medical education to ensure that physicians are prepared to lead lives of compassion and service as well as to perform with technical proficiency. To meet the complex medical and social challenges of the next century, medical educators must continue to promote cognitive expertise while concurrently supporting "professional formation"-the moral and professional development of students, their ability to stay true to their personal service values and the core values of the profession, and the integrationMatt Kenner has been making a splash with his autocross C10 on courses all over the South. In fact, Matt has racked up a string of wins and podium finishes with his truck. Recent bragging rights include the fastest registered truck at the 2019 C10 Nationals, Fastest truck at the 2019 NSRA Nationals StreetKhana autocross in Louisville and Goodugys shootout winner in the truck class in Columbus.

More and more autocross trucks have been showing up at events around the country. And more often than not they are a Chevy C10. AutoXandTrack previously featured an autocross F100 so we were remiss on getting a C10 featured on the site.

Humble Beginnings

Matt didn’t start out to build an autocross truck. Instead he bought his 1968 C10 almost 20 years ago to


use as a daily driver. In fact, the original owner was still driving this truck until he passed away shortly before Matt acquired it. In those early days the truck was powered by an anemic 6 cylinder 250/3 speed manual trans combo. Which, lasted about 5 years until Matt tore the truck apart and painted it Atlantic Blue while also lowering it. After which, Matt and the C10 started hitting car shows. Skip forward to 2012 and Matt does an LS1 swap and starts dabbling in the addictive world of autocross.

In nearly 20 years of ownership Matt’s fondest memories are those shared moments with family. Encompassing school drop offs in the “hot rod truck,” late nights in the garage with his sons Clayton and Dillon, and back countryVijaykant Chauhan believes that, all over India, gangs of Muslims are seducing Hindu women and forcing them to convert to Islam – and he’s made it his mission to stop them. Aman Sethi reports on India’s rising religious tensions

Every few days, Vijaykant Chauhan WhatsApps me a photograph of himself. The photographs are invariably scenes of crowds gathered on a north India street corner. Chauhan is right in front: a thickset, mustachioed man in his late 30s, in faux-army fatigues, a camouflage-print baseball cap and sunglasses. He stands with his fists tightly bunched, arms upraised. Occasionally the police make an appearance – their faces creased by patient smiles, their hands held close to their chests, palms facing outwards, in gestures of pacification.

These are photographs of protests, celebrations, rallies and,


our cows, our temples, our ancient culture and our girls. Anyone who attacks any one of these pillars should be put to death.”

* * *

I chanced upon Chauhan while on assignment for my newspaper, the Business Standard, in Saharanpur, a trading town in western Uttar Pradesh. In the summer of 2014, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and its controversial leader, Narendra Modi, had swept the general elections in a campaign that addressed the two presumed weaknesses of the ruling Indian National Congress – the faltering national economy, and the Congress’s alleged appeasement of minorities in the garb of secularism.

All summer long, Modi had dismissed accusations of orchestrating a communal riot that left more than a thousand dead in his home state of Gujarat in 2002. Heand some way above Pakistan, Russia and Japan. More than 200 million people live here, a fifth of whom are Muslim. The rest are mostly Hindu, and divided broadly between three mutually antagonistic caste groups: the upper-caste Brahmins and Thakurs; the lower-caste Dalits; and the “other backward classes” such as the Yadavs. While castes were once divided by hereditary occupations such as priests, warriors, traders, animal herders and manual scavengers, years of lower-caste political mobilisation and emancipation have blurred these hierarchies.

For the last two decades, Uttar Pradesh’s regional parties have formed state governments by promising state patronage to unusual social coalitions. As a primarily upper-caste Hindu party, the BJP has historically struggled to build broad alliances in Uttar Pradesh, but in 2014 the party saw an opportunity. In


2013, another communal riot had caused an outbreak of violence throughout the region, and the ruling Samajwadi party had failed to contain it. Most accounts suggest the state administration played one community against the other – leaving the Hindus alienated and the Muslims fearful.

A photograph sent to the author by Vijaykant Chauhan on WhatsApp of one of the numerous rallies he holds to promote Hindu values. Photograph: Vijaykant Chauhan

A year later, with elections round the corner, Amit Shah – Modi’s most trusted lieutenant – toured the riot-affected areas in the company of local BJP leaders accused of inciting rioters. Shah himself stands accused of ordering extrajudicial killings in his time as home minister of Gujarat. “This is an election for honour and revenge,” he announced at one pointentire neighbourhoods butchered each other. When the mob came for my nani, she squeezed herself under a pile of fresh corpses that lay in the local vegetable market. That is how she escaped.”

Vijaykant claims he was an extraordinary student – “I was perfect” – but was forced out of school in grade seven on an administrative technicality. “My parents tried to reason with the school, but what did they have? No connections, no money – and so my father put me to work at the shop.”

When the mob came for my nani, she squeezed herself under a pile of fresh corpses that lay in the local vegetable market Vijaykant Chauhan

Vijaykant hated it. He escaped to religious functions organised by the RSS and joined the Bajrang Dal, a particularly


* *

One day I visited Chauhan to watch him at work. The shelter is a large airy space with a temple at one end and a feeding pen at the other. A shipping container, sawn in half, serves as his living space, where, Chauhan said, a veterinary surgeon sometimes examines sick cows.

People dropped by in ones and twos; some brought fodder for the cows, and others put some money in the collection box. Reverentially they fed the assorted cows – healthy, injured and infirm – while their children gaped at two caged white rabbits. A middle-aged man walked up to Chauhan towing along a young girl dressed in a pink shalwar kameez. He shouted, “Vande Mataram”; Chauhan replied in kind.

“She was standing around the market as if sheis a game of deception that had to be countered by the same coin. After all, why would a Hindu girl willingly fall in love with a Muslim? In the past, Chauhan has stormed district courts to prevent Hindu girls from marrying their Muslim fiances. In one instance, he claimed he was already married to the girl and produced false papers to stake his claim. “It is true the papers were false, but the scriptures allow the righteous to adopt falsehood to do good.”

Most Muslim love jihadis, Chauhan insisted, disguise themselves as Hindus. A pamphlet doing the rounds in Saharanpur offers an insight into their methods: when girls go to recharge the talk time on their mobile phones, some stores pass on their numbers to love jihadis who


has imbued all contact between the two communities with the possibility of tragic consequences. In the city of Meerut, for instance, the police had to be called in to confront a mob of rightwing Hindus when a 15-year-old Muslim boy had run away with his 14-year-old Hindu classmate.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vijaykant Chauhan shows photographs of his Hindu rallies to friends. Photograph: Ishan Tankha

The two children were found in Jaipur, en route to Mumbai to become Bollywood singers. The boy, the son of a carpenter, told his friend of his plan to make it big in Mumbai, and she decided to go along with him. By the time the police brought them home, two Muslim-owned shops had been vandalised and a Muslim home was attacked. In Bhopal, in Madhyathe Hindu boys killed the Muslim in an argument that began as a traffic accident, and others say the argument began over the harassment of a Hindu girl, but all agree that the incident came at a time of rising communal tension.

In the weeks that followed, both the BJP and the Samajwadi party, then Uttar Pradesh’s ruling party, did their best to keep tensions alive by sending their representatives to deliver inflammatory speeches before angry crowds. In the course of the riots that swept the western Uttar Pradesh countryside through the end of September, at least 62 people had died, several women were raped and over 50,000 mostly Muslim villagers were displaced from their homes. A year later, the riot relief camps still dot the villages around Muzaffarnagar.

This


of distributing state money in return for political support. In a state as poor as Uttar Pradesh, living in the putrid environs of a riot relief camp is not sufficient grounds for state-sanctioned relief.

Most of those who received support have sold their homes in their villages and have purchased lands in Muslim-majority settlements. The countryside is slowly reordering itself into Hindu- and Muslim-dominated pockets. Those with nothing are stranded where they stopped running.

Before the riots, Aslam said, he sold plastic crockery from the back of his bicycle. In the late 1980s, his father had gone to Saudi Arabia to work as a labourer and had returned with enough money to build a house, a portion of which was inherited by Aslam.

Four years ago, the household was hit byLang.

A new approach

The idea of extending the Green Line goes back generations. Supporters believe that the 4.7 miles of track and seven new stations in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford, could spark billions of dollars in development, bring up to 15,000 permanent jobs and 41,000 construction jobs to the area, and give nearly 50,000 rides daily to residents and workers in some of the densest communities in Greater Boston.

In 1990 the state seized on the project as a way to offset the environmental impact of the Big Dig and agreed to finish it by 2011. In 2005, the Conservation Law Foundation sued, accusing the state of dragging its feet; that led to an agreement in which the T agreed to finish the project by 2014.

“Ultimately, it’s all about a


DALLAS, TX,USA -On Tuesday at around 10:00 p.m. three 15-year-old suspects tried to rob a Papa John’s pizza delivery driver at gunpoint in Northeast Dallas. The driver, a licensed carrier, shot back in self defence, killing one and leaving the other with critical injuries.

