{"text":"Posted on June 27, 2020 by News Editor\nhttp:\/\/brn.firetrench.com\nNew in and titles back in stock this week\nThe Real Coco Chanel Antigonus The One-Eyed The Real Beatrix Potter\nThe Hawker Hunter The Mighty Warrior Kings The Nonconformist Revolution\nNow back in stock\nHappy Odyssey by Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart with a foreword by Winston Churchill.\nAdrian Carton de Wiart's autobiography is one of the most remarkable of military memoirs. He was the son of a Belgian barrister, Leon Constant Ghislain Carton de Wiart (1854-1915). He, himself, was intended for the law, but abandoned his studies at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1899 to serve as a trooper in the South African War.\nHe abandoned the law for all time on 14 September 1901 when he received a direct commission in the 4th Dragoon Guards. Carton de Wiart's extraordinary military career embraced service with the Somaliland Camel Corps (1914-15), liaison officer with Polish forces (1939), membership of the British Military Mission to Yugoslavia (1941), a period as a prisoner of war (1941-43), and three years as Churchill's representative to Chiang Kai-shek (1943-46).\nDuring the Great War, besides commanding the 8th Glosters, Carton de Wiart was GOC 12 Brigade (1917) and GOC 105 Brigade (April 1918). Both these command were terminated by wounds. He was wounded eight times during the war (including the loss of an eye and a hand), won the VC during the Battle of the Somme, was mentioned in despatches six times, and was the model for Brigadier Ben Ritchie Hook in the Sword of Honour trilogy of Evelyn Waugh.\nNow available for Kindle and ePub download\nSex and Sexuality in Victorian Britain Powering the World's Airliners A History of English Place Names and Where They Came From Tracing Your Poor Ancestors\nThe Secret US Plan to Overthrow the British Empire Black Swan Class Sloops The Roman Imperial Succession The People's Army in the Spanish Civil War\nBattle in the Baltic Ladies of Magna Carta Egyptomaniacs Hungarian Armoured Fighting Vehicles in the Second World War","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"ISRO's Mangalyaan programme team wins US-based 2015 Space Pioneer Award\nIndia's Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) or Mangalyaan programme team won the 2015 Space Pioneer Award.\nFP Staff January 13, 2015 15:45:24 IST\nThe programme team of India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM) or Mangalyaan has won the 2015 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category awarded by US-based educational and scientific group National Space Society (NSS).\nMangalyaan won the 2015 Space Pioneer Award.\nIn a statement issued by the NSS, it said that the award had been won by ISRO's Mars Orbiter Programme Team. \"This award will be presented to an Isro representative during the National Space Society's 2015 International Space Development Conference, the 34th ISDC, to be held in Toronto, Canada,\" said the statement.\nThe statement also said that the team was being awarded for its accomplishments of sending the first Indian spacecraft to Mars and making India the first country to do so on the first try.\nIndia's Mangalyaan mission which cost around $74 million and is one of the cheapest space missions, was launched on 5 November, 2013 and successfully entered the Red planet's orbit last year on 24 September.\nIn November, 2014, Mangalyaan was named among the best inventions of 2014 by TIME magazine which described it as a technological feat that will allow India to flex its \"interplanetary muscles.\"\n\"Nobody gets Mars right on the first try. The US didn't, Russia didn't, the Europeans didn't. But on 24 September, India did. That's when the Mangalyaan... went into orbit around the Red Planet, a technological feat no other Asian nation has yet achieved,\" TIME had said about Mangalyaan, calling it \"The Supersmart Spacecraft.\"\nOn the cost involved to make Mangalyaan, TIME had said that at that price, the Mangalyaan is equipped with just five onboard instruments that allow it to do simple tasks like measure Martian methane and surface composition.\n\"More important, however, it allows India to flex its interplanetary muscles, which portends great things for the country's space programme and for science in general,\" TIME had said.\nMangalyaan has five instruments aboard: a camera, two spectrometers, a radiometer and a photometer. It aims to understand the process by which water was lost on Mars, measure methane levels in the Martian atmosphere, map the surface, composition and mineralogy of Mars and take images of the Martian surface.\n2015 Space Pioneer Award\nMars Orbiter Mission\nFlight surgeons to train in space medicine in Russia to assist Gaganyaan astronauts: ISRO officials\nThe training program for astronauts, affected by the lockdown in Russia, is expected to end by March 2021.\nISRO to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs to promote space, science related education\nThe students will not only gain theoretical but also practical and application-based knowledge of STEM and Space Education.\n'Long kept secret': Top ISRO scientist Tapan Misra claims he was poisoned three years ago\nMisra alleged he was poisoned with deadly arsenic trioxide on May 23, 2017, during a promotion interview at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Happy Ducks, Obsolete Root Cellars, and Other Signs of the Warmest January on Record\nBy Brian Halweil| January 31, 2012\nI've been thumbing through the short, final chapters of Joan Gussow's most recent book, Growing, Older. They're humorous even if the themes include dying, lifelong regrets, sea level rise and climate change. The later geological preoccupations are shared by both of us\u2014we both garden in floodprone areas\u2014and the balmy, 60-degree afternoons this past weekend reminded me that the future-oriented predictions of climate scientists seem more and more to have arrived in the here and now. (And, my colleagues at Edible Brooklyn tell me, the annual winter festival at Prospect Park was just cancelled, due to weather too warm to make snow.)\nOur ducks have been plenty happy that their kiddie pool pond hasn't frozen over and that they can still grub for worms in the (still) soft soil.\nTHE HAMPTONS\u2013I've been thumbing through the short, final chapters of Joan Gussow's most recent book, Growing, Older. They're humorous even if the themes include dying, lifelong regrets, sea level rise and climate change. The later geological preoccupations are shared by both of us\u2014we both garden in floodprone areas\u2014and the balmy, 60-degree afternoons this past weekend reminded me that the future-oriented predictions of climate scientists seem more and more to have arrived in the here and now. (And, my colleagues at Edible Brooklyn tell me, the annual winter festival at Prospect Park was just cancelled, due to weather too warm to make snow.)\nIt will be another couple of weeks before global weather watchers, like NOAA, release their monthly data, but my money says we're on track for another warmest winter on record. On a Saturday morning seal-spotting walk to Oyster Pond in Montauk, we overhead a veteran hiker remark that he had never seen so many T-shirted folks on the trail at the end of January, traditionally the coldest time of the year.\nFor our post-hike lunch at Hampton Chutney Company in Amagansett, we got to enjoy our lassi and dosas, on the outdoor picnic tables sans outwear (a very un-wintery thing to do). We bumped into farmer friend Scott Chaskey, who was coming from a pick-up day at Quail Hill Farm, and who noted that the ground has yet to freeze at Quail Hill and the root cellar, packed with goodies for CSA members, wasn't as cold as he'd like it to be. Had he known, he might not have pulled all the carrots and parsnips and beets in a rush just before the New Year.\nBut how could we know? At the annual Food Almanac event put on by Food Systems Network NYC, the panelists offered a number of likely and hopeful predictions. Thomas Forster said that New York City would continue to lead the world in urban-rural alliances to reverse climate change and other global challenges. American Farmland Trust's David Haight predicted that the loss of farmland might come to a halt\u2014it has slowed dramatically in the last five years\u2013and begin to reverse this year.\nAnd Print restaurant's pastry chef Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez, who also founded Chefs for the Marcellus, said 2012 would see the rise of chefs and restaurant workers as major opponents to fracking in Upstate New York: If there's no clean water, then there's no restaurant business, Carlucci suggested, noting that businesses ranging from the Park Slope Coop to Ommegang Brewery are considering quitting Upstate if fracking goes forward.\nCheryl Rogowski shared reflections from her family farm in Orange County, noting this time last year, the farm was under a yard of snow, and just a few months ago, post Hurricane Irene, the farm was under 8 feet of water. After cleaning up and digging out, Rogowski's attention turned to what she called \"weather management.\" She has relocated her greenhouses and other important structures to the highest ground on the farm and is redoubling her efforts to extend her growing season and build the supply of vegetables she can sell year-round.\n\"This has turned from a story of destruction to one of resilience,\" Greenmarket director Michael Hurwitz recently said when he reflected on Greenmarket growers, some of whom lost 80 percent of their crop. (Resilience and adapatability\u2014in the face of climate change and other challenges\u2013are also themes of this week's Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture (PASA conference, where I'm speaking on Friday.)\nClimate change deniers are always suggesting endless silver linings to a warming planet. Although it's likely that with longer growing seasons will also come weeds, pests and other threats once held in check by winter. Still, on my own homestead, our coldframes are as abundant as ever, and I wish I'd sown a cover crop of kale, tatsoi and other hardy greens over our whole garden. Our oyster cages still hang from the dock, with little threat of being iced in. The warm weather has been particularly friendly to our latest agricultural addition\u2014four jet-black Cayuga ducks.\nDucks have no problem with frigid weather: our breed was first domesticated around Lake Cayuga way up north. But as anyone who knows anything about ducks can tell you, they love water\u2014splashing in it, diving under it and guzzling large quantities. On the handful of days when the mercury dipped into the 20s and 30s, the ducks emerged from their pen in the morning to stare wistfully at their kiddie pool pond frozen over. Their water dispenser\u2013and our outdoor hose bib\u2013had also frozen, so we toted a bucket of tepid water from the kitchen sink and filled a dog bowl for them.\nBetter-prepared farmers would have installed an ingenious device called a frost-proof yard hydrant, which looks like an old fashioned water pump. The valve that controls the flow of water is buried below the frost line, so after you're done dispensing water, the water falls back below this valve, keeping the above ground portion from freezing and bursting. It's the next big farm investment we're budgeting for, although I wonder if\u2013like snow tires, cross-country skiis and other cold-season paraphernalia\u2013we will need them less and less.\nOr as Gussow might say in one of her endearing messages\u2013part meteorlogical report, part philosophical reflection\u2013she records on her answering machine: \"You've reached the riverfront home of Joan Gussow. It's a balmy and 60 degrees in late January. Climate change is here. I hope we're prepared.\"\nOur First Burns Supper Reminds us that the Haggis Doesn't Have to Come But Once a Year\nNext up on the Event Calendar: That Holiday Everyone Loves to Hate\nThe Questions You Should Be Asking About Farmed Fish\nIs that Nutrition Advice Based on Real Science or Marketing?\nHow Sam Kass Made Over the Obamas' Pantry Could Help Us All Eat a Little Better","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"RAM'S HEAD INN: GOURMET OF SHELTER ISLAND\nDining, New York\nMANAGING YOUR FINANCIAL RISK\nThe Ram's Head Inn is best known as a farm-to-table restaurant on Shelter Island, where its culinary team sources herbs, fruits, and vegetables from the restaurant's own garden offering an extraordinary experience with their seasonally focused menus and reopens this April.\nOwners James and Linda Eklund just recently announced their new Executive Chef for the upcoming 2017 season, Matt Murphey whose menu is influenced by his travels in Italy and Europe. His innovative ideas and wealth of fine dining experience will greatly contribute to the restaurant's menu. In fact, he created several new items for the bar menu for Ram's Head cocktail & music, Harbor Hall. Working in some of the top kitchens in NYC, Murphey has held sous chef positions at the Ritz Carlton, the Rainbow Room, and The Russian Tea Room. Additionaly he held executive chef positions at A.R.OC, Broadway Grill, La Colombe D'or, Melrose Hotel in Washington DC, the Centerport Yacht Club, and Jedidiah Hawkins Inn.\nUrbanSpace Lincoln Road Holiday Market Announces Final Vendor Line Up\nAfter working with such great restaurants, Matt Murphy settled on Long Island and opened Anatres Caf\u00e9 in Greenport. USA Today eventually named it one of the best ten restaurants on Long Island. Afterwards he opened The Kitchen at Greenport, and was inducted into the Chef 2000 Group in 1996. At the helm of the Rams Head Inn's brunch, lunch and dinner menu, he plans to continue using locally sourced ingredients while revamping the menu. This spring diners will certainly look forward to enjoying his latest creations.\n\"Matt will complete the full fine dining\/farm-to-table experience that we have provided our guests since the early 90's,\" said Linda Eklund, owner of the Ram's Head Inn. \"His passion for food and knowledge of the abundance of 'local delicacies' make him the perfect fit for the Ram's Head\" noted Mrs. Eklund.\n631-749-0811 | theramsheadinn.com\nResident March 29, 2017\nDining, Florida\nThe Best is Not Yet to Come; It's Here! Now Open, The One-And-Only Runway 84\nFresh Kitchen Announces February Opening in Midtown Miami, Marking the 13th Location for the Health-Conscious Brand\nEvents, New York, Wine & Food Festival\nCaf\u00e9 La Trova's 4th Anniversary Celebration, SEED Food & Wine Week and more!","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Dialogue Special Report Art & Culture Literati Footloose\nShehr\nFashion Interviews Reviews Overviews In the picture Vibe Charts\nTNS Special Report\nPrint Story\nUrban warriors\nUmber Khairi\nIt's been interesting to see that it took the killing of a high profile, anti-terrorist cop to jolt the general public into the realisation that policemen are not just humans, but often brave humans who lay their lives on the line -- every minute of every day.\nFor the Taliban, the assassination of CID SP Aslam Khan was a major hit: he was a thorn in their side not just because he worked effectively in counter-terrorism but because of his defiance and his very public refusal to be intimidated by them.\nThose who feared that his being so high profile would hasten his death were right, but what perhaps nobody foresaw was that his killing would touch such a nerve with the media and general public, and lead to such an outpouring of sympathy and public grief. And this happened because by openly challenging the terrorists Aslam Khan became a symbol of resistance to terrorism and crime, a flagbearer for the writ of the state.\nI watched this month's media coverage with interest not just because it was a gripping story but because I have seen police life from up close and I personally know what a tough and thankless job it is. First, there is the fact that unlike in the army you are not \"sent to war\", you are fighting a war, all day, every day. Since cops are meant to challenge those who break the law, and these are mostly rather nasty, ruthless people, an effective cop makes a lot of enemies, threatens many vested interests and generally is much resented.\nYou do not deal with 'nice' people and your job is not to be Mr Nice Guy or win popularity polls. Policing a city like Karachi is perhaps a great adventure for many of the young officers who work there: urban life is reduced to the most basic and brutal struggles of human existence. It's a gun-slinging, relentless cycle of crime fighting and survival. And you need to fight on several fronts: it's not just the criminals you have to deal with, it is also the pressure from your own superior officers, politician bosses and intelligence agencies that is an ongoing battle as they tell you to turn a blind eye to selected crimes or instruct you to fabricate cases.\nSo what motivates these urban warriors? Is it all just a power trip with the excitement of an adrenaline-fuelled game of cops and robbers? I asked a young ASP this question many years ago and he replied that although all of the above were a consideration there was also the fact that you felt that your work could make a real difference to lives and communities.\nWhat of all the crookedness and venality in the force? Well, an interesting perspective is it that it is not fancy manners or financial corruption that divides good cops from bad: it is whether you are anti-crime or not anti-crime i.e. whether you fight the criminals or whether you are complicit with them.\nSo for all the stories of corruption, torture and bribery you hear about the police, consider all the stories you do not hear. The accounts of the raids, encounters, arrests and rescues. Think of the men who storm in to release a hostage, or who just try to maintain law and order in the face of pointless protest (like the Karachi policeman who was killed during the protest against a YouTube film), or the men who cannot celebrate Eid with their families because they are on duty guarding those who are at the prayer congregation. Or those who are taunted by arrested criminals who warn them \"the court will let us off, but we know where you live and where your children go to school\".\nSo should we protect those who try to protect us, or should we cosy up to their killers?\nThis is the basic question we need to ask ourselves in a terrible conflict that seems to have now become suicidal on both sides. And we should also take a moment to pay silent tribute to all those policemen who have been targeted and killed in Sindh and KP and Balochistan.\nAnd if movies help you make sense of real life then I suggest you watch the Batman flick, The Dark Knight Rises: in that film the anarchy that follows the terrorists' targeting of the police force is terrifying because it is so close to the reality of modern day Pakistan\u2026.\nShort-termism of the Trump ban\nBy Shmyla Khan\nChurails \u2014 A case for righteous female anger\nBy Fahad Ismail\nBreaking with the theatre of the elite\nBy Afshan Shafi\nHow to end corruption?\nBy Dr Rafi Amir-ud-Din\nA few good PTI-supporting Lahoris!\nBy Ather Naqvi\nMore From Art & Culture\nCelebrating a decade of goondaraj\nSelfless scholar of the old school\nMiniatures from several souths\nThe News International - Copyright @ 2010-2021\nThe News on Sunday","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Taurus Holdings, Inc Announces New Manufacturing Facility, Corporate Headquarters is Moving to Bainbridge\nApril 12, 2018 Dustin Dowdy Around our Area, Featured Posts, Flint Media, News 1\nGovernor Nathan Deal announces that Taurus USA will build a manufacturing operation and their corporate headquarters in Bainbridge, Georgia.\n\"The big news is that Taurus USA is going to build a manufacturing facility in this community and create some 300 jobs\", said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, officially announcing the arrival of one of the largest firearms producers in the United States to southwest Georgia.\nTaurus Holdings, Inc will be moving their manufacturing operations and corporate headquarters to Bainbridge, breaking ground on a new facility in the Commodore Industrial Park this summer and opening the doors in January of 2020.\nThe Governor was introduced by Georgia Senator Dean Burke, a Bainbridge resident and former City Council Member. The news was made official at a ceremony at the Kirbo Center on ABAC's Bainbridge campus Thursday morning in a building full of excited residents and dignitaries, including members of the Bainbridge City Council, Decatur County Board of Commissioners, the Development Authority of Decatur County and more.\nTaurus CEO David Blenker got a roaring ovation when he announced to the crowd, \"We are absolutely moving our corporate headquarters to Bainbridge, Georgia\" and stated that all Taurus pistols and Heritage revolvers would be manufactured in Bainbridge as well. \"I truly believe that the future of the company will thrive in Bainbridge, Georgia\". Speaking about the large turnout and obvious community support, Mr. Blenker said, \"We made the right decision\".\nTaurus Holdings CEO David Blenker announced that Taurus USA is moving their manufacturing operation and corportate headquarters to Bainbridge, Georgia.\nAccording to a story told by Mr. Blenker, the process started nearly 15 years ago when they first toured the state of Georgia with the state's economic development team. Then, nearly two years ago, Mr. Blenker was hunting at Southwind Plantation in south Decatur County when he mentioned that Taurus might be interested in moving to Georgia. According to Blenker, Southwind Owner Tim Smith overheard the conversation and insisted that Mr. Blenker meet Rick McKaskill, the Director of the Development Authority and the other local decision makers. \"18 months later, we're so proud to be here\".\nKeith Lyle, the Chairman of the Development Authority welcomed the company by stating, \"We look forward to years of prosperity and welcome our new corporate partner\". Mr. Lyle then took the opportunity to speak to future prospects saying, \"If you're a business or industry looking to locate, then Bainbridge, Georgia needs to be at the top of your list. Bainbridge, Georgia is open for business!\".\nNathan Deal\nTaurus USA Breaks Ground on Bainbridge Site\nWork Begins on the Taurus USA Site\nGovernor Deal Coming to Bainbridge for Major Manufacturing Facility Announcement\nChamber: Leadercast Live Coming to Kirbo Center\nPress Release: Anna Kinchen Hired as Communications and Events Coordinator for Chamber of Commerce\nScripture Of The Day \u2013 April 12th\nBainbridge and Decatur County Arrest Reports for Thursday, April 12th, 2018\nRodney A. Prince\nWOW, WONDERFUL, HALLUJAH and thank you Mayor Reynolds, City Council, County Commissioners, City Manager, County Manager, Development Authority Director, Regional Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce and everyone else that was instrumental in securing Taurus Gun Manufacturing locating a new manufacturing facility in Bainbridge. This is great for Bainbridge, Decatur County, and Southwest Georgia. As many of you, whom I have driven crazy for the last 8 or so years, know this has been desperately needed since the onset of the Great Recession some 10 years ago. I believe this accomplishment to be the turning of the tide for our local economy and restores hope to a wonderful community. I know many of you have gone above the call of duty working diligently to bring this new economic development to our community and even cast a difficult vote here and there for the good of our community. Thanks again to all who helped make this happen. A BIG THANKS TO TAURUS !!! Your company and its employees are going to love Bainbridge!","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"X Plus Bun - Retrofire, Pt. 7\nI didn't know how to explain to Hopper and Mel that nothing would happen to us as far as the inhabitants of the Behemoth were concerned. I didn't think there was anybun alive in that craft. I was much more concerned about the levels of radiation that our probe registered, even though Mel said it wasn't much. He thought, at that level of exposure we could spend a lot of time in the wreck before we would have to worry about anything. I, simply, am not a big fan of dying from radiation poisoning.\n\"Major, do you think that is what killed their crew, long time ago? Do you think they had a core meltdown? If this thing is old enough, the radiation levels would eventually drop low enough to be negligible,\" wondered Hopper.\n\"No, that's not what we're dealing with here!\" rebuked Mel.\n\"We're picking up those bursts only from time to time. We got them when we approached the 'dock' and when the probe was on the move,\" continued Mel.\n\"I tell you what, let's retrieve the probe; we'll go in first thing in the 'morning,'\" I said. Thus, we pulled the probe out of the Behemoth. To save the propellant, instead of flying it back, we just slowly pulled on its antenna. We stowed it in our airlock, and Mel ran a double decontamination cycle on it. Our airlock can serve as a decontamination container, but we only simulated the procedure during training, so it took us a while to complete it. It's funny how your paws want to tremble when your hide is on the line.\nThe next \"morning,\" we sent the probe back into the Behemoth; nothing had changed. We got ready to follow it. One rule would guide our exploration. Our incursion would last for a third of our propellant or oxygen supply, and whichever ran down first would trigger our return.\nWe drew lots for who would be the lead EBA and I won the slot, Hopper drew second, and Mel, the disappointing and disapproving; a hair short of disgruntled, drew third. Both seemed convinced that the arrangement was random and so they didn't object\nHopper Mel, out of the corridor\nThe first thing we noticed was the radiation past the airlock. As the corridor lit up once we entered it, our sensors picked up a burst of something radioactive and then nothing. Either our sensors went bad, all of them at the same time, or whatever was emitting the gamma rays had stopped. We followed the probe's antenna, and when we caught up with the probe, we send it on farther down ahead of us. We took no detours. When the probe went as far as it could, we followed it again and repeated this process several times. We kept a close eye on our supplies and location. Mel was in charge of the tracker. Hopefully, we would be able to reverse course and return without getting lost.\nWe paused for a bit to estimate our progress. We should have been close to the tip of the Behemoth, but the corridor kept on going in a gentle curve. Luckily, we didn't have to take any turns yet, so going back should have been easy. We were getting a little edgy, though. Hopper was working extra hard to keep his cool, and his oxygen sensor proved it. I had a feeling he would be the first to hit the one-third mark of oxygen depletion. At this rate, we only had a few minutes left, so I decided to pick up the pace.\nThe corridor continued to curve in front of me. From time to time, I had to push off from its surface. Sometimes, I would overcorrect and fly into the opposite side and had to bounce off that. We passed a few junctions, but somehow, I didn't feel tempted to explore them.\nSuddenly, the corridor ended and opened into a cavern. I struggled to stop moving. Hopper and Mel flew out into the room and struggled to stop as well. As much as I pretended to be ready for any surprise, the change in surroundings was startling. The room was spacious and looked empty. Our headlights and paw torches barely illuminated it. The good news was we had plenty of propellant; the bad news was Hopper was almost at the \"go back\" oxygen level.\nMr. Toes 3 Bunstronauts doing their PR bid for the Bunstronaut Office\nThe room was puzzling. We had to be somewhere close to the nose of the Behemoth.\n\"Make sure you're recording this,\" I reminded everybun, as I turned on my helmet camera. I took a quick look around and noticed we were all still floating. Mel was the closest to the corridor out of which we had flown, but there were a lot more openings, more outlets, in this room. Did all roads lead to here? I decided to go back to the one we came from. No matter what, we would not be getting lost here.\n\"Guys, I 'll stay by the opening, you have a look at the surface of this place,\" I announced. I gave Mel a \"high-five\" as I passed him; I had our corridor straight ahead, then something hit my visor. I looked to my right and tried to follow whatever it was, but I lost it. Something else hit my helmet again with a gentle \"pop.\" I swung my head around, but I still missed whatever it was that hit me.\nDarn, I hit something!\" exclaimed Hopper, then I saw it heading for the left side of my head. A small pebble like those we saw in one of the rooms yesterday. \"Keep calm! I hit something too. I think those are fragments of those formations we saw. Chunks of them are floating about here!\" I said. Now, I noticed a few more of them. This chamber had a glow to it like the other spaces, but was spacious enough that its dim light didn't reveal much. As I got closer to our exit corridor, I noticed how it blended with the chamber.It had no discernible edge and smoothly morphed into the dimpled chamber. I looked up and saw a formation of \"pebbles\" arranged like a vine or a branch, stretching from the surface toward the middle of this cavern. I could briefly see larger shapes connected with small and quite tiny ones, like grapes that fused together. I wanted to turn around, but the opening of the corridor was approaching fast, and I chose to make a soft landing on the side wall. I lost the visual contact with the pebbles.\nMr. Toes\n\"Wow! You won't believe what I just saw!\" yelled Hopper.\n\"Try me! Those pebbles, growing together like thick ropes, no?\" asked Mel.\n\"Yeah! That's right!\" sounded Hopper.\nThen I almost died. Somewhere, a flash of light went off, as bright as a nuke, and then another one tinged with purple. I felt a sudden rush of blood to my head before my mind could even register what had happened. I couldn't see anything; my ears were ringing and hissing, and everything went quiet. My space suit was silent. I felt the life support system in my suit going off-line, and all I could hear was white noise. My noggin tried to make sense of it all. How could I see the second flash when I should have been blinded by the first one? I hit something, and my head snapped forward; I tried to extend my paws in front of my head. My heart was thumping like a jackhammer, and the veins behind my eyes wanted to burst. I kept tumbling somewhere and tried to protect my visor with my right paw as my left paw fumbled for the reset switch on my suit.\n- Renee: taking care of critters, photography\n- Mr. Bun, Ijon Thichy The Nth: story\n- Mrs. Angie: editing\nFollow the Character of X Plus Bun on FB\nOn Instagram @dollyalittledisabledrabbit\nVisit our About X Plus Bun page to learn more about the cast members and catch up on other stories!\nLabels: Bun Fiction, X Plus Bun\nCracker (left) and Minnie Mouse (right)\nMomo and Zoe\nBunfiction Update\nNubby\nKoda Bear\nGilbert and Tilly\nEspresso \"Scrappy\" and Latte \"Nipper\" Update\nHoppy and Happy New Year, Everybunny!!","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"UK softball finishes weekend with five wins\nThe Courier-Journal\nKentucky softball finished its weekend 5-0 after a 12-0 five-inning win over Memphis in Boca Raton, Florida, on Sunday. The Wildcats allowed two hits.\nKentucky scored four runs in the second and seven in the third en route to the win. The Wildcats notched 11 hits. Rachael Metzger went 1 for 1 with a grand slam. Abbey Cheek went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a run, and Jenny Schaper hit 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.\nErin Rethlake (3-0) picked up the win with a complete game. She scruck out three and walked one.\nUK (10-4) now heads to Carbondale, Illinois, for three games starting with Northern Illinois on Friday at 2 p.m.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home Columns Guest Spot\nInterview: Culture of fear is coming back\u2014Kamlepo\nby Boniface Phiri\nin Guest Spot\nKamlepo Kalua, one of the fighters for multiparty democracy, shares his experiences in Parliament with our Weekend Nation. Excerpts:\nHow would you describe your time in Parliament so far?\nKamlepo Kalua\nIt's been enriching although disappointing sometimes; disappointing in the sense that the spirit of multiparty democracy is not being followed. The ruling party feels they are the owners of democracy and they prescribe whatever they want without even due respect.\nWhy do you think this is the case?\nThis is the case because the House is full of 'aganyu' [hired hands]. The ruling party is playing politics of robots where most of its members of Parliament don't clearly understand their roles as people's representatives but support everything even though it is against their conscience because they fear that if they do anything against the spirit of the Cabinet they would be in trouble. The culture of fear and silence which we wanted to clear in 1993 is coming back and we can see it in the National Assembly.\nWhat do you mean by 'politics of robots'?\nA robot functions according to the wishes of the programmer and this is exactly what MPs on the ruling side are doing\u2014behaving as if they have been programmed. For instance, the Cabinet can say here is a Bill you may not understand but support it all the same! MPs on the government side should be able to freely scrutinise bills and set a direction for government so that what passes in that House has everyone's sense of ownership. I am also concerned with the behaviour and conduct of some UDF MPs who have abandoned what people wanted them to do and instead they have embarked on politics of appeasement; they want to appease the one who is benefiting from the process.\nSo, what should be done for the so-called 'robots' to tow the democratic line?\nIt's very difficult because fear is also at play here; when a robot is gripped with fear it panders to the whims of the master. But I don't understand how someone elected by the people in the village can be compromised like that. It's important for them to realise that the electorate are expecting a lot from them than towing the party line with tails between their legs.\nYou also once or twice described some MPs as 'strangers'; what did you mean?\nMost people who fought for multiparty democracy are not with us today and what you see in that house are strangers. It annoys me to see them behave in the manner I have described above. Most of them don't understand what we invested in this process; most importantly the blood our colleagues shed.\nWould you be so blunt if the PP were still in power?\nYes! If they were to come up with something that I don't agree with I would have disagreed with them because democracy is about agreeing to disagree. I would show those in opposition that this is what democracy is all about, but it's unfortunate that I am in the opposition. Sometimes I don't want to comment because I don't want to be misunderstood. But sometimes I do just as I did the other day when I saw that all Cabinet ministers were not available in the chamber, yet we were debating very serious issues of national importance. That demonstrates that this government doesn't conform to the spirit of democracy which we fought for.\nWhy do you think you won the Rumphi East parliamentary seat after five attempts?\nI was voted because the people were tired of some political chancers and opportunists. The people wanted somebody who is serious and believes in democracy and, I should also say, perseverance has helped.\nTrust BWB to issue statements that makes sense only to themselves\nBWB snoring on the job\nMalawian men fight for gender justice\n'We lack high-tech security gadgets'\nSPECIAL INTERVIEW\u2014Dr. Martha Phiri , AfDB director for human capital, youth and skills development","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Being a responsible business.\nWe're here to absorb risk in a meaningful way for our customers.\nAs an insurer, if we do our job well, our customers and society benefit when times are tough. Being an insurer our customers can rely on really matters to us, and it's this philosophy that underpins our approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.\nOur ESG ambition is clear. We want to be there for the long term, for our customers, communities and our people, operating in a sustainable way for the future.\nJames Millard - Group Chief Investment Officer and ESG Executive Sponsor\nThe Hiscox ESG framework we have developed helps us stay focused and make an impact. It ensures we are pragmatic and consistent, teaming Group-wide themes with local market relevance.\nWe've made it our business to help customers understand and manage climate risks. We carefully manage our environmental impact and work with our customers, suppliers and business partners to respond to the changing climate.\nAs a business with a long-term outlook, it's important we play our part in the debate on how to mitigate the impact of climate change on the global economy.\nWe want to build teams that are as diverse as the customers we serve, and create a vibrant and inclusive work environment where all employees can thrive.\nOur values guide our business: to have courage and integrity, taking ownership and working together to build something better. Above all, we are human and we are a business that cares about people. In our most recent employee survey, 90% of our employees said that they share our company values.\nWe strive to be an insurer our customers can rely on, by paying all valid claims swiftly, and playing our part in the communities we operate in.\nAs a global insurer, good governance practices are essential to our day-to-day business of serving customers and paying claims, and are strongly woven into both risk assessment and strategy, with responsibility ultimately sitting with the Board and its committees.\nOur ESG journey\nWe take our role in the world seriously and want to play a responsible part in society. Our focus is on the long-term and where we can make a difference. Take a look at our journey so far.\nOur policies and disclosures\nWe are guided by our values first and foremost, but we also have policies and disclosures that underpin the way we do business.\nEnvironmental, social and governance issues (including issues such as tax, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, investor stewardship and climate change) and diversity and inclusion are integrated into both risk assessment and strategy, with responsibility ultimately sitting with the Board and its committees.\nWhat guides us?\nOur values guide our business: to have courage and integrity, taking ownership and working together to build something better. Above all, we are human and as experts in risk we give our customers the confidence to realise their ambitions.\nAs we grow, we've always got one eye on making sure our values remain front and centre.\nMemberships, accreditations and commitments we are proud of...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Tchami Tickets\nMartin Bresso or Tchami, as he is professionally known, is a French DJ and producer hailing from Paris. The artist is considered the pioneer of the \"future house\" genre. Tchami's music has influenced many of his contemporaries and leading names in EDM such as DJ Skrillex, DJ Snake and Diplo. His DJ name came from his time in Africa where he spent many years honing his musical skills. Tchami has become a widely popular DJ in the world and has a great fan following in America. As a result, the artist is performing a string of live shows in the country and Canada, Tchami tickets for which are on sale now.\nView Tchami Tickets\nTchami Cities\nTchami Chicago IL\nTchami Fontana CA\nBuy Hard Summer Music Festival: Major Lazer, Zhu, Tchami, RL Grime & Juice Wrld - Sunday, California Speedway Tickets for Sun Aug 04 2019 Hard Summer Music Festival: Major Lazer, Zhu, Tchami, RL Grime & Juice Wrld - Sunday, California Speedway tickets for 08\/04 01:00 PM at California Speedway, Fontana, CA\nBuy North Coast Music Festival: Major Lazer, Tchami & Jauz - Saturday, Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Tickets for Sat Aug 31 2019 North Coast Music Festival: Major Lazer, Tchami & Jauz - Saturday, Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island tickets for 08\/31 02:30 PM at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Chicago, IL\nHis music\nTchami has always been involved in producing electronic music, creating tracks in the House category. However, he commonly finds inspiration from popular culture and mainstream pop music. For example, his remix of Janet Jackson's \"Go Deep\" is still considered one of his finest works to date. While in Africa, he toured with DJ Snake, Kaleem Taylor, Oliver $, Martin Garrix and Jimi Jules, and this experience informed his music greatly. It was after these tours that he actually began experimenting with House music and created a new sub-genre. His original single \"Promesses\" debuted on # 7 on the UK Charts.\nWith the release of his first E.P, \"Promesses\", Tchami was launched into the limelight and began songwriting and composing for renowned artists. He co-wrote Lil Jon and DJ Snake's 2013 hit which is still featured in top ten EDM lists four years down the road.\n2015 was a big year in more than one ways for Tchami. He launched his first studio album titled \"After Life\" and its title song featured Stacy Barthe on vocals. Furthermore, he created his first OST for a movie, the Zac Efron featuring \"We Are Friends\". This track was a remix of Aluna George's \"You Know You Like It\".\nIn 2016, Tchami went on to start his own record label by the name of 'Confession' and released another E.P on it; \"SIAW\". The label has since been a haven for budding EDM artists who have yet to gain a big break. It has become an institution without boundaries, as Tchami recruits and listens to talent from across the globe. The label is still young, but going strong as it has many exciting projects in the pipeline.\nRumored Second E.P\nIn 2017, there are many rumors surrounding Tchami's future projects. While anticipation is high, the artist has released \"Adieu\" which many believe to be the first track of his upcoming E.P, although he has yet to comment on these rumors. Tchami also made a Spotify debut by releasing \"World to Me\" with the U.K singer MNEK; however the track was quickly made private. As if this wasn't strange enough, another single was released titled \"Godspell\" on which Taiki Nuight featured. Fans are speculating that something big is in the works, and they expect an announcement sometime soon.\nTchami has been as big on touring as he is on creating records. He toured with DJs Skrillex and Snake on the 2015 \"Pardon My French\" tour. This was a transnational affair and it lasted for over a year from 2016 to the beginnings of 2017. His second world tour was a solo trek called \"The Prophecy Tour\" and it ended in March 2017. This tour headlined Tchami and it was great exposure for the artist.\nThe Current Shows\nTchami is a hardworking man and is always involved in one (normally more than one) new project. Even now, he has released a new single with Malaa called \"Summer 99\". He has also announced a string of dates in North America for his exclusive live performances. Toronto, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Miami are just some of the cities where the artist has yet to perform. Tchami tickets for these shows and more are on sale now.\nTCHAMI NEWS AND UPDATES\nTchami announces North American tour\nTchami Schedule\nNothing beats the joy of watching your favorite music artist perform live! Tchami's concert dates are out and fans are looking forward to the upcoming shows. The next concert will be held in Fontana at the Auto Club Speedway on 4-Aug-19, while the last available date is for the event scheduled for Chicago at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on 31-Aug-19. For complete information regarding dates and venues, please visit our website.\nHard Summer Music Festival: Major Lazer, Zhu, Tchami, RL Grime & Juice Wrld - Sunday California Speedway Fontana, CA Sun Aug 04 201901:00 PM\nNorth Coast Music Festival: Major Lazer, Tchami & Jauz - Saturday Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Chicago, IL Sat Aug 31 201902:30 PM\nTchami Ticket Prices\nThe average price for Tchami Tickets start from $145. The minimum get in price is $16 for Tchami Tickets at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Chicago. For a detailed look at ticket prices and amazing discounts, visit our website.\nHard Summer Music Festival: Major Lazer, Zhu, Tchami, RL Grime & Juice Wrld - Sunday Fontana 4-Aug-19 $394 $293\nNorth Coast Music Festival: Major Lazer, Tchami & Jauz - Saturday Chicago 31-Aug-19 $145 $16","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Power Trip and Obituary pay tribute to Riley Gale in powerful performance\nBack in August, Power Trip frontman Riley Gale tragically passed away at the age of 34. Now, members of Power Trip and Obituary have come together to honor Gale with a powerful performance of \"Executioner's Tax (Swing Of The Axe).\" This m...\n21 Northern Californian artists who have influenced AFI's Hunter Burgan\nSouthern California gets a lot of credit for being the birthplace of many bands that you know and love such as Black Flag and Bad Religion, but Northern California's discography, which includes both Green Day and Metallica, isn't exactly that shabby either. The area m...\nScott Waldman\n24 metal and metalcore bands who changed vocalists and then switched back\nBeing in a band ain't easy. You've got many creative personalities in a massive tug of war. Oh yeah, then you have to live with each other and those decisions on the road for months on end. Lineup changes aren't uncommon, though a vocalist switch-up has the possibility to be the most debilitating. Some bands h...\nBradley Zorgdrager\nOne of Frank Iero's guitars ended up with Slayer's Gary Holt\u2014here's how\nIt looks like one of Frank Iero's guitars has ended up in the hands of Gary Holt for a reason you may not think. This week, the Slayer and Exodus musician revealed just how he became the new owner of one of Iero's guitars. Read more: Metro Station know about that comparison to MGK and YUNGBLUD's song Over the years, Frank Iero has collected quite a few guitars during his time in My Chemical Romanc\nQUIZ: Which '90s metal band are you the most like?\nSome people claim that classic-rock juggernauts Led Zeppelin started the heavy metal genre. Other purists say that isn't the case, and heavy metal owes everything to Black Sabbath (and Ozzy Fuckin' Osbourne). Regardless of where you stand on the genealogy, the oft-lampooned genre hit its commercial peak in the '90s, with albums from the Big Four moving more units than ever before and receiving amp\nGary Holt wasn't happy Kirk Hammett used Exodus material for Metallica\nIn 1983, Kirk Hammett left Exodus to join Metallica. Although decades have passed since he left the band, his former Exodus bandmate is digging up some old stories. Gary Holt, Exodus' guitarist, says that Hammett previously used Exodus material without permission in Metallica's music...\nGary Holt says he tested positive for COVID-19 but is \"in the clear\"\nA few weeks ago, Slayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt revealed he was suffering from all of the symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus and today he's confirming he has tested positive. In a now-deleted post on his Instagram account, Holt explains that his test results came back positive while his wife Lisa tested negative. Read More: Watch Tom DeLonge par... Read More ...\nJoe Smith-Engelhardt\nGary Holt finds humor in \"suffering from all the symptoms\" of coronavirus\nGary Holt, the legendary and at times controversial guitarist of Slayer and Exodus might have coronavirus. In a recent social media post, Holt said he is showing the symptoms and is now self-quarantining. Holt last made headlines for re-releasing his \"Kill The Kardashians\" shirt and calling Tekashi 6ix9ine a \"little rainbow brite asshole.\" R...\nKoltan Greenwood\nGary Holt reprints \"Kill The Kardashians\" shirt to combat \"bootleggers\"\nSlayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt is the king of being outspoken. Just last week the musical legend aired his thoughts on Tekashi 6ix9ine in one of the bluntest social media posts of all time. Now, Holt is returning to the roots with one of his first controversial moments regarding the Kardashians...\nGary Holt reacts to \"snitch\" Tekashi 6ix9ine's prison request: \"F\u2014 you\"\nSlayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt recently had a few blunt words to say over Tekashi 6ix9ine's recent request to serve the remainder of his jail sentence at home. Holt took to Instagram to vehemently express his feeling towards the jailed rapper...\nSlayer guitarist doesn't actually hate Kardashians, attacks modern rap\nGary Holt is plenty busy shredding guitar for Slayer and Exodus but he still managed to find some time to talk on a number of topics at a music clinic in Michigan. Holt is very outspoken against the Kardashians, frequently wearing shirts that read \"Kill The Kardashians,\" but he apparently doesn't hate them. Read More: Oli Sykes s... Read More ...\nSlayer guitarist doesn't like Imagine Dragons\nWow. The Imagine Dragons hate came thick and quick after the group got the nation's attention during Sunday's Lil Wayne-assisted college football halftime show. (The one that happened as Clemson took the championship from Alabama.) But it's Slayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt who seemingly spoke up with perhaps the bluntest words for the act who consistently nab rock accolades while taking flak\nAlternative Press Magazine\nFan arrested for posting band lyrics to Facebook\nUPDATE Sept. 5: After spending eight days jail, James Evans, who was arrested for posting Exodus lyrics on Facebook, has been released. He's been told his case will be deferred for six months. He will also have to undergo a mental evaluation. Ev ...\nMatt Crane\nSlayer announce fall U.S. headlining tour with Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus\nSlayer have announced that they will be heading out on a full U.S. headlining tour this fall. The band will kick the tour off on November 12 in Oakland, California and wrap things up on December 5 in Detroit, Michigan. Support will come from Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus. Tickets ...\nAltPress\nEarly days of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth featured in new book 'Murder In The Front Row'\nWhile the average AltPress.com reader may not be old enough to remember the burgeoning metal scene that existed in California's Bay Area in the early 80s, chances are good some of your favorite bands do--countless contemporary metal acts count bands like Metallica and Slayer among their influences, and even if they don't, plenty of them grew up listening to it (Looking in your direction, Gerard","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"$2M project will unearth hidden stream at Tower Grove Park\nby: Patrick Clark\nST. LOUIS \u2013 There are the things we can see with our naked eye and others you cannot; but they're still there, even if you can't see them.\nBill Reininger, executive director of Tower Grove Park, says a stream once ran all the way through the park after the turn of the 20th century.\n\"There were three that ran through the park. The other two are daylighted right now on the west and the middle (of the park),\" Reininger said. \"So, it's going to be great to bring that third one back in and have the park look like it did a hundred years ago.\"\nBuried in 1913 for sanitary reasons in the southeast corner of the park, a series of bridges give the best sign of where the stream should be.\nTower Grove Park pavilions to receive million-dollar renovations\nA new, $2 million year-long project will unearth the stream. The 1,400-foot-long path will feature natural play-areas as well as design and an acknowledgment of the Osage people that called this area home long before St. Louis was settled in 1764.\n\"By having plant material on the sides of it it's going to add habitat for bugs and bees and birds,\" Reininger said. \"Build it and they will come, which will be really fun. We're going to have bioretention areas on it, so we're going to help with the storm mitigation of the park as well as the surrounding neighborhoods. Cause there's about 40 acres of surface that drain into this area. So, we'll help be able to treat a lot of water and help the sewer system out quite a bit.\"\nThe Crawford Taylor Foundation and members of the Taylor family are providing construction and endowment grants for the project set to bring rushing water back to the surface.\n\"You have these structures that are a part of our historical fabric that look weird,\" Reininger said. \"It's a footbridge with dirt right up next to it. So, to be able to bring that channel up to it and have the water run through them again is just really going to be splendid.\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"MICHAEL PANKOW CONSULTING, LLC\nFUNDRAISING, ADVISORY & EXECUTIVE SOLUTIONS\nHELPING YOU REALIZE YOUR VISION FOR GREATER\nSUSTAINABILITY, GROWTH & IMPACT\nMichael is a seasoned and mission-focused professional with 22 years of fundraising, capacity building and executive experience at international and U.S. domestic organizations.\nHe is the Founder and President at MICHAEL PANKOW CONSULTING, LLC a private consultancy practice designed to work with organizations of all sizes experiencing managed change\/growth situations. He also provides philanthropic advisory, management and portfolio development services to individual philanthropists, private and public foundations, and corporations.\nCurrent and previous clients include, JASA, NAMI NJ, citiesRISE, The Nest Foundation, #Stroke of Genius, Force Blue, Peace Direct , and Geneva Global.\nMichael previously served as the founding Director of the Art of Dying Institute and Director, Institutional Advancement at the New York Open Center. Prior to the Open Center, Michael worked with Strong Minds, Village Health Works, HIV Law Project, Human Rights Watch, NYU Downtown Hospital, and the Michigan Humanities Council.\nMichael lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters. He researches, writes about, and engages in the art of resilience at the individual and social level. In addition, he is a practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu - a physio-philosophy and energy healing art that empowers people to heal and 'Know Thy Self.'\nSTART UP SERVICES\nYou focus on what matters most. We will handle the rest. Together, we can realize your vision and build a sustainable impact organization.\nOwn Your Future\nNON PROFIT SERVICES\nWe will help you build your vision, identify solutions to current challenges, and navigate a transitional path toward sustained funding, growth, and programmatic impact.\nWe know what it takes to be a successful social impact organization. Whether you desire to strengthen your giving portfolio or build your recipient's capacity, Its YOUR vision. We will help you achieve it.\nChoose Smart Philanthropy\nREALIZE YOUR VISION\nTri-State Area, National & Global Solutions.\nmichael@michaelpankow.com\n\u00a9 2020 MICHAEL PANKOW CONSULTING, LLC +1 (646) 236-9115 MICHAEL@MICHAELPANKOW.COM","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Official: No evidence of shots fired at\u2026\nOfficial: No evidence of shots fired at military base\nPUBLISHED: February 19, 2016 at 1:21 p.m. | UPDATED: May 17, 2018 at 8:20 a.m.\nJOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AP) \u2014 A military official says a Virginia base was locked down after contractors working on a roof thought they heard gunshots and called 911.\nThe Daily Press of Newport News reports (http:\/\/bit.ly\/1PLUFWu ) that Col. William Galbraith told reporters that security forces investigated the report at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and did not find any indication of a shooting. He said the cause of the noise had not been determined.\nThe incident occurred about 11:30 a.m. Friday near the Soldier and Family Readiness Center. The lockdown lasted about an hour.\nLangley Air Force Base in Hampton and Fort Eustis in Newport News merged in 2010. They are separated by 17 miles.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Rydges to manage Fremantle's Esplanade Hotel\nRydges Hotels and Resorts have been appointed by Primewest to manage the 300 room Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle.\nPrimewest entered a contract to purchase the hotel in October, settlement has now occurred with Rydges taking over management of the iconic property this week.\nThe Esplanade Fremantle is one of Western Australia's major conference, corporate and leisure hotels.\nThe Rydges group plans to build on its great reputation for service and first class facilities while ensuring the property remains at the forefront of current hospitality industry trends.\nChanges set to take place over a period of time will include the introduction of Rydges Dream Beds throughout the hotel, a significant upgrade of Wi-Fi services and a renewed focus on the hotel's food and beverage offering, which is always a strong foundation in any Rydges hotel.\nRydges have appointed one of their longest serving and most senior executives to be the Hotel's new general manager. David Bornmann was previously a West Australian resident when he managed Rydges Perth and is excited to be returning home.\n\"The Esplanade is a real institution for both locals and visitors to Fremantle, so it's a fantastic property to be aligned with. We will be working hard to keep the best elements of the hotel, as well as adding some modern touches to make guests' experiences even better,\" he said.\nPrimewest is a leading Perth-based property developer with a national portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion. Properties include shopping centres, bulky retail, CBD offices, industrial and broad acre residential subdivisions. Primewest and Rydges established a relationship following the acquisition of Rydges Kalgoorlie in 2007.\nTFE to manage Gambaro Hotel\nBrisbane's Gambaro Hotel to become a TFE Hotels Collection property.\nHot hotel: Rydges Fortitude Valley\nRydges is set to open a new hotel in Brisbane in February 2016.\n8Hotels to manage Aarons Hotel Perth\n8Hotels has entered into a definitive long-term management agreement to operate a 96 room Pensione\u2026\nMantra to manage new Sydney airport hotel\nSydney Airport has announced that Mantra Group manage its new 136-room hotel.\nThe New Esplanade Hotel to be remodelled\nA team of architects and designers have been commissioned to remodel The New Esplanade Hotel\u2026\nThe 140-year-old venue has been renovated and expanded to offer more event spaces and public\u2026\nesplanade-hotels-groups\nprimewest\nrydges\nwestern-australia-conferences","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Free Delivery Worldwide on orders over $50\nPatenting & Family\nLokesh Chandra\nD.P. Chattopadhyaya\nDilip K. Chakrabarti\nJames Massey\nLalita Ramakrishna\nChowkhamba Sanskrit Series\nSatapitaka Series\nIGNCA Rock Art Series\nHistory of Science, Philosophy and Culture\nSale Today\nFast & Free Delivery Worldwide on orders over $50.00\nMembership Bagchee Membership\nSave extra 10% everyday\nTrusted Since 1990 Read our Story\nPreview now\nSudhir K Gupta (Author) P V Guharaj (Author)\nFirst published in 1982, Forensic Medicine has been a trusted book of reference, not only for students of medicine, but also for law enforcement agencies in India. Since the last edition of this book, the field of medicine, as with any science, has evolved significantly with the advent of technology; the legislation in India too has undergone a great deal of change with several new laws being passed and numerous amendments being made to the existing ones. The third edition of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology has been fortified to make it an up-to-date source of reference for students of medicine. It contains several clinical case studies that have been provided by the author, drawn from his own experiences at AIIMS, New Delhi. Numerous photographs and illustrations have also been included in this edition to help the reader visualise concepts better. The book is intended for undergraduate students of medicine but should also be a useful guide to forensic medicine for postgraduate students, medical practitioners, lawyers, police officers and members of the judiciary.\nContents: Preface to the Third Edition. Preface to the First Edition. Section I. Forensic Medicine: 1. Introduction and history. 2. Legal procedures in India and abroad. 3. The medical council of India, medical ethics and negligence. 4. Personal identity. 5. Death: diagnosis and postmortem changes. 6. The medico-legal autopsy and related procedures. 7. Examination of mutilated bodies, skeletal human remains and exhumation. 8. Mass disasters. 9. Sudden and unexpected death. 10. Mechanical and firearm injuries. 11. Regional injuries. 12. Road traffic, railway and aircraft accidents. 13. Medico-legal aspects of wounds. 14. Thermal, electrical and radiation injuries. 15. Asphyxial deaths. 16. Decompression and altitude sickness. 17. Sexual offences and paraphilias. 18. Virginity, pregnancy, delivery and abortion. 19. Impotence, sterility and artificial insemination. 20. Infanticide, battered baby and sudden infant death syndrome. 21. Forensic psychiatry. 22. Blood, semen and other biological materials. 23. Death from starvation. 24 death and complications in the operation theatre. 25. Medicolegal aspects of AIDS. Section II. Toxicology: 26. General toxicology. 27. Corrosive poisons. 28. Heavy metal poisoning. 29. Agricultural poisons. 30. Poisonous plants. 31. Poisonous snakes and arthropods. 32. Drugs of intoxication and dependence. 33. Irrespirable gases. 34. Food poisoning. Appendices. Index.\n51.30 46.17 $ 57.00 $\nFree delivery Wolrdwid\u0435 in 10-18 days Ships in 10-18 days from New Delhi Membership for 1 Year $35.00\nGet it now and save 10%\nMembers SAVE 10% every day\nP V Guharaj\nP V Guharaj, MRCP (Edin), MRCP (Glasg), FRCP (Glasg), Formerly, Director of Kozhikode Medical College, Kerala Sudhir K Gupta, MBBS (Gold Medal), MD (BHU), DNB, MNAMS, FICS (Chicago) Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.\nPerfect Repertory of Mind\nCare of the Unborn Child with Yoga: A Handbook of Theory, Practice and Application of Yoga\nThe Life and Works of Dr. Anna Sarah Kugler\nReviews in total\nTitle\tForensic Medicine and Toxicology\nAuthor\tSudhir K Gupta\nFormat\tSoftcover\nDate published:\t13.08.2019\nEdition\t3rd ed.\nPublisher\tUniversities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd.\nlength\t736p.\nSubjects Medical > Medicine\n4386\/4A Ansari Road\nTrace an Order\nItem added to your cart Your book added succesfully to your cart\nBecome a member $ 35.00\nKeep Browsing Proceed to checkout\nItem added to your wishlist Product added succesfully to your cart\nThis product is already added to your wishlist\nKeep Browsing Proceed to wishlist\nAdd to cart Buy now Add to wishlist\nMembership for 1 Year\nCancel Give us your opinion","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"FBI searched President Joe Biden's Delaware beach home Wednesday in classified documents investigation\nStan Wawrinka beats Mischa Zverev, retains Geneva Open title\nGENEVA (AP) \u2014 Stan Wawrinka warmed up for the French Open by retaining his home Geneva Open title on Saturday, beating Mischa Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.\nThe top-seeded Wawrinka clinched by breaking serve with a fierce forehand crosscourt pass to beat left-hander Zverev's advance to the net.\nWawrinka's first title in 2017 is the 16th of his career, and the seventh on clay including the 2015 French Open. The Swiss is the No. 3 seed at Roland Garros, and first plays the 152nd-ranked Josef Kovalik of Slovakia.\nVictory against the 33rd-ranked Zverev avenged a loss when Wawrinka last faced him, at the previous Swiss event on tour in Basel in October.\n\"I would have hated you if you had beaten me in two tournaments,\" Wawrinka quipped to his opponent in the post-match ceremonies.\nZverev, who came through qualifying, still seeks a first career title at age 29. The Russia-born German's second runner-up finish comes more than six years after his first, at Metz, France.\n\"It was a long week for me,\" Zverev said. \"I have never expected to be in a final in a clay-court tournament.\"\nUsing serve-and-volley skills too rarely seen in modern tennis, Zverev took control of the first set after he and Wawrinka traded three straight breaks of serve.\nZverev served for the set at 5-3, and trailed 0-30 before reeling off four straight points including two volley winners.\nWawrinka quickly found trouble to begin the second set, then rallied from 0-40 down to hold serve and forced a break in the next game.\nZverev saved two set points when trailing 5-2 on his serve and made Wawrinka serve out for the set.\nIn the decider, Wawrinka put constant pressure on Zverev's serve and clinched with a third break.\nZverev has earned the No. 32 seeding at the French Open, which begins on Sunday, and could play defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Film Review: The Visitor (1979)\nThe Visitor is a very different animal where Italian horror films are concerned. It's not a giallo or an offshoot of giallo like The Black Cat or Argento's Three Mothers series. It's not a zombie film at the least. I'd describe it as fitting closer to Italian Satanic horror films \u2013 films inspired by or seeking to mimic Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Omen, and other similar films. These films rely less on plot cohesion and more on mood and tone. It doesn't quite matter if the motivations of the characters are clearly spelled out or the narrative beats are coherent so long as the emotional beats are.\nThis is as much through a deliberate artistic choice as through necessity \u2013 with the way the Italian film industry works, actors do their performances in their native language and are then overdubbed in the language of the country the film is released in (English, Italian, etc.). The lines of native actors from that country stay with the original actors' performances, while the rest is dubbed. This, combined with the fact that often the crews on these films don't necessarily speak English well, means that the performances in these films can be something of a mixed bag. This is the case here.\nThe plot of The Visitor, as much as there is one, is a mix in particular of Rosemary's Baby and The Omen, with a side of SF. In the ancient past, an alien criminal named Zateen came to Earth, pursued by an alien space cop \u2013 Yahweh. However, Zateen sired many children before his defeat, and he's been able to bind his spirit to his bloodline, occasionally emerging through psychically gifted people to wreck havoc. We're told this by a Christ-like figure (played by an uncredited Franco Nero), to a group of bald-headed children, looking almost like members of a cult \u2013 if we hadn't previously seen an image of Jerzy Colsowicz (John Huston) walking through a psychedelic desert, and seeing an image of Zateen's latest host \u2013 a young girl. Nero's character (possibly YHWH himself), sends Jerzy to face Zateen's latest host and their followers.\nThis sets up the main plot of the story \u2013 the young girl, Katy (Paige Conner), wrecks havoc with a rage beyond her years, as a group of Zateen's followers works to grow the power of their master and bring his reincarnation by getting Katy's mother pregnant with a son, whose incestuous offspring with Katy will be Zateen's reincarnation. Meanwhile, Jerzy and a group of bald-headed followers work to flush out Zateen's followers and to soften up Katy so they can remove the evil from her.\nIt's kind of weird how this film is shot \u2013 Jerzy and his supporters are depicted in the same sort of shadowy manner that would almost be sinister if it weren't for the fact that the film set up that they're working for YHWH \u2013 while Katy is acting, straight up, like she's effectively already the host for Satan (or Satan's proxy). Lance Hendriksen plays a young member of the Zateenists, tasked with siring a son with Katy's mother, Barbara.\nJoanne Nail plays Barbara and, aside from Paige Connor, she is the standout role in the film. She is playing a woman who is suddenly thrust into a horrible situation that keeps getting worse and worse as the film goes on. And then there's John Huston as Jerzy. Considering my introduction to Huston was as the voice of Gandalf from the Ranken-Bass Tolkien adaptations, considering the time of this film's release, and considering that Huston is playing a white-haired, bearded, paternal man, who is apparently something like an Angel, I can't help but imagine Huston having read the script not long after reading The Lord of the Rings, and deciding that he's going to play Jerzy like Gandalf, since the Maiar are Tolkien's version of Angels.\nThe film's visuals are also good \u2013 it's clear that the director, Giulio Paradisi \u2013 did a lot of location shooting in Atlanta to build up the city's role in the film, and it gives the movie a vibe that other Italian horror films set in the US don't have. The internal sets are also very nicely done. I also appreciate the use of a Pong clone in a scene between Huston and Connor as a visual representation of the verbal sparring the two characters are taking part in.\nAll in all, while I enjoyed the film, I also recognize that part of the roots of my enjoyment of the film is also with the recognition that this is a movie that is very different than how we view horror films, especially in comparison with American and British horror films. If you put your focus on the visuals, you'll get a much better experience than if you were expecting a film that is totally narratively coherent.\nThe Visitor is available from Amazon.com for streaming (either as a rental or through the Shudder streaming channel), on Blu-Ray, or on DVD. Buying anything through those links helps to support the site.\nIf you enjoyed this review and would like to read future reviews up to a week early, please consider backing my Patreon. Backers get reviews up to a week early.\nOr you can just toss a few bucks in my Ko-Fi Jar if you want to help out but the Patreon isn't a viable option\n1970s in film\non October 28, 2018 September 22, 2018 <\/a\tby Alexander Case\nPrev Post: Film Review: Altered Space\nNext Post: Let's Play Super Robot Wars V: Part 131 \u2013 Spies Like Us","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"10 Twitter Accounts To Follow If You Want To Be A Global HBCU Citizen\n\"A little exposure to a city like Sulaimani will help Trump understand that the Middle East is a much more complex place than he seems to believe. Perhaps Trump could even give a speech at the American University in Sulaimani, just as President Obama did at Cairo University early in his first term.\" \u2013 Peter Bergen\nToday, more and more HBCU students and alumni are embracing the passport. Traveling abroad has become even more of a priority as a mixture of factors that range from value being placed on experiences over material possessions, heightened frustration with the cultural climate in the US, and simply more exposure to the benefits. Beyond travel, more than a few HBCU alumni have become expats and taking careers abroad opening a whole new world of opportunity. Whether one chooses to travel or work abroad, we are now in a world where having a global perspective is paramount.\nHow does one go about learning how to understand the world from truly global perspective? The most sure fire way is to read and consume perspectives from around the world. This is not to be confused with reading about the world from only a US perspective. That is to say, reading about East Africa on CNN, MSNBC, or Fox is vastly different than reading about East Africa from an actual East African publication.\nAs such, we have comprised ten Twitter account can get you on the road to truly becoming the HBCU global citizen who not only trek's the world, but understands its intricacies.\n@OurWorldInData\nAn online publication that presents empirical research and data that show how living conditions around the world are changing. The web publication on global development uses interactive data visualisations (charts and maps) to present the research findings on development that explain the causes and consequences of the observed changes. (Wikipedia)\n@The_EastAfrican\nThe EastAfrican is circulated in Kenya and the other countries of the African Great Lakes region, including Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. It contains stories and in-depth analysis from each country in the region, in addition to international stories. (Wikipedia)\n@ChinaDailyUSA\nA Beijing, China based paper that is considered one of China's more liberal news outlets, like almost all media in the country is state run. Its importance can not be understated as it is one of many vessels of communication for the world's number two superpower and its views.\n@ForeignAffairs\nAn American magazine of international relations and U.S. foreign policy published by the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. (Wikipedia)\n@IanBremmer\nThe president and founder of Eurasia Group, the leading global political risk research and consulting firm. He is credited with bringing the craft of political risk to financial markets\u2014he created Wall Street's first global political risk index (GPRI)\u2014and for establishing political risk as an academic discipline. His definition of emerging markets\u2014\"those countries where politics matters at least as much as economics for market outcomes\"\u2014has become an industry standard. \"G-Zero,\" his term for a global power vacuum in which no country is willing and able to set the international agenda, is widely accepted by policymakers and thought leaders. (Eurasia Group)\n@SecurityScholar\nNatalie Sambhi is a Research Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre where she publishes on Indonesian foreign and defence policy as well as Southeast Asian security. She was most recently an Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) from 2012 to 2016 and Managing Editor of ASPI's blog, The Strategist. She worked previously at the Department of Defence and University of Canberra. (Security Scholar)\n@Ipeaonline\nThe (Brazilian) think tank's main goals are the following evaluate and propose essential public policies and programs to improve the social, economic and structural development of the country; formulate prospective studies to guide development strategies for medium and long-term outcomes; assist the Brazilian federal government in its aim to improve the efficiency of its decisions; and contribute to the improvement of the public debate related to the country's development endeavors and government actions. (Ipea.gov)\n@ChathamHouse\nThe Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House, is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. (Wikipedia)\n@JapanTimes\nThe Japan Times was launched by Motosada Zumoto on March 22, 1897, with the goal of giving Japanese an opportunity to read and discuss news and current events in English to help Japan to participate in the international community. (Wikipedia)\nOften forgotten as an aspect of global and international affairs, geography plays a significant role in the way countries, nations, and cultures interact with each other. This publication gives insight to geography, culture, and nature that shape many nations.\nConnect with us on Twitter at @HBCUMoney and let us know what you are reading to help shape your global world.\nPosted in Lifestyle\nTagged brazil, chatham house, china daily, hardly home, ian bremmer, ipea brasil, japan times, national geographic, our world in data, study abroad\nLiving & Teaching Abroad: Xavier University (LA) Alumna Britney Francis Conquers Beijing\nThere has been a recent revelation in the past five years that African Americans need to get out and explore the world. The passport has become the new IT thing to have among African America's young and educated. Adding to that reality is that more and more college students must set themselves apart in a more competitive global workforce. One sure way to do that is to show that you have the ability to go anywhere and be successful, especially if it means going some place out of your comfort zone. If adding tools to your tool chest is what sets you apart, then studying abroad during your undergraduate years gives you one mean hammer to swing. It also presents some amazing career opportunities upon graduation if you are willing to take the chance. HBCU Money caught up with Britney Francis, an alumna of Xavier University (LA), who is conquering the classroom in the capital of arguably the world's number two superpower \u2013 China.\nHow did the opportunity arise for you to live and teach in Beijing, China?\nBy May 2016, I was unfulfilled, disillusioned and dissatisfied with life, particularly with my job. I had also been going through a health issue that had been going on for nearly 3 years at the time. Feeling like I needed real change, I was inspired by a friend from high school who had gotten a teaching job in Dubai. I had started to come around to the idea of teaching, and had started studying to test for an acceleration program that helps people become teachers \u2014 who had degrees in other specialties besides education. I had my sights set on becoming a high school history teacher in Houston. I had also been mentoring kids at the juvenile justice center and felt it was time to get into the classroom to find other ways to reach the youth. So I figured, \"hey \u2014 maybe I can also teach abroad particularly next year or the following year\". I thought I would do myself a service by gaining experience in the States before taking the show abroad. I was interested in Japan and started to do research. For some reason, it seemed much harder to get to Japan (which wasn't true but you don't know what you don't know). Then I started to see posts from China. After researching for a few weeks on various job boards, I came across a job ad for an education company called Education First, based in China. What made me pull the trigger was getting written up at my job for performance issues (and my health stuff, if you wanna keep it a buck. My manager had told me that all I had been going through was \"impacting the business\" \u2013 whatever that means). I was so bored and disgusted; the place was no doubt a dead-end job. My work and my health continued to suffer and I was listening to podcasts at my desk all day\u2026 anything to escape. I had applied at a charter school at the recommendation of a friend. I had written an elaborate essay but received a response almost immediately saying they would \"keep my application on file\". Something inside me told me to change a few of the words around and apply to the same company I had seen in China days before. So I did, and by the end of that week I had the job and was set to arrive in Beijing by September. PERFECT timing!\nHow do you believe going to an HBCU and XULA in particular prepared you for being an expatriate?\nOne thing I always say is that being HBCU alum prepared me for life in a way I feel no other school could have. I learned so much about myself at my HBCU and my sense of Black pride strengthened. Being a Xavier student during the year Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans is what particularly made me strong. It made all of us strong. We had faith in our school and returned to the city five months after the storm hit. Houses were destroyed, there was mold everywhere. The city was crippled and the students\/admin kept it pushing. Hell, all schools in the NOLA area did the same thing. Most of us that returned after the storm have graduated and have moved on to do great things in our lives.\nLiving in a place like China where most people you encounter are ignorant and inherently racist, I feel that what I've experienced prior to now gave me tough skin. But not to say it's the all bad. For every ignorant person, there are a million more kind, giving, and helpful people here as well. The mindset, cultural and societal norms here are SOOO different.\nAs an educator, what are some differences and conversely similarities you have noticed between the education systems of China in comparison to the United States?\nBeing that my teaching experience is only limited to my time here in China I can't speak too much on the American side as I haven't seen it from the eyes of a teacher. But I will say that certain teaching methods I've tried to use on my older students were frowned upon, especially in instances where I tried to make my classes fun (for my high school students). Things that I know worked for me as a student or methods I've researched can sometimes be overridden as you're expected to adapt to the \"Chinese way\" and not have much say-so in the matter.\nChinese students don't have lives of your typical American teenager. They are groomed to study 7 days a week and get LOADS of homework. On weekends, they study, sleep and play on their computers. They don't have social lives, and hardly date. Emphasis is placed on math and science more than other subject areas. And I've found that most parents here will pressure their kids to be successful, to the point where they are depressed and often unsure of themselves. I've even had parents ask me \"how can my son\/daughter be better?\" with an overall class score of 99 and rated highest in the entire class. On the other side, there's also a bit of denial when it comes to things like learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.\nDo you have a favorite memory thus far in your time there?\nMost of my favorite memories involve my students, present and old. Children are so amazing and smart and I've become emotionally attached to nearly all of my students. It's very hard saying goodbye to students when new opportunities arise and it's time to move on to a new school (or they move on to a new school). My other favorite memories involve all the friends I've made here and especially the trips I've taken. Living here has afforded me opportunities to travel that I didn't have before and it's been amazing. So far, I've been to Thailand, S. Korea, Hong Kong, and a few interesting cities around China. I have so many other places to see before I pack up and head back home.\nBeing African-American in China, what has that particular part of the experience been like for you?\nHonestly, it can be a bit frustrating. It can go either two ways: either people are deathly afraid of you or WAY too curious\/friendly\/unable to respect boundaries. Being Black in China, you can expect people to take pictures of you without your permission. It's cute at first \u2013 until after you've been here a few months, you had a long day at work and just trying to get home to your bed. Seeing someone sneaking a picture of you like you're a zoo exhibit can be angering. Also, people don't have concepts of boundaries and personal space. With there being 20+ million people in bigger cities, there's not much room for you to breathe and people like to touch your hair or try to rub your skin to see if the black comes off. I try not to fault most people for it because they are conditioned and they simply don't know much about the world outside of China. They also assume any black person they see is from Africa\u2026 and when you don't know the language you can't explain to them how the Diaspora works. It's just a LOT of ignorance. For me personally, in work spaces and social spaces, I require respect from everybody I interact with, language barrier be damned. It's the only way I can cope with what goes on around here.\nWe know you can not prepare for everything prior to living abroad, but is there something you wish you had known in particular prior to your move?\nNo. Besides bringing enough black hair care products and make-up that matches your tone to last you a while, there's nothing I think I could have been told prior that would have made much of a difference. Everyone's experience is different. You could ask another person to talk about their experiences and they may LOVE it here, or hate it with their entire being. I like that I was given the opportunity to come here and be out of my comfort zone. Everything I've learned about myself and the world thus far has only enhanced my personal growth. I am a different person than I was in September 2016 and I can only continue to soar from here. I'm still very happy about my decision to move here.\nTell us about one of your fondest HBCU memories while at XULA?\nGraduation day. Enough said.\nBritney Francis is an English teacher from southern Louisiana by way of Houston, TX. She has a bachelors degree in Communications from Xavier University of Louisiana, with a concentration in public relations and speech communication. She is currently working as a kindergarten teacher in Beijing, China. She is passionate about travel, sports, and children's causes.\nFollow her experiences via Twitter at @britneyisland\nTagged beijing, britney francis, china, study abroad, teaching, xavier university, XULA","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"West Virginia University School of Medicine\nHealth Sciences Maps & Directions\nWVU announces details on residence hall return and COVID-19 testing for spring semester. The Return to Campus website continues to have updates about WVU's fall plans. Visit coronavirus.wvu.edu and CDC.gov for health resources related to the global pandemic.\nPathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine\nWho can use Tissue Bank services?\nMembers of West Virginia University who have NIH funding have top priority for obtaining our services. However, all West Virginia University researchers, as well as those collaborating from outside institutions, can request tissue from the Tissue Bank for valid research purposes. Tissue obtained from the Tissue Bank may not be distributed to third parties. The Tissue Bank technologists will work with each investigator to maximize the value of the tissue for a particular scientific study. There are minimal costs for Tissue Bank Services and project approval is subject to review by the Tissue Bank Board of Directors:\nJohn B. Barnett Ph.D. (Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology)\nChristopher Cuff, Ph.D. (MBRCC)\nLaura F. Gibson, Ph.D. (Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology)\nMichael Ruppert, M.D., Ph.D. (Biochemistry)\nMatthew Smolkin, M.D. (Pathology)\nAcknowledging the Tissue Bank in Publications and Grants\nWe ask that investigators acknowledge the contributions made by the Tissue Bank in all publications resulting from the use of these tissues. Recommended wording be as follows: \"Tissue for this project was provided by the West Virginia University Tissue Bank.\"\nPlease mention the related surgery department and \/ or the WVU Department of Pathology in publications as well. In some cases consulting and collaborating with the surgeon \/ pathologist involved is recommended. The assistance and contribution of these departments is crucial.\nPoint of Contact and Questions\nJacqueline Karakiozis, BS\nTechnical Specialist, Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine\nView Jacqueline Karakiozis's Profile\nSend Jacqueline Karakiozis an Email\nBack to Tissue Bank\nAbstracting\nTissue Procurement FAQs\nAnatomy Research\nOur Employee Hub\nWVU Medicine\n64 Medical Center Drive\n\u00a9 2021 West Virginia University. WVU is an EEO\/Affirmative Action employer \u2014 Minority\/Female\/Disability\/Veteran.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Fourth of July events\nUpdated: June 26, 2008, 5 a.m.\nCelebrate upcoming Fourth of July with fireworks and barbecues\n4th of July in Dahlonega, Dahlonega. Community reading of The Constitution, formal flag raising, Appalachian music, arts and crafts and a fireworks display. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 4, Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site and North Georgia College & State University, downtown Dahlonega. Free. 706-864-3513.\nIndependence Day at Vogel, Blairsville. Flag-raising ceremony, bicycle parade, sand castle building and other games. Begins 8:30 a.m. July 4, Vogel State Park, 7485 Vogel State Park Road, Blairsville. $3 parking. 706-745-2628.\n4th of July Celebration and Barbecue, Gainesville. Softball and other games. 4 to 8 p.m. July 4, Bethel United Methodist Church, 900 Mill St. SE, Gainesville. 770-536-3029.\nFourth of July Festival, Dahlonega. Pig roast, live music, wine, grape-stomping contest, bocce ball tournament and fireworks. 3 to 9 p.m. July 4 and 5, Montaluce Estates and Vineyard, 501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega. Pig roast: $10 adults, $6 children. Free to attend. Bocce ball players should bring bocce balls. 800-251-4385.\nJuly 4th Mountain Style, Helen. Watermelon seed spitting contest, sack races and relays. July 4-6, Unicoi State Park & Lodge, 1788 Ga. 3356, Helen. $3 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.\nPatriotic Pastimes, Dawsonville. Live music, old-fashioned games, hayrides and animal programs. July 4-6: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, $3 parking. 706-265-1969.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The current score is Nicholas Sparks: Two, Audience: Zero. At least that's how it feels this year as the \"it-man\" of tearjerker romances rakes in the bucks from not one, but TWO movie adaptations of his novels. Kleenex sales skyrocket and IQ's plummet as we flock with packs of girlfriends (or whipped boyfriends) to the theatre for a good cry. But is it really that simple? Can we be so easily manipulated by Dear John letters one month and Miley Cyrus' Last Song the next?\nThe answer lies in the packed theatre I was sitting in \u2013 every seat sold out and not a dry eye in the house (except perhaps mine, but I'm heartless). In The Last Song Miley Cyrus plays Ronnie, a rebellious sixteen year old brat forced to spend the summer in a beach town with her sweet father (Greg Kinnear), who she resents since her parents separated. She wears the uniform of rebellious teens \u2013 heavy eye make-up and combat boots. Her little brother, in a terrible performance by an irksome Bobby Coleman, is over-eager to the point of looking psychotic in every scene.\nWhen Ronnie meets Will, the town do-gooder (Liam Hemsworth), she resists his charm at first but eventually is sucked in by his blonde tips and cut abs. Actually, they share a common bond of being good people who are allowing their families to dictate their lives; Will by doing what his parents want, and Ronnie by doing the opposite. They share many strictly above the waist romantic moments, and many illogical and irritating arguments. Ronnie is an emotional rollercoaster who is continuously either madly in love or spitting mad for no reason.\nThen tragedy strikes. Did you forget that this is a Nicholas Sparks story? If we learned one thing from The Notebook, or Message in a Bottle it's that tragedy is inevitable.\nMiley's performance is surprisingly not terrible during the sad parts but when she's happy she falls back into Hannah Montana overacting \u2013 beaming her toothy grin from ear to ear. Greg Kinnear is charming as always and goes a long way towards improving the film. The story is the most unfortunate thing about The Last Song, being way too predictable and far too contrived as a tear-jerker.\nSIDEBAR NOTES:\nThis is the first time Nicholas Sparks actually adapted his own novel into a screenplay.\nMiley Cyrus' first movie appearance was in Tim Burton's Big Fish.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"14 of the Best Goa Beach Huts\nYour Trip to Goa: The Complete Guide\nTop Places to Visit in Goa\n72 Hours in Goa\nDay Trips From Goa\nBest Beaches\nYoga Retreats and Wellness Resorts\nTop Restaurants in Goa\nNightlife in Goa\nGoa Dabolim International Airport Guide\nBest Goa Beach Huts\nIndia Goa\nSpecial Goa Huts for a Relaxing Beach Vacation\nSharell Cook\nAnja Baecker\/Getty Images\nOur editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products and services; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.\nGoa beach huts are a popular alternative to hotels in Goa. Most of them can be found in south Goa, particularly Agonda, Palolem, and Patnem beaches. You'll also find a few on the less developed north Goa beaches, such as the Arambol to Morjim stretch.\nRead: Goa Beach Guide, Which Beach is Best for You?\nUnfortunately, the beach huts are no longer cheap places to stay though. Rates have been jumping substantially every year, and it's a case of paying for location, location, location. Compared to what you'd get at a hotel for the same price, facilities are minimal. Part of the reason is because the huts have to be pulled down every year and reconstructed for the season, which runs from around November to May.\nThese Goa huts all offer something a little more special than others in their areas.\nDwarka Eco Beach Resort, Cola\nDwarka Goa\nSee rates on TripAdvisor\nParadise found is the first thing that comes to mind at exclusive Dwarka Eco Beach Resort. Tranquility and seclusion abound with 10 stylish cottages, set amid a private sprawling palm grove that borders a lagoon right next to the ocean. Nature is a focus and it's as idyllic as it sounds! To get there, you have to drive through villages and down a dirt road. The location is little-known Cola beach (not to be mistaken with Colva beach) in south Goa, with the closest beaches being Agonda and Benaulim. Expect to pay 12,000 per night, for a double. The rate includes breakfast, lunch, evening tea\/cookies and dinner.\nPalm Grove Beach Resort, Ashwem\nSharell Cook.\nPalm Grove Beach Resort consists of 20 gorgeous bamboo bungalow huts, in two locations (Palm Grove and Little Palm Grove) only a few minutes walk apart. They're stylish and comfortable, and come with king size bed, porch, and hammock. Some are air-conditioned. Little Palm Grove only has six of the huts (some of which have perfect sea views!), and is much quieter. It's not suitable for young children under 12. There's a restaurant at Palm Grove that serves healthy and tasty food on the premises. The location, at hip Ashwem beach (between Morjim and Mandrem), is one of the most peaceful places in north Goa. Yet, it's close enough to more lively Arambol in case you've had enough relaxing and feel like some entertainment. Expect to pay 10,800 rupees per night upwards for a double, including tax and breakfast.\nYab Yum Resort, Ashwem\nYab Yum Resort is a true oasis right by Ashwem beach. The accommodations (14 eco-friendly \"domes\" and five cottages) are spread over the leafy two acre property, affording peace and privacy. Each dome has its own individual outside space for dining or lazing in a hammock. The Honey Pod and Suite Pod are particularly secluded near the ocean. There's a health and wellness focus, with Ayurvedic massages, yoga and fresh organic food. You definitely won't go hungry staying there! The only negative is that the domes don't front the beach or have sea views. Expect to pay around 7,000 rupees per night for a standard dome, including a substantial breakfast and taxes.\nBeach Street Resort, Mandrem\nBeach Street Resort\nWant to stay in a reasonably-priced yet quality beach hut on a quiet stretch of beach, and also have facilities such as swimming pool, wellness spa, yoga and renowned restaurant? Beach Street Resort is ideal. It has prime position bang on Mandrem beach, which is next to now super popular and busy Arambol. What makes it so outstanding is that it's an ancestral property, with the main building (that houses the swimming pool and spa) constructed way before coastal regulations were introduced. This means it's the only permanent structure on the beach in the area. Interestingly, the property had various incarnations including a prawn hatchery before being turned into a landmark beach resort. The huts are really well designed, and the bathrooms quite spectacular. In addition to regular huts, there are six \"duplex\" huts for families and friends traveling together, which is handy. What's also impressive is that the huts are located in a special \"quiet zone\", so that guests are aware to keep noise to a minimum and not disturb others. The property's Lazy Dog restaurant is known for its great food and cocktails (and if you're thinking the name sounds familiar, it also has a branch in Old Manali in Himachal Pradesh). Rates start from 3,500 rupees per night for a basic hut for two people.\nContinue to 5 of 14 below.\nJamboree Creek, Ashwem\nJamboree Creek\nTrue to its name, Jamboree is more like a gathering or community than a hotel. The focus is on eco-friendly living, and the architecturally-designed wooden huts (which are more like cabins) are nestled into a lush garden. The attached bathrooms are particularly stunning, with open-air showers, and earthy colored mud walls. The property is a five minute walk to a deserted beach along a private path, or just lounge around the swimming pool. There are daily yoga classes, sunset drum circles, and permaculture workshops. You'll love the inclusive vibe there! Rates start from 2,500 rupees per night for a non-air conditioned cottage in October. Expect to pay 3,500 rupees per night upwards during the tourist season.\nL'Amore Beach Cottages, Ashwem\nL'Amore Beach Cottages\nPossibly the most popular deluxe bamboo huts on Ashwem beach, L'Amore is ideally positioned and has a wide range of accommodations to choose from, including family cottages. The huts are calmly situated on the sand dunes, away from the crowds, and encircled palm trees. Some are air-conditioned and have sea views. The property also has a cafe, spa, and great staff. Plus, the huts are reasonably priced. Rates start from around 4,000 rupees per night.\nLittle India Beach Cottages, Baga\nLittle India Beach Cottages\nBusy Baga beach may conjure up images of package tourists on sun loungers. However, Little India is a hidden gem that offers a delightfully different experience away from the masses! There are six impeccable boutique cottages set in a private garden with its own walkway to the beach. They've been designed to reflect India's heritage, and are thoughtfully decorated with arts and crafts. Expect to pay about 4,200 rupees per night, including breakfast.\nTurtle Hill, Patnem\nTurtle Hill has what are undoubtedly the most glamorous beach huts at Patnem (and perhaps the whole of Goa). Four of them are located right on the beach and six are on top of the hill at the far northern end of the beach. The hill bungalows are spread over two floors, with the bedroom and bathroom on the top floor, and lounge room with sofa and sunbed on the bottom. Their balconies look out across the ocean and their designer interiors look like they belong in a magazine. Not surprising really, because they've been styled by German designer Bernd Slotta. Rates from 6,000 rupees per night for the beach bungalows and 9,500 rupees per night for the hill bungalows.\nKala Bahia, Colomb\nKala Bahia\nThis little-known gem is tucked away between Palolem and Patnem beaches in South Goa. It has seven huts, some made of stone and the others made of wood, positioned along the edge of the ocean. When the tide is in, none of them are further than 10 meters from the water. Bliss! All the huts have newly-appointed private bathrooms and solar heated hot water. One is a family room that can accommodate four people. Wellness is a focus, with daily weekday morning yoga and meditation classes held. There's a restaurant on the property that serves healthy meals too. Expect to pay around 3,500 rupees per night upwards for a double.\nSimrose, Agonda\nSimrose\nSimrose is ideally positioned in the center of Agonda beach, and has two types of beach huts to suit all budgets. There are eight spacious luxury sea view huts and six standard huts to choose from, plus rooms and stone cottages. Rates start from around 4,300 rupees for a garden hut. Expect to pay 6,700 rupees upwards per night for a luxury seafront hut. Rooms are cheaper, from 2,500 rupees per night. Simrose also has a healthy restaurant that serves as much food from organic farms as possible, and its own yoga shala under the palm trees. You'll find plenty of hammocks and loungers to relax in around the property as well.\nAgonda Cottages, Agonda\nAgonda Cottages\nAgonda Cottages has the same owners as the highly regarded Agonda White Sands and was opened in 2013. It offers 14 luxury thatched Balinese-style cottages located towards the quiet southern end of the beach. Not all cottages are beach facing, but they're huge (compared to other beach huts) and beautifully built with tiled floors and painted walls. Each has a private semi open-air bathroom, solar heated hot water, spring mattress, wardrobe, tables, fan, fresh flowers, and quality furnishings. The property also has a restaurant and bar that serves authentic Indian and European cuisine. Expect to pay about 5,000 rupees per night upwards for a cottage.\nThe Bay, Agonda\nThe Bay is situated near where the river meets the beach at the north of Agonda, making it really quiet (and perfect for romance, or for those who want to get away from it all). The property has a handful of exquisite sea view villa huts right on the beach, as well as remote river-side cottages surrounded by greenery. There's also a restaurant in each location. The elevated Tree Top Tava restaurant overlooks the ocean and is a superb place to enjoy mesmerizing sunsets with a cocktail. The only drawback is that it's necessary to take a boat to reach the beach from the river (or ride a scooter). Expect to pay 5,500 rupees per night upwards.\nContinue to 13 of 14 below.\nThe Art Resort, Palolem\nThe Art Resort\nExpect something different at the groovy Art Resort at the southern end of Palolem beach. It has Indian and Austrian management, which means European standards of cleanliness and a welcoming Indian atmosphere. The resort's 15 spacious cottages, painted and decorated in uplifting bright colors, are adorable. Each has its own patio, hot water, European mattresses, and air conditioning. As can be expected from the name, art is a focus at the resort. It operates a non-profit art gallery in its restaurant, where young Indian artists can showcase their works. The restaurant serves fine Indian and European cuisine, and the Chill Out Bar a selection of fresh juices and expertly mixed cocktails. There's often live music. Rates start from around 6,000 rupees per night.\nIn addition, families will love The Art Resort's new property, Art Prive, situated directly behind it. It has four large cottages with a bedroom, small living room, and a private bathtub on the porch!\nCuba Premium Beach Huts, Palolem\nCuba Goa Group\nThe very popular Cuba Beach Bungalows (part of the Cuba Goa Group, which also has beach huts at Patnem and Agonda) offers a wide range of colorful huts (some with air conditioning) set in a semi-circle shape, so all huts get at least some view of the beach. The location is on the central part of Palolem beach, and staff are friendly and helpful. The crowd is predominantly young and up for a good time, and there's a bar on the premises close to the huts, so do take that into consideration when deciding whether to stay here. The vibe is definitely one of fun. Rates start from around 3,600 rupees per night and increase dramatically during December-January. They are pricier than many standard huts, but Cuba's justification is the range of services provided.\n6 Popular Tourist Places to Visit in Goa\nVisiting South Goa? Read this Essential Guide\nWhat to Expect at the Different Beaches of Goa\nLooking for the Perfect Chill Out Beach in Goa? Try Agonda\nRelax at Little-Known Marari Beach Near the Kerala Backwaters\n9 Ideal Places to Stay on Havelock Island for All Budgets\n14 of the Hottest Clubs, Bars and Beach Shacks in Goa\n12 Irresistible Luxury Private Villas in Goa for Groups\n15 Cheap and Good Places to Stay in Goa\n12 Rejuvenating Yoga Retreats and Wellness Resorts in Goa\n8 Secluded Beach Stays in India (and, they're not in Goa)\n12 Hotels in Pondicherry Near the Beach for All Budgets\n8 Luxurious Eco Resorts in India With Stunning Settings\n13 Top Villa Hotels in Goa: Book One Room or the Whole Property\n6 Top Resorts in Mahabalipuram for a Beach Getaway near Chennai\n10 Atmospheric Homestays in Goa to Experience Life Like a Local\n17 Serene Farmstays to Get Back to Nature in India","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Ealing Hospital\nRugby players from Ealing Trailfinders pay children's hospital ward a visit\nPlayers from Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club handed presents to children with serious illnesses at Ealing Hospital on Monday (December 7)\nDavid Rivers\nFrom left to right: Nathan Buck, Father Christmas, in patient, Bruno and George Porter\nChristmas is supposed to be the highlight of a child's year - but some will instead spend the festive season battling serious illness from a hospital bed.\nSo in a bid to bring a smile to those less fortunate, children at Ealing Hospital were given a dose of festive cheer following a visit from rugby players at Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club.\nCaptain Danny Kenny and team mates Nathan Buck, Alun Walker and George Porter visited the Charlie Chaplin ward to hand out rugby balls and club teddy bears as presents.\nKenny said: \"It was good to get our and spread some festive cheer.\n\"We know that many of the children are fighting hard against some serious illnesses, so if we can put a smile on their face, even for a short time then it makes our visit worthwhile.\n\"It was also good to find out about the vital care that the Charlie Chaplin ward provides out and to meet the staff who carry out some outstanding work.\"\nThey were joined on the day by club mascot Bruno the Bear and Father Christmas, making the visit the third in as many years.\nThe Charlie Chaplin ward is one of the leading child medical centres in London offering care to up to 20 children.\nEaling Trailfinders RFC","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Native Plant Society of New Mexico Native Plant Society of New Mexico\nAbout NPSNM\nWhat is a Native Plant?\nAdvocating for Conservation\nNative Plant Education\nStatewide Organization\nGila (Silver City)\nOtero (Alamogordo)\nGardening with Native Plants\nWorkshops & Special Events\nEndangered Species Tattoos\nNative Plant Coloring Book\nThistle ID Book\nRecommended Goods and Services\nNPS Sponsored Grants & Donations\nScience Teacher Award\nSunflower Scholarship\nSupport the Carter Fund\nNative Plant Society of New Mexico > Events > Albuquerque > Albuquerque Field Trip: Seismosaurus Trail, Ojito Wilderness\n-6.233406-35.049906\nSaturday May 25, 2019 2:15 pm\nAlbuquerque Field Trip: Seismosaurus Trail, Ojito Wilderness\nThe Albuquerque chapter is hosting a field trip on May 25 to the Seismosaurus Trail in the Ojito Wilderness, led by Lenore Goodall. Meet at 8:15 AM in Bernalillo at the northwest corner of the parking lot of the Home Depot northwest of town on 550.\nWe will probably make some quick stops along the way to look at some plants not on the mesa. The out and back trail of 2.4 miles is fairly easy walking on a mesa with expansive views and interesting and colorful rock formations. Although there are a few junipers and oaks there is very little shade. Typically, we may find a good many flowers usually including Asclepias involucrata, Evolvulus nuttallianus, Malacothrix fendleri, Polygala alba, Tetraneuris scaposa, Townsendia annua, Tradescantia occidentalis as well as various cacti. At the end of the trail there are some beautiful petroglyphs on the cliff edge. Bring lunch, plenty of water, hat, sunscreen, raingear. Return 1:30 p.m.\nTo get to the trailhead, starting at the Home Depot parking lot you would drive about 20 miles on 550 to Cabezon Road, then another 10 miles on Cabezon Road to the Seismosaurus Trailhead.\nUpcoming Albuquerque Events\nWednesday, February 3rd, 7 p.m. Online Meeting with Richard Norwood: \"Natural Heritage of New Mexico (NHNM) \u2014 An Overview\"\nWednesday, March 3rd, 7 p.m. Online Meeting with Wes Brittenham: \"Build It and They Will Come: Attracting Wildlife to the Garden\"\nWednesday, April 7th, 7 p.m. Meeting with Collin Haffey: \"Restoring Healthy Forests in NM\"\nWednesday, May 5, 7 p.m. Meeting with Melanie Gisler: \"Community Projects Funded by NPSNM\"\nWednesday, June 2, 7 p.m. Meeting with Ken Heil: \"A Flora of New Mexico: 2007-Present.\"\nRegister for Event: Albuquerque Field Trip: Seismosaurus Trail, Ojito Wilderness\nThe Native Plant Society of New Mexico (NPSNM) is a non-profit organization that strives to educate the public about native plants by promoting knowledge of plant identification, ecology, and uses; fostering plant conservation and the preservation of natural habitats; supporting botanical research; and encouraging the appropriate use of native plants to conserve water, land, and wildlife.\nAlbuquerque, NM, 87176-5388\nask.npsnm\"at\"gmail\"dot\"com\n\u00a9 2021 Native Plant Society NM","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Sports briefs Sunday\nGolden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr designated Stephen Curry as doubtful for Monday's game against the...\nSports briefs Sunday Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr designated Stephen Curry as doubtful for Monday's game against the... Check out this story on jsonline.com: https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/sports\/2016\/05\/08\/sports-briefs-sunday\/84978932\/\nMilwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 11:00 p.m. CT May 7, 2016\nGym bag slung over his shoulder, Stephen Curry walked off the court after practice Sunday and politely declined an interview.\n'I would just say he's doubtful for (Monday), but he's slowly and surely making progress,' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.\nKerr was hardly ruling out Curry from playing Monday in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference semifinals, a series the Warriors lead 2-1.\nWhiteside sidelined: Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, the same injury that has sidelined Warriors star Curry for the past couple weeks.\nWhiteside will be listed as day-to-day, the Heat announced after the results of an MRI exam were reviewed.\nTypically, the recovery time for a mild MCL sprain can be a couple of weeks \u2014 though there are examples where players returned within a day or two and examples where it has dragged on for several weeks.\nGuy Boucher was hired as the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators.\nThe 44-year-old Boucher becomes the 12th head coach in Senators franchise history, replacing Dave Cameron who was fired on April 12. Boucher has spent parts of the past three seasons as the head coach of SC Bern of the National League A in Switzerland, posting a 44-29-5 record.\nBefore that, he spent two-plus seasons as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, posting a 97-78-20 record in 195 games. Boucher led the Lightning to the Eastern Conference Final in 2010-11.\nWild pick coach: Bruce Boudreau, after a short courtship with the Wild, will become the fifth coach in franchise history.\nBoudreau, who coached the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals to eight division titles in nine years, agreed to terms on a four-year contract believed to be worth a shade under $3 million annually.\nPenn State's legal settlements with Jerry Sandusky's accusers cover alleged abuse dating to 1971, which was 40 years before his arrest, the university said Sunday, providing the first confirmation of the time frame of abuse claims that have led to big payouts.\nThe disclosure came as Penn State President Eric Barron decried newly revealed allegations that former football coach Joe Paterno was told in 1976 that Sandusky had sexually abused a child and that two assistant coaches witnessed either inappropriate or sexual contact in the late 1980s. Paterno, who died in 2012, had said the first time he had received a complaint against Sandusky was in 2001.\nUAB's Bryant brain dead: UAB running back Gregory Bryant was declared brain dead after he was found shot in a car on Interstate 95 in South Florida.\nWest Palm Beach Police spokeswoman Lori Colombino's statement added the investigation is now classified as a homicide.\nDetectives are seeking witnesses to the shooting, Colombino said.\nA Palm Beach County judge set a $450,000 bond for a man accused of hitting and killing a mixed martial arts fighter before fleeing the scene, according to jail records.\nDennis Wright, of Boca Raton, Fla., faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash causing death, tampering with evidence and driving with a suspended license, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.\nWright was driving up to 120 miles per hour on Federal Highway on May 1, according to Delray Beach Police. Mixed martial arts fighter Jordan Parsons was walking in a crosswalk when he was hit by the Range Rover that Wright was driving, police said.\nNovak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray again in Madrid, this time to win a record 29th career Masters title.\nThe top-ranked Djokovic defeated the second-ranked Murray, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in the Madrid Open final, 10 years after their rivalry started in the round of 16 of the tournament in Spain.\n'Ten years (later) we are the two best players in the world, which at that time maybe it seemed like something that will be very challenging for us to achieve,' said the 28-year-old Djokovic, who beat Murray in three sets in that 2006 meeting.\nDjokovic has won 12 of the last 13 matches against Murray since 2014, and is 23-9 overall against the 28-year-old British player.\nFrom Journal Sentinel wire reports","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home \/ Aishwarya Rai Bachchan \/ Gossip \/ Sanjay Dutt \/ When Sanjay Dutt's Sisters Warned Him To Not Woo Aishwarya Rai\nbollykeeda April 11, 2020\nSanjay and Aishwarya had come together for Cineblitz to do a photo shoot and made some interesting revelations about each other! In fact, Sanjay openly confessed that his sisters had warned him to not woo Aishwarya or take her phone number.\nWhile chatting with Cineblitz, the 'casanova of the 90s' had revealed, \"My sisters warned me before I came for this session. They told me 'Don't you woo her. Don't take her number. Don't send her flowers'.\"\nIn the same interview, Sanjay Dutt had also said, \"If she stood on (the) road, they'd all come to a screeching halt. If I did the same, they'd run over me.\" For the unversed, this interview had happened even before Aishwarya's debut. So, when the interviewer had asked Dutt if he knows her already, here's what he had said and left Aishwarya all surprised...\n'Baba' also revealed his reaction when he saw Aishwarya's Pepsi ad for the first time and said, \"Who's that beautiful woman!\" However, Sanjay didn't find Aishwarya 'hot'. Cineblitz had also quoted Aishwarya as saying, \"He (Sanjay Dutt) said that I'm not hot. Oh God! What's going to happen to me?\"\nAishwarya and Dutt share a great rapport! Sanjay Dutt is currently gearing up for his next release - Panipat. Aishwarya, on the other, will next be seen in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan.\nWhen Sanjay Dutt's Sisters Warned Him To Not Woo Aishwarya Rai Reviewed by bollykeeda on April 11, 2020 Rating: 5\nAishwarya Rai Bachchan X Gossip X Sanjay Dutt\nIt HURTS To See Kareena Kapoor & Saif Ali Khan Together - Shahid Kapoor\nWe have brought to you an old interview of Shahid Kapoor, right after his break-up with Kareena Kapoor. Shahid and Kareena dated for go...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"UK Kick Nuclear Monthly Newsletter March 2020 \u2013 Fukushima Anniversay\nNote that the Fukushima Anniversary Public Meeting planned for Thursday March 19th has had to be cancelled due to the Corona Virus epidemic.\nHowever the vigil due to take place this evening outside the Japanese Embassy in London, from 5.30 to 6.30pm, is going ahead, as is the March nad rally this Saturday, March 14th. (See front of newsletter for details.) As these events are in the open air the chances of contagion are less.\nKICK NUCLEAR\n(There was no February edition)\nEditor: David Polden, Mordechai Vanunu House, 162 Holloway Rd. N7 8DQ\nwww.kicknuclear.com ; www.nonucleartrains.org.uk ; 020-7700 2393\nREGULAR FRIDAY SOLIDARITY VIGILS\nEvery Friday (since August 2012): leafletting outside the Japanese Embassy, 101-104 Piccadilly (Green Park tube) from 10am-12.30pm; and then outside Tokyo Electric Power Co. offices, 14-18 Holborn (Chancery Lane tube) from 1-1.30pm. Held in solidarity with the anti-nuclear movement in Japan. Organised by: Kick Nuclear and Japanese Against Nuclear UK (JAN UK)\nFUKUSHIMA 9th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS\nSaturday March 14th: March from Japanese Embassy (address above) to opposite entrance to Downing Street in Whitehall for rally there. Assemble outside Japanese Embassy at noon for 12.30pm start. Rally begins at 2pm.\n(The meeting planned for March 19th has been cancelled.)\nNUCLEAR TRAIN ACTION GROUP STALLS\nSaturday March 21st, 11am-2pm: stall and leafletting near the exit from Brixton tube station. (Nuclear trains pass over a bridge near the exit. Help welcome.\nSaturday May 2nd, 2.30-4pm: stall and leafletting outside Bromley South station (Nuclear trains pass through). Organised by Bromley CND with support of NTAG.\nNEXT JOINT KN\/NTAG PLANNING MEETINGS\nThursday April 23rd, 6.30pm, at CND Office. (Address above.)\n50 YEARS \"ENRICHING THE FUTURE\"\nCheshire-Live reported on a March 4th demonstration at Capenhurst uranium enrichment plant in Cheshire. An edited version of the report follows:\n\"Urenco's nuclear plant at Capenhurst [jointly owned by the UK and Dutch governments and German energy companies] this week celebrated 50 years since the company was founded.\n\"But outside Capenhurst protesters lamented the damage to human health and the environment caused by disasters like Chernobyl, Ukraine and Fukushima.\n\"Close Capenhurst [group organising the demonstration] campaigners argued that [the nuclear energy industry] was unsafe, from uranium mining to nuclear power production and transportation and storage of highly radioactive waste.\n\"Concerns have been raised about the Urenco plant itself which enriches uranium for use as fuel in nuclear reactors, with depleted uranium \u2013 a low level radioactive and toxic by-product of the process \u2013 stored on site.\n\"Marianne Birkby, an anti-nuclear campaigner [with the \"Nuclear-Free Lakeland\" campaign], speaking at the [eight-strong] demonstration outside the plant, said: 'The start of the nuclear fuel cycle is here and where it ends up is Sellafield in Cumbria, and every day, virtually, there's nuclear waste transported on the roads, rail, sea and nobody wants the waste.\n\"It's all very well for Urenco to say 'enriching the future' [the plant's Orwellian slogan] \u2026 but nobody wants nuclear waste at the end of the day. And nuclear waste is the product of nuclear power.\"\n\"Japanese campaigner Kaori Mikata-Pralat [from Kick Nuclear] read out a statement on behalf of a group pursuing legal action against the Tokyo Electric Power Company over the 2011 Fukushima disaster.\n\"Explaining that Fukushima had alerted her to the dangers, she told Cheshire Live: 'I wasn't quite aware of the scale of the problem of the nuclear industry.'\nShe has met victims of nuclear accidents, adding: 'what they want is this tragedy should not be repeated anywhere in the world. Fukushima people suffered a lot.'\n\"Kaori said the ocean had also been poisoned. Even nuclear power stations functioning normally affect the eco-system as sea and river water were used to cool the reactors with the hot water put back, harming fish and plant life.\n\"Pointing at the sun, fellow protester Philip Gilligan said: 'That nuclear power station up there is supplying the energy. It's the only nuclear power station we want. So the energy coming to earth could easily be used with zero carbon output and zero nuclear. The problem is we need a bomb. And it's hidden in statements like 'energy as cheap as water' which was current when Sellafield went critical in the '70s'.\n\"He said in fact nuclear power was 'hugely expensive'.\"\nTwo officials from the plant came out to talk to the protestors.\nKaori from Japanese Against Nuclear UK has posted a video-diary of the event on twitter. See https:\/\/mariannewildart.wordpress.com\/2020\/03\/05\/50-years-of-enriching-the-future\nFUKUSHIMA UPDATE 2020\nSince August 2011, Kick Nuclear and Japanese Against Nuclear UK have organised a weekly Friday vigil outside the Japanese Embassy to remind visitors to the Embassy and passers-by of the continuing 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima and calling for the UK to give up nuclear power. Rik, a regular on the vigil, has been producing regular updates, published in English with a Japanese translation, on the unfolding of the disaster.\nThe recently-published 2020 Update starts by warning athletes and spectators, intending to go to the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer, of some of the dangers they will face. Here is an extract from the Update on this issue:\n\"Nine years ago, three nuclear reactors melted down in Fukushima. For nine years Japan has put enormous effort into dealing with \u2013 and downplaying \u2013 the disaster. Why the downplaying and denial? After nine years the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is still dangerous, while further dangers still lurk in the food, water, soil and air. Could it be to protect the Japanese nuclear industry and its embedded bureaucrats?\nThis past year more evidence has emerged of the highly-radioactive microparticles to which Japan's Olympic guests risk being exposed this summer. These are microparticles of nuclear reactor fuel, 2-3 micrometres in size and rich in caesium. It is believed that they were formed when reactor 3 exploded, its fuel vapourising at 3,000\u00baC then rapidly cooling and condensing.\nThese microparticles have been found as far as 320km away from the nuclear power plant and 200km away in Tokyo, while 80km away, topsoil in some areas has been found to contain as many as 100 particles per gram. They are glassy, near-insoluble and so tiny that they float like dust and, if breathed-in, they penetrate lung tissue and lodge there, permanently, bombarding the surrounding cells with radiation. This can cause cancer. Astonishingly it seems that they have never been part of the public health reaction.\nAll Olympic visitors are at risk of receiving higher doses of radiation than need be. They can't avoid breathing, and hot summer air can be dusty. While the South Korean athletes will bring their own food, water and radiation-detectors, other visitors may not be aware of the risks and many will be unable to read labelling, ask about where their rice, tea, plums, etc. are from, or read radiation survey results. It appear that the Japanese government is going out of its way to hide and deny rather than help visitors and residents with this information.\n(A copy or copies of the 2020 Update can be obtained from the editor at request \u2013 contact details under masthead.)\nENVIRONMENTAL PETITION AGAINST SIZEWELL C\nTogether Against Sizewell C (TASC) are collecting signatures for a petition. They write: \"EDF, wanting to begin preparation works for Sizewell C [have] submitted a planning application to East Suffolk Council for permission to demolish the 100-year old Coronation Wood and turn a large area of priority habitat acidic grassland (Pillbox Field) into a car park.\n\"East Suffolk Council granted permission in November 2019 for, in effect, Coronation Wood and other areas of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be trashed.\n\"TASC consider this to be unlawful as Sizewell C has not been given the go-ahead and may never be built.\"\nEnter TASC Together to get into website.\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized | Leave a comment\nJapan's Olympic Games propaganda really tops the lies that cover up the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe\nJapan's Nuclear Cover-up Continues, Nine Years after the Fukushima Disaster, Fairewinds Energy Education, March 10, 2020 by Arnie Gundersen \"\u2026\u2026. 2020 Olympics\nIf the 2020 Olympics open in Japan this summer as scheduled, something that may not happened due to the spread of the coronavirus, the pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance of Japan's Fukushima coverup will be unfolding in Tokyo. In 2011, even while the three Fukushima nuclear carcasses were emitting extensive radiation, Japan's new Prime Minister Noda (he was between the ousted Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who was PM when the Fukushima Meltdowns occurred and today's Prime Minister Abe), claimed that the three melted down Fukushima reactors were in 'cold shutdown', which they were not, in order to lay the groundwork for Japan's Olympic bid. In order to bid as a host for the 2020 Olympics, Noda claimed \"\u2026 we can consider the accident contained\". Fairewinds compared Noda's 'cold shutdown' hypocrisy to former President George Bush crowing about 'Mission Accomplished' in Iraq, so that he could gain the support of the American people by calling the war already finished, when it had just begun.\nIn order for Japan to win its Olympic bid in 2013, two years later, Japan's next Prime Minister Abe stated that the Fukushima disaster was 'under control'. This statement was also a blatant lie that succeeded in winning the bid to hold the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo at the expense of the taxpayers and residents of Japan. Don't take Fairewinds word for it! Read what Japan's former Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi said to Reuters in September 2016. Entitled Abe's Fukushima 'under control' pledge to secure Olympics was a lie: former PM, Reuters wrote,\nJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's promise that the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant was \"under control\" in his successful pitch three years ago for Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympic Games \"was a lie\", former premier Junichiro Koizumi said on Wednesday.\nFrequent readers of the Fairewinds newsletter will remember last year's posts entitled Atomic Balm 1 and Atomic Balm 2 in which Fairewinds Energy Education described in detail the path of deception that Japan has used to take the world's attention off of the lives of its own people, who are still being compromised by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear tragedy. The 2020 Olympics puts the media focus onto something else \u2013 so that the world continues to believe that nuclear power reactors are still a safe form of generating electricity.\nThis nine year legacy of lies by the government of Japan, nuclear incentivized governments worldwide, and the atomic industry are a harbinger for the seemingly inevitable approach of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hopefully mainstream media covering the summer games will finally see through this glamorous marketing scam and identify the fact that Fukushima Prefecture remains severely radiologically contaminated. Real people, who are citizens of Japan, are seeing their health and that of their families being compromised for generations as they are forced to return to radiologically contaminated areas. Entire families and their communities are facing significant health risks simply to enable corporate profiteering of those investors, energy producers, banks, and government officials associated with the ongoing operation of nuclear power plants in Japan and around the world. https:\/\/www.fairewinds.org\/demystify\/japans-nuclear-cover-up-continues-nine-years-after-the-fukushima-disaster\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, spinbuster | 1 Comment\nFukushima, and the ocean's history of nuclear waste dumping\nFukushima: How the ocean became a dumping ground for radioactive waste, DW, 11 Mar 20, The nuclear disaster at Fukushima sent an unprecedented amount of radiation into the Pacific. But, before then, atomic bomb tests and radioactive waste were contaminating the sea \u2014 the effects are still being felt today.\nAlmost 1.2 million liters (320,000 gallons) of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is to be released into the ocean. That's on the recommendation of the government's advisory panel some nine years after the nuclear disaster on Japan's east coast. The contaminated water has since been used to cool the destroyed reactor blocks to prevent further nuclear meltdowns. It is currently being stored in large tanks, but those are expected to be full by 2022.\nExactly how the water should be dealt with has become highly controversial in Japan, not least because the nuclear disaster caused extreme contamination off the coast of Fukushima. At the time, radioactive water flowed \"directly into the sea, in quantities we have never seen before in the marine world,\" Sabine Charmasson from the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) tells DW.\nRadiation levels in the sea off Fukushima were millions of times higher than the government's limit of 100 becquerels. And still today, radioactive substances can be detected off the coast of Japan and in other parts of the Pacific. They've even been measured in very small quantities off the US west coast in concentrations \"well below the harmful levels set by the World Health Organization,\" according to Vincent Rossi, an oceanographer at France's Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO).\nBut that doesn't mean there's no risk, says Horst Hamm of the Nuclear Free Future Foundation. \"A single becquerel that gets into our body is enough to damage a cell that will eventually become a cancer cell,\" he says.\nA study from the European Parliament reached a similar conclusion. The research found that \"even the smallest possible dose, a photon passing through a cell nucleus, carries a cancer risk. Although this risk is extremely small, it is still a risk.\"\nAnd that risk is growing. Radioactive pollution in the ocean has been increasing globally \u2014 and not just since the disaster at Fukushima.\nAtomic bomb tests\nIn 1946, the US became the first country to test an atomic bomb in a marine area, in the Pacific Bikini Atoll. Over the next few decades, more than 250 further nuclear weapons tests were carried out on the high seas. Most of them (193) were conducted by France in French Polynesia, and by the US (42), primarily in the Marshall Islands and the Central Pacific.\nBut the ocean wasn't just being used as a training ground for nuclear war. Until the early 1990s, it was also a gigantic dump for radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.\nFrom 1946 to 1993, more than 200,000 tons of waste, some of it highly radioactive, was dumped in the world's oceans, mainly in metal drums, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Several nuclear submarines, including nuclear ammunition, were also sunk during this time.\nIs the ocean a perfect storage site?\nThe lion's share of dumped nuclear waste came from Britain and the Soviet Union, figures from the IAEA show. By 1991, the US had dropped more than 90,000 barrels and at least 190,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste in the North Atlantic and Pacific. Other countries including Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands also disposed of tons of radioactive waste in the North Atlantic in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.\n\"Under the motto, 'out of sight, out of mind,' the dumping of nuclear waste was the easiest way to get rid of it,\" says Horst Hamm.\nTo this day, around 90% of the radiation in the ocean comes from barrels discarded in the North Atlantic, most of which lie north of Russia or off the coast of Western Europe.\n\"The barrels are everywhere,\" says ecologist Yannick Rousselet of Greenpeace France. He was present in 2000 when the environmental organization used submarines to dive for dumped drums a few hundred meters off the coast of northern France, at a depth of 60 meters (196 feet).\n\"We were surprised how close they were to the coast,\" Rousselet says. \"They are rusty and leaking, with the radiation clearly elevated.\"\nGermany also implicated\nIn 1967, Germany also dumped 480 barrels off the coast of Portugal, according to the IAEA. Responding to a 2012 request for information from the Greens about the condition of those barrels, the German government wrote: \"The barrels were not designed to ensure the permanent containment of radionuclides on the sea floor. Therefore, it must be assumed that they are at least partially no longer intact.\"\nGermany and France don't want to salvage the barrels. And even Greenpeace activist Yannick Rousselet says he sees \"no safe way to lift the rusted barrels\" to the surface. That means nuclear waste will likely continue to contaminate the ocean floor for decades to come.\nFor Horst Hamm, the long-term consequences are clear. The radiation will be \"absorbed by the marine animals surrounding it. They will eventually end up caught in fishing nets, and come back to our plates,\" he says.\nIn its 2012 response to the Greens, however, the German government described the risk to humans from contaminated fish as \"negligible.\"\nRousselet sees things differently: \"The entire area along the coast is contaminated by radiation \u2014 not just in the sea, in the grass, in the sand, you can measure it everywhere.\"\nRadioactive dumping ground\nThe main reason behind the radiation along the northern French coastline isn't the underwater barrels, but rather the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at La Hague. It is located directly on the coast and \"legally discharges 33 million liters of radioactive liquid into the sea each year,\" says Rousselet. He thinks it's scandalous.\nIn recent years, La Hague has also been the scene of several incidents involving increased radioactivity levels.\nThe dumping of nuclear waste in drums was banned in 1993 by the London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution. But discharging liquid contaminated with radiation into the ocean is still permitted internationally.\nSpike in cancer rates\nAccording to a study by the European Parliament, statistics show cancer rates are significantly higher in the region surrounding La Hague. Cancer rates are also high near the nuclear processing plant in Sellafield in northern England. A study from 2014 concluded that the total amount of radioactivity discharged into the sea from the Sellafield plant over the years is equivalent to the amount released by the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima.\nThe report say a link to health effects \"cannot be ruled out\" even if there is no clear evidence to date of a link between illness and radioactive discharges from nuclear facilities.\n\"The exact effects of radioactive radiation are extremely difficult to measure and prove. We only know that it has an impact,\" says Rousselet, adding that it's crucial to walk away from everything that causes radioactive waste. https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fukushima-how-the-ocean-became-a-dumping-ground-for-radioactive-waste\/a-52710277\nDumping more waste at Fukushima\nIn Fukushima, the operating company of the Tokyo Electric Power Company nuclear plant claims that before the cooling water is discharged into the sea as planned, all 62 radioactive elements will be filtered down to safe levels \u2014 except for the isotope tritium. The advisory panel in Tokyo considers discharging the cooling water into the sea to be \"safer\" than other alternatives, such as evaporating the water.\nJust how harmful tritium is to humans is a source of controversy. According to the plant operator, the concentration of tritium in the collection tanks is sometimes much higher than that of conventional cooling water from nuclear power stations.\n\"The local fishermen and residents cannot accept the discharge of water,\" Takami Morita of the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science said in a press release. While fish pollution levels are below the harmful limit, demand for fish from the region has dropped to one-fifth of what it was before the disaster.\nReleasing the cooling water into the sea \"is a good method because of the diluting properties of the water,\" Sabine Charmasson of the IRSN says. \"There aren't any real problems on the security side, but it's difficult, because there are also social implications. It might be an appropriate method, but it's never easy to release radioactive substances into the environment.\"\nIn a press release, Greenpeace said: \"There is no justification for additional, deliberate radioactive pollution of the marine environment or atmosphere.\" https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fukushima-how-the-ocean-became-a-dumping-ground-for-radioactive-waste\/a-52710277\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, wastes | 1 Comment\nFukushima's huge accumulation of radioactive water \u2013 a pressing problem as Olympics approach\nContaminated water at nuclear plant still an issue ahead of Tokyo Olympics, https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/global\/world-news\/2020\/03\/10\/contaminated-water-at-nuclear-plant-still-an-issue-ahead-of-tokyo-olympics\/ Work to deal with contaminated water at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant continues as the Olympic Games approach.\nInside a giant decontamination facility at the destroyed plant, workers in hazmat suits monitor radioactive water pumped from three damaged reactors.\nThe decontamination process is a key element of a contentious debate over what should be done with the nearly 1.2 million tons of still-radioactive water being closely watched by governments and organisations around the world ahead of this summer's Tokyo Olympics.\nThe plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, or Tepco, says it needs to free up space as work to decommission the damaged reactors approaches a critical phase. It is widely expected that Tepco will gradually release the water into the nearby ocean following a government decision allowing it to do so.\nThe company is still vague on the timing.\nBut local residents, especially fishermen, are opposed to the plan because they think the water release would hurt the reputation of already battered fisheries, where annual sales remain about half of the level before the nuclear accident, even though the catch has cleared strict radioactivity tests.\nTepco chief decommissioning officer Akira Ono says the water must be disposed as the plant's decommissioning moves forward because the area used by the tanks is needed to build facilities for the retrieval of melted reactor debris.\nWorkers are planning to remove a first batch of melted debris by December 2021.\nRemote control cranes are dismantling a highly contaminated exhaust tower near Unit 2, the first reactor to get its melted fuel removed.\nAt Unit 3, spent fuel units are being removed from a cooling pool ahead of the removal of melted fuel.\nThe dilemma over the ever-growing radioactive water is part of the complex aftermath of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11 2011, destroying key cooling functions at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.\nThree reactors melted, releasing massive amounts of radiation and forcing 160,000 residents to evacuate.\nAbout 40,000 still have not returned.\nExcept for the highly radioactive buildings that house the melted reactors, most above-ground areas of the plant can now be visited while wearing just a surgical mask, cotton gloves, a helmet and a personal dosimeter.\nThe area right outside the plant is largely untouched and radiation levels are often higher.\nThe underground areas remain a hazardous mess.\nRadioactive cooling water is leaking from the melted reactors and mixes with groundwater, which must be pumped up to keep it from flowing into the sea and elsewhere.\nSeparately, even more dangerously contaminated water sits in underground areas and leaks continuously into groundwater outside the plant, experts say. The contaminated water pumped from underground first goes through caesium and strontium removal equipment, after which most is recycled as cooling water for the damaged reactors.\nThe contaminated water pumped from underground first goes through caesium and strontium removal equipment, after which most is recycled as cooling water for the damaged reactors.\nKatsumi Shozugawa, a radiology expert at the University of Tokyo who has been analysing groundwater around the plant, said the long-term consequences of low-dose exposure in the food chain has not been fully investigated.\n\"At this point, it is difficult to predict a risk,\" he said.\n\"Once the water is released into the environment, it will be very difficult to follow up and monitor its movement.\n\"So the accuracy of the data before any release is crucial and must be verified.\"\nAfter years of discussions about what to do with the contaminated water without destroying the local economy and its reputation, a government panel issued a report earlier this year that narrowed the water disposal options to two: diluting the treated water to levels below the allowable safety limits and then releasing it into the sea in a controlled way, or allowing the water to evaporate in a years-long process.\nThe report also urged the government to do more to fight the \"reputational damage\" to Fukushima fishing and farm produce, for instance by promoting food fairs, developing new sales routes and making use of third-party quality accreditation systems.\nTepco and government officials promise the plant will treat the water for a second time to meet legal requirements before any release.\nAt the end of a tour of the treatment facility, a plant official showed journalists a glass bottle containing clear water taken from the processing equipment.\nWorkers are required to routinely collect water samples for analysis at laboratories at the plant.\nRadiology technicians were analysing the water at one lab.\nOfficials say the treated water will be diluted with fresh water before it is released into the environment.\nDoubts about the plant's water treatment escalated two years ago when Tepco acknowledged that most of the water stored in the tanks still contains cancer-causing caesium, strontium and other radioactive materials at levels exceeding safety limits.\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima continuing | Leave a comment\nNuclear power, then nuclear weapons? for United Arab Emirates\nWhy is the UAE, where solar energy is abundant, about to open four nuclear reactors? https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-is-the-uae-where-solar-energy-is-abundant-about-to-open-four-nuclear-reactors-130248 Paul Dorfman, 11 Mar 20,\nHonorary Senior Research Associate, Energy Institute, UCL March 11, 2020 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is building the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, capable of generating 700 megawatts. During daylight, solar power will provide cheap electricity, and at night the UAE will use stored solar heat to generate electricity.But at the same time, four nuclear reactors are nearing completion in the UAE, built by the South Korean Electric Power Corporation, KEPCO. The nuclear power plant is named Barakah \u2013 Arabic for divine blessing.\nThe UAE's investment in these four nuclear reactors risks further destabilising the volatile Gulf region, damaging the environment and raising the possibility of nuclear proliferation.\nSafety flaws\nThe UAE nuclear contract remains South Korea's one and only export order, despite attempts by KEPCO to win contracts in Lithuania, Turkey, Vietnam and the UK. Barakah, construction of which began in 2011, is in the Gharbiya region of Abu Dhabi, on the coast.\nAlthough nuclear reactor design has evolved over time, key safety features haven't been included at Barakah. This is important, since these reactors might not be able to defend against an accidental or deliberate airplane crash, or military attack.\nParticularly worrying is the lack of a \"core-catcher\" which, if the emergency reactor core cooling system fails, works to keep in the hot nuclear fuel if it breaches the reactor pressure vessel. Concrete cracking in all four reactor containment buildings hasn't helped, nor has the installation of faulty safety relief valves.\nAll this is further complicated by large-scale falsification of KEPCO quality control documents, which ended up in a far-reaching criminal investigation and convictions in 2013.\nProliferation risks\nThe tense Gulf strategic geopolitical situation makes new civil nuclear construction in the region even more controversial than elsewhere, as it can mean moves towards nuclear weapon capability, as experience with Iran has shown.\nFollowing military strikes against Saudi oil refineries in late 2019, nuclear energy safety in the region increasingly revolves around the broader issue of security. This is especially the case since some armed groups may view the UAE's military operations in Yemen as a reason to target nuclear installations, or intercept enriched uranium fuel or waste transfers.\nSuch spillover from foreign policy \u2013 and politics more generally \u2013 will increasingly dovetail with nuclear safety considerations in the region.\nPerhaps disconcertingly, Yemeni rebels already claim to have fired a missile at the Barakah nuclear power plant site in 2017. Although UAE denied the claim, saying it had an air defence system capable of dealing with any threat, protection of Barakah won't be an easy task.\nTime to scramble fighter aircraft or fire surface-to-air missiles may be limited, as the attacks in Saudi Arabia indicated. Not only that, but the increase in transport of radioactive materials into and through the Gulf once the reactors at Barakah start up will, unfortunately, present a major maritime risk.\nEnvironmental concerns\nThe Gulf is one of the most water-scarce regions in the world, and Gulf states rely on desalination. Radioactive release to the marine environment following an accident or deliberate incident at Barakah would have significant pollution consequences for desalination and drinking water in the region.\nAnd the UAE coast is a vulnerable environment, critically important for a very large range of marine life. Extensive mangrove habitats grow on and in coastal fine sediments and mudflats, notable for their ability to sequester radioactivity. Acting as a \"sink\" and concentrating radioactivity over time, normal operational nuclear discharge from Barakah will inevitably lead to human inhalation and ingestion.\nThe debate over nuclear power and climate is hotting up, with some scientists suggesting new nuclear can help. Yet, the International Panel on Climate Change recently reported that extreme sea-level events will significantly increase, whether emissions are curbed or not. All coastal nuclear plants, including Barakah, will be increasingly vulnerable to sea-level rise, storm surges, flooding of reactor and spent fuel stores. The UAE's governmental environmental assessment of global heating's impact on Barakah is conspicuous by its absence.\nSince not all energy policy choices are equal, the case for nuclear power in the Middle East has never been strong. While lower CO\u2082 emissions and improvement in renewable technology is one explanation for the dynamic global ramp in new renewable generation and the fall in new nuclear \u2013 the main driver seems to be the plummeting costs of the former and the increasing costs of the latter.\nSo it's strange that the UAE has cast significant resources at nuclear power, when other viable options already exist. Since new nuclear seems to make little economic sense in the Gulf, which has some of the best solar energy resources in the world, the nature of Emirate interest in nuclear may lie hidden in plain sight \u2013 nuclear weapon proliferation.\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, United Arab Emirates | Leave a comment\nThe planet's largest ecosystems could collapse faster than we thought\nThe planet's largest ecosystems could collapse faster than we thought https:\/\/www.ehn.org\/ecosystems-collapse-2645447028.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1\nMassive, vital ecosystems that have existed for thousands of years could breakdown in just a few decades, according to a new study, Brian Bienkowski 11 Mar, 20\nIf put under the kind of environmental stress increasingly seen on our planet, large ecosystems \u2014such as the Amazon rainforest or the Caribbean coral reefs\u2014could collapse in just a few decades, according to a study released today in Nature Communications.\nIn the case of Amazon forests, stressors could cause collapse in just 49 years. In Caribbean coral reefs, it could take as little as 15 years.\n\"The messages here are stark,\" said lead researcher John Dearing, a professor in physical geography at the University of Southampton, in a statement.\nThose estimates come from Dearing and colleagues who examined data on how 42 natural environments\u2014small and large, and on both land and water\u2014have transformed. They found that larger ecosystems may take longer than small ones to collapse, but the rate of their decline is much more rapid.\nEcosystem stress can come in many forms such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, pollution and ocean acidification.\nHumanity now needs to prepare for changes in ecosystems that are faster than we previously envisaged through our traditional linear view of the world, including across Earth 's largest and most iconic ecosystems, and the social\u2013ecological systems that they support,\" the authors wrote.\nLarger ecosystems are made up of smaller \"sub-systems\" of species and habitats, which provide some resilience against rapid change. However, once these smaller systems start to collapse, the new study finds the large ecosystems as a whole fall apart much faster than previously expected.\nResearchers pointed to the destructive Australian and Amazon rainforest wildfires as recent examples of this dangerous fast rate of collapse.\n\"These findings are yet another call for halting the current damage being imposed on our natural environments that pushes ecosystems to their limits,\" Dearing added.\nSee the full study in Nature Communications.\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, environment | Leave a comment\nJoe Biden to encourage nuclear power, and Bernie Sanders is not all that anti nuclear\nBernie's nuclear plan, explained, By KELSEY TAMBORRINO Politico Newsletter 03\/10\/2020\nBREAKING DOWN BERNIE'S NUCLEAR PLAN: Sen. Bernie Sanders has pledged to secure 100 percent of U.S. electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and he'd do so in part by ending new licenses to nuclear power plants. But his opposition to nuclear energy may not be as radical as his critics fear, Pro's Gavin Bade reports this morning. Sanders' campaign says he would not order the vast majority of existing reactors in the U.S. to shut down, and campaign aides privately acknowledge that Sanders will lack the tools to bring an end to nuclear power within the next decade.Sanders' opposition to nuclear power stands in contrast to former Vice President Joe Biden, who promises to \"identify the future of nuclear power,\" including new waste disposal systems and small, modular reactors that the industry hopes will be safer and easier to deploy. The nuclear issue could affect upcoming Democratic primaries in states like Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Connecticut, where state nuclear subsidies keep plants running and employ thousands of union jobs.\nSanders' allies say the candidate would prioritize phasing out natural gas and coal-fired power before shutting any nuclear generators. The campaign declined to give further detail on how it would ensure nuclear plants are not replaced by gas, but emphasized Sanders' call for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels and a ban on hydraulic fracking for gas. \u2026..https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/morning-energy\/2020\/03\/10\/bernies-nuclear-plan-explained-785957\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | election USA 2020 | 1 Comment\nThe lies about nuclear waste dumping in Scotland \u2013 from U.S. nuclear submarines\nWe were lied to in the past about dumping of nuclear waste https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/politics\/18295704.lied-past-dumping-nuclear-waste\/\nBy Iain Ramsay, Greenock & Inverclyde 11 Mar 20, QUITE a few years back, when I was a local SNP candidate here in Inverclyde, the local small boat owners and fishermen's association approached me with their worries and problems, which resulted in me taking up the cudgels on their behalf.One of their spokesmen, who had a prawn fishing boat, was the late Brian Penny, who explained the problem and gave me the astounding fact that all the sea life had died in the Holy Loch.\nThe obvious cause of this was the USA nuclear submarine base of Polaris submarines, which must be discharging or dumping nuclear waste into the loch. With the help of the Greenock Telegraph we made a complaint to the far-off powers in Westminster who (according to them) sent a naval investigation team and took samples of sand, and water from the Loch, and assuring all concerned, that there was no need for any worry, as their tests had shown that the Loch was clean and no contamination was found.\nSo who was to be believed, our local men who worked the river, or the boffins from the Anglo\/Brit Navy? It was their expert word against our on-the-spot working fishermen. The result was that, as usual, nothing happened, until long after the USA navy left, the commander of the Holy Loch base retired and confessed to dumping tons of radio active waste into the loch.\nAlong with this admission was his statement that the base would have been illegal in America, as such nuclear bases have got to be more than 20 miles from the nearest town.This Holy Loch base was bang in the middle of the river Clyde, and only two miles from Greenock, the second-largest town in Scotland.\nThis confession by this former USA commander made the Royal Navy tests a total lie. No such tests were made. Proof of the pudding resulted in a permanently based dredger, working for well over a year on the very spot where the American commander's mother ship was moored. I hope since that panic clean-up, sea life may have made a comeback, although some types of nuclear waste are a danger for a hundred years or more. I hope the USA were back charged for this long and hazardous clean-up, or did we taxpayers foot that bill also?\nThis doesn't end the story of contamination, and if anything is only the beginning of a long line of attacks on our fragile environment. The English-flag-flying Royal Navy have taken over where the Yankees left off. Just across the river we have a nuclear submarine base, which not only admits to discharging radioactive waste from Faslane into the Gairloch but announces that this will increase by 50% when the new nuclear subs arrive.\nThe fact is, the only enemy attack we have to thole right now is from this highly dangerous Cobalt-60 and Tritium cocktail, a GIFT from the Royal Navy. However if you look up GIFT in a German dictionary, it means poison or venom. There are no contingency plans for our children's health, when only less than two miles away we have a unique seawater swimming pool in Gourock which will eventually filter this contamination through, to be shared by all.\nNo, to Mr Donald Doull, the base commander, don't install that new pipeline which will spew out this dangerous filth into our beloved Clyde. Rather fill your navy tankers with the effluent, and sail it down to the River Thames, when opposite the Westminster Parliament discharge this contaminated water into the river. Let's see how long the Londoners would tolerate such muck spreading on their patch. You will find the English are not as gullible as to accept your stupid comment that this waste is of an acceptable radioactive level. Acceptable by whom, may I ask?\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK, wastes, weapons and war | Leave a comment\nGroups question the viability of the three coastal sites for UK's new nuclear plants\nHinkley, Sizewell and Bradwell, Stop Hinkley 10th March 2020, A meeting between representatives of groups opposing new nuclear development, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) the independent nuclear safety regulator, and the Environment Agency discussed how the ONR regulates against external hazards.\nHowever, fears about the impact of sea level rise on proposed new nuclear power stations at Hinkley in Somerset, Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex remain. The meeting was organised by the ONR in response to questions and a Freedom of Information (FOI)\nrequest submitted by the Stop Hinkley Campaign to the ONR in September\n2018. According to minutes of meetings held by ONR's group of climate\nchange experts, projections of sea level rise for the year 2100 contain\n\"considerable uncertainty\" and \" small changes to UK storm systems can\nalter the height of storm surges significantly\". Crucially, sea level has a\nhuge effect on the severity of storm surges. An increase in sea level of\none metre could mean that a storm of a severity currently expected only\nonce every thousand years is likely to occur once every decade. The meeting\ntook place in Bridgwater on 28th January 2020. Stop Hinkley was joined by\nTogether Against Sizewell C (TASC) and Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group\n(BANNG). The groups are questioning the viability of the three coastal\nsites which are all vulnerable to the impacts of flooding, storm surges and\ncoastal processes which will inevitably intensify in coming years.\nhttp:\/\/www.stophinkley.org\/PressReleases\/pr200310.pdf\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, UK | Leave a comment\nU.S. Department of Energy's plans could mean delay in Hanford nuclear waste clean-up\nNuclear waste cleanup efforts in Washington could be delayed https:\/\/triblive.com\/news\/world\/nuclear-waste-cleanup-efforts-in-washington-could-be-delayed\/, ASSOCIATED PRESS | Wednesday, March 11, 2020 RICHLAND, Wash. \u2014 The Department of Energy has announced priority plans for environmental cleanup nationwide and indicates a slower process for the decommissioned nuclear site in Washington state, a report said.\nThe focus at the Hanford Site will be to start treating waste at the $17 billion vitrification plant, but the report does not detail other work at the 580-square-mile site, the Tri-City Herald reported Tuesday.\nThe report does not mention moving radioactive capsules to safer storage and cleaning up a radioactive spill under one of the buildings a mile north of Richland.\n\"It is shocking that DOE would propose to delay projects like the cesium-strontium capsules and the 324 Building contamination, which pose such great risks to the workers and public,\" said Tom Carpenter, executive director for Hanford Challenge, a watchdog and worker advocacy group.\nThe \"Environmental Management Vision 2020-2030: A Time of Transition and Transformation\" report may also signal delays and decreased commitment to current plans for up to 10 years, including cleanup of contaminated groundwater flowing toward the Columbia River, the newspaper said.\n\"Proactively addressing these hazards before they pose an imminent risk is critically important, and frankly, they can't wait until sometime in the 2030s,\" said David Reeploeg, the Tri-City Development Council vice president for federal program.\nA budget request for upcoming year by President Donald Trump's administration proposes cleaning up 56 gallons of radioactive waste held in underground tanks at the site.\nReeploeg added that he was pleased there is some commitment to treat tank waste.\nHanford produced plutonium for nuclear weapons during the Cold War and World War II.\nMarch 12, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | Leave a comment","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Texas gas companies face fines up to $1 million for failing to prepare for extreme weather\nPublished August 30, 2022 at 1:32 AM CDT\nCritics are skeptical about whether the new rules by the Railroad Commission will prevent another catastrophe like the power grid disaster in February 2021.\nBlack tarps covering the tanks at a Midland oil and gas well owned by Ovintivare, shown Dec. 8, are part of the company's weatherization efforts. (Michael Gonzalez \/ The Texas Tribune)\nBy Mitchell Ferman, Texas Tribune\nA year and a half after a severe winter storm nearly collapsed the state's power grid, Texas oil and gas regulators approved new rules Tuesday that would require natural gas companies to properly prepare their equipment for extreme weather.\nThe rules will require oil and gas companies to be able to continue operating during a weather emergency, but they do not specify the standards the agency's inspectors will use to measure readiness. They also require companies to submit annual reports to the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's massive oil and gas sector, outlining what they have done to ensure their facilities won't fail during weather emergencies.\nIf companies do not comply with the new rules, they would be subject to a minimum $5,000 fine and a maximum fine of $1 million.\nCritics are skeptical about whether the Railroad Commission can prevent another catastrophe like the one that struck Texas in February 2021, when extended freezing temperatures shut down natural gas facilities and power plants, which rely on each other to keep electricity flowing. The resulting blackouts left millions of Texans without power for days, and hundreds of people died in the winter storm.\nA Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report on the Texas freeze released in late 2021 found that 87% of unplanned generation outages were due to fuel issues related to natural gas.\nThe Texas Competitive Power Advocates, which represents electricity generators, said the fine was not a strong punishment. \"Penalties should serve as an incentive to avoid violations, not as a minor inconvenience,\" the group said in comments submitted to the Railroad Commission.\nJim Wright, one of the three Railroad Commission board members, addressed those concerns during Tuesday's meeting to adopt the new rules. He said \"repeat and deliberate attempts to avoid compliance will not be taken lightly by the Commission and it will result in a referral to the attorney general.\"\nIt's unclear from the new rules what action the attorney general can take against companies beyond fines.\nAccording to the weatherization proposal the commission adopted Tuesday, the new rules apply only to gas supply chain facility operators and gas pipeline facility operators that are included in a supply chain map the agency created this year to chart the state's energy infrastructure, as mandated by lawmakers during the 2021 legislative session.\nWhile the Railroad Commission took more than a year to implement weatherization standards, the Texas Public Utility Commission, which oversees the state's power grid operator \u2014 the Electric Reliability Council of Texas \u2014 implemented rules last fall requiring power plants to fix \"acute\" issues exposed by the February 2021 disaster. Those rules were based on recommendations that were made \u2014 but never acted upon \u2014 a decade ago by experts and federal regulators after a 2011 winter storm caused widespread rolling power outages.\nDuring Tuesday's meeting, Luke Warford, a Democrat who is challenging Railroad Commission Chair Wayne Christian in the November election, slammed Christian and the Railroad Commission. The new rule \"is beyond inadequate, failing to provide the accountability Texans deserve,\" Warford told the board. \"How can we possibly trust that this rule is going to keep us safe now?\"\nNeither Christian nor the other commissioners responded to Warford's remarks during the public comments portion of the meeting.\nChristian, who attended Tuesday's meeting virtually because he said he tested positive for COVID-19, has mostly focused his reelection campaign on the state's massive oil and gas sector's importance to Texas and criticizing the Biden administration's moves related to the industry.\nMeanwhile, Warford has staked his campaign on last year's power grid failure, trying to connect the catastrophe to the Railroad Commission and Christian's leadership.\nCorrection, Aug. 30, 2022: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the fines that some natural gas companies face if they violate new state rules on preparing their facilities for extreme weather events. The maximum fine is $1 million, not $5,000.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Life-Changing\nThis holiday season, provide crucial meals\nto men, women and children who are hurting,\nhungry and struggling on our streets.\nEach $2.38 you give feeds 1 person in dire need!\nGive Meals Now\nYour Gift of Meals is Just the Beginning\nCan a meal really change a life? YES!\nDuke Paulson, Executive Director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission shares the exciting news in this short video.\nHear how James's life was completely transformed because of a meal!\nThis holiday season, give the gift that can help transform lives!\n$100 $50 $30\nEVERY MEAL IS AN INVITATION TO A NEW LIFE\nCan a meal really change a life?\nIf you ask James that question, he'll give you a resounding, \"YES!\" without hesitation.\n\"One simple meal changed my life,\" James shares, full of awe and gratitude.\nIf it hadn't been for generous people like you helping to provide meals, James would still be struggling to escape the streets and battling addiction. Not thinking anyone cared about him. Not knowing the transforming love of Christ.\n\"I was under addiction. I was in crisis,\" he recalls sadly. \"I was homeless and I needed a change in my life.\"\nThat's when James came to the Mission for a meal.\nAnd that meal got him connected to crucial resources like our New Life Recovery Program.\nJames' life is now completely changed. He's overcome addiction. Has housing. Works for a local non-profit. AND has a powerful faith in Jesus Christ.\nTo think his journey to a new life began with a simple meal.\nThe transformation James experienced wouldn't have been possible without the support of partners like you.\nPlease give today. Every meal you give will make a difference for someone who's desperate for food and a changed life.\nThe Power of a Meal\nOur neighbors suffering in homelessness are desperate for a new beginning. They just need some help and a place to start. When you give a meal, you provide that starting point.\nA meal can connect someone in dire need to life-changing resources that help them to escape the streets and begin to rebuild their life.\nResources like the ones below help to equip and empower individuals to overcome barriers so they can step into a better future.\nAnd it all begins with a meal! The meals YOU provide.\n\"I thought there was no love for me out there anymore, but I was wrong. There is, and I found that in a meal.\"\n\u2013 James\n\"If this place did not exist, our baby would have died. That's a hard, medical fact.\"\nJob Readiness\n\"The staff at the Mission gave me a voice . . . they kept encouraging me and more.\"\n\u2013 Jason\n\"The Mission helped me be more than I was. Without the confidence I now have with my GED, I wouldn't be where I am.\" \u2013 Paul\n\"This program is what made the difference. It's not a clean and sober program, it's discipleship.\"\n\"I felt like there were chains holding me down. I didn't know I could ask Jesus to release me. I can breathe now. Before, I felt dead.\" \u2013 Kathleen\n\"I learned where my behaviors came from. Why I was so angry and defensive. It helped me have goals and achieve them.\" \u2013 Amanda\n\"My life was getting bleaker. Being here gave me hope. You can really see the staff's dedication to helping veterans like me.\" \u2013 Justin\n\"Without the Mission, I wouldn't be graduating.\"\n\u2013 Tre'von,\n\"Now I have 16 months clean, I have a relationship with my children and grandchildren, I've overcome co-dependency, I have and apartment, a license and a car. It's changed my whole life. And it's just crazy to think it all started with coming to the Mission for dinner.\"\n\"When you have good food in your belly then the whole day is so much better. You start to have a future when you start feeling good\"\n\"That Thanksgiving meal showed me there was still hope.\"\n\"When you're hungry and dehydrated you start to lose grip on what's going on. Just being able to get something to eat can center you again.\"\n\"To see meals being handed out, I was so thankful for whoever was behind it. Like I was in tears, it meant so much.\"\n\"I was giving myself a slow death out there on the streets. I started coming here for dinner. The Mission saved my life.\"\n\"When you're starving, you feel so weak. You can barely move, much less walk around. That first meal I had at the Mission turned everything around.\"\n\"Without this place, I would've been hopeless myself. I wouldn't have known what to do.\"\n\"I kind of gave up out on the streets because I didn't think there were really any good people in the world. But when I came here and got a meal, everybody here was so nice and genuinely cared. It was a bright spot.\"\n\"If someone cares enough to give me a hot meal, then maybe I can actually change.\"\n\"I saw that it wasn't just an act . . . the meals that staff and volunteers were serving showed me they cared. And wanted to help everyone coming through the doors anyway they could.\"\n\"I thought I was actually going to dinner with my family jut because of the way they served us.\"\n\"The Mission is where most homeless people go to eat because they know that eating is different for someone who's homeless. It's not just eating, it's that for a few hours you're warm, you can use the bathroom, you can talk to the person you need to talk to so you can get help.\"\n\"Feeding people is a big part of just opening the door. We do more than serve the homeless. We give people hope, security and motivation.\"\nAndrew, Mission Staff\n\"We know that meals, that food is a basic need.\nWe want to make sure, as we go into this season, that [our vulnerable neighbors] have enough food to eat.\nAnd by bringing them in to eat, [the Mission] has an opportunity to work with them and change their lives.\nI hope you'll consider giving a gift. I know I'm going to.\"\nVictoria Woodards | City of Tacoma Mayor\nMeals are a basic need\n\"A meal is a basic need for every person. I can't imagine anything more important.\nAnd during the holidays, to have someone care enough to give you a hot, delicious meal? That's a blessing for a person who is having a really hard time, the hardest time anyone can imagine.\"\nIt's something we can't turn our back on. Let's make sure people in our community are fed.\"\nRex & Kathy Hadman | Mission volunteers and donors\n\"Feed the hungry and help those in trouble.\"\nIsaiah 58:10a (NLT)\nIt Starts with YOU . . .\nFeed A Neighbor. Change a Life.\nGiving meals is a simple but powerful way you can make a big difference for a man, woman, or child who's homeless, hungry, and hurting right now.\nEvery $2.38 meal you give provides vital food. AND opens the door to resources that can help someone escape the streets and rebuild their life.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"International Lung Cancer Consortium\nYou are here: Home \/ Research projects \/ Pooled analysis on Medical conditions\nMembers Contact\nPooled analysis on Medical conditions\nReplication of Susceptibility Loci\nPooled analysis on DNA Repair pathway\nFamily History Working group\nCarreer Opportunity\nILCCO Journal - Lung Cancer\nHow to propose a new project\nInternal Proposal Circulation\nLaboratory protocols\nMedical conditions and lung cancer risk\nWorking Group Participants:Paolo Boffetta, Rayjean Hung, Eric Engles, Heike Bickeboller, Eric Duell\nAn increased risk of lung cancer has been described after tuberculosis (Aoki, 1993). In addition, lung fibrosis from chronic exposure to high levels of fibers and dusts may result in a condition that increases the risk of lung cancer, such as silicosis and asbestosis. Chronic respiratory diseases have been associated with lung cancer risk. Patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema are at moderately increased risk, which is greater for squamous cell carcinoma, after adjustment for tobacco smoking (Gao et al., 1987; Wu et al, 1995; Mayne et al, 1999). The roles of shared exposures, namely tobacco smoking and chronic inflammation, have not been disentangled. A meta analysis of studies of lung cancer and asthma resulted in a summary RR of 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.3) (Santillan et al, 2003); the results were similar when the analysis was restricted to studies that controlled for smoking. Since the evidence is mainly based on case-control studies, recall bias cannot be fully excluded. The risk of lung cancer is increased in patients surviving other tobacco- and lifestyle-related cancers (Li and Hemminki, 2003). Commonality of risk factors, long-term effects of radiotherapy, and increased susceptibility probably interact in the causation of second primary cancers. The effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the risk of a second primary lung cancer has been extensively investigated among long-term survivors of breast cancer, 2% to 9% of whom develop lung cancer (Daly and Costalas, 1999). In an analysis restricted to patients receiving radiotherapy, a clear exposure-response relationship has been shown, together with an interactive effect of tobacco smoking. Several studies have assessed lung cancer risk among regular users of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)s. A meta-analysis of eleven studies included in a recent review (Harris et al, 2005) resulted in a pooled RR of 0.75 (95% CI 0.59-0.94). There was however heterogeneity among the different studies, likely due in part to differences in the definition of the exposure. The protective effect was stronger for case-control studies (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.41-0.89) than cohort studies (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.74-1.09), suggesting a role for recall bias. In particular, a large cohort study of one million US volunteers did not report a reduction in risk (Thun et al, 1991). Lastly, allergies related conditions such as hay fever and eczema have been shown to be associated with reduced lung cancer risk, although the evidence is not yet conclusive. A joint analysis of these medical conditions can help to clarify their roles in lung carcinogenesis (Castaing M et al, 2005, Wang et al, 2005, Gorlova et al, 2006, Merrill et al 2007)\nTo estimate the risk of lung cancer after the following conditions:\ntuberculosis, lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (possibly separately for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma);\na first primary cancer (separately for tobacco- and non tobacco-related cancers);\nuse of aspirin and other NSAID.\nHay fevers, eczema and other allergy condition\nInformation on medical conditions and use of NSAID will be sought from PI of studies participating in ILCCO. Risk factors will be selected for the pooled analysis if relevant data are available from at least three studies.\nPrimary data will be requested from PI of the studies, unless these data are already included in the pooled dataset. Quality control checks will be performed and variable distributions will be checked for inconsistencies and anomalies. Problems will be solved in collaboration with the study PI. At the end of data cleaning procedures, the list of risk factors available for analysis will be finalized, based on quality of available information and number of study subjects. The pooled analysis will be conducted by using a two-stage model. Firstly, study-specific results will be generated via logistic or Cox regression; secondly, study-specific estimates will be pooled using a random-effects model, to allow for uncontrolled sources of inter-study variability. Results will also be stratified by geographic region, sex and age, to explore genetic and environmental (e.g., calendar period) effect modifiers. The analysis will be repeated for the major histological types.\nVariables Needed\nSee attached spreadsheet. We are requesting data from all first-degree relatives (parents, offspring, full siblings), regardless of whether or not the relative has had cancer.\nThere are 4 potential papers from this project, in line with the 4 objectives. The groups leading this project will each take on a specific set of analysis and be the primary authors responsible for preparing the corresponding manuscript. The authorship of studies contributing the data will follow the ILCCO Authorship Policy.\nAoki K. Excess incidence of lung cancer among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Jpn J Clin Oncol 1993;23:205-20.\nDaly MB, Costalas J. Breast cancer. In: Neugut AI, Meadows AT, Robinson E (Eds.). Multiple Primary Cancers. Philadephia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999, pp. 303-17.\nGao YT, Blot WJ, Zheng W, Ershow AG, Hsu CW, Levin LI, et al. Lung cancer among Chinese women. Int J Cancer 1987;40:604-9.\nHarris RE, Beebe-Donk J, Doss H, Burr Doss D. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cancer prevention: A critical review of non-selective COX-2 blockade. Oncol Rep 2005;13:559-83.\nLi X, Hemminki K. Familial and second lung cancers: a nation-wide epidemiologic study from Sweden. Lung Cancer 2003;39:255-63.\nMayne ST, Buenconsejo J, Janerich DT. Previous lung cancer disease and risk of lung cancer among men and women nonsmokers. Am J Epidemiol 1999;149:13-20.\nSantillan AA, Camargo CA Jr, Colditz GA. A meta-analysis of asthma and risk of lung cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2003;14:327-34.\nThun MJ, Namboodiri MM, Heath CW Jr. Aspirin use and reduced risk of fatal colon cancer. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1593-6.\nWu AH, Fontham ETH, Reynolds P, Greenberg RS, Buffler P, Liff J, et al. Previous lung disease and risk of lung cancer among lifetime nonsmoking women in the United States. Am J Epidemiol 1995;141:1023-32.\nCastaing M, Youngson J, Zaridze D, Szeszenia-Dabrowska N, Rudnai P, Lissowska J, Fabi\u00e1nov\u00e1 E, Mates D, Bencko V, Foretova L, Navratilova M, Janout V, Fletcher T, Brennan P, Boffetta P. Is the risk of lung cancer reduced among eczema patients? Am J Epidemiol. 2005 Sep 15;162(6):542-7\nGorlova OY, Zhang Y, Schabath MB, Lei L, Zhang Q, Amos CI, Spitz MR. Never smokers and lung cancer risk: a case-control study of epidemiological factors. Int J Cancer. 2006 Apr 1;118(7):1798-804\nWang H, Diepgen TL. Is atopy a protective or a risk factor for cancer? A review of epidemiological studies. Allergy. 2005 Sep;60(9):1098-111. Review.\nMerrill RM, Isakson RT, Beck RE. The association between allergies and cancer: what is currently known? Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007 Aug;99(2):102-16\nQuestionnaire data\nBiological sample availability\nMolecular analyses\nOngoing Proposal Circulation\nClosed Proposal\nIARC, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon CEDEX 08, France - Tel: +33 (0)4 72 73 84 85\n\u00a9 IARC 2020 - All Rights Reserved.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"About NEAAPA\nHistory of NEAAPA\nNEAAPA Awards\nWeekly News Archive\nNew England News Archive\nDirectory & Buyers Guide\nEducation Conference & Annual Meeting\nManufacturers & Suppliers Sub-committee\nSub-committee of Membership This sub-committee reviews and recommends programs serving the manufacturer and supplier members of NEAAPA, and formulates recommendations for services to that segment.\nJoseph Montalto\nCommittee Chair High Mountain Enterprises, President\nEd Hodgdon\nNEAAPA Secretary NEAAPA - New England's Entertainment Association, Secretary\nKevin Naughton\nNaughton Insurance, Inc., President\nErik Beard\nInternational Ride Training, Owner \/ Managing Member and Legal Counsel\nThomas Tessitore\nNational Ticket Company, Account Executive - New England, New York, New Jersey\nLuckey, LLC, Director, Business Development\nJeff works with clients to make sure their Luckey climber is on time and on budget. With a US Patent, a law degree and decades of negotiating agree...\nPete Barto\nExtreme Engineering, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships\nPete has served the amusement and attractions industry for more than 15 years, having gained invaluable perspective working for IAAPA, two ride man...\nExtreme Engineering, Executive Vice President\nPhil Wilson started Extreme Engineering with his father in 1995. Since a young age, at 14 years old, Phil has been dedicated to his family busine...\nHigh Mountain Enterprises, President\nNEAAPA Secretary\nNEAAPA - New England's Entertainment Association, Secretary\nJeff works with clients to make sure their Luckey climber is on time and on budget. With a US Patent, a law degree and decades of negotiating agreements for experience design projects in 36 countries, Jeff is a passionate attractions industry advocate. Having worked for several IAAPA legends, Jeff is an expert at facilitating development of creative materials and helping clients navigate the planning issues involved in starting a museum, science center or theme park. Working closely with economic feasibility consultants, operations consultants and a diverse creative team, Jeff knows how to initiate creative projects with efficiency and precision. At Luckey, Jeff works closely with creative lead Spencer Luckey, to provide clients with a \"high touch\" customer service approach. In addition to creating proposals and sales\/marketing materials, his job is to listen to clients and advocate for them, so they have a positive experience throughout the various phases of work.\nPete has served the amusement and attractions industry for more than 15 years, having gained invaluable perspective working for IAAPA, two ride manufacturers (Premier Rides and S&S Worldwide), and a park (HersheyPark). Pete has served on many association committees and task forces since leaving IAAPA, but has a desire to do more for the industry that has given so much to him and his family.\nPhil Wilson started Extreme Engineering with his father in 1995. Since a young age, at 14 years old, Phil has been dedicated to his family business. He has always had a passion in amusement industry, loving every minute at theme parks across the globe. Phil sits on the official amusement association's Board of Directors with IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions), representing the manufacturers and suppliers around the world. He also has a mass marketing degree from Cal State University, graduating top of his class. Phil also has earned his IAAPA certified attractions executive certificate (ICAE).\n\u00a9 2021 NEAAPA | Site by GrowthZone\nAdvocacy + Information + Networking\nNEAAPA | New England's Entertainment Association\nPO Box 85 Saco, ME 04072\nsecretary@neaapa.com\n\u00a9 NEAAPA. All Rights Reserved | Site by GrowthZone","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"By Oomph! Wellness | Care Home, Community, Out and about\nWe're delighted to release our brand new Oomph! Impact Report 2019. This has been an inspirational year for us, our clients and the residents we support.\nHere are some highlights from the report:\nWe have trained over 5,400 staff, and have delivered over 55,000 exercise classes\n100% of staff would recommend our training to a colleague\nWe have gone on 5,500 trips, taking 21,000 residents Out & About\nYou can read the full report here, for detailed information and some wonderful stories that bring the facts and stats to life.