The attack took place in the 8100 block of Southwestern Boulevard near Greenville Avenue. The surviving would-be robber was taken into custody on a charge of aggravated robbery. He was taken to hospital for treatment but his identity was not released.

Luckily the driver was uninjured and after being interviewed, the police released him. The case will now go to a Grand Jury for a review of the drivers action.

This was the second incident where a delivery driver was attacked in Northeast Dallas this week. OnKanth. They still have a year to go before they become fully fledged fighter pilots ready for combat missions.Mohana Singh, the third woman from the first batch, will graduate to supersonic fighters after she completes her flying syllabus on Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJT). The other three from subsequent batches — Pratibha Poonia, Shivangi Singh and Meghana Shanbough — are at different stages of their AJT training to learn the basics of the arduous and inherently dangerous art of combat flying.“Women are selected as fighter pilot trainees, like their male counterparts, only if they make the grade and volunteer for it. Data on their training, operational conversion and utilisation is being collated on a regular basis for analysis,” said a senior officer.With it taking around Rs 15 crore


Ryan Giggs explains to Sky Sports News why he is not interested in becoming Swansea manager Ryan Giggs explains to Sky Sports News why he is not interested in becoming Swansea manager

Ryan Giggs has told Sky Sports News he is not interested in taking over from Paul Clement as Swansea manager.

Giggs has already revealed he is keen to speak to Wales about succeeding Chris Coleman in charge of the national team.

But the 44-year-old does not see Swansea as a route into management, having already been overlooked for the position when Clement's predecessor, Bob Bradley, was offered the role.

"I've spoke to them before, before they appointed Bob Bradley, so no," said Giggs, speaking alongside his co-owners of Salford City, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, from the Class of '92.

Swanseaare interested in talking to Ronald Koeman and Slaven Bilic over the vacant head coach's position, according to Sky sources, while Tony Pulis is not being pursued by the club.

Paul Clement was sacked by Swansea on Wednesday

Clement was sacked after Swansea lost nine of their last 11 games, leaving them bottom of the Premier League.

Asked what has gone wrong at the club, Neville - sat next to Giggs - joked: "They didn't appoint him."

Giggs added: "Over the years it's been a really well-run club, they play the right way and are an established Premier League team.

"But you see the teams down there, it's tough, it's getting tougher each year.

"They lost good players, (Gylfi) Sigurdsson, (Fernando) Llorente and probably never replaced them. That's always a problem."

Class of '92: Full


Ray's World Famous BBQ is a restaurant located in West Memphis, Arkansas at 4114 East Service Road. They are open every day except Monday and Sunday. From West Memphis Take Marting Luther King Dr. to Petro Rd. (this is Mound City Rd.) come to the stop sign, turn right. Turn left come to the...

Iron Skillet Restaurant is a restaurant located in West Memphis, Arkansas at 3900 Petro Road. TravelCenters of America is the largest publicly-traded operator/franchisor of full-service travel centers in the United States. Our ability to offer competitively priced fuel coupled with an array of important non-fuel services to customers, we believe, provides an efficient and enhanced travel...

Denny's is a restaurant located in West Memphis, Arkansas at 3000 Service Loop Road. They are open every day ofthe week. Find your local Denny's in California. America's diner is always open, serving breakfast around the clock casual family dining across America, from freshly cracked eggs to craveable salads and burgers. Denny's Restaurant Locations Directory - California (CA).Browse all...

Dragon China is a restaurant located in West Memphis, Arkansas at 500 W Broadway Ave. This restaurant serves six crab rangoon, ten fried wonton, scallops with garlic sauce, chicken in garlic sauce, sesame chicken, shrimp with black bean sauce, and chicken with garlic sauce served spicy with side a. They also serve bourbon chicken, french fries, orange chicken served spicy with side b, pork...

Papa John's Pizza is a restaurant located in West Memphis, Arkansas at 1611 North Missouri Street. This restaurant serves double bacon 6-cheese, toppings- meats and cheese:,


Click on the links to take a closer look at any of the sets:School Celebrations (100th Day, Martin Luther King Day, Read Across America Day, St. Patrick's Day, Teacher Appreciation Day)

Family Celebrations (this set is exclusive to the bundle- includes Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, Children's Day in Japan, & National Pet Day)

There's a Holiday for That?! (this set is exclusive to the bundle- Mustard Day, Compliment Day, Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, National Good Neighbor Day, Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day)

These are the final two sets that round out this 17-set bundle:

Second/third grade teachers, do you remember when I promised to host a giveaway when I completed my 2nd/3rd grade Partner Play BUNDLE? Well, the time has arrived!Enter the
giveaway if you would like to win thisand show little or no plot development. Nizami collected both secular and mystical sources about Majnun and portrayed a vivid picture of the famous lovers.[9] Subsequently, many other Persian poets imitated him and wrote their own versions of the romance.[9] Nizami drew influence from Udhrite love poetry, which is characterized by erotic abandon and attraction to the beloved, often by means of an unfulfillable longing.[10]

Many imitations have been contrived of Nizami's work, several of which are original literary works in their own right, including Amir Khusrow Dehlavi's Majnun o Leyli (completed in 1299), and Jami's version, completed in 1484, amounts to 3,860 couplets. Other notable reworkings are by Maktabi Shirazi, Hatefi (d. 1520), and Fuzûlî (d.1556), which became popular in Ottoman Turkey and India. Sir William Jones published


Hatefi's romance in Calcutta in 1788. The popularity of the romance following Nizami's version is also evident from the references to it in lyrical poetry and mystical mathnavis—before the appearance of Nizami's romance, there are just some allusions to Layla and Majnun in divans. The number and variety of anecdotes about the lovers also increased considerably from the twelfth century onwards. Mystics contrived many stories about Majnun to illustrate technical mystical concepts such as fanaa (annihilation), divānagi (love-madness), self-sacrifice, etc. Nizami's work has been translated into many languages.[11]

Qays ibn al-Mulawwah fell in love with Layla al-Aamiriya. He soon began composing poems about his love for her, mentioning her name often. His unselfconscious efforts to woo the girl caused some locals to call him "Majnun." When he asked forher hand in marriage, her father refused because it would be a scandal for Layla to marry someone considered mentally unbalanced. Soon after, Layla was married to another noble and rich merchant belonging to the Thaqif tribe in Ta'if. He was described as a handsome man with reddish complexion whose name was Ward Althaqafi. The Arabs called him Ward, meaning "rose" in Arabic.

When Majnun heard of her marriage, he fled the tribal camp and began wandering the surrounding desert. His family eventually gave up hope for his return and left food for him in the wilderness. He could sometimes be seen reciting poetry to himself or writing in the sand with a stick.

Layla is generally depicted as having moved to a place in Northern Arabia with her husband,


where she became ill and eventually died. In some versions, Layla dies of heartbreak from not being able to see her would-be lover. Majnun was later found dead in the wilderness in 688 AD, near Layla’s grave. He had carved three verses of poetry on a rock near the grave, which are the last three verses attributed to him.

Layla visits Majnun in the wilderness; Indian watercolour held by the Bodleian Library

Many other minor incidents happened between his madness and his death. Most of his recorded poetry was composed before his descent into madness.

“

I pass by these walls, the walls of LaylaAnd I kiss this wall and that wallIt’s not Love of the walls that has enraptured my heartBut of the One who dwells within them

The story of Laylaand Majnun was known in Persia as early as the 9th century. Two well known Persian poets, Rudaki and Baba Taher, both mention the lovers.[12][13]

Although the story was known in Arabic literature in the 5th century,[14] it was the Persian masterpiece of Nizami Ganjavi that popularized it dramatically in Persian literature. Nizami collected both secular and mystical sources about Majnun and portrayed a vivid picture of the famous lovers.[9] Subsequently, many other Persian poets imitated him and wrote their own versions of the romance.[9] Nizami drew influence from Udhrite love poetry, which is characterized by erotic abandon and attraction to the beloved, often by means of an unfulfillable longing.[10] Other influences include older Persian epics, such as Vāmiq u 'Adhrā, written in the 11th century, which covers a


versions of Layli and Majnun."

In his statistical survey of famous Persian romances, Ḥasan Ḏulfaqāri enumerates 59 ‘imitations’ (naẓiras) of Layla and Majnun as the most popular romance in the Iranian world, followed by 51 versions of Ḵosrow o Širin, 22 variants of Yusuf o Zuleikha and 16 versions of Vāmiq u ʿAḏhrā.[13]

The story of Layla and Majnun passed into Azerbaijani literature. The Azerbaijani language adaptation of the story, Dâstân-ı Leylî vü Mecnûn (داستان ليلى و مجنون; "The Epic of Layla and Majnun") was written in the 16th century by Fuzûlî and Hagiri Tabrizi. Fuzûlî's version was borrowed by the renowned Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, who used the material to create what became the Middle East's first opera. It premiered in Baku on 25 January 1908. The story hadpreviously been brought to the stage in the late 19th century, when Ahmed Shawqi wrote a poetic play about the tragedy, now considered one of the best in modern Arab poetry. Majnun lines from the play are sometimes confused with his actual poems.

A scene of the poem is depicted on the reverse of the Azerbaijani 100 and 50 manatcommemorative coins minted in 1996 for the 500th anniversary of Fuzûlî's life and activities.[18]

The enduring popularity of the legend has influenced Middle Eastern literature, especially Sufi writers, in whose literature the name Layla refers to their concept of the Beloved. The original story is featured in Bahá'u'lláh's mystical writings, the Seven Valleys. In Arabic language, Layla name means "night," and is thought to mean "one who works by night" or


"worker of the dark." This is an apparent allusion to the fact that the romance of the star-crossed lovers was hidden and kept secret. In the Arabic language, the word Majnun means "a crazy person." In addition to this creative use of language, the tale has also made at least one linguistic contribution, inspiring a Turkishcolloquialism: to "feel like Mecnun" is to feel completely possessed, as might be expected of a person who is literally madly in love.

This epic poem was translated into English by Isaac D'Israeli in the early 19th century allowing a wider audience to appreciate it.

In India, it is believed that Layla and Majnun found refuge in a village in Rajasthan before they died. The graves of Layla and Majnun are believed to be locatedin the Bijnore village near Anupgarh in the Sriganganagar district. According to rural legend there, Layla and Majnun escaped to these parts and died there. Hundreds of newlyweds and lovers from India and Pakistan, despite there being no facilities for an overnight stay, attend the two-day fair in June.

Another variation on the tale tells of Layla and Majnun meeting in school. Majnun fell in love with Layla and was captivated by her. The school master would beat Majnun for paying attention to Layla instead of his school work. However, upon some sort of magic, whenever Majnun was beaten, Layla would bleed for his wounds. The families learnt of this strange magic and began to feud, preventing Layla and Majnun from seeing each other. They meet again later in


their youth and Majnun wishes to marry Layla. Layla's brother, Tabrez, would not let her shame the family name by marrying Majnun. Tabrez and Majnun quarreled and, stricken with madness over Layla, Majnun murdered Tabrez. Word reached the village and Majnun was arrested. He was sentenced to be stoned to death by the villagers. Layla could not bear it and agreed to marry another man if Majnun would be kept safe from harm in exile. Her terms were accepted and Layla got married, but her heart still longed for Majnun. Hearing this, Layla's husband rode with his men into the desert to find Majnun. Upon finding him, Layla's husband challenged Majnun to the death. The instant her husband's sword pierced Majnun's heart, Layla collapsed in her home. Laylauses various characteristics deriving from ‘Udhrite love poetry and weaves them into his own Persian culture>. In other words, Nizami Persianises the poem by adding several techniques borrowed from the Persian epic tradition, such as the portrayal of characters, the relationship between characters, description of time and setting, etc.

Contemporary Persian and Classical Persian are the same language, but writers since 1900 are classified as contemporary. At one time, Persian was a common cultural language of much of the non-Arabic Islamic world. Today it is the official language of Iran, Tajikistan and one of the two official languages of Afghanistan.


10 includes a station apparatus 12 such as an optical terminal apparatus disposed therein. The user house 20 includes a terminal apparatus 22 and an in-house apparatus 24 such as a DSU (Digital Service Unit) with an optical/electric converting function. In general, the station apparatus 12 is referred to as a host apparatus and the in-house apparatus 24 as a lower apparatus.
For example, the station apparatus 12 and in-house apparatus 24 both have return points for distinguishing a location of a fault. In particular, the in-house apparatus 24 has a return point near the terminal apparatus 22, and, at this return point, it can be distinguished whether the fault has occurred in the terminal apparatus 22 or on the host side including the in-house apparatus 24 and theWilliam Stallings

William Stallings is an American author. He has written textbooks on computer science topics such as operating systems, computer networks, computer organization, and cryptography. He also maintains a website titled Computer Science Student Resource. He has authored 17 titles, and counting revised editions, a total of over 40 books on various aspects of these subjects. In over 20 years in the field, he has been a technical contributor, technical manager, and an executive with several high-technology firms. Currently he is an independent consultant whose clients have included computer and networking manufacturers and customers, software development firms, and leading-edge government research institutions.

Stallings received his B.S. in electrical engineering from University of Notre Dame and his PhD in computer science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He has received the award


extremely rapid because the building has a steel frame, which went up in two days, so it was very fast to build,” says Peter.

Work on the interior was carried out by Peter, together with Vincent’s father. “We moved in ourselves in October 2009, but we still had all three guest rooms to fit out – the first one was finished in Christmas 2009 and we opened the following spring, so it took three years from start to finish,” says Peter.

The contemporary long house runs east to west, allowing the structure to have maximum benefit from the sun’s rays, as Peter explains: “At the front of the house, which is due south, we have a big bay windows which catch the sun and even in winter, as soon asthe sun comes out, we gain two or three degrees by the early evening. The north side is almost completely closed – there are just three small windows and the back door. The roof tiles continue on the back wall, and nearly reach the ground. That was done partly for cost and partly to have that dark closed surface that will benefit any solar gain from any bit of sun that catches it morning and evening.”

Room numbers have been kept to a minimum in order to increase insulation and trap the warmth of the house. The three, east-facing guest bedrooms are situated on ground level, each with access to the beautiful gardens that surround the house. The guest rooms benefit from the sun in the morning but stay


US forces in Afghanistan ordered to keep weapons loaded at all times

NBC's Atia Abawai explains what's behind the worsening attacks on U.S. military personnel by Afghan security and military to NBC's Andrea Mitchell.

By NBC News and wire reports

Updated at 2 p.m. ET: WASHINGTON – All U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan are to be required to have a fully loaded magazine in their weapons at all times in response to a spike in attacks by rogue members of the Afghan government’s forces.

A senior military official told NBC News that the order "could save precious seconds" in responding to a so-called "green-on-blue" attack and hopefully save lives.

The U.S. military-wide order was issued after six Marines were killed by members of the Afghan forces in two separate attacks last week. TwoAfghans, any one of them "could always get the drop on you."

A man in an Afghan police uniform shot and killed two US special forces members in the western Farah Province of Afghanistan. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.

The attack Friday came just minutes after the village police officer -- identified as Mohammad Ismail, a man in his 30s who had joined the Afghan Local Police just five days ago -- had been given a new weapon as a present by American forces.

He opened fire during an inauguration ceremony attended by American and Afghan national forces in the Kinisk village in the far western province of Farah, provincial police chief Agha Noor Kemtoz told The Associated Press.

"As soon as they gave the weapon to Ismail to begin training, suddenly he


took the gun and opened fire toward the U.S. soldiers," Kemtoz said.

"Two U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service members died this morning as a result of an insider threat attack in Farah province, Afghanistan," Col. Hagen Messer, spokesman for the International Joint Command in the country, told NBC News. "Officials are investigating the incident to determine the facts and as more information becomes available it will be released as appropriate."

Details remained sketchy, but an official in the Bala Bolok District told NBC News that an Afghan policeman was also killed in the attack.

The killings in the country's far west marked the sixth time in two weeks that a member of the Afghan security forces, or someone wearing their uniform, opened fire on international forces.

28 attacks this yearSuch attacks — virtually unheardof just a few years ago — have recently escalated, killing at least 36 foreign troops so far this year and raising questions about the strategy to train national police and soldiers to take over security and fight insurgents after most foreign troops leave the country by the end of 2014.

The NATO-led coalition has said such attacks are anomalies stemming from personal disputes, but the supreme leader of the Taliban boasted on Thursday night that the insurgents are infiltrating the quickly expanding Afghan forces.

So far in 2012, there have been 28 attacks reported on foreign troops by Afghans they are training, compared to 11 attacks in 2011, according to an Associated Press count, and five attacks in each of the previous two years.

Six such attacks have come in


the past two weeks alone, with six American troops killed last Friday in two separate shootings in Helmand province in the south and another American killed a few days previously on a U.S. base in Paktia province in the east.

The trend raises questions about potential resentment by Afghans after more than a decade of international presence and it also renews concern that insurgents may be infiltrating the Afghan army and police, despite intensified screening.

Insurgent infiltration or recruitment was behind only about 10 percent of this year's reported attacks on coalition forces by Afghan allies, Graybeal said earlier this week, citing investigations into attacks before those of the past week.

Graybeal insisted the deadly violence is relatively small scale compared to the nearly 340,000 Afghan security forces now being trained.

Dozenshave been killed following a rash of deadly suicide bombings in Afghanistan. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.

The international coalition has said that Afghan forces are increasingly able to lead operations and already have started to assume responsibility for security in areas of the country that are home to 75 percent of the Afghan population.

However, the Taliban have been quick to seize on the increasing number of attacks as a sign of Afghan rejection of foreign forces and the insurgents' own successful recruitment.