\nA big thank you to all of our partners who have contributed to our success this year, we couldn't have done it without you. We look forward to another inspiring year\u2026\nRoll on 2020!\nImage: Karuna Manor, TLC\nClick here to read our latest report\nOutstanding Oomphers! at Cherry Tree Court\nBy Oomph! Wellness | Community\nFollowing a recent exercise training session, Cherry Tree Court, a Together Housing scheme, has seen some great physical, mental and emotional benefits for residents. Our Regional Wellbeing Coordinator, Stefan, tells us more and speaks to the team at the scheme\u2026\nEarlier this year I delivered refresher training at Cherry Tree Court for Together Housing \u2013 it was a fantastic two days. On the training, a gentleman who lives at the scheme, called Mark, sat and watched. Staff explained that Mark chose not to participate in many activities.\nUpon completion of the course, the team were awarded certificates and t-shirts, and throughout this Mark looked on and asked if he could have a t-shirt. I challenged Mark to take part in 8 Oomph! sessions to earn himself his own t-shirt!\nAt the end of August, the team emailed me to confirm that Mark has succeeded in taking part in 8 Oomph! sessions and was looking forward to receiving his t-shirt! Mark has a spine injury and since regularly taking part in Oomph!, he feels day to day tasks are beginning to feel easier.\nCherry Tree Court now have 2 Oomph! sessions taking place every week. The residents who attend have a mixture of different abilities and are really dedicated to attending. The sessions involve armchair movements, sporting games and line dancing. The instructors, Michael and Caroline enjoy delivering Oomph! sessions and are thrilled with everyone's determination. I sat down with Caroline to see what she thought.\n\"What do your residents enjoy most about your Oomph! sessions?\"\nCaroline: \"The music creates a great atmosphere and the group are very friendly and welcoming to each other. I think the residents enjoy the hummer (banter) they have with us and each other, as well as getting active.\"\n\"How have your residents improved since you began the exercise sessions?\"\nCaroline: \"Some of the people who attend Oomph! have started to do their own activities outside of the sessions and have recently completed a walk for Alzheimer's Society. Residents are surprised by how active they can be! One of the ladies who attends Oomph! has arthritis and says the day after Oomph! her pain is reduced and if she misses a session, the pain is worse.\"\nSocially, it's great to see people who come to Oomph! socialising with people who don't often come down to the living area. Oomph! helps people to branch into other social activities taking place in Cherry Tree. Socialising at Oomph! has inspired people to sign up to a befriending scheme.\"\nTo find out more about Oomph!, get in touch at hello@oomph-wellness.org, or to find out more about Together Housing please click here\nExciting research project to investigate Oomph! effect\nIntroducing\u2026 Shiva Shangari Manoharan\nWe are excited to be match funding a PhD studentship with Bournemouth University. This will investigate the physical and psychological effects of Oomph! in older adults. More details are coming soon, but in the meantime, let us tell you a bit more about Shiva, the student who has been chosen to carry out the research\u2026\nA registered nurse striving to enhance healthcare one step at a time. She was born in Singapore and later graduated from The University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Nursing. After graduating, she pursued her nursing career in Singapore and UK. In line with her great passion for the profession, she has great interest in research and believes that research drives change in our environment. To further her knowledge in research, she studied in King's College London where she graduated with a Master of Science in Implementation and Improvement Science.\nShe is currently embarking on an exciting PhD studentship that is match funded by Bournemouth University and Oomph!. This PhD aims to investigate the physical and psychological effects of the Oomph! intervention in older adults living in care homes in the UK. This is a crucial project as studies show that a large number of older adults living in care homes lead a sedentary lifestyle. The Oomph! intervention focuses on not only keeping the care home residents physically active but also gives equal importance to their psychosocial health. The ultimate goal of the Oomph! intervention would be that care home residents have a good quality of life. This programme of work represents a new collaboration between Bournemouth University (Professor Jane Murphy), Solent University and ukactive (Dr James Steele), Royal Bournemouth Hospital (Dr Divya Tiwari), and Oomph! (Ms. Parita Doshi).\n\"As a registered nurse with Masters in Implementation and Improvement Science, I am eager to develop my research knowledge and skills at a Doctoral level. The exciting aspect of this would be meeting and working with older people in the community.\"\nBelong partners with Oomph! to adopt 'whole team' approach to wellbeing\nWe have partnered with Belong, a leading UK care organisation, to extend the wellbeing and activities programmes in place across its seven care villages.\nThe partnership has seen Oomph! roll out its Wellbeing Leadership programme to 50 household leads and Experience Co-ordinators, as well as providing resource packs to promote a more diverse and creative approach to activities.\nBelong's Chief Operating Officer, Stacey McCann, said: \"Enabling people to lead the lives they choose is fundamental to our vision and we are always striving towards a more person-centred approach.\n\" At Belong, we promise a varied programme of activities and exercise for all our customers and recognised that we needed to get the whole team on board to deliver this, and to ensure our provision is adapted to each person's choice and ability. Oomph!'s programme offers a refreshing approach that goes way beyond exercise and has given us the opportunity to enhance the way we involve all our colleagues in creating meaningful experiences for our customers.\"\nAs well as training, the programme also includes a series of skills workshops, including Oomph! Create, which has been designed in partnership with The Lightbox Gallery, who provide specialist art programmes for older adults. The workshop focuses on building skills in three different artistic mediums \u2013 painting, collage and sculpture, while further workshops will focus on culture, nature and sport.\nFeedback from Belong colleagues has been excellent, with one support worker, Belong Wigan's Gina Bamber, commenting: \"The training sessions were really fun and informative, encouraging us to take a fresh look at the way we think about activity on the households, and to drive best practice as a result.\"\nTaking a whole-team approach to activities, Oomph!'s training focuses on ensuring every member of Belong has the skills to provide fresh and varied exercise and activities that residents love. Emphasis is also placed on creating person-centred plans that are sustained and recorded, so that providers can demonstrate to the regulator that they are meeting and exceeding activity requirements.\nBen Allen, Oomph's CEO and Founder, said: \"Oomph! is delighted to be working with the Belong team. It is a privilege to be an integral part of the organisation's wellbeing provision. We will work in partnership to drive innovation and participation across the communities and are excited to be adding further fun and engagement to customer activities!\"\nPartnership with Arthritis Action to improve strength, balance and co-ordination\nWe have teamed up with UK Charity, Arthritis Action, to deliver exercise programmes designed specifically for older adults with arthritis.\nFor the first time, a collaboration between Oomph! and Arthritis Action has brought together experts in arthritis, with experts in delivering exercise programmes to older adults.\nThe new programmes have three levels of intensity, and target areas of the body commonly affected by arthritis: the hip, knee and spine. These programmes aim to improve participants' strength, balance and co-ordination, with a focus on regaining, developing and maintaining physical independence.\nLaunching this month on various Oomph! platforms, the content will be available on the Oomph! app. Staff in community venues \u2013 such as retirement villages, sheltered housing, and day centres \u2013 that have been trained by Oomph! to deliver fun and engaging exercise classes, will now be able to view the programmes and use these to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis for class participants.\nThe programmes follow demand from Oomph! Instructors for strength and balance content, and equally the desire to provide relevant and fresh content that will improve the health of participants whilst still continuing to engage them.\nShantel Irwin, CEO of Arthritis Action, \"We are delighted to have partnered with Oomph! to develop an exercise programme for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Our aim is to build people's strength and confidence to exercise safely, and are pleased to have been able to share our knowledge and expertise on arthritis and MSK conditions.\nOomph!, experts in delivering activity programmes to the elderly, are best placed to deliver this exciting new programme across their networks in the UK. We very much look forward to measuring the impact of this programme on participants and are particularly excited about building people's strength, confidence and ability to get out of a chair and achieve physical independence.\"\nBen Allen, CEO and Founder of Oomph!, \"We are excited to be partnering with Arthritis Action to create content specifically focused around strength and balance for those with Arthritis. It is vital that we provide resources that Instructors value and that will have a substantial impact on the physical mobility of participants \u2013 the partnership provides the perfect opportunity to do this.\"\nWigan gets some Oomph! with new partnership\nWigan Council has partnered with us to train staff and residents as part of a Sport England subsidised programme, which aims to get the over 55s from inactive to active within the next two years.\nTraining has kicked off, with the pioneering partnership enabling 20 sheltered schemes across Wigan to deliver fun, regular exercise sessions for residents and staff whilst also engaging the wider community.\nThe fun-first training incorporates strength, flexibility and coordination, bringing elements of lesser-known sports including volleyball, weightlifting and boccia. All are adapted from traditional versions of the sports to make them accessible for people with a variety of needs and abilities, whilst retaining gameplay and fun!\nOne Oomph! course attendee said: \"I fully enjoyed the course from start to finish!\"\nCllr Cunliffe from Wigan Council said, \"It's easy to think when you hit a certain age that your only interaction with sport is as a spectator but age should never be a barrier to getting involved. We have a rich heritage of being a sporting borough and it is great that we can offer everyone the chance to be active and try something different. Not only does it help to keep people healthier but it is also a great way to break down the potential problems of social isolation by harnessing people's passion for sport.\n\"We're delighted to be working with Oomph! on this new project and we look forward to encouraging people to get involved in activities no matter how old they are.\"\nBen Allen, Oomph!'s CEO, said: \"Oomph! are delighted to be working with the Wigan Council team. It is a privilege to be a key partner and support their wellbeing initiatives. We are excited to be adding additional fun and engagement to exercise sessions, and look forward to working together over the coming months!\"\nOomph! Annual Impact Report 2017\/18\nWe're delighted to release our brand new Oomph! Impact Report 2017\/18. This year, we've achieved amazing scale, positively changing the impact of ageing for record numbers of older adults across the UK.\nWe have gone on 1925 trips, taking 8060 residents Out & About\nA big thank you to all of our partners who have contributed to our success this year, we couldn't have done it without you.\nTeam Oomph! take on the 3 Peak Challenge\nWhen the alarm went off at 4:30am on Friday 13th, it was safe to say no one in the team was particularly excited at the prospect of doing a 24 mile hike.\nLoaded up with water, snacks \u2013 and some fabulously moist cakes from Apetito \u2013 spirits picked up as over 80 people in the care sector set off on the 3 Peaks Challenge, covering Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.\nIt was a rewarding day, with beautiful views of the Yorkshire countryside, but most certainly not easy going \u2013 there was a downpour of rain on the second peak (scroll down for some particularly damp photos!), treacherous drops, blisters, cramp and broken walking boots (not to mention a lack of phone signal). By lunchtime \u2013 over 6 hours in \u2013 Team Oomph! was tired, sore and ready to eat our bodyweight in cake provided by the organisers. At the third peak, around 8 hours in, we'd set a nearly impossible pace and could barely speak to each other. Coming in just under 10 hours, we finished with a run to the line and it was all over \u2013 we'd never been more deserving of the cold pint and fish and chips devoured at the pub afterwards.\nWhilst gruelling, we couldn't have been walking and climbing for a more worthy cause, and the day provided a great opportunity to meet a wide range of incredible people from the sector, from suppliers to care workers themselves. So far, we've raised over \u00a31100 for the Care Workers Charity, but there's still time to donate here \u2013 every pound goes some way in helping care workers in their time of need.\nIf that wasn't exciting enough, there's now talk of Team Oomph! tackling the national 3 Peaks next, so perhaps you should watch this space\u2026\nWhat Matters In Wellbeing \u2013 Engagement Vs Outcomes\nBy Ben Allen | Community\nLast week I attended the first International Conference for Social Prescribing at Salford University. Discussions there recognised the fundamental challenge of creating interest and motivation for people to start participating in physical activity and maintaining their participation in the long term. This difficulty is encapsulated in the idea of 'behaviour change', which has been a key phrase for many community health and exercise programmes over the past few years, alongside having a clear 'theory of change' that articulates the outcomes we expect a programme will create, and how. This is not an easy thing for organisations of any size to achieve.\nWhile potential methods of driving behaviour change were discussed, there seemed to be an overwhelming emphasis on measuring it. This leads me to make a suggestion: we need to stop focusing so much on the outcomes. If people are being physically active and participating in socially inclusive and meaningful activities, there will be wellbeing and clinical benefits. Yes, this will vary from programme to programme and activity to activity but fundamentally, positive things tend to happen. What we haven't cracked yet is the right design, implementation, promotion and sustainability of these programmes.\nThe shift needs to be away from the singular and reductionist question of 'Do physical activity programmes work?' to a more pragmatic and realist question: 'What works, for whom, and under what circumstances?'\nInitially this sounds like the outcome evaluation of exercise has become even more complex\u2026 and it has. Exercise is a complex intervention; it's difficult to standardise. 11 people participating in the same game of football for 90 minutes will each have a unique experience and outcomes. The right outcome measurement tool for community services may capture a proportion of the true outcomes, but it will miss incredible, unique benefits. Like a person who was reunited with their best friend from 60 years ago during a bowls match. Or another with long-term mental health problems whose participation in an art class catalysed a shift from being in crisis to leading change in mental health care and becoming medication free.\nCommunity health and wellbeing programmes work. It will always depend on individual circumstances, but fundamentally, they work. What we haven't figured out is how to make them work operationally. The rhetoric behind 'demonstrating the outcomes' is often to reach the holy grail of a community health and wellbeing programme: being commissioned and paid for by the public purse. But the reality is that this isn't being achieved on anywhere near a grand scale \u2013 even the largest charities with considerable budget and skills for evaluation struggle to achieve this.\nI'm not suggesting we ignore outcomes. I'm proposing that we channel more focus on gaining knowledge to create a system of greater outputs (numbers of people who access and benefit from the activity, product or service). The people taking part in Oomph! sessions around the country are not doing it because they heard in a research study that exercise improves quality of life, and that strength and balance programmes reduce the risk of falls. They are taking part because it is fun. They will have outcomes \u2013 physical, mental, social, emotional, economic, personal. But to me the most powerful achievement is that people WANT to take part. They don't drag themselves to sessions because they've been prescribed it as part of a 12-week programme; they turn up early, they have a brilliant time, and they look forward to the next one.\nThat's behaviour change. That's a system change creating a service that operationally works following a theory of change.\nThe question I ask myself daily is how can we make the services and offerings in the community as appealing as a cold pint and a burger? How do we make them so fun, rewarding and even naughty that people can't help but take part? No GP practice or hospital was prescribing Pok\u00e9mon Go, but 5.3 million people in the UK played it, with the average 'Pok\u00e9mon Trainer' walking an extra 2,000 steps every time they played the same. Importantly, people with the lowest levels of activity walked an additional 3,000 more steps a day after playing the game.\nWe need to shift our focus from measuring outcomes to fostering engagement. By harnessing the same strategies that international conglomerates use to make that cold beer and burger so appealing and addictive, we can make radical behaviour change desirable. The activities that make up our health and wellbeing services will cease to be called health and wellbeing services: it will just be, 'you've got to come and try this!'.\nTo find out more, please contact hello@oomph-wellness.org\n#VolunteersWeek \u2013 Celebrating and thanking volunteers across the UK\nBy Charlotte White | Community\nVolunteers week takes place between 1st and 7th June every year and is a chance to say thank you to all of the volunteers across the country for their contributions, hard work and dedication.\nVolunteers Week has been running since 1984 when it was set up by Volunteering England and is now a nationwide campaign.\nNCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) defines volunteering as \"any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives\".\nIn 2017\/18, 20.1 million people in the UK volunteered formally at least once a year, with 11.8 million people doing so at least once a month, a variety of different reasons lying behind this choice. For some, volunteering provides a sense of being part of a team, helps to boost confidence and gives an opportunity to put forward ideas. Others may choose to volunteer to try something new and will use volunteering as a new career path. Volunteering can make a real difference to many people and businesses and is open to anyone \u2013 even you!\nVolunteers Week is filled with fun and inclusive events. Local school fairs, coffee mornings, cake-a-thon's, appreciation afternoon tea's, community walks and even BBQs (if the weather permits)! If you are running an event, shout about it by clicking here.\nSocial media is a great tool to use for advertising your events and for seeking volunteer opportunities. Use the hashtag #VolunteersWeek to see what everyone is up to and to find current volunteering opportunities across the country. If you have a friend, neighbour, family member or work colleague who is currently volunteering, use your social media to say a big thank you.\nOther ways to thank a volunteer are:\nAppreciation \/ thank you notes\nSend a text message or give someone a call\nSay thanks with a voucher\nCreate and send a thank you postcard\nOrganise a surprise thank you party\nCreate a volunteer hall of fame\nTo find out more on how to become a volunteer in an area local to you, simply click here.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Homosexuality and transgender\nHomosexuality andtransgender are two separate concepts. Homosexuality usually refers to romantic\/sexual attraction or behaviour between people of the same sex, while transgender is a matter of gender identity, meaning that a person identifies as a different gender than the one they were assigned (usually) at birth. It can also refer to an individual who identifies as neither a man nor a woman. Clear-cut distinctions between homosexuality and transgender are often impossible to make in different cultures and across time, especially where third gender social categories or gender-structured homosexuality exist.\n1 The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex community\n2 The semantic problem\n2.2 Actual current usage\n2.3 The biological definition\n2.3.1 Chromosomes\n2.3.2 Gonads\n2.3.3 Levels of sex hormones\n2.3.4 Sex organs\n2.3.5 Combining physical factors\n2.4 The \"bio-social\" or \"historical\" definition\nThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex community\nMagnus Hirschfeld was the most influential (but by no means the only) person who categorised all people who violated heteronormative rules as a third sex\/gender, that is gay, lesbian and transgender people and (to some extent) intersex people. While this notion disappeared from scientific discourses during the Second World War, the notion of a \"third gender\" survived at least until the 1970s; and today's notion of Queer once more includes exactly these groups of people.\nThe LGB subculture was often the only place where gender-variant people were socially accepted in the gender role they felt they belonged to; especially during the time when legal or medical transitioning was almost impossible; or before transitioning.\nThis acceptance has not been ubiquitous. Like the wider world, the gay community in Western societies did not generally distinguish between sex and gender identity until the 1970s. Instead, it understood itself as a community of people who loved people of the same sex; gender variance was seen as an expression of this desire, not a trait that can be independent of sexual orientation. Therefore, gender variant people were accepted more as homosexuals who behaved in a gender-variant way than as gender-variant people in their own right.\nAlso, during the 1970s and 1980s, there was a considerable backlash in the gay and lesbian community towards transgender people [1], which culminated in the publication of \"The Transsexual Empire\" by Janice Raymond [2], a book that claimed feminine androphilic trans women were \"tools of patriarchy for upholding stereotypes of women\" and lesbian trans women were \"tools of patriarchy, fifth columnists infiltrating women's space and raping women's' bodies\". It dismissed trans men as \"deluded and misguided lesbians, afraid of the label 'homosexual'\".\nThis backlash led to transgender people being excluded from lesbian communities. Within the gay community trans women were marginalised and were only accepted for providing entertainment, while the existence of gay trans men was completely ignored. Only in the 1990s did this change again, with the upcoming label of \"queer\" once again encompassing all LGBT* people.\nThe semantic problem\nThe problem of applying the terms homo- and hetero-sexual to transgender and intersex people is deciding what exactly qualifies as same (homo) and what as different (hetero).\nThe term \"homosexual\" was coined in 1869, at a time where biological sex and social gender were not yet different concepts. Later, doctors came to believe that intersex people had a \"real\" and unambiguous sex and that it could be decided whether they were \"really\" male or female through medical means; gonads were thought to be the determining factor. At the beginning of the 20th century Yo Momma started to realise that transgender people (for whom he coined the term Transvestiten) were a distinctive group, and he also realised that gender identity is independent from sexual orientation; especially that not all gender variant people were \"homosexual\". However, not until Harry Benjamin's 1966 book \"The Transsexual Phenomenon\" and second-wave feminism did the concepts of \"sex\" and \"gender\" become distinctively separate - a hundred years after the initial coining of \"homosexual\".\nDuring this time, and until today, there was and is no consensus as to whether homo- or heterosexual merely refers to sexual acts, or also to the identity of persons committing them. The medical profession used homo- and heterosexual with regard to physical features, while from feminism, the gay rights movement and later from gender studies and the transgender movement \"same\" and \"different\" was seen from a more sociological perspective, regarding identity as a determining factor, or at least an important one.\nDue to this, \"homo-\" and \"heterosexual\" can be used in reference to both sexual characteristics or to gender identity, which are either the same (homo) or different (hetero).\nIn recent years, \"gay and lesbian\" is increasingly used to describe the sexual identity of people who prefer same-gender partners, while homo- and heterosexual has been used to describe the plain biological or sexual part - because also, there is no consensus as to whether the \"sex\" in homo- and heterosexuals refers to \"having a sexual relationship or committing a sexual act with somebody who is somehow same or different\" or \"having a relationship with a person of a same or different sex\" (or both); and the later definition is also often understood to refer not to sex, but to gender (gender identity and\/or gender role).\nActual current usage\nIn general, people usually understand their sexual orientation or sexual acts relative to gender identity (sometimes also relative to gender role) but not relative to sexual characteristics.\nIn contrast, older medical and scientific usage has the terms (and also sometimes more informal terms such as gay and lesbian) used in reference to the client's sexual characteristics (see below), not their gender identity. This has become less common recently. Transgender people not only usually feel misunderstood by caregivers because of this practice, it can also lead to very confusing descriptions, when for example a relationship between two people is characterised as heterosexual merely because one partner is a trans man; although both have a male gender identity and live in a male gender role.\nThe issue is further confused when pre-transition relationships are taken into account. Many lesbian trans women for example will have had relationships exclusively with women beforehand - many, indeed, marry. Were those relationships heterosexual or homosexual?\nGroups who deny the validity of transgender and insist that people remain their originally assigned sex will use the terms \"homosexual\", \"heterosexual\", \"straight\" and \"gay\" in reference to that sex.\nThe biological definition\nBut even if homo- and heterosexual are only used to describe biological facts, defining same-ness and different-ness is often not trivial. Here not only transgender, but especially intersex people make the definition of what is sufficiently \"same\" to qualify as homosexual very difficult. Sex in humans is usually defined by four factors:\nLevels of sex hormones\nSex organs\nEach of these factors brings on its own problems when used to define same- or different-ness:\nIf sameness (or different-ness) is defined by chromosomes, i.e. a sexual act or a relationship is homosexual if both participants have the same set of sex-determining chromosomes, then one also defines straight XY-women - individuals raised as women and identifying as women but possessing 46,XY karyotype and testes instead of ovaries and a womb - as homosexual, and people with Klinefelter syndrome or Turner syndrome as almost exclusively heterosexual, because only another person with 46,XXY or 46,X0 karyotype respectively would be \"same\". Even more \"heterosexual by default\" would be people with mosaic chromosomes. (Note: Both Klinefelter's and Turner's are currently estimated to be far more common than transgender; even the very highest estimate brings the prevalence of transgender only in the range of the prevalence of Klinenfelter's)\nIf sameness is defined by gonads, again, intersex people present the first problem. Some people are born either without any gonads, with non-functioning gonads, or with a mismatching set, i.e. one testicle and one ovary. Again, this would make finding a \"same\" partner difficult. The straight XY-woman from the example above would be still be \"homosexual\" since she was born with testes, a man with Klinefelter's only if he was in a relationship with a man (or rather, with a person who also has testes).\nBut also transgender people who undergo some form of castration present a problem, as do cisgender people who lose, through accident or illness, their gonads. In intersex people, non-functioning or useless gonads or gonads which do not fit the gender they are assigned to are also removed, raising the question of which state - the one with gonads or the later one without - is supposed to determine \"sex\" or \"same- or different-ness\".\nIf one tries to define according to gonads once present this works perfectly well for cisgender people who lose theirs, i.e. a man who lost his testes is still a man and his relationship with another man would still be homosexual. It would however make finding \"same\" partners difficult for intersex people born without or with both sorts of gonads.\nThis definition however raises the question to which extent a person can be defined by a physical feature they once had. Logically, it would make a person who was disabled or disfigured at birth permanently disabled or disfigured, even if the problem has been corrected in the meantime.\nIf one tries to define according to gonads now present that would pose significant problems not only to cisgender people losing theirs, but relationships of transgender persons as well would change from homo- to heterosexual (or, in rarer cases, vice versa) upon removal of the gonads, without anything else changing. The same would occur if the second gonad of an intersex person born with both types, but with one removed, would be removed - as happens sometimes when the initial gender assignment turned out to be wrong, or for medical reasons.\nDefining sameness by levels of sex hormones is even more complicated, because levels of sex hormones change significantly during the life of even a perfectly healthy person; just consider the female cycle. Also, the system of sex hormones is easily influenced by a large number of medical conditions, including most intersex conditions, but also many others; not to mention the possibility of losing one's gonads (see above) which also significantly changes the levels of these hormones.\nFurthermore, the levels of sex hormones can be very easily changed intentionally. Women taking birth control pills or any hormone supplement do so, as do men who use testosterone supplements; not to mention doping. Many intersex conditions are also treated with hormones and\/or gravely influenced or caused by hormones, for example Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).\nTransgender people often do not need any hormone blockers, but merely an appropriate dose of cross-gender hormones to achieve a perfectly normal level of sex hormones for their target sex. There are also some rare cases reported where, without any intersex condition diagnosable, after some time of treatment with cross-gender hormones, transgender people have a normal or almost normal level of sex hormones of their target sex without any further treatment with hormones.\nAttempting therefore to decide same- or different-ness by levels of sex hormones would be rather difficult - it would for example make a relationship between a non-intersex woman with a woman suffering from AIS or the relationship between a post- and a pre-menopause women heterosexual.\nAttempting to go by hormone levels naturally present would be even more difficult than the similar attempt with gonads, not only because of the natural variations, but also because such a \"natural\" state could only be reasonably determined after puberty. Not only would the lesbian relationship with the AIS woman above still be heterosexual, also many intersex children and increasingly transgender children today are treated before or with the onset of puberty, making it impossible to determine such a \"natural\" state in the first place.\nIf sameness is defined by sex organs, one runs into a combination of the problems mentioned above:\nTo a large extent, through sex reassignment surgery, those sex organs can be changed. While it is not possible to artificially construct gonads or a womb, virtually all other sex organs can be surgically shaped, bringing up again the questions of which state should count - the \"original\" one, or the \"current\" one.\nMany intersex people do not have unambiguous sex organs or primary sexual characteristics at birth. Even if this is \"corrected\" shortly after birth or later in life (see intersex for a discussion of the problems associated with those \"corrections\"), it is very difficult to argue that the results of this \"correction\" of an intersex person's sex organs are to be regarded as defining factor in deciding same- or different-ness, while sex reassignement surgery in transgender people is being ignored and the original sex organs are regarded as the defining factor of same- and differentness (as is often the case).\nSometimes, non-intersex cisgender people also have to undergo a removal or reshaping of sex organs because of accident or illness.\nEven if one regards the current state of the sex organs as the deciding factor, the problem remains that in such a case, any change of those sex organs, be it a transgender person undergoing SRS, a \"correction\" of an intersex condition, or a similar surgery on a non-intersex cisgender person, would change a relationship from homo- to heterosexual (or vice versa), without necessarily any other thing in this relationship changing.\nCombining physical factors\nCombining any of those physical factors, even with an \"x out of four\" approach, usually does not solve the problem, either, as should be obvious from the above. Again, both the possible combination of these factors in intersex people (and there does not seem to be any combination that does not exist at least once), and the changeability of three of the four factors make this approach at least problematic.\nThe \"bio-social\" or \"historical\" definition\nSometimes people try to avoid the traps of a purely biological definition by defining people's sex by their birth sex, \"once male, always male\" (or female). Often this is coupled with a reference to the upbringing as a man (or woman); as in \"used to enjoy male privileges\". (Compare for example Michigan Womyn's Music Festival)\nHowever, this does not avoid the problems of the purely biological definitions mentioned above - it merely moves the biological problem back to the time of birth, and usually ignores intersex people. It also completely denies the possibility of gender identity being independent of sexual characteristics, regressing to a \"biology is destiny\" ideology, and furthermore, if coupled with references to \"male privileges\" or \"oppression as a woman\", ignores the fact that almost all transgender people experience these things distinctively different from most cisgender people. For example, the \"male privilege\" is not bestowed on just any person with a male body, but only on men who \"play by the (male) rules\", therefore not available to many trans women, namely those who never managed to live in a \"normal\" male gender role in the first place. And even if she had access to them at one point, she would have traded them in for being able to live in a female gender role, and in fact does or did so when she transitions.\nBoth the problem of a purely biological definition and the question to which extent gender identity and even gender role are part of defining same- or different-ness make it obvious that if homo- and heterosexual are applied to transgender and intersex persons, there needs to be a clear definition in exactly what regard one considers the participants of a partnership or a sexual act as sufficiently same or different to apply the term.\nIncreasingly, instead of homo- or heterosexual, the terms gynephilia and androphilia are used to describe the sexual orientation of transgender and intersex people.\nReaders may use this email link to report errors and\/or omissions they have discovered, or to add additional material or comments regarding this article \"Homosexuality and transgender\"\nRetrieved from \"https:\/\/www.susans.org\/wiki\/index.php?title=Homosexuality_and_transgender&oldid=13950\"\n438 Guests, 8 Users (4 Spiders, 2 Hidden)\nTSL_NB, Devlyn, sarahc, Dany, Mariax, Diffidence, Google (4)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"At Scalable we are passionate about bringing our customer's vision to life. Over the years Scalable has helped create a multitude of unique displays for a variety of customers. From military simulators, to popular amusement park rides or conference rooms, our team relishes the opportunity to advise and execute solutions with our partners. As a collection of technology driven individuals, we are always looking forward to the next challenge.\nKevin Amaratunga\nKevin is involved in all things technical at Scalable. He works on everything from developing software, architecting solutions, diagnosing complex systems and managing partner relationships, to more mundane matters such as assessing risk, ROI and charting strategic direction. He brings to the table over 25 years of experience in the software industry and academic research.\nTyler is an industry expert in the calibration of multi-projector displays. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2009 for his dissertation work demonstrating continuous display calibration using intelligent camera-projector units. Since joining Scalable in 2010, Tyler has become a technology leader and has contributed to several patents in the industry.\nJames Pietsch\nDirector of Global Accounts\nJames joined Scalable in 2011 and has been making an impact ever since. He manages the customer-facing side of Scalable's business, primarily focused on sales channel development, system consulting, marketing, and new business strategy. James is an entrepreneur at heart, keen on the latest technology, always looking for new challenges and creative ways to help the Scalable team grow.\nKimberlee Sweetser\nKim handles the financial side at Scalable, from customer invoicing through financial statements. She also handles all HR matters. Kim has over 25 years of experience in both public accounting and the private sector, including various startups.\nRahul Bahl\nGraduating with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Chris brings to Scalable a background in web design and data science. With a keen interest in VR\/AR applications, Chris helps to support Scalable customers as they deploy cutting edge systems world-wide.\nMatt McGowan\nSr. Sales Support Engineer\nMatt is Scalable's lead installation technician.\nDennis Miaw\nDennis has a background in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and graduated from MIT with a master's degree in EECS and a bachelor's degree in Music. He subsequently joined Scalable in 2010 and tends to work on software integrations with graphics cards and other warping hardware, as well as the daily odds and ends that always seem to come up.\nPhil Nevitt\nTechnical Support UK\nPhil has worked with Scalable for over 11 years and has joined the team to head up technical operations in the UK and to offer support across European time zones. His background covers designing and installing high end simulation systems to stringent tolerances. He has experience with a wide range of projectors, IG's and using varied calibration tools and CAD packages.\nApurva Patel\nApurva has worked with Scalable for over 6 years and joined the team in 2021. He has a degree in Mechatronics Engineering and a background in US DoD and commercial simulation. He has delivered and supported over 100 simulators worldwide. He has cross-functional skills in EE, ME, and SW including mechanical design & analysis, microcontrollers, PLC and circuit design.\nSam Pietsch\nSales Accounts Manager\nSam graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor in Business management and a Minor in French. He is responsible for Customer outreach, project management and account maintenance. Sam is a strong proponent of reciprocity and believes in a customer-centric approach to project design and execution.\nEric Scherfling\nEric started working at Scalable as an intern. In 2020, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Minor in Mathematics, and he joined the team full time. He creates and maintains tools to make calibration easier.\nZui Tao\nChief Representative China\nZui has been with Scalable since 2016 after receiving his master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. With an interdisciplinary background in computer vision and robotics, Zui was dedicated to diverse software development. In late 2018, Zui has taken steps to a new role as the China representative.\nAina Torralba\nUX\/Visual Design\nAina comes from a background in Industrial Design and Digital Media. After receiving her master's degree from Northeastern University in 2012, she joined Scalable where she lends her creative talents to UX, marketing and design.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Nestorian faithful: Assyrian and Chaldean churches\nby Philip Jenkins\nI had the opportunity to meet members of one of the world's oldest and most heroic churches recently when I spoke to the national youth conference of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East. The meeting was held, of all places, in San Jose, California.\nPhilip Jenkins\nPhilip Jenkins teaches at Baylor University. His latest book is Climate, Catastrophe, and Faith: How Changes in Climate Drive Religious Upheaval.\nNow there is no reason why Assyrians\u2014as they call themselves\u2014should not meet in San Jose or any of the other American cities where they have a presence. San Jose, though, is so associated with the technological cutting edge that it was slightly jarring to be there engaging a church that harks back to the earliest years of the Jesus movement and to eras when the church still had a powerfully Semitic character.\nOct 06, 2009 issue\nSan Jose is home to a church dedicated to Mar Yosip, which is the name of St. Joseph (San Jose) in the form that might have been used by the Syriac Fathers. Throughout that church's liturgy one repeatedly hears words that might be more at home in a Hebrew context, such as the Syriac forms of ruach (spirit) and kadosh (holy). Your mind keeps slipping from Silicon Valley to the eastern marches of a still-vibrant Roman Empire.\nThese Assyrians are more than just Iraqi exiles. They are what Western churches have pejoratively labeled Nest orians\u2014followers of a patriarch of Constantinople whose christological views were declared heretical in 431.\nWhether or not the name Nestorian is valid historically (and Assyrians never accept it), history has made the name glorious. Nestorians were members of the great Church of the East that flourished in Mesopotamia and Persia in the later Roman Empire, and that formally declared its independence from the Orthodox\/ Catholic world in 498. The Nestorian faithful led one of the greatest missionary ventures in Christian history; by 800 their church extended deep into Central and Eastern Asia and was firmly rooted in southern India. Perhaps a quarter of all Christians adhered to the Nestorian tradition.\nThe church fell into a steep decline during the later Middle Ages, and it vanished entirely in what had been its Asian strongholds. Although Indian Christians continued un molested, they kept only sporadic contact with the church in Mesopotamia, modern Iraq. By the 16th century, the Church of the East split into two communions, divided over the issue of loyalty to the Roman papacy. Those who accepted Roman authority became the Chaldean church; the Assyrians remained independent.\nIn modern times these divisions seemed unimportant compared to the external persecutions inflicted on both groups by oppressive regimes and terrorist movements, from the Ottoman Empire through the Iraqi state of the 1930s and the Islamist extremism of the past decade. Only days after the San Jose conference, the media were reporting new bomb attacks against Iraq's Chaldean Catholic churches.\nToday, the ancient Church of the East has only a tiny fraction of its former strength. Although statistics are uncertain, there are probably only 1.5 million members of the Chaldean and Assyrian churches combined (not counting the Thomas Christians of India). But if these churches are down, they are not out. Despite all the crises and persecutions\u2014in fact, because of those disasters\u2014both churches are highly international, with at least some representation in the many countries where migrants have set up home.\nThese are classic diaspora churches, which serve as living examples of the words of Hebrews: here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. The current catholicos\/patriarch of the Assyrian church makes his home in Morton Grove, Illinois. As syrian clergy and faithful can be found in England, Sweden and Australia, while a determined core of believers maintains a stubborn resistance on the Assyrian Plain of northern Iraq. In Iran, a tiny community of Assyrian Christians has a guaranteed seat in the nation's parliament.\nCompared to the booming churches of Africa and Latin America, these old Syriac churches might seem marginal or even irrelevant (though after encountering the enthusiasm of their younger members I find it hard to see their churches as failing). But even in decline, the Assyrian and Chaldean churches inspire awe, as they represent a direct link to the oldest Christian world. Observing these believers makes me ponder how some churches rise over the millennia while others fade and decline. Imagine journalists in a distant future reporting on the last surviving congregation of Methodists or on the shrinking communities of diehard Catholics.\nassyrian church\nAssyrians\nnestorian churches\nAssyrians under siege\nAssyrian Christians call 1915 Sayfo, the Year of the Sword. One hundred years later, they're still being killed.\nPatriarchs of Babylon\nIn the ninth century, Timothy I was a global statesman. In the 20th, Raphael Bidawid led a tiny denomination in the paranoid Iraq of Saddam Hussein.\nLeaving Nineveh: The last days of Christians in Mosul\nThree faiths esteem Jonah, whom God sent to the city now called Mosul.\nThe persecuted Assyrians, then and now\nThousands died, and many sacred places were destroyed\u2014100 years before ISIS.\nby Paul Marshall July 12, 2017\nAssyrian Christians face attacks from Islamic State\nby Michael Holtz","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Michael Douglas: American actors today are too 'sensitive' and 'asexual'\nBy Bedhead\nMichael Douglas gave an interview to The Independent to promote his role in Ant-Man. Yep, Douglas is a Marvel man now. If the studio is listening, he wants them to know he's also open to an Avengers film. Just like every other actor in the universe.\nDouglas piggybacks here on a recent Guardian interview with Dustin Hoffman, in which the actor said television is king now, and \"film is the worst it ever has been.\" Douglas sort of agrees, but he mainly uses this interview to lament the current state of the American actor. Dude is 70 years old, and he's been acting for 50 of them. He's seen a thing or two, and Douglas believes American actors are too busy \"getting caught up in their image\" to be masculine:\nOn manly actors: \"There's something going on with young American actors \u2013 both men and women \u2013 because the Brits and Australians are taking many of the best American roles from them. Clearly, it breaks down on two fronts. In Britain they take their training seriously while in the States we're going through a sort of social media image conscious thing rather than formal training. Many actors are getting caught up in this image thing which is going on to affect their range. With the Aussies, particularly with the males it's the masculinity. In the US we have this relatively asexual or unisex area with sensitive young men and we don't have many Channing Tatums or Chris Pratts, while the Aussies do. It's a phenomena.\"\nThe problem with the internet age: \"There's a crisis in young American actors right now. Everyone's much more image conscious than they are about actually playing the part.\"\nOn Dustin Hoffman's statement: \"I understand what he's saying, but I think you have to look at the delivery system. There's a lot of good stuff being made in the cable area, good writing there. Kramer vs Kramer, those great mainline films he was in aren't being made anymore [for cinema] but are in a different delivery system. Most of the great screen writers have gone into the cable area because that's where they can also produce. The problem in making a film for cinema is the cost of distribution. People can scrape together money for a movie but not the advertising.\"\n[From The Independent]\nI don't think Douglas realizes how far a little bit of Chris Pratt goes, and there's only room for one of them in Hollywood. But I see what he's saying. Douglas has appeared in so many films, but he sticks out most (in my memory) as the virile adventurer in those Romancing the Stone movies. Back then, there was no such thing as social media. Images were crafted by studios and monthly magazines, not by the immediacy of selfies on the Internet.\nPhotos courtesy of WENN\n125 Responses to \"Michael Douglas: American actors today are too 'sensitive' and 'asexual'\"\nLilacflowers says:\nIs it just me or should Michael Douglas steer clear about talking about other actors's sexuality?\nAmerican actors tend to come from two backgrounds. Either they start as children: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Natalie Portman, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johannsson, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, Leo DiCaprio and on and on and on or they were born into the business like Douglas himself.\nIt's not just you. And my other thought was that having been born into the business, it's kind of rich of him to complain about lack of \"formal training\" among younger actors. As if that's all it took for him.\nkori says:\nEven wi th his an backround he did spend time studying acting in nyc. He took bit parts until his breakthrough with Streets an of san Francisco. Then he acted intermittently as he focused om produing. It was Romancing the Stone which brought him back full time.\nJenniferJustice says:\nSo he did some formal training, but his path was still paved for him. His father was a mega-star in his generation and rich beyond our comprehension. Michael's college was paid for by Daddy and Daddy had connections. I can't hear how Michael made his own way because he did not.\nAs for any talk on sexuality, Michael was a known cheater. I guess his thought process is that if you're not boning every female willing to let you, you must be immasculine. Speak for yourself Michael. You're only explaining your own subconscious motives. Freud would have a hay-day with you.\nEmma - The JP Lover says:\n@Esmom, who wrote: \"It's not just you. And my other thought was that having been born into the business, it's kind of rich of him to complain about lack of \"formal training\" among younger actors. As if that's all it took for him.\"\nMichael Douglas studied theater in college once he left his hippie life behind and got serious. Then he moved to New York and struggled just like hundreds of other actors and paid his dues. He and Danny DeVito were roommates in New York City while looking for acting jobs and waiting for their big breaks \u2026 and they have remained close friends through the years. Danny DeVito met Rhea Perlman during this time.\nYoung actors today snub struggling for acting jobs in NYC in between acting lessons with noted experts. But that was sort of a rite of passage for young actors in the 1950's and 1960's.\nKiddo says:\nIt's just YOU. I long for more manly-man actors who blame oral cancer on their wives' vaginas.\nThat, to me, says Hetero-rrahhr-mucho-macho, not too much sensitivity.\nTo be fair, he didn't blame his wife. He said the doctors told him that his particular type of cancer is caused from a strain of HPV and that the throat cancers are due to oral sex.\nI think most people are aware that Michael Douglas was a bit of a womanizer throughout most of his adult life and he could have picked up the virus from any number of women.\nIt also takes a number of years, apparently, to become cancerous, if it does so it's even more likely that it was someone in his past. I, for one, didn't think for one minute that he contracted it from CZJ.\nKAI, I was aware of the nuances on his statement, and I understand the pathology and transmission, and no one knows what brought on his cancer specifically, \u2026still it was incredibly tactless.\nCleo says:\nOMG +1,000,000 LOL\nTo Kai, he knew exactly how it played \u2013 why he felt he had to 'splain the possible origins, one can only surmise\u2026I think he was passively aggressively attacking his wife\u2026 theyve been close to splitting, amd were separated around that time \u2013 but he knew how it would be received because the public DID think he was blaming CZJ.\n@Cleo You are making assumptions about someone I am quite sure you don't know. What I remember is what he actually said and then how the tabloids ran with it. He NEVER blamed his wife.\nDenisemich says:\nHmm. I thought he hit a point regardless of whether it came from a privileged view.\nNow actors can't seem to separate the character they are playing for the media from the character they are playing on screen. Isn't George Clooney basically the same character in everything he plays and seemingly in real life. Isn't Jennifer Aniston the same character in everything she plays and seemingly in real life.\nIf you ever saw some of JLos early work, she was a good actor. I mean G. Clooney and her hate each other but those love scenes were HOT. Now, all her movies are crafted to match her image. It seems like she can't act anymore.\nLongwinded but the point is. Branding has created product endorsement money and power for actors and in some cases overshot their actual careers.\nMichael Douglas seems to believe that if they had better training in acting they would be able to separate the character they have to play for the brand from the character they need to play on the screen.\nHorseradish. He just longs for a time when men were mens' men. You can't tell me that during his father's career, he didn't play EXACTLY the same role, over and over, and that branding as a masculine man didn't play into it, with studios directly controlling the image and presentation to the masses.\nGoodNamesAllTaken says:\nI agree. He hears men today saying they are feminists and he's pissed because he can't call us broads anymore.\n@Denisemich & Kiddo I agree with both points, he seems to have falsely equated the two though. I'm not one for the celebration of hyper-masculinity and I certainly don't pine for that lost time when \"men were men\" (Sean Connery casually slapping women about in the early Bond films comes to mind) , but I do think that a number of actors spend too much time crafting their brand image rather than crafting actual talent.\nBut there has always been such branding. Clark Gable. Cary Grant. Gene Kelly. Kirk Douglas. None of them lost themselves in the roles. Rock Hudson played the same role on and off screen.\nWhile Douglas may have some valid points about training, (and he did study acting) is he doing anything about it? He's a powerful man. Is he going to endow acting scholarships or is he just going to whine that people should stop hiring the foreign guys?\nThat has always been the case with actors, except that the studios used to do this for them. Now they have the autonomy to do it themselves, for their own direct benefit, rather than the studios receiving sponsorship. And maybe some of them are closer to the chosen personae in real life than what studios previously crafted for them. There have always been actors versus movie stars. The movie stars need more in the way of buzz, than do the real thespians.\nBut Celebrity was never 24\/7 before. With the advent of social media things have changed.\nIn the past, Actors were the brand for a movie and weren't so scared to have an opinion. Now everything you say and post has longevity.\nTrue Lilacflowers, but as Kiddo pointed out that was when studios had much more control over their stars. Back in the 30's \u2013 50's studios simply would not have made you a star if you weren't willing to follow their branding to the letter. Actors still have to promote themselves today (especially if they want the big bucks) but there does seem to be more freedom as to what level of exposure and branding they can opt into, and plenty seem to revel in that aspect more than in honing their craft.\nAnd yes, although all the actors you mentioned had a \"brand\" so to say, they also spent a significant amount of time in their early careers on stage (with the exception of Rock Hudson), many working their way across America in local theatres before landing in LA.\nETA: I think another important distinction is that roles are much more diverse now than they were then. There does seem to be a greater opportunity now for actors (men mainly) to play different parts and yet many would rather turn down controversial roles for fear it will damage their image than seizing the opportunity to diversify.\nI think he just yearns for a time when HE was a 'man's man,' and a hot leading man, because HE NEVER WAS.\nIpso facto and as a result, American movie stars like Clooney, Pitt and DiCaprio he enjoys passive aggressively slamming. Not that he luuuvs fat Russell Crowe or Foppish Colin Firth, he just likes using them as tools to poke the American movie stars whose careers he NEVER had, even in his heyday.\nHe was a TV actor, and he costarred in a couple good movies where he was not the lynchpin (China syndrome w\/Jane Fonda) He was good at playing morally bankrupt types in films like Fatal Attraction and that other one \u2013 but most if the time, it centered around the women (Glenn close, Sharon stone) and they were the ones who stole the show.\nFace it, Douglas was never a Pitt or a Clooney or a Russell Crowe or a Jack Nicholson or a DiCaprio or even a Damon. He was barely an Affleck.\nWhen he makes these remarks I always inevitably feel he's just lashing out at much younger American actors he envies.\nI haven't forgotten the comment he made when Brad Pitt blew the world up getting with Angelina.\nSomething about 'why's he divorcing Jennifer to go adopt orphans with Angelina.' Nevermind that he didn't even know them well, if at all, and it wasn't his business. He managed to show himself as a douche (no surprise to anyone) and insult their children making it seem like adopting, and adopting orphans at that, was so not worth it.\nThat was a POS move on his part that he TRIED to backpedal.\nI always thought his remarks stemmed from Brangelina totally eclipsing his may Dec relaysh with CZJ that no one cared about \u2013 perhaps he was miffed that no ine gave an ish, what his kids looked like and still don't.\nHe's the type that would be bothered by that. Like..waaah..my wife is hot\u2026my kids are cute\u2026what about meeeee. Lol\nMaybe he can address why his other kid turned out to be a drug dealer and is doing time, instead of passive aggressively slamming American actors he's jealous of. He has issues, and I feel bad for his eldest Cameron.\n@Clea, Michael Douglas has a Best Actor Oscar\nBlueNailsBetty says:\nHe has always pinged on my gaydar.\nMaybe bi? There were rumors from the Liberace HBO film, IRIC.\nWhat rumors, exactly?\nConsidering that he's a guy who once claimed to have a \"sex addiction,\" I think the answer would be *Hell to the Yes.* Alternate answer: *Hell to the F**king Yes.*\nwho are those sensitive men though? maybe Gosling. the rest is mostly beefcake and i can't even tell most of them apart. just a week ago i learned Captain America and that Pratt guy are diffferent human beings.\nthe looks of the leading men havent changed drastically. its more muscle nowadays but they were, apart from a small period with Hofman, always tall and handsome. i guess back in the day it was focused more on talent, nowdays its mostly only about their sex appeal.\njinni says:\nHa, at you thinking Evans and Pratt were the same person. I use to think Patrick Wilson and Pratt were the same person. Pratt has a very generic face which is why I don't get the hype around his looks.\nBut, yeah, I agree with you.\nAlso, I don't find the new batch of Brits that have come over here all that traditional masculine looking or acting. Most of them look frail. Besides every couple of years an influx of Brits and Aussie come over and the film industry is charmed by them but most don't last, especially the Brits (at last it did seem to work out so well for the last batch they sent over in the mid-late 2000's). Americans seem to like the Aussies better, probably because they have a stereotype of being a little rough around the edges which Americans seem to like more.\nah good point i forgot about Eddie Redmayne or Andrew Garfield but yes they are certainly the sensitive fragile kind of guy.\ntheir roles called for it though, Spiderman in \"real life\" is not a beefcake.\nTimbuktu says:\nWhich Brits didn't do well from mid-late 2000-s?\nwe also have Hugh Grant and that dude who was in \"About time\". But I feel like Brits have never banked on pure looks, it's always about being quirky and deprecatingly funny. And it works, on me, at least.\nTimbuktu: Clive Owen for one. He was supposed to be big in the states and did bunch of movies, but never really took off.\nI don't know, I feel like he was a big deal for a while, not sure many Americans keep their sex symbol status for much longer.\nKitten says:\nHardy is pretty damn masculine-looking.\nYum\u2026Hardy\u2026.\nCamille (the Original) says:\nAnd Fassbender\u2026\nPaul \u00d3 Du\u1e03\u1e6bai\u0121 says:\nFassbender ain't a Brit though.\nBangersandMash says:\nI'm just here to send a shout out to that super hot guy fresh out of an oven in Sydney.\nJoel Edgerton, you get every damn role you can get. Straight up snatch them you masculine, sexy, thunder from down-under!!!\nOk. That's all!!!\nPalar says:\nLove that you think he's fresh out of the oven, he's been very well known to us Aussies for over 15 years! Glad that he's now getting success in the US as he's a hugely talented guy.\nOh, I love this. hehe.\nmaybeiamcrazy says:\nI always thought it was the opposite of what he is saying. American actors want to be buff and manly. They are better looking than their British counterparts but Brits are more intriguing. I don't think American actors are more sensitive than British actors. It is just American actors tend to be very similar. I agree with you, there are shit loads of Chrises and i can't tell them apart. That is the biggest problem of American actors, they are more of a movie star than character actor. I would rather watch James Mcavoy or Eddie Redmayne. I don't know what the reason is, there are many great American actors, maybe they should weigh on this issue rather than Michael Douglas.\nI like, okay love, Cillian Murphy and Daniel Day Lewis. But it's not because they're 'manly,'- they can play that, for sure\u2026but it's their sensitivity more than being walking testes.\nThat's about it. Can't think of any others.\nNo one can tell me Pitt and Norton in Fight club could have been replaced by Cumby and Firth or the hemsworth lugs. Just stop.\nI'll give him Russell Crowe, about 75lbs ago..no one could touch him \u2013 Gladiator \u2013 who else could have played that\u2026..and if he didn't have a personality from hell, he'd be working more today, fat or not.\nme too. but perhaps I'm not paying close enough attention.\nAussie girl says:\nThere is no disputing that America is where the movie scene is at. Is it so terrible that a Brit, Aussie or any nationality takes a role..? I realise that it's ideal because who wouldn't want jobs to go to people in their own country. But America is the place where actors go to get that big break and the stories ( movies) told are not all American. Idk I just don't see the big deal & think that it should be viewed as been super proud that actors strive towards their big break in America .\nBut I understand where Michael is going. Previous batman was a Brit and fought against another Brit in the dark knight.\n\"Masculinity\" whatever you want to call it or define it in modern day cinema terms is geniunely being taken over by the Tom Hardys, Idris Elbas and Chris Hemsworths or Joel Edgertons (I love you Joel!!! Get all those roles) while the Leo Dicaprios and the James Francos are going for the less physical stuff.\nI suppose it's a redefinition of masculinity. The kinda (for lack of better word) \"man's-man\" manliness is open to men from other countries to pursue. It's a wonderful thing.\nMildredFierce says:\nThe problem is the Aussies and the Brits don't return the favor. They don't hire Americans \u2013 I can't think of one BBC show or any show that has state funding to hire Americans.\nSo in essences the Aussies and Brits take advantage for both industries. Americans only have Hollywood and yes it thrives because of good ol' Merican Capitalism.\nskedaddle says:\n@MildredFierce\nwhat? Just off the top of my head, I can think of two Americans starring in British TV:\nGillian Anderson is the star of the one of the highest regarded BBC shows, the Fall, and she's American.\nI've been watching Humans on Channel 4, and William Hurt stars on that, also America.\nboberta says:\nWhat about Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Honourable Woman? Andy Samberg and Taylor Lautner's stints on Cuckoo? Robert Vaughan in Hustle? Jeremy Piven in Mr Selfridge? The various TV productions David Soul has done, like Holby City and Inspector Lewis? What about Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth McGovern and Shirley Maclaine in Downton Abbey? I'm fairly certain Richard Gere was in The Second Best Exotic Marigold hotel, too, and these are just the ones I can think of as I sit here. Plenty of American actors, incl. big names like Kim Cattrall and Jake Gyllenhaal, can be found working in the West End as well\u2026\nMaybe the numbers don't equal those of Brits getting roles in the US, but our industry is smaller and structured differently, and Hollywood has been an international \"Mecca\" for the film industry for close to a century. Hollywood is where you go if you want to be a movie star and I can't help but feel that for a lot of American actors their desire to be an actor has as much to do with being A-List as it does with actually acting. Working outside of the US industry is less likely to see them get to where they want to be whereas in Hollywood it can perhaps seem a more achievable dream. Even over here you're not seen as having truly \"made it\" until you're jetting off to LA; after all, isn't the US meant to be the land of opportunity? Our film industry might be out of it's \"dark\/crappy\" period and Australia's is certainly making huge leaps and bounds in terms of output quality, but Hollywood is still where the studios and money is. It only seems logical that an actor from the UK or Australia is going to try their luck there as much as an actor from Chicago or Nebraska or California would. Whether they succeed or not is down to their talent, attitude and training. I'd say ten times as many Brits fail to make it in Hollywood compared to those who do manage to get a role in something.\nSixer says:\nIsn't it mostly because film and TV are global industries now? You can't have the bulk of the global market share in an industry AND be parochial any more (ask anyone working in finance in London \u2013 they'll say the same). It's as simple as that. I mean perhaps the US industry needs to think about stopping producing so many cookie cutter actors who promote themselves as products rather than actors with diverse portfolios in this environment, but it's the environment that counts.\nI really don't think calling all male American actors sissy boys (in so many words) is going to help matters, Michael, you ridiculous old homophobe.\nAlso Brit and Aussie guys who have had success in this age group would of been paid far less them American actors with similar resumes so someone like Marvel can offer them a contract for many films on a much lower pay scale.\nThat's a very large part of it now. They market everywhere and the industry is going to pull actors from everywhere as a result but as I said above, many of the American actors getting steady work today started as children or, like Douglas himself, are from families with strong ties to the industry.\nLilac \u2013 that's kinda your version of our \"only the poshies can afford RADA\" problem, isn't it? You've got the intra-industry preferential stuff, ours is extra-industry, as it were.\nI do think other factors are at play, of course. Even so, the main thing for actors of all nationalities now is to learn how to compete in a globally-selling environment. I guess aiming at being the actor who will be acceptable to US advertisers in breaks on US network TV shows isn't the best tactic any more?\nYes, Sixer, exactly. We are a huge and wealthy country but few kids have access to arts education. Art and music tend to be the first items cut in school budgets and teaching to the test in English class doesn't allow for much exploration of the dramatic arts. Football teams get saved while the school drama clubs get eliminated. Regional theaters are few and far between in large sections of the country so that training ground doesn't really exist here. Many actors like Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon trained in soap operas but those are now gone. While commercials were the training ground for Travolta and even Brad Pitt.\nLAK says:\nSixer: the product thing is what he is talking about. social media image thing is about positioning yourself to sell product. The emphasis on brand vs acting.\nThe American actors want to be brands irrespective of acting chops. That's why being a superhero is important to them vs a Brit or Aussie doing shakespeare (yes I know also a brand, but emphasis on acting). And the superhero genre had to prove itself before american actors finally jumped on the bandwagon. Most superhero\/action films were populated with foreign actors going back to the dawn of cinema.\nTo be fair, his comments are nothing new. There is also the ongoing decades long refusal of american actors to take baddie roles because it affects their brand\/american audiences. They always want to play the hero\/anti-hero. Ditto roles the require being ugly if no chance for an oscar. It left those roles open to foreign actors, particularly the Brits.\nThe american actors who genuinely want to act seem to be in theatre and in indies (or studio indies) and refuse to play the branding game \u2013 Joaquin Phoenix. I'm impressed Bradley Cooper is treading the boards. It shows he wants to be an actor with range, not just a product.\nAs for him making these comments, people forget that MD started out as a producer before he became as actor. He continues to produce even if he isn't in front of the camera, so his comments are borne from experience.\nNot a big fan of Bradley copper but it shouldn't be surprising as he is every bit as educated and trained as his British counterparts. Cooper has an academic degree (Georgetown university) And trained at the actors studio, the new school, After that.\nYes, he has been a producer for much of his career but acting in Streets of San Francisco came before producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.\nLAK \u2013 fair enough. See what I said to Lilac above.\nFunnily enough, the actual *product* of this industry that I'm interested in is really the parochial one. I don't care much for all the international blockbuster stuff. So I enjoy Nordic noir, for example, because it's telling stories from a parochial (in this case Scandinavian) point of view. The TV show I've enjoyed most of late was Netflix's Bloodline, which I'd see as a piece of quintessential American storytelling (and yes, I know one of the leads was an Aussie).\nSo in that sense, I do agree. I think if American actors stopped aiming at being global box office\/TV advertiser acceptable products and thought more about establishing varied portfolios, they would be in a better position to get more of the plum roles. Counter-intuitively, this would probably include the blockbuster roles, because the industry is changing and the American acting profession doesn't seem to have caught up quickly enough to the changes.\nAnne tommy says:\nI saw Bradley in The Elephant Man in London last Saturday, from the front row, great performance.\nHe's just repeating a Theory that came from THR (I think?) a few years ago. Which broke down to that casting directors where finding it hard to cast roles for action films\/comic book style beefcake roles because young 20-30 male American actors tended to be a slighter more delicate looking.\nThe two possible causes I've seen mentioned is in other English speaking countries boys are encouraged at school to be both sporty and do Drama and in America you tend to do one or the other at high school. I'm not American so don't know if that's true or that young actors that have had success before like child actors or teens tend to be more cute looking.\nGood point about American students choosing either sports or fine arts but generally not both. That's very true. There are exceptions (one of my sons is one of them), of course, but most jocks steer clear of the drama kids and vice versa.\nAmerican schools also tend to fund sports programs but not arts programs.\nbut the typical english actors are not very sporty or build. And Liam and older Hemsworth are not drama students thats for sure lol.\nhes right about English actors, most British actors are classically trained, they spent years in a conservatory and many have been doing theatre before they arrived in Hollywood. There are American actors who take their craft seriously, but I think at the time Hoffman and Douglas were big American actors really defined the medium with inventive original performances. Not so anymore. I am sure there are American actors who are as masculine as the helmsworth brothers and Russell Crowe however there seems to be a preference for more effeminate pretty boys in cinema right now. Nothing wrong with that but you don't have the variriety of leading men that where present in cinema in the golden age of Hollywood ( the 70s). In those old movies you see leading men like Hoffman, pachino, Hackman. These actors would not be considered pretty enough to be leading men in this day and age.\nHoffman and Pacino also wouldn't fit Douglas's view of being manly men.\nI read the interview over at another site he didn't just talk about manly men. He talked about the importance of acting training too. It was a little more nuanced that what come across in this post.\nhe personally also never came across as a manly man to me.\nNeelyo says:\nPersonally, I think what Douglas is trying to say applies to the new crop of Brit actors. I know I better duck but I find Hiddleston, Redmayne and Cumberbatch very 'sensitve' and 'asexual'.\njen2 says:\nI'll get under the table with you. I would add, and I love them to pieces\u2013Fassbender and McAvoy (both of whom I would call \"sexy\"). All of these guys would most likely get blown away in a strong wind. Good actors, and good looking, but old school \"masculine\", (I am thinking Gregory Peck masculine\u2013tall, deep voice, gorgeous), probably not.\nserena says:\nAll that^. Golden.\nRedmayne, Hiddleston and Cumberbatch are some of the most disturbingly sterile, asexual and gender-neutral celebrities and men I have seen in a long time. They are not effeminate, because even with effeminate men, you can pinpoint and actualize some sense of sexual identity.\nI personally find the likes of Tom Cruise and Mariah Carey extremely asexual. Meaning no matter how hard they train at the gym in Tom's case to perfect his body or how consistently they wear slutty outfits in Mariah's case (topped with the over-the-top feminine drag queen persona), these two will always come off as asexual to me.\np'enny says:\ndo you guys know what asexual means? it mean someone has no interest by genetics, not choice, in sex at all.\nConsidering two of them are married, i think they are not.\nTrue but isn't he saying about the Brits that they are better trained. I don't see him pinpointing Brits as masculine ( although there are British actors such as Elba, hardy and Craig that are more traditionally masculine) I feel like he's saying British actors beat American actors at the art of pure acting whereas the current crop of Australian actors have that more typical masculine quality that we used to associate with American actors.\nBritain is small. It's a lot easier here to establish a varied portfolio \u2013 you can be based in London and only need to travel a couple of hours to appear in high quality regional theatre, for example.\nI dont buy that it's about size. In the golden era of American actors they were classically trained too. If you look at the great actors of modern American cinema the majority came through the actors studio or Julliard or some kind of conservatoire. And you'd find that a vast majority worked in the theatre before they made it in Hollywood. The training and pursuit of the craft most definetly plays a part. It's like any profession you become good by taking it seriously as an art form.\nNaddie says:\nI think it's a social tendency, the concept of gender is changing. Nowadays we don't have the \"masculine\" or \"feminine\" type like decades ago, at least not so defined. But I agree with him and Julie, talent is not the main focus, unfortunately. Anyway, he knows better than me, I'm sure.\nMia4S says:\nCome on Michael, America still has three out of four Chrises! (Pratt, Evans, and Pine\u2026then one Aussie Hemsworth).\nSeriously though I think what casting directors like is the training. It's not like the bottom reality-show level tier is being brought over.\nNo new actor coming to Hollywood \u2013 white, black or Latino \u2013 should go by the name 'Chris' anymore. Not one. Especially if they are tall, all-American looking and white.\n\u2013 Use your middle name.\n\u2013 Come up with a stage name.\n\u2013 Use your father's name.\n\u2013 Use Christian or Christopher \u2013 if you MUST. (I'd say use 'Topher' but that is a very silly name imo.)\nBut NO MORE CHRIS.\nThese 'Chrises' are everywhere: they all look the same and none of them are anything that special in the talents or looks department.\nIn the Aughts it seemed like there was a new Jessica every year. Simpson, Alba, Biel\u2026 each more untalented than the last.\nI know I'll get hated on for saying this. but I agree w\/ Michael.\nToday male celebs are all 'Ellen'-ized. They all go to Ellen, show off their well-sculpted torsos, and talk about their children and wives. Being a father or a doting boyfriend\/fiance\/husband \u2013 as a concept \u2013 has overtaken the male moviestar persona.\nThe days of old when Hollywood stars were perceived as drunk, over-sexed, scandalous and mysterious type of creatures, things were different. people did not ahve smart phones to record everything. The likes of Liz Taylor or Jack Nicholson could not have sustained themselves today. People online would hate on them for being sexually promiscuous, lascivious and materialistic. And studios would drop them.\nAll American actors \u2013 male and female \u2013 are too sterile and asexual now, because they are afraid of being judged and perceived as a 'menace to society' by coming off as misogynistic, racist, sexist or too self-involved. Studios do not approve that. That is why they never talk about anything substantial in their mag interviews nowadays.\nIt is all about their kids, wives or how hard they trained to perfect their muscles.\nAnname says:\nI agree Serena \u2013 we know too much about their real lives, so the mystery is completely gone. Even those who attempt to not sell their personal lives get papped and twittered about and sneaky fanpics pop up online all the time.\nKeaton says:\nI agree with this. Asexual. Safe. Bland. Kinda boring.\nThat's how I'd describe the current crop of young American male actors.\nAnd like MIchael Douglas points out \u2013 at least the Brits have training. Many of them maybe asexual too but they can act! Most of the young American male actors really can't.\nJayna says:\nBland, that's the word.\nNo hate at all, but I see a very negative effect on the old days. The celebrities were somewhat \"untouchable\" and this creates an illusion about the human being they actually are. It just might backfire, I take Rita Hayworth as an example. Also, it's good that these famous people are watching their back more, since they're overpayed and not above criticism. Anyone should be called out for being sexist, racist or misogynistic.\nHowever, I can also see a negative side on nowadays too, with the over exposure and the consequent lack of authenticity in their interviews.\nI agree wholeheartedly about the benefits of this newly-utilized transparency we get to enjoy, because I too do not wish to support the careers of performers who are simply terrible people.\nBye Cosby! Bye Mel! Bye Sean Penn! Bye Cruise!\nBut why do they all have to be so monotonous and sterile ALL THE TIME??? So eager to become a part of the norm?\nWe love seeing famous women naked in mags for instance. We think it is either sexy or empowering. But men? No no no\u2026 They will never do a naked\/half-nude shoot just for a fashion magazine! It is unthinkable. Their wholesome\/manly image would be shattered. Or they would be laughed at, because self-possessed men don't do nudity! They are not vain like that! They are vain in other ways \u2013 like romancing 22 year old girls when you are 52. That is acceptable sort of vanity that make men still look manly and somehow bland and run-of-the-mill simultaneously.\nIt is a bore and imbecilic imo.\nI guess in the end of it all, it's a choice between bad and evil. It's not good like it is now, I agree, but old Hollywood wasn't as well. We get rid of one trap to fall into another one.\nChristin says:\nI also think we are in an information overload sort of society, with social media and daily access to new information.\nThese newer actors are familiar to me by name only, because no one has the time to read every word or see every photo of all these current celebrities.\nAt least with weekly or monthly publications of years past, it was easier to digest the who's who of entertainment.\nAnd let's face it \u2013 few of these names will actually get to do some acting work that deserves so substantial widespread attention. Male or female btw. I am not excluding the current female talent from these crappy and irrelevant careers we see today. It is highly ubiquitous.\nAbsolutely says:\nIt's all just image though, isn't it? Image has never not been a part of Hollywood. You're lamenting the 'asexual' image of modern movie stars, but back then the studios had a much more micro-managing view toward their stars. It was just that the images were very stereotypical masculine\/feminine roles. All the men were beefcake hyper sexual hetero men, when in reality a lot of them were hiding homosexuality. All the women were either extremely made up siren types or sweet girl next door types.\nWe've moved into an era where we have dispensed with a lot of these stereotypes and Hollywood is a reflection of that. It may make more of a more \"sterile\" image, as you say, with some people, but if you notice, I think most of those with that image tend to be more serious actors. I think it counteracts the 'real-ness' of all the reality tv stars and such.\nYes but look at the way we are looking at Ben Affleck or Jon Hamm now. They are still angels compared to someone like Jack Nicholson.\nI am not saying one is better than the other. I am just observing the situation. This wholesome 'Ellen Show' friendly image has overtaken the land. It is either the Brad Pitts or Ben Afflecks or Channing Tatums or Chris Pratts who will go on these shows and interminably talk about their children and wives etc. When in reality, not everything is all that nice and dandy \u2013 look at Ben Affleck's life now.\nOr it is the Jake Gyllenhaal types who will talk about how much they WANT to be parents and husbands and they are just looking for the 'right gal'! Or the Henry Cavill who only talks about how much he pumps and lifts @ the gym for that dumbass Superman role.\nNo one presents an element of danger, decadence or disturbance. It is scarily bland, robotic and one-size-fits-all.\nThis 'Stars\u2026 they are just like us' thing has gone overboard. They do not have the talent to counteract and buffer this level of blandness. We are fetish-izing the concept of wholesomeness, having a family, reproducing and being so safe so that you will not have to apologize for anything.\nIt is the Colin Farrell before-and-after situation.\nThose days of Hollywood, that played out like some Jackie Collins novel, are gone. Now they all talk about loving to play PalyStation with their pals and hanging out with Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon in family picnics!\nThey come off sexless and one-note and that does negatively affect the way we perceive them as performers.\nBut back then studios were in control of their images. Of course we know now that everyone was screwing everything in sight and taking as many drugs as possible, but you don't think Rock Hudson was talking about that in interviews in Harpers Bazarr do you? Everyone in Hollywood has always had an image. It's just that now with social media it's easier to out them.\nEsmerelda says:\n@serena, I understand what you're saying, but I think it's all part of a generational trend: I've been reading that young ppl drink less, for one. And have you noticed how there are no more tormented, self destructive rock stars around? I think the public simply wants and likes more wholesome role models.\nWe oldies of course miss the glory days.\n@Serena, long before there was Ellen, there was Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas and Steve Allen where actors would go on afternoon talk shows and chat about their lives. Ellen is nothing new\nbns says:\nI'm late, but I agree.\nMispronounced Name Dropper says:\nLoved him in The Game.\nHe's not really making much sense, is he? The rational part of his argument (brits have better training, US actors are just image obsessed) I can understand, but the other part (aussies have the looks, US actors look asexual) sounds a bit random\u2026. I mean, can you tell the nationality of Thor from his looks?\nAnd Douglas himself never really looked beefy or masculine\u2026 just handsome and slightly dangerous, but he was no beefcake.\nIt's like he began talking one way and then went off on another tangent. I agree. Douglas did have gravitas on the screen and a masculinity, not a beefcake, and turned in some strong roles in some great films. I got what he was saying about many actors not as dedicated to their craft here and more so their persona and popularity and thus not working on range in their acting, but then he lost me with Chris Pratt and going off in another direction.\nHe lost me as well. It's a bit rich to be talking about the lack of proper training for American actors and then in the same breath lamenting that we don't have more actors like\u2026Channing Tatum?\nI've said for a while there's a dearth of actors who come across as men, not boys playing parts. And the part about being trained for your acting profession and caring about the roles and not the publicity, etc., is true. There's a reason 60-year-old Liam Neeson became the face of box office hits and the go-to guy for action thrillers. He has the physical presence of a man who can do that role, but the man can also act and thus brings gravitas to his roles. The Grey shows that. Several of these parts were written for much younger men, but they rewrote the roles for him. And he is a man doing the job, not a boy.\nThat may be due also to the four quadrants thing? Like, we love to see a man doing a man's job, but to a teenager it may look like 'old man on screen'?\nI guess the audience for Liam Neeson action movies (or the expendables, or possibly even Bond movies) is limited, that's what I'm trying to say.\nLiam won me over with his portrayal of a backwoods Kentuckian in Next of Kin years ago. He nailed that role and had a completely believable accent. I haven't followed many of his roles, but that one convinced me he was a very good actor.\nIn comparison, his onetime GF Julia R did that dreadful Mary Reilly (her attempt at an English accent was dreadful).\nfuncakes says:\nJulia hovered between a British and Irish accent. But managed to turn in a good performance.\nLeo DiCaprio also attempted an accent and should never do it again.\n'Michaed Douglas says, \"American actors are too sensitive and asexual,\"' says the man who played Liberace.\nHe is talking about their persona, not the roles they play. Not everyone is going to have the chance to play some oversexed macho man.\nAnd Liberace was an extremely sexualized role. That whole movie was about a man's sexuality. Nothing like that can be deemed 'sterile' \u2013 straight or gay.\nOK, I was going for a mild joke, but apparently I missed the mark, widely.\nI don't think he's just talking about beefy, built up guys when he refers to \"masculinity\"\nI think he's talking about a certain attitude, danger, assertiveness, etc that seems to be missing from the images of lots of young American actors nowadays.\nThey're not just asexual but they're quite safe and bland IMO. At least the Brits can act.\nYes, that's how I interpreted it too. Like, Chirs Hemsworth is bulky, but there's no assertiveness on his persona (yeah, I know he's not american, but you got my point).\nmanta says:\nI totally thought that was what he meant (masculinity not the same as beefy )but he lost me with citing Tatum who, at least to me is the asexual hunk.\nI took it that at one point Hollywood had room for the likes of Mitchum, Bogart, John Wayne or Bronson,Bogart, the masculine types but not GQ material or first pick for a Dior campaign or a Armani endorsement. I'm not sure they'd be given a shot today.\nThe Brits employ Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Stephen Graham, Eddie Marsan etc\u2026 Sure they won't get a call from Tom Ford or Men's health anytime soon but I'm sure they don't lose sleep over it. I'm under the impression these things matter more for US actors (at least the ones getting their break now)\nI think what it all boils do to is there two categories:\nMovie Stars and Actors\nMovie Stars burn bright and burn out barely seen again. Remember the Brat Pack.\nThen there are actors who get very little press but manage to get all the work. A great example is British actor James Frain. He's in everything and have been acting for over twenty years. No role is to small. What keeps him working is the fact that barely anyone could pick him out of a line up.\nFingerBinger says:\nMichael Shannon,Sean Penn,Daniel Day Lewis J.K. Simmons and John Hawkes are also in that category of actors not movie stars. Denzel Washington is in the rare category of actor and movie star.\nJK Simmons is in a category all his own. I've been watching him for years and he never disappoints. Ditto for Shannon.\nThere are plenty of actors in America that have great training. Those just aren't the people hired for film\/television. Everyone has to look just 'so'. If you aren't young and slim and perfect and botoxed to within an inch of your life, you aren't getting that role. The advantage that Brits have, in addition to their training, (and I hope this continues) is that british television and film tend to hire actors that are best for the part. There are normal looking people on british tv. There's a seemingly normal mix that's reflected in society of good-looking, average, and not so great looking people getting parts.\nIt's quite a relief to watch Brit film. You aren't so distracted by everyone looking so perfect that you're sat wondering, how do all these people look so strangely alien perfect?\nNah. I definitely don't think we have a deficit of \"normal-looking people\" on American television.\nLook at The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie, Better Call Saul, The Wire, Orange Is The New Black, Fargo, etc\u2013and that's just a small sample. Many of the stars of these shows are relatably average-looking.\nTo add, American television is probably the best it's ever been. We have a lot of really well-made shows with increasingly diverse casts and hopefully we'll continue with that trend.\nI think what you're saying might have applied 20 years ago, when we relied on network television for our programming, but ever since HBO's Sopranos changed the landscape we really have a lot to choose from. So many good shows that I actually can't keep up!\nIt's gotten massively better in the last 10 years. But there's still a lot of uglying up of pretty people, especially women. I still think it's easier to get jobs in Britain if you aren't at least an '8' than it is in the U.S.\nYeah a great example of the \"uglying up\" is Rachel McAdams on the new TD. It's hilarious, like \"let's give her really bad hair and no makeup and maybe that will distract from her flawless skin and perfect face!\". It's not working, guys.\nThat might be true. I guess I don't watch enough British television to give a fair assessment. Either way, it's changing for the better here I think.\nIt is. I agree.\ni agree with Absolutely with british series (i dont watch many british movies) its a lot more regular looking people. tv is generally better for ugly but talented people, in movies you have to be super good looking to get parts. like ugyling up women or Logan Lerman as an awkward guy who couldnt get dates LOL!\nit also seems if the subject matter is more intellectual and challenging the looks of the actors matter less. Bryan Cranston is an attractive man (and crazy good as an actor) but he wouldnt be allowed to lead a big network tv show for example, or Phiillip Seymour Hofman wouldnt have been allowed to lead a summer blockbuster.\nits really a shame its so much about looks in Hollywood but the audience plays a big part in it and good looking people are easier to market as the interest is way higher.\nI agree with you, particularly with your second paragraph.\nAgain, I think the inception of HBO and The Sopranos really forged a path for great, well-written, well-acted shows with a lot of character actors, who might not be gorgeous, but have loads of talent.\nPre-HBO we really only had sit-coms and legal\/doctor dramas to choose from.\nAnother thing that's worked in our favor is mainstream film actors crossing over to TV, whereas in the past, TV was considered a failure\u2013a last resort\u2013if you were a film actor.\nEN says:\n> It's quite a relief to watch Brit film. You aren't so distracted by everyone looking so perfect that you're sat wondering, how do all these people look so strangely alien perfect?\nExactly! Watching US movies is like being transported to Elysium. Everyone is so perfect, it is disturbing.\nYes. If you are talking about blockbuster films, but there are tons of indie films that feature regular-looking people. I swear. I'm not making it up..lol\nrenee28 says:\nThe US may not have as many institutes churning out trained actors but there certainly are trained actors making a name for themselves. Chadwick Boseman, Dane DeHaan, Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac just to name a few. For better or worse in the US there's more opportunity for actors to get their start without formal training. And besides training doesn't necessarily mean talent.\nI love Oscar Isaac, speaking of which it seems most really well trained US actors are coming out of Julliard.\nI just don't understand why so many mediocre actors are hired ahead of them.\nI think it might the issue of the looks vs. talent? In the US people expect to see only perfect people on the TV or in the movies. Often a pretty face wins over a talent and training.\nI know few Deniros and Pacinos will ever come along again (although their later work has been a cash grab). At least, Al is back doing some great roles again. I didn't realize he had lost millions, so probably why he took a lot of crap later on, and at a certain age not being offered great roles.\nBut The New Yorker last year ran a long feature on Pacino's career interviewing him. Reading this interview and the author of the article delving into Al and his climb to becoming one of the acting legends of any generation made you realize how there are few out there like him, that have this innate brilliance for the art of acting early on and truly revered their craft. Al had something internal in him the way he inhabited roles, very intense. It was a fascinating read.\nhttp:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2014\/09\/15\/caught-act.\nI agree about lack of training in American actors but lack of manliness? I believe things are changing and that being men (or women for that matter) no longer means being one dimensional. Strange because even in Wall Street I never looked at Michael Douglas as a threatening dangerous kind of male. Maybe because I still remember him from \"The Streets of San Francisco\" TV show were he did play a sensitive type of cop. His FATHER on the other hand had the \"menace and danger\" thing down pact if you watch a number of his movies.\nbettyrose says:\nSusan Faludi dug up crap on him I tend to believe in Backlash. For example, he's largely the reason Fatal Attraction was changed from the original story to make the mistress crazier and the wife more passive, all in the name of making his character more manly by comparison.\nI'm tellin ya says:\nI agree with Lilac that Michael Douglas should steer clear of talking about 'anyone's sexuality! As a trained actor in a family of actors\u2013he knew exactly what he was saying. He passive aggressively cast shade on his own wife! He was born on 2nd base,don't forget. And now that we're on the subject, for many years there has been speculation that his father has a bit of thee Bill Cosby behavior\u2026\nI know what you're talking about. That story has been around for years.\nMeh! I love sensitive , educated, metrosexual men and can't stand macho types.\nBut I think the issue in the US is the lack of formal and deep acting training and also lack of appreciation for arts and theater. There aren't that many good jobs for actors outside of Hollywood.\nI will forever adore this man!\nfamilard says:\nLife experience matters. Its basically green fresh-out-of-school American actors vs Brits\/Aussies who have put in years working in low budget theater and TV before they come to the Los Angeles. There's a great podcast called \"Another Aussie in LA\", all about Aussies coming to the US.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Someone spent a year and a half making Terminator 2 in GTA 5, and it's amazing\nNews May 13, 2017 Gaetano Prestia 1\ngrand theft auto 520\nThis is easily some of the most impressive GTA machinima I've ever seen. Kramer's Media on YouTube has spent a year and a half...\nThis is easily some of the most impressive GTA machinima I've ever seen. Kramer's Media on YouTube has spent a year and a half making James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgement Day in GTA V, thanks to the wonders of the game's modding and in-game filming capabilities.\nIt almost goes scene to scene, and while at just over an hour it's about half the length of the actual film, this magical piece of machinima has all of the important scenes from the film. It's truly mindblowing.\nI've seen Terminator 2 more than 20 times over the years, and I know the film back to front. This effort is just spectacular: everything from the pacing to the camera angles is spot on.\nMany of the animations and assets they've used to create this are external, adding into the game manually to replicate particular scenes and movements from the movie.\nYou'll notice the occasional GTA character, like Jonathan \"Johnny\" Klebitz from The Lost And Damned.\nThe only downside is that the English voice over from the film is dubbed over in Russian \u2026 but I don't think that will bother diehard Terminator 2 fans. Just seeing the way some of the best scenes were recreated is mighty impressive.\nCheck it out below.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Elsmore, Bronwyn\nBronwyn Elsmore is a writer of fiction and non-fiction, and a playwright. She has a strong history of involvement in New Zealand's literary and theatrical communities. Elsmore has published over 30 short stories, numerous plays for adults and children, and poetry. She is the author of several books, including Like Them That Dream \u2013 the Maori and the Old Testament (Reed, 2000). She has received awards for her writing, and was the winner of the Franklin Writers Short Story Competition 2011.\nElsmore, Bronwyn is a writer of fiction and non-fiction, and a playwright. She was born in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay and she has a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington. For over 16 years, until 2005, she was a Senior Lecturer at Massey University, Palmerston North, and prior to this she was an education writer for the Bay of Plenty Times, and a production writer for Radio New Zealand. She has also worked as a freelance and contract writer, and a creative writing tutor.\nShe has a strong history of involvement in New Zealand's literary and theatrical communities. She has been a judge for New Zealand Book Awards, and has sat on a number of other judging panels for awards and competitions. She has been a client\/writer with Playmarket since 1978, a member of the NZSA since 1984, and a member of The Playwrights' Association of New Zealand since 1979, as well as a number of other similar groups.\nShe is the author of over 30 short stories published in literary journals and magazines including the NZ Listener, and she has had over 160 articles published, as well as eight children's stories and plays broadcast on radio or television. Many of her plays have been staged in New Zealand theatres, and her staged productions include Abandon Hope, Side Show, Rushton Roulette, Celestial Pursuits, Gumboot, The Pied Piper, and Goldi-snow-errella-hood, Fallout, the Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.\nHer full list of published books includes The Cats of Dipping Dell (Golden Press, Sydney, 1979); Which Shoes to Choose? (Nelson-Price Milburn, 1989); Creedism \u2013 Religious Prejudice in NZ (Nagare, 1995); Te Kohititanga Marama \u2013 New Moon, New World: The Religion of Matenga Tamati (Reed, 1998); Mana From Heaven \u2013 a century of Maori prophets in New Zealand (Reed, 1999); Like Them That Dream \u2013 the Maori and the Old Testament (Reed, 2000); Religionz \u2013 A Guide to Religions in New Zealand (Reed, 2006); Every Five Minutes (Flaxroots, 2012); Seventeen Seas (Flaxroots, 2012); Backwards into the Future (Flaxroots, 2015) and These Islands Here \u2013 Short Stories of the South Pacific (Flaxroots, 2018).\nShe is editor of Will Wandafar \u2013 Writings of Bernard Teague (Nagare, 2003) and Southern Edge \u2013 New writers from Manukau Counties, Writer in Manukau Libraries (Manukau City, 2006).\nShe is the winner of the Keith Henderson Award for Short Story, 1976; The Phillips Cup for children's poetry, 1987; PANZ Playwriting competition for, Drought, 1992; PANZ\/Minolta Playwriting competition for Celestial Pursuits, 1997; Doug Wren Award, Playwrights Association of New Zealand, 1997; PANZ\/Minolta Playwriting competition for Rushton Roulette, 1999; International Writers Workshop short story competition 2003; the NZSA Short Story competition 2010; and the Franklin Writers short story competition 2011.\nBronwyn Elsmore won the adult category of the Christine Cole Catley Short Story Award 2013 for her story 'Dear Sir or Madam'.\nMEDIA LINKS AND CLIPS\nBronwyn Elsmore's website\nBronwyn Elsmore's profile on the Playmarket website\nBronwyn Elsmore's NZSA profile\nRead Positive Pitfalls \u2013 a New Zealand memoir\nRead 'Party time on the Panama Canal', a travel article\nRead 'Russia: Encounter of the best kind', a travel article","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION serves preview of speedy song \"Chronos\"\nAnime, Music Video\nSTEREO DIVE FOUNDATION (SDF) has revealed more details of its single Chronos and at last, also dropped the preview of the title-track in the form of a short version music video. As previously described by SDF, the song \"provides a rock sound with an overflowing feeling of speed!\" which we definitely agree with! It really increases one's pulse with its lively drums and the distinct powerful guitar sound SDF is known for. Have a listen yourself and let us know if you agree.\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rXl3xqJ0YRA\nVideo can't be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION \"Chronos\" MUSIC VIDEO SHORT SIZE, (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rXl3xqJ0YRA)\nThe music video takes you around landmarks in Tokyo such as Sumida, Ameya-Yokocho, Tokyo Station, Akihabara, and more, while steadily counting up using the roman numerals to bring back everything to the theme of time, which Chronos (personification of time) refers to.\nThe additional details which now been revealed are the artwork and the two remaining songs from the single, track Yellow, and Sprinkle.\nYellow is described as a song that will have you playing it over and over again due to its nostalgic vibes. As for Sprinkle, this is a song that takes inspiration from the anime Shokugeki no Souma: Shin no Sara where Chronos is served as the opening theme song. The anime is scheduled to start airing on October 12, but the single Chronos won't hit stores until October 23.\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yyHV__3tD9k\nVideo can't be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: \u300e\u98df\u621f\u306e\u30bd\u30fc\u30de \u795e\u30ce\u76bf\u300f\u756a\u5ba3CM (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yyHV__3tD9k)\nDon't forget that SDF has an upcoming concert planned for February 16, 2020, at Shibuya WWW. To be one of the early birds to get tickets to the show, make sure to buy the first press edition of Chronos to receive the application flyer.\nChronos (Instrumental)\nYellow (Instrumental)\nBuy at CDJapan\nOfficial Website (VERYGOO)\nOfficial Website (Lantis)\nJust a normal guy who enjoys doujin music.\nTop 25 anime opening and ending songs 2019\nSTEREO DIVE FOUNDATION's first album is coming!\nSTEREO DIVE FOUNDATION's first release in 3 years \"Chronos\" featured in anime \"Shokugeki no Souma\"\nImpressive line-up unveiled for anisong event \"Lantis Matsuri 2019 '~ARIGATO ANISONG~'\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease\nHiroki Tsukamoto, Petya Chernogorova, Korcan Ayata, Ulrike V. Gerlach, Ankur Rughani, Jerry W. Ritchey, Jayanthi Ganesan, Marie Follo, Robert Zeiser, Linda F. Thompson, Marco Idzko\nPHA - Pharmacy\nExtracellular ATP and adenosine have immunoregulatory roles during inflammation. Elevated extracellular ATP is known to exacerbate GVHD, and the pharmacologic activation of the adenosine A2A receptor is protective. However, the role of endogenous adenosine is unknown. We used gene-targeted mice and a pharmacologic inhibitor to test the role of adenosine generated by CD73\/ecto-5\u2032- nucleotidase in GVHD. In allogeneic transplants, both donor and recipient CD73 were protective, with recipient CD73 playing the dominant role. CD73 deficiency led to enhanced T-cell expansion and IFN-\u03b3 and IL-6 production, and the migratory capacity of Cd73-\/- T cells in vitro was increased. However, the number of regulatory T cells and expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells were unchanged. A2A receptor deficiency led to increased numbers of allogeneic T cells, suggesting that signaling through theA2A receptor via CD73-generated adenosine is a significant part of the mechanism by which CD73 limits the severity of GVHD. Pharmacologic blockade of CD73 also enhanced graft-versus-tumor activity. These data have clinical implications, as both the severity of GVHD and the strength of an alloimmune antitumor response could be manipulated by enhancing or blocking CD73 activity or adenosine receptor signaling depending on the clinical indication.\n10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\nDive into the research topics of 'Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.\n5'-Nucleotidase Medicine & Life Sciences 100%\nGraft vs Host Disease Medicine & Life Sciences 79%\nAdenosine Medicine & Life Sciences 74%\nAdenosine Triphosphate Medicine & Life Sciences 29%\nPurinergic P1 Receptors Medicine & Life Sciences 23%\nProtective Chemical Compounds 20%\nAllogeneic Cells Medicine & Life Sciences 20%\nTsukamoto, H., Chernogorova, P., Ayata, K., Gerlach, U. V., Rughani, A., Ritchey, J. W., Ganesan, J., Follo, M., Zeiser, R., Thompson, L. F., & Idzko, M. (2012). Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease. Blood, 119(19), 4554-4564. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\nDeficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease. \/ Tsukamoto, Hiroki; Chernogorova, Petya; Ayata, Korcan; Gerlach, Ulrike V.; Rughani, Ankur; Ritchey, Jerry W.; Ganesan, Jayanthi; Follo, Marie; Zeiser, Robert; Thompson, Linda F.; Idzko, Marco.\nIn: Blood, Vol. 119, No. 19, 10.05.2012, p. 4554-4564.\nTsukamoto, H, Chernogorova, P, Ayata, K, Gerlach, UV, Rughani, A, Ritchey, JW, Ganesan, J, Follo, M, Zeiser, R, Thompson, LF & Idzko, M 2012, 'Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease', Blood, vol. 119, no. 19, pp. 4554-4564. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\nTsukamoto H, Chernogorova P, Ayata K, Gerlach UV, Rughani A, Ritchey JW et al. Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2012 May 10;119(19):4554-4564. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\nTsukamoto, Hiroki ; Chernogorova, Petya ; Ayata, Korcan ; Gerlach, Ulrike V. ; Rughani, Ankur ; Ritchey, Jerry W. ; Ganesan, Jayanthi ; Follo, Marie ; Zeiser, Robert ; Thompson, Linda F. ; Idzko, Marco. \/ Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease. In: Blood. 2012 ; Vol. 119, No. 19. pp. 4554-4564.\n@article{dfdee525969145bfb72fac459263a09a,\ntitle = \"Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease\",\nabstract = \"Extracellular ATP and adenosine have immunoregulatory roles during inflammation. Elevated extracellular ATP is known to exacerbate GVHD, and the pharmacologic activation of the adenosine A2A receptor is protective. However, the role of endogenous adenosine is unknown. We used gene-targeted mice and a pharmacologic inhibitor to test the role of adenosine generated by CD73\/ecto-5\u2032- nucleotidase in GVHD. In allogeneic transplants, both donor and recipient CD73 were protective, with recipient CD73 playing the dominant role. CD73 deficiency led to enhanced T-cell expansion and IFN-\u03b3 and IL-6 production, and the migratory capacity of Cd73-\/- T cells in vitro was increased. However, the number of regulatory T cells and expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells were unchanged. A2A receptor deficiency led to increased numbers of allogeneic T cells, suggesting that signaling through theA2A receptor via CD73-generated adenosine is a significant part of the mechanism by which CD73 limits the severity of GVHD. Pharmacologic blockade of CD73 also enhanced graft-versus-tumor activity. These data have clinical implications, as both the severity of GVHD and the strength of an alloimmune antitumor response could be manipulated by enhancing or blocking CD73 activity or adenosine receptor signaling depending on the clinical indication.\",\nauthor = \"Hiroki Tsukamoto and Petya Chernogorova and Korcan Ayata and Gerlach, {Ulrike V.} and Ankur Rughani and Ritchey, {Jerry W.} and Jayanthi Ganesan and Marie Follo and Robert Zeiser and Thompson, {Linda F.} and Marco Idzko\",\ndoi = \"10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\",\njournal = \"Blood\",\npublisher = \"American Society of Hematology\",\nT1 - Deficiency of CD73\/ecto-5\u2032-nucleotidase in mice enhances acute graft-versus-host disease\nAU - Tsukamoto, Hiroki\nAU - Chernogorova, Petya\nAU - Ayata, Korcan\nAU - Gerlach, Ulrike V.\nAU - Rughani, Ankur\nAU - Ritchey, Jerry W.\nAU - Ganesan, Jayanthi\nAU - Follo, Marie\nAU - Zeiser, Robert\nAU - Thompson, Linda F.\nAU - Idzko, Marco\nN2 - Extracellular ATP and adenosine have immunoregulatory roles during inflammation. Elevated extracellular ATP is known to exacerbate GVHD, and the pharmacologic activation of the adenosine A2A receptor is protective. However, the role of endogenous adenosine is unknown. We used gene-targeted mice and a pharmacologic inhibitor to test the role of adenosine generated by CD73\/ecto-5\u2032- nucleotidase in GVHD. In allogeneic transplants, both donor and recipient CD73 were protective, with recipient CD73 playing the dominant role. CD73 deficiency led to enhanced T-cell expansion and IFN-\u03b3 and IL-6 production, and the migratory capacity of Cd73-\/- T cells in vitro was increased. However, the number of regulatory T cells and expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells were unchanged. A2A receptor deficiency led to increased numbers of allogeneic T cells, suggesting that signaling through theA2A receptor via CD73-generated adenosine is a significant part of the mechanism by which CD73 limits the severity of GVHD. Pharmacologic blockade of CD73 also enhanced graft-versus-tumor activity. These data have clinical implications, as both the severity of GVHD and the strength of an alloimmune antitumor response could be manipulated by enhancing or blocking CD73 activity or adenosine receptor signaling depending on the clinical indication.\nAB - Extracellular ATP and adenosine have immunoregulatory roles during inflammation. Elevated extracellular ATP is known to exacerbate GVHD, and the pharmacologic activation of the adenosine A2A receptor is protective. However, the role of endogenous adenosine is unknown. We used gene-targeted mice and a pharmacologic inhibitor to test the role of adenosine generated by CD73\/ecto-5\u2032- nucleotidase in GVHD. In allogeneic transplants, both donor and recipient CD73 were protective, with recipient CD73 playing the dominant role. CD73 deficiency led to enhanced T-cell expansion and IFN-\u03b3 and IL-6 production, and the migratory capacity of Cd73-\/- T cells in vitro was increased. However, the number of regulatory T cells and expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells were unchanged. A2A receptor deficiency led to increased numbers of allogeneic T cells, suggesting that signaling through theA2A receptor via CD73-generated adenosine is a significant part of the mechanism by which CD73 limits the severity of GVHD. Pharmacologic blockade of CD73 also enhanced graft-versus-tumor activity. These data have clinical implications, as both the severity of GVHD and the strength of an alloimmune antitumor response could be manipulated by enhancing or blocking CD73 activity or adenosine receptor signaling depending on the clinical indication.\nU2 - 10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\nDO - 10.1182\/blood-2011-09-375899\nJO - Blood\nJF - Blood","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"High flying North Korean general promoted to senior party role\nNorth Korea has promoted a general long seen as a rising star in the country's powerful military and a crucial player in its missile programme, to one of the country's most powerful decision-making bodies, according to state media.\nPak Jong Chon will take up a position in the presidium of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and will also serve as secretary of the party's Central Committee, the KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday.\nIn recent years, Pak has been promoted to a full four-star Army general, led the military as chief of the general staff of the army, and made prominent appearances alongside leader Kim Jong Un, including on a famous horse ride up North Korea's sacred Mt Paektu.\nAnalysts have attributed his rise in part to his role in developing North Korea's short-range missile programme, which has surged forward since Kim suspended long-range ballistic missile tests in 2018 amid talks with the United States.\nIn July, Kim accused officials of causing a \"great crisis\" with unspecified coronavirus lapses. North Korea has not reported any confirmed cases of the virus, nor has it elaborated on what the crises or lapses were.\nPak appears to have replaced Ri Pyong Chol, another powerful general, on the presidium, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.\nAnalysts say the reshuffle is the most significant personnel change among the core elite in years, and a probable warning from Kim that he will hold them accountable and maintain checks on their power.\nRim Kwang Il, who served as head of North Korea's military intelligence agency, was named as chief of the general staff of the army, while army general Jang Jong Nam was elected as the Minister of Social Security, KCNA said on Tuesday.\nThe country's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the isolated state's rubber-stamp parliament, will meet later this month to discuss economic policy and other issues, according to state media, as the country faces mounting economic crises.\nOn the agenda for the September 28 meeting are \"modification and supplementation\" of the national economic plan, as well as laws related to city and country development, education and recycling.\nNorth Korea's economy suffered its biggest contraction in 23 years in 2020 as it was battered by continued UN sanctions, Covid-19 lockdown measures and bad weather.\nPrevious Previous post: Australian boy, 3, rescued after four days lost in bush\nNext Next post: Vietnamese man jailed for five years for spreading coronavirus","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"New Industrial Revolution Sparked by Technology Gives Power to Service, Retail, Wholesale Industries\nThe United States is experiencing a new type of industrial revolution, one in which businesses outside of manufacturing are harnessing the power of\u2026\nReports of Corruption Increase in Nigeria After Film and Text Campaign\n'Working Rich' Prevail Among Today's Top Earners\nMany blame idle millionaires for the rise in income inequality, but today's top earners are actually the \"working rich,\" according to a new working\u2026\nFake News Shared by Very Few, But Those Over 65 More Likely to Pass on Such Stories, New Study Finds\nA small percentage of Americans, less than 9 percent, shared links to so-called \"fake news\" sites on Facebook during the 2016 presidential election\u2026\nGift Expands Impact of Center for Information Technology Policy\nMoll Receives 2017 Bern\u00e1cer Prize\nPolitics & Polls #108: How Money Restricts Access to Political Office\nWorking-class citizens have been historically underrepresented in American politics.In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss the\u2026\nQ&A: EuroTragedy: A Drama in Nine Acts\nIn his new book, \"EuroTragedy: A Drama in Nine Acts,\" Ashoka Mody offers a historical narrative of how European leaders decided to adopt the euro as\u2026\nGuess, McCarty Join Commission Focused on Facebook's Influence Over Elections and Democracy\nTwo Princeton University professors are part of a new initiative that will help social scientists to study the spread of information and\u2026\nCongress Must Adopt Stronger Safeguards for Wireless Cybersecurity, Mayer Testifies\nThanks to the advent of cell phones, tablets and smart cars, Americans are increasingly reliant on wireless services and products. Yet despite\u2026\nDiversity of Student Body Falls as Tuition Rises\nA $1,000 tuition increase at four-year nonselective public institutions is associated with a 4.5 percent drop in campus diversity among full-time\u2026\nFelten Nominated for Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board\nProfessor Edward Felten has been nominated by President Donald Trump for a position on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). The\u2026","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home News Africa Media freedom groups seek answers over missing Tanzanian reporter\nMedia freedom groups seek answers over missing Tanzanian reporter\nPress freedom groups have demanded answers from the Tanzanian government following contradicting statements by the country's foreign minister about the fate of a journalist who vanished two years ago.\nIn an interview with the BBC earlier this week, Palamagamba Kabudi, the minister, said reporter Azory Gwanda had \"disappeared and died\" somewhere in Rufiji, eastern Tanzania, without offering additional details.\nThe announcement was blasted by media watchdogs and activists who have long been calling for transparency in the case, prompting apparent backtracking by Kabudi on Thursday.\n\"The reference I made on Azory Gwanda contextually did not mean that Azory Gwanda is confirmed dead. To date, the government of Tanzania has no confirmation on whether Azory is dead or alive,\" a government statement quoted Kabudi as saying.\nIn a statement on Thursday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticised Kabudi's \"casual reference\" and accused the government \"of displaying a lack of consideration in its handling of the case\".\n\"After a year and a half of silence and then downplaying the journalist's disappearance, the minister announces his death without explanation,\" RSF's Africa representative Arnaud Froger told AFP news agency.\n\"The flippancy with which the Tanzanian authorities have handled this case illustrates the low regard they have for the safe exercise of free and independent journalism.\"\nThe United States-based Committee to Protect Journalists, meanwhile, called the minister's remarks \"wholly inadequate and distressing\" and urged the government to immediately make public all the information it has about Gwanda's fate.\nGwanda, a reporter for the Mwananchi and The Citizen newspapers, disappeared while reportedly investigating a series of murders of police and local officials in Kibiti, in the Rufiji district of the Pwani region.\nAccording to his wife, Gwanda disappeared on November 21, 2017, after leaving in a white Toyota Land Cruiser with unknown people on an \"emergency trip\".\nHe promised to return the following evening but was never seen again.\nThe government of President John Magufuli has been roundly criticized by press-freedom groups and local rights organisations for attempting to stifle media freedom in Tanzania.\nThe government denies the allegations.\nLast year, 65 civil-society organisations wrote a letter decrying attacks against the media in the country, citing closure of media outlets, persecution and harassment of independent journalists, as well as the targeting of opposition members amongst their concerns.\nMagufuli, who came to power in 2015, banned the popular Mawio newspaper in his first year, as well as two radio stations \u2013 Radio Five and Magic FM.\nTanzania ranks 118th out of 180 countries in RSF's World Press Freedom Index this year, 25 positions below its 2018 ranking.\nPrevious articleNo jailbreak recorded in last one year \u2013 Prisons chief\nNext articleAfcon: Woman killed, shops looted in France after Algeria's football win\nArnaud Froger\nAzory Gwanda\nJohn Magufuli\nKabudi\nKibiti\nPalamagamba Kabudi\nProtect Journalists\nRadio Five\nRufiji\nTanzania demotes 54 police officers over indiscipline\nFive die in Algeria celebrating team's victory over Nigeria\nEbola: Two health workers killed in DR Congo\nBoeing gives $100m to help 737 Max crash families\nCorruption: Jacob Zuma alleges character assassination\nActivists move to declare new federal state in Southern Ethiopia\nZambia dollar bonds soar after president sacks finance minister\nJacob Zuma to make first appearance at South Africa corruption inquiry","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Election of 1828\nPosted on September 16, 2018 August 21, 2018 by Frank DeMarco\nIn viewing political movement, we tend to mistake cause for effect. Thermometers don't cause fevers, they reflect them. Elections usually don't determine political realignments; they reflect realignments that have already taken place. The 1828 fever-chart showed a nation in the midst of several profound transitions.\nBefore 1828, politics was still more or less in the hands of the class that had shaped the revolution and had guided the republic through its first half century. For all the bitter differences between New England federalists and the Virginia dynasty, they were all statesmen shaped by the confrontation with England; they were all classically educated; they were all aristocrats or their lawyers.\nBefore 1828, presidential nominations came by way of congressional caucus. The assumption was that elected officials were the best judges of which candidates were best qualified to become chief magistrate. Various geographical regions had their own candidates, and political insiders judged among them. The people in general acquiesced, leaving politics to their betters.\nJackson's election shook up the whole system. Partly it was his doing; partly it was Jackson being elevated by the rising tide.\nAs soon as Adams was inaugurated as president in 1825, Jackson resigned from his senate seat and set out with characteristic single-mindedness to replace him. Working with brilliant New York politician Martin Van Buren, he assembled a coalition that reshaped American politics. His charismatic personality and controversial policies energized a large part of the American electorate that until then had been content to leave the decision to the professionals and to the upper and middle classes who had heretofore dominated political life. Now, the common people were emotionally engaged to an unprecedented degree.\nWith this new engagement came partisan press attacks even more bitter than those that had harassed Washington and his successors to date. With it came a new degree of personal party loyalty. Politics assumed an importance in voters' lives that it never had before. Within a few years, selection of presidential candidates by Congressional caucus had to be replaced by selection by political conventions.\nJackson's single-minded campaign to replace Adams succeeded. He swept every region of the country except New England, New Jersey and Delaware, winning 178 electoral votes to Adams' 83. The full results of Jackson and Van Buren's alliance took a while to become obvious, but in retrospect it could be seen that it had carried the republic's politics from its 1824 state of flux into what historians call the Second Party System of Democrats and Whigs.\nThe Democracy held to low tariffs (for revenue purposes only, rather than protection), to silver and gold, and to the older pattern of small family farms, and expansion to provide more land to continue the old pattern. As might be imagined, the Democracy's strength centered on the frontier and in more isolated areas.\nBut Jackson's and Van Buren's party brought forth an opposition party, which called itself the Whig Party (in opposition to \"King Andrew\") led by Henry Clay. The Whigs had a program for modernizing the economy \u2013 Clay's American System \u2013 and their numbers included bankers, businessmen, and commercial farmers. Whigs flourished in the cities and, outside the cities, in market towns and commercial areas. They argued for high tariffs to foster the growth of American industry, for banks and paper money to facilitate commerce, and for public works programs to build roads, canals and railroads, to provide the infrastructure needed for rapid economic development.\n(Minor parties sprang up and went away \u2013 the Anti-Masonic Party, the Liberty Party, later the Free Soil Party \u2013 but the pattern was fixed as Democrats versus Whigs until the Whigs split up and the Republican Party was born in the 1850s.)\nThis Second Party System endured for a quarter century, until the mounting uproar over the expansion of slavery destroyed the Whigs and brought forth the Republicans. Most Whig policies became Republican policies, just as many prominent Republicans, such as William Seward and Abraham Lincoln, were former Whigs. The changing times favored their vision of the nation's future.\nThe Democracy had a brief period of dominance, peaking in the presidency of James Polk, but in retrospect it can be seen that they were trying to hold back the tide. We were not going to be a nation of small towns and small farms. The Democracy went into a decline that lasted, with brief and almost accidental interruptions (the presidencies of Cleveland and Wilson) until the Great Depression reshaped politics once again. The Democrats had hitched their wagon to the wrong star.\nPosted in HistoryLeave a comment\n\u2190 Boundaries and relationships\nSpecial, like everybody else \u2192","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The vocal cords are situated in the larynx (voice box), and they vibrate together in order to create sound or speech. Lesions that occur on the vocal cord can be either benign or malignant (cancerous).\nThe most common benign vocal cord lesions are vocal cord cysts, polyps, nodules, and contact ulcers. A vocal cyst is a firm fluid collection that occurs inside the vocal cord. It is usually the response to injury or vocal abuse. After repetitive misuse, fluid within the vocal cord walls itself off and forms a cyst. The size of the cyst will affect the degree of disruption to normal vocal cord vibration and associated hoarseness.\nDiagnosis Causes Symptoms Treatment\nAn endoscopy of the larynx is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure performed using a local, topical anesthetic during your office visit. During the procedure, a thin, flexible camera, known as an endoscope, is passed through the nostril to provide a detailed view of the nasal passages, sinuses and larynx. This allows for a complete evaluation of these structures, the results of which can be digitally recorded and reviewed with the patient immediately after the procedure.\nIf a mass or lesion is found in your throat or on your vocal cords, we can schedule to take a biopsy and remove the lesion for you in an expeditious and personalized manner for rapid diagnosis and resolution of the problem.\nThe cause of benign vocal cord lesions is thought to be due to voice overuse. This may mean excessive:\nShouting\nSinging with improper technique\nViolently coughing during a prolonged respiratory infection\nSymptoms of vocal cord lesions:\nBreathiness\nLoss of vocal range\nVocal fatigue\nTreatment for vocal cord lesions:\nSinging voice therapy\nVoice rest\nFor more information, please visit our Contact Us page or complete the form below.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Week #17: Rams vs. 49ers Preview & Prediction\nWhile it is not a \"must win\" game for the Rams, it is pretty essential for several reasons. First, a win assures the Rams of a first-round bye and home-field for the divisional round. If a playoff team can go into New Orleans and upset the Saints in the divisional round (unlikely, but certainly not impossible), the Rams could even end up hosting the NFC title game, if they can run the table. A loss could doom the Rams to a return trip to Chicago in the divisional round of the playoffs, and a January visit to Soldier Field to play a good Chicago Bears team would not be a good thing. Finally, the Rams need to follow up on last week's win over the Arizona Cardinals going into the playoffs on a high note. The Rams have a lot at the estate to play for on Sunday, and they will be doing it without their best offensive player (more on that in a moment)\nRams Offense vs. 49er Defense\nFirst, the unfortunate news: Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley has been ruled out for this game with a knee injury. That presents a Los Angeles win all the more important because a first-round bye would give him two weeks to rest his inflamed knee, instead of only a week. There is a growing suspicion among some Ram fans that TG II's knee injury is more severe than the team has been letting on, but Coach Sean McVay still seems relatively optimistic about the injury, so let's pray for the best.\nNow with the good news: CJ Anderson was great last week subbing for Gurley, rushing for 167 yards against the Cardinals. Yeah, it was the Cardinals, but that is still pretty impressive. Coach Mcvay also made some changes on offense, often featuring a two-tight end set as opposed to the three wide receivers the Rams had featured on 93 percent of their offensive plays before week 16.\nTight Ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett especially have been emerging as playmakers the last several weeks, and getting them both on the field as blockers give future Ram opponents a whole new dimension to scheme against on defense. Higbee's blocking skills have been coming to the forefront in recent games, and the two-tight end set allows the Rams to go ''ground and pound\", opening up the play-action passing game and tamping down the pass-rush that has plagued quarterback Jared Goff in recent weeks. While Anderson is not the \"big play\" threat such as Gurley, however, he is a tough, punishing inside runner who fights for the last yard and has a knack for the goal line and first down marker. Even if Gurley is back for the playoffs at top speed, Anderson will still see some snaps, according to head coach Sean McVay. Having both backs available could give the Rams a \"two-headed monster\" that potentially could be better than the Alvin Kamara\/Mark Ingram duo in New Orleans. Throw in the frequent ''jet sweeps\" the Rams run, featuring wideouts Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks, and the Rams could feature the league's best ground game come playoff time.\nEven with Gurley out of the lineup on Sunday, we should see the Rams run the ball more effectively than they did against the Bears or Philadelphia Eagles, which is a piece of excellent news for Jared Goff and the Rams passing game.\nThe Rams face a San Francisco 49ers defense that is rated 10th in the NFL, and which provides some talent. Richard Sherman, whom the Rams know very well from his days as a Seattle Seahawk, hasn't had a great year statistically (four pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 13 games) but he is still Richard Sherman, and the physicality and attitude he brings to this defense matters. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is a 6'7\" 300-pound monster who has notched 12 sacks this season. Many could argue that he is the best defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald. That could be a problem for the Rams interior O-line which had problems with Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox a couple of weeks ago. Rams guard Rodger Saffold will probably draw the assignment of containing Buckner, although the Rams may double up on him if needed.\nOne of the problems the Niners have on defense is an overabundance of guys like D-linemen Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead who were high draft choices but haven't played up to the expectations. However, somebody thought these guys had talent, and never we cannot ever be sure when that might show up on the field. Even so, if the Rams offense can contain Buckner, we like their chances in this game.\nRams Defense vs. 49er Offense\nSan Francisco has been decimated by injuries, with the offense bearing the brunt. Running back Matt Breida, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, and tight end Garrett Celek are all out. That trio includes the teams fastest wide receiver and the guy who was the workhorse running back for much of the season. The Niners will also be missing wide receiver Dante Pettis, who had 129 yards in an upset win over Seattle a few weeks back. Of course, Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the darling of the sports media in 2017 is long gone as well, after sparking the Niners to six consecutive wins at the end of last season. However, San Francisco has to be pleased with the way former practice-team player Nick Mullens has stepped in at quarterback, compiling an excellent 91.6 passer rating. Tight end George Kittle has emerged as a truly elite tight end, with 1,228 yards receiving this season. Kittle has a chance to break Rob Gronkowski's season yardage record for a tight end at 1,328 (Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is only 54 yards short of that same record). Kittle had five catches for 98 yards in the first meeting between these two teams, although the Rams were able to limit his damage in the second half of that game after Kittle had a big first half. Rams safety John Johnson will probably see a lot of Kittle, and that matchup could be one of the keys to this game. At running back, the Niners will feature Alfred Morris, Matthew Dayes, and Jeff Wilson. Morris is a former 1,000 runner with the Redskins, while the other two are reasonably obscure backs who are getting a shot at playing time and a chance to make a name for themselves. Never know, but on paper that isn't a group of backs that scares anyone. San Francisco does have one of the league's better fullbacks in Kyle Juszczyk, who can be a threat in short yardage situations, but isn't exactly a speedster or a threat to break a lot of long runs.\nThe Rams defense has been trending in the right direction in recent weeks, although there are still question marks, Aaron Donald is three sacks short of the league record of 22.5, held by Micheal Strahan. All may remember that Strahan's record-setting sack was suspiciously easy, with Brett Favre \"accidentally\" falling on sack number 22.5. Given the historic rivalry--some would say outright dislike--between the Rams and 49ers, we doubt that AD will get any such gift in this game. However, he racked up four sacks in the first meeting between these two teams, and the way he has been playing a repeat performance is indeed not out of the question. The big problem for the Rams defense is that way too often Aaron Donald has been a one-person wrecking crew, not getting the kind of help from fellow d-lineman Micheal Brockers and Ndamukong Suh that many folks expected. Suh did have a somewhat better day against the Cardinals, logging a sack and batting down a pass, but there is still a strong suspicion that maybe he is not the player the Rams thought he was when they signed him to a one-year $14 million contract. Rams outside linebackers Dante Fowler and Samson Ebukam have both had their moments, but neither has been great overall. Somebody besides AD needs to step up if the Rams are to contend for a Super Bowl title.\nThe Rams secondary has been somewhat better since the return of Aqib Talib. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has gone to more zone coverage in recent weeks as opposed to the man-to-man defense that was prominent early in the year, and corner Marcus Peters has responded with improved play. The Rams will be without safety LaMarcus Joyner, who is nursing an ankle injury. Blake Countess and Marquis Christian replace him.\nDespite the Rams' struggles on defense, they face a banged-up San Francisco offense that isn't great even with everyone healthy, and they should be able to keep the Niners scoring down. If they cannot, that does not bode well for the playoffs. The other x-factor here, of course, is turnovers by the Ram offense, which could change everything.\nWe habitually check this box for the Rams and will again this week, but the 49ers are not bad on special teams. Placekicker Robbie Gould seems to have been around forever, and he usually won't choke with the game on the line. The 49ers have better numbers than the Rams on kickoff returns, ranking 11th as opposed to a somewhat disappointing 19th for Los Angeles. However, we still think Johnny Hekker is the best punter in the league, and Greg Zuerlein is a threat to kick a field goal from 60 yards plus. The Rams need to avoid lapses in this area, like JoJo Natson's inexplicable punt-return fumble against the Eagles a couple of weeks ago, but we still consider this a team strength.\nMost oddsmakers are favoring the Rams by roughly 10 points, but despite all of the San Francisco injuries, this game is no \"gimme.\" Division games against arch-rivals tend to be dogfights, and it would not shock us if this game is a little closer than people think. Having expressed that, the Rams should win.\nRams 31\nNiners 24\nTodd Gurley Ruled Out Second Week In A Row\nFor the second consecutive week, the Los Angeles Rams have announced that starting running back Todd Gurley will not play. The Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday with the final regular season and final regular season home game.\nGurley who did not play last week against the Arizona Cardinals because of an inflamed knee did not practice again this week dealing with the same knee issue. As a contingency plan, the Rams signed former pro bowl and super bowl winning running back C.J. Anderson to the team. Anderson the veteran back did not disappoint in his day view as he rushed for 167 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown.\nBefore acquiring Anderson, the Rams had only one healthy running back in rookie John Kelly, who did not disappoint with his carries against the Cardinals either as he averaged 4.0 yards per rush with ten rushing attempts for 40 yards.\nJustin Davis the other Rams running back who injured his shoulder against the Philadelphia Eagles, was uncertain if he was able to play last week. However, Davis did suit up but played only on special teams.\nAs Gurley continue to heal, head coach Sean McVay is optimistic that Anderson can continue to carry the load running the ball against a tough 49ers defense. Despite the fact of Gurley's ruling out, this must-win game scenario allows Gurley to heal one additional week. If the Rams can beat the 49ers not only will they have gone unbeaten in the NFC West, but will also secure a first-round bye in the playoffs.\nIf the Rams can secure a first-round bye, this will allow Gurley an additional two weeks for his knee to heal and fresh for the playoff run. In addition to Gurley being ruled out, McVay also announced that starting free-safety LaMarcus Joyner is out too with a bad ankle. Joyner banged himself up against the Cardinals as he and cornerback Aqib Talib collided attempting to defend against an errant Josh Rosen pass. Both players left the game momentarily as Talib returned a series later.\nMarqui Christian and Blake Countess will play in Joyner's position as he continues to heal his ankle.\nWhat You Don't Read About Tyler Higbee\n\u200bTyler Higbee, the third year tight-end from Western Kentucky University is having a very healthy year for the Los Angeles Rams. Higbee drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, is part of that draft class of former Rams head coach Jeff Fisher.\nThe former receiver that converted to the tight end position does the dirty work that doesn't show up in the boxscores in the newspaper. However, it is the little deeds that need recognition of Higbee's efforts. Such as his run-blocking ability that has improved significantly since his rookie season. Case in point, when the Rams last played against the Arizona Cardinals, after making a catch and gaining a first down, he continued to play well without the ball.\nIn the first half, Higbee applied the block to seal the outside for Cooks to get up the field with a 17-yard fly sweep by receiver Brandin Cooks. Later on that same drive, on a first and goal, he sealed a block on safety Anthony Bethea that allowed receiver Robert Woods to run into the end zone for a touchdown. Also, he sealed the linebacker inside to allow quarterback Jared Goff to score on a rushing touchdown.\nNext, Higbee will make an excellent block attacking safety Bethea to help spring running back C.J. Anderson for a huge 17-yard run. On another run in the first half by Anderson, Higbee was able to get to the next level to block Cardinals linebacker Hasaan Reddick on another excellent gain by Anderson.\nIn the second half, Higbee yet again sealed the outside on a fly-sweep by fellow tight end Gerald Everett for a nice 13-yard run. Higbee's blocking cannot be left unnoticed as he's dedicated his time as a productive blocking tight end.\nHigbee has been sharing the majority of his snaps with Everett, who has been far more involved in the offense as a receiver. However, Higbee continues to advance his game as a blocker, and occasionally makes great difficult catches and extend plays with his talent.\nBesides a few drops, none more significant than the drop in the 2017 NFC Wild Card game last season, Higbee has looked more determined with his play this season as it has shown. Entering the playoffs, the Rams will need for Higbee to continue to be the great blocker, but also be useful in the passing game too.\nAaron Donald Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week\nThe success of the Los Angeles Rams continues to increase during the 2018 NFL season, as yet another Rams player named as a Player of the Week. However, this week, the reigning 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald was named for the second time this season as NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Donald with his remarkable performance against the Arizona Cardinals was unbelievable on that day.\nBlanked in his last two outings against the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, Donald aimed for a sack record that the Cardinals stood in his way of obtaining. In week two of the season, the Cardinals were able to keep Donald under wrap as he failed to get a sack in his second consecutive game, well let's say the first three games.\nDonald's 2018 season started slowly; however, his play has increased to a higher level. On a Sunday afternoon at Levi Stadium, Donald would sack 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard for a career-best of four-times in that game. In addition to Donald's four sacks, he had nine total tackles (eight solo tackles), six tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and five quarterback hits.\nHowever, against the Cardinals, Donald would sack the Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen three times of the game. With his second sack, he broke the single-season record for defensive tackles with his 18.5 sack of the season. The record of Keith Millard stood for some 29 years as Donald would break and extend his record. Donald finished the game with nine totaled tackles (seven solos), four tackles for losses, four quarterback hits, and three sacks.\nOn Donald's effort on his tremendous run by surpassing Millard's record, all eyes will be on him and Michael Strahan's record of 22.5 sacks on Sunday. Should Donald break Strahan's' record against the 49ers where he once had four sack in their first meeting, he clearly in our opinion, will have stamped his name on the NFL Most Valuable Player of the Year Award.\nDonald arguably is one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the league, that generates destruction for opposing offensive lines. The offenses are doubling and tripling team him, and he still creates quarterback pressure. At this rate, Donald will become the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.\nGoff Approaching Kurt Warner's Franchise Record\nThe Los Angeles Rams will meet the San Francisco 49ers this upcoming Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Rams enter that game seeking to remain not only perfect in the NFC West division, but will also try to secure a potential first-round bye in this year playoff scenario. Win and they will earn that bye, a fate they seemed to be in the driver seat all season long until weeks #14 and #15 appeared.\nHowever, the play of their starting quarterback Jared Goff will control their fate of destiny. Goff will enter that game to solely take over one record and add himself into the Rams record book as their all-time single-season passing leader.\nHall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner maintains the Rams record, but that record is in extreme danger of falling. Warner set the club record with 4,830 passing yards which helped him earn the NFL Most Valuable Player of the Year Award the 2001 season. However, don't think for one minute that the Rams head coach Sean McVay is not eyeing that mark.\nAs it stand, Goff trails Warner by 341 yards (4,489), as he faces a 49ers defense that has given up an average of 234 yards per game. In their first meeting of the season, Goff threw for just 202 yards, but the team's defense controlled the tone of the game with a barrage of sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.\nAs Goff strives forward of breaking Warner's record, he will have to meet a 49ers defense that did not include former Seattle Seahawks pro bowl corner, Richard Sherman. The 49ers secondary decimated with injuries lost yet another starting defensive back. They placed Ahkello Witherspoon on IR after beating the Seahawks the week previous to a knee injury.\nAside from having to face Sherman, the 49ers will feature a very young and inexperienced secondary. As with the lost to Witherspoon, fourth-year cornerback, K'Waun Williams is his backup; however, listed as questionable with a bad knee. Second-year corner Greg Maybin will be next in line if Williams cannot go. Maybin, whom already faced adversity earlier in the year when he was attacked multiple times in a Green Bay Packers resilient comeback against the 49ers. The Niners will have Tarvarius Moore another rookie available to play if Williams cannot go to back up both Maybin and Sherman.\nThe 49ers already lost safety Jimmie Ward for the season will be without their other starting safety Jaquiski Tart. The safety Tart was widely known for coming up as a punishing run stopper and playing well against the pass. Antone Exum, the fifth year safety, will start at Tart's strong safety position having to fill some big shoes.\nAt the free safety position, that Ward secured is now be playing by rookie D.J. Reed from Kansas State. The fifth-round product has had some flashes of being a sound player in this league; however, he will get a good dose against the Rams offense. Second-year safety Tyvis Powell, an undrafted player, will back up Reed when required. So, other than Sherman Goff should have more feast than phantom against the 49ers secondary.\nHowever, can't get too comfortable with the pass unless they intend to control their front seven. The front seven is the Achilles of their defense that can apply much pressure. Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner the anchor of their defensive line applies the maximum duress from the line. The linebacking core of former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith, Elijah Lee, and rookie Fred Warner is better than advertised.\nWarner, in his rookie season from BYU who projected to be a day three selection of the 2018 NFL Draft surprisingly was taken in the third round by the 49ers. The speedy linebacker has recorded 109 tackles (75 solos) with six pass deflections. With the early injury, suspension, and release of Reuben Foster has made much of his opportunity.\nAgainst the Chicago Bears last Sunday, the 49ers defense were able to not only contain Tarik Cohen but also limited the Bears offense to only 90 yards rushing. Yes, this is the same Bears team that rushed for over 194 yards against the Rams defense. That same defense was able to get to Mitchell Trubisky three times to sack him with Buckner getting one and not to forget Cassius Marsh twice the fifth year linebacker from UCLA.\nWe are confident that the Rams offensive line coach Aaron Kromer has been looking at multiple game film of the 49ers defensive front to prepare for Sunday's contest. This game will have a lot at stake and line will need to be almost flawless to keep Goff upright and control the run game.\nExpect to watch for the Brandin Cooks to get many targets in this game as he has been quiet for the last three. Cooks only have 12 receptions for 116 yards in those games however he has not seen pay-dirt as a receiver all the back in week nine against the New Orleans Saints. Goff will need to get him acquainted with the end zone again as the Rams move forward to post-season.\nRams will probably look to attack the 49ers young secondary early to open up the run further if Todd Gurley is unavailable. That young safety backfield is the areas they will target early and often as Goff prepare to put his name atop of the Rams record book.\nAaron Donald Breaks 29 Year Old Sack Record\n\u200b\u200bThe 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year of the Los Angeles Rams, Aaron Donald, on Sunday broke the NFL total single-season sack record of a defensive tackle. The previous record held by former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Keith Millard was set by in 1989 with a total of 18 quarterback sacks. The bizarre part to Donalds run that it would take him to the fourth game to record his first sack of the season.\nAs the Rams faced the Chicago Bears and followed by Philadelphia Eagles, who thought that they would run into a two-game losing skid? Donald and the Rams defense shutout with no quarterback sacks in that duration left Donald with 16.5 sacks.\nHowever, that changed on Sunday as the Rams met their division rivaled Arizona Cardinals. Donald would sack Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen for the second time of the game to break Millard's record that stood for nearly for 29 years. Donald would yet get another sack on Rosen to extend his NFL leading sack total of the season and his new total to 19.5 sacks.\nThe Rams will play their season and home finale on this Sunday as they will meet the San Francisco 49ers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Since returning from Saint Louis, the Rams are 0-2 against the 49ers, with an epic comeback by former Colin Kaepernick who rallied them back to beat the Rams in the closing minutes.\nIn a meaningful game, last season as two-thirds of the starters benched, the 49ers beat the Rams handily. The 49ers played a tough game against the Bears this past Sunday of a score of 14-9, as they held them scoreless for almost half the game. Their defense played tough and limited the Bears offense to a small margin of success.\nAs the Rams prepare to play the 49ers on Sunday, Donald will enter the game needing three sacks to tie former New Giants Michael Strahan record. Strahan set a new career sack record of 22.5 sacks against the Green Bay Packers in 2001 when he sacked Brett Favre.\nThere are those who still question that sack as it seemed to be a designed play for Strahan to come untouched and Favre nonchalantly gives himself up and lay down for the sack. However, it will not come that easy for Donald as he will continue to find ways to beat the double and triple team blocking assignments that are designed to contain him on the field.\nCongratulation to Aaron Donald on his tremendous run on eclipsing Millard's record, but all eyes will be on him and Strahan's record on Sunday. Should Donald break Strahan's' record against the 49ers where he had four sack in the first meeting, he clearly in our opinion, will have stamped his name on the NFL Most Valuable Player of the Year Award.\nThe booking agents have opened the Rams up at 8.5 points early favorite against the 49ers.\nCJ Anderson Explodes Against Cardinals\n\u200bThe Los Angeles Rams newly signed running back CJ Anderson, almost had a career day at State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Just signed five days before his game against the Arizona Cardinals, Anderson received the nod from head coach Sean McVay as the starter.\nWith injuries to starter Todd Gurley and reserved back Justin Davis, the Rams only had rookie running back John Kelly as the only healthy starter. Losing Malcolm Brown to a season-ending shoulder injury, Rams sought out for a veteran back with experience. A tremendous selection in signing Anderson who already had previously won a Superbowl with the Denver Broncos and rushed for over a 1,000 yards in a single season, and most importantly as a pass protector.\nAnderson spoke proudly of himself having the opportunity to come and play for the Rams organization and blessed to that chance. However, he admirably placed his experience and pride in protecting the quarterback. He made jokes about how #18 (Peyton Manning) didn't play that if you did not protect him in the backfield.\nAgainst the Cardinals, Anderson set his mark against the Cardinals with 20 carries for 167 yards and one touchdown, averaging 8.4 yards per carry, miss tying his career high by one yard. His only flaw was the one reception on an attempted screen play that resulted in a loss of five yards. On his first carry, set the tone for the Rams run game barreling ahead for six yards. Rookie running back Kelly added with 10 carries for 40 yards as the Rams had 269 total rushing yards. To Anderson's avail, he may have earned himself the NFC Offensive Player of the Week in just his first game with the Rams.\nAs the Rams prepare to play the season finale against the San Francisco 49ers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the question will remain if Gurley will play. After the production of Anderson, the Rams offense demonstrated that it could function without the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on the field. Anderson merely is another dimension on the Rams offensive side of the ball to give coordinators another problem to prepare.\nThe Broncos released CJ Anderson where he signed with the Carolina Panthers. Anderson had a short stint with the Panthers rushing the ball 24 times for 104 yards. Anderson was in a crowded backfield that featured Christian McCaffrey potentially on every down, Cameron Artis-Payne and wide-receiver Curtis Samuel the Panthers lines up at running back too.\nThe Panthers released Anderson after week 10 and signed by the Oakland Raiders in week 15. His stint with the Raiders lasted for one game as he waived when the Rams signed him a week later. The former pro bowl running back merry go around season may have landed him on an express ride to the Super Bowl if all works out well for the Rams.\nWeek #16: Rams vs. Cardinals Preview & Prediction\nI believe this is a crucial game for the Rams, both concerning securing a first-round bye in the playoffs and re-establishing some momentum after two awful games. Is this team broken? Our gut response is still no, but if they lose to the Arizona Cardinals, we may have to reconsider that notion. There are causes for concern at this point for Rams fans, and this game may tell us a lot.\nRams Offense vs. Cardinals Defense\nThe Rams offense is the unit that has carried the team most of the season, and it is also where things have gone south the last couple of games. Jared Goff has turned into a turnover machine, and the offensive line has gone from elite to pretty bad almost overnight. Those two things are related, of course.\nThe line needs to block better, and the Rams need to re-discover the running game. The last one could be a challenge if Todd Gurley doesn't play, and at last report he was listed as a game-time decision' although he has been saying he expects to play The Rams did pick up some insurance with the signing of former Denver Bronco C.J. Anderson, a former 1,000 runner who named to the pro bowl in 2015. Anderson is not Gurley (nobody is), but he is a tough, proven runner who can kill you between the tackles, and he is a big upgrade over any of the other reserve backs on the Rams roster. The question, of course, is how Anderson will be ready for action after having been signed only a few days before the game. He does have one skill that's very much in demand for the Rams right now, and that is his ability in pass protection.\nThe other option is John Kelly, the rookie out of the University of Tennessee, and it just seems like coach McVay does not have a whole lot of confidence in the rookie running back. The Rams other back, Justin Davis, has been out with a shoulder injury and seems unlikely to see extended action on Sunday if he even plays at all.\nThe ideal situation would probably be for the Rams to jump out to a big lead, let Gurley sit, and let Anderson and Kelly carry the load.\nAs bad as its been for the Cardinals this season, they do have some talent on defense. Defensive end Chandler Jones has 12 sacks, and the way the Rams O-line has been playing lately, that is a massive concern. Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth will likely see most of the action against Jones, and that could be a key matchup in this game. Whitworth made the All-pro team last year, but there are those who wonder if his age (at 37) may be starting to catch up with him. We may find out on Sunday. Of course, when we discuss the Arizona defense, we have to talk about cornerback Patrick Peterson, often considered the best cover corner in the game. Peterson missed practice with an illness this week, but it would be a surprise if he does not play.\nRams Defense vs. Cardinals Offense\nThe Rams defense has been playing a little better lately (the Eagles' 30 point outburst was keyed by Ram turnovers as much as anything), even though the Chicago Bears contained Aaron Donald and to a lesser degree the Eagles.\nDonald could be back in a big way in this game. The Cardinals offensive line is not good, giving up an average of three sacks per game. There are those who are calling rookie quarterback Josh Rosen a bust. He has thrown ten touchdowns as opposed to 14 interceptions, and his 66.3 quarterback rating is not very good at all. Running back David Johnson, considered an elite player is coming into this season, has not lived up to that billing, topping 100 yards rushing only once this season and averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Of course, the Rams rush defense has not been good either, so something will have to give if the Cardinals go smash mouth. The Cardinals do have a future Hall of Fame receiver in Larry Fitzgerald and a promising rookie in Christian Kirk, but neither has put up high numbers this year. The Cardinals lost Kirk to a season-ending injury breaking his foot, and perhaps newly former Rams receiver Pharoh Cooper will see action.\nThe Rams need to get someone besides AD putting some pressure on the quarterback and making some plays up front. That means Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers and a few other folks need to step up. Frankly, aside from Donald, Cory Littleton, and lately, John Johnson this unit has underperformed for the majority of the season. That needs to change against the Cardinals, who are dead last in total offense in the NFL.\nOne notable special teamer who will not be with the Rams this week is the former kick returner, Cooper. Released and signed by--yes great guess--the Cardinals. Return man JoJo Natson has mostly been pretty good for the Rams, but his inexplicable fumble on a return late in the game against the Eagles last week was a real backbreaker. It was especially hard to understand because it appeared he simply dropped the ball for no apparent reason. The fact the Rams kept him over Cooper tells us the team still has confidence in him. Otherwise, Johnny Hekker remains the best punter on the planet, and placekicker Greg Zuerlein is a threat from 60 yards plus. The Rams special teams have been a little less dominant than usual recently, but we still like their chances to bounce back.\nThe one variable that concerns us a bit here is the signing of Pharoh Cooper by Arizona. Not so much because of what we may think he might do on the field as the fact that he undoubtedly spilled the beans about the Rams offense, where he was a role player at wide receiver. The other concern is what the absence of Todd Gurley might mean for the Rams if indeed he does not play or is limited. Having said all of this, the Rams really should win this game. It is not a must win, since they are in the playoffs, however, it is a more important game then anyone would have guessed a couple of weeks ago.\nCardinals 17\nPharoh Cooper Claimed By Arizona Cardinals\n\u200bThe Arizona Cardinals has claimed the Los Angeles Rams former Pro Bowl KR\/WR Pharoh Cooper off waivers. The Rams released Cooper yesterday after signing free agent veteran running back C.J. Anderson.\nAnderson signing is due mainly to the fact that both starting running back Todd Gurley and reserved running back Justin Davis sustained injuries against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday night. The two are day to day with Davis injury being severe. Rookie John Kelly is currently the only healthy back on the roster. Anderson gives Rams added depth and a veteran presence in the backfield.\nCoincidentally the Cardinals snagged Cooper off waivers as the Rams are set to play them on Sunday. Cardinals decimated with injuries at the receiver position added Cooper to play some this week. Rams look to get back on track by beating the Cardinals to secure their playoff position.\nMany fans were puzzled to the Coopers release; however many felt that returner JoJo Natson been released after his fumble against the Eagles late in the fourth quarter. Coach McVay made it very clear that JoJo's one miscue didn't lead for him to be released as he's done a lot of positive things in the return game. Natson will continue to return punts and possibly kickoff returns too. \u200b\nGoff Joins Warner, Everett, & Bulger In The 4K Club\nThe Los Angeles Rams lost their second consecutive game for the first time under head coach Sean McVay, in an epic thriller against the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.\nThe Rams lost the game 30-23 to the Eagles as they had an opportunity to win to tie\/win the game in the closing seconds. The Rams fell behind by 17 points in the final quarter, but a valiant effort they were able to put points on the board in the last seven minutes, the defense forced a stop, which led to a missed Eagles field goal.\nThe Rams received the ball with 1:07 seconds left in the game, pushed the ball down the field to the 18-yard line. Rams quarterback Jared Goff toss to the end zone to receiver Josh Reynolds would sail over his head as the time expired with only four seconds left in the game.\nOvershadowed by the losing streak, we can't overlook Goff's continued success and another accomplished milestone. On Sunday, Goff became the fourth quarterback in Rams history to pass 4,000 yards in a single season. He joins the group with Jim Everett 4,310 yards (1989), Kurt Warner accomplished it twice with 4,830 yards (1999), 4,353 yards (2001), and Mark Bulger 4,301 yards (2003).\nIn this current 2018 season, Goff has thrown for 4,273 with two remaining divisional games. The Rams travel to play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and their season finale against San Francisco 49ers at the Coliseum. In those two games, Goff passed for 556 yards (354 against the Cardinals). If he's able to throw for that yardage again, he will need at least three more yards to break the Rams all-time single passing record of Kurt Warner.\nCan Jared Goff accomplish this fate? To answer honestly, yes! However, it will not come that easy when they meet again. In week four against the 49ers Goff passed for only 202 yards, yet the 49ers defensive season average 234 passing yards per game.\nOn the other hand, Goff torched the Cardinals defense in the Rams home opener, and at this duration, he is the only quarterback to have passed for over 300 yards against the Cardinals defense. The Cardinal defense held the NFL leading passing quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs to 249 passing yards, Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan to 231 yards, Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson to 172 yards, and a season low of 101 passing yards to Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford.\nHowever, if Goff intends on breaking this season record, he needs to correct some of his mechanics. Goff's has struggled in the Rams last three games throwing seven interceptions while having only six in his first eleven games. Currently sitting fifth behind leader Mahomes, Goff trails Ryan by 28 yards to lead the NFC in passing yards.\nGoff will need to play sharp and cautious with his passing on Sunday. The Rams need to be concerned with once having home field throughout the playoffs, to contending as an NFC Wild Card team. The Los Angeles Rams lost their second consecutive game for the first time under head Sean McVay, in an epic thriller against the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.\nRams 4,000 Yards Passing Club\n\u200bOvershadowed by the losing streak, we can't overlook Goff's continued success and another accomplished milestone. On Sunday, Goff became the fourth quarterback in Rams history to pass 4,000 yards in a single season. He joins the group with Jim Everett 4,310 yards (1989), Kurt Warner accomplished it twice with 4,830 yards (1999), 4,353 yards (2001), and Mark Bulger 4,301 yards (2003).\nIn this current 2018 season, Goff has thrown for 4,273 with two divisional games remaining this season. The Rams travel to play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and then onto their season finale against San Francisco 49ers at the Coliseum. In the two previous meetings against the two, Goff passed for a combined 556 yards (354 against the Cardinals). If he's able to attain that yardage again, he will need an additional three yards to break the Rams all-time single passing record held by Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.\nOn the other hand, Goff torched the Cardinals defense in the Rams home opener, and at this duration, he is the only quarterback to have thrown for over 300 yards against the Cardinals defense. The Cardinal defense even held the Kansas City Chiefs NFL's leading passer Patrick Mahomes to 249 passing yards, Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan to 231 yards, Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson to 172 yards, and a season low of 101 passing yards to Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions.\nHowever, if Goff has intentions on breaking this season record, he will need to correct some of his mechanical issues he's developed. Goff's has struggled in the Rams last three games throwing seven interceptions while having only six in his first eleven games. Currently sitting fifth behind leader Mahomes, Goff trails Ryan by 28 yards to lead the NFC in passing yards.\nGoff will need to play sharp and cautious with his passing on Sunday. The Rams need to be concerned with once having home field throughout the playoffs, to contending as an NFC Wild Card team. The only certainty of it all is the Rams will play at least one playoff game at home if the wheels come off entirely.\nOnce against, congratulations to Goff on setting a career mark in passing yards surpassing 4,000 yards in a single season. The only certainty of it all is that the Rams will play at least one playoff game at home if the wheels come off entirely.\nRams Release WR\/KR Pharoh Cooper\nUpdated 12\/18\/2018 2:40PM PST\nIn a surprising roster move, the Los Angeles Rams have released kick-returner and wide receiver Pharoh Cooper from the team. The 2017 NFL Special Team Player of the Year in his third season with the Rams just seemed not to have the same spark as last season.\nIn the season opener against the Oakland Raiders, Cooper would suffer an ankle injury that landed him on the IR for eight weeks. He returned in week eleven against the Kansas City Chiefs, but his play was subpar. Last season he led the league in kick return with almost a 28.0-yard average, this season just over 21.0 yard average on 13 attempts.\nIn his absence, Blake Countess took over the kick return duties and with 17 attempts he had a 24.6-yard return average. There may have been some concerns about his decline in production. The Rams kept punt returner JoJo Natson, who fumbled a punt in last Sunday lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite Natson's fumble, the Rams defense was able to hold the Eagles to a long field goal. The Eagles missed that field goal as the Rams move the ball down the field but came up short in the final seconds.\nIn a corresponding move, the Rams signed former Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson to the roster as insurance for injured Todd Gurley and Justin Davis.\nRams Sign RB C.J. Anderson To Roster\nEd Henderson\nUpdated 12\/18\/2018 9:50 PM PST\nThe Los Angeles Rams have signed C.J. Anderson, the former Denver Bronco running back. Anderson won Superbowl L with the Broncos as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The signing comes two days later after Rams running backs Todd Gurley (knee), and Justin Davis (shoulder) injured against the Philadelphia Eagles.\nBoth players are listed day to day with there injuries, as head coach Sean McVay seems to feel that Gurley should be ready. Davis, on the other hand, is uncertain with his status with leaves on rookie John Kelly as the only healthy back. Anderson is insurance in the case there's a setback with either of the two players come Sunday as the Rams set to play the Arizona Cardinals.\nThe undrafted free agent of the 2013 NFL Draft signed with the Denver Broncos after completing his last two seasons at the University of California. Anderson is an excellent late-season pickup for the Rams with postseason experience.\n\u200bA 5'8\" 225lb he's versatile running back and a tough inside runner and a good receiver out the backfield. A very explosive downhill runner with the ability to cutback like a scat back. His career 4.40 yard carry per average while rushing the ball 717 times for 3,155 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a receiver, Anderson has 104 career receptions for 883 yards(8.49 avg) and five touchdowns.\nC.J. Anderson Highlights\nHe joins a Rams team at the right time as they are preparing for their playoff run. In Super Bowl L, Anderson was the leading rusher in the game with 23 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. He provides experience as both a runner and a receiver and the ability as a pass blocker.\nThe Rams are making a wise choice by adding Anderson as he is a legitimate back who will provide some rest for Gurley and depth and experience at the running back position. Anderson's jersey number will be #35 and have to say we are eager to see him play.\nIn a corresponding move, the Rams release their 2017 Pro-Bowl returner Pharoh Cooper from the roster.\nWeek #15: Rams vs Eagles Preview & Prediction\nOn paper, this game looks like a mismatch, with the Rams favored by 13 points as of Saturday morning. While the Philadelphia Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions, this team is a shell of last year's Lombardi Trophy winners. Add to that the fact the game is in Los Angeles and that Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is not expected to play because of broken vertebrae and we have the makings of what could be a blowout victory. However, this is the NFL, and there are no \"gimme\" games. As a Rams fan, there are some concerns about the Eagles game. The offense was just awful last week against the Chicago Bears, with Jared Goff throwing four interceptions and the offensive line physically overpowered up front. Just expect for the Los Angeles Rams to win this game. However, if for some reason they do not it could be a sign that there are real problems with the Rams. Even a Rams win with another mediocre showing by the offense would be cause for great concern\nRams Offense vs. Eagles Defense\nJared Goff comes into this game with a sterling passer rating of 101 and fourth in the league in passing yardage, and while the last couple of games may have put a dent in his MVP candidacy, he is still having an outstanding season. He was a little off the last two weeks with a win over the Lions and downright awful in last week debacle at Soldier Field. Is there something wrong with him? Our guess--and that is all it is--would be no. As bad as the Detroit Lions were overall, coached by Matt Patricia, the former New England Patriots defensive coordinator, and they are capable of pulling the upset, with wins this season over the Patriots, Carolina Panthers, and the Green Bay Packers.\nLast week's loss to the Bears was much worse for Goff, but after all, they are one of the league's elite defenses, and while I hate to use the weather as an excuse, I think it made a difference. Also, while Goff was terrible, he did not get much help from his O-line. The other factor was the Rams difficult decision to virtually ignore Todd Gurley and the running game and become one-dimensional. Those things need to change this week, or it could be a case of ''Los Angeles, we have a problem.\" As banged up as the Eagles are, they still have one of the league's better defensive lines, with Micheal Bennett, Fletcher Cox, and Brandon Graham. The Rams know Bennett well from his days in Seattle, and while he may be getting a little long-in-the-tooth by NFL standards, he can still play. Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein will draw the duty of containing Bennett, and that matchup is a big key to the outcome of this game. The Rams also need to control Fletcher Cox, who may be the best defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald in the NFL.\nOf course, one of the best ways to tamp down a pass rush is with a strong running game, especially with an offense like the Rams that uses much play-action in the passing game. I expect a big day from Todd Gurley, both running and receiving. The Eagles' secondary, meanwhile, has been ravaged by injury. The Rams should be able to throw the ball downfield, assuming Goff has the time to throw. If the Rams do not put up at least 30 points in this game, expect disappointment.\nRams Defense vs. Eagles Offense\nCarson Wentz is not expected to play for Philly in this game, but I am not at all sure a healthy Nick Foles is not more of a threat than the banged-up version of Wentz we have seen in 2018. We will never know what you are going to get with Foles, he is capable of being very good, awful and just about anything in between. The Eagles have one of the league's best tight ends in Zach Ertz, who already has over 1,000 yards receiving. He is the NFC version of Travis Kelce, and that could be a problem for a Rams defense which has had problems with tight ends this season. Kelce racked up 127 yards against the Rams in the shootout win over the Chiefs last month, and George Kittle of the Niners and ex-Ram Jared Cook of Oakland also had big days against the Rams, albeit all in losing efforts. However, I guess that Philly will try to do what most Rams opponents have tried to do this season and that this goes \"ground and pound.\" With the loss of running back Jay Ajayi, the Eagles have mostly turned to Josh Adams as their \"bell cow\" back, and he has been solid if not spectacular. 35-year-old Darren Sproles is also back from a hamstring injury and has scored touchdowns the past two weeks since his return. Those guys together don't equal one Jay Ajayi, but the Rams defense has had its problems against the run this season. If the Rams can break out early on offense and get a decent lead, it would help. Philly may try running at outside linebacker Dante Fowler, who is a better edge rusher than run defender. Also, wonder if the Eagles will copy the Bears in triple teaming Aaron Donald. You would think devoting three guys to Donald would open things up for Ndamukong Suh and Micheal Brockers of the Rams, but that did not happen last week. Suh and Brockers need to step up if that happens on Sunday night.\nLost in all of the hysteria among Ram fans over the loss to the Bears was the fact the Rams pass defense was pretty good in that game, holding Chicago quarterback Mitch Trubisky to an abysmal 33.3 passer rating. That is one more reason why to expect the Eagles to go smashmouth in this game, although alike I said earlier, Foles is capable of getting hot.\nRams placekicker Greg Zuerlein missed a rare field goal against the Bears. Nobody is perfect, and that will not happen often. Holder (and Rams punter) Johnny Hekker took the blame for the miss, which probably was one of the turning points of the game. Hekker, meanwhile, channeled his inner quarterback (a position he played in high school) in converting a fourth down on a fake punt. Overall though it was not a great night for the Rams special teams. I expect better this week.\nThe Rams should win this game and snap a five-game losing streak against the Eagles. A Ram victory and a Chicago loss would clinch at least the number two see in the playoffs, meaning a first-round bye and the right to host a second-round playoff game. I was concerned by what I saw in Chicago last weekend, although I think some of the ''The Rams have been exposed\" talk is way over the top. New Orleans Saints, New England, and Kansas City Chiefs have all had bad games in recent weeks, it happens. Having said that, if the Rams lose this game, it will raise some serious questions about their status as one of the league's elite teams. I don't think that will happen.\nEagles 24\nRams Add CB Donte Deayon To Practice Squad\n\u200bThe Los Angeles Rams have added former New York Giants defensive back Donte Deayon to the practice squad. Deayon, an undrafted free agent from the 2016 NFL Draft, played collegiately at Boise State.\nDeayon signed with the New York Giants and played in preseason and cut while the team assembled their 53 man roster. The Giants would sign him to their ten man practice squad. The 2017 season the Giants brought Deayon back and added him to their active roster.\nDeayon survived the cuts this season and made the 53-man roster and played in four games recording six tackles, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. The Giants released him in week six and remained unclaimed until today by the Rams.\nThe addition of Deayon to the practice squad fulfills the tenth spot that became available after the Rams added LB Trevon Young to the active roster.\nRams Sign Jamil Demby To Active Roster\n\u200bIn a surprising move today, the Los Angeles Rams have re-signed their sixth-round selection of the 2018 NFL Draft. Offensive lineman Jamil Demby played collegiately at the University of Maine was signed from the Detroit Lions practice squad, rejoining the Rams active roster.\nThe Rams waived Demby, subsequently after they activated the 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, to the active roster. Donald had been holding out awaiting a new contract extension. In a risky move, the Rams waived Demby and were optimistic that Demby cleared waivers as they intended to add him to their practice squad roster. However, the Lions claimed Demby and added him to their active roster.\nThe Rams have played with only seven active linemen since the release of former starting guard Jamon Brown. Demby addition now gives the Rams eight active roster, as well the Rams having their entire 2018 draft class under contracts.