Message from OmarThe group's supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar said Thursday night that the insurgents "have cleverly infiltrated in the ranks of the enemy" and were successfully killing a rising number of U.S.-led coalition forces.

All seven Americans aboard the helicopter were killed, including two Navy SEALs. NBC's Jim


Tags

Many in Manchester are still reeling from the May 22nd suicide bombing that killed 23 people and left dozens more injured. Since then, thousands have come to visit a memorial in St. Ann’s square, a short distance from the site of the attack, to place flowers or to offer prayers for the victims and their loved ones. Such a peaceful response is inspiring, but the St. Ann’s memorial carries a deeper significance as well: many visitors likely do not realize they are placing their flowers at the foot of a statue of Richard Cobden (1804-1865), the great 19th-century liberal and Manchester political economist.

Although the location of the memorial is unintentional, it is entirely appropriate. Cobden was a tireless advocate of peace and free trade, and his philosophy, nowknown as “Manchester liberalism” or “Manchesterism,” deeply influenced many liberals, including Mises, who considered himself a member of the tradition. Today, Cobden’s work continues to inspire the advocates of a free society, and more importantly, it also provides an antidote to the violence and war that plague the world.

The Manchester liberals argued vigorously that peace and free trade are the two mutually-reinforcing pillars of a free society, and in fact, that one cannot exist for long without the other. Mises developed their ideas in his own writings, in which he explains more clearly the process by which economic intervention leads to domestic strife, nationalism, and war, and through all these, to further intervention and social decline. When governments regulate economies at home, they create conflict between the winners


nations. Cobden and his French counterpart Michel Chevalier, for instance, worked toward both goals through the Anglo-French treaty of 1860 that they helped to negotiate.

Yet tragically, although the classical liberals won some victories for the cause of free trade, their greater philosophy of global liberalism has been mostly ignored. The result is the continued creep of the warfare state and of domestic and international interventionism. Bombs and economic sanctions wreak havoc on foreign peoples and foster both retaliatory violence and sympathy for it among the victims of economic and military warfare. Retaliation also works to the advantages of states, which use it as justification for further encroachments on civil liberties at home, for example, through domestic surveillance programs and controls over movement within and across their borders.

This storyMarquette University Humanoid Engineering & Intelligent Robotics Lab

The Marquette University Humanoid Engineering & Intelligent Robotics (HEIR) Lab is a robotics lab in Marquette University's College of Engineering.

History

The lab was started in Engineering Hall in 2012. It was directed by Professor Andrew Williams. The lab receives funding to design and program robots to do things like function as exercise coaches and teach STEM concepts.

Members of the lab have worked on numerous publications that have been presented at various conferences around the world.

A robot called MU-L8 was designed and built by the lab. Many of the parts were 3D printed.

In 2014, the lab participated in the RoboCup 2014 competition.

In the News

MU-L8, a robot designed and built by the lab, was featured on the cover of Milwaukee Magazine's November


Switzerland. Quit CIA in 2009, went to work for Dell
as an NSA contractor near Tokyo. In March 2012, Dell assigns Snowden to that well-known hard-ship post - Hawaii. He began downloading secret NSA
docs in April 2012, about a month after he arrived.

streetwiseprofessor.com...
A HACKER CONVERGENCE TO HAWAII IN MARCH 2013
Snowden quits Dell on March 13, 2013. He develops a PCP public key (using his BAH email address) on March 24, 2013, then takes a pay-cut to work for
Booz-Allen (also in Hawaii). He defected to Hong Kong in May 2013.

originally posted by: projectbane
Pretty much a failure at everything. Ok he got his GED (not exactly a smart cookie, dont let the glasses and preppy boy look fool you! Paper wise this
guy is a moron)

Aaaaaaand there it is. The stupidest thingTrump Eyes Retired Diplomat for Top Africa Envoy Role

The decision comes as Tillerson departs on his first tour of the continent as secretary of state.

Robbie Gramer

March 7, 2018

President Donald Trump speaks before a luncheon with African leaders at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 20, 2017 in New York. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration faces waves of criticism for not properly staffing the State Department, where dozens of senior posts sit empty.

But as Rex Tillerson departs for his first trip to Africa as secretary of state, Trump is eyeing appointing a retired career diplomat to be next assistant secretary of state for African affairs, four sources close to the administration and former State Department officials tell Foreign Policy.

Tibor Nagy, a retired foreign service


officer with over three decades of experience, is expected to be nominated as assistant secretary of state for African affairs as soon as this month, sources say. It could give extra umph to the State Department’s role on the continent, which critics say is waning with an absence of senior appointees and ambassadorships, all while the U.S. military’s footprint is rapidly expanding to confront growing terrorism threats.

Former officials say Nagy, if nominated and confirmed, could send a much-needed signal that the State Department under Trump values veteran career diplomats. Nagy, whose family came to the United States from Hungary as political refugees in 1957, joined the foreign service in 1978. He spent over two decades in Africa as a foreign service officer, including stints as ambassador to Guineathe Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, was on the shortlist to take the job. But a lone Republican senator, James Inhofe from Oklahoma, blocked his nomination over a disagreement on the status of the disputed Western Sahara region in Morocco, as FP first reported.

Donald Yamamoto, a career diplomat, is currently filling the role in an interim position.

Tillerson is slated to visit Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Chad, and Nigeria this week, and he is expected to focus on counterterrorism, development, and boosting trade ties with the continent as China expands its influence on the continent.

“Our country’s security and economic prosperity are linked with Africa’s like never before,” Tillerson said in a speech at George Mason University on Tuesday before he embarked on his trip. He also announced a new


interagency coordination.”

The State Department has repeatedly pushed back against these types of criticism, saying Tillerson has a cadre of talented career diplomats filling the gaps in interim roles. “We have experienced career professionals serving in key positions that are highly capable of advancing U.S interests in the African region,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert writes in a statement to FP.

The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs “continues to develop new and creative approaches to tackle difficult challenges, and further strengthen the United States’ partnership with the region,” she adds.

In the meantime, eight African countries, including South Africa, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, still have no U.S. ambassadors in place.

Update, March 7, 2018: This article was updated to specify the timeframe of a quoteRiley Mulherker

The Douglas-Westerlies music, whether its subject is lament or celebration, protest or affirmation, is artistically coherent: testing and stretching traditional genres, the music is about forward movement, about the exploration of “Great American Themes” as they end in felicitously determined encouragement and optimism. This music's informing energy and spirit shine and summon. Audience and listeners are invited into a musical experience in which history provides context, inspiration and goad; references to the political, musical and cultural past do not tether the music to old habits but liberate it for new conversations. Together, Douglas, Royston and the Westerlies generated a warm and rich brass-and-percussion sound; the Westerlies' happy virtuosity, discipline and irrepressible affection for the full range of their instruments' sounds make them a perfect collaborative partner for


Like the 400 other passengers traveling on the space freighter Argo, Scott Thorne expected the two-year voyage to Terranova to pass quickly while he slumbered in biostasis. Little did he know that the Argo would pass through a mysterious space-time anomaly and emerge 500 years later in a distant, unexplored region of space with no hope of ever returning to Earth.

A renowned professor of planetology, Scott is enlisted by the crew to locate a hospitable world to colonize before the ship’s power reserves are exhausted. With his own life and those of the other passengers hanging in the balance, Scott directs the Argo to Proxima Tauri IIIB, the smaller world of an intriguing double planet system. At first the destination appears to be a wise choice—until the unpreparedEDMONTON -- An Edmonton judge says he will reduce the overall sentence of a man found responsible in his son's death because he's been assaulted in jail and spends much of his time segregated in protective custody.

Joey Crier was convicted of manslaughter last month in the death of 19-month old Anthony Joseph Raine, whose lifeless body was found outside an Edmonton church in 2017.

In an agreed statement of facts, Crier's defence lawyers and Crown prosecutors agreed that his cell was subjected to “fecal bombing” and “urine bombing” by another inmate on at least one occasion.

It states there has also been at least one physical altercation with another inmate, who punched him in the head and neck.

Crier has been in 23-hour-a-day lockup for his own protection due to the


nature of his offence.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice David Labrenz accepted a joint submission on Crier's charter challenge and agreed to reduce his sentence when a decision is made on April 21.

Crier's former girlfriend, Tasha-Lee Doreen Mack, has also been convicted of manslaughter in the child's death.

She has not yet been sentenced.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2020damages shall be paid or applied.

Whenever in any Petition presented by a husband the alleged adulterer has been made a co-respondent, and the adultery his began established, the Court may order the co-respondent to pay the whole or any part of the costs of the proceedings:Provided that the co-respondent shall not be ordered to pay the Petitioner’s costs-

if the respondent was, at the time of the adultery, living apart from her husband and leading the life of a prostitute, or

if the co-respondent had not, at the time of the adultery, reason to believe the respondent to be a married woman. Power to order litiguous intervenor to pay costs.Power to order litigious intervenor to pay costs.- Whenever any application is made under section 17, the Court, if it thinks


Orwell. She didn’t know who he was

One of the presenters, Artyom Sheinin, a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, strutted around like an exploding parcel of boorishness and manufactured anger. He cursed the Polish parliament for voting to remove memorials to the Soviet occupation of their country. “I won’t shy from the word,” he said, “these people are bitches, animals … ” His lip curled as he spat the words into the camera.