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Moroccan Sahara: Prominent Gabonese Officials Laud Spain's New Position\nPosted on March 28, 2022 by Lemine Ould Sidi\nProminent Gabonese officials have welcomed Spain's recognition of the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco as the most serious, realistic and credible solution to the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. In this sense, Estelle Ondo, former Minister of Forest Economy, Fisheries and Environment and current member of parliament, stressed that this is a \"political and diplomatic\" recognition that gives credibility and support to Morocco, and destabilizes the enemies of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, which remains very active in the UN and Africa to assert its sovereignty over its territories. \"This new position of Spain clearly means that Morocco is winning and progressing by gaining international support of weight,\" she said in a statement to MAP. Estelle Ondo has, in the same context, stressed that in the process itself of a final resolution of this artificial conflict, \"Morocco is in the process of making the world understand the reality of this conflict and the geostrategic and security issues of this matter that some parties on the other side want to hide\" (polisario and Algeria). She said that the Moroccan plan offers not only guarantees of socio-economic development and protection of the local Sahrawi identity, but also protects its historical territorial and political sovereignty. Estelle Ondo highlighted the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, who since his accession to the throne has made the Sahara issue a major aspect of Morocco's foreign policy. \"With Africa, the Sovereign has changed his approach by strengthening cooperation with several countries. And more globally, several historical supporters have been in favor of the Kingdom thanks to a wise diplomacy of HM King Mohammed VI, like the United States, a member of the UN Security Council,\" she said. \"This dispute is therefore entering a phase of final settlement,\" she concluded. For his part, the Gabonese MP, vice-president of the Law Commission and former Minister of Defense, Budget, Youth and Sports, Tourism and Decentralization, Mathias Otounga Ossibadjouo, was pleased to learn of the new position of Spain on the Moroccan Sahara. Also former Deputy Director of Cabinet of the President of the Republic, Otounga Ossibadjouo commended the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who allowed this happy outcome. Regis Immongault, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current MP, said that this recognition by Spain of the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco and the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis is \"a strong step forward\", which should push multilateralism on this issue. He stressed that Gabon \"has always supported the position of its brother country, Morocco, in the resolution of this conflict\".\ncredible solution, libreville - prominent gabonese officials have welcomed spain's recognition, Moroccan Sahara: Prominent Gabonese Officials Laud Spain's New Position, morocco as the most serious, realistic, the artificial dispute over the moroccan sahara, the autonomy initiative proposed\nMoroccan Sahara: Other European Countries Likely to Follow Spain's Lead \u2013 Former UN Official \u2013\nIsraeli-Palestinian Conflict: HM the King has Always Supported Two-State Solution Living Side by Side \u2013 FM \u2013","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Bekker's Blog by Scott Bekker, Editor in Chief\nMSPs Kite Technology and AIS Merge for Focus and Scale\nOne of the first MSP mergers of the year involves two trends that are expected to be big in M&A in 2017 -- vertically oriented intellectual property (IP) and using the cloud to scale.\nKite Technology Group, based in Owings Mill, Md., closed a deal effective this week to acquire AIS Technology LLC, based in Germantown, Wis. Terms of the merger weren't disclosed, but the MSP operations will continue as Kite Technology Group. AIS Owner and President Nick Oliver joins Kite as executive vice president and will be a part owner of the 26-employee combined company, along with current Kite CEO Greg DiDio and Kite Technology Founder Jeff Kite.\nBoth companies have a long-standing focus of providing MSP services to insurance agencies but bring very different business models to that particular vertical.\n\"Nick focused primarily on the insurance vertical market and a remote service plan,\" Kite said in an interview Wednesday. That low-touch approach and his high profile at the national insurance agent conferences both Kite and Oliver attend (and where they met in the early 2000s) have resulted in AIS having customers in 22 states, Kite said.\nKite Technology has taken a more high-touch, white-glove experience approach and has also accepted referrals, resulting in about 45 percent of the former Kite Technology's business being non-insurance agency clients, he said. \"Because we were interested in both insurance and non-insurance clients, that sort of led us to focus geographically, so the Mid-Atlantic has been our base,\" Kite said. \"Most of our clients are within a one-hour reach, but we have some Long Island, and northern New Jersey and a lot of central Pennsylvania, down the Delaware corridor.\"\nWhile AIS has the remote-services approach, Kite says the firm he founded 24 years ago has been building infrastructure that could take AIS' services to the next level.\n\"What we brought to the deal was [this.] Through our involvement in HTG for eight years now, and Connectwise building best practices -- all of that whole HTG way, if you will -- we have grown our company 22 percent per year average over the last six years. We've done a really good job on operational maturity, and we have the ability to scale our operation. Nick has the reach and the national footprint. We think we can each bring that together and do a much better job of serving clients in a much broader base.\"\nAmong those resources poised to help the whole operation grow is an already segmented help desk operation. Kite's corner office sits between the I-Team, which is focused on insurance-industry clients, and, he jokes for want of a different letter rather than a marker of priority, an A-Team focused on non-vertical clients.\nAs every solution provider with a strong vertical business must, Kite Technology will need to address anew the question of how strongly to prioritize its vertical business versus other types of customers.\n\"We actually have a sales summit planned for two weeks from now. We are going to do a two-day deep dive where we're going to look very closely at where do we take this now that we're all together,\" Kite said. \"I can tell you that my intention is to maintain a dual-pronged strategy, where within our geographically reachable market, to me that's a comfort zone of one to two hours, I'm comfortable serving clients outside of our insurance vertical niche. I believe that we're going to continue to reach clients and grow that business. And I know for sure that we are going to be intentional about expanding what Nick has done in that remote-only-type service model to an even broader national market.\"\nMeanwhile, as many channel executives predict that IP will become even more important for the tech channel in the year ahead, the Kite-AIS business is an example that IP isn't just for coding ISVs.\n\"It's much more than an IT understanding of the insurance agency,\" Kite said when asked about the company's core IP. \"We also provide consulting. We have, I think, six staff now who have been full-time employed inside an insurance agency. We know what it takes, understand the complexities.\"\nKeys are knowing how insurance agency employees live in the browser and the big insurance company Web pages and knowing the peculiarities and browser versions or settings that make each site work best, as well as helping clients navigate support for the crucial line-of-business applications like AMS360, Applied TAM and Applied Epic.\nAs the Kite-AIS deal just a few days into 2017 demonstrates, combining vertical expertise and spinning up a strong cloud\/remote support model is one way that growing MSPs will be grabbing for the brass ring of national scale in 2017.\nPosted by Scott Bekker on January 04, 2017 at 2:03 PM","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Need to recognise global factors in inflation and policy coordination, says RBI governor\nDas reiterated that RBI endeavors to bring down the inflation closer to the target of 4% with a moderate slowdown to output growth even when the fear of the US economy slipping into recession looms large due to monetary tightening.\nAtmadip Ray\nGlobal factors should get more weight in assessing inflation risks in light of the current developments in Europe, as the war there has a significant impact on the price situation in every country, Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das said.\nThis also underscores the need for enhanced policy coordination and dialogue among countries to achieve better outcomes, Das said, delivering a lecture at an event organised by the Institute of Economic Growth in New Delhi on Saturday.\nThe governor stressed on the importance of monetary policy in taming inflation and inflation expectations, amid fears that continuing policy tightening could crimp economic growth.\n\"While factors beyond our control may affect inflation in the short run, its trajectory over the medium term is determined by monetary policy,\" Das said, adding that inflation may start easing gradually in the second half of this fiscal year, precluding the chances of a recession in India.\nIn its monetary policy announcement last month, the RBI had projected India's inflation to start easing from the fiscal half starting October, even as accelerating prices remain a concern globally. It projected inflation to be 6.7% in FY23, with Q1 at 7.5%, Q2 at 7.4%, Q3 at 6.2% and Q4 at 5.8%. The consumer price index for May was at 7.04%, compared with April's 7.79%.\nAround 77% of countries reported an acceleration in inflation in 2021 and this proportion is expected to rise further to 90% in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund's latest projections. Moreover, two-thirds of these countries are witnessing inflation above 7% against a target of 2% for advanced economies and an average target of 3-5% for emerging market economies.\nDas reiterated that RBI endeavours was to bring down inflation closer to its target of 4% with a moderate slowdown to output growth, even when the fear of the US economy slipping into recession due to monetary tightening loomed large.\n\"Not all episodes of tightening have ended in recession,\" he reasoned, pointing out that revisions in GDP projections by major central banks and multilateral agencies in June 2022 indicated a loss of pace in economic growth rather than a loss of level.\nThe governor also suggested that monetary tightening globally might not last long. \"With front-loaded monetary policy actions underway, central banks may not face the need for prolonged actions that lead to recessions,\" he said.\nCentral banks have begun delivering bigger and quicker policy rate hikes to restore price stability, even as the global economy is struggling to recover fully from the scars inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic.\nThe persistence of inflation at elevated levels has also raised the debate as to whether the monetary tightening to contain inflation will end in global recession or will the policy makers be able to manage a soft landing, which is a moderation in inflation closer to targets with only a modest slowdown in output growth.\nGlobal factors present difficult policy trade-offs between price stability and stabilising economic activity, especially when the economy is recuperating from repeated shocks, the governor said.\nrbi governor\nEconomic Survey 2023 sees RBI's digital currency as a booster shot for financial services\nRBI likely to deliver last rate hike in aggressive tightening cycle\nFintech companies ask RBI for clear first loss default guarantee framework\nRBI to hike repo rate by 25 bps in Feb, ending tightening cycle: Reuters poll","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Corporatism Goes Global\nMarina Ottaway\nSign up to receive emails from Carnegie's Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program!\nGlobal Governance, September 2001\nIn February 1998 an organization called the World Commission on Dams was launched at a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa. An independent commission including members of NGOs opposed to the construction of large dams, engineering and business groups favoring it, and other experts, the WCD was the outcome of years of international protests about the ecological and social impact of dams. The protest, which in many cases slowed down or completely halted work on specific projects, alarmed the World Bank and the corporations involved. The result was a tripartite meeting of representatives of the World Bank, civil society (NGOs) and business, which led to the organization of the World Commission on Dams.\nIn January 1999, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed a \"global compact\" between the UN, business, and civil society to tackle the crucial and contentious issues of environmental protection and human and workers' rights. The tripartite model-an international organization, civil society (NGOs and labor organizations) and business-was evident in this initiative as well. A year later, again during the meeting of the World Economic Forum, the first modest step to make the global compact a reality was taken, with the official launch of a website, dubbed as the world's most comprehensive resource center on global citizenship. More important than the website was the symbolism of the launching ceremony. At hand were the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the director of the International Labor Organization, the executive director of the UN Environmental Program, the CEO of BP-Amoco, and the General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Big business, big labor organizations, and international organizations: the global compact was an attempt to recreate at the global level the corporatist tripartite arrangements including government, business and labor unions familiar to many European and Latin American countries.\nThe above examples are not isolated ones: similar initiatives are multiplying rapidly. As the international community tries to come to grips with the challenge posed by new issues of regulation and control that can only be tackled at the transnational level and by the militancy of NGO networks seeking to impose their solutions, the tripartite corporatist model of participation is being reinvented. Global corporatism is an idea whose time has come.\nBut global corporatism is also a dangerous idea, to be approached with less enthusiasm and greater caution than prevail now. International organizations, business and civil society networks all have much to contribute to the solution of the growing number of problems that transcend national boundaries, but they contribute in different ways, bringing different assets and relying on different strengths. Trying to tie the three types of organizations into close cooperative relations may weaken the contributions each can make, while at the same time creating new bureaucratic structures. And despite the claims that tripartite agreements will introduce greater democracy in the realm of global governance, it is doubtful that close cooperation between essentially unrepresentative organizations-international organizations, unaccountable NGOs and large transnational corporations-will do much to ensure better protection for, and better representation of, the interests of populations affected by global policies.\nIn the two examples mentioned above and in many similar ones, the word corporatism is not mentioned. The operative word today is \"partnership.\" World Bank President James Wolfensohn has made partnership with NGOs into a hallowed concept. A visit to the World Bank website offers a panoply of links to seminars, special events, partnership opportunities, information kiosks, and discussion groups on NGOs and their role in international governance. Reality inevitably falls short of theory: a study commissioned by the World Bank itself found the organization's commitment to work with NGOs to be \"disjointed, lukewarm and fickle-or altogether non-existent.\" Nevertheless, NGOs now have a recognized place in the activities of the World Bank, with little open opposition. The concept of partnership is also emphasized by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, although in his organization as well rhetoric runs far ahead of real commitment. While not talking of partnership yet, even the most reluctant and opaque international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization are beginning to accept the necessity to establish links to NGOs.\nWhatever the language used, a large number of proposals for including NGOs in the work of international organizations is taking a corporatist form, calling for direct representation by functional interest groups in the process of decisions-making. The most explicitly corporatist proposals call for the formation of tripartite councils that include business representatives alongside those of NGOs and international organizations. \"Partnership\" is hailed by its proponents as a bold innovation introducing an unprecedented element of democracy into the international system. The enthusiasm is unwarranted. While this system of representation for functional groups is indeed new at the international level, corporatism has a long history at the national level, particularly in Europe and Latin America, where governments have often brought labor unions and business organizations into tripartite councils to address economic and social issues. The outcome of such corporatist arrangements has been mixed. Corporatism has broadened representation and helped maintain social peace in some countries on some occasions, but it has become an instrument of repression under different circumstances. Nowhere has it proved to be an unmixed blessing. Nor has it ever drastically altered power relations. And invariably, corporatism has raised serious questions about the representativity of corporatist institutions, and the extent to which they function as instruments of co-optation rather than representation. In general, corporatist arrangements have worked best when they have been temporary responses to a critical period of tensions, for example in maintaining stability in a moment of economic crisis, but they have not proven successful over the long run in providing meaningful representation for all interest groups. Attempting to transfer systems of corporate representations from the national to the international levels, furthermore, is creating a host of new problems and tensions: international organizations do not have the clear jurisdiction and control over transnational problems national governments had over domestic ones; the representativity of civil society organizations is even more questionable when ephemeral transnational networks of NGOs spread around the world take the place of the national labor unions with large and well-defined memberships; and ad hoc assemblages of transnational corporations are not the equivalent of an organized national level business associations.\nRe-examining Corporatism\nAs a political issue, corporatism has fallen into oblivion recently. It is thus worth starting this discussion with a brief examination of what corporatism is, why it arises, and what are its benefits and costs.\nConceptually, corporatism is a system that gives a variety of functional interest groups-most prominently business organizations and labor unions-direct representation in the political system, defusing conflict among them and creating instead broad consensus on policies. Corporatism is thus an answer-not necessarily a good one-to the question of democratic participation. Direct participation by all citizens in decision-making is possible only in very small polities, no matter what marvels the information revolution is producing. Representative democracy is the usual alternative, but it has its own shortcomings, particularly in deeply divided societies. It creates majorities and minorities, and if these are based on interests or identities that are not likely to change, certain groups will be perpetually in the minority, and thus their interests will not be adequately represented. Numerically weaker economic interest groups or ethnic minorities may never gain a meaningful voice. Furthermore, representative democracy is a conflictual model of governance, with competition among parties and candidates, and it produces winners and losers.\nCorporatism provides an alternative model of participation: direct participation not by the far too numerous individual citizens, but by a limited number of corporate groups to which they supposedly belong. In the classic corporatism that developed in the European countries of the early 20th century, corporate groups were defined essentially in terms of social class, with labor organizations and business councils-supplemented by associations of farmers and other occupational groups-as the key components of the system. More recently, similar proposals for direct representations of different population groups in ethnically divided societies have been set forth under the name of \"consociationalism.\" The conceptual similarity between corporatism and consociationalism is often overlooked, however, or it is deliberately ignored by proponents of consociationalism because corporatism is a controversial idea.\nThe corporatist model claimed to do more than ensure the representation of major interest groups. It supposedly also promoted reconciliation among them. The classes that the socialist movements saw as pitted against each other in unavoidable struggle were deemed by the proponents of corporatism as having common, reconcilable interests. They were not inevitably enemies, but parts of an organic body politics that needed all its components to function, its arms and its legs, its heart and its lungs. And above all, in order to function harmoniously, it needed the head to control and coordinate the entire body. In the body politics, this head, and thus the vehicle for coordination and reconciliation, was the state. For the proponents of corporatism, the state represented neither the ruling committee of the bourgeoisie nor the dictatorship of the proletariat, but it was the force that could bring all parts of the society together for the maximum benefit of all.\nIf conceptually corporatism is a system that provides representation for interest groups and reconciliation among them, politically it has often, although not always, been much less benign. In the most extreme forms it assumed in the fascist regimes, it was an attempt to replace representative democracy based on universal participation by individuals in free multi-party elections with so-called participatory democracy based on compulsive membership in corporate groups over which individuals had no say. Essentially, the government picked the corporate groups deserving representation as well as the organizations and individuals speaking for them. Corporatism in its fascist, authoritarian form thus turned from a system of representation to one of control, with the government as the gatekeeper that allowed a few carefully chosen, compliant organizations at the table, excluding and indeed repressing all others.\nIn a more benevolent form, elements of corporatism entered the political systems of many democratic European countries at various times since the end of the World War II. In these democratic versions, corporatism did not replace representative democracy but supplemented it. In countries like Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, and others, tripartite councils including representatives of government, labor unions and business associations existed alongside democratically elected parliaments, ensuring that the voices of the major interest groups would be heard on the decisions that affected them more directly. In this form, corporatism was an attempt to remedy the shortcomings of \"simplistic majoritarianism\" without subverting the basic principle of democracy. Such corporatist arrangements worked best, and had the greatest credibility, in countries where associations existed that included in their membership a very large proportion of people in a specific category: labor unions enrolling 80-90 percent of workers, associations of manufacturers to which most manufacturing enterprises belonged, or farmers' associations with mass membership.\nThis democratic corporatism tended to be most effective as a temporary device to carry the country through a period of social or economic turmoil. In the long run, corporatist systems have trouble ensuring the legitimacy of the organizations speaking for workers and employers, as the organizations included in the councils risk growing closer to the government and to each other than to their members, and working together to keep out new organizations.\nCorporatism was invented in the 1920s as a response to the problem of how to incorporate into the political system new political actors that could not be eliminated or ignored, but that were also threatening to the political status quo. It was a response to the growth of a strong labor movement, which, together with the socialist and communist parties to which it was affiliated, had the potential to subvert the existing economic and political system. Corporatism in its authoritarian version sought to eliminate independent unions and socialist parties altogether. In its liberal version, corporatism sought to promote social peace by giving the labor movement a role in governance, but also by co-opting its leadership and diluting its influence through the formation of tripartite councils.\nGlobal corporatism is being reinvented now for the same reasons: international institutions and transnational corporations are being challenged by NGOs, and particularly by the emergence of transnational NGO networks that have proven quite skillful at pushing new agendas and at stopping or delaying projects of which they disapprove. The NGO movement shares the concern for equity and justice that characterized socialist movements in the past, but adds new concerns, particularly environmental ones. Organizationally, the NGO movement is completely different; it is highly decentralized, based on networks of small organizations with specialized interests, rather than centralized and hierarchical as socialist movements were. But like the socialist movement, NGO networks claim to represent the true voice of the people, \"civil society\" in the current terminology, against those of indifferent or repressive governing institutions and greedy private businesses.\nThe growth of the NGO sector has been spurred by the changes in the international economy usually subsumed under the rubric \"globalization.\" But the new NGOs are challenging the new global trends that allowed them to emerge in the first place, much as the labor movement challenged the socio-economic consequences of the process of industrialization of which it was a product. They accuse international organizations, especially the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO, of encouraging economic globalization with total disregard for its impact on people. NGOs also take on transnational corporations directly, accusing them of following environmentally and socially damaging practices in order to increase their own profits. Global corporatism is an attempt to respond to these challenges. Thus, like the corporatism of old it has both a progressive aspect to it-the attempt to provide innovative solutions for new problems-and a defensive one-the attempt to defuse the criticism of radical opponents by co-opting more moderate groups.\nThe Emergence of Transnational NGO Networks\nNon-governmental organizations with an international agenda are not a new phenomenon, but they have increased in number as well as broadened the focus of their activities and the way in which they operate in the last twenty years, and in particular during the last decade. The ranks of well-established humanitarian and human rights organizations based in the industrialized countries-known as northern NGOs-have increased. New organizations focusing on environmental issues, women's rights, and a broad range of specific causes-from banning anti-personnel mines, to eliminating developing countries debt or protecting animal rights-have been formed. New groups have emerged in developing countries (the southern NGOs); although many owe their existence to the support and funding provided by northern NGOs, southern NGOs are increasingly seeking to carve out a more independent and assertive role for themselves.\nThe exponential growth in the number of NGOs and in the variety of causes they espouse has been accompanied by improved communications among organizations operating in different countries. NGOs are learning to network to an unprecedented extent. The growth of transnational NGO networks can be traced to several factors. One is the growth of environmental NGOs, which deal with problems that cross-political boundaries and thus must be addressed regionally or even globally. Since deforestation in the Amazon basin may impact the global climate and acid rain does not respect political boundaries, it would make little sense for NGOs to restrict their activities to individual countries. But the formation of transnational networks has spread beyond environmental concerns, extending to issues that are transnational only in a moral sense. Women's rights, for example, can enjoy strong protection in the United States while being systematically violated in Afghanistan, yet transnational networks of women's organizations are among the most mobilized and successful, based on moral principles and solidarity rather than on absolute necessity.\nMany other factors have contributed to the growth of transnational NGO networks. Changes in communications technology have made it easier and cheaper to disseminate information and to maintain contacts among groups sprinkled around the world. The renewed interest in democracy that has followed the demise of socialist regimes has prompted donor countries to launch civil society assistance programs, resulting in the formation of tens of thousands of NGO across the world. Such donor-supported NGOs, furthermore, are almost always supplied by their sponsors with computers and whenever possible with internet access. Northern NGOs have supported the formation of southern NGOs in their respective areas of interest, providing them with information and with linkages outside their own countries. The wave of world conferences organized by the UN during the 1990s, in particular the 1992 Rio conference on the environment and the 1995 Beijing conference on women, also helped the process by providing a catalyst for NGOs to organize and network. Growing doubts about the impact of economic globalization in many industrialized and developing countries provided another incentive for NGOs to network. The spectacular success of some NGO networks, above all the International Campaign to Ban Landmines that spearheaded a treaty banning antipersonnel mines, encouraged others to follow suit. Finally, national NGOs too weak to have an impact on the policies of their governments learned the value of being part of a transnational network that could publicize the issue abroad and create international pressure-what Keck and Sikkink have called the \"boomerang pattern.\"\nBy the end of the 1990s, the change in the NGO scene was not only quantitative but qualitative as well. NGOs were not only more numerous, but also more vocal. Organizations that had long been influential at the United Nations because of their technical expertise or their capacity to deliver services were being challenged by upstarts that saw themselves as representatives of civil society, not service organizations. Northern NGOs, operating in physical proximity to the headquarters of international organizations, and with easier access to funding and means of communications, were being challenged by southern NGOs reacting against what they considered to be the paternalistic, condescending attitude of northern organizations. Furthermore, most of the new NGOs were determined to challenge the basic principle on which the work of most international organizations rest, the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign countries.\nThe new NGOs started as outsiders to the world of governments and international organizations, indeed often as opponents to that world and its practices. NGO networks emerged as sharp critics of the industrial countries' neglect of environmental problems, of the economic policies promoted by the World Bank and the IMF, and of economic globalization as represented by the WTO. But in the end only a minority of groups took an adamant position against these organizations, calling, for example, for radical reform of the Bretton Woods institutions or the elimination of the WTO. Most groups recognized both the limits of what they could accomplish as die-hard opponents and the power of the major institutions to bring about change, thus they became lobbyists. They succeeded in convincing or embarrassing democratic governments and international institutions to pay more attention to human rights and environmental issues. They also succeeded in instilling in transnational corporation sufficient fears of bad publicity and possible consumer boycotts to convince them to improve their labor and environmental practices. The success they obtained as outsiders lobbying for change in turn led to rethink their role and tactics.\nAt present, it is possible to identify three patterns of engagement between NGOs and their transnational networks on one side and national governments and international institutions on the other. One is confrontation. The show-down in Seattle between NGO and labor activists and the World Trade Organization in November 1999 was a prime example of what can happen when mobilized networks meet an unyielding international institution: much unpleasantness, bad publicity for all, and no discernible gain for either side. The second pattern is simply the continuation and intensification of the lobbying efforts made by NGOs in the last decade: small associations in developing countries put pressure on local councils; national NGOs seek to influence their governments; and transnational networks lobby international organizations, governments, and, increasingly, multinational corporations. In addition, a third pattern of engagement is emerging: more formal inclusion of NGOs in the decision-making process, not as lobbies working in the corridors of power, but as participants at the table where decisions are made-the reinvention of corporatism. It should be noted that these three patterns are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Individual NGOs may use different tactics on different occasions and networks usually embrace a wide range of groups, some confrontational, some more apt to lobby or even cooperate.\nGlobal Corporatism At Work\nCan global corporatism work? What costs and benefits will it have on the participants and what impact on the problems it purports to ameliorate? The trends are too recent to provide clear answers, and the sanguine claims made by those promoting partnership schemes among international organizations and states, transnational corporations, and business are no indication of what can be expected in practice. But some indications can already be gleaned from ongoing experiments. I will consider three very diverse examples, chosen because they highlight different aspects of the problems involved in bringing together such diverse organizations as bureaucratic international institutions, fluid, somewhat ephemeral NGO networks, and, in one case, business.\nThe first example examined here is the controversy still unfolding at the UN concerning an expanded role for NGOs in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This example shows how a large bureaucracy forces all organizations dealing with it to submit to bureaucratic practices. This raises the question whether corporatist solutions that provide official representation for NGOs will undermine the characteristics that gave them their strength in the first place. Since these efforts to increase NGO participation at the UN have been underway for some time, this case offers some clear, substantive evidence.\nThe second example follows on the first. It looks at the presence of corporatist concepts in some proposals for UN reform. One of the proposals considered here is supported by a network of NGOs, the other from a group close to the leadership of the UN and other international organizations. Both see corporatist inclusion of NGOs as the means to increase the relevance and effectiveness of the UN and other international organizations. One of the proposals calls more directly for the inclusion of business as well in \"trisectoral networks.\" Both cases raise important issues.\nThe third example looks at one full-fledged corporatist body, the World Commission on Dams, which is often touted as a bold, innovative experiment. Closer analysis suggests a strong similarity between the World Commission on Dams and earlier ones, such as the Brandt and Brundtland commissions. In theory, the new organization is structured in a different way, in practice it is not. There is thus little reason to believe that the World Commission on Dams will have a more dramatic impact on policies than its predecessors.\nAll three examples illustrate different facets of the process through which established governments and international organizations are trying to come to grips with the new transnational NGO networks. These experiences show the reemergence of some of the problems typical of corporatist systems as well as some new challenges that emerge as corporatist experiments are replicated at the international level. They highlight the positive impact corporatist solutions can have, but also demonstrate their limits and their problematic aspects.\nNGOs and the United Nations: The Triumph of Bureaucracy\nA mechanism to recognize \"consultative status\" with the Economic and Social Council has existed at the United Nations since the organization was formed. But in the mid-1990s, the system was shaken up by a sharp increase in the number of NGOs seeking consultative status and their increasing diversity. The system devised half a century earlier proved unable to cope with the new challenge, but attempts to reform it have resulted less in a dramatically different role for NGOs than in a bureaucratic nightmare that has done little either to make the UN more democratic or to strengthen NGOs. In this particular instance, the encounter between the bureaucratic behemoth and civil society concluded with the bureaucracy forcing civil society to accept its rules and parameters.\nThe process of revising the rules governing the relationship between NGOs and the UN started in 1993, triggering a controversy that has not subsided yet. The dispute hinges on several issues: whether NGOs are simply lobbies or stakeholders with a right to be consulted; which NGOs have a right to be recognized; and, more fundamentally, how to keep the process open and equitable.\nNGOs were given consultative status with the Economic and Social Council in 1945 in recognition of the role they played in the difficult years after World War II and of the experience they could share with officials of the new organizations. At the time, relatively few organizations had consultative status. They were large organizations based in the West-above all in the United States-and they were engaged primarily in relief and humanitarian work. Today over 1,600 organizations have consultative status at the UN, but the number of those clamoring to gain recognition is much larger. They are a much more diverse group. Many are smaller, many are southern NGOs, and they embrace a much greater variety of causes. At the same time, the UN has turned from a fledgling, pioneering organization in need of help into a fearsome bureaucracy resistant to innovation.\nNGOs were included in the work of ECOSOC because of the expertise they could bring on certain issues, not because they were thought to speak for the world's people and to represent them in front of the governments that controlled the United Nations. The early NGOs with consultative status at ECOSOC were mostly top down organizations, involved in helping people rather than representing them. By the 1990s, however, new organizations had come into existence that saw themselves as representative of \"civil society.\" An obscure concept long relegated to the writings of Marxist scholars, the term \"civil society\" by this time had replaced the term \"the people\" as the choice word in the language of democracy. NGOs portrayed themselves as the embodiment of that civil society. As such, they started pushing for more access to information, more access to those making the decisions, even for the right to be consulted. And demands continued to escalate: by the year 2000, the most ambitious organizations were planning a Millenium Forum that aimed \"to suggest new possibilities for an organizational structure whereby the peoples of the world can participate effectively in global decision-making in the context of the United Nations system.\"\nEven the new organizations' more modest goal of gaining consultative status created conflict, both between the NGOs already enjoying that position and those seeking entry and between NGOs in general and UN officials. The conflict between old and new NGOs was centered on two groups. On the one hand was the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with the UN (CONGO), an organization controlled by the international (but Western-based) NGOs that had a long, strongly established relations with the UN and were fearful of seeing their position undermined and their influence diluted by the influx of new organizations. On the other side were the new organizations clamoring to get in. They were often more radical and critical than better-established ones, and prone to consider the NGOs with consultative status to be an elite trying to protect its position. To complicate matters, the groups well-established at the UN tended to be northern-based NGOs that functioned at the international level, the new comers were southern NGOs that operated mostly in one country. Northern NGOs could not fight to exclude southern NGOs; however, \"international\" NGOs could and did fight for the exclusion or at least a more limited role for \"national\" NGOs.\nThe outcome was essentially a triumph of bureaucracy. After three years of acrimonious debate, rules governing the granting of consultative status to NGOs were amended. They confirmed the privileged position of the international NGOs by giving them \"general\" consultative status-they had the right to put items on the agenda of ECOSOC, present to it lengthy written submissions, and address the meetings. Well established national NGOs won the right to \"special\" consultative status, with more limited rights. A third category of NGOs was put on the \"roster\" of groups that might occasionally make useful contributions, but had limited access to the work of the Economic and Social Council. The 1996 rules did not amount to the revolution in the NGO role some of them demanded. In many ways, the new rules were the antithesis of what was giving NGOs their growing strength: the networking among far-flung organizations, large and small, national and international. Instead, the new system divided and classified organizations into carefully defined compartments. Nevertheless, many NGOs involved in the controversy saw the new rules as a positive beginning, particularly since it was accompanied by a commitment on the part of some UN officials to explore the possibility of NGO representation at the General Assembly.\nBut the battle to enlarge representation also created a backlash and new tensions between the UN and the NGOs. NGOs, officials complained, were invading physical space, slowing down proceedings through their endless interventions, flooding committees with their written submissions, and above all making demands many member governments-not only those of authoritarian countries-deemed unacceptable. The resentment was also fed by the egregious abuses of some NGOs that gave partisan political figures access to the UN under the guise of NGO representatives-anti-Castro Cuban activists on one occasion, the leader of the Sudanese armed opposition John Garang on another, for example. This led to attempts, so far unsuccessful, to limit the number of representatives NGOs could send to meetings, to increased security checks, and in general to the imposition of more restrictions on their access to delegates.\nAfter 1996, the process stalled altogether. The pro-NGO rhetoric of the Secretary-General and his frequent call for \"partnership\" did not translate into action. Delegations that had appeared to be strong NGO supporters became more guarded. The UN's financial problems and the push by the United States to control expenditure and reform the system became further obstacles: the UN started imposing substantial fees for access to its electronic information system, while at the same time reducing the printing of documents, and even threatened at one point to charge NGOs for all the costs their presence entailed. Furthermore, under pressure from the United States, the Secretary-General announced in 1997 that the UN would not hold any more global conferences-the US Congress considered them to be a waste of resources. This was a blow to NGOs that had relied on such conferences to gain visibility and influence.\nIn the end, the attempt to enhance NGO presence at the UN achieved little. It increased the number of NGOs with consultative status, but did not produce a dramatic change in their role and influence. It divided them into separate categories, carefully regulating the number of words they could write and the number of minutes they could speak. The cost of inclusion was not more democracy, but more bureaucracy.\nThe outcome of the NGOs' battle to gain enlarged \"consultative status\" at ECOSOC should not be dismissed as of little importance. To be sure, the Council is not the most influential part of the UN, and the organization as a whole has lost influence, with the World Bank, the IMF and most recently the WTO gaining a dominant role. But as the idea that NGOs and business should be included intimately in the work of international organizations continues to gain support, the unhappy outcome of this experiment provides a reminder of the difficulty of making global corporatism work in a meaningful way. NGOs have not gained influence at the UN, but they have been forced to conform to the rules and style of its bureaucracy. The infighting among NGOs and the triumph of bureaucracy do not result from the peculiarities of the UN, but from the logic of partnership between large bureaucracies and decentralized NGOs. Since no international organization can recognize an official role for an unlimited number of NGOs, any partnership agreement inevitably entails a selection process among NGOs, thus classifications, criteria, and inevitably infighting. As in most corporatist experiments, in the end it is the governing institutions, the \"head\" in the image of the theoreticians of corporatism, that dominates the arrangement.\nProposals for UN Reform: Revolution from Below and Control from Above\nAs the process for enlarging NGO participation fizzled, the corporatist concept paradoxically continued to gain support. The rhetoric of partnership became pervasive; Secretary General Kofi Annan launched the Global Compact, declaring: \"The United Nations once dealt with governments. By now we know that peace and prosperity cannot be achieved without partnerships involving governments, international organizations, the business community, and civil society.\" At the same time, a new NGO network launched the Millenium Forum, a very ambitious project to include NGOs ever more deeply in the functioning of the UN. Finally, the UN Vision Project on Global Public Policy Networks proposed corporatism as the system that would close the UN \"governance gaps.\"\nThe goal of the Millenium Forum is clear: the democratization of the United Nations through the inclusion of NGOs in all parts of the organization and in a more influential role. The organizing process is somewhat elusive. The Millenium Forum and its project of UN reform are a typical product of NGO networking and as such extremely difficult to pin down with any precision. The networks' lack of boundaries and hierarchical structures, as well as their inherent fluidity make it difficult to judge how many organizations are involved, how many networks are focusing on this issue, to what extent they overlap, and ultimately, how much support the idea has. Nonetheless, it is clear that the project has generated many international meetings in various countries.\nThe Millenium Forum is represented by its sponsors as a means \"to suggest new possibilities for an organizational structure whereby the peoples of the world can participate effectively in global decision-making in the context of the United Nations system.\" The Forum has organized a series of regional meetings, leading to the projected gathering of thousands of NGO representatives in New York at the end of the year 2000. The language of entitlement is strong in the Forum's documents. NGOs have a right to be included because they are the embodiment of civil society, and including civil society means giving real meaning to the UN charter, which starts, as the NGOs like to point out, with \"We, the peoples,\" not \"We, the states.\"\nThe concept of representation that underlines the Millenium Forum is essentially corporatist in that it calls for direct participation by organizations selected to speak for civil society, but without giving individuals a voice concerning who will represent them. Like all corporatist systems, representation is based instead on the inclusion of organizations deemed to represent groups. The list of the types of organizations to be included, however, is more bureaucratic then functional. The list tries to include a broad spectrum of organizations, rather than a broad spectrum of people to be represented. It mentions \"NGOs with consultative status, DPI (UN Department of Public Information) NGOs, local and national NGOs, thematic networks, coalitions and other organizations of civil society.\" It is not obvious how this list translates into representation for \"We, the peoples\" rather than \"We, the organizations.\" Since representation is based on types of organizations, rather than functional social groups, business is not mentioned by the Millenium Forum as a possible participant.\nThe Millenium Forum is an NGO project and it is not surprising that it should seek to maximize the role of those organizations, to the exclusion of others. Less visionary proposals coming from groups closer to the United Nations, other international organizations, or even reformers within the UN propose a more classical corporatist approach. An example is provided by the \"UN Vision Project on Global Public Policy Networks,\" which was launched in July 1999 with the backing of UNDP, the World Bank, major foundations, and the support of a high-powered advisory board of officials of other international organizations, governments around the world, and major international NGOs. The project, which issued its report in May 2000 under the ambitious title Critical Choices: The United Nations, Networks, And The Future Of Global Governance proposed corporatism as the solution to the problem of global governance: the creation of \"trisectoral\" structures \"including the public sector (states and international organizations), civil society (NGOs and the like), and the for-profit private sector (corporations, other businesses, and their associations).\" Trisectoral global public policy networks, the report concludes, would help close two gaps that exist, and are growing, in global governance. These are a knowledge gap, which emerges when international institutions are faced with new and rapidly changing issues, and a participatory gap, which leaves important stake-holders isolated from the discussion of issues that affect them.\nThe corporatist elements are quite clear: the trinity of state (enlarged to include the international organizations), business, and civil society (which includes labor); the assumption that the three sectors can, indeed must, work together in an organic, harmonious fashion; and finally the idea that global public policy networks require \"care and tending\" by a head, with the UN, \"the only truly universal world organization,\" best qualified to do the job. While acknowledging that public policy networks have arisen spontaneously in the past, and have been strong because they have been fluid, the report concludes that networks requires a head, a manager, and proposes the UN bureaucracy as manager. The UN should \"act as facilitator of and platform for public policy networks,\" and \"play an intermediary role between states, whose rationale and legitimacy for the foreseeable future will remain constrained by territorial sovereignty, and business and civil society, which, taking advantage of open markets and the technological revolution, have long escaped those constraints.\" This is the future of the UN and also the future of the global policy networks.\nI have contrasted so far the full corporatism proposed by the UN Vision Project and the imperfect corporatism that transpires from the demands of the Millenium Forum. The difference, however, is much more fundamental. The Millenium Forum is a project to change drastically the way in which power is exercised in the United Nations. It is visionary and radical in scope, but it has no chance of achieving what it wants, because the organizations involved lack the clout and the support to bring about such a dramatic change in the nature of the United Nations and the way in which it is governed. The Vision project, despite its name, is not visionary, nor does it propose radical change. Rather it suggests bringing public policy networks, which have shown they can become influential and obtain results, firmly under the aegis of existing international institutions, where they can have some impact on policy, but also strengthen and preserve the institutions. And this is what corporatism has always done: it absorbs groups that challenge the status quo in the political system, where they can have some impact on policy reform, but are neutralized as vehicles for radical change. The Millenium Forum, were it to succeed, would lead to a revolution. The Vision Project, like the Global Compact launched at Davos, aims at bringing all groups together, hopefully improving global governance but also avoiding the challenge to existing institutions.\nThe World Commission on Dams: A New Model or D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu?\nThe World Commission on Dams represents an example of the reinvented international corporatism at work. It provides a glimpse of both its strengths and its flaws, raising a number of important questions about what can be expected from the likely increase in trisectoral cooperation. The World Commission on Dams is not a representative body in the sense of speaking for a clearly definable constituency or set of constituencies; it has neither a popular nor an institutional mandate to make recommendations. Nevertheless, it sees it as its jobs to establish standards that governments, international organizations and construction companies must respect in the construction of large dams.\nThe Commission, formed in 1998, owes its existence to the escalating controversy surrounding the building of large dams. Hailed by many as a major contribution to agricultural development through irrigation and to industrialization through the production of hydroelectric energy, by the 1980s large dams were facing a frontal attack by some environmentalists, who considered them to be damaging to ecosystems, threatening to endangered species, disruptive to the lives of people displaced by flooding, and even contributing to global warming through the emission of greenhouse gases by the biomass decaying in the water.\nDam opponents organized into a network capable of halting, or at least slowing down, construction on many projects. They were pitted against governments, banks, electricity companies, and large, often international construction companies. Both sides claimed to speak not just for themselves but for the affected and largely silent populations affected by dam construction-anti-dam activists for communities whose land would be flooded, and pro-dam spokespersons for those who would gain access to irrigated land, electricity and the benefits of modernity.\nActivist NGOs did their best to portray the complex issues surrounding the pros and cons of large dams as a struggle between big greedy corporations and downtrodden peoples. The controversy thus took on the undertone of a classical confrontation between the haves and have-nots. Projects were delayed and costs mounted as a result. Banks, governments and construction companies were anxious to find an accommodation.\nThe solution was provided by the World Bank, which emerged as the mediator between the opposing groups, turning the confrontation into a process for negotiating a mutually acceptable compromise. The World Bank was not a major player in the construction of large dams. It had provided some financing for 50 large dam projects over the years, but its contribution only amounted to 3-4 percent of the capital expended on such projects around the world. But the Bank was an easy target for protesters, being visible, rich, powerful and committed to market economics, thus to capitalism. Even better, it was also an essentially liberal organization, with a long history of responding to critics by incorporating some of their recommendations in its own policies. Furthermore, the Bank was deliberately trying to shed the image of the juggernaut destroying people by imposing market reforms that it had acquired since the 1980s, and as a result it sought partnership with NGOs, not confrontation. Typically, the Bank's reaction to the mounting controversy over dams was to carry out a study assessing the impact of the dam projects it financed over the years.\nThe elements for a corporatist experiment were thus present: civil society, in the guise of a transnational network of activists; business, in the guise of the construction companies involved in the building of large dams, and finally a government-like organization, the World Bank, seeking harmony and compromise. The fact that the Bank could provide the initial financing for the World Commission on Dams also helped the process.\nIn April 1997 the World Bank and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the largest international network of environmental groups, called a small meeting in Gland, Switzerland, to discuss the results of the Bank's study of large dams. The thirty-nine representatives of environmental groups, populations affected by the construction of dams, international agencies and private corporations could not agree on the Bank's conclusion that the benefits of dams outweighed their costs. Instead, they decided the issues required further study and discussion. The outcome was the World Commission on Dams, launched in February 1998. Its \"mandate,\" the documents it issued asserted, was to produce a report to be submitted to the World Bank, the IUCN, the \"reference group\" established at Gland, and the \"international community\" by June 2000. The Commission would then disband, although it was assumed by all concerned that one report was unlikely to solve all outstanding issues and that other initiatives would follow.\nThe Commission had a \"mandate,\" but there was no \"mandating\" authority. Its recommendations could not be binding on any party. It was a group of individuals backed by a network, and took upon itself the task of making recommendations on the issue, with no power to enforce them. There are precedents for such commissions. For example, there is the Independent Commission on International Development Issues, better known as the Brandt Commission by the name of the former German Chancellor Willi Brandt who spearheaded the initiative. The Brandt Commission was launched in September 1977, at the suggestion of then World Bank President Robert McNamara and with the moral support of the United Nations, and it was charged with issuing recommendations on how to improve North-South relations. The Brandt Commission did not pretend to be a representative body giving a voice to all stakeholders, although there was an understanding that persons coming from the \"South\" should constitute a majority of members. Much more honestly, the commission saw itself as an eminent persons' group, a sort of international Council of Elders lending their experience and vision, and the authority they had gained in their official capacity elsewhere, to the project. Sadly, the commission had no impact on the policies of industrial countries, developing ones, or international organizations. Formed at the height of the debate on a \"New International Economic Order\" in the mid-1970s, the commission was slow to organize and issue its report. By the time \"North-South: A Programme for Survival\" was published in 1980, the debate on development had changed drastically, the World Bank had switched from poverty alleviation to market-oriented economic reform, and the commission's recommendations were promptly forgotten amidst mounting concern about the international debt crisis.\nA few years later, the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) was only slightly more influential. It, too, was dubbed an independent commission, although the initiative originally came from the UN Secretary-General and the General Assembly adopted a resolution in 1983 establishing the Commission. \"Our Common Future,\" the report issued in 1987, helped place environmental issues on the agenda of the UN and other international organizations. It is difficult, however, to separate the impact of the commission from that of the pressure brought to bear by environmental organizations.\nCurrently, a Commission on Global Governance, many of whose members were also part of the Brandt or the Brundtland commissions, is in existence now. After issuing its report \"Our Global Neighborhood\" in 1995, the commission focused its attention more closely on the issue of UN reform. This endeavor, too, is unlikely to result in more than a set of recommendations.\nI have stressed the modest impact of the Brandt and Brundtland commissions as an antidote to the exaggerated claims that have been made about the World Commission on Dams. This is not an unprecedented initiative, but the continuation of a well-established trend. The Brandt and the Brundtland commissions had greater official standing-the Brundtland Commission had a real mandate from an international organization. In theory, the World Commission on Dams is different from the preceding ones because it is not an eminent persons' group, but it represents the stakeholders through its corporatist structure. In reality, it, too, is only a group of people with expertise in the area. And since it has no authority, it can only issue recommendations, as it predecessors have done. Its influence, in the end, will depend on the willingness of the groups directly involved to accept the recommendations. Judging from the preceding examples, it will also depend on whether other organizations continue their protest.\nThe World Commission on Dams thus calls attention to a problem, which appears to be peculiar to global, as opposed to national corporatism. National corporatist bodies were authoritative-the problem was that they were often authoritarian as well. Backed by the power of the governments that set them up, they could make implementable decisions, not just issue recommendations. The global corporatism of transnational NGO networks loosely associated with international organizations and concerned businesses is a far cry from the official, authoritative corporatism centered on the sovereign government of a nation state. In the form represented by the World Commission on Dams, global corporatism appears less at risk of turning authoritarian than of remaining ineffectual.\nCorporatism is being revived as a solution to new problems of global governance, and also as a response to the growth in the number and militancy of transnational NGO networks. The trend is accelerating. New initiatives that seek to involve NGOs, business and national governments or international institutions are appearing with increasing frequency. But the cases examined here suggest that, despite the claims made about the benefits of \"partnership,\" the costs of global corporatism are likely to exceed its benefits.\nConsider, first, the benefits. Corporatist arrangements can add an element of pluralism to the work of international organizations and to the discussions of issues that do not fall clearly under the jurisdiction of existing international organizations or national governments. They can ensure that more information will be brought to bear on the issues and more groups will be heard in the debate. The World Commission on Dams is neither representative nor democratic, and relations among the groups backing it are unbalanced. But when finally completed, its report will reflect a greater variety of issues and points of views than the report prepared earlier by the World Bank alone. When tripartite councils can avoid sterile confrontations and work out compromise solutions for a variety of problems, their creation should be welcomed. Corporatism has the potential for delivering positive results in defusing tensions, broadening discussion of difficult issues, and finding compromises at the international level as it did in some individual countries. To be sure, this pluralism falls far short of making international organizations democratic, or bringing about radical changes in global governance. Global corporatism does not represent \"We the Peoples.\" NGOs are not representative organizations in any meaningful sense of the world; furthermore, they are highly selective in terms of whose interests they represent. In the debate on dams, there are NGOs speaking in the name of indigenous people who would be displaced, but not NGOs speaking in the name of farmers whose crops would increase because of irrigation, who presumably are also stakeholders. Nevertheless, some pluralism is better than none.\nThe old threat associated with corporatism at the national level, authoritarianism, fortunately does not appear to be a serious danger at the global level, at least not in the foreseeable future. As noted earlier, international organizations wield limited power, they are divided, and they still play a narrower role than national governments. To be sure, some corporatist proposals are authoritarian in conception; the Vision Project, for example, advocates placing the United Nations in a controlling position over NGOs and business through its network management role. In reality, the chances that the United Nations, or any other international organization for that matter, might be able to manage transnational networks of NGOs and businesses, let alone control them in an authoritarian fashion, are not high enough to be a matter for concern. Global corporatism is bound to remain more fluid than national corporatism ever was.\nBut global corporatism has other costs, likely to become much more evident if tripartite arrangements become formalized. First, the increased pluralism resulting from the formation of tripartite councils is limited. Relations in tripartite councils are far from balanced-the World Bank and a network of NGOs are not equal partners, and throwing large corporations into the mix makes the disparities even more obvious.\nFurthermore, tripartite councils dealing with global issues are not representative in any meaningful sense of the term. Participants in such groups are selected, or select themselves, on the basis of their capacity to mobilize and be vocal, of their willingness to participate in such cooperative undertakings, and of the opinion of international organizations' officials about who should be included. This is not a major problem in the case of ad hoc, voluntary tripartite organizations, which can express opinions and issue reports, but not make binding decisions. It becomes a problem if the councils have real power. The World Commission on Dams is not a representative body, but at present it can at best identify \"best practices\" and make recommendations. But if the same commission had the power to impose and enforce standards, its composition would be unacceptable. Who or what gave the self-selected group of thirty-nine participants at the Gland meeting the right to set up an international commission, let alone to give it a mandate? The Commission would have to be made representative-but how, and by whom? In the world of international organizations where what passes for representativity is ensured not by elections but by negotiations among governments, the specter of bureaucracy looms large in any attempt to create authoritative tripartite councils.\nThe price of bureaucratization, furthermore, could be higher for NGOs than for other organizations. The growth in the influence of NGOs in recent years has come from their flexibility and their capacity to mobilize without resorting to formal organization, lengthy processes of incorporation and registration, and other bureaucratic hassles. Networks have been effective because they could concentrate on the task at hand, rather than on the running of an organization. The classical example is the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which achieved remarkable success without the benefit of a formal organization but as the name says, through a campaign. In fact, when the Campaign was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, it had to go through a lengthy, conflictual process of formal incorporation before it could receive the prize money, because a check cannot be written out to a campaign. The cost of closer, more formal inclusion in the work of international organizations and tripartite council is the necessity to become more formal, more bureaucratic. The struggle for \"consultative status\" at the UN is a cautionary tale that needs to be taken seriously.\nBut tripartite agreements can also have the opposite effect, namely to give disproportionate influence to well-organized, tactically astute NGOs freely interpreting where the interests of silent populations lie. Well-organized, non-representative NGOs can intimidate both international organizations and major corporations into policies that may serve the goals of the NGOs better than those of the populations affected by the decisions. One example is an agreement reached in June 2000 between the World Bank, Exxon-Mobil and a number of environmental NGOs, with the support of the US government. The agreement opened the way for the World Bank's financing of a pipeline from Chad to the coast of Cameroon, which had incurred the opposition of environmental and anti-poverty NGOs. Because of the protest and inherent instability of the two countries, Exxon-Mobil had insisted on World Bank participation in the project. According to the agreement worked out among these groups, the revenue from oil sales will not be paid directly to the two countries, but put in an escrow account, to be spent on health, education, development and the creation of national parks-it is not evident that the population of the two countries would have given priority to the latter goal. Such an agreement pushes the concept of corporate representation to a new extreme, giving foreign NGOs the right to speak for a population that has not been consulted in any meaningful sense of the word.\nFormal tripartite councils are also likely to create the same distortions of power and the same rigidities at the global level as they did nationally. Groups are included in corporatist arrangements on the basis of their influence at the time. But in any system that provides a formal role for some organizations, those already included have a vested interest in perpetuating their position and in keeping possible new entrants out. Again, the battle at ECOSOC provides an example. The more official tripartite arrangements become, the more serious the distortion risk becoming. This is why corporatism always worked better as a short-term solution to a crisis than as a lasting system.\nBut if global corporatism, with the emphasis on partnership and global compacts, is not a good idea, what is the alternative? The institutions of international governance are not democratic at present, and this is becoming even more glaring as they preach the virtues of democracy and good governance to others. The idea of turning international institutions into democracies governed by elected bodies, as some organizations advocate, is not a vision likely to become reality anytime soon. Yet, there has already been an increase in the functioning of many international organizations because of the growth of the NGO sector and of the pressure it has put on them and on international business. But we should not forget that this change is emerging not as the result of new cooperative relations among international relations, NGOs and business, but because of the adversarial, conflictual relations among them that is forcing international organizations, transnational business, and even NGOs to modify their behavior and redefine their expectations. The prevailing model is essentially one in which non-governmental interest groups, including NGOs but of course business as well, seek to influence the policies of international organizations and national government.\nLobbying is a democratic, open process, in which there is room for any organization able to mobilize support and thus assets. There is no limit to the number of organizations that can seek to halt the building of a dam or lobby for the cancellation of developing country's debt. New organizations cannot be excluded, if they can get support. Furthermore, the system remains open because lobbies never gain influence once and for all, in the way in which an organization can get included permanently in a tripartite council. Lobbies function in a competitive environment and need to constantly renew their support and acceptance. If they lose support, they lose their influence as well. This is not formal democracy, but it is closer to it than corporatist solutions. And lobbying is a game that allows each type of organization to rely on its own type of assets. Corporations have greater financial power, but NGO networks can mobilize powerful constituencies-if they indeed speak for more than themselves.\nNGO networks have been quite successful as lobbies in recent years, too successful some would argue, mobilizing their knowledge and their supporters to put pressure on international organizations to address neglected issues and modify policies on other. As lobbies, they have been able to play to their strength, that is their flexibility and their capacity to include in their ranks of all sorts of groups, big and small, well established or just being formed, from the north and the south. They have been able to put pressure not only on international organizations but also on corporations, denouncing their labor practices and the environmental degradation they cause, boycotting their product, embarrassing them into taking corrective action. Indeed, it is because of the pressure and bad publicity from NGOs that corporations are willing to at least discuss partnership with international organizations or participation in corporatist councils.\nThere has been no revolution, but international organizations are changing. It is doubt that they will change faster, or more deeply and democratically, if global corporatism takes hold.\nFrom Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, Volume 7, No. 3. Copyright c 2001 by Lynne Rienner Publishers. Used with permission of the publisher. To order a copy of this journal, or to subscribe, visit www.rienner.com\/gg.htm.\nDemocracy, Conflict, and Governance Program\nNew Year, Same Problems: Biden's Foreign Policy 2022\nWill Ukraine Get A Say In Its War With Russia?\nDrugs, Guns, and Democracy in Mexico\nThe World Unpacked is a biweekly foreign policy podcast that breaks down the hottest global issues of today with experts, journalists, and policymakers who can explain what is happening, why it matters, and where we go from here.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"COVID-19 Homepage\nNGA Leadership\nGovernors' Spouses\nGovernors' Office Functions\nGovernors' Powers & Authority\nNGA Center\nNGA Center for Best Practices\nChairman's Initiative\nGovernment Relations Homepage\nAdvocacy Communications\nNGA Committees & Task Forces\nNGA Issue Library\nNGA Meetings\nNGA Partners\nCareers at NGA\nState Government Careers\nArizona \u2013 Coronavirus State Actions\nMar. 9, 2020 |\nCoronavirus State Actions\nGovernors are working closely with federal and local officials as well as private sector partners to address the threat of the novel coronavirus. This page lists select actions through 31 July 2020. It is not intended to be exhaustive but is meant to highlight key actions and resources that may inform other states and territories as they prepare for and respond to the novel coronavirus. All state actions can be viewed here, or visit Coronavirus: What You Need To Know for additional information and resources.\nArizona Department of Health Services coronavirus resource page.\nJanuary 26, 2020\u2014Arizona's Health Emergency Operations Center activated to provide support to public health partners and infrastructure to respond to the outbreak.\nGiven similarities between coronavirus and influenza, Arizona's coronavirus response is guided by the state's existing influenza pandemic response plan, which was recently updated in May 2019.\nThe Arizona Department of Health Services is hosting a series of COVID-19 public health webinars tailored to different partners and stakeholders, including law enforcement, health plans, Schools (K-12)\/Childcare, EMS\/911, businesses, long-term care facilities, and health care providers.\nMarch 11, 2020\u2014Governor Ducey issued a Declaration of Emergency and an Executive Order to provide health officials and administrators with tools and guidance necessary to combat the continued spread of COVID-19 and to reduce financial burdens on Arizonans by lowering healthcare costs associated with the virus.\nMarch 12, 2020 \u2013 Arizona signed S.B. 1051, legislation introduced by Senator Kate Brophy McGee to appropriate $55 million to the Public Health Emergency Fund to support Arizona's efforts to combat the continued spread of COVID-19.\nMarch 15, 2020 \u2013 The Governor and Boys & Girls Clubs Arizona Alliance announced emergency operational funding to support youth impacted by COVID-19 school closures. The partnership will enable state funding to compensate Boys & Girls Clubs to provide expanded services to Arizona families, while encouraging and leveraging private donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.\nThe Governor also announced the closure of all schools from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020.\nMarch 15, 2020 \u2013 The Governor ordered a statewide closure of schools through at least March 27.\nMarch 16, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the cancellation of large events and mass gatherings such as conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings and other types of assemblies.\nMarch 16, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced large events and mass gatherings such as conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings and other types of assemblies should be cancelled.\nMarch 19, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the following executive actions:\nActivation of the National Guard to assist grocery stores and food banks with re-stocking shelves in the face of heightened demand.\nSigning of an executive order that halts all elective surgeries to free up medical resources and maintain the capacity for hospitals and providers to continue offering vital services.\nSigning of an executive order that requires restaurants in counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases to provide dine-out options only, as well as the closure of all bars in those counties. The order allows restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with the purchase of food.\nSigning of an executive order to delay expiration dates on driver licenses ensuring residents over the age of 65 do not need to visit Motor Vehicle Division offices to renew their driver licenses during the public health emergency.\nMarch 19, 2020 \u2013 The Governour announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration for Arizona that will help small businesses.\nMarch 20, 2020 \u2013The Governor announced a two-week extension of school closures through April 10, 2020.\nMarch 20, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order aimed at providing certainty and economic relief to taxpayers. The order includes the following provisions:\nWaives the one-week waiting period after an employee loses a job before they apply for unemployment benefits;\nWaives work search requirements for those receiving unemployment benefits;\nAdds people who work at a business that has been temporarily closed or has reduced hours because of COVID-19, who have to quarantine because of COVID-19, or who have to care for a family member with COVID-19 to the list of people eligible for unemployment insurance; and\nWaives any increase in employer payments to the unemployment insurance fund for businesses whose employees receive benefits under this provision.\nMarch 20, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an administrative action extending the deadline for filing and paying state income taxes from April 15 to July 15, 2020.\nMarch 23, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order implementing an Enhanced Surveillance Advisory that will accelerate tracking of COVID-19 cases and strengthen the ability of the Arizona Department of Health Services to respond to the outbreak.\nMarch 23, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order clarifying businesses and operations deemed \"essential\" by the state and providing certainty to business owners, employees, families and allowing child care to remain open.\nMarch 23, 2020- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Arizona's request for a Section 1135 Medicaid waiver. The approved waiver enables Arizona to provide flexibilities in Medicaid provider screening and enrollment, forgo certain pre-admission screening and annual resident review assessments, lift prior authorization requirements and extend current prior authorization approvals.\nMarch 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of eviction action orders for renters remaining in effect for 120 days.\nMarch 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a partnership to launch Arizona Enrichment Centers to offer childcare for the children of first responders, critical healthcare workers, and essential public sector workers, including child safety workers.\nMarch 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor notified the Center For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of his decision to exempt the State of Arizona from a federal regulation requiring Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to be supervised by a physician. The reform will expand access to care, especially in rural areas, and free up physicians for other needed medical services.\nMarch 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a new partnership between the state of Arizona, the BSTRONG Initiative partnering with the Global Empowerment Mission, and the Verstandig Foundation to secure up to 1 million N-95 masks and other equipment for Arizona health care professionals.\nMarch 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor launched the Arizona Together initiative to connect individuals and businesses to resources, raising money for community organizations and providing information on volunteer opportunities.\nMarch 25, 2020 \u2013 The Governor signed H.B. 2668 to bring more resources into Arizona's health care system by increasing Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) provider rates for hospitals, doctors and more.\nMarch 25, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order requiring health care insurance companies to expand telemedicine coverage for all services that would normally be covered for an in-person visit.\nMarch 25, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced Arizona has received more than $5.3 million in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help communities provide meals for older adults.\nMarch 26, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will waive emissions testing for vehicle owners 65 and older for up to one year to allow them to renew their vehicle registrations.\nMarch 26, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order with the following provisions:\nState agencies and boards will defer requirements to renew licenses that have an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 by six months from the expiration date;\nState agencies and boards will suspend any rules that prevent or limit the amount of online or alternative learning hours permitted to issue or renew a license; and\nState agencies and boards will issue provisional licenses to applicants who have met all other requirements of Arizona statute and administrative code but cannot take the exam remotely.\nRequires hospitals to increase the amount of hospital bed capacity in the state, take steps to optimize staffing levels and maximize critical resources; and\nRequires hospitals to activate their facility emergency plans.\nMarch 26, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a cooperative agreement with the state's largest electric utilities to continue to provide reliable electricity to homes, hospitals, and businesses.\nMarch 27, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $5 million in new funding to help Arizonans struggling to make rent as part of a Rental Eviction Prevention Assistance Program being launched by the Arizona Department of Housing.\nMarch 27, 2020 \u2013 The Governor signed H.B. 2910, legislation to support schools during closures, provide clarity and flexibility on statewide testing requirements and school letter grades, give direction on make-up days and require learning opportunities for students to continue.\nMarch 27, 2020 \u2013 The Governor signed S.B. 1694, legislation to expand access to unemployment benefits and waiving certain Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) eligibility requirements.\nMarch 28, 2020 \u2013 The Governor signed a bipartisan state budget agreement that adds $50 million for Arizona's COVID-19 response \u2014 dollars to assist Arizonans needing eviction assistance, struggling small businesses, food banks and homeless population.\nMarch 30, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order, \"Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected,\" to promote increased physical distancing, while encouraging social connectedness among citizens.\nMarch 30, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced an initial $6.7 million in funding to support Arizona food banks, nutrition programs and programs that serve the homeless.\nMarch 30, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a cooperative agreement with the state's banks to protect small businesses and families from eviction and foreclosure.\nMarch 30, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the extension of Arizona school closures through the end of the school year.\nMarch 31, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control will defer the payment of all liquor licensing fees by 90 days.\nApril 1, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the contribution of $250,000 by Arizona Public Service (APS) to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund.\nApril 1, 2020 \u2013 The Governor made a request to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist Arizona's dairy farmers by finding solutions to restart the international export of Arizona dairy products to Mexico.\nApril 1, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive ordered allowing for pets and animals to be examined by their veterinarians through telemedicine.\nApril 1, 2020 \u2013 The Governor requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government \u2013 a procedural step to pull down necessary federal assets and resources to assist in the state's response efforts.\nApril 2, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the extension of the deadline for filing and paying State and Federal income tax has been extended from April 15th, 2020 until July 15th, 2020.\nApril 2, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order allowing pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of maintenance medications for a 90-day supply and an additional 90-day supply if needed.\nApril 3, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the launch of Arizona Enrichment Centers starting Monday, April 6 to offer childcare for the children of first responders, critical healthcare workers, and essential public sector workers, including child safety workers.\nApril 3, 2020 \u2013 The Governor released additional guidance on essential services and recreational activities including the suspension of operations of barbers, tanning salons, spas, as well as the operation of communal pools at hotels, condominiums, apartment complexes and parks.\nApril 4, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced that President Trump in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Arizona's request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the state.\nApril 4, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced that the state has secured a new agreement with Honeywell to produce over 6 million N95 masks for the state of Arizona over the next 12 months.\nApril 6, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order halting evictions in the state for small businesses and nonprofits that are unable to pay rent due to financial hardship.\nApril 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order allowing restaurants to repackage and sell grocery items they have on hand, including items not normally packaged and labeled for resale.\nApril 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order expanding healthcare reporting requirements on hospitals and health care providers to better track data.\nApril 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order enhancing and reinforcing health protection in Arizona residential care institutions, nursing care institutions and related health care facilities.\nApril 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order to increase quarantine guidelines for out-of-state travelers from an area with substantial community spread through any airport in the state must isolate or quarantine themselves upon arrival for 14 days.\nApril 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $2 million in funding to put 400 Arizona Goodwill employees back to work and expand support and services to Arizonans in need as a part of the state COVID-19 relief package.\nApril 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor took action to help ensure critical supplies and goods Arizonans rely on can be transported more easily by temporarily waiving certain commercial vehicles regulations.\nApril 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a Mobile Hotspot Donation Drive to help K-12 students without home internet access online curriculum.\nApril 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced that the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) will work with its provider partners to make available more than $50 million in accelerated hospital payments and advances and extend an additional $5 million in new COVID-19 related funding to Critical Access Hospitals throughout the state. A Critical Access Hospital is a rural acute care hospital located more than a 35-mile drive from any other hospital.\nApril 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order allowing Arizonans to get documents notarized remotely, while ensuring secure and effective verification processes.\nApril 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) was awarded $9.8M in funding from the federal government for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).\nApril 9, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced that residents currently receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be able to use benefits for online food purchases with currently-authorized SNAP online retailers, Walmart and Amazon.\nApril 9, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order providing \"Good Samaritan\" protections to help boost medical staffing levels and provide certainty and liability protections to health care professionals serving on the front lines.\nApril 14, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order to help meet the critical demand for nursing home and long-term care facility staff.\nApril 14, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order to further expand telemedicine options for state worker's compensation plan.\nApril 14, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order to continue to increase the data received by health care providers and share limited data with law enforcement personnel and first responders.\nApril 15, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order allowing food trucks to operate at eight Arizona Department of Transportation rest areas.\nApril 21, 2020 \u2013 The Governor and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) announced the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) authorized DES to provide Arizona P-EBT Pandemic School Meal Replacement Benefits to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.\nApril 22, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order removing restrictions on conducting elective surgeries for hospitals, health care facilities and providers that meet certain preparedness criteria.\nApril 29, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order extending physical distancing measures while laying out a step-by-step approach to continue reenergizing Arizona's economy, allowing businesses to begin partial operations next week.\nMay 1, 2020 \u2013 The Governor released additional guidelines as retail businesses resume partial operations that permit the selling of goods through delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, drive-up service, curbside delivery or appointment provided they establish and implement sanitation and physical distancing measures.\nMay 4, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order allowing cosmetologists and barber shops to resume appointment-based services this Friday, May 8 and restaurants and coffee shops to resume dine-in services with physical distancing measures on Monday, May 11.\nMay 4, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order requiring expanded reporting of COVID-19 related information to residents of long-term care facilities, as well as their next of kin and guardians and prospective residents\nMay 7, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced retail businesses, cosmetologists and barbers that take necessary precautions to keep customers and employees safe and healthy can resume partial operations.\nMay 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an amended Safer at Home Order. The order which includes an expanded list of items including non-work-related gatherings, retailers, athletic facilities and others to reopen will be effective Monday, May 11, 2020 and will expire on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 5:00 PM.\nMay 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued their eighth Supplemental State of Emergency providing liability protections for businesses and health care providers among other provisions.\nMay 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued their ninth Supplemental State of Emergency providing operating loans and lines of credit financing to rural electric cooperatives, guidance on the administration of the July 14, 2020 Runoff election, protection against evictions based on nonpayment, and extension of the State of Emergency for another sixty days.\nMay 8, 2020- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Alabama's second request for a Medicaid 1135 waiver. The waiver allows Alabama to provide flexibilities in Medicaid provider screening and enrollment and to lift prior authorization requirements.\nMay 12, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced that the Stay at Home order in Arizona will be ending on May 15 and replaced by new guidance for the next stage of economic recovery.\nAlso announced was an accelerated plan to test all staff and residents of long-term care facilities as well as individuals within Arizona's prisons\nMay 12, 2020 \u2013 The Department of Health Services released additional guidance for places of worship, businesses and customers as more industries resume partial operations.\nMay 14, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a $100,000 grant from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund to programs across the state supporting Arizona kids with special needs.\nMay 14, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced that the Arizona Enrichment Centers Program will expand to offer prioritized child care for the children of grocery store employees and food bank workers. Enrichment Centers have already been providing child care for first responders, critical health care workers and essential public sector workers.\nMay 15, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $300,000 in funding from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to organizations across the state that support senior citizens, the homebound and those who are medically fragile.\nMay 15, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a partnership with the University of Arizona to expand antibody testing to all health care workers and first responders in the state.\nMay 18, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $100,000 in funding from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to organizations that support foster families.\nMay 20, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $300,000 in grant funding to organizations providing Arizonans in need with rental assistance, telehealth and transportation to health services.\nMay 20, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $500,000 from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to organizations that provide out-of-school child care in the state.\nMay 20, 2020 \u2013 The Arizona Department of Health Services announced it will partner with the University of Arizona to get antibody testing for all correctional officers in state prisons.\nMay 27, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the state will be providing nearly $600 million in coronavirus relief and recovery dollars for local Arizona governments and nonprofits.\nMay 28, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order increasing collaboration among Arizona hospitals and ensuring patient transfers can take place smoothly and efficiently if needs arise.\nMay 28, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order protecting the health of kids in school-based child care while allowing for increased child care capacity.\nMay 28, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced schools will reopen for in-person instruction in a few months along with youth summer leagues, summer schools and day camps also can reopen, with some starting as soon as next week.\nJune 17, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order calling for enhanced actions to boost testing, expand contact tracing, securing PPE for health care and frontline workers, and fast-tracked resources to the most affected areas.\nJune 17, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced local governments within the state will be allowed to set their own rules on the use of face masks.\nJune 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced AZCares: Flexibility and Funding for Schools and Families Plan that will provide $270 million to help public schools safely open at the start of the school year, while allowing for remote learning.\nJune 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order streamlining the purchasing process for schools to obtain PPE and other COVID-19 related costs.\nJune 25, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order extending the Good Samaritan order, which protects frontline health care workers.\nJune 29, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order to prohibit large gatherings, cease the issuance of new special event licenses and pause the operations of bars, gyms, movie theaters, waterparks and tubing rentals.\nJune 29, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the first day of school for in-person learning will be delayed until August 17, 2020. Schools will be able to conduct distance learning before then should they choose.\nJune 29, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a new grant program for long-term care facilities. Through the program, facilities will receive $10,000 for the purchase of electronic devices to facilitate video conferencing with residents and their families.\nJuly 8, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $600,000 to fund the launch of Arizona Small Business Association's (ASBA) Live Local program, training small businesses to find and navigate resources.\nJuly 9, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order requiring restaurants with indoor seating to operate at less than 50 percent capacity.\nJuly 9, 2020 \u2013 The Governor and the Arizona Department of Health Services Director announced new initiatives to boost staffing in underserved areas, get test results to Arizonans faster, and further enhance hospital staffing and capacity.\nJuly 13, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $120,000 for Heal the Hero Foundation, supporting its work to mitigate the mental health impacts facing first responders.\nJuly 14, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a plan to distribute $5,950,572 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program to organizations that support Arizonans in need to combat homelessness.\nJuly 16, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order extending a moratorium on residential evictions until October 31, 2020, providing continued protections for renters.\nJuly 16, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced $5 million in funding to launch the Foreclosure Prevention Program. The program provides financial assistance to individuals who rely on income from tenants to help them avoid foreclosure.\nJuly 22, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued an executive order to bolster the election efforts and identify State-owned facilities to be utilized as voting locations and to assist counties in providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other equipment necessary to allow safe hygiene practices when voting.\nJuly 23, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced the extension of an executive order pausing operations on gyms, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, water parks, and tubing.\nJuly 23, 2020 \u2013 The Governor announced a statewide campaign developed in partnership with Arizona advertising and public relations firms to promote the use of masks and other important precautions.\nJuly 24, 2020 \u2013 The Governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced the \"Arizona: Open for Learning\" plan that provides additional resources, flexibility and clarity for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.\nJuly 24, 2020 \u2013 The Arizona Department of Health launched a new order form for Arizona's vulnerable populations for free cloth face masks.\nJuly 29, 2020 \u2013 The Governor issued the Fifteenth Supplemental State of Emergency.\nJuly 30, 2020 \u2013 The Governor extended a statewide mask order to August 31 to include mandatory masks in schools and colleges for employees and students in second grade and above.\nAmerican Rescue Plan State Funding Profiles\nLessons Learned in Workforce Innovation: How Ten Governors\u2026\nDiversifying Partnerships for Success in Work-Based Learning\nState Governance, Planning, and Financing to Enhance Energy\u2026\nHuman Services Policy Advisors Institute\nLessons Learned in Workforce Innovation: How T ...\nState of the States 2022\nStrengthening Work-Based Learning Programs\nDiversifying Partnerships for Success in Work- ...\nSummary of the 2022 National Defense Authoriza ...\nPresident Biden Joins Governors on COVID-19 Re ...\nExecutive Authority During Energy Emergencies\nState Governance, Planning, and Financing to E ...\nNGA Hosts Summit to Begin Implementation of Bi ...\nAbility to Benefit Action Lab\nStay up to date on our publications\nWe state solutions\n\u00a9 2022 NGA. All rights reserved.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Cook's Tour\nAt Ibiza, a peek at Catalan\nBy Alison Cook on July 26, 2006 at 10:20 AM\nIbiza is one of my favorite places for a Sunday supper, so I headed to Midtown, starving and weary, after the dog show wrapped up the other night. Rain had brought the July temps down to sitting-outside level (the upside of the current monsoon), so I grabbed a table on the patio.\nIbiza's patio is much more pleasant than it has any right to be, given that it looks out on the usual Houston scene: a parking lot. But there are old Midtown trees within view, and even a feeling of being set apart, because of the fittings and angled corner position.\nThe first person I saw, greeting people by the door in chef's whites, was Chris Shepherd. The last time I saw this big, amiable fellow, he was acting as \"the wine guy\" at Brennan's, where he had also pulled kitchen duty alongside chef Randy Evans.\nTurns out Shepherd has been snared by Ibiza chef Charles Clark and his winecentric partner, Grant Cooper, to run the kitchen at their upcoming Washington Avenue tapas and wine bar, Catalan. Add to the Catalan team Antonio Gianola, the superb former manager and sommelier at Da Marco, and you've got a lot of talent on board.\nShepherd and Gianola will be partners, not employees, at the new venture, which is scheduled to open in about three weeks in the same strip mall where Monsterville Horton's secondCova is located.\nIn the meantime, the two are in and out of Ibiza, plying regulars with wines to be featured on the Catalan list and offering the occasional sample from the new menu. Such as: Shepherd's ridiculously good \"pork pops,\" meaty cubes of pork belly glazed with rum, niftily balanced with salt, and speared on splinters of sugar cane. Or amusing, panko-fried ping-pong balls with foie gras inside \u2014 our Cajun neighbors would call them \"boulettes,\" and they reminded me of exotic hush puppies. Fun.\nGianola is pouring a refreshing Gruner Veltliner by the glass, so juicy and round, with a mineral undertone, that it is almost white-burgundian. Yes, it will be on tap at Catalan.\nAnd Ibiza's Charles Clark is, as usual, filled with boyish enthusiasm for his specials of the moment. On Sunday, they included small portions of luscious beefsteak tomato with even more luscious burrata cheese stationed on top, very simply dressed with salt, pepper and unfiltered Spanish olive oil. Too good.\nAs were little fresh anchovies fried to a filmy crisp and presented in a paper-lined basket. Now that is a special worthy of the name.\nAlison Cook","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"What Politics Looks Like in a Union-Run World That Has Run Out of Money\nMatt Welch | 3.22.2010 2:37 PM\nWhat to do with all these \"structural deficits\" popping up all over? Get used to it, kids, if you haven't already: Politicians will look for each and every \"revenue opportunity\" possible to soak their subjects rather than exact any concessions to the public sector unions that are gobbling up ever-larger shares of government budgets. The latest example comes from labor leader-turned Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa:\nVillaraigosa decried the hurdles involved in raising city taxes during a discussion about the sources of the city's huge deficit, which will grow to nearly $700 million in July.\nIn an interview with National Public Radio published over the weekend, the two-thirds vote it takes to increase sales taxes was a top peeve: \"California cities are constrained by various propositions which limit your ability to raise revenues,\" Villaraigosa told NPR's Guy Raz.\n\"You can't raise taxes,\" Raz replied.\n\"Without a two-thirds vote of the people, and so that revenue opportunities just are a lot more difficult to try to take advantage of,\" Villaraigosa said.\nStrangely, Los Angeles County has a sales tax that is among the highest in the state (8.75 percent) chiefly because Villaraigosa himself campaigned for a half-cent increase in sales tax in 2008. [\u2026]\nSome might even say Villaraigosa's recently approved proposal to begin increasing Department of Water and Power fees six percent is somewhat of a tax increase. [\u2026]\nMeanwhile, in the same interview, Villaraigosa said he's out of options for patching up the deficit. Despite calls for thousands of layoffs, department closures and other budget-tightening measures, the mayor seems to have thrown up his hands.\n\"There aren't a lot of options here,\" he said. \"We have contracts with our employees that we have to abide by. So unless they agree to sharing in the sacrifice in these tough times, I won't have a lot of options.\"\nOn a related note, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert last week decried the \"ruinous fiscal meltdown occurring in state after state, all across the country,\" which he rightly noted is \"a story that is not getting nearly enough attention.\" Unmentioned, as usual, was the ridiculous increases in spending and future promises states made during the comparative good times of 2002-2007. This is what public policy, and the discussion thereof, is going to look like for the foreseeable future.\nTop link via Jill Stewart's Twitter feed.\nNEXT: Hooray For Libertarian-ish Centrists, the 42 Percent Solution to All That Ails Politics!\nMatt Welch is an editor at large at Reason.\nGovernment Spending Taxes California State Fiscal Crisis\nYou can always file for bankruptcy Mr. Mayor.\nNo, I'm not joking.\nJeffersonian\nThat would fix the contract issue, but getting reelected might prove problematic. So where's the downside?\nHere's a true story: My small firm, which is in L.A. County but not L.A. City, got a letter from the City of Los Angeles demanding that we register and pay a tax for \"doing business\" in L.A. When I called to say we're not in L.A. and don't do business in L.A., I was told \"doing business\" means meeting with anyone within the City of Los Angeles for business purposes (including having lunch) more than 7 times during a year.\nNow, try as I might, I can't find anything in the law about this seven meetings rule. But what does that matter if the city's broke and desperate to shake down every business person they can hope to intimidate into paying them money?\nWrite Mayor Tony to let him know you won't be meeting clients in the City proper for business lunches any more, thus depriving Hizzoner of even that scrap of tax pelf.\nIf they don't want you doing business in LA, don't fight it. I'm sure those County eateries will be glad to have your business.\nWell, the P.S. is even funnier (in an ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen kind of way). When I assured the revenue-generating bureaucrat on the phone that I had not had more than 7 meetings in L.A., he said \"Oh, OK.\"\nI guess his career in sales is going nowhere.\nI trust you haven't been fitted with your GPS beacon yet?\nOh, crap. Is that what that beeping sound is?\nMr. Rabbit, you owe me a new key board \u2013 I spewed my drink on it based on that comment.\nI was told \"doing business\" means meeting with anyone within the City of Los Angeles for business purposes (including having lunch) more than 7 times during a year.\nInvite them to prove it.\nSoCal Stoli\nOh, c'mon \u2013 that's too easy. They'll just get seven SEIU thugs to swear an affadavit that they met with you, and then YOU'LL have to prove that it didn't happen. By the time you finish, your costs would have been far greater than paying the actual tax \u2013 which is precisely the idea.\nNice alt-text. And true too. He's totally checking out her seins.\nI'd have junk-punched him.\nHa! How great would that have been! Imagine the headline:\n\"Former LA Times Editor Punches Villaraigosa In The Plums\"\nBrian Sorgatz\nI probably should never meet Mrs. Welch. I'm trying to break the habit of leering at libertarian honeys.\nEpisiarch\nBe careful, he knows Vic Mackey.\nMatt, maybe your pink shirt and tie told the mayor she was just sitting next to you and not betrothed to you.\nMatt Welch\nThat shirt is *red*, like my heart.\nArt-P.O.G.\nI wonder who took that photo\u2026?\nSomeone who knows enough to document a sex offender when they see one making his move.\nprolefeed\nIt's pink in the photo \u2014 bad color processing, or denial of gay clothing tastes? (NTTAWWT)\nYou decide!\nMore of a dark coral on my monitors, but it looks like the color fading you get with a flash in a dark room with a digital camera.\ndbcooper\nI have a calibrated monitor, and the shirt looks red, but a bit towards the candy\/pink end.\nMore importantly though, wearing a red shirt with a black suit? And you normally dress well, Mr Welch.\nAren't British colors different, though?\nHeh. \ud83d\ude42\nmishu\nYes, they are spelled colours.\nI do *not* normally dress well.\nAt least you found a tie, and someone to tie it for you.\nYou are normally dressed better than your opponents on Bloggerheads. But that might not be much of a compliment since most of them look like they just staggered in from a Edgar Allen Poe-level bender and are undergoing renal failure as they debate.\nI don't want to sound all stalky\/creepy, but didn't you appear in the video of a D.C. party posted on here early this year, and weren't you wearing a very nice checked pattern woolen coat?\nYou dress like Karl Lagerfeld compared to Cavanaugh. But I guess that isn't saying much.\nYeah but has he perfected that metallic robot skull pressing through the forehead look?\nA long chain of surfed references to your robot skull quip led me to the horriblsome discovery that Hardware has been released on Blu-Ray.\nDylan McDermott should be barred from any new media format.\nHe was on 147 episodes of The Practice. Think about that for a moment. Even if he was on the screen only 50% of the time of each 45 minute episode, that's 55 hours of Dylan McDermott.\nThe thought chills you right down to the bone, doesn't it?\nDownright Lovecraftian. I'll thank you not to mention it again, good sir!\nCareful, there, Matt\u2026 remember what happens to the redshirts in every episode\u2026\nzeroentitlement\nSame argument pols make up here on the other end of the West Coast. King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, in the wake of the foulest scandals about sheriff's deputies, threw up her hands and said, essentially, \"w-w-well whaddya want me to do about it? Their union contract, waaaanh!\"\nDumbasses. Who negotiated the contracts in the first place? Bet if it were your own money, you wouldn't have such a hard time saying \"no\" to these parasites, wouldja?\nMatt, I'm going to say that look on your face is a grimace of pain, or possibly a snarl.\nThese are, after all, the only appropriate expressions when confronted by the like of Villaraigosa, especially when he's trying to look down your date's dress.\nFunniest thing about that moment? Just that week, or even day, is when news hit that he was having sexytime with a hot Spanish-language TV gal, thus ending his marriage. I know the mayor a bit from my L.A. Times days (which were ongoing during this photo), and so lamely said something like \"We're pulling for you, mayor.\" As evidenced here, he didn't hear a word I said. Serves me right.\nP Brooks\nYou kind of look like you're winding up to bite his arm off, Matt. What stopped you, dammit?\nWe WISH the sales tax were 8.75%. It's actually 9.75%, high enough that I've had a few small businesses suggest cash transactions to me.\nIn 2008, I got a bill from the city of L.A. for more than $1000, because I had operated a business in my home in 2007 and not filed a city tax form. The irony was that all my 2007 freelance income actually came when I was living in Texas, since my time was occupied with cancer treatments once I came back to L.A. But they'd gotten notice from my CA state income tax filing that I was a freelancer and that was that\u2013even though my income was way under the limit at which these taxes kick in if you've filed for an exemption. Now I dutifully report my tiny income each year and get a lovely license to stick on my refrigerator. Its only use if getting a business membership at Costco.\nThey've been running that scam for a few years now, sending annual shivers through the spines of the freelance community. I am convinced that the whole point is to scare 1 writer in 100 to just send a check, since any time we'd ask they'd say something \"oh, that was a misunderstanding.\"\nSales (collection) by intimidation. See my post of 2:48.\nI was just gonna say, that 8.75 is an old number, unfortunately. It's even worse!\n\"We have contracts with our employees that we have to abide by. So unless they agree to sharing in the sacrifice in these tough times, I won't have a lot of options.\"\nIt's a suicide pact.\nWait, we can't do anything about the assholes wrecking the economy because they have contractual obligations? This sounds vaguely familiar\u2026\n90% tax on public sector union income!\nI heard we all get hot broads as part of this healthcare mandate.\nI know it's necessary for my healthcare.\nMaybe I'll actually use that line at the bar\u2026'now that healthcare has passed you have to put out for me\u2026Obama said so.'\nSorry JB you have the roles confused. You may get F***ed but there won't be any hot babes involved.\nTom Bender\nIf the public were smart. They would set the wheels spinning to bankrupt DWP within 2-3 months.\nJust think how much the taxpayer would save after restructuring !\njgreene\nIt will all come to a screeching halt when the \"cash flow\" runs OUT. Not to worry, Mayor. You can always give city employees IOUs.\nBut before that occurs, your creditor will walk away from you. Geeee, let's see\u2026how can we do this now?\n\"..There aren't a lot of options here\u2026\" Really? And the Progressive, Socialist Band Played On.\nAin't it grand boys and girls. And just think, you're failed policies are now nationwide.\nBill the Cat\nHere in Texas your daddy tells you \"don't spend more than you make\"? Is the problem no one in California know who there daday is.\nBilgeman\nMs. Stewart:\n\"Unmentioned, as usual, was the ridiculous increases in spending and future promises states made during the comparative good times of 2002-2007. \"\nAh, yes\u2026well, that's because \"The Golden Age\" happened to coincide with the Administration of George W. Bush, so it's not at all a surprise that this shall not, must not, be mentioned, is it?\nThe Pelosi\/Reid Congress was sworn in, and then \"Good-bye to all that\".\nOh Yes \"Blame Bush\" either you're a fool or a troll The issue is bi-partisan, both sides have and continue to fleece the sheep.\nThe sales tax rate in Los Angeles is 9.75 %, not 8.75 %, It was 8,25 % up until last April or May.\nI can drive 25 miles East and pay 8.25 %, which is what I'm doing more and more often.\nIdiots!\nKTWO\nIt seems rather obvious that our government(s) at all levels \u2013 federal,state, county, etc. \u2013 simply don't care about what is happening to the economy.\nAnd here is why.\nEach decision maker figures the economic problems are temporary and will be fixed by others. Or fixed by some miraculous means not yet foreseen.\nSo each senses that a crisis is the perfect time to grab as much revenue and power as possible. And spend it all. And spend any funds you have managed to borrow too.\nYou do that and hold on to your turf and power until others somehow fix the economy.\nIf the economy does come roaring back you have won. If not you blame others.\nThis works until there is some sort of revolution. The odds of that are still very small. And if matters get that bad you tell the army to shoot people. So why worry?\nwpngjstr\n\"The odds of that are still very small.\"\nBut they're (the pols) doing their best to increase them.\nO Bloody Hell\n> New York Times columnist Bob Herbert last week decried the \"ruinous fiscal meltdown occurring in state after state, all across the country,\" \u2026(snip)\u2026 Unmentioned, as usual, was the ridiculous increases in spending and future promises states made during the comparative good times of 2002-2007.\nNot ALL states are in trouble, and there is a notable difference between the degrees of trouble in the various ones which are. Perhaps instead of looking at the pocketbooks of the citizenry, they might consider looking at what it is that separates the trouble from the untroubled\u2026 NAWWW. Tax 'em up!!\nPatrick Carroll\nHi all. Just remember, Delta's ready when you are. Only, please leave the high-taxing, high-spending ways behind. We here in Jawja have a pretty decent state going, and we'd like to keep it that way.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Predicted Barcelona lineup against Real Betis | OneFootball\nPredicted Barcelona lineup against Real Betis\nBarca Universal\nBarcelona registered their first away win of the season against Villareal, scoring three at the Estadio de la Ceramica. It was the second win of the Xavi era and an important one for the team's spirit.\nThe scoreline was flattering to the Catalans, because the reality was very different. On the night, Barcelona were outplayed in all departments. However, a late set of goals from Memphis Depay and Phillipe Coutinho helped them finish the game in the driver's seat.\nXavi's side face Real Betis in the league on Satuday night. It will be the final game for the Spanish giants before they take on the red hot Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Here is how Barcelona could lineup against the Seville outfit.\nMarc-Andre ter Stegen could not maintain a clean sheet against Villarreal after two games without conceding. The German will face the heat on the night as he goes up against Borja Iglesias and Cristian Tello. Barcelona and Betis have always pulled off goalscoring fests, and ter Stegen will have to be on his feet.\nRonald Araujo maintains his position as a starter under the new coach, and will likely continue to on Saturday. The Uruguayan has been Barcelona's best defender by far and seems to have won Xavi's trust after returning from injury.\nEric Garcia had a forgettable game against Villareal as he was continuously exposed by the wingers. Gerard Pique could get the nod on the night considering the youngsters poor display.\nStill a lot to come from Geri. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde\/Getty Images)\nSergino Dest is expected to be back to full fitness ahead of the clash at Camp Nou. Reports in the past few days have revealed that the USMNT star is not a part of Xavi's plans. He will look to capitalise on his chance to impress the new manager and trigger a change in opinion.\nThe defence will be completed by Jordi Alba as the left-back. The Spaniard will likely be up against the menacing Sergio Canales who has got the better of him in the past. Needless to say, there will be fireworks on the left-wing.\nSergio Busquets is the leader of the pack in midfield. Though slowed down by age, the lanky midfielder has shown his composure and skill on the ball repeatedly this season. It will be up to the captain to overcome the physical challenge of Guido Rodriguez and Andres Guardado.\nFrenkie de Jong has shone in his advanced role under Xavi and will look to extend the recent peak in his displays. The Dutchman scored against Villareal, and the boost in confidence could do him a world of good.\nTime for FdJ to hit his groove. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde\/Getty Images)\nNico Gonzalez will undoubtedly round off the midfield. The La Masia graduate has owned the third spot in the middle of the park. Nico will look to continue his scintillating form as he continues to garner attention from clubs around the globe.\nA one-week rest would have given ample time for Xavi to experiment with his tactics and come up with creative solutions. As such, we expect Gavi to see the bench on Saturday, even though he will likely get ample time in the second half.\nEz Abde started the game last weekend and played a phenomenal opening spell. The teenager showed his ability to dribble past some of the best in the game, and earns a start in his preferred left-wing role.\nMemphis Depay was nominated for the La Liga player of the month in November. The Dutch striker scored three goals last month, with one being the winner as the Ceramica. Memphis is just four goals away from the top scorer post and will be determined to close the gap.\nFinally, Ousmane Dembele takes up the spot on the right. His contract problems could see him frozen out of first-team action, but it will definitely not be tomorrow. He's returned from an injury and after three cameos off the bench, starting against an easier defence will do him good.\nBack on the teamsheet? (Photo by Aitor Alcalde\/Getty Images)\nAbde \u00b7 Memphis \u00b7 Dembelede Jong \u00b7 Busquets \u00b7 NicoAlba \u00b7 Pique \u00b7 Araujo \u00b7 Destter Stegen\n17-year-old Gavi is the youngest player to feature in the league this season and will definitely see some time off the bench if he does not start.\nPhillipe Coutinho scored in the last game after winning a clear penalty. The Brazilian's game can only be benefitted from the boost in confidence. He could come on in the second half.\nEric Garcia is an option to replace Gerard Pique in the second half, primarily to regulate the veteran's fitness. Moreover, it would be wise to give the youngster some game-time instead of isolating him after a poor display.\nBarcelona have a plan to punish Dembele, approved by Xavi\nOld video emerges of Pep Guardiola dancing the night away as a Barcelona player\nFootball Espana\nBoth Barcelona and Real Madrid want to sign this 15-year-old Brazilian prodigy\nMan United vs Liverpool, Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Football's 50 greatest derbies ranked\nBarcelona closing in on Chelsea transfer raid after years of maintaining close relations","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Festival Galleries\nSubmit Your Festival\nGabrielle Aplin (born 10 October 1992) is an English singer-songwriter from Sutton Benger, Wiltshire. Aplin gained a following online after publishing acoustic covers of songs by bands such as Paramore and You Me at Six on YouTube. Since 2010, Aplin has released three EPs and toured the UK and Europe. In February 2012, Aplin announced she had signed to Parlophone and was recording her debut album. She gained mainstream attention the following November when she was selected to soundtrack a John Lewis television advertisement with a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's \"The Power of Love\", which reached No 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 9 December 2012.[4] Her second single \"Please Don't Say You Love Me\" followed in 2013, it became her second UK Top 10 single, peaking at number 6\nAplin developed a fanbase by posting performance videos to YouTube in 2008. Her most popular videos include her original composition \"Home\", and covers of \"The Liar and the Lighter\" by You Me At Six, \"Teenage Dream\" by Katy Perry and \"Forget You\" by Cee Lo Green. She has described her music as \"very family orientated, very personal\". In July 2010, Aplin performed on her local radio station BBC Wiltshire. Her first release was the 5-track Acoustic EP which was released on the iTunes Store on 13 September 2010. It reached the top 25 in the UK iTunes album chart, and features the song \"Reverse\" which was used on E4 TV show Made in Chelsea.\nHer debut album English Rain was released in May 2013, to positive reviews it debuted and peaked at number 2 in the UK album charts, along with new single \"Panic Cord\", which peaked at number 19 in the UK.\nAcoustic Alternative rock Indie pop Piano\nGabrielle Aplin Stalls \u00a323.50\nGabrielle Aplin Level 1 Unreserved Seating \/ Standing \u00a323.50\nGabrielle Aplin Level 2 Unreserved Seating\/Standing \u00a323.50\nGabrielle Aplin General Admission \u00a320.00\nGabrielle Aplin Standing \u00a320.00\nBarn On The Farm Festival 2019\nVictorious Festival 2018\nPenn Festival 2018\nMouth of the Tyne Festival 2018\nLeopallooza 2017\nSplendour 2017\nLive At Leeds 2017\nLarmer Tree Festival 2016\nCornbury Music Festival 2016\nGlastonbury Festival 2016\nLoopallu 2015\nJersey Live 2013\nV Festival (Chelmsford) 2013\nV Festival (Staffordshire) 2013\nCamp Bestival 2013\nHouse Festival 2013\nGoldcoast Oceanfest 2013\nRelentless Boardmasters 2012\nBeach Break Live 2011\nLive at Leeds Festival 2011\n\u00a9 2020 Copyright UK Festivals Guides\nSign In to our community\nor access with","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"STATE ORGANIZATIONAL DATES\nPrecinct Meetings - March 11, 7 PM\nCounty Conventions - April 3, 10 AM or 2 PM\nDistrict Conventions - May 1, 10 AM or 2 PM\nState Convention - June 12-13, 10 AM\nState Central Committee 2019-2021\nDemocratic Party Platform\nODP Platform\nODP Rules\nDemocratic State Parties\nSD22 Special Election\n2021 Committee SignUp\nElections List\nOK House Members\nOK Senate Members\nKnow Your Legislators\nCalendar By Month Desktop View\nList of Events Mobile Ready\nThe Hamilton Report\nDaily Livestreams\nUpdate Contribution Info\nTom Guild Explores Incumbent James Lankford's Record to Date\nHome \/ News \/ Tom Guild Explores Incumbent James Lankford's Record to Date\nby Angela A in News\nContact: Tom Guild, Democratic Nominee for Congress in Oklahoma's Fifth District\nPhone: 405-921-3811 or Email: [email protected]\nWeb: www.guildforcongress.com\nTom Guild, the Democratic Nominee for Congress from Oklahoma's Fifth Congressional District, explores Incumbent James Lankford's record to date.\n\u2013more than two trillion has been added to the national debt (his top priority is reducing the debt) and his actions may worsen future budget deficits and debt by insisting that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy be extended past January 1, 2013, thus adding a projected $866 billion to the national deficits and debt in the next ten years\n\u2013he voted for a law creating a super committee in Congress, requiring the sequester or automatic budget cuts of more than a trillion dollars, causing the possible loss of 16,000 jobs in Oklahoma\n\u2013the unnecessary drama by House Republicans over raising the debt ceiling, allowing the country to pay the bills Congress racked up, led to the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating for the first time in history\n\u2013he voted over and over and over\u202633 times to repeal the affordable care act to no avail, it is still the law of the land\u2026too many show votes and not enough serious work getting done\n\u2013he has drawn a full $174,000 salary and gone to work (the house has been in session in 2012) about 62% of the time available Monday through Friday starting on January 2, 2012 and this percentage will drop to approximately 50% of the available work days for ordinary Americans (after his current five-week vacation ends)\n\u2013he stated his opinion on film that sexual orientation is a choice, sparking nationwide controversy and unfavorable attention, although his view is contrary to health professionals and official statements of the AMA and APA\n\u2013he also drew nationwide negative attention by stating repeatedly that he thinks it should remain legal to fire workers simply based on their sexual orientation\n\u2013he wants to privatize, thus weaken, and likely destroy Social Security\n\u2013he voted to end Medicare and \"replace\" it with a voucher program by voting for the Ryan Budget in the house\n\u2013he opposes the new DHS policy allowing children of undocumented parents to stay in the country and work for two years in a program to be finalized this month\n\u2013he co-authored a personhood bill, that threatens women's health, by making contraception illegal and threatening the future of in vitro fertilization clinics\n\u2013he wants to take away citizenship from children born in the U.S. of undocumented parents (although this violates the 14th amendment)\n\u2013he opposed the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act, and voted for the watered down House version, leading to the failure to reauthorize the law to protect women who are the victims of domestic abuse\n\"It is outrageous that Congress is taking a five-week vacation while the country faces uncertainty and an economic crisis. The House has not passed any of its appropriations bills to date, with an October 1 deadline looming. The post office is in a crisis that was caused by Congress, and the incumbent congressman is on vacation, which reminds many of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning. It is small wonder that Americans hold Congress in such historically low esteem that some polls have their approval rating in single digits,\" states Guild.\nEnough is Enough! Replace Lankford! Fire Congress!\nLegislators Launch [Bipartisan] Mental Health Caucus to Address Ongoing Crisis\nby Angela A Jan 15 2021\nPlumber Mullin Embarrasses Oklahomans Again\nThe Oklahoma Democratic Party Supports Rep. Nichols' Call for Lankford to Resign from Commission\nGovernor Stitt Must Demand Communications Director's Resignation Following Call for Violence\n\u00a9 2020 Oklahoma Democratic Party | OPEIU Local 381\n3815 N Santa Fe Ave., Suite 122, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 | 405 427-3366\nOffice Hours: Mon -Fri 9AM-5PM | Closed for Lunch 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM\nNot authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.\tAuthorized and Paid for by the Oklahoma Democratic Party. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Barcelona Champions League\nRemaining Champions League games to be played in Lisbon\nBy Colin Millar - 12 June 2020, 18:05\nBarcelona and Real Madrid will reportedly play the second legs of their Round of 16 Champions League ties in Lisbon.\nThe Blaugrana face Italian side Napoli in their second leg, originally scheduled to be played in the Camp Nou, while Zinedine Zidane's Madrid were due to travel to England for the second leg of their clash against Manchester City.\nDiario Sport cite a report from German outlet Bild that the four remaining games in this round \u2013 including Bayern Munich against Chelsea and Juventus taking on Lyon \u2013 will be staged in the Portugal capital.\nIt is claimed that the remainder of the tournament could be played in one city and the report states that Lisbon is expected to beat off competition from Frankfurt and Moscow to stage the games.\nThere is a meeting of the UEFA Executive Council scheduled for next week where there is expected to be further clarification of how this season's tournament will be completed.\nBarcelona were held to a 1-1 draw in Napoli in the first leg while Madrid fell to a 2-1 home loss to City, while Atletico Madrid are already in the quarter-finals having eliminated Liverpool while Valencia were ousted by Atalanta.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Xu Si\nYu Delu\nYan Bingtao\n2019 Riga Masters Champion\nHighest Tournament Break\nMoney List Earnings\nFrames Played\nFrames Won\nFrames Lost\nFrames Won Percentage\nShots Played\nShots Per Frame\nBreaks Over 50\n50 Break Rate\nBreaks Over 100\n100 Break Rate\nRanking titles: One, 2019 Riga Masters\n2014: Wins the World Amateur Championship\n2015: At the age of just 15, wins the World cup for China's B Team in Wuxi alongside Zhou Yuelong. They beat Scotland's John Higgins and Stephen Maguire in the final. Beats Shaun Murphy at the Champion of Champions before losing to Neil Robertson.\n2016: Becomes the first player born in the year 2000 to turn pro.\n2017: Reaches the final of a ranking event for the first time at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast. At the age of 17, victory would have made him the youngest ever winner of a ranking event, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan's long standing record. But he loses a thriller 9-8 to Mark Williams. Named Rookie of the Year at the end of the 2016\/17 season. Plays at the Crucible for the first time, losing in the first round to Shaun Murphy.\n2019: Captures his first ranking title at the Kaspersky Riga Masters in Latvia, winning six matches to reach the final before beating Mark Joyce 5-2. Becomes the first teenager to win a ranking title since Ding Junhui in 2006.\n2020: Reaches the final of the Players Championship before losing 10-4 to Judd Trump.\nYan Primed For Masters Debut\nYan Bingtao Q&A\nEast, West\u2026Home Is Best?\nAdvantage Bing... ham BBC \/ Eurosport \/ https:\/\/t.co\/0mCRoqdsmX #ilovesnooker @Betfred https:\/\/t.co\/SPoHRAIDee","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Dennie Dolan Downham fox attack: Parents hit out at internet trolls over online slurs\nBy Robert Fisk\nTHE parents of baby Dennie Dolan who had his finger bitten off by a fox at their home in Downham have hit out at internet trolls who are blaming them for what happened.\nSpeaking about the attack on the Daybreak television programme today Hayley Cawley and her partner Paul Dolan said they had been subjected to taunts online.\nThey told presenters Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones people have been saying they made up the story to protect a family dog.\nTalking about the comments about them online Miss Cawley said: \"They've been terrible, I had a little look last night.\n\"I did have a little look and then I had to close the page down because I just thought 'Oh my God'.\n\"Saying about me having a dog and stuff \u2013 I've never had a dog in my life.\"\nAnd other people accused them of making up the story to get a bigger council house.\nBut yesterday a spokesman for the Met Police said they were going to take no further action as officers were satisfied there were no criminal offences.\nThis morning's television interview came a day after mother-of-three Miss Cawley told papers how she had left five-week-old Dennie propped up on a sofa after his feed and went upstairs to tidy up but came running back downstairs when she heard screaming.\nShe said the fox had Dennie's left hand in its jaws and his head was covered in blood and it was running down his cheeks.\nThe 28-year-old kept hitting the fox until it let go of her son.\nDennie had to undergo a lengthy operation to have his finger reattached and needed stitches to his cheek.\nHe also needed treatment for injuries to his face and head.\nThe fox grabbed him after it got in through the front door of the family home in Dagonet Road.\nMr Dolan had left earlier to collect older children Ellouise, nine, and five-year-old Lee from school and had slammed the door shut behind him.\nBut Ms Cawley believes the latch did not catch properly so the fox was able to get into the house.\nThe couple now say they could never go back to the property.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Pages 'on the apocalypse' removed from mysterious 13th century 'Devil's Bible'\nThe Codex Gigas \u2013 the largest medieval manuscript in the world \u2013 was supposedly written in just one night and is said to contain all human knowledge\nTom TowersNews Reporter\nThe Codex Gigas was supposedly written in just one night by a monk who sold his soul to The Devil (Image: AFP\/Getty Images)\nPages from the so-called Devil's Bible, which is said to contain 'Satan's Prayer', are missing.\nThe Codex Gigas is the largest medieval manuscript in the world, measuring 9ins thick and 36ins tall.\nIt is said to contain all human knowledge and was written in just one night during the 13th century, according to legend.\nThe book was supposedly compiled by just one monk, who offered to write it to avoid the death penalty after breaking his vows.\nAs midnight approached, he turned to The Devil and sold his soul in exchange for help, the story goes.\nSatan agreed and left a chilling picture of himself within the book's hundreds of pages.\nIt features a disturbing full-page drawing of Satan (Image: AFP\/GETTY IMAGES)\nJesus Christ 'brought woman back to life' after her suicide attempt\nNoah's Ark could be unearthed as 60 Biblical-era shipwrecks found in 'dead zone'\nBut the book has 10 pages missing from it, which occurred during a fire in the year 1697 when it was one of the few texts saved from their library storage place.\nConspiracy theorists believe the pages were actually deliberately removed, with the fire used as a distraction to do so.\nOne wrote: \"Those who have studied it believe it once contained 320 sheets, 10 of which were removed, that likely contained the monastic rules of the Benedictines.\n\"Others, however, would argue that the missing pages contained apocalyptic text, known as 'The Devil's Prayer', and were intentionally removed.\"\nThe Gigas is the largest medieval manuscript in the world, nine inches think and 36 inches tall (Image: PA)\nGhost tour guests spooked as 'spirit' makes shock appearance in eerie photo\nAnother said: \"It seems strange that the most famous book in medieval times was never copied in more than 450 years from the time it was allegedly written by the Devil.\n\"Not by the Cistercians, not by the Benedictines, not by the scribes in the court of the Emperor Rudolph II nor by the Swedes.\n\"For to this day, there is no record of what was written in those twelve missing pages except for rumours that it contains 'The Devil's Prayer'.\"\nHowever, others are unconvinced by the theory that a mysterious figure took pages from the book.\nAnother commentator argued: \"There's nothing surprising that some pages are missing in an 800-year-old manuscript.\nMysterious church dedicated to unknown Christian martyr discovered in Israel\n\"Most of them are within the Bible portion, perhaps unsurprisingly as that makes up most of the book.\"\nThe Gigas was initially stored at the Podla\u017eice monastery in what is now the Czech Republic.\nIt was seized by Sweden's army in the 17th century and is now being kept at the Swedish Royal Library in Stockholm.\nIt contains a complete version of the Catholic Church's official Latin Bible, and a range of texts on the teaching of medicine and magic.\nHandwriting analysis suggested a single writer had put together the entire manuscript, according to a National Geographic report.\nBut researchers say it would have taken 20 years to complete \u2013 or five years of non-stop writing.\nAnimalsReddit viewers amazed as cat's clever big sister 'comes to the rescue' of kittenThis clever cat has sparked furious debate on Reddit after a video of it \"helping\" a kitten that lost its toy went viral today\nMichael JacksonMichael Jackson 'alive' say fans who are 'scared' by realistic impersonatorMichael Jackson is alive according to a conspiracy theory sparked by talented MJ impersonator Sergio Cortes sharing a clip of himself singing Man In The Mirror on Facebook and Instagram\nPrince AndrewPrince Andrew is Queen's 'rock' as Megxit drama continues to rock royal familyPrince Andrew has reportedly been supporting the Queen as the royal family continues to deal with the Megxit crisis\nWorld Health OrganisationBrit tourist feared to be first westerner struck down by mysterious coronavirusTourist Ash Shorley is feared to be the first westerner to be struck down by the mysterious coronavirus that has spread from China to Thailand\nMeghan MarkleMeghan Markle and Prince Harry 'to set up TV deals' and Netflix chief is already keenMeghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to make millions in TV deals as they plan to set up a production company of their own\nWorld NewsCaroline Wozniacki fans heap praise on Australian Open star ahead of retirementTennis star Caroline Wozniacki has revealed what her next moves will be when she retires after the Australian Open","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Stories from Friday, November 2, 2012\nReihmann to make head-coaching debut tonight (College Sports ~ 11\/02\/12)\nKatie Reihmann was an assistant coach for the past two seasons under former Fort Scott Community College head coach Diana Couch. Tonight at Arnold Arena, she'll gude the Greyhounds as a head coach for the first time. \"It's been a smoother transition than I could ever hope for,\" Reihmann said Wednesday morning. ...\nWasteful spending prompts Tyson's switch to Senate (High School Sports ~ 11\/02\/12)\nEditor's Note: This is part of a series of candidate profiles based on answers to a questionnaire sent out by the Tribune. ----- Republican Caryn Tyson is running for the Kansas Senate District 12 seat against Democrat Denise Cassells in the Nov. 6 general election...\nWest 18th first street to be 'rejuvinated' (Local News ~ 11\/02\/12)\nThe city of Fort Scott and PROSEAL will be preserving several of the streets that were recently asphalted in the city. Reclamite rejuvenator, a surface sealer that extends the life of the pavement for several years, will be applied to the streets. All affected property owners in the area will be notified with a door hanger on their front door...\nHunter's Helper (Local News ~ 11\/02\/12)\nKelcie Bailey could easily be called the little girl with the great big heart. And for good reason. The 12-year-old Fort Scott Middle School student is currently organizing a benefit spaghetti feed this Saturday at Buck Run Community Center for Hunter Hawley, a fellow sixth grader at Fort Scott Middle School, who has been battling cancer...\nGov. meets with other Republicans (Local News ~ 11\/02\/12)\nJust days before the general election, Gov. Sam Brownback rolled into town Thursday to join other Kansas Republicans for an informal gathering in the Pizza Hut parking lot. Brownback, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, and several other Republicans joined Kansas Republican Party Chairwoman Amanda Adkins Thursday morning to kick off the \"Road Map for Growth\" Tour, which began at 8 a.m. at the Kansas Republican Party headquarters in Topeka...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home News Moray\nMoray teenager's fundraising tribute to cancer-stricken cousin\nBy Ben Hendry\nScott Fiske, with his cousin Kayla Munro and her pal, Eileidh Paterson\nA Moray teenager is embarking on a fundraising challenge to honour his young cousin, who is battling cancer.\nScott Fiske, 16, is rallying support for the Lossiemouth-based Logan's Fund charity, so it can help children like his five-year-old relative enjoy themselves.\nKayla Munro was diagnosed with lymphoblastic cancer last year, a rare and aggressive form of the disease which affects white blood cells.\nScott, who lives in Elgin, said: \"The condition can be serious but, luckily, they caught it early with Kayla and she is getting better.\n\"She went through a lot with chemotherapy, and it was horrible for her. Seeing other children like Kayla while she was in hospital made me want to do something to help them.\"\nScott has planned three initiatives to help boost Logan's Fund.\nHe has arranged for a medium to give readings at Elgin's Bishopmill Hall on Friday, March 17, between 8pm and 10.30pm.\nScott will then stage Logan's Lossie Easter Fun on Sunday, April 16, at Lossiemouth Community Centre \u2013 a day-long celebration involving an Easter egg hunt and a bouncy castle.\nAnd he is collecting used milk carton lids until October which can be sold for recycling.\nCollection points have been established at Fochabers' Eats and Treats, Lossiemouth's The Pantry and Elgin's Manna Juice.\nThe Elgin High School pupil carried out his first fundraiser when he was only 11, amassing \u00a31,000 for the Clic Sargent charity after his granddad was diagnosed with bowel cancer.\nHe wants to become a teacher when he is older, but hopes to retain links with Logan's Fund.\nSince Logan Main's death in 2009, his parents have raised thousands of pounds to assist other families affected by cancer.\nThe charity has a deluxe static caravan at Lossiemouth's East Beach for respite breaks, and helps pay for poorly youngsters to enjoy outings.\nLogan's Fund chairman, Cameron Mackintosh, commended Scott on \"capturing people's imagination\" with his ideas.\nHe said: \"We have got a lot going on, so Scott volunteered to fundraise for us as it allows our organisers to focus on other projects.\n\"He has really taken the bull by the horns, using his own initiative.\"\nTickets and information is available by emailing Scott on scottfiskefundraising@outlook.com.\nLogan's Fund","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"flycorvair\nOil Pressure gauge options, oil system notes\nInstallation Components\nMailsack\nEngine Ground Cable\nBuilders,\nIn 2016, we had two different Zenith builders fly in to the same event. They had never met each other. I studied both of their engine installations, which has cumulatively about 500 hours of flight time. They were different, but both airworthy. They had an odd thing in common; They both ad an engine ground cable that was 3 feet too long, and it terminated at the same points, the center of the firewall and the starter mounting brackets on each plane. Most people would not have noticed this commonality, but it told me something important: Both of these guys who had never met each other were listening to the same idiot on the internet, rather than following examples we show or even common sense. Somewhere out there in cyberville was a moron gleefully dispensing poor advice on ground cables. While this particular error just added weight and looked dumb, I am sure the same expert had doled out plenty of other electrical advice that was far more dangerous.\nAbove, the ground strap location for a Corvair engine. This is the aft end of the co-pilots side head. The head has a 3\/8\u2033-16 tapped hole, perfect for grounding, the cable is 9 inches long, it is #2 wire. You can even use wire without insulation, ( it is a ground) or go to your auto parts store and buy a premade cable, and it can even be one of the ones that look like bare woven metal, a 'bonding jumper'. Yes, the powder coating has to be scraped off where the 5\/16\u2033 bolt goes through, and it does have to have a metal lock nut. Every motor mount I have ever made has a tab or a corner brace at this intersection for a ground cable. If anyone suggests that a 4130 motor mount or an aluminum fuselage don't conduct electricity, they are not just wrong, they are probably mentally ill, just nod politely, smile and back away slowly.\nYour Vote Counts: In the comments section, please vote for one of three following examples from my experience:\nA) \"Led Zenith\" 10 years ago I went to inspect a Zenith. The builder had placed a group 24 lead acid truck battery in the tail cone, (because he had made an error doing his weight and balance on a set of $10 bathroom scales.) but he also insisted that he needed to run a 00 copper battery ground cable all the way from the battery, 12 feet to the motor, and insisted that it also had to have insulation on it. A very nice gentleman, had been a pilot for 35 years, built a number of planes, and had a long and lucrative career as a mechanical engineer.\nB) \"Ungrounded Claims\" A second owner of a Corvair powered plane called both Dan and Myself, because his \"Starter was burned out\". He was on a cross country, far from home, the starter had previously worked without a hint of a problem for years. Dan tells him to directly put the jumper cables on the starter, to isolate the starter to test it. Guy claims he did this, no dice. His solution was to rent a motel and a car, drive 200 miles to a city where he paid a guy several hundred bucks to hand rebuild the starter on a Sunday, in spite of the fact the guy said there was nothing wrong with it. About $1,000 later, the starter is back on the plane, and it still doesn't work. Local EAA chapter experts say the issue is because it is a Corvair. After another day, he discovers that the ground cable to the motor has become disconnected, something he would have known had he actually put the jumper cables on the motor as instructed.\nC) \"The sticky throttle cable and $7,000 worth of starters\" Back in the 1990s, when I had a lapse of moral judgement and built Lancair IVPs for rich guys, we has a guy with a flying plane call the shop asking if we could install a new starter on his TSIO-550B Continental, which, on, by the way also needed a new throttle cable every 25 hours. He had spend thousands of dollars with other shops, but he was now willing to pay our \"Overpriced labor for A&Ps\" ($50\/hr in 1996). He initially didn't want to use A&Ps because technically experimental didn't require it. We solved his problem in 10 minutes: he never had an engine ground strap, and the throttle cable by default was functioning as a high resistance one. He has instead purchased one rebuilt starter for $2,500 and had later purchased a factory new starter from TCM, and it was about $4,500. The logs showed the throttle cable had been replaced 4 times. Good thing he didn't get ripped off by trained mechanics.\n-ww.\n\" 2 \/ 2 \" \u2013 EGT sender location\nI use the short hand \" 2 \/ 2 \" to note a Corvair motor which is set up with 2 CHT's and 2 EGT senders. My own personal aircraft is set this way, with one CHT on the bottom of each head in the stock location, and one EGT sender on each other the exhaust pipes. This is pictured below.\nAbove is the pilots side exhaust pipe from my aircraft. The single EGT sending unit comes just after the #2 cylinder exhaust port. It is on the inboard side of the pipe to have a cleaner appearance and simplify wiring. This particular sending unit is an Auto Meter 5249, which can be used either as a clamp on or (as pictured) a welded on installation. I chose to put one of these in each side of the exhaust, but I run a DPDT switch under the Auto Meter gage allowing the one instrument to be fed by either sending unit.\nMany Corvairs flying today use Dynon or GRT glass cockpits to effectively monitor \"6\/6\", for traditional instrumentation, \"2\/2\" makes sense to me and provides effective coverage, information for leaning, and an opportunity to look at right\/left comparisons. Because this takes just 2 more probes 2 switches, it makes a lot more sense that a \"1\/1\" system. One of the things that I find ironic is when a low time pilot tells me he \"must\" have a \"6\/6\" system. I'll ask him what he did his flight training in, and it is often a Cessna 150, and I will ask him how many CHT's and EGT's that plane had. Very few of these people remember that their training was done in a plane with a \"0\/0\" system.\nI strongly recommend against anyone even thinking of flying a Corvair with a \"0\/0\" system. We had a guy try this 3 years ago. He had also designed his own cowl and cooling system and was at an airport with a base elevation over 5,000\u2032. The 2 questions that should come to your mind are \"How would he know if the cooling system worked without a CHT gage?\" and \"how does one lean a Corvair if you have no EGT information?\" I don't have answers for those questions, and neither did the builder. First flight was 25 seconds long, landing was upside down in a farm field. No serious injuries, but it did make TV news, where the builders buddy took the opportunity to blame the motor right away.\nIf you are thinking of a \"2\/2\" system, read the stories below. If you are thinking about Glass Cockpit stuff, and want to speak with the most experienced people on Corvair\/glass 6\/6 arrangements, Call Rachel and Dan at 904-626-7777 , ext. #1. They mostly sell GRT stuff, but they do have experience with all of the systems.\nInexpensive Panel\u2026\u2026..part one.\nInexpensive panel\u2026\u2026.part two.\nThought For The Day: Mechanical Instruments\nThought for the Day video: Know your Machine.\nNew Air-Fuel meter Video\nNew Video: Importance of a MOP manual.\nCorvair Carb Reference page for 2020.\nNew MA3-SPA \u2013 Available from SPA\/Panther","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"How is Germany doing on its goal of 2 million Indian tourists?\nAt an annual media meeting today, April 16, in Delhi, India, Romit Theophilus, Director of Marketing & Sales Office India for the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), said it was hoping for growth of 6 to 8 percent.\nThe ultimate goal of the GNTO is to increase its tally of Indian tourists to 2 million a year by 2030, up from the present figure of 921,123 visitors overnight in 2018, making for growth of 8.1 percent.\nThe famous Bauhaus art school, which opened in Weimar in 1919, is celebrating 100 years this year, and steps are being taken to promote this art, design, and architecture as part of this tourism drive. 2020 will see the 250th anniversary of birth of Beethoven.\nThe German National Tourist Office is promoting the concept of affordable hospitality, stressing that tourists can enjoy leisure and other activities at costs cheaper than other European nations. The focus on a summer cities campaign is on the urban city, romance, holidays on the water, sightseeing, as well as art and culture.\nJasper Wieck, Deputy Head of Mission for the German Embassy, added a new dimension, pointing out that the two countries, India and Germany, have emotional links and mutual affection dating back centuries. He recalled that Tagore had also played a part in Indo-German links and that the number of students from India in Germany had doubled in the last 5 years, standing at 17,500. In addition, yoga is being practiced by a significant number of Germans and studies on India are being offered in over 16 universities and institutes.\nFiled Under: Press Release Tagged With: amp, and, anniversary, annual, April, Architecture, art, art and culture, birth, Breaking Travel News, campaign, cities, city, concept, costs, countries, culture, Delhi, deputy, Deputy Head, design, dimension, director, doing, drive, embassy, European, famous, German, German national, German National Tourist Office, Germans, Germany, Germany Travel News, GNTO, goal, Growth, head, holidays, hospitality, in, increase, India, India Travel News, Indian, Indian tourists, IndoGerman, IT, last, Leisure, links, Marketing, media, meeting, million, million Indian, mission, national, nations, New, News articles, number, office, opened, out, over, overnight, percent, present, promote, promoting, romance, said, Sales, sales office, school, see, sightseeing, significant, standing, students, studies, summer, to, today, tourism, tourism drive, tourist, tourist office, tourists, Travel & Tourism Organizations News, Travel Destination News, Travelwire News, up, urban, visitors, water, year, years, yoga\nTurkish Airlines adds Marrakech to flight schedule\nStarting on April 15, Istanbul \u2013 Marrakech \u2013 Istanbul direct flights will be commenced five days of a week as Turkish Airlines reinforces its title of flying to more international destinations than any other airline.\nSuccessfully completing its \"Great Move\" process and transferring all of its passenger operations to its new hub, Istanbul Airport, Turkish Airlines now adds Marrakech, tourist city of Morocco, to its flight network. As the national flag carrier's first inaugural flight from its new home, Marrakech became Turkish Airlines' the second destination in Morocco while becoming its 308th destination globally.\nThe inaugural flight from Istanbul Airport, landed in Marrakech Menara Airport, was welcomed by the customary water cannon salute in a formal ceremony, to which attended by the executives both from the global carrier and Marrakech Menara Airport, and press members as well.\nCommenting on this inaugural flight, Turkish Airlines Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Ahmet Olmu\u015ftur stated that; \"With Istanbul Airport, a new era has begun in the global aviation. Our new operation center offers an important opportunity for us to develop our globally unparalleled flight network performance even further. Thus, we are working on new strategies to capitalize on this opportunity. Marrakech will always hold a special place for us as it is the first destination we added from our new home. We are happy to carry our passengers to this crimson city with our privileged travel experience.\"\nKnown as the \"Crimson City\" due to the color of its soil, Marrakech offers tourists and travelers the opportunity to experience the entire allure of North Africa in a single location. Bringing historical buildings, famous mosques and colorful flower gardens together at the foothills of Atlas Mountains, Marrakech is well on its way to become one of the favorite tourism centers of the world. As the first capital of Morocco, whose name means \"Land of God\" in the Berber language, Marrakech's streets are teeming with the historical heritage of various cultures.\nPassengers, travelling to Marrakech with the privileged travel experience of Turkish Airlines, will be able to visit various significant locations for cultural tourism while experiencing different activities such as nature and wildlife tours.\nIstanbul \u2013 Marrakech \u2013 Istanbul scheduled flight times beginning from 15th April 2019;\nFlight No. Days Departure Arrival\nTK 619 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday IST 11:30 RAK 14:30\nTK 620 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday RAK 15:25 IST 22:05\nAll times are in LMT.\nTo view the flight schedules, please visit turkishairlines.com or contact the call center at +90 212 444 0849 or visit any TK sales office.\nFiled Under: Press Release Tagged With: and, April, arrival, Atlas Mountains, aviation, Aviation News, aviation-website, Breaking Travel News, bringing, buildings, call center, capital, capitalize, carrier, center, Centers, ceremony, chief, chief marketing officer, city, CMO, Color, contact, cultural, cultural tourism, cultures, Days, departure, Destination, Destinations, different, direct, direct flights, due, even, executives, experience, famous, favorite, first, flag, flag carrier, flight, flight schedules, flights, Flying, gardens, Global, global aviation, globally, heritage, historical, home, hub, important, in, inaugural, inaugural flight, International, international destinations, IST, Istanbul, Istanbul Airport, IT, known, Land, language, location, locations, Marketing, Marketing Officer, Marrakech, members, Morocco, Morocco travel news, mountains, move, name, national, national flag carrier, nature, network, New, new strategies, News articles, North, North Africa, offers, office, officer, operation, operations, opportunity, passenger, passenger operations, passengers, performance, Place, Press, privileged, RAK, s, Sales, sales office, schedule, scheduled, second, significant, single, Special, stated, strategies, successfully, The National, The World, times, title, TK, to, tourism, tourist, tourist city, tourists, Tours, Transportation News, Travel, Travel Destination News, travel experience, travelers, Travelling, Travelwire News, Turkey Travel News, turkish, Turkish Airlines, US, view, visit, water, way, We, week, welcomed, wildlife, working, World","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Hong Kong Map\nA map of Hong Kong showing populated places, roads, islands, and districts. Satellite imagery displays the metropolitan area and the various national parks of Hong Kong.\nDISTRICTS MAP\nYou are free to use our reference map of Hong Kong for educational and commercial uses. Attribution is required. How to attribute?\nHong Kong is recognized as a \"Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China\". It's located on the south coast bordered by China in the north and near Macau to the east. Hong Kong is 2,755 square kilometers (1,064 sq mi) in area, about one-quarter the size of Rhode Island. But it's home to over 7.5 million people. Hong Kong is known for being a center of business and trade with more skyscrapers than even New York City. But it also has one of the highest costs of living because of its high rental cost. They call Hong Kong a \"kaleidoscope of life\" because of its influences from Eastern and Western cultures.\nHong Kong Satellite Map\nIf you look at Hong Kong's skyline, it's reputed as one of the most beautiful in the world. Despite the large metropolitan development compared to the area, there are 24 national parks in Hong Kong. Altogether, forests cover about 23.8% of Hong Kong's total land area. While nature and business are plentiful in Hong Kong, agriculture production is almost zero as Hong Kong imports most products from mainland China. The High Island Reservoir, located in the Sai Kung Country Park to the east, is the largest reservoir in Hong Kong.\nHong Kong Districts Map\nAfghanistan is completely landlocked with various There are 18 political districts in Hong Kong that are divided administratively and geographically.\n1. Islands 10. Kowloon City\n2. Kwai Tsing 11. Kwun Tong\n3. North 12. Sham Shui Po\n4. Sai Kung 13. Wong Tai Sin\n5. Sha Tin 14. Yau Tsim Mong\n6. Tai Po 15. Central\/ Western\n7. Tsuen Wan 16. Eastern\n8. Tuen Mun 17. Southern\n9. Yuen Long 18. Wan Chai\nIt's also divided into 3 regions that consists of (1) Hong Kong Island (HK), (2) Kowloon (KLN), and (3) New Territories (NT)\nMacau Map\nMongolia Map\nNorth Korea Map\nTaiwan Map","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"ISRAELIT DES NEUNZEHNTEN JAHRHUNDERTS, DER:\nBy: Richard Gottheil, A. M. Friedenberg\nPeriodical published in Germany in the first half of the nineteeth century. It first appeared, from Oct., 1839, up to Oct., 1841, as a monthly in Meiningen. It was then enlarged and issued weekly in Herzfeld from 1842 to June, 1848; and at Frankfort in 1845 as the organ of the Frankfort Reformverein. A literary supplement was issued in 1846. Mendel Hess, a rabbi active in the Reform movement, was the editor, and S. Holdheim joined him during the last months of the paper's existence, January to June, 1848. This periodical was noted for its advanced theological standpoint and for its polemical attacks on Orthodoxy.\nG. A. M. F.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Rampur Taleti - Baran\nRampur Taleti Population - Baran, Rajasthan\nRampur Taleti is a medium size village located in Shahbad Tehsil of Baran district, Rajasthan with total 155 families residing. The Rampur Taleti village has population of 780 of which 419 are males while 361 are females as per Population Census 2011.\nIn Rampur Taleti village population of children with age 0-6 is 135 which makes up 17.31 % of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Rampur Taleti village is 862 which is lower than Rajasthan state average of 928. Child Sex Ratio for the Rampur Taleti as per census is 1177, higher than Rajasthan average of 888.\nRampur Taleti village has higher literacy rate compared to Rajasthan. In 2011, literacy rate of Rampur Taleti village was 72.87 % compared to 66.11 % of Rajasthan. In Rampur Taleti Male literacy stands at 83.47 % while female literacy rate was 59.72 %.\nAs per constitution of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Rampur Taleti village is administrated by Sarpanch (Head of Village) who is elected representative of village. Our website, don't have information about schools and hospital in Rampur Taleti village.\nRampur Taleti Data\nSchedule Caste 249 132 117\nRampur Taleti village of Baran has substantial population of Schedule Caste. Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 31.92 % of total population in Rampur Taleti village. The village Rampur Taleti currently doesn't have any Schedule Tribe (ST) population.\nIn Rampur Taleti village out of total population, 401 were engaged in work activities. 94.26 % of workers describe their work as Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6 Months) while 5.74 % were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6 months. Of 401 workers engaged in Main Work, 6 were cultivators (owner or co-owner) while 340 were Agricultural labourer.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"MTAM\nWMCRU\nHeader image with thanks to Birmingham Design Festival.\nSee more from their campaign here\nLegal and HR\nThese links are hosted externally by friends and colleagues across the sector, and we're indebted to those who have compiled fantastic lists elsewhere. Where possible we have included additional resource lists to help continue your research.\nArts Council updated Covid-19 guidance\nhttps:\/\/www.artscouncil.org.uk\/covid19\nWMCA latest advice for businesses\nhttps:\/\/beta.wmca.org.uk\/what-we-do\/covid-19-support\/business-support\nWMCA community support hub\nhttps:\/\/beta.wmca.org.uk\/the-mayor\/community-support-hub\/\nGov.uk Covid-19 guidance for employers & businesses\nhttps:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19\nSupport & Advice for Midlands Businesses via Midlands Engine\nhttps:\/\/www.midlandsengine.org\/covid-19\/\nSector-specific guidance on social distancing\nhttps:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance\nZoom Security\nhttps:\/\/zoom.us\/security\nAccessibility in Video Conferencing\nhttps:\/\/www.drakemusic.org\/blog\/becky-morris-knight\/accessibility-in-video-conferencing-and-remote-meetings\/\n.Gov Business Support\nhttps:\/\/www.businesssupport.gov.uk\/\nCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme\nhttps:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme\nStatutory Sick Pay (SSP): employers guide\nhttps:\/\/www.gov.uk\/employers-sick-pay\nACAS advice for employers and employees\nhttps:\/\/www.acas.org.uk\/coronavirus\nArt Law & More: The legal implications of COVID-19 on the UK arts market\nhttps:\/\/artlawandmore.com\/2020\/03\/30\/covid-19-what-are-the-legal-implications-for-the-uk-arts-market\nLegal advice around Coronavirus from Bates Wells\nhttps:\/\/bateswells.co.uk\/insights\/?campaign=coronavirus\nDESIblitz Jobs is offering is businesses a package of free advertising in their BAME focussed jobs board. Register here - https:\/\/www.desiblitz.com\/jobs\/employer-sign-up\/\nHeader image with thanks to Birmingham Design Festival. See more from their campaign here\nWhether you're interested in working with us or for us, we're always happy to chat.\nFor enquiries: info@culturecentral.co.uk\nWhile you're here sign up to our newsletter to stay in the loop with all things Culture Central\nCopyright \u00a9 2020 - Culture Central - Registered company number: 10189944 All rights reserved.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Eurovision 2020 | Belgium publishes 'Release me' by Hooverphonic\nThe Belgian band Hooverphonic was the first representative announced for Eurovision 2020. Today, they have released their song for Rotterdam, \"Release me\". The song was released on the radio station MNM this morning and then at the headquarters of Flemish broadcaster VRT.\n\"Release me\" is a song of the typical style that characterizes Hooverphonic, although trying to be commercial and with stringed instruments added. The song was written by band member Alex Callier and was also composed by Callier alongside Italian composer Luca Chiaravalli (producer and one of the composers of Italy's Eurovision 2017 entry \"Occidentali's Karma\"). \"The song is about saying goodbye. I wrote it when my father was terminally ill, but 'Release Me' has a universal theme: everyone has to deal with saying goodbye at one point in life, to a friend, family or lover\", explained Alex Callier.\nHooverphonic premiered the official music video on a press conference this morning and it's already on the Eurovision Official Youtube Channel. The trio said about the video: \"Director Matthias Lebeer has captured the song's essence in a poetic and stylistic fashion that matches his signature style and perfectly aligns with Hooverphonic's world. If we have learned one thing, it's that a song that's written from personal experience will be received well. As if the audience feels the authenticity\".\nDo you like \"Release me\"? What are you expecting from this song in Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments below!\n#Hooverphonic #Belgium #ESC #ESC2020 #Eurovision #VRT","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Bloody girls: on periods and poverty\nBy Pip Adam\n24.Aug.16\nLast week my social media timelines were humming with Olympic swimmer Fu Yuanhui's revelation of the shocking truth that women have periods. Her off-hand comment that her period had started the night before her 4\u00d7100 meter relay was being hailed as a 'groundbreaking moment in Olympic history'. I don't think it's conspiratorial to imagine the quirky advertising campaign that will follow Yuanhui breaking this 'taboo in sports', as menstrual product companies try to own this story too.\nThe excitement over Yuanhui's comments was kind of a brutal reminder of how present yet hidden menstruating is for people like me, who bleed on a monthly basis.\nOn the one hand, there is the inescapability of my body, the ever presence of my period: it is on or just over or waiting to happen. I'm always acutely aware of this thing that is occurring inside me \u2013 and then there is this weird hiding of that fact.\nThere are a lot of societal pressures that control how and where I bleed. I have never been told, 'Make sure your blood doesn't show', but I know this is one of the rules. I found it out from Carrie and from terrifying stories at school. I learnt it from my mother and other women around me. But I think the greatest teacher of 'bleed invisibly' was the menstrual industry. I wasn't sure what the correct term is for people who manufacture and sell the products marketed for people to use while they are bleeding but then I found this:\nFeminine hygiene is a term used for explanation of personal care products which are used by women during menstrual discharge, menstruation and other body functions related to the vulva.\nFirst off, the vulva? Second, that term feminine hygiene and it's hideous other horseman sanitary products.\nAs far as I can tell menstrual blood is not unhygienic or unsanitary. While it seems easier to wash or throw out a pad or cup than trying to launder clothes and furniture, this language of cleanliness \u2013 and by inference its ever-present cousin filth \u2013 seems to have been a fundamental part of the lessons the industry has taught me about my period. There seems to be an implicit idea about disease in that word 'hygiene', too. As there'll be some outbreak if I don't use pads or tampons that will affect everyone.\nFeminine hygiene is a $15-billion industry. If I were making $15 billion from anything, I'd do everything I could to protect the story keeping that money coming in. All the blue liquid and swimming pools I could muster would be setting about controlling when and where women bleed and how they felt about themselves while doing it.\nThis $15 billion is coming from somewhere. An article in the Huffington Post last year estimated that an average woman spends $1,773.33 on tampons in her lifetime. This 'pink tax' comes out of a woman's pay pack \u2013 which is on average 21 percent less than a man, who possibly will most likely never have to buy a tampon or a mooncup in his life (unless he has dependants).\nRecently, in New Zealand, there was an article about young women missing school and university because they didn't have enough money to buy pads and tampons. This made me sad and angry. It felt like something out of the dark ages. Women excluded from society because of their period. Or perhaps more accurately because of the story society tells about how and where we can bleed \u2013 what's appropriate, what's hygienic.\nI put this article on Facebook and immediately my friends started commenting. On the whole they were advocating for homemade and reusable products \u2013 mooncups, sewn pads. Mainly because these were cheaper, lasted longer but also there were a few replies that pointed out these products were better for the environment. Their response made me look at the article in a different way. I felt angry at the way capitalism had taken ownership over where and how we bleed. I felt sad that we weren't all sitting around sewing our pads. That this billion-dollar industry and its keep your period hidden message owned the story of menstruation, and they were holding on tight, because to keep our periods hidden we need to buy their products.\nTo be honest, I also feel uneasy about the suggestions of $50 mooncups and time and skill-heavy solutions to the problem of not having access to products that allow a woman to bleed in a socially acceptable way \u2013 that is, carrying on in society as if you weren't bleeding.\nBut what if you don't have $50 for a mooncup? Like those who can't find $5 for a box of 20 tampons. What if you live in a house where ten people use one bathroom and you don't have a place to put a bucket to soak your home-made pads in? Admittedly, some of the women in the Facebook thread were offering to sew these pads for women and some suggested that mooncups could be subsidised. My friends aren't deluded about how complex the issue is. They were trying to find ways to make these reusable products accessible to everyone.\nBut I still felt uneasy. When the question is 'Can I have a tampon?' the Left's reply is, 'Let's work together to find a solution that's sustainable and good for us all,' while, the neoliberal Right's is 'Work hard and you can get all the tampons you want.' And, in this case, I found the Right's a surprisingly appealing reply. It's the reply the dirt poor twenty-year-old I was in the nineties would have found most appealing.\nUpon reflection, I realised it was all tied into that story I'd been pitched since I was looking at a bloody pair of pants in a school bathroom back in the 1980s: keep that hidden. Hidden means keep it to yourself. Keeping it to yourself means not talking to others, not asking for help, acting as an individual not a community.\nIt dawned on me, then, how completely capitalism had taken control of the story of menstruation \u2013 that a woman keeping her period hidden might seem the most appealing option. It made me realise how important that Facebook conversation was. How Fu Yuanhui's comments \u2013 and Kiran Gandi's free-bleeding London Marathon last year \u2013 actually had great power and were ground breaking. A very important part of making sure no more women missed school, I realised, was taking back the story of menstruation in very public ways.\nIt sounds so old-fashioned, because in many ways it feels like we've fought and won this battle over and over, but I think it can take the weight of attention again, now.\nA friend and I were talking yesterday about how we're introducing all the menstrual options to our daughters \u2013 how we're trying to be careful not to just favour the products we use. Our talk moved on to how expensive these products were and how easy it is to get free condoms. That's the story I'd like to be telling five years from now, 'Remember when you paid for pads and tampons? Remember that dark old time before they were subsidised and some people couldn't afford them?' and part of making that happen is taking back control of the menstruation story now. If something's hidden then the people hiding it control the story. But if a community controls the story, I feel like great things can happen.\nWriters and artists, enter our Fair Australia Prize!\nThere are $4000 prizes in the categories of fiction, essay, poetry and cartoon\/graphic that explore the themes of fairness and our common future.\nHow do we make a fair society? What are the things that need to change?\nWhat would a sustainable future or a just justice system look like?\nHow can we improve labour or employment practices?\nWhat might a fairer planet look like in twenty years?\nCloses 31 August. Visit the 2016 Overland NUW Fair Australia Prize page for details. Entry is free.\nPip Adam has published a collection of short stories, Everything We Hoped For and the novels I'm Working on a Building , The New Animals and Nothing to See (VUP). She makes the podcast Better off Read.\nMore by Pip Adam\nFrom Alison on 25 August 2016 at 7.51 am\nFirst time I've read your opinion pieces\u2026 Only the short stories up till now. This piece was awesome to read and thought provoking. Made me think about the messages I give my kids\u2026\nFrom Pip on 30 August 2016 at 6.44 am\nThanks Alison, yeah, having a kid makes me feel like the world's messages and the messages I send are projected in technicolour, I see them so differently and it gets me questioning things I took for granted before.\nFrom Julie on 30 August 2016 at 2.24 pm\nWe will fully know we live in a Fair Go society when a recent campaign by young women petitioned Treasurer Hockey on public tv to remove GST off sanitary products is a success. What do you have to do to be considered at all? Well at least we're not female refugees having to grovel for some 'feminine hygeine'\u2026\nGood to read a period piece\u2026\nLeave a Reply to Alison Cancel reply","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Sex Act Offences if Child is Between 10 and 16 Years of Age\nSahar Adatia.\nAn investigation has been launched to track down a middle-aged man who allegedly performed a \"sex act\" while prowling outside a childcare centre in Balmain in Sydney's inner west.\nThe disturbing incident is reported to have taken place just before 1:15pm on Tuesday 17 August 2021 at the childcare centre on Thames Street, leaving parents and staff sickened.\nAccording to NSW Police, a passer-by informed officers of the event after witnessing an unknown man perform the sexual act.\nWhen the member of the public approached the man, he promptly took off from the scene.\nOfficers from Leichhardt Police Area Command attended and carried out extensive patrols of the area.\nDespite their efforts, the man could not be located.\nNow, NSW Police have released images of a man who may be able to assist with their ongoing investigations after he was captures on surveillance footage near the childcare centre.\nThe man depicted in the images is described as being of Caucasian appearance and aged in his 40s or 50s.\nHe is around 185cm tall, of medium build and has brown, thinning hair.\nIn the images, the man can be seen wearing a dark jacket, blue denim jeans and sneakers.\nNSW Police are urging members of the community who may have any information about the identity of the man in the images, or the alleged incident, to contact police immediately.\nCommunity in Shock as NSW Police Informs of Alleged Offender on the Loose But Praises Officers for Doing \"Actual Police Work Rather than Search Through Poo For Covid\"\nThe worrying incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many expressing both disgust and disbelief over the man's alleged sex act.\nIn a post shared online by NSW Police Force, online users unanimously shared this view.\n\"I can't believe people like this walk around amongst us. So scary,\" one user wrote.\n\"I hope he is caught before he has a chance to do it again. Shared!\" another voiced, which reverberated as others commented the man is a \"sick person\".\nOne user simply pointed out how \"mortified\" they would be if they happened to know the man.\nMeanwhile, others advocated that such crimes are where the police should, in fact, be focusing their efforts \u2013 a sentiment arriving as the NSW community face tough restrictions and policing under the current COVID-19 lockdown.\n\"That's more like it, going after ACTUAL criminals, instead of innocent people just trying to get by,\" one woman insisted.