Sitting next to me was a young floor manager, scarcely in her 20s, whose job was to orchestrate the applause. Whenever the hosts made some particularly venomous comment, she cracked her palms together – giving the signal for the audience to burst into applause – and then after about four seconds gave a circular “windGirls Clubs and are aged 14-18.
Keystoners elect officers, choose their own activities and plan and implement
community service projects.

One of the special programs offered to Keystoners under the Education and
Career Objective is the Career Experience Program.  A small group of Keystone
Club members will visit Enron, where they will shadow career professionals in
the work environment.  Enron will host a group of 25 Keystoners on Friday,
April 27th from approximately 11:30-4.

If you are interested in helping the Boys & Girls Clubs of America by hosting
a Keystoner on April 27th, please contact Jennifer Milligan at X35272.

The Enron Mind's Eye Motorcade is an art car convoy sponsored by Enron.  It
will visit Enron-designated stops in the community including our adopted
schools, non-profit


You are here

A Poet Remembered

Event Coverage

News & Events

April 15, 2014

The 75th birthday of Seamus Heaney was celebrated in the auditorium of the Science and Mathematics Center, before an audience of 125 fans of the late Irish poet. The program was titled, “Celebrating Seamus Heaney: Old Friends, New Stories.”

“We are here today not to mourn but to celebrate his life and stories of those not only lucky enough to have known him, but also those who have been lucky enough to call him a friend,” said Orson Kingsley, university archivist in the Maxwell Library.

BSU’s primary connection to the Nobel Prize-winning poet, who died last year, is Maureen Connelly, professor emerita of English and friend of Mr. Heaney, and her donation to the library of a collection of his personalis one of the number one go to names when it comes to health and fitness. Originally from Brazil, he has received a degree in physical education from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and trained employees of Petrobas.

He was able to come to New York to dance with Merce Cunningham and other dance companies. Through this experience, he has seen the need for his fellow dancers to develop a system to prevent injuries and attain rehabilitation should one occur. This has led him to study different approaches to addressing this issue. He eventually came up with numerous holistic programs that are not only suitable for dancers, but also to any person regardless of age or sex.

He is popular for having trained famous people such as the Victoria’s Secret


electives, and an internship opportunity. The documentation of the PHGIC will consist of a two components: A curriculum package will consist of a project overview, faculty qualifications, student outcome competencies, course content including teaching resources, student recruitment materials, and evaluation tools. A self-study guide, which is intended to facilitate implementation of the PHGIC by other schools, will provide a resource assessment guide, curriculum structure options, and degree requirements. The documentation will be made available to all of the 27 schools of public health in the country. Project faculty will also be available beyond the duration of the project to consult with interested faculty.Get Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI – For weeks this fall, a physician from West Bloomfield studied blood-lead levels in hundreds of Flint children, fighting to have her work acknowledged by skeptical state officials.

This week, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, pediatric residency director at Flint's Hurley Children's Hospital,was honored by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for her dogged pursuit of of the truth. The award comes as the mayor of Flint has asked for federal emergency relief to deal with a public health crisis that has grabbed national headlines and put pressure on state officials to disclose when they knew water from the Flint River contained unacceptable lead levels.

The financially struggling city turned off the taps to water from Detroit, which gets its supply


from Lake Huron, and switched to water from the Flint River in a money-saving move in 2014. Related

Erin Brockovich Keeping an Eye on Flint's 'Poop Water' Almost immediately, the effects of the switch were being felt by Flint's children, and a study released in September by Hanna-Attisha confirmed their parents' worst fears. The proportion of children with above-average levels of lead in their blood had nearly doubled since the city began getting its water from the Flint River. The consequences of lead poisoning are serious and long lasting.

Lead's trail is virtually invisible, discoverable only through finger-prick blood test or when children begin showing signs of learning disabilities, reduced IQ, behavioral changes, anti-social behavior, anemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and a plethora of other neurological and behavioral problems thatare thought to be irreversible, according to the World Health Organization. Hanna-Attisha. a 39-year-old mother of two, began her critical analysis after a late August dinner with friend who is a former Environmental Protection Agency expert, she told The Oakland Press.

"I know you work up in Flint and I've been hearing about the corrosion problem with the water," the friend, who grew up with Hanna-Attisha in Royal Oak, reportedly said. "I'm sure there's lead issues. Have you guys looked at lead levels in children?" Lead is a red-flag word for pediatricians.


Chenar-e Naz

Chenar-e Naz (, also Romanized as Chenār-e Nāz and Chenār Nāz; also known as Chenār Nār) is a village in Isar Rural District, Marvast District, Khatam County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 509, in 144 families.

References

Category:Populated places in Khatam CountyThe man who was punched has said he and others went to the event as observers, not protesters. He says someone swore at one in their group, and by the time they tried to object, the police were escorting him out.


Big Diamonds Bring Scientists A Message From Superdeep Earth

Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Smith/Gemological Institute of America Evan Smith/Gemological Institute of America

Evan Smith wanted to get his hands on the world's biggest diamonds — the kind that sit atop royal scepters, and the ones that are always the target of elaborate movie heists.

But this wasn't for some nefarious get-rich-quick scheme. It was for science.

"The most valuable, the most prized, of all gemstones are coincidentally some of the most scientifically valuable pieces of the Earth," says Smith, a diamond geologist at the Gemological Institute of America.

Enlarge this image toggle caption Jae Liao/Gemological Institute of America Jae Liao/Gemological Institute of America

They're scientifically valuable because they come from a deep part of the Earth that humans can't access and don'tindicating that they must have formed under very high pressure. He also found iron and nickel, shrouded in invisible envelopes of fluid methane.

"That's unusual. This is the first time I've seen methane around an inclusion," he says.

When he took a nondestructive look at 53 other diamonds passing through the institute for quality grading, he found that 38 of them contained the same unusual materials.

As Smith and his colleagues wrote Thursday in the journal Science, those odd bits and pieces told him two important things.

"One, they tell us that these large, exceptional-quality diamonds originate from extreme depths in the Earth," he says, from about 200 to 500 miles below us.

That's about as far under our feet as the International Space Station is above our heads. And it's about twice


per se rule for

reversal, and hold that when a court accepting a guilty plea fails to verbally inform the defendant

of a mandatory minimum sentence, that error may be harmless when a written plea agreement

referred to during the plea colloquy properly describes the statutory mandatory minimum sentence.

       While on probation for another crime, the defendant, Randy Jones, purchased two firearms

at a pawnshop in Sandersville, Georgia. In order to buy the guns, Jones completed Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms paperwork in which he falsely asserted that he had never been

convicted of a felony. Local police promptly learned that Jones had illegally purchased these

firearms and confronted him. Jones returned the guns to the pawnshop where he had purchased

them and received a refund. Two years later,court identified the crime for

the defendant, made sure that Jones had discussed the indictment with his lawyer, gave Jones the

opportunity to ask questions, and had the prosecutor identify the conduct giving rise to the offense.

The defendant specifically admitted all of the allegations made by the government, assured the court

that he had a tenth grade education and had no mental impairments, and admitted his guilt. Under

these circumstances, it is clear that the defendant's Rule 11 right to have the district court inform him

of the nature of the charges was not violated.

        Second, Jones correctly alleges that the district court did not tell Jones directly at the plea

hearing that he faced a statutory, mandatory minimum of fifteen years in prison. The question is

whether


agreement after receiving the assistance

of counsel, the defendant was well aware that he was facing a mandatory minimum sentence of

fifteen years. Any doubt that the defendant might not have known about the mandatory minimum

sentence is dispelled by two additional factors. First, prior to pleading guilty, the defendant was

formally notified by the government that he was subject to an enhanced sentence as an armed career

criminal, and he signed an acknowledgment form advising him that he faced a minimum of fifteen

years in prison. Second, Jones has never claimed that he was actually ignorant of the fifteen-year

                                  significant events in the region in 20 years – have laid to rest the “sacred cow” that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the heart of the instability in the Middle East.Today, he said, it is “tough to say this without sounding absurd.”It is now also the time, he said, to kill the “sacred cow” that the “occupation” was the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Netanyahu spent a number of minutes during his address, which lasted some 30 minutes, discussing the links of the head of the Palestinian national movement in the pre-state days – Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini – with the Nazis. He reminded his listeners that the mufti visited Adolf Hitler in 1941 and promised his aid in getting Muslims to enlist in the SS in the Balkan states,


forecasted a 61% likelihood that Republicans would pick up enough seats to claim the majority. Three months later Democrats went on to win 55 seats."

In his latest Senate forecast — his first since starting up the FiveThirtyEight site at ESPN.com — Silver said Republicans are slight favorites to retake control of the Senate. In his previous forecast last summer, Silver described Senate control as a toss-up.

Republicans need to swing six seats in this year's elections to recapture Senate control. They're on track to win in West Virginia, South Dakota, Montana, and Arkansas, according to Silver. Four states remain toss-ups — Louisiana, North Carolina, Alaska, and Michigan. Based on that outlook, the most likely path to victory for Republicans involves swinging the four seats in which they're favored andwinning two of the four toss-up races. Polls have continued to show a large Republican advantage in states with open Senate seats.

Silver also identified three Democratic-leaning seats — in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Iowa — that he said the GOP could plausibly win. Silver said Republicans could swing as many as 11 Senate seats. However, he said the GOP also facing significant challenges of their own in Georgia and Kentucky.

Other election forecasts have found similar results, including the Cook Political Report and the Rothenberg Political Report. However, Silver's name recognition has proven valuable for Democrats after he predicted President Barack Obama's victory in the past two elections. At least 11 times over the past four months, the DSCC has sent emails about the midterm elections with Silver's name


July 28, 2018

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Dustin Johnson is once again atop the leaderboard at a PGA Tour event. He currently is in a four-way tie with Byeong Hun-An, Kevin Tway and Whee Kim at the RBC Canadian Open, after shooting a clubhouse lead 65 in the third round. After missing the cut last week at the Open Championship in Carnoustie, Johnson is looking to win his third tournament in 2018, maintaining his place atop the FedEx Cup standings.

Dustin Johnson Starts and Finishes Strong in Third Round

World number one Dustin Johnson could not have asked for a better start to his third round. He birdied five of the first six holes, climbing his way to the top of the leaderboard. He even made a couple critical par saves on holesAccording to traditional etymology, Dharamshala translates to 'spiritual dwelling'. The calm expanse of the Dhauladhar Ranges enveloping this city grants it a rich history of spirituality and attracts thousands of travellers from around the globe, looking for that very bliss.
Homestead of the Dalai Lama and innumerable other Tibetans, Dharamshala boasts of beautiful monasteries all around, such as those within the Tsuglagkhang Complex, which also houses the Tibetan Leader's official residence.
Other attractions include the Kalachakra Temple, which houses some hypnotisingly beautiful murals, the Tibet Museum and the Namgyal Gompa, where monks can be seen engaged in animated debates in the afternoon. Apart from the spirituality, this charming little city also hosts International Film festivals, local fairs, Shoton Spring Festival and the vibrant Tibetan Opera- 'Lhamo. The city is usually


of the Dhauladhar Ranges enveloping this city grants it a rich history of spirituality and attracts thousands of travellers from around the globe, looking for that very bliss.
Homestead of the Dalai Lama and innumerable other Tibetans, Dharamshala boasts of beautiful monasteries all around, such as those within the Tsuglagkhang Complex, which also houses the Tibetan Leader's official residence.
Other attractions include the Kalachakra Temple, which houses some hypnotisingly beautiful murals, the Tibet Museum and the Namgyal Gompa, where monks can be seen engaged in animated debates in the afternoon. Apart from the spirituality, this charming little city also hosts International Film festivals, local fairs, Shoton Spring Festival and the vibrant Tibetan Opera- 'Lhamo. The city is usually dormant with regard to adventurous activities, but for those thrill seekers andWe asked him to go in and look for a red bag kept in the luggage rack above our seat numbers but he came back to us with the news that there was no red bag there and the conductor had left for the Dharamshala bus station with something similar just a while ago. We were tired of the wild goose chase and decided to stop by at the Namgyal Monsatery home of His Holiness The Dalai Lama which was just 5 minutes away.

Hardly anybody has heard of Nisarga, which is a tiny village on the outskirts of McLeodganj. Surrounded by tall pine trees, unraveling brooks and the horizon lined up with snow-capped ridges of Dhauladhar, Nisarga is a synonym for paradise. One of the most natural off-season


This is the best time to make a short trip to the hills to take full advantage of the weather. Do not miss out on visiting McLeodganj to experiment with Tibetan cuisine at the local eateries there. The mighty Bhagsunag Falls is another site worth visiting.

Barely 4 km away from Dharamshala by foot, the hill station of McLeod Ganj is home to many majestic monasteries, delicious smelling kitchen cafes, video rental shops, western food cafes, trekking companies and wall to wall stores selling Tibetan souvenirs and many more goodies.
Also known as Little Lhasa and the abode of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual influence and its mystical green hills mark McLeod Ganj as a significant tourist destination and a major traveller hang-out in the Kangra Valley.
A 5-minute walksouth of this town will take one to the Tsuglagkhang Complex, which comprises the official residence of the 14th Dalai Lama, vibrant monasteries with beautiful murals and even a bookshop cafe that goes by the name of Namgyal Gompa. Tourist activity after monsoon picks up, after October, with February March being pleasant months to visit the hill station to witness the Losar Festival or the Tibetan New Year being celebrated.
This compact sized town is best explored and enjoyed by walking or trekking. Intriguing short walks around Mcleod Ganj include one that goes 2km east to Bhagsu which leads one to a waterfall and a temple. The most well-known trek, 8 km starting from the town, is to Triund, a snow-flanked and serene camping spot from which one can


also travel 5 km ahead to reach a charming little forest rest house.
With many many hipster eateries, the food here is some of the best you'll find at any mountain destination. Read More

Barely 4 km away from Dharamshala by foot, the hill station of McLeod Ganj is home to many majestic monasteries, delicious smelling kitchen cafes, video rental shops, western food cafes, trekking companies and wall to wall stores selling Tibetan souvenirs and many more goodies.
Also known as Little Lhasa and the abode of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual influence and its mystical green hills mark McLeod Ganj as a significant tourist destination and a major traveller hang-out in the Kangra Valley.
A 5-minute walk south of this town will take one to the Tsuglagkhang Complex, which comprisesthe official residence of the 14th Dalai Lama, vibrant monasteries with beautiful murals and even a bookshop cafe that goes by the name of Namgyal Gompa. Tourist activity after monsoon picks up, after October, with February March being pleasant months to visit the hill station to witness the Losar Festival or the Tibetan New Year being celebrated.
This compact sized town is best explored and enjoyed by walking or trekking. Intriguing short walks around Mcleod Ganj include one that goes 2km east to Bhagsu which leads one to a waterfall and a temple. The most well-known trek, 8 km starting from the town, is to Triund, a snow-flanked and serene camping spot from which one can also travel 5 km ahead to reach a charming little forest rest house.
With


lot to offer. Weekends are packed, given its proximity to states of Punjab and Haryana, while weekdays are more calm and relaxed. We spent 2 days in the city, lazing around, exploring local cuisine and visiting the nearby monastries.

Barely 18 kms from Dharamshala, Kangra is the perfect weekend getaway for tourists and explorers alike. This small bustling city hides away quite a few marvels within its Dhauladhar Ranges. Those looking to nestle amidst its simplistic beauty must make it a priority to visit Pragpur village, which is India's only heritage village, a place with an allure that can only be compared with those colourful little European hamlets one has only seen on TV or in children's books.
Another not so well known gem in this city is the MasroorMonolith Rock temple, which is an 8th century archeological wonder made of a group of 15 temples carved out of rock, with a pond in the foreground. A location that remains a favourite with tourists is the Kangra Fort, with ramparts over a 4 km stretch protecting it, atop a hill at the conflux of Patal Ganga and Banganga river.
A 200 metre walk up the road from the Kangra Fort is all that is needed for those wanting to delve more into the city's history, where they shall reach the Maharaja Sansar Chand Museum, which provides an insight into the luxurious lifestyle once led by the Katochs, the erstwhile Kangra Royal family. Adventure seekers will love the various treks that go through the Dhauladhar Ranges usually ending near


compared with those colourful little European hamlets one has only seen on TV or in children's books.
Another not so well known gem in this city is the Masroor Monolith Rock temple, which is an 8th century archeological wonder made of a group of 15 temples carved out of rock, with a pond in the foreground. A location that remains a favourite with tourists is the Kangra Fort, with ramparts over a 4 km stretch protecting it, atop a hill at the conflux of Patal Ganga and Banganga river.
A 200 metre walk up the road from the Kangra Fort is all that is needed for those wanting to delve more into the city's history, where they shall reach the Maharaja Sansar Chand Museum, which provides an insight into theluxurious lifestyle once led by the Katochs, the erstwhile Kangra Royal family. Adventure seekers will love the various treks that go through the Dhauladhar Ranges usually ending near the Chamba valley, providing picturesque views.
The city houses some of the most charming little cafes that to every book worm's delight have a shelf full of books and cook everything from Himachali, Italian and Tibetan cuisines on the menu. Some renowned cafes and restaurants are Moonpeak, Peace Cafe, Nechung Cafe, Snow Lion Cafe, Jimmy's Italian Cafe and Indique, wherein one can also enjoy live music nights.