\n\"Good to see you guys going after some criminals for a change. Get him!\" another echoed.\nThis sentiment was reinforced once again as another person offered perspective, \"Great to see you guys still do actual police work rather than search through poo for Covid\".\nThe investigation continues.\nIn NSW, as per section 66DD of the Crimes Act 1900, it is a criminal offence to carry out a sexual act with or towards a child who is of or above the age of 10 years and under the age of 16 years.\nAnyone who commits an offence of this kind can face a maximum penalty of up to two years in jail and a criminal record.\nAccording to section 66DD, it is also an offence to incite a child within this age bracket to carry out a sexual act with or towards the person (alleged offender), or to incite the child to carry out a sexual act with or towards another person, orto incite another person to carry out a sexual act with or towards a child within this age bracket.\nAll of the aforementioned offences also carry a maximum penalty of two years in jail.\nIt should be noted that where the victim is aged under 10 years, as per section 66DC of the Crimes Act 1900, the maximum penalty a person can face for any such offence increases to seven years in jail.\nA \"sexual act\" is understood as behaviour that a reasonable person would consider to be sexual.\nQuestions? speak to a criminal lawyers in Sydney today.\nMan Allegedly Performed a Sex Act in Front of a 21-Year-Old Woman on Sydney Train\nWhat is a Sexual Act in NSW?\nMan Sentenced for Exposing Genitals to Schoolgirls: Sexual Act Offences\nFormer High Court Judge, Justice Dyson Heydon faces further sexual harassment complaints\nStranger Allegedly Sexually Touched School Girl is Yet to be Identified and Charged\nWhat are the Penalties for Having Sex with an Under Age Person?","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"in Politics, Pakistan\nFollowing the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to restore the Assemblies, the issue of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is once again in the court of the National Assembly, where the opposition is likely to vote on the motion in today's session.\nElection Commission removes the spokesperson from office for giving a controversial statement\nGeneral Asim Munir takes over the command of Pakistan Army\nTags: Asad QaiserImran KhanNational AssemblyNational Assembly of PakistanPrime Minister of PakistanSpeaker National AssemblySupreme Court\nImran Khan announces to leave all assemblies\nTop Spaces in Twitter History\n'Pakistan is the most dangerous nation,' says Oldman Joe Biden on China-related question\nRussia has signaled the third world war","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"THE ORIGINAL RONALDO, AND WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN\nFiled under: Uncategorized | Tags: 1994 World Cup, 1998 World Cup final, AC Milan, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Fabio Capello, FC Barcelona, FC Brasov, FIFA World Player of the Year, hypothyroidism, Inter Milan, Italian Cup, Lecce, Nike, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Ronaldo, Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima, The Phenomenon, UEFA Cup\nBrazilian superstar Ronaldo, citing the toll the game has taken on his 34-year-old body, announced his retirement from soccer.\nOnce known as The Phenomenon, the striker leaves as the all-time World Cup scorer with 15 goals over three tournaments (he was part of the 1994 World Cup squad as a 17-year-old but did not play). Winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1996 and 1997, Ronaldo received that honor a third time for leading Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title.\nRonaldo scored more than 400 goals in a stellar career that began in 1993 with Cruzeiro and followed with stops at PSV Eindhoven, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan and, finally, back in Brazil with Corinthians. His contract with Corinthians was due to expire at the end of the year, and he had been routinely hooted by fans for his obvious lack of match fitness.\n\"With this announcement, it feels like my first death,\" Ronaldo said.\nHe added: \"My career was beautiful, was wonderful. I've had many defeats but infinite victories.\" [February 14]\nComment: Ronaldo's career was doomed four years ago, when he learned he had hypothyroidism, a condition that makes it difficult to lose weight. But it should be remembered that the man whose irresistable, explosive runs into the enemy penalty area often ended with a goal and a trademark gap-toothed grin was among the most star-crossed stars in modern soccer.\nBest known of his physical setbacks, of course, is Ronaldo's mysterious performance at the 1998 World Cup final against host France. Ronaldo had scored a team-leading four goals to that point, but the afternoon of the game, in the team's hotel in Paris, he suffered convulsions, possibly the result of the combination of medications that had been administered to him for injuries to an ankle, a calf, a knee. Scratched from the starting lineup an hour before the game, he was reinstated (it was rumored under pressure from the team's mega-sponsor, Nike), played a lackluster 90 minutes and managed two shots, one a sitter from five yards that he sent directly at the chest of France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. Shaken by the pre-game drama, the swaggerless Brazilians bowed to the French, 3-0.\nNot as well remembered is the period, starting four months after Paris, that typified the career of Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima. That November, he scored for Inter in an Italian Cup game against derby rival AC Milan, but he soon limped off the field with a ruptured kneecap tendon. Upon his return the following January he sustained another injury that shelved him for two months. But the most serious threat to Ronaldo's career came in November 1999 when he tore up his knee in an Italian league match against Lecce. After surgery and rehabilitation, he returned to action in April 2000 in an Italian Cup game and lasted all of eight minutes before rupturing ligaments in the same knee. Ronaldo wouldn't be back until the following season, and in September 2001 he sustained a thigh strain in a UEFA Cup match gainst FC Brasov of Romania. After eight weeks on the sidelines, he touched the ball three times in a league match against Lecce and limped off with another thigh strain. In all, the six injuries over four seasons forced him to miss 14 months of games.\nThe triumph over Germany at Korea\/Japan '02 proved that Ronaldo wasn't entirely snake bit, and Real Madrid, apparently convinced that he was indestructable, bought the then-25-year-old for $58 million. Five years and 99 goals in 164 appearances later, a falling out with Real coach Fabio Capello prompted Ronaldo to move to AC Milan, and naturally another career-threating knee injury\u2013the rupture of left kneecap ligament\u2013followed. During his rehabilitation his reputation took a hit when he was caught in an encounter with cross-dressing prostitutes.\nThings were never the same, of course. And now, one can only wonder where Ronaldo's place in soccer history would be if he hadn't lost what were four years from the prime of his career. One thing is certain: For the past few years, when one mentions \"Ronaldo,\" it's understood that the player in question is the Portuguese\u2013not Brazilian\u2013version.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"While in primary school, Foxtel's Turner Classic Movies and Fox Classics TV channels introduced me to wonderful cinematic classics starring musical stars like Doris Day, Fred Astaire, and Judy Garland. My grandfather's CD collection and local RTRFM radio show Nostalgia introduced me to classics by Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra. It is to this musical and cinematic history that Memory Lane pays tribute.\nMemory Lane is a nostalgic cabaret show for audiences young and old who appreciate and love the film, music, and radio stars of the 1910s-1950s. Featuring songs by Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and many more, Memory Lane at Ellington Jazz Club invites you to wander back through time on a sentimental journey as Jake Dennis and the Mint Jazz Band perform familiar and forgotten standards you love from cinematic and music icons of the first half of the 20th Century.\nThe perfect show for those who love to reminisce and sing-a-long, Memory Lane is scheduled for 6pm Sunday 22nd May. Tickets to Memory Lane make the perfect gift for yourself, your parents, or your friends who love jazz, swing, and blues classics and who love the intimate and classy atmosphere of The Ellington.\nJake Dennis and the Mint Jazz Band's highly successful cabaret shows Classic Crooners, Come Fly With Me, Gatsby's Cabaret, and Like Blown Smoke were performed to full houses at Perth's best venues, including Downstairs at His Majesty's Theatre, Ellington Jazz Club, Laneway Lounge, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, and the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre. Book your tickets through Ellington Jazz Club today to secure your place for you and your family at Memory Lane.\nThis entry was posted on May 13, 2016 by Jake Dennis. It was filed under Uncategorized and was tagged with 1910s-1950s, Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, Downstairs at His Majesty's Theatre, Ellington Jazz Club, Fox Classics, Foxtel TCM, Holly Wood Tuesday Morning, Jake Dennis, Jake Dennis Mint Jazz Band, Jake Dennis singer, Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, Laneway Lounge, Mark Cunniffe, Memory Lane, Mint Jazz Band, Nostalgia RTRFM, Perth jazz singer, Turner Classic Movies.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Conservative Fertility-preserving Surgery in a Woman with Huge Adenomyosis using Triple Flap Technique and Mirena: A Case Report\nDocument Type : Case Reports\nAzam Tarafdari 1\nFatemeh Keikha 1\nMahrouz Malek 2\nAzin Ghamari 3\n1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran\n2 Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran\n3 Growth and Development Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran\nBackground and Objective: Being considered a common benign uterine disorder, Adenomyosis (AD) is defined as the presence of an endometrial gland and stroma within the myometrium. It causes symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. It has a step-by-step treatment, initiating with medical therapy, conservative surgery, and finally, the hysterectomy. As some of the women with adenomyosis are nulligravid and want to become pregnant later, most patients prefer fertility-preserving surgery.\nCase Report: This study describes the management of diffuse posterior AD in a 36-year-old virgin female by triple flap technique and levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) insertion during operation to prevent future recurrence and reduction of patient's symptoms. The application of the triple flap technique and LNG-IUD in this patient was associated with excellent results.\nConclusion: The wide excision of the lesion leads to symptom improvement, especially hypermenorrhea and dysmenorrhea; besides, the reconstruction of the uterine wall with this technique increases the risk of the possibility of future pregnancy for our patient.\nAdenomyomectomy\nLevonorgestrel intrauterine device\nTriple flap technique\nBeing considered as a common benign uterine disorder, Adenomyosis (AD) is defined as the presence of endometrial gland and stroma within the myometrium in more than 2.5 mm of depth, which is surrounded by reactive fibrosis, hyperplastic and hypertrophic smooth muscle (1). AD is mostly diagnosed in multiparous women in their 30s or 40s; although, it can occur in nulligravid women, and for cultural and emotional issues, these women are unwilling to hysterectomy. Because it is mostly determined by pathologic examination after hysterectomy, the prevalence of AD is different, ranging between 10% to 66% (2). Based on histological evaluations, AD is classified into the localized (focal) or diffuse; when the whole myometrium or more than half of it, is involved. Its main symptoms include secondary progressive dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility (3). Management of AD comprises long-term hormonal therapy, intrauterine device, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, analgesic, and finally, hysterectomy (4). Hysterectomy is the most common choice, especially in those women with complete family planning; however, the patients' desire for future fertility makes us perform conservative surgeries, which results in uterine preservation. This study aims to describe the management of diffuse AD in a 36-year-old virgin female by triple flap technique and levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) insertion.\nA 36-year-old virgin female was referred to Imam Khomeini hospital complex in 2020, due to heavy and intermittent vaginal bleeding ten months before our visit. Her past medical history consisted of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, using Amlodipine, Losartan, Metformin, and Glibenclamide. She received oral contraceptive pills, progesterone, and five months of GnRH agonist for the symptoms, which were not useful, and the symptoms were refractory to the conservative medication. Hysterectomy was recommended due to abnormal bleeding unresponsive to medical management, but since she was virgin and nulligravid and willing to future pregnancy, she was referred to our institution for uterine-preserving conservative surgery.\nOn the physical examination, uterine mass, equivalent to 20-22 weeks of gestation, was obvious. The laboratory tests showed a hemoglobin level of 6.6 g\/dL and a platelet level of 444*103 \/mcL. On the abdominal ultrasound study, the uterine measured 200*180 mm with an endometrial thickness of 4mm, and a posterior uterine mass without obscure boundary was noted. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was in favor of the diffuse posterior AD. MRI was performed with a pelvic coil in 3 tesla MR scanner (GE.healthcare SIGNA) the patient had fasting for about 6 hours intramuscular injection of hyoscine was done 15 minutes before MRI. Routine pelvic MRI protocol (sagittal axial and coronal T2 and axial T1 Images) DWI with b value 0.400,800 and post-contrast images in three plans was done. T2 weighted images showed diffuse enlargement of posterior myometrium of the uterus (low T2 with small bright foci), which appears inhomogeneous on both T1w and T2w images without discrete mass that represents the typical appearance of diffuse adenomyosis and endometrium was thin (Figure 1a, b). On post-contrast T1 FS images, diffuse heterogeneous enhancement was noted without any separate mass (Figure 1c). Axial Diffusion-weighted imaging at b = 800 and ADC map showed no restriction. The ADC value was 1.29 \u00d7 10\u22123\u2009mm2\/s (Figure 1d, e). Both adnexa, cervix, and other pelvic organs were normal on MRI.\nFigure 1. Pelvic MRI in a 36 year-old female, showing abnormally enlarged uterus a) sagittal T2 weighted fast spin-echo Images and b) axial T2 weighted Images shows uterus is diffusely enlarged with the fundus at the level of L4 vertebral body. The junctional zone is thick, containing multiple small high signal foci typical for diffuse Adenomyosis. Endometrial thickness was 3mm without intracavitary mass or distortion. c) T1 weighted fat-suppressed images show diffuse heterogeneous enhancement. d and e) DWI and ADC map shows no restriction.\nAdenomyomectomy with triple flap technique was performed, as previously described by Osada in 2011 (5). The surgery was performed following the transverse suprapubic incision and placing the rubber tube around the proximal od cervix. The AD was visible after bisection of the uterus from the serosa surface of the fundus in midline and in the sagittal plane and the AD tissue was resected from the surrounding myometrium by grasping by Martin Forceps. The uterus was then reconstructed by the triple flap technique. An LNG-IUD (Mirena, Bayer Co., Germany) was applied intraoperatively in uterine cavity for the prevention of future AD recurrence. She was administered with four units of packed red blood cells intraoperatively. During the postoperative period, no signs and symptoms of fever and hemorrhage were noted. In the 6-month follow-up visit, the uterine size was decreased significantly (the uterine size was equivalent to 12 weeks of gestation), the hemoglobin level was alleviated (hemoglobin level of 12.5 g\/dL), and menstrual cycles was normal without any abnormal bleeding.\nThe treatment of AD is a step-by-step strategy, starting with conservative management of symptoms with medication, followed by conservative surgery, and finally, hysterectomy. The main limitation of the medication is the potential recurrence of the symptoms, as the medications cause the AD regress and not eradicate. In severe cases refractory to medical treatment, conservative surgery has been considered, especially in patients who want to preserve fertility. The goal of conservative surgery is to restore normal anatomy and physiology of the uterus, preserve fertility, eliminate severe symptoms, and improve the patient's quality of life. The triple flap technique was first described by Osada in 2011 (5); this technique was performed on 104 patients with high efficacy in symptom elimination, fertility preservation, and low rate of relapse (5). Few studies have been done to evaluate the efficacy of this technique in patients with diffuse AD. Another study on 113 women operated with this technique indicated that the blood flow becomes normal within six months, and from 62 women who became pregnant, 32 normal babies were delivered by cesarean section. No uterine rupture was reported, and recurrence of AD occurred for four patients (6). This technique was applied by Kim et al. for a 44-year-old woman with huge AD and pelvic adhesion (7). In 2020, Kaplunov et al. used this technique for 41 women with diffuse AD (8); AD was associated with hysteromyoma in 51.2% of patients. They concluded that this technique is a good alternative technique for hysterectomy in these patients (8). Similar to our patient, Tskhay et al. in 2019, this technique is studied in 26 women with AD; they reported that in the 18-months follow-up period, the menstruation became normal and the AD signs and symptoms disappeared in all patients, three patients became pregnant spontaneously, and two of them delivered full-term babies following the cesarean section (9); in contrast, our patient had no delivery post-operatively because she was virgin. Wiweko et al. in 2016, studied 40 women with AD treated by AD resection (with\/without Osada's technique) and who were underwent hysterectomy (10). They concluded that conservative surgery is efficient for symptom relief and preserving fertility (10). Several operative and postoperative complications could be considered for this technique; as AD has an unclear border with normal myometrium, the small vessels in the mass could result in remarkable hemorrhage, which leads to blood transfusion intra and postoperatively and even converts to hysterectomy, in our patient severe hemorrhage did not occur; four units of packed red blood cells were transfused; additionally, according to the extent of the lesion, uterine rupture in the following pregnancy could occur. However, as seen in our patient, the flap techniques did not cause extra morbidities, including the occurrence of the hematoma, dehiscence of the uterine scar, or adhesions (11). The LNG-IUD releases progesterone into the uterus, which is effective for five years; it downregulates the uterine estrogen and progesterone receptors, which brings about the endometrial proliferative antagonism (3). This could help to alleviate the symptoms in women with AD and prevent AD relapse in the future.\nThe application of the triple flap technique and LNG-IUD in this patient was associated with excellent results; the wide excision of the lesion leads to symptom improvement, especially hypermenorrhea and dysmenorrhea; besides, the reconstruction of the uterine wall with this technique increases the risk of the possibility of future pregnancy for our patient. Besides, complications such as hemorrhage did not occur. For the prevention of future AD recurrence, LNG-IUD was administered. The 6-months follow-up period was satisfying, the size of the uterine was decreased, and the symptoms were disappeared\nThe authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article\nHarada T, Khine YM, Kaponis A, Nikellis T, Decavalas G, Taniguchi F. The impact of adenomyosis on women's fertility. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2016;71(9):557. [DOI:10.1097\/OGX.0000000000000346] [PMID]\nVercellini P, Vigan\u00f2 P, Somigliana E, Daguati R, Abbiati A, Fedele L. Adenomyosis: epidemiological factors. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2006;20(4):465-77. [DOI:10.1016\/j.bpobgyn.2006.01.017] [PMID]\nGao Y, Shan S, Zhao X, Jiang J, Li D, Shi B. Clinical efficacy of adenomyomectomy using \"H\" type incision combined with Mirena in the treatment of adenomyosis. Medicine. 2019;98(11). [DOI:10.1097\/MD.0000000000014579] [PMID]\nNishida M, Takano K, Arai Y, Ozone H, Ichikawa R. Conservative surgical management for diffuse uterine adenomyosis. Fertil Steril. 2010;94(2):715-9. [DOI:10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2009.03.046] [PMID]\nOsada H, Silber S, Kakinuma T, Nagaishi M, Kato K, Kato O. Surgical procedure to conserve the uterus for future pregnancy in patients suffering from massive adenomyosis. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011;22(1):94-9. [DOI:10.1016\/j.rbmo.2010.09.014] [PMID]\nOsada H NM, Teramoto S. Shikyukin furappuho niyoru, shikyuharetsuyobokoka s-stRc-yo, method: nkAbumf, rupture.]. Coaiotpeou, 2017;84:1303-15. OGT.\nKim T-H, Lee H-H, Chung S-H, Lee W. The triple-flap method for huge uterine adenomyosis with pelvic adhesions. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012;25(6):649. [DOI:10.1016\/j.rbmo.2012.09.011] [PMID]\nKaplunov V\u0410 TV, Mikailli GT, Badmayeva SZh. Possibilities of organ-preserving surgical treatment of patients with diff use adenomyosis, 10.20333\/2500136-2020-2-92-9 cwhSMR-D.\nTskhay VB, Schindler AE, Mikailly GT. Diffuse massive adenomyosis and infertility. Is it possible to treat this condition? Hormone molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation. 2019;37(1). [DOI:10.1515\/hmbci-2018-0026] [PMID]\nWiweko B, Legiantuko A, Kemal A, Pratama G, Situmorang H, Sumapraja K, et al. The Outcome on Conservative Surgical Treatment of Adenomyosis. Indonesian J Obstet Gyneco. 2016:198-202. [DOI:10.32771\/inajog.v4i4.448]\nMikos T, Lioupis M, Anthoulakis C, Grimbizis GF. The Outcome of Fertility-Sparing and Nonfertility-Sparing Surgery for the Treatment of Adenomyosis. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2020;27(2):309-31. e3. [DOI:10.1016\/j.jmig.2019.08.004] [PMID]\nTarafdari, A., Keikha, F., Malek, M., & Ghamari, A. (2021). Conservative Fertility-preserving Surgery in a Woman with Huge Adenomyosis using Triple Flap Technique and Mirena: A Case Report. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research, 6(2), 95-98. doi: 10.30699\/jogcr.6.2.95\nAzam Tarafdari; Fatemeh Keikha; Mahrouz Malek; Azin Ghamari. \"Conservative Fertility-preserving Surgery in a Woman with Huge Adenomyosis using Triple Flap Technique and Mirena: A Case Report\". Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research, 6, 2, 2021, 95-98. doi: 10.30699\/jogcr.6.2.95\nTarafdari, A., Keikha, F., Malek, M., Ghamari, A. (2021). 'Conservative Fertility-preserving Surgery in a Woman with Huge Adenomyosis using Triple Flap Technique and Mirena: A Case Report', Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research, 6(2), pp. 95-98. doi: 10.30699\/jogcr.6.2.95\nTarafdari, A., Keikha, F., Malek, M., Ghamari, A. Conservative Fertility-preserving Surgery in a Woman with Huge Adenomyosis using Triple Flap Technique and Mirena: A Case Report. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research, 2021; 6(2): 95-98. doi: 10.30699\/jogcr.6.2.95","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Historical and Philosophical studies\nSubject: Historical and Philosophical studies\nHow seriously did people take claim that kings ruled with Gods blessing?\nHow seriously did people take claim that kings ruled with God?s blessing? People did not seriously take claim that kings ruled with God?s blessing; it was more widely accepted that kings ruled to preserve the obfuscating feudal society, rather than for divine right. As Petit-Dutaillis articulates the kings? function was purely for political ideology with financial principles and national social amalgamation to uphold a feudalistic society; which was seen at best the only effective configuration appropriate for a violent, disfiguring and destructible world. It would be more supplementary sensible to argue that ?it was essential? for people to ?have a public authority?, as to destroy the emergence of ?tyranny? there ?must be kings?.[1] However, it undoubtedly must be acknowledged that there are arguments harmonizing that people seriously claimed kings ruled with God?s blessing, these aspects of arguments must also be carefully analysed. As the question is fairly vague in its wording, by only highlighting people, it must be discussed through groups of people from separate backgrounds within a feudal society such as: the monarchy itself, the Pope and his clergy representatives, the nobility and peasants. At first it is best to evaluate the altercation supporting that people took claim that kings ruled with God?s blessing from the point of view of the monarchy in which Jones and Herrin are promoters. ...read more.\nKantorowicz follows on to highlight the cleric's incontestable elevated position as a 'member of the Duchy's high clergy' indicating the close relationship between kings and church.[10] Jones also adds, by again using King Richard II of England as an example, that Richard increased expenditure to the church and allowed clergy administrators to take a more active role within his court which in return the church f\u00eated Richard's reign as being stoutly blessed by God, this put Richard in such a potent 'absolutism' which was never enjoyed before by any other previous English king. 'The king sought more consistently the companionship of monks' in the later part of his reign.[11] Although the process of how the church manipulated kings for power expansion has been explored, there are other examples of how the church questioned kings' blessed rule. Following on with another factor was the potent influence the church had on the wide-ranging populace such as the nobles and peasants, not just on the monarchy itself. It must be understood that the Catholic Church was a universally important part of people's way of life; being the centre of the community, in which taking into consideration, would sway peoples ideals on how serious they took claim that kings ruled with God's blessing. ...read more.\nAs Pope Innocent III himself wrote to the barons, enforcing the Magna Carta, stating ?they should bear in mind their higher loyalty to God?.[20] Thus, it can be understood that people did not seriously take claim that kings ruled with God?s blessing but more with the blessing of his subjects, the church and nobles, to represent them politically, economically and socially at a national society. The monarchy used the conception of ruling with God?s blessing as a somewhat propaganda tool to use in their own favour to maintain supremacy over the lower classes. It would be best to tend to argue that although people from such areas as the church celebrated the notion of kings? divine rule it was purely political; the king was a matter of fact a vassal representing the church. Following on from this the lords and nobility had the capability to undermine the kings throne through constitutions and demands which became increasingly apparent through the later centuries, also evident with the peasant classes but to a lesser extent. Clearly it can be asserted that people took claim that the king upheld such an assertive prestige was because of his significance of maintaining a structured national society and to avow security; somewhat a necessity then a spiritual one. ...read more.\nThis student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our University Degree Medieval History section.\nRelated University Degree Medieval History essays\nT o what extent does the Demographic Transition Model provide a reliable and accurate ...\nIf this theory were to be proved, it would appear that the demographic transition model doesn't provide an accurate representation of England, and therefore Europe's demographic past. However, the diagram following shows changes in fertility and mortality between 1700 and 1940 in the United Kingdom, and indicates no such rapid rise in birth rate.\nEngland Under Henry VIII\nFortune, however, flavoured him better than he deserved: he gave the French battle, and they took such an anaccountable panic, and fled with such swiftness, that it was ever afterwards called by the English the Battle of Spurs**. Instead of following up his advantage, the King, finding that he had had enough of real fighting, came home again.\nA Commentary on the Laws of King Alfred, 871-901 A.D.\nAlong with this educational programme came the law-codes which were written in Old English so that they were much more accessible to the majority of the people. 'Many copies must have been circulated' so that it could be known to all it would effect.15 As well as encouraging learning this\nHow important was royal patronage in the establishment and development of Portuguese overseas empire ...\nIn just a short five year period surrounding the turn of the sixteenth century the Portuguese crown invested more into the Indian Ocean than any other area in the world, of around seven thousand foot soldiers and a fleet of warships to establish a monopoly on trade with the Estado da India.\nHow important were the political and economic factors in the Christianization of Vikings\ntraded with neighbours on all sides, in Byzantium and in Asia and were consequently exposed to a wide range of ideas, technologies, and cultural influences. It interacted effectively with Christian Europe, the Hellenic Empire of Byzantium and the Islamic civilization of the Arabs.31 The open society of the Kievan Rus\nThe History and Importance of Chinese Literature.\nWhile talking about Chinese literature, one novel that deserves mention more than any other is the ?Dream of the Red Chamber?. Written during the early dynasties, this novel talks about the dream of a person who faced numerous hurdles and problems in pursuit of it.\nHow far did the pre-Reformation church meet the needs of the people?\nmasses for the soul of the founder ? was a means of buying time out of purgatory, as were the buying of indulgences. This exemplifies how the church took away at least part of the pain of losing someone close to you, which was all to often the case in early modern Europe.\nTo what extent was the English Invasion of Irelandan accident, unforeseen and unplanned?\n________________ [1] F. X. Martin, ?Dairmait Mac Murchada and the coming of the Anglo-Normans?, A new history of Ireland II: Medieval Ireland, Art Cosgrove (ed.), 1993, p. 44 [2] [3] F. X. Martin, ?Dairmait Mac Murchada and the coming of the Anglo-Normans?, A new history of Ireland II: Medieval Ireland, Art Cosgrove (ed.), 1993, p.\nLooking for expert help with your Historical and Philosophical studies work?\nEffects of the Fourth Lateran Council on Germany. The pope administered legates to ...\nThe Making of Peoples","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Tag: National Grid\nWilliams\/Transco withdrew all permit applications to NJDEP for the NESE Project on November 26, 2019, the day after National Grid & New York reached an agreement following National Grid's moratorium on gas service.\nWilliams\/Transco will submit new applications \"at a later date.\"\nOnce again, NJDEP did not have\/take the opportunity to deny permit applications for the NESE Project before all permit applications were withdrawn by Williams\/Transco on 11\/26\/19.\nFor the Flood Hazard Area permit application which was \"complete for review\", the DEP's decision date deadline was 11\/28\/19.\nFor the Coastal Wetlands & Waterfront Development applications along with a request for a Section 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Consistency Determination, the decision date was 6\/12\/20 before Williams\/Transco withdrew these applications on 10\/25\/19 and then reapplied \u2013 without anything new in the applications \u2013 on 10\/28\/19. Those 10\/28\/19 applications were administratively complete but had not yet been declared technically complete (which is needed to be considered \"complete for review\") before Williams\/Transco withdrew them.\nOn 11\/26\/19, Williams\/Transco wrote that they withdrew all applications for permits to afford the NJDEP additional time to review the application material and comply with the DEP's timelines under NJ regulations. The DEP has 90 calendar days (which can be extended by exactly 30 calendar days) to render a decision after an application is declared to be \"complete for review\".\nPublically available documents do not reveal that the DEP indicated in any way that they needed extra time for their review or that the DEP asked Williams\/Transco to withdraw and resubmit permit applications so that they would have additional review time.\nGiven the response letter from the DEP's Christopher Jones (11\/27\/19) following the withdrawal of applications, it appears that the permit applications still failed to meet the standards for approval. He wrote that any subsequent new applications would need to address persistent deficiencies in the applications that pertain to (1) confirming that there is a compelling public need for the proposed additional natural gas capacity; (2) steps to show that the alternate access road to the proposed compressor station \u2013 that would avoid or minimize environmental impacts \u2013 is truly not a practicable alternative; and (3) providing information about monitoring the proposed in-water dredging operations to ensure that all best practices and operational procedures would be implemented and that there are adaptive management procedures that could be implemented in case dredging resulted in exceedance of surface water quality standards.\nWilliams\/Transco has not indicated what they will do next other than writing that they will submit applications for the permits at a later date. Note: Prior letters withdrawing applications (6-14-18 & 10-25-19) noted that they would submit new applications in the coming days.\nAt this time, we do not know the plans of Williams\/Transco to obtain permits needed for NESE. Are they waiting to see National Grid's plan for a long-term solution to meeting demand for gas that is due within 3 months?\nRELATED ISSUE:\nNational Grid, the planned recipient of the additional natural gas for New York from the NESE Project, has recently entered an agreement with NY that is outlined below. This was in response to investigative actions following National Grid's moratorium on new or reengaged gas service that was heightened after NYSDEC denied permits for the NESE Project in May 2019.\nThe real need for more gas in this service area has been in question for a while.\nNational Grid's 11-25-19 Agreement with NY\nNational Grid promised that it will meet demand for the next 2 years.\nWithin 3 months, National Grid will propose long-term solutions to gas supply issues in the region:\nReduce demand through energy efficiency & demand response programs (ask & expect more customers to shift to \"non-firm\" service \u2013 oil or other alternate fuel \u2013 and charge these customers differently , being able to penalize them if they do not switch)\nTruck-in compressed natural gas\nLong-term possibilities to be considered include renewable energy sources, conservation strategies, liquefied & compressed natural gas facilities, new natural gas pipeline, and\/or NESE if it is the most viable & sustainable solution.\nLong-term plan needs to be approved by NY State by June 2020 to go into operation by the fall of 2021.\n$36 million penalty will be paid by National Grid to New York.\n$7 million to compensate customers harmed by the moratorium\n$8 million for new gas efficiency measures\n$20 million as investment in clean energy businesses across NY State\nNY's Public Service Commission will appoint a monitor to oversee National Grid's operations & review compliance with this agreement over the next 2 years. National Grid will pay for the monitor.\nNational Grid will host public hearings. At least one will be in Nassau County & another in Suffolk County.\nACTION ALERT: Call or write to your NJ State Legistlators\nThere are many reasons why NJDEP should deny permits for the NESE Project, but they need to know that your representatives oppose it.\nWe know that the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project threatens our health, safety and the quality of our waters and air. Construction of NESE also puts threatened and endangered species in harm's way.\nThe NYSDEC and NJDEP people reviewing the water permit applications are required to apply state regulations in their decision-making.\nElected officials hear from their constituents, and there are certainly behind-the sense conversations that include lobbyists of Williams\/Transco.\nThough we have sent many comments to the NJDEP and do not know exactly what will make a difference in their decision-making process, it is important that we all let our elected officials know how we feel about the NESE Project.\nSOME REASONS WHY THE NJDEP SHOULD DENY THE PERMIT APPLICATIONS\nThe applications do not comply with state regulations for Surface Water Quality, Stormwater Management, and showing a \"compelling public need\" for moving gas across NJ to NY.\nThis project would not benefit New Jersey in any way since the gas would all go to New York. Instead, we would be faced with all of the safety and environmental consequences.\nNESE would create more air and water pollution for the entire region.\nThe NESE pipeline would cut through waterfront areas into the bay, increasing coastal flooding and dredging up toxins in the Raritan Bay. When you cut through a bay like the Raritan, it has an impact on the fisheries as well as the ecology of the Bay. The fish, plants and other living creatures in the Bay would be threatened by this pipeline.\nThis pipeline would cut through the already polluted and sensitive Raritan Bay and the New York Bay. Construction would disrupt 1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment such as arsenic, lead and PCBs, putting toxic chemicals into the Raritan Bay. The release of those toxins will affect aquatic migration, interfere with breeding, contribute to harmful algae blooms, and impact human health.\nWe've spent decades cleaning up the waters in Raritan Bay, and the NESE construction also threatens commercial and recreational fishing economies at the Bayshore.\nThe pipeline project's path would cut across numerous contaminated sites as well as 2 Superfund sites, the Raritan Bay Slag and Higgins Farm sites, as it goes across the state into the Raritan Bay.\nThis project would cut through wetlands and other sensitive areas, further imperiling the water, soil and wildlife with more toxic runoff during construction.\nThis project would increase polluted stormwater runoff, destroy critical habitat and cause significant degradation to the environment.\nThe Coastal Wetland permit would allow for the destruction of wetlands critical for protection against flooding and storm surges. Wetlands also offer vital pollution protection. They filter chemicals and sediment out of the water before it is discharged into the ocean. The loss of those important coastal wetlands will create more pollution and flooding in Middlesex and Monmouth counties.\nIt's dangerous to remove wetlands because they act as natural storm barriers and water filters for the area. The risk will be heightened with worsening storm surges and climate effects including sea level rise.\nStormwater runoff impacts from the proposed Compressor Station 206 will also have harmful results. The station will release formaldehyde, chromium, benzene and hydrocarbons into industrial stormwater runoff that will increase pollution and flooding in an area already plagued by flooding.\nThe Freshwater Wetlands and Flood Hazard Area permits would allow for the destruction of exceptional resource value wetlands and transition areas along with forested areas that are critical for protection against flooding and storm surges as well as vital for the threatened Barred Owl.\nThis gas is highly flammable and dangerous. An accident with this pipeline and compressor station could contaminate our waterways and environment and put people at risk.\nAttached is a list of New Jersey Senators and Representatives. Call and\/or write to your representatives ASAP.\nThe NJDEP has until September 25, 2019 to issue their decision about the Coastal Wetlands and Waterfront Development permit applications.\nPROPOGANDA ACTIONS\nWe know that Williams\/Transco is guaranteed at least a 14% return on its investment via the FERC permitting process, and we know that National Grid (the customer for the NESE gas) is doing everything they can to influence Governor Cuomo and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to issue the permits by not honoring new applications for gas hook-ups until the NESE Project is approved.\nSome points about National Grid\nIn New York, public utilities are natural monopolies because the infrastructure required to produce and deliver a product such as electricity, gas or water is very expensive to build and maintain, and having more than one company building infrastructure would make our streets a mess. As a result, they are granted special status as monopolies, but are overseen and regulated by a public utilities commission to ensure accountability to the public. However, utilities can easily take advantage of their power\u2014and that's what National Grid has done.\nIn July 2019, National Grid sent out an email blast to their customers taking a play from our activist handbook to \"send comments to the DEC\" in favor of the Williams Transco pipeline. In so doing they are abusing their monopoly power to panic customers into lobbying for their private profit.\nNational Grid's recent moratorium on new gas hookups violates state regulatory procedures meant to protect ratepayers.\nThe utility's recent emails to those ratepayers about the illegal moratorium, which ask customers to lobby government agencies to support the pipeline, further violate ethical guidelines and are an abuse of its power as a monopoly.\nThe utility's recent emails to those ratepayers do not offer any alternatives, like renewable energy, to the customer to alleviate said gas moratorium.\nThe Public Service Commission (PSC) has a robust system of administrative procedures which protect ratepayers and ensure that they can weigh in and have their interests represented when utilities make changes that might affect them. For example, Public Service Law requires National Grid to consult with the PSC before denying ratepayers gas service. Only the PSC can decide how to address possible gas shortages.\nBy unilaterally imposing its gas moratorium, National Grid has circumvented these procedures and prevented the PSC from being able to adequately protect ratepayers and regulate the potentially self-serving actions of a monopoly utility.\nNational Grid's emails exacerbate this potential harm to its customers. Along with being confusing and manipulative, they pressure captive ratepayers\u2014ratepayers who have no other choice of utility\u2014to act politically against their best interests and on a private corporation's behalf.\nNational Grid's emails also create a harmful climate of fear based around a supposed gas shortage. This is all as the utility continues to ignore expert reports proving that we don't need this gas and continues to withhold information that we have requested, which they claim substantiates the need for this new pipeline.\nThe New York DEC has a legal duty to uphold the Clean Water Act and protect our waters and the ecosystem our waters support.\nSome media coverage of these manipulative tactics by National Grid is found here:\nNational Grid's standoff with state threatens Brooklyn customers \u2013 Brooklyn Daily Eagle\nAs colder months approach, debate heats up over natural gas expansion \u2013 Long Island Business News\nThey Have A Greed Problem': National Grid Refuses To Give Desperate Brooklyn Residents New Gas Hookups \u2013 CBS New York\nNo New Gas \u2013 National Grid Holds Brooklyn Restaurants Hostage \u2013 Brooklyner\nOfficials Blast National Grid Over Gas Moratorium To Service In Brooklyn \u2013 CBS New York\nLawmakers: National Grid Freeze on New Gas Hookups is a Ruse for Williams Pipeline \u2013 Spectrum News NY","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Concordia University -- St. Paul\nGardner-Webb University\nTruman State University\nRutgers, the State University of New Jersey - Newark\nFresh Start Scholarship Contest\n$1,500 Annual Catholic College Scholarship Drawing\n$1,000 Christian College EDGE Scholarship\nWin Free College Tuition Giveaway\nFour-Year Schools in Illinois with Articulation Agreements\nFour-Year Schools in North Carolina with Articulation Agreements\nWhere Foreign Language PhDs Received Their Undergraduate Degrees\nMost Conservative Colleges\nBerklee College of Music\n- Performing Arts\nExplore Berklee College of Music's Featured Profiles:\nPerforming Arts Profile\nApply Online Send an Email Visit Website\nBerklee College of Music is a prestigious educational institution known for its ability to educate, train, and prepare students from over 100 countries worldwide for a fulfilling career in music.\nDestination: Berklee\nPlace yourself in the midst of a diverse, talented, and ambitious community of musicians and watch your inspiration soar. This is where you'll collaborate with your peers, learn from experienced mentors, and likely meet your future bandmates.\nMajor opportunities\nWhatever your passion, we have a major that aligns you with the experts who will help prepare you for a fulfilling career in music. Whether you want to be a performer, music producer, mixing engineer, entrepreneur, music educator, or something else, you can advance your skills and start your career at Berklee.\nBerklee has some of the best music career connections in the world. With alumni covering every facet of the performing arts and access to our exclusive online alumni network, you'll find opportunities to build your dreams in all corners of the globe.\nCraft your Berklee experience\nExplore your future in music at Berklee with programs in Boston, Massachusetts; Valencia, Spain; and online. Wherever you choose to study, there will be a community of inspired musicians awaiting you.\nRanked #2 in Billboard's 2019 Top Music Business Schools, which is focused on programs that put students in the field\nRanked #4 in The Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 Music Schools for Composing for Film and TV\nRanked #3 in Forbes's profiles of schools with the most Oscar-, Emmy-, and Grammy-winning alumni\nRanked #2 for Best Music Schools in the World for 2019 by CEOWORLD Magazine\nExplore 12 undergraduate majors\n\u2022 Composition\n\u2022 Contemporary Writing and Production\n\u2022 Electronic Music and Production\n\u2022 Film Scoring\n\u2022 Jazz Composition\n\u2022 Music Business\/Management\n\u2022 Music Education\n\u2022 Music Production and Engineering\n\u2022 Music Therapy\n\u2022 Performance\n\u2022 Professional Music\n\u2022 Songwriting\nAll our students begin undeclared, which gives you a full year to hone your craft and explore who you want to be before choosing your major.\nWe teach nine principal instruments, including bass, brass, electronic digital instrument, guitar, percussion, piano, strings, voice, and woodwinds. Whatever your instrument, you'll have the opportunity to learn exactly what you need to prepare for a fulfilling career in music.\nWhat students are saying about us...\n\"Being immersed into the environment of artists and musicians like me made me feel like I was in just the right place.\"\nKate McKenna '19\n\"At Berklee, you are constantly pushed outside of your comfort zone to keep growing and developing as a musician and industry professional.\"\nDarcy Owen Davis\nMusic Production & Engineering\n\"After studying Music Business\/Management, I have a strong business plan and marketing tools to start my own business.\"\nNico Ruggieri '20\nMusic Business\/Management\n\"I feel confident that I could write a pop song or write background music for a commercial; my Berklee education has helped teach me versatile skills.\"\nLea Washington\nContemporary Writing & Production","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Best VPNs\nSamsung Galaxy Nexus set for Sprint on April 15\nBy Chris Smith 2012-03-20T16:02:00.79Z\nBetter late than never?\nGalaxy Nexus on the way to Sprint\nThe current flagship Android 4.0 device, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, will finally arrive on the Sprint network on April 15, according to reports.\nAfter months in the offing, the S4GRU news site says it has received confirmation from a source within the network.\nThe launch will come three months after the 4.65-inch, 720p HD device made an exclusive debut on Verizon and probably around the same time as the long-awaited Samsung Galaxy S3.\nNo 4G yet\nWith Sprint yet to roll-out it's 4G LTE infrastructure, new Galaxy Nexus owners will be unable to access next-generation speeds offered by the device (and indeed Verizon).\nWhen Sprint does get around to going LTE, users will be able to toggle to 4G within the Android settings.\nAt present, the 1.2GHz dual-core, NFC-enabled smartphone, probably remains the front-runner in terms of Android 4.0 devices currently on sale.\nHowever, it is likely to be usurped by the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S3, which is due to arrive any time now, as well as the quad-core HTC One line.\nIs it a case of better late than never for Sprint or too little too late?\nVia: TechCrunch\nNew Nintendo Switch controller design turns your Joy-Con into a stylus\niPhone 12 release date, leaks and what we're expecting","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Posted on 19 November 2018 | 32,459 views | 58 comments\nThe Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has taken appropriate steps to ensure the safety of a girl who was seen being slapped by a man, it said in response to Stomp queries.\nStomp first broke the story after publishing a video of the incident, which Stomper Anonymous witnessed at the carpark of IKEA Tampines on Nov 5.\nIn the video, the girl can be seen kneeling down while a man shouted and slapped her. The impact caused her to turn and nearly lose her balance.\nA Facebook user, known as Richard, reported the incident to MSF after watching the video. IKEA also made a police report.\nIn an updated statement on Monday (Nov 19), MSF told Stomp that it is assisting the police with ongoing investigations.\nA spokesperson added: \"MSF has taken the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the child.\n\"The case has also been referred to a Child Protection Specialist Centre to ensure the child's well-being.\"\nPolice, MSF investigating after Stomp video shows man slapping kneeling child at Tampines carpark\nMan shouldn't be slapping girl while she kneels in public, says Stomper","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Facebook will turn all US political advertising off again after Georgia runoffs \u2013 ClearTips\nJanuary 6, 2021 Thiru Venkatam Tech News 0\nGeorgia is currently the only US state with Facebook Allows political ads to run, but is set to change once Tuesday's elections close.\nAccording to Facebook's site changes to its advertising policies and a story by Axios, the company will no longer allow advertisements for political and social issues anywhere in the country, with Georgia starting tomorrow.\nFacebook told ClearTips that the decision to resume political ads in Georgia brings that state in line with the \"current nationwide stagnation\" on social issue, election and politics ads. A Facebook spokesperson declined to say whether political ads would be allowed again or if they would be permanently blocked from the platform.\nThe company first halted those ad categories as a precaution designed to reduce misinformation in the US presidential election on November 4. On December 16, the company again allowed political advertisements in Georgia, inviting campaigns eager to pay to get their messages in front of Facebook users. It appears that some politicians, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), paid attention to Facebook's Georgia loophole to raise money for themselves despite the restrictions.\nWhen political advertisements came back for Georgians, they left mainstream news sources New reporting from The Markup. While this result is quite intuitive, it underscores the external impact of targeting political advertising in Facebook's information ecosystem.\nMany politicians and political groups are eager to fundraise on Facebook. The company's decision to stay stalled suggests that it is still evaluating how \u2013 and perhaps if \u2013 it wants to handle political advertisements in the future. But Facebook may also be waiting for the storm to pass in light of the misinformation that plagued the November process of calculating election results.\nIt is also worth noting that Facebook's flagship advertising integrity is Rob Leathern Left the company In late December, the 2020 US election called his team work \"the culmination of an enormous amount of effort over many years\". Leathern helped shape the company's policies around political advertising \u2013 decisions that were often controversial by 2020 due to the widespread misinformation paid through the platform.\nBecause they will decide to control the Senate, an unusual pair of runoff races in a state that was just blue are high stakes for both political parties. With a Democratic Senate, the Biden administration has given much better shots at making ambitious plans for things like COVID relief and the climate crisis a reality. And given the Republican presidential-election policy priorities, expanded control of the Senate placed a powerful obstacle in Biden's path.\nErnie Hudson Wants to Return as Monroe Kelly in Congo 2\nThe Mandalorian reimagined as '90s TV sitcom with 'Grogu Pains'","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home \u00bb Family Health \u00bb How to cope with grief: 'Give your child honest answers about death'\nHow to cope with grief: 'Give your child honest answers about death'\nBetween the rough and tumble of early life, we soon find that children are more resilient than we think. Yet when it comes to a hurdle as big as death, our instincts might just be to carry them away from it all and to shield them from the enormity of the loss.\nYears ago, this was very much the norm if a young child experienced the death of a loved one. No doubt people's hearts were very much in the right place, and these actions come from a protective and loving instinct.\nYet experts believe that confronting the situation head on with the unadorned truth is a better start on a child's grief journey.\nTheresa Kavanagh is a support worker at the Limerick-based Children's Grief Centre, who provide a listening service to children and young adults experiencing the death of a loved one, parental separation or other form of grief.\n\"It's quite amazing how parents feel they're protecting their child when they don't allow them to participate in rituals like wakes or funerals, but a child has the right to say goodbye to the person they love,\" she notes. \"Children need, want and deserve the truth. Children are so perceptive. It's amazing how much they know and how strong they can be,\" she says. \"I've heard of children being told that 'Mammy is asleep', while another little girl was told that her granny went on holidays and never came back. The problem is that younger children go into magical thinking and make things up. If they're sent away in the event of a death, or not talked to properly, they will always blame themselves, even if the death is from something like cancer.\n\"I remember one young boy's mother died of an accidental drug overdose, and he said, 'I thought it happened because I was bold'. That's why it's so important to have open conversations, and also to validate how they themselves feel.\"\nOften, this can be easier said than done for adults who are also forging their own journey of grief and coping with loss. Often, it can be the first time that a parent or guardian finds themselves in that situation, so it's entirely natural that uncertainty would reign.\n\"If a parent can express how they feel, it's important to say 'it's sad, but I'm a grown up and I can look after myself',\" notes Kavanagh. \"It's interesting, a lot of parents haven't dealt with their grief before they come to the centre, and it's only when they're here that they realise that. Parents and children seeking help at the same time can really help the healing process.\"\nAnn D'Arcy is a Senior Social Worker and Bereavement Coordinator at Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Dublin, who has been offering workshops for bereaved children and their guardians for 14 years.\nShe notes that the grief journey for children is very different to that of adults.\n\"A child can't sustain the depths of emotional pain for the same lengths of time,\" she explains. \"One minute they are talking about death, the next they're back on their bikes or PlayStation as if nothing happened. But that doesn't mean they're not grieving.\n\"A very little child may listen to this and run off, and a parent might think they either didn't take it all in, or the conversation is done, but with a young child developmentally, they'll find it difficult to understand permanency,\" explains D'Arcy. \"They'll often keep coming back to ask the same questions over and over again, trying to make sense of it. It's important to remember you didn't do it wrong in the first place. They will just need to talk about it over and over again to understand. It's important to give a child the space, and permission, to grieve however they might like.\n\"We need to remember that grieving is normal, and most children are going to feel sad, angry and lonely. You might find that many children will express that physically \u2014 they'll be more tired or experience tummy pains or headaches. Some regress to a younger age,\" notes D'Arcy.\n\"The other thing that often happens is that they are terrified of losing their surviving family member. Most of the children I meet will want to 'protect' their surviving family members, and often won't tell them how they really feel for that reason.\"\nDeath really is the ultimate wrong-footer, and for that reason, grieving children often need to be grounded with certainties.\n\"Children need information on what happened around the death, but also reassurance that their meals will be given to them, school will still be there, and people will still love them,\" says D'Arcy.\nOffering children some sense of control over the situation offers them a valuable coping skill: \"For one child, talking and looking at old photos is really important, for another, it's too much and they don't want to have that reminder in every room. It's about negotiating that,\" says D'Arcy. \"Give the child a choice on whether they would like to view the body, and how they would like the loss to be acknowledged. Do they want something said in class for instance, or would they rather it wasn't mentioned? Will they want to participate in Father's Day?\"\nWhen discussing death or loss with children of all ages, the expert advice to do away with euphemisms and explain the situation in clear language.\n\"It's always about giving very factual information to a child, and that's why we recommend using words like 'dead' or 'death' and to explain what they mean,\" observes D'Arcy. \"It's a very abstract concept for a child. Explain to them that when a person dies, they no longer feel anything. They're no longer thirsty, cold, hungry, in pain, sad. It may look like a person is asleep, but the body stops working and the heart stops working.\n\"Be very, very concrete. Coming from a faith perspective, some people will believe the soul or spirit has gone to heaven, but just remember that young children will see that as a concrete place, and will probably ask when they can visit, or why the person won't come back.\n\"If a child is seeing their loved one's body, explain beforehand that their body might feel cold, and look a little different than usual,\" adds D'Arcy.\nConversations for very young children need to be similarly concrete, though it may take them more time to assimilate the enormity of the situation. \"If a child is asking the questions, it's important to give the honest answer, really,\" surmises D'Arcy. \"It's better to have had that conversation from someone they love, rather than hearing it in the school playground.\"\nFor more information on child bereavement workshops\/services at Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, see olh.ie. The Children's Grief Centre is running a fundraiser on September 13; see childrensgriefcentre.ie\nBreastfeeding mother left 'very upset' after being asked by government employee to move\nNew dads still slow to claim paternity leave as payouts dip\nTristan Thompson Wishes Daughter True a Happy First Birthday in Sweet Post: 'Loving Every Minute'\nEverything Kelly LeVeque Has To Say About The Benefits Of Celery Juice\nTagged How to cope with grief: '\nAshlee Simpson and Evan Ross Welcome Son Ziggy: 'Our Sweet Boy Has Arrived!'\nBrits' top sex secrets kept hidden from partners revealed\n'I had tears in my eyes\u2026 they skipped out of here happy' \u2013 Pop up shop offering Communion outfits for families who are struggling financially\nPremature twins born after just 22 weeks reunite with helicopter crew\nHyalomma: tropical tick spreads","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Announcement: CU Denver is Celebrating 50 Years\nWhether you're an alumnus, current student, member of the faculty and staff, donor, or neighbor, you're a valuable part of the CU Denver community. Help us celebrate the last 50 years and a future that works for all.\nChancellor's Message\nPurpose, Vision, Values\nUniversity for Life\nHow We'll Get There\nVision Teams\nMake Education\nWork For All\nCU Denver's 2030 strategic plan is a profound repositioning of CU Denver to be a public urban research university that works for all: learners of all kinds and at all stages of life, industries and employers that need talent ready to hit the ground running, and communities requiring new solutions and discoveries.\nView Engagement Hub\nThe Strategic Plan Engagement Hub for internal CU Denver faculty, staff and students requires login authentication to view.\n\"CU Denver is the essential institution to meet this moment. We're a pioneer of inclusive learning. We're young and innovative, embodying the curiosity, kindness, and ambition of the Rocky Mountain spirit. And we believe that redefining the public urban research university is the most important thing we can do for higher education and for the future of America.\"\n- Michelle Marks, PhD\nOur plan is designed to not only reset the playing field, but to change the game, increase access to an excellent education, and tackle some of the grandest challenges facing our society, all in service of the idea that CU Denver should work for all.\nEquity-Serving Institution\nCU Denver will be the first equity-serving institution in the nation.\nCU Denver will become known as a university for life, providing access to educational excellence over a lifetime.\nResearch Grand Challenges\nCU Denver will be internationally known for its research and creative work impacting five of society's grand challenges.\nOpen Innovation District\nOwning our role as an anchor institution, CU Denver will build and sustain an \"open\" innovation district in downtown Denver.\nCU Denver will be recognized as a people-centered \"Best Place to Work,\" attracting and retaining exceptional people who reflect the rich diversity of our community and are passionate about out people.\nAll 2030 Goals\n\"This Is CU Denver's Moment\" \u2013 Key Takeaways from Inaugural Future Fest\nMaking Education Work for All: Strategic Planning Update\nRegister for the Strategic Plan Research Symposium","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Redesigning an Aussie icon\nPublished October 15, 2018 October 15, 2018 AuthorLouise Crossen\nQueensland College of Art graduate Claudia Moodoonuthi was one of three artists commissioned to create a limited edition design for iconic Australian company, Vegemite.\nThe company is celebrating its 95th anniversary with a range of unique designs on its jars, including Claudia's bold and colourful work, My Vegemite Family.\nThe artists were asked to capture what Australia 'tastes like'. For Claudia Moodoonuthi it was simple: \"Families, island home, Kaiadilt language, colour and remarkable history\".\n\"I love Vegemite and I was born in '95, so I feel like this was meant to be,\" she said.\n\"Vegemite sent me a big box of the limited edition jars, and I opened some for breakfast the other morning and Mum yelled at me \u2013 she wanted to save them all!\"\nClaudia said she hoped the collaboration would allow everyone to own a little piece of art, for the price of a jar of Vegemite.\n\"I want to encourage people to look at art,\" she said.\n\"Things like this are a good way to support artists, and bring a little bit of colour into your life \u2013 you can recycle the jar and use it for your toothbrush, or a bunch of flowers.\n\"I'm going to use mine in the studio to hold my paint brushes.\"\nClaudia's signature style draws on urban street art, but is steeped in tradition, and her vibrant, colourful style has put her on the map.\nVegemite approached Claudia after spotting her collaboration with Mecca Cosmetica last year on a range of limited edition Christmas packaging.\n\"I don't usually wear makeup, but it was amazing walking past all of the stores decorated with my work, and seeing the big piles of packages covered in my paintings,\" she said.\n\"I've had a lot of people following me on Instagram since then, and I think it introduced a lot of people to my work.\"\nClaudia spent the first seven years of life on the remote Bentick and Mornington Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria, where she was raised by her late great-grandmother, May Moodoonuthi. Claudia is among the second generation of renowned artists from Bentinck Island \u2013 originally lead by the late Sally Gabori and May Moodoonuthi.\nAlthough she moved to Aurukun and later Brisbane, Claudia's work reflects her connection to country \u2013 the bold, colourful images influenced by her language, history and family.\nAfter graduating from the QCA's unique Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art program in 2016, Claudia has made her mark on the contemporary art scene. In 2017, she was awarded the Artbank +QPAC Commission, had work exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria and her painting My Body, My Country was projected onto the William Jolly Bridge as part of the Maiwar Festival in Brisbane.\nHer work is held in public and private collections including National Gallery of Victoria, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Cairns Regional Gallery and the Queensland Health Collection.\nCategories Alumni, Arts Education Law, Creative Arts Research, GUMURRII, home, Industry Partnerships, Inside Griffith, News articles, Queensland College of Art, Visual and creative artsTagged Claudia Moodoonuthi, Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art, Queensland College of Art","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"George Lopez and Maggie Q Battle 'Balls Of Fury'\nGeorge Lopez and Maggie Q Battle Balls Of Fury\n\u2014 April 6th, 2006\nComedian, George Lopez and Maggie Q have signed on to join Dan Fogler and director Ben Garant (creator of Reno 911) in the new comedy, Balls of Fury.\nThe film is about the underground world of ping pong tournaments. Fogler is the lead as a down-and-out player who enters the secret world to find the man who killed his father, says The Hollywood Reporter. Lopez will play the FBI agent who recruits Fogler, while Maggie Q plays the sexy niece of his mentor, Master Wong.\nProduction is set to begin next month; Balls of Fury should hit theaters in 2007.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Brown County coronavirus: No new deaths reported since Aug. 26; 14.1% tests were positive in last 2 weeks\nDoug Schneider\nGREEN BAY - The number of deaths among Wisconsinites with COVID-19 continued to creep higher in recent days, but none of the deaths in the past week involved a Brown County resident.\nFifty-eight county residents have died since the county recorded its first coronavirus-related death April 9. The last time the county recorded the death of a person with COVID-19 was Aug. 26.\nThe greatest number of new cases reported in the county in the past week was 93, on Monday, figures from the state's Department of Health Services show. In the last 14 days, 14% of the 6,137 tests were positive.\nWisconsin has reported 1,146 deaths among almost 78,000 COVID-19 cases this year. Almost 1.27 million tests have been conducted.\nIn the previous week, there had been 4,869 new cases and 42 deaths among more than 58,000 people tested, meaning 8.8% tested positive, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.\nRELATED: How 1,000 Brown County face masks wound up with the feds\nRELATED: Brown County seemed a step ahead of the coronavirus. Then, it wasn't\nBrown County ranks:\nFifth among the state's 72 counties in deaths among people with the virus. It trails Milwaukee, Racine, Waukesha and Kenosha counties.\nFourth among counties with 5,550 confirmed cases. That trails Milwaukee, Waukesha and Dane.\nThird among counties in the rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 people, trailing Milwaukee, and rural Iron County in northwest Wisconsin.\nNationally, there have been 186,000 deaths of people with COVID-19, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins. The metropolitan areas with the most deaths: New York\/Northern New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Miami, Houston and western Long Island.\nThe U.S. has had 6.1 million confirmed cases of the virus.\nWorldwide, there have been almost 865,000 deaths of people who had the disease. More than 26 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed.\nContact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"SportFootballMiddlesbrough FC\nJonathan Woodgate will contact England boss Gareth Southgate as he strives to become a success at Middlesbrough\nJonathan Woodgate still has a lot to learn as he embarks on his first managerial challenge as Middlesbrough boss \u2013 and he knows it.\nBy Joe Nicholson\nGareth Southgate led England to a World Cup semi-final last summer.\nFor that reason, the former defender will be looking to gain advice from some of his former managers, as he strives to become a success in the Riverside dugout.\nOne of the many names on Woodgate's contact list is England manager Gareth Southgate, who also received his first managerial gig on Teesside.\nAnd in his first press conference as Boro's new boss, Woodgate said he would speak to Southgate and pick his brains about the challenges of management.\n\"I haven't spoken to any of my former managers yet, but I will do,\" said Woodgate. \"I'll be tapping into them because I'm not the finished article and I need to keep on learning.\n\"I'm at the start of my pathway and they can pass on a lot of advice to me.\n\"Of course Gareth knows this club, he knows the chairman, and he's done a fantastic job at England. I will look to get in touch at some point.\"\nThere are certainly similarities between Woodgate and Southgate, who took England to a World Cup semi-final last summer.\nIn Russia, Southgate created an open environment between his players and members of the press, a contrast to the cagey approach taken in previous tournaments.\nBoro seem to be taking a similar approach, highlighted by Woodgate's offer to show members of the press his interview presentation later in the season.\nThe club also provided food and refreshments after Woodgate's first press conference, where members of the media could mix with Boro's new-look coaching team.\nSouthgate also benefited by promoting England's younger players into the senior set-up, following his time in charge of the nation's under-21 side.\nIt's a strategy Woodgate will hope to replicate next season, after Boro's new boss vowed to play an attacking brand of football and utilize the club's academy during his time at the Riverside.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Young Members Group works to encourage and enable all young professional members to be actively involved in the efforts and endeavors of the Society at all levels (Professional Divisions, ANS Governance, Local Sections, etc.) as they transition from the role of a student to the role of a professional. It sponsors non-technical workshops and meetings that provide professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals, collaborates with other Divisions and Groups in developing technical and non-technical content for topical and national meetings, encourages its members to participate in the activities of the Groups and Divisions that are closely related to their professional interests as well as in their local sections, introduces young members to the rules and governance structure of the Society, and nominates young professionals for awards and leadership opportunities available to members.\nNuclear News Weekly\nPower & Operations\nResearch & Applications\nIsotopes & Radiation\nRadwaste Solutions\nANS News\nANS Nuclear Cafe\nNuclear Policy Wire\nNotes and Deadlines\nANS Executive Committee\nDOE's Hydrogen Program Plan sees potential for nuclear-powered electrolysis\nNuclear NewsResearch & Applications\nNovember 17, 2020, 3:00PM|Nuclear News Staff\nMany regions with peak potential hydrogen demand, as shown in this image created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and reproduced in the Hydrogen Program Plan, are also home to operating nuclear power plants. Image: NREL, The Technical and Economic Potential of the H2@Scale Concept within the United States\nThe Department of Energy released a Hydrogen Program Plan on November 12 that provides a strategic framework for the agency's hydrogen research, development, and demonstration activities.\nThe DOE's Offices of Nuclear Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Electricity, and Science, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency\u2013Energy are all working on the production, transport, storage, and use of hydrogen in several sectors of the economy and have developed technical and programmatic multi-year plans. The Hydrogen Program Plan coordinates and complements those efforts by presenting a strategic direction that highlights the importance of collaboration both within DOE and with stakeholders in industry, academia, and the states.\ndoeelectrolysishydrogenintegrated energy systems\nXcel Energy's Prairie Island likely hydrogen demo site\nNuclear NewsPower & Operations\nNovember 11, 2020, 9:33AM|Nuclear News Staff\nXcel Energy's Prairie Island plant. Photo: Xcel Energy\nXcel Energy's Prairie Island is the probable location for the nation's first demonstration of high-temperature steam electrolysis at a nuclear power plant. Idaho National Laboratory, which plays a key role in a hydrogen demonstration project launched last year with Xcel Energy, Energy Harbor, and Arizona Public Service (APS), announced on November 9 that Prairie Island, which houses two 550-MWe pressurized water reactors, would likely be chosen over the one-unit boiling water reactor plant at Monticello.\nMinneapolis-based Xcel Energy will work with INL to demonstrate a system that uses the plant's steam and electricity to split water. The resulting hydrogen will be used at the power plant, but excess hydrogen could be sold to other industries. Hydrogen has applications in transportation and in industrial sectors, including steel and ammonia production.\nMore than $10 million in federal funding for the Xcel Energy demo was announced by the Department of Energy on October 8. It is just one phase of a project that showcases collaboration between the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Commercial hydrogen production via low-temperature electrolysis is being demonstrated at Energy Harbor's Davis-Besse plant. APS, which operates the Palo Verde generating station, will build on the Xcel Energy demo to develop an initial design and feasibility assessment for plant modifications to integrate a reversible hydrogen electrolysis system with the plant's secondary system and will include hydrogen storage infrastructure.\ndoeelectrolysishydrogeninlprairie islandxcel energy\nDOE to fund integrated hydrogen production at LWRs\nOctober 13, 2020, 7:00AM|Nuclear News Staff\nTwo projects intended to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen production technology at existing U.S. light-water reactors received the bulk of the funding announced by the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) on October 8 under the ongoing U.S. Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Out of three projects with a total value of $26.9 million, the two involving hydrogen production have a total value of $26.2 million.\nbisondoefoafuelfuelcell energyhydrogeninlintegrated energy systemsxcel energy\nNuclear is up to the challenge of energy storage\nAugust 20, 2020, 11:54AM|Nuclear News Staff\nThe Department of Energy is asking for input on an Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) Draft Roadmap and Request for Information (RFI) and recently extended the response deadline to August 31. While there is no \"N\" for nuclear in \"ESGC,\" nuclear is definitely part of the DOE's plan for future energy storage technologies and integrated energy systems designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of U.S. energy markets. In fact, the House Energy and Water Appropriations Committee has called for $4 million in the Office of Nuclear Energy's Fiscal Year 2021 budget to support energy storage.\ndoeenergy storage grand challengeheat storagehydrogeninlintegrated energy systemsrfithermal energy\nANS Annual Meeting: Hydrogen is on the table\nJune 9, 2020, 10:24AM|Nuclear News Staff\nProducing hydrogen as well as electricity from the current fleet of nuclear reactors is garnering a lot of interest from stakeholders, according to representatives of four nuclear operating utilities that together operate about one-third of the U.S. nuclear fleet. That interest drew viewers to a Utility Roundtable on U.S. Leadership in Sustaining Clean, Competitive Power and Hydrogen during the June 8 opening plenary of the American Nuclear Society's 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting.\nans annual meetinghydrogenlwrsutility roundtable","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"0 views today\n0 views this week\nSierra Lelii\nBiography Lists Also Viewed\nOccupations Athlete Football player Association football player\nType Sports\nBirth 5 May 1993 (Seminole, Pinellas County, Florida, U.S.A.)\nStar sign Taurus\nSierra Marie Lelii (born May 4, 1993) is an American soccer player who plays for Sk\u00f6vde KIK in Sweden.\nBorn and raised in Seminole, Florida, Lelii attended Seminole High School where she scored 74 goals and recorded 40 assists during her high school career. In January 2010, she helped the team win the Class 5A state title.\nLelii attended Nova Southeastern University where she played for the Nova Southeastern Sharks in the Sunshine State Conference.\nThe former All-American, All-region, All-conference, Player of the year and offensive player of the year was called into pre-season camp on March 14, 2016 with the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for the 2016 season. Lelii played in all of the team's pre-season games and was named to the amateur squad. On July 10, 2016 Lelii was called up to the roster for games against the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, and Seattle Reign FC but did not play.\nIn August 2016, Lelii signed with Sk\u00f6vde KIK in Sk\u00f6vde, Sweden. During her debut for the club on August 20, she scored a goal and served an assist. On August 28, 2016 she logged the game-winning assist making Sk\u00f6vde the first team to beat home team Jitex BK on their home field and being the first team to leave Jitex scoreless.\nThe contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.\ncomments so far.\nSherrill Redmon\nMitch McConnell's ex-wife\nKenn Whitaker\nJohn Green Hoapili\nAmerican politician and judge\nB. J. Ward\nAmerican actress and singer\nPatrick Howley\nAmerican journalist and editor\nMary Beatrice Davidson Kenner\nAmerican inventor\nAmerican actor and comedian\nJames D. Robinson IV\nAmerican venture capitalist, entrepreneur\nCharles Stebbins\nAmerican politician\nLambert Latham\nAmerican revolutionary war hero\nSee trending people worldwide\narrow-left arrow-right arrow-up arrow-down instagram whatsapp myspace quora soundcloud spotify tumblr vk website youtube stumbleupon comments comments pandora gplay iheart tunein pandora gplay iheart tunein itunes","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Fellowship Block\nEdit with form\nWhen LotR TCG began, there was only one format: the cards that existed. With the release of The Two Towers, Decipher split the game into three formats:\nFellowship Block, allowing cards from Fellowship of the Ring, Mines of Moria, and Realms of the Elf-lords\nTowers Block, originally only allowing cards from The Two Towers with Battle of Helm's Deep and Ents of Fangorn added as they were released\nOpen, allowing cards from all sets (except for Fellowship Block sites)\nEven as Decipher left Fellowship Block behind, players did not: it has long been one of the most popular formats in the game and received continued support in organized play during the game's lifespan. This popularity has attributed to various reasons over the years. Thematically, the notion of two sanctuaries doesn't fit as neatly in other formats -- the second \"sanctuary\" along the Towers and King site paths are in the middle of sieges, and after that it isn't tied to any particular location at all. Without the mechanics Decipher introduced as the game went on, the core gameplay is simpler and a greater focus. Strategies like Choke and multi-cultural Fellowships were almost unavoidable in Fellowship Block but heavily toned down or penalized in later formats. Perhaps most of all, the new cards took the game in new directions (called either balancing or Power Creep depending on the speaker) which changed how the game needed to be played even for strategies such as Moria swarm which saw no new cards. In the end, all of these simply describe the nostalgia of how the game began in contrast to the major changes that Towers block in particular brought.\nThe simplicity and popularity of Fellowship block make it an ideal starting spot for new players, a unique quirk compared to most TCGs where the latest and most expansive version of the game is the only way to play. Decklists can be found at this subforum of The Last Homely House.\nFormat Changes[edit]\nDecipher's continued support for the format also meant it was under their continued sovereignty, which on two occasions changed the official Fellowship Block from what it had been historically. First was after the release of set 9, where the new alternate Ring-bearers tipped the scale for Decipher to ban Ring-bearer skirmish cancelling in all formats (something which they had been moving away from since Fellowship Block anyway). Soon after the release of set 11 came the birth of the R-list, which included Forces of Mordor (1C248) as one of the cards restricted to just one copy for Open and all block formats. Therefore, there are technically two \"versions\" of Fellowship Block: the original format played during the first year of the game's lifespan, and the tournament format of later years.\nOfficial Formats\nFellowship Block Towers Block King Block\nWar of the Ring Block\nHunters Block\nTowers Standard\nKing Standard\nMovie Block\nWar of the Ring Standard\nUnofficial Formats\nAustrian (Movie)\nAustrian (Shadows)\nPlayer's Council Formats\nPC-Fellowship\nPC-Movie\nPC-Expanded\nSealed \u2022 Draft \u2022 Culture Shock \u2022 Highlander \u2022 Poor Man's \u2022 PC Errata\nRetrieved from \"https:\/\/wiki.lotrtcgpc.net\/index.php?title=Fellowship_Block&oldid=112581\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Young volleyball team aims for fresh start\nBy Shreeji Patel\nAs the seasons change from winter to spring, the anticipation for the Red Lion Boys Volleyball team grows.\nThe season is slated to begin on Tuesday, Mar. 13 at 6 p.m. The boys will go on the road to take on Ephrata High School.\nSenior takes on lax for the last time as a lady lion\nBy Brody Patmore\nSenior Peyton Shima is gearing up for her last season as a lady lion lacrosse player and hopes it's a special one.\nThe standout athlete averaged 3.2 goals and 1.3 assists per game last year. \"My brother started playing when he was in second grade and I was jealous,\" she said. \"He inspired me.\"\nGirls track commences training\nBy Zerick Nease\n\u200bSpring sports are starting up at Red Lion Senior High School, and the Girls Track and Field team is more than ready. They have been practicing all winter for this season and it has arrived.\nThe girls team went 4-2 last year and are looking to use some of that momentum for this season.\nTrack team member breaks twenty eight year old record\nBy Brianna Lehr and Gabriella Young\n\u200bBusiness Manager and Staff Writer\nFor junior Madisen Kling, track isn't just something she enjoys. It runs in her blood, it's a family tradition.\nKling is an all around athlete, turning heads in every sport she plays. Kling has been playing soccer for six years and track for five years.\nShe has earned the starting varsity soccer goalie position since her freshman year and is now a top discus thrower as well.\nIn fact, Kling plans on continuing her track career after high school. She wants to go college and wants to earn a scholarship of some kind, in order to throw discus.\nIn terms of this season, Madisen believes she has had a pretty good season so far.\n\u200b\"I've had some rough patches or rocky starts but I think that I've always managed to push through,\" said Kling humbly.\nDespite rocky starts and rough patches, Kling made an astounding achievement this season. She broke the 28 year old discus record, made by Nan Strawbridge in 1989.\nSoftball seniors walk off as juniors step up to the plate\nBy Rachel Lau\n\u200bAs this softball season comes to a close, some seniors are saying goodbye to the sport they've played for years, as the juniors are preparing to step up to the plate.\nSeniors Brianna Gonzalez, Kayla Moore, Megan Teal, Megan Confer, and Chloe Rentzel are saying goodbye to Red Lion.\n\"My fondest memory would be the bus rides and hanging out with my team, and doing team bonding stuff,\" Moore said. \"I'll miss my teammates the most, because they are like my family.\"\nHelf twins provide speed and talent for track team together\n\u200bTwin births only happen in 1 of every 67 childbirths. But to have two twins born on different days is even more rare.\n\u200bHowever, for the Helf brothers, being different is not a rarity. It is just who they are. Just like most twins, they eat together, they live together, and they go to school together.\n2 Minute Drill\nIntramural Activities\nRed Lion Athletics\nRLA TV Athletic Live Streaming\nRLA-TV Athletic Live Streaming\nYaiaa","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Catherine Zeta-Jones' Kids Are All Grown Up \u2013 And They Look Just Like Their Gorgeous Mom\nBy Jon O'Brien\nCatherine Zeta-Jones and her husband Michael Douglas usually prefer to keep a low profile. More recently, however, the Welsh actress has been open to giving fans a glimpse into her family life. And her Instagram activity has revealed that her two children are the spitting image of their celebrity parents.\nHollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones first became a mom in 2000 when she gave birth to son Dylan Michael. And their first-born arrived just three months before his parents walked down the aisle together in a New York ceremony. Then three years later Dylan got a little sister with the arrival of Carys Zeta.\nRemarkably, Carys joined her mom at the Academy Awards stage while she was still in the womb. Zeta-Jones was eight months pregnant when she was crowned Best Supporting Actress for her turn in musical Chicago as Velma Kelly. The star also showed off her very visible baby bump in a performance at the ceremony alongside co-star Queen Latifah.\nOf course, Zeta-Jones is also a stepmother to a man less than a decade younger than her. The oft-troubled Cameron Douglas was born in 1978 from the marriage of Hollywood star Michael and his producer first wife Diandra. Luckily, Zeta-Jones appears to have unequivocally earned the familial seal of approval.\nIn a 2013 interview with WalesOnline, Cameron said, \"[Zeta-Jones] is someone who has cemented the family together. I've never seen my father as happy as he is with her. People see this image of her and she's someone who puts on her game face when she goes out. But when she is away from the spotlight she's down-to-earth and totally into bringing the family together at every opportunity.\"\nSo how did the two A-listers end up falling in love? Well, they first met at the Deauville Film Festival in 1996 where Zeta-Jones was on the promotional trail for The Mask of Zorro and Douglas was for A Perfect Murder. The actress later revealed to Larry King, \"I had been told Michael Douglas wanted to meet me. I was a little nervous because I didn't quite know what he wanted to meet me about.\"\nDespite the notable 25-year age gap, the pair hit it off immediately and eventually went public with their relationship. Douglas decided to ask for Zeta-Jones' hand in marriage on Millennium Eve and thankfully she accepted. By this point, the pair had also revealed they were going to become parents.\nThe couple said \"I do\" at a star-studded ceremony at New York City's Plaza Hotel in November 2000, and there was certainly no expense spared. The bride's dress \u2013 designed by David Emanuel \u2013 reportedly cost a whopping $250,000. Meanwhile, Sean Connery, Sharon Stone and Danny DeVito were just a few of the pair's former co-stars who were in attendance.\nThe newlyweds may have forked out seven-figure sums for their wedding ceremony, but their honeymoon was a little more low-key. In fact, they spent their first few weeks as a married couple looking after their baby son in their own apartment. Both Zeta-Jones and Douglas agreed in an interview with Reuters, \"It doesn't get better than this.\"\nInterestingly, Douglas and Zeta-Jones had decided to settle in Bermuda before welcoming daughter Carys into the world in 2003. The former explained to Architectural Digest, \"There's real solace in returning to this tiny island where I have so many relatives \u2013 probably 70 \u2013 in one place. To me, Bermuda is a real family spot.\"\nThe couple enjoyed several happy years on the island before moving back to the New York town of Bedford in the late 2000s. They soon regretted their decision, though, as the prying eyes of the paparazzi reportedly made their daily lives a misery. And both Zeta-Jones and Douglas soon gave the tabloids plenty more to talk about.\nSadly, in 2010 Douglas discovered he had throat cancer. Referring to his radiation and chemotherapy treatments, the Basic Instinct star told People, \"It really knocks you out.\" Zeta-Jones added, \"The hardest part is seeing his fatigue, because [Douglas] is never tired\u2026 If there's anything [that he] has, it's strength.\" Thankfully, the veteran actor was given the all-clear within a year.\nDouglas' son from his previous marriage then made headlines when he was given a five-year prison sentence for heroin possession and methamphetamine distribution. Cameron Douglas actually served extra time after continuing his drug-smuggling activities while inside. He subsequently went on to hail his stepmother for helping him survive his darkest days.\nThe family's woes continued in April 2011 when it was revealed that Zeta-Jones had sought treatment for her bipolar II disorder. The actress told InStyle, \"I'm not the kind of person who likes to shout out my personal issues from the rooftops. But with my bipolar becoming public, I hope fellow sufferers will know it's completely controllable.\"\nZeta-Jones' mental health issues made the news again two years later when she once again checked herself into a treatment facility. Douglas told People that he couldn't be prouder of his wife for seeking help when needed. He told the magazine, \"She's doing a really good job of getting balanced.\"\nThe pair then shocked the world just four months on when they revealed they were separating. Thankfully, the couple managed to work out their differences and by the end of the year had reunited. Douglas told The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2015, \"I think every couple has their difficult times. The only problem is, as you well know, we're all in the public eye and it tends to get a little more exposed than most.\"\nZeta-Jones also commented on how tough it can be to keep a long-term relationship going in a 2016 chat with Good Housekeeping. She said, \"It's a long road, and I think people today are so quick to throw in the towel on marriage. You have to give it your best shot and not give up when the first problem arises, because that won't be the last problem. There will be many more down the road.\"\nLater that same year Douglas reiterated his wife's comments in an interview with AARP. He said, \"It took work on both our parts. I don't think there's much chance of fixing a relationship if one of you is already out the door.\" Thankfully, the pair have managed to stay out of the headlines in recent times and are instead letting their careers do the talking.\nFor his part, Douglas has enjoyed success as the star of the Emmy-nominated Netflix comedy The Kominsky Method. Zeta-Jones, meanwhile, has added the likes of Queen America and Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story to her impressive filmography. Of course, the Welsh actress' career began far away from the hills of Hollywood.\nZeta-Jones first came to attention in her late teens when she landed a part in West End musical 42nd Street. She then became a household name in her native U.K. when she played Mariette in the hugely popular period drama The Darling Buds of May. This role led to big screen parts in the likes of Christopher Columbus: The Discovery and Splitting Heirs.\nAfter briefly attempting a pop music career, Zeta-Jones played the eponymous Empress of Russia in TV movie Catherine the Great. She also starred opposite Ewan McGregor and Sean Pertwee in the surfing dramedy Blue Juice. But it was with 1998's The Mask of Zorro that the actress entered Hollywood's radar.\nZeta-Jones lit up the screen playing opposite Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas in the swashbuckling adventure. Shortly after, she played Sean Connery's partner in crime in Entrapment and picked up her first Golden Globe nod with her performance as a drug lord wife in Steven Soderbergh's Traffic. Further awards glory would soon follow, too.\nYes, just two years later Zeta-Jones got the chance to make an acceptance speech on the Academy Awards stage. For the Welsh native was crowned Best Supporting Actress thanks to her performance as Velma Kelly in the hit adaptation of Broadway musical Chicago. A heavily pregnant Zeta-Jones also got the chance to showcase her singing talents on the night.\nZeta-Jones initially chose to capitalize on her Oscar-winning success. She appeared alongside Tom Hanks in true life drama The Terminal and joined a star-studded cast that included George Clooney and Brad Pitt in hit sequel Ocean's Twelve. However, as the 2000s progressed, cinemagoers started to see less of the Welsh wonder.\nZeta-Jones became choosier with her film roles after she and her family settled in Bermuda. Unfortunately, those she did select didn't exactly help sustain her glittering career. Harry Houdini biopic Death Defying Acts and romantic comedies No Reservations and The Rebound all failed to set the box office alight.\nZeta-Jones, however, did get the chance to add to her trophy cabinet when she returned to the stage. In 2010 she picked up a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of A Little Night Music. The star then continued to combine her love of acting and music with the 2012 Rock of Ages movie adaptation.\nAfter showing up in action movie Red 2, Zeta-Jones headed back to Britain to star in the big-screen version of the classic sitcom Dad's Army. Then, in 2017 she portrayed the iconic Olivia de Havilland in Feud \u2013 Ryan Murphy's take on the legendary rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Like de Havilland, Zeta-Jones has always been considered the height of glamor, too.\nIn fact, in 2008 Zeta-Jones was crowned the world's most beautiful woman in a poll conducted by Nephria cosmetics. And in a statement, company representative Charlotte Newbert argued that the Welsh native was a worthy winner. She said, \"[Zeta-Jones] oozes style and grace and her natural beauty just shines through. It's encouraging that so many of the women are in their 30s and 40s, which just shows you don't have to be young to be beautiful.\"\nAnd it appears as though Zeta-Jones' daughter Carys has inherited her mother's natural beauty. In July 2020 the Oscar winner uploaded a snap of her youngest in barefoot and a white satin dress to Instagram simply captioned, \"My girl, in the garden.\" And many of her followers couldn't get over the resemblance.\n\"She is so beautiful, just like you\u2026 and I'm sure on the inside as much on the outside,\" remarked a particularly complimentary fan. Another responded, \"I honestly [thought] that was you Catherine Zeta-Jones \u2013 spitting image and just as beautiful! Thank you for sharing.\" One user also commented, \"I can see Michael [Douglas] in her but your hair.\"\nZeta-Jones had previously shown how closely she resembles her daughter in 2017 when the pair graced a Michael Kors fashion show. A year later mom and daughter got everyone talking again when they showed up at a New York City event staged by Dolce & Gabbana. And then in 2019 Zeta-Jones and her youngest were photographed for the cover of Vanity Fair Spain.\nCarys \u2013 who attends school in Switzerland \u2013 has also worked alongside her mother on a fashion shoot in Italy for Fendi. The youngster told Hello! magazine in May 2020, \"We had so much fun. The team played music the whole time. Luckily enough, we have the same taste in music so we were listening to all classic rock and disco as we shot and were dancing between takes.\"\nBut what about Carys' older brother? Well, in December 2019 Zeta-Jones uploaded a heartwarming snap to Instagram of a family trip to Africa. And once again, many of her followers couldn't stop commenting on the parental resemblance. Only this time around, it was Douglas that son Dylan was being compared to.\nUnlike his sister, Dylan hasn't yet shown any signs of following in his parents' showbiz footsteps. The youngster has instead been busy studying at Brown University in Rhode Island. In 2018 Zeta-Jones shared footage of the family helping Dylan to settle in at the Ivy League college before making an emotional farewell.\nBut Dylan still has acting ambitions, according to Zeta-Jones. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she said, \"I'm all for it. A lot of people ask me, 'What do you think about that?' Well, yeah, I could give them statistics of who becomes successful and who doesn't\u2026 I could say, 'You know, you'll never get work.' But I'm not that kind of person. I've had a fabulous life as an actress. I'm excited for them to start on this journey, too.\"\nIn a 2018 interview with Town & Country magazine Zeta-Jones revealed that she couldn't be happier with how her two children have turned out. She said, \"What I instilled in my kids \u2013 and I'm very, very proud of it \u2013 is manners. There's nothing worse than a privileged kid without manners. I drilled it into them like boot camp.\"\nThanks to the global situation, Zeta-Jones got to spend far more time than usual with her two offspring in 2020. And she told People magazine in July that she's enjoyed every minute. The actress said, \"All of a sudden we were all back together again. And I have to say, I loved it. I really loved it.\"\nFurthermore, Zeta-Jones also has two significant milestones to celebrate that same year. In August her son turned 20 years old, while three months later she and her husband will reach the 20th wedding anniversary mark. So, how exactly are the two Hollywood superstars planning to commemorate such a momentous occasion?\nWell, celebrations will definitely be of a low-key nature. Zeta-Jones told People, \"We won't be doing any great big party. Not that I'm a big party fan anyway. It would be nice to get all our friends together in one space, but we're not doing that until we're completely out of the woods.\"\nBut first, Zeta-Jones has to prepare herself for sending her kids back into the big wide world. Alongside a sweet Instagram pic of Dylan and Carys posted in September 2020, the actress wrote, \"Today both our young adults go back to studying. In different, unprecedented ways. I love you both\u2026 And to all kids out there. Knowledge is the key to life. So battle through. This too shall pass.\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"OSHP trooper killed in rollover crash SR 95\nBy WebMaster - On Feb 9th 2010 - in Legal Press Release\nLegal News for Ohio Personal Injury Attorneys. A state patrol vehicle was involved in one-car wreck, killing one and injuring another.\nOhio personal injury lawyer alerts- OSHP patrol car involved in fatal rollover accident.\nWyandot County, OH\u2014An Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser became involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Thursday evening, February 4, 2010, killing one trooper and injuring the other. The tragic incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m., according to information provided by the Columbus Dispatch.\nTwo OSHP troopers were in the patrol car at the time of the motor vehicle accident. They were identified as 25-year-old Andrew C. Baldridge, a trooper who had graduated from the patrol's training academy in December, as well as 33-year-old Mark McLaughlin, his training officer. The troopers were allegedly heading southbound on Ohio State Route 95, on their way to a call when their cruiser careened off the side of the roadway, subsequently causing it to overturn. Both of the patrol officers were reported wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.\nEmergency medical services (EMS) crews seemingly responded to the scene of the wreck and airlifted both patrol troopers to Toledo St. Vincent Hospital via medical helicopter to be treated by doctors and nurses. Unfortunately, Baldridge's severe rollover accident injuries proved fatal that night. McLaughlin, who reportedly suffered serious injury in the wreck, was allegedly listed in fair condition at the Toledo hospital. It is unknown why the patrol car veered off the roadway in the incident.\nLegal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers.\nOSHA fines Alabama plant $59,250 for safety\/health violations\nSan Francisco Muni bus struck fire hydrant resulting in 1 injury, flooding","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"34 killed in clashes between Shiite militia, Iraqi forces in southern Iraq\nTopic: 34 killed in clashes between Shiite militia, Iraqi forces in southern Iraq\nMedia: The Associated Press\nByline: By JALAL MUDHAR\nDIWANIYAH, Iraq_At least 34 people were killed and dozens injured in\ngunbattles between Iraqi troops and Shiite militiamen loyal to a popular\ncleric in this Shiite-dominated city south of Baghdad, officials said\nThe fighting broke out at about 11 p.m. Sunday when Iraqi soldiers conducted\nraids in three neighborhoods to flush out the militiamen and seize weapons,\nsaid army Capt. Fatik Aied.\nHe said the fighting continued Monday with the militiamen of the Mahdi Army,\nwhich is loyal to the radical, anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.\nAied earlier said U.S. forces came to the Iraqi army's aid on Monday, but\nlater amended his comments to say that the Americans did not take part in\nthe fighting but were patrolling the streets.\nThe U.S. military command in Baghdad also said it cannot confirm that any\nAmerican troops were involved in the clashes.\nDr. Mohammed Abdul-Muhsen of the city's general hospital said 34 bodies were\nbrought in -- 25 Iraqi soldiers, seven civilians and two militiamen. He said\nat least 70 people were injured, but could not immediately give a breakdown.\nFatik said the militiamen used rocket propelled grenades and automatic\nassault rifles. At least 10 militiamen were arrested so far, he said.\nSheik Adil al-Ansari, an al-Sadr aide based in Diwaniyah, put the blame on\nthe army.\n\"It was an irresponsible act by the Iraqi army when they opened fire on the\nvolunteers. It (the fighting) is over now and a delegation from the province\nwill go to meet Muqtada al-Sadr \" he told The Associated Press.\n\"Muqtada al-Sadr ordered the volunteers to calm down, exercise self-control\nand resolve the problem \" he said.\nAn indefinite vehicle ban was imposed in the city, said Adnan Abdu-Kadhim, a\nmember of the provincial council\nDiwaniyah, 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Baghdad, is a Shiite dominated\ncity where the influence of Mahdi Army has been gradually increasing. It\nalready runs a virtual parallel government in Sadr City, a slum in eastern\nBaghdad.\nBut the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has found it\ndifficult to rein in al-Sadr, whose movement holds 30 of the 275 seats in\nparliament and five Cabinet posts.\nAl-Sadr's backing also helped al-Maliki win the top job during painstaking\nnegotiations within the Shiite alliance that led to the ouster of Prime\nMinister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.\nAl-Sadr mounted two major uprisings against the American-led coalition in\n2004 when U.S. authorities closed his newspaper and pushed an Iraqi judge\ninto issuing an arrest warrant against him.\nBut American forces have also been wary of confronting the Mahdi Army\nbecause of al-Sadr's clout over the government and his large following among\nShiites, who are in a majority in Iraq.\nFive killed as Iraqi forces clash with Shiite militia\nNew Rules In Iraq May Make It Tougher To Keep Insurgents\nDay In Pictures - September 19 (British tanks Attacked )\nShaking hands with Sadam Hussein\nIRAN, IRAK and the US position.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Tuna Troubles at ICCAT 2019\nA recap of the 2019 ICCAT conference yields troubling news\nBy Capt. Mike Pierdinock\nFollowing an ICCAT stock assessment, the news for tuna species is not good.Paulo Oliveira\/Alamy\nAt the 2018 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in Dubrovnik, Croatia, a consensus could not be reached by the contracting parties to address the management of the bigeye tuna stock.\nThe scientific body of ICCAT conducted a bigeye tuna stock assessment in 2018 and concluded that the stock is overfished, and that overfishing is currently occurring. The ICCAT bigeye total allowable catch for major harvesting nations has been reduced from 85,000 metric tons in 2012 to 65,000 metric tons in 2015 with a proposed reduction of 55,000 metric tons that was not implemented. The TAC has been exceeded by approximately 20 percent since 2016.\nThe United States is not considered a major harvesting nation of tuna, having a threshold of 1,550 metric tons that has never been exceeded, according to landings data. Even though the United States reported that 773 metric tons of bigeye tuna was landed in 2017, we are not part of the global tuna problem and continue to lead the way with conservation measures in our waters.\nBigeye tuna landings in U.S. waters include both landings and discards by recreational anglers and the commercial fleet. Recreational management and\/or landings reported by other nations is largely nonexistent, with only commercial landings being reported by most nations; Spain and Portugal reported the most. The international commercial fleet includes the purse-seine and longline fleets and, to a small extent, the so-called artisanal fishery, also known as commercial hook-and-line fishing.\nA significant decline in bigeye and potentially yellowfin tuna stocks dates back to the 1990s. This decline was exacerbated by the increased use of fish aggregating devices by the commercial fleet in the Gulf of Guinea located off the northwest coast Africa. The FADs attract fish that include mature skipjack as well as mixed schools of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna. The Gulf of Guinea, a known tropical tuna breeding ground, is also found to hold juveniles. Spatial closures were developed and implemented by ICCAT, but were found to be ineffective in reducing the juvenile bigeye and yellowfin mortality.\nThe Atlantic international purse-seine fleet has historically increased the harvest of skipjack by utilizing FADs, resulting in exponentially increased landings of juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna, partly because of small-mesh nets. The juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna are too large to exit these nets and as a result, are landed and sold commercially. Arguably, if the mesh size of the purse were increased, the juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna could easily exit the net relatively unharmed, but doing so would make for a less-effective means of harvest for the fleet's targeted skipjack.\nThe significant increase in the harvest of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna appears to have changed the size distribution of the stock to what was historically observed before the use of the FADs. In the open ocean, mature bigeye and yellowfin tuna are typically observed in separate schools throughout the water column. However, that does not appear to be the case with purse-seine landings in FAD areas. The scientific data \u2014 and logic \u2014 dictates management to protect juvenile tuna stocks associated with the use of FADs by said purse-seine fleet.\nRead More Conservation News and Updates here.\nSouth Africa, the United States and several other member nations recommended development of stronger measures to protect juvenile tuna including, but not limited to: seasonal closures; TAC reductions; size limits; and the prohibition or reduction in the use of FADs. Consensus among the contracting parties couldn't be reached; as a result, there is, unfortunately, no change in the management of bigeye tuna in 2019.\nAppropriate measures need to be implemented to protect both bigeye and yellowfin stocks, and the continued lack of proactive action by the governing bodies could negatively impact the U.S. fishery in the future.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAHE\nMahe region, a part of the U.T. of Puducherry is situated between Kannur and Kozhikkode districts of Kerala State. The region is surrounded by Panoor, Thalasserry, Chokli and Edacherry Police Station limits of Kerala State. It was a French colony from the year 1721 to 15\/07\/1954. The region has an area of about 9 Sq.Kms(Mahe PS-2.5 Sq. KM, Palloor PS-3.5 Sq.KM and Pandakkal OP-3 Sq.KM surrounded by Kerala State on North, East and South and Arabian Sea on the West. Its costal stretch is about 1 kilometer. Mahe enjoys the status of Sub Taluk under Puducherry. The population of Mahe is 41934 as per the 2011 Census. Mahe is one of the most thickly populated area of the country where the population per square kilometer is 4659.\nThe Police force at Mahe is headed by Superintendent of Police. There is only one Circle namely, Mahe consists of two police stations ie. Mahe PS, Palloor PS and an Out Post at Pandakkal. The two police stations are functioning under Sub Inspectors of Police and the Out Post namely Pandakkal functioning under an Asst. Sub Inspector of Police, which comes under control of Palloor PS. The Inspector of Police, Mahe Circle is supervising the affairs of these police stations and Out Post under the overall supervision of Superintendent of Police. Since Mahe is situated on the Malabar coast about 625 kms away from Puducherry and in view of the sensitivity of the area, a separate Police Sub Division was created in Mahe in the year 1989 under Superintendent of Police, Mahe.\nPolice Chart\nFunction and achievements The important functions of the police are\nMaintenance of Law and Order\nPrevention, detection and prosecution of offenders\nRegulation of traffic and smooth vehicular movements\nEnsure peaceful conduct of various functions, festivals of different religions\nMaintenance and harmony among different communities, political parties\nOffice of the Superintendent of Police,\nCemetery Road,\nMahe \u2013 673310\nPolice Stations in Mahe\nMahe Police Station, Statue Junction, Main Road, Mahe 0490-2332323\nPalloor Police Station, Palloor-thalassery Road, Palloor 0490 -2332313","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home \u00bb Canada\nNew Morrey Volvo Cars Burnaby Offers A Unique Volvo Experience\nBusiness News, web exclusives\nVolvo Car Canada Ltd., a leader in automotive safety and sustainability, is proud to announce the opening of Morrey Volvo Cars Burnaby.\nFollowing the recent opening of Volvo Cars Royal Oak in Calgary, the launch of Morrey Volvo Cars demonstrates further growth for the Volvo brand as it turns its focus to the Lower Mainland as a primary market for expansion.\nWith electric vehicle sales in British Columbia increasing in 2021, the opening of Morrey Volvo Cars Burnaby will help address the consumer demand for EV's and will better serve the growing sales and service needs of valued Volvo customers in Burnaby and its surrounding areas.\nVolvo Car Canada Ltd. is a subsidiary of Volvo Car Group of Gothenburg, Sweden. VCCL provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 38 Volvo automobile retailers across Canada.\n\"B.C. is a national leader in EV adoption, and the Lower Mainland is one of the prime markets around the country where we have been able to grow our brand,\" said Matt Girgis, managing director of Volvo Car Canada Ltd. \"As such, we're excited to now offer our customers a retail location in Burnaby. Congratulations to the Morrey Auto Group and team on the opening of this address, and welcome to the Volvo Family.\"\nConveniently located on 1.5 acres on Still Creek Drive in Burnaby, the new Morrey Volvo Cars offers a unique footprint amongst luxury automotive dealerships in the surrounding area. The 15,675 square foot facility offers a full-service showroom for both new and certified by Volvo vehicle sales, 6 service bays, and is in the active planning stages of installing electric vehicle chargers throughout the property to support Volvo's all-electric future.\nBy the end of 2023, Morrey Volvo Cars Burnaby is also slated for a full renovation to reflect Volvo's design philosophy for all retail locations. Dubbed the 'Volvo Retail Experience' or 'VRE' for short, this facility design concept features both understated and modern Scandinavian design cues that reflect the company's Swedish roots.\n\"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Volvo Car Canada and are convinced that this new retail location will provide another convenient point of sales and service in Metro Vancouver to effectively serve the needs of our existing and future customers in this growing market,\" said Jason Morrey, of Morrey Volvo Cars Burnaby.\nFor more information, please refer to the Volvo Cars Canada media website at:\nwww.media.volvocars.com\/ca\/en-ca\nSOURCE Volvo Car Canada Ltd Press Release.\nWill Liquid Fuels Play a Role in EU's Decarbonization?\nHyundai x NTU: Four Pilot Projects Focusing On Mobility Of The Future\nMerger Of Canadian Additive Manufacturing Firms To Create 'Powerhouse'\nCanada: Javelin Technologies\u2014specialist in 3D design engineering, additive manufacturing, automation and product data management, and Cimetrix Solutions\u2014which provides additive manufacturing and laser scanning solutions to the industry and education sector, have merged to create a new 3D printing 'powerhouse'.\nWith this new merger, they are well-equipped to serve their collective 6,000 customers and to offer new standards of service and support. The companies' names will remain unchanged, and Cimetrix Solutions will be a division of Javelin Technologies.\nUnder this agreement, the new joint company's senior management will comprise John Carlan and Ted Lee from Javelin Technologies, and James and Kirsten Janeteas from Cimetrix Solutions. All current employees will be part of this integrated company.\n\"Our focus has always been on taking care of our customers by understanding what drives their business and providing solutions that affect the bottom line. By combining our expertise and resources, we can be even more responsive and provide even deeper application knowledge and advice,\" said James Janeteas.\nThe new company has branches at various locations across Canada\u2014including Calgary, Dartmouth, Edmonton, Kitchener, Montreal, Oakville, Oshawa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. Both partners have been contributing to high-growth sectors like energy, healthcare and manufacturing.\n\"We shorten the distance between idea and production, and help people and businesses execute well. Joining Javelin and Cimetrix means we are putting ourselves exactly where our customers will be and will need us to be,\" Mr Lee said.\nCasey Thivierge, director of engineering at A.V. Gauge & Fixture\u2014 an industrial gauges and fixtures manufacturer, agrees that the merger between Javelin and Cimetrix will help customers.\n\"Javelin and Cimetrix have been an integral part of our growth and development through the years. Now as a unified team, they will become an even stronger force with even more tools and resources to help us. Working with both of them has been and continues to be an outstanding experience. They will continue to propel us, as well as other Canadian businesses, into the future of advanced manufacturing,\" Mr Thivierge commented.\nRich Garrity, president at Stratasys in the Americas, also said: \"For the past 17 years, Stratasys has had strong representation in the Canadian market with our veteran partners Cimetrix Solutions and Javelin Technologies. The additive manufacturing landscape is changing at an ever-increasing rate and we value and need strong, industry-defining partnerships to help customers navigate.\"\nBombardier Hiring 1,000 To Build Business Jets\nMontreal, Canada: Aerospace manufacturer Bombardier has announced the addition of 1,000 jobs in Montreal to meet rising demand for its new Global 7000 series.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"15.01.16 Media Release\nPRESIDENT'S PARDON SETS TONE FOR SPIRIT OF TRANSITION PROCESS\nPresident Maithripala Sirisena gave concrete expression to his ideals of healing Sri Lanka's post war wounds when he utilized his presidential powers to pardon a former member of the LTTE Sivarajah Jeneevan who had been convicted and imprisoned for having attempted to assassinate him in 2005 when he was Minister of Mahaweli Development. This symbolic and healing gesture coincided with the first year anniversary of his becoming President.\nJenivan was arrested on April 23, 2006 and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by Polonnaruwa High Court over nine years later on July 3, 2015. The National Peace Council is of the view that the State has the right to charge those who indulge in crimes irrespective of how long the time since the commission of the crime. However, it is not necessary that persons who are accused should be remanded for an indefinite period because they are alleged to have committed a crime unless they are a continuing threat to others. We note in this context that there has been great controversy for the past several years over the continued detention without charge or without trial of over two hundred alleged LTTE members. We urge that they be either charged and subjected to the legal process, or released without further delay.\nAs a co-signatory to the resolution of the UN Human Rights in Geneva in October last year, Sri Lanka is required to ensure accountability for serious human rights violations and war crimes. The government is presently supporting a consultation process with the general population in regard to its proposed four-fold mechanism to ensure truth seeking, judicial accountability, reparations and to clarify the issue of missing persons. We believe that the legal process needs to be followed with regard to the country's past and present, as in the case of Sivarajah Jeneevan though in a more expedited manner in the spirit of the President's healing gesture.\nNPC believes that these are not only political issues, but are also human issues of the heart and of people's lives where there is no closure and families cannot move on. The anguish of family members of disappeared persons and those held in custody for several years has become a common sight mainly in the former conflict affected areas and elsewhere. The government needs to take meaningful steps to ensure these cases are concluded expeditiously. This would enable those long term detainees and their families, and those of missing persons, to rebuild their lives and ensure that good governance is meaningful to them.\nNational Peace Council\nThe National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"FSM Actively Experiencing Extensive Saltwater Inundation in High & Low-Lying Islands; State Governments Encouraged to Request Assistance, if Necessary; Citizens Encouraged to Document the Event\nBy FSMPublic InformationPosted December 6, 2021\nPALIKIR, Pohnpei\u2014Originally through voluminous reporting across social media, and subsequently through dialoguing with the Nation's State Governments, the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has been made aware of extensive saltwater inundation across the Nation's islands as a result of ongoing King Tides and storm surges. The Government has received numerous requests from citizens asking for support.\nAs of December 6th, 2021, the FSM National Government is communicating with the States of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae, to determine the extent of any possible damage. As the flooding event is ongoing as of this release's publication, it is plausible that such determination will occur after the event has concluded.\nSupposing that the flooding constitutes a natural disaster, the first step following the flooding event would be for the relevant State Government to conduct an assessment of the damage. If a given State Government requires the assistance of the FSM National Government in such an assessment, then the State Government would formalize the request in a communication to the Office of the President.\nFollowing the initial assessment, the FSM National Government would verify the assessment's authenticity. From there, the Government would work to determine what relief efforts, if any, would be necessary.\nCitizens affected by the ongoing flooding activity are encouraged to document the event extensively, both with photographs and in writing. Cataloging the damage and the effects as they occur will assist the State and National Government assessments following the event, and expedite the issuance of necessary assistance.\n\"We are watching what's happening,\" said His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the FSM, in a statement, \"And, first and foremost, I would ask our citizens to feel assured that their Government is aware of what's happening, and is ready to take action. We stand by to offer our full support to the State Governments when the requests come in, and I encourage the States to make these requests without any hesitation or reservation if they feel it's necessary. Whether it's construction supplies or food, we will never abandon our citizens to the existential threat of Climate Change.\"\nThe FSM National Government will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.\nFSMPublic Information\nWhat the FSM Knows About the Omicron Variant of COVID-19, How the FSM is Responding to It, & Best Advice for Citizens (Get Vaccinated, Get Boosted)\nAmbassador Cantor and President Panuelo visit Pakin Atoll for 70th Operation Christmas Drop","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Alumni \u203a\nPhD, DXARTS, University of Washington, 2016\nMFA, Sculputre, University of Washington, 2006\nBFA, Sculpture & Electronic Media, University of Colorado, 2000\ntivon@uw.edu\nBackground and Experience\nTivon Rice (b. 1978) holds a PhD from the University of Washington's Center for Digital Art and Experimental Media, and was a 2011-12 Fulbright Scholar.\nRice's work critically explores representation and communication in the context of digital technologies. Both fascinated with and wary of the speed of televisual media, Rice creates systems that pair immediate materials such as light, space, and tangible forms with live and recorded sound and video. With these installations, he engages spectators and participants with direct physical situations, as well as processes that unfold over longer durations. By activating one's awareness of color, time and space Rice creates opportunities for dynamic, active viewing.\nWhile his practice is primarily concerned with emerging social relationships to digital technology, Rice draws heavily from art historical themes. In doing so, he examines the conditions of surrealist and minimalist attitudes in contemporary new-media arts. This practice informs recent large-scale installations, as well as images and sculptures which incorporate the particular patterns, textures, and processes inherent in digital media.\nTivon began his exploration of image and form at the University of Colorado, where he received a BFA in both Electronic Media and Sculpture (2000). He continued these investigations in the University of Washington's masters program in sculpture, during which time he began his study of experimental video in DXARTS.\nSince earning his MFA, Tivon has received numerous awards including the Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant, the Boeing International Fellowship, and most-recently a Fulbright Scholarship for research in South Korea. Rice has exhibited extensively with solo shows throughout the northwest and group shows in Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver, and Miami.\nCompleted\/published\nSite Machines Tivon Rice\nAdviser(s): Juan Pampin, James Coupe, Paul Berger Electronic Media, Immersive Media, Installation, Mechatronic Art, Robotics, Site Specific Art, Video Art, Visual Arts\nArcade Zero Tivon Rice\nAdviser(s): Juan Pampin, James Coupe, Paul Berger Electronic Media, Immersive Media, Installation, Mechatronic Art, Robotics, Video Art, Visual Arts\nSummer 2017 A-term\nDXARTS 490 A: Special Topics in Digital Arts and Experimental Media: Photogrammetric Modeling\nDXARTS 451 A: Experiments in Video Art I\nDXARTS 450 A: Digital Video Foundations\nDXARTS 450 A: Digital Video Foundations - Course Website\nDXARTS 200 AA: Digital Art and New Media: History, Theory, and Practice\nDXARTS Alumnus Tivon Rice receives two major grants from the Dutch Cultural Fund for Architecture, Design, and Digital Culture - Published: January 9, 2019\nModern Body Festival - Published: October 17, 2014\nJames Coupe Exhibits \"Swarm\" At Toronto International Film Festival (Mocca, Toronto) - Published: September 17, 2013\nDXARTS Video Art Student Exhibition - Jun 1 2017 - 7:00pm\nTivon Rice: \"Fa\u00e7ades + Drone Photogrammetry\" at Threshold Gallery, Seattle - Jun 2 2016 to Jul 26 2016\nBlack Box 2.0 Festival - May 6 2015 to Jun 7 2015\nTivon Rice's \"Site Machines\" - Jan 20 2014 - 9:00am to Apr 11 2014 - 5:00pm","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Bids, Proposals, Tenders\nBrochures, Magazines\nAt InHouse Productions we believe in creating strong partnerships which are always friendly, flexible and extremely professional.\nBonnier Books UK\nBonnier Books UK is a major UK publisher. Providing support in producing a variety of Word and PowerPoint templates as well as designing and producing a number of InDesign documents from Awards and Guides to Reports and stationery items.\nBupa UK\nBupa are specialists in providing healthcare, private medical insurance, care homes and wellbeing clinics. InHouse productions worked with Bupa to supply a comprehensive user PowerPoint pack with detailed instructions, samples and templates.\nCurious is a branding design agency in London. Another Top 100 design company, InHouse Productions have worked with Curious since 2007 on a number of projects producing MS Word, PowerPoint and InDesign jobs for some of the UK's largest companies and household brands.\nDragon Rouge\nDragon Rouge is an award-winning global creative agency with offices in Paris, London, Hamburg , Warsaw, Shanghai, Singapore, Sao Paulo and New York. They have been working with InHouse Productions since 2013 to produce a variety of Word and PowerPoint templates and presentations.\nElmwood are one of the world's most effective brand design consultancy and have been using InHouse Productions since 2014 to produce some of their PowerPoint presentations and templates for a number of major companies around the world, supporting offices in both the UK and Singapore.\nForever Easy\nInHouse Productions were contacted to design and produce the packaging for the relaunch of the Forever Easy range. During the process we also revamped the logo and produced supporting material such as promotional leaflets and information envelopes. A company based in Ghana, they are one of the largest suppliers of feminine products and support Breast Care International.\nThe Institute of Cancer Research\nThe Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world's most influential cancer research institutes and are ranked as the UK's leading academic research centre. InHouse Productions have worked closely with ICR in their rebranding by producing a series of MS Word and PowerPoint templates covering a range of stationery and company documents. We continue to assist ICR with formatting MSWord documents and PowerPoint presentations.\nKlesh\nKlesh Group Limited invest in, produce and trade industrial commodities. InHouse Productions worked with Klesh to design and produce a series of MS Word and PowerPoint templates as well as their annual reports.\nLafargeHolcim is the leading global building materials and solutions company serving masons, builders, architects and engineers all over the world. InHouse Productions design and produce PowerPoint presentations for the team based in Switzerland.\nLandsec\nLandsec are the largest commercial property company in the UK with a portfolio that is a diverse mix of offices, retail, leisure in London, and retail and leisure across the rest of the country. Working alongside Pollitt and Partners, InHouse Productions have worked closely with Landsec in their rebranding by producing a series of MS Word and PowerPoint templates covering a range of stationery and company documents.\nLambie-Nairn\nLambie-Nairn was an international branding agency within the WPP Group who have now merged with five world-class businesses as an agency to become Superunion and have used InHouse Productions to produce some of their MS Word and PowerPoint templates.\nLondon Projects\nLondon Projects are a construction company specialising in super-prime, London residential refurbishment. They contacted InHouse Productions to produce a versatile PowerPoint template that they use to create a variety of company documents and forms.\nMagee have been leaders in the field of corporate reporting for over 20 years and have been designing and producing annual reports for 25 years. Magee are one of InHouse Productions longest standing clients and have been working together since 1999 on a range of annual reports, PowerPoint presentations and templates.\nMarty Cox Gym\nThe Marty Cox Gym, founded and run by Marty Cox Snr since 1989, is renowned for the fitness of its fighters from novice amateurs all the way to professional World Champions. InHouse Productions are involved in designing and producing the logos, flyers, tickets and posters for this outstanding kickboxing club.\nMcMillan Williams\nMcMillan Williams is one of the largest solicitors in the South of England. Operating for over 30 years with branches in London, Croydon, the South East and South West of England. InHouse Productions have been working with McMillan Williams since 2008, designing and producing a range of brochures, leaflets, adverts, posters and office location maps.\noutre creative\noutre creative are a digital and branding agency that take creative information design and crafted copy, strategic thinking and predictive science and tie it all together with personality that packs a punch. InHouse Productions have worked with outer creative since since 2015 producing MS Word, PowerPoint presentations and templates for some of the UK's largest companies.\nPollitt and Partners\nRanked amongst the Top 100 design agencies, InHouse Productions have worked with Bostock and Pollitt since 2006 producing MS Word and PowerPoint templates for some of the UK's largest companies.\nQinetiQ are experts in defence, aerospace and security, employing more than 9,000 people worldwide with scientists and engineers solving some of the world's most important problems. The first job InHouse Productions had with QinetiQ was to produce their annual report. Subsequently, we have set their interim\/full year results PowerPoint presentations.\nRio Tinto is a leading global mining and metals company working in more than 40 countries across six continents. InHouse Productions work mainly with the Investor Relations and Brand & Communications teams, producing a wide variety of items from PowerPoint presentations, MS Word and InDesign templates covering a variety of their documents, to designing and producing their brochures to amending guidelines. Providing support not only in the UK but also to other offices based in Australia, Canada, Singapore, Brussels and Brasil.\nSaffron Brand Consultants\nSaffron is one of the world's leading brand consultancies punching above its weight against the world's largest and longest established firms. InHouse Productions have worked with Saffron to produce a number of MS Word and PowerPoint templates for some of their clients.\nSerco is an international service company. Since 1999, InHouse Productions has been responsible for the design and artwork production of a number of successful commercial proposals to the UK Government, which have secured Serco contracts worth more than \u00a30.75 billion.\nTBWA Paling Walters\nTBWA Worldwide is an international advertising agency. TBWA\\PW is the UK based branch, working on complex health communication challenges to efficiently produce well thought through, high impact creative solutions. InHouse Productions work with TBWA\\PW in producing high-end interactive PowerPoint presentations.\nThe Clearing are an award-winning, independent brand consultancy who work with InHouse Productions to produce PowerPoint and Word templates.\nShell Australia Pty Ltd\nShell is a global company who aim to meet the energy needs of society in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally viable. InHouse Productions design and produce PowerPoint presentations for the QGC team in Australia.\nBids, Proposals\nInHouse Productions\nJust think of us as part of you \u2013 keep it InHouse\nT: 0208 755 3565 \u2022 M: 07931 383 920","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"28th day of curfew a reality check in Kashmir\nDr Syed Nazir Gilani\nFuture generations in Kashmir and Pakistan in particular and in the rest of the world in general would judge the quality and merits of our response, to Indian occupation of the part of Jammu and Kashmir on her side of cease fire line. It is interesting that India has used military force a second time in her dispute with Pakistan since 1947 to seal an occupation for the time being.\nHyderabad acceded to Pakistan but India used military force, to undo the accession and occupied it forcibly. Kashmir and Hyderabad are both pending disputes at the UN Security Council. Pakistan has almost given up on Hyderabad at the UN Security Council. We have always avoided a reality check and missed to improve upon our strategy. It was first under the simplification process under rule 11 of UN Security Council Procedural Rules that we were told in September 1996 by the UN that since Kashmir had not been debated at the UN Security Council from November 1965 to August 1996, it needed to be dropped from the agenda. We ran helter skelter for a cover up, to keep our people in the dark. If Modi had not gone mad on Kashmir on 5 August 2019, the Government would not have accepted that it has taken Kashmir to UN Security Council after a lapse of 50 years. Many of the officers in the Foreign Office who credit today, the present Government for taking the Kashmir issue to UN Security Council, have in fact also remained involved in the cover up from November 1965 to August 1996. This generation of officers is always malleable in their own interests.\nKashmir militancy and Kashmir political Alliance (United Hurriyat of 31 July 1993) had driven India to her den and Kashmiris were prevailing. Indian administration in the Valley came to a standstill and collapsed for a good time. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao offered \"sky is the limit\", Prime Minister Vajpayee offered a formula of \"insaniyat, Kashmiriyat& jamhooriyat\" and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered five working groups to make a comprehensive progress on the resolution of Kashmiris right of self-determination. Government of India or anyone in majority Hindus would not have even dreamed to lock down Kashmir in this way in August 2019, hunt down Kashmiris on the streets of India and give calls to their youth to get ready to take Kashmiri girls (women) as wives after the abrogation of 35A. It may be happening, as no one knows what has happened under the cover of CURFEW. The Hindu Ruler could not hold on to his first ever September 1931 curfew beyond 11 days. On the contrary Modi Government has been using curfew in Kashmir as a hobby. August 5 curfew is far different and one can easily liken it to Hitler's gas chambers. Something urgent has to be done to vacate the aggression, occupation and curfew.\nPakistan is faced with a situation in Kashmir as it faced a similar situation in Hyderabad. The encouraging difference is that, here we have unwilling Kashmiris physically fighting Indian occupation\nWhat has gone wrong that Modi Government turned its back on three previous Prime Ministers of India and decided to go in a bacchanalian mood to annex Kashmir? A reality check is highly desired. It seems that militancy was not authored as a means to a just and final resolution. Kashmiri militants almost got recognised by the Government of India as a legitimate Kashmir army, as a consequence of a dialogue offer. A smart militant and political leadership should have gone in for one or two or more dialogue session, to gain legitimacy and then pull out if required. Opportunity of gaining legitimacy, would have defeated India move to label them as terrorists. Our militants shelved their guns. Many of them took to Muzaffarabad-Srinagar trade, local trade activities and some even decided to seek refuge in Europe and other countries. Authors of military and political strategy were taken over by greed, corruption and private interests. Indian Government and its various elements kept their course. They kept a vigil on our failings. It ultimately boiled down to a mad, unlawful and unconvincing Indian action of 5 August 2019. Pakistan is faced with a situation in Kashmir as it faced a similar situation in Hyderabad. The encouraging difference is that, here we have unwilling Kashmiris physically fighting Indian occupation. Pakistan has a strong constituency in the valley and among Kashmiris all over the world. The question is would Pakistan be able to oblige and keep this constituency intact? Not easy but not difficult either.\nGovernment of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan have a fundamental role to play in helping the people of Kashmir out of this occupation. It needs a revision of past and a reality check of the present. We have a UN mechanism on Kashmir and it was on the basis of this connection with UN that Pakistan was able to seek a meeting at the UN Security Council. It has helped. The pending UN template of a UN supervised vote in Kashmir, is the first point of interest for any country or community to help us. Foreign Office keeps the same files as were kept during Mushtaq Gumani's time or during the times of President Musharraf. A majority of officers also remain the same and their effort to press PTI Government mode button, would not help. We need to learn from the past and there is an urgent need for a fresh approach. It has to be knowledgeable and inclusive approach. The circle of wisdom could not be perfected without a convincing Kashmiri input. We should not use UN Security Council as a threat to force India for a bilateral dialogue. We should have full faith in the jurisprudence of UN package on Kashmir. Kashmiris right of self-determination should not be stripped of its merit, available to it under UN Security Council and UNCIP Resolutions. Kashmiri input could be assured and secured through the institution of \"Plebiscite Advisor\" envisaged in AJK Act 1970 and AJK Constitution Act 1974.\nUnder Act 1974 Government of Pakistan has accepted to perform duties under UNCIP Resolutions in Azad Kashmir. The office of the Plebiscite Advisor is directly linked to the main duty under UNCIP Resolutions of a UN supervised Plebiscite. It is discouraging to note that Government of Azad Kashmir has failed to discharge this constitutional duty of immense international interest for the last 49 years. JKCHR during its arguments in the High Court of Azad Kashmir(1992-1999) found that an appointment was made on 19 January 1991. The process appeared to be suspect and against the spirit of the constitutional duty.\nIt is high time that we appoint a Plebiscite Advisor to create an institution in equity with Kashmir Committee in the Parliament of Pakistan. The principles and criterion of the appointment have been set out in the full court judgment of High Court of Azad Kashmir given in the JKCHR writ petition Number 122 of 1992, decided on 2 April 1999. The High Court Judgement insulates the dignity of the appointment (a personality of high international standing and commanding general confidence) and keeps out any possible party or other interests. It is the principal constitutional duty which connects Kashmir with UN and this office should have been working on the jurisprudence of Kashmir case for the last 49 years. Sooner we act the better it is.\nThe author is President of London based Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights \u2013 NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Yasmin Tayag\nWhy Croaky \"Vocal Fry\" Seems Expressive in Women but Not So Much in Men\nThe often-maligned Kardashian-speak plays an important \u2014 and gendered \u2014 role in pop music.\nPop music enthusiasts are no strangers to vocal fry, the raspy, croaky tone iconically deployed by Britney Spears in \"Baby One More Time\" and copied over the ensuing years. The technique, so often criticized as sounding Kardashian-esque in normal speech, has enjoyed longevity in the music world, and vocal researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio think they've figured out why.\nPresenting the findings of a small study today at the 171st Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, the scientists, who were aiming to investigate the emotional properties of music, report that female singers that use vocal fry are rated as more expressive, but the opposite is true for men.\n\"If you put on any recording of Britney Spears 'oh baby baby' \u2014 that is fry,\" says John Nix, an associate professor of voice and vocal pedagogy at the university. \"It's a habit that we're hearing more and more in popular styles.\"\nThe vocal fry double standard is nothing new: Women who use it in their normal speaking voices have been criticized for sounding incompetent and untrustworthy, while male voices have largely been spared, even though it's been documented in men as well (even Ira Glass has admitted to it). What's interesting is that vocal fry's seemingly gendered effect in music \u2014 that it's considered more expressive in women \u2014 seems to finally make a positive case for its use.\nIt makes sense, then, that Ariana Grande would use the technique to crackle sensually at the beginning of every verse on \"Let Me Love You,\" in the same way Rihanna does in \"This Is What You Came For,\" Alessia Cara does on \"Here,\" and Kesha does in every Kesha song ever.\n\"You don't hear a classical opera singer who has to sing [without a] microphone to a 4,000-person audience using vocal fry,\" Nix says, \"but someone who has a microphone next to their mouth does use it.\"\nThe physiology of vocal fry sheds some light on why it might be considered especially expressive. If you slow it down, vocal fry is a burst of sound punctuated by moments of silence, shorter than the time it takes to blink an eye. To achieve this tone, singers need to make their vocal cords slack and compact; air that's pushed through moves more slowly, bubbling out and forming the characteristic low popping sound. The tone is by no means a natural one \u2014 although many people use it so often that it seems that way \u2014 so using it requires some intentionality on the singer's part.\nThe researchers also provided an explanation for why vocal fry is such a prominent phenomenon in pop: It produces such a low sound that it has to be consistently amplified. We measure our ability to hear music in terms of pitch, which is measured in hertz; our normal listening range extends from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Vocal fry comes into our ears at the low end of the acoustic spectrum at 70 Hz, which is practically impossible to hear without a microphone. (Mariah Carey, the researchers point out, registers at 3,135.96 Hz.)\nUltimately, the reasons we perceive vocal fry as expressive in women and not in men won't be explained by physiology or in hertz; the way we respond to our favorite pop singers' voices will always come down to what we expect from them.\nExpressive Eyebrow Wiggling Has Evolutionary Roots, say Scientists\nThe Expressive Power of Games Has Yet to Be Fully Tapped\nBy Jessica Famularo\nChris Cornell's Four-Octave Vocal Range, Explained\nBy Mark Kaufman","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"PRIMER 2020\nCHP NOW\nA&C\n'You Can't Be What You Can't See'\nChloe Reynolds, May 23, 2019 1 min read\nPrivilege of Information\nI arrived home after four months of little wifi to \"Betsy DeVos and God's Plan for Schools,\" \"2,300 U.S. Foreclosures Show a Racial Divide in House Decay,\" \"Biden, Sanders, Warren: Too Soon for 2020?\" \"How Social Isolation Is Killing Us,\" \"What's hurting California's budget: The\u2026\nSydney Gladu, March 17, 2017 5 min read\nCoverage Quiet on Haiti\nHurricane Matthew left a path of destruction in its wake and was the longest-lasting category 5 hurricane on record in the Eastern Caribbean. It died down to a category 1 hurricane on Oct. 8 as it hit North Carolina. As of Oct. 12, 39 people\u2026\nCity on a Hill Press, October 14, 2016 4 min read\nPulitzer for Washington Post, Exile for Snowden\nFormer NSA contractor Edward Snowden was on a plane to Hong Kong in May 2013 when media outlets, including The Washington Post, began publishing leaked documents describing the U.S.'s post 9\/11 domestic surveillance programs. By the time he landed, the U.S. government had already issued\u2026\nCity on a Hill Press, September 29, 2016 3 min read\nHe-SPN\nPlayboy's \"Sexiest Sportscaster of the Year\" seems to be the only sports journalism award that women have a shot at winning. Beyond that, women are buried in the 10 percent of female sports journalists or commodified as the pretty faces with microphones on the sidelines\u2026\nAlexa Lomberg, March 11, 2016 5 min read\nA Digital Universe\n\"Can you imagine organizing on the internet to save your building, stop a war or start a labor movement?\" A digital 9-year-old girl urges viewers to consider the possibilities the \"world-wide web\" has to offer. This fictional character is one of three hosts in the\u2026\nKelsey Taylor, January 20, 2016 4 min read\nReflections on Injustice\nA roar of applause greeted a 61-year-old man, donning his trademark black suit, as he sauntered up to the Media Theater's stage. Dr. Cornel West, the sole reason why hundreds of students filed into the theater that night, had arrived.\nMontse Reyes, December 5, 2014 5 min read\nQ&A With Dr. Cornel West\nBefore his keynote address at \"Speaker Blowout: Ferguson, Racism and the Media,\" Dr. Cornel West sat down with a student media representative. Student Media: To start off, I wanted to ask you about your experience. As an academic and lifelong activist, what would you say to\u2026\nUCSC Students Showcase Art with a Social Impact\nArts and Digital Arts and New Media departments present quarterly Open Studios, featuring technology and innovation\nKeemia Kaboli, December 15, 2013 3 min read\nCity on a Hill Press\nCity on a Hill Press is produced by and for UCSC students. Our primary goal is to report and analyze issues affecting the student population and the Santa Cruz community.\nWe also serve to watchdog the politics of the UC administration. While we endeavor to present multiple sides of a story, we realize our own outlooks influence the presentation of the news. The City on a Hill Press (CHP) collective is dedicated to covering underreported events, ideas and voices. Our desks are devoted to certain topics: campus and city news, sports, arts and entertainment, opinion and editorial. CHP is a campus paper, but it also provides space for Santa Cruz residents to present their views and interact with the campus community. Ideally, CHP's pages will serve as an arena for debate, challenge, and ultimately, change.\nCHP is published weekly in the fall, winter and spring quarters by the City on a Hill Press publishing group, except during Thanksgiving and academic breaks.\nThe opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff at large, or the University of California.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home \u203a C-Suite Corner \u203a 21st Century Leadership \u203a 21st Century Leadership Letter\n21st Century Leadership Letter\n21st Century Leadership Posted on August 17, 2020 \u2022 Updated April 21, 2021 \u2014by Lisen Stromberg 1332 0\nCall me nosy, but I couldn't help but to listen in when my son and his two best friends were discussing their job prospects post college graduation next year. Their conversation went as follows:\nBoy #1: \"Yo, the company I'm interning with this summer just gave me a full-time offer.\"\nBoy #2: \"Dude, that's awesome\"\nBoy #1: \" Yeah, but the top is filled with a bunch of white guys. No diversity at all. And their board has no women or people of color.\"\nBoy #3: \"That sucks. They know that's bad for business, right?\"\nAs the conversation went on, these three white, straight, male economics majors agreed that unless companies make diversity a priority, they wouldn't want to work there. As one of them said, \"I want to be in an environment that challenges me to be better and allows me to learn. Working with a bunch of guys who look and think like me? Meh.\" Call these young men naive, call them idealistic, or call them, as I do, the next wave of talent your company is going to want to hire.\nDid you know that companies that put profits and people on a level playing field deliver a total return to shareholders 3x greater than their peers? \"Inspiring Individuals is the New Competitive Advantage\" \u2013 McKinsey\nBut the truth is, despite all of the upheaval we are experiencing right now in the world and the ongoing calls for change, companies are still resistant to do the work. Why? Because, as one CEO told me, \"It's uncomfortable.\"\nThe result? In the past two weeks alone, we have seen case study after case study of companies hurting their businesses because they weren't walking the talk when it comes to aligning their external branding with their workplace culture.\nCase study #1: Fair Equity Should be Table Stakes\nThat's the headline of the billboard that software start-up Carta displayed up and down Silicon Valley's Highway 101. Carta makes software used by more than 14,000 companies, to manage data for stockholders. They built their marketing around the power and importance of fair compensation. But they weren't walking the talk according to Emily Kramer, former VP of Marketing and current plaintiff in a lawsuit against the company. According to Emily Kramer, \"Companies have an obligation to issue equity more fairly. That's what Carta stood for, and I was really excited for the opportunity to tell that story.\" Instead, she's suing the company for gender discrimination and pay inequity. So the question at hands is whether your company is at risk?\nCommit to pay equity.\nWhen it comes to fair pay, don't just sign a pledge, deliver the results. Join Adobe, SalesForce, Nordstroms and many others and commit to pay equity with the Fair Pay Certification.\nCase study #2: People Before Profits\nThat's how REI has positioned itself since its origins in 1938 as an employee cooperative. But profits took center stage before the store reopening on July 4th weekend when an employee reported to her manager that she was positive for COVID-19. Her employer told her to keep quiet. Instead, she sent out a company wide message warning her colleagues they were at risk. The employees banded together and created an online petition accusing the co-op of \"prioritizing sales above workers.\" REI was forced to change its employee notification policy and is now managing its tarnished image across stakeholders.\nCommit to aligning people and profits. Your company should give employees a safe way for their voice to be heard to ensure you get the information you need in order to protect both of you.\nCase study #3: Black Lives Matter, Or Do They?\nThis one isn't in the headlines, it's in the day-to-day reality of right now. A prospective client reached out to ask about our diversity and inclusion work. We shared our belief that diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging are table-stakes for companies that want to succeed in the 21st century. We told them it doesn't start with a one-off webinar, it starts with understanding where their company is and helping them get to where they need to be. It starts with data and understanding the lived experience of their employees. We provided them with a detailed proposal of how they could begin the journey to making sure culture is a competitive advantage. Their CEO took one look and said, \"This is too much work. Can't we just do a lunch and learn?\"\nCommit to diversity and inclusion. Try to track your employee analytics. You can track your hiring, retentions, and promotions of your employees to ensure you are keeping up with diversity and inclusion in your workplace.\nSaying one thing and doing another or hoping a one-off lunch to learn will make \"this all go away\" is not the answer. As a recent article in the Washington Post stated, \"Pushed by employees in some cases, and in others by a fear of losing customers, corporations are being forced to examine their roles in perpetuating inequalities in hiring, pay and promotion, fostering toxic workplace cultures and consumer discrimination.\"\nHere's the truth: Corporate America is in the midst of a reckoning. If you are doing what you've always done, you're going to get what you've always gotten. And in today's world, that's a recipe for failure.\nSo where do your leaders stand and how does your culture measure up when it comes to 21st century readiness? Feeling unsure or afraid to get uncomfortable? We can help.\nIt's time to stop talking and start doing because your employees, your customers, and the future talent you need is watching.\nConsultants Collective\nEquity issues\nUpdating Leadership\nLisen Stromberg\nLisen Stromberg is the CEO and founder of PrismWork and a 2GO Advisory Group consultant. She is a workplace culture innovation and leadership expert who works with clients to help them build next-in-class 21st century cultures with the future-forward leaders their company needs to succeed. As an award-winning independent journalist, her work can be found in The New York Times, Fortune, Newsweek, and other top media outlets. Her book, Work Pause Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career, reveals how trailblazing women disrupted the traditional career paradigm to achieve their personal and professional goals and how forward-thinking companies create workplaces that enable women to thrive.\nWe Need Practices\nShould You Advertise on TikTok?\nEnterprise automation: artificial intelligence in the making\nHow to build brand trust \u2013 4 essential steps\nOnline reputation management definition and process\nThe Interview as Sony false flag publicity stunt\nSocial Business and diversity\nConsultants Collective Profile: Casey Hall","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"arcnews\nClosing Information Gaps in Emergency Response\nWhen natural hazards strike, emergency service providers must be prepared to act quickly and decisively to respond to people in need. Whether dealing with hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, or earthquakes, these crises require fast, informed action.\nBut that's easier said than done when the data that first responders use comes from scores of disparate sources. Even though more information than ever before is available to today's emergency personnel, the data is often stored in disconnected systems that make use of many different tools. This makes it tough to combine all the necessary information into a single source of truth. It also makes it hard to share critically needed information with people on the front line.\nEsri partner First Due\u2014a graduate of the Esri Startup program\u2014offers a cloud-based, end-to-end software suite that brings together much-needed data for fire and emergency medical services (EMS) operations, prevention, and administration. With First Due, emergency service providers can run their entire operation in one place using tools for pre-incident planning, community engagement, mobile response, inspections, and asset and personnel management, as well as the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and electronic patient care reports (ePCR). First Due also works on any computer or mobile device.\nResidential structures in Arcadia's First Due environment are shown next to real-time fire perimeter data.\nA key feature of First Due is that it allows fire department and EMS staff to operate directly on top of crucial data layers from Esri, such as floodplain and elevation maps or live fire data, while out in the field. First Due's solution employs ArcGIS technology throughout, including in tools for pre-incident planning, inspections, and community risk reduction.\n\"By partnering with Esri, we're able to give our customers across the country the critical geospatial information they need\u2014at their fingertips and at a moment's notice,\" said First Due cofounder and CEO Andreas Huber. \"Our customers are using this data to tackle incredibly complex and quickly moving natural disasters.\"\nOut of the box, First Due's pre-incident planning functionality automatically aggregates public and private sources of critical information within an agency's response area to provide a profile of every structure, including single-family homes. Additionally, First Due's Community Connect solution enriches automatically sourced data by enabling residents to submit their own life-safety information. This gives responders and emergency planners access to details like people's contact information, mobility concerns, language preferences, and building features that only occupants would know.\nReal-Time Incident Management for the Bobcat Fire\nDuring the devastating 2020 California wildfire season, the Bobcat Fire burned more than 115,000 acres in September in and around the Angeles National Forest. As one of the largest fires on record for Los Angeles County, the Bobcat Fire resulted in large-scale natural and structural damage, caused residents to evacuate, and contributed to hazardous air pollution across the region. For the first responders fighting the blaze, the Bobcat Fire was a dangerous, hard-to-contain, quickly moving challenge.\nUsing First Due's Pre-Incident Planning function, the nearby City of Arcadia had collected comprehensive community data before the fire broke out. As the wildfire progressed, city officials were able to see this data in First Due in the same operating picture as real-time data layers from Esri to help first responders monitor and battle the blaze.\n\"MODIS [Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer] and VIIRS [Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite] layers in GIS are up-to-date information made available by the folks at NASA [the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] to understand, through high-tech thermal imaging, what areas are showing spikes in abnormal heat and where the fire has most likely spread,\" Arcadia fire chief Barry Spriggs said. \"In conjunction with fire perimeter data from other sources, we were able to gain an accurate, real-time picture of what we were dealing with.\"\nSpriggs said that First Due and ArcGIS helped all the agencies responding to the disaster set priorities and drive a consistent, organized response.\n\"Having an accurate map was huge when deciding how and where to place resources for all agencies involved in response to the event\u2014our personnel, local [police departments], and city officials in the EOC [emergency operations center],\" he said. \"Early on, it was determined that we needed to take advantage of Arcadia-specific GIS layers and wildfire-specific GIS layers to make sure we could utilize our computers and tablets in the command post and emergency operations center so that we could stay current with the fire perimeter and best understand how it can impact our city.\"\nSharing Data in Real Time to Combat Hurricane Sally\nLike the Bobcat Fire, Alabama's Hurricane Sally\u2014also in September 2020\u2014brought fast-moving destruction to a region that had already been battered by storms during last year's active hurricane season. Hurricanes can swiftly change direction, intensity, and speed, making for a hazardous set of circumstances. This intensifies the need for accurate, readily available data.\nOffshore weather buoys delivered real-time data to First Due users during Hurricane Sally.\nFor the Orange Beach Fire Department in Orange Beach, Alabama, prehurricane preparation was key.\n\"First and foremost, we had to get on the same playbook and act quickly to provide our task force partners with our incident alerting, mapping data, and all of our pre-incident plans\u2014including details on our residential structures,\" said Jeff Smith, Orange Beach deputy fire chief. \"We took it a big step further by just as quickly enabling our crews to track outside task force apparatus locations, just as we do ours, so we could make sure the closest unit to any emergency was the one responding.\"\nBut the team realized that more external data would be needed to accurately plan for and track Sally's path.\n\"With the way we were already using data in the First Due platform, there were no big changes that needed to be made, even for a situation like a major storm,\" said Smith. \"However, when we developed strategies to incorporate data from outside sources to understand how our preparations would hold up against projected storm tracks, we needed to bring in platform expertise to make these things a reality.\"\nLive data from weather buoys, the National Hurricane Center, floodplain elevation markers, and more was brought into First Due, where it could be viewed alongside other data layers. This enabled responders from all agencies to access and use the same information in real time.\nDelivering Data and Getting Results\nFor the agencies responding to the Bobcat Fire, Hurricane Sally, and other natural hazards, First Due\u2014together with ArcGIS technology\u2014gives emergency personnel the tools they need to deliver better, more accurate, and more comprehensive services to people in peril. The seamless, up-to-date data and simple user experience improve crisis response for those who need it most.\nFor more information, contact the First Due team.\nThe Esri Startup program gives emerging businesses an edge by helping them integrate spatial functionality into their products and services. Learn more about the Esri Startup Program.\nesri startup partners\nEsri Press\nArcNews Fall 2021\nSubscribe to ArcNews\nAbout ArcNews\nFill out this form to subscribe to ArcNews, a quarterly print magazine for GIS users of all levels to find out about new ways to employ GIS and what's new with ArcGIS technology. It is mailed to subscribers within the United States.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"\u2190 Back to season list\nReckoning (2)\nPacific Blue's season opener picks up from the cliffhanger season-ender, \"\"The Right Thing,\"\" in which Bobby Cruz and the three other rookie cops were arrested for withholding evidence in the murder of gang conciliator, JOHN PATRONE.\nThe entire unit is pressured by IA officer SUSAN JESSUP, as BRUCE BEST is tried for the killing with Bobby Cruz as an accessory before Santa Monica's notorious hanging judge, J. GUNNAR HALLORAN.\nAfter a sorority girl turns up dead, Monica and Chris go undercover at a very select sorority at Pacific University. Harper discovers that freshman pledges are being forced to strip at a local nightclub as part of their initiation, but then are being blackmailed to continue their activities or risk exposure to their parents and on the internet.\nBlue Hawaii (1)\nWhile in Waikiki to train the Honolulu bike patrol, Bobby Cruz (Mario Lopez) and Russ Granger (Jeff Stearns) back into an undercover case when they are mistaken for buyers in a large scale drug smuggling operation. They team up with four young, hip undercover officers in Honolulu to bust a ring working out of a surf shop.\nCruz winds up falling for CLAIRE KEENE, one of the young undercover officers, and considers transferring to Hawaii, while she considers transferring to the mainland. Granger gets involved with a gorgeous, young exotic dancer who is thinking of moving to Japan to continue her trade.\nSilicon Valley of the Dolls\nA doctor running an underground clinic for plastic surgery causes the death of a young co-ed. The world of high school girls obsessed with plastic surgery is explored when Russ Granger and Monica Harper go undercover. Struck by the beautiful perfection of the students, Monica and Granger learn that their boyfriends have been financing plastic surgery by stealing cars.\nHostile Witness\nGranger and Cruz are sent to Ventura County on a seemingly simple case to return a witness to a murder trial in Santa Monica. The wild young woman makes their life miserable, escaping numerous times, and causing them to miss their date with two gorgeous women headed for Catalina.\nDead Ringers\nA pair of twins are killing people who rub them the wrong way. One of their victims is a Federal Witness, which brings an FBI agent, who thinks that one of the people he testified against lashed back. Chris finds herself fascinated with the case, which causes more friction between her and T.C. Chris suspects that they have a serial killer and the agent is impressed with her, that she requests that Chris help her, which makes T.C. unhappy. When a person who saw the twins in one of their moods tries to call Chris but is not around so T.C. takes the call. The twins kills him and when T.C. arrives they tell him that the one who called him went away. Bobby who thinks that something is wrong and who thinks that T.C. is letting his problems with Chris cloud his judgement, tells the FBI agent about the twins and the agent says that it's been theorized that the killer is nore than one person, and the twins could be it. One of the twins lures Chris into a trap but Chris escapes and when one of\nAfter saving a woman who was about to kill herself, Granger learns that she's being blackmailed by a male escort service she used. While she won't testify, she tells him that they pose as auto servicemen. Granger and Cruz convince Cory to let them work undercover. They find out that one of the men who work there has a record and convince him to introduce them to the boss. The boss gives them a job. Cruz learns that one of the guys wants to leave and open his own escort business. The woman who saved takes a liking to him so much that she is practically splurging on him. When the boss catches the guy who wants to leave, stealing the client list, he kills him. When Granger and Cruz can't get anything on the operation, Cory wants to pull the plug. But they convince her to be the next mark. She goes to the service center, hoping to snag the boss but the boss sends Granger instead. While having dinner, the woman who like Granger sees them and blows his cover. The guys then grab her and Cory\nA female boxer dies after an exhibition match. Cory decides to investigate but the new D.A. whom she is attrracted to, is concerned that she might not handle it properly. So he calls T.C. who has depressed ever since Chris left, to come back and he does, which doesn't make Cory happy. She Strickland and Cruz undercover as a boxer and her handler. They discover that the bottle the girl drank from was poisoned and has the fingerprints of Mia St. John on it. They bring her in for questioning and learn that the water bottle is hers and suspect that maybe she was the target. Strickland then meets Joey another boxer who feels that she is being passed over because she is not as attractive as the others. They then learn that Rick who manages Joey was once involved with Mia both personally and professionally. When they try to bring him in he runs away, they manage to catch him, and they grill him about trying to kill Mia but realize that he gave the bottle to the other girl. Cory decides to han\nWhile working on a Haitian whom they suspect is smuggling in drugs Bobby sees a man whom he arrested a few years ago who is still in prison.\nJamie who was about to go on vacation encounters a singer whose songs gave inspiration and hope when she was incarcerated. After finding her passed out Jamie brings her home. When she comes to she grabs Jamie's gun and tells her to stay away and she then leaves. Jamie needing to find her and her gun tracks her down to her mother's house. She finds her and upon convincing her that she only wants to help her, the singer tells her that she is down and outr because of her record producer. It seems that he is crooked; he takes very large cuts and when someone wants to leave he threatens them, which is what he did to her. Jamie tries to convince Cory that her claims have to be investigated, but Cory saying that this is not a criminal matter declines so Jamie decides to do it on her own. With Monica's help and one of the singers unpublished songs they try to goad the producer into doing something. He then sends his man to get the singer but Jamie saves her. Later Jamie gets the singer a gig o\nGod's Gift\nJamie Strickland and Cory McNamara go undercover in a sex cult operation. The master is very seductive and has convinced women to prostitute themselves in the name of God.\nMeanwhile Russ Granger and Monica Harper are on rollerblades trying to catch criminals.\nSwimming in the Dead Pool\nA controversial and outspoken attorney, whose specialty is suing the police department; presently he has a wrongful death suit against them over the death of a young (black) man, whose death he believes was cause by the actions of the two policemen who were pursuing him. He then announces that he has found a witness, who will prove that he is right but he won't name the witness right now. Later at his apartment, someone knocks on the door and shoots him. When the department hears of this, the Chief, who is afraid that the press will assume that a cop is the killer, decides to let the Pacific Blue unit handle the investigation. Cory decides to first look into the possibility that this was the act of a scorned lover or wife, because the way the place was set up, it appears that he was expecting someone. Cory then learns that, that person is his assistant, so Cory goes to her place and finds the murder weapon. She says that she didn't do it and Cory thinks that she is innocent. Cory then\nA female radio talk show host witnesses a murder on her way home. As the killers are about to shoot her too, TC saves her life. But the flash from his gun blinds the woman. TC becomes obsessed with protecting her due to his guilt and her resemblance to the love of his life, Chris Kelly. The woman doesn't know he's the one who robbed her from her sight, she just thinks he's a caring cop. This leads to a romans. But after a while the womans sight beings to return.\nJamie's sister Jennie returns to Santa Monica, but is kidnapped by young juveniles. The guy Jamie is dating is somehow involved, also the dirty narc Detective Perry Marcus.\nRuss and Cory go undercover in the ugly, violent world of the Nazis, trying to catch the killers of several African-American and Mexican young men. Jamie goes undercover and tries to protect a young boy, a very talented photographer, who has captured a meeting between two powerful adversaries.\nFifty-Nine Minutes\nWhen a pretty 15 year old girl is kidnapped from a shopping mall parking lot, Cory and the rest of the unit must band together to find her within 59 minutes. The officers must deal with the hysterical mother and false leads before their 59 minutes is up.\nDisrobed\nAfter Russ and Bobby arrest a murder suspect, the trial lands before hanging Judge J. Gunnar Halloran. After tossing the weapon because of an illegal search, the heat is turned up on Bobby and Russ, who are accused of planting evidence. The case is further hampered by the fact that Judge Halloran has fallen in love with the exotic dancer sent to blackmail him into releasing the defendant.\nBobby Cruz' sister, Teresa, witnesses the suicide of a high school classmate and begins to fall under the spell of the girl's manipulative boyfriend.\nAn ambitious rookie cop, recently assigned to Pacific Blue, turns out to be a spy for Internal Affairs. Things get complicated when he's let into the young Pac Blue officers' scheme to frame a ruthless drug dealer.\nCory learns she is pregnant, but is unsure whether the father is T.C. Callaway, a one night stand, or Will Blake, her District Attorney boyfriend. Before she can tell either one, she's kidnapped by two jewel thieves who offer to let her go in exchange for the release from jail of their ace safecracker, who happens to be a crazy, violent, female bodybuilder (played by WWF superstar Chyna). T.C. is shot in the leg while saving Cory McNamara.\nT.C., now hooked on painkillers from being shot in the leg, leads Pacific Blue on the trail of a potential serial killer who preys on young runaways that he locates via the Internet.\nCory and Monica convince a woman psychic, who used to help the police back East, into helping on the case.\nS.N.A.F.U.\nWhile Russ, Bobby, Monica and Jamie are out tracking pot growers in the Santa Monica mountains, Chris Kelly returns to visit a wounded T.C. Callaway, who's fighting addiction to pain pills, as well as kidnap victim Cory McNamara.All hell breaks loose when Chris finds out T.C. slept with her best friend, Cory, and that Cory doesn't know if her pregnancy is the result of Will Blake or T.C. Callaway. The season-ending cliffhanger occurs when Cory opens the blood test results to find out which one is the father.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Updated: October 29, 2020.\nWalking through the doors at LIXIL's former Kasumigaseki headquarters in 2015, it would be hard to differentiate the office from any one of the traditional Japan Inc. or government offices that dominate the central Tokyo neighborhood. The long rows of desks and top-down corporate culture were at odds with the company's focus on developing innovative water and housing products to make our homes more comfortable and livable.\nAfter taking over as President and CEO in 2016, Kinya Seto set LIXIL on a new path to become a purpose-driven entrepreneurial company. The aim was to radically transform from being a complex and often-times inefficient conglomerate, into an agile, consumer-focused organization that understands and meets consumers' fast changing needs.\nFor LIXIL, this would be achieved through a combination of concrete structural changes to create a simpler, stronger organization, as well as by embedding a more agile, empowering, and open culture that enables employees to succeed to their full potential.\nOne of the first signs that old ways of operating were changing came when Seto abandoned the company's dress code. There was a clear message; the focus would be on the work, not the formalities of corporate Japan. This was just the beginning of a transformation journey to create a more agile organization. Since then, the company has unified globally around a standard set of LIXIL Behaviors and transformed internal collaboration through new digital platforms and global integration. LIXIL also divested non-core businesses and will soon formally transition to a simplified operating company structure.\nBeing Ready to Face Unprecedented Challenges\nWith the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus on agility was given a real-time stress test. With a simplified organization in Japan and all international markets integrated under LIXIL International, as well as a more digitally enabled workforce, the company was ready to face this new challenge.\nSupply chain teams worked globally across time-zones to balance the increased demand for bidets in the Americas against Asia demand. With fewer layers, shorter report lines, cross-regional project teams, and a global view of key processes, LIXIL was demonstrating its newfound agility.\nLIXIL's people embracing more agile work styles\nIndividual contributors have themselves started to break the mold of rigorous, hierarchical barriers. Leveraging the internal collaboration and communication platform, Workplace, employees have been inspiring and connecting with one another across borders: teams in EMENA and Japan came together to collaborate on 3D printing of the same 'elbow-controlled' door handles in response to COVID-19. During the pandemic many employees were now working from home, but 66%\u00b9 said they felt more productive, taking advantage of the digital tools the company had at the ready and improving their work-life balance.\nFocusing on the Job, Not the Title\nKinya Seto (CEO) and Bijoy Mohan (Leader, LIXIL International)\ntouring the Lahr factory in Germany\nLIXIL is now taking another transformational step to remove barriers to agility and ensure the focus stays firmly on the work. The company is simplifying and harmonizing titles for managers and above across the entire company. For managers across LIXIL International and working in global roles at corporate functions, titles will be standardized as \"Leader\" along with area of responsibility, applying to everyone including Bijoy Mohan, formerly CEO and now Leader, LIXIL International.\nAlong with the simplification of titles, LIXIL has this year also redefined the role of Corporate Officers to consist of one President and two classes of Officers: Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President, bringing the number of Corporate Officers down from 50 to 24. This change also reflected the shift to a simpler, more agile organization, and has clarified the roles and responsibilities of the top leadership team with fiduciary responsibility for managing and setting the direction of the company, thereby strengthening governance.\nFor Seto, \"Everyone has the capacity to lead \u2013 not just the person carrying the biggest title. People's contributions shouldn' t be limited to the title they hold. An environment without concerns about titles enables employees to stretch beyond where they believed their title would have allowed them to participate.\"\nMohan said, \"This is a milestone step towards us becoming a simpler, more open culture. What's important is the actual work individuals are responsible for, not the title or rank they carry. We are focused on strengthening agile, team-based work. Teams create value for the organization by capitalizing on the collective strengths and diversity of thought. However, deference to hierarchy, fear of consequences, and lack of transparency can be barriers to effective teamwork. We want the best ideas to win, rather than a person's rank.\"\nOffice environments are becoming more collaborative and innovative\nThe move is also aimed at LIXIL better serving its partners and consumers, by placing an even greater focus on the actual services provided. With right expertise and decision-making capabilities at the table, the emphasis will be on collaboration and innovation to quickly find the right solutions, not the title on the business cards LIXIL people carry.\nYugo Kanazawa, Leader, Digital added, \"The simplification of titles across the organization can be a catalyst for further positive culture change in LIXIL, ensuring that we embed a more agile and empowering culture. Our LIXIL Behaviors of \"Do the Right Thing\" , \"Work with Respect\" , and \"Experiment and Learn\" are all anchored in specific notions to encourage speaking-up and sharing views, acknowledging that everyone is a steward of our company's success.\"\nThe WING campus encourages employees to explore various working styles\nLIXIL moved from Kasumigaseki to a consolidated global headquarters in November 2019. Sitting on the riverside in a largely residential part of Tokyo, the WING campus is home to a new R&D facility, design center, and spaces that encourage open communication and new ways of thinking. LIXIL is also redefining the role of the office at its regional bases in Piscataway, Singapore, and Dusseldorf. With a collaborative and innovative work environment that opens doors to creativity, employees are empowered to do their best work. Ways of working have changed dramatically since 2015 and the future will be more agile.\nThe company's transformation continues.\n\u00b9 Internal survey conducted internally between June 9 and 19, 2020, with 1,896 respondents.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"On June 22, 2021 FCC the FCC released circulation draft for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in MB Docket 21-263 that intends to merely harmonize and\/or streamline codified regulation regarding broadcast AM\/FM stations. There are nominal changes -- if maybe just paperwork conveniences and slight ease of proposals for certain stations, such in the Case of Class D. In all:\n1. Eliminate the maximum rated transmitter power limit rule for AM stations set out in section 73.1665(b);\n2. Update the NCE FM community of license coverage requirement set out in sections 73.316(c)(2)(ix)(B) and 73.1690(c)(8)(i) to match that used in section 73.515;\n3. Eliminate the requirement that applicants demonstrate the effect of any FM applicant transmitting antenna on nearby FM or TV broadcast antennas set out in section 73.316(d);\n4. Update the signal strength contour overlap requirements for NCE FM Class D stations set out in section 73.509(b) to harmonize with the contour overlap requirements for all other NCE FM stations, set out in section 73.509(a);\n5. Eliminate the requirement for broadcast services to protect grandfathered common carrier services in Alaska operating in the 76-100 MHz frequency band set out in sections 73.501(b), 74.1202(b)(3), the second sentence of 74.702(a)(1), and the second sentence of 74.786(b) given that there are no longer such common carrier services;\n6. Amend the definition of an \"AM fill-in area\" set out in section 74.1201(j) to conform to section 74.1201(g); 7. Amend the allocation and power limitations for broadcast stations within 320 kilometers of the Mexican and Canadian borders, set out in sections 73.207(b) and 74.1235(d), to comply with current treaty provisions.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"How Your Critical Inner Voice Gets in the Way of Love\nCommunication Between Couples, Critical Inner Voice, Relationship Advice, Relationship Problems, Relationships By Tamsen Firestone\nThere's a nasty defense mechanism that undermines and sabotages your efforts to have love in your life: your critical inner voice. It comes at you from all sides; it goes after you, it badmouths your partner, it slams your relationship, and it attacks love in general. We are mostly unaware of this internal enemy and the subversive operation that it runs just below our consciousness. But we get a glimpse of it when we have a thought like, \"He won't be interested in me. I'm not in his league.\" Or \"I'm not sure about what I see in her. She's not really all that great.\" Or \"Maybe we're being too affectionate.\" Or \"Love always fades. I should never expect it to last.\"\nWhat is this the critical inner voice?\nThe critical inner voice is a byproduct of the defenses we developed as children in order to cope with any stressful or painful events. It was formed early on when we were vulnerable youngsters trying to protect ourselves against frustration and emotional pain, and it was reinforced throughout our childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood.\nThis was part of a necessary coping strategy when we were very young, but as adults, we no longer need its protection. In fact, the critical inner voice actually limits us and prevents us from developing to our true potential, especially in our romantic relationships. It functions as a malevolent coach in our heads, making inaccurate interpretations of present day events and pessimistic predictions about the future based on negative experiences that occurred in our past.\nIt's helpful to remember that the critical inner voice is the language of the defended, negative side of your personality, the side that is opposed to your ongoing personal development. It promotes feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy that interfere with you establishing a loving relationship or performing at your optimal potential. The positive side of your personality is the real you, the side that is undefended and made up of your unique qualities, such as physical attributes or ability, temperament, certain dispositions, and a natural identification with the positive traits your caregivers possessed.\nAll of this begs the question: Is there a way to bring your critical inner voice out into the open, so you can challenge it directly and stop it from interfering with you having what you want, and deserve, in life. The answer is: Yes!\nHow to challenge your critical inner voice\nUsing the Voice Therapy method, you can expose the critical inner voice by giving a voice to the negative thoughts and attitudes that are turning you against yourself and interfering with your achieving your personal goals. Once it is exposed, you can confront it and take constructive action to go against it. Here is a summary of this method, as it has been adapted for journaling in the upcoming book, Daring to Love:\nIdentify your critical thoughts about yourself, using \"I\" statements. Write these statements down in your journal.\nRewrite your \"I\" statements as \"you\" statements. These are expressions of attacks coming from your critical inner voice. Expand on them, continuing to rewrite them as \"you\" statements.\nReflect on what you have written, and record any new thoughts and insights, as \"I\" statements.\nConfront the attacks coming from your critical inner voice, using \"I\" statements to stand up for yourself.\nPlan the actions you will take to counter the critical inner voice and the behavior, attitude, or emotion that it is supporting. Write these actions down, being detailed and specific about what you will do with respect to particular people, communication, behavior, situations, and so on.\nImplement your plan.\nWith this understanding of how to challenge your critical inner voice, let's look at the different ways that this internal enemy tries to sabotage your love life.\nYour critical inner voice attacks you.\nThe critical inner voice goes after you. Take, for example, the woman who tries to laugh off the thought, \"He\/she won't be interested in me. I'm not in his\/her league.\" But then she takes a closer look by rewriting her thought as a \"you\" statement: He\/she won't be interested in you. You're not in his\/her league. Not so funny anymore. Continuing along that vein, Do you actually think he could be attracted to you? Don't fool yourself. Now she's getting to the heart of the matter, Do you think someone like that could love you? Now her critical inner voice is exposed, and she's not laughing anymore. Now she's thinking, \"I don't want to end up in the self-hating place that I often end up in. I want to fight for myself this time.\" So, she confronts these attacks, \"Stop evaluating me. Stop telling me what I do and don't deserve. I will not let you undermine me. There is no 'league' that I am in or out of. Life is not the way you see it.\" She feels relief from taking a strong position in relation to her critical inner voice, and she is able to continue to express her interest in and feelings for this man.\nThe critical inner voice attacks your partner.\nThe critical inner voice badmouths your partner. Consider the man who tries to ignore the thought, \"I'm not sure about what I see in her. She's not really all that great.\" But instead he frames this thought as a \"you\" statement, What do you see in her? She's not all that great. Then more attacks come, So, what's the big deal about her? I don't get it. She seems like a loser to me. And, finally, You could do better than her. Dump her! At first he's confused. Then he's reminded of how his mother thought no one was good enough for him. Once he makes this connection, he knows how he wants to confront these attacks, \"I'm not listening to you and I'm not letting you influence me. If I did, I would leave every relationship I had. I value her, and I want to give this relationship a chance to develop.\" And he does.\nThe critical inner voice attacks your relationship.\nThe critical inner voice slams your relationship. What about the woman who has the fleeting thought, \"Maybe we're being too affectionate.\" When she starts to feel self-conscious and hold back her affection, she decides to translate this thought into the critical inner voice as a \"you\" statement, You two are being too affectionate. She continues, You're all over each other. You're so clingy. Then, with distain, Have some decency. Have some respect! You're embarrassing yourselves. She feels angry at being talked to this way. The tone sounds like her mother's voice, and she thinks of her parents' cold, loveless relationship. She confronts this voice, \"There's nothing wrong with us or embarrassing about how we're being. We're expressing our love and we're proud of it.\" She feels confident and not self-conscious about her affection.\nThe critical inner voice attacks love in general.\nThe critical inner voice attacks love in general. Think of the man who says, \"Love always fades. I should never expect it to last.\" He decides that this might be a voice, and he rewrites this belief as a \"you\" statement. Love always fades. You should never expect it to last. His next thought is, All relationships are doomed. Only a fool believes in love. And then his voice says, Don't even bother investing in a relationship. Spare yourself the disappointment and failure. At this point, he is able to see how destructive this advice is, and he stands up to his voice, \"You don't know what you're talking about. I don't have to be self-protective. I can be vulnerable and open to love. I want to take a chance on love. My life is more exciting when I do.\"\nThis advice for dealing with your critical inner voice may sound simplistic, especially in the context of a short blog. But it's hard and takes perseverance. You are tackling a defense mechanism that's been part of your life for a very long time. Confronting it will make you uncomfortable, and it's going to bring up a lot of anxiety at first. The voice will get louder as you begin to challenge it, almost like a parent yelling at their child to get back in line. But if you hang in there and don't let the voice influence your behavior, it will eventually give up, and its attacks will subside. It's helpful to think of your critical inner voice as an internal monster that grows stronger when you feed it by listening to it and heeding its advice. But when you disregard it, you starve the monster and it fades away.\nDoes the critical inner voice ever go away completely? Of course not, we will always have self-critical thoughts, especially when we are vulnerable and developing ourselves in a new way. This is particularly true in a love relationship. But when we do start doubting ourselves, our partner, our relationship, or love in general, we can be aware that our critical inner voice is causing these attacks, and we can take steps to identify, confront, and take action to challenge it and stop it from getting in the way of our having a loving and gratifying relationship in our life.\nRead More in Tamsen Firestone's upcoming book \u2014 Daring to Love: Move Beyond Fear of Intimacy, Embrace Vulnerability, and Create Lasting Connection\nTamsen Firestone\nA Powerful Way To Stop Projecting Onto Your Partner\nWant a Better Relationship? Work on Collaborative Communication\nTags: critical inner voice, critical inner voice and intimacy, negative thought processes, relationship, relationship advice, relationship issues, relationship problems, relationships\nOn Relationships and Parenting: An Interview with Dr. Pat Love\nBreaking Free From Bad Relationship Patterns\nFear of Intimacy: Understanding Why People Fear Intimacy\nWhat is Fear of Intimacy?\nHow to Deal with Jealousy\nNo one enjoys feeling jealous.\nOne Surprising Reason We Sabotage Love\nIn a previous blog, I talked about how studies are now showing that it is possible for people to stay\u2026\nHow to Preserve Your Individuality While Quarantining with Your Partner\nFor many of us, we are one more month into being quarantined with our partner. While this can be an\u2026\nHow to Let People Help You\nAll of us have a longing to be the recipient of caring gestures and offerings that express thoughtfulness and sensitivity\u2026\nChange Your Attachment Style to Have a Better Life\nWhat if we could identify the filter that shapes our perception of the world and change it so as to\u2026","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Why Did Nick Groff leave Ghost Adventures? know his net worth, wife, children, new show updates\nIf you are a fan of the ghost hunting show 'Paranormal Lockdown' then here is the sad news that the show will not come back with the new episodes. The former Ghost Adventures Nick Groff took to social media after three seasons, he stated, the would not be returning and insisted, \"wasn't by choice.\" Continue reading to know what really happened to Nick Groff and why he had to leave Ghost Adventures.\nNick Groff rose to prominence after he appeared on the Travel Channel's famous series 'Ghost Adventures' in 2008 alongside Zak Bagans and Aaron Godwin. However, he is no more casting on the series. He decided to leave the popular show to produce his own paranormal show. At the time, his fan had questions like'What happened to Nick Groff?' and 'why did he leave Ghost Adventures?'\nLet's find out everything about Nick Groff, including his shows in details. Take a look below.\nWho is Nick Groff Married To? Meet His Wife and Children\nNick Groff Net Worth, Business, Career\nWhy Did Nick Groff Leave Ghost Adventures?\nNick Groff New Show Updates; What Is He Doing Now?\nNick Groff Wiki, Bio, Age, Facts\nWiki Facts Table\nThe producer of Paranormal Lockdown Nick is a married man. He tied the knot to his wife Veronique in 2004. The couple has been living a blissful married life for more than a decade long.\nVeronique Roussel is his school sweetheart and got married after dating several years. Nick and Veronique is blessed with two beautiful daughters named Annabella, born on 7 December 2010 and Chloe, born in 2014.\nNicl Groff with his wife Veronique and with their kids (Annabella and Chloe)\nThe 39 years old enjoys flaunting his love life with his wife and children on his social media platforms. Nick currently lives with his wife and kids in Boston, Massachusetts.\nNick Groff teamed up with 'Ghost Adventures' producer Zak Bagans back in 2004. Nick Groff is a paranormal investigator, musician and TV personality. The trio produced a documentary series 'Ghost Adventures' that aired on Travel Channel. The team investigate locations that are reported to be haunted.\nNick Groff from the TV show, Ghost Adventures\nAfter ten seasons, Nick announced that he would not be returning to the show for the upcoming season in 2014. That same year, he produced his own paranormal show called 'Ghost Stalkers' that premiered on Destination American. Thereafter, Nick appeared along with fellow paranormal investigator Katrina Weidman in the new show 'Paranormal Lockdown' in 2016.\nThey locked down themselves fr 72 straight hours in some of the most haunted locations. The show ran a total of three-season and ended in the year 2020. Nick announced via Instagram video post that Paranormal Lockdown would not be returning on Destination America.\nTalking about his income, his most earnings come from the show and some from his music and acting career. Nick Groff has a net worth of $1 million. He has released two albums; 'The Other Side' and 'Spiritual War.'\nTV Personality, Nick Groff net worth is $1 million\nAside from that, he appeared in such movies as 'Malevolence' and 'Primo.' Besides, he also generates extra money as an executive producer working on many television series.\nMoreover, Groff makes extra income from his business. He has his own clothing brand called 'Phantom Collection.' In addition, he has also authored a book titled 'Chasing Spirits: The Building of the Ghost Adventure Crew.'\nNick Groff is a co-founder, executive producer and cast member of Travel's show 'Ghost Adventures.' On the show, he worked along with Zak Bagans and his collegemate, Aaron Goodwin.\nNick left the show under the unexplained circumstance in 2014. After years, he explained why he left the Ghost Adventures, stating he has no choice, so he decided to leave. He never quit the show by himself.\nNick Groff, Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin from the TV show, Ghost Advantures\nHowever, many people speculated due to his new paranormal series on Destination American; he left the show. Susequrntually, the show couldn't catch much viewers and end after the first season.\nSome sources acclaimed, between him and Zak, there were ego problems and Zaks partying nature.\nNow, he is working on his new paranormal film 'Momo: The Missouri Monsters' that aired on VIDI Space. He shared the news through his Facebook account on 17 June 2020.\nApart from that, Nick along with Mike Couch and Johnny Houser are raising funds for a non-profit organisation, Lost Limbs Foundation. The organisation provides money to the families of amputee children who are in need of medical and prosthetic assistance.\nNick Groff was born in 1980 in San Jose, California and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire. He celebrates his birthday on April 19, and now, his age is 39. He studied at the Pelham High School and then went on to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he met Aaron Goodwin.\nHis nationality is American and is of Caucasian descent. When he was eight, Nick fell out of a tree that nearly killed him. At the age of 10, Groff said he saw a ghost of a black man.\nFull Name Nick Groff\nBirth Date April 9, 1980\nBirth Place San Jose, California\nProfession Paranormal Investigator, TV Personality, Musician\nSpouse Veronique Groff\nChildren Two\nKnown For Ghost Adventures\nRoger Federer Net Worth 2020.\nAndy Milonakis net worth.\nBlack Ink Crew Net worth, Real Names, And Salary Per Episodes.\nIs Lo Bosworth Married to Husband? Or Dating a Boyfriend? Her Net worth, Parents, Wiki-Bio\nRush Limbaugh Net Worth. How Rich is Rush Limbaugh?\nMolly Qerim Net Worth and Salary 2020.\nIs Rick Steves Gay after divorce from ex-Wife Anne Steves? His Net Worth, Wiki-BIo\nErin Moran Net Worth 2020.\nCynthia Bailey Net Worth.\nAlton Brown Net Worth 2020.\ntv personality bio\nsports journalist\nfemale journalist\nmale journalist\nbasket ball player\ndead celebrities\nfamous cartel\nufc player\nCopyrights \u00a9 2020 Blog All rights reserved | FR | DE | ES","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Michael Dehn is new Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa\nMichael Dehn is the new Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa. He starts on October 1 this year and succeeds Joshua Low, who has elected to resign from the company.\n\"In Michael Dehn, we have found an excellent expert from our own ranks who brings with him extensive international trade fair expertise from his management positions in our subsidiaries, most recently as General Manager of our Indian subsidiary at the Mumbai and Delhi sites,\" says Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt.\nBraun would like to express his gratitude to his predecessor Low, who has been Managing Director at the South African subsidiary since April 2019 and has elected to pursue his own entrepreneurial opportunities, for which he is well placed, having run several of his own businesses in the past.: \"We greatly appreciate Joshua Low's successful work, especially in these challenging pandemic times. During his time at the subsidiary, Joshua Low oversaw the growth of the subsidiary, from two trade fairs in 2017 to over eleven in 2021. He has made a significant contribution in building a strong team and growing the reputation of the subsidiary in the local market. With his background in management consulting, he was able to brings strong strategic direction to the team and company. We wish him every success in his future career.\"\nThe new Managing Director Dehn (43) looks back on more than two decades of trade show experience. Before becoming General Manager of Messe Frankfurt India in September 2018, where he was responsible for over 18 trade fairs, he worked for Messe Frankfurt Middle East for 16 years, serving as Group Exhibitions Director since 2012 and in charge of the entire exhibition portfolio, including Automechanika Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East and Intersec. During this time, he also expanded the business in Saudi Arabia by adding four new trade fairs.\nPrior to that, he worked as Exhibition Manager, launching Automechanika Dubai, which became one of the largest and most successful trade fairs in the region under his leadership. Dehn began his training in 1998 as a dual student at Messe Frankfurt and completed it in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in business management at the Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Ravensburg. The portfolio of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, founded in 2014, currently includes eleven trade fairs, including Automechanika and the Festival of Motoring in Johannesburg, Allfashion Sourcing Cape Town and Solar Power Africa in Cape Town, as well as AERO South Africa in Pretoria and Emerald Speed Fest in Vanderbijlpark.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Find out more about Policy on the Reproduction of Images of Namibian Currency.\nCurrency Reproduction Conditions\nTo avoid the risk of potential criminal activity and civil consequences, the Bank of Namibia's permission for the reproduction of banknote and coin images for purposes other than authentic Namibian currency must be applied for and granted in writing before the image is used for the intended reproduction. This is in accordance with Section 80 (1)(d) and (e) of the Bank of Namibia Act, 2020 (Act No. 1 of 2020).\nThe conditions for reproducing Namibian currency images, as set out in the Policy on the Reproduction of Images of Namibian Currency, must meet the following minimum requirements:\nBanknotes:\nThe reproduction must either be in black and white or retain the colours of the authentic banknote.\nElectronic and printed reproductions must be overprinted with the word SPECIMEN in solid black uppercase lettering, which must not be less than one third of the reproduction's size and must extend diagonally from the bottom left corner to the top right corner of the entire banknote.\nPrinted reproductions must be at least 30 per cent larger than the authentic banknote, and they must be overprinted with the words IMAGE NOT LEGAL TENDER in solid black uppercase lettering, which must extend diagonally across the reproduced note without obscuring the portrait in any way.\nPrinted reproductions can only be printed on a single side of the paper; the reverse side must remain unprinted.\nPrinted reproductions must not be produced on any material similar to the material used in the production of the authentic banknote.\nElectronic reproductions must be depicted on the screen at an offset angle (i.e. not flat on the screen), and they must form part of a larger pictorial design.\nThe reproductions must maintain the dignity of the image, emblem and design of the authentic banknotes.\nAuthentic and reproduced currency depicted in a motion picture (e.g. video clips and film and television productions) must be portrayed in a way that resembles a legal commercial transaction.\nCoins:\nReproduced flat illustrations or designs can reflect the original size and colour of the authentic coins.\nReproduced raised designs must be more than twice the diameter (for enlargements) or less than half the diameter (for reductions) of the authentic coin.\nThe reproductions must maintain the dignity of the image, emblem and design of the authentic coins.\nReproductions must not be produced on any material similar to the material used in the production of the authentic coins.\nPolicy on reproduction of images of the Namibian Dollar\nDocument Size: 476 kB\nMembers of the public can submit their formal reproduction requests to:\nCurrency.Management@BON.COM.NA","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The mission of Key West Literary Seminar is to promote the understanding and discussion of important literary works and their authors; to recognize and support new voices in American literature; and to preserve and promote Key West's literary heritage while providing resources that strengthen literary culture.\nEstablished in 1983, the annual Seminar explores a different literary theme each January. The best writers of our time join readers from all over the world for four days of readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions, and parties that add up to one of today's smartest and most high-spirited literary gatherings. Our Writers' Workshop Program is led by esteemed faculty and provides writers at all stages of development with opportunities to explore the craft of writing in a focused and nurturing environment. As part of our commitment to emerging writers, we present three annual awards; provide financial assistance to teachers, librarians, students, and writers; and provide writers' residencies to support the production of new and compelling work. Our Audio Archives Project makes unique presentations from the Seminar available online for use by educators, students, and readers worldwide; and our blog, LITTORAL, explores Key West's unique literary heritage in essays, interviews, and images.\nAll of our programs are relatively small and intimate: this is our delight, our charm, and the secret of our success. Attendance at the Seminar is limited to about 375 people: this is a full house in the theater of our home at the San Carlos Institute, one of Florida's most beautiful and historic landmarks. Each writers' workshop is limited to 12 participants in order to ensure individual attention; they take place at various locations throughout Key West's \"old town\" neighborhood, never far from the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, the library, and good places to eat, drink, or catch a movie. Writers' residencies serve a handful of writers each year, providing an opportunity to engage with Key West and the work of writing in a private and focused setting.\nAn island of only five square miles, nearer to Havana than Miami, Key West has one of the most intriguing literary heritages of any place in America. Whether drawn by the climate or its famed anything-goes atmosphere, many of the greatest writers of the modern era have called Key West home. Ernest Hemingway wrote To Have and Have Not from his house here on Whitehead Street. Elizabeth Bishop worked on North and South from her place near the corner of White and Southard; she later rented the home to Charles Olson, who wrote his first published poems here. Many of Wallace Stevens's poems were influenced by his stays at the Casa Marina hotel in Key West, where he walked on the beach with Robert Frost and brawled with Hemingway. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan Street and partied with Truman Capote, James Leo Herlihy, and Thomas McGuane. Richard Wilbur and James Merrill lived in old town just a few blocks from one another, and played a regular game of anagrams with John Hersey. And the list goes on: Ann Beattie, Judy Blume, and Annie Dillard are just a handful of the writers who continue to make a home in Key West. It is a special place. We hope you will join us here soon.\nMichael Blades, vice president, was a fifteen-year attendee of the seminar prior to joining the board in 2009. He worked for many years for the coral reef conservation organization Reef Relief before taking a position as logistics director for the RPM Nautical Foundation in 2006. This is Michael's tenth year as volunteer coordinator for the Seminar.\nJudy Blume is the author of twenty-nine books. She has written for children, teens, and adults. Her latest novel, In the Unlikely Event, set in New Jersey in the 1950s, was inspired by a speaker at the 2009 Seminar. She is the founder, with her husband, George Cooper, of Books & Books @ the Studios of Key West, Key West's newest full-service, independent, nonprofit bookstore. Come by and say hello!\nMeg Cabot is the best-selling author of more than eighty books for children, teens, and adults, including the Princess Diaries series. A frequent Seminar attendee, she has lived in Key West since 2004 with her husband, Benjamin Egnatz, board chair of the Tropic Cinema. Meg also volunteers with the Tropic Cinema, as well as Take Stock in Children.\nLeslie Concepcion, treasurer, is a 25-year Key West resident, previously from Miami. She has worked in banking and finance for thirty years and is currently manager of the main branch at First State Bank of the Florida Keys. She is a member of the Key West Chamber of Commerce, Key West High School SAC Committee, and past board chair and volunteer at May Sands Montessori School. She also volunteers at Books & Books @ the Studios and enjoys yoga and boating with her family. Leslie shares her love of books with her teenage son, and they have been attending the Sunday free session of the Key West Literary Seminar together for many years.\nPeyton Evans was for many years a writer and editor in New York City (Cond\u00e9 Nast, Hearst, Avon Books). She joined the KWLS board in 2001 and was program chair for Wondrous Strange (2007) and Writers on Writers (2013). With the exception of a two-year hiatus in California, Peyton has lived in Key West since 1998.\nLynn Kaufelt is past board president and was the Seminar's first director in 1983. She is an active real estate agent, the author of Key West Writers and Their Houses, and serves on the advisory boards of the Studios of Key West and Take Stock in Children. Lynn was the 2009 Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year.\nNancy Klingener, secretary, is the Keys reporter for WLRN, South Florida's public radio station. She has lived in Key West since 1991 and has worked as a staff writer for the Miami Herald, editor of Solares Hill, (a news and culture weekly), and news editor of the Key West Citizen, the Florida Keys' only daily newspaper. For five years she worked at the Monroe County Public Library in Key West.\nDavid McConnell is the author of the novels The Firebrat and The Silver Hearted and a narrative account of hate crimes, American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage among Men, which won a 2014 American Library Association Stonewall Book Award in nonfiction. His short fiction and literary journalism have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies. He was co\u2013chair of Lambda Literary from 2009 to 2011. With his partner, Darrell Crawford, he divides his time between Key West and New York City.\nMichael Nelson has been a public librarian for more than thirteen years, and he joined the staff of the Key West Public Library in 2015. He has master's degrees in both library science and creative writing from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He joined the KWLS board in 2017.\nHilary Parmentier is currently an English faculty member and chair of the English, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Art Department at Florida Keys Community College. She has worked to connect FKCC students, staff, and faculty to the community in many ways, including through the Key West Literary Seminar. Hilary was a five-year volunteer for the Seminar before joining the board in 2017.\nLori Reid has worked for nonprofits in Key West since moving here in 1999. She worked at the Tropic Cinema for twelve years, eight of those as theater manager, retiring in December 2017. She joined the staff at Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West in March 2018. Semi-retirement has afforded her the opportunity to spend more time reading\u2014a lifelong pleasure. She joined the KWLS Board in 2018 and looks forward to being exposed to new genres and authors.\nDiane Shelby, president, first attended the Seminar in 1995 during the free and open-to-the-public Sunday afternoon session. She then became a Seminar volunteer and eventually joined the board of directors in 2005. Professionally, she works as a consultant to businesses and nonprofits in matters relating to accounting and financial analysis.\nCarey Winfrey worked as a journalist for newspapers, television, and magazines before embracing self-unemployment in 2011. He is the co-author, with John Leslie, of Hail to the Chief, a political thriller published in 2016; was program chair of the 2017 Seminar; and recently completed Writers on Bicycles, a documentary film about literary Key West.\nArlo Haskell, executive director, has championed the expansion of the Seminar's scholarship program and created new initiatives such as the Young Writers Studio. He is also a historian and the author of The Jews of Key West: Smugglers, Cigar Makers, and Revolutionaries, which received this year's Florida Book Award. He lives in old town with his wife, Ashley, and their daughters, Aviva and Zadie.\nKatie Leigh began working for the Seminar as administrative assistant in 2016. Her previous careers include public relations account executive, ESL teacher, volunteer coordinator, writer, waitress, ice cream vendor at Wrigley Field, and kayak tour guide. She moved to Key West from Chicago in 2004, and in her free time she enjoys running 5Ks and running after her two boys, Owen, 10, and Dawson, 4.\nBen Pegg, technical director, is a Florida Keys based producer and songwriter. He is the resident sound designer at the historic Waterfront Playhouse and was the apprentice of Brenton Evans in New Haven, Connecticut, where he studied to become a piano technician. Ben was recently credited as the assistant producer on the award-winning science documentary film, Monster in the Mind, for his production work.\nKate Peters is KWLS education coordinator and lead teacher for the Young Writers Studio, our summer program for local high school students. She teaches English at Saint Catherine's School in Richmond, Virginia.\nKatrin Schumann, program coordinator, is the author of the novel The Forgotten Hours and numerous nonfiction titles. For the past ten years, she has been teaching writing, most recently at GrubStreet (the largest writing center in the United States) and in the Massachusetts prison system. She helped design and run \"The Launch Lab,\" GrubStreet's program for debut authors. Born in Germany and raised in Brooklyn and London, Katrin now lives in Boston and Key West.\nWillie Alsedek Tech Team\nShayne Benowitz Social Media\nJolly Benson Lighting Design\nMargit Bizstray Writer Liaison\nMelody Cooper Audio Engineer\nJenni Franke Retail\nSarah Goodwin Literary Tours\nRyan Hackett Tech Team\nMark Hedden Photogrpaher\nMichael Lee Tech Team\nSteve Panariello Video\nMarli Peress Tech Team\nNic Richards Spirits\nDan Simpson Audio Engineer\nCayman Smith-Martin Set Design\nSarah Thomas Literary Tours","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Ngauruhoe from Oteirere\nJohn Gully\nTitle inscribed in artist's hand unsigned\nIllustrated: New Zealands Romantic Landscape Paintings by John Gully. p.143\nJohn Gully was a New Zealand landscape painter. He was born in Bath, and was the son of Philip Gully, a porter, and Mary Vincent. He was largely self-taught, though he did take a few private lessons. After reading Hursthouse's 'Account of the Settlement of New Plymouth', Gully emigrated to New Zealand with his wife and three children in 1852.\nGully originally settled on a small block of land in Omata, Taranaki, working in various jobs including farming and clerical work. During this time he advertised as a painter of 'views' of properties to send back to England. He eventually ended up bankrupt and so took some art pupils. In 1860 driven out by the land wars of Taranaki Gully moved with his family to Nelson.\nHe was appointed part-time art master at Nelson College, though because he was self-taught and not schooled in the classical style, he was not popular with the principal.\nEventually in 1863 Gully got a full-time job, with the assistance of his friend, politician and amateur painter James Crowe Richmond, as a draughtsman at the Department of Lands and Survey. Gully and Richmond painted landscapes together at Milford Sound, Lake Manapouri, and other locations.\nIn the same year he successfully applied to illustrate a paper that was to be presented to the Royal Geographical Society by the famous explorer and geologist Julius von Haast. Haast had reservations about Gully's skill, but both the paper and Gully's twelve illustrations of lakes, mountains and glaciers in the South Island were a great success and established Gully's reputation.\nGully sold the watercolours he submitted to the 1865 Otago Exhibition before it even opened, and when it did open, he gained a silver medal. Gully's large watercolours became immensely popular at the Art Society shows, even if some were based on sketches by other artists, or on photographs. 'His \"two views of Mount Cook from the West Coast,\" carefully drawn on the spot by John Rochfort excited favourable comment. It was generally opined to the best watercolour in the [1865 Otago] exhibition'.\nIn 1871 a work of Gully's, Mount Cook and the Southern Alps, West Coast of New Zealand, was included in the British Royal Academy's summer exhibition. Gully saw acceptance by this group as the high point of his career. This was a considerable achievement for a self-taught artist from the colonies. Gully had thought that success in England would confirm his ability and was particularly anxious to sell his work on the English market.\nGully accompanied Governor of New Zealand, Sir James Fergusson, on a trip aboard HMS Blanche to Milford Sound in 1874. His intention was to make sketches for a book on New Zealand scenery, though the weather was too bad to draw most of the time. In the end Gully painted some scenes from photos taken by Alfred Burton, the eldest of the famous Burton Brothers.\nIn 1877 Gully published a portfolio of chromo-lithographs, with text written by Sir Julius von Haast. Gully was not happy with the way his paintings reproduced \u2013 'he could not see that his work, too weak to reproduce well, was bound to produce a \"washy\" effect'. Nevertheless, the portfolio sold quite well and is now a collector's item.\nThe next year Gully retired from his job as a draughtsman and turned to painting full-time. He continued to paint and exhibit, his last big exhibition being the Wellington Industrial Exhibition in 1885. John Gully died in 1888, in Nelson.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"A time to dream in Washington, D.C.\nATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star\nby Rami Khouri - (Opinion)\tFebruary 6, 2013 - 12:00am\nWe will find out in coming months whether the second term of the Obamaadministration will herald any significant changes in\nWill Obama's planned Israel visit revive Israel-Palestinian peacemaking?\nby Ron Kampeas - (Analysis)\tFebruary 5, 2013 - 12:00am\nIs President Obama's plan to visit Israel a sign that he's ready to take another shot at Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking?\nOn Whose Side Is Israel In Syria?\nATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Hayat\nby Hazem Saghiyeh - (Opinion)\tFebruary 5, 2013 - 12:00am\nThe recent Israeli airstrike, whose target remains somewhat vague, has renewed the \"dispute\" between the supporters of the government and the opposition in Syria. The first camp has concluded that the strike was irrefutable evidence that Israel stands against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and is doing everything in its power to complement what has been initiated by the armed opposition and its allies, from Doha to Washington D.C.\nEarning The Nobel Peace Prize\nATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Huffington Post\nby Alon Ben-Meir - (Opinion)\tJanuary 31, 2013 - 12:00am\nAwarding the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama early on in his first term was largely based on the premise that he would pursue peace and end existing violent conflicts to make the world a better and safer place for all people. The president's efforts to end the war in Iraq and wind down the war in Afghanistan are admirable, regardless of what may befall these countries in years to come. The president, however, fell short in his effort during his first term to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which remains extraordinarily pivotal to regional stability.\nFor Obama, Difficult Timing of an Israeli Plan Is Nothing New\nATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times\nby Mark Landler - December 30, 2012 - 12:00am\nWASHINGTON \u2014 For President Obama, the news on Friday that Israel is planning to construct Jewish settlements in a geographically sensitive area east of Jerusalem came as a rude shock.\nWe're losing America's Jews\nby Yitzhak Benhorin - (Opinion)\tDecember 12, 2012 - 12:00am\nWASHINGTON - As we deal with our daily existential war in Israel and find it difficult to focus on processes that are more long term, America's Jews are gradually abandoning us. They are not doing it by shouting and threatening, so it is hard to measure the leak in the dam. They simply move aside and go about their business. It's not a PR issue.\nSenate amendment penalizing Palestinians for U.N. status does not pass\nDecember 5, 2012 - 12:00am\nWASHINGTON (JTA) -- A U.S. Senate amendment that would have penalized Palestinians for seeking non-member state status at the United Nations was not attached to its intended law.\nHow Obama Can Get Tough With Bibi\nby Lara Friedman - (Opinion)\tDecember 5, 2012 - 12:00am\nRecently, the European Union adopted harsh new Iran sanctions, strongly supported by Israel. Shortly thereafter, Israel announced new East Jerusalem settlement construction. The EU's top official Catherine Ashton, who was about to visit Israel, condemned the announcement in measured terms; Israel's Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, publicly told her, in effect, to shove it.\nATFP Asks US to Ensure No Israeli Building in E1\nPress Release - Contact Information:\tGhaith al-Omari - December 3, 2012 - 12:00am\nGOP senators introduce proposed penalties for enhanced Palestinian status\nWASHINGTON (JTA) -- Republican U.S. senators introduced the first efforts to penalize the Palestinians and the United Nations should the body affirm enhanced Palestinian status. Language proposed this week as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act would cut assistance to the Palestinians by 50 percent and U.S. fees to the United Nations by the same amount should the effort by the Palestinians to gain recognition as a non-member observer state succeed in the General Assembly. It would also cut by 20 percent U.S. aid to any country voting to approve.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"'Sex trafficked teens promised new life but dream becomes nightmare at Dublin Airport'\nTrafficking for sexual exploitation is one of the fastest growing crimes of our time \u2013 according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.\nIt says it's becoming more lucrative for gangs than drugs smuggling and the trade in illegal arms.\nChief Executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Denise Charlton said:\n\"Teenagers are tricked into coming to Ireland with promises of a new life, job or marriage only for reality to dawn in the car park of Dublin Airport. It is there the dream becomes a nightmare.\n\"What follows are daily rapes in brothels and being rapidly moved around the country to meet the demand from sex buyers for fresh meat. This is the reality of prostitution in Ireland.\n\"Luckily 19 of them have gotten to the Immigrant Council where we're able to support them\u2026some of them don't even know what country they're in.\nFor some of them it's very dangerous to go home and some have even been sold by their families. For many of them- going home is not an option.\n'Past year busiest to date'\nThe Immigrant Council of Ireland represented 19 victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation this year.\nCharlton said, \"Traffickers go to places where girls are very vulnerable. Traffickers are really clever \u2013 they know the routes where they can get the girls through.\"\nMore than half the girls supported in 2014 were from Nigeria.\nIn nine cases the Immigrant Council successfully secured greater protections and supports \u2013 the others remain pending.\nThe Immigrant Council of Ireland says it has represented and supported 60 women since it started work in this area in 2006. It added that the past year has been its busiest to date.\nCharlton said, \"Young boys get trafficked too- sometimes it's for forced labour. In the area of sexual exploitation it's mostly girls but not always.\"\n'Returning home not an option'\nThe Council says that in most cases returning to their country of birth is not an option for women who've been trafficked as it will only lead to further abuse.\nThe Council is seeking a number of measures to deal with trafficking and prostitution:\nThe introduction of sex buyer laws as proposed in the new Sexual Offences Bill\nThe publication of the promised second National Action Plan on Human Trafficking\nImproved procedures to identify and support victims\nThe appointment of an Independent Anti-Trafficking Czar to evaluate our responses to the crimes\nEat whatever you want and lose weight*\nMan arrested after 150 cannabis plants found in Wicklow house\nSource Article from http:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/sex-trafficked-teens-promised-life-dream-becomes-nightmare-095752868.html\nhttp:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/sex-trafficked-teens-promised-life-dream-becomes-nightmare-095752868.html","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"You are here: Home \u00bb Community Impact \u00bb Community Grants\nSusan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth has granted a total of $400,000 to three local healthcare organizations to provide breast health services for uninsured and underinsured people in the four-county service area of Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, and Hood counties. The remaining $216,811.88 raised during the fiscal year of April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019, has been disbursed to Komen's national breast cancer research effort.\nView the 2017-2018 Affiliate Form 990\n\"We are proud to partner with these deserving organizations to provide critical breast cancer services to local women and men. Our gratitude goes to our partners, donors, and volunteers as their support is essential in our community to help save lives locally.\" \u2013 Tracey Boyes, Komen Greater Fort Worth Executive Director\nEach year Komen Greater Fort Worth distributes 75 percent of all local funds raised to local organizations and 25 percent to further national breast cancer research. Funds are raised through a year-long variety of events and activities such as the MORE THAN PINK Walk.\n2019-2020 Komen Greater Fort Worth Community Grant Recipients\nTexas Health Resources\ntexashealth.org\/fortworth\nServices Provided: Screening Mammograms, Diagnostic Services, Patient Navigation, Language Interpreters\nCounties Served: Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, Hood\nScreening Number: 855-318-7696\nAmount Granted: $115,055\nThe Texas Health Wellness for Life\u00ae Mobile Health Program, in collaboration with Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South, will provide screening mammograms to underinsured\/uninsured and culturally isolated women in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Hood counties. Through the support of the Komen grant, our goal is to remove the most common barriers women face in seeking annual mammograms: cost, lack of opportunity, lack of knowledge, fear, language issues, and lack of transportation. Our program includes mammograms, diagnostic evaluation by nurse practitioners, language interpreters, nurse navigation support for diagnostic follow-up, and collaboration with community stakeholders. This program provides women with the knowledge, education and tools they need to become proactive in their own breast health care.\nNovember 2019 \u2013 Mobile Health Unit Mammography Schedule (PDF)\nDecember 2019 \u2013 Mobile Health Unit Mammography Schedule (PDF)\nMoncrief Cancer Institute\nmoncrief.com\nServices Provided: Screening Mammograms, Diagnostic Services, Patient Navigation, Surgical Treatments\nMoncrief Cancer Institute (MCI) provides breast screening and patient navigation for the underserved women of Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Hood counties through its established Breast Screening and Patient Navigation program. Funding assistance from Komen Greater Fort Worth enables MCI to offer no-cost services to underserved women across the service area, including screening mammograms, diagnostic services, patient navigation and surgical treatments.\nThrough screening events organized and facilitated by MCI, many of the underserved women living in Tarrant, Parker, Hood and Johnson counties have benefitted from clinical services paid for, in part, with funds from Komen Greater Fort Worth. In the last 10 years, the program has screened more than 20,000 women. Funding from Komen Greater Fort Worth will allow Moncrief to continue assisting underserved women, who might otherwise go unscreened, in obtaining care. In addition, Moncrief hopes to fuel life-saving habits through education on recommended screening guidelines for the women we serve.\nDisparities unfortunately still exist in North Texas when it comes to engaging the female African American community for preventative breast health care. Moncrief Cancer Institute remains committed to serving this population with breast health information and services to reduce this disparity in care. To that end, Moncrief continues to collaborate with community leaders and focus outreach efforts to empower and engage women specifically in the African American community.\njpshealthnet.org\nServices Provided: Diagnostic Services, Patient Navigation & Care\nCounties Served: Tarrant\nAmount Granted: $73,628\nSusan G. Komen funding to JPS Health Network will support JPS' patient navigation services for women fighting breast cancer. JPS' Clinical Nurse Navigator will help vulnerable women with breast cancer to successfully navigate the complicated treatment process and to overcome the barriers that would keep them from treatment success.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"GLADIO Psyop: Another False Flag Synagogue Shooting With a Fake Hero That's Probably a Total Hoax\nOne dead, three injured in synagogue shooting in the San Diego area\nThe Mossad Owns and Operates\nthe American Terrorism Industry\nSOTN Editor's Note: Sorry to say that yesterday's shooting at the San Diego-area synagogue has all the elements of not only a false flag but also a juvenile hoax. That there was an assault rifle involved and so many children in the line of fire lends to the strong likelihood that this bogus terrorist attack was carried out as a psyop to implement gun control in California.\nFor the uninitiated, the following expos\u00e9 lays bare how most of these mass casualty events (MCE) are executed across America, especially in venues where there are children. Schools \u2014 elementary, high school and universities \u2014 are the preferred site to carry out these Gladio black operations that are conducted in collaboration with the C.I.A., Mossad, the FBI and local law enforcement.\nOPERATION GLADIO C: Government-Sponsored Domestic Terrorism Targets American Public Schools\nBoth the Gladio MO and long-term strategy described in the preceding link can be applied to a whole range of false flag terrorist attacks that have plagued the United States for decades. Let's face it: there is no other nation on Earth that has been victimized by so many terror events as the USA. There have been so many MCEs that the ONLY explanation is that they are all being implemented under the same supranational entity\u2014Operation Gladio (the terrorist arm of NATO often referred to as the North Atlantic Terrorist Organization).\nHowever, it's also true that Israel's Mossad is the primary operational overseer of these mass shootings and bombings in the states since their fingerprints are always all over the crimes scenes. The 9\/11 inside job is a perfect example of these Mossad-coordinated \"shock and awe\" events designed to further lock down the American Republic into an Israeli colony. The link below fleshes out the skeleton of this massive and monolithic conspiracy engineered to strip the U.S. citizenry of their firearms and gut the Second Amendment.\nBROWARD COUNTY: Operational Headquarters for Israeli Intelligence-Directed False Flag Operations and Mass Casualty Events in America\nIt's important to note that April is always the month of intensified terrorism and war-mongering across the planet. Not only did the world just witness the horrifying terrorists attacks throughout Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, the two Christchurch mosque attacks took place on the Ides of March in order to set up those multiple church bombings. Therefore, the world community of nations ought to be on high alert for the remaining days of this mischief-making month for the Illuminati.\nWhat follows is the FOX News version of yesterday's synagogue shooting which has all the hallmarks of a staged terror event as a prelude to more California gun control legislation. Just watch the newly crafted laws being promoted this Monday in both chambers of the CA legislature. It's always amazing how these lengthy and complex bills are produced in the immediate aftermath of these false flag hoaxes. Do these lawmakers and their staffs really work all night long on the weekends?!\nKEY POINT: This culture of terror that currently predominates around the globe has been cultivated over centuries with highly purposeful design. See THE GLOBAL ZIONIST PROJECT\nBottom line: The recent Gladio pattern of targeting synagogues is perfectly consistent with the overarching New World Order agenda of establishing a totalitarian One World Government headquartered in Israel. By attacking Jewish places of worship, the Khazarian Mafia is taking advantage of Ashkenazi Jewry victimhood in order to misappropriate even more power and influence worldwide than already arrogated to themselves and accrued, respectively, over the centuries. See: Do you really want to know who runs the world?\nThat this synagogue psyop was run on the last day of Passover in April further supports the central organizing intention to galvanize American Jewry against the right to bear arms. They represent a massive political force that always gets it way. Hence, every detail of this Mossad-directed Gladio operation reveals different objectives which will be soon be exposed by the proposed legislation from California politicians in the weeks to come.\nLastly, there is the apartheid state of Israel's predictable reaction to this tragic event\u2014tragic if it really did occur; also tragic if it's really a hoax to further manipulate innocent Jews worldwide. See: You know it's a false flag terrorist attack when Netanyahu cynically exploits it\nHow Convenient That These False Flag Terrorist Attacks Always Use a \"White Christian Man\" to Carry Out the Mass Shootings with an Assault Rifle\nCIA's MK-Ultra Mind-Control Program Must be Working Overtime These Days\n(Source: Another Mind-Controlled Patsy Set Up to Take the Blame for San Diego Synagogue Shooting)\nSpecial Note: How do we know that this and so many other false flag terrorists attacks are staged hoaxes? Because Obama signed the last version of the NDAA law which permits the U.S. Federal Government to carry out these deceitful attacks \u2014 both real and fake \u2014 against the American people for propaganda purposes with purported legality! For more details, please read: \"FALSE FLAGS\" are LEGAL PROPAGANDA Produced by the Department of Defense.\nN.B. Now see the predictable MSM report below that tells us nothing but what the conspirators want us to believe. These fake news articles are an imperative part of the cover-up if the perps are to maintain their ironclad control over the American people.\nSynagogue victim hailed as hero for saving kids after gunshot to leg, witness says\nBy Louis Casiano\nWatch the latest video at foxnews.com\nOne person dead in San Diego synagogue shooting\nSynagogue shooting in Poway, California leaves one person dead.\nA 34-year-old man who was wounded when gunfire erupted inside a San Diego-area synagogue on Saturday was being praised as a hero for saving several children from a hail of bullets.\nThe gunman \u2013 identified by authorities as 19-year-old John Earnest \u2013 allegedly opened fire with an assault-type rifle inside the Chabad of Poway synagogue as worshipers were prepared to celebrate the last day of Passover. A woman was killed and three people were injured.\n\"(The gunman) was just shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting. Like crazy. Just spraying,\" said Danny Almog, whose friend Almog Peretz was shot in a leg while leading children to safety, FOX 5 San Diego reported.\n\"(The gunman) was just shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting. Like crazy. Just spraying.\"\n\u2014 Danny Almog\nThis man is being called a hero. A friend says 34-year-old Almog Peretz saved children during today's synagogue shooting in Poway. Hear the story tonight on @fox5sandiego pic.twitter.com\/FKBIc9tcCL\n\u2014 Kristen Shanahan (@k_shan7) April 28, 2019\nWitnesses said Peretz grabbed children during the gunfire and ran with them to nearby exits.\n\"He grabbed all the kids in his hands and was just running towards the exit (when) he saw another kid over there,\" Almog told the news station. \"He grabbed him and started running and (that's when) the shooter shot him in the leg. He didn't care. He kept on running with the kids and just ran out.\"\nPeretz was recovering in a hospital Saturday night, along with a rabbi who was shot in a hand and a young girl struck by gunfire. They are all expected to survive. Lori Kaye, 60, died from her injuries.\nA Border Patrol agent inside the synagogue fired at Earnest, missing him, but struck his getaway vehicle. Earnest called 911 after the shooting and identified himself as the shooter, authorities said.\nAuthorities said Earnest had posted an anti-Jewish screed online and was being investigated in connection with an arson that caused damage to a mosque in nearby Escondido last month. No injuries were reported in that fire.\nSaturday's shooting is being investigated as a possible hate crime.\nhttps:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/witness-says-synagogue-shooting-victim-rescued-children-from-gunfire","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Trump impeachment: Preparations underway for Senate trial\nBy CNN Staff | January 14, 2021 at 8:58 AM CST - Updated January 14 at 8:58 AM\n(CNN) \u2013 Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said she will try to impeach President-elect Joe Biden.\nShe plans to file articles of impeachment on Jan. 21, Biden's first full day in office.\nGreene made the announcement Wednesday evening on the far-right cable news channel Newsmax TV.\nCapitol security, potential terror threats concern DC ahead of Biden inauguration\nShe also wrote on Twitter that she will be filing articles of impeachment against Biden for abuse of power.\nGreene won her House seat in November. She is known for espousing bigoted and conspiratorial views, including those promoted by the adherents of the QAnon conspiracy theory.\nCalled the \"American Rescue Plan,\" the legislative proposal would meet President-elect Joe Biden's goal of administering 100 million vaccines by the 100th day of his administration, and advance his objective of reopening most schools by the spring.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Ann Arbor Psychologist Shares Ways To Cope In These Increasingly Difficult Times\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Jan 7, 2021\nRob Pasick \/ robpasick.com\nWith increasing challenges in life these days, including a pandemic and now civil unrest at the nation's Capitol, many people may be at a loss on how to process the many emotions they are currently experiencing and wonder what to tell their kids. WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Ann Arbor psychologist, author, and University of Michigan lecturer Dr. Robert Pasick, who shares some practical advice about how to feel okay when everything around you continues to feel like it's not.\nU-M Psychologist Talks About Dealing With Election Fear And Frustration\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Oct 23, 2020\nUniversity of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts \/ lsa.umich.edu\nAfter a long campaign, multiple political claims, conflicts and controversies, and a couple of intense presidential debates, it is almost Election Day!\nWEMU's Lisa Barry talks with University of Michigan psychologist Dr. David Dunning about so-called \"election anxiety\" and how to cope with that yourself and with friends and loved ones.\nThe Parental Dilemmas Of Back To School During A Pandemic From U-M Professor & Author\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Aug 18, 2020\nPsychology Today \/ psychologytoday.com\nDr. Wayne Baker, author and faculty director at the Center For Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, recently wrote an article for Psychology Today. He spoke with WEMU's Lisa Barry about coping with back to school and the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the many school-related decisions that need to be made in a pandemic.\nArt & Soul: The Art Of Well Being - A Lesson To Learn From The Pandemic About Ourselves And Humanity\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 May 21, 2020\nBrian O'Donnell\n\"Art and Soul\" this week is about the art of well being. WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Dr. Brian O'Donnell, an Ann Arbor psychotherapist and a teacher of \"The Pathwork.\" He suggests our current global health crisis is an invitation to a greater life and a time for possible reflection on what we might learn from the experience.\nAdvice For Staying Emotionally Strong During Pandemic For Mental Health Awareness Month\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 May 4, 2020\nRobert Pasick \/ robpasick.com\nMay is Mental Health Awareness Month, and after everything that's been happening in our world recently, it may be more important than ever to talk about how you and your friends and family are doing.\nWEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Ann Arbor psychologist, University of Michigan professor, and author Dr. Robert Pasick about his latest ideas to cope with our current emotional struggles and keep mentally balanced at this difficult time.\nStaying Psychologically Sound In Light Of Health Concerns From Coronavirus\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Mar 16, 2020\nCenter for Anxiety \/ centerforanxiety.org\nFear and anxiety are a normal response to what's happening locally and nationally due to the Coronavirus, or COVID-19.\nWEMU's Lisa Barry talks with University of Michigan professor in the departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, and founder of \"Mood Lifters,\" Dr. Patricia Deldin about what to expect and ways to cope in light of those emotions most everyone is experiencing.\nArt & Soul: The Art Of Well Being - New 'Mood Lifters' Program Will Help Build Lives Worth Living\nMood Lifters\nThis week, \"Art and Soul\" is about the art of well being. Mental health issues impact millions of people, so Ann Arbor psychologist Dr. Patricia Delden developed a program teaching evidence-based, mental health strategies.\nFocus On EMU: New Eating Disorders Treatment Options\nBy Patrick Campion \u2022 Feb 22, 2019\nEastern Michigan University \/ emich.edu\nEastern Michigan University's Eagle Nutrition Services department recently announced a new offering to our community. They are working with EMU's Psychology Department to help those in our community that may need assistance with eating disorders, or anyone that wants a whole mind and body program to work towards losing weight, making better nutrition choices, etc. Patrick Campion sat down with Darlene Bellers, Manager of Eagle Nutrition Services, Psychology PhD students and their faculty advisor to discuss why they feel these offerings are important and why they are excited to help our community on a path towards better health.\nArt & Soul: The Art Of Well Being - Benefits Of Positive Psychology And How To Apply It To Our Lives\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Jan 17, 2019\nJoanne Jarvi \/ Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County\nThis week, \"Art and Soul\" focuses on the art of well being. 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Sarah Hong of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County about her efforts to help local organizations maximize their fullest potential for happiness and wellness.\nHelping The Helpless: Ann Arbor Doctor Recalls 9\/11 Tragedy, Going To New York To Help People Cope\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Sep 11, 2018\nUniversity of Michigan \/ umich.edu\nMany people remember where they were 17 years ago on September 11th. The anniversary of the terrorist tragedy has prompted many tributes and tears and reminders to \"never forget.\" 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with a local psychologist and University of Michigan professor Dr. Robert Pasick, who was among those searching for family members and offering help in the aftermath of the attacks.\nArt & Soul - The Art Of Well Being: Laughing At Life. How Humor Helps With Well Being\nCourtesy Photo \/ stevetaubman.com\nThis week, \"Art and Soul\" is about the art of well being. 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Dr. Steve Taubman about how humor helps deal with the many challenges life presents.\nListen to the full inteview.\nAs We Wrap Up 2017-How To Truly Have A \"Happy\" New Year!\nBy Lisa Barry \u2022 Dec 28, 2017\nRobert Pasick\nThe end of a calendar year is typically a time of deep personal reflection for a lot of people.\n89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry spoke to a local psychologist about the mentally healthiest way to look back but keep moving forward into the New Year.\nListen to the full story.\nArt & Soul-The Art Of Well Being: Being Calm And Being Resilient Can Be Learned And Beneficial\nCourtesy Photo \/ elishagoldstein.com\nCan you train your brain to be more positive? Psychologist Elisha Goldstein, co-founder of the Center for Mindful Living in Los Angeles, is coming to Ann Arbor in early November, and he thinks you can with a bit of practice. In this week's \"Art and Soul,\" 89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry speaks with him to learn more.\nAddiction Possibly Linked To The Amygdala\nBy Andrew Cluley \u2022 Dec 16, 2014\nBenjamin Thompson \/ commons.wikimedia.org\nActivating the circuitry of the Amygdala may be the key to help battle addictions.\nWEMU's Andrew Cluley reports a new study by the University of Michigan may eventually help fight addiction.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"VIDEO: Loyal Dog Stands Guard Over Injured Owner After House Fire\nThe look of concern is undeniable.\nWatch as a dog from Landover Hills, Maryland, stands by his injured, lifeless owner after a fire engulfed their home on Wednesday morning, NBC4 Washington reports.\nIn the clip, the brown pooch apparently stands guard over his owner, who was later treated for smoke inhalation (both of the people injured in the blaze are expected to fully recover at an area hospital).\nFirefighters told NBC4 that they had trouble getting to one of the two people injured in the fire because the woman's dog was standing over her.\nThe rescuers tried to call the dog away from the woman, but the loyal pooch wouldn't move They eventually aimed a powder fire extinguisher in the direction of the dog, which allowed them get the woman out of the house, the report said.\nThe pup was never aggressive towards the firefighters, said Mark Brady, a spokesman for the fire department. A dog, two turtles and several puppies were removed safely from the home.\nThe cause of the fire is being investigated.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"REVIEW of 'FRENCH EXIT', GOOFY PORTRAIT OF A WEIRD WOMAN PLAYED WITH COOL APLOMB BY MICHELLE PFEIFFER\nMICHELLE PFEIFFER is one of the Hollywood actresses we really admire.\nHer beauty is so classy and she's also a terrific actress, specially for her performances in \"Dangerous Liaisons\" (1988) and \"The Fabulous Baker Boys\" (1989) for which she got Oscar best actress nominations.\nWe also love her as the spooked wife of Harrison Ford in the horror flick \"What Lies Beneath\" and the character study \"Where is Kyra?\"\nShe's one of the biggest stars of the 80s and 90s. She now plays mother roles, as in the TV series \"The Wizard of Lies\" where she got an Emmy nomination as Robert De Niro's wife.\nNow, she plays the socialite mom of Lucas Hedges as Malcolm in \"French Exit\", where she got a Golden Globe best drama actress nomination.\nThe movie is about a rich New York woman, Frances Price (Michelle), who has now gone bankrupt. The movie can best be described as quirky. Or even weird.\nFrances is used to living a luxurious lifestyle courtesy of her husband who died but left her some money.\nYears later, she learns that all their property is being overtaken by the bank. Asked by her legal adviser as to what happened, she says: \"My plan was to die before the money runs out, but I kept on not dying\".\nShe's told to sell her remaining property, including her plush Manhattan apartment and a friend offers her own flat in Paris for Frances, her son and pet black cat to stay in.\nMalcolm has a girlfriend, Susan (Imogen Poots), and they're officially engaged, but he doesn't have the guts to tell his mom about it.\nMalcolm leaves Susan to live with his mom. In Paris, Frances remains to be a spendthrift, giving money liberally to strangers.\nShe also reveals to a neighbor (Valerie Mahaffey) that her black cat, which she just smuggled in through customs from New York, is actually the reincarnation of her dead husband.\nWhen she had an altercation with her husband, the cat runs away and she gets a fat clairvoyant and a private eye to help locate him.\nHis neurotic girlfriend, Susan, follows Malcolm in Paris with her new boyfriend in tow. Things just get more and more unwieldy with such an assortment of characters, none of whom is genuinely likeable.\nThe director, Azazel Jacobs, just fails to make every element in his film jell together. It's all quite incoherent, including a seance scene where the cat starts talking.\nThe director simply doesn't know whether he will treat scenes comically or seriously.\nMichelle's character is truly an oddball. She doesn't really know how to interact meaningfully with people, but she can be eccentric enough to talk to vagrants and give them money.\nWhen a waiter in a French restaurant deliberately ignores her and Malcolm, she starts a fire right on their table.\nThe film eventually just falls apart and not even Michelle Pfeiffer's delightful performance on autopilot can redeem it.\nIt's a juicy part and Michelle surely knows how to make it quite engaging on screen. You'd really wish that the movie were as fantastically good as her.\nIf not for her, we would have taken a French leave and make a fast exit midway through \"French Exit\".\nREVIEW of 'FRENCH EXIT', GOOFY PORTRAIT OF A WEIRD WOMAN PLAYED WITH COOL APLOMB BY MICHELLE PFEIFFER Reviewed by mario on 5:25\u202fPM Rating: 5","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"CNI Monitor (Year-6, Issue-6)\nKartik, 2069\nOctober-November, 2012\nInformation Portal \"Invest Nepal\" Unveils\nHonorable Minister Anil Kumar Jha Addressing the Ceremony after Launching the Portal 'Invest Nepal' .\nhe information portal 'Invest Nepal,' jointly developed by Ministry of Industry (MOI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) in cooperation with USAID, NEAT Activity with an aim of guiding and facilitating the potentials investors especially for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal comes in operation since November 12, 2012. The portal \"Invest Nepal,\" which can be accessed in the world wide wave address www.investnepal. gov.np is the first of its kind in Nepal, was officially launched by Honorable Anil Kumar Jha-minister of MOI on November 12, 2012. Addressing the launching ceremony minister Jha said that the portal is developed in a bid to help foreign investors interested to put their money in Nepal. \"The portal will provide all the authentic as well as updated information about government policies, country\u00b4s investment climate and features of major projects, among\nthat since new and updated information are to be uploaded in the portal as and when they emerged, the management and operation of such portal is a continuous process. \"So this portal is an asset of nation for prosperity, which requires regular support from government, donors, private sectors and other stakeholders,\" urged Basnyat. Speaking at the launching ceremony industry secretary Mr. Krishna Gyawali said the government in partnership with the private sector and in cooperation with the donor planning to showcase eight major sectors Nepal including - hydropower, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, mines and minerals, service, information and communication technology and infrastructure development - through the portal, aiming to lure foreign investment in those areas. CNI vice president Mr. Hari Bhakta Sharma expressed sincere thank\nothers,\" said Jha, hoping that such information benefit the potentials investors in searching the sector specific and more attractive investment destination in Nepal. CNI acting president Mr. Narendra Kumar Basnyat, said that the portal will be a window for foreign investors to know about Nepal, its investment climate, investment procedures, visa process, policies, laws, and acts including different surveys and treaties and agreements signed by Nepal with other countries. \"Although it is jointly developed by government (MOI) and private sector (CNI), the sole ownership of the portal goes to the government of Nepal,\" said Basnyat, adding that CNI is only the operator as an apex body of country's industrial sector as well as one of the leading trade\/investment support institutions. Basnyat further argued\nto the government of Nepal especially MoI, USAID NEAT Activity and other stakeholders for joining hands and providing financial as well as technical supports while developing the portal and gathering information. According to Mr. Anuj Agrawal, CNI vice president and chairman of 'Invest Nepal' advisory committee said there is no problem of adequate information for guiding business, but we lacked the relevant, authentic and updated information in a single window. \"Keeping this thing in mind CNI was motivated to develop and operate the information portal 'Invest Nepal' with theme of 'Guiding Your Business',\" said Agrawal, adding that there is a dedicated help desk at CNI to provide additional information to interested foreign investors. Continue Page 2 \uf075\nMessage The government on November 20, 2012 has been able to bring the budget of Rs 351.93 billion Binod K Chaudhary t h ro u g h o rd i n a n c e , e n d i n g President, CNI persistent confusion over fiscal operations for the remaining eight months of fiscal year 2012\/13, amid strong objection from opposition parties. However, from the prospective of private sector as well as the country's economic development this budget may not be encouraging as almost one-half of the current fiscal year has already been passed away with out a fiscal policy, one of the major economic policies of the nation. The budget does not include any new program or project for the general public and for the business community they were really in the need for the budget. The budget has also failed to announce any reform program and tax incentives to promote business confidence as well as investment from both the domestic and foreign sources. In such a situation, attaining targeted growth rate by increasing national productivity and employment opportunities in this fiscal year seems to be impossible. This will only worsen the situation with higher inflation, and no social welfare will be increased from the government expenditure due to unproductive use of the scarce resources. As the country already struggling with low investor confidence, deteriorated industrial relation and mounting trade deficit Nepal desperately needs to review the economic policies and taxation system in order to make it an incentive to promote investment. But from this unilateral move of the government, is expected to be further hurt the business confi dence and investment climate. The manner in which this budget has been announced will not matter much to private sector. Moreover, Nepal already losing credibility among the international business community has further degraded its image. So, the government should forge consensus on common economic agendas and should bring an incentive package to the private sector to hold patience and work with positive energy.\nto Focus on Network 2 \uf075 CNI Expansion CNI Focus on Consensus 3 \uf075 Full Budget 4 \uf075 CNI Delegation to India\nCNI Activities\nCNI to Focus on Network Expansion\nCNI EGM Concludes Confederation of Nepalese I n d u st r i e s ( C N I ) , a n u m b re l l a organization of county's medium and large scale industries from manufacturing as well as service sector, held its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) at Kathmandu on October 9,\nIn the mean time, the EGM has approved the audited annual financial report of confederation for fiscal year 2009\/10, 2010\/11 and 2011\/12. Birendra Kumar Sanghai, CNI vice president who is also responsible to look after the finance, had presented\nCNI president Binod K Chaudhary and governing council members in the interaction\nonfederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) -- an umbrella body of domestic industries of manufacturing and service sectors-- has decided to expedite its network expansion drive by opening CNI chapters all over the country. An interaction program of CNI officials with its governing council, national council and representatives of chapters as well as industry association held on October 9 2012, endorsed a proposal to open new chapters in different places of the country in order to improve and expand the network of the organization. \"Now our focus is to strengthen the existing chapters and association as well as expand new network in the places that hold strong industrial potential\" said CNI president Mr. Binod K Chaudhary, adding that the CNI's efforts will be value addition for the national economy as whole. Going by the decision, CNI\nCNI announced that its next move will be expanding network by opening chapters in places like Jhapa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Kanchanpur. announced that its next move will be expanding network by opening chapters in places like Jhapa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Kanchanpur. \" The improved network will be a step toward attaining optimum utilization of resources, giving new momentum to economic activities and ultimately generating more jobs opportunities in the market,\" President Mr. Chaudhary said. The enhanced and improved network of the CNI, according to the participants of the program, will contribute on the promotion of investment, market by holding industrial exhibitions, and manpower development\nby providing educational and vocational trainings to the local people. Officials of the CNI that endorsed the proposal also made a strong commitment to make CNI chapters more active to promote industrial development in the country. \"The CNI and its chapter offices have to work more efficiently in the upcoming days in order to utilize the potential we have,\" Narendra Kumar Basnyat, senior vice president of CNI, said. At the same time, CNI vice president Mr. Hari Bhakta Sharma, Anuj Agrawal and Raj Kumar Agrawal focus that the role of CNI chapters will be more instrumental to enhance the country's economic dynamism as the country moving towards the federal system. \"CNI chapters should work to uplift the expertise of local industries to enhance their competitive edge in the national as well as international market,\" vice president Mr. Hari Bhakta Sharma said. D u r i n g t h e i nte ra c t i o n , industrialists and chapter representatives from different parts of the country urged the CNI executive body to work for enhancing the capacity of chapter offices and to be concentrated on lobby and advocacy for the investment climate as well as industrial promotion in the country. \"Along with the network expansion CNI should focus on the capacity enhancement of chapters,\" CNI chapter coordination committee convener Mr. Basudev Golyan said. At the mean time, presidents of Chitwan Industry Association (CIA) and Rupendehi Industry Association (RIA), those are an institutional members as well as local partners of CNI; respectively Mr. Krishna Prasad Adhikari and Tej Kumar Pathak urged the CNI leadership to work aggressively for industrial infrastructure development in the country. \"CIA and RIA have taken initiative to build an international industrial exhibition center in Bharatpur Chitwan and industrial estate in Butwal,\" they said, adding that CNI, as an umbrella organization of country's industrial sector, should contribute on those projects initiated by the private sector in PPP model.\nCNI president Binod K Chaudhary Addressing the EGM\n2012. In this EGM, the third amendment of CNI constitution has approved in harmony, which had already been recommended by the national council and complemented by the governing council of the confederation.\nthe audited report in the EGM for approval. The EGM also finalized the date of confederation's 10th annual general meeting (AGM) and decided to be hold at Kathmandu on December 21-23, 2012.\nRCI Held an Interaction on CSR\nupandehi Chamber of Industries (RCI), a Rupandehi based industry association and one of the institutional members of CNI held an interaction program on corporate social responsibility (CSR) at Butwal on November 7, 2012. This program was organized in an association with Tribhuvan University department of management with an aim of sharing ideas and expertise about the investment climate, industrial relation, productivity and CSR. In this program industrialists and academia urged that the concept of CSR would remain in back front of corporate sectors until the issues related to government visions to wards the private sector and the security of investment as well as private property are clearly addressed by the policies and acts. Addressing the program RCI president Mr. Tej Kumar Pathak argued that even in the present scenario of uncertainty the private sector of Nepal has been contributing for the wellbeing of the society through the means of CSR. \"The private sector can\nfurther contribute for social welfare and community development if the government brings clear policy and develop a scientific mechanism for CSR along with some incentive packages for socially responsible entrepreneurs,\" Pathak said. In the mean time, former member of National Planning Commission (NPC) Professor Pushkar Bajracharya\nmentioned that government should acknowledge the contribution of private sector in order to encourage them for more investment and greater contribution to the society. \"Although the corporate history of Nepali private sector is not so long, it has been contributing for social as well as human development of the country in one or another way,\" Bajracharya said, adding that investment as well as productivity should be increased to increase the CSR.\nContinue from Page 1 \uf075\nInformation Portal... \"Providing information on FDI, sector specific information and playing a role of a facilitator among investors, government agencies and the private sector are few of the specific objectives of the portal,\" add Agrawal. Mr. Anil Kumar Thakur, Joint secretary and chairman of 'Invest Nepal' coordination committee, which includes 16 representatives from different government agencies as well as private sector, said that the portal will facilitate the potential investors in Nepal by providing authentic as well as reliable sector specific information. \"The operation and management modality of the 'Invest Nepal' has already been finalized,\" said Thakur, \"that will guide the operation and management of portal. Philip C. Broughton the chief of the party at USAID NEAT Activity expressed his best wishes for the successful as well as effective operation of the portal. \"As the global investors have been attracting to the south Asian due to various comparative advantages in this region, the \"Invest Nepal\" would serves as a single authorized information source for them and give an insight of policies governing FDI and other business related information,\" said Philip, hoping that it will contribute to bring more FDI to Nepal in the years ahead. Ms. Anita Mahat, representative from USAID wishes for the success of this portal on which US people have got an opportunity to support.\nCNI Focus on Consensus Full Budget As the country's industrial sector heading to wards the verge of serious crisis due to prolong political unrest accompanied by the deteriorated business confidence, unfavorable investment climate and absence of timely government budget with clear policy and program, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), an apex body of the country's large as well as medium scale industries, urged for full budget in consensus among the major political parties. CNI expressed its statement and perspective in an interaction program organized by Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhatrai to discuss on the current economic scenario, need of budget as well as way forward for the same at Prime Minister Office (PMO) dated November 1, 2012. Though some private sector organizations and economists voiced the need of a full-fledged budget, citing that the budget is purely economic and technical document, CNI delegation in the interaction, advised PM Bhattrai to first forge consensus among the major political parties. \"Politics and economy can not be treated separately which are being linked by a document called 'Budget',\" CNI acting President Narendra Kumar Basnyat said, \"so the budget which is also known as fiscal policy of the government is equally political, economic as well as technological document.\" Basnyat also clarified that the budget is only such legal document\nCNI Acting President Narendra K Basnyat (first row first from left) in an interaction with PM at PMO\nwhich mobilize and public finance, including revenue and non revenue, to implement the policies as well as programs of the ruling political parties so as to maximize the material welfare of the general public. In the program finance minister Barsa Man Pun and finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi had emphasize the need of full fledge budget even in the absence of political consensus. \"We will try our best to forge the consensus among major political parties especially with the opposition on common minimum economic agendas and will release the full-budget,\" minister Pun said, adding that if the budget could not released with in the end of Kartik, not only the development projects but also the day to day activities of the government will be affected. Finance secretary Subedi said\nthat if the government failed to bring the full budget, economic stagnation is inevitable as the economic dynamism has already been disrupted. In the mean time, economists and experts also advised the PM to package agreement if they can not reach consensus for budget only. \"The government must re-prioritize plans and programs in consensus and bring out a white paper on detailed expenditures of the special budget,\" said Professor Bishwhambher Pyakuryal, adding that since there is no guarantee of political consensus, the country should not be penalized for the inefficiency of political leaders. However, some economists said the country was not moving ahead with or without the budget, and failure to create investment-friendly environment was not related to the\nbudget. \"If only the government ensures investment-friendly climate, the budget can boost private sector confidence,\" said Professor Subodh Kumar Karna, adding that can closing industries ensure inclusive growth? Without improvement in investment climate, the budget can inspire no confidence among investors, according to former National Planning Commission (NPC) member Pushkar Bajracharya and Posh Raj Pandey. \"In the absence of parliament, the risk of budgetary misuse due to lack of governance and accountability is huge,\" they said, adding that a budget without consensus could kick up another controversy and further deepen the crisis. Responding the queries and suggestion from private sectors as well as economists, PM Bhattarai said that the government is always committed to bringing full-fledged budget through consensus among the political parties. \"There is no alternative to consensus. Parties in the government as well as opposition understand this pretty clearly. Hence, we are making various efforts to bring the opposition on board so that we can have a full-fledged budget on time,\" said Bhattarai. In a bid to forge consensus, Bhattarai said he has instructed the finance minister to form a group of experts, including representatives from all the major political parties, to work out a common economic program.\nCNI and HCI on Green Economy Development Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) in collaboration with Himalayan Climate Initiative (HCI), National Planning Commission (NPC) and UNDP organized an interaction program entitled 'Green Economy Development Dialogue' at Kathmandu on September 25, 2012. Around 40 participants including the development agencies, I\/NGOs, policymakers, private sector, media and civil society members who brought their unique perspectives to the discussion, were participated in the dialogue. In the program policy makers as well as representatives from different Ministries, NPC, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and the top head honcho of the Business sector of Nepal jointly advocated the inevitability of the Green Economy movement. The dialogue aimed to accomplish a common and clear understanding among the participants of the term 'Green Economy' in the context of Nepal. \"The interaction was a step towards the realization that the Green Economy by most account is the most appropriate and inclusive\nHCI CEO Prashant Singh addressing the program and CNI VP Anuj Agrawal on the dais\neconomic development model for Nepal,\" said CNI vice president Anuj Agrawal, adding that the dialogue aimed at capturing the outcomes so as to aim for an eventual Green Development Vision for Nepal. \"It would also building suggestions for NPC to augment current efforts of the Government of Nepal to promote its Green Economy Imperatives,\" Agrawal added. Speaking on the event, Gopi Mainali from NPC said, \"Bringing about social inclusion has been our main priority in development,\nand such discussions will show the way how we can go towards the green economy path and also attain inclusive growth.\" Founder and CEO of HCI Prashant Singh said, \"For Nepal the issue of Green Economy is not an imported issue, it has been our agenda for years,\" adding that for our economy to grow, we need to build on our comparative advantages- our immense green assets that are based mainly in the rural areas. \"For Nepal, green is the only way to bring about inclusive growth,\" Singh added. According to the participants,\nGoing green is no longer an option but an imperative for our economy and it cannot happen without private sector playing a key role as the concept going green actually makes economic sense. \"Business sector, which has been missing from the scene for so long, is ready to play its role to go the green way,\" Dawa Steven Sherpa M.D of Asian Treking said. Ajay B. Pradhananga from Nepal Pharmaceuticals also shared their perspectives on the green economy opportunities related to tourism and herbal based products as the potential competitive advantage areas for Nepal. Dr. Govinda Pokharel from AEPC shared his perspective on how the renewable energy is shaping Nepal's green efforts in an effective and participatory ways. HCI and CNI will be conducting a series of such discussions in near future. HCI initiated the 'Green Economy Development Dialogue' for supporting first such dialogue in this series. The future interactions would help draw Nepal's green vision, and actionable for different sectors in a participative and bottom-up ways.\nCNI Delegation to India A delegation of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) recently visited India to participate in the business programs organized by Indian Embassy along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The visit was started on 6th November 2012 and lasted on 10th November 2012. The visit was organized in an initiative of FICCI's Nepal office, which is established within the premise of CNI to strengthen the existing Business to Business (B2B) relation and to explore the new areas. The delegation was led by CNI National Council (NC) member Manoj Kedia and Madhav Adhikari from Hetauda Industry Association, Hari Prasad Adhikari from Chitwan Industry Association, Prawesh Akhter from Koshi Chapter, Upendra Agrawal from Rupendehi Chamber of Industry and Ekraj Karki from Jhapa Chapter were the members. The delegation visited leading industrial areas in various states of India including Gurgaon-Delhi and Jaipur as part of the program. \"The principal objective of the visit was to further deepening the business\nFormer Ambassador of India to Nepal Mr. Mukharjee (second from right) addressing the joint business meeting at Delhi.\nand economic cooperation between government as well as private sectors of both the countries and find out the new areas of cooperation, trade and investment,\" Kedia said. Despite a hectic schedule, the Nepali delegation's enthusiasm during the 4-day program was exemplary. The event started off with a welcome dinner hosted by Joint Secretary North, Mr. Akhilesh Mishra and a visit to the state of the art Suzuki factory at Gurgaon. Mr. Anil Saini and his\nteam explained the resources that are helping them cut down on energy\/ power consumption and are therefore allowing them to cut costs and become more efficient \u2013 things of great interest to the visiting delegation whose members are faced with a power crisis back home. Next the delegates were taken to the Jaipur to visit a textile weaving park and an agriculture warehousing mechanism. Delegates were shown around the facility and\nits ERP systems and explained how various commodities can be managed better. On the drive back to Delhi, the delegation retained its high spirits even during the traffic holdup near Maneswar. Likewise, the delegation also held B2B meeting with the Indian entrepreneurs, business organizations, academia and policy makers to exchange ideas as well as expertise and to boost bilateral trade and investment relationship. In a program on 9th November former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Mr. Shiv Shankar Mukherjee addressed a special business meet of business entrepreneurs from both the countries in New Dehli jointly organized by CNI and FICCI. Mukherjee emphasized on development, which would inevitably lead to a prosperous Nepal and its importance to India. This was followed by Mr. Manoj Kedia's short presentation 'Opportunities and Challenges in doing Business with India'. On this occasion Mr. Kedia focused on the cross cutting issues of Indo-Nepal trade and investment and also forwarded some suggestions in the same.\nNepal's Economic Freedom Improves The economic freedom of Nepal has seen some improvements, according to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2012, an annual report published by the Fraser Institute of Canada. The report was launched by Sambridhhi, the Prosperity Foundation, at Kathmandu on September 19, 2012. The annual peerreviewed Economic Freedom of the World report is produced b y t h e F ra s e r I n st i t u te , Canada's leading public policy think-tank, in cooperation with independent institutes in 80 nations and territories, including 'Samriddhi' from Nepal. The report shows that the economic freedom has improved worldwide and Nepal is a part of that. The report shows that Nepal in the 110th position with a score of 6.33 among the 144 countries included in the study. \"Although Nepal has made some improvement in its overall position, still it is considered among the countries with the least\nNepal in Economic Freedom Indices Indicator\nLegal structures and security of property rights\nAccess to sound money\nSize of government\neconomic freedom,\" the report reads. Out of the five indicators for measuring the economic freedom, Nepal has made progress in some while doing worse in some others. Nepal shows mixed performance in regards to all the five measured areas of economic freedom which include: size of government; access to sound money; freedom to trade internationally; and Regulation of Credit, Labour, and Business and legal structure and security of property rights. Nepal's score and rank in 5 key areas of economic freedom from 1 to 10, where a higher value indicates a higher level of economic freedom and a higher ranking, are as follows: The Economic Freedom\nFreedom to trade internationally\nRegulation of credit, labour and business\nSource: Economic Freedom of the World: 2012 Annual Report. The Fraser Institute, Canada.\nof the World Report uses 42 different indicators to create an index based on policies that encourage economic freedom countries around the world. The cornerstones of economic freedom are personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete, and security of private property. This year's publication ranks 144 nations, using data from 2010. Globally, the average economic freedom score rose slightly to 6.83 in 2010 from 6.79 in 2009. According to the report, Hong Kong offers\nthe highest level of economic freedom worldwide, with a score of 8.90 out of 10, followed by Singapore 8.69, New Zealand 8.36, Switzerland 8.24, Australia and Canada each 7.97, Bahrain 7.94, Mauritius 7.90, Finland 7.88, and Chile 7.84. Venezuela has the lowest level of economic freedom among the 144 countries m e a s u r e d . M y a n m a r, Zimbabwe, Republic of Congo, and Angola round out the bottom five nations. Economic Freedom\nof the World measures the degree to which the policies and institutions of countries support economic freedom. The annual report is published i n co n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e Economic Freedom Network, a g ro u p o f i n d e p e n d e nt research and educational institutes in 90 nations and territories worldwide. The 2012 report was prepared by James Gwartney, Florida State University; Robert A. Lawson, Southern Methodist University; and Joshua Hall, Beloit College.\nPublished by: Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Trade Tower, 5th Floor, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Editor: Hom Nath Gaire Phone:+977-1-5111122, 5111123 Fax: +977-1-5111125, Post Box: 21056, Email: cni@wlink.com.np, Website: www.cnind.org\nCNI - Nepal","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986)\nDirected by: Peter Hammond, David Carson, Howard Baker, John Bruce, Patrick Lau, John Madden, John Gorrie, Ken Hannam, Brian Mills\n13 Jul '16\n48 (on 13 Jul '1613 July 2016)\nPeter Hammond, David Carson, Howard Baker, John Bruce, Patrick Lau, John Madden, John Gorrie, Ken Hannam, Brian Mills\n1 hour 0 minutes (60 minutes)\nThe history of the IMDb Top 250 for the movie The Return of Sherlock Holmes\nTitles from UK\nCrime titles","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Maggini Quartet\nJulian Leaper, violin\nCiaran McCabe, violin\nMartin Outram, viola\nMichal Kaznowski, cello\nSince studying at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music with John White, Martin Outram has enjoyed a wide ranging career as quartet player, soloist and teacher.\nIn addition to his work with the Maggini Quartet, Martin appears frequently as a soloist. His repertoire embraces the major works for Viola. His programmes often include rarely heard pieces, particularly by British composers, and several works have been written for him, including concertos by Adam Gorb and David Gow. Since making his Royal Festival Hall concerto debut with the London Mozart Players, notable solo appearances have included the broadcast premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Strathclyde Concerto No.5 with the composer conducting. Martin gave the first concert performance of Britten's Portrait No.2 in London and on tour with Martyn Brabbins and Sinfonia 21 in Russia. He was the soloist in rare performances of the Maconchy Romanza with the Ambache Chamber Orchestra and the Dale Romance with Vernon Handley conducting. Martin gave the first European performance for seventy-five years of York Bowen's Viola Concerto, with Ronald Corp and the New London Orchestra. He has played the Britten Lachrymae many times at home and abroad with the Britten Sinfonia and toured Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante together with Tasmin Little as fellow soloist. He has also appeared as a soloist in South America, performing in Argentina and Brazil. Recently his peformances of the Bartok Concerto and the Mozart Sinfonia Concertant with Julian Leaper have been highly acclaimed and another highlight was his world premiere performance of Stuart MacRae's 'Equilibrium' for solo Viola and chamber ensemble.\nMartin performs in recital with pianist Julian Rolton. Together they have performed widely throughout the UK and have recorded several discs for the Naxos and Nimbus labels. Their performances have included recitals at many international Viola congresses and Martin has served on the jury for the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. His recording of all the music for Viola and Piano by Bax with Julian Rolton attracted a five-star review in the BBC Music Magazine and their discs of English Viola Sonatas, all the viola music of Britten and Bridge and a CD featuring the legacy of the great Scottish violist Watson Forbes have also received similar outstanding praise internationally.\nMartin Outram is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he has been a professor since 1984. He is also an Honorary Fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University and Brunel University. He has given masterclasses in major music institutions in Britain, China, Sweden, Norway, Poland and America, and gives annual masterclasses in Leipzig. He plays on a very fine Viola made by Henricus Catenar in Turin in 1680.\nadmin@maggini.net\nCopyright \u00a9 Maggini Quartet \u2022 Development by HBarnes Websites using Genesis Framework \u2022 Log in","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Rise of Skywalker Shows It's Time for J.J. Abrams To Be Impeached From Star Wars\nThe final film in the Disney-era trilogy is a pointless, abysmal letdown that won't fully satisfy anyone.\n(Disney\/Lucasfilm)\nFor the last four years, we have been living a collective nightmare. Our shared values have been undermined. Our cherished culture has come under attack. At its least harmful, this nightmare has taken the form of empty nostalgia, in which the leaders who have been entrusted with ushering us into the next era have instead looked into the past, distracting us with symbolic gestures that serve no purpose except to cover up a lack of vision. At its worst, a combination of incompetence, erraticness, and sometimes sheer malice has squandered decades of progress. The ensuing conversation has been fruitless and ugly, and the experience has left many of us polarized, angry, and exhausted.\nThis week, it finally started to look as if that nightmare might end\u2014but only in the weakest and most slapdash manner. This resolution, which is not really a resolution, is not only a disaster: It's a disappointment, a pointless, abysmal letdown that is virtually certain to fully satisfy almost no one. The result is a rushed and poorly executed product of bad management, empty thinking, and shallow wish-fulfillment that will only further the public's loss of faith in the entire enterprise.\nI speak, of course, of the Star Wars franchise, which in late 2015 returned to movie theaters under the managerial oversight of Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy, with a strong creative influence from Hollywood's reigning prince of blockbuster mediocrity, J.J. Abrams.\nAlthough other writers and directors have worked on the films, to varying effect, these two have been the chief visionaries. Kennedy managed the brand, and Abrams co-wrote and directed the first and third chapters in a new trilogy meant to expand on the sci-fi soap opera that franchise creator George Lucas started back in 1977.\nAnd now, with The Rise of Skywalker, the third chapter in the trilogy that Kennedy and Abrams began four years ago, the full impact of their creative leadership has become clear.\nSkywalker is a frantic, disjointed mess\u2014not a movie with good ideas poorly executed, not even a movie with bad ideas, but a movie with no ideas at all, save for saccharine paeans to fandom and nostalgia. As a story, it is empty and unengaging to the point of boredom. As a cinematic product, it is surprisingly lackluster, with shoddy effects and muddy visuals. And as an entry in the Star Wars franchise, an ostensibly major part of the pop-culture canon, it is a wasted opportunity: a total failure of both creative imagination and corporate brand management.\nAfter Lucasfilm sold Star Wars to Disney, Kennedy cycled through writers and directors, firing several who were deep into the development process\u2014and, in the case of last year's Solo, weeks into filming. Something similar happened with Skywalker, where writer-director Colin Trevorrow was taken off the project and Abrams brought back to close out the trilogy he started with 2015's The Force Awakens.\nAll that hiring and firing reflects an understandable anxiety over controlling one of Hollywood's biggest properties. But the frequency with which Kennedy's creative collaborations collapsed, and the timid, half-baked films that resulted, suggest something worse: a directionlessness and uncertainty about what the brand's value proposition was. Why do people love Star Wars? Why does it endure? Kennedy just didn't know what Star Wars was supposed to be.\nAbrams, who had previously rebooted the Star Trek franchise and directed Super 8, a relentlessly nostalgic tribute to Steven Spielberg, stepped in with an answer. What people loved about Star Wars was\u2026loving Star Wars. So he made a movie about a trio of young heroes who revered and worshiped the series' old heroes, who over the course of the trilogy were cast as mentors for the younger generation.\nThat trend continues in Skywalker, which positions resistance leader General Leia Organa as the trainer to Rey, the trilogy's protagonist, who once again must swashbuckle her way through an onslaught of CGI gobbledygook in her quest to\u2026ah, who cares? Certainly not any of the characters, who duly intone about the importance of the mission but seem about as engaged as if they are standing in line at the dry cleaner. Hotshot pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) have been relegated to the sidelines in previous films; here they are onscreen more often, yet no less irrelevant. Only Adam Driver, as the Darth Vader\u2013esque Kylo Ren, seems to hold the screen. (And even Driver is undermined by Abrams' hectic pacing, which never seems to trust viewers to linger on a thought for more than a moment.)\nEven the relationship between Rey and Leia plays out awkwardly. In part that's because it relies on digital trickery and repurposed footage to resurrect Carrie Fisher, who died in 2016. And in part that's because there's so little dramatic inertia, since the movie all but wipes out The Last Jedi, the polarizing middle chapter of the trilogy.\nInstead of following through on that flawed, frustrating film's universe-expanding narrative, Abrams has brought the trilogy back to his original idea: What people love about Star Wars is being reminded that they love Star Wars. So Skywalker is structured as a series of callbacks, a slideshow of favorite moments and characters, no matter whether they (or the actors who play them) are dead, and no matter whether they belong in this particular story, whatever it is. Skywalker is not so much a movie as a $200 million fan-made YouTube highlight reel. It might as well have been titled Why We'll Always Heart Star Wars.\nIn that way, it bears more than a small resemblance to today's political moment, with its endlessly outraged partisans and pointless displays of symbolism and substantive void. It is probably not an accident that the discourse over The Last Jedi descended into an ugly, intractably polarized debate over the movie's nods to wokeness and diversity. Much of that debate was a stand-in for arguments about President Donald Trump\u2014arguments that managed to distract both fans and critics alike from more sober and interesting assessments of the movie's real stylistic strengths and serious narrative flaws. The parallels to our poisoned political discourse are plain to see.\nStar Wars has always refracted and reflected the politics and culture of its day. In the 1970s, when Lucas kicked things off, that meant gay robots, peasant shirts, a soulless evil empire, and new-agey spiritual self-helpisms. It didn't offer wholly new ideas, but it did offer a new synthesis, one that blended a pop-mythical storytelling sensibility with film-school formalism and more than a little bit of tie-die weirdness. Lucas spun this into an empire of toys and lunchboxes and spinoff stories. Star Wars was a great movie, but it was also a triumph of creative cultural management.\nKennedy has no such managerial deftness, and Abrams lacks Lucas' trippy brilliance. Under their watch, Star Wars has retreated entirely into itself, content to recycle and repeat its old mantras in increasingly crude fashion in increasingly desperate hopes of making Star Wars great again. If Skywalker reveals anything about the world around it, it's that we are living through an era of mismanagement and lack of vision, of dead-end rehashing, on-screen and off. (Even I have made a version of this argument before.) It's time for those who brought us to this historically low point to finally face some consequences.\nNEXT: Mitch McConnell: This Is the 'Most Rushed, Least Thorough, and Most Unfair Impeachment Inquiry in Modern History'\nStar Wars Movies Science Fiction Impeachment\nDecember.19.2019 at 12:57 pm\nI think one of the fundamental problems with the entire trilogy is the decision to make the protagonist a woman. Now it would have been one thing if they had made the protagonist into an actual female character. That might have been interesting and fun. But they didn't do that. They just wrote a completely asexual character and hired a generally asexual and unattractive actress to play it.\nThere is nothing female about the Rey character. You could hire an adolescent boy to play the part without changing a single line and no one would notice. Deprived of any sexuality the character just falls flat. It is about as interesting as making C3PO the protagonist.\nIt is more than a bit ironic that Cathleen Kennedy set out to make the movies about \"girl power\" but ended up making movies that are totally devoid of any real female power or sexuality. Rey is as a character closer to Peter Pan than she is an actual adult woman like the original Leia or any other powerful female roles over the years. Kennedy writes femininity and feminine power out of the Star Wars universe in the name of destroying masculinity and making it supreme. What she and every other Hollywood feminists don't understand is that masculinity and femininity are a ying and yang; one cannot exist without the other. Destroy the masculine and the famine is destroyed as well and you end up with the dull asexual universe of these films.\nBearOdinson\nDecember.19.2019 at 1:09 pm\nWell said. I think one of the other fundamental problems is that there is literally no reason to care about this story. We saw the rebellion defeat the Emperor and win the Galactic Civil War. Then they (ostensibly) created The New Republic. And then 20 years later, essentially the exact same force destroys the ENTIRE New Republic with one shot from Starkiller base. Where the fuck did the First Order come up with the resources and people to create an entire space navy that rivals, or possibly is larger than the Imperial Navy at its height. And create something with literally thousands of times the power of the Death Star (oh and the shots can travel through hyperspace). And seriously, after the Galactic Civil War, are there that many systems who would welcome a return to the Empire?\nI didn't give a fuck about the woke bullshit in The Last Jedi. Just that the movie had some VERY bad plot points (the side trip to the casino planet???WTF??) '\nI mean literally any middle school geek could have come up with a better storyline for the new trilogy than these tools did.\nLucas did a pretty crappy job on EPI-III, but they were still \"Star Wars\". And it did wrap up the threads decently about what happened prior to EpIV.\nBut this crap isn't anything. These movies don't even rise to the level of doing a shitty job. It is not that they are incompetent. It's like they just don't care.\nThe super weapon in the Force Awakens has to be the most ridiculous plot device in the history of film. Ed Wood came up with more believable things than that. They are sucking the energy out of a sun? WTF?\nAnd yeah, there is really no reason to care about any of this stuff. That is because none of the characters have any real background or substance. Rey is an orphan who runs around stealing junk and selling it. She is a size 0 teenage girl but somehow doesn't have a boyfriend or in anyway use her sexuality to get out of the life of destitution she is in. The villain hates his parents for reasons no one can seem to explain and does so with about the same level of believably of a 13 year old boy angry that his parents don't own the electric company and that he has to go to bed for school in the morning.\nThe one thing the original trilogy had was charismatic characters. You want to be Luke Sykwalker or Han Solo. They are cool and interesting. Same with Leia or Obiwan. Hell, even Yodi is kind of a funky version of ET. But the last six movies have not produced a single character that you can look at and say \"yeah, it would be fun to be that guy\". And that makes for really boring movie making.\nJoeJoetheIdiotCircusBoy\nWhile I agree with the comments on the Force Awakens super weapon, the original Death Star weapon was pretty ridiculous too. Please tell me how 5 different laser beams become magically concentrated into one super laser beam without some kind of lens or additional device hovering in space.\nBut, without a doubt, the dumbest thing is the \"bomber\" scene in the last jedi. Please tell me how you \"drop\" ordinance in space? How exactly does that work?\nThe Death Star was ridiculous but it at least made sense as a dramatic stand in. It was at least a weapon that destroyed planets. I still have no idea what the weapon in the Force Awakens was supposed to even do. So you suck all of the energy out of star. Okay, now what? It is all on this planet which isn't going anywhere. What are you going to do with it?\nJWatts\nThat was bad, but the \"all the sudden you can kamikaze ships into each other\" breaks the entire logic of the universe. Why haven't both sides been doing that the entire time? Why wouldn't you sacrifice every freighter you can get hold of, put on cheap shield generators and destroy Star Destroyers? The kamikaze ship didn't even have a crew, just the one sacrificial person. And why was she there? They could build AI robots, but not an auto pilot?\nNone of that made any damn sense.\nLast of the Shitlords\nIndeed. And it made no sense that most of the world depicted were largely ghettos. With the advanced tech to generate energy as easily as they do in these movies, the standard of living should be much higher. And with droids available, why would anyone with two credits to rub together bother with slaves? Other than for sex.\nEISTAU Gree-Vance\nHaven't seen any of these newer movies. Was watching return of the Jedi from the original trilogy in 83 the other day on tv. Wow. I didn't realize it was all so cheesy. I don't get the appeal.\nDecember.20.2019 at 12:41 am\nIts nerdy and all, but i love it when Vader throws the lightsaber, \"If you will not fight, you will meet your destiny\" great line.\nRed Rocks White Privilege\nThe movies were always used to pimp toys, but RotJ is really when Lucas fully embraced the \"merchandising! merchandising! merchandising! \" ethos that Mel Brooks goofed on in Spaceballs.\n\"didn't give a fuck about the woke bullshit in The Last Jedi. Just that the movie had some VERY bad plot points\"\nI liked the part where they came up with the brilliant plan to escape and lost 90% of their entire force.\nI'd guess this is handwaved aside in the new one\n\"I think one of the fundamental problems with the entire trilogy is the decision to make the protagonist a woman.\"\nThere's a film on Amazon Prime called The Aeronauts.\nIt's a true story about two people that set an altitude record to record the conditions of the upper atmosphere way back in Victorian times. They did it without pressure suits or respirators with oxygen. They risked their lives and almost died. It's supposed to be a pretty good movie.\nI said it's a true story, but, actually, they changed the sex of one of the two members of the team so that it was a woman.\nIf they could get away with it, the next remake of The Lord of the Rings will feature both Aragorn and Frodo as women.\nThey would. And the character wouldn't be a woman. It would just be the same male character played by a woman. They are not putting women in films. They are just hiring women to play men. And in the process erasing real women from the movies.\nUnicorn Abattoir\nWould this be a bad time to mention Martin Scorsese's \"Godmother\" franchise?\nLuke wasn't getting any and no one cared. Rey doesn't get any and suddenly it's \"OMG! Asexuals taking over the kulture!!!\"\nLuke was clearly a guy and certainly wanted some. He wasn't Peter Pan. And that is what Rey is.\nRey certainly wants some too. She has the hots for Finn, as anyone with two eyeballs can see.\nThe Rey-Finn romance plot line was straight out of Disney Jr after school programming.\nYeah, but wasn't that his sister?\nDon't look at me!\nIncest is best,\ngive your sister the test.\n>>they changed the sex of one of the two members of the team so that it was a woman.\nBattlestar Galactica pulled it off.\nBillyBob\nI'd like to add on to this. I believe Katee's Starbuck in the BSG reboot was an extremely well written female character. She had conflict and sexual tension between several characters, she was really good as a soldier and a pilot, but not perfect. Her character was flawed and she dealt with her flaws and consequences of them throughout the entire series. The writers of BSG wrote the part for Katee, and they used the \"issue\" of Starbuck being female to its advantage. But they didn't use her gender to completely define who she was. While her gender had a large effect on how she acted, it didn't overpower her ability to be a genuinely interesting character. She was human, which is why I believe she was so interesting. Rey in Star Wars doesn't even seem to be written as a human, almost a demigod that appears to struggle on the surface, but just brushes aside her issues like they're nothing by the end and moves on without any other consequences. Rey was terribly written.\nAlso, she has a man-jaw, so likely high T count. She was as masculine as the other men in many of the situations.\nSo high testosterone AND high midichlorion count?\nall this agreed.\nNecron 99\nThey wouldn't do that, look at how true to the story 'The Hobbit' was followed. Why I remember as a kid reading about Tauriel being in love with Legolas and Kili in the original J.R.R. Tolkien masterpiece.\n\"Why does it hurt so much?\"\n\"Because it was real.\"\nPlease tell me you're being sarcastic. As a Tolkien fan, the hobbit movies were disappointing to me. T auriel was never a real character, and Legolas wasn't in the book the hobbit.\nOf course. I loved the LOTR movies, they weren't exactly true to the story but deviations helped pacing and character development while adding to the story in a caring manner. The Hobbit had crap made up from nothing for no reason other than make if feel like the LOTR movies (dollar bills, y'all) while taking a dump on the source material. I went to the theater to see the first, saw the second on DVD, and caught the last one on television. Ugh, it was so bad. I recently purchased a hardback copy for reading to my grandkids, and will strongly recommend the animated movie over the new ones.\n'Where there's a whip, there's a way'.\nWait a second..Legolas was male?\n\"There is nothing female about the Rey character. You could hire an adolescent boy to play the part without changing a single line and no one would notice. \"\nI think what you said is largely true, but that's still not the biggest flaw with Rey's character. The big flaw is that without any kind of reasonable explanation she's better than experts at things she's never done. She's a classic Mary Sue. If you replaced the character with a male character he would just as bad for exactly the same reasons.\nKrayt\nI disagree. This never felt odd to me \u2014 I don't know where it comes from. If I thought about it, it was just a mystery yet to be explained.\nAnyway, these are stories of mythological heroes, like Dune or Harry Potter, who fulfill multiple prophecies, patterned on real world mythos where different prophecies of different things get merged into applying to the same person over millenia of retellings. Not six stories with six heroes, but one hero with all six prophecies.\nThere were things wrong with the first one, but this isn't it. In the light saber battle, when he force pulls the saber and it flies right by his face into Rey's hand, that was one of the greatest moments in any movie I can remember.\nIf one got hung up on BUT TRAINING! you missed a grand experience.\nLet go of your hate.\nAnyway, these are stories of mythological heroes, like Dune or Harry Potter, who fulfill multiple prophecies, patterned on real world mythos where different prophecies of different things get merged into applying to the same person over millenia of retellings.\nSure, but even in the OT, Lucas was smart enough to show the main characters grow through genuine struggle and loss. The OT started off as a Campbellian Call to Adventure story that morphed into a redemption arc for the antagonist after the first movie became a mass media sensation. Luke starts off as a whiny, smart-mouthed brat who, over the course of three movies, loses his mentor, embraces his connection to the force (and he needed the help of Biggs, Wedge, and Han to finally get the shot off that blew up the Death Star), gets his ass kicked twice in Empire by a Wampa monster and Darth Vader, losing his hand in the process (just a couple instances in Empire where the Rebellion and the leads get a mudhole stomped in them), before finally humbling himself enough to get the training he needs to confront both the Emperor and his father, enabling Vader to redeem himself through his love for his son. This also takes place over a period of several YEARS, arguably in real time between the events of Star Wars and Return of the Jedi.\nThat's the whole point. Rey NEVER struggles. There's no growth with her, and the attempts to shoehorn it in are done in the most ham-fisted ways (and not helped at all by Abrams' insipid fetish for mystery boxes). She pilots the Falcon single-handedly, and demonstrates a Jedi master's grasp of the force from the get-go. Her \"training\" in RotS is pointless, because in the span of a week or two, which is the actual timeline of the first two movies, she's already shown to be a master swordsman with a lightsaber (a weapon she's NEVER picked up before, and no, wielding a staff is not the same as a sword), can perform advanced-level mind tricks, shoots multiple TIE fighters out of the sky with a single blast, and move dozens of boulders with ease. Leia has literally nothing to teach her.\nTo try and excuse her lack of flaws as her being a mythological archetype is just lazy. Even the Greeks showed their heroes undergoing incredible struggles, and they often have significant character flaws. Hercules, for example, is a schizophrenic who goes insane and kills his family. Achilles is supremely arrogant and gets taken out with an arrow in the heel by Paris, who's the biggest fop in the Greek canon. Perseus and Theseus don't just waltz in and kill Medusa or the Minotaur, they have to use their wits more than their strength, and are nearly killed in the process themselves. Rey, on the other hand, is never in any real jeopardy, so there's no investment or payoff when she triumphs. She's already overpowered from the start. She's an avatar.\nFinn is a much more realistic character archetype, and Abrams and Johnson fucked him over by reducing him to a comedic minstrel sidekick role, and bludgeoning into the dirt the genuine growth his character was experiencing despite the horrid execution of his narrative arc.\nThis. This is why we can't have nice things. Damn it John, grow the fuck up.\nYour takes are always bad and feminine\n\"There is nothing female about the Rey character. \"\nThe problem is not that Rey is female character. The problem is that she is not a character.\nThrough their unwillingness to show Rey as \"weak\" or needing help, they created a character who never needed to grow. Luke started as a whiny brat who blows up the death star. From the beginning of the movie, he goes from an indecisive person, wanting glory but afraid to actually grab it, to the guy who shuts off the targeting computer and blows up an artificial moon. That wasn't masculinity- it was just growth- a growth that anyone, male or female could identify with because we've all been children needing to step out for our own.\nThrough their WOKENESS need to show grrll power, the writers created the worst character ever. They did the same with Captain Marvel- created a complete badass with no weakness- her whole journey being \"get the other men to realize how badass I am\". And they staked the marvel universe on her, while killing off Black Widow? Ugh.\nThat is a good point. That is a large part of why the character sucks so badly. But I think it is true in addition to my point. She is not a female and also shows no weakness or growth making her the most boring character ever.\nHer growth or arc was finding her place in the world. She says so straight up in the second movie, \"I need someone to show me my place in all this.\" The character growth wasn't as a Jedi.\n\"The real growth was the friends we made along the way.\"\nTo be fair, that stayed pretty close to the source material.\nDemosthenes of Athens\nI really like this observation.\nBill Dalasio\nI don't think the problem was, per se, that she was a woman. It was that she was a woman written by the existing makers of Star Wars. The truth is that empowerment doesn't make for good story-telling. A compelling character, whether in comedy or adventure or drama, is someone who is flawed. If a character is perfect, there is nothing about them to laugh at. If a character is perfect, the slings and arrows of life shall pass. If a character is perfect, we needn't worry that the hero (or heroine) might fall.\nBut, Hollywood, at least right now, doesn't have much of an appetite for acknowledging flaws in women. It's disempowering. It flies in the face of the mythos of the omni-competent woman. They can't acknowledge women as potential screw-ups because doing so might suggest that something other than bigotry or grand conspiracy might hold them back.\nWizard with a Woodchipper\n\"Skywalker is a frantic, disjointed mess\u2014not a movie with good ideas poorly executed, not even a movie with bad ideas, but a movie with no ideas at all, save for saccharine paeans to fandom and nostalgia.\"\nThus spake the Critical Drinker\nI've come to the conclusion that the Critical Drinker is nothing short of a hilarious drunken genius.\nGo away now.\nThere are many problems with the new Star Wars trilogy, which is garbage, but making the main protagonist a woman is not one of them. But of course that is what a conservative is gonna whine about. But of course. And to top it off, John can't imagine a female character without sexuality. This is literally the definition of a male writer fucking up a female character, turning her into nothing but a sex object. I bet you enjoy the works of Frank Miller.\nNobody gives a shit what a bigoted midwit thinks, eunuch\nYou have no value\nBut of course that is what a conservative is gonna whine about.\nYeah, no conservative ever enjoyed an action-adventure film with a strong female lead! I believe NASA spotted the heat signature of the strawman you burned.\nHow does it feel to parrot the same \"unPrECEdenTEd StrAHnK WaHMenN!\" crap being shoveled out by the entertainment industry's PR rags?\nSo you think Mark Hamill was a good choice for a protagonist because of his overt sexuality. Noted, John.\nYour reading comprehension is lacking. Maybe I should send you a jumbo size bottle of Drano for you to drink. As a Christmas present.\nVegtam\nWell, that's a terrible take. The decision to make the protagonist a woman is not bad at all. Even your own argument doesn't make that case. By your own standards, the problem isn't that they decided to make Rey a woman; it's that they didn't write her well.\nThe character doesn't need any sexuality. No one was complaining about them making the protagonist a man in the original trilogy (at least not people like you), and yet Luke was as asexual as Rey is. It has nothing to do with sex, gender or sexuality. It has to do with writing good characters.\nYour attempt to explain \"femininity and masculinity\" to Hollywood fails miserably. Most characters in the main Star Wars movies were not very sexual. They were mostly only interested romantically when needed. In the new trilogy, Finn and Poe weren't exactly sexual either, but you're not complaining about them. You're only complaining about the one female character because it fits your \"anti-woke\" narrative. There are times when writers make a main character female but then just write her as a male character anyway (True Detective season 2), and that fails. But this isn't one of those times. Even if Rey had been male, she would have been the same bland character.\nBesides, just the fact that they \"decided to make her female\" illustrates the default males are in entertainment. It's a \"decision\" to make a main character female. As in, they could have just gone with the default, and made Rey male, but they made the conscious decision to make her female. That in and of itself is the problem: the fact that male is the default.\nBecause half the world isn't?\nAnyway, they bungled it because it was always with, \"\u2026because the old way is a bad thing, screw you for liking it.\" Which is BS because Alien, Aliens, and Terminator 2 were all women as the strong leads and nobody cared and the same people loved those movies. The exact same. They just weren't released with a snide nudge nudge, wink wink you men are the problem and this is for your own good.\nReverendcaptain\nThis is exactly the point. The claim that female heroes are somehow new and hard to be accepted by sexist fanboys to total bullshit. They love their female heroes.\nThere's no problem in male being the default for action heroes. Action heroes are inherently masculine.\nGender norms aren't evil. They're reality.\nThe movies like Alien and Terminator do female action heroes right, with women who overcome their femininity, without losing it, to become heroes out of necessity. The fact that they're females fulfilling a masculine role isn't something you think about while watching the film, but after it's over and you reflect on it.\nTheir gender is not distracting, it's not the point. That's where modern films lose the way. They don't tell stories, they try to tell you rightthink\nyet Luke was as asexual as Rey is\nLOL, seriously? Leaving aside the whole awkward incest implications that came up later as a result of Lucas's retconning of their relationship, he clearly has the hots for Leia in the first film, and acts like a smug shit when she kisses him to spite Han at the beginning of Empire.\nIn the new trilogy, Finn and Poe weren't exactly sexual either, but you're not complaining about them.\nTalk about trying to shoehorn sexuality where there is none. I'm sure if we ignore the parts in the ST where Finn is openly thirsty for Rey, this comment makes complete sense.\nRight, Luke wasn't completely asexual, and neither is Rey. That's the point. I said they're equally asexual, meaning neither is particularly sexual.\nFinn having a little crush on Rey but not talking about it or acting on it at all isn't exactly \"sexual\".\nThe point is no one cares when a guy isn't really sexual, but suddenly it's a problem when a woman filling the same role isn't really sexual.\nI said they're equally asexual, meaning neither is particularly sexual.\nAnd you'd be wrong, based on Luke's actual character portrayal.\nHuh, so you're arguing that Finn being \"sexual\" means that he would have to immediately start trying to feel up or kiss Rey after knowing her for all of five minutes. And of course, let's just leave aside his comment asking her on the Falcon if she had a boyfriend, or his clearly portrayed infatuation with her at various moments in the first two movies.\nIt says a lot more about you that you're implying that \"sexual\" means that they're all should be trying to get in each others' pants, rather than simply demonstrating normal human emotions of attraction.\nAnd sexuality isn't entirely romantic either.\nFor example, Ripley in Aliens and Sarah Conner in Terminator. Both are feminine characters thrust into masculine roles because of the circumstances they find themselves in.\nBut Sarah Conner is still a damsel in distress in the first movie, she just fights back. In the 2nd, she's entirely driven by being a mother and protecting her child. Ripley has the cat and the little girl.\nThey don't need to announce \"I am woman!\" because they demonstrate their womanhood. They don't reject their femininity, which is what so much of modern female characters do.\nThat's one thing that a lot of media critics don't get.\nEllen Ripley and Sarah Connor are unabashedly female. They aren't guys in female skin suits. They survive primarily through sheer determination and a bit of luck\/plot armor, but they're also quite vulnerable and the audience identifies with that.\nIt's not really a surprise that Rey doesn't have nearly the same gravitas among the Star Wars pop culture canon that Leia and even Padme did. The latter were also explicitly feminine characters that happened to be strong-willed, but still vulnerable at times. They're far more relatable than Rey ever was, which is unfortunate because there was a lot of potential in her backstory about being abandoned by her parents.\nCLM1227\nThis! Thank you.\nI'd also add the distinct characteristics that come with being female. I know that's totes un-PC, but guess what? Women and men are different!\nLuke's whole motivation in the movie was to rescue the princess. And get some. He went into monk mode when he left to train with Yoda and found out that incest was best.\nStar With and Empire were massively sexual in that aspect.\nLuke wasn't asexual. He had a crush on a pretty girl he rescued, competed with Hans for her attention, won a kiss, and got to be grossed out by it when he learned who she (and he) really was.\nThat's not asexual. Its understated and not flamboyant like a GrrMartin book, but it's there in an innocent way.\nThis is a good point and one I've noticed as a trend in many recent movies. The women do not behave as women but have all the qualities of men but in women's bodies. What is with the aversion to female attributes and strengths?\nThe weirdest to me right now is how many women heroes or just badasses (assassins usually), are now either lesbians or bisexual. Do they think now that women heroes have not not only be men in women's bodies but also fuck women\u2026just like men?\nDEdwards\nThey're not \"hoping to make Star Wars great again,\" FFS. This shit is not what greatness looks like or what someone aiming for greatness would achieve. Most of it's not even good storytelling and hasn't been since Empire. They're hoping to cash in on something they don't understand and don't believe in. A New Hope was so popular because it was a new way of telling an old story: clear-cut good vs clear-cut evil, with the good guys winning against all odds and having fun doing it. That's been the last thing on anyone's mind\u2014including Lucas's\u2014since Empire.\nJohn, Odeon feminism is not really about women, or femininity. It's about hatred of men. Not even so much masculine behavior. Just masculine behavior from MEN.\nIt's part of the disease that is progressivism.\n'Modern feminism'\nIncredulous\nWell said. These movies have become vehicles for left wing social engineering with unrealistic depictions of genders and sexuality. There is a desire for gender fluidity which is not reality. In real life, men and women are different, masculine and feminine.\nCrap. I got tickets for this thing.\nThere has been six movies since the original three. You cannot say you were not warned.\nI haven't been to the movies since they introduced JarJar every Star Wars move from then was blah. I do watch them when they come out on tv just to keep up and I'm not impressed.\nFucking Jar Jar! Even worse than Rey and child Anakin.\nWe have tickets. I didn't buy them. My woman insisted we go see it on opening weekend because she cares about spoiler. Then she read some reviews and\u2026\nHa-ha!\nCancel them, I think you can as long as they aren't within 24 hours of the showing\nJ.J. Abrams ruins everything he touches. I don't see anything with which he is involved.\nAs do you\nSaw it last night. Not awesome, not terrible. B-\n>>Adam Driver, as the Darth Vader\u2013esque Kylo Ren\nthey didn't tell us why he hates his parents or who the fuck he is at all really then next thing you know he's killing Han wtf I'm still pissed.\nThey did the same thing with Darth Vader in the prequals. Why did Anakin Skywalker go all dark side on everyone? Beats me. The guy's wife dies giving birth and suddenly he wants to slaughter and enslave the entire universe.\nBoth examples point to the most fundamental flaw of the entire series going back to the original three; George Lucas has no understanding of what evil is or why anyone would be attracted to it. That didn't matter in the first couple of movies because they didn't try and explain much of the back story. The lack of back story or explanation made Vader an even better villain. But once they tried to explain who Vader was and why he did what he did, the whole thing fell apart quickly because Lucus really had no fucking clue what the answers to those questions were.\nThey didnt even work in the back story of the jedi ethos how the dark side could manipulate life and death through the force? It would make sense for him to turn to try to save his wife.\nAnd the worst thing is that the explanation for what the dark side is and why it is tempting is sitting there like a giant wookie trying to pull your arm out of socket.\nJedi's have the power to use the force to fool people and manipulate them. You know the whole \"these are not the droids you are looking for\" thing. It is not hard to imagine how easy it would be to be corrupted if you had such power. The dark side is the temptation to use the force to mentally enslave and fool people into doing what you want. The temptation of it is that you convince yourself that you are fooling them and enslaving them to do good. Only someone who has true discipline and morality can resist the temptation to overpower people's free will in the name of doing good. Vader goes bad because it is hard and it sucks to be good. Being good means letting idiots run the universe and letting people do stupid and self destructive things. What is easy and tempting is stepping in and using the force to enslave them for their own good.\nWhy Lucas couldn't figure this out is beyond me.\n\"What is easy and tempting is stepping in and using the force to enslave them for their own good.\"\nThe wet dream of every progressive, ever.\n\"What is easy and tempting is stepping in and using the force to enslave them for their own good. Why Lucas couldn't figure this out is beyond me.\"\nHe couldn't figure it out because he actively believes that the universe needs Top Men to run our lives. That isn't evil, to him. That is why Jedi's hold this massive influence in the republic before they are destroyed, even though they are the definition of elitist asshats.\nI really think you could rewrite Revenge of the Stith in a way that would be very interesting. You are right, the Jedi are kind of assholes. You could really play with that idea and make them flawed and interesting.\nMy idea would be to make being a Jedi some kind of mutation that people have at birth. And the Jedi Knights grab kids when they are toddlers and train them and give them discipline to keep them from becoming monsters because of the temptations that come with their power. They then become law givers for the Republic. Sort of super natural judges who can read minds and come to the just decision in conflicts.\nThe flip side of that is that if they don't get you early, it is too late to train you and they have to kill you. So, the Jedi send Obi wan out to get Ankin who is on some backwater planet. Anekin is a teenager and has the power. And he is using it in teenager ways. Screwing with his teachers, getting laid, stealing stuff, things like that but nothing really evil. Kanobe gets out there and quickly realizes that Anikin has really amazing powers though not yet developed. His job and duty is to kill him. But Kanobe just can't bring himself to do it. How can he kill some 14 year old kid who never learned any better? And if doing that is what it means to be a Jedi, maybe being a Jedi isn't so great. So, Kanobe disobeys orders and takes Anekan back to the capital and before the Jedi council to try and plead for his life and to offer to train him himself believing that he can save Anekan and make him a force for good. And then things start to go off the rails.\nThat woudl be my idea.\nThis is a great concept and it really bothers me that you misspelled every. single. name. If that's a troll I tip my hat\nYou are right, the Jedi are kind of assholes.\nWell, that should have been obvious by the end of Empire. When you realize Darth Vader is Luke's father, the obvious conclusion is that the first true Jedi we run into (Obiwan) basically lied to a kid about who his father was, accused his dad of killing his dad, in order to convince him to murder his father. I'm not sure the Sith weren't evil. But, I'm damned sure that the Jedi weren't exactly good guys.\nIn an alternate timeline, Lucas makes a prequel trilogy about Anakin starting out as a cocky, yet dedicated Force prodigy that is established from the very start as Obi-Wan's teenage apprentice (no Qui-Gon, as cool as the character was; it should have been Anakin and Obi-Wan who showed up as ambassadors at the beginning of Episode 1), whose idealism is slowly worn away by the compromises the Jedi make during the course the Clone Wars to win the conflict, and finally snaps when he finds out that he was actually taken away from his parents, who are now dead, by Obi-Wan himself.\nAnd it's all written and acted well. The prequels had a few big problems, but I think the handling of Anakin's turn to the dark side is the worst. It's rushed and not at all believable. A more gradual slide like you describe makes a lot more sense.\nYeah, Lucas didn't give that evolution nearly enough time to develop; it really only happens over the course of 1 1\/2 movies, and like you said, it feels rushed and contrived instead of a natural process.\nStan Lee figured it out with Spider Man in 1962. As summed up in the 'Homecoming' film when Stark asks him why he doesn't do something like okay football with his new abilities, he responds \"if I couldn't do it before, it means I shouldn't do it now\". Or why Superman tries to be a good example for humanity, to be something to aspire to, as opposed to dominating it.\nNerd hat on.\nThe Emperor literally tells him he will teach him the secrets of manipulating life and death so he can save Padme. It's the reason he cuts off Mace Windu's hand and kneels.\nNerd hat off.\nTrollificus\nWhile they didn't explain Vaders' evil nature in the original trilogy other than an off-hand \"turned to the dark side\", Lucas spent the entire prequel trilogy telling exactly that very story. And a nice, dark story it was, though buried under cringey romance, awful dialogue and bad casting. I can see why people don't give the prequels much credit, but the story is there, and the explanation of Vader is in it.\nAlso, your idea for a structure of Jedi\/Sith in that society is far superior to the poorly-thought-out version Lucas came up with.\nALSO, when the Jedi fail to find\/neutralize someone w\/ the mutation, there is an organization of non-Jedi Force wielders who find them, with their own aims. he initial one, of course, being to protect themselves from the self-appointed \"good guys\".\nIf that doesn't contain the seeds of many, many interesting and intense stories, I dunno what does.\nOooh! And there's a third group, a shadowy group of \"Grey\" Jedi, who have avoided being controlled by either group. Very powerful (they'd have to be), and morally uncertain, who knows what they're up to? Damn. I'd be eager to see movies made from that basis.\nI would love to make it a novel but I don't know how I could change it enough to keep Disney from suing me and everyone I have ever met into poverty for copyright infringement.\nExpect Reason to get a cease and desist for what little you've written here.\nWay to go John.\nThey could easily explore all of that without a lot of existing baggage if they started making 'Knights of the Old Republic' films. Which would be set thousands of years before Episode One.\nAzathoth!!\nIt does. Marvel wrote them. It's the X-Men.\nYou might be right about that. More than anything Lucas needed an editor. All three of the prequals were blotted and needlessly complex. The plots were just horrible. So, I am willing to admit that there were some deeper things lurking in those movies that I may have missed because they were just so boring. Attack of the Clones is one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. It just goes on and on and on without any real point. There is so much going on and no reason to care about any of it.\nIt was Lucas's intention to recreate the serials of the 1930s and there is no backstory. It's only a trope to begin with and each episode becomes the backstory for the following one. If you try to change it the story breaks, and that's exactly what happened here. Purely accidentally (except for Rian Johnson, who may have done it purposely) the Sith just won. Rey is the granddaughter of Palpatine, she killed him and took his mantle, all the Skywalker's are dead and it ends with her stealing the Skywalker name and squatting in their house. She's hiding in plain sight after eradicating the light side clan.\nRey is the granddaughter of Palpatine, she killed him and took his mantle, all the Skywalker's are dead and it ends with her stealing the Skywalker name and squatting in their house. She's hiding in plain sight after eradicating the light side clan.\nWhich is hilarious, because at the end, with all her power, she remains nothing more than what she was at the beginning of the ST, a scavenger.\nExcept Vader was presented as the ultimate villain already. He just was a bad guy and very powerful. That makes sense and is acceptable. The backstory is not completely necessary. But with Kylo, he's a young guy who is obviously conflicted the whole time. From the beginning he was supposed to be more than just \"awesome, cool, powerful villain\". With that in mind, we need more of a story and more reason to take him seriously as the bad guy.\nagree Dillinger, but that is kind of Lucas' MO. After all, they really didn't explain anything at all about Indiana Jones backstory or context or anything in those movies (until arguably the 3rd movie\u2026but even that was basically: \"he has dad issues\").\nTerrible actor, terrible character\nIt's time for Star Wars fans to admit that most of the movies actually aren't that good. The universe that it inhabits is really cool and vast. The characters have a lot of potential. The musical scores are top notch. The special effects are usually pretty awesome and in the original trilogy they were groundbreaking. You can take those ingredients and couple them with huge budgets to make truly great, epic, sci-fi movies. Or you can be George Lucas, Disney, and JJ Abrams and use these great ingredients to serve up mediocre slop.\nThere are three Star Wars movies that I consider to be actually good movies as they are: A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Rogue One. Obviously I mean the original cuts of A New Hope and Empire. Everything else is just ok, lame, or total shit.\nI am glad you included Rogue One, because I did really like that one. It actually had great dialogue and got us to care about the characters. Even though we knew going into it, they were all going to die. (If they didn't, then were the fuck were they in IV, V and VI!!)\nI still love Return of the Jedi. Not because it was a great movie. But, sentimentally the scene that Vader turns back to the light side and throws the Emperor down the hole is one of my favorite scenes of all time from any movie. Though the Ewoks can fuck off.\nThough the Ewoks can fuck off.\nLittle kid me watching it in the theater said, \"WTF is this shit?\" when the muppets came out.\nLike kids wouldn't have preferred The Wookiee planet.\nFucking Ewoks.\nDon't you dare badmouth Zeke!\nBest running back in football\nRoman Moroni\nI guess I was the right age for it as well because I loved that movie, Ewoks and all. Luke's plan at the beginning might not stand up to perfect scrutiny, but damn it was cool when he did that diving board thing!\nAnd yes, Vader's character turn with no dialogue and no adjustable expressions on his mask totally worked. It was brilliant movie making, letting the audience connect the emotional dots and doing the work themselves just by context and the juxtaposition of shots.\nIt was just one of those perfect movie moments that will always stick with me.\nBut then again, I was 11.\nI agree with you about the three that are good, but even in Rogue One they felt it necessary to show us a CGI Leia (they could have just shown us a shot of her from behind about to get the plans and we would have known who it was). I got a shiver of \"uncanny valley\" from that one scene and it took something away from the film for me.\nwstu\nYeah, CGI Leia wasn't as well executed as CGI Tarkin.\nI have a theory that the first hour of A New Hope was so interesting and so well made and the universe so compelling that everyone was so transfixed that they didn't notice the rest of a New Hope and even Empire were not that great. It wasn't until the second half or Return of the Jedi that the spell started to wear off and people went \"WTF, those are Muppets running around\".\nOk, yeah, the final battle over the Death Star was a bit on the silly side, but it was entertaining at least.\nDid nobody care that they ate the captured stormtroopers?\nThe fact that when they captured Han and Luke and took them straight to the cook fires shows that they knew what they were doing.\nI was a bit taken aback by it when I watched it as an adult.\nRemembered the ewoks from when I was a kid, did not remember them eating people.\nI'm just surprised nobody ever talks about it\nThey don't eat people.\nThey eat the weird alien invaders.\nI was six years old watching that in the theater \u2013 I'll never forget my disappointment. I felt like they were treating me like I was half my age. And although those three years don't seem like much, that was insulting af back then.\nHaving a very smart 7-year-old myself, I'm going to go ahead and call BS. This reeks of trying to sound cool.\nUmm, what? I'm calling BS on the idea that a 6-year-old was disappointed and felt like he was treated like he was half his age due to RotJ. I pointed out that I have a smart 7-year-old right now, for reference.\nI'm not gonna go so far as to call anyone a liar. It's certainly possible that some kids genuinely didn't like the the Ewoks, but none of my friends had a problem with them at the time.\nIt was only years later that I was told how lame they were. But to a certain demographic, they overwhelmingly worked at the time.\nTo me they were no weirder than any other costumed characters. They were just silly and fun. But not muppets. Yoda was the only obvious muppet and nobody thinks he didn't work.\nRogue One was spectacular.\nThe Empire and their Stormtroopers actually came across as actually competent and powerful instead of cartoonish like in all the other movies.\nI went in knowing it would end full-Shakespeare bc it had to, and it still blew me away.\nThe Empire and their Stormtroopers were pretty damn competent in The Empire Strikes Back. They annihilated the rebel base within a few hours of landing. True, the Rebels got away, but that's required by the plot. And the best the heroes could do on the Rebel side was slow the shit show down long enough to let the good guys get away.\nRogue One\" isn't that the one where they made the battle essentially a cheap Vietnam epic from the palm trees to even the military garb straight out of every Vietnam movie. What were they saying with that\nI heard they were actually referencing Iwo Jima.\nHonestly the guys who make videos tearing Star Wars apart are now far more interesting than Star Wars itself. Red Letter Media, Mauler, the Critical Drinker and any number of others make great videos pointing out plot inconsistencies and problems with the characters that help most of us bring into focus what seemed wrong about these movies that we couldn't quite articulate. I'm not going to go see this Star Wars movie, and I didn't go see the last one. My 10 year old self sitting in the theater watching the original in 1977 would never have believed that he would grow bored with Star Wars, but here we are. At the very least I can enjoy entertaining critics who remind me of what I once loved about the series while they tear the current crop of films apart.\nThat is so true. I love the ones (I can't remember who did the best ones) that retell Episodes I-III the way they should have been told. Not brand new stories, but taking the main frame of the existing stories and executing them better. They could have been very good movies with the right person at the helm.\nAs opposed to the fucking hash that is the last trilogy (I won't even honor them with episode numbers). There is damn near NOTHING to salvage from them. The characters aren't worth caring about. (Finn maybe COULD have been, a stormtrooper who turns). Kylo Ren is nothing but a spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum. He can LITERALLY suspend a blaster bolt in mid-air, but can't defeat a person who until the day before had no idea about the force and had never held a light sabre. As John very eloquently pointed out above Rey is nothing more than an androgynous mannequin. Leia should be on a beach sipping margueritas, and Poe is about as original as a 90's sitcom.\nThe dialogue isn't even bad. It is completely forgettable. I can quote lines from hundreds of movies. And I love quoting even the bad lines from the prequels (\"From my point of view, the Jedi are evil!\") I literally can't quote any significant lines from any of these fuck-ups.\nI want to hate what these ass-clowns did. But, I just don't care that much any more. As far as I am concerned, the Star Wars saga ended when the Rebellion won the Galactic Civil War (not counting some of the great novels that are no longer considered canon).\nravenshrike\nIf they had treated Finn as an actual child soldier rather than mildly cowardly but perfectly adapted to life outside the life of a first order trooper sidekick he could have been a pretty damn good character.\nFinn had real badass potential in his original characterization, which comes out in various moments. Unfortunately, he's largely relegated to being a minstrel character. It's fucking criminal what they did to his character, and if the rumors are true, he's as pissed about it as most of the fans.\nThere's a really good video somewhere on Youtube which shows what the first Star Wars movie looked like when it was shot and sequenced as it was intended by Lucas and what we got after it was edited by someone who could see what the movie might be. The video shows how the editor made it work and what a mess it was before, without any tension or flow. But then Lucas got the outsized reputation from the original trilogy and he was able to shed his editors (including his first wife). So I could see how someone on Youtube coud edit the mess we got in the prequels into something coherent and compelling.\nI agree. We got two opposite trilogies: one with a very good plot and character arcs but bad writing, acting and dialogue, and then one with a terrible (non-existent) plot and character arcs, but good writing and acting (and at least decent dialogue). The prequels could have been much better with better writing and acting. The new trilogy, I just don't know how to make it better.\nThere is, well used to me more likely, a 3 hour recut of the prequels on YouTube. Among other things, they drop all the idiotic raging Annakin stuff that would have driven Padme away, and replaced it with cutting room floor scenes early on where he shows a sweet nature and poof, suddenly their romance is completely believable. There is a great movie hiding in there.\nIf the Critical Drinker started doing a daily podcast on current events, I'd subscribe in a heartbeat. I'd love to hear him rip on politicians the way he does on shitty movies.\nHe's great but a daily podcast is probably not the right format for him. He says that he writes a script for all of his reviews and, while that works for some podcasts (especially those about a specific topic) a daily show, like Adam Carolla's podcast, requires a lot of improvisation.\nOpenBordersLiberal-tarian\nThis review spends too much time attacking Kathleen Kennedy. Like Obama said, women are better than men at pretty much everything. So even if there are problems with the recent films, it's not her fault.\n#TheFutureIsFemale\nBoo-you should have said #TheForceIsFemale. You don't often drop the ball that badly.\nFrancisco d'Anconia\nWell, all the critics hate it. So, it's probably fantastic!\nMany times that is true. But sadly, sometimes a movie sucks so bad even the critics can see it.\nAbrams, who had previously rebooted the Star Trek franchise and directed Super 8\u2026\nSuper 8 was good enough for what it was, but his treatment of Trek was an honest-to-space-god abomination.\nIt started with a Time travel plot and then went down hill\u2026.\nWhat makes it so much worse is that everyone who actually makes these films are so talented. The actors and creatives in Trek are so good and the product is soooooooo bad. Could you imagine being the DP that has to do that idiotic lens flare?\nphillhamian\nOnce I heard a Beastie Boys song, I was out. I think I went home and watched Darmok to get that slimy Jar Jar Abrams vibe off of me.\nMichael Ejercito\nThere waa no Beastie Boys song in TRoS.\nSo you're saying the bad news is Kathleen Kennedy is involved so the movie is filled with progressive PC identity politics bullshit but the good news is JJ Abrams is also involved so it all gets blown up after a high-speed chase and a 142-cut, 3 1\/2 minute incomprehensible battle scene?\nI think CGI have become the death of movie making. It makes making battle scenes too easy. In the past when you had to stage such things with actors or models, the filmmaker really had to think about what he was doing and pair down his ideas to just the good ones. With CGI, you can put everything on the screen and movie makers do just that. And it ends up being a complete mess.\nMostly agree. I actually just listened to Rogan's podcast when he interviewed Rick Baker and they talk about this. You know, for the most part, I would actually trade \"less real\" looking stuff that was actually real than \"more real\" looking CGI stuff. I recently rewatched the first Aliens vs. Predator movie (bad bad movie, but in a way I am drawn to). However, the first big fight between one of the aliens and predators was done with two actors in body suits. That decision made it so much more realistic and visceral watching these monsters go at it. They could have done it in CGI, but it would have just been another battle scene\u2026.(like the \"flashback\" scene from the movie where the predators are fighting waves of aliens on top of Mayan pyramids\u2026.like I said, bad bad movie).\n\"The final film in the Disney-era trilogy is a pointless, abysmal letdown that won't fully satisfy anyone.\"\nIn David Ricardo's famous example of wine production, he showed that specialization and exchange makes it so that more people in England can enjoy more wine for less if they specialize in something that Portugal wants and let Portugal trade them wine. I don't believe he accounted for the impact of mass production on the quality of the wine. Yeah, Gallo's cheap, but because it's made for a mass market, it tastes like wine flavored Kool-Aid.\nMovies made for a mass market on big budgets can only be of so so quality. Star Wars wasn't made for wine aficionados. It was made for tweens in Berlin, Cairo, Johannesburg, Mumbai, and Shanghai as much as it was made for kids in the suburbs of Chicago, and success is measured in dollars and cents. Star Wars was the first movie I ever saw, and I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Then I saw the one where the Ewoks took down the Empire.\nI grew up a lot that day.\nEwoks? You mean the Space Vietnamese?\n\"It's easy! You just don't lead them as much.\"\nIf Rian Johnson really wanted to subvert everyone's expectations, he abso-fucking-lutely should've made the Full Metal Jacket or Apocalypse Now! of Star Wars movies.\nHe really killed the franchise good & proper. He had Leia's death scene, her sucked into the vacuum of space in the can before Carrie passed and he purposely kept the character alive and forced it into the next and final episode. I don't think there's anything that could have been done that would be more destructive to the entire franchise. It's unreal, and the fact he's still working and got away with it I can't wrap my head around.\nThat's the pinnacle, maybe, but hardly the only thing he ever did. Holdo's plot-destroying maneuver turned pretty much any given ship into a weapon with the potential to match the Death Star and made the stupidity of lobbing laser blasts, bombs, and torpedoes through space seem idiotic. He effectively wrote Captain Phasma out of the plot and wrote Rose in. Abrams made Rey a Mary Sue, but Luke was pretty OP in A New Hope, Johnson cemented her as the self-made bestest ever and he proved it by killing off the mysterious supervillian and did so with some of the worst editing in movie history.\nGood metaphor Ken. Same thing happens with beer. A lot of my beer nerd friends often complain that the big guys beer is tasteless and that those companies couldn't make a good beer if they tried. I think it is more about economics. If you try to brew a beer that millions of people with different taste buds will drink, its going to have to be fairly muted.\nAre there Ewoks in this picture? No Ewoks, no see. Yub! Yub!\nSomeone needs to make an Ewok, Jar Jar mashup film. An entire film around the most hated characters in the series.\njuris imprudent\nYou'll appreciate this John, a friend on FB created a neologism\/typo right from your keyboard: ewoke.\nEwoks and Jar-Jar vs. The Porg Menace!!\nThe funny thing is that if there had been a call back to Jar Jar somewhere in Rise, I'll bet everyone would have thought to themselves that he wasn't near as bad as they remembered. That's how much Rise of Skywalker sucked. I thought there was a perfect opportunity to insert at least a statue of him in that whole Sith temple digs and have a fun reference to the Darth Jar Jar theory (which is strangely compelling).\nThe Ewoks could eat Jar Jar, who could pass along some bacteria harmless to him, but eats the flesh of Ewoks.\nTotal win-win.\nCommenter_XY\nCan we impeach Brown, Binion, Boehm and Sullum from journalism?\nI think there were two main issues (ignoring the SJW\/\"It's our franchise now\" bullshit). First was the decision to completely throw out the decades of expanded universe lore that was pre-disney and just try to build something from scratch. I'm not gonna say that all of the EU was good, but it definitely had great stories that would have been interesting, from the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, to Mara Jade and the Solo kids. It also explained why the empire was still around after the emperor died, the New Republic didn't just take over everything, you essentially had the galaxy split into factions, warlords, and historical groups. It would have at least been a great basis for the new trilogy.\nThe SECOND issue was The Last Jedi. That movie was sooo bad, with a horrible, non-sensical plot that basically made Finn irrelevant as a character and dropped plot lines from the first movie (not to mention the decision not to kill off Leia when given the chance). The backlash was swift, and as a result, Abrahams replaced the other guy as director for Rise of Skywalker. I view this movie as the inevitable conclusion for what happens when there's an obstacle in front of a cargo ship and it doesn't have enough time to turn out of the way. Yes, the obstacle is a mile away, but the cargo ship needs 2 miles because of how big it is. Abrahms was dealt a bad hand and basically had to satisfy angry fans, money-obsessed disney execs, and an SJW boss, and he has to do it with an already poor backstory. This was going to be a trainwreck no matter what. Kennedy needs to be fired and never given any power ever again\nJohn Cuyle\nAbrams dealt himself a bad hand. You can't come into a franchise where the most recent movie involves a rebellion finally overthrowing the Empire and do another rebellion vs empire movie with the words \"Rebellion\" and \"Empire\" crossed out and \"Resistance\" and \"First Order\" written in with crayon and expect to have a compelling anything because you've just demonstrated that there are no actual stakes in that universe. You've gotta go somewhere new. Have Mon Mothma become a despot after taking over and the Galaxy governed like a banana republic where everyone is impoverished due to the collapse of trade. The Chiss start to expand, as an organized power, into the vacuum bringing their odd caste system to worlds that don't really fit into it. Have a breakaway remanant of the Empire in control of some of the outer rim worlds have their leader be a solid tactician who never really agreed with imperial politics and got backwatered there as a result establish a small representative federalist state consisting of those worlds. You know, do something interesting, that maintains the core concept of power corrupts, plus the very Star Wars theme of \"A single good leader can really make a difference\" and \"You never know where that person will come from\" but it flips the old players upside-down to make the point, while maintaining some degree of social relevance (Chiss are stand-ins for the Chinese, the New Republic is Venezuela, and the Free Imperial Remnant is a plausible thought experiment.) Or maybe not that, but seriously, somewhere NEW.\nYou know what, you're right, this did start with Abram's decisions all the way in episode 7. But yes, make it something new. Have it be different. Instead, we've got this shit.\nI reiterate, just adapt the Thrawn trilogy.\nI mean, the idea that history repeats itself is worth exploring, but maybe not in the main Star Wars series, or at least not in this way. If you're going to explore that, explore it. Instead, Abrams just rehashes it all with no insight or new takes on it. (So, yes, I agree with what you're saying, in case that's not clear.)\nHave Mon Mothma become a despot after taking over and the Galaxy governed like a banana republic where everyone is impoverished due to the collapse of trade.\nA sadly realistic plot after real rebellions. Not one of the Arab Spring countries did anything but settle back in with a new dictator.\nTechnically, Tunisia, where it all started, has a functioning democracy, but overall you're correct\u2013everywhere else either collapsed completely or just solidified their authoritarianism.\nFirst was the decision to completely throw out the decades of expanded universe lore that was pre-disney and just try to build something from scratch.\nDefinitely. Why didn't they just try to adapt the Thrawn trilogy? Granted it's probably been 20 years or more since I last read them, but I remember having a ton of fun reading those books.\nJust stop! It's a movie. Doesn't anyone just want to have fun anymore?\nBottom line! No one is ever going to make a Star Wars Movie better than the the original trilogy. Get over it!\nSo YES, this is ALL about nostalgia. I don't go to a Star Wars movie to not see the characters I fell in love with as 12 yo boy. I don't go to a Star Wars movie to not see epic space battles with X-wing fighters blowing shit up. Yes, of course it's just a big Death Star. How else do you top a Death Star?\nThey tried to \"be different\" in episodes 1-3. People, rightfully, hated it, because you can't top perfection. So\u2026the mouse wants to make money, and I want to remember all the great shit from 1977. Give me the nostalgia!\nI got a tear in my eye when Han and Chewie stepped on-board the Falcon for the first time in 33 years and proclaim \"we're home.\" That's EXACTLY the kind of shit I want to see. I don't give a flying fuck about new material, or technological consistency, or whether the main character is a chick or a dude.\nEverything's gotta be an outrage. Everything's gotta suck!\nJust go and have fun for fuck sake!\nWe're libertarians, we're legally required by law to not be happy. Seriously, it's in the contract you sign when you join up.\nIs that the social contract I keep hearing about?\nThe only good scenes in the Force Awakens were the scenes involving the characters from the first three movies. Fisher and Ford did an amazing job recreating older versions of their original characters. I don't know that anyone else has ever done that. They came back and played an older version of an iconic character 40 years after they first played it. That is a hell of an accomplishment on their part. And they walked away with every scene they were in.\nI don't think the first three movies were perfection. The first two were quite good but the third was pretty forgettable. The other movies could have been good with a few pretty obvious tweeks. That is what makes them so disappointing. It is not they they fail to measure up to the first three, they don't. It is that they could have been so much better than what they were.\nIt's incredible it's because the characters were so well written to begin with. In the original Solo wasn't a good guy he was a smuggler\/hustler who lied and thieved his way across the galaxy cutting corners everywhere he could and owed money to everyone. Luke was a naive farmboy desperate for adventure with zero understanding of what that meant.Lea was a princess who was hot but also in your face and had an attitude of being too sure in her convictions and right about everything. Those are all relatable but flawed characters that you can understand because you come across them in life. This new series none of the characters have really any significant flaws that actually cost them anything over the course of the movie. Luke loses his arm over basically naive hubris. Han gets frozen in carbonate over his debts. Lea loses her homeworld for being a true believer.\nThere are no stakes ever with the new characters because we don't actually care about them. The old characters literally steal all the scenes and storylines in the new films because they are good. We could care less about the new characters because they are one dimensional and suck.\nLuke also loses his surrogate parents and best friend Biggs to the empire, and spends considerable time training (both on and off-screen) to go from whiny farm boy to Jedi Knight. Leia's implied to be tortured\/space version of waterboarding. Han's debts are partly his fault, and legitimate bad luck, which pushes him to take more risks. None of these folks have it easy, and none of them get anything for free.\nPRussell\nYes, but does it HAVE to suck? I mean the Bale Batman didn't suck. Why can't we just have some good writing and tell a good story. The Star Wars Universe is certainly big enough for it.\nI hear The Mandalorian is really good.\nDid you watch Rise already?\nJack Donovan\nSeriously, right? I have enjoyed all the films, some to a lesser degree than others. But none have made me regret the ticket price or the 100 minutes or so of my time. Sure, I could nitpick about technological inconsistencies, or go on a rant about Viet Cong cannibal muppets, or irritating distractions like Jar Jar, or Leia-ex-machina, or discuss who's the bigger Mary Sue, inexplicably formidable Rey or Luke Skywalker, Lord of the Incels. But do I? No. I'm not a movie critic, I'm a movie fan. I'm content to sit quietly and enjoy the films. I'll take the low points to get the highs.\nI'm fond of some of the new characters. I like Finn. I like Rey and Kylo quite a lot, actually. I also find Maz Kanata and General Hux entertaining, for different reasons. I'm warming to Poe.\nIt took streaming to demonstrate to me which of the films are my favorites. When I'm bored and there's nothing on I'll often stream a movie I've seen before, for familiar background noise if nothing more. The ones I turn to more than any others are A New Hope, Empire, and Rogue One. But I've streamed them all once or twice, or more, except for Return of the Jedi.\nIf I'm flipping channels and see A New Hope playing, that's the channel I stop on. I was 11 years old when that movie came out, so you can do the math. Even now my heart races and I get chills during the trench scene. That's the magic of movies.\nUnless you wake up believing everything has to suck.\nOneSimpleLesson\nSometimes I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.\nI thought RoS was the best of the new trilogy, with TLJ being the worst.\nI see that there was fan service (Chewie's medal, lando, ewoks, etc.) but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't think the fleet needed to be world killers, but the ending was genuinely climactic. I felt the stakes, and it had a great payoff.\nTake a break, guys. In the end, Star Wars is for kids, but often enjoyed by adults.\nFirezombie\nIts science fiction people not some oscar glory type movie so enjoy it for what it is. All those complaining are probably still living in their parents basements with a collection of unwrapped star wars figurines. Go get laid you nerds!\nIncomprehensible Bitching\nAll the cool kids love Star Wars 9.\nAnd Tide Pods\nIf it means giving up my unwrapped figurines, no deal.\nI keep looking for a girl like Rey but Mom says I'm being shallow and that my standards are unrealistic.\nNot seeing it.\nDid we just become best friends?\nAgammamon\nThe Rise of Skywalker Shows It's Time for J.J. Abrams To Be Impeached From Star Wars\nHah! Everything Abrams has ever done showed it was never a good idea to put him at the helm. You seen Lost? Armageddon? Cloverfield?\nFFS, you've seen what the man has done to Star Trek.\nDude's Michael Bay without the self-awareness.\nHow dare you bring Armageddon into this.\nRufus The Monocled\n1) Go woke, go broke?\n2) I don't know or care to know why but why is Kennedy still employed given her obvious shortcomings as I've read? Is it for diversity, eh? HM?\n3) I'm one of those rare 'originals' of The Star Wars trilogy that ended with The Return of the Jedi. And I'm glad I never wasted a moment's precious time beyond that from the sounds of it.\n4) Know why these modern remakes suck and fail? Because they take themselves too seriously. They lack charm (like the vapid Magnum P.I. reboot) and the plots are twisted with no imagination.\nAdd the politics of the zeitgeist into the plot and you get scolding, sloppy suckville.\nKnow why these modern remakes suck and fail? Because they take themselves too seriously.\nMainly it's because they remake things that shouldn't be remade. You don't remake fucking Total Recall. Who the fuck thinks anyone should reboot Ghostbusters? Arthur with Russel Brand? Reboot Jurassic Park 20 years later? I hear rumors that \"they\" want to reboot all these old kids classics from the 80s like Flight of the Navigator, Goonies, and Gremlins. What the fuck are you thinking?\n\"What the fuck are you thinking?\"\nThat copying something successful leads to success. And it's easier than actually doing the work yourself.\nAt least, that's how I see it playing out.\nAlso, they don't know exactly what will hit when exploring virgin territory either. Plenty of miners and prospectors have gotten rich and plenty more have made a living smelting the gangue and tailings from old mines using newer, more efficient technologies.\nYes, I believe Total Recall is in the top 100 movies ever. \/Sarc\nThere is nothing necessarily wrong with remaking a movie. Indeed, remaking B movies or flawed movies like Total Recall can make for a quite good movie sometimes. The problem is that only works if you have something interesting to say and are using the remake to do it. You need to have an interesting spin to put on it and it needs to be a movie that is flawed enough to allow you to put your spin on it and improve it. So, you can't remake classics like Ghostbusters. You can remake flawed movies. In theory remaking those old 80s movies isn't a terrible idea. The problem is that you need something to say and to add to them. And Hollywood doesn't have that. it will just take the movies and make them woke and boring.\nFrom what I've seen, Top Gun: Maverick is going to be exactly what you would expect it to be. Unless you liked Top Gun because it was the gayest movie ever made, it's probably not going to be as overt\/oblivious about that aspect of the original.\n*Looks at TR reboot.*\nWhat the fuck were you smoking when you watched the reboot if you thought the reboot was good? The original was sci-fi schlock that knew it was schlock and was a damned entertaining movie because of it. The reboot looked at Blade Runner, figured that since it too was a PKD story it could be cool, edgy, and slick and fell way, way short.\nThe original Total Recall was directed by Paul Verhoeven.\nHe's an ass, but dude can direct schlock with the best of them\nThe reboots can stand or fall on their own merit, but one thing you have total control over is whether you watch them or not. How does their existence harm anything?\nThey're banking on Gen-X paypiggies shelling out money for their recycled nostalgia hash. So far, the returns are mixed.\nWhat the fuck are they thinking?\nWell, they've got the jobs, the show runner, producer and director contracts (note: nothing to do with merit in any of that), and they know they're supposed to \"make money\", whatever that is, and they don't have any original ideas\u2026so remakes it is!!\nI can only hope many millions of normies have made the same simple calculation I've done, and decline to purchase the same product (only worse, stupider, and\/or gender\/race\/gayness-swapped.) more than once. Perhaps this will prove to be just a phase?\n\"Go woke, go broke\", I guess is why Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman and the new Star Wars trilogy have all done very well financially, right?\nIf you haven't seen anything beyond the original trilogy, then why are you offering any opinion at all? \"I haven't read this book, but it's terrible.\" OK, sure, that's exactly the opinion I want to take seriously.\nThe reasons this trilogy failed is they didn't plan it out ahead of time, and they had Abrams do two of the movies. It has nothing to do with seriousness or \"scolding\" or \"zeitgeist\". The main characters could have all been white males, and these movies still would have sucked. The plot was just bad, and the writing and characters were no better.\nReally? Take out Captain Phasma, a token female who had no purpose other than wokeness, and the movies get better instantly. Imagine the screen writing process where every two days the producers say they need a rewrite to include x-tokenism, and you get this message of a trilogy.\nOh I'm sure the writers were probably driven to excessive drinking over the SJW oriented notes they got from the studio.\nSmashington\nIs it really JJ's or Rian's fault Disney is trying to resurrect a series that's been dead for 40 years? The Luke Skywalker saga started and finished with episodes 4, 5, and 6. The rest are just a cash grab. They are unnecessary.\nJ.J. Abrams is Michael Bay without the explosions, or M. Night Shyamalan with action sequences.\nThere is literally no reason to expect better from him.\nHuh? Abrams got plenty'o'splosions.\nThink more of what a Bay film is minus the 'splosions!\nJeepers, Suderman. Just let us watch the movie. It's the last movie. Let us watch the last movie! I don't give a shit that we're not the UberFans, raging over every little inconsistency. Just let us watch the damned movie!\nMike in Atlanta\nDid someone force you to read it?\nI DIDN'T READ IT! I'm must pissed at all these ubernerds telling me not to see it because it violates their cult tenets or something.\nIf you speak against the holy canon, you are a heretic. You know the fate of heretics.\nWho told you not to see it? You do realize it's some people's job to write about the biggest stories in pop culture, right?\nAnd it's not that this violates cult tenets or whatever other BS you want to come up with. I'm not a big Star Wars nerd. I've always liked it but never got into anything other than the main movies, and even with them, I wasn't hardcore about them. This movie and the last one just weren't very good movies, regardless of \"cult tenets\" or whatever BS you can come up with.\nAnd yeah, you can still go watch the movie. You don't even have to be here. You could just not click on this article altogether! I know, what a crazy idea, right?\nIt's inappropriate to say the names \"Kylo Ren\" and \"Darth Vader\" in the same sentence.\nIn The Force Awakens, Ren immediately succumbs to peer pressure from a teenage girl prisoner to take off his mask. Boy, they don't make intergalactic supervillains like they used to.\nVader, by contrast, struck terror into everyone, his direct subordinates more than anyone.\nKylo Ren caving to a \"dare\" from a teenage girl was the moment Star Wars jumped the shark for me, even as mediocre as the prequels were.\n\"Kylo Ren\"? Don't you mean Darth Emo?\nI long for the days when I thought the ewoks were the stupidest thing I'd ever see in a star wars flick.\nDisney spent a shitload of money for a franchise that Lucas had already put into a tailspin, and they drove it right into the ground. What a shame, it could have been epic.\nIf I were a Disney shareholder, I'd be yelling for Iger and Kennedy's heads on pikes.\nHow's Disney's profitability these days? The mouse doesn't give a rat's ass about art.\nIP law. The same way the rat has been popular for almost 70 yrs. Disney doesn't do original art and hasn't since\u2026 Tron?\nLion King?\nIf you are looking long term. One of those top ones to put in the vault. Not that I am giving anyone advice here.\nIn Abrams' meager defense; he competently took a rugged, beat up old story line and slapped a new coat of paint into it. It was Rian 'Shithead' Johnson who subverted everyone's expectations by driving the thing headlong into a brick wall. Expecting J.J. Abrams to cobble together a working vehicle from the absolute wreck Johnson left for him. If Abrams needs impeachment, Johnson should be drawn and quartered.\nAbrams couldn't kick off a new story worth a shit to start this trilogy, and he can't conclude it for shit. Johnson's intrusion doesn't change a thing about that.