The last major spot before Dharamshala, Kangra is a small town in Himachal. Located perfectly in the midst of popular tourist destinations including Mcleodganj, Bir and Billing, this lovely town is a dream to visit.

I


started my day from Mcleodganj took local bus to Kangra (Dharamshala City). I visited Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association which is near Kangra. This stadium has a lively view of cool blue sky and surrounded by snow-caped mountains of Dhauladhar. On our way to Mcleodganj we came across St. John Church which is also one of the tourist destination in Dharamshala. Church is covered with lush green trees of Deodar. Parking is the pain here as the roads are too narrow and small. Eye candy for nature lovers.

Best time to visit - March,April,May,June,July,September,October,November

A picturesque and quiet little town, Palampur is a panorama of stunning tea gardens, brooks, creeks, rice paddies and colonial era buildings all set against the backdrop of the breathtaking snow-peaked Dhauladhar ranges. It is perfect foragainst the backdrop of the breathtaking snow-peaked Dhauladhar ranges. It is perfect for those who seek a getaway from noisy cities and most importantly crowds.
A not so popular tourist destination, Palampur is a town early to rise and early to sleep, whilst being a haven for to those who seek solitude, especially in the lap of nature. Places such as the Neogal Park is highly recommended for refreshing and soothing walks amidst the forest overlooking a river, which even consists of a small man-made lake for boating activities. For all tea lovers out there, visit the tea gardens and the Palampur Cooperative Tea Factory to understand the entire process behind tea manufacturing, which will be happily explained to you through a free tour by the people working there,


from the flocks of tourists.The nearest airport is the Kangra Airport, 40 km away from Palampur. You can also reach this destination by rail and road; the nearest railway station is in Pathankot.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,August,September,October,November,December

A quick getaway destination for Delhi-NCR residents, Mussoorie or the 'Queen of Hills' is the most favoured place for anyone battling urban heat.
It remains quite crowded from May to July, as popular hotels and hangouts such as Mall Road, Mussoorie Lake, Kempty Falls and Gun Hill remain pervaded with tourists no matter where or what you may set your eyes upon. But if you carry the spirit of an explorer within you, Mussoorie can surprise you in many ways.
For instance, if you curious to check out where the man who Mt.top of your list. Widely known as the ‘Queen of Hills’ – this paradise on Earth is everything you can hope to look for. The natural beauty attracts tourists from across the country. Situated at around 7000ft, Mussoorie will give you breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks as well as the stunning Doon valley. It definitely is one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi.

20. The comfortable beauty of MussoorieNestled in the bosom of the Garhwal ranges is the beautiful Mussoorie, considered to be one of the top hill stations in India. Around 30 kilometres away from Dehradun, Mussoorie is referred to as the Queen of the Hills. The awesome view of the Himalayan Range that one gets to see from here is to die for thus propelling it


were mum and just hoping to move out as soon as possible. The beauty of this road was epic; mountain peaks covered with clouds, roads foggy, and mist in the air. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Mussoorie9. Café By the WayCafe By The Way is one of those places where the ambience just can't go wrong, anytime any day. The place serves the best coffee in town and the innovative decor of the place will put you in a good mood right away.

MussoorieNext day early morning was target was exploring the Famous Hill station Mussoorie, due to time constraint, travelled to mussoorie with booked taxi car. Merely 38 Kms but the zig zag roads and the mountaneous view was worth watching. Mussoorie is at the elevation 2005 mtr.Chekouts &right away.
In terms of things to see, there is Robber's Cave, a river cave formation and Sahashtradhara, which is also a stunning sight of nature consisting of sulphur springs. But more than its sights, Dehradun is the perfect place for a family getaway. After all it has everything that you could need for a relaxing holiday. The town has many vintage bookshops (Natraj Publishers, The English Book Depot), college campuses with hilly backdrops, architectural marvels (such as the Forest Research Institute), alleys filled with quaint restaurants, adventure sports gear shops and forest resorts and hotels to fit every budget. Vishranti, a resort tucked away discreetly in the Sal forests of the Doon valley, deserves a special mention for its beauty and luxury. The city is a haven for


river cave formation and Sahashtradhara, which is also a stunning sight of nature consisting of sulphur springs. But more than its sights, Dehradun is the perfect place for a family getaway. After all it has everything that you could need for a relaxing holiday. The town has many vintage bookshops (Natraj Publishers, The English Book Depot), college campuses with hilly backdrops, architectural marvels (such as the Forest Research Institute), alleys filled with quaint restaurants, adventure sports gear shops and forest resorts and hotels to fit every budget. Vishranti, a resort tucked away discreetly in the Sal forests of the Doon valley, deserves a special mention for its beauty and luxury. The city is a haven for foodies as Dehradun offers a lot of variety and affordability in itscuisine. Restaurants and cafes such as Doon Darbar, renowned for devour-worthy Mughlai dishes and The Buffet for its mouthwatering burgers, cutlets and coffee, are popular options.

This beautiful town happens to be located in Jammu & Kashmir and is an abode for those who wish to pursue Buddhism. The place is surrounded by tall mountains, clear blue water, a white surrounding and many monasteries. The people here are warm and welcome tourists. Found midway between the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains, the beauty of Leh is beyond words, making it a hotspot with the tourists. Visiting the local markets here is a treat as one will get to browse through Tibetan jewelry, carpets, woolens and much more. Be sure to carry an extra bag to fit in all your purchases.

28th


down hill track, he would let me drive. I discovered why soon enough. A km away, it was Khardungla all over again for the next 45 minutes covering the 12 km to Chang La (Altitude 17,500 ft 5,360 m), the supposed second highest motorable pass in India, if not the world. The climb is steep and the area an avalanche zone. That explains Mr. Arjun's "mountain roads are unpredictable" statement. Already behind time (it was 1130 hrs now), and still at half way mark (75km from Leh)I egged Arjun to drive on. There were patches of snow slush on the road, remnants the ice and snow that had slid down from a bit higher up. Arjun drove another 35 km to Durbuk, from there, I took over. Thereof the ties between the people of Japan and Ladakh as both japanese and ladakhi buddhishts helped built it. The premises of Stupa offers the spectacular views of the ladakh and himalayas.

I lost myself in Ladakh to find myself. A Walk for 5-6kms from my camp in pangong lake to some village was the best time of my life. I was alone, didn't care about anything. I was lying on the ground and looking up at the sky and all I could hear is the rhythm of breeze!!!!

LEH, is one of the sexiest place I have ever been to, people are honest, surrounded by beautiful mountains, wooden art can be seen in bulk.
Leh, was the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, now the Leh district in the


Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Leh district, with an area of 45,110 kilometers, is the second largest district in the country, after Kutch, Gujarat (in terms of area). The town is dominated by the ruined Leh Palace, the former mansion of the royal family of Ladakh, built in the same style and about the same time as the Potala Palace-the chief residence of the Dalai Lama.

This city has been a refuge for spiritual seekers long before The Beatles christened it with their visit in the 60's. Widely known as the pilgrimage town and also the 'yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh is home to myriad temples, yoga and meditation centres and a plethora of adventure activities.
With an interesting backdrop of the rapid flowing Ganges river and iron-madewarmly welcomes thrill seekers, who can try out a number of activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, zip lining, mountain biking and rappelling. The city also annually hosts the International Yoga Festival where yoga gurus, aficionados and devotees from around the globe throng the place (popularly the Parmarth Niketan Ashram) and give various lessons and lectures on yoga, meditation and spirituality. Read More

This city has been a refuge for spiritual seekers long before The Beatles christened it with their visit in the 60's. Widely known as the pilgrimage town and also the 'yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh is home to myriad temples, yoga and meditation centres and a plethora of adventure activities.
With an interesting backdrop of the rapid flowing Ganges river and iron-made suspension


welcomes thrill seekers, who can try out a number of activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, zip lining, mountain biking and rappelling. The city also annually hosts the International Yoga Festival where yoga gurus, aficionados and devotees from around the globe throng the place (popularly the Parmarth Niketan Ashram) and give various lessons and lectures on yoga, meditation and spirituality.

Why Rishikesh?There are various no of reasons why Rishikesh is the best location for white water rafting amongst all the other places.1. Unlike other places Rishikesh is near to the heart of the country I.e. Delhi which makes it easily approachable in a day. It is one of the best weekend escape… Hence if someone wants to wash his evils by holy dip in Ganges thenfrom Bidvest to DHL.

At the time, DHL blamed "operational issues" at a warehouse near Rugby it was using for deliveries nationwide.

The chain has apologised to customers, running a newspaper ad showing a photo of a chicken bucket with the KFC logo letters rearranged to read "FCK".

The accompanying text read: "WE'RE SORRY. A chicken restaurant without any chicken. It's not ideal... Thank you for bearing with us."