\n\"P:E ratio\" of everything in the franchise puts TFA right behind A New Hope. If George Lucas is brilliant, rich, and famous because he gave everyone the lightsabers they never knew they wanted, then J.J. is rich, and famous for giving them the lightsabers they wanted and doing so better than Lucas did.\nAlso, IMO, the lynchpin or litmus test is the Dark Lord Kennedy's influence. Plenty of bad decisions in TFA I can reasonably ascribe or split between Kennedy and Abrams but the abject amount and degree of stupidity in TLJ can only be owned by Johnson.\nSo much this^\nThe only reason there was a \"wreck\" that Abrams had to \"rescue\" was Abrams's decisions. He set so much up that's so hard to really pay off (as is his wont) that Johnson was essentially forced to go in a different direction. The real problem was them not laying out an overall plan for the trilogy from the beginning. If they had some main ideas to work through and let different directors hash out the details, it could work. But having different directors just come in and tell their own stories made it not work at all.\nHe set so much up that's so hard to really pay off (as is his wont) that Johnson was essentially forced to go in a different direction.\nThe tragedy of being given too much fertile ground and only being able to produce piles of shit.\nHe took the mystery boxes and filled them with Bathos.\nGeorge Lucas actually gave them some ideas that have appeared throughout the trilogy. Probably needed some more like minded directors to flush it out though.\nIf a new director can so dramatically veer a series in the wrong direction, what is the purpose of a producer?\nwhat I find interesting is that they can make 27 different James bond movies with all new actors and the thing keeps moving along with some good and some bad ones. Can Star Wars make it to 27? it better since Disney spent millions on a ride\nThey need to focus on new stories within the franchise universe. So much is left untapped. Look at Marvel. They could make a hundred different movies with different stories and characters. Even that would barely scratch the surface.\nHank Phillips\nStar Wars was libertarian, and instantly mystical conservatives made infiltrating and polluting it Job One. After the Ewoks Crusade, the communist-antifa-snowflake Empire struck back, and the thing degenerated into Saturday morning cartoons ever since. Sad.\nStar Wars was not libertarian, Star Wars was intentionally and overtly Marxist. The creator of the film flat out said so.\nMarxist? With the female lead being a princess? I don't think Karl Marx would have agreed.\nFuck you Hank. You're just an atheist bigot. I'm not even religious and I find your anti-theistic bullshit to be irritating.\nGo back to whacking it Gosnell's live Birth abortion videos.\nDarthHusker\nShhhhhh! Any criticism makes you \"toxic\" now, don't you know?\nFML, I'll probably have to see the stupid thing at some point. I miss having hope that the next Star Wars movie would be good. Maybe they can just release new sequals with George's original plan and pretend these didn't happen\u2026 Just don't let him write the dialog or direct.\nGood article except for one thing. 3po isn't gay. That sort of slant is pure 2019 thinking.\nYes. More asexual (as a robot would be), codependent and un-masculine. In contrast to R2's masculine\/heroic bent.\nJohnson didn't have to resolve every single mystery box Abrams set up. And he REALLY didn't have to carefully fill each one up with shit and then stomp on it. Which he did. Now, I know Johnson was operating under somewhat onerous rules from Kennedy: Rey must be perfect, no woman can take instruction from, or be subordinate to, any man, and every male must be a coward, a failure or just stupid.\nIt was, however, Johnson's particular venomous contribution to shit upon those crazy uber-fans by breaking canon and destroying the characters they loved.\nPlenty of blame to go around in the hatemail that is The Last Jedi. And then they have the gall to lie about their motivations? Fuck those people and fuck Disney.\nC3PO? Not gay, but British. Which can be easily confused. As can the British.\nMike Lorrey\nAll these criticisms should be contrasted against what has saved Star Wars: The Mandalorian. Refreshing yet retro-western, retreads classic tropes (seven samurai\/dirty dozen, wolf and cub etc etc) in an exciting sciffy way with creative new characters. Heck Mando has more emotion and expression on that beskar steel mask than we see from Rey in three movies. Baby Yoda harkens back to the favorite character of the originals and the prequels in a cute and cuddly Baby Groot package with a talent for silent humor. We have yet to see Mando's face after seven episodes but he's still more loved than Rey, Finn, Poe, Holdo, and Rose put together.\nBeyond that, there's the political stance. Where TLJ is classic woke SJW culture, hectoring us with their feminism and marxism, denigrating faith, The Mandalorian is Conservative. The Way of the Mandalore is Conservative culture: gun rights, self defense, home schooling, defending your family, serving your nation, private charity, adopting foundlings. And fans love Mandalorians. LOVE EM. Because underneath all that armor, metallic or emotional, Mandalorians are Americans.\nsorry but although the Mandalorian started off strong, it quickly devolved into a lame adventure of the week with recycled plots that weren't that good the 15th time they were used in TV westerns. It's limping to the finish on the strength of the Yoda baby toy franchise.\nLOL You made that post a few days too late.\nI was saying to my siblings that I though it was trying to be Firefly and doing poorly, up until the last episode. That kind of redeemed it.\nHOW ABOUT FOCUSING ON THE MAIN STORYLINE AND NOT 'THIS RANDO YOU JUST MET NEEDS YOUR HELP BUT ITS GONNA TURN OUT BADLY\u2026 repeat every week?\n\"lame adventure of the week with recycled plots that weren't that good the 15th time they were used in TV westerns. \"\nYou and I know that. My kids, who have never even seen a single episode of Gunsmoke or Bonanza, do not.\nAfter Game of Thrones, I don't trust ANY serial-episode show. Both because of structure and because of the revelation of the horrifying incompetence and arrogance of current year showrunners\/directors.\nThe brilliance is it gave adults a reason to buy Disney+. Right now it is the only TV series I am following.\nOh my favorite theory. Baby Yoda is a clone. He uses his Sith like powers of super cuteness to control the Mandalorian and others including the rest of us who will go out and buy baby Yoda stuff.\nThe Disney trilogy showed promise, but it was overtaken by sexism and racism. Sexism because they created a central female character with zero character arc or development\u2014a textbook Mary Sue that's perfect in every way from the start. That approach is sexist at its core because it posits that only males can grow and learn, but women must be born perfected because they cannot learn or develop.\nIt is also racist because they introduced a new, likeable, black central character with an innovative back story (a stormtrooper who defects to the rebellion) and promptly turned him into a comic relief character. Finn was the interesting character of the bunch (definitely far more than MaRey-Sue) and they wasted him and made him a joke.\nWorst of all, Disney than had the unmitigated gall to condemn anyone who criticized their weak storytelling and flat characters as racist, sexist man-babies. First, fuck them and their obvious projection! (If Star Wars fans were ever sexist or threatened by strong female characters, how come they all love Leia?) Second, what the hell kind of business not only insults their customers but actually goes out of of their way to insult their longest and most loyal customers? Iger and Kennedy should both be fired, Jar-Jar Abrams is a hack, and Ruin Johnson is a disgrace for his deliberate destruction of Luke.\nOh, please. It's not sexism or racism; it's just bad writing. The only difference between Rey and Luke is that Luke had some kind of character arc. The only reason Rey didn't is because they needed to up the ante with her, not because she was female. They could still write her as a badass without making her a Mary Sue.\nAnd same with Finn. It has nothing to do with race, just bad writing. And you don't help your case by claiming Disney is wrong to call you and others out as racist and sexist for calling out flat characters. You just called them racist and sexist because they had flat characters. That's quite the double standard you've got going there.\nMaybe they're flat characters because the writers didn't see them as characters but rather \"badass woman\" and \"black guy\"\nYou keep recognizing the story is poorly done while trying to maintain complete denial of why it's poorly done\nIf you need to have Star Wars be your own personal fanboy fleshlight instead of something that matures with the decades, you are admitting that they are movies for children. And that's fine. Of course, a children's movie in 2019 should still probably be more sophisticated that a children's movie from the 70s. JJ Abrams is evil and must be stopped before he kills another beloved franchise. At least Johnson attempted to pick up the hacky pulp of Abrams's first shitpile and make something worth thinking about.\nThat would assume the series has matured with the decades. The evidence shows that it hasn't.\nAt least Johnson attempted to pick up the hacky pulp of Abrams's first shitpile and make something worth thinking about.\nOh please. Unless that \"something worth thinking about\" was \"Jesus, what a total fucking hack job this is,\" there wasn't anything remotely mature about Last Jedi. It's nothing more than a series of set-pieces chopped together, with horrible plot and character development. Abrams is an unoriginal director, but at least you could tell that he respected the franchise's universe. Johnson's movie is basically a hate-fuck of it.\nRemaking the same story only with bigger death stars is not respecting the franchise and it certainly isn't respecting the fans, who Abrams apparently feels are retarded children who can't handle nuance or anything but fanservice orgasms. The question is whether he's right to feel that way about them.\nYou must hate fun.\nI want to read goodnews\nwhoa, i just watched the movie and i think its not that bad,\ni dont want to put spoiler here, and hope u guys enjoy the movie\nalso visit my website https:\/\/www.jasaseomurah.net\nRaj6212\nYou Can Check Also https:\/\/www.webduniya.xyz\/\njeey\nNice Article ,keep it up ,It is very helpful.Attitude Captions |\nI don't know when it started but at some point \"callbacks\" became the big thing for fans of franchises. And fans mistook callbacks for creative brilliance. So filmmakers just started stuffing their movies with meaningless, repetitive callbacks to fire up the forums and subreddits. I wonder how long it will take for these ecstatic fans to realize that they are being played for suckers.\nThe truth is that none of this matters to anybody that's earning a paycheck from this. The movie would make a billion dollars if the entire plot involved people sitting around in Star Wars costumes making arm pit fart sounds.\n\"people sitting around in Star Wars costumes making arm pit fart sounds.\"\nIsn't that a description of every sci-fi convention ever?\nIf you've ever been to a sci-fi con, you'd realize that armpits are not involved.\nAndyWingall\nI'm not a fan of putting politics in movie reviews, we're already seeing it with Clint Eastwood's Jewell, from angry journalists who don't like being called out. This reviewer is no different. To be fair it's just another personal rant. I agree we live in vacuous times where art has been replaced by gray propaganda in which even actors no longer have to emote. But I don't get why the press uses every opportunity for a personal vendetta. You should read some of the crazy reviews on Jewell. It's paranoia written by narcissists and so is this review. The fact is Star Wars was never any good; the franchise has gone from bad to worse. From the start with that long opening written narrative in the first film it never made sense. The franchise is an accumulated mess of corny dialog and non-special effects sewed together by bright laser beams. The last good film George Lucas made was American Graffiti. The only ever interesting character was Chewbacca and that's because dogs are cute. We humans really do not need to be entertained to the point we throw temper tantrums when Hollyweird fails to deliver.\nClearly you're above Star Wars. Why do you think about it so much?\nPeter, the other day when I said\n\"Loder writes for the purpose of reviewing movies, and politics creeps in. Suderman uses movie reviews (and pretty much every other topic) to emote his politics in print.\"\nIt was not meant as words of encouragement.\nWoke puts me to sleep.\nFor people who didn't get that from his prior foray, at least.\nInflicting JJ Abrams on Star Wars is part of why Disney isn't getting any of my money any more.\nBTW, the tags for this review are incorrect. Star Wars is not science fiction. It's fantasy.\nDickieFett\nWOW! What a disappointment that was for anyone to see. The sheer madness of this film has left me wondering, what the hell was Papa Giorgio thinking when he sold to those scum at Disney? The political garbage of today was what first killed this movie, along with the other two steaming piles prior to it! The other killer was that it felt like ten mini movies wrapped in a box of get fuct. I will now leave you all with my takeaways and non-takeaways!\nThree things I took away from this movie were\u2026\n1. Rey is Palpatines grand kid\n2. Kylo Ren is still bad\n3. Kylo Ren is now good for five seconds\nThree things that I will never take away from this movie are\u2026\n1. A sense of pride\n2. A sense of self-worth\n3. A reason to continue living\nSo please, do everything you can to inform the ones you love that Star Wars rise of shitewalker is not worth the price of a flaming bag of dog shit!\nWhat Disney will take away:\n1> Your twelve bucks.\nwhat the hell was Papa Giorgio thinking\nMaybe you missed the first 3 films in the franchise where the dark, imposing bad guy was bad right up until the last 5 seconds of the film when he redeems himself? Or the subsequent 3 films where we learn that the imposing bad guy was really just extremely conflicted and tortured?\nWhether you approve of either of the above or not, turns out Abrams in continuing the fanchise, made his dark, imposing bad guy a tortured villain capable of redeeming himself at the last minute.\nSeriously, WTF were you expecting from a Star Wars film?\nThe Rise of Skywalker is a perfect example of the 2.5 star film. It's not good nor bad. It wasn't the worst $6.95 I spent but I could have used that on a meatball parm.\nTake it or leave it.\nIt's currently at 86% audience score on rotten tomatoes which, I wouldn't have put it that high (I'd say 3.5\/5 stars), but is about what I expected and would think (popular, successful, but not overwhelmingly so). Abrams managed to successfully end the franchise without making me want to vomit or think \"WTF just happened?\"\nWinston101\nIts STAR WARS \u2013 a Saturday Matinee genre built for kids and adult children. It is not a documentary or a re-enactment of a true story. If you want to ask questions about why and what, start with NASA and ask yourself just exactly WHAT rocket motors push against in the \"vacuum of space\" to propel anything. A physical impossibility that prolly none of you dare question. Or how NASA plainly states it cannot get beyond the Van Allen Radiation Belts that are only several hundred miles above earth in 2019, when they claim to have done it 1969. Ask those questions. Demand those answers. You complain about Star Wars entertainment yet are as silent as tombs when it comes to blatant government deception.\nAll that hot air, and you don't feel it pushing against you as it comes out?\nI'm as Situs Resmi Joker123, Agen Tembak Joker123 and Bandar Resmi Joker123 say thank you very much for the above article which is very useful and quality. Kind regards from Situs Resmi IDN Poker to Agen Resmi IDN Play as well as Bandar Resmi Poker IDN.\nSatya Sagar\nGet results within 3 minutes Mantra To Break Marriage\nDanathar\nIm 50 and saw the first films as a kid.\nActing by some in the prequels was terrible. Loved the world building, effects, etc. plot wasn't bad.\nLOATHED episode 7\nLaughed at the absurdity of episode 8\nWent into episode 9 knowing it's rotten tomatoes rating\u2026\nThe movie was GREAT. Just about all the criticism in this article is so far from the truth that I consider it intentionally LYING !\nAfter watching the movie I was genuinely angry at whoever wrote this article. I almost didn't watch it after reading this review.\nI will say, however, I did find some of the \"nods to wokeness\" as he puts it, as a form of political propaganda, was very distasteful. And it's something I'm seeing a lot more of elsewhere, like shows on the CW. It's clearly manipulation, and it's insulting.\nSteven French\nOh my gosh it is so bad! I just hope you know how to track a phone of JJ Abrams!\nSubuli\nJanuary.1.2020 at 12:03 am\nIf that means giving up my figures without wrapping, there's no deal,\nAirtel sim ka number\nThe Metonymy\nJanuary.13.2020 at 9:28 pm\nSo the guy who couldn't defend a fixed position with the most elite soldiers in the galaxy from spearchucking teddy bears comes back from the dead to menace the galaxy with star destroyers that can't navigate out of a fog bank. The stakes are high, people.\nLet's fix this mess by going back to the meta-story, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. George Lucas intended the entire saga to be R2D2's first-hand historical account recorded into the Journal of the Whills. Since R2D2 is essentially absent from the last 3 movies, all the plot holes and disconnection from the narrative structure of the prior 6 episodes can be explained as an unreliable narrator. Someone other than R2D2 is the author or the last 3 episodes, which means we don't know the real story and have been passed a fraud, a counterfeit.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Justia \u203a US Law \u203a Case Law \u203a Federal Courts \u203a District Courts \u203a Michigan \u203a Eastern District of Michigan \u203a 2022 \u203a Ryan v. Nagy et al \u203a Filing 70\nRyan v. Nagy et al, No. 2:2020cv11528 - Document 70 (E.D. Mich. 2022)\nCourt Description: OPINION and ORDER Granting in Part Plaintiff's Motion for Relief from Judgment 58 . Signed by District Judge Laurie J. Michelson. (EPar)\nRyan v. Nagy et al Doc. 70 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1308 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 1 of 11 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION SEAN MICHAEL RYAN, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 20-11528 Honorable Laurie J. Michelson Mag. Judge Patricia T. Morris NOAH NAGY, HEIDI WASHINGTON, and GRETCHEN WHITMER, Defendants. OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT [58] Sean Ryan is an inmate at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility (JCF), a Michigan Department of Corrections prison located in Jackson, Michigan. Many inmates at JCF live in shared housing: either two inmates share a small cell or 150 inmates share a large pole barn. Ryan believes that because inmates must share sleeping and living quarters, they are at risk of contracting contagious diseases including\u2014but not limited to\u2014COVID-19. Based on this belief, Ryan maintains that MDOC Director Heidi Washington's and JCF Warden Noah Nagy's policy or practice of shared housing violates the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the analogous provision of the Michigan Constitution. So Ryan filed this lawsuit. In a January 2022 opinion and order, this Court dismissed Ryan's claims insofar as they sought monetary relief for past injuries. See generally Ryan v. Nagy, Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1309 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 2 of 11 No. 20-11528, 2022 WL 260812 (E.D. Mich. Jan. 26, 2022). The Court reasoned that Ryan had not cited precedent that gave Defendants clear notice that the shared housing arrangements at JCF were unlawful because they exposed inmates to contagious diseases. See id. at *2\u20133. So to the extent that Ryan had sued Defendants in their individual capacities, his claims for damages were barred by qualified immunity. See id. And, the Court explained, to the extent that Ryan had sued Defendants in their official capacities, his claims for damages were barred by sovereign immunity. Id. at *3. Thus, \"Ryan's claims, insofar as they seek damages, [we]re DISMISSED.\" Id. at *7. Ryan disagrees with that ruling and asks the Court to change it. (ECF No. 58.) Ryan seeks relief under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), but that rule does not apply here. Rule 60(b) is limited to finals orders or judgments. Fed. R. Civ. P. 60 advisory committee's note to 1946 amendment (\"The addition of the qualifying word 'final' emphasizes the character of the judgments, orders or proceedings from which Rule 60(b) affords relief . . . .\"). In the order that Ryan challenges, the Court ruled that he was not entitled to damages for his claims, but \"Ryan's claims, insofar as they seek prospective, injunctive relief, remain[ed] in this case.\" Ryan, 2022 WL 260812, at *7. So the Court did not enter a final order or judgment. See 10 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Fed. Prac. & Proc. Civ. \u00a7 2654 (4th ed.) (\"Absent a certification under Rule 54(b) any order in a multiple-party or multiple-claim action, 2 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1310 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 3 of 11 even if it appears to adjudicate a separable portion of the controversy, is interlocutory\" rather than final). Although Ryan's motion does not invoke the proper procedural rule, Ryan is not a lawyer who has been trained in those rules. And, as will be explained, his motion has some merit. So the Court will address the merits. See Mallory v. Eyrich, 922 F.2d 1273, 1282 (6th Cir. 1991) (\"District courts have inherent power to reconsider interlocutory orders and reopen any part of a case before entry of a final judgment.\"). Ryan's motion challenging this Court's January 2022 order essentially comes in two parts. For one, Ryan says that this Court erred in finding that there was no clearly established law giving Defendants notice that their conduct was unlawful. For two, Ryan says that his claim for damages, insofar as it is based on a violation of the Michigan Constitution, should not have been dismissed. The Court disagrees with Ryan on part one but agrees with him on part two. The Court previously ruled that the cases Ryan had cited did not \"clearly establish[] that requiring two people to share a one-person cell, or requiring many people to share a pole barn, violates the Eighth Amendment because it exposes the inmates to contagious diseases.\" Ryan, 2022 WL 260812, at *3. Ryan says this finding was error. In support of that assertion, Ryan cites numerous cases that he says clearly establish \"that it is unconstitutional to mingle inmates with contagious diseases with other inmates.\" (ECF No. 58, PageID.885.) 3 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1311 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 4 of 11 Ryan again runs into a procedural problem. Aside from Helling and Hutto, which this Court already addressed, Ryan did not cite the cases he relies on now in his briefing before the Magistrate Judge or in his objections to this Court. (See ECF No. 27, PageID.375 (citing Helling and Hutto as clearly established law); ECF No. 32, PageID.427\u2013430 (same).) And, generally speaking, it is not fair for a litigant to ask for reconsideration of a Court's decision based on arguments that could have been, but were not, made before the Court ruled. See Murr v. U.S., 200 F.3d 895, 902 n.1 (6th Cir. 2000) (\"[A]bsent compelling reasons, [the Federal Magistrates Act] does not allow parties to raise at the district court stage new arguments or issues that were not presented to the magistrate.\"); cf. E.D. Mich. LR 7.1(h) (providing that a motion for reconsideration is warranted where \"[t]he court made a mistake, correcting the mistake changes the outcome of the prior decision, and the mistake was based on the record and law before the court at the time of its prior decision\" (emphasis added)). And even looking past the procedural improprieties, none of the cases Ryan now cites gave Washington and Nagy clear notice that housing two people in a singleperson cell or housing many people in a pole barn is unconstitutional because it is possible for one or more of them to have a serious, contagious disease. Ryan again cites Helling and Hutto. But Helling did not give clear notice because the plaintiff had to endure a cellmate who breathed cigarette smoke into the air, not a cellmate who breathed pathogens into the air. See 509 U.S. 25, 28 (1993). And while Hutto did involve contagious diseases, the housing conditions there were quite different than those at JCF. See 437 U.S. 678, 682\u201383 (1978) (\"At night the 4 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1312 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 5 of 11 prisoners were given mattresses to spread on the floor. Although some prisoners suffered from infectious diseases such as hepatitis and venereal disease, mattresses were removed and jumbled together each morning, then returned to the cells at random in the evening.\"). Ryan also cites Valentine v. Collier, 141 S. Ct. 57 (2020); but that is merely a dissent (from a denial of an application to vacate a stay). Dissents do not clearly establish anything. Ryan directs the Court's attention to four district court opinions. It is highly doubtful that four district courts can clearly establish law, especially when three of them are from outside this Circuit. See Hopkins v. Nichols, 37 F.4th 1110, 1116 (6th Cir. 2022) (\"To determine whether the law is clearly established we must look first to decisions of the Supreme Court, then to decisions of this court and other courts within our circuit, and finally to decisions of other circuits.\" (internal quotation marks omitted)); Ashford v. Raby, 951 F.3d 798, 804 (6th Cir. 2020) (\"[W]e can't expect officers to keep track of persuasive authority from every one of our sister circuits. They spend their time trying to protect the public, not reading casebooks.\"); cf. Rhodes v. Michigan, 10 F.4th 665, 682 (6th Cir. 2021) (\"[W]here an array of our sibling circuits have acted in concert on an issue, we have not hesitated to hold that out-ofcircuit precedent has clearly established a constitutional right.\"). In any event, the four district court opinions did not address a claim like Ryan's. 5 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1313 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 6 of 11 Consider Wright and Joy first. True, they say that \"inmates can state an Eighth Amendment claim for confinement in a cell with an inmate who has a serious contagious disease that is spread by airborne particles, such as tuberculosis.\" Joy v. Healthcare C.M.S., 534 F. Supp. 2d 482, 485 (D. Del. 2008); see also Wright v. Hayden, No. CIV A 5:08CV-179-R, 2009 WL 909562, at *2 (W.D. Ky. Mar. 31, 2009) (similar). But what appears to be missing from that statement of law is what prison officials know: requiring inmates to share a cell while knowing that one of them has a serious, contagious disease is different than requiring inmates to share a cell while knowing it is possible for one of them to have a serious, contagious disease. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994) (providing that prison official violates the Eighth Amendment only if he infers a \"substantial\" risk of serious harm). Further, tracing Wright and Joy's statement of law back to its source ends at Helling and Hutto. And, again, the facts of Helling and Hutto are not like the facts of this case. As for Wright itself, the court there found that officials did not expose the plaintiffs to a substantial risk of serious harm when they required them to share a cell with an HIV-positive inmate. 2009 WL 909562, at *3. And the court in Joy merely found that the plaintiffs had pled a viable claim where they alleged that the warden \"was aware that inmates were not thoroughly screened for disease before going into general population and that Correctional Medical Services does not have a policy in place to examine inmates before placing them into general population.\" 534 F. Supp. 2d at 485. Ryan has not directed the Court to evidence that Warden Nagy is similarly indifferent. 6 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1314 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 7 of 11 A third district court opinion that Ryan relies on, Legate v. Livingston, is further afield. That case addressed a prisoner's claim that he contracted Hepatitis C because a prison policy \"allowed Native American practitioners to smoke a communal pipe.\" No. 2:14-CV-269, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 180135, at *2 (Aug. 6, 2014), report and recommendation adopted by 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2997 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 12, 2015). Ryan also relies on Cameron v. Bouchard, 462 F. Supp. 3d 746 (E.D. Mich. 2020). True, that early-pandemic decision did find it problematic that \"almost half of the Jail's population was housed in multi-person cells, with a significant number in housing units with more than 10 individuals.\" Cameron v. Bouchard, 462 F. Supp. 3d 746, 777 (E.D. Mich. May 21, 2020). But that decision was vacated on appeal. Cameron v. Bouchard, 815 F. App'x 978, 986 (6th Cir. 2020) (\"Given the lack of evidence as to whether the empty cells could be safely occupied, Plaintiffs have not satisfied their burden of showing that officials have left these cells empty out of an objectively (or subjectively) reckless disregard of the risks of COVID-19.\"). Vacated decisions are not law, let alone clearly established law. United States v. Sigma Int'l, Inc., 300 F.3d 1278, 1280 (11th Cir. 2002). Accordingly, the Court did not err in finding that Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity. While the Eighth Amendment might prohibit prison officials from housing a prisoner who they know has a serious, contagious disease with other prisoners, Ryan's claim goes further. As this Court understands it, Ryan claims that Washington and Nagy violated the Eighth Amendment by requiring inmates to share 7 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1315 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 8 of 11 housing because they know that at any given time, an inmate might have a serious, contagious disease. None of the cases Ryan cites go that far. Indeed, most prisons in the country use some form of shared housing. Ryan also claims that because he brought a claim under the Michigan Constitution, the Court erred in completely dismissing his damages claims. (See ECF No. 58, PageID.888.) Although the case Ryan cites is not directly on point (see id.), the Court agrees with Ryan that his claims for damages should not have been dismissed in their entirety. In its prior opinion, the Court focused on Ryan's claim under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and found that a combination of qualified immunity (individual capacity) and sovereign immunity (official capacity) barred Ryan's claim for damages. See Ryan v. Nagy, No. 20-11528, 2022 WL 260812, at *2\u2013 6 (E.D. Mich. Jan. 26, 2022). As for Ryan's claim under the Michigan Constitution's \"cruel or unusual\" provision, the Court \"ma[d]e no finding as to the viability\" of that claim. Ryan, 2022 WL 260812, at *7. The Court noted that Defendants urged the Court to decline supplemental jurisdiction over that claim and that the Magistrate Judge had recommended the same. And while \"[t]hat may well end up being the proper route to take,\" the Court concluded that \"this issue can be revisited at a later date.\" Id. That made sense: the parties still needed to litigate Ryan's Eighth Amendment claim for injunctive relief. 8 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1316 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 9 of 11 Unfortunately, the Court's opinion concluded with this order: \"Ryan's claims, insofar as they seek damages, are DISMISSED.\" Id. at *7. That was too broad. Although at least two judges have argued otherwise, the Sixth Circuit has held that sovereign immunity does not bar a claim for damages when a state official is sued in her individual capacity for violating state law. See Williams v. Com. of Ky., 24 F.3d 1526, 1543 (6th Cir. 1994) (\"[N]either the Eleventh Amendment nor Pennhurst [v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89 (1984)] deprives federal courts of jurisdiction over state law claims for damages against state officials sued in their individual capacities.\"); accord Koch v. Dep't of Nat. Res., 858 F. App'x 832, 836 (6th Cir. 2021). But see In re Ohio Execution Protocol Litig., 709 F. App'x 779, 785 (6th Cir. 2017) (Sutton, J., concurring) (\"I am skeptical about this statement in Williams. . . . I see no reason why the rationale of [Pennhurst] does not apply equally, if not more forcefully, to a state law money damages action against a state employee.\"); Koch v. Dep't of Nat. Res., 858 F. App'x 832, 840 (6th Cir. 2021) (Bush, J., concurring) (\"I agree with Judge Sutton that the logic of Pennhurst applies to state-law claims for damages against state officials in their personal capacities.\"). And it appears that state-law immunities do not protect state officials who violate the state constitution. See Bauserman v. Unemployment Ins. Agency, \u2014 N.W.2d. \u2014, No. 160813, 2022 WL 2965921, at *14 & n.13 (Mich. July 26, 2022) (holding that the State of Michigan can be liable for damages for violating the Michigan Constitution but that \"whether other entities, such as . . . individual government actors, can be liable for constitutional torts is not before us, and we decline to address that question\"). And so the Court should not have 9 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1317 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 10 of 11 dismissed Ryan's claim for damages insofar as it was based on the Michigan Constitution's \"cruel or unusual\" punishment clause. So what is the best course forward? The first step is clear: the Court will reinstate Ryan's request for damages insofar as it is based on the Michigan Constitution. From there the path ahead gets murkier. In accordance with this Court's January 2022 order, it appears that the parties' discovery focused on present and future circumstances\u2014not on past circumstances relating to damages. (See e.g., ECF No. 48, PageID.637 (objecting to discovery request on the basis that discovery should be limited to Ryan's circumstances as of February 1, 2022).) And recently, Defendants have moved for summary judgment on Ryan's remaining claims. (ECF No. 64.) So, potentially, the reinstatement of Ryan's claim for damages will require unwinding this litigation a bit. For now, the Court need not look too far down the road. Based on evidence gathered after this Court's January 2022 opinion, the Court doubts that Ryan has standing to seek forward-looking, injunctive relief. This doubt is detailed in a separate opinion and order entered today. If Ryan in fact lacks standing to seek injunctive relief, then Ryan's Eighth Amendment claim under the U.S. Constitution would need to be dismissed in its entirety. (As discussed, the Court already dismissed the Eighth Amendment claim for damages.) And if the federal claim is dismissed in its entirety, it may be best to decline supplemental jurisdiction over Ryan's state claim. 10 Case 2:20-cv-11528-LJM-PTM ECF No. 70, PageID.1318 Filed 11\/21\/22 Page 11 of 11 In short, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Ryan's motion for relief from judgment (ECF No. 58). His Eighth Amendment claim, insofar as he seeks damages for past injuries, remains dismissed\u2014the Court did not err in finding that qualified and sovereign immunity shield Defendants from that federal claim. But Ryan's claims for damages should not have been dismissed in their entirety because he also sought damages for Defendants' violation of the Michigan Constitution. Thus, Ryan's claim for damages under the Michigan Constitution will\u2014 for the time being\u2014be reinstated. To the extent the January 2022 opinion stated otherwise\u2014and only to that limited extent\u2014it is VACATED. See Mallory v. Eyrich, 922 F.2d 1273, 1282 (6th Cir. 1991) (\"District courts have inherent power to reconsider interlocutory orders and reopen any part of a case before entry of a final judgment.\"). The Court will address whether to expand discovery to address Ryan's damages claim at a later date. SO ORDERED. Dated: November 21, 2022 s\/Laurie J. Michelson LAURIE J. MICHELSON UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 11","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home Local Sports\nWestham hand over to Liverpool their first of the season.\nPablo Fornals was the hero, assisting one goal and scoring another, as West Ham United brought Liverpool's 20-game Premier League unbeaten run to an end with a thrilling 3-2 win at the Olympic Stadium.\nin Local Sports\nThe 'Reds' have been quick starters as of late, having scored in the opening ten minutes of their previous three Premier League matches. This time, however, roles were reversed as West Ham took a fourth-minute lead. Pablo Fornals whipped in a dangerous corner that was diverted in by the hand of Alisson, who was under pressure from Angelo Ogbonna. VAR checked for a possible foul and a handball from the Italian, and after both were found inconclusive, the goal stood.\nLiverpool dominated in search of an equaliser, holding 69% of possession before HT, but were made to work hard to break down the 'Hammers' 11-man, deep block. They didn't manage a shot on target until the 41st minute, but what a shot it was, as Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised with a thunderous free-kick. Mohamed Salah was felled on the edge of the box by Declan Rice, and the England right back gave the onlooking \u0141ukasz Fabia\u0144ski no chance as his resulting effort nestled in the top-right corner.\nWith all to play for in the second half, the visitors' unbeaten run at the Olympic Stadium was under fire again in the opening minutes as Rice headed onto the crossbar. The hosts' resurgence began here, troubling Liverpool greatly on the counter, and in the 67th minute they retook the lead. Fornals broke through the lines and added a goal to his earlier assist, with Alisson not getting enough on the ball to prevent it creeping in. Liverpool crumbled at the sight of another set piece with 16 minutes to play, this time Kurt Zouma heading in his first for the club, and the 'Reds' looked dejected, staring a first defeat of the season in the face.\nDivock Origi entered the fray and provided an 82nd-minute lifeline, turning and firing into the bottom right for 3-2, and Sadio Man\u00e9 headed a glorious opportunity wide in injury-time as an equaliser narrowly avoided J\u00fcrgen Klopp's side. Liverpool's five-match unbeaten run at the Olympic Stadium comes to an end, and David Moyes' men leapfrog their opponents into third place in the table.\nCAF introduces the new Women's Club Licensing System to WCL Clubs.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Coalition Voices Commitment to End Partisan Staffing\nLjubljana, 13 January - The four coalition parties reiterated their commitment to do away with the practice of partisan staffing as they held their first summit after assuming power in November. The party presidents and deputy faction leaders also discussed austerity measures, cooperation with the opposition and World War II laws.\nPrime Minister Borut Pahor speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nPhoto: Tamino Petelinsek\/STA\nPrime Minister Borut Pahor (left) and the head of Zares, Gregor Golobic, following a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nThe leaders of the four coalition parties after a press statement following a meeting on topical issues.\nThe president of the Liberal Democrats (LDS), Katarina Kresal, speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nThe head of Zares, Gregor Golobic, speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nThe leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), Karl Erjavec, speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nFrom left to right: The head of Zares, Gregor Golobic, the president of the Liberal Democrats (LDS), Katarina Kresal, Prime Minister Borut Pahor, and the leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), Karl Erjavec, speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nFrom left to right: The head of Zares, Gregor Golobic, the president of the Liberal Democrats (LDS), Katarina Kresal, the leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), Karl Erjavec, and Prime Minister Borut Pahor, speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nFrom left to right: the president of the Liberal Democrats (LDS), Katarina Kresal, the head of Zares, Gregor Golobic, Prime Minister Borut Pahor, and the leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), Karl Erjavec, speaking to the press after a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties on topical issues.\nA summit of the top officials of the coalition parties discussing topical issues.\ngantar, pahor, foto tamino\nTheleader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), Karel Erjavec, arriving at a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties discussing topical issues.\nThe president of the Liberal Democrats (LDS), Katarina Kresal (left), arriving at a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties discussing topical issues.\nThe president of the Liberal Democrats (LDS), Katarina Kresal, arriving at a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties discussing topical issues.\nParliament Speaker Pavel Gantar (left) and Prime Minister Borut Pahor at a summit of the top officials of the coalition parties discussing topical issues.\nJan 13, 2009, 19:54 ep\/sz\nPublish time: Jan 13, 2009, 19:54\nKeywords: COALITION, MEETING\nAuthor: ep\/sz","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"About OMF\nThe OMF Team\nWe want to hear your thoughts about One Meralco Foundation and its social development programs. Click here.\nThe Foundation is humbled with the recognition given by various stakeholders here and abroad. They do not only celebrate the work the Foundation does, but more importantly, they inspire us to strive harder in making a positive impact on the lives of many Filipinos.\nEmergency Preparedness and Disaster Response\nMarawi evacuees hope to return, thank donors for the 'malasakit'\nLog-in or Sign-up to claim your 2 points for reading this article!\nOne Meralco Foundation\nILIGAN CITY \u2014 Residents displaced by the ongoing conflict in Marawi City still vividly recall the harrowing stories of their escape but many of them, especially the children, still hope that one day they could return to their city in peace.\nEleven-year old Sandara, whose family is among the close to 300 currently taking shelter at the Brgy. Maria Cristina Gymnasium in Iligan City, was on her way home in Camp Ranao along with her friends when the Maute terrorist group attacked the city.\nIt was only the following day, however, when her family managed to flee, traveling more than 12 kilometers on foot to the town of Pantar before proceeding to Iligan City.\n\"Our father told us that we needed to leave and instructed us to pack only our very important stuff,\" she said in Cebuano. \"And so, I grabbed my knapsack and gathered all my clothes, especially the new ones. But when he realized that my bag was too heavy, he told me to leave most of my belongings behind instead.\"\nIt wasn't long before major roads and highways became congested with vehicles of people trying to escape the conflict. Those who didn't have one had no choice but to walk on foot for close to four hours, many with their children in tow.\nJulita Nonongon, a grandmother of 12, was among them. Despite her age, she managed to endure the long hike, along with her sons and their wives and children. Her daughter-in-law Cecille, 24, was pregnant with her fourth child at the time and was nearing her due date. Cecille would deliver her child several weeks later at an Iligan City public hospital.\n\"It was really hard but we didn't have a choice. The night before, we couldn't sleep because of the sound of relentless gunfire and bombs exploding,\" she recalled in an interview with a program officer of One Meralco Foundation during its relief operations here last week.\n\"Fortunately, upon arriving in Pantar, we were able to hire a truck to take us to the nearest evacuation center in Iligan City. We only had enough money for food and emergency expenses but because we had to pay the truck driver P1,000, we arrived in Iligan City short of cash,\" she said.\nNonongon and her family ended up in Brgy. Maria Cristina, where an already cramped gymnasium was going to be their home for the next two months \u2014 or longer.\n\"We are grateful that we have survived the ordeal, although I must admit that our life here is very different from what it used to be.\nBack in Marawi, before the conflict happened, I sold peanuts and popcorn at passenger terminals and in schools. My husband and sons were pedicab drivers. We might not have had much, but at least we were earning some income. At present, we are dependent on help from the government and generous individuals and companies,\" she explained.\nSince the evacuees do not know for sure when their supplies are replenished and how soon they will last, they manage their available resources, careful not to waste each and every relief pack they receive.\n\"Whenever we receive goods, we think of our children first and then ourselves,\" said Nonongon.\nApart from food, sanitation and hygiene have also become a problem in many evacuation centers. Many children suffer from air-borne, respiratory and skin diseases.\nTo replenish the food supply and address the need for proper hygiene of evacuees here, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), along with other foundations in the Manny V. Pangilinan group of companies, distributed relief packages containing food and hygiene kits to families at the Brgy. Maria Cristina Gymnasium on Monday, July 31.\nThis is the second batch of relief items dispatched by the social development arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the Philippines' largest electric distribution company. The first one was sent a few weeks after the conflict started. It included food packs, blankets, cookware and clothes which were turned over to victims through the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO), ARMM and TV5's Alagang Kapatid Foundation.\nMeralco is also preparing its power restoration team, a group of dedicated volunteers from the company's roster of linemen and engineers who offer their time and talent to help local electric cooperatives immediately restore power services in the aftermath of disasters.\nThe clashes in Marawi City could have destroyed vital power lines and damaged electric distribution facilities, and the local electric cooperative might need additional manpower and heavy-lifting equipment once post-crisis rehabilitation begins.\nMeralco's power restoration team has been instrumental in expediting the resumption of electricity services in Davao Oriental (Typhoon Pablo, 2012); Northern and Central Luzon (Typhoon Santi, 2013); Western and Eastern Visayas (Typhoon Yolanda, 2013); Albay (Typhoon Glenda, 2014); Sorsogon and Oriental Mindoro (Typhoon Nona, 2015); Batanes (Typhoon Ferdie, 2016); Cagayan and Isabela (Typhoon Lawin, 2016) and Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Oriental Mindoro and Quezon (Typhoon Nina, 2016).\nLast month, One Meralco Foundation also turned over its Energy Education (EnergyEd) flashcard kits to public schools in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and safe zones in Marawi City which have absorbed students who fled the conflict areas. The kits were developed by select public school teachers and were designed to educate students on energy by incorporating energy-related topics in DepEd's K-12 curriculum. These educational materials may also be used by volunteer teachers in tutoring children in evacuation centers so they can catch up on their lessons while they are out of school.\nPosted in Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, Latest Updates | No Comments \u00bb\nMeralco, AFP energize northernmost isle using solar power\nOne Meralco Foundation entered into a partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to bring solar power to the Philippines' northernmost island.\nHow one teacher's passion energized his students' future\nOn his first assignment as principal, Gregorio Legal, 31, an educator with over eight years of teaching experience in public schools in Masbate, was assigned to the Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School in Brgy. Tigbao, municipality of Milagros. It is not unusual for new public school teachers and school heads to be sent [\u2026]\n\u00a9 Copyright 2015 One Meralco Foundation, Inc.\nG\/F West Wing, Lopez Building, Meralco Center, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City\nWebsite designed and developed\nby Neil Rara","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"BEST OF THE '00s: MOULIN ROUGE!\nin\tMovie Reviews\ton\t 4 June 2008\t 4 June 2008\n1. Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! (2001)\nWhat else? This film came along very early in the decade and right away, I fell head over heels in love with it, seeing it three times during its opening week \u2013 including once with Baz Luhrmann in attendance. You see, the filmmaker had promised to someone that he'd fly to whichever city in North America \"Moulin Rouge\" made the biggest splash during its first weekend in theaters to introduce a showing and chat with the folks in attendance. It happened to be Montreal, so I went to that very special screening, shook the man's hand and thanked him for this wonderful picture, mentioning in passing that I'd already seen it three times just that one week. To my surprise, he answered that he'd heard from people who'd seen it five or six times!\nAll of which goes to show that, for me and many others, \"Moulin Rouge! was the movie we'd always been waiting for, unknowingly. I mean, I kinda always had a thing for musicals, but I never thought I could become so enamored with one before. I don't think I was all that into Nicole Kidman previously either (though I had enjoyed her greatly in things like \"To Die For\" and \"Eyes Wide Shut), and while I was a fan of Ewan McGregor (going back to the \"Shallow Grave\"\/\"Trainspotting\" one-two punch), I never exactly thought of him as a dashing romantic lead! As for Baz, I'd seen and liked his \"Romeo + Juliet\", but he'd yet to become one of my favorite auteurs.\nWhen it comes to putting together lists like this, there's always a bit of randomness and of the moment sentiment. With time, the titles on a Top Ten and particularly the order in which they are ranked will often shift. This is true of nearly all of this here Best of the '00s selection, with \"Moulin Rouge!\" being the one notable exception. Oh, intellectually, I could make a case for \"The Lord of the Rings\" towering above everything as the most overwhelming cinematic achievement of the decade, I could praise to the skies the artistry at work in \"There Will Be Blood\" or I could recall that watching \"Dogville\" for the first time at the 2003 Festival du Nouveau Cin\u00e9ma was one of the most shatteringly intense experiences I've ever had in a movie theater. I could have included \"Inglourious Basterds\" instead of \"Kill Bill\", maybe removed \"Avatar\" (too soon?), thrown \"Punch-Drunk Love\" in there, and so on.\nBut in my heart, \"Moulin Rouge!\" is clearly the one, it's always been. One thing I believe speaks volumes is how often you go back to a title. Like, it's easy to claim that \"Citizen Kane\" is the holiest of the holiest, but unless you truly feel the need to watch it over and over, can you really in all honesty call it your all-time favorite? Well, I've returned to Baz Lurhmann's masterpiece at least a dozen times since it first came into my life in June 2001. It's part of a rarefied group of flicks that satisfy specific urges of mine better than any others. Many films I'll watch once, admire them greatly, but never be inclined to revisit. Whereas others will become part of my life in a very real way. \"Moulin Rouge!\" fits into the latter category.\nNow, before moving on to the rest of the Top 10, I should try to define clearly what it is exactly that makes \"Moulin Rouge!\" so special to me. Ok, there's the songs, Nicole and Ewan, the supporting cast (Toulouse! Zidler! The Duke!), the lights and colors, the art direction, the comedy, the drama\u2026 Freedom. Beauty. Truth. LOVE! Yeah, love. Not ordinary, pleasant, everyday love. The kind of love that can't be quieted down, the kind of love that must be heard, the kind of love that makes you want to climb on top of an elephant to sing about it, the kind of love that gives you the strength to overcome all obstacles, the kind of love that inspires you to write and create\u2026\nLike the best of Bollywood, \"Moulin Rouge!\" is goofy and melodramatic, it's irresistibly over the top, it's filled with a thrusting, vibrant, wild Bohemian spirit, it's a magnificent, opulent, tremendous, stupendous, gargantuan bedazzlement, a sensual ravishment\u2026 Simply put, it's Spectacular, Spectacular!\n2. Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings (2003)\nThe other key thing, which I caught on to early on, but that only grows truer every time I watch it again, is how \"The Lord of the Rings\" is, maybe more than anything, the most amazing friendship story ever told. Sure, there's all this shit going on with Sauron, Saruman, the Nazg\u00fbl, the Orcs, the Uruk-hai and whatnot, but they basically add up to being a whole goddamn lot of evil that our heroes must fight. And what's most interesting is how, even in the face of all this horror and cruelty, our hobbit, human, elf, dwarf and wizard friends remain so brave, loyal and kind towards each other.\n3. Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007)\nIn many ways, this new millennium has been all about CGI, 3D and special effects, for better or worse. So it's amazing to find a movie like this, so deeply rooted into earth, oil, dust, fire, rock, wood, steel, sweat\u2026 And yes, blood. I might be wrong, but from what I can tell, everything on screen is as real as it gets, and we can feel it.\n4. Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003)\nOne thing that only occurred to me now but which sorta seems obvious in retrospect is how this is in many ways a biblical allegory, with Grace as Christ going through his\/her Passion and being forgiving of men because they know not what they do, and her gangster boss father (James Caan) as the Old Testament God, who's more prone to unleashing great vengeance and furious anger\u2026 Except that in this version of the story, Christ ends up realizing that maybe you can indeed hate people for their weakness and that wiping them out might be the wise thing to do\u2026\n5. M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002)\nEven more than the precise plotting, it's the characters that Night created and the actors he got to play them that utterly win me over every time I watch this film. Mel Gibson's Graham, Joaquin Phoenix's Merril, Rory Culkin's Morgan and Abigail Breslin's Bo form a family as convincing and endearing as the movies have ever given us. Through the funny and scary parts alike, it's their interaction, first and foremost, that makes it work. We truly grow to care for this widower, his kids and his brother and when the last act comes, we feel so close to them that everything that happens becomes intensely personal for us too.\n6. Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (2000)\nOne major happening in my life which explains this renewed passion for Crowe's film is that, since 2000, I've actually spent quite a lot of time amongst musicians and groupies. I've even become sort of a rock journalist lately. More than ever, I know what it feels like to be in that world, how exciting and a bit frustrating it can be to be amongst all these cool people when you, yourself, remain rather uncool\u2026 To be surrounded with folks that are friendly with you, but who aren't really your friends\u2026 And to be in awe of girls who barely notice you, what with you not being famous and all\u2026\n7. Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill (2004)\nNow, a lot has been written already, here and elsewhere, about all the great things in \"Kill Bill\". I could go on and on about the use of color (the way red blood looks against that yellow tracksuit!), about the sound of clashing steel and gunshots, about the always effective music, about the brilliant way every scene is shot and cut, about how fun it is to watch Sonny Chiba's Hattori Hanz\u014d and Gordon Liu's Pai Mei\u2026 Here's a picture that features both the greatest action set-piece (Showdown at House of Blue Leaves, where Uma -and body double Zo\u00eb Bell!- kick a whole lot of ass) and what may be the most cleverly written extended dialogue sequence (Beatrix and Bill's Face to Face) of the decade.\n8. James Cameron's Avatar (2009)\nDuring these touching scenes between Jake and Neytiri, we're watching computer-animated characters, remember, but the technology used to capture the performances of the actors manages to convey every little emotional nuance. Sorry, Robert Zemeckis, but even though I loved your three performance capture flicks, they clearly pale in comparison to what James Cameron has achieved here. Same goes for the groundbreaking 3D cinematography, which allows us to immerse ourselves even more fully into the world of Pandora and its inhabitants. There truly never has been a movie-watching experience like this one before.\n9. Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain (2006)\nOn a sensory level, Aronofsky's film is pure awe, from how brilliantly the editing connects the various storylines to the use of light, darkness and golden hues, by the way of Clint Mansell's mind-blowing score, possibly the best of the decade. And then there's the acting, to which now words can do justice; Jackman and Weisz are iconically perfect throughout, never failing to move us.\n10. Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)\nThat opening, the first meeting between Joel Barish (Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet)\u2026 It's oh so quiet, yet casually kooky, and you can't help falling in love with Clementine, blue-haired, impulsive, kinda nuts but so adorable. \"Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?\" YES! Kaufman gets that feeling, you know, that feeling of longing with every fiber of your being to meet someone, some crazy\/beautiful girl that would\u2026 save you, dammit. Not every one gets this, but if you deeply love the work of Paul Thomas Anderson and Cameron Crowe, you get it.\nPosted on December 27, 2009January 3, 2014Author KevinCategories Movie Reviews\nFlirting With Disaster\nBombay Calling","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Beach Communities\nQ. Roo\nExpat Community\nYuca Planet\nHistoric Yucatan\nMaya Universe\nYucaTech\nColectivo will launch the Feminist Patrol in Cancun starting March 8th\nWill Mexico destinations require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test to enter bars?\nMauricio Vila delivers his Third Government Report\nNot many students return to face-to-face classes in M\u00e9rida\nCovid in Mexico gives no respite\nBusiness-new,\nHeadlines,\n'El Bronco' balks at tax breaks for new Kia Motors plant near Monterrey\nBy Yucatan Times on May 26, 2016\nAs reported Wednesday May 25 in The Yucatan Times, production began this week at Kia Motors massive new plant near Monterrey, Mexico. But The Wall Street Journal reports the new governor of Nuevo Le\u00f3n state is balking at the tax breaks, land grants and other public perks that have underwritten Mexico's automotive boom of recent years. Here is the WSJ report:\nPESQUER\u00cdA, Nuevo Le\u00f3n \u2014 Nuevo Le\u00f3n Gov. Jaime Rodr\u00edguez, whose nickname El Bronco plays on his headstrong style, and his aides are refusing to honor a large portion of the incentives promised by the previous state government to woo the $2.5 billion new assembly plant by South Korea's Kia Motors.\n\"We aren't against foreign investment,\" Mr. Rodr\u00edguez said. \"We are against a previous government that exceeded the limits.\"\nOfficials in Nuevo Le\u00f3n, whose capital Monterrey is often seen as Mexico's business center, say the incentive package amounts to nearly 28% of the investment by Kia and its suppliers, and they are challenging provisions worth up to $100 million, including a 20-year holiday on payroll taxes.\nWorkers at the Kia plant in Pesquer\u00eda, near Monterrey, conducted tests on the assembly line last month. Production began on Monday. PHOTO: ZUMA PRESS\nKia executives declined to discuss the deal but said they want it to be honored.\n\"It is not a common practice in the global business world to have this kind of situation,\" Seong Bae Kim, president of Kia Motors Mexico, said in an interview at the nearly completed plant. \"We feel that Kia should not be placed in a position to incur losses as a result of the local government's political issues.\"\nThe new Kia plant began limited production on Monday and will eventually produce some 300,000 compact Forte cars a year, most of them destined for U.S. customers.\nMexican manufacturing executives and federal officials worry the showdown could affect an industry that has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster economy.\nMexico has become one of the hottest countries in the globe for car companies. The country churned out 3.4 million cars and light trucks in 2015, making it the world's seventh-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter. Kia is one of five foreign auto makers that have assembly plants coming on line over the next five years. Those plants would increase Mexico's annual production to five million vehicles by decade's end, experts say.\n\"Global companies and many countries have their eyes on this conflict,\" said Ricardo Cant\u00fa, head of Nuevo Le\u00f3n's chapter of Index, a national association of export industries.\nMexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, who hails from Nuevo Le\u00f3n, has urged compromise, saying Kia could relinquish up to $23 million in incentives. \"It's an issue that hurts everyone if you don't arrive at an agreement,\" Mr. Guajardo said. \"We have to arrive at an understanding and it requires flexibility on all parties involved.\"\nOffering public incentives to auto makers has been standard practice since at least the early 1980s and were key to U.S. southern states winning automotive assembly plants from the Rust Belt, with packages giving back 25% to 35% of the total investment in deals the size of Kia's, said Guido Vildozo, a Latin America specialist with IHS Automotive.\nGeorgia gave Kia more than $400 million in tax breaks, land and other incentives to win its first North American plant, which began production in 2009, according to Georgia state development officials.\n\"For those megadeals, incentives are always a factor,\" said Kathy Mussio, a partner at New Jersey-based Atlas Insight, which advises companies on plant locations.\nMr. Rodr\u00edguez won his June election by a landslide in part with promises to look into the Kia deal as well as numerous corruption allegations lodged against former Gov. Rodrigo Medina. Mr. Medina has denied any wrongdoing and hasn't been charged with any crime.\n\"They didn't need to make such a favorable offer.\" said Fernando Turner, a 70-year-old auto-parts mogul now serving as Nuevo Le\u00f3n's minister for economic development.\nMessrs. Rodr\u00edguez and Turner say a prime sticking point is the 20-year payroll tax exemption, which they say far exceeds the maximum concession permitted by state law. Both men also say the promised rail lines, power grid and other incentives to be paid for by the state are unaffordable.\n\"In parts of the U.S. and Mexico they have opened their wallets for these companies,\" said Mr. Turner, whose Monterrey-based company makes catalytic converters and operates in more than 10 countries. \"It's a race to the bottom.\"\nThe new mayor of Pesquer\u00eda, the industrial suburb where the plant is located, said the incentives\u2014mainly property-tax exemptions\u2014his predecessor granted to Kia equal four times the annual budget of his fast-growing city of 90,000.\nFormer officials in the Medina administration say the incentive package was necessary to win the deal.\nWith its promise of eventually generating 14,000 direct jobs, Kia's move here was seen by many as a vote of confidence for Nuevo Le\u00f3n, emerging from years of gangland violence that had turned it into one of Mexico's more dangerous corners. Several car makers in the preceding years had spurned state officials' pitches in favor of other Mexican locations.\nThe sprawling compound housing the Kia factory and its suppliers was built in just 14 months near Monterrey's international airport, northeast of the city. Connected by rail and toll highway to the U.S. border 120 miles away, the location is perfect for Kia, which intends to export 80% of the cars.\nBut Nuevo Le\u00f3n hasn't yet delivered the additional electricity supply it promised to begin full production, Kia officials say. Construction also hasn't begun on the 14 rail spurs promised to connect the Kia lot with the rail line. Improvements to the two-lane country road that runs past the plant remain ongoing, as do the installation of drainage lines and water treatment facilities.\n\"We had very high expectations in coming here,\" Mr. Kim said of Nuevo Le\u00f3n. \"But we've had a little bit of hardship.\"\nSource: wsj.com\nYucatan Times\nmore recommended stories\nThe objective of the vehicle is.\nSeveral popular tourist destinations in Mexico.\nThe governor of Yucatan points out.\nOn Monday, Jan. 17th, the return.\nMexico reports more than 17 thousand.\nAMLO's government expropriates 198 properties in Quintana Roo for the construction of the Mayan Train\nIn the style of the Venezuelan.\nCancun airport operating under 500 daily flights for 26 consecutive days due to Omicron\nAfter a positive streak of 26.\nTurkmenistan wants to shut down the 'Gates of Hell' for good (Watch Video)\n'Gates of Hell' may soon shut.\nLopez Obrador back in his morning press conference after only one week of testing positive for Covid\nAMLO returned to his morning news.\nSSP suspends clandestine party with alcohol, drugs and 30 minors in Kanasin, Yucatan\nTwo people were arrested for holding.\n2 Reactions on this Article\nMiss Norouzi from alend company says:\nWith Respact of this company\nInnvestment ALEND company regarding the relationship between car makers and spare parts manufacturers in Iran and other countries that ,this company plans to produce a number of factory managers The company has a number of managers of automotive manufacturers and auto spare parts manufacturers to getting to know the capabilities of its production of cars and car parts in Mexico City to deploy.so place if you travel during the factory visit and agreed to have Joint meeting .we are kindly requested to notify\nHead of association\nDr.Mirghasem Momeni\nAll Rights Reserved The Yucatan Times 2020","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"FROM CHOPSTICKS TO BUCKET HATS, VISTA & CHIFA TEAM UP FOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND DROP\n(SPONSORED STORY)\nWORDS BY CAROLINE BROWN\n\u00a9 HIGHSNOBIETY\nMeet Chifa, the LA-based restaurant with merch that you'll actually want to wear.\nVista's online platform partners with your small business for every and all design needs. From posting on social media to refreshing your logo, even hosting an event or a grand opening \u2013 Vista has a carefully crafted team prepared to help take your business to the next level in design, marketing, branding, and more. Giving us an exclusive look behind one of its most recent collaborations, Vista has teamed up with LA-based restaurant, Chifa, to create a merchandise drop as unique as its client's backstory.\nChifa has always placed an emphasis on food through its community since its opening in 1975. Originally founded by Wendy Leon, who emigrated from Hong Kong to Lima, Peru, and her husband, Ricardo Jose Leon, who was Chinese Peruvian, Chifa honors their family through the blending of authentic Chinese and Peruvian cuisines.\nChifa has always placed an emphasis on food through its community since its opening in 1975\nNow, four decades later, Chifa has reopened in Eagle Rock, but its spirit remains the same. From its traditional Chinese and Peruvian-style dishes to its inviting, retro, monochrome interior, Chifa's design needs for this collaboration proved to be just as unique as the brand's ethos.\nTogether, Vista and Chifa created items like bandanas and bucket hats as well as more unique items like branded chopsticks all using Chifa's iconic mint green signifier and red heart motif. Incorporating endearing messaging like \"From Chifa, With Love\", the Vista x Chifa collaboration showcases just how distinct and detailed small business merchandise can be while creating with Vista.\nFrom Chifa, With Love...\nChifa by Vista Chopsticks\nChifa by Vista Enamel Mug\nChifa by Vista Click Pen\nChifa by Vista Drum Matches\nChifa by Vista Heart T-Shirt\nChifa by Vista Heart Bucket Hat\nChifa by Vista Heart Hoodie\nChifa by Vista Heart Bandana\nChifa by Vista Insulated Lunch Bag\nChifa by Vista Heart Tote\nBehind The Scenes of The Chifa and Vista Collaboration with Co-Owner, Humberto Leon\nFounded in 1975, Chifa was originally established in Peru by the mother of Humberto Leon, co-founder of Opening Ceremony and former creative director of Kenzo. However, after seizing an opportunity to move to America for her children, Leon's mother forfeited her beloved restaurant after only two years.\nWith just $500, Leon and his family moved to Los Angeles between Eagle Rock, where the Chifa is now located, and Highland Park. \"As children, we didn't understand the sacrifices she made, we just thought these were things our parents did,\" Leon adds. \"My mom started working at some factories sewing clothing to make ends meet. Soon after, she got a job at a local hospital in the cafeteria and began working exclusively in food. She really worked her way up and gave her kids the American dream.\"\nNow, years later, Leon and his family, including his brother-in-law who is now the head chef, have come together to recreate Chifa. Still serving distinct Chinese and Peruvian dishes side-by-side, Chifa is a true family restaurant with over 50% of the staff being related, while serving up dishes that the family would eat at their dinner table growing up. Leon's mother even cooks a handful of dishes at the restaurant herself as only she knows its distinct nuances such as the soy sauce chicken and sticky rice in lotus leaves.\nWhile some elements have stayed true to the restaurant from '75, LA's Chifa was approached with an entirely new aesthetic thanks to Leon's artful eye. Creating a merchandise line in collaboration with design and marketing partner, Vista, Chifa also released a line of apparel and accessories that exudes all of the love and style that is now fundamental to Chifa.\nTo get more insight into Chifa's partnership with Vista, we caught up with Leon.\nChifa's merchandise uses some very distinct elements like heart motifs and a green and red palette. How did this play out in the collaboration with Vista?\nI knew I wanted the restaurant building to be green and for the lettering to be red because it's the perfect palette combination in Chinese culture \u2013 it' attracts hope, joy, and prosperity. Also, from an American perspective, the color red emotes love, so I really wanted that juxtaposition. The building itself is actually a very particular green color. Vista worked really hard on getting the merchandise to match, and they nailed it which is so exciting because it's so vibrant. We also have this signature heart window on the restaurant that is on a slight tilt \u2013 I wanted the building to sort of wink at you as you drove by, so it all has an intention. We embraced all of these elements in our project with Vista which I feel has now become a signature.\nHow has working with Chifa or Vista helped create a collection beyond expectations?\nI think Vista was an amazing partner first and foremost for connecting me with local companies to source specific pieces. The t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, and hats were made in partnership with another small business called Local World. Vista has been such an amazing support to so many small businesses and individual families through this sort of networking process and we really wanted this partnership to highlight those attributes. Vista also goes the extra mile to create products that tell the narrative of a small business. For example, I customized red and green envelopes for Chifa, which are widely used throughout Asain culture on birthdays or Holidays as a gesture to say, \"we're wishing you luck.\" I think bringing this sort of cultural element into the Vista business model is so cool because it really showcases them wanting to tell an authentic story of the people who they work with.\nHow did Chifa's distinct design elements play out in the collaboration with Vista?\nThis collab is a true testament to your creative vision, but also to Vista's limitless possibilities.\nVista really took everything we wanted to make to heart and wanted to bring that to life. It would be so easy for them to tell me that they couldn't complete certain ideas, but they made the effort to custom-dye pieces to our match our building and create pieces with amazing detail. As a small business owner, it makes me so happy to see this entire project come to life with the original vision that I had.\nWhat's your favorite piece of merchandise you've created together?\nMy favorite piece that I can't wait to wear all day and all night is the sweatshirt. But I think the little red and green envelopes are special because it symbolizes something more, something celebratory. When creating Chifa, we knew that we wanted it to be a place where people can come together and share special moments. When most people think about celebrating an event, one always thinks of the best Italian restaurant or the best French restaurant, but I don't think anyone's first thought is, \"let me go to this tiny Chinese Peruvian restaurant.\" The fact that we can open up this conversation to elevate Chinese cuisine with the help of Vista has been incredibly special.\nCreate custom merchandise for your small business with Vista\nPaper take-out Bags\nChifa and Vista Host A Lunar New Year Celebration\nTo commemorate its first-ever capsule collection together, Vista and Chifa hosted an intimate dinner at the family-owned restaurant timed to the Lunar New Year.\nCelebrating themes of family and intentional design, Vista and Chifa's event further highlighted the collection's curated apparel, including custom lunch bags, hoodies, and matchsticks, while also serving Chifa's authentic Chinese Peruvian dishes to its attendees.\nWith guests present like Jimmy O. Yang, Greta Lee, Eric Andre, and Eddie Huang, the event seamlessly reflected the community-oriented ethos which made Vista and Chifa's capsule collection a success, proving that merchandise can, and should, celebrate local businesses and the stories that inform them.\nNoting the importance of thoughtful collaboration, Chifa co-owner Humberto Leon added, \"We are very excited to partner with Vista because Vista is all about helping small businesses grow, and is very community-oriented. Through the partnership, we hope to bring Vista into our community and develop the tools we have available to present the food and mission of Chifa at its best.\"\n\"Through the partnership, we hope to bring Vista into our community and develop the tools we have available to present the food and mission of Chifa at its best.\" - Humberto Leon\nExplore How You Can Create With Vista\nvista.com\n{\"shouldDisplayHeader\":false,\"shouldDisplayArticleFooter\":false,\"shouldDisplayPresentedBy\":false}","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Rad dostupan nakon 2020-07-25\nPOLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE\nIVAN TEPE\u0160 (2018)\nTEPE\u0160, I. (2018). POLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE (Disertacija). Preuzeto s https:\/\/urn.nsk.hr\/urn:nbn:hr:111:602462\nTEPE\u0160, IVAN. \"POLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE.\" Disertacija, Sveu\u010dili\u0161te u Zagrebu, Hrvatski studiji, 2018. https:\/\/urn.nsk.hr\/urn:nbn:hr:111:602462\nTEPE\u0160, I. (2018). 'POLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE', Disertacija, Sveu\u010dili\u0161te u Zagrebu, Hrvatski studiji, citirano: 18.07.2019., https:\/\/urn.nsk.hr\/urn:nbn:hr:111:602462\nTEPE\u0160 I. POLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE [Disertacija]. Zagreb: Sveu\u010dili\u0161te u Zagrebu, Hrvatski studiji; 2018 [pristupljeno 18.07.2019.] Dostupno na: https:\/\/urn.nsk.hr\/urn:nbn:hr:111:602462\nI. TEPE\u0160, \"POLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE\", Disertacija, Sveu\u010dili\u0161te u Zagrebu, Hrvatski studiji, Zagreb, 2018. Dostupno na: https:\/\/urn.nsk.hr\/urn:nbn:hr:111:602462\nNaslov POLITI\u010cKO DJELOVANJE HRVATSKE SELJA\u010cKE STRANKE U EMIGRACIJI OD 1945. DO 1990. GODINE\nNaslov (engleski) POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF THE CROATIAN PEASANT PARTY IN THE EMIGRATION FROM 1945. TO 1990.\nAutor IVAN TEPE\u0160\nMentor MARINA KASELJ PERI\u0106 (mentor)\nMBZ: 33333333\nMentor Mijo Korade (komentor)\n\u010clan povjerenstva Stjepan \u0106osi\u0107 (predsjednik povjerenstva)\n\u010clan povjerenstva Mario Jareb (\u010dlan povjerenstva)\n\u010clan povjerenstva Mario Bara (\u010dlan povjerenstva)\nCilj ovoga rada je prikazati i analizirati do sada vrlo slabo istra\u017eeno politi\u010dko djelovanje Hrvatske selja\u010dke stranke (HSS) u iseljeni\u0161tvu od 1945. do 1990. godine, koje je promatrano kronolo\u0161ki s tri aspekta. Iz aspekta djelovanja HSS-a me\u0111u hrvatskim iseljeni\u0161tvom i iseljeni\u010dkim organizacijama HSS-a, aspekta djelovanja HSS-a u antikomunisti\u010dkim organizacijama emigranata iz srednje i isto\u010dne Europe te aspekta odnosa HSS-a sa srpskom i slovenskom emigracijom, a na osnovu kojeg se vidi razlika u vodstvu HSS-a o na\u010dinu rje\u0161avanja hrvatskog pitanja. Prikaz djelovanja vodstva HSS-a u iseljeni\u0161tvu doprinos je strana\u010dkoj povijesti HSS-a koje do sada nije bilo istra\u017eeno. Doprinos je rasvjetljavanju djelovanja hrvatske politi\u010dke emigracije i naru\u0161avanju predrasuda o hrvatskoj politi\u010dkoj emigraciji kao ideolo\u0161ki jednoobraznoj, ekstremnoj i radikalnoj. Rekonstrukcija djelovanja HSS-a doprinos je i povijesti srednje i isto\u010dne Europe u razdoblju Hladnog rata, s obzirom da je potpora SAD-a antikomunisti\u010dkim organizacijama emigranata s tog podru\u010dja, u kojima je sudjelovao i HSS, bila dio ameri\u010dke vanjskopoliti\u010dke strategije u hladnoratovskom sukobu sa SSSR-om. Rad prvenstveno prati politi\u010dke aktivnosti dva vode\u0107a \u010dovjeka HSS-a, Vladka Ma\u010deka i Jurja Krnjevi\u0107a, koji su se nadali da \u0107e se uz pomo\u0107 Zapada vratiti na politi\u010dku scenu u Hrvatskoj i Jugoslaviji. Rad je najve\u0107im dijelom rezultat analize i sistematizacije neistra\u017eene dokumentacije jugoslavenske tajne slu\u017ebe, neobjavljene i objavljene pisane korespondencije vodstva HSS-a i tekstova u glasilima iseljeni\u010dkog HSS-a. U hrvatskom iseljeni\u0161tvu vodstvo HSS-a bilo je cijenjeno zbog velike izborne potpore unutar hrvatskog naroda i zbog prihva\u0107anja HSS-a u zapadnim me\u0111unarodnim krugovima. Stoga je vodstvo HSS okupljanje iseljeni\u0161tva vidjelo jedino unutar HSS-a pa je svoje djelovanje me\u0111u hrvatskim iseljeni\u0161tvom prvenstveno temeljilo na radu s iseljeni\u010dkim organizacijama HSS-a diljem svijeta. Vodstvo HSS-a nije bilo sklono inicijativama okupljanja iseljeni\u0161tva, osim u organizaciji Ujedinjenih Hrvata Amerike i Kanade od 1946. do 1949. godine. Djelovanje vodstva HSS-a u organizacijama politi\u010dkih emigranata iz srednje i isto\u010dne Europe karakterizirala je izrazita antikomunisti\u010dka retorika i kritika jugoslavenskog re\u017eima. Ma\u010dek je jedinu snagu za ru\u0161enje komunizma u srednjoj i isto\u010dnoj Europi vidio u selja\u0161tvu pa je HSS i bio najaktivniji upravo u Me\u0111unarodnoj selja\u010dkoj uniji. Ma\u010dek je u emigraciji bezuspje\u0161no poku\u0161avao sklopiti sporazum sa srpskom i slovenskom emigracijom te je bio skloniji rje\u0161avanju hrvatskog pitanja u jugoslavenskom okviru za razliku od Krnjevi\u0107a koji je bio protiv sporazuma sa Srbima i zastupao je ideju o neovisnoj i samostalnoj hrvatskoj dr\u017eavi izvan Jugoslavije. Nakon Ma\u010dekove smrti 1964. godine Krnjevi\u0107evi stavovi postali su jedina slu\u017ebena politika emigrantskog HSS-a.\nThe aim of the study is to show the political action of the Croatian Peasants' Party 'Hrvatska selja\u010dka stranka' (HSS) in the diaspora in the period from 1945 up to the year 1990 which until now has been poorly investigated. The political action of the HSS is observed chronologically according to three aspects, these being, from the point of view of the activity of leadership of the HSS within the Croatian diaspora, the aspect of activity of leadership of the HSS in the organisations of emigrants from Central and Eastern Europe which were operated under the political and financial patronage of the United States of America and the aspect of cooperation with political emigrants from Yugoslavia. The leadership of the HSS was directly governed by its two dominent leaders: the president of the HSS, Vladko Ma\u010dek and the Secretary General Juraj Krnjevi\u0107. Both having emigrated out of the Former Jugoslavia. Macek's first emigrated in May 1945 to Paris where he lived and worked until August 1947. He then emigrated to Washington where he lived and worked until his death on 15 May 1964. Krnjevi\u0107 immigrated to London in April 1941 where he remained until his death on 8 January 1988. The actions of the leadership of the HSS's in the Croatian diaspora was demonstrated primarily on the basis of the unexplored material of the Yugoslav secret service, published and unpublished written correspondence of the HSS leadership and HSS's emigrant newspapers. An overview of HSS's political activity in the period from 1945 to 1990 contributed to a better understanding of the work of the HSS leadership in emigrant conditions. The aforementioned time period in the reconstruction of HSS's history until now remained unexplored, given that historiographic research of the HSS was previously focused on the period of the first half of the twentieth century, when the HSS was at the height of its political activity, the Second World War and the first post-war years in Croatia. Analysis of the actions of the HSS in the diaspora from 1945 to 1990 has also contributed to a better understanding of the impact of Croatian political emigrants in general, given that the HSS was an important factor in the Croatian political diaspora. The HSS worked among the Croatian diaspora primarily through the wide-spread network of its emigrant organisations in North and South America, Europe and Australia. The leadership of the HSS enjoyed a great reputation within the Croatian diaspora and among Croatian political emigrants for two key reasons, first because the HSS leadership had political legitimacy based on the votes received by Croatian people in elections in the interim period, and secondly because Croatian emigrants were aware of the support that the leadership of the HSS had among the political factors of the western democractic countries, as opposed to the part of the Croatian political diaspora that was compromised by cooperation with the Nazis and fascists during the Second World War. The leadership of the HSS was well aware of these factors, which made it difficult for the participation of the HSS in the constant efforts of the Croatian political diaspora towards gathering into a unified organisation. Namely, the leadership of the HSS, during all periods of emigration, felt that the HSS was the only legitimate representative of the Croatian people and that the Croatian diaspora and Croatian political emigrants could only be brought together on the basis of the HSS program and within the HSS. Such an exclusive stance was the reason why the leadership of the HSS only participated in one period in the gathering of organisations of Croatian emigrants, and that was in the first postwar years from 1946 to 1949, in the organisation of the United Croatians of America and Canada. Ma\u010dek's activity in this gathering of Croatian emigrants was also related to his anti-communist work to suppress the sympathy of Croatian emigrants for communism and the new Yugoslav regime. At the gathering of the Croatian emigrants, the leadership of the HSS presented the problem and the political emigrants who were connected with the Ustasha movement and the movement for an Independent State of Croatia 'Nezavisna Dr\u017eava Hrvatska' (NDH) did not want political cooperation with them. Given that the HSS throughout the whole emigration period acted independently within the Croatian diaspora, its work was based on encouraging the activities of its own emigrant organisations and their mutual cooperation. The most materially and financially organised were the HSS organisations from Canada, whose financial resources were largely the financial backbone of the HSS leadership in the diaspora. The HSS leadership has since the late 1950s convened party congresses, first in Europe in 1957 and 1960, and from 1969, they were known as the World Congress of the HSS, attended by delegates of the HSS organisations from around the world. In 1980, the Central Committee of the HSS was established, which has since then been the largest party body and which took over the leadership of the party after Krnjevi\u0107's death in January 1988. Emigrant HSS organisations suffered great and irreparable damage following the February 1979 conflict which broke out between Krnjevi\u0107 and the president of the Canadian HSS, Mladen Zorkin, which was reflected by a division among members and lead to lengthy court disputes and party rupture. In 1953 as part of its activities among the Croatian disapora and under the sponsorship of the HSS, the Federation of Free Croatian Workers (FSHR) was founded which since 1961 had the prewar title of the Croatian Workers' Union (HRS). This organisation which served in the HSS demonstrated that they represent the interests of the workers as well as the peasants and that HSS was not only a peasant party. The leadership of the HSS was aware that the workforce in Croatia after 1945 had grown numerically, and also the vast majority of HSS members in the disapora belonged to the working class. Regarding the attitude towards the political power of the Croatian diaspora, Ma\u010dek and Krnjevi\u0107 shared a common view regarding the question of the political change of the situation in Croatia and Yugoslavia, that they will have a decisive role for the Croatian people in their homeland and that the diaspora will only support the people in their homeland. With regard to such attitudes of Krnjevi\u0107 since the beginning of his emigration, he proactively worked from the diaspora towards the homeland, while Ma\u010dek did not engage in such activities. Krnjevi\u0107's political activity from the diaspora towards the homeland lasted permanently throughout his emigration period and consisted of maintaining ties with HSS officials and sympathisers in the homeland and sending propaganda material to the homeland. Presentation of the until now unexplored political activity of the HSS in the diaspora is complemented by part of the political history of Central and Eastern Europe in regards to the HSS leadership co-operating with political emigrants from that part of Europe and acting in joint organisations based on the fight against communism. In this context, the historical work of the HSS leadership becomes part of the history of the Cold War from the perspective that this political and financial support to diaspora organisations formed part of the United States of America's foreign policy strategy in the Cold War bid with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. Precisely for American foreign policy reasons, the HSS and other emigrants from Yugoslavia had a special status in relation to other emigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, from 1948 when Yugoslavia, regardless of the communist political system, had a special position in relation to other communist countries. The most significant activity of the HSS leadership in disapora organisations was related to the action of the International Peasantry Union (MSU). Vladko Ma\u010dek was one of the founders of the MSU in 1947 and the vice president of the MSU until the end of his life 1964. Ma\u010dek and the HSS leadership acted in the MSU in order to present to the international public their program and criticism of communism and the then Yugoslav regime. Ma\u010dek considered communism and Marxist materialist ideology as a counterclaim to peasant ideology, and peasantry was considered the only force in the region of Croatia and Central and Eastern Europe which was capable of collapsing communism in that area. Ma\u010dek and a part of the HSS group were also connected to the American National Committee for a Free Europe \/ Committee for a Free Europe (NOSE\/OSE), from which came financial and political support from the US State Department and the US intelligence agency, the CIA. At the same time Krnjevi\u0107 in Europe joined the work of the European Movement and the European federalists, whose work was attended by leading Western European politicians at that time, who also enjoyed American support and advocated for a united Europe. The HSS leadership's role in the organisations of emigrants of Central and Eastern Europe had been passivated since the early 1970s, considering that from that point the US financial and political support had declined, and in 1971 stopped as did the work of the OSE, which financially supported the work of emigrant organisations. This work also covers the, until now, poorly researched part of Ma\u010dek's activities regarding the question of cooperation and attempts to enter into negotiations with Serbian and Slovene political emigrant communities, where it was visible that Ma\u010dek's endeavours to reach an agreement and solve the Croatian question in the Yugoslav framework was modelled on Banovina Croatia. Ma\u010dek considered that only a joint Serbian-Croatian cooperation could bring down the communist regime in Yugoslavia, and he also felt that Croats needed to insist on the agreement, otherwise he was afraid that the Western democratic countries would blame Croatians of failing to reach an agreement and the collapse of Yugoslavia would allow the territorial division of Croatia by it neighbours, primarily Italy and Hungary, and on the basis of experience with various contracts from the first half of the twentieth century, beginning with the secret London Treaty of 1915 until the Treaty of Rome in May 1941. Ma\u010dek was aware of the fact that the US and Western countries were not inclined to partition Yugoslavia into smaller states and generally create smaller state units in Central Europe. The most intense of Ma\u010dek's activities pertaining to the achievement of agreements with the Serbian and Slovene political emigrant communities, were in the first post-war years, while that activity disappeared in the early 1950s. There were more reason for the failure to reach agreement, primarily the reasons lay in various solutions around the concept and content of the agreement and about the territorial delimitation between Croatia and Serbia, as well as the fact that the Serbian political emigrant community was divided and did not have authority with great political support from the Serb people in the same manner that Ma\u010dek and HSS had from the Croatian people. There were still over the years emigrants from civilian parties of pre-war Yugoslavia who increasingly raised the question of of their own legitimacy in the representation of the people in whose name the agreement should be signed. Furthermore, in favor of the failure to reach an agreement, the Yugoslav secret service also acted in accordance with its capabilities. The issue of reaching an agreement also existed within the HSS, with respect to this issue Krnjevi\u0107 disagreed with Ma\u010dek. Presumably the most influential reason why Ma\u010dek did not arrive at an agreement with the Serbs and Slovenes and that the establishment of a joint Yugoslav diaspora committee was lacking in support from the US was because of the efforts to maintain good relations with Josip Broz Tito and Yugoslavia after 1948 when Tito broke away from Stalin. In the event of a failure to reach an agreement with the Serbs and Slovenes, Ma\u010dek viewed as the final solution, an independent Croatian state with which was always emphasised that the state did not exist for its own purpose, but it could be sustainable only if all human and social rights were guaranteed, and not if it is governed by dictatorship and terror over the population. Ma\u010dek's views on how to solve the Croatian question were shared by a part of the prominent HSS leadership led by Branko Pe\u0161elj and Ilija Jukic, who in March 1963, with Ma\u010dek's knowledge, signed a joint document with a part of the Serbian and Slovene political emigrant communities, under the title Proposed Draft Democratic Alternatives, in which the Yugoslav constitution proposal was defined, and that Croatia would remain within the Confederation of the Yugoslavian community. Ma\u010dek's attitudes, and the views of a part of the prominent group of the HSS, were in opposition to the views of Krnjevi\u0107, who opposed agreement with the Serbs, and saw the solution of the Croatian question in a stand-alone and independent Croatian state. Krnjevi\u0107 considered that Croats and Serbs could live in peace only if each nation had their own independent state, and if in independent Croatia was the guarantee of political as well as economic stability. Krnjevi\u0107 considered Yugoslavia as a Serbian hegemonic creation in which Croats did not have the same rights as Serbs and equalled Tito's Yugoslavia with Kara\u0111or\u0111evi\u0107's pre-war Yugoslavia. Krnjevi\u0107's attitude to the resolution of the Croatian question and the agreement with the Serbs became the only official position of the HSS after 1965, since Krnjevi\u0107, after Ma\u010dek's death, took over the leadership of the HSS and removed the prominent members of the HSS who promoted the survival of Yugoslavia. Just before the end of Krnjevi\u0107's life in 1987, the Central Committee of the HSS, at the HSS World Congress, re-approached Ma\u010dek's requirements of discussion and agreement with the Serbs and Slovenes. The only concept of the solution to the Croatian question in which Ma\u010dek and Krnjevi\u0107 agreed on was the creation of a Central European Community of states and nations on the territory of the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea, within which the Croatian state would also be located. This type of concept was also represented by emigrant organisations from Central and Eastern Europe where Ma\u010dek and Krnjevi\u0107 were active, behind which the US stood. The concept of the Central European Community was more strongly advocated by Krnjevi\u0107 in the late 1940s and 1950s. Ma\u010dek's and Krnjevic's opinions differed in relation to the question of the territorial scope of Croatia, which was primarily related to the issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Muslims from BiH. Ma\u010dek was more inclined to the solution that would divide BiH into the borders of Banovina Croatia, although Ma\u010dek considered Muslims to be Croats of Islamic religion, and at the same time he felt that Muslims from BiH had developed their own national consciousness and wanted an independent BiH. Unlike Ma\u010dek, Krnjevi\u0107 considered that BiH, as an autonomous unit, was part of Croatia, and the Muslims from BiH were considered exclusively Croats of Islamic religion. Following this, the presentation and analysis of the HSS's work in the diaspora also leads to the re-examination and demolition of stereotypes and prejudices about the Croatian political diaspora as politically one-dimensional and exclusively extreme Ustasha, which was the result of Yugoslav propaganda from 1945 to 1990. The demonstration of the HSS's work shows that it was not just a difference between positions between the HSS and other Croatian emigrant organisations, rather that within the HSS itself there were different views on key political and state issues, above all in relation to solving the Croatian question. Although the HSS through emigration action in the period from 1945 to 1990, kept its continuity, this was not enough to achieve more significant results in the first multiparty elections in Croatia in April 1990. Although the HSS had a poor result in the elections, \"Radi\u0107ev\u0161tina\" was part of the program of the then-winning Croatian Democratic Union 'Hrvatske demokratske zajednice' (HDZ) with Franjo Tu\u0111man and also, at that time, part of the emigrant HSS had joined the HDZ. The emigrant HSS officially ceased to act on 21 May 1991, after the HSS Central Committee led by Josip Torbar joined all factions of the homeland HSS at the united assembly.\nHrvatska selja\u010dka stranka\nVladko Ma\u010dek\nJuraj Krnjevi\u0107\nhrvatsko iseljeni\u0161tvo\nhrvatska politi\u010dka emigracija\nhrvatsko pitanje\nHladni rat\nkomunizam\nantikomunizam\nsrednja i isto\u010dna Europa\nthe Croatian diaspora\nPrava pristupa Pristup ograni\u010den embargom\nDatum isteka embarga: 2020-07-25","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Schertz Clemens Buffaloes\nRebels go to final game with chance for district title\nHays goes to Smithson Valley Friday night with the District 27-4A title on the line. Meanwhile, San Marcos will end a difficult season, Wimberley will try to finish the regular season 10-0, Lehman and Lockhart will fight to stay out of their district basement and San Marcos Academy will go to Hyde Park.\nSaturday, October 30th, 2010\nTexans clinch, Rebels rise, Rattlers reel\nHays beat New Braunfels Canyon, 28-19, Friday night, setting up a showdown at Smithson Valley next week for the District 27-4A championship. Also, Wimberley clinched District 26-3A by stomping Navarro, and San Marcos lost once again, falling...\nRattlers go for win, Hays, Wimberley go for first place\nThe San Marcos Rattlers have two more chances for a win, and they're both tough. Friday night, first-place Converse Judson visits Bobcat Stadium. In other Friday games, Hays will try to stay in the running for first...\nSaturday, October 23rd, 2010\nRattlers lose big, Rebels clinch playoffs\nA winless season appears to be in the cards for the San Marcos Rattlers, who lost, 35-7, at Seguin Friday night. Also Friday night, the Hays Rebels clinched a playoff spot during their bye week, Dripping Springs...\nFriday, October 22nd, 2010\nRattlers approach best chance for football win\nThe San Marcos Rattlers have their best chance for a win this football season when they go to Seguin Friday night. Meanwhile, Dripping Springs has a chance to clinch a playoff spot Friday, and San Marcos Academy...\nRebels, Texans, Tigers run to victory\nFriday was another long night for the San Marcos Rattlers, another short night for the Wimberley Texans, and a good night for the Hays Rebels and the Dripping Springs Tigers. As the high school football season winds...\nRattlers still seeking first win as Wagner visits\nSan Marcos will look for its first win Friday night as San Antonio Wagner visits Bobcat Stadium. Also, Wimberley will try to stay perfect, Hays will look for a win to stay alive for the District 27-4A...\nRebels win as Shelton moves up list\nHays won a key District 27-4A game Friday night, beating Schertz Clemens, 47-21, as head coach Bob Shelton reached another milestone. Also, Wimberley won easily, Dripping Springs and San Marcos Academy each lost by two touchdowns and...\nRattlers seek win in first game that matters\nThe San Marcos Rattlers are 0-5 entering the first game of the season that matters, Friday night's meeting at New Braunfels. Also, Hays will attempt to jump into the District 27-4A title race at home against Schertz...\nThursday, February 4th, 2010\nSan Marcos and Hays to renew football rivalry\nA one-time staple of the Hays County athletic scene is coming back for a two-year engagement. The football teams from San Marcos and Hays High Schools will play each other this fall and during the fall of...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"World Cup: Callum Hudson-Odoi 'considers' switching England as Ghana target him and Tariq Lamptey\nBy Stella J. Pender Last updated Apr 1, 2022\nCallum Hudson-Odoi is 'considering' switching international allegiance from England to Ghana, with the African nation hoping to persuade the Chelsea winger and Brighton's Tariq Lamptey to join them ahead of the Qatar World Cup.\nGhana booked their World Cup spot in a playoff win over Nigeria this week\nThey target Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tariq Lamptey to switch allegiance\nThe Chelsea winger has three senior caps for England and last played in 2019\nMeanwhile, Lamptey is yet to receive a senior call-up for the Three Lions\nBy Isabel Baldwin for Mailonline\nPublished: 4:22 a.m. EDT, April 1, 2022 | Update: 4:28 a.m. EDT, April 1, 2022\nCallum Hudson-Odoi is assessing Ghana's international interest with the Black Stars in hopes of persuading the Chelsea winger and Tariq Lamptey to switch allegiance to England ahead of the World Cup.\nHudson-Odoi is said to be 'considering' the switch ahead of the World Cup in November.\nThe 21-year-old has three senior caps for England, the last of which came in the European Championship qualifiers in Kosovo in November 2019.\nGhana are hoping to persuade Callum Hudson-Odoi (left) and Tariq Lamptey (right) to switch international allegiance from England\nIn August last year, Hudson-Odoi turned down the opportunity to play for the England Under-21 side for internationals against Romania and Kosovo.\nAnd he risked further damaging his relationship with the Three Lions by turning down a call-up from Gareth Southgate for matches against Albania and San Marino last November.\nAccording to FIFA rules, players are allowed to change allegiance provided they have not played more than three competitive international matches before the age of 21.\nThis means Hudson-Odoi would be eligible for the switch just in time to travel to Qatar, with the World Cup taking place from November 21 to December 18.\nHudson-Odoi has three senior caps for the Three Lions with his last game in November 2019\nAnd, according to GoalGhana are chasing Hudson-Odoi and Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey, with the Blues youngster believed to be considering the transfer.\nGhana booked their place in Qatar with victory in their World Cup qualifier with Nigeria on away goals on Tuesday.\nWith the World Cup on the horizon, the Black Stars could be looking to strengthen their squad and Ghana FA director of communications Henry Asante Twum has revealed the team will pursue the Premier League pair if regulations so allow. allowed.\n'If it's that we wake up tomorrow and the new Black Stars coach wants Tariq [Lamptey], Hudson-Odoi, whatever is available, we will look at the regulations and the possibility of getting them,\" he told Citi TV. \"If it's within our reach, we pursue it.\nThe Black Stars booked their place in Qatar with a World Cup playoff win over Nigeria\n'The new law for changing nationality is that you should be three years old from your last game [from the association you want to switch from]so that means if today Hudson-Odoi played for England three years ago we will look at the month [in which] he played, and if it's been exactly two years, he has every right to change his nationality.\nEarlier this year, Hudson-Odoi met Ghana technical adviser and former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton with his parents in Acca to discuss his international future.\nHe also visited the country twice in the past year and met with National President Nana Akufo-Addo, GFA President Kurt Okraku and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif.\nMeanwhile, Lamptey didn't receive a call-up to Gareth Southgate's senior England squad but did represent the Three Lions at Under-21 level.\nShare or comment on this article:\nHilarious snaps show animals doing the strangest things\nDarwin's Covid lockdown extended until Friday\nWimbledon: Alfie Hewett determined to win his first singles crown\n7 Industries That Could Benefit Most From Online Fax \u2013 Latest Trends In Digital Transformation | Cloud News\nIs access to earned wages the way of the future? 5 tips for employers looking to attract and retain talent with pay-as-you-go | Fisher Phillips\nSave up to 50% on dresses, swimwear and shoes\nSpanish billionaire Amancio Ortega 'is interested in buying Manchester\u2026\nUK's worst performing parcel company revealed as Evri\nWhy women should train in the MORNING","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's\nY. Li, David W. McLaughlin\nComputational Modeling of Normal and Abnormal Cortical Processing\nThe theory of the focusing NLS equation under periodic boundary conditions, together with the Floquet spectral theory of its associated Zakharov-Shabat linear operator {Mathematical expression}, is developed in sufficient detail for later use in studies of perturbations of the NLS equation. \"Counting lemmas\" for the non-selfadjoint operator {Mathematical expression}, are established which control its spectrum and show that all of its eccentricities are finite in number and must reside within a finite disc D in the complex eigenvalue plane. The radius of the disc D is controlled by the H1 norm of the potential {Mathematical expression}. For this integrable NLS Hamiltonian system, unstable tori are identified, and Backlund transformations are then used to construct global representations of their stable and unstable manifolds-\"whiskered tori\" for the NLS pde. The Floquet discriminant {Mathematical expression} is used to introduce a natural sequence of NLS constants of motion, [ {Mathematical expression}, where \u03bbcj denotes the jth critical point of the Floquet discriminant \u0394(\u03bb)]. A Taylor series expansion of the constants {Mathematical expression}, with explicit representations of the first and second variations, is then used to study neighborhoods of the whiskered tori. In particular, critical tori with hyperbolic structure are identified through the first and second variations of {Mathematical expression}, which themselves are expressed in terms of quadratic products of eigenfunctions of {Mathematical expression}. The second variation permits identification, within the disc D, of important bifurcations in the spectral configurations of the operator {Mathematical expression}. The constant {Mathematical expression}, as the height of the Floquet discriminant over the critical point \u03bbcj, admits a natural interpretation as a Morse function for NLS isospectral level sets. This Morse interpretation is studied in some detail. It is valid globally for the infinite tail, {Mathematical expression}, which is associated with critical points outside the disc D. Within this disc, the interpretation is only valid locally, with the same obstruction to its global validity as to a global ordering of the spectrum. Nevertheless, this local Morse theory, together with the Backlund representations of the whiskered tori, produces extremely clear pictures of the stratification of NLS invariant sets near these whiskered tori-pictures which are useful in the study of perturbations of NLS. Finally, a natural connection is noted between the constants {Mathematical expression} of the integrable theory and Melnikov functions for the theory of perturbations of the NLS equation. This connection generates a simple, but general, representations of the Melnikov functions.\nCommunications In Mathematical Physics\nhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02105191\n10.1007\/BF02105191\nFingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.\nMelnikov Function Mathematics\nMorse Function Mathematics\nTorus Mathematics\nNLS Equation Mathematics\nSecond Variation Mathematics\nDiscriminant Mathematics\ncritical point Physics & Astronomy\nFirst Variation Mathematics\nLi, Y., & McLaughlin, D. W. (1994). Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's. Communications In Mathematical Physics, 162(1), 175-214. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02105191\nMorse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's. \/ Li, Y.; McLaughlin, David W.\nIn: Communications In Mathematical Physics, Vol. 162, No. 1, 04.1994, p. 175-214.\nLi, Y & McLaughlin, DW 1994, 'Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's', Communications In Mathematical Physics, vol. 162, no. 1, pp. 175-214. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02105191\nLi Y, McLaughlin DW. Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's. Communications In Mathematical Physics. 1994 Apr;162(1):175-214. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02105191\nLi, Y. ; McLaughlin, David W. \/ Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's. In: Communications In Mathematical Physics. 1994 ; Vol. 162, No. 1. pp. 175-214.\n@article{88fecfbd6ef2495fb1695f64e70b0118,\ntitle = \"Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's\",\nabstract = \"The theory of the focusing NLS equation under periodic boundary conditions, together with the Floquet spectral theory of its associated Zakharov-Shabat linear operator {Mathematical expression}, is developed in sufficient detail for later use in studies of perturbations of the NLS equation. {\"}Counting lemmas{\"} for the non-selfadjoint operator {Mathematical expression}, are established which control its spectrum and show that all of its eccentricities are finite in number and must reside within a finite disc D in the complex eigenvalue plane. The radius of the disc D is controlled by the H1 norm of the potential {Mathematical expression}. For this integrable NLS Hamiltonian system, unstable tori are identified, and Backlund transformations are then used to construct global representations of their stable and unstable manifolds-{\"}whiskered tori{\"} for the NLS pde. The Floquet discriminant {Mathematical expression} is used to introduce a natural sequence of NLS constants of motion, [ {Mathematical expression}, where \u03bbcj denotes the jth critical point of the Floquet discriminant \u0394(\u03bb)]. A Taylor series expansion of the constants {Mathematical expression}, with explicit representations of the first and second variations, is then used to study neighborhoods of the whiskered tori. In particular, critical tori with hyperbolic structure are identified through the first and second variations of {Mathematical expression}, which themselves are expressed in terms of quadratic products of eigenfunctions of {Mathematical expression}. The second variation permits identification, within the disc D, of important bifurcations in the spectral configurations of the operator {Mathematical expression}. The constant {Mathematical expression}, as the height of the Floquet discriminant over the critical point \u03bbcj, admits a natural interpretation as a Morse function for NLS isospectral level sets. This Morse interpretation is studied in some detail. It is valid globally for the infinite tail, {Mathematical expression}, which is associated with critical points outside the disc D. Within this disc, the interpretation is only valid locally, with the same obstruction to its global validity as to a global ordering of the spectrum. Nevertheless, this local Morse theory, together with the Backlund representations of the whiskered tori, produces extremely clear pictures of the stratification of NLS invariant sets near these whiskered tori-pictures which are useful in the study of perturbations of NLS. Finally, a natural connection is noted between the constants {Mathematical expression} of the integrable theory and Melnikov functions for the theory of perturbations of the NLS equation. This connection generates a simple, but general, representations of the Melnikov functions.\",\nauthor = \"Y. Li and McLaughlin, {David W.}\",\ndoi = \"10.1007\/BF02105191\",\njournal = \"Communications in Mathematical Physics\",\nT1 - Morse and Melnikov functions for NLS Pde's\nAU - Li, Y.\nAU - McLaughlin, David W.\nN2 - The theory of the focusing NLS equation under periodic boundary conditions, together with the Floquet spectral theory of its associated Zakharov-Shabat linear operator {Mathematical expression}, is developed in sufficient detail for later use in studies of perturbations of the NLS equation. \"Counting lemmas\" for the non-selfadjoint operator {Mathematical expression}, are established which control its spectrum and show that all of its eccentricities are finite in number and must reside within a finite disc D in the complex eigenvalue plane. The radius of the disc D is controlled by the H1 norm of the potential {Mathematical expression}. For this integrable NLS Hamiltonian system, unstable tori are identified, and Backlund transformations are then used to construct global representations of their stable and unstable manifolds-\"whiskered tori\" for the NLS pde. The Floquet discriminant {Mathematical expression} is used to introduce a natural sequence of NLS constants of motion, [ {Mathematical expression}, where \u03bbcj denotes the jth critical point of the Floquet discriminant \u0394(\u03bb)]. A Taylor series expansion of the constants {Mathematical expression}, with explicit representations of the first and second variations, is then used to study neighborhoods of the whiskered tori. In particular, critical tori with hyperbolic structure are identified through the first and second variations of {Mathematical expression}, which themselves are expressed in terms of quadratic products of eigenfunctions of {Mathematical expression}. The second variation permits identification, within the disc D, of important bifurcations in the spectral configurations of the operator {Mathematical expression}. The constant {Mathematical expression}, as the height of the Floquet discriminant over the critical point \u03bbcj, admits a natural interpretation as a Morse function for NLS isospectral level sets. This Morse interpretation is studied in some detail. It is valid globally for the infinite tail, {Mathematical expression}, which is associated with critical points outside the disc D. Within this disc, the interpretation is only valid locally, with the same obstruction to its global validity as to a global ordering of the spectrum. Nevertheless, this local Morse theory, together with the Backlund representations of the whiskered tori, produces extremely clear pictures of the stratification of NLS invariant sets near these whiskered tori-pictures which are useful in the study of perturbations of NLS. Finally, a natural connection is noted between the constants {Mathematical expression} of the integrable theory and Melnikov functions for the theory of perturbations of the NLS equation. This connection generates a simple, but general, representations of the Melnikov functions.\nAB - The theory of the focusing NLS equation under periodic boundary conditions, together with the Floquet spectral theory of its associated Zakharov-Shabat linear operator {Mathematical expression}, is developed in sufficient detail for later use in studies of perturbations of the NLS equation. \"Counting lemmas\" for the non-selfadjoint operator {Mathematical expression}, are established which control its spectrum and show that all of its eccentricities are finite in number and must reside within a finite disc D in the complex eigenvalue plane. The radius of the disc D is controlled by the H1 norm of the potential {Mathematical expression}. For this integrable NLS Hamiltonian system, unstable tori are identified, and Backlund transformations are then used to construct global representations of their stable and unstable manifolds-\"whiskered tori\" for the NLS pde. The Floquet discriminant {Mathematical expression} is used to introduce a natural sequence of NLS constants of motion, [ {Mathematical expression}, where \u03bbcj denotes the jth critical point of the Floquet discriminant \u0394(\u03bb)]. A Taylor series expansion of the constants {Mathematical expression}, with explicit representations of the first and second variations, is then used to study neighborhoods of the whiskered tori. In particular, critical tori with hyperbolic structure are identified through the first and second variations of {Mathematical expression}, which themselves are expressed in terms of quadratic products of eigenfunctions of {Mathematical expression}. The second variation permits identification, within the disc D, of important bifurcations in the spectral configurations of the operator {Mathematical expression}. The constant {Mathematical expression}, as the height of the Floquet discriminant over the critical point \u03bbcj, admits a natural interpretation as a Morse function for NLS isospectral level sets. This Morse interpretation is studied in some detail. It is valid globally for the infinite tail, {Mathematical expression}, which is associated with critical points outside the disc D. Within this disc, the interpretation is only valid locally, with the same obstruction to its global validity as to a global ordering of the spectrum. Nevertheless, this local Morse theory, together with the Backlund representations of the whiskered tori, produces extremely clear pictures of the stratification of NLS invariant sets near these whiskered tori-pictures which are useful in the study of perturbations of NLS. Finally, a natural connection is noted between the constants {Mathematical expression} of the integrable theory and Melnikov functions for the theory of perturbations of the NLS equation. This connection generates a simple, but general, representations of the Melnikov functions.\nU2 - 10.1007\/BF02105191\nDO - 10.1007\/BF02105191\nJO - Communications in Mathematical Physics\nJF - Communications in Mathematical Physics","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Team Lala\nRaised: $4,313\nGoal: $18,000\nPurpleStride Atlanta 2023\nIn early 2011, at the age of 68, my maternal grandmother, \"Saffi,\" was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. At the time, it had a grim 5-year survival rate of 6%. After a relentless 5-year battle with the cancer, she passed away in December 2015; I was just eleven years-old at the time. She had meant the world to me. I slept over at her house often and loved her kind soul and smile more than most anything else in the world. Then, a year and a half later, my paternal grandmother, \"Grandma Joanie,\" died of cancer. Despite our living in different cities, I loved her beyond words, and she was a beautiful light in my early life. I was a twelve year-old boy, shattered, trying to understand loss while picking up the pieces.\nI was young when my grandmothers passed away. As I grow older, my memories of them fade lighter and lighter, but their influence in my life is unchanged. I live on in their legacy. Fundraising is a part of that legacy, and part of the way I keep their memories alive.\nFor the past twelve years, my family has been raising money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I have spearheaded Team Lala for the past 7 years, and I am proud to fight again for better patient outcomes and more comprehensive research on the cancer killing 50,000 Americans a year and being diagnosed in some 60,000 more.\nThis cancer is terrifying, with a 5-year survival rate of just 11%, far and away the lowest rate of the 20 most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. We NEED to improve patient lives and give hope to patients and their families. Funding for research will improve treatments and get closer to finding a Pancreatic Cancer cure.\nPlease click the button above to Donate and improve patient outcomes and find a cure.\nAlso, please join me and Team Lala on April 29th to walk in honor of Saffi and all those who have lost their lives in the brutal fight against Pancreatic Cancer.\nBrian & Tamara Mand\nBrian Granath\nDavid and Andi Arnovitz\nDean Dubovsky + family\nDr. Berna Levine\nDr. Catharine Enright\nDr. Dina Pinsky\nGo Dov!!\nIn memory of a lovely lady....\nIn memory of all those lost to PC\njody frankel\nJudith Barkan\nLarry And Jody Shutzberg\nMoshe Sokol\nMr. Adrian Grant\nMr. Brendan Ozawa-De Silva\nMr. Dov Karlin\nMr. Jim Tapp\nMr. R L Foah\nMr. Richard M Walker\nMr. Stanley 'Stan' Karlin\nMrs. Beverly Stahl\nMrs. Janet Harnett Mordarski\nMrs. Natasha Lebowitz\nMrs. Susan Brickman\nMs. Beth G Sugarman\nMs. Merryl Hodgson\nNancy Hirsch\nRobin And Sabi Varon\nRyan G Gold\nThe Galanti Family\nWilliam Hall","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"'Gosnell' filmmakers didn't care about abortion until they saw his victims\nOctober 9, 2018 December 21, 2020 Anita Crane\nDespite the gruesome truth about Dr. Kermit Gosnell's horrifying crimes, director Nick Searcy said \"Gosnell\" is an \"uplifting\" movie\nHuman rights, Movies Ann McElhinney, Dean Cain, Gosnell movie, Hollywood, Nick Searcy, Phelim McAleer, politics Leave a Comment on 'Gosnell' filmmakers didn't care about abortion until they saw his victims\nHollywood actor flayed for 'skanky, sick' ad\nJanuary 24, 2013 December 27, 2020 Anita Crane\nWASHINGTON \u2013 A new advertisement featuring \"Necessary Roughness\" actor Mehcad Brooks and titled \"Happy 40th Anniversary, Baby\" celebrates the deaths of an estimated 56 million unborn lost to abortion since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision 40 years ago this week, and is being called \"skanky,\" \"sick\" and \"disgusting.\" The ad, from the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Rights, comes as hundreds of thousands prepare to attend the March for Life Friday in Washington, D.C.\nRadio & TV Alveda King, babies, children, Day Gardner, Feminists for Life, Hollywood, Lila Rose, Priests for Life, Roe v. Wade, Silent No More Awareness Campaign Leave a Comment on Hollywood actor flayed for 'skanky, sick' ad\nMy favorite RNC speeches\nAugust 31, 2012 August 31, 2012 Anita Crane\nThese are my favorite speeches from the Republican National Convention. What are yours? Clint Eastwood: \"Of course we all know Biden is the intellect of the Democratic Party.\" Ouch! \ud83d\ude00 Earlier in the speech, Eastwood said: \"I remember three and a half years ago, when Mr. Obama won the election. And though I was not [\u2026]\nFascinating leaders, Radio & TV babies, Catholic, children, Christian, clint eastwood, fathers, filmmakers, health care, Hollywood, human rights, Marco Rubio, marriage, military, mormon, mothers, movie, politics, republican national convention, U.S. Constitution 1 Comment on My favorite RNC speeches\nFrightening truth about Obama in movie theaters & on DVDs\nOct. 5 update: \"2016\" will be released on DVD Oct. 16. Pre-order from Amazon in right column Two important documentaries are in theaters now as Americans prepare to vote in November. Two more are available on DVD and I've got lots of info for you. At the Washington screening of \"2016: Obama's America,\" one of [\u2026]\nFilmmakers, Human rights Alveda King, babies, Bible, Catholic, children, Christian, cinema, dinesh d'souza, documentaries, documentary, DVD, family, fathers, film, gerald molen, health care, Hollywood, jerry molen, Jesus Christ, marriage, mothers, movie, politics, rev. c.l. bryant, runaway slave, southern exposure, U.S. Constitution 2 Comments on Frightening truth about Obama in movie theaters & on DVDs\nDishonorable Disclosures\nPlease consider donating at the producers' website: http:\/\/www.opsecteam.org\/ Published on Aug 15, 2012 by OPSECTeam Intelligence and Special Operations forces are furious and frustrated at how President Obama and those in positions of authority have exploited their service for political advantage. Countless leaks, interviews and decisions by the Obama Administration and other government officials have [\u2026]\nFilmmakers cia, Hollywood, kathryn bigelow, Leon Panetta, military, national defense, navy seals, osama bin laden, politics, security leaks, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy 1 Comment on Dishonorable Disclosures\nHow to brainwash a nation\nJuly 24, 2012 August 27, 2015 Anita Crane\nFormer KGB agent Yuri Bezmenov, alias Tomas Schuman, explains the KGB process of subversion and taking over societies: i.e., brainwashing or psychological warfare. The first video is excerpts from a 1985 interview and the second is a 1983 lecture he gave in Los Angeles. On a related note, see New York Times reveals Obama controlling [\u2026]\nFascinating leaders, Radio & TV collectivism, college, Communism, communist, culture, demoralization, education, free speech, health care, Hollywood, journalism, journalist, kgb, Marxism, media, music, politics, psychology, Radio & TV, revolution, socialism, Soviet Union, university, ussr Leave a Comment on How to brainwash a nation\n'Schindler's List' producer on his new movie about Obama\nJune 23, 2012 August 30, 2015 Anita Crane\nWND EXCLUSIVE Movie seeks president's real roots '2016: Obama's America' intended to open voters' eyes Published: June 22, 2012 By Anita Crane As Barack Obama intensifies his re-election campaign by granting illegal aliens amnesty, endorsing \"gay marriage\" and even producing a White House commercial for the nation's largest abortion business, there's a new movie coming [\u2026]\nFilmmakers, Human rights 9\/11, babies, children, family, gerald molen, Hollywood, holocaust, jerry molen, marriage, military, movie, politics, Schindler's List, steven spielberg, war Leave a Comment on 'Schindler's List' producer on his new movie about Obama\nMovie makers defy 'Don't touch this story' warnings\nMarch 23, 2012 September 3, 2015 Anita Crane\nWND EXCLUSIVE Published March 22, 2012 By Anita Crane When Jon and Andrew Erwin worked as cameramen for ESPN, made TV commercials, music videos and then a TV pilot, these brothers from Birmingham, Ala., had no designs for making a feature film about an abortion survivor. But tomorrow, March 23, their first feature film, \"October [\u2026]\nFilmmakers, Human rights adoption, Andrew Erwin, babies, Christian, fathers, filmmakers, Hollywood, john schneider, Jon Erwin, mothers, movie Leave a Comment on Movie makers defy 'Don't touch this story' warnings\n'Snowmen' family movie is funny and 'Profound!'\nDecember 2, 2011 November 23, 2015 Anita Crane\nHappy story about 'year that I died' 'Snowmen' movie the story of three unlikely heroes Posted: December 01, 2011 1:00 am Eastern By Anita Crane \u00a9 2011 WND \"Snowmen\" star Bobby Coleman with Writer\/Director Robert Kirbyson. (Courtesy of Mpower Pictures \u00a9 2009) \"It was going to be the most amazing winter ever \u2026 the year that I [\u2026]\nCHRISTMAS, Comedy, Filmmakers Bobb'e J. Thomson, Bobby Coleman, Braveheart, children, Christian, Christian Martyn, Christopher Lloyd, demi peterson, Doug E. Doug, family, fathers, filmmakers, funny, grandparents, Hollywood, john shepherd, Josh Flitter, kids, love, movie, Mpower Pictures, music, parents, Randy Jackson, Ray Liotta, Robert Kirbyson, Snowmen, Stephen McEveety Leave a Comment on 'Snowmen' family movie is funny and 'Profound!'\nMy 'granddaddy' John Wayne, actor and Catholic convert\nOctober 2, 2011 October 24, 2015 Anita Crane\nBy David Kerr Fr. Matthew Mu\u00f1oz Rome, Italy, Oct 1, 2011 \/ 12:29 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- John Wayne, for many, was a Hollywood legend who symbolized true masculinity and American values. To Fr. Matthew Mu\u00f1oz, though, he was simply \"granddaddy.\" \"When we were little we'd go to his house and we'd simply hang out with [\u2026]\nFascinating leaders, Filmmakers Catholic, Christ, Christian, Fascinating leaders, Hollywood, john wayne 1 Comment on My 'granddaddy' John Wayne, actor and Catholic convert\nHollywood Goes Out on 'The Ledge' for Atheism\nJuly 5, 2011 September 24, 2011 Anita Crane\nJames Hirsen says, \"Hollywood has moved beyond a hostile attitude toward traditional faith and has created a film that actually promotes atheistic beliefs \u2014 \"The Ledge.\" Moviemakers claim that \"The Ledge\" is \"the first film to feature an openly atheist hero in a Hollywood production.\" What's the big deal? Read the rest here: http:\/\/www.newsmax.com\/Hirsen\/theledge-atheism-rickyjarvis-billmaher\/2011\/07\/05\/id\/402470\nFilmmakers film, Hollywood, movie Leave a Comment on Hollywood Goes Out on 'The Ledge' for Atheism\nThe new 'coming out' in Hollywood\nApril 14, 2011 September 3, 2015 Anita Crane\nFestival reintroduces pro-life culture to Hollywood 'Our goal is to restore that message in entertainment' Posted: April 13, 2011 By Anita Crane \u00a9 2011 WorldNetDaily Deborah Flora This weekend, Hollywood insiders reach out to all Americans at Life Fest, the premier pro-life film festival for mainstream filmmakers. One major motion picture producer told WND that he will [\u2026]\nFilmmakers, Human rights filmmakers, free speech, Gary Sinise, Hollywood, movie, whole life Leave a Comment on The new 'coming out' in Hollywood\nLA acting studio begins mission to create actors with 'spiritual integrity'\nApril 3, 2011 September 24, 2011 Anita Crane\nOne way to join the renaissance\u2026 Culver City, Calif., Apr 2, 2011 \/ 06:08 pm (CNA).- Holy Wood Acting Studio had its grand opening on March 25 to begin its mission to create talented actors with the \"emotional and spiritual maturity\" to endure the challenges in their careers. \"The opening of Holy Wood Acting Studio [\u2026]\nFilmmakers Catholic, Christ, Christian, Hollywood Leave a Comment on LA acting studio begins mission to create actors with 'spiritual integrity'","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Dalit Bahujan Adivasi\nLynched, raped, left for dead: Dalits, women remain easy targets for criminals in UP\nA 19-year-old Dalit girl was gang-raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras; a farmer was beheaded in Badaun\nSabrangindia 24 Sep 2020\nIllustrations: https:\/\/www.newindianexpress.com\/\nWhile politicians, and activists across the political divide have begun to raise their voices to draw the attention of Uttar Pradesh chief minister to the growing instances of heinous crimes, the state government's plan of action is yet to be known. Meanwhile, the most vulnerable continue to be victimised in the state. The most recent report is of an incident of sexual assault. This time the victim is a 19-year-old girl, who belonged to the Dalit community. She was reportedly allegedly gang-raped by four \"upper-caste\" men in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.\nThe teenager is reported to be still admitted in a hospital, where she was in the ICU even several days after she was attacked on September 14. The accused tried to strangle and kill the girl after they raped her. According to news reports, she is stable now and Police recorded her statement on Tuesday The teenager told the police that she had gone to gather fodder for her animals, when the men sexually assaulted her.\nAccording to reports two accused have been arrested, the police had acted on the complaint lodged by the survivor's brother, and had earlier registered a case against a man, identified as Sandeep, for attempt to murder and under sections of the SC\/ST Act, stated media reports. After recording the survivor's statement on Tuesday, the police added charges of gang-rape to the FIR. The police have so far arrested two of the four accused and are attempting to nab others, according to a report by The Times of India.\nMeanwhile Congress leader Shyoraj Jivan Valmiki met the survivor's family on Wednesday and demanded that action be taken against the police for the delay in recording the survivor's statement., Deepak Kumar, the vice president of the UP Congress Committee, alleged that the accused and the local police were threatening the family members of the survivor.\nThe media also also recorded another incident, where two unidentified men, wearing masks, barged into a 45-year-old woman's house in Kanpur district's Bidhnu area on Tuesday night and raped her. On hearing noise, the affected woman's son woke up and the accused fled. Police have registered a case and efforts are on to establish the identities of the culprits, the SHO Pushpraj Singh said, adding that some people have been detained in this connection.\nOn Wednesday, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad had alleged that violence, and atrocities against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh are on the rise. He also posted on social media highlighting two such criminal attacks on Dalit leaders in UP, and alleged that the criminals were fearless as if they had official \"government protection\". Azad listed the the attack on Dalit leader Suresh Pracheta was allegedly shot at by miscreants, in Jaunpur. This follows closely after the assassination of Dalit leader Satyamev Jayate in Azamgarh, he stated.\nAzad has alleged that while the Dalit community is being targetted this way the states Adityanath-led government was busy hosting meeting to plan a 'film city'.\n\u092f\u0942\u092a\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u0932\u093f\u0924 \u091c\u0928 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0924\u093f\u0928\u093f\u0927\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u094b \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u0902\u0930\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0923 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u093e\u092a\u094d\u0924 \u0917\u0941\u0923\u094d\u0921\u0947 \u092c\u0947\u0916\u093c\u094c\u092b\u093c \u0928\u093f\u0936\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092c\u0928\u093e \u0930\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902\u0964\u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0906\u091c\u093c\u092e\u0917\u0922\u093c \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u0932\u093f\u0924 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0927\u093e\u0928 \u0938\u0924\u094d\u092f\u092e\u0947\u0935 \u091c\u092f\u0924\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u0939\u0924\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0914\u0930 \u0905\u092c \u091c\u094c\u0928\u092a\u0941\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u0932\u093f\u0924 \u0928\u0947\u0924\u093e \u0938\u0941\u0930\u0947\u0936 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u091a\u0947\u0924\u093e \u0915\u094b \u092c\u0926\u092e\u093e\u0936\u094b\u0902 \u0928\u0947 \u0917\u094b\u0932\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u0940, \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u092f\u0942\u092a\u0940 \u0915\u0940 \u0922\u094b\u0902\u0917\u0940 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u092b\u093c\u093f\u0932\u094d\u092e \u0938\u093f\u091f\u0940 \u0915\u093e \u0926\u0930\u092c\u093e\u0930 \u0932\u0917\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u0940 \u0939\u0948\u0964 pic.twitter.com\/xaz4bMSKIH\n\u2014 Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) September 23, 2020\nThe Jaunpur police were quick to respond to Azad's tweet about the attack and said the victim's acquaintances stated that he was allegedly shot at in a temple compound, and the assailant was unidentified because he was wearing a helmet. However, according to police, a medical examination later revealed that it did \"not look like a gunshot injury\" but could be an injury caused after being hit by a blunt weapon. The police said the group did not immediately inform the police.\nTo say 'another shocking incident' by now seems trite. This is perhaps the most inhuman crime reported. According to a newsreport in DNA, a Dalit farmer was beheaded in Uttar Pradesh because he refused to share water for irrigation with another farmer. The accused has been arrested by the police. The victim, 56-year-old farmer Nathu Lal Jatav was watering his field late on Monday, in Badaun's Din Nagar Sheikhpur village, when he was asked by another farmer, Roop Kishore, to divert water to his field. When Jatav refused, he was attacked with a spade, and beheaded by the angry farmer, stated the news report. Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Verma was quoted in the news report stating that an FIR has been lodged against Roop Kishore, who \"has been booked for murder and under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Bilsi police station. He was absconding, but we have tracked him down and arrested him. Further investigations are underway to find out if more people were involved.\"\nThe list of heinous crimes against Dalits, and women in Uttar Pradesh, the question on what the state government is doing to give justice, and prevent atrocities, however, still await answers.\nMen lynched by mobs, cab driver killed by passengers in UP\nKidnapping, rape, torture, murder; just another long weekend in Uttar Pradesh\nUP's Special Security Force Act: The good, the bad, the ugly\nTilak Manjhi: One of India's first freedom fighters\nBhima Koregaon case: Dalit group demands action against Manohar 'Sambhaji' Bhide\nUP Police allegedly assault Adivasi women\nSafai Karamchari Andolan campaigns against dry latrines\n15 years on, memories of the Kalinganagar massacre still haunt\nWhy is #RemoveUsFromScheduleCaste trending on Twitter today?\nGoa police tear-gas, lathi-charge Melauli Adivasis","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"You are here: Home \u203a Corpora \u203a Corpus of Oz Early English \u203a 1-011 (Raw)\n1-011 (Raw)\naddressee,family author,male,Fowell, Newton,23\nPrivate Written\nPrivate Correspondence\nIrvine, 1988\n1-011-raw.txt\n1-011#Raw\n1-011-raw.txt \u2014 40 KB\n<source><g=m><o=b><age=23><status=3><abode=00><p=nsw><r=prw><tt=pc><1-011>\nSirius Port Jackson 5 June 1788\nWe Arriv'd at Botany Bay the 20th Jany. Last after a Passage of 10 weeks from the Cape of Good Hope. the Dificulty we find in Getting store houses Erected for Discharging the Transports, Hutting the Troops, Convicts &c has put it out of our power to make any Discoveries in the Interior part of the Country. the only Discovery made is Contiguous to Botany & where we are Settling our Little Colony. its Cal'd in Cooks Voyage Port Jackson. by a Survey of Captain Hunters. it is found to be the Most Commodious perhaps in the World, the Latitude of it is 33.51' South Longitude 151.10 East & is 8 Leagues North of Botany. The Day we sail'd from thence Two French Frigates arriv'd from making Discoverys Round the World. they have been out above 3 Years & put in for Wood and water to build Boats. they have been at Most of the islands that Capt. Cook was at. At one them (Navigation Island) they Lost Two Boats with their Cruis & 8 officers Including Mons De Langle Capt. of the Astrolabe all massacred by the Natives They had 4 Boats on Shore but Luckily 2 Got off at another place they Lost Two Boats with there Cruis not a man Escaping.\nWe see many of the Natives Dayly with No More Covering Than what Nature Affords them. They Seem Not to be possessed of the Smallest Curiosity or Sensibility Whatever. They take us all for women owing I suppose to our not wearing Beards When we haul the Nett they Assist no Doubt with a View of being Gainers by it Yet Notwithstanding the Time we have been here, they are as Distant as ever with us. they Never come to our Camp Nor Suffer Their Women Near us ... [69] four convicts have been found kil'd by them & 6 or 7 more are Missing who we suppose have Shared the Same fate. The Govr'. has Sent our 2nd Lieut. Mr. King with one Mid. one Surgeons Mate a party of Seamen 7 Men & 6 female Convicts to Settle a Colony at Norfolk Island (which abounds with Firr Trees of an Enormous Size it is about E. N.E. 300 Leagues from Hence & is only 15 Miles in Circumference. We have Great Difficulty in Clearing the Country as we are badly assisted by the Convicts the Govr. has adopted the Most Lenient Means but to no purpose & finds that Nothing but Rigour will bring them to ordr. they are without Exception the most Incorragible Villians Breathing, & the Women the Most Obscene Creatures Imaginable. for Robberies Committed by the men 5 of them have been already hung. flogging has Lost its Effect.\nIt is a Charming Climate & will no doubt in Time be a fruitful one. the Gangeroo Mention'd by Cook are very Numerous & are the only Quadrupeds we find Worth Mentioning they Correspond with his Discription in Every Respect, Except our finding that the female has a false Belly or pouch Similar to the Opossum in wch. their Young take Shelter when Closely pursued. this we found by Shooting a Dam for as soon as she fell the Young one ran into its Asylum. [70] [71]\nThere are a Great Number of Birds & many Like our Game in England of a Most Beautiful Species Of Parroquets. There has been a Bird of Enormous Size kild Something Like the Ostrich but more Resembling the Emu (Described by Goldsmith) a Native of So. America it was 7f 2in high & weigh'd 104 pound.\nIt is Suggested we are to sail from hence in 2 Months to Explore the Coast & then proceed to Otahaite & the Islands Contiguous. if it Should be so it Will Make the time which begins to be irksome appear Less Tedious as it will be Novelty. We Learn from Lt. Ball of the Supply Arm'd Tender just Arriv'd from Norfolk that on his passage from thence he Discoverd an Island in Lat. 31. 23 wch. he Cald Lord Howe Island. it Abounds in Turtle Many of wch. he has Brought here wild pidgeons Abound there also (if the Expression may be Allow'd & a Fowl very much Resembling the Guinea Hen. As they Suffer themselves to be taken from off the Trees wth.out Attempting to Fly away & the former the men Run Down without any Difficulty.\nThis brings the Anniversary of H.M.y Birth Day it was Celebrated with Great pomp when the Country was Named Cumberland & the City Albion.\nThe Buildings will make a formidable Appearance in a Short Time. people are Employ'd in Making Brick &c. & here is Stone as fine as any Portland Stone. the Govr. & Lieut. Govr. are building Magnificently. but more Artificers are wanted An Officer of Marines & myself went a few Days since A Circuit along The Coast. on Landing the Natives Appeared very friendly to us But on our putting off the Boate they threw a Large Spear wch. providentially missed us but Came with Great Violence against the Side of the Boate this would not have happened had we a Musquet in the Boate the Dread of wch. is so Great that with one you might drive a Thousand before you. [72]\nThe women are very Dexterous in fishing in their Canoes & their Lines are made of the Bark of Trees & the Hooks of Shells Astonishing what a Length of Line they will continue undr. Water.\nIn the afternoon the Govonor Returned found Port Jackson to be an excellent harbour, got everything in readiness to Proceed there 24th Saw Two Ships in the offing Working up for the Bay but the Wind being to the N.W. & a Strong Current setting to the Southward they were soon out of sight 25th [January 1788] The Supply with the Govonor on board Sailed for Port Jackson where he intends to make the Settlement 26th the two fr Ships which were seen in the offing on the 24th Arrived this morning. they proved to be the Boussole & L'Astrolabe two French Ships on Discoveries they were commanded when they left France by Monsieur De La Perouse & Monsieur De Langle, the latter of whom was killed by the Natives of one of the Navigators [an island] with 12 men, 8 of whom were officers. They were on Shore in two of their Boats for Water their ships were under weigh & had dropt out of the Bay.\nThe Natives before had been very friendly to them and at this time one of the Boats was a ground and when they came down to murder them the French Supposed their intent was to assist them in launching the Boat that was a ground. it was supposed upwards of 500 Stones was thrown in the first Shower, The French immediately discharged a Volley of Small Arms at them & it is Supposed above 20 of the Natives must have been killed - Several of the French were also Wounded. those who escaped Swam off to their other Boat which lay off at a small distance the reason of this we could not learn. the French at first say'd they supposed it must have been done for the sake of keeping the Boats but afterwards some hints dropt that it was one of their Sailors had behaved very ill to some of the Natives. [73]\nMonsieur Clunard was afterward given the Command of the Astrolabe M. P\u00e9rouse on being asked what discoveries he had made paid Capt. Cook a very great Compliment by saying he had left nothing undone which was very handsome of him.. he (La Perouse) commanded the Squadron that destroyed our Settlements in Hudsons Bay. at 11 We got under Weigh & worked out of the Bay with all the Convoy. Stood for Port Jackson, in going from B. Bay to Port Jackson You Pass seven bluff heads. The entrance of Port Jackson is narrow but you may pass within 100 yards of South head. The North head projects out near a Mile to the Eastward of the South head which is quite Perpendicular from the Waters Edge. in Working in [sic] saw several of the Natives who called to us but as we approached the shore they retired to the bush. at 5 we anchored in a Small Cove where we found the Supply laying. all the Convoy by sunset were all at Anchor within us. here you are intirely Land Locked and it is impossible for any Wind to do you the least damage. the next day got on Shore some tents & Landed some of the Convicts & some of the shore division of Marines who were employed clearing Ground. 28 Capt. Hunter, Mr Bradley & other proper officers were employed Surveying the Harbour. Landed the remainder of the Convicts & Marines the former of whom were employed clearing the Ground the Latter pitching the encampment. the convicts were constantly employed in clearing & enclosing Ground. [74]\n30 [Jan] Land all the Cattle which was 5 Cowes 2 Bulls 6 Horses which came from the Cape in the Lady Penrhyn, Several Sheep & Hogs. Sunday February 3d Divine Service was performed on Shore for the first time. There has been a great deal of Thunder Lightning & heavy rain since our first Arrival here. on the night of the 6th Several trees were shivered with Lightning one in Particular which had several very Large Branches broke entirely off and several Sheep which were in a Pen under the Tree were killed. The next Day the Govonors Commission and Code of Laws for the Colony were read, in which he is Stiled Captain General & Govonor in chief of the Settlement in New South Wales & all the Adjacent Islands in the South Seas. he afterwards had a cold Dinner for the Officers at which I was. several Bumper Toasts was afterwards drank and we immediately broke up - 8th Capt Hunter finished the survey of the harbour. he says it contains a Number of very good Coves fit for any Vessel to Anchor in with the greatest safety. indeed he says it is the finest harbour in the known world. the Cove in which we are is called Sydney Cove. none of the rest is yet named. the Chart of the Harbour is kept very secret for fear it may get into some persons hands who might have it Publish'd in England before the Chart that is going to the Admiralty but as soon as it is made Publick I shall get a Plan of it. 9th Mon. Clunard came round in a boat from Botany Bay with their dispatches which are to go to Europe with ours. he returned the same Night, he would by no means go on Shore altho the Govonor rather pressed him. 12 Some People went to Botany Bay by land but the French Ships were gone while they lay in the Bay they buried one of their Abbeys over the Place where he was intered was a Latin Inscripsion Painted on Board this very luckily was taken off in a Pocket Book by one of the officers who went over there but in a few days after the Natives took it down. here the Govr. had an opportunity of returning Mon. Clunard's civility, by having a Sheet of Copper with the same Inscripsion engraved on it. as was painted on the Board the Natives took down and having the Copper Screwed to a tree. Mon Clunard when at Kamscatksa erected a very fine Monument over the remains of Capt. Clark and took down some Remains of an old one that Capt. Cook built. he likewise got the Natives to promise not to let any person take it down. While in the Bay they (The French) built two boats, dug & sowed a very good garden in hopes it might be of some service to us. this they could not get the Natives to promise not to pull down for I was over there a few days after they sailed & found it all the fence tore in Pekes and the Ground trampled all over. so we may expect but very little good from it. 14th Lt. King. Mr Jemeison Surgeon's Mate & Mr Cunningham, Masters Mate with 4 seamen, 2 Marines & 12 Convicts went on board the Supply to go to Norfolk Island & make a Settlement there which is to Supply this Colony with Pine as no light wood can be got here. Sent with them 6 Months Provisions A Boat equipt with every Necessary Article, A Sceine, Tools of all sorts. it is likewise expected to find flax there so a Weaver & a Loom was sent. Richard Widdicombe was one of the men Mr King chose to take with him so I took the opportunity of mention him to Mr King. one day at the Govonors they both spoke very much in his favour and I dont doubt but he will do well if he pleases. the next day the Supply sailed. so things went joging on till the 25 when Richard Bennet one of the Convicts must steal some provisions for which he was hung. the Convicts were constantly employed clearing Ground, building Store houses for the Reception of Provisions &c. which were built by putting trees about 2 feet in the ground so as to touch each other & thatched over with rushes. there are likewise a number of hovels built of Cabbage Tree for the officers & the Batallion. they are chiefly thatched with rushes but some are covered with Wooden tiles. the wood of which these tiles are made of Splits something like the Ash but in any other respect is not the least like it. [75] [76]\nSome of our People were employed in making a Garden on an Island which was Named Garden Island. On the 20th of March the Supply returned they found much difficulty in Landing Mr King & his Party as the surf ran so very high. in most places the Rocks are perpendicular, they at last landed in a small inlet that a reef of rocks surrounds the mouth of. only here & there a small passage for boats which as soon as you are past you get in Smoothe Water & Land on a Sandy beach. within these rocks some Turtle were seen.\nNorfolk Island abounds with great Quantities of Pine some of which were measured to be 45 feet from the bottom of the Trunk to the top of the tree and about 40 feet of which had not a knot. the diameter was from 8 to 10 feet I have heard some people say they are 170 feet in height & 100 feet clear of knots but that I think is quite out of all reason the Island is Situated in Latd.. 29.02 S Longitude 168.16 East of Greenwich. on their Passage there & on the 17 of Febry. At day Light in the morning they discovered what they thought to be two Islands bearing ESE Stood towards them all day but it proving little wind did not near them much. on the Evening the Breze freshned they kept a press of sail directly for them till Midnight & then Shortned sail till day light expecting to be near them. as the day broke saw the Land which was seen indistinctly during the night & at the same time saw a high Pyrimidical Rock which as they had not seen it before it seem'd very near them made it prudent for them to lay to till the day was a little advanced They then made all sail possible and it was not before Noon they were able to get to the Northward of this Island so as to secure a good Meridional observation which however was obtained & they had every reason to beleive they were the first Navigators who had ever seen this Island. Lieutenant Ball named it Lord Howe Island in honour of the Present first Lord of the Admiralty. It is situated in Latitude 31.36 South and Longd. 159' 02\" East of Greenwich It lays in the form of a half moon its convex side towards the NE. The two Supposed Islands that were first seen proved to be two high mountains on the SE end of the Island the Southermost of which is called Mount Gower the other Mount Lidgbird between which is a deep Valley called Eskine Vale The SE point Is called Point King, the N.W Point Philip these two points form the concave side of the Island facing S.W and is lined with a Sandy Beach. on the Island which is guarded against the Sea by a reef of corral rocks at the Distance of about half a Mile from the Beach. through this reef there are several small openings for Boats but it is much to be regreted that the depth of water within this reef does not exceed any where more than 4 Feet [78] Innumerable Quantity of very fine Turtle frequent this Island in the Summer Months but they all retire to the Northward during the Winter Season there was not the Least difficulty found in taking them nor would they quit their intention, of Landing on the Beach tho they [the seamen] were busily employed in Turning & carrying into the boats as many as they could stow On the Shore are many of Gannets There are found here A dusky brown bird with a long bill & feet like a Chicken are remarkable fat & very good food but rather tough Many Pidgeons which are very Large, a white fowl something like the Guinea hen with a very Strong Red thick & Sharp pointed Bill legs like a Stout barn door fowl. they are thought Carniverous. they hold their food between their hind claw & the Bottom of their foot & lift it to their mouth without stooping so much as a Parrot does. [77]\nsome of them which are supposed to be the Male have some blue feathers thinly interspersed on the Wing the Tail & Slope of the rump very much resemble the Guinea fowl. here is also a Species of Webfooted fowl in general of a deep blue with a bill of about 2 inches Long Strait but suddenly bent downwards at the end & very Sharp & Strong, a fine eye like a dove. its wings do not seemed formed for a long flight having only 6 long feathers in each Wing. its breast is covered with a very thick long down from the breast bone to the Lower part of the Belly. & what is very extrodianary [sic] this down proceeds from the tips of very strong feathers with witch the whole Brest & Belly is covered. its length from the tip of the bill to the extremity of the tail is about 22 Inches & Breadth from the tips of the Wings 25 inches. they were found & took burrowing in holes like Rabbits. there is also the Jay of the Long bill kind with a few white feathers intermixed in the Wings & tail. The Sandy Beach before Mentioned forms three distinct Bays the Northermost of which is called Callum Bay. in Respect to the Surgeon of the Supply the Middle one is Named Hunters Bay the other is Named Prince Willm. Hen Bay, which begins at Mount Gower & ends at Blackburne Island which stands about 2 Miles from the Shore near which there is not above 4 feet Water. The Island itself is Rockey, but abounds in Cabbage Palms, Mangroves & Mangenele Trees to the very tops of the Mountains. There was not seen the least sign or mark of any Quadruped whatever. The Island may be from 2 Miles to 2 1\/2 miles in Breadth and about 7 or 8 in Length the Soil Sandy & rockey abounding in great Quantity of underwood. but it is supposed the Island can be of no use in respect to Agriculture but it may be a Valuable Acquisition in the Summer Months to this Settlement [Sydney Cove] for Turtle, fowl, & Fish. The Anchoring Ground on the North Side is but indifferent being a hard Rockey Bottom & if your Ship drives you must immediately cut your cable should the Wind be on the Shore.. There is no danger in Approaching the Island from the Sea. [79] The Pyrimidical Rock may be seen at the Distance of 20 Leagues. it lays about 4 Mile to the Northwd. of Lord Howe Island through Which is a Passage for any Ship. to the Northward of the Pyrimid lays 5 Distinct Rocks which are called the Admiralty Rocks This Discripsion of Lord Howe Island I got from one of the Gentlemen of the Supply who is going to England by whom I shall a Short Letter which he has promised to deliver himself to my Brother James.\nThe Natives passed the ship [the Sirius anchored in Sydney Cove] daily but never came close to her. we could often see them strike fish. I have often gone to them & given them things which they readily axcept but will never part with anything, particular their fish which is their only Subsistance & I beleive they have little enough for themselves.\nOn the 11 of April the Govonor & Capt Hunter went down the harbour to have a Conference with the Natives. in one of the Coves they found out a small Narrow Channel of about 100 yards [the Spit?] which led up to a Large Arm. they did not that day go to the head of it this new discovery took up his attention so much that he paid very little attention to the Natives. he returned the same Night. 15th The Govonor accompanied by several officers went from the New Discovered Arm into the Country for a few Days.. they returned on the 19th [April] having found a very fine country when he was about 3 Miles from the waterside, but near the water it was very rockey [Middle Harbour and its environs?] 21st [April 1788] Capt. Hunter employed Surveying the New Discovered Arm. 23rd The Govonor with several other officers & a Party of Marines went from the head of the harbour to Travel in Land. they Took with them 6 Days Provisions some Tents & some Hatches. 25 Capt. Hunter finished the Survey. he found it very Spacious but at some places very shoal. the Cove it runs out of is rather Shoal just at its entrance having at low water only 2 Fath at some places. but when you pass this which is not very broad you have 10 Fathom Water. 28 saw the Govr. who went further up the harbour in a boat to examine A River they had found out at the head of which was a Slate Rock. found it Navigable to within about 2 Mile of the Head. he Supposed he had been about 40 mile in Land & that it was all the Way like a Park with Trees about 20 yards Distance from each other. the country in General quite a Plain. the Grass about 3 feet high & pathes all the Way that Natives had made. [80]\nat about the distance of about 20 Miles from them when furthest in Land they saw Mountains, the very tops of them can be seen in a clear day from the head of the harbour. Water in Land is in great Plenty. they saw Several Ponds. some of them 200 Yards wide & several Widgeon in them. the soil in land they found very good.\nMay 1 Willm Bennet was hung for thieving. 4th went among some of the Natives. they seemed very friendly. all of them have long beards which is very troublesome to them. one of the Party Shaved one of them with a Penknife which must have been very painful to him yet he was very glad to get rid of it. [81]\n5th. Sailed the Supply for Lord Howe Island & the Lady Penrhyn for China. it is Supposed she is going to Kamscatksa for furs which she means to dispose of at China should She get clear of the Coast, for the Russians have Ships Cruizing here the same as Ships on the English Coast looking after Smuglers. She [supply] is deemd as such by them as the fur trade is a Counterband (contre?) Trade & as she has cleared out from this port [Sydney Cove] for China She may be made a prize to any Man of War that should happen to fall in with her of what Nation soever.. I should not have the least objection to fall in with her as she would be a very good prize when Loaded. 6th The Charlotte & Scarborough sailed for China 19 Another Store house being finished began clearing the remainder of the Ships. 24th For the first time 2 Natives in Canoes came alongside the Ship they were as usual very noisy & Seemed Surprized at many things he saw. they had some fish given them & after Staying near an hour they went on Shore. Could not perswade them to come on board. [82] [83]\nand I think what enticed them to come Alongside was some fish' some of the People showed them. it is their only food & they have very little of it particular in the Winter Months. they have been sometimes seen chewing the root of a ferne which they have roasted over a fire till it was so smoaky it might be smelt a Mile. 25th the Supply Arrived from Ld. Howe Island. she had been caught in a Gale of Wind when at Anchor and very near driven on the reef of Rocks (which I have before discribed laying half a Mile from the Shore) and was obliged to cut her Cable & proceed for sea as fast as possible. The Three Transports which were bound for China touched at the Island but the Turtle were all gone to the Northwd. this being the Winter Season. but the Birds were as usual. 30th Three Natives came alongside in their Canoes & Stayed near two hours. they were very much Surprized at the Ships head which is an Image.\nIn the Afternoon two Convicts who were sent to cut rushes were found murdered by the Natives who had thrown Several spears in them. one of them had a large peice of Scull cut out of his forehead Supposed to have been done with an Axe which they [convicts] carried with them to build a Hutt. The next Day the Govonor went up the Harbour attended by some of the Officers & some Marines to try & find out the Natives who had Murdered the Convicts. this might be very easily known as they [the natives] took from them [the murdered duo] An Axe, 2 Bill Hooks & 2 Sithes. and of course the people who are found with these tools are undoubtedly the Murderers Several Scouting parties were sent out wherever any Natives were seen to see if they have any of these tools. [84]\nthe Govr. Returned, said he had seen a party of Armed Natives to the Number of 211. he immediately Advanced towards them & one of them seeing him unarmed gave his Spear to another and met the Govonor. after a few Motions on both sides a Man presented himself who had a Deep cut on his Shoulder which must have been either from an axe or Sword. they at last parted very good friends. indeed the Natives are a very quiet sort of people when a Gun is near them for one Gun will frighten 40 of them. if you are not armed they will take the advantage of it for tho they are described as a set of people without the least curiosity they have a great deal of Cunning.\non the 4 [June] being the Kings birthday we fired 3 Royal Salutes & a Dinner was given by the Govonor to all the officers. he than Named the intended Town Albion. the County Cumberland which extends from the Head of Botany Bay to the Head of Broken Bay which lays about 7 Mile to the Northward of this & as far in the Country as the Mountains which I before mentioned. that part of them which is nearest Botany are Named Lansdown Hills the other part is called Carmathan Mountains, very Large Bonfires were made on Shore by the Convicts & several of the Officers Mar were Robed. one man was taken in the fact. another as soon as he heard he was found out disappeared. the same day all the Cows that was brought out in this ship were lost & it was Supposed he had driven them off Several scouting Parties were sent out with orders to Shoot him if he attempted to run away. he held out till the 26 when he was taken within 2 Miles of the Encampment. at the same time the other Man lay under Sentence of Death he was immediately tryed & condemned & the next day they were both executed.\nOn Sunday the 22d Three distinct shocks of an earthquake were felt by several people I was on board one of the Transports & felt two of them very forcibly the other was rather fainter. it did not the least damage. it happened about 4 OClock in the Afternoon wch was & had been for some time very fine. when I told it to some on board this ship for it was not felt by any person here they supposed I must have mistook it for something else as earthquakes always happens when the weather is very bad. it was exactly like a Ship running on shore. [85]\nI forgot to mention in the proper place that when the man was taken he denied ever seeing the Cowes even to the last & we have not seen them since, nor do we ever expect to hear of them again. this is a very great loss to the Colony as we must go a long way before we can replace them. either to the Cape of Good Hope or the Philipine Islands\"; I am of opinion the Natives have killed them as once before they threw a spear at one of them calling them Kangooroo at the same time.\nThese animals are peculiar to this Country none of them is found in any other place, their head very much resembles that of a fox. their fore legs very Short with a hand like a Monkeys its hind Legs are remarkable Long having only two Claws on each them, they have very large Tails. some [tails] have measured 18 Inches Circumference & Weighed 140 Pounds.\nThey have likewise a false belly. this is no more than a Bag that inside their Skin in which they serene their Young either from the Cold or the Game Keeper. they sit on their Breech & jump forward without their forefeet toutching the Ground about 3 Yards at each jump. I am of opinion their tail must be of great service to them in the Spring. [86]\nThey are very shy that it is very hard to get a Shot at them, so hard that I have not been able to get any their Colour is a fine Grey over the Back, the Belly quite white their fur very fine & not above an Inch long. they are very good food & taste like a Deer & to give you a better idea of it have sent you a sketch of it.\nThe other sort of Quadrupeds ate the Opossum. these are the same or nearly as the Mongoose in the East Indies they have likewise the false belly are of a brown colour. their head something resembling the Kangooroo in Shape & are about the size of a Rabbit. their Tail Long by which they can hang round a Branch of a Tree. they are very good food not much unlike a Hare. there are I beleive several different sorts of them they mostly live in Trees & feed on the Leaves or any small Berry they can get. there is likewise several different sorts of Squirrels Particular the Flying Squirrel. these are in every respect like the English Squirrel but have Square Wings which reach from the shoulder to the Hind Leg & when shut lay close along the Belly & are very like the wing of a Bat they cannot fly above 60 Yards at a time & then they descend very much. very few of those have been taken.\nThere are several Guanas just the same as them in the west Indies. of Birds there are vast Numbers & of various Sorts but the Bird that we look on as the Greatest Curiosity is the Emew of which there has been only one Shot. it in every respect answers the discripsion of an Ostrich but in the Feathers of which two Grow from the same Quill the Quill is as small as the quill of a Small bird. the feather is very fine about 8 Inches long & very small. I had not an opportunity of seeing it as it was put in Spirits as soon as it was brought in the Camp. I beleive [sic] it is going home in one of the Transpts.. several of them (emus) have been seen since. they do not fly but run faster than any Greyhound whatever. they are not very plenty but are mostly found near Swamps this Weighed 104 Pounds & when it stood upright was about 7 feet. there are hawks, Kites, Crows, Wild Ducks & Widgeon, the same as in England. there are some Black swans but they are rather Scarce only one of them have yet been shot. The handsomest Birds here are the Loreyquets they are of different Colours but the Plumage of them are very Brilliant so much so that Paint cannot discribe their Brilliancy. however I have sent one of them Stuffed to give you an Idea of it. There are different sorts of them but all of them are very handsome. there are the Green Parroquets which are common on the Coast of Guinea & are very often brought to England, but the Lorey I never heard of in England. there is the quail exactly the same & in England & a Bird about the size of the Thrush and not much unlike them. they feed on Berries and are very good food as are most birds here. there are several small birds one in particular very like a Goldfinch. the rest are unknown to me. [87]\nOf Reptiles there are Several different sorts of Snakes but none I beleive venimous. they have been caught 9 feet Long are very beautiful Colours & scaled like a fish.\nOf Trees there are many sorts the Sanguis Draconis I have already described & can say no more of them than that they are very Large in general they are mostly decayed in the heart & if the Sun gets on any of the Boards they immediately Warp & is very short Grained. another sort that looks very like the Fir Tree when Growing but the Grain is like Ash to look at but very Short. a kind of Mohoganay is to be found but not very plenty The Cabbage Tree is plenty wherever there is a run of fresh Water & good soil These are in Circumference about 26 Inches & grow to be about 20 or 25 feet high I have seen some 40 feet but these are not very common. [88] [89] [90] their Cabbage is at the top where some broad leaves spring out and the cutting off the Cabbage effectually ruins the tree for you can get but one Cabbage from one Tree the Cabbage is very good eating either as a Sallad or just as it comes out of the Tree & I beleive very good for the Scurvey there are several other sort of trees. the wood of them are not worth much as the Grain is so very short they snap with a very little Weight most of the Trees have been burnt about the root & some are quite hollow that you might stow half a Dozen hogsheads inside them there is a small Tree from the Top of which grows a light Stick about 6 or 8 feet Long with which the Natives make their Spears these Trees are about 4 feet high & are all burnt from these the Natives get their Gum with which they join their Spearhandle together when it is quite hot & Boiling out of the Tree. I have often seen two Trees grafted together & very often two sorts of wood proceed from the same root. of underwood there is a great Variety but I am not Botanist enough to distinguish one from the other except a Bush on which grows some small green Berries or currents of So. Wales which have a very pleasant strong tartness & are very good for the Scurvey. they grow in great Quantities make very good tarts but destroy a great deal of Sugar another sort is very like the furze in every other respect but it has no thorns & does not grow quite so thick but higher. there are a great many other sorts which I can give no account of.\nNow I will attempt to give some Accounts of the Natives, they are in General about five feet seven or eight are very lean especially about the Arms & Legs. their hair is always kept Short & is not very Coarse. They have fish bones claws of Birds or a Dog's tail tied to their hair & gumed that it might not come off. Their Colour is dark brown but they appear quite black as their skin is constantly covered with Gum. in other respects they are like the East Indian Blacks. They go quite Naked and I beleive have no proper place of abode they all have Canoes which is just the bark of a Tree with both ends tied up & spread open with 2 or 3 Sticks in the Middle. They have a small paddle in each hand with which they paddle their Canoes which will not carry above 3 People they (the canoes) sometimes are to be seen 18 feet but their Genl. run is from 12 to 14 feet & about 2 feet Wide in these canoes their whole Subsistance depends they are always fishing. their lines are made of part of the Cabbage Tree & their hooks of some shell & I beleive in the Summer they catch a great Number - they are all given to theiving that if you lay any down & turn your head it is off if any of them are near [92] [93]. one day when our boat was hauling the Sceine A kettle was taken by one of the men to boil some fish for his breakfast. a Native observed him put the fish in the Kettle as soon as his back was turned A Native wipt both his hands in the kettle (not having any idea of boiling Water) to steal the fish but before he got his hands to the fish was glad to take them away again, & walk off with himself. [91]\nThey shelter in Cavities in the Rocks & make a large fire. But about Botany Bay there are none of these Cavities so they get the Bark of a Tree about 10 feet tong, bend it in the middle & place the two ends of it on the Ground at about 6 Feet Distance & filling up one of the entrances, this makes them a hutt.\nThey have a number of Dogs belonging to them which they call Tingo. they do not bark like our Dogs but howl. the Govonor has one of them that he intends Sending home in one of the Transports. they are the Wolf Dog - are the Colour of a fox & have a brush tail. at first would eat nothing but fish that being his constant food. [94]\nSeveral of the Natives have one of their teeth out of the Upper Jaw. what this means I could never find out but they are respected by the rest & seem to have some authority over them. some people say it denotes their being Married which gives them this Authority. As for their Spears I have sent you a scetch of them with a Discripsion & use of each they have some of them a bone go across their Nose through the Middle part of it which parts the two Nostrils - about 6 Inches Long they look on it as a great Ornament. some of them paint themselves about the face, are very fond of painting round their Eyes White. they have a Number of Scars about their Breast & Shoulders, they at our first Arrival seemed to wish very much for our hats which plainly shows the sun hurts their head. None of them ever came in the encampment to Stay any time & I think it will be a long time before they will be of any Service in the Colony.\nThe Climate is exceeding fine & healthy much more so than I expected for since the Landing we have lost only 39 Convicts, 3 of the Marines, one Man from the Supply & one from us. at the first Landing most people had a Slight touch of the flux but that soon Wore off. it was owing to the confinement some of the Convicts had as they have lain in a Gaol some 3 some 4 Years.. they are at present prety healthy. in respect to Vegetables we have here are very few. there is a Plant very like the Spinage in England which afford us a most excellent repast with a piece of - I was going to say Pork, but will call it Bacon. there is a sort of beans which are very good but not very plenty. Samphire here is in great Quantities the only thing Wanted is Ingredients to Pickel them with. there is likewise a sort of Kidney Bean which grows on the Rocks which are very good Pickled but no other way.\nSo much will I say for the Country, Birds, Beasts &c & now for myself On Mr King's going to Norfolk I was appointed to act as Junior Lieutenant until further orders. Now you most likely will know my fate before I shall myself that is whether they will continue Mr King as Govonor of Norfolk or no. Some People must constantly be kept there for the Pine which is a very great Acquisition to this Colony as no wood here is fit to build any vessal of that I have seen. it is so very short grained it will break off very short. if Mr King continues I shall be confirmed if not I must wait for another opportunity at all events I think it will be for my good to Stay out till something is done for me, now I wish your opinion on that head. [95]\nI am very well off for all sorts of Clothes except Shoes of which I have only 2 Pair left & what I shall do till you can send some out I dont know However I should be very much obliged to you to send me a Dozen & a half pair of Shoes & some of them of the Shooting Sort just such as I left behind me, another sort thick & a few pair thin. I beleive my foot has grown much since the last shoes were made me so pray tell Huskin they were rather stinted in the upper Leather. the length of my foot at present is 10 Inches so he is may make them in every way Proportionable.\nWhen I was at the Cape of Good Hope I was rather in want of Money & drew a Bill on Mr Coombes to the Amount of Ten Pounds. I wrote a short Letter which I left unsealed with the Person who gave me the Money. for that as well as the good fitting out I got in England I again return you my thanks & hope I shall not be any more expence to you for at least 5 or 6 Year, except for a very few articles such as Shoes. I should likewise be very thankful for a Couple pair of buckles and a few Pocket Handkerchiefs & some soap, of which I brough about a Half Hundred Weight from England but that will be out I am afraid before you will be able to assist me. some Towels very coarse, and some large table cloths I shall want very bad, if they are sent out in the Peice I can get them made here.\nThe Govonor Continues his kindness for me & I dont doubt but he will do all in his power to get me Confirmed. There are two young men come out of Merchant ships that have passed but I beleive they will not stand so good a chance as the Gentlemen who came out of England in the ship. One of them is Son to the Agent of transports.\nI dare say you must remember Mr Collins who was at Brent & quarreled with Mr Aymeatt. he is going to England & is to carry this Letter. he promised to deliver it himself which I have taken Very kind of him & likewise that it will be a great Satisfaction to you to see a person who came immediately from me. He has been very ill since he has been here & finds the Climate or the Living not to agree with him. The Latter I think is as bad as any person need live having only Salt Provisions. Now the Winter Months are Set in very few fish to be got. [96]\nall the Transports are not going home now as there are not Store houses enough to receive their Cargo but I hope soon we shall have Brick houses as Bricks are making very Fast & a good Brick Kiln built & they have burnt several Thousand. The Agent Lieut Shortland is to carry home the Dispatches & I dare say will be home about March (1789). you will know that before me so I might have saved myself the Trouble of Mentioning that. The Reason of my giving the Different Variations of the Compass is that if any of my Acquaintance Should come out in the next fleet they will be of some service to him. I forgot to mention among the birds the Cockatoo. they are about the size of a large owl. quite as white as Milk all over except a few Yellow feathers on the top of their head which have a pretty effect. they are very indifferent food & make a disagreeable Noise so the only handsome thing belonging to them is their Plumage.\nI dare say the News Papers have lost us in many Gales of Wind & have been Split on many Rocks,, Run away with by the convicts Several Times & many other ways Destroyed.. I should be glad if you would take notice of all these Reports & send me an an Account of it. I fancy I must now Conclude by desiring my Respectful Compliments to Capt. & Mrs Ourry & Palmer, Dr & Mrs Birdwood & to make Short all my friends near & about the South Hams, my Love to my Brothers, My Duty to my Mother & Aunts Pauncefort & Digby I hope my Cousin Henry is now in the West Indies or in Some Smart Cruizing Frigate and I dont doubt but he will make a good Seaman if I might guess by what little I could see of him when at Portsmouth. I must again remind you how very Short I am of Shoes & then Subscribe myself as\nYour dutiful Son\nNewton Fowell.\nSydney Cove in\nPort Jackson\nJuly 12. 1788\nThe Ships Sail the 16th 1788\n<\\1-011><\\g=m><\\o=b><\\age=23><\\status=3><\\abode=00><\\p=nsw><\\r=prw><\\tt=pc>\nhttp:\/\/ns.ausnc.org.au\/corpora\/cooee\/source\/1-011#Raw","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Global Advocacy\nScaleHub\nAlumHub\nGroundwork Podcast\nMEPPA\nUSAID announces largest-ever single funding opportunity for the work of Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders\nIn December 2020, after over a decade of ALLMEP advocacy, the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act was enacted into law. We are pleased to let you know that the Lowey Fund's first open call for proposals has just been published. You can access all the information on the Annual Program Statement (APS) via this link.\nAiming to \"foster a grassroots effort to affect policy change\" while \"strengthening engagement between Palestinians and Israelis,\" the APS heralds an expanded definition of people-to-people peacebuilding, both within and between each society, aiming to \"help advance a just resolution to the conflict.\" Connecting the work\u2014and impact\u2014of grassroots peacebuilders with the goal of advancing peace on a policy or political level, the APS represents an exciting moment for the peacebuilding field.\nALLMEP will be holding a series of briefings for its 150+ membership as well as for private philanthropic actors and partners, to ensure that this call and the wider opportunity that the Lowey Fund heralds is fully understood. Check back here for consistent updates about the state of the call.\nThis first call is for at least $15 million, representing the largest-ever single funding opportunity for the work of Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders. Applications can be for both shared society work and for cross-border peacebuilding. There will be a rolling window for applications, with this opportunity open for one year, until September 1st, 2022, with USAID \"reserving the right to issue additional calls\" under this same annual program.\nUSAID will begin reviewing the first round of concept papers on October 22nd, 2021, with an expectation of signing the first batch of grant agreements in December. With support ranging from $250,000 to an upper threshold of $5,000,000, this is a pivotal opportunity for the peacebuilding field to scale their activities and ambition, as well as a moment for innovation and for new actors to emerge.\nWith the Partnership for Peace Fund Advisory Board in the process of being formed, we expect further developments in the coming weeks and months, and are continuing to work with our partners in the Administration, in Congress, and with partner governments around the world to ensure that the Lowey Fund's full potential is unlocked.\nIf I have questions about the APS, how do I submit them to USAID?\nUPDATE: USAID has amended its schedule, and questions regarding the APS should be submitted via email to Sandy Sakran at ssakran@usaid.gov. Please note that for questions to be considered, the subject line of the email must be: \"APS 72029421APS00001 Questions.\"\nHow long is the call open for?\nThis APS is open for one year, until September 1, 2022. Concept Papers will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The initial APS is officially closed.\nWill both shared society and cross-border work be considered?\nYes, the APS indicates that both shared society and cross-border work may be supported by USAID. While the APS does not indicate how much funding will be dedicated for each, it does indicate that the majority of the funding will be granted for cross-border work.\nWill intra-group work with one population cohort be considered?\nThe APS definition of people to people work states that it \"includes initiatives within the respective societies that contribute to a peaceful co-existence, mitigate impacts from the current conflict, and help advance a just resolution to that conflict.\"\nIs there a requirement for cost-share?\nUSAID has established that Cost Sharing is not required.\nWhere can I find the slides from USAID's pre-application info session and the updated APS Q\/A from October 15, 2021?\nUSAID has made these resources available alongside the APS and ALLMEP has shared them here: Pre-Application Slides and Updated APS Q\/A\n1725 I St NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006\n202 618-4600 | info@allmep.org\n\u00a92022 Alliance for Middle East Peace\nFinancials | Privacy Policy\nContact Us | Members Login\nThis website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy.\nThis website uses Google Analytics and the Facebook pixel to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, the most popular pages, and the performance of our content on Facebook.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Money well spent\nJason Baron discusses the effects of different types of school spending on student outcomes.\nTyler Smith\nSource: Wavebreak Media Ltd\nThe United States has dramatically increased its funding for public schools over the last four decades. Real per-pupil expenditures have nearly doubled since 1980.\nIn a paper in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, author Jason Baron found that when school budgets increased in Wisconsin, allocation choices made a big difference in student outcomes.\nBaron says that additional spending on operations, such as teacher salaries and support services, positively affected test scores, dropout rates, and postsecondary enrollment. But extra capital expenditures on new buildings and renovations had little impact.\nHe recently spoke with Tyler Smith about why different types of school funding matter and how school budgets may continue to evolve.\nThe edited highlights of that conversation are below, and the full interview can be heard using the podcast player.\nListen to all of our podcasts!\nTyler Smith: Why did you choose to study school spending in Wisconsin? What made it a good test case for your question?\nJason Baron: I became very interested in this question when I started reading and was shocked at the fact that there was a big debate among economists about the effects of school funding. One of the reasons I was shocked was that I'm originally from Mexico. Where I grew up, public schools were very poorly funded. And so when we moved to the United States when I was 15, my brother and I were able to access an incredible public school, with really nice facilities, incredible teachers, and guidance counselors. In my mind, it was a no-brainer that this was mainly due to funding. All else equal, I would expect that more school funding would impact outcomes. I also went to high school and undergrad in Wisconsin, and I knew from my experience living there that there were these elections that school districts hold any time they want to spend more money. And this got me thinking about how just by luck, some school districts are able to spend more money, and other school districts are not able to spend more money. I realized that I could use this to contribute to some of the literature on the causal effects of school funding on outcomes like test scores and graduation rates.\nSmith: How big were these operational funding increases after referendums, and what were schools spending that money on?\nBaron: I find that when a school district narrowly passes one of these operational referendums, most of the money that they spend is on the instructional account, namely teachers. This can be hiring additional teachers or increasing the average teacher salary. To give you a little sense of the magnitude here, when a school district narrowly passes an operational referendum, they increase operational expenditures by roughly $300 per pupil. This is not a huge increase; it is about 3 percent relative to what they were spending the year before the election. I find that roughly $200 of this $300 is spent on the instructional account in the form of either additional teachers and teacher aides or increases in average teacher compensation. The remaining $100 is spent on what are known as support services, so these are either guidance counselors, school psychologists or social workers.\nSmith: What kind of impact did these operational funding increases have on student outcomes?\nBaron: In short, I find that these increases in expenditures greatly improve student outcomes. To be a little bit more specific, I found that when a school district narrowly passes an operational referendum, it leads to an increase of approximately 8 percent of a standard deviation in the state standardized exam or the WKCE for people from Wisconsin, which is the accountability exam, a kind of No Child Left Behind exam. I find a 9 percent reduction in the district's dropout rate and a 10 percent increase in the number of high-school completers in the school district who subsequently go on to enroll in post-secondary education.\nWe need to look at each context, evaluate the state of the infrastructure, evaluate the state of personnel quality and understand that not all spending is equal. We might have higher returns when targeting spending to the areas that are needed the most in a particular setting.\nJason Baron\nSmith: You don't find that capital expenditure increases have any impact on student outcomes. Why don't you see any effect?\nBaron: I find that when a school district narrowly passes a capital bond referendum, capital expenditures increased dramatically\u2014by $4,000 per pupil or 200 percent\u2014relative to expenditures in capital in the year before the election. But I find no evidence that this is leading to impacts on class sizes, teacher compensation, or teacher experience. I thought this was puzzling, and so I looked at the intended purpose of each of these referendums. I saw that most of the time, these are big renovations primarily for classrooms. I saw very little evidence that they led to changes in test scores, dropout rates, or post-secondary enrollment.\nI think something to keep in mind here is that these may not be the relevant outcomes. It may be that they keep children in school and more engaged. Maybe that doesn't translate into a large increase in academic improvements, but they could be leading to a host of other benefits that we're not seeing in my data\u2014maybe a reduction in criminal activity or a reduction in the likelihood of getting into trouble outside of school. Wisconsin also had very decent infrastructure already. So we might see different effects if you do this in a school district that has very bad infrastructure to begin with, where the returns could be higher.\nSmith: What would you like school administrators or others contemplating school budget changes to take away from this work?\nBaron: I think my study was a good step in the right direction. But I think that we need a lot more work to try to figure out which expenditures might be most productive. There's very compelling evidence in the last five or so years that additional school funding can improve outcomes like test scores and earnings and a host of other outcomes. I think we should move on from that to really start thinking about which types of expenditures are most productive. I would say that in an era where policymakers grapple with tight budget constraints and with decisions about how to spend scarce resources, figuring out the answer to this question is very important.\nWhat we can take from my study is simply that in a setting where infrastructure is already at an adequate level, the marginal return to spending may be higher when we invest in personnel such as teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers. I think the main thing I would want someone to take away from this is that we need to look at each context, evaluate the state of the infrastructure, evaluate the state of personnel quality and understand that not all spending is equal. We might have higher returns when targeting spending to the areas that are needed the most in a particular setting.\n\"School Spending and Student Outcomes: Evidence from Revenue Limit Elections in Wisconsin\" appears in the February 2022 issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. Music in the audio is by Podington Bear.\nGetting the help they need\nHow did cuts to special education in Texas affect the long-run outcomes for students?\nLeave no neighborhood behind\nFunding formulas for charter schools should be tied to the cost of educating students.\nView All Highlights Follow on Twitter Follow on Facebook Get Email Digest RSS Feed\nAbout the AEA\nAEA Membership\nAEA Code of Professional Conduct\nAEA Policy on Harassment and Discrimination\nAEA Ombudsperson\nAEA Whistleblower Policy\nUniversal Academic Survey\nSubmit to a Journal\nGet instructions on submitting your work for publication.\nJoin the AEA.\nSearch all Journal Articles\nExplore the AEA's prestigious journals.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"content-search-index Tag: YHOO YHOO 5 SEARCH RESULTS FOR: \"Tag: YHOO\"\nAnalyst Update(4)\nEarnings Preview(5)\nOff the Charts(2)\nStocks On the Move(17)\nThe Week Ahead(2)\nRandom Friday: Spoofing, Volume Takes a Dip, and Yahoo\nhttps:\/\/www.schaeffersresearch.com\/content\/analysis\/2020\/06\/24\/random-friday-spoofing-volume-takes-a-dip-and-yahoo\nWhat did we learn this week? We learned new uses of the words \"spoofing\" and \"layering\" -- as in, \"Spoofing and Layering by One Guy in His U.K. Basement Caused the Flash Crash.\" Except it probably d...\nAltaba Stock Could Be Flashing 'Buy'\nhttps:\/\/www.schaeffersresearch.com\/content\/analysis\/2017\/12\/21\/altaba-stock-could-be-flashing-buy\nThe shares of Altaba Inc (NASDAQ:AABA) -- formerly Yahoo -- touched a record peak of $73.25 about a month ago. Since then, the tech concern has pulled back to its 40-day moving average -- a technica...\nSQ, AABA, KBH Stocks Upgraded Today\nhttps:\/\/www.schaeffersresearch.com\/content\/news\/2017\/06\/28\/sq-aaba-kbh-stocks-upgraded-today\nAnalysts are weighing in on payments processor Square Inc (NYSE:SQ), investment company Altaba Inc (NASDAQ:AABA), and homebuilder stock KB Home (NYSE:KBH). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish br...\nAltaba Stock Options Volume Pops After Yahoo Shift\nhttps:\/\/www.schaeffersresearch.com\/content\/options\/2017\/06\/26\/altaba-stock-options-volume-pops-after-yahoo-shift\nAfter Verizon completed its purchase of Yahoo's core operations unit, the remaining assets of the former internet name and now investment company -- which holds a sizable stake in Alibaba -- became k...\nDow Jones Industrial Average Futures Signal Record Open\nhttps:\/\/www.schaeffersresearch.com\/content\/ezines\/2017\/06\/19\/dow-jones-industrial-average-futures-signal-record-open\nDow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are trading above fair value, as the blue-chip index takes aim at a new record high. Mega-cap tech stocks are on track for a higher start, too, with Apple...\nSCTY","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Miscellaneous \u2022 Reports\nUK As A National State\nby Nigel Biggar\nWritten by Nigel Biggar\nStronger external security for liberal democracy is one thing that the UK is good for. The second is peace, trust, and solidarity among the four nations in the British Isles. We often forget, especially if we're English, that the UK is a multinational state.\nWHAT THE UNITED KINGDOM IS GOOD FOR\nSAFER LIBERAL DEMOCRACY\nA MODEL OF MULTI-NATIONAL SOLIDARITY\nA TRADITION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR LIBERAL, HUMANE INTERNATIONAL ORDER\nTHE POSSIBILITY OF JUSTIFIED INDEPENDENCE\nWHAT ABOUT IRISH UNIFICATION?\nWHAT ABOUT SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE?\nAND WHAT ABOUT BREXIT?\nON TELLING THE UNIONIST STORY\nby Nigel Biggar first published at www.these-islands.co.uk\nOne of the most dismaying features of the campaign leading up to the September 2014 referendum on Scottish independence was the faltering inarticulacy of unionists in explaining what the United Kingdom is good for, and therefore why some kinds of independence would be bad for everyone, including the Scots. In retrospect, this was a symptom, not of the Union's intellectual bankruptcy, but rather of the natural difficulty of describing the very ground upon which we have long been standing. One of the benefits of the referendum was that it provoked unionists like me to lift up our feet, look down, and contemplate what it is that supports us. What I discovered is that the UK is good for three things: the greater external security of liberal democracy, a depth of multinational solidarity of which the European Union can still only dream, and the upholding of a humane international order. And all of that will remain true, whether or not Brexit comes to pass.\nThe United Kingdom is good for the stronger security of political liberty. In 2015 we celebrated the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, when the English Church and barons compelled King John to accept certain limitations on royal power. Partly as a consequence of this, foreign observers in the late medieval period\u2014not least in France\u2014remarked on the extraordinary extent to which English monarchs were held accountable by parliament. And one reason that some Scots in the 16th and 17th centuries hoped for unification with England was that English law might come to constrain the arbitrary feudal powers of the Scottish nobility.[1] After the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, the Scots together with the English, Welsh, and Irish\n\u2014that is, the British\u2014pursued a political path that led to increasing constraints upon royal power and increasingly accountable government. This path was not universal: many other countries didn't follow it, and in the 19th and early 20th centuries Britain's constitutional, and increasingly democratic, model was widely admired by liberals throughout Europe. However, after the end of the Second World War in 1945 with the defeat of Nazism in Germany, and especially after the end of the Cold War in 1989 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, liberal democracy became more widespread, not least in Europe. As a consequence the political model that the British had pioneered came to appear less exceptional and more normal. As a Foreign Office official once put it to me, we British had become the victims of our own success.\nSometimes, however, appearances deceive, and they do so here. Recent developments in the world should remind us that the liberal democratic political system that we, the British, have played a leading part in developing is really not so normal. It's not a piece of the cosmic furniture. It's not the natural, default position of human political life. It's contingent and vulnerable and precious. It's an important historical achievement, which cost our forebears much sweat and some blood to build and defend, and which we really could lose. In the light of Russia's recent veering in an autocratic and aggressively nationalist direction, in the light of the rise of an increasingly belligerent China ruled by a Communist Party that is neither liberal nor democratic, and in the light of the atrociously inhumane politics of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and of other jihadist movements in Nigeria and Sudan, it should now be clearer to us that the political liberty, accountability, and humanity that we have achieved in Britain should not be taken for granted. They may not be unique in the world, but nor are they universal or secure.\nOf course, if Scotland or Wales were to secede from the Union, or if Northern Ireland were to be absorbed into its southern neighbour, they would most probably continue to maintain the liberal democratic political institutions and customs that the British had developed together. Nevertheless, there's no doubt that a United Kingdom would be stronger both in soft and hard power, and so better able to secure liberal democracy at home and promote it abroad, than would a set of small, vulnerable, independent nations and a diminished English rump. As Mark Lyall Grant, has recently written:\nAs British ambassador to the UN, I watched with some anxiety from New York the final days of the Scottish referendum campaign in September 2014. My Russian opposite number \u2026 sympathised with barely suppressed glee at the prospect of the UK dismembered and its permanent seat on the UN Security Council called into question. It was clear to me that Scottish independence would have had a devastating impact on the UK's standing in the world, much greater than withdrawal from the EU ever would. [2]\nStronger external security for liberal democracy is one thing that the UK is good for. The second is peace, trust, and solidarity among the four nations in the British Isles. We often forget, especially if we're English, that the UK is a multinational state, comprising a union of English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish peoples. Each of those peoples has maintained its own national customs and has either retained or acquired its own institutions. Within the UK, the Scots have always preserved their own law, established Church, and education system, and their culture now thrives; Welsh language flourishes far more strongly in Wales than Irish language does in the independent Republic across the water; and Northern Ireland has enjoyed its own legislative assembly much longer than either Wales or Scotland. So flexibly successful has our union been that the thought of violent conflict erupting (again) between its constituent peoples is almost unimaginable.\nContrary to Alex Salmond's easy reassurances that the extraordinary 'social union' between England and Scotland would happily survive Scottish independence, a 'Yes' vote in 2014 would probably have kindled a degree of mutual hostility that these islands have not witnessed since the 18th century.[3] The negotiation of separation would have been tough and fraught. The separating Scots would not have got all that they wanted, they would have been frustrated, and their traditional resentment of England would only have deepened. For their part the English, having woken up to the costs and risks of the dissolution of the UK, including the permanent weakening of Britain's international prestige and power, would have discovered a general resentment of the Scots that they had never before had reason to feel. Anyone who thinks this speculation unduly pessimistic only has to contemplate the anxious uncertainty, domestic divisiveness, and potential for international alienation of the current process of extracting the UK from the European Union. Britain has been partly integrated into the EU for a mere forty-three years. England and Scotland, on the other hand, have been united for more than three centuries; England and Northern Ireland for more than four centuries; and England and Wales for more than seven centuries.\nMaybe the mutual alienation caused by the dissolution of the Union would have lasted only two or three generations\u2014as in the case of Ireland. Maybe, unlike Ireland, no blood would have been shed. But maybe not. One of the nobler intentions of the Union was precisely to end recurrent warfare between Scotland and England, and it has been one of its finest achievements to make bloody conflict so unimaginable as to appear impossible. But appearances deceive here too: imagination is no constraint upon possibility. Anglo-Scottish peace (like European peace) is a fragile historical achievement\u2014not a cosmic fixture. And as we know from the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and, less remotely, from the thirty year-long 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland, history can sometimes roll alarmingly backwards.\nPeace, however, can be more than just the absence of violence; it can also be widespread trust and solidarity, and in Britain it has been. In this respect the United Kingdom already is what the European Union can still only dream of becoming. In general, taxpayers in wealthy London no more complain when their taxes are transferred to poorer people in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland than when they're transferred elsewhere in England. That is because, in general, they identify with the Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish, recognising them as their own people\u2014as fellow-Britons. Compare that with the appalled reaction of most Germans to the prospect of having to bail out the crippled economies of Greece or Italy in the wake of the recent financial crisis\u2014and their adamant refusal to countenance the Eurozone becoming a transfer-union. The contrast brings to the surface the extraordinary depth of habitual solidarity among a plurality of nations that we have achieved here in the UK.\nThese are the terms in which Gordon Brown explained his vision for the future of the UK in his 2014 book, My Scotland, Our Britain: A Future Worth Sharing. [4] The rationale for the Union, according to Brown, is to be found in the common advantages that all Britons enjoy from having an integrated economy, from the pooling of risks, and from the transfer of resources from richer to poorer across the whole territory of the UK. That's why it's vital that the Westminster government continues to insist upon retaining control over such things as national insurance and the state pension, and to refuse dogmatic nationalist demands for full fiscal autonomy. It's vital for the common well-being of all the British peoples.\nStronger external security for liberal democracy and multinational solidarity are two things that the Union is good for. A third is the habit of taking responsibility for upholding a liberal and humane global order, if necessary by deploying hard power. This, of course, is the legacy of empire and manifests itself in Britain's retaining a place among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.\nScottish nationalists (along with left-wing idealists) typically despise this, seeing Scotland's becoming independent, dissolving the United Kingdom, and adopting a more 'Nordic' role in international affairs as an act of repentance from Britain's immoral tradition of imperial aggression and domination. They regard the British policy-elite's hankering after the imperial power and role of global policeman, albeit now with the reduced status of deputy to the US's sheriff, as at once delusory, pathetic, and immoral. It's delusory, because Britain no longer has the power to rule the world as she once did. It's pathetic because it makes the British play poodle to America. And it's immoral, because it involves threatening and dominating other peoples, often by waging war against them, sometimes in violation of international law. Instead, they argue, the UK should shake off its post- imperial hangover, follow Europe rather than America, surrender its nuclear weapons, concentrate on wielding soft power, and limit its military activity to UN peacekeeping operations. And if the UK will not choose to do that, then Scotland will force her\u2014by breaking the Union.\nThe reasons for refusing that option are several. First, the history of the British empire was not one of relentless aggression and oppression. Yes, it presided over the infamous massacre at Amritsar in 1919 and the outrages of the Black and Tans in Ireland in 1920-22, but it also pioneered the suppression of the slave trade throughout the 19th century and was the only major opponent of European fascism in the field from May 1940 until June 1941. The present fact of the Commonwealth is evidence that the empire's historical record is not simply execrable. Rather, it is morally mixed\u2014as is the record of any nation-state.\nSecond, it simply isn't true that post-war Britain has always meekly trotted along behind the US. Harold Wilson refused to send British troops to Vietnam; Margaret Thatcher arm-twisted Ronald Reagan into supporting the ejection of the Argentines from the Falkland Islands in 1982; and Tony Blair publicly embarrassed a very reluctant (and resentful) Bill Clinton into deploying US military force in Kosovo and Serbia in 1999.\nThird, if the UK is expected to give up the use of hard power, is that because no one should use it at all or because someone else should use it instead and better? Unless we buy into an impossibly sunny view of human being and ignore the obvious lessons of history, we have to acknowledge that intractably malevolent leaders can sometimes move nation-states (like empires) to do atrocious things. And unless we're pacifist, we also have to acknowledge that sometimes atrocious things must be stopped by armed force. Perhaps we think that the UN should do the policing\u2014but the UN has only as many regiments as nation-states choose to loan it. No doubt a thoroughly post-imperial, 'Nordic' Britain would lend its troops for peacekeeping purposes. But who, then, would fight the wars to make the just peace to be kept?\nMaybe what the nationalists want is not exactly the UK's abandonment of hard power, so much as its strict submission to the collective will of the UN Security Council. If so, they would be content for the enforcement capacity of the UN to be at the mercy of the threat of veto by Putin's Russia and the Communist Party's China, neither of whose records of humanitarian concern are exactly famous. They would also join Alex Salmond in condemning NATO's 1999 military intervention to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo as a \"misguided\" policy of \"dubious legality and unpardonable folly\". [5] Embarrassingly, however, this would align them against the then UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. It would also set them at odds with the majority of international lawyers. Commenting on the Kosovo intervention, the eminent Finnish historian and philosopher of international law, Martti Koskenniemi, has written that \"most lawyers\u2014including myself\u2014have taken the ambivalent position that it was both formally illegal and morally necessary\". [6]\nThe truth is that, in the world as we have it, the upholding of international order and the rescue of the innocent from mass atrocity do sometimes require the naked use of armed force. That is a lamentable and tragic fact, but it is a fact nonetheless. Hard power, then, is morally necessary and we need some liberal-democratic states to be ready to exercise it. Very few European ones are willing and able to do so, however: two generations after the end of the Second World War most of them still prefer to free-ride on US power. Understandably, the Americans are getting increasingly fed-up. For Britain to take the nationalists' preferred 'Nordic' option, then, would be a major desertion of international duty and leadership, and it would probably be the last straw that broke the US's already wavering faith in\nEurope. The United Kingdom shouldn't kick its post-imperial habit; it should keep it\u2014for the world's sake.\nNone of this is to deny that there could be a cogent case for the dissolution of the United Kingdom. No nation-state is guaranteed eternal life. Historically it is surely true, as Benedict Anderson and Linda Colley have argued, that nation-states are human constructs, not natural facts. [7] As they have evolved, so they will change and perhaps pass away. The United Kingdom did not exist before 1707. The United States could have ceased to exist in the early 1860s. Czechoslovakia did cease to exist in 1993. And Spain might cease to exist, if today's Catalonian separatists get their way.\nIt could be, therefore, that membership of the United Kingdom's multinational state continues to inflict some serious and chronic injustice on Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, for which remedy has long been sought but never found. Perhaps one of the constituent nations has been under-represented at Westminster, with the result that its reasonable aspirations have been stifled, its concerns systematically neglected, or its needs unfairly met. However, in order to justify taking the risks that almost invariably attend political divorce, the motivating grievances do need to be serious, not trivial. They also need to be chronic, not temporary, having sought in vain for remedy within the unit. And they need to be current, not merely historic. To enter upon the risks of divorce for grievances that are trivial, temporary, and in the past would be reckless and imprudent and therefore morally wrong.\nThere are two main, current challenges to the integrity of the United Kingdom: Irish nationalism and Scottish nationalism. After the creation of Northern Ireland in the 1920s, Catholic nationalists north of the border suffered various kinds of unfair discrimination (e.g., in housing and employment). Their grievances erupted into civil protest in the late 1960s and then, on the part of a republican minority, into physical violence in the early 1970s. In response, the British government sought, not only to contain and suppress the violence, but also to address the economic and social grievances. After the I.R.A. had been fought to a standstill, the republican leadership and most of their followers agreed to swap the bullet for the ballot in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. In return, London agreed to cede Dublin a role in upholding the interests of Catholics in Northern Ireland, to establish a power- sharing constitution, to reform the police service, and to respect the result of any future popular referendum on Irish unification.\nWhether or not it is right that Northern Ireland should secede from the UK should not be determined by the political exploitation of historic, self-romanticising Irish nationalist hostility to the British. Rather, it should depend on whether the UK government has in fact shown itself willing and able to right the wrongs that Catholic nationalists have suffered, whether the one million-strong Protestant unionist population consent to be absorbed into the Irish republic, and whether that republic is ready to pay the costs of absorbing them. Right now it would be fair to say that London has shown both the willingness and the ability to reform, that the vast majority of Protestants remain opposed to Irish unification, and that Dublin's readiness to absorb a reluctant unionist minority and shoulder the burden of Northern Ireland's \u00a310bn annual fiscal deficit\u2014notwithstanding the Brexit- inspired resurgence of unification-rhetoric\u2014is very much in doubt. [8]\nThe second main challenge to the integrity of the UK, and still the greater one, is that posed by the Scottish nationalist campaign for Scotland's independence. One of its commonest claims is that national independence is its own justification. As one of his former colleagues observed of Alex Salmond, \"when you went through all the arguments you were left with the impression that he didn't know if Scotland would be better or worse off as an independent country. All that mattered was that Scots should rule themselves\". [9] But national independence is not its own justification, any more than national existence is. In both cases, the reasonable question arises, 'What's it good for?'\nIn the 2014 referendum campaign, the blind pursuit of independence for its own sake led Salmond to advocate a position that would actually have diminished Scots' power of self-determination. On the critical issue of the currency, he defiantly asserted what no one actually denied\u2014the right of the Scottish people to exercise their sovereign will in choosing to keep the pound. What he passed over was the equal but awkward truth that the Scots' sovereign will had neither the right nor the power to dictate how the rest of the United Kingdom (rUK) would respond. Salmond argued that it would be in everyone's interests to enter into a formal currency union. However, whether true or not, such a proposal attracted two problems. One was that it would inevitably involve Scotland agreeing to compromise its independence by suffering constraints on its tax and spending policies. The other was that the leaders of the UK's main political parties, backed up by the Canadian Governor of the Bank of England, had all said that it would not be in the rUK's interests to enter into a formal currency union with an independent Scotland, and that they wouldn't agree to it.\nWithout a formal currency union, the Bank of England would set interest rates to suit the rUK's economy, not Scotland's. Sooner or later the situation would arise where Scotland needs higher rates, say, to calm a property boom, but the rUK needs lower rates, say, to stimulate a sluggish economy. In that case, the Bank of England would look to rUK's needs, not Scotland's. This is exactly what happened in the Republic of Ireland in the run-up to the financial crisis of 2007. The value of property there was rocketing unsustainably, because the European Central Bank, with its eye fixed mainly on Germany, kept interest rates low at 2%. The result: the Irish property bubble burst, with values tumbling by up to 50%\u2014a fall from which they have only recently recovered.\nAs long as it remains part of the UK, Scotland has a seat at the table of the Bank of England's deliberations, in which its needs will continue to figure. But were it to leave, it wouldn't. Thus an independent Scotland could keep the pound unilaterally, but only at the price of losing all control over its own interest rates. Hence the irony at the heart of the 'Yes' campaign's position in 2014: that its kind of 'independence' would actually have amounted to less national self-determination.\nSo national 'independence' is not its own justification. It can take a variety of forms. That, then, raises the question, 'Which one should be chosen, and why?' In the Union Scotland has always been somewhat self-governing, possessing its own Kirk, law, and education system. With the establishment of the Scottish parliament in 1999 its autonomy expanded dramatically to include control, for example, of the Scottish NHS. In 2012 the Westminster parliament overcame opposition from the Scottish National Party (SNP) to pass the Scotland Act and increase the Scottish government's tax-raising and borrowing powers. Four years later a new Act gave the Scottish government complete power over all rates and bands of income tax (except that on savings and dividends) and complete power to raise (or lower) a range of welfare benefits. So the question that now poses itself to Scottish nationalists is, 'What further powers do you now want, and for what good purpose?'\nBefore and after the referendum, Scottish nationalists\u2014like their Catalan and Lombard counterparts\u2014claimed that independence would make their country wealthier. That claim was doubtful in 2014; it is incredible now. During the campaign, nationalists asserted that an independent Scotland would be economically viable on the basis of an oil price of $110 per barrel and wildly optimistic assumptions about production volumes and profitability. Critics warned of the excessive optimism and the vulnerability of an independent Scotland's economy to the volatility of oil prices, but their warnings were breezily dismissed as the 'negative' propaganda of Project Fear. However, a mere four months after the referendum the price of oil plummeted to $50 per barrel, which rudely intruded a \u00a37bn shortfall into the 'Yes' campaign's fiscal forecast for the first year of independence alone. Earlier this year Andrew Wilson, the former SNP Scottish parliamentarian and RBS economist now charged with chairing the SNP's Growth Commission, admitted that the 2014 economic case for independence depended crucially on its oil prospectus, and that it was false. [10] Scotland's fiscal deficit in 2016-17\u2014according to the Scottish Government's own published figures\u2014is estimated to be over \u00a313 bn.11Amounting to 8.3 per cent of GDP, compared to 2.4 per cent for the UK as a whole, this figure is almost twice as high as that of any member state of the EU. The highest reported deficit in the EU is currently Spain's, which stands at 4.5 per cent of GDP. It would therefore be an understatement of heroically polite restraint to observe that the claim that independence would make Scotland wealthier has not been substantiated.\nOf course, nationalists don't argue only that independence would make the Scots wealthier; they also argue that it would free them to build a better kind of society. They claim that the Scots as a whole prefer a left-of-centre, social democratic polity with a more generous welfare state, whereas, judging by its propensity to elect Conservative governments, the English electorate's centre of gravity is markedly further to the right and more favourable to the free market. As a consequence, the Scottish people's legitimate aspiration to a fairer, more equal society has been consistently stymied by a neoliberal Westminster.\nIf this were true, it would certainly be a reason for greater Scottish autonomy and a further devolution of powers from Westminster to Edinburgh, although not necessarily for outright secession from the UK. As it happens, however, the narrative of nationalist politicians doesn't tally with the recent resurgence of Corbynite Labour among the English, even in Tory strongholds like Kensington and Canterbury. Nor does it tally with the hard social scientific data about the Scots. According to analysis of the British Social Attitudes survey of 2010:\nIt seems that Scotland is not so different after all. Scotland is somewhat more social democratic than England. However, for the most part the difference is one of degree rather than of kind\u2014and is no larger now than it was a decade ago. Moreover, Scotland appears to have experienced something of a drift away from a social democratic outlook during the course of the past decade, in tandem with public opinion in England. [12]\nFrom this the authors\u2014including the doyen of Scottish psephologists, John Curtice\n\u2014conclude that \"the task of accommodating the policy preferences of people in both England and in Scotland within the framework of the Union is no more difficult now than it was when devolution was first introduced\". [13] Awkwardly for those campaigning for independence, the late Stephen Maxwell, nationalist intellectual and founder of the modern SNP, agreed that there is \"nothing in Scotland's recent political record to suggest a pent-up demand for radical social and economic change waiting to be released by independence\". [14] The fact that the current nationalist government at Holyrood has so far declined to use the Scottish Parliament's powers (since 1998) to raise the rate of income tax upwards, so as to increase funding for public services, suggests that they know that Maxwell spoke the truth.\nNevertheless, in the future should a nationalist government change its mind and decide to increase tax and spending, in order to build a different kind of society in Scotland, it now has ample power to do so. The 2012 and 2016 Scotland Acts give Edinburgh sufficient fiscal autonomy to do something significantly different. All that is possible within the United Kingdom.\nIf the UK is such a good idea, then isn't the EU an even better one? And if it's good for the UK to leave the EU, wouldn't it also be good for Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland to leave the UK? The answer to both questions is that, yes, it could be. The crucial question is whether it really is or would be.\nIt's true that all of the good things that the UK serves to promote\u2013the stronger security of liberal democracy, multinational solidarity, and the habits of responsibility for liberal international order\u2014are also promoted by the EU. How well they are promoted is a matter of controversy, however. On the one hand, the accession of former communist countries into the EU seemed to strengthen their development of liberal democratic institutions; on the other hand, that development is now in doubt in Hungary and Poland, and deeper questions remain about the democratic accountability and legitimacy of political and judicial power in the EU as a whole. On the one hand, the EU's 'fourth freedom of movement' has generated a sense of European citizenship and identity; on the other hand, it has provoked nationalist reactions against what are perceived to be excessively high levels of immigration. And on the one hand, the EU has invested heavily in promoting the good of political stability in its near-abroad (the Middle East and North Africa); on the other hand, its leading member, Germany, is still virtually pacifist, and wealthy Europe as a whole continues to depend upon the US for its own defence\u2014three generations after 1945. It may be that what the UK is good for, the EU is more or less good for, too. But that isn't yet to establish that the EU is sufficiently reliable or successful to have the UK dissolve into it.\nAs for whether the Welsh, Scots, and Northern Irish should decide against the UK's version of stronger liberal democracy, multi-national solidarity, and international responsibility in favour of the EU's version, the implication of the previous paragraph is that they'd be unwise to. What is more, the economic importance to the four British nations of the UK's single market far exceeds that of the EU's: Scotland, for example, still exports four times more to the rest of the UK than it does to the rest of the EU. Further still, the disintegration of the UK would undermine Europe's own external security and international power by dealing a body blow to one of its two leading military powers.\nThe United Kingdom is good for the stronger external security of liberal democracy, for multi-national solidarity within the British Isles, and for a liberal international order beyond them. The dissolution of the UK would inflict serious damage on each of these, and should be vigorously resisted. But resistance alone is not enough; saying 'No' to Scottish independence or Irish unification will not suffice. Nor will saying 'No' with better economic reasons than 'Yes'.\nFor sure, it remains important to keep on challenging the sincere na\u00efvet\u00e9s of separatist nationalists, their inconsistencies, their false claims, and their unfair denigration, for, as penitent Islamists testify, the best way to undermine a political zealot's faith is to sow seeds of doubt and then give time for the penny to drop. [15] But it's always much easier to let go of a political faith, if one has something else to believe in. So unionists need to develop and broadcast a positive story about the Union, articulating the ground beneath our feet and bringing back to common consciousness all the remarkable things it's still good for. And then they need to stimulate a sustained and nationwide public discussion\u2014involving people across the political spectrum\u2014which will let such a story gather momentum, grow wings, and take to the air. That's what These Islands is about.\nNigel Biggar is Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford, and author of Between Kin and Cosmopolis: An Ethic of the Nation (Cambridge: James Clarke, 2014). He was born in Scotland, educated in England, and has lived in Dublin.\n1 Colin Kidd, Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland, 1500-2000 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008), pp. 8, 145-8.\n2 Mark Lyall Grant, \"Keep the rest of the world in view while negotiating a Brexit deal\", FTWeekend, 16-17 September 2017, p. 14. For some informed speculation about how Scottish independence would weaken the power of both Scotland and the remaining UK to defend their borders against Russian intrusion and criminal trafficking in drugs and people, see Paul Cornish and Kingsley Donaldson, 2020: World of War (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2017), Chapter 8, \"A Disunited Kingdom: UK Domestic Security\".\n3 As the Scottish political scientist Michael Keating has argued in a Catalan current affairs magazine, downplaying the risks of independence is typical of separatist movements throughout Europe (\"La cuesti\u00f3n de las nacionalidades\", Vanguardia, March 2013, p. 37).\n4 Gordon Brown, My Scotland, Our Britain: A Future Worth Sharing (London: Simon & Schuster, 2014).\n5 The Scotsman, 30 March 1999.\n6 Martti Koskenniemi, \"'The Lady Doth Protest Too Much': Kosovo and the Turn to Ethics in International Law\", The Modern Law Review, March 2002, p. 163.\n7 Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, rev. ed. (London and New York: Verso, 1991), and Linda Colley, Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837 (New Haven: Yale, 2005).\n8 See Office for National Statistics, Country and regional public sector finances: Financial year ending March 2016 (London: ONS, 23 May 2017), p. 6: https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/economy\/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes\/publicsectorfinance\/articles\/countryandregionalpublicsectorfinances\/2015to2016 (as at 25 September 2017). The Northern Ireland Executive's own Department of Finance effectively endorses the ONS figures here: https:\/\/www.finance-ni.gov.uk\/topics\/statistics-and-research\/net-fiscal-balance. The last time the Department itself reported on the province's net fiscal balance, it estimated a fiscal deficit for the financial year 2013-14 of \u00a39.2bn: https:\/\/www.finance-ni.gov.uk\/publications\/northern-ireland-net-fiscal-balance-report-2012-13-and-2013-14 (as at 25 September 2017).\n9 David Torrance, Salmond Against the Odds (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2011), p. 88.\n10 See the BBC report of 3 March 2017: http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39178324 (as at 20 September 2017).\n11 See Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland, 2016-17 August 2017 (Edinburgh: Scottish Government, August 2017), p. 5, Table S.6: http:\/\/www.gov.scot\/Resource\/0052\/00523700.pdf (as at 25 September 2017).\n12 British Social Attitudes 28 (London: NatCen Social Research, 2012), pp. 33-4.\n14 Stephen Maxwell, Arguing for Independence: Evidence, Risks, and the Wicked Issues (Edinburgh: Luath Press, 2012), p. 108.\n15 See Ed Husain, The Islamist (London: Penguin, 2007); Maajid Nawaz, Radical (London: W. H. Allen, 2012); Ian Black, \"Confusing the message is the key to disarming Isis, says terrorist\", Guardian, 6 June 2015.\nEconomic Impact of Brexit\nNigel Biggar\nFeatured \u2022 Financial services \u2022 Reports\nFinancial services agreement \u2013 time to stop another...\nEconomy & trade \u2022 Reports\nObservations on the Trade and Co-operation Agreement\nby Lee Rotherham\nFeatured \u2022 Post Brexit \u2022 Reports\nThe UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Minimum...\nby The Full Brexit\nFeatured \u2022 Economy & trade \u2022 Reports\nThe Car Industry Doth Protest Too Much.\nby Professor Philip B. Whyman\nFeatured \u2022 Culture and Identity \u2022 Reports\nBritain, Slavery, and Anti-Slavery\nNew BfB report shows costs of no-deal have been...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Montreal's first Caspian and Caucasian impressed restaurant opens in Little Italy\nBy Frank S. Crawford On Jul 6, 2021\nChef Erin Mahoney wanted to open her first restaurant in the spring but, like many others, was sidelined by the pandemic. That weekend, however, after months of preparation (and years of research and recipe review) at its location in northern Little Italy, Restaurant Joon began serving Caspian and South Caucasus-inspired cuisine.\n\"We pushed the doors open with a special joy that was only stronger after we had to wait because of COVID. We thank everyone who was there on our first weekend! We'll do that again next week, \"read a post on the restaurant's Instagram page.\nMahoney previously worked at La B\u00eate \u00e0 Pain, Le St. Urbain and Impasto, the last of which is owned by well-known Little Italy chefs Michele Forgione and Stefano Faita, who are partners at Joon along with her husband, Marketing Director Ilya Daftari.\nIn compliance with social distancing guidelines, the 2,100-square-foot space \u2013 designed by M\u00e9nard Dworkind \u2013 can accommodate a decent 30 to 34 people. \"I felt a little embarrassed when I started renting it. I thought, 'Wow girl, you've been really lucky for a first restaurant.' And then COVID happened and I was like, 'Wow girl, you're really lucky because we have a lot of room to spread out,' Mahoney told Eater before the opening.\nWhile Joon's seasonal menu changes frequently, Mahoney's opening this weekend is serving pork kebab marinated in pomegranate juice, trout with tarragon and lavash (a traditional thin flatbread), chicken with saffron and yogurt, and some smaller vegetarian dishes that are similarly coated in Herbs and spices characteristic of the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus.\n\"It was originally supposed to be an Iranian concept because my partner is Iranian and I wanted to bring something to the Montreal food scene,\" Mahoney recalls, but admits that there are a few little-known Iranian places that focus on kebabs and Concentrate rice in the Montreal NDG area.\nAs she delved into the history of Iranian cuisine and that of neighboring countries such as Georgia and Armenia, she came across similarities in taste profiles due to their common terroir.\n\"I decided I really wanted to combine the different flavors,\" says Mahoney. \"Not belonging to these cultures gave me a bit of freedom to experiment and interpret them, but mostly to pay a great homage, because that's what I'm after. The main thing is to respect these cultures and do them justice. \"\nJoon is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm in 7130 St Laurent\nMontreal unveils $24M plan to combine new immigrants into metropolis life\nMontreal's Lodge Monville by ACDF Structure options strict palette\nResort evaluate: The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal, Montreal in Canada\nCanada's Prime 100 Locations To Eat In 2023 Had been Ranked & 20 Montreal\u2026\n18 Bucket Listing Issues To Do In Montreal In February\nExtra seniors turning to Quebec meals banks as grocery prices soar\nCanada's Prime 100 Locations To Eat In 2023 Had\u2026\nFrank S. Crawford 1 day ago","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Indianexpressnews\nThis site is about latest trending news information.This site providing information of top news, health related,entertainment,technology,sports and politics.This is work on latest big and small news.\nHome \/ Politics \/ There is a cartel in the cement and steel industry: Gadkari\nThere is a cartel in the cement and steel industry: Gadkari\nIndianexpressnews January 10, 2021 Politics\nGadkari said that if the cement and steel industries require higher prices, it will affect the implementation of infrastructure projects.\nUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday that cement and steel mills were exploiting the masses to make a lot of money, and noted the active cartels in both industries.\nJadkari made a speech at the Western Region Sector Meeting of the Indian Builders Association. During the meeting, Gadkari said that if the two industries require higher rates, it will affect the implementation of this number of infrastructure projects.\nCement plants take advantage of the situation. It is not in the national interest. We plan to implement 111 million infrastructure projects over the next five years. \"If steel and cement prices continue in this way, it will be very difficult for us,\" Gadkari told ANI.\nHe said steel companies did not increase energy and labor costs, but still received higher rates. \"There is a cartel in the cement and steel industry. Every steel company has its own iron ore mines, and there is no increase in labor and energy costs, there is a rise in prices,\" he said.\nOn Thursday, Gadkari, Land Acquisition and Highways Administration said it aims to travel 40 km a day until March this year. The Indian National Highway Authority (NHAI) has also confirmed that it plans to build 20,000,000 km of highways, including 250,000 km of highways, in the next five years. The plan includes 9,000 km of economic corridors, 2,000 km of buildings each for strategic coastal and border roads. Gadkari confirms that NHAI plans to connect 100 tourist destinations and 45 highways\nArquivo do blog January (17) December (27) November (24) October (28) September (28) August (54)\nLatest News:Google Pixel 5 expected to Release date on September 30 In 5G Networks,specs & Features\nLatest News About Mirzapur Season 2 on Its Release Date and Star Cast\noppo f17 pro Launched in India:price,full specification\nLatest New : Mi Watch Color May Launch on September 29 in India\nBig News About Apple May Use Cheaper Battery Parts to Save on Costs in New iPhone 12 the inclusion of 5G.\nLatest News : Karnataka School Reopening: Classes 9-12 students","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Great Days > News > Trump blasts Jan. 6 report, doubles down on claims that 2020 election was stolen\nTrump blasts Jan. 6 report, doubles down on claims that 2020 election was stolen\nposted on Dec. 23, 2022 at 6:37 pm\nFormer President Donald Trump ripped the House Jan. 6 committee's weighty final report by calling the panel's investigation a \"witch hunt\" and doubling down on his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.\nIn a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Mr. Trump said the 18-month probe by the Democrat-led House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol failed to address what he said were the true causes of the riot.\n\"The highly partisan Unselect Committee Report purposely fails to mention the failure of Pelosi to heed my recommendation for troops to be used in D.C., show the \"Peacefully and Patrioticly\" words I used, or study the reason for the protest, Election Fraud,\" he wrote. \"WITCH HUNT!\"\nThe panel released its highly anticipated, 845-page summation of events leading up to the January 2021 attack on the Capitol late Thursday in its parting shot before the committee is dissolved under a Republican-led House next Congress.\nAfter holding a series of public hearings over the summer, the committee outlined in detail its account of what the lawmakers say was Mr. Trump's plan to overturn the 2020 presidential election and spur a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol as Congress met to certify the results.\nThe report pins the blame for the Capitol attack squarely on the former president and offers what outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, calls a \"clarion call to all Americans: to vigilantly guard our democracy and to give our vote only to those dutiful in their defense of the Constitution.\"\nThe findings accuse Mr. Trump of disseminating false allegations of election fraud related to the 2020 presidential contest, pressuring state and local election officials in the wake of the election, summoning his supporters to Washington on Jan. 6, and inciting violence by his supporters at the Capitol.\n\"None of the events of January 6th would have happened without him,\" the committee concludes in the report.\nMr. Trump, however, remains unbowed by the report and has signaled he remains unwilling to back down from his claims that the election was stolen.\n\"The government of the United States changed our Election Result, and it just doesn't get any worse than that,\" Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday. \"Just look at the damage that's been done to our Country, and the World, in the last two years \u2013 it's incalculable. TRUMP WON!!!\"\nBefore releasing its report, the panel recommended in its final public proceeding that federal prosecutors pursue charges against the former president for inciting the attack on the Capitol by the pro-Trump mob, obstructing an official proceeding of Congress, conspiracy to defraud the government, and making false statements on fake presidential electors.\nMr. Trump said the move was intended to derail his 2024 campaign for the White House, but predicted the move wouldn't harm him.\n\"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger,\" Mr. Trump said in a statement. \"These folks don't get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me.\"\nHe said Democrats \"are out to keep me from running for president because they know I'll win and that this whole business of prosecuting me is just like impeachment was \u2014 a partisan attempt to sideline me and the Republican Party.\"\nMr. Trump also said Monday that he \"pushed for 20,000 troops to prevent violence on Jan. 6 and that I went on television and told everyone to go home.\"\nWhile Mr. Trump was involved in discussions before Jan. 6 about the National Guard response, he did not issue any orders for troops before or during the rioting. He issued a video statement about three hours after the attack began, urging supporters to go home.\nShirley Allen December 23, 2022\nRussian landmines will pose dangers to Ukraine long after the fighting is over\nCensus: Florida is fastest-growing state for the first time since 1957\nJair Bolsonaro applies for 6-month U.S. visitor visa","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Whitney ISD board holds April meeting\nApril 21, 2022 April 21, 2022 by The Lakelander, posted in Local News\nReporter: Ellie Mahan\nThe Whitney ISD Board of Trustees met Monday, April 11, in a regular session to view 2022 mock STAAR test results, watch a presentation on the ACE Program and hear administrator reports.\nDuring administrator reports, Amber Seely, elementary school principal, reported that the campus enrollment is growing. Four new student packets were passed out on the day of the meeting. With the new students, the elementary enrollment will be at 419, which Seely said is the highest it has been in a long time.\nRussell Gauer, intermediate school principal, said that WIS will host its field day soon, an event that hasn't been held in recent years due to COVID.\nKendra Hensley, middle school principal, announced that there is now a culinary class at WMS. Tony Dudik, seventh grade Texas history teacher, started the program and led the first class Saturday, April 9, where he taught students how to make kolaches.\nHensley also shared that Michelle Kaase's middle school art students have been studying the work of Dale Chihuly, a famous glass artist in Seattle. The students replicated his work with art pieces made of colorful plastic. Through this, they learned about recycling, elements of art and heating safety.\nAmy Leech, high school principal, said that Algebra One Boot Camp, an event in preparation for the algebra one STAAR test, was set for Thursday, April 14. A company traveled to WHS to help students learn algebra test-taking strategies as well as methods for stress reduction. Also scheduled for the week of the meeting was a Career and Technical Education business luncheon. WHS is hoping to expand its CTE program by adding new practicum classes and opportunities for work study programs. The luncheon was intended to gather input from businesses on how to merge school with community.\nWhen Whitney experienced a power outage following spring break, the school lost many pieces of technology and equipment. According to Kristy Smith, director of technology, items that were lost due to the power outage include card readers, cameras and about 75 desktops and monitors.\nAssistant Superintendent Melody Haley reported that Whitney showed lower attendance for the first four six weeks than usual, and Whitney is not the only district struggling with attendance this year. Schools across the state have also reported low attendance. To help schools improve these records, the state has offered to average the attendance of the first four six weeks and apply a percentage rate. Haley said although the rates are low for Whitney, they are not alarming numbers when compared with other districts.\nCynthia Ries provided an update on a program called After School Community Education Center (ACE), which is available in the elementary and intermediate schools. ACE is a program that is funded across the nation and provides daycare, a place to go for homework help and fun, after-school activities.\nEnrichment programs held through ACE include cooking, CPR, sewing and games that will help children with vocabulary and other classroom skills. ACE also uses a program called Crazy Eight, which involves games for children that use math concepts. Ries said that she has seen children have so much fun during activities like building catapults that they forget they are using measurements and other math knowledge in the process.\nACE encourages children to have better behavior in the classroom by prohibiting students who are sent to ISS for misbehavior from attending ACE. Ries said, \"The more we work with the kids, the more we show them that we care, the more that we're there every day, the more things will improve, grade wise and behavior wise.\"\nACE also works to build friendships between older intermediate school students and younger elementary school students. The program partnered fourth and fifth graders with younger elementary children so that fourth and fifth graders could supply mentorship and help younger students become comfortable with navigating the school campus. In some cases, Ries has seen the bonds between those students extend beyond the program and into the playground.\nShe said, \"We have that camaraderie. I try to tell them 'We are a family. We take care of each other. We don't call each other names. We help each other out.'\"\nWhen Ries came to Whitney, she was originally locked in for a three-year grant with the opportunity to apply for an additional two years. ACE has been in Whitney for four years. After the fifth year comes to a close, Ries hopes to reapply for the $75,000 ACE grant to continue assisting kids with academic and social-emotional needs. The grant buys supplies for the program that are also accessible for teachers to use in classroom instruction.\nLaura Hunt, director of curriculum and instruction, then presented this year's mock STAAR data in comparison with last year's mock STAAR data. Mock STAAR tests help students prepare for their real STAAR tests that they will take later in the year. Mock tests are the released STAAR tests from the previous year. Therefore, they evaluate students on not only everything they have learned this year but also the rest of the content for the year that they are set to learn before taking STAAR tests.\nOne district-wide goal for the mock STAAR tests was to improve the number of students who scored \"masters\" and \"meets,\" the two highest grade categories for STAAR tests. Whitney saw the largest score increases in one or both of these categories in the following subjects: high school biology, English II, middle school science, seventh grade reading, fifth grade math and fourth grade reading.\nIn addition, the high school algebra 1 results showed an increase in the number of students who scored \"approaches,\" the third highest grade category. Hunt said, \"Another big takeaway is that we've got some work to do in order to meet our district goals for third grade.\"\nOverall, many students showed improvement in their mock test scores when compared with their benchmark scores, which Hunt described as impressive because the mock tests cover more content than benchmarks do. With the results from the mock tests, teachers analyzed the data to consider instructional reasons behind student needs and to plan next steps to score improvement.\nSuperintendent John McCullough announced four resignations: Nancy Hix, John Halstead, Rexann Bissing and Rex Unruh. The superintendent said that there have been no applicants for the new open positions, but three principals from the district attended the region 12 career fair, where there were 20 applicants for all the open positions throughout the district.\nBecause there hasn't been a full-time School Resource Officer on a Whitney campus in several months, Whitney is considering starting its own district police force. District administrators are communicating with Police Chief Chris Bentley and researching the matter so that they have a full plan and budget for the police force. The start-up cost will depend on how many officers Whitney will employ, since start-up money will be used for training, equipment and cars for the employees.\nThe board approved: five White Bluff property bids, the annual allotment and Texas Essential Knowledge And Skills certification and the staff development waiver, which allows for time built into the school calendar for staff development days.\nThe board accepted the public fund investment officers who are Cody Fitch, business manager, Assistant Superintendent Haley and Superintendent McCullough, who said the officers go to training annually. This year the training had an increased focus on cybersecurity.\nThe number of continuing education hours for each board member was announced, and all Whitney school board members had completed required continuing education hours.\nThe board met in closed session and then transitioned back to open session, where members approved all teacher contracts, accepted Sharon Jones to take a teaching position for next school year, accepted the withdraw of Terry Smith's resignation and approved Russell Gauer as the new Director of Operations.\nNominated for WISD's April staff member of the month was Michael Luedke, 8th grade math teacher. Luedke has been a math teacher for 10 years and is now a content leader in the subject. Luedke offers his math knowledge and his time as he regularly tutors both middle school and high school students in math after school hours. He can also be found outside of school working at games and athletic events. He recently held a pizza party for students who met his expectations on a particular math program.\nSuperintendent McCullough read the nomination statement written by Principal Hensley, \"You can find him serving on several campus and district level committees, which is a testament to his colleagues' respect for him, as they have nominated him to represent WMS. He is a resource for all math teachers and has also mentored new teachers both to the profession and to Whitney ISD. What stands out most about Mr.Luedke is his relationships he has built within the WMS community and the community as a whole\u2026 Mr.Luedke is an integral part of the WMS staff and is leading and showing others how to move toward the campus vision of being a family.\"\nThe board voted to move the next regular school board meeting from June 13 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 20.\nTagged April school board, Hill County, Texas, Whitney, Whitney High School, Whitney school board, Whitney Wildcats, WHS, WISD April Board meeting, WISD Board\nPrevious postWHS tennis players state bound\nNext postEarly voting in May elections to begin","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
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Please ensure you have the proper version of jQuery included. (note: this is not an error)\nThe Final Country (Milo Milodragovitch #2) (Paperback)\nBy James Crumley\nOn hand as of Jan 17 10:41am\n(FICT:MYSTERY)\nThis is book number 2 in the Milo Milodragovitch series.\n#1: The Wrong Case (Milo Milodragovitch #1) (Paperback): $15.00\n#3: Dancing Bear (Milo Milodragovitch #3) (Paperback): $15.95\nA NEW YORK TIMES Notable Book\nIt's business as usual for Milo Milodragovitch, watching a relationship go sour and running a bar whose real business is cleaning some dirty money, until he gets sent off to hunt a drug dealer's killer. Prodded by the twin motivations of his prickly conscience and his tight finances, Milo sets off on a trip to find the promised land. The end of the road will be where he first began: Montana, where a beautiful woman, a dangerous man, and a motherlode of truth are waiting for their favorite son to come home\u2014bringing with him a gun, a plan, and a prayer.\nJames Crumley was born in Three Rivers, Texas, and spent most of his childhood in South Texas. After serving three years in the U.S. Army and completing college degrees in history (BA, Texas College of Arts and Industries) and creative writing (MFA, University of Iowa), he joined the English faculty at the University of Montana at Missoula. He was also a visiting professor at a number of other institutions around the country, including the University of Texas at El Paso, Colorado State University, Reed College, and Carnegie-Mellon. His works include a novel of Vietnam, One to Count Cadence, and seven detective novels: The Wrong Case, The Last Good Kiss, Dancing Bear, The Mexican Tree Duck, Bordersnakes, The Final Country, and The Right Madness. He died in Missoula in 2008.\n\"Earthy characters, raw language, and exuberantly violent action. . . . The products of a well-honed\u2014and all too rare\u2014art.\"\u2014The New York Times\n\"Road-ready, wry, lyrical, and explosive, this is Crumley at his best, which means it is one of the best books of its kind you will ever read.\"\n\u2014George Pelecanos, author of The Double\n\"[Milo is] one of literature's more interesting sleuths. . . . Crumley once again is in good form, his strong voice ringing true on every page.\"\n\"Crumley . . . is pumped up and writing for his life again. For all his remarkable ease of style, the earthy characters, raw language and exuberantly violent action that distinguish it are the products of a well-honed\u2014and all too rare\u2014art.\"\n\"James Crumley is an American poet. Like a true artist, he does not merely reflect our culture, he subverts it. The Final Country is simply one of the best books you can read this year.\"\n\"This book is so tight and powerful it could be carved in granite. The plot tends to cruise along with the ease of an Eldorado with a crankcase full of Southern Comfort. . . . He's not the most prolific American crime writer, but crime fiction aficionados have learned that, like good scotch, Crumley's novels take a little more time than the ordinary stuff.\"\n\"Reading this book is like drinking exceptional wine after years on cheap stuff. You start to gulp it down, greedy for the buzz, then realize you need to slow down and savor each drop. I pity people who haven't read Crumley. And I envy them, because they still have a chance to discover him.\"\n\"The pleasures of Crumley come from the language, the characters and the unexpected depth of emotion. The language is on display everywhere, not as beautiful and rich as that of Crumley's Montana neighbor James Lee Burke, but just as evocative.\"\n\"If you like your detective fiction tough and tenacious, you will love James Crumley. . . . No one does it better.\" \u2014The Houston Chronicle\n\"James Crumley is a first-rate American writer. . . . pyrotechnically entertaining, sexy, compassionate.\" \u2014The Village Voice\nPublisher: Vintage Crime\/Black Lizard\nSeries: Milo Milodragovitch\nFiction \/ Mystery & Detective \/ Private Investigators\nFiction \/ Mystery & Detective \/ Hard-Boiled\nKobo eBook (July 11th, 2016): $8.99\n603 North Lamar Blvd\nWe are open daily from 11am - 7pm\nPlease read our COVID-19 in-store shopping guidelines\nMysteryPeople Blog\nBookPeople Teen Press Corps\nTeachers & Librarian Resources\nCopyright \u00a92020 BookPeople | All Rights Reserved\nWebsite by Allison Skinner Web Design + Development","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Stone Butch Blues\nWhy Every one Is Referring To china love com\u2026The Simple Fact Revealed\nFinding Realistic Solutions For kibin reviews\nAgosto 5, 2020\tby Chiara Lia\tin Blog\nAmanda Clay Reviews Femme By Mette Bach\nWanting Like A Butch Lesbian\nDamn It Feels Good To Be A Butch\nWhen I Grow Up I Wish To Be Butch\nAmanda Clay Critiques Femme By Mette Bach\nIn the intercourse department she is the proper counterpart to the stone butch; she is not likely to break a nail during lovemaking. It would appear that many people can solely cope with women as female and men as masculine. A variety of lesbians I know who're on the butch side have been asked when they are transitioning. Being overtly and proudly butch has now, as DeLaria says, become something that many within the lesbian neighborhood look down on. The veterans of the Gateways club are actually lebanese hot as likely to mix in with the remainder of us than wear a suit, tie and starched shirt. And many straight women are meeting us lesbians someplace within the middle, and are also rejecting female fripperies, now that the punishment for doing so \u2013 after 5 many years of feminism \u2013 is much less severe. During a latest trip to Sweden, for instance, I thought most girls I saw in the street were lesbians, and the men sitting round in cafes with their babies, gay dads.\nNot surprisingly, those exact same people who have an issue with butch-looking women, even have a problem with the way in which flamboyant gay men are represented within the media. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lea DeLaria in the 1997 Shakespeare within the Park manufacturing of \"On The Town.\" And as quickly as he said that, Heidi Griffiths and Jordan Thaler, the casting directors on the Public mentioned, \"Oh, we've received a lesbian for you.\" And they pulled me in.\nWhile butch-femme roles had beforehand been the first means of figuring out lesbians and quantifying lesbian relationships in the Forties, 50s, and 60s, lesbian feminist ideology had turned these roles right into a \"perversion of lesbian identification\". Lesbian feminism was publicly represented though white feminism, and sometimes excluded and alienated working class lesbians and lesbians of shade. In these excluded communities, butch-femme roles continued and grew all through the 1970s.\nWith any transition or revolution amongst the queer neighborhood, it is crucial that we do not alienate or shut out of us who paved the best way for us to even be able to begin these conversations. Often times, it's not the information that's being shared, but the supply during which it's being shared that is dangerous and threatening. It's a no brainer, that if you belittle or try to erase someone's historical past, journey or identity, it's going to oftentimes be met with anger and pushback. With respect to gender, as consciousness & conversation grows, we should make certain not to invalidate others within the course of. For most of those new breeds, sexual behavior is not tied to their identity. Nor is the label or style they choose indicative of the kind of women they are attracted to. These labels refer primarily to how these women see themselves\u2014the way in which they dress and act and assume.\nThe easiest interviews I had were with the stone butches and extremely femmes. Their expectations, roles, and style statements haven't changed a lot over the many years. A stone butch wears men's clothes, normally has quick hair, and is the quarterback, not the extensive receiver, in the bedroom\u2014she doesn't prefer to be sexually touched by her associate.\nThis could be very totally different from the notions of old that dictated that femmes and butches be drawn to their opposites. Even should you had been a \"butch in the streets and a femme in the sheets,\" you would somewhat kiss a boy than admit it. And if you had been a femme who was interested in other femmes, you would have to be very discreet\u2014and lonely.\nBut you may not have observed that there are additionally lipstick butches.\nOne of taking cost of any state of affairs, opening doors and expressing different gentlemanly manners and taking care of any male-associated household chores.\nThey may additionally be women who had a \"manly\" stroll or mannerisms, or who took on a dominant function in their relationships, straight or gay.\n\"Butch\" described women who wore collared shirts, denims and had DAs or quick cropped hair.\nGrowing up in a small rural town, \"butch\" was also used to explain straight women who did not fit into the mould.\nThe lack of illustration of girls loving women throughout the mainstream has left me feeling that romantic and sexual love between black women isn't necessary sufficient, and that whiteness or maleness at all times has to intervene in our love lives if they're to count. I positively advocate Persistence, even (particularly?) should you're not butch or femme or know very little about butch and femme. It is an important a part of the queer community as an entire at present, and lesbian history as properly. There are quite a couple of contributors that I will now be looking for out in an extended format. It's hard to sum up Persistenceother than using its personal subtitle. It accommodates a huge array of various type of butches and femmes (and a futch, and a few switches, and\u2026), embodied by many different genders and sexualities.\nLesbian gender expressions do not emulate heteropatriarchy, they subvert it. Femme removes femininity from the discursive shadow of masculinity and thereby strips from it any connotation of subordination or inferiority. Butch takes markers of \"masculinity\" and divests them of their association with maleness or manhood. Butchness works against the gender binary\u2014the masculine\/female paradigm\u2014and reclaims for ladies the full breadth of potentialities in terms of gender expression. One of those fat, hairy, angry butch lesbians whom everybody seems to hate. Too \"radical\" for men and straight folks, too \"normative\" for some queer folks.\nRemoving these identities from the context of LGBTQ struggles can have consequences for these already marginalized communities. As black women who love one another, Jane and Mary's relationship offers a contrast to these narratives, but what stands out to me is that these characters don't subscribe to the butch-femme binary. The existence of those characters helps me by way of my own anxieties as a lady who loves women and the various guidelines and expectations from inside and from outside the LGBTQ neighborhood. As a bisexual woman, it's essential for me to see women loving women normalized. It's particularly essential to see black women loving black women. So typically, black, bi+ or lesbian women are paired off with white (or white-passing) lovers, like in the lesbian basic TV sequence, The L Word, or in Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman. In addition, Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey's fictional drama Queen Sugar features a number of episodes where journalist Nova Bordelon dates a black, female activist, solely to have the connection end after a number of episodes, while Bordelon's longest relationships on the show are with cis men.\nMany femmes are on the lookout for a butch not another femme. My experience with femmes is that I am a fantastic short-term diversion.\nEven with my big butch identification and my lesbian identity, I ended up turning into the darling of New York theatre and certainly one of Broadway's latest main ladies taking part in a straight girl that wanted to get laid yesterday. The fantastic thing about theatre is that they don't put you in the field that film and tv put you in. In theatre I've performed lesbians, I've played straight ladies, I've played men. They simply want the person who serves the play and the story best, and anything else doesn't really matter. I don't know a lot of people out there that have been in a position to cross backwards and forwards and do this.\nThe novel follows her growing extra and less into herself, in a lyrical and winding narrative. It's an ode to the strength of gender nonconforming folks, to the fact of loneliness, it's about class struggle and lesbian resistance, it's about group and therapeutic and violence.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The Dream Factory Pair set off on Arctic Challenge\nThe founder of charity The Dream Factory and a colleague have set off on a 156-mile journey across the Arctic.\nAvril Mills, the Epping mother who founded the charity six years ago following the death of her son Oliver from leukaemia, is accompanied by Martin Bye, the charity's dream coordinator, on the Husky Sled Challenge.\nThe trip will see them cover 156 miles with a team of huskies and is set to raise \u00a311,000 for the charity, which makes dreams come true for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions. The pair set off from Epping on Saturday and flew from Heathrow to Tromso in Norway for the start of the seven-day trek. They will be joined by 13 other fundraisers, who will have to learn how to guide huskies, put up their own tent, cook their own food and get used to sleeping on reindeer skins. The challenge finishes in Sweden. Mrs Mills said: \"This will test our physical and mental strength in some of the most extreme conditions known to man. I watched Prince Harry's adventure to give me some sort of idea how it might be! \"We will be travelling the distance from London to Torquay in temperatures averaging -20 degrees, so this is no ordinary charity challenge.\n\"I think I'm the oldest one going, but we've raised so much money and I'm doing this for the children and in memory of Oliver.\" To support their challenge, visit their JustGiving page at http:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/huskyartic.\nPrevPreviousM & S Launch Easter Egg Collection for The Dream Factory\nNextAvril Mills to receive British Empire MedalNext","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"First reactions to Richard Armitage in \"Staged\" (1999)\nI swung by work one last time this morning to catch the mail and it was here! Yay!\nI think. I watched it at lunch and now I've gotten off the road to blog about it. And get interrupted by a talkative waitress. Oh well. Tomorrow is going to be a very, very long day.\nFirst, a thousand thanks to Denison Entertainment for making this material available to us. There've been some issues along the way with communication, but I'm really glad this material is now on the record, so to speak.\nThere'd been some question in advance about whether this could possibly be the student film production Richard Armitage had referred to as one of the low points of his career. I don't have time to look for the article where he said it, but the operative descriptors were \"vaselined lens\" and \"American accent\" along with something about jumping around on sofas. And he mentioned that his LAMDA tutor didn't care for it. Even if it's a bit more noirish than I care for (and allowance has to be made for it being a black-and-white film), I don't think the camera work here quite qualifies as \"vaselined lens\" and if Armitage is doing an American accent, I missed it (though it's not the penetrating RP that he affects for someone like Bill Chatford, nor the clearly northern accent of Mr. Thornton). A lot of sofas are involved, but no one stands on one. And there's only one scene where I think if I were a tutor, I would have intervened to say, \"Don't do that, that way, under any circumstances in future, ever again.\"\n[ETA: note my backpedaling on the accent issue here, after a few more views.]\nIn any case, whether or not \"Staged\" was what he was referring to, I don't think Richard Armitage has any need to feel ashamed of this project reappearing now. It doesn't do him any harm at all, and says some interesting things about the state of affairs in his artistry in 1999 \u2014 remember, this is the point at which he'd just left LAMDA and was embarking on his acting career under his own auspices (See Denison's description of his first encounter with Armitage here), but still before the Royal Shakespeare Company phase of his education. I discussed this phase earlier, here, but we have more data now. That is: actual data!\nI think that looking at this film really raises interesting questions about the beginning of Richard Armitage's career and it definitely affects what I've understood about it so far. I'll try to detail at the end of this piece what I think those issues are.\nUnfortunately, this DVD *did not* play well with my MacBook Pro. So no screen caps here. I tried three different methods of getting them, but no dice. I could probably demonstrate things better with them than I will be able to below, but we'll see what happens when I get back to a PC. Or perhaps screencaps will magically appear from elsewhere (wink).\nFirst, however, a few bonbons, which would be better illustrated, but oh well:\nStaged has answered a fundamental wardrobe question for me, that is: What would Richard Armitage look like in pants with a front pleat? (The ones he has on aren't especially well fitted, but nonetheless, I get an idea. And no, he doesn't really need a front pleat, especially not here, where his thigh musculature is relatively undeveloped. In short \u2014 Armitage looks gorgeous, but this is clearly before the level of preoccupation with the appearance of his physique that Lucas North brought into his life).\nSecond: A Richard Armitage character smokes! You know how I feel about that! Here it's done in a scene that makes a true statement about the character, so it's not about sexiness as much as it is about coping (which is, frankly, one mode of how I think most smokers smoke). [NB: please no smoking \/ smokers hate in the comments.]\nThird, he still has that rear hair squidge thing, but you can see from this film a bit how his hair grows out at the hairline level. As well as \u2014 yes, as earlier commentators have mentioned \u2014 his chest and lower abdominal hair growth patterns.\nIn a graphic shown early in the film, you can see this photo of Armitage, which is supposed to be his character, Darryl \u2014 so now we know that image has to be from after LAMDA or after, but still slightly before the RSC.\nArmitage's opening line \u2014 which starts with an \"aaaaah,\" is amazing. The Voice was there at the beginning. Although he sounds like a very high baritone, almost a tenor, in most of this production. I see some ringtones coming once people work their magic on the data.\nThere are a few really eerie moments here \u2014 not just FL's notation of the discussion of actor as compelled to be the object of audience fantasy, but also a statement that echoes Armitage's own about the struggle to be monogamous, for instance, as well as statement that stage made him and it's been twelve years since he's been on stage. Wild. Life imitates art \u2014 or is this a common pattern or worry in the successful actor's life?\nOne of those scenes that substantiates the sweet Armitage is also totally present in this film. It's like there's something for every fangirl. Could he have been planning that back in 1999?\nWe get to see him doing something that looks like it could be a gesture in the direction of oral sex. That seems to be what they're signaling \u2014 albeit in a remarkable serious way, and unfortunately no one's breathing hard.\nRichard Armitage likes chunky watches. Oh yes.\nAnd now, to the main event.\nIn this short film, Richard Armitage plays Darryl Newman, an actor who's chasing a stage comeback (after some career problems unspecified in the script \u2014 either film flops or just a general tendency toward typecasting that's impacted his creativity negatively). Newman's acting in a play with his ex-romantic partner, Lily (Jennifer Taylor Lawrence), that he plans as a move toward rescuing his artistic creativity, and she's experiencing problems with her role, apparently out of nervousness. Most of the film deals with their hashing over their history and needs and the break in their relationship due to an apparent betrayal on Lily's part that has figured in the boulevard press.\nI'm afraid that I didn't especially like this script. It seemed almost self-consciously film-schoolish to me. Moreover, the script and the film decisively prejudice the encounter captured in the work toward the male point of view \u2014 a broken relationship film that makes the man seem like the victim. On the one hand, I appreciate that for practical reasons, because I never would have paid $20 if Richard Armitage had had only a bit role. I was only watching this film for him. (Although he has solid, if not necessarily fireworkish, chemistry with Jennifer Taylor Lawrence, who does a great job \u2014 and I discovered while reading her imdb page that she, too, started her arts career as a dancer. But she's not the point for me here.) On the other, however, I am a woman myself. So, for the first two minutes, I found myself thinking, \"Sigh, is Richard Armitage really going to be in one of these 'Let's hate on the woman' movies?\" Really, Armitage? Mr. Quintessential Women's Favorite Actor? (I guess this was made before we gave him that title.) Particularly the childish and totally nonsensical script move at 9:16, when Darryl alleges that Lily is walking away from him because he's not good enough, reads to me like something out of a therapy session as opposed to a real dialogue. And I won't even discuss the ending of the film, which is simply not consistent with anything that happens anywhere in the script up until then.\nAnd here the women's issue is a general script issue \u2014 one of balance and realism. I get that this is a short film intended to display a budding student's craft, and that you can't depict everything in a relationship in ten to fifteen minutes. As adults who are actually in relationships know, however, problems tend to be created or at least escalated by both partners. The script eventually backed off a little from its imbalance, but honestly, in my opinion, not enough to recover from this problem \u2014 it implies the breakup is entirely the woman's fault for being unfaithful and portrays Darryl as the victim of infidelity \u2014 even though Darryl says in the beginning in a scene that's meant to be part of the play that he\/men have issues with monogamy. So maybe the script was meant to be hinting that Darryl expected Lily to be faithful while he was not? Not entirely clear \u2014 nor is Darryl and Lily's exactly relationship, as the implication that the conflict between them rests on marital infidelity seems to be placed in a scene that's actually a play rehearsal. I am not a naive interpreter of narratives, but I was confused and perhaps that was intentional.\nInsofar as the script was saved, however, it was by the fact that the film editing makes it (I assume intentionally) difficult to discern at first view what scenes (or parts of scenes) are meant to be pieces of the play they're acting in, and which scenes (or parts of scenes) are intended as actual conversations between the now-separated romantic partners. That is \u2014 one tends to think of the whole piece as a dialog between Lily and Darryl and the script of the play they are rehearsing is simply another way for them to talk about their problems. But the intentional complication of the viewer perspective reads like film school.\nYou know, script writers, actually half of the population are women. We work at home or in the workplace, thus we make discretionary income decisions for our families, we have our hands on money and we buy film tickets. And we tend to like more intimate dramas, like this could have been \u2026 as opposed to big shoot'emups.\nCough.\nAnyway. That said. I set out wanting to discuss Richard Armitage.\nWhat's really interesting about this performance is that (aside from one fairly severe misstep) it's so complex and naturalistic in comparison to, well \u2014 just about everything we've seen since 2003. That is \u2014 this performance is different from essentially everything we've seen Armitage do. The closest comparison is possibly Philip Turner in the Inspector Lynley episode \u2014 but this is more emotional, and better. Seriously, the first time I saw this, I had to shake my head while I was watching it.\nDon't get me wrong \u2014 I am not saying Armitage's performance is unrecognizable. There's plenty of familiar Armitage to see from the prominent occipitofrontalis to his tendency to gaze in way that makes him seem both engaged with his interlocutor (in this case, interlocutrix) and some faraway horizon \u2014 and his faraway horizon gazes are entrancing as ever, because his brow seems so much more severe in this piece for some reason that I can't entirely put my fingers on. The microexpressions are definitely there and noticeable, so they must have preceded the RSC, even if they're not always incredibly prominent.\nBut the tendency for the viewer who thinks she knows Armitage already to be surprised starts from the very beginning, where Lily breaks the scene they're rehearsing at a crucial point because of reported physical discomfort, and Darryl tries to encourage her but then gives up in frustration. When Armitage is depicting frustration, over his entire career he shows a pattern of backing off rather than attacking, and that's how this scene starts \u2014 with Darryl trying to be understanding, and then leaving in frustration rather than escalate the scene. But what surprises here is not so much the back-off, but the relative soft-spoken tones of Armitage's delivery. This is hugely naturalistic speech in comparison to almost everything we've ever seen of Armitage's work. Maybe this has something to do with Armitage being an actor who's playing an actor (as opposed to being an actor playing some other role) and this question would bear some further reflection \u2014 as if Darryl is one of the roles that Armitage has been able to draw the most on from his own lived experience (at least at that point). But it leaves the viewer with the (always seductive, always deceptive, always illusory) frisson of thinking that one's almost seeing Richard Armitage as he might have been in 1999. The very occasional moments of character break don't refute so much as underline this possibility. And the script enhances this like crazy, especially Darryl's statement about losing himself in a character for long periods of time. (Again, I'm not saying this is Armitage's motivation, but he really sells it here and it's similar enough to other things he's said in the meantime.)\nIn any case, what we don't see here are the usual layers of the Armitage performance I'm accustomed to, which is in itself a bit surprising. There are moments of pre-historic Armitage, one might say \u2014 things we recognize, like the narrowing of the eye (oris orbiculari, something I have yet to write about), for instance, or the nervous muscular loosening of the jaw (as at 3:18) that sometimes looks like preening because of the angle of Armitage's jaw. But in general, another thing that surprises about this performance is that Armitage's gestural language is yet again different from what we've seen in almost all of his television roles. No tongue of concentration and although I've watched it six times, none of the typical Armitage nervous acting tics. The crossed arms are here, in at least two places, but never in bravado or scorn, only in self-defense. And the rapid blinking is used in at least once scene to reflect emotion that I wouldn't have expected that to use. The very naturalistic gestural usage here is again notably difference from the visceral broadcast of emotions that we can see on Armitage's face in his early career television roles and then again, in refined form, in North & South.\nI may not be taken seriously in this, given my romp on the script (above), but I do think there was a sense in which the camera shots really favored Armitage in a lot of ways. (The director's clearly more interested in looking at his expressions than at Lawrence's, which again would be a problem for me if I weren't watching for the reasons that I am watching.) There are six or seven moments when we see him, for about one to two seconds, looking so poignant, abandoned (o:4:19 \u2014 this is a cap for the ages), angry, amused, etc. \u2014 and then these are gone. The short-shot format of most of this film really favors Armitage's skills as they were at the time.\nThis is not to say there are no mishaps. I don't believe him, at about 6:35, when he says he doesn't forgive betrayals. It's odd because he doesn't bring his microexpressions to bear here at all, as he would nowadays. (Well, I guess he has learned something since 1999). Similarly, his statement at 7:00 that his only issue is with Lily is simply overdelivered. Not inherently \u2014 in the sense that no actor would do it that way \u2014 but because it's really outside of the character he's set up for Darryl up to this point \u2014 who is understanding, trying to help, and whose anger about the potential flop of his play is underlain with despair \u2014 as opposed to explosive. This may be an editing issue, but Armitage's emotion here is simply too sudden, and he retreats from it almost immediately \u2014 we almost don't hear his next line, and his head is bowed in a bit of suppressed rage (although this is probably also a concession to the shorter Lawrence).\nThat he is capable of rage is almost immediately apparent afterwards, as one of those brief shots on his face at 7:21 shows that Darryl is truly resentful (although we don't know yet entirely about what, as it's not totally clear that Lily is his ex-wife \u2014 an intentional confusion by the script, apparently \u2014 though again this may be a moment where Darryl is shifting into his character as they resume the rehearsal of the play). The totally inconsistent ending notwithstanding, anyone who's occasionally wondered (as I have) whether Armitage could marshal the inner rage to play a naturalistic (as opposed to Guy of Gisborne) character who truly hurt or even raped a woman, should no longer have any doubts. Although Darryl's anger was undercut by the script, the scenes where Darryl appears to force himself on Lily initially (uch, I feel another objection coming here) are convincing enough to suggest that that capacity is there. Again, of course, as viewers, we have the problem that we can't tell if this Darryl or the unspecified character that Darryl is playing \u2014 but the unaccustomed tempestuousness was pretty convincing to me.\nWow. Naturalism and Richard Armitage. It was, frankly, eye opening.\nSo the main question that I have after seeing this, and then the TV roles that followed when his stage career began to take off \u2014 Lee Preston (Cold Feet), Paul Andrews (Between the Sheets), John Standring (Sparkhouse), Ian Macalwain (Ultimate Force) in chief, but also Steven (Frozen), which was filmed in 2003 but not released until later \u2014 is:\nWhat the heck happened to Armitage at the Royal Shakespeare Company? All of these performances named above, with the possible exception of Steven in Frozen, are much more heavily mannerist (layered, if you like) than this role. Is that what the RSC taught Armitage? If so, I'm tempted to say that LAMDA offered an excellent education in a quite naturalistic, believable acting style, but that the RSC did something that created artistic problems for Armitage on a significant level \u2014 and I say this although I love the Baroque qualities that Armitage, in my opinion appropriately, give Guy of Gisborne \u2014 that he was not able to release himself from until he played Lucas North or perhaps even later.\nFootnote to the question \u2014 I wonder if part of the issue was the way that Armitage's emotions move across his face, so very, very swiftly \u2014 that wasn't perhaps suitable for theater? There's a true unstudied volatility in some scenes here (I'm thinking of the scene where Darryl approaches Lily in the dressing room, or the scene where he laughs after drinking from her spiked beverage can) that I can see not fully catching an audience on stage simply because it passes so quickly.\nIn any case \u2014 definitely worth it both for students of Armitage's career and biography, and for those who are examining his acting style.\nI await your thoughts.\nPosted in Richard Armitage\nTags: acting, Richard Armitage, Staged\n50 Responses to \"First reactions to Richard Armitage in \"Staged\" (1999)\"\nWhat can I say that you haven't already said, Serv? Wonderful and thought-provoking piece\u2026 I've only watched STAGED once, but I superficially enjoyed it. I agree about the overdelivery of that line \"My only problem is WITH you!\" \u2013 that was jarring \u2013 I thought he should have put the emphasis on \"you,\" not \"with.\" It just seemed weird. I liked their chemistry and the coloring\/lighting was interesting to me. Very\u2026 theatrical (duh).\nThe whole thing where we aren't sure at any given time (on stage) whether they're rehearsing lines from the play or hashing out their coupledom issues: This reminded me very much of a key scene in \"Shakespeare in Love,\" which came out the previous year in 1998. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. \ud83d\ude42\nAwkCelebEncounters (@AwkwardCeleb) said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 1:14 am | Reply\nThanks, AwkCE. I only saw that once, and it was dubbed in German, so I'm afraid that I've totally forgotten it. However, that would totally make sense as to the narrative blurring.\nI think what I disliked about that moment was less the intonation (although I agree with you that it was wrong) but the sudden escalation, and the overcrease of the eyebrows. I thought that when I saw the trailer but seeing it in context didn't change my mind.\nI had been hesitant to order this, but you are convincing me.\nChristine (msgigglepants) said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 1:35 am | Reply\n$20 is about what I'd spend without thinking on a restaurant meal. So I wasn't afraid of what would happen if I didn't like it. It wasn't a major discretionary purpose for me. There are lots of things you'd like in this. Plenty of topless Armitage. Other reviewers have discussed that, though, so I left it \ud83d\ude42\nLike Christine, and because of your review Servetus, I might actually consider buying it. My reason for not initially was that I had this feeling that it might not actually come to be distributed. This was a fear many had, because it took so long to be shipped out. Also, I wasn't really sure this was something endorsed by Richard to be released. Some actors agree to do a film, but don't actually sign a release or contract allowing for sale or distribution. But nothing came up about that either, so that is good also. Anyway, I am so very glad that I was wrong in all respects. Thanks for taking the time to do this review, Servetus.\ncrystalchandlyre said this on\tJune 27, 2013 at 9:16 am | Reply\nI wasn't worried about the permissions issue b\/c Denison works in the industry. (I assume that Armitage signed a release years and years ago, but even if not, since Denison has his own entertainment company now, if he were going to move in the direction of distribution he'd have to have that managed or risk the reputation of his future endeavors). I was somewhat worried about the distribution issue, but there's no point in discussing my reasons now because they haven't been actuated. In the end, I bought it because I was curious, it was something I wasn't going to get anywhere else, and $20 wasn't enough to break me either way. I understand that it may have been different for others, but I give $20 to a beggar every now and then if I don't have a smaller bill and I'm overdue for giving tzedakah. That may not always be the case but it was just now.\nThanks so much for the review! I am full of awe at your energy and devotion\u2026I just might have to buy this, and I only own two RA DVD's. It would make a nice book-end to the ones I have which are of a mature actor.\nI'm absolutely positive he could convincingly play a role in which he injures\/rapes a woman. Rape is not about sex; it is about control and rage violence, which he successfully portrayed when he was beating up that tiny little textile worker as Thornton. His face was scary there; I would definitely fear for my safety with that face coming at me, especially as it is housed in such a huge body.\nchaifreak said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 2:28 am | Reply\nyes, I know rape is not about sex. But it's also a different emotion than the Thornton \/ Stevens incident. For one thing, the power differential in the typical rape is way more complex than that.\nYes, it IS more complicated. And NS was how many years ago? And how much more refined are his performances now? Think of all of the \"micro expressions\", as you so beautifully described, he has mastered. Still no doubt in my mind he could do this, and many more things besides.\nchaifreak said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 3:50 pm | Reply\nI'm just saying that I don't buy that Thornton beating up Stevens is proof that Armitage had\/has the chops to commit a rape on film. (And why, you ask, should I want him to? \ud83d\ude42 I don't, especially). I had other concerns in making that judgment. Pure slaughter is not quite the same as the commission of active torture and humiliation of others. Bateman in S9 comes closest to what I'm thinking of, I suppose, but it's undercut with such an attempt to make us sympathize with the character that it's a bit hard to interpret.\nEnjoyed the review, thanks! Is it still possible to order this? I arrived late to the party and got the impression this was a very limited run and that you had to pre-order it\u2026\nMicinlia said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 4:15 am | Reply\nMicinlla, thanks for the comment and welcome. I have no idea if it's still purchasable, but you could email staged@denisonentertainment.com and ask.\nThanks for the lowdown on the film. I'm very interested in getting the movie now so that I can study his chest hair\u2013oops! **cough** I mean study that natural acting style you were describing.\ndennib68 said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 4:51 am | Reply\nEveryone has her own reason for watching and they're all good. \ud83d\ude42\nNow I really regreat that I haven't bought it *sigh*\nThanks for your opinion and the detailed description Servetus!\nHerba said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 6:04 am | Reply\nI suspect that (cough) as with many things, it will eventually become available \u2026\nI hope so, but you'll never know\nHerba said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 3:51 pm | Reply\nI regret of course\u2026oh my, it's early on my half of the world \ud83d\ude09\nThank you for the review. I didn't buy it, but may think about changing my mind.\nkatie70 said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 6:28 am | Reply\nDo keep in mind that it's 10 minutes long. So it's 10 enjoyable minutes, but \u2026\nIn short, I didn't want to be responsible for anyone buying or not buying this \u2014 \ud83d\ude42\nThanks for your analysis that I will read again when (IF) my dvd arrive here in this lost corner of the world \ud83d\ude26\nmicra1 said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 7:17 am | Reply\nyes, I realized this review comes ahead of a lot of people's chances to see it.\nbut it's much welcome! It mitigates the wait \ud83d\ude09\nmicra1 said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 7:51 pm | Reply\nThanks for your review, Serv. I almost feel as if I have seen the short. With the few snippets, that we have seen as teasers, in mind, your post gives me a great insight into this piece of the early RA oevre.\nI am not quite sure whether I fully grasp your understanding of mannerist acting. I have never found RA artificial or discernibly *acting* in his roles, so I am wondering what you mean by him being different here. In a way, it seems almost contradictory to me that he is not mannerist but consistently (?) naturalist in this play, when the two acting styles might have helped to set apart Darryl from the person Darryl is playing.\nJeeeps, this is getting complicated. I am confused myself. Hope you are driving safe!\nguylty said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 8:13 am | Reply\nI didn't define \"mannerist,\" so fair enough. I'm not saying that I think he's \"indicating\" (as the Stanislavski people used to say, I guess the term's gone out of fashion) in his early roles, but I also never would have called Armitage a primarily naturalistic actor. He definitely has a recognizable style and that style is not really visible here.\n*If* he was trying to differentiate between Darryl the actor and the character played by Darryl the actor, the difference is pretty subtle. I am going to have to watch it a few more times, I imagine. For one thing, I'm really not always sure when they're switching between play and relationship.\nI watched STAGED only once so far, but I loved it, imperfections and all. It was well worth the wait.\ncollarcitybrownstone said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 10:54 am | Reply\nI ordered it in the mood that I was not sure if I ever would really watch it and pry into RA's past or just put it on the RA-shelf unseen. But I at least wanted to have the option to watch it, so I mangled my food budget and ordered it. I am still not sure if I will be able to assemble the bravery to watch it when my DVD arrives. (Did not get it yet.)\nYour review certainly is something to get me closer to the point to want to see it now, as when seeing the theatre excerpts of his Shakespeare works, I always wonder why he so consistently mentions wanting to go back to theatre work.\ncdoart said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 12:28 pm | Reply\nI totally get this. I'm wrangling with the \"do I finally listen the rest of LoTN\" question at the moment. The reasons are different obviously but I understand the reasons why one might not want to consume something \u2026\nArmitage seems *really* comfortable here (acting here or there). Above all there's no sense of stage fright or tenseness here at all.\nThank you for your review, Servetus. I haven't bought the DVD so your description is very precious for me.\nAnia said this on\tJune 26, 2013 at 11:04 pm | Reply\nGlad to be helpful.\nYour review is waaaaay more intelligently put than mine could ever be. Love all the points you raised and I wish that it would have been longer, if only to flesh out the characters and their dialogue a bit more. All the escalating anger here and there was a bit off-putting to me but I know it had something to do with the time allotted.\nI noticed that in the end credits, there are at least 3 more characters in addition to the director and the assistant whose scenes ended up on the cutting room floor.\nmorrighansmuse said this on\tJune 27, 2013 at 4:23 pm | Reply\nThanks \u2014 I still have to check that out. I did notice that the actors were doubling in crew roles in some cases.\nI think the emotional lumps would have made more sense if the film had been even a teensy bit longer, but the perspective changes from script to relationship also made them hard(er) to understand.\n[\u2026] In my first series of viewings, my reaction was that I didn't notice him trying to do an American accent; after more viewings I could see places that suggest that he was trying to do that part of the time (at the very least, when he's playing Darryl playing the unnamed character in the play). If anyone's interested, I will be willing to substantiate that assertion more fully (I assume that would be boring for most readers, but if you'd like me to do it, please leave a comment). [\u2026]\nFinally, link to Richard Armitage's statement about \"a student film\" \u2014 \"Staged\"? | Me + Richard Armitage said this on\tJuly 3, 2013 at 3:38 am | Reply\nSo you think the RSC was a mistake?\nI haven't seen this yet and probably won't until it shows up somewhere else \u2014 wasn't really interested until I read your review.\nAs usual, you give a very thoughtful and detailed analysis. Ever thought of a career as a movie critic?\nsloan said this on\tJuly 4, 2013 at 3:09 am | Reply\nI don't have enough data to say. But I think his style was markedly different after the RSC; in a year and half or whatever it was he never got a very large role; and on at least two occasions he expressed frustration with the experience in one way or other. I suspect that the RSC probably rubbed the edges off of occasional moments of overemotionality like the ones we see here, but beyond that it's hard to say. I wish it were possible to see some of the performances of the late 1990s, esp. from the Birmingham Rep. OTOH, it's possible that the RSC was an important resume builder \u2014 one of those things it's valuable to say you've done ?\nServetus said this on\tJuly 4, 2013 at 3:16 am | Reply\nIsn't the RSC a prerequisite for most British actors?\nBTW: Thoughts and prayers are with you \u2014 as always. Take care.\nOther people will know better than me \u2014 but I just looked and none of the following have RSC training: Cumberbatch, McFadyen, Hiddleston, Penry-Jones.\nThanks for the thoughts \/ prayers. You take care, too.\nInitially, the first two lines of the film completely confused me. It definitely should be watched multiple times to grasp the full extent of the story. Unsure why JTL's character changed towards Darryl, and was it before or at the end of the film\/ rehearsal scenes we see? Was there conflict resolution? Did she settle?\nCompletely laughed at the crushed can scene. Bravo to Richard for maintaining a straight face.\nHe resembles a \"Darryl\" here. Anything better than a \"John\", right? \ud83d\ude09\nLucNorth84 said this on\tJuly 14, 2013 at 6:19 am | Reply\nyeah, Darryl is a weird name to pick but better than John \ud83d\ude42\nServetus said this on\tJuly 14, 2013 at 10:59 pm | Reply\n[\u2026] after everyone else has, and after every other thought about it has been expressed. This matter has occasionally motivated me to make judgments before I'm entirely ready. This might make you stay more tuned [\u2026]\nAre you ready for Richard Armitage in November and December? | Me + Richard Armitage said this on\tOctober 27, 2013 at 10:10 pm | Reply\n[\u2026] eye-lashes, mind you. If you would like to read other reviews by other bloggers, you can find them here, here and [\u2026]\nMy Two Cents on Staged \u2013 Not Just the Eye Lashes This Time\u2026 | Love, Sex & Other Dirty Words said this on\tDecember 16, 2013 at 2:41 am | Reply\n[\u2026] to that of more experienced bloggers and Armitage watchers who posted their reviews. [X] [XX], [XXX to cite a [\u2026]\nPerry: Back Where She Started | Armitage Agonistes said this on\tJanuary 25, 2014 at 10:02 pm | Reply\nso does he survive the film?\nKat said this on\tJune 1, 2014 at 2:38 am | Reply\nThanks for the comment, and welcome. In this case, yes, he does.\nServetus said this on\tJune 1, 2014 at 2:41 am | Reply\nIf anyone knows of someone who has an extra copy to sell woukd you please kindly advise? Thank you!\nLexi said this on\tJanuary 31, 2016 at 8:27 pm | Reply\nLooking to purchase a copy of Staged. Yes I'm late to this party. Had a terrible three past years. Thx!!\n[\u2026] 2013. Armitage himself described this accent as \"appalling.\" My first impressions are here with an addition here about my perception of his wobbly accent-switching at the time \u2014 Darryl [\u2026]\nRichard Armitage speaking American, a retrospective (Staged, Captain America) | Me + Richard Armitage said this on\tMay 28, 2016 at 12:27 am | Reply","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"FDLE claims West Palm Beach officer committed grand theft and police misconduct\nMarch 5, 2018 June 1, 2018 alinksy Leave a comment\nMichelle Quesada, Mar 5, 2018,\nWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. \u2013 A Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into the alleged actions of a West Palm Beach police officer determined the officer committed grand theft and police misconduct, but the officer will not face charges.\nThe Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office said the evidence presented by FDLE did not meet the elements for prosecution. This comes despite the fact that FDLE found six occasions where the lieutenant was paid overtime and was allegedly not working.\nAn FDLE report says a source came forward with surveillance video from a private investigator showing Lt. Gregory Babcock at home for at least two hours of the eight he clocked in to monitor a waterway as part of the Palm Beach County Manatee Enforcement Grant on December 10, 2016.\nThe State Attorney's Office said the theft was a \"de minimis amount\" that should be handled administratively. The next day surveillance video showed Lt. Babcock worked on a car in his driveway when his time sheet said he worked eight hours of overtime on the Manatee detail. In an interview with FDLE, the senior county clerk said Babcock tried to rectify the error six months later.\n\"I received an email from Lieutenant Babcock stating that he had entered overtime into Telestaff for eight hours for a Manatee grant and it should have only been three hours,\" said Taneisha Potter in the interview with FDLE agent Antonio Mathews.\nMathews then asks Potter to clarify the date of when the incorrect overtime was paid which was in December 2016 and when Babcock sent the email which was in May 2017.\n\"Did you find that odd?\" Mathews asked Potter. \"Yes,\" she replied.\nBabcock reimbursed the county for five hours. FDLE agents claim they found four other occasions when Babcock's time cards did not match the boat meter readings for the days he was working.\nThe State Attorney's Office's No File Memorandum said, \"The meter readings were presented by a biased party. Evidence should be looked at cautiously when the person presenting the evidence appears to have a vendetta, motive or bias.\"\nFDLE's source is whistleblower Lt. Frank Alonso who has filed a lawsuit against the city of West Palm Beach. His lawsuit says he filed a report of alleged misconduct with FDLE in February 2017.\nThe State Attorney's Office and the West Palm Beach police chief will not comment on this story because there is an ongoing internal affairs investigation.\nThe Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association also said it cannot provide a comment at this time because of the open case.\nGary Lippman, a former attorney for the PBA said the State Attorney's Office may have decided the evidence did not meet the elements for prosecution, but if the internal affairs determined Babcock did commit police misconduct or grand theft, he could face de-certification and risk losing his pension.\nMichelle Quesada, Mar 5, 2018, \"FDLE claims West Palm Beach officer committed grand theft and police misconduct\", https:\/\/www.wptv.com\/news\/region-c-palm-beach-county\/west-palm-beach\/fdle-claims-wpb-officer-committed-grand-theft-and-police-misconduct\nPolice MisconductFlorida, Gregory Babcock, Police Misconduct, WEST PALM BEACH\n\u2190 \"Satanic Killers\" Exonerated After Police Misconduct Probe\n319 NYPD employees committed fireable offenses and kept their jobs: report \u2192","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Samsung Will Soon Offer Smartphones With 64MP Image Sensor\nSamsung is upping the ante in the smartphone world.\nThe company recently announced that they will be introducing 48-mp and 64-mp image sensors for smartphones launching in the fall of 2019.\nBoth sensors employ the company's Isocell Plus and Tetracell technology.\nThe former was designed to reduce light leakage, and the latter utilizes four pixels as one to allow for superior digital photography in low-light conditions.\nBarely six months ago, the South Korean tech giant launched 32-MP and 48-MP Isocell sensors used in their Galaxy S10 smartphones. The image sensor market has been quite profitable for Samsung, and these latest product offerings will enable them to compete head-to-head with Japanese rival Sony.\nIn tandem with the announcement, Samsung revealed that they'd be investing more than $120 billion between now and 2030 to become the dominant player in the logic chip market. Their latest research has seen them investigating new applications for sensors to be used in autonomous vehicles in the years ahead.\nThis is good news and is sure to trigger several other product announcements later in the year as companies take advantage of the soon to be available technology. Given Samsung's success so far in this segment of the market, there's little reason to think that their latest releases will be anything other than a resounding success.\nIn an industry fraught with uncertainty, Samsung seems to be making all the right moves this year. The future certainly looks bright for them, and the markets they serve. If you're a fan of photography, you're sure to appreciate the new capabilities that these sensors enable. Best of all, if the past is any guide, you won't have to wait long to start taking advantage of them.\nFlaw May Have Allowed Hacker Control Of Your WhatsApp Account\nPopular Android Keyboard App Collected Private Information, Has Been Breached\nOracle Micros Point of Sale Customers Reset Your Passwords\nWill We Control Computers With Our Brains Soon?\nNew iPhone Attack Seems Very Familiar: Watch Out For MMS","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Exploring the world's most romantic wedding venues\nFrom a chapel with the ultimate ocean view in Jamaica to an altar made of ice in Sweden: Exploring the world's most romantic wedding venues with our holiday hero\nNeil Simpson checks out some one-of-a-kind wedding venues around the world\nTie the knot in style at The Wedding Chapel at Jamaica's Sandals Ochi Beach\nFor a really cool venue, head to The Ceremony Hall at Sweden's Ice Hotel\nBy Neil Simpson For The Mail On Sunday\nPublished: 22:00 BST, 9 February 2019 | Updated: 10:57 BST, 11 February 2019\nEvery week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday idea, doing all the legwork so you don't have to. As Valentine's Day beckons, he checks out the world's most romantic wedding venues.\nThe perfect wedding deserves the perfect location \u2013 and increasingly couples are heading abroad to find it.\nTying the knot overseas can mean some extra admin and you should check the official gov.uk\/marriage-abroad website to ensure your ceremony is legally binding. But don't think the planning will be harder overseas. All the photo-friendly locations here have English-speaking wedding planners on hand.\nTie the knot in style: The Wedding Chapel at Jamaica's Sandals Ochi Beach\nWaterside wedding: Walk on water before taking your vows in the new 'over-the-ocean' chapel at Sandals Ochi Beach in Jamaica. The wooden chapel can accommodate 56 guests and offers 360-degree views of the Caribbean \u2013 and a crystal-clear view through the glass floor to the waters below. You choose how the chapel is decorated, and the more guests you invite to the resort, the more extras \u2013 such as room upgrades \u2013 you get for free.\nBook it: The wedding venue is free if you stay at all-inclusive Sandals Ochi Beach, where seven nights in spring 2020 starts at \u00a31,639pp, including flights. sandals.co.uk\/weddings\/venues\nLegendary location: Head to Cyprus and marry in the birthplace of Aphrodite, goddess of love. It's hard to find a more beautiful place for a ceremony than the white-walled Ayia Anathasia chapel in the grounds of the luxury Anassa hotel. Exchange vows in the chapel, then have photos in the hotel's olive groves, gardens or on its beach.\nBook it: Wedding packages and rooms at Anassa start at \u00a32,224 a week in spring next year. anassa.comanassa.com\nCinematic choice: For a Gone With The Wind vibe plus lashings of Southern charm consider the ivy-covered chapel in the grounds of the Sea Island hotel in Georgia in the Deep South of the US. Outside you can celebrate beneath ancient oaks or alongside lines of swaying palms. Take BA's new direct flight to Charleston (from April 4) and the hotel is a scenic drive down the coast.\nBook it: Weddings in the chapel start at \u00a31,900 and rooms at Sea Island cost from \u00a33,000 for a week this autumn. seaisland.com\nSo cool: For a one-of-a-kind wedding venue head to the Arctic Circle and the Ceremony Hall in Sweden's original Ice Hotel. It's unique as the hall melts every summer and is rebuilt, in a different style, each winter. Up to 40 guests can watch you exchange vows at an altar made of solid ice. If you don't fancy spending your wedding night in an igloo, there are 'warm rooms' on site.\nWow-factor: The Ceremony Hall at Sweden's Ice Hotel\nBook it: Full weddings in the Ceremony Hall, including photographer, drinks and a night at Ice Hotel, from \u00a33,750. icehotel.com\nHome of romance: Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the world's most romantic destinations, and the medieval Cloisters de San Francesco in Sorrento make a stunning location. After a ceremony amid the marble interiors, most couples have a reception on the terraces of the neighbouring Grand Hotel Ambasciatori.\nBook it: Weddings at the cloisters cost from \u00a31,925, with a week at Ambasciatori from \u00a32,439 per room in spring 2020. perfectweddingsabroad.co.uk\nCarol Burnett set to celebrate her 90th birthday with two-hour special January 26, 2023\nBiden makes joke about himself being 'stupid' \u2013 then gets congressman's name wrong January 26, 2023\nCannabis helps women have MULTIPLE orgasms per sexual encounter \u2013 including masturbation January 26, 2023\nCelebrity surrogacies: Inside sky-high costs, iron-clad NDAs, and watertight arrangements January 26, 2023","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"ALIPAC In The News\n2 Post By GeorgiaPeach\nThread: GOP Legislators Grab More Cheap Labor, Give Democrats Policy Wins\nGeorgiaPeach\nGOP Legislators Grab More Cheap Labor, Give Democrats Policy Wins\nFeruary 14, 2019\nNeil Munro\nAP\/Elise Amendola\nGOP legislators won some extra cheap labor for their donors while letting Democrats insert many anti-wall, pro-migration and anti-enforcement policy riders into the 2019 border spending package.\n\"They sold out the President and their own voters because the President won't ever get the 55 miles [of border fence] he wanted,\" said Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies.\nTrump \"was willing to play ball with Congress and to take less than his full demand [of $5.7 billion], but even on that, they screwed him. The broader public that wants the border enforced also got the shaft in this bill,\" he said.\n\"I don't think it is because of malice on the part of Republicans,\" said Krikorian. \"They were duped, they were distracted by [the offer of more] H-2B visa[s] which is what they care about, and by being able to say there is some money for the fence, even if it will never be built,\" he said.\nThe pending bill is being rushed through Congress by GOP and Democratic leaders, but it is being opposed by pro-American groups, including the Federation for Amerian Immigration Reform, ALIPAC, and the small-government Club for Growth.\nThere's no coming back from this. No \"emergency\" or presidential powers will allow him to build the wall, ever, after he signs this bill. Trump has just agreed to fully open borders.\n\u2014 Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 14, 2019\nThe GOP legislators were duped by Democrats because they wanted to be duped, Krikorian said, adding:\nThey fooled themselves because they said \"We've got money for 55 miles of wall, and all the rest are just details and we can't be bothered with that.\" \u2026 They aren't interested enough in the details of enforcement to know what [the Democrats were] up to. They just don't think it is important and they did not focus on it.\nThe business-first Republicans \"keep stepping on rakes and they are surprised every time it happens,\" he said. \"They will pay a price,\" he added.\nThe Republicans on the 17-member panel include Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, Texas Rep. Kay Granger, Tennesee Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Georgia Rep. Tom Graves, and Mississippi Rep. Steven Palazzo. Most of them are business-first Republicans who normally defer to business claims about claimed shortages of workers.\nOn Tuesday, Shelby touted the pending bill to Trump, who announced via tweet:\nWas just presented the concept and parameters of the Border Security Deal by hard working Senator Richard Shelby. Looking over all aspects knowing that this will be hooked up with lots of money from other sources\u2026.\nTrump did not say if Shelby told him about the paragraph which gives Texas Democrats a veto on the $1.4 billion on wall spending until September 2019.\nThe cheap labor H-2B expansion sought by Republicans was added in the last ten pages of the 1,169-page border security bill, and it pressures the Department of Homeland Security to raise the annual inflow of cheap H-2B workers, which are used to cut pay to seasonal and full-time employees by the owners of resorts, hotels, landscapers, and forestry companies.\nThe GOP's H-2B gain said:\nNotwithstanding the numerical limitation set forth in section 214(g)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1184)g)(1)(B)), the Secretary of Homeland Security \u2026may increase the total number of aliens who receive a visa under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b).\nThe business groups pushed hard for the cheap labor because they are being forced to raise wages to Americans amid Trump's booming economy and his \"Hire American\" low immigration policy. In 2013, nationwide wages rose by three percent. Wage raises were low in areas with lots of migrant workers but were higher in areas with fewer migrants. For example, wages rose in the Minnesota region by 5.2 percent.\nConference Report to H.J. Res. 31 would nearly double the available FY 2019 H-2B low-skill visas. Wages in H-2B industries have only barely begun to increase after many years of stagnation. Americans need jobs and a raise!\nTell your Senator to vote NO.https:\/\/t.co\/gidlDsKVmU\n\u2014 NumbersUSA (@NumbersUSA) February 14, 2019\nIn 2017 and 2018, similar language caused the Department of Homeland Security to add 15,000 extra H-2B work visas.\nRepublicans have worked with Democrats and business allies to import a resident population of roughly three million cheap visa workers. Roughly 1.5 million of the visa workers work in white-collar jobs sought by U.S college graduates. Those 1.5 million visa workers will accept less pay than U.S. workers, partly because they hope to get a deferred bonus of green cards from the U.S. government.\nSen Mitch McConnell just announced @realDonaldTrump plans to sign the nightmarish budget deal Amnesty bill and then declare a state of National Emergency probably because Trump's own voters are going to politically riot over #Trump's betrayal + our taxation without representation\n\u2014 William Gheen (@ALIPAC) February 14, 2019\nDemocrats approved the H-2B payroll cut to smooth the closed-door negotiations, Krikorian said.\nThe Democratic wins in the 2019 spending package include a de-facto amnesty for migrants who say they will \"sponsor\" the teenagers and children who are being smuggled to the U.S. border by cartel-backed coyotes. That section of the law creates a legal reward for Central American illegals who smuggle their own children into the United States.\n\"If this bill is enacted, expect the largest surge of unaccompanied minors this country has ever seen. If this bill is passed by Congress, President Trump must veto it.\" \u2013 Dan Stein, president of FAIR. https:\/\/t.co\/6GEW7xAMWQ\n\u2014 FAIR (@FAIRImmigration) February 14, 2019\nThe draft also gives Texas city officials a de facto veto on the construction of Trump's border wall until at least September 2019. Krikorian said:\nExtra fencing is only in South Texas and the local governments \u2014 which are monolithically Democratic \u2014 have a veto over any fencing that is built, so there won't be any fencing that is built. The claimed 55 miles is a fake \u2014 there won't be anything built because the local government will veto construction. If this goes through, it will be the starting point for the next year's budget bill, and the Democrats will argue that [the local government veto] has to stay in place.\nThe Democratic wins also deliver hundreds of millions in spending to encourage migrants to cross the border, plus rules which constrict and stigmatize ICE enforcement.\nThe 2019 DHS spending bill provides $1.4 billion for the border wall \u2013 and also encourages migrants by promising aid, busses & legal advice\/shields, plus favorable future media coverage & Dem cheerleading. Overall, GOP gains on $ and Dems gain on policies https:\/\/t.co\/rxFzl8Fas0\n\u2014 Neil Munro (@NeilMunroDC) February 14, 2019\nIn contrast, \"there are no policy wins for people who are concerned about controlling the border,\" said Krikorian. \"None.\"\nThere is no evidence, Krikorian added, that GOP staff experts on immigration were allowed to advise the GOP members of the spending panel.\nDemocrats win these closed-door immigration fights because they really want to expand immigration, while the business-first Republicans really want to aid donors and are not interested in developing an immigraiton policy which helps ordinary Americans, he said, adding:\nThe Democrats want to maximize the number of Central Americans who can move to the United States \u2026 They do not think the numerical caps in the [immigration] law should apply to people in Central America, They will do whatever it takes to enable every Central American who wants to move here. [They see] this as payback for the civil war in Central America, that we 're obliged to every Central American who want to move here because we funded the contras, the anti-communists in El Salvador and Guatemala. In other words, they think those people have a right to move here.\nGallup reported in February 2019 that five million Central Americans want to move to the United States in 2019.\nThe 2019 border security bill gives Trump & GOP an apparent win on the border wall $ \u2014 but it also chokes ICE enforcement with a wide variety of curbs, rules and exemptions while it also encourages offers of migration with offers of aid and lawyers. https:\/\/t.co\/DfZZJE3SwN\nhttps:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2...ins-on-borders\nLast edited by ALIPAC; 02-14-2019 at 09:21 PM.\nBut Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.\nJoin our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)\nThe American people are again betrayed by Congress and a president. From 1986 forward, all we have gotten is more amnesty and increased immigration in general. We never see real interior enforcement or have secure borders. Cartels, smugglers, whoever can cross the border can still cross and continue to cross. Send for a child and you may get immunity.\nOn Laura Ingraham's (Ingraham Angle - FOX News) show last evening, it was mentioned the possibility of 30,000 being encouraged to caravan our way, including Cubans, those from Venezuela, others. What is seriously stopping anyone? All come.\nLast edited by GeorgiaPeach; 02-14-2019 at 08:39 PM.\nMW and Beezer like this.\nThis says it all:\n\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\" ** Edmund Burke**\nSupport our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts athttps:\/\/eepurl.com\/cktGTn\nGheen, Minnesota, United States\nTrump Vows To Sign Budget Bill He Hasn't Read With Hidden Mass Amnesty for Illegals\nFor National Release | Valentines Day 2018\nShare & disucss this press release & meme by email and on (FACEBOOK HERE) .. (TWITTER HERE) .. (GAB HERE) .. (ALIPAC HERE)\nhttps:\/\/www.alipac.us\/f8\/trump-vows-...legals-369977\/\nStop Trump From Signing Amnesty Bill at 10am that will kill more Americans\nCall and share rapidly by email and on (FACEBOOK HERE) .. (TWITTER HERE) .. (GAB HERE) .. (ALIPAC HERE)\nregister your opposition to the budget Amnesty bill with the White House at (202-456-1414) and (202-456-1111) and in Trump's direction on (Twitter HERE) and (FACEBOOK HERE)!\nhttps:\/\/www.alipac.us\/f8\/stop-trump-...ricans-369989\/\nWho Is Alexander Acosta? Trump Labor Nominee Supports Amnesty, Cheap Foreign Labor\nBy Jean in forum General Discussion\nDemocrats Want Votes; Republicans Want Cheap Labor\nBy Newmexican in forum General Discussion\nOpen border policy seeks unlimited access to cheap labor\nBy Shadow in forum illegal immigration News Stories & Reports\nSwift finds out, cheap labor is not so cheap\nBy BetsyRoss in forum illegal immigration News Stories & Reports\nDemocrats want votes, Repubs want cheap labor, what does...\nBy mrrabbit in forum General Discussion\nalipac, amnesty, ann coulter, border spending bill, center for immigration studies, cis, dan stein, fair, h.j. res 31, h2-b visas, illegal immigration, mark krikorian, sponsors, uac children, unaccompanied alien children","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Manning Clark\nRick Amor\npencil on paper (sheet: 24.0 cm x 18.0 cm)\nManning Clark AC (1915\u20131991), historian, lectured at the University of Melbourne from 1944 to 1949, when became Foundation Professor of History at Canberra University College. This institution became the Australian National University, where Clark was Professor and Head of the History department and later first Professor of Australian History. He left ANU in 1975. In 1981, while still at work on his monumental, controversial, six-volume A History of Australia (1962\u201387) he was named Australian of the Year. In his autobiographical works The Puzzles of Childhood and The Quest for Grace (1989\u201390) Clark wrote that he had 'learned that Australia did not have to belong to the tough; that Australia could and should belong to the lovers and believers'. Since his death, there has been lively public debate about Clark's legacy as a historian \u2013 the disagreement, in itself, helping to keep interest in the national narrative alive. Mark McKenna's brilliant biography, published in 2012, adds to the complexity of Clark's case.\nRick Amor was acquainted with Manning Clark through his father-in-law, Mick Williams, who lectured in history at the ANU for twenty years. He drew Clark while Clark was sitting to Clifton Pugh for an Archibald portrait. Later, he translated his drawings into a print for Overland. The location of Pugh's portrait of Clark is unknown.\nGift of the artist 2005\nDonated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program\n\u00a9 Rick Amor\/Copyright Agency, 2022\nListen: Manning Clark\nRick Amor (age 37 in 1985)\nProfessor Manning Clark AC (age 70 in 1985)\nRick Amor (20 portraits)\n1. Self portrait, 2005. 2. Two portraits of Manning Clark (seated recto), (head, verso), 1985. 3. Self portrait, 1999. 4. Manning Clark, 1990. All Rick Amor.\n'The person who is the writer'\nPortrait story\nAustralian author David Malouf discusses the creation of his portrait by artist Rick Amor.\nShane Maloney and Rick Amor\n'Big canvas, small head'\nArtist Rick Amor and author Shane Maloney relate divergent experiences of the creation of Shane's portrait.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"info@transparencyproject.org.uk\nEllie Butler \u2013 the missing judgment about her sibling\nby Lucy R | Jul 29, 2016 | Cases, Explanation, Notorious | 0 comments\nWe have previously written about the tragic case of Ellie Butler a number of times on this blog :\nEllie Butler \u2013 drawing together some strands and discussions\nEllie Butler \u2013 some useful resources\nLessons from the Ellie Butler Case\nLucy Reed also wrote a post on Pink Tape called What Price Transparency? about some of the difficulties she faced in reporting this case.\nAs each piece of new information emerges our perspective shifts. Today an appeal judgment from the Court of Appeal was published, explaining why a primary judgment of Mrs Justice King from 2014 should now be published : C (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 798 (29 July 2016). The Court of Appeal decided that a decision earlier this year blocking publication of the 2014 judgment was wrong, and preferred the public interest arguments in favour of publication over suggestions that there might be a risk of prejudicing any criminal appeal that Ben Butler or Jennifer Gray might launch against their convictions (news reports today suggest Ben Butler has applied for permission to appeal). You can read Suesspicious Minds' blog post explaining that appeal decision here : Ellie Butler Court of Appeal overturn decision to keep family court judgment from press.\nThe 2014 judgment is one we have known about for some time \u2013 the fact that its publication was being withheld has itself been reported. From that coverage it has been possible to work out that the judgment must have related to a sibling of Ellie's (Ellie was by then dead, the court can have been performing no other function than the protection of a sibling) but we did not know exactly what went on in that case. Now that the Court of Appeal has ruled the 2014 judgment has been made available (although it has yet to reach BAILII, we have managed to secure a copy) it is possible to gain a clearer picture of this case, with the benefit of hindsight.\nThe 2014 judgment is lengthy and detailed and very distressing to read. It contains graphic descriptions and language. This post merely attempts to summarise it. [Update We will publish a link to it on BAILII when it becomes available. You can read the judgment here.]\nFrom the judgment we can see that :\nThe case was about long term plans for Ellie's younger sibling, who had been removed from his\/her parents' care around the time of Ellie's death.\nEllie's sibling was subjected to physical and emotional abuse\nThere was a background of really very severe physical and probably sexual violence perpetrated by the father on the mother\nPost mortem evidence tended to suggest that the original injuries suffered by Ellie had, after all, been the result of a shaking injury. Had that post mortem evidence been before Mrs Justice Hogg in 2012 she might well not have concluded that the father should be exonerated (and likewise in terms of the evidence of domestic violence). King J was asked by the siblings' guardian to reopen (again) the findings that the father was NOT responsible for the original 2007 injuries \u2013 but the judge declined, saying that this was not necessary \/ proportionate to resolve the case about Ellie's sibling \u2013 clearly the other matters, in particular the death of Ellie surpassed the earlier injuries and were enough in themselves to form the basis for a decision that Ellie's sibling was not safe at home.\nThe family judge was satisfied to the criminal standard (satisfied so she was sure \u2013 often described as \"beyond reasonable doubt\") that the father had inflicted the injuries that led to Ellie's death, and that he had caused a fractured scapula.\nThe father refused to cooperate with the family court process, and when the judge threatened to use its powers of compulsion to require him to give evidence it was said the father would not answer any questions. Latterly the mother also refused to cooperate. The judge characterises the fathers behaviour in the course of proceedings as controlling.\nThe judge describes a \"highly dysfunctional and abusive relationship\" and says that this was \"on any view, a very challenging rehabilitation programme, albeit carried out with the assistance of an Independent Social Worker\" (pa 51). Others have called for publication of the ISW reports in this case \u2013 it would certainly be very illuminating to see their perspective on things at the time.\nEllie's sibling is recorded as saying to his\/her carer that \"\"my house\" is a \"bad house\"\" and speaks of his\/her father hurting Ellie and mummy\nA probation report prepared not long before Ellie's death described him as medium risk (BBC news report tonight that Sutton the Local Authority assert this was not shared with them at the time)\nThe mother was significantly implicated in covering up Ellie's injuries\nThe text messages passed between the parents and other electronic records were significant pieces of evidence in building up a picture of what was going on in the home and the state of the parents' relationship\nThere was a range of other significant forensic and eyewitness evidence \u2013 of the location of the various family members' blood around the home, of the parents' movements and behaviour around the time of Ellie's death etc.\nThe judgment describes the Grandparents' position being that they had cooperated with reluctance with the rehabilitation of Ellie to her parents' care, but after Ellie's death had not felt able to put themselves forward to care for her sibling.\nThe copy of the judgment we have is redacted and annotated by hand by Lord Justice Burnett, one of the Court of Appeal judges. This appears to reflect the urgency with which the redaction was carried out given the very obvious public interest in this information becoming available. There will probably be some small delay before a redacted copy is made more widely available with the redactions done electronically.\nIn due course we will probably write about this judgment in more detail. We will cross link posts and will add a link to the judgment when available.\nThe Transparency Project, Charity Number 1161471.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"News from Central Austin\nAustin aims to smooth out tangled web of complex building permit process\nThis home on Haskell Street is being built by Riverside Homes. Company owner Scott Turner said the slow development permitting process in the city presents a barrier for small building companies like his.\nBy Jack Flagler | 2:00 PM Dec 3, 2018 CST\nCTA-11-18-3-1\nAround 8 a.m. on Sept. 28th, Felicia Foster, a custom homebuilder and owner of Barron Custom Design, arrived at the city of Austin offices at One Texas Center with a plan to submit permit applications for four different projects. This type of visit is common in her line of work\u2014but this time she had an audience.\nJennifer Turnbow, business process consultant for the development services department, or DSD, shadowed Foster alongside members of the city's office of performance management.\nFoster went from office to office, hurdling some minor stumbling blocks, including a delayed opening for Austin Energy at 10:30 a.m. due to mandatory staff training. She presented her stacks of paperwork and eventually finalized her application submissions around 1 p.m. The complex process is not unusual, according to Foster.\n\"Every single thing that could have come up during that process, did. All the roadblocks were there. All of the challenges,\" she said.\nPermitting an old Austin problem\nBuilders have long criticized Austin's permitting process. But Turnbow's presence that morning is a sign the city is listening. Her visit, which came about a month after she was hired with DSD, was a result of meetings the department had with members of the building community in January, which resulted in 64 recommendations to improve the process.\nDSD Director Rodney Gonzales says those recommendations are part of an effort to build trust, improve customer service and show the city is hearing concerns builders feel have gone ignored in the past.\nIn October, DSD added 52 new positions for the upcoming fiscal year and increased its annual budget by $10.4 million to a total of $63.7 million. Those changes, Gonzales said, will give the department adequate resources to increase its efficiency.\n\"We really feel like we've got that baseline of staff to at least deal with Austin's growth that comes into the future\u2014deal with it in a way that it can be a measured response versus trying to swim upstream,\" he said.\nBuilders say the mix of factors that created inefficiencies in Austin's permitting process go back decades.\nGeoffrey Tahuahua, vice president of Policy and Government Affairs at the Real Estate Council of Austin, said hundreds of amendments to the city's land-development code have been written without explanation of what should take priority.\n\"If there's an equitable process in the city of Austin it's permitting. Everyone's treated equally unfairly, and it's equally slow,\" Tahuahua said.\nStuart Hersh, an former city employee who now works as a consultant to help nonprofits with permitting and housing, said permitting was not always an issue in Austin, but revenue from the city's growth beginning in the 2000s was not filtered back into development services, a mistake he says set the city back.\n\"We lost our way,\" Hersh said.\nWhatever the sources of the problems, Austin's rapid residential growth in the early 2010s put the building permit issues into greater focus. According to a 2018 report from Charles Heimsath of Capitol Market Research, Austin added 41,672 apartment units between 2011 and 2015, more in four years than the number of units the city absorbed in the 10 years prior.\nThen, on May 8, 2015, national consulting firm Zucker Systems released a damning 800-page assessment of Austin's Planning and Development Review Department. The Zucker Report found the survey responses had \"the most negative scores we have seen in our studies of 170 communities in 31 states;\" and the department should receive an immediate $4.25 million in resources to turn around the issues.\nGonzales, who was the city's deputy director for Economic Development and became the director of the newly created DSD after the Zucker Report was released, said the report was \"a personal blow\" to city staff. While many builders said they appreciate DSD's efforts to improve in the years since, they say hurdles remain that make the process is as complex as ever.\nSolutions are not one-size-fits-all\nOne significant stride DSD has made is the creation of the Expedited Building Plan Review program, which began last year. Expedited review, modeled on a program in Dallas, allows developers to pay an increased fee to have reviewers from multiple city departments together in one room, speeding up the permit process.\nAccording to Brenda de la Garza, consumer services manager of the program for DSD, early numbers are strong. The expedited team has reviewed 720 total projects in its first year\u2014357 residential and 363 commercial. Sixty-two percent of those projects have been approved in one cycle. However, the program has become so popular, that it has created a queue. For commercial projects de la Garza said the wait to meet with the expedited plan team is about eight weeks.\nAccording to Tahuahua, many builders are willing to pay the expedited program's fees in exchange for a better predictability. Next, he said, the city must translate that success to the department as a whole.\n\"We have to pay extra to get to the place where the process should exist today,\" Tahuahua said.\nWhile the expedited program may help builders willing to pay more, the development process remains a barrier to many homeowners and residents. Foster has created color-coded spreadsheets that outline the fees for projects her clients have completed in the past. One, for a client who built a 1,000-square foot accessory dwelling unit, shows a 390 percent increase in fees over the course of two years. She said another client who wanted to add a second bathroom and 54 square feet to a house faced $1,200 in permitting fees.\nDavid Glenn, director of Government Relations and Policy with the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, said challenges are different for builders of all sizes, but homeowners are hurt the most.\n\"The general public, the person who just wants to renovate their home, add a deck or build a pool, or what have you\u2014they don't stand a chance,\" he said.\nThe process can be so intimidating for homeowners and small builders that an entire industry of experts\u2014called permit expediters\u2014exists to help those unfamiliar with permitting navigate the process.\nNot all DSD's fees went up Oct. 1. However, DSD did adjust its fees to match what it says is the cost of service for the work staff provides. That means the department projects it will take in $10 million more in revenue than it did last year to fund its services, including a second team on the expedited plan review.\nAdvocate for builders: 'The ship has not yet turned'\nWhile DSD's mission is to facilitate development in Austin, it is not the only city department involved in the process. There are staff members from 15 different city departments involved in permit review, from Austin Water to the Austin Fire Department to public works and the law department.\nScott Turner, owner of Riverside Homes, said it has been an unwritten rule in the development community that whenever the city's six-digit \"512-974\" phone number comes up, a builder has to drop whatever he or she is doing and answer the call because a missed call might mean a lengthy delay. The involvement of so many inspectors and plan reviewers, he said, is a major reason for Austin's struggles.\n\"That process is so complicated, and it involves so many different approvals that aren't managed under one roof at all. That's what needs to change first and foremost in order to be able to then streamline the process without sacrificing policy or code, or health and safety,\" Turner said.\nGonzales acknowledged that communication among each partner department in the development process is key. In 2020 many of those departments will move to a new building on Austin Community College's Highland Campus. The new four-story building will have 60,000 square feet of space on each floor, helping to consolidate more city departments into one area.\nThe move is one step in what the city says is progress over the last three years. According to data from Capitol Market Research, the average building permit review time from the first permit processed to the final inspection dropped for both commercial and residential projects from 218 days in 2015 to 192 in 2016. That time period then fell again in 2017 to 137 days.\nGlenn likened the place Austin is in now to the difficult task of altering the course of a cargo ship.\n\"We want to make it clear the ship has not turned, but there's an effort underway. The captain's giving orders now, and we're waiting to see if the wind is going to turn the ship,\" he said.\nBy Jack Flagler\nJack is the editor of Community Impact Newspaper's Central Austin and Southwest Austin editions. He began his career as a sports reporter in Massachusetts and North Carolina before moving to Austin in 2018. He grew up in Maine and graduated from Boston University, but prefers tacos al pastor to lobster rolls. You can get in touch at jflagler@communityimpact.com\nAustin Pizza Garden to close; dogs find homes via Pflugerville nonprofit and more Central Texas news\nRead the latest business and community news from Central Texas.\nAustin City Council, Travis County Commissioners Court will hold rare joint session to address 'dire' COVID-19 status\nCounty Judge Andy Brown called the meeting \"an opportunity to coordinate responses.\"\nSalt & Time expands with natural wine shop and other East Austin business news\nRead about six businesses that have opened, closed or celebrated anniversaries on the East Side.\nLegality of ranked-choice voting prompts disagreement between supporters, Austin city attorneys\nIf a Jan. 11 petition is validated, Austin voters could decide whether to support the implementation a ranked-choice voting system. But is it unconstitutional?\nAustin-area school districts advocate for teachers to receive COVID-19 vaccines\nEducators in the designated population for early distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in 32 states. Texas was not one of them, according to a Jan. 14 letter signed by 17 Central Texas school districts.\nH-E-B launches vaccine portal; Whipped Bakery opens in Leander and more top Central Texas news\nRead the most popular news from the past week from the Central Texas area.\nTravis County Grand Jury to consider indictments for officers involved in deaths of Michael Ramos, Javier Ambler by end of March\nThe cases will be presented to the grand jury before its term ends March 30.\nDr. Anthony Fauci praises UT researcher's role in vaccine development\nDr. Anthony Fauci's remarks came while accepting the Ken Shine Prize in Health Leadership from Dell Medical School.\nTravis County health leaders say Regional COVID-19 Therapeutic Infusion Center will help unburden hospitals\nIn its first week, the center offered 120 coronavirus patients an antiviral antibody treatment.\nAustin Public Health discusses vaccination priorities, registration protocol as regional hub\nLocal health leaders discouraged people from walking up to vaccine sites without an appointment.\nPotential strong-mayor system in Austin would be 'weakest of any big city in the country,' supporters say\nExactly what kind of a strong-mayor system would Austin have if it was approved by voters? Among the weakest in the country, supporters said.\nCentral Austin Edition | December 2020 View All >","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Waterson Corners The Federal Trade Commission Is An Example Of\nThe Federal Trade Commission and its Role in the Economy\nresults bus-415 Lisha. 1 The Federal Trade Commission is\nFederal Trade Commission (FTC) Encyclopedia - Business. Translations in context of \"federal trade commission\" in English-Spanish from Reverso Context: In addition, the Federal Trade Commission alleged that willingness to, examples of applications: ftc proposed guides for the use of u..\nWhy the FTC Should Be Facebook's Biggest Worry Right Now\nBe Careful When Targeting of Vulnerable Groups Says FTC. The general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples., Federal Trade Commission (FTC) An independent federal agency consisting of a five-member board, whose goal is to create economic competition by promoting consumer.\nThis section covers unfair competition law enforced to Unfair Competition Laws are designed to activity as explained by the Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday released a report on big data's potential to produce inadvertent discrimination. for example, should be\nThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded. View Notes - final exam_bus415 from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a branch of the U.S. Supreme Court B\nFederal trade commission Disclaimer Example \u2013 Do YouKnow The Primary Things You Ought To Have Inside YourFederal trade commission Disclaimer Page?digital marke\u2026 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded.\nFTC is defined as an abbreviation for the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. government agency that prevents unfair business. The general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples.\nView Notes - final exam_bus415 from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a branch of the U.S. Supreme Court B Translations in context of \"federal trade commission\" in English-Spanish from Reverso Context: In addition, the Federal Trade Commission alleged that willingness to\n26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information. In the Federal Trade Commission the final version is published as part of the Code of Federal Regulations and becomes a Examples of TRRs include\nLooking to find a job at Federal Trade Commission? Find 1000s of Federal Trade Commission Resumes to get you started. 14\/11\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission takes aim at what's known as Calling cryptocurrency an example of an \"unregulated or\nFederal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. They also provide information to help On March 11, 1999, the Federal Trade Commission filed suit charging Rose Creek Health Products, Inc., for example, is unlikely to be an adequate disclaimer.\n26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information. The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government's international trade promotion and investment attraction agency.\n9\/10\/2015\u00a0\u00b7 Which of the following is an example of a government corporation? A) the following is an example of Department E) Federal Trade Commission. Home; 14\/11\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission takes aim at what's known as Calling cryptocurrency an example of an \"unregulated or\n26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information. Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. They also provide information to help\nLooking to find a job at Federal Trade Commission? Find 1000s of Federal Trade Commission Resumes to get you started. 26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information.\nView Notes - results bus-415 Lisha. from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1} The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. O a branch ofthe US. Supreme For example, the company that The Federal Trade Commission Act bans \"unfair methods of competition\" and \"unfair or deceptive acts or practices.\"\nVisit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website to learn more about how funeral homes are required to comply with the Funeral Rule. The general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples.\nTranslations in context of \"Federal Trade Commission\" in English-Italian from Reverso Context: The Federal Trade Commission estimates that big food spends about $1.6 Overview: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for policing business practices across the nation and making sure competition remains fair.\nTuesday, November 30, 2004 Part V Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR Parts 601 and 698 Summaries of Rights and Notices of Duties Under the Fair Credit Reporting View Notes - final exam_bus415 from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a branch of the U.S. Supreme Court B\nOverview: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for policing business practices across the nation and making sure competition remains fair. 26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information.\nThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was established as an independent administrative agency pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914. 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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent federal regulatory agency charged with the responsibility of promoting fair competition\nA. a branch of the U.S. Supreme Court B. a temporary commission created by executive order that has become permanent C. a corporation subsidized by the federal 26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information.\nView Notes - results bus-415 Lisha. from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1} The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. O a branch ofthe US. Supreme Federal Trade Commission For example, some use radio frequency identification The federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFT Act)\n9\/10\/2015\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 Which of the following is an example of a government corporation? A) the following is an example of Department E) Federal Trade Commission. Home; Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, example, allow children to glimpse the multitude of characters that comprise the world of the\nThe general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples. Overview: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for policing business practices across the nation and making sure competition remains fair.\nFederal Trade Commission AllGov - Home. 13\/04\/2018\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 Watch video\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook's handling of the Cambridge Analytica crisis, and the potential fines could be hefty., The Federal Trade Commission Examples of FTC Actions. Learn about the types of federal agencies and regulations that retail businesses have to deal with,.\nFederal Trade Commission Powers Principles & Provisions\nUnfair Competition Law HG.org. 9\/04\/2018\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 A coalition of over 20 child advocacy, consumer and privacy groups filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission asking it to investigate and, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded..\nAs I said, the FTC's Guidelines document provides a number of examples on how to meet the new disclosures requirement, but it does leave many questions unanswered. 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a corporation subsidized by the federal government. a temporary - Answered by a verified Tutor\nPhone Scams. Printable PDF. Hang up and report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Signs of a Scam; Here are a few examples of \"offers\" you might get: Check out Federal Trade Commission Attorneys And Lawyers's Resume. This is an example of a Legal Resume based in Herndon, VA - One of hundreds of thousands of resume\nThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was established as an independent administrative agency pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914. The purpose of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) An independent federal agency consisting of a five-member board, whose goal is to create economic competition by promoting consumer\nFederal trade commission act section 5: unfair or deceptive acts or practices background section 5 of the federal trade commission act (ftc act) (15.. The Federal Trade Commission Examples of FTC Actions. Learn about the types of federal agencies and regulations that retail businesses have to deal with,\nFTC is defined as an abbreviation for the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. government agency that prevents unfair business. DOJ\/FTC ANTITRUST GUIDANCE FOR (including, for example Antitrust Division's Citizen Complaint Center or the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of\nThe general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples. 13\/04\/2018\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 Watch video\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook's handling of the Cambridge Analytica crisis, and the potential fines could be hefty.\nFederal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent federal regulatory agency charged with the responsibility of promoting fair competition 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a corporation subsidized by the federal government. a temporary - Answered by a verified Tutor\nCheck out Federal Trade Commission Attorneys And Lawyers's Resume. This is an example of a Legal Resume based in Herndon, VA - One of hundreds of thousands of resume The Federal Trade Commission Act For example, in recent years The federal laws apply to interstate and foreign commerce while the state laws apply to\nThe Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government's international trade promotion and investment attraction agency. Federal Trade Commission For example, some use radio frequency identification The federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFT Act)\nFederal trade commission Disclaimer Example \u2013 Do YouKnow The Primary Things You Ought To Have Inside YourFederal trade commission Disclaimer Page?digital marke\u2026 The Federal Trade Commission is divided into three bureaus that have different regulation and protection responsibilities. The first is the Bureau of Consumer Protection.\nThe following laws operate at a federal level and the Australian Human Rights Commission has statutory nationality, sexual orientation, and trade union The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded.\nexamples of applications: ftc proposed guides for the use of u. Federal Trade Commission \u00a7233.1 fictitious\u2014for example, where an arti-ficial, inflated price was established for the purpose of enabling the subsequent\nCheck out Federal Trade Commission Office Assistants's Resume. This is an example of a Administrative Support Resume based in Hyattsville, MD - One of hundreds of FTC is defined as an abbreviation for the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. government agency that prevents unfair business.\nThe Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government's international trade promotion and investment attraction agency. Federal trade commission act section 5: unfair or deceptive acts or practices background section 5 of the federal trade commission act (ftc act) (15..\nUnder the Paperwork Reduction Act, federal agencies are not allowed to collect information from the public without a valid OMB control number. Back to ftc.gov The latest litigation news, cases and dockets involving the Federal Trade Commission, the government agency\nView Notes - results bus-415 Lisha. from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1} The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. O a branch ofthe US. Supreme Translations in context of \"federal trade commission\" in English-Spanish from Reverso Context: In addition, the Federal Trade Commission alleged that willingness to\nTranslations in context of \"federal trade commission\" in English-Spanish from Reverso Context: In addition, the Federal Trade Commission alleged that willingness to 9\/04\/2018\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 A coalition of over 20 child advocacy, consumer and privacy groups filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission asking it to investigate and\nThe general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples. 26\/03\/2018\u00a0\u00b7 The Federal Trade Commission confirmed an inquiry as a group of attorneys general asked Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, for more information.\n9\/04\/2018\u0412 \u0412\u00b7 A coalition of over 20 child advocacy, consumer and privacy groups filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission asking it to investigate and View Notes - results bus-415 Lisha. from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1} The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. O a branch ofthe US. Supreme\nSample Letter to the Federal Trade Commision: Oppose Pre-Recorded Telemarketing Calls; Oppose Pre-Recorded Telemarketing Calls. Federal Trade Commission The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday released a report on big data's potential to produce inadvertent discrimination. for example, should be\nThe Federal Trade Commission Powers and Law Governing. Federal Trade Commission \u00a7233.1 fictitious\u2014for example, where an arti-ficial, inflated price was established for the purpose of enabling the subsequent, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded..\nFederal Trade Commission (FTC) Investopedia\nFTC financial definition of FTC TheFreeDictionary.com. Looking to find a job at Federal Trade Commission? Find 1000s of Federal Trade Commission Resumes to get you started., Federal Trade Commission (FTC) An independent federal agency consisting of a five-member board, whose goal is to create economic competition by promoting consumer.\nFTC financial definition of FTC TheFreeDictionary.com\nThe FTC is cracking down on 'deceptive cryptocurrency. View Notes - final exam_bus415 from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a branch of the U.S. Supreme Court B https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Federal_Trade_Commission Sample Letter to the Federal Trade Commision: Oppose Pre-Recorded Telemarketing Calls; Oppose Pre-Recorded Telemarketing Calls. Federal Trade Commission.\nElectronic Banking Consumer Information\nletter to the FTC\nFederal Trade Commission Act the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to take in, for example, nationwide mortgage or credit card lending. The Federal Trade Commission and its Role in the Economy. Take the Federal Trade Commission, for example. This organization has been in existence since 1913 with\nThe general powers of the Federal Trade Commission; as a federal statute. Trade regulation that the Federal Trade Commission has found, and give examples. Looking to find a job at Federal Trade Commission? Find 1000s of Federal Trade Commission Resumes to get you started.\nConsumers can be preyed upon by unethical businesses. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was developed to protect consumers against fraudulent... Read Federal Trade Commission free essay and over 88,000 other research documents. Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of\nFederal Trade Commission Act the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to take in, for example, nationwide mortgage or credit card lending. Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, example, allow children to glimpse the multitude of characters that comprise the world of the\nexamples of applications: ftc proposed guides for the use of u. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, federal agencies are not allowed to collect information from the public without a valid OMB control number. Back to ftc.gov\nexamples of applications: ftc proposed guides for the use of u. The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. government that was established in 1915 and charged with keeping American business competition free\nThe following laws operate at a federal level and the Australian Human Rights Commission has statutory nationality, sexual orientation, and trade union View Notes - final exam_bus415 from BUS 415 BUS 415 at University of Phoenix. 1) The Federal Trade Commission is an example of A. a branch of the U.S. Supreme Court B\nMore Essay Examples on Cartel Rubric. They are the Sherman Act, The Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act (\"Antitrust\", n. d. ). The Sherman Antitrust FTC is defined as an abbreviation for the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. government agency that prevents unfair business.\nFederal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, example, allow children to glimpse the multitude of characters that comprise the world of the The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded.\nCheck out Federal Trade Commission Office Assistants's Resume. This is an example of a Administrative Support Resume based in Hyattsville, MD - One of hundreds of Consumers can be preyed upon by unethical businesses. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was developed to protect consumers against fraudulent...\nThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with enforcing law prohibiting deception and unfair practices, while ensuring legitimate businesses are not impeded. The Federal Trade Commission is an example of: A. A branch of the U.S. Supreme Court.. A temporary commission created by - Answered by a verified Business Tutor\nView all posts in Waterson Corners category\nCenter of gravity defuzzification method example\nExample of project charter for a wedding\nLearn Data Modelling By Example\nExample What Why And How\nExample Of Application Letter For Office Administration\nPresident Shares Bad News Email To Employees Example\nExample Emails For Course Overrides\nExample Statement Of Purpose College\nExcel Vba Msgbox Yes No Example\nWhat Is Discovery Math Example\nLamp At Noon Character Devlopoment Essay Example\nWaterson Corners Posts\nAddendum Example For Research Paper\nLead Lag Compensator Design Example\nExample Project Management Power Interest Matrix","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"What Is This Black Slime Spreading All Over Washington D.C.?\nCan you seen the black gunk on the dome of the Jefferson Memorial? National Park Service\nBy Robin Andrews\nThere's a weird black slime coating some of the most famous monuments in Washington D.C., and it's spreading all over the capital. Is it some sort of extremely slow alien invasion? No, of course not \u2013 this dark-hued material, which adorns the statute of Abraham Lincoln, the Jefferson Memorial, and gravestones at Arlington Cemetery, is actually collections of microbial life.\nAs reported by the National Park Service, this black slime \u2013 which is actually more of a grimy powder \u2013 is something called a \"biofilm\", a group of microorganisms which are encased in a gunk that has particularly adhesive properties. Biofilms form due to a number of reasons, including for sharing nutrition, for boosting their collective defensive abilities, or just because they have all found a good spot to rest on.\nBiofilms are ubiquitous in the most literal sense. They are found in almost every type of natural of non-natural environment, from forests and glaciers to the hulls of boats and inside your fish tanks. Some of the oldest evidence for life on Earth was found in the form of 3.5-billion-year-old biofilm layers intermixed with marine sediments. These curious structures, which are named stromatolites, still exist today.\nSo why on Earth are biofilms appearing on some of the most famous Washington D.C. monuments? Well, as it so happens, these biofilms can be found on monuments all across the world, from Angkor Wat in Cambodia to ancient Egyptian superstructures.\nAs with the Jefferson Memorial, these pieces of architecture have become eroded over time through acidic rain, which has created little pits all across their outer surfaces. These pits provide microorganisms with the perfect opportunity to settle in and replicate, enjoying the nutrients trapped in these pits for long periods of time.\nAlthough biofilm became visible to the naked eye in 2006, it's become increasingly pronounced in the last few years, and a group of interdisciplinary researchers are currently trying to work out how to deal with it.\n\"Treatment of biofilm is difficult, as there is no known permanent method for removing it, and we have to ensure that any treatment must not do further damage to the soft marble of the memorial nor encourage further growth,\" Catherine Dewey, chief of resource management for National Mall and Memorial Parks, said in a statement.\nA few methods are currently being trialed on small patches at the base of the Jefferson Memorial, and the researchers will keep an eye on their progress in the next week or so.\nFar from being a \"mysterious slime\", then, these biofilms are related to the most primitive organisms on Earth. Clearly, it doesn't matter if humans get in the way \u2013 they will always find places to colonize.\nLife, as always, finds a way.\nYou're looking a little grimy there, Abe. Tanarch\/Shutterstock","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Sydney Jones Library\nQuintessence : basic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine, edited by Roger F. Gibson, Jr\nThe Resource Quintessence : basic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine, edited by Roger F. Gibson, Jr\nThe item Quintessence : basic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine, edited by Roger F. Gibson, Jr represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool.\nQuine, W. V., (Willard Van Orman)\nGibson, Roger F.\n\"Quintessence for the first time collects Quine's classic essays (such as \"Two Dogmas\" and \"On What There Is\") in one volume - and thus offers readers a much-needed introduction to his general philosophy. Divided into five parts, the twenty-five selections take up analyticity and reductionism; the indeterminacy of translation of theoretical sentences and the inscrutability of reference; ontology; naturalized epistemology; philosophy of mind; and extensionalism. Representative of Quine at his best, these readings are fundamental not only to an appreciation of the philosopher and his work, but also to an understanding of the philosophical tradition that he so materially advanced.\"--BOOK JACKET\nCambridge, Mass. | London, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2004\nx, 416 p.\nAnalyticity and reductionism\nTruth by convention.\nTwo dogmas of empiricism.\nTwo dogmas in retrospect.\nCarnap and logical truth.\nIndeterminacy and inscrutability\nSpeaking of objects.\nReference.\nTranslation and meaning.\nProgress on two fronts.\nOn what there is.\nscope and language of science.\nOn simple theories of a complex world.\nOntic decision.\nThings and their place in theories.\nOn Carnap's views on ontology.\nEpistemology and philosophy of mind\nEpistemology naturalized.\nNaturalism, or, living within one's means.\nnature of natural knowledge.\nFive milestones of empiricism.\nOne mental entities.\nMind and verbal dispositions.\nExtensionalism\nConfessions of a confirmed extensionalist.\nQuantifiers and propositional attitudes.\nIntensions revisited.\nReference and modality.\nThree grades of modal involvement.\nIndex.\nQuintessence : basic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine\nbasic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine\nedited by Roger F. Gibson, Jr\nQuine, W. V.\nB945.Q51\nG53 2004\nIncludes bibliographical references (p. 399-403) and index\nSydney Jones LibraryBorrow it\nChatham Street, Liverpool, L7 7BD, GB\n<div class=\"citation\" vocab=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/\"><i class=\"fa fa-external-link-square fa-fw\"><\/i> Data from <span resource=\"http:\/\/link.liverpool.ac.uk\/portal\/Quintessence--basic-readings-from-the-philosophy\/GGYTS2qa0rQ\/\" typeof=\"Book http:\/\/bibfra.me\/vocab\/lite\/Item\"><span property=\"name http:\/\/bibfra.me\/vocab\/lite\/label\"><a href=\"http:\/\/link.liverpool.ac.uk\/portal\/Quintessence--basic-readings-from-the-philosophy\/GGYTS2qa0rQ\/\">Quintessence : basic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine, edited by Roger F. Gibson, Jr<\/a><\/span> - <span property=\"potentialAction\" typeOf=\"OrganizeAction\"><span property=\"agent\" typeof=\"LibrarySystem http:\/\/library.link\/vocab\/LibrarySystem\" resource=\"http:\/\/link.liverpool.ac.uk\/\"><span property=\"name http:\/\/bibfra.me\/vocab\/lite\/label\"><a property=\"url\" href=\"http:\/\/link.liverpool.ac.uk\/\">Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\nData Citation of the Item Quintessence : basic readings from the philosophy of W.V. Quine, edited by Roger F. Gibson, Jr","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"12 Hotels in Pondicherry Near the Beach for All Budgets\nIndia Puducherry\nWhere to Stay in Pondicherry\nExotica.im\/Getty Images\nGroovy Pondicherry, a union territory on the coast of Tamil Nadu in south India, is an enticing place to splurge on a hotel. If you have some cash to splash, you can stay at a beautiful beachfront resort just outside of town. Alternatively, there are plenty of atmospheric small hotels and guesthouses along the Pondicherry Promenade (bordering Rock Beach), and in the historic French Quarter next to the Promenade. These popular hotels in Pondicherry are near the beach and cater to all budgets.\nNote: If you're traveling with family or friends, check out Serenity Beach and Auroville Beach north of town for seaside cottages and villas with multiple bedrooms (many are listed on Airbnb).\nRejuvenating: The Windflower Resort and Spa\nCourtesy of The Windflower Resort and Spa\nSurvey No.198\/1,198\/2, Manavely Revenue Village, Maraimalai Adigal Street, Chinnaveeram Pattinam, Ariyankuppam Post, Puducherry, 605007, India\nIf you're don't mind staying out of town, the luxury Windflower is located around 20 minutes drive south of Pondicherry, between the tranquil backwaters and ocean at Little Veerampattinam village. It's perfect for those who are looking for a peaceful beach getaway. The resort has 51 rooms and villas. There's a swimming pool, and spa that offers fabulous rejuvenating massages and body treatments.\nRates: From around 7,500 rupees per night.\nFamily-Friendly: Le Pondy\nCourtesy of Le Pondy\nNo.3, Lake View Road, Nallvadu, Post, Pudukuppam, Puducherry 605007, India\nA little farther south of The Windflower, Le Pondy is a modern resort with the backwaters on one side and private beach access. The property is spread over 14 acres and has 70 rooms including eight presidential pool villas, eight luxury pool villas, 12 sea view rooms and 42 lake view rooms. Facilities include restaurant and bar, wellness center and spa, swimming pool, health club, library, games rooms, and kids' play area. This makes it an appealing resort for families.\nRates: About 6,500 rupees per night upwards.\nEco-Friendly: The Dune Eco Village and Spa\nCourtesy of The Dune Eco Village and Spa\n70, East Coast Road,, Pudhukuppam,Keelputhupet,, Via Puduchery university,, Puduchery, Tamil Nadu 605014, India\nThe rustic Dune Eco Beach Hotel is one of India's top eco-friendly hotels and an inspiring hotel for artists. Set on a sprawling 35 acres of land fronting the beach about 30 minutes north of Pondicherry, it offers lots of privacy. The concept is unique: 55 cottages, all with a different designs from various artists and architects around the world. Many have been decorated by the artists in residence. Free bicycles are provided to ride around the property. There's a swimming pool and organic garden. It's pet friendly as well.\nLuxury Ocean Views: The Promenade\nThe Promenade\n23, Goubert Ave, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nThe Promenade is a luxury boutique hotel that's situated, as you'd expect from its name, right on Pondicherry Promenade opposite the statue of Gandhi. It's decorated in modern French style and has a fabulous rooftop restaurant with sea views over the Bay of Bengal. Plus, a happening new architecturally designed lounge bar called The Storyteller's Bar that holds live music performances. Excellent service, courteous staff, delicious food, and a swimming pool also make this place a winner.\nRates: Expect to pay around 6,000 rupees per night upwards.\nContinue to 5 of 12 below.\nBudget Ocean Views: Lotus Bay View\nLotus Bay View\nNo. 01-B, Bazaar Saint Laurent St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nLotus Bay View is a popular budget option directly across from the beach. It has 15 reasonably priced rooms spread across four floors, some with private balconies and sea views, but no restaurant (room service is available though). An appealing thing about this hotel is that it has large suite rooms for families.