The GMB union criticised KFC's decision to move its contract from Bidvest, which national officer Mick Rix said was a "very well respected, specialised logistics provider", to one that lacked a track record in food distribution.


abortion speak-out, she talked about how the economic challenges she was facing informed her decision to have an abortion. Mostiller was 23 years old and working part-time at a grocery store to support her three daughters, all under age 7. She was having a hard time paying rent and feeding her family, and the thought of another pregnancy brought on thoughts of suicide.

Even though an abortion was the right choice for her, barriers like the Hyde Amendment, which bans Medicaid recipients from using their health insurance to cover an abortion procedure, were in her way. She eventually was able to receive financial assistance from her local abortion fund and have an abortion, but her financial situation and insurance provider shouldn’t have prevented her from accessing health care onof several months.

The beneficiaries of SelectPlan were the only group not automatically given full coverage by the DHS. SelectPlan was originally set to expire completely at the end of 2014, but local advocates were able to get the expiration of the program pushed back until the end of June 2015.

Still, the delay could leave thousands of women in a health-care gap, according to the suit. The women in SelectPlan who qualify for Medicaid will be without comprehensive coverage for the several months during which their applications are being reviewed. And the women whose incomes are still too high to qualify them for Medicaid might be out of coverage altogether after February 15, the last day of open enrollment for private insurance.

“DHS never told these women they would qualify


in September was the lowest it has been in six years, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but wages still aren’t going up and some vulnerable populations still have high unemployment rates.

The unemployment rate in September was the lowest it has been in six years, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but wages aren’t rising and some vulnerable populations still have high unemployment rates.

The September jobs report looks like very good news overall. The jobless rate fell below 6 percent for the first time since the recession that began in 2008. The economy added 248,000 jobs, more than the 215,000 jobs economists had expected, and it turns out that August’s disappointing numbers were better than previously thought.

Policy analysts say thatnear-record 114 degrees.

As for the rest of the week, "power (supply) is going to be tight," Heagan
said. "The prospects this week are kind of tough to call."

The company logged record demand for power: 4,421 megawatts at 5:05 p.m.
Monday. The previous all-time high was 4,325 megawatts on Aug. 1. A megawatt
is roughly the amount of power needed to supply 750 houses.

By contrast, on July 2 last year, the utility hit 3,300 megawatts when the
temperature was 107 degrees, Heagan said.

The company targeted nonemergency areas for Monday's rolling blackouts, which
affected mostly residential customers.

Nevada Power spokesmen declined to identify the affected areas even after the
emergency was over. Witnesses said power went out in one area of the
Northwest and one area


of the east valley.

Electricity customers in the affected areas said the blackouts lasted between
20 and 45 minutes.

Several traffic signals went out, including those at the intersections of
Buffalo Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard, Tenaya Way and Lake Mead, and Boulder
Highway at U.S. Highway 95. Las Vegas Police Department officials reported
few traffic problems because of the blackouts.

For the most part, people reported few problems.

"We only had a few customers, and we couldn't do Western Union transactions
without a computer, but with the other customers we just winged it," said
Michelle Hitt, a customer service representative at Mail Boxes Etc., 7500 W.
Lake Mead Blvd. Hitt said power at his store was out about 45 minutes.

Across the street, an assistant manager for
unoccupied houses during the emergency.

Tim Hay, state consumer advocate, said he thinks customers in affected areas
should be notified of possible outages. "They need to provide notice to
affected areas, at least in general areas" to help people prepare, Hay said.

Elsewhere in the valley, consumers and businesses continued operating
normally during the emergency.

Meadows mall General Manager Frank Wheat said power was not affected at the
shopping center.

"We know rolling blackouts can occur," he said. "We do have backup generators
for emergency lighting during hours of darkness, but not for all the stores."

Spokespeople at University Medical Center and Sunrise Hospital also said they
were not affected by Monday's blackouts and have their own backup power
supplies.

Minta Albietz, vice president of maternal-child services at


Sunrise:

"We have our own little power plant in the back. We can generate our own
power for 30 days, longer as long as we have fuel."

The company said its power woes began Friday when it internally declared a
yellow alert and warned employees that it was running short of power, Heagan
said.

On Friday, Nevada Power customers were pulling down 4,300 megawatts, the
second- or third-highest peak in the company history, he said.

Meanwhile, one of Nevada Power's electrical generation units at the Reid
Gardner site 50 miles north of Las Vegas has been down since Friday because
of a leaking boiler, he said. Also, Southern California Edison, which
operates the Mohave Generating Station at Laughlin for several utilities,
notified the company Friday that two offood product must be covered and the ends of the film must overlap in order to form a seal. Furthermore, such packages are often sealed by pressing a hot plate against the overlapped ends of the film on the bottom of the tray, which results in an inferior seal.
Meanwhile, there are some cases where another method (hereinafter called the xe2x80x9ctop-seal methodxe2x80x9d) is used instead of the overlap method. With the top-seal method, the film is placed only over the opening provided in the upper face of the tray and the film is thermally welded to the tray along the periphery of the hole. Using the top-seal method can reduce film consumption by half in comparison with the overlap method.
The top-seal method has been used chiefly for packaging shimeji


in the second step, the opening in the tray is covered with a film; in the third step, a heated hot member is touched, in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction, against the film on a portion of the tray near the opening where the film touches; and in the fourth step, at least one of the hot member or the tray is moved.
More specifically, in the first step of the packaging method described in the first aspect, a food product or other article is placed on a tray. In the second step, the opening in the upper face of the tray is covered with a film so that the film is touching a portion of the periphery of the tray opening. In the third step, thefilm on a portion of the tray near the opening where the film touches is pressed with a heated hot member in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction. In other words, the hot member is applied at an angle to a portion of the tray near the opening. In the fourth step, at least one of the hot member or the tray is moved while the hot member being applied at an angle to a portion of the tray near the opening. As a result, the entire portion of the film that is touching the tray in the area surrounding the opening is thermally welded to the tray.
With this method, since at least one of the hot member or the tray is moved, the hot member and


the opening because, although the hot member must be moved at least one full revolution around the tray opening in order to weld the film to the entire periphery of the tray opening, fewer hot members need to be prepared.
A packaging method in accordance with the third aspect of the invention is a method as recited in the first or second aspect, wherein, during the third and fourth steps, the hot member not only thermally welds the film to a portion of the tray near the opening but also cuts the outer portion of the thermally welded film.
This method improves the efficiency of the packaging process because the film is welded and cut simultaneously.
It is also feasible to thermally cut the outer portion of the thermally welded filmby using the hot member that welds the film to the tray. The hot member can thermally cut the film more reliably if a tensile force is applied to the film.
A packaging method in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention is a method as recited in any one of the first through third aspects, wherein, during the fourth step, the hot member rolls as it moves along the periphery of the opening in the tray.
With this method, the frictional resistance between the hot member and the film on the tray is reduced because the hot member rolls on the tray (i.e., the hot member rotates as it moves along the tray). As a result, the film is less likely to melt or develop tiny holes.
Also, it


of the first through fifth aspects of the invention. In the third step, a plurality of the hot members is touched against the periphery of the opening in the tray from above the stretch film. In the fourth step, the hot members are moved along the periphery of the opening in the tray by swiveling the plurality of hot members about the axes of at least two swivel shafts disposed in different planar positions.
A packaging apparatus in accordance with the seventh aspect of the invention is an apparatus, wherein a tray, provided with a flange and an opening surrounded by said flange on its upper face and containing an article to be packaged, is covered with a film over the opening and the film is welded to theflange. The packaging apparatus is provided with a hot member and a moving means. The hot member is capable of touching against the film on a portion of the flange of the tray, and the face of the hot member is capable of touching the tray is at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The moving means moves at least one of the hot member or the tray.
With the packaging apparatus described in the seventh aspect of the invention, the film is thermally welded to the flange by touching the hot member against the film on a portion of the flange of the tray. Then, when the hot member and the tray are moved relative to each other by the moving means, the hot member touches


horizontal plane, the hot member only comes in contact with the flange of the tray and does not come in contact with the portion of the film covering a opening surrounded by the flange. Consequently, the portion of the film that covers the opening is less likely to melt or develop tiny holes.
A packaging apparatus in accordance with the eighth aspect of the invention is an apparatus as recited in the seventh aspect, wherein, the moving means moves the hot member against the tray.
A packaging apparatus in accordance with the ninth aspect of the invention is an apparatus as recited in the eighth aspect, wherein the moving means is provided with a swivel mechanism and a moving swivel shaft mechanism. The swivel mechanism swivels the hot member aboutspeed at which the swivel mechanism swivels the hot member. Thus, the variance in the amount of time the hot member contacts each part of the tray can be reduced.
A packaging apparatus in accordance with the eleventh aspect of the invention is an apparatus as recited in the eight aspect, wherein a plurality of said hot members are provided. The swivel mechanism has at least two swivel shafts disposed in different planar positions. The swivel mechanism moves the plurality of hot members by swiveling at least one of the hot members about a first swivel shaft and swiveling at least one of the hot members about a second swivel shaft.
With this apparatus, the swivel mechanism is provided with multiple swivel shafts; a hot member swivels about a first