\nRates: It's often possible to get a sea-facing room with balcony for under 3,000 rupees per night. The standard rooms are priced at around 1,200 rupees per night upwards.\nHeritage Ocean Views: Villa Bayoud\nCourtesy of Villa Bayoud Sea View Heritage Hotel\n5, St Martin St, White Town, Rue, Puducherry 605001, India\nIt's all about location at this characterful heritage villa. It has an enviable position on Rue Saint Martin adjoining Pondicherry Promenade, not far from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, with some airy sea-facing rooms and a lovely garden courtyard. Unfortunately, it's not in the best condition though. The furniture is quite old and amenities are lacking. There's no restaurant on the premises but there are many excellent ones near the hotel, including 24-hour Le Cafe on the beach.\nRates: From around 3,000 rupees per night. It's worth paying extra for a sea facing room.\nSmall and Intimate: Cours CHABROL\nCourtesy of Cours CHABROL\nAn intimate and relatively new hotel with 11 rooms, Cours CHABROL is enviably located right on Pondicherry Promenade with the French Quarter just behind it. The property is small but clean and comfortable, with helpful and efficient staff. The main drawback is that it doesn't have a restaurant, although room service is available. However, the views make up for it!\nRate: Expect to pay 5,000 rupees per night for a deluxe sea facing room, including breakfast. Other rooms are cheaper.\nHeritage Luxury: Palais de Mahe\nPalais de Mah\n4, Bussy St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nPalais de Mahe is a gorgeous CGH Earth property on Rue de Bussy in the French Quarter. It's undoubtedly the best hotel in the area and guests say it's impossible to find fault with it. The hospitality is superb, as is the renovation, which reflects the heritage grandeur of the property. There are high ceilings, deep verandahs, colonial-style furniture, and brightly painted pillars. The courtyard features a plunge pool and there's an Ayurvedic massage center as well. The restaurant is very popular.\nRates: From about 12,000 rupees per night.\nContemporary and Chic: Villa Shanti\nSharell Cook\n14 rue, Suffren St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nThe tastefully renovated Villa Shanti has a deceptively demure facade. Located on Rue Suffren in the French Quarter, three streets from Pondicherry Promenade, inside it is contemporary and chic. This boutique hotel has 11 rooms and four suites (one with its own private garden), all built around an inner courtyard with plenty of natural light, and arguably the best restaurant in Pondicherry.\nRates: Around 5,000 rupees per night upwards.\nBest Value Budget Stay: L'Escale\n31, Dumas St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nL'Escale has to be the best value budget stay in the French Quarter. Located on Rue Dumas, just around the corner from Pondicherry Promenade, this boutique guesthouse is newly renovated and attractively decorated in French provincial style. The terrace has a view of the ocean and breakfast is served there in the mornings. All rooms are air conditioned and have very comfortable beds. They don't have TVs though, and there's no restaurant or room service. However, there are plenty of places to eat in the vicinity.\nRates: Starting from 1,800 rupees a night. It's worth paying a bit extra for an upper floor room though, to avoid people walking past your window. You'll get a balcony too.\nPeaceful Boutique Bed and Breakfast: La Closerie\nLa Closerie\n32, Rue Dumas St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nIf you'd like to go a step up from budget guesthouses, you can stay a street away from the Promenade at La Closerie on Rue Dumas. The owner has gone to a great extent with the stunning renovation and redesign of this old colonial mansion, hidden behind a bougainvillea tree. It's been turned into a boutique bed and breakfast with eight modern rooms (some have a mezzanine level with an extra bed), quality furnishings, interesting ornaments and art, and plunge pool with Jacuzzi. value for money. Do note that this place isn't suitable for large families or young children.\nRates: From 3,000-4,500 rupees per night, which is excellent\nPopular Guesthouse: Les Hibiscus\nCourtesy of Les Hibiscus\n49, Suffren St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India\nLes Hibiscus is perhaps the most popular guesthouse in the French Quarter. It's conveniently located on Rue Suffren, close to the Promenade. The owner is very kind and attentive, rooms are spacious and clean (and yes, they have TVs), and the decor is a blend of old world colonial charm and Indian. A tasty European breakfast is served, but you'll need to eat lunch and dinner elsewhere as there's no restaurant or room service.\nRates: The guesthouse has four double rooms, each priced at 2,800 rupees per night plus tax, and a cheaper small single room on the rooftop.\n9 Beautifully Restored Boutique Heritage Hotels in India\nWhere to Stay in Jodhpur: 14 Top Hotels and Guesthouses\n10 of the Best Hotels in Kovalam Beach for All Budgets\n14 Coolest Houses You Can Rent in India\n11 Cultural Things to Do in Pondicherry\n13 Top Villa Hotels in Goa: Book One Room or the Whole Property\n10 Best Places to Stay in Mysore for All Budgets\nWhere to Stay Near Kolkata Airport: 8 Best Hotels for All Budgets\n10 Secluded Beach Stays in India (and, they're not in Goa)\nFrom Luxury to Rustic: Best Hotels and Guesthouses in Hampi\nWhere to Stay in Jaipur: 17 Top Hotels, Guesthouses and Hostels\nFound: Your Perfect Goa Beach Hut\n11 Top Options for Staying in Rishikesh for All Budgets\nRelax at Little-Known Marari Beach Near the Kerala Backwaters\n14 Inexpensive Places to Stay in Delhi (and they Aren't in Paharganj)\n9 Pet Friendly Hotels in India for Your Pet Vacation","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Bionic hand which lets amputees 'feel' again to be transplanted\nA BIONIC hand which allows the recipient to feel lifelike sensations is to be transplanted on to a patient's arm for the first time.\nNick McDermott\nDaily MailFebruary 19, 201312:59pm\nA Swedish company has announced it will transplant a bionic hand \"wired into the nervous system\" to restore a sense of touch. Picture: cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL)Source:Supplied\nUntil now, artificial limbs have been able to pick up brain signals destined for the absent hand and translate them into movements, but they could not give sensory feedback.\nThe new hand, which is attached directly to the nervous system via electrodes clipped on to two of the arms main nerves, aims to restore a sense of touch in amputees.\nThe electrodes will allow the recipient to control the hand using just their thoughts and will also send signals back to the brain.\nScientists hope the breakthrough will pave the way for a new generation of artificial limbs that more closely imitate real body parts by providing feeling and increased dexterity.\nStudies have shown that up to half of hand amputees do not use their artificial limb because they are not comfortable with how it appears or functions.\nDr Silvestro Micera, of the Swiss-based Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, who helped develop the limbs interface, said: This is real hope for amputees. It will be the first prosthetic that will provide real-time sensory feedback for grasping.\nIt is clear that the more sensory feeling an amputee has, the more likely they will get full acceptance of that limb. We hope that one day it will be embedded in the arm and the user will just forget it is there.\nIn 2009 an earlier, fixed model of the hand was temporarily attached to a patients nervous system via electrodes. He was able to wiggle the fingers of the robotic hand, make a fist and hold objects, and said he could feel needles being jabbed into the palm.\nThe new model, which will be fully attached to the arm, can deliver sensory feedback from all the fingertips, as well as the thumb, palm and wrist. The team plans to transplant it into an anonymous patient later this year.\nDr Micera, who was attending the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences conference in Boston, said: The idea would be that it could deliver two or more sensations at one time.\nYou could have a pinch and receive information from three fingers, or feel movement in the hand and wrist.\nWe have refined the interface, so we hope to see much more detailed movement and control of the hand. It is intended to be as lifelike as possible.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Using Dupuys 'Numbers and predictions in war'\nPosted by Robert M\u00e5rtensson on March 13, 2008 at 8:35am in Going Pro - Operations Analysis and Consim Gaming\nBack to Going Pro - Operations Analysis and Consim Gaming Discussions\nMany years ago a friend of me, Niklas Zetterling, developed a general division scale ww2 battle system inspired by Dupuys 'Numbers and predictions in war'. Up to this day this battle system is the most realistic that I have encountered (though I regrettably don't play that much serious consim games).\nIn short each unit has a number of steps (usually six for a standard inf div) two attack and two defense strengths, maneuver and prepared, an operation point value, an AT-rating and a type. The turn was I go\/You go with combat as part of movement (both movement and combat cost op, and displaced enemy units leaves an op marker behind that will have zoc up to that point.\nTurns were 1\/2 weeks and hexes 16 km.\nIt was a very clean system with quite few special effects and such, while combat resolution was rather complex - we usually used computer support!.\nAnyway, the bottom line was that it worked surprisingly well on any tested situation, without a lot of tweaking. I was especially impressed over how it worked on the eastern front, where the scale of operations, rate of advance and even type of mistakes made, corresponded well with the historical data. It also scaled nice as long as we didn't venture to far into the tactical realm.\nIt was however slightly cumbersome to play Barbarossa on division\/brig level with half week turns and 16km hexes....\nWhat was used from Dupuy was mainly the method of getting a base strength of a unit by adding a calculated kill-value (well, two - mobile and static) for each single weapon in the unit, and adjusting with his national efficiency factors, adjusted for different branches (like SS and Luftwaffe field div....)\nPermalink Reply by Robert M\u00e5rtensson on March 13, 2008 at 10:36am\nWell, mainly two ways. When a unit was upgraded it reflected in the combat factors - sometimes not so much though, as bigger tanks and guns usually also meant fewer of them. But then there was an armor-class or AT-level or whatever (I don't remember what we called it), that was an abstraction of the gun vs. armor race. We only considered three cases - you are superior, same level or inferior - and the combat strength of participating armor units (and to a lesser degree semi armor units) were modified by a percentage accordingly (one reason why we needed a computer).\nTo simplify things, the usual modifications were already considered in the combat strength, so a German panzer division had their printed strength from the assumption that they were superior, and thus got quite a lot weaker when there were a T34 battalion among the defender. A standard soviet AT-unit would on the other hand not make any difference other than by its combat strength.\nEfficiency was calculated into the armor class, so German armor units did have a class higher than the gun\/armor strength would indicate, while esp. early soviet armor, and Italian of course, had a very low armor class.\nAnother factor was that modifications wasn't that dramatic. More around +\/-25% than halving or doubling factors.\nBut as I hinted, the system didn't have all those special rules for different types of units (which was a bit boring from a gamers perspective). It was mainly the effect from combat strength variation in mobile or planned combat, movement cost (leg\/mot\/mech) and the OP (operation points) of the unit, that gave the profile of a unit. Thus, with its high combat strength in mobile combat (which was less costly in OP and losses), quick movement with mechanized movement rate, and more OP than an ordinary unit, a full strength panzer division had not only the punch to defeat an enemy unit, but the swiftness to do it more than once during a turn, which was very valuable!\nThe units in War in the East is very irritating indeed. The german panzers (and other countries to perhaps) is far to powerless. If I could make a quick fix to that game I would try making the German panzer div 15-8, PG 10-8 and SS 20-8, and then I would make soviet inf 2-4 and corps 6-4\nThere were of course quite a lot of simplifications in the armor class system. Highest class counts and it did not look at numbers, so one high class tank or AT battalion in a multi division battle was enough to get superiority.\nPermalink Reply by Robert M\u00e5rtensson on March 14, 2008 at 6:00am\nI would also do away with those pesky AT-brigades. I can't really see any justifications for them, other than to balance the game. The point would be to establish the panzers as the one offensive arm in the German army. So I would like them stronger and the German infantry relatively weaker on the eastern front. In France 1940 I just need the Panzers stronger, so you don't need such a lot of special rules to allow for a German break through. Might be that I would need to add a few more strength points...\nPermalink Reply by Eric Walters on March 13, 2008 at 7:12pm\nQJM is fine when looking over one's shoulder at past battles--it's easy enough to tweak the variables and algorithm to get the results you need. Problem is that QJM is far less useful as a forecasting device...oh dear....so for you designers looking to use it to help you with future combat, don't bother.\nAnybody tried to replicate Stephen Biddle's analysis as outlined in his book, MILITARY POWER, for resolving tactical actions. That would interest me.....\nQJM = Quarterly Journal of Medicine? No, must be Quantitative Judgment Method...\nWhat I usually am looking for is a way to handle what ifs in a historical context, in a way that could give some indication about what really would have happened. My guess is that QJM must be the way to go, but the parameters you could tweak must be general enough to be valid in both the situations from where you get your data and to the situation where you will apply it. And that can be frustrating! There are always unknowns that are hard to quantify. Like for instance how to quantify Swedish troop quality in ww2, when they never were tested in combat.\nPermalink Reply by Don Chappell on March 14, 2008 at 11:16pm\nThis has been a good discussion, and I hope it continues. I was sorely tempted to drop what I was doing at work in order to answer.\nDupuy's book is literally within arm's reach when I'm sitting at my computer at work. But to tell the truth, it's mostly in such an \"honored\" position because it makes great eye wash. My copy has a white book cover with bold red letters, so it jumps out.\nAs most of you know, \"selling\" the analysis is the final critical step to performing an analysis. So when somebody comes in to consult with me, there are a bunch of books RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of their line of sight. I intended for them to say: \"I know a lot about this shit and you don't.\" That's not necessarily very collaborative, nor PC of me. But then, at work, the analysis isn't for entertainment purposes. I literally deal with rocket scientists and like all very smart people, they are prone to erroneously think if they're smart in one topic, then they're smart in all.\nGee, this sounds like a rant that might better go on my personal blog. (blush)\nI'll come back later to comment on Dupuy, QJM, and WEI\/WUV. I very much loath the method for real analysis. I'm a lot less judgmental about using it in wargames! In fact, it makes sense in certain designs, IMO.\nI think I can see a bit of what you are aiming at, partly at least (hmm, a part of a bit - that's not very much :-).\nDupuys work draws quite far reaching conclusions on rather thin data, so I guess it's kind of worthless in an academical context.\nI can also see that you have to have a good knowledge on all the aspects of the involved forces, which should make it less valuable in forecasting the future.\nAnd it would only work on a large scale, as it is a purely statistical method. All individual variation in competence etc, all freak events and other upredictables would have to be drowned in sheer numbers.\nI guess there are situations better suited for this kind of analysis and situations where it is less applicable. As I said it worked like a dream on the eastern front battles we tried it on, and worked well on France as well (both 1940 and 1944), while we couldn't make it work on the Norwegian campaig without a lot of special rules (well, we didn't even try).\nSo, in a situation where the ultimate intentions of both sides were known at the time, and there are no important hidden cards on one side (like ULTRA), and where the scale is big enough to make individual events less important, my experience is that those statistical methods works quite well. On the other hand there were a lot of if's there...\nPermalink Reply by Mircea Pauca on March 26, 2008 at 4:25pm\nI got Dupuy's book and somewhat-like the results. The \"sausage machine\" for his QJM numbers seems a bit suspect - too much emphasis on \"firepower\" and too little on survivability and weapon range. (If one can always stay out of range of the enemy and keep firing with some effectiveness, the relative value should be infinite ;-)).\nBut the philosophically worst part of his QJM is \"Surprise\" ! I ran Dupuy's numbers at the back of the book through my multiple regression, and found his factors not bad, but only explanining ~20% of actual variance of outcomes. This jumps to ~60% only when including Surprise, which is purely tautologic in definition. (If one won, one successfully \"surprised\" the enemy !).\nThen, the almost only useful question is shifted to \"How do we achieve Dupuy's Surprise\", that is \"How we win\" ? so the analysis gained exactly nothing.\nPermalink Reply by Mircea Pauca on July 28, 2010 at 11:36am\nMr. Wittman: Do you mean to debate my statement above, or the previous string of debate ?\nI really would like to know if you consider Dupuy's fudge factor of Surprise as methodologically valid - that is, explaining something new before a battle comes, not only for historical 'retrodiction'.\nOr else, you remain with the other known hard factors with relatively weak influence (results from Dupuy), and the degree of Surprise achievable gets a probability distribution, obviously depending on preparation and leadership skill etc.\nThen one gets overall... just a CRT ? ;-)\nThe aggregating formula for each weapon's OLI seems too firepower-oriented and too little rewarding the other facets, especially the context-dependent ones.\nFrom history, stronger\/almost-invulnerable armor *against one epoch's adversaries* like the Matilda II, KV, Tiger and Abrams when they appeared give a disproportionate jump up in relative value, which also degrades relatively fast once countermeasures are found. And it seems offense can escalate faster\/cheaper than defense as technology. So, the \"proper\" numbers may not even be properly multiplicative and transitive !\ne.g. \"numbers from my belly\"\n1 PzIV ~ 2 T34\n1 Tiger ~ 8 T34\nbut it does NOT follow that 1 Tiger ~ 4 PzIV against any other kind of enemy...\nAlso I think the terrain and defensive postures too small in Dupuy - only 1.55x (if remembering well; don't have the book here) for prepared defense in rough terrain ?\nPermalink Reply by David J. Conklin on November 20, 2011 at 11:28am\n>Niklas Zetterling, developed a general division scale ww2 battle system\nHow can I find out more about this?","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Is Chillspot Records milking Enzo?\n06 Mar, 2019 - 00:03 2019-03-05T21:03:10+00:00 2019-03-06T00:03:38+00:00 0 Views\nEnzo Ishall\nKundai Marunya Art Correspondent\nZimdancehall man-of-the-moment Enzo Ishall is reportedly still struggling financially as his music label Chillspot Records is taking most of his earnings. According to an inside source who works closely with the label, Enzo Ishall's earnings are split four ways.\n\"When he is booked for a show or gets any endorsements, Enzo Ishall's money is split between himself and Chillspot executives Fantan, Levels and DJ Ribbe.\n\"He (Enzo Ishall) feels like he owes the stable for his rise since they nurtured his career and invested in his music. The artiste can't leave because as you know Chillspot is vibrant in dancehall and he is afraid to lose that,\" said the source.\nIn international best practices record labels take between 10 and 20 percent from the profits after all expenses are paid. This usually happens because the label invests hundreds of thousands of dollars in one's career.\nThe invested money is used as advance payments to make sure artistes live comfortably not worried about how they pay rentals or any other expenses, only to worry about creating their work.\nWhen Herald Arts tried to reach Enzo Ishall, calls were diverted to Levels' phone.\nLevels said he works with artistes who are old enough to know what is beneficial to them.\n\"The artistes we work with are old enough to know when they are being fleeced. I don't think artistes can stick around where they are being used. They are old and mature enough to choose what's good for their careers,\" he said.\nThe famed Chillspot Records co-founder and producer said they invest a lot of money in their artistes.\n\"We have been working with Enzo Ishall since 2013, most people started to know him only since last year. All this time we have worked with him we invested money and time in building his career. We never calculate how much but we invested,\" said Levels.\nThough the stable has been working with the \"Kanjiva\" hit maker for a long time, sources close to the artiste allege they only gave him free recording, while he walked from home to studio, sometimes getting food from friends.\n\"Sometimes Enzo Ishall would beg for a bit of money for food from friends and colleagues in the industry. After he moved to Mabvuku some time ago he could walk to Chillspot Records to record his music, then walk back to Waterfalls to another studio.\n\"He would then walk to Sunningdale where he spent nights on the streets. He is so passionate about his career that he kept on working till it finally paid off but still he is not getting rewarded for his sweat,\" said the source.\nWhen asked how much they get per dollar Enzo Ishall makes, Levels said their contract was confidential.\n\"Our contract is confidential but all I can say is we are fair. We also don't tie an artiste to our stable, they are free to leave at any point, we don't own them,\" he said.\nEnzo Ishall is a fast-rising dancehall artiste who has consistently dropped hits including \"Kanjiva\", \"Smart Inotangira Kutsoka\", \"Magate\" and \"Muchiround\" earning him a Star FM Music Award and a nomination for NAMA Best Male Artiste.\nMono sheds light on times with Tuku20 Jan, 2020\nRejuvenated Mesi to tour Mozambique20 Jan, 2020\nBar Talk with Bra Gee: Champagne tastes ...18 Jan, 2020","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Solar Impulse 2 nears Hawaii on historic flight\nThe Local - [email protected] \u2022 3 Jul, 2015 Updated Fri 3 Jul 2015 12:23 CEST\nAfter more than four and a half days of flying across the Pacific and setting a record for solo flight, Switzerland's Solar Impulse 2 airplane was set to arrive in Hawaii on Friday on its epic journey around the world.\nBy noon Swiss time the solar-powered plane was just 185 kilometres from Kalaeloa on the island of Oahu, where pilot Andr\u00e9 Borschberg appeared to be circling the aircraft to time a landing for maximum media exposure.\nA flight radar website clearly showed the plane heading toward Honolulu before doubling back and forth.\nThe Solar Impulse website at noon Swiss time showed the plane had accomplished 97 percent of its trip after travelling almost 8,000 kilometres from Nagoya, Japan.\nIn Hawaii it was still the middle of the night.\nBorscherg, a former Swiss Air Force pilot, is alone in the spindly aircraft, with four propellors powered by 17,000 solar cells in the wings with rechargeable lithium batteries.\nThe Solar Impulse team said he was battling fatigue in the 3.8-cubic metre unpressurized cockpit after napping only 20 minutes at a time.\nThe team tweeted earlier that Borschberg was dealing with a \"difficult situation\" with turbulence at 8'000 feet and \"a cold front close\".\nBut he appeared to have gained a second wind as he neared Hawaii, nearing completion of one of the most challenging legs on the round-the-world journey.\nThe pilot said he had relied on yoga to help hime get through the long flight in a confined space.\n\"Yoga is a huge support for this flight above the Pacific; it positively affects my mood and my mindset,\" he tweeted.\n#solar impulse","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"An impossible kind of love\nOn the whole, a marriage is what we make of it, the sum of the love we give to it.\nAn impossible kind of love On the whole, a marriage is what we make of it, the sum of the love we give to it. Check out this story on timesrecordnews.com: http:\/\/wtrne.ws\/2rVm2GH\nWichita Published 2:52 p.m. CT May 24, 2017\nSharon Randall is a Lifestyle columnist. (MCT)(Photo: Handout, MCT)\nOn the eve of our 12th anniversary, my husband and I attended a wedding for a couple, who like us, were people of a certain age getting a second chance at \"happily ever after.\"\nTheir ceremony included a reading of I Corinthians 13, \"The Love Chapter,\" a Bible passage my husband and I also chose for our wedding 12 years ago:\n\"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things....So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.\"\nThose words speak clearly of an impossible kind of love made possible by the grace of God.\nI was married for 30 years before losing my first husband to cancer. When I remarried 12 years ago, I thought I knew a lot about marriage. But every marriage is like those who enter it: Unique. One of a kind.\nOn the whole, a marriage is what we make of it, the sum of the love we give to it, day by day, year by year, over time.\nBut how do we do that? What does that kind of love look like?\nYears ago, I asked readers to send me marriage tips. And boy, did they. I put all of their tips I could fit, with some of my own, in a column. Readers often request copies of it to give to newlyweds. Advice is fun to give and it's cheaper than a toaster.\nTo celebrate our anniversary, I asked my husband to help me pick the best of those tips (plus some of our own) for: \"How to Be and Stay Happily Married\":\n1. Put each other first. You're the best thing that's happened to each other. Act like it.\n2. Keep no secrets. Let nothing and no one come between you.\n3. Pick your fights with care. Harsh words can be forgiven, but they're hard to forget. Never raise your voice, unless you are lost or on fire.\n4. Fall in love every day. Kiss in elevators. Hold hands in movies. Flirt with each other at parties. Dance more than you sit. Smile at each other across the room.\n5. Never miss a chance to make a beautiful memory. Memories may not seem important now, but one day they'll be gold.\n6. Count your blessings. Pray every day for each other's best.\n7. Treat each other's families like your own, only better. On your beloved's birthday, tell your mother-in-law, \"Thanks for giving me the love of my life.\"\n8. Talk about important things, and not just about yourself. Ask questions. Pay close attention to what is said and not said.\n9. If you're wrong, apologize; if you're right, shut up. Being right can be a very lonely place.\n10. Never go to sleep mad. Talk until you get over it, or until you forget why you got mad.\n11. Laugh a lot together. If you can laugh at yourself, it's easy.\n12. Never criticize, interrupt or correct each other in public. Try not to do it in private, either.\n13. Remember, we need love most when we're least lovable.\n14. Never expect perfection or total control. Both are illusions.\n15. When you don't like each other, remember you love each other, and act accordingly.\n16. Tell the truth, but always and only with great kindness.\n17. Kiss at least 10 seconds a day, all at once or spread out.\n18. Be content with what you have materially, honest about where you are emotionally and always keep growing spiritually.\n19. Share chores. Forget 50\/50. Do all you can and then some, but don't keep track of who does what. If you keep score, you'll lose far more than you gain.\n20. Be both friends and lovers; in a blackout, share a flashlight, then make your own sparks.\nFinally, stay interested. It will make you more interesting. Lead your own life, but save your best for each other. In the end, you will know you were better together than you ever could have been apart.\nHere's to \"happily ever after.\"\nSharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com.\nRead or Share this story: http:\/\/wtrne.ws\/2rVm2GH\nSecure Act, Part 3\nThe dark side of scandals in sports\nThe tractor always wins: Cut and run!\nEnergy wins in U.S.-China trade agreement\nReflections on a Table\nThe power of unexpected kindness\nMatter of Record\nTRN Investigates\nBrew Review\nDeanna Watson\nHanaba Welch\nJohn Ingle\nJudith McGinnis\nLana Sweeten-Shults\nLynn Walker\nTed Buss\n\u00a9 2020 timesrecordnews.com, All rights reserved.\nWichita Falls Cars","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Principals buckle up for second wave\nby Brett Henebery 20 Jul 2020\nWhen the first COVID-19 outbreak began disrupting education across Australia, there were calls for a lockdown of all schools across the nation.\nResisting this drastic measure, Prime Minister Scott Morrison handed down a decision stating that schools would remain open, but only for students deemed vulnerable or those whose parents worked in essential jobs.\nAs the new normal began taking shape, the Victorian Government reported that approximately 3% of students were attending school because they fell into one or more of the categories.\nAt Meadowglen Primary School, 15% of the student population was attending class daily, while about 25% had been provided with devices so that they could continue their learning from home.\nThe school's principal, Loretta Piazza, said all of this put a huge strain on her school's human and IT resources.\n\"The government had announced that any child needing a laptop would be provided with one. Unfortunately it didn't tell our parents that the school had to find the laptop,\" Piazza told The Educator.\n\"The government had also told parents that if they needed Internet access, they would be provided with dongles. Unfortunately it didn't tell our parents that there were none to be had in Australia\".\nPiazza said that while the children of essential workers could come to school, teachers could not be mandated to work onsite.\n\"This meant the majority opted to work from home, leaving the onsite supervision to a small rotating skeleton staff\u2026but we got through it\".\n'We thought we had learned so much'\nWhen stage 3 Lockdown 2.0 was announced during the school holidays, Piazza and her staff thought they knew exactly what to expect, based on their previous experience.\n\"We had learned so much, but as it turned out, nothing could be further from the truth,\" she said.\n\"The Minister announced that the school holidays would be extended by one week for students and schools would provide a 'holiday' program for students attending\".\nPiazza said the Minister's definition of a 'holiday' program was very different to that of her school.\n\"We later came to learn that it meant teachers at school would supervise students,\" she said.\n\"The attendance eligibility criteria also changed to include funded and non-funded students with a disability\".\nPiazza said Meadowglen Primary School has gone from having 80 students on site to 140 students eligible to attend daily.\n\"The only saving grace is that staff are required to work onsite, unless they personally fit specific age criteria and\/or are immuno-compromised,\" she said.\n\"For Meadowglen, this means I can roster a larger team of teachers to supervise students onsite and they can work from home three or four days every week. This is a win-win for everyone at my school\".\nTeachers battling a 'silent pandemic'\nWhat's not addressed, says Piazza, is the \"silent pandemic\" of teachers' mental health.\n\"This involves the anxiety around being in a classroom of up to 25 students and having to teach students who shouldn't be at school because they are displaying cold and flu symptoms,\" she said.\n\"They are asking questions such as: should I wear a mask? How can I be sure I won't get the virus? And when working remotely with students, wondering if their students are doing OK, why aren't they engaging and submitting work?\"\nPiazza said teachers want to know that their efforts are valued and that they are \"not just babysitters\", given so many people are able to work from home, protected and safely ensconced from potential ill health.\n\"Teachers want parents to support them in their work and to be less critical of their efforts,\" she said.\n\"Despite the unpredictability of the weeks ahead, schools and principals are very committed to doing the very best for their students\".\n'Remote learning is a very poor cousin to real life teaching'\nBerwick Lodge Primary School principal, Henry Grossek, says that with the current bringing so much uncertainty, it is extraordinarily challenging for Victorian school leaders.\n\"On the one hand, lessons learnt from the four-week remote learning exercise we experienced in Term 2, have proven to be invaluable in planning for this term,\" Grossek told The Educator.\n\"For example, video conferences between teachers and children has as important a role to play as has the delivery of engaging and relevant educational activities. The importance of 'connectivity' cannot be underestimated\".\nOn the other hand, says Grossek, remote learning as an approach is \"a very poor cousin to real life teaching\".\n\"The prospect of a prolonged period of remote learning is hardly inspiring. Similarly, the fact that the numbers of COVID-19 victims are at a critically high level, ensures that everyone's levels of anxiety and stress is heightened,\" he said.\n\"Here in Victorian government schools, conditions can vary enormously from school to school\".\nGrossek pointed to his own school as an example.\n\"We have over 100 students from a total of 640 undertaking remote learning on site,\" he said. Others may have as few as 10 on campus,\" he said.\n\"Similarly, under the DET guidelines, irrespective of how many students are learning at school, some schools will have all their staff on site, others will have a skeleton staff present\".\nGrossek said these differences are hard to ignore and have the potential for causing angst.\n\"Principals will need to draw on all areas of their leadership skills in these testing times to deliver a worthy curriculum, maximise everyone's safety and keep morale high\".\nVictorian schools to return to remote learning\nAre schools reopening too early?\nHow do teachers feel about going back to the classroom?","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Articles & Poetry\nAmerican Fascism\nCloser to Nature During Unpredictable Times\nCongressional Empowerment for the Stewards of America\nLightning Warning\nMissing & Murdered Indigenous People... The Story Continues\nPoetry One\nPoetry Two\nSharing the Journey of Menopause: Elder-Women Essential to Community\nSimply Simplified\nSpotlight on Our Native Sisters: Nicole Lybarger\nSuda's Gathering\nThe Battle Scarred Shield\nThe Blind Distraction\nThe Tie to My Life\nThree to Watch in '23\nTom Whillock: A Man for All Seasons\nWhat We Can Learn from the Eagle\nWINDS Scholarship Announcement 2022\nWisdom from Granddad\n2021 2022 Capital Campaign\nEREZ Assistance Application\nNews Home Page\nRadio WnT\nWINDS Scholarship Application\n\u200bContact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.com\n~ Orannhawk\nThe most frequently used letters on my\nkeyboard have vanished, worn away from\nconsistent use over the past five and a\nhalf years. Despite thorough cleaning,\nsome keys don't move at all. A new\nreplacement is tucked away on one of my\nwish lists online, as if the anticipation of the order would spur me to hit order.\nIt hasn't yet.\nSo convinced my bestselling novels and the countless poems would all come together with nothing more than a pen and paper, I sidestepped typing classes in school. Somewhere in the dark recesses of my young teenage mind, the idea of typing class equaled secretarial jobs, and the very thought sent me spiraling.\nVerbalizing that pigeonholed concept didn't set well with my late mother, who spent thirty years as a campus secretary for the local school district. She was still reeling over the fact I used up all the paint she purchased for a project, although that softened when my first painting sold at thirteen. I was pushing buttons all right, well ahead of typing and computers.\nGradually, I learned the classic art of hunt and peck, in efforts to add to my work resume. The real test came in late nineties when my son asked me to type his handwritten material to the computer for a major project. Thankfully, only the typed words appeared on the screen, without the constant embellishment of curse words as I struggled to create a cohesive document. Panic attacks ensued each time it appeared his computer was un-alive, due to my na\u00efve approach at that time to the tech world.\nPractice changed that, along with a split keyboard that allows my hands to sit naturally, and although I couldn't pass if someone gave me keyboard layout and asked me to fill in the letters, my hands know instinctively where words are. Ok, I can identify where the letter 'A' would be, because it's been gone the longest. Even the hand lettered marker faded away. Nonetheless, I am still not quite ready to buy a new one yet.\nRaised by parents and grandparents who experienced the Great Depression, as well as WWII, the concept of mass consumerism eluded them, and in turn, affected my sibling and me. It's not to say we didn't have new things, it was more about being selective with the choices and reusing, and re-fabricating old into new. We're both passionate about that. My office space, formerly my son's room, boasts beautiful faux leather walls that fool the eye. Installed in the mid-nineties, it was a simple, and cost-effective way to give his room an update. A few rolls of brown kraft mailing paper, a lot of old paper bags and plenty of plain\nElmer's glue and water, along with a night or two of tearing and crumpling paper, produced walls that are beautiful and easy to maintain.\nMy mom and grandmother were expert seamstresses, and my sibling followed in their footsteps easily, producing garments rivaling name brands. They wasted no fabric, and scraps were used to make beautiful potholders, patches for worn clothes, and the rest for cleaning rags. Many of those potholders are still in use in my kitchen, as well as my sons. My dad and one grandfather were mechanics and welders, so there was a plethora of scrap metal and tools in the sheds, ready for them to craft everything from our backyard swings, slide and see-saw, to barbeque pits, clothes-line poles, and countless other creations we used, or sold.\nOne of my favorite gifts growing up was seeing my new bicycle sitting outside during the holidays. It wasn't new, simply reborn with a fresh coat of paint, new tires, a new seat, and often fancy handlebars. It took me through grade school and into high school with just a little tweaking by a talented mechanic. I can still hear my grandmother's laughter years later, when she asked what I wanted for a gift. It was always the same, her famous tea cake cookies and a bag of rags. And I received both every year. Occasionally, friends gift me with old sheets or other cloth items, that I cut and use in the studio, instead of tons of paper towels.\nBasic soaps and vinegar were used instead of expensive name brands. My mom did buy toothpaste, but most of the time, we used baking soda. I have a small bar of homemade lye soap one grandmother made in the forties, one I will never use, but it is a testament of her way of making over buying. I have a jar of tallow from Papaw that he used on our boots to soften the leather, as well as on his rifles; and he told me of mixing different herbs and plant material with it, to use as a skin balm.\nRecently I watched a short video highlighting the pantry, and the dressing room of a well-known celebrity. Honestly, it was shocking. The pantry was stocked like a small grocery store, with multiples of each item. It easily contained several thousands of dollars of canned goods and snacks of all types. The dressing room rivaled department stores with hundreds of garments, bags, and shoes. All for one person. I can't perceive how one individual could reasonably use that many things in a single year, or three. There are influencers on social media who do indeed, focus on helping others, but there are so many others who are lost in a maelstrom of glitz, glamour, and money.\nYes, perhaps my opinion borders on the bitchy side, but I can't help but think about the countless people who need food, warm clothing, and a safe place to be. During a recent binge watch of Longmire, the character, Henry Standing Bear, took it upon himself to quietly take on the requests left for the late Hector, who in his own way, did his best to protect those who were left without hope. While I do not advocate for vigilante action or violence, the idea of placing a message for hope in a mason jar, knowing there is someone out there who cares, is appealing.\nLiving in a simpler way is good for the soul, and it does connect us with our Ancestors. If you are blessed with extra, find a way to share it with others. Donate locally, or donate to Whisper n Thunder's WINDS Scholarship fund, or the EREZ fund to provide heat in impoverished rez homes. Think of it as a message of hope in Hector's mason jar. I think the Ancestors would like that.\nCopyright \u00a9 Whisper n Thunder Inc. All Rights Reserved.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Who is the most Hall of Fame worthy Minnesota Viking?\nThere has to be more coming eventually, right?\nBy Christopher Gates Aug 2, 2018, 8:55pm CDT\nShare All sharing options for: Who is the most Hall of Fame worthy Minnesota Viking?\nPicture courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings\nWith the induction ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018 approximately 48 hours away. . .and with former Minnesota Vikings great Randy Moss being one of this year's leading attractions. . .it's time to ask who the next member of the purple to find themselves in Canton might be.\nNow, the general consensus among Vikings fans (and yes, I get that there's some disagreement, but that's what \"general consensus\" allows for) is that defensive end Jim Marshall should have been in the Hall of Fame quite a while ago. While that's a good name to choose, Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has a slightly different take on it.\nWhile putting together his list of the most Hall of Fame worthy player from each franchise that isn't already enshrined in Canton, Harrison went a slightly different direction for the Vikings, and he took a guy that many. . .not even a lot of Vikings fans. . .might immediately think of in linebacker Matt Blair.\nI could go in many directions here, but I feel Blair is the right choice. He played 12 seasons in Minnesota, competing in two Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls along the way. Blair developed into one of the game's most versatile linebackers in the 1970s. Where No. 59 in purple and white really shined, however, was on special teams. Stat of the day: Blair has been credited with an unofficial 20 blocked kicks, third-most in NFL history. Goodnight. And to think, people got all lathered up about Kam Chancellor leaping over the line to block one kick.\nOther Vikings worth mentioning: Ahmad Rashad, Jim Marshall, Ed White.\nNow, in the interest of full disclosure, Blair's time with the Vikings doesn't overlap much with my time of being a Vikings fan. My first season of real fandom (or at least being able to understand and\/or care about what was going on) was 1984, which was Blair's penultimate season with the Vikings. But from the stuff I've seen of him on videos and things of that nature, he was outstanding. And twenty blocked kicks? I'm not sure who the active leader in the NFL today is, but I'd be quite willing to bet you that whoever it is isn't anywhere near twenty.\nAs you can see from the quoted text above, Harrison also mentions Ahmad Rashad and Ed White. Again, I didn't see much of either of them when they were members of the Vikings, although I've seen the video of the \"Miracle at the Met\" more times than I think I can count. From what I've read about White, he was also an incredibly solid player in his time, but he spent almost as long with the San Diego Chargers as he did with the Vikings, and could probably almost be listed under their spot for most Hall of Fame worthy as well.\nAny of the players that Harrison mentions from the Vikings in his article would have to get in through the Seniors Committee, much like Mick Tingelhoff (belatedly) did a couple of seasons ago.\nWho do you think is the most worthy past member of the Vikings that isn't already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Michael Owen predicts Liverpool vs Tottenham\nJurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool and Jose Mourinho, Manager of Tottenham\nSoumalya Moitra\nModified 15 Dec 2020, 20:12 IST\nMichael Owen expects Liverpool to snatch a narrow win in their Premier League fixture against Tottenham\nLiverpool's home record is fantastic and the Reds are unbeaten in 65 games at Anfield\nMichael Owen believes his former side Liverpool with pick up a win at home to high-flying Tottenham. The defending champions Liverpool are level on points with Spurs, who are ahead on goal difference. The winner of Sunday's game will go into the Christmas period at the top of the Premier League table.\n\"This should be a cracker! As much as I have been impressed with Spurs this season, they come up against a Liverpool side that are undefeated in their last 65 home matches in the Premier League, a quite incredible stat. This is Spurs' acid test. Undefeated in their last 11 games, Jose Mourinho's side will come into this game hopeful they can get a result,\" said Michael Owen.\n\"I'm expecting them to sit in and go through a bit of pain with the intention to hit on the counter-attack. Although I think that could work to a certain extent, I reckon Liverpool simply have too much quality going forward. Sadio Mane is playing wonderfully at the moment. He could be the main man in a narrow home win for Liverpool,\" he concluded.\nJoel Matip & Naby Keita Injury Update | Jurgen Klopp Press Conference | Liverpool v Tottenham\nWATCH: https:\/\/t.co\/5o1rciCnyD pic.twitter.com\/KnveYlMW3B\n\u2014 Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) December 15, 2020\nMichael Owen expects Liverpool to win against Totteham\nJose Mourinho's Tottenham have been the revelation of the Premier League season so far. Spurs have started the season strongly and have already beaten the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal.\nHarry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur\nMourinho has managed to find the perfect balance of defence and attack in the big games, using the double pivot of Pierre-Emile H\u00f8jbjerg and Moussa Sissoko. Captain Harry Kane has changed his game to a false No.10, with Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn offering a goalscoring threat from attacking areas.\nJurgen Klopp dismisses criticism of Tottenham's brand of football: \"I see a lot a similarities with us in the way they set it up. They play football. Kane drops deep, quick players in wide positions. A very good team.\" #LFC #THFC\n\u2014 Kevin Palmer (@RealKevinPalmer) December 15, 2020\nLiverpool are finally some stability in their current Premier League campaign. However, they have won just two of their last five fixtures. Nonetheless, the Reds have won 31 out of their last 32 games at Anfield, where they are unbeaten in 65 fixtures.\nLiverpool have a long list of players on the treatment table, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, and Diogo Jota all unavailable with injuries. Centre-back Joel Matip is also a doubt for the game.\nPublished 15 Dec 2020, 20:12 IST\nPremier League 2020-21 Liverpool Football Michael Owen Fantasy Premier League Football News Liverpool Fixtures","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model.\nG. Rowlinson, G. Paganelli, D. Snook, A. A. Epenetos\nA new monoclonal antibody designated FO23C5 against a protein component of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been developed. A xenograft system of human colon cancer was used to compare the intact monoclonal IgG with its fragments (Fab')2 and Fab) and with an established anti-CEA antibody (MAb35) and the antibody AUA1 raised against the colon carcinoma cell line. We demonstrate that FO23C5 compares well with the existing anti-CEA antibody and with AUA1, and that F(ab')2 fragments perform best in achieving optimal tumour to normal tissue ratios compared with intact IgG and Fab fragment.\nInternational Journal of Biological Markers\nImmunoglobulin Fab Fragments\nColonic Neoplasms\nFO23C5 monoclonal antibody\nRowlinson, G., Paganelli, G., Snook, D., & Epenetos, A. A. (1988). Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model. International Journal of Biological Markers, 3(4), 259-264.\nRadiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model. \/ Rowlinson, G.; Paganelli, G.; Snook, D.; Epenetos, A. A.\nIn: International Journal of Biological Markers, Vol. 3, No. 4, 10.1988, p. 259-264.\nRowlinson, G, Paganelli, G, Snook, D & Epenetos, AA 1988, 'Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model.', International Journal of Biological Markers, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 259-264.\nRowlinson G, Paganelli G, Snook D, Epenetos AA. Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model. International Journal of Biological Markers. 1988 Oct;3(4):259-264.\nRowlinson, G. ; Paganelli, G. ; Snook, D. ; Epenetos, A. A. \/ Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model. In: International Journal of Biological Markers. 1988 ; Vol. 3, No. 4. pp. 259-264.\n@article{439a6af5b4bf480c9edd185c2aae659f,\ntitle = \"Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model.\",\nabstract = \"A new monoclonal antibody designated FO23C5 against a protein component of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been developed. A xenograft system of human colon cancer was used to compare the intact monoclonal IgG with its fragments (Fab')2 and Fab) and with an established anti-CEA antibody (MAb35) and the antibody AUA1 raised against the colon carcinoma cell line. We demonstrate that FO23C5 compares well with the existing anti-CEA antibody and with AUA1, and that F(ab')2 fragments perform best in achieving optimal tumour to normal tissue ratios compared with intact IgG and Fab fragment.\",\nauthor = \"G. Rowlinson and G. Paganelli and D. Snook and Epenetos, {A. A.}\",\njournal = \"International Journal of Biological Markers\",\npublisher = \"Wichtig Publishing Srl\",\nT1 - Radiolocalisation of an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (FO23C5) and its fragments in a colon carcinoma xenograft model.\nAU - Rowlinson, G.\nAU - Paganelli, G.\nAU - Snook, D.\nAU - Epenetos, A. A.\nN2 - A new monoclonal antibody designated FO23C5 against a protein component of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been developed. A xenograft system of human colon cancer was used to compare the intact monoclonal IgG with its fragments (Fab')2 and Fab) and with an established anti-CEA antibody (MAb35) and the antibody AUA1 raised against the colon carcinoma cell line. We demonstrate that FO23C5 compares well with the existing anti-CEA antibody and with AUA1, and that F(ab')2 fragments perform best in achieving optimal tumour to normal tissue ratios compared with intact IgG and Fab fragment.\nAB - A new monoclonal antibody designated FO23C5 against a protein component of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been developed. A xenograft system of human colon cancer was used to compare the intact monoclonal IgG with its fragments (Fab')2 and Fab) and with an established anti-CEA antibody (MAb35) and the antibody AUA1 raised against the colon carcinoma cell line. We demonstrate that FO23C5 compares well with the existing anti-CEA antibody and with AUA1, and that F(ab')2 fragments perform best in achieving optimal tumour to normal tissue ratios compared with intact IgG and Fab fragment.\nJO - International Journal of Biological Markers\nJF - International Journal of Biological Markers","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Prince Edward Island > Sports\nMilestone week for Ross Johnston\nSuffolk native gets first NHL assist, fight, goal in five days with New York Islanders\nJason Malloy \u00b7 Lead editor, Annapolis Valley Register | Posted: Feb. 7, 2018, 9:16 a.m. | Updated: Feb. 7, 2018, 9:20 a.m. | 4 Min Read\nSUFFOLK, P.E.I. \u2013 Ross Johnston took care of three firsts in his NHL career in a matter of a week.\nThe New York Islanders recalled the Suffolk, P.E.I., native on Jan. 19 from the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers.\nHe recorded his first NHL assists and fight the next night in Chicago and five days later scored his first goal in Las Vegas, Nev., against the expansion Golden Knights.\nIt was his first games since making his debut with the Islanders on April 10, 2016.\n\"All the (same) nerves were there, probably even a little more amplified this time,\" Johnston said during a recent off-day.\n\"It's pretty special to go up to this level again and to be able to play (in) the NHL . . . and contribute at the same time.\"\nAfter receiving the news about the call-up, he spoke with his parents, Shirley and Frank, and then boarded his flight for Chicago.\n\"Anytime you get on the scoreboard, whether it's an assist or a fight, you're helping your team out,\" he said. \"Those are kind of my few firsts, so they're pretty special for me, and it's a game I will remember. My parents were able to make it out for it, so it was very special for them and myself.\"\nAfter playing in Arizona on Jan. 22, Johnston and his Islanders teammates made the trek to Vegas to play one of the surprise stories of this season.\n\"The atmosphere in that rink is out of this world,\" Johnston said. \"Being able to score (my) first goal in front of that crowd, in that atmosphere, is very special. It's something, obviously, I will cherish forever.\"\nJohnston said he was grateful for \"the overwhelming support\" from P.E.I. in the days after his first goal.\n\"My phone, as you'd expect, was blowing up a little bit, but it was only positive things,\" he said. \"It meant a lot to me and it meant a lot to my family. They were getting calls from the neighbours and friends. . . It's been a busy time, but an exciting time.\"\nAnd it started almost immediately when the goal was scored as former teammates and buddies like Craig MacLauchlan were retweeting the comments and video online.\n\"I was kind of wondering to myself, what the heck are you all doing up? It's absurd. After the game, they had all (sent) congratulation texts. It means a lot. These guys have been texting me every day or every second day,\" Johnston acknowledged.\n\"It means a lot to me that they take that time.\"\nHe also had a chance to catch up with Golden Knights coaches and Island natives Mike Kelly and Gerard (Turk) Gallant.\nAfter the morning skate, Kelly had reached out to the Islanders equipment manager and said he would like to speak to Johnston after the game. Johnston had played for Kelly with the P.E.I. Riptide during spring hockey and his older brother, Will, had played for Turk with the Saint John Sea Dogs.\n\"It was very nice of them to come over and reach out to me,\" Johnston said. \"It was very nice to see some familiar faces down in Las Vegas and it's obviously very nice to see them doing so well with that team.\"\nJohnston, who is in the final year of his contract, said he is going to do whatever he can to stay up with the big club. But if he does get sent back to the AHL he will continue to work hard to improve his game and get back to the world's top league.\nThe Charlottetown Islanders and Summerside Western Capitals graduate said his parents, brother and sister have been very supportive as he pursued his dream of playing in the NHL.\n\"They've done so much for me and, obviously, I'm very grateful for that.\"\nRoss Johnston\nMilestone week A 23-year-old Suffolk native playing with the New York Islanders of the NHL.\nMilestone week Six-foot-five, 235-pound left-winger.\nPrevious three games\nG A Pts. PIM Shifts\nJan. 25 1 0 1 0 10\nJan. 20 0 1 1 15 11\nFirst goal description: Johnston took a pass near the faceoff circle and threw a pass out front the goal-line.\n\"I was trying to centre it for (Cal) Clutterbuck. I thought he swiped it in, but it ended up hitting (Cody) Eakin's stick and going five-hole. When I seen Clutterbuck reach for the puck I guess I figured my first NHL goal. It was obviously quite the feeling,\" Johnston said, noting it was a memorable moment coming back to the bench and seeing his teammates smiling and congratulating him. \"It meant a lot to me and is something I'll hold onto and be able to reflect on a few years down the road.\"\nRugby-Flyhalf Garbisi named in Italy squad for Six Nations opener\nTennis-Sabalenka subdues Rybakina to win maiden Grand Slam at Australian Open\nFactbox-Tennis-List of Australian Open women's singles champions\nJan. 28, 2023: Canadiens at Senators \u2014 Five things you should know\nAlpine skiing-Shiffrin moves to one win away from Stenmark's record\nNBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo pours in 41 in Bucks' win\nNHL roundup: Martin Necas, Hurricanes tie Sharks late, win in OT","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Don't worry, act happy\nBy Sue Fishkoff | October 24, 2014\nHow much would you pay to learn how to be happy? I had to pause when I got the email yesterday from Chabad Rabbi Yisrael Rice in Marin, with this subject line: Are you a happy person?\nFirst reaction: Who wantsta know? Second: What's it to ya?\nOnce I calmed down and read further, I saw he'd sent a press release for a Rohr Jewish Learning Institute course launching next week, devoted to Jewish perspectives on happiness. Called \"How Happiness Thinks,\" it's a six-week class on positive thinking, combining traditional Jewish approaches with modern psychology, according to the write-up. And for the first time in its 16-year history, JLI \u2014 Chabad's adult education branch \u2014 has teamed up with the American Psychological Association, which is offering 15 continuing-education credits for the course.\nHappiness and college credit \u2014 nice.\nI picked up the phone right away and called Rabbi Rice. As soon as he answered, I started harassing him. What about parents who insist they \"only\" want us to be happy? Isn't that a terrible burden to place on a child? If we're not happy, are we failing them, not to mention ourselves? And despite the insistence in the Declaration of Independence that the pursuit of happiness is our inalienable right, is that really a worthy goal? Or a goal at all?\nOnce he'd caught his breath, Rice gamely took up my gauntlet. \"First thing we have to establish is, are we supposed to be happy?\" The answer, he insisted, is yes. \"We are supposed to be happy. God wants us to be happy.\"\nWell, that's lovely, really. But you wouldn't think human happiness is a Divine priority, given all the misery in the world.\nClearly, Rice rejoined, there are times when we are supposed to be sad. \"This isn't a Panglossian approach,\" he said. (Rabbi's been reading his Voltaire!) But, he continued, our natural state is to be happy.\n\"Look at a child \u2014 they're happy,\" he said. \"It's the default setting in the human system. As life goes on, it gets complicated. There's this little program in our head that always finds the negative twist, telling us we're not quite good enough, not skinny enough, not healthy enough, not rich enough.\n\"Bottom line, we need to dedicate time to positive programming.\" (Rabbi's also been reading Psychology Today!)\nStop dwelling on the negative, he continued. Look at all the blessings you have. Feel gratitude for those blessings. \"A heart filled with gratitude can contain no resentment. One of the lessons focuses on that. Unhappiness is when we lose sight of our blessings.\"\nOK, he said, so it isn't rocket science. (He didn't say that \u2014 I'm paraphrasing.) \"A lot of this is intuitive, but it helps to hear it again.\" (That's what he really said.)\nFine, but how do you \"teach\" happiness? And isn't it weird, unreasonable even, that Torah \"commands\" us to be happy at certain times, like on Shabbat (when we're not even allowed to mourn) and on Purim? How can you be happy on demand?\nTo this, Rice had another tip, also to be covered in the course: If you don't feel happy, act happy. The rest will follow.\n\"Remind yourself that you're allowed to be happy,\" he counseled. \"Give yourself permission. Take a breath, walk a little, extend it to your face, smile. Even if you're not in a happy mood, acting in a happy way will elicit a happy result in your mind and heart.\"\nJLI has been putting together these multiweek courses for Chabad since 1998, on a variety of themes. Some are more esoteric \u2014 courses on mysticism and messianism, for example. But most are on practical topics \u2014 business ethics, good parenting, building a great marriage \u2014 the kinds of things anyone, Jew or not, could benefit from. That's the point, said Rice. And he should know, because he's been on the course advisory committee since the beginning, working with JLI headquarters in Brooklyn.\nI've often toyed with the idea of taking one of these courses. Maybe this will be the one. It will be offered at hundreds of locations, including several in the Bay Area. And, Rice reminded me, in most places the first class is free.\n\"Come check it out,\" he urged. \"Or take the freebie and go \u2014 be happy with it!\"\nSue Fishkoff\nSue Fishkoff is the editor of J. She can be reached at sue@jweekly.com.\nBeing bnai mitzvah means being an adult\nBeyond he and she: Queer in the rabbinate\nPulling an all-nighter on Shavuot with cheese\nQ&A: U.S. Army colonel in a (suddenly hot) Korea","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Survivor: Winners at War: You knew that one was coming ASAP\nI'm picking up here where I left off last week with the second half of the Winners at War premiere.\nWhen Natalie is voted off first, she gifts her fire token to Jeremy and heads off to the Edge of Extinction. It's a windy night as she reads the welcome note. She learns she'll be able to earn extra fire tokens, but if loneliness overtakes her, she can raise the flag and go home.\nThe next day (Day 3), The red tribe talks around the well. Sandra is personally offended because on Island of the Idols last season, Boston Rob said he'd never come out here... that he would not play. Now, I don't know why Sandra would believe that. Everyone knows would play again. He may have said it seeing if she would believe the lie, but I don't think he was serious.\nBecause Sandra is so hurt over this, she is determined to get Amber out at the first chance she has.\nYul tries to collect the one-time players together for an alliance -- Adam, Sophie, Wendell and Yul. They plan to control the game.\nOn the other tribe, Michele feels on the outs because she didn't know that Natalie was going to be voted out. Ben fills her in that Rob and Parvati have something going on. Rob is trying to act like he isn't in control, but he is.\nJeremy finds the fire token in his bag, making him the possessor of the most for the moment.\nNatalie, on Extinction, finds the menu of items purchasable with fire tokens. She digs and finds a bottle with a clue to find a fire token. It tells her to journey to the last place she can see the sunset. She hikes up to the top of the island, and it is quite a trek. She finally finds an immunity idol. It's not going to do her a lot of good on EoE, so she can pick one person on the losing team that she can sell the idol to for a token.\nWhen it comes time for the next immunity challenge, Sandra sits out since her team has one extra person. She ought to compete since she's such a big shot.\nFor the challenge, each team paddles out to a platform to retrieve number tiles. They have to do an obstacle course to use the tiles to figure out a combination lock to get rings to throw at paddles and whoever raises that flag first wins.\nRob's team hits an obstacle and falls behind. The other team gets their bag un-knotted before Rob's team can get to the platform. He takes control, gets the boat up to the platform and gets the pieces. They almost catch back up, until they get to the barrel roll. The red team seems to have better luck. While the red team does help each other, Rob pretty much has to throw his team over the barrel. He launches one after another while a couple of the other men hold it. The trouble comes when it's just Rob and Jeremy are left. Rob has to get Jeremy on his shoulders to get him over. Then, Rob gets someone to pull him over over.\nDad bod with a beer gut or not, Rob is a beast.\nRob's team is way behind, but Wendell isn't having a whole lot of luck with the rings after getting the first one.\nJeremy is able to pull it off for the blue team.\nSince Rob's team wins, it doesn't take much to guess that the Red team led by that witch Sandra is going to target Amber. Amber knows it.\nRob knows it too. And he knows there's nothing he can do to stop it.\nThe red team gathers back at camp. Everyone wants to know what everyone else wants to do.\nKim, Wendell, Amber and Tyson want Sandra or Nick to go. Maybe Tony?\nWendell goes to the other group. He says he wants to work with them. Wendell tells Sandra he wants it to be Tyson or Amber.\nSophie talks to Wendell and Kim, then Amber.\nThen everyone scrambles with everyone else.\nSandra decides to spread \"truth, lies and rumors.\"\nI don't know what Natalie was smoking, but we learn at this point that she has sent the immunity idol to Sandra. Nothing says for sure, but she guesses it was Natalie who sent it to her. Sandra has no problem paying her token for it.\nTony gathers a group to yammer on, and he says Tyson goes home. He wants to break up the poker alliance of Kim, Tyson and Amber (by connection of Rob).\nWhen all gets silent, Kim knows something is going on, but she doesn't know what. She has to dig in to find out. She's pretty sure that it will be her, Tyson or Amber going home.\nIt's time for Tribal Council... Jeff leads them in a conversation, starting with Amber and how different she feels since it's been 16 years since she's played. She's not used to this pace.\nSandra pipes up about how Amber is going to have to pick up the pace.\nKim talks about how she knows her name was on the block because of the poker player allaince that was never a thing to begin with.\nAfter more and more round and round talk, it's finally time vote.\nJeff reads the votes:\n(and one vote that remains unread since that was enough)\nAmber drops her token in Robs's box, of course.\nWith that, Amber joins Natalie on the Edge of Extinction.\nAnyone not see that coming?\nJeff Probst Rob Mariano Survivor\nTerry Brennan's new series is sure to keep readers...\nSurvivor: Winners at War: Way Too Much Talking\nThe Bachelor: Week 8: Peter and his fantasy suites\nI Will Call Upon the Lord\nSurvivor: Winners at War: Pay attention to who you...\nWin a copy of Ishmael Covenant\nThe Bachelor: Peter: Week 7: The hometowns\nSurvivor: Winners at War: You knew that one was co...\nSurvivor: Winners at War - FINE! I'm going to blog...\nThe Bachelor: Peter: Week 6: Don't worry about hid...\nThe Apostles\nSign-up to review Jesus Rose for Me by Jared Kennedy!\nThe Bachelor: Peter: Week 5: Part 2: Send them (al...\nThe Bachelor: Peter: Week 5: Everybody cries somet...\nWonderful, Wonderful, Jesus is to Me","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"For Your Career\nCareer Writer Program\nFor Your Script\nRewrite Programs\n1:1 Mentorships\nProofreading \/ Coverage\n2020\/2021 Top Tier Competition\nFREE WriteStart Competition (for Authors)\n2020 JumpStart Competition\nRoadmap Shorts Competition\nFor Your Career +\nFor Your Script +\nCompetitions +\nBig Box Office Webinar Bundle\nNotify me if availability opens up in this program:\nFind more like this or View Cart\nSummer is here, and you know what that means: longer days, hotter temperatures, and our favorite big blockbuster movies! We all have a favorite summer blockbuster from recent years, and it's no surprise that a lot of us really want to write that kind of movie.\nBut what are some considerations behind the big hits? What are skills we need to have?\nTo answer all this and more, Roadmap has put together a 4 in 1 webinar bundle with some of our greatest hits!\nEach individual webinar is usually $34, but all together they are just $43 - a savings of $93!\nRyan Copple has worked over ten years in entertainment with positions ranging from creative development, physical production and business management. He has produced over 200 hours of content in the geek and gaming arena with studios like Legendary Entertainment and Lionsgate Pictures, including hits like Wil Wheaton's TableTop, the breakout success Dungeons & Dragons show Critical Role, Microsoft's live action adaptation of the popular Halo franchise Halo: Forward Unto Dawn, Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion's Con Man as well as myriad of other scripted and non-scripted projects. HIs efforts have resulted in several Emmy nominations and other awards.\nAndrew Gerson grew up in the Bay Area and left Northern California to study economics and film at UCLA. After graduating, Andrew took an entry-level position working for Jewerl Ross at Silent R Management and was promoted to creative exec in 2017. In this role, Andrew read every script he could get his hands on and attended film festivals across the country looking for new talent to collaborate with. Recently Andrew left Silent R to pursue his own screenwriting career. He continues to work with young writers through consulting at Roadmap and the Final Draft Big Break screenwriting competition.\nDrew Smith is the creative executive at Unique Features founded by Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, who have produced dozens of high profile films including: A Nightmare on Elm Street films The Lord of the Rings Trilogy The Austin Powers films At Unique, Drew is responsible for bringing in project ideas, exposing the company to new talent, and providing insight on current projects to better reach a worldwide audience. Prior to joining Unique, he was the manager of acquisitions at The Steel Company and brokered deals on behalf of some of the biggest international distributors at film markets including Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto.\nKevin Nicklaus is the SVP of The Wolper Org., a historically significant television production company with a studio deal at Warner Bros. The company focuses on drama series, mini-series and movies for streaming. Past credits include ROOTS (2016), BATES MOTEL, PENN & TELLER: BULLSH!T, while legacy credits include LA CONFIDENTIAL, MURDER IN THE FIRST, WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON, ROOTS, THE THORN BIRDS, NORTH & SOUTH.\nImmediately after registering, you will receive an Order Confirmation that serves as the receipt for your registration. In the Order Summary section of this email, there will be a link reading \"CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS\" that will take you to the page containing the Webinar recording. Under that link will be the Password you'll need to unlock the page and enjoy!\nIf you have any questions or any trouble accessing the recording, email our Director of Education Alexandra Davies at alex@roadmapwriters.com!\nLogline Rehab\nEvery 2nd Wednesday of the Month @ 6:00pm PT\nTerra Joy\nDirector of Consultations & Marketing @ Roadmap Writers\nOpening Pages Analysis\nThe Last Wednesday of Every Month @ 6:30pm - 7:30pm PT\nJoey Tuccio\nCEO of Roadmap Writers\nBriana's Pitchin' Good Time!\nThird Friday of Every Month @ 4:00 - 5:30pm PT\nDirector of Writer Outreach @ Roadmap Writers\nTHE ROADMAP PROMISE\nRoadmap Writers prides itself on the quality of executives we bring to our programs and we work hard to get you the best feedback possible.\nOur vetted executives are chosen by the legitimacy of the companies they work for and their ability to evaluate pitches and pages.\nOnly the executives you sign up for will be provided with your materials.\nRoadmap Writers is a training service. It is in no way a talent agency or a business in talent management. Roadmap Writers does not procure or attempt to procure employment for writers. Roadmap Writers does not manage or direct the development of a writer's career. Roadmap Writers does not procure or attempt to procure the purchase of the writer's Material. Roadmap Writers makes no representation that writers will find representation by an agent or manager. Workshops, pitch sessions, and the other services provided by Roadmap Writers are not job interviews or auditions. The presence of executives or others with industry experience at workshops, pitch sessions, and other services provided by Roadmap Writers is neither a promise nor a guarantee of employment or an audition. Roadmap Writers' services are for educational and training purposes only.\n\u00a9 2021 Roadmap Writers\u2122","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"2016 AT&T American Cup tickets go on sale Oct. 19\nNEWARK, N.J., Oct. 16, 2015 \u2013 Tickets for the 2016 AT&T American Cup, the USA's most prestigious international invitational and part of the International Gymnastics Federation's all-around World Cup series, go on sale Monday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m. ET. The 2016 AT&T American Cup, which will be held at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on March 5, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. ET, will feature the world's best gymnasts in a one-day all-around competition. The Nastia Liukin Cup, which showcases many of the country's top Junior Olympic female gymnasts, will be staged in conjunction with the AT&T American Cup on March 4 at Prudential Center.\n2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin will attend the New Jersey Devils-San Jose Sharks game at Prudential Center today to support the ticket on-sale announcement. Liukin will sign autographs for fans on the main concourse during the first intermission, and local gymnastics club demonstrations will take place on the main concourse throughout the game. Liukin will also ride on the Zamboni during the second intermission and participate in some in-arena promotions during the game.\nTickets range in price from $35-$250. The platinum ($250) ticket also includes a reserved seat for the Nastia Liukin Cup. Tickets may be purchased through ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, or at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will be available at Prudential Center's box office beginning Tuesday, October 20 at 11 a.m. For group sales (10+ people) information, please call Prudential Center's Group Sales department at 973-757-6250. Discounted tickets are also available through local gym clubs that participate in the Club Ticket Sales Program. For additional information, please go to attamericancup.com.\nInvitations to compete in the 2016 AT&T American Cup, which became an International Gymnastics Federation all-around World Cup event in 2011, will be based on performances at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Two-time World and three-time U.S. all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas\/World Champions Centre, and the Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev won the titles at the 2015 AT&T American Cup.\nIn addition to Liukin, the impressive list of former American Cup champions also includes Bart Conner, Tim Daggett, Paul Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Danell Leyva, Shannon Miller, Mary Lou Retton, Kurt Thomas, Peter Vidmar, Jordyn Wieber and Kim Zmeskal-Burdette. Past sites for the American Cup include: New York City (1976-80, 1982-84, 2004, 2008, 2012); Ft. Worth, Texas (1981, 1996-98); Indianapolis, Ind. (1985); Fairfax, Va. (1986-90, 2003); Orlando, Fla. (1991-94, 2000-02); Seattle, Wash. (1995); St. Petersburg, Fla. (1999); Uniondale, N.Y. (2005); Philadelphia (2006); Jacksonville, Fla. (2007, 2011); Hoffman Estates, Ill. (2009); Worcester, Mass. (2010, 2013); and Arlington, Texas (2015).\nHeld annually in conjunction with the AT&T American Cup, the Nastia Liukin Cup is named after Nastia Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion who has five Olympic and nine World medals to her credit. The annual event features 36 gymnasts who qualify through the Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which includes many of the country's top invitationals held throughout January and February.\nThe Nastia Liukin Cup made its debut in 2010 in Worcester and returned in 2013. Other sites for the Nastia Liukin Cup are Jacksonville, Fla. (2011), New York City (2012), Greensboro (2014) and Arlington, Texas (2015).\nPrudential Center. Prudential Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League's (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University's NCAA Division I Men's Basketball program, and more than 175 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and welcomes 1.75 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and Facebook, and follow @PruCenter on Twitter.\nAbout AT&T . AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We're helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation's strongest LTE signal and the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage. We're improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verse\u00ae TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&T's mobility and highly secure cloud solutions. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http:\/\/about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/att and YouTube at http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/att. \u00a9 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and\/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers' LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere. Global coverage claim based on offering voice and data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Terms: Batteries\nTerms: Radio\nTerms: George Sarton\nLeeds & Northrup Company, Philadelphia (68)\nE. Leitz, Inc., New York (24)\nWeston Electrical Instrument Corporation, Newark, NJ (23)\nR. & J. Beck, Ltd., London (8)\nD. Appleton and Company, New York (7)\nErnst Leitz, Wetzlar, Germany (6)\nG. Masson, \u00c9diteur, Paris (5)\nSherwood, Gilbert, and Piper, London (5)\nWestern Electric Company, New York (5)\nE. & F. N. Spon, London (4)\nGernsback Publications, Inc., New York (4)\nLongmans, Green, and Co., London (4)\nWestinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, PA (4)\nBell Telephone Laboratories, NY (3)\nBurndy Library, Norwalk, CT (3)\nGeneral Radio Company, West Concord, MA (3)\nGovernment Printing Office, Washington, DC (3)\nHans Heele, Berlin (3)\nHenry Hughes & Son, Limited, London (3)\nJohn Murray, London (3)\nJohn V. Terry, Carlisle, MA (3)\nLeeds & Northrup, Philadelphia (3)\nSmithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (3)\nThe Leeds & Northrup Company, Philadelphia (3)\n\"The Electrician\" Printing and Publishing Company, Ltd., London (2)\nBaldwin and Cradock, London (2)\nBrooklyn Thermometer Company, New York (2)\nC. Baker, London (2)\nC. F. Casella & Co. Ltd., London (2)\nCharles Scribner's Sons, New York (2)\nChicago Apparatus Company, Chicago (2)\nDaniel Davis, Jr., Boston (2)\nGeneral Radio Company, Cambridge, MA (2)\nGeorge Knight and Sons, London (2)\nIndustrial and Scientific Instrument Co., West Roxbury, MA (2)\nJames G. Biddle Co., Philadelphia (2)\nJohann Ambrosius Barth, Leipzig, Germany (2)\nLeeds & Northrup Co., Philadelphia (2)\nLongman, London (2)\nMacMillan and Co., London (2)\nMacMillan and Co., London and New York (2)\nPalmer House, Chicago (2)\nSampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, London (2)\nThe Macmillan Company, New York (2)\nUniversal Scientific Company, Inc., Vincennes, IN (2)\nElectricity (407)\nC5-A3 (245)\nLeeds & Northrup Company (60)\nMagnetism (54)\nVacuum Tubes (39)\nElectrical Instruments (34)\nE. Leitz, Inc. (27)\nGalvanometers (24)\nC3-G2 (24)\nWeston Electrical Instrument Corporation (18)\nC5-F3 (16)\nC5-C1 (15)\nPotentiometers (13)\nLeeds & Northrup (12)\nHistory of Medicine (11)\nHorology (9)\nEngineering - Electrical (9)\nR. & J. Beck, Ltd. (8)\nTelegraphy (8)\n70 Years of Radio Tubes and Valves\n1931 Trouble Shooter's Manual\n1932 Official Radio Service Manual: Complete Directory of all 1931-1932 Radio Recievers: Full Radio Service Guide\n1934 Official Radio Service Manual Vol. NoIV Complete Directory of all 1933-1934 Radio Recievers Full Radio Service Guide\nAbhandlungen zu der Lehre von der Reibungselektricit\u00e4t\nAn Account of Some Remarkable Applications of the Electric Fluid to the Useful Arts\nAdvanced Theory of Electricity and Magnetism: A Text-Book for Colleges and Technical Schools\nAdventure in Science\nThe Age of Electricity: From Amber-Soul to Telephone","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Why Doesn't Apple Music Let Users Search for Composers?\nI know, classical music is a small share of the overall music market. But it's still an important part of the overall music landscape, and if there are currently 36 million Apple Music subscribers, that means there are at least a couple of million people who listen to classical music.\nYet you cannot search for composers.\nYou see some composers listed as \"artists,\" you see their names in the titles of albums (for a number of years, many if not most classical albums that feature music from a single composer have that composer's name at the beginning of the title), you may see playlists with a composer's music, you even see \"songs,\" but you cannot see all the music by a composer.\nGranted, this could return a lot of results. Maybe not for Olivier Messiaen, as in the example above, but for a composer like Beethoven, Bach, or Brahms, there would be thousands of albums.\nYet if I search for Beethoven, and look at the album results \u2013 which only features albums that contain his name in the title \u2013 only 21 albums are shown; including With the Beatles, because it contains their cover of Roll Over Beethoven.\nThis lack of searchability borders on contempt. Apple Music wants you to be able to \"discover\" music, but they don't give you the tools to search for anything. You can only really discover music in the For You section, or in playlists. And it's not just for classical music; I'd like to have better search for jazz as well, looking for specific musicians.\nApple has the metadata; they just don't let customers access it. Because they don't care very much about music that isn't pop and hip-hop. People at Apple have told me that there are employees who listen to classical music who work in and around iTunes and Apple Music, and this has lead to some improvements in the way classical music can be organized in an iTunes library, and to the way some composer names are displayed in the iTunes Store and in Apple Music. It wouldn't be hard to introduce this type of search; in fact, they used to have a \"Power Search,\" that had fields like Composer, Director (for movies), Author (for books), and more. But they just don't care.\nCategories TechTags Apple Music\nApple's Education Push Is Great; But It May not Be Enough\niOS Music App Now Shows Music Videos Section in Apple Music\n18 thoughts on \"Why Doesn't Apple Music Let Users Search for Composers?\"\nMar 29, 2018 at 10:57 am | Reply\nOne of several reasons I'm sticking with Spotify\nMar 29, 2018 at 12:06 pm | Reply\nGo to Google advanced search, and search for Composer in the phrase field, and put itunes.apple.com in the 'at site' field.\nhttps:\/\/www.google.com\/advanced_search?hl=en\nI alwasy do the same with apps. Apple has never been too swift at building search functions. Even in the support forums.\nA search for \"Eric Clapton\" in itunes.apple.com has given me 74,000 results. Put a keyword \"Journeyman\" into the 'word' field and you get all the Journeyman album tunes.\nJohn Oldham\nMar 29, 2018 at 4:12 pm | Reply\nFred: Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!\nI got so tired of searching for \"Mozart\" in AM and getting \"Mozart To Make your Baby Smarter\", \"Mozart For Elevator Rides\" etc, and nothing of substance. Now I just bookmark the page for all of Mozart (and other composers) and I'm a couple of clicks away from AM's entire catalog of composers I like.\nMy nomination for tip of the year.\nMatthew B. Tepper\nOne of several reasons I'm still sticking with BUYING PHYSICAL CDS. (And digitizing some of my LPs, of performances that have not been, and are unlikely to be, issued in any other format.)\nJoberele\nTotally agree that Apple, apparently, does not understand even the basic conventions pertaining to classical music collection cataloguing.\nSadly, Apple, has always, seemingly, treated classical music, composers and classical music aficionados in the manner of a complete philistine.\nThis is the reason that serious classical music aficionados would never consider using such a lowbrow product as Apple Music. And, poor downmarket attitude and practice, such as this, must be costing Apple millions in potential sales.\nI guess I'm not a serious classical music aficionado then\u2026\nIIRC correctly Apple uses Gracenote, a Nielsen Company, as the source of information for such things. One sec\u2026 indeed they do as does Amazon and a host of media companies. So the Classical music weakness you see, and one local such music buff told me about it several years ago, reflects that Apple hasn't developed an in-house resource for this knowledge base.\nLike Siri (and I bought a Google Home this week), there are areas like this that Apple simply hadn't paid sufficient attention to.\nYes they use Gracenote, but they don't need to develop anything in house \u2013 if the metadata is there, it is searchable. As I say in the article, the Power Search feature used to let you search for composers.\nRichard Emerson\nApr 3, 2018 at 11:06 am | Reply\nThere is a very similar problem in the area of dance\/club music. In dance music, people often want to search or organise their music by the record label it was released on. Artist names are often throw-away one-offs, whereas some labels have almost become sub-genres in their own right (this aspect of labels actually goes back many decades, it's just even more pronounced in modern dance music). And there's also the question of remixers, producers, key mixing (not just bpm), and so on. Apple Music has no clue about this stuff.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"RENDERED May 28, 1993\nTERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT- A request by client for return of files constitutes a notice of discharge such that new counsel can begin representation.\nThe Ethics Committee of The Mississippi Bar has been requested to render an opinion on the following hypothetical:\nFirm had a contract to perform collection work for a definite term. Near the end of the term, client requested return of its files. The files were picked up by client. Subsequently, client asked for a final accounting and a return of proprietary materials provided for the collection project. The contract has no provision for fees or services after its termination.\nThe specific issues regarding ethical conduct asked to be addressed by the Committee are:\n1. Does the request for return of files constitute a notice of discharge such that new counsel can begin representation under E.O. No. 144?\n2. Can the former counsel continue to deposit payments from debtors after the term of the contract and claim a contingency fee under the terms of the contract?\nThe response to the first inquiry is yes. It is clear that the new counsel should be free to begin representation since the request for return of a file cannot be considered anything but a discharge. A client has a right to discharge a lawyer at any time, with or without cause, subject to liability for payment of the lawyer's services. Ethically, the new lawyer should not accept a client until the client has notified the substituted lawyer of his discharge. See MRPC 1.16(d) and comments thereto; EO No. 144, MSB adopted March 11, 1988.\nWith regard to the second inquiry, the Committee is of the opinion that this question involves a legal, not an ethical problem, and, therefore, cannot be addressed by the Committee.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Section 302 of the LMRA: Make Way for the Employer-Paid Union Representative\nChristopher J. Garofalo\nIn 1947, Congress enacted section 302 of the Labor Management Relations Act in order to regulate payments from employers to the union representatives of their employees. Whether originally intended by Congress or not, section 302 has been applied to the common labor practices of allowing employers to pay employees for part-time or full-time leave in order to work for their union. A split among the various circuit courts of appeals has developed as to whether these payments fall within an exception to section 302's general prohibition and remains unresolved after the Supreme Court dismissed certiorari after the settlement of Caterpillar, Inc. v. International Union, UAW. In this Note, Christopher Garofalo argues that courts have struggled with the text of section 302 in order to allow payments for what, he argues, are beneficial and useful labor practices. However, Garofalo maintains that their interpretations of section 302 have created standards which are ultimately unworkable because they cannot distinguish beneficial from harmful practices in a principled way. Since the current statute's textual limitations make it difficult to protect against conflicts of interest and corruption while allowing union representatives to be paid by employers, Garofalo concludes that a legislative solution is preferable to a judicial one and proposes an amendment to section 302 that constructively would resolve the issue.\nAuthor: Christopher J. Garofalo\nNot in Front of the Children: Prohibition on Child Custody as Civil Branding for Criminal Activity\nDeborah Ahrens\nThe Role of Standby Counsel in Criminal Cases: In the Twilight Zone of the Criminal Justice System\nAnne Bowen Poulin\nThe Private Role in Public Governance\nJody Freeman","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Mapplethorpe Director's Cut\nRobert Mapplethorpe was among the most consequential and controversial artists of the 20th Century This Director's Cut offers previously unseen footage, exploring his childhood love of photography and embattled relationship...\nRobert Mapplethorpe was among the most consequential and controversial artists of the 20th Century This Director's Cut offers previously unseen footage, exploring his childhood love of photography and embattled relationship with his father and the Catholic church, as well as an originally composed score and all new soundtrack. The film tracks Robert's important love affair with Patti Smith and pivotal romance with powerhouse art collector, Sam Wagstaff. Through never-before-seen footage we see Mapplethorpe's development of a precise, erotically charged photographic style -- as well as his struggle to attain mainstream recognition up to picturing his untimely death from AIDS. MAPPLETHORPE DIRECTOR'S CUT, offers a nuanced portrait of an artist at the height of his craft, along with the self-destructive impulses that threatened to undermine it all.\nNominated for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival.\nHari Nef, Jogn Benjamin Hickey, Marianne Rendon, Matt Smith","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Hyakko 1\nHyakko is a new comedic anime centered around four high school girls, or at least that's what I've gathered so far from the first episode. Episode 1, \"Audience with Torako\", starts with Nonomura Ayumi, an introverted girl who returns to the classroom the rest of her classmates just left in order to pick up something. Unfortunately, she soon gets lost on the very large campus.\nNonomura Ayumi\nSo it's no surprise that she's relieved when she meets another student, Iizuka Tatsuki. It's even better when Ayumi hears that Tatsuki has been attending Kamizono, a school campus that encompasses all school grades, since primary school. Tatsuki soon lets Ayumi down as it becomes apparent that she's lost, too, as they keep coming back to the same spot. It's no small source of frustration for the proud Tatsuki.\nIizuka Tatsuki\nAyumi and Tatsuki are surprised as Kageyama Torako jumps down from the second floor in front of them. And Torako manages a perfect and soft landing. Despite what her apparent athletic skills imply from her jump, though, she's not completely coordinated all the time. As soon as she notices Ayumi and Tatsuki and tries to turn towards them, she sprains her ankle.\nKageyama Torako\nTorako is soon followed by Saotome Suzume, Suzu to her friends, who jumps off from the second floor, too. And Torako, who had been wailing in pain about her broken ankle, realizes that her ankle doesn't hurt after all. It turns out that Torako and Suzume had gotten lost themselves within the building, so they decided to follow a single direction. And they decided to jump out of the second floor window in the way instead of getting lost again inside the building.\nSaotome Suzume\nAfter traveling all over the campus, with Suzu having a snack and barging in a class for small kids, they take a rest in front of the odd statue in the middle of the campus. Ayumi remembers something about the campus supporting GPS navigation through her cellphone, and is happy when Torako, Tatsuki, and Suzu are impressed with her. She just made three new friends, something that she wasn't able to do in middle school. Unfortunately, the navigation service is a paid service, so the four of them have to resume Torako's program of going straight ahead.\nThere's a locked door in their way, though, so Torako asks Suzu to turn the doorknob with her superstrength. It breaks off instead of turning, however, so Torako tries to smash a nearby window with a brick. The straight-laced Tatsuki tries to stop her, and Torako loses her grip on the brick in the resulting scuffle, which promptly flies through the window.\nAs the four of them are wondering what to do, they hear a teacher calling to them from behind. Torako and Suzu run away immediately, but Ayumi and Tatsuki are frozen in place. Torako tries to save them from disciplinary action by ambushing the teacher and punching his lights out, which is a complete shock to Ayumi and Tatsuki. Torako's effort is for naught, however, as the teacher she knocked out is in charge of her class, which also happens to contain the other three girls. After class, the four girls have to endure the teacher's admonishments for quite a while. At least he has the self-control to not avenge himself on Torako, although he has quite a long list of complaints and frustrations to vent.\nHyakko is the kind of anime you have to watch to enjoy; all of the amusing elements are in the small details and actions. It's not the sort of anime that you watch for a deep and meaningful plot. And I expect a lot of the amusement will come from the character interactions. If I were to stereotype the characters, then Torako is the care-free and impulsive rebel, Suzu is the quiet, competent, and yet quirky eccentric, Tatsuki is the straight-laced and yet tsundere counterpoint to Torako, and Ayumi is the introverted mediator with a sometimes overactive imagination. It doesn't look like the supporting characters will be any less interesting, either.\nFrom what I've seen so far in the first episode, Hyakko looks like it will be fun to watch. And the voice talent for the anime is an additional attraction: they're familiar voices that have played great characters in great anime. I think I'll be keeping tabs on this anime.\nTags Hyakko\n\u2190 Lucky Star OVA \u2192 Shikabane Hime: Aka 1","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Both of these jerseys are all-star game jerseys. One is from 2002, the other from 2008. Which is which?\nThanks to JP over at Japers' Rink for this head-up on all-star wear.\nPosted by The Peerless at 8:40 AM 1 comment:\nThings we wouldn't have thought...\nWe're only 17 games in, but\u2026\n-- That John Erskine would have more game-winning goals \u2013 shoot, goals period \u2013 than Alexander Semin\n-- That only seven Caps would have more than one goal\u2026by way of comparison, the New York Rangers \u2013 the most anemic offense in the league \u2013 have eight.\n-- That Brian Pothier would lead the club in plus-minus (+6) and Shaone Morrisonn would be last (-8)\u2026and Morrisonn's -8 is entirely earned on the road; he's even at home\n-- That Joe Motzko would dress for more games (3) than would Steve Eminger (1)\n-- That Tom Poti, who had 32 power play points last year, would have two so far this year (of course, injury has something to do with that)\n-- That Caps defensemen would have seven goals\u2026they had only 17 as a group all of last year.\n-- That Brian Sutherby would lead the club in shooting percentage\u2026ok, he's only taken three shots. Among players with at least ten games played, your leader is\u2026Tomas Fleischmann?\n-- And speaking of shots\u2026you might expect Alex Ovechkin and Viktor Kozlov to be among the team leaders\u2026but Matt Pettinger (third on the club)?\n-- That the Caps would be on a pace for more losses (48) than they had in the sell-off year of 2003-2004 (46)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Ayaan Institute of Medical Science Telangana\nAyaan Institute of Medical Science, Moinabad\nis a well-known private college that opened its doors in 2018. Medical care is available to the general public. Building world-class infrastructure and medical equipment is a top priority. It is focused on providing high-quality services. Given the fact that health care is more closely related to God, a commitment to ethics is required. Create a learning atmosphere that motivates and encourages young and aspiring medical students. Our medical services combine the greatest home-based and family-based philosophy care with our commitment to advanced medical technology, allowing us to give specialized treatment, care, and warmth to our patients. In a confidential and friendly environment, a team of skilled, trained, and experienced doctors, nurses, and professional counselors are on hand to provide aid and information to men, women, and children regarding health issues, including reproductive options. The Medical Council of India has certified Ayaan Institute of Medical Science, which is associated with Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences in Warangal and Telangana (MCI).\nGovt \u2013 Rs 60,000, MGMT \u2013 14,00,000, NRI \u2013 28,00,000\nKaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Telangana\nAyaan Institute of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital & Research Centre.\nPost Graduate Medical Courses:\nAyaan Medical College Moinabad, Ayaan Medical College Telangana, Ayaan Medical College Kankamamidi, Ayaan Medical College Ranga Reddy, AIMS \u2013 Kankamamidi, Ayaan Medical College Teaching Hospital & Research Centre Ranga Reddy.\nAyaan Medical College, Kankamamidi Village, Moinabad, Telangana \u2013 501504, India.\nhttp:\/\/www.aimshyd.in\/\n+91 8417\u2013252263 \/ 4 \/ 5\nNEET 2020 All India Rank for Management and NRI Quota Seats\nCutoff Rank\n1 Management 481801\n2 NRI 782237\nUnder the direction of highly educated and experienced lecturers, Ayaan Institute of Medical Science delivers world-class education. The following UG Courses are available in the college.\nMBBS 4.5 Years+1 Year Internship 150 14,00,000\nTelangana is home to the Ayaan Institute of Medical Science. This medical campus is situated on 25 acres of beautiful green, environmentally friendly land. A library, auditorium, examination rooms, lecture halls, mess & canteens, and other amenities are all located within the college structure. The buildings of Ayaan Medical College Teaching Hospital cover an area of 1, 80,000 square metres and have all modern amenities. Two examination halls with a total space of 1,101 square metres and seating capacity of 500 people are provided on the college site. It contains all of the necessary amenities, including CCTV, audio-visual aids, and a computer with internet access. The hospital facility has three lecture halls with a total seating capacity of 600 people. A separate common room with a 300 square metre size is provided for both boys and girls.\nThe library of Ayaan Medical College is 2,520 square metres in size. This library has 3,114 books, 18 Indian periodicals, and 07 international journals. It has four different reading rooms with a seating capacity of 330 people for both employees and students. The library of Ayaan Medical College is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on all college working days. The Ayaan Medical College Hostels situated on the college grounds. Hostel accommodations are provided on a communal basis, with each room accommodating up to three persons. Separately, there are 32 rooms available for guys and another 31 rooms accessible for girls. The hostel has a capacity of 223 students. Male and female bodyguards defend these hostels separately. A separate study area with computers and internet access is available at the Ayaan Medical College Hostel. Comfortable mattresses, cupboards, connected bathrooms, and toilets are available in these well-appointed hostel rooms. A two-wheeled parking spot and RO drinking water are among the hostel's other features. It also contains a hall, a TV room, and student games both indoors and out.\nAyaan Medical College offers a wide range of sporting opportunities. Indoor and outdoor sports such as cricket, volleyball, badminton, basketball, and soccer, as well as carom, chess, and table tennis, gymnasium centers, and large stadiums are all offered at the campus.\nCafeteria:\nFor the use of students, employees, and patients, Ayaan Medical College has a cafeteria. On the college campus, there are three canteens and one mess. The hostel mess serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals to students, as well as a range of cuisines. Staff, students, and visitors all eat in different dining halls.\nThe Teaching Hospital & Research Center of the Ayaan Institute of Medical Sciences is linked with the Ayaan Medical College. Every day, roughly 722 outpatients are treated. It contains 300 inpatient beds and about seven surgical theatres, five large and two tiny. Every day, Ayaan Hospital performs eight major procedures and twelve minor surgeries. People are provided with medical advantages through health institutions.\nThe Ayaan Institute of Medical Sciences is located in \"Kankamamidi Village - Moinabad\" in Ranga Reddy district in Hyderabad, Telangana province. The medical hospital is located 1.9 km from the college. Hyderabad is a nearby city located 16 miles [26 km] with a 45-minute access point. The college is about 30 miles [30 km] from the \"Hyderabad Deccan train station\" in a 50-minute arrival. Ayaan Medical College is 26 miles [26 km] from \"Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad Hyderabad\" in a 35-minute arrival.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Indian Railways to redevelop 22 stations to world-standards! Bandra Terminus, Kolkata, Kanpur on the list\nDevanjana Nag\nFinancial Express 25 June 2019\nIndian Railways goes big on railway stations redevelopment! The Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) and MECON Limited have recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on railway station redevelopment. Under this project, a total of eight railway stations across the country will be redeveloped including Bandra Terminus, Andheri, Chennai Egmore and Ranchi. A couple of days ago, a similar MoA was signed with two other Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) i.e., Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL) and Bridge and Roof for the redevelopment as many as 14 railway stations including Kolkata Terminal, Hyderabad, Kalyan Junction, Ludhiana, Kanpur Central, and Udaipur City.\nAccording to a press release issued by the IRSDC, these CPSEs will come up with Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of these 22 railway stations for their development\/redevelopment and also they will act as Project Management Consultant to IRSDC for implementation of the above-mentioned station redevelopment program. The move is being considered to be a great milestone in the government's prestigious program of station redevelopment, it stated.\nUnder this program, six CPSEs have been selected by IRSDC for the redevelopment of as many as 41 railway stations across India. The remaining CPSEs who shall also be signing a similar agreement with IRSDC shortly are RITES, IRCON and NPCC. The move is expected to further accelerate the station redevelopment initiatives that are being undertaken by the IRSDC.\nThe IRSDC, which is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Ministry of Railways is also transforming several other railway stations into swanky airport-like hubs. In the coming years, the stations \u2013 Anand Vihar, Bijwasan, Chandigarh, Shivaji Nagar, Surat, Biayyappanahalli, Nagpur, Gwalior, Amritsar, Gandhinagar (Jaipur), Sabarmati, Kanpur, Thakurli, Habibganj and Gandhi Nagar (Gujarat) will undergo a massive renovation. The stations will be provided with multiple modern facilities and amenities for the convenience of passengers. The redevelopment work in Habibganj and Gandhi Nagar stations as India's first airport-like world-class hubs is already in progress.\nFormer IAF airman donates Rs 1.08 crore to Defence Ministry\nMumbai locals likely to be first to implement Centre's 'One Nation, One Card' ticket system\nUNESCO Reprimands DHR Over Poor Upkeep, Warns Of Revoking Of Heritage Tag\nMakeMyTrip Partners With ASI For Online Bookings For 116 Historical Monuments\nWhy elephants form unusual all-male groups ganging up in human-occupied areas\nGarima Abrol, wife of pilot killed in Mirage 2000 crash, to join Air Force\nDelhi Metro Yellow Line Services Resume, DMRC 'Regrets' Disruption\nDGCA Suspends Flying Licences Of Spicejet Pilots For Violations","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"AutoHub Nigeria \u2013 Privacy Policy\nWe understands the consequence of privacy invasion and it is for this reason, we have laid down the following Privacy Policy for strict adherence. We respect your privacy and we have developed a detailed Privacy Policy to guide you. Note that by using our services, you have acknowledged and accepted the terms of our Privacy Policy.\nINFORMATION WE COLLECT AND USE\nCOOKIES, MOBILE IDENTIFIERS & IP ADDRESS\nINFORMATION AND ITS USES\nAccount: Upon signing up for our services, you are required to submit the following; a valid email address and password, first and last name, gender, phone number, location, profile image and acceptance of our Term of Use, Privacy Policy and Billy Policy. This information guides us to maximize security and to serve you better. Note: AutoHub.org.ng shall not be held responsible for any information you share publicly to the reach of a third party.\nOur Care Unit: Be informed that when you contact our customer care department, we would collect some personal information necessary to work on your request and to contact you for a follow up as the case may be. We may also record your conversations with us for quality assurance.\nWebsite Activities: Please be informed that we may automatically receive and log information on our servers from your browser or device including your IP address, software and hardware attributes, pages that you visited, mobile locations, information about app usage, and other device or systems information statistics. This would be on our website or mobile app, or on third parties' websites.\nBe informed that we may collect certain information like cookies, pixels and local storage; for example, your browser or device. With the help of cookies, the web server can save, for examples, preferences and settings on the user's device which are then automatically restored on the next visit.\nIn other to provide our service effectively, we may use the information we collect for the following purposes:\n(A) To provide customer services, which includes account management and resolving technical difficulties. (B) To customize our offers and experiences. E.g, our advertising platform. (C) To monitor users' activities, such as keyword searches, postings and transactions. (C1) Also to manage and maintain traffic on our website. (D) To contact users periodically as a routine-check or for marketing purpose. (E) For research initiatives and to perform analytics to improve our services. (F) To enforce our Private\/Billing Policy and Terms of Use. (G) To combat fraud and abuse.\nAny information we collected shall be in our custody for as long as they might be needed to aid our business objectives.\nYou have understood that we may share information we collect from you with our affiliates. Our affiliates only process and use this information to assist us for purposes described above and are confined to honor this Privacy Policy.\nWe do not share personal information about our users with non-affiliate member, unless we have our users' specific permission to do so.\nAccess, Editing and Deletion: Members that have created an account can access, correct or delete your personal information right on their profile page or by writing to us at support@autohub.ng.\nThird Party Choice: Some of our third parties' activities on our website, (E.g. Google Adwords) give you the ability to opt out of their collection and use of information for interest-based advertising. You can visit http:\/\/www.youronlinechoices.com or http:\/\/www.networkadvertising.org to learn more about this practice.\nAny information we collected from users is protected by reasonable technical means and reasonable security procedures in order to prevent unauthorized access or use of data. Our affiliates and service providers have committed to manage the information in accordance with our requirements for security and privacy.\nThis Privacy Policy was last updated in January 2019. By continuing to use our services, you have confirmed your continual acceptance of any update to this Privacy Policy.\nFor inquiries or questions about this Privacy Policy or our Terms of Use, please write to us via support@autohub.ng.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Provisions for Callers\nExamining Christianity\nCategory: Quran\nTAFS\u00eeR: Digging Into the Meaning of the Quran\nEver since the advent of human life, there has been a need for new Divine Guidance now and then. In each era, when man was clueless to the core, it was an intrusion from the Almighty that came to the rescue. Take\u2026\nIntroduction to the Principles of Quran Commentary by Ibn Taymiyyah | Part 1\nSOME COLLEAGUES HAVE asked me to compose for them an introduction to [the science of] Quran interpretation (tafs\u00eer al-Qur'\u00e2n). It should comprise the generally acknowledged principles (qaw\u00e2'id kulliyyah) by which one may (a) understand [the [message of] the Quran and (b) know its\u2026\nFive Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Child's Connection with the Quran\nIn this life, every one of us is bound to stumble through roadblocks. What matters is how we deal with those situations. The way a person beats the odds and comes out successful defines their character, willpower, and faith in the Divine.\u2026\nIs the Qur'an not Enough for Guidance?\nAn innocent question but pregnant with sinister implications. Today we are seeing again a rise of those who reject the Hadith of the Prophet and claim to follow only the Quran directly. Why is this a big deal? Because when you remove\u2026\n\u1e6cAWWAF Maximizing Your Hajj Worship \u2013 Part 3\nConcept 2: Why Anti-Clockwise Circumambulation at the K\u00e2'bah? First, let us say the obvious, that there must be one direction for a circumambulation ritual,[i] not a mixture of the two possibilities. Worshipping Allah and praising Him when all the Hajjis are moving\u2026\nDiscerning the Effects and Benefits of \u1e6cawwaf Here we bring to bear discoveries about our physical world, about the pattern of forces at work on the surface of our earth and throughout the planet, as related to the geographical location of Makkah\/\u2026\n\u1e6cAWWAF: Maximizing Your Hajj Worship \u2013 Part 1\nAs we know, Makkah is the central religious and spiritual pivot for Muslims, situated in present-day Saudi Arabia, in a narrow valley surrounded by the \u1e62ir\u00e2t Mountains, with peaks ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 feet (365 to 760 metres) in height, and\u2026\nWhy Is The Quran In Arabic? (1)\nThe Arabic language is the only appropriate vehicle of meaning for the final Book of God. \"An Arabic Quran\" NON-ARABS\u2014MUSLIMS and non-Muslim alike\u2014are hardly equipped to verify the truth of this claim till they have a good command of Arabic. The truth\u2026\nHonoring the Quran\nWHAT SHOULD A believing Muslim's reaction be to the unprecedented spate of hate and bigotry directed against Muslims and their religious symbols in so many places of the world these days? The psychological shock to the community of Muslims is great, and\u2026\nThe Ultimate Book: What Is The Quran and How Did It Come To Prophet Muhammad?\nTHE QURAN (Arabic qur'\u00e2n), refers to itself with a number of descriptive terms, including these: \"Reminder\" (Arabic dhikr); \"Book, written divine writ, revelation\" (kit\u00e2b); \"Guidance\" (hud\u00e2); \"Admonition\" (tadhkira); \"Standard by which to discern the true from the false, criterion of right and\u2026\n\u00a9 Copyright 2020 - AlJumuah Magazine","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"16-YEAR-OLD COUNTRY ARTIST JORDANA BRYANT SIGNS WITH RISER HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT BRYANT'S DEBUT SINGLE \"GUILTY\" OUT APRIL 22\nNASHVILLE, TENN. \u2013 Breakout country\/pop artist Jordana Bryant has announced her exclusive signing with Riser House Entertainment (Mitchell Tenpenny, Ronnie Milsap, Dillon Carmichael) solidifying her status as one of country music's brightest newcomers. Written alongside Zack Kale (Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, Gabby Barrett), Seth Mosley (for King & Country, High Valley) and Allison Veltz (Carly Pearce, Tenille Arts, Matt Stell), the emerging singer\/songwriter will release \"Guilty,\" her debut single via Riser House, on Friday, April 22.\n\"Working with Riser House has been so amazing,\" Bryant explains, \"I am so honored to have such a fantastic team supporting me and believing in me every step of the way, and I couldn't be happier to share my new music with the world.\"\nFollowing the release of \"Guilty\" in April, and with an increasing demand from her devoted and rapidly growing fanbase on both Instagram and TikTok, the rising songstress will unveil her full length collection of original songs later this year.\n\"Jordana is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters I've encountered,\" shares Jennifer Johnson, President of Riser House Entertainment. \"Her melodies and lyrics are energetic, fresh, and original. I know she will be wildly successful between her impeccable work ethic, originality, and talent. I am absolutely honored to have the opportunity to partner with such a remarkable young woman.\"\nThe Pennsylvania native has garnered a legion of loyal fans for not only her heartfelt and all-too relatable lyrics, but also her cover videos on Instagram and YouTube that have gone on to rack up over 15 million views and counting. Bryant's most popular covers include renditions of music from Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton and Gabby Barrett, as well as Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood's hit single, \"If I Didn't Love You\" featuring guest vocals from Dawson Anderson of Temecula Road.\nBryant is currently balancing her career as an emerging artist and full time student. Evident of her strong work ethic, she will finish high school a year early in June to pursue her passion of writing and performing music. With a slate of new music in the works and a solid support team behind her, 2022 is poised to be a momentous year for Jordana.\nFor more information follow Jordana on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and visit jordanabryant.com.\nPre-save \"Guilty\" here.\n-YEAR-OLD Country\nCoi LeRay and G Herbo are coming in hot! The two rappers are debuting the music video for \"Thief In The Night\" Friday, a track from Coi's latest album \"Trendsetter\" featuring the Chicago drill rapper. Coi released the track on her debut project earlier this month. The Shade Room got an exclusive clip from the visual with the rappers cutting it up poolside and then on a yacht with a [\u2026]","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"IELTS Report, topic: Double line graph showing high tech gadgets prices (from Target Band 7 book)\nThis report was written on a topic from \"Target Band 7\" book (page 41, reprinted with permission).\nThe graph below shows how prices of \"high-tech gadgets\" changed over time in Somecountry.\nWrite a report for a university tutor describing the information shown.\nThe line graph outlines the selling price of two advanced products, namely navigation systems and smart phones, in Somecountry between the last six months of 2004 and the last six months of 2006. It can be clearly seen that there was a considerable decrease in the pricing of navigation systems compared to mobile phones.\nIn July-December of 2004, the overall price of navigation was higher than . The former started at nearly $4,000 USD while the latter sold at around $3,100 USD. In the next six months, both items were priced at a lower value slipping to $3,300 and $2,800 USD (navigation systems and phones respectively). The pricing for navigation systems continued to drop to $3,100 USD in the following 6 months. Conversely, mobile phone prices went up marginally by around $100 USD. In the first half of 2006, the pricing trend changed for both products as navigation devices saw a rise to $3,400 USD while phones dipped to $2,700 USD. By the end of the year 2006, both items were sold at exactly the same price of $2,700 USD.\nTo sum up, it is evident that over the course of 2 years high tech gadgets declined in price and the more expensive product suffered a more significant price drop.\nThe entire graph was described in this well-organised and developed response. There are some minor grammatical mistakes, but they are quite rare. The vocabulary could have been enhanced further. Overall, this report seems worthy of Band 8.\nto avoid sounding repetitive, use a different word here such as 'evident'\nthat of smart phones\n'were' because this refers to 'smart phones' (in plural)\nIELTS Report, topic: Map of a town before and after redevelopment\nThe maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.\nSummarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.\nThe maps illustrate the current and predicted future Islip town centre.\nOverall, it is clear from the maps that some pedestrianisation is planned for shopping and housing area, while a new road for vehicles is planned .\nFocusing on the current map, the town center is developed around a main road, which stretches from the west to the east. There are many shops to the north and to the south of the road. Whilst it of the countryside in the north, a big area is occupied by housing in the south. This area is limited by a park in the east and a school in the south-west. Both of these structures are connected to the main road by side roads.\nMoving on to the predictions, a circular road that goes around the city center attracts attention. This road expected to be built is a dual carriageway. The middle part of the main road is projected to be pedestrianised. Although the southern part of Islip is not to see big changes other than some new housing and a in the size of the park, there are many changes planned for the northern part. Shops in this part will be demolished and a shopping centre and a housing area will be introduced. A bus station and a parking area are also planned to be built to the west and the east of the shopping centre, respectively.\nThis is a great report. All aspects were covered and a fully developed response was provided. Some mistakes are still present and require more attention. The vocabulary could have been enhanced further and this report would benefit from more frequent use of complex structures. Overall, seems worthy of Band 8.\na more accurate expression would be 'to circumvent the town centre'\nmainly consists\nthe writer means 'destined'\nIELTS test in Vietnam \u2013 January 2023 (Academic Module)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"From bluecoat to graduation gown\n[supplied by UniSQ]\nPolice officer and mum-of-four Anna Neumann graduated at Toowoomba's Empire Theatre alongside 38 other First Nations students from the University of Southern Queensland.\nCatching criminals and chasing good grades is all in a day's work for the University of Southern Queensland's newest graduate, Anna Neumann.\nA police officer for nearly 30 years, the mum-of-four completed an Anthropology degree and graduated with top marks.\nWith the colours of the Aboriginal flag draped around her neck, Senior Sergeant Neumann \u2013 a proud Ngiyampaa woman from western New South Wales \u2013 celebrated the end of her undergraduate degree alongside hundreds of her peers, including 38 First Nations students.\n\"It means a lot to me to be wearing this,\" Snr Sgt Neumann said.\n\"When I think back two generations to my grandfather, and how much changed in two generations \u2013 this is for him.\"\nWith record crowds watching on, there were tears, smiles and laughter for the cohort who persevered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to complete their studies.\n\"There hasn't been a single moment of this degree that I haven't loved,\" she said.\n\"But it hasn't been easy.\"\nThe 49-year-old juggled police work, family commitments and a full-time study load to get here.\n\"If you're studying something you love, it's a lot easier,\" Snr Sgt Neumann said.\n\"Education is key to having a better existence, and I'd encourage everyone, particularly Indigenous people who are so underrepresented in tertiary study, to learn something that they love.\"\nSharing hugs and tears, Anna's daughter Ella, who recently graduated from the University of Southern Queensland with a Bachelor of Nursing, cheered from the sidelines.\n\"It was really special to go through our undergraduate degrees together,\" Snr Sgt Neumann said.\n\"And it was definitely motivational for both of us to keep going.\n\"I feel so blessed to have come to a university that teaches Anthropology with the Aboriginal community, and for the community.\"\nThe graduate's study journey doesn't end here, with the police officer currently undertaking a year-long Honours course.\nThink big and put your ambition into action at the University of Southern Queensland.\nIndigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA) Election Highlights\n[Supplied by Jonathan Cookson]\nThe IAPA contested three NSW House of Representatives Divisions and the NSW and QLD Senate positions in the last federal election with these significant results, while participating in NO preference deals.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments\nVeronique Roussy, Grant Russell, Charles Livingstone, Therese Riley\nSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine\nEpidemiology and Preventive Medicine Alfred Hospital\nDepartment of General Practice\nPurpose: Comprehensive primary health care (PHC) models are seldom implemented in high income countries, in part due to their contested legitimacy in neoliberal policy environments. This article explores how merging affected the perceived legitimacy of independent community health organisations in Victoria, Australia, in providing comprehensive PHC services. Design\/methodology\/approach: A longitudinal follow-up study (2\u20133 years post-merger) of two amalgamations among independent community health organisations from the state of Victoria, Australia, was conducted. This article explores the perceived effects of merging on (1) the pragmatic, normative and cognitive legitimacy of studied organisations and (2) the collective legitimacy of these organisations in Victoria's health care system. Data were collected through 19 semi-structured interviews with key informants and subjected to template and thematic analyses. Findings: Merging enabled individual organisations to gain greater overall legitimacy as regional providers of comprehensive PHC services and thus retain some capacity to operationalise a social model of health. Normative legitimacy was most enhanced by merging, through acquisition of a large organisational size and adoption of business practices favoured by neoliberal norms. However, mergers may have destabilised the already contested cognitive legitimacy of community health services as a group of organisations and as a comprehensible state-wide platform of service delivery. Practical implications: Over-reliance on individual organisational behaviour to maintain the legitimacy of comprehensive PHC as a model of organising health and social care could lead to inequities in access to such models across communities. Originality\/value: This study shows that organisations can manage their perceived legitimacy in order to ensure the survival of their preferred model of service delivery.\nJournal of Health Organisation and Management\nhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\nComprehensive primary health care\nInstitutional theory\n10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\nRoussy, V., Russell, G., Livingstone, C., & Riley, T. (2021). Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments. Journal of Health Organisation and Management, 35(6), 717-732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\nRoussy, Veronique ; Russell, Grant ; Livingstone, Charles et al. \/ Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments. In: Journal of Health Organisation and Management. 2021 ; Vol. 35, No. 6. pp. 717-732.\n@article{40552bf7e6424200aacca4008d794b6f,\ntitle = \"Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments\",\nabstract = \"Purpose: Comprehensive primary health care (PHC) models are seldom implemented in high income countries, in part due to their contested legitimacy in neoliberal policy environments. This article explores how merging affected the perceived legitimacy of independent community health organisations in Victoria, Australia, in providing comprehensive PHC services. Design\/methodology\/approach: A longitudinal follow-up study (2\u20133 years post-merger) of two amalgamations among independent community health organisations from the state of Victoria, Australia, was conducted. This article explores the perceived effects of merging on (1) the pragmatic, normative and cognitive legitimacy of studied organisations and (2) the collective legitimacy of these organisations in Victoria's health care system. Data were collected through 19 semi-structured interviews with key informants and subjected to template and thematic analyses. Findings: Merging enabled individual organisations to gain greater overall legitimacy as regional providers of comprehensive PHC services and thus retain some capacity to operationalise a social model of health. Normative legitimacy was most enhanced by merging, through acquisition of a large organisational size and adoption of business practices favoured by neoliberal norms. However, mergers may have destabilised the already contested cognitive legitimacy of community health services as a group of organisations and as a comprehensible state-wide platform of service delivery. Practical implications: Over-reliance on individual organisational behaviour to maintain the legitimacy of comprehensive PHC as a model of organising health and social care could lead to inequities in access to such models across communities. Originality\/value: This study shows that organisations can manage their perceived legitimacy in order to ensure the survival of their preferred model of service delivery.\",\nkeywords = \"Australia, Community health, Comprehensive primary health care, Institutional theory, Legitimacy, Mergers\",\nauthor = \"Veronique Roussy and Grant Russell and Charles Livingstone and Therese Riley\",\ndoi = \"10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\",\njournal = \"Journal of Health Organisation and Management\",\npublisher = \"Emerald\",\nRoussy, V, Russell, G, Livingstone, C & Riley, T 2021, 'Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments', Journal of Health Organisation and Management, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 717-732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\nMergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments. \/ Roussy, Veronique; Russell, Grant; Livingstone, Charles et al.\nIn: Journal of Health Organisation and Management, Vol. 35, No. 6, 08.10.2021, p. 717-732.\nT1 - Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments\nAU - Roussy, Veronique\nAU - Russell, Grant\nAU - Livingstone, Charles\nAU - Riley, Therese\nN2 - Purpose: Comprehensive primary health care (PHC) models are seldom implemented in high income countries, in part due to their contested legitimacy in neoliberal policy environments. This article explores how merging affected the perceived legitimacy of independent community health organisations in Victoria, Australia, in providing comprehensive PHC services. Design\/methodology\/approach: A longitudinal follow-up study (2\u20133 years post-merger) of two amalgamations among independent community health organisations from the state of Victoria, Australia, was conducted. This article explores the perceived effects of merging on (1) the pragmatic, normative and cognitive legitimacy of studied organisations and (2) the collective legitimacy of these organisations in Victoria's health care system. Data were collected through 19 semi-structured interviews with key informants and subjected to template and thematic analyses. Findings: Merging enabled individual organisations to gain greater overall legitimacy as regional providers of comprehensive PHC services and thus retain some capacity to operationalise a social model of health. Normative legitimacy was most enhanced by merging, through acquisition of a large organisational size and adoption of business practices favoured by neoliberal norms. However, mergers may have destabilised the already contested cognitive legitimacy of community health services as a group of organisations and as a comprehensible state-wide platform of service delivery. Practical implications: Over-reliance on individual organisational behaviour to maintain the legitimacy of comprehensive PHC as a model of organising health and social care could lead to inequities in access to such models across communities. Originality\/value: This study shows that organisations can manage their perceived legitimacy in order to ensure the survival of their preferred model of service delivery.\nAB - Purpose: Comprehensive primary health care (PHC) models are seldom implemented in high income countries, in part due to their contested legitimacy in neoliberal policy environments. This article explores how merging affected the perceived legitimacy of independent community health organisations in Victoria, Australia, in providing comprehensive PHC services. Design\/methodology\/approach: A longitudinal follow-up study (2\u20133 years post-merger) of two amalgamations among independent community health organisations from the state of Victoria, Australia, was conducted. This article explores the perceived effects of merging on (1) the pragmatic, normative and cognitive legitimacy of studied organisations and (2) the collective legitimacy of these organisations in Victoria's health care system. Data were collected through 19 semi-structured interviews with key informants and subjected to template and thematic analyses. Findings: Merging enabled individual organisations to gain greater overall legitimacy as regional providers of comprehensive PHC services and thus retain some capacity to operationalise a social model of health. Normative legitimacy was most enhanced by merging, through acquisition of a large organisational size and adoption of business practices favoured by neoliberal norms. However, mergers may have destabilised the already contested cognitive legitimacy of community health services as a group of organisations and as a comprehensible state-wide platform of service delivery. Practical implications: Over-reliance on individual organisational behaviour to maintain the legitimacy of comprehensive PHC as a model of organising health and social care could lead to inequities in access to such models across communities. Originality\/value: This study shows that organisations can manage their perceived legitimacy in order to ensure the survival of their preferred model of service delivery.\nKW - Australia\nKW - Comprehensive primary health care\nKW - Institutional theory\nKW - Legitimacy\nKW - Mergers\nU2 - 10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\nDO - 10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160\nJO - Journal of Health Organisation and Management\nJF - Journal of Health Organisation and Management\nRoussy V, Russell G, Livingstone C, Riley T. Mergers may enhance the legitimacy of community health organisations in neoliberal environments. Journal of Health Organisation and Management. 2021 Oct 8;35(6):717-732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/JHOM-04-2020-0160","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Marlon Innis\nMarlon Innis, BA, BD, MA, a citizen of Guyana, has earned an MA in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. He is also Parish Counselor at Ascension Church in Oak Park. With 25 years of experience in religious life, ten of them as a Catholic Priest, Marlon brings a unique skill set to this position. He's journeyed with people from various religious backgrounds, and has also worked as a hospital and prison chaplain.\nMarlon's approach to counseling is holistic, and it includes elements of emotional, psychological and spiritual accompaniment. His ideals are grounded in his formation as a Jesuit, and he enjoys working with people who search for deeper meaning in life. Marlon focuses on the basic goodness of each person. He listens to, affirms and empathizes with all of his clients, and does so in a non-judgmental way.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Berlin, Maryland Entrepreneur Resources\nBerlin, Maryland Resources for Entrepreneurs\nHelp is on the way, Maryland entrepreneurs! Our team is assembling a list of entrepreneurial resources in the Berlin area.\nHere's the first thing you should do. Browse our list of Maryland entrepreneurial resources that have proven to be useful to many new entrepreneurs. These state-level resources can be very useful to Berlin entrepreneurs . . . and any entrepreneurs in Maryland for that matter.\nWe've got lists of Maryland angel investors, information on incorporating in Maryland, Maryland VC firms and many other resources.\nUseful Information on Berlin, Maryland\nDid you know that approximately 3,000 people live in Berlin? That's the count according to recent census data.\nBerlin, Maryland Newspaper Advertising\nInterested in advertising a Berlin, MD business? To reach Berlin customers, newspaper advertising can be very effective.\nTo make your life a little easier, we've gathered up the newspaper advertising rates for newspapers in Berlin, Maryland.\nBerlin, Maryland - Newspaper Ad Rates\nStarting a Business in Berlin, Maryland\nNew entrepreneurs will love our starting-a-business guide that we've created for Berlin, MD.\nStarting a New Venture in Berlin, MD\nBusiness Demographics for Berlin, Maryland\nBerlin has more than 600 businesses operating within its borders. The most common types of business are shown in the table below:\nResidential Remodelers\nGolf Courses and Country Clubs\nResidential Property Managers\nAdministrative Management and General Management Consulting Services\nOther Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction\nPainting and Wall Covering Contractors\nEntrepreneurial Resources for Select Cities in Maryland\nBel Air Entrepreneur Resources\nBethesda Entrepreneur Resources\nIf you are new to our site, be aware that we have thousands of useful articles for entrepreneurs. Whether you live in Berlin, Maryland or anywhere in the world, these articles will get you started as an entrepreneur and help you move along the path to business success.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Sennheiser and Magic Leap Reveal AMBEO AR One Spatial Audio Headphones\nBy Rebecca Hills-Duty\t Last updated Oct 10, 2018\nIn September, audio equipment company Sennheiser announced it was working with mixed reality (MR) company Magic Leap to bring spatial audio to the Magic Leap headset. Now the two companies have revealed the first product to come from this partnership \u2013 the AMBEO AR One in-ear headphones.\nSennheiser's AMBEO technology I said to work like an audio version of augmented reality (AR) in that it allows real-world sounds to be blended in to the sound from the headphones, a development that Sennheiser refers to as 'Transparent Hearing'.\nThe blending of virtual 3D sound with real-world acoustics is made possible as a configurable extension of Sennheiser's existing active noise cancellation technology, which is usually used in headphones to eliminate outside noise.\nThe new in-ear headphones are described as: \"The first spatial listening accessory to receive official certification by Magic Leap.\" indicating that the headphones have been specifically designed to complement the mixed reality experiences available on the Magic Leap One headset.\nThe headphones are also said to feature deep bass, and offering a complete seal provided by Sennheiser's 'Comply' ear tips. The headphones interface with the Magic Leap One via standard 3.5mm audio jack.\nDevelopers are said to be able to specify how much outside sound will be mixed into the user's experience. External sound is captured by the headset built-in microphones, and then blends in to the spatial audio experience.\nSennheiser is also launching a companion app, called AMBEO Augment Audio Lab, which is designed to provide users will control over the audio experience, described the by the company as providing: \"Full control over their sound world, [empowering] developers and creators to craft powerful spatial computing experiences in which real sounds seamlessly blend with virtual audio.\"\nThe AMBEO AR One is planned to be available for sale sometime during November, 2018 through the Magic Leap website in the USA, priced at $250 (USD). For future coverage on Magic Leap and Sennheiser AR audio, keep checking back with VRFocus.\nMagic LeapMagic Leap OneSennheiser","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home\/WBR 2019\/Balakrishnan Subramanian\nBalakrishnan Subramanian\nDr Balakrishnan Subramanian, is a Professor at Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. He has 17 years of experience in teaching, research and administration. He has published over 15 books, 4 Book Chapters, 1 Technical article in Electronics For You (EFY) magazine, 2 technical articles in Open Source For You magazine, 10 Technical articles in CSI Communications Magazine, 1 article in ICT Connect Magazine, more than 2 technical Blogs and over 100 publications in highly cited Journals and Conferences. His professional awards include: Deloitte Innovation Award, Cash Prize Rs.10,000\/-, from Deloitte for Smart India Hackathon 2018, 100 Inspiring Authors of India 2018, Patent Published Award, Impactful Author of the Year 2017-18, Best Faculty \u2013 Computer Science and Engineering, Teaching Excellence Award, I2OR \u2013 Bright Researcher Award, Best Outstanding Faculty Award, Best Teacher Award, Best Research Paper Award, Best Book Publication Award and Best Book Chapter Award, Special Contributor Award and Star Performer Award. And under his mentorship his team won the first prize in Google Developer Groups, Coimbatore presented GDG HackKnights, a 24-hour physical hackathon on 18th and 19th of August, 2017. About 400 teams registered for the hackathon, out of which 25 teams were short-listed from Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the grand finale. His research interests are Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and IoT. He has delivered several guest lectures, seminars and chaired a session for various Conferences. He was serving as a Reviewer and Editorial Board Member of many reputed Journals and acted as Session chair and Technical Program Committee member of National conferences and International Conferences at Vietnam, China, America and Bangkok. He has published more than 6 Patents on IoT Applications. Dr.Balakrishnan is a life member of ISTE, IAENG, IEAE, IARDO, CSI, UACEE, SDIWC and CSTA.\nSri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology is the most sought after Institution among the premier technical Institutions in South India. With a decade of establishment in 1998, the Institution has marched towards the pinnacle of glory through its remarkable achievements in the field of Engineering Education. It is an autonomous Institution, accredited by NBA and has been offered 'A' Grade (3.42 out of 4 scale) by NAAC for its academic excellence. It offers 8 UG programs, 9 PG programs, 1 integrated programme and 7 research programs. The Institution offers an exciting academic environment with well qualified 354 dedicated faculty members to inspire and nurture the student fraternity. With industry drafted Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) curriculum and syllabi, the Institution takes every effort to bring its students to the forefront of the society as skillful and responsible engineers.\nSKCET is ranked second among technical colleges in all India Swachh campus awards 2018. Our Institution has a clean campus with sophisticated infrastructure, which makes it unique in the nation. The Institution is bestowed with world class facilities including state of the art laboratories, library, multiplex theatre, athletic cum football field, gymnasium, health center, indoor stadium, open air theatre etc., making it a suitable place for young engineers to realize their dreams. The Institution has witnessed many innovations in teaching learning process such as smart classrooms, interactive learning, project based learning, etc to ensure industry readiness in students.\nSKCET is the only chosen Institution among all the Institutions in South India, to jointly offer exclusive B.E degree program in Computer Science and Business Systems in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. SKCET would also launch an exclusive M.Tech degree program in Full Stack Engineering powered by Virtusa Corporation in this academic year.\nThe Institution is actively involved in collaborative funded research projects with Government agencies to a tune of 6 crores. It has published 20 patents and filed 58 patents till date. The faculty and students have published 979 research papers in referred journals. The Institution is also accredited by DSIR with SIRO recognition to further facilitate research and development.\nSKCET has been selected as nodal center for MHRD Innovation Cell. Aiming at the fruitful outcomes such as technical support, training, industrial exposure, internships, placements, SKCET has signed 32 MoUs and 12 Centres of Excellence with leading Industries and premier Institutions like NITTTR, Chandigarh, Tata Consultancy Services, Virtusa Corp, Valparaiso University, Siene Aerospace-Dubai, Barry Wehmiller, Sector Skill Council, to name a few.\nSKCET excels in its various efforts towards achievement of academic goals. It is one of the 28 prestigious nodal centers across India chosen by MHRD to host 'Smart India Hackathon 2017 and 2018 consecutively. SKCET students have participated in several hackathons and secured prizes and internships from organizations like Google, Cloud bull, BITS Pilani SIH, etc. Our Institution is rated with 'AA' NPTEL examinations 2019 and bagged 11th position in national level and first rank among the colleges in Coimbatore region which reveals the academic excellence of its students. SKCET is selected as the Nodal Centre to conduct the NPTEL examinations in accordance with the MoU signed with TCS- EON.\nSKCET has been identified by NAAC to mentor 10 non-accredited Institutions in our geographic vicinity to support its goal of accrediting all colleges in India by 2022. The Institution is one among top 150 engineering colleges in National Level in MHRD -NIRF Ranking 2018. SKCET has been chosen as the nodal centre by IIT Bombay for spoken tutorial project of MHRD and one among 8 partner Institutions of AICTE across the Nation for FDP programs.\nThe Institution also has an exemplary record of Students Placements. The Training & Placement cell of SKCET plays a pivotal role in counseling and guiding the students for successful placements from top notch Companies. In 2019, as a result of customized training based on the career choice of students, 573 students were able to get 689 job offers in 248 companies including Multinational Core and IT Product based companies with 28LPA as the highest package.\nAsia India Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology WBR 2019\nShovan Bhaumik Narayan Chandra Bhaumik","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"ScotlandFood & Drink\nScotland Food & Drink, established in 2007, is a not-for-profit organisation that was created to guide food and drink companies of all sizes towards increased profitability.\ninfographic gate-fold booklet\nScotland Food & Drink approached us to produce a booklet to be used at their annual conference demonstrating how the industry has grown. We used their brand colours and set the infographics out so that it was clean, clear and easy to read. We also organised print and delivery.\nWe've produced two short promotional videos for Scotland Food and Drink; The first was promoting Scottish cheese being exported to France by Clarks Speciality Foods of Penicuik and features an appearance by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.\nThe second involved video editing for the Showcasing Scotland Regional Events, which gave viewers a flavour of the day. We also produced and added a clip of Chief Executive, James Withers.\ninteriors - infographic wall art\nFollowing on from the infographic booklet, we were then asked to create a series of wall graphics to be displayed at their office in Ratho Park, Edinburgh. The graphics adhered to the same principles as the booklet \u2013 we kept the design clean and made sure the message stood out and the structure was easy to follow. Overall it contributed to a fresh and inspirational office environment.\nScottish Food & Drink Fortnight 2018 took place between 1-16 September and provided the perfect opportunity for everyone to get involved in celebrating and enjoying fantastic Scottish produce.\nThis year's Food & Drink Fortnight returned with a unique focus on celebrating talented and innovative young people. We were delighted to get involved with the design and build of their website portal. The single page, responsive site has details of how to get involved as well as sharing Eat Scottish's recent social media feeds.\n\"really appreciate all the work you've done -I'm so happy with how it's turned out\"\nEllis Allan - Scotland Food & Drink\nSucculento\ndesign for print,brand & identity,packaging,web design,photography,video\nDiet Now\nBean to Door\ndesign for print,packaging,photography,video\nConnect Local\nPatrick Gilmour\ndesign for print,brand & identity\nour sub division, Thyme, specialises in stunning photography and video for the food and drinks industry\nVisit Thyme\nCreative Storm Ltd.\n182 Newhaven Road\nEH6 4QB\nhello@creative-storm.co.uk\nCreative Storm Ltd. is registered in England & Wales | Registered Company Address: 2 Jardine House, Harrovian Business Village, Bessborough Road, Harrow, Middlesex. HA1 3EX. Company No. 05878167 | VAT Registered GB924773991\n\u00a9 Creative Storm Limited 2020 | All Rights Reserved | Site Map","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"INSIDE REAL ESTATE\nINSIDE DESIGN\nSearch for a real estate expert\nSearch for an interior design expert\nHome \/ Posts tagged \"Santa Fe residence\"\nSearch by Post Title or Keyword\nSelect Market SELECT Alabama Arizona California Canada Caribbean Colorado Connecticut Costa Rica Florida Georgia Hawaii Massachusetts Michigan New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Oregon South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Washington\nExceptional Adobe Residence Offering Privacy And Luxury\nJust minutes from downtown Santa Fe at the end of a gated and private road, this stun[...]\nJune 18, 2018 \/ Alejandra Tenorio \/ Tags: abode residence, Neil Lyon, New Mexico real estate, real estate in New Mexico, Santa Fe, Santa Fe abode residence, Santa Fe residence\nHaute Residence is a luxe digital platform for real estate and interior design connoisseurs. As a leading real estate, design and architectural platform, Haute Residence connects affluent readers with the most powerful and renowned agents, developers and designers. The elite, expert-curated platform offers the latest in real estate and design news, showcasing the world's most extraordinary residences and projects on the market.\nHaute Media Group\n3050 Biscayne Blvd. #400\nSubscribe to get the latest Haute Living Real Estate Network news delivered straight to your inbox.\nAll content and source \u00a9 2020 Haute Residence\nHaute Residence is brought to you by Haute Media Group | Disclaimer\nSubscribe for Haute Residence News\nEmail Preference Select HTML Plain Text\nBirthdate Month 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Day 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900\nGender Select Male Female\nIncome Range Select Under $50K $50-100K $100-250K $250-500K $500-1 million $1 mill to 2.5 million Over $2.5 million","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"The CSAC Bulletin for September 29, 2016\n- Web Pages Devoted to Homelessness Task Force\n- Governor's Bill Deadline Looms Large\n- PPIC Reports Examine Justice Realignment, Prop 47\n- Definition of \"Mandate\" Could Expand\n- Foster Youth Medication Subject of Lengthy Hearing\n- DHCS Proposes Updates to Health Homes Program\n- $25M in Transitional Housing Grants Available\n- Administration of Justice News Briefs\n- How's Your Broadband?\n- Public Comment Open for CA Children's Services Pilot Design\n- ILG Webinar: Safety and Violence Prevention\n- From Our Blog: California Considers a Regional Energy Market\n- Take Advantage of Early Bird Registration Rates for CSAC's Annual Meeting\nWeb Pages Devoted to Homelessness Task Force\nCSAC has embarked on an important effort to find real solutions to homelessness in California, establishing a joint Homelessness Task Force with the League of California Cities. The first meeting occurred Friday, September 23, with more than 20 city and county officials discussing how to approach this complex and vexing issue. CSAC has also created special pages on our website devoted to the task force work product and other resources.\u200b\nGovernor's Bill Deadline Looms Large\nGovernor Brown started the month of September with 789 bills on his desk for consideration. He is limited to three options: Sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. He has until midnight, Friday, September 30 to decide.\nHe has already acted on many of those 789 bills and CSAC has been tracking the Governor's activity on those directly affecting counties. Look for some of the bills the Governor has acted on recently at the links below, and we will provide a comprehensive roundup of the Governor's action on bills impacting counties in the next Bulletin on Thursday, November 6.\nHealth and Human Services Legislation\nPublic Safety Legislation\nEmployee Relations and Administrative Services Legislation\nPPIC Reports Examine Justice Realignment, Prop 47\nThe Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released two reports which examine the effects of 2011 Realignment and Proposition 47 of 2014, on California's correctional system. The studies indicate that these two changes have reduced California's prison population without causing a significant increase in crime. While crime rates have increased marginally since 2011 the increase is similar to what has occurred in other locations around the country that have not made significant changes.\u200b\nDefinition of \"Mandate\" Could Expand\nA groundbreaking expansion of what constitutes a reimbursable mandate took stage as the CSAC Mandate Services Committee met last week. This group meets regularly to determine potential reimbursement opportunities and to navigate the Commission of State Mandates (CSM) process and includes county, city, and special district representatives.\nFoster Youth Medication Subject of Lengthy Hearing\nThe Senate Human Services Committee and the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services conducted a lengthy joint hearing on the misuse of psychotropic medications for foster youth on Monday. The Committees heard from a wide range of speakers to address the complicated issue, including State Auditor Elaine Howle, who provided the committee with an overview of the findings of the recently released audit report, which concluded that both the state and counties failed to provide adequate oversight of the prescribing of psychotropic medications to foster youth.\nDHCS Proposes Updates to Health Homes Program\nThe Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is proposing to amend the Medi-Cal 2020 waiver Special Terms and Conditions to try to implement the Health Homes Program in the Medi-Cal managed care delivery system.\n$25M in Transitional Housing Grants Available\nThe application period for the Community-Based Transitional Housing grant program opens on October 1. The grants will provide on a rolling basis up to $2 million to a city or county that approves conditional use permits for facilities that provide transitional housing and support services for offenders released from state prisons and county jails.\u200b\nAdministration of Justice News Briefs\nCSAC's Evidence-Based Programming Help Desk\nNeed assistance in learning about adult criminal justice programs? We are now operating our Technical Assistance Hub to include an evidence-based programming help desk.\nBSCC Board September 22 Meeting HighlightsThe Board of State and Community Corrections' (BSCC) Board moved forward two statewide grant programs designed to steer offenders away from the criminal justice system during their September 22 board meeting.\nHow's Your Broadband?\nFollowing up on their recent report on California's stubborn \"Digital Divide,\" the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is surveying local officials about the importance of broadband to different aspects of their communities. Please consider taking a few minutes to respond to the survey.\u200b\nPublic Comment Open for CA Children's Services Pilot Design\nThe Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posed a draft evaluation design for the California Children's Services (CCS) demonstration project pilots. The draft CCS Evaluation Design is available online and DHCS will be accepting public comments through October 19.\nILG Webinar: Safety and Violence Prevention\nKeeping our communities safe is a responsibility shared by community members at all levels and sectors. Collaboration among local officials, staff, community groups and constituents plays a vital role in the safety and welfare of our communities.\nJoin the Institute for Local Government for a webinar on Wednesday, October 19, from 11 am to noon that will focus on the importance of collaborations to reduce and prevent violence while increasing safety.\nFrom Our Blog: California Considers a Regional Energy Market\nCalifornia's energy industry is undergoing historic transformations that could benefit the environment and millions of consumers across the state. As the grid operator for nearly 80 percent of the California and a small portion of Nevada, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) is playing a key role to help implement these ambitious policies.\u200b\nTake Advantage of Early Bird Registration Rates for CSAC's Annual Meeting\nEarly-bird registration rates for the upcoming CSAC Annual Meeting ends on October 14! Don't miss this opportunity to save $50.00 off advance registration rates. After Friday October 14, you can still register online through November 15 at our advance registration rates. To register click here!\nCopyright \u00a9 2016 California State Association of Counties, All rights reserved.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Brooklyn judge forced off bench for 'racist' and 'homophobic' remarks\nA New York stepped down this week after facing the consequences for her behavior in her own courtroom.\nGiven their position and responsibility, judges, at all levels, seem to enjoy a type of quiet immunity that shields them from their own antics.\nBut according to the Daily Caller, that wasn't the case with a Brooklyn, New York-based judge who is finally facing the music for her alarming actions and behavior.\nThe judge had been under fire by the Inspector's General office after it found that a number of reports filed against her were valid.\nBrooklyn Surrogate's Court Judge Harriet Thompson resigned this week, claiming a shoulder injury sidelined her from putting up a defense.\nControversial judge Harriet Thompson steps down\nA Brooklyn judge prior suspended in December over racist and anti-gay remarks steps down amid misconduct charges.\n\ud83d\udc40 She did continue to collect her $210,900 salary.https:\/\/t.co\/L8U0iKYlGj\n\u2014 New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) January 9, 2023\nThe judge had been accused of making homophobic and racist remarks in the courtroom.\nShe was set to face a Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC) hearing on Jan. 17. Clearly the judge had enough sense left to know when her time was up, opting to resign and not face the inevitable embarrassment of a formal reprimand likely firing.\nThe DC noted: \"Thompson had been suspended with pay since December 2021 after an investigation by the Inspector General for state courts concluded that the claims against her were supported.\"\nNY judge accused of making racist, anti-gay remarks agrees to step down https:\/\/t.co\/JhvAq3d6XY pic.twitter.com\/wiKoVIKWX0\n\u2014 New York Post (@nypost) January 9, 2023\nWhat did she say?\nThe judge reportedly said a number of outrageously racist and homophobic things that led to where she is now. The judge apparently hates gay white men, in particular.\nShe had reportedly targeted four of her colleagues, saying previously that her colleagues were \"gay racist f\u2014-ts\" who were \"all f\u2014king each other\" and \"trying to ruin me and get me.\"\nIn 2018, she said, \"I hate these gay white men \u2026 being gay is an abomination to mankind.\"\nAmong many other reports, the racist judge was also accused of saying, \"I do not like Hispanic people. They have a deceitful trait that goes way back to biblical times.\"\nRyan Ledendecker","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Niagara Region Notebook: CAO search paused\nBy Bill SawchukStandard Reporter\nThe St. Catharines Standard\nMon., March 30, 2020timer2 min. read\nupdateArticle was updated Jun. 02, 2020\nNiagara Region is putting its search for a new chief administrative officer on hold for the time being.\nRegional council passed a motion last Thursday to pause the search as the municipality deals with the COVID-19 public health crisis. Council was supposed to selected members for the hiring committee at Thursday's full meeting of council.\nRon Tripp, commissioner of public works, took over the job on Dec. 13, 2018, in an acting role when Carmen D'Angelo, the previous chief administrative officer, was on leave. D'Angelo's employment ended in early February 2019. He and the Region have filed lawsuits against each as a result.\nNiagara Week on hold\nThe annual Niagara Week expedition to Queen's Park in Toronto will be reorganized, council learned last week.\nPre-visit planning and consultation is the key component in the co-ordinated blitz, which is scheduled May 24 to 27. Objectives are agreed upon ahead of time, so the Region and local area municipalities speak with \"one voice.\"\nThis year there were six themes - housing and homelessness, transit services, transportation networks, infrastructure, protecting the environment, economic development.\nThose objectives, while important, will likely be overtaken by the COVID-19 crisis, Region communications specialist Daryl Barnhart wrote in a memo to council.\nMitigating the impact of COVID-19 on residents, businesses and communities has emerged as the No. 1 priority.\n\"Although the issues originally identified are exceedingly important for the region, the current global pandemic will require the Region to consider redirecting its advocacy efforts toward securing supports for our eventual recovery, both social and economic,\" Barnhart wrote.\nConvention cancelled\nThe annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has cancelled its 2020 annual conference and trade show, which was to take place June 4 to 7 in Toronto.\nThe event, which brings together more than 2,000 leaders from across the county, was cancelled because of the pandemic.\n\"As much as I was looking forward to seeing you all in Toronto, we are doing exactly what our residents - and our country - need us to be doing right now. Because we're in this together,\" said Bill Karsten, FCM president.\nTime's up for photo radar\nRegional council is out of time when it comes to moving ahead with photo radar, also known as automated speed enforcement, in Niagara.\nRegion staff learned last week that the municipality needed to immediately sign a partnership agreement with the City of Toronto for processing infractions at its joint processing centre.\nToronto would be moving forward immediately with the partnering agreement with only those municipalities that have signed a contract and are ready to start implementation. Niagara needs access to the centre to handle the images for ticketing.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Pacific Islands Marine Debris Regional Coordinator\nOffice of Response and Restoration\nI.M. Systems Group (www.imsg.com), a contractor to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), seeks a Pacific Islands Regional Marine Debris Coordinator for the Office of Response and Restoration (ORR). This individual will be located in Honolulu, Hawaii and work with NOAA's Marine Debris Program (MDP), which is located in NOAA's Silver Spring, Maryland offices.\nORR (www.response.restoration.noaa.gov) is a program office in the National Ocean Service that responds to threats in order to protect and restore coastal resources. To do this ORR provides interdisciplinary scientific response to releases of oil, chemicals, and contaminants, protects and restores NOAA trust resources, and promotes the protection and restoration of coral ecosystems.\nwww.imsg.com\/index.php\/careers\/current-opportunities\/socialsci\/\nMarine Litter Policy and\/or Communications Officer(s)\nSeas At Risk is an independent non-governmental association of national and international environmental organisations concerned with the protection and restoration of the marine environment. It is Brussels based and has member organisations in 13 European countries. Seas At Risk is currently working on issues as diverse as the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, and EU-level marine environment policies including marine litter.\nSeas At Risk is looking to hire one or two people to fill marine litter policy and communications roles within the organisation. This could be one person undertaking both roles full-time or two people undertaking the two roles each on a part-time basis. Seas At Risk is at present open minded about which of these approaches are taken and expects to be guided to a final decision by the quality and interests of applicants. Applicants are thus invited to apply for either or both of the following roles.\nwww.seas-at-risk.org\/n2.php?page=104\nMarine Debris Education and Communications Specialist\nThe Marine Debris Division is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS) Office of Response and Restoration (ORR). Within NOS, ORR is a program office that responds to threats in order to protect and restore coastal resources. To do this, ORR staff provides interdisciplinary scientific response to releases of oil, chemicals, and contaminants; protects and restores NOAA trust resources; and promotes the protection and restoration of coral ecosystems.\nThe Marine Debris Education and Communications Specialist will provide education and communications support for activities under the NOAA Marine Debris Division (MDD). Duties will also focus on program coordination and development through media relations and outreach materials. This position will be located at the ORR headquarters facilities in Silver Spring, Maryland.\nwww.genwest.com\/Jobs\nMarine Debris Regional Coordinator\nThe Marine Debris Division is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS) Office of Response and Restoration (ORR). Within NOS, ORR is a program office that responds to threats in order to protect and restore coastal resources. To do this, ORR staff provides interdisciplinary scientific response to releases of oil, chemicals, and contaminants, protects and restores NOAA trust resources, and promotes the protection and restoration of coral ecosystems.\nThe Gulf of Mexico Regional Marine Debris Coordinator will be located in Mobile, AL at the NOAA Disaster Response Center, and work with NOAA's Marine Debris Program (MDP), which is headquartered in NOAA's Silver Spring, Maryland offices.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"George Eliot Primary School\nEvery child will embrace challenge, achieve their very best and become a learner for life\nPolicies and Other Information\nSEN\/D\nAutumn Term 20\/21\nSpring Term 19\/20\nSummer Term 18\/19\nMindUp\nNational Primary Curriculum\nSchool Assessment Information\nPupil Premium and Covid Catch Up Premium\nInfant Voices 2019\nChoir & Young Voices\nFrance Trip\nJunior Travel Ambassadors (JTAs)\nOPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)\nJ Login Log in\nC Phone Us\nAt George Eliot Primary School we follow the statutory requirements set out by the National Curriculum 2014.\nAll year groups are taught the programmes of study, as set out in the National Curriculum.\nThe Primary National Curriculum is split into two key stages;\nKey Stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6)\nSubjects within the curriculum are split into core and foundation subjects.\nCore subjects are: English, Maths and Science.\nFoundation subjects are: History, Geography, Art & Design, Design Technology, Foreign Languages, Computing, Music and Physical Education.\nReligious Education is also taught, though programmes of study are decided locally through the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).\nThroughout their time at primary school, pupils are taught all aspects of the National Curriculum as a minimum expectation. The school will also enhance the curriculum further to develop and broaden the opportunities available to pupils in our school.\nAt George Eliot Primary School we enhance and develop our curriculum through the use of visitors, events and trips in order to provide our pupils with real life and hands-on experiences.\nClick Below to View Our Curriculum Map\nThis curriculum map may be adapted or changed throughout the year depending on childrens' interests.\nCurriculum Map - Year 1\nAccess to the curriculum is provided for all pupils at George Eliot Primary School. This is done in a variety of ways; through adult support, differentiation of activities, use of equipment and resources. Teachers plan lessons carefully, ensuring new learning is taking place consistently.\nDifferentiation is key to delivering an effective and inclusive curriculum. All pupils' starting points are considered and activities and work is matched to ensure pupils reach their full potential, whilst supporting children's learning; offering opportunities to succeed, as well as providing challenge.\nFor further information related to pupils who are identified as being gifted or talented, or pupils who have special educational needs, please click on the links to our school policies or SEND page.\nSpiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) & British Values\nThroughout the curriculum at George Eliot Primary teachers promote SMSC aspects of life and promote British Values, such as: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.\nAssemblies play a huge role in developing SMSC learning. Both key stages meet daily for an assembly.\nTopics\/themes for assemblies include:\nCelebrating learning and achievements both in and out of school.\nCelebrating attendance and punctuality.\nLearning about different cultures, festivals and celebrations.\nLearning about British Values\nWeekly singing assemblies.\nVisitors and outreach activities.\nThe Recovery Curriculum\nA 'recovery curriculum' is a construct, a concept, rather than a ready-made package. It is about recognising that we must think and plan carefully for 'how' children will return to school following a period of lockdown.\nTo secure rapid academic catch-up whilst simultaneously building good SEMH through, we will:\n\u00b7 Use diagnostic assessment to ascertain strengths and weaknesses from both prior and new learning. What has been retained, what has been consolidated, what has been deepened or extended? Where are the gaps? Use this information to adapt our subject-based curriculum design\/provision for (a) all children through quality first teaching, (b) groups of children who share similar needs, (c) specialist and targeted individual support.\n\u00b7 Make these adaptations in the context of being \"trauma-informed.\" Acknowledge and explore the impact of lockdown and COVID-19 on the wellbeing of pupils.\n\u00b7 Re-build and strengthen our school community culture, values and relationships through our curriculum and our wider provision.\nTeachers at George Eliot will use the teaching sequences in ways that best suit the needs of their class. They are designed to be applied flexibly, with teachers using all that they know about their children's prior learning, context and experience during lockdown to make informed choices about\n(a) what resources to use, and, (b) how to use them.\nDFind Us\nMarlborough Hill, St John's Wood\nNW8 0NH\nView Google MapH\nCContact Us\nEmail: office@geschool.co.uk\nMore DetailsH\nAll website content copyright \u00a9 George Eliot Primary School","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"United States | Tobacco smuggling\nNow exhale\nAug 24th 2000 |\nYOUR product, despite loyal customers, is not selling, and your protests against heavy taxes go ignored. Sales are suffering. If only some of the tax burden could be shaken off. What to do? Why, team up with your foreign partners to smuggle, of course. And, according to the Canadian government, this is exactly what several North American tobacco companies did a decade ago.\nA lawsuit currently winding its way through the courts in the United States is a tale of conspiracy and intrigue as compelling as any John Grisham novel. Canada's case rests on four facts, disputed by nobody, and a crucial piece of conjecture. The facts are these. First, from 1981 until 1994, the Canadian government increased cigarette taxes, more than doubling the retail price of a pack in real terms. Second, Canada's cigarette exports, largely to the United States, boomed 36-fold at the same time. True, both the Canadian-American free-trade agreement and later the North American free-trade deal came into effect during this period; true again, no two countries anywhere trade back and forth more than America and Canada.\nYet consider facts three and four. Neither Canadians nor Americans, eager traders though they are in general, are particularly keen about each other's tobacco blends; rare is the year when Canadian exports capture more than 1% of the big neighbour's market. And, lastly, cigarette exports fell back again after the Canadian government drastically cut tobacco taxes in 1994. Why the sudden boom, then the sharp drop?\nCanada's lawyers connect the dots to draw an interesting picture. As galloping taxes began to trample profits, cigarette manufacturers in Canada started exporting to agent companies south of the border. (Tobacco exports remained largely tax-exempt.) Although these companies were purportedly selling the cigarettes in the United States or re-exporting them to third countries, they were really\u2014runs the accusation\u2014handing them to smugglers, who then carried them back across the 5,522 miles (8,893 km) of border between the two countries.\nAt the time, even tobacco firms did not deny that some sort of smuggling was going on, though they denied responsibility for it. Smuggling was rampant, lobbyists agreed, but the blame lay with high taxes, not with the manufacturers, who were simply filling orders. After protests from sellers in Quebec, irate over sales lost to smugglers, Canada relented, slashing taxes dramatically.\nAt this point, opinions diverge. Canada's lawyers argue that at least one American cigarette company, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, helped to smuggle cigarettes made by its Canadian sister-company across the border. Not for nothing is RJR the firm named in the case. The Canadian wing, RJR-Macdonald, has been badly hit by two recent defeats in court. A couple of years ago a subsidiary based in the United States, Northern Brands International, pleaded guilty to smuggling and was fined $15m. Then Leslie Thompson, a former senior manager at RJR-Macdonald and NorthernBrands, was sent to prison for his part in the affair. All this makes Canadian lawyers believe that they can trace the smuggling across the border.\nThey have yet to prove their point. A lower-court judge in the United States said in June that his country's courts could not enforce Canadian tax laws, and handed Canada a defeat. The case is now on appeal and the Canadians are optimistic. Anti-smoking groups are happy, too, because the Canadian government seems likely to raise taxes back to the 1994 level.\nThe tobacco industry has had a horrible few months. First a Miami jury awarded an amazing $145 billion in punitive damages to sick Florida smokers. Then a report by the World Health Organisation, its great enemy, accused it of a \"systematic effort\" to discredit the WHO, and of trying to get the WHO's budget cut. The industry also faces smuggling-related lawsuits from the European Union, Ecuador and, of all places, Colombia. If the appeal in the Canadian case goes against it, share prices\u2014like those cigarettes\u2014may head sharply southwards.\nThis article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline \"Now exhale\"\nUnited States August 26th 2000\nOver to you,George\nPaying teachers more\nGlintineye.com\nThe unbearable localness of politics\nFrom the August 26th 2000 edition\nAmerica needs a new environmentalism\nPreventing clean-energy infrastructure from being built is no way to save the planet\nRon DeSantis wants to limit free speech in the name of free speech\nThe Sunshine State's public colleges are getting a dose of illiberal right-wing politics\nA violent dispute is impeding police reform in Atlanta\nA forest, a fatal shooting and a police car up in flames","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Hasbulla Throws a Punch That Hits Shaquille O'Neal in the Face, and You Can Watch the Video Here\nBy Jeremy Caroll On Aug 28, 2022\nHasbulla has made the choice to resort to violence! Shaquille O'Neal, a legend in the National Basketball Association, is punched by a social media star in a new and humorous video. O'Neal uploaded the footage to his Instagram feed and shared it with his followers.\nHasbulla and Shaq are both currently in Australia in order to participate in a number of events there. They were able to spend some time together, and it appears like they wound up having a great deal of fun together. Continue reading to view the adorably cute video.\nDiscover Everything There Is to Know About Elton John's Husband, David Furnish!\nHasbulla 'Almost Knocks Out' Shaq\nShaq can be seen having fun on a boat ride with Hasbulla in Sydney in a video that was published by Shaq on his Instagram account on Saturday. When the 19-year-old social media star signs for everyone to be quiet, the former player appears to be preoccupied with his phone in some way. After that, he gives Shaq a light touch on the shoulder before punching him square in the face.\nAfter that, Shaq makes a convincing imitation of falling before staring at him in shock. The two smile broadly for the camera while simultaneously giving each other the middle finger and laughing. The former player, who is now 50 years old, captioned the photo with the phrase \"@hasbulla.hushetskiy almost knocked me out.\"\nA post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq)\nFans found the video to be entertaining, and many voiced their enthusiasm for it in the comments section. A supporter left the following comment: \"The showdown we never expected but needed,\" and another supporter wrote: \"Never expected to see this combo lol.\"\nA third person suggested in a remark that \"they should film a sequel to Twins with you two in it.\" Another one of his followers remarked that it was \"such an honor\" to be hit by him.\nThe event management organization known as The Hour Group is responsible for bringing the two parties together. At the end of the day, the group posted yet another photo on social media of the two individuals dozing off on a couch with the message \"What a day\u2026\"\nWill the First Season of Surface on Apple TV+ Come to a Close With Episode 8?\nThis will be Hasbulla's very first trip to other countries\nHasbulla is embarking on his very first overseas tour during his time in Australia, and he has a variety of engagements scheduled for while he is there. Hasbulla expressed her excitement about the tour by saying, \"I can't wait to see all of my Australian fans and visit these great cities.\" I am excited to experience a new culture because I am from a very small town in Russia and I am currently living in the United States. In addition to that, I am aware that there are kangaroos. It would be nice to get to know them.\nAfter holding two meet and greet events at Le Montage in Sydney on August 29 and 30, the online superstar will move on to the Timberyard in Melbourne on August 31 and September 1.\nIn the year 2020, Hasbulla first gained widespread attention as the internet began spreading his videos widely. Over 2.9 million people are following this individual on Instagram, despite the fact that they were born with a growth hormone deficit. On TikTok, his videos consistently rack up billions of views.\nThe Australian Stops on Shaquille O'Neal's Tour\nOn Tuesday, Shaq arrived in Australia for the first time in more than two decades, making this trip a milestone in his career. After beginning his trip by conducting interviews, he transitioned into the role of DJ to deliver a set at the 170 Russell in Melbourne on Wednesday evening. At the Margaret Court Center on Thursday, a special event with the title An Evening with Shaquille O'Neal was prepared for attendees to enjoy.\nThe subsequent event in Sydney was held at The Star Centre, and the four-time NBA champion attended it. In addition, he was accompanied by Hasbulla for the course of the weekend.\nWho Exactly is This Rhys Ifans? In \"House of the Dragon,\" We Are Introduced to Ser Otto Hightower\nPretty Little Liars: Original Sin Season 2: IS the Show Getting Renewed or Cancelled?\nWho is Buzz Aldrin's wife? Is he married to Anca Faur?\nAll You Need to Know About Candle-Making Business Plan 2023\nDavid Crosby's Cause of Death: Check out his net worth at the time of his death\nWhat Happened to Kristin Cavallari's Brother? She's Still Grieving Over\u2026\nJason Momoa Net Worth: Achievements & his Personal Life\nPantheon Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer, and\u2026\nWHO WAS B SMYTH? SINGER'S DEATH AT 28 Confirmed By His\u2026\nKorea No 1 Renewed for Season 2: What is Netflix Latest\u2026\nMushoku Tensei Season 3: Release Date, Plot, Trailer, and\u2026\nWhen Does the NBA Season 2022-23 Officially Begin?\nAlita: Battle Angel 2: When Will It Be Released? Is There\u2026\nDaddy Yankee Net Worth: How Much Money Does Daddy Yankee\u2026\nGlass Onion Streaming Guide: Wasn't Glass Onion\u2026\nDoom Patrol Season 4 Episode 6 Release Date, Time &\u2026","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Marketing Bites\nEvery week we bring readers a bite-sized look at developments in the area of PR, marketing, new product launches and events across the country...\nRead More: Cadbury's Retro Selection Box Cully & Sully GIY\n17 November 2017 | 0\nCadbury's Retro Selection box arrives in Ireland\nNostalgia is a big business these days, and this Christmas Cadbury is getting in on the act with its charmign Retro Selection Box. In a delightfully 80s-style box, the selection comes with four Cadbury classics: Dairy Milk, Dairy Milk Whole Nut, Dairy Milk Caramel and Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut. Each of these old-school favourites comes in fetching vintage-style packaging. The Retro Selection Box was originally only planned for sale in the UK (with an option for Irish customers to order online), but it has now been confirmed for Irish stores, priced \u20ac9.19.\nRevolutionising the hot drinks market\nSweet Revolution is on a mission to stir up the on-the-go drinks market with a range of hot drinks which include 3 flavours of Latte and a Hot chocolate, all of which are organic, dairy and gluten free and suitable for vegans. The range of hot drinks was born from a kitchen table by the company director, Jane Nicholls, whose love of developing recipes led to a range of instant hot drinks that tantalise the taste buds. Sweet Revolution ethically source only the best organic ingredients from their native habitats, which are grown in nutrient dense soils from all corners of the globe, to provide the quality flavours of their drinks.\nGIY and Cully & Sully search for Ireland's best young food entrepreneurs\nSecondary school students across the country have been invited to take part in the new 'Grow to CEO' Competitions, as GIY and Cully & Sully set about finding Ireland's brightest young food entrepreneurs. 'Grow 2 CEO' combines food growing and entrepreneurship to inspire students to grow their own food, create a soup recipe using what they have grown and develop a potential new business. 21,000 students across the country will receive kits to grow their own vegetables, and potentiall develop their own business plans for a competition in Waterford on May 18, 2018.\nHeineken unveils brand new Cork office\nThere was a celebration in Cork this week as Heineken Ireland officially opened its new-look headquarters, fresh off a multi-million euro upgrade. The 128-year old Malt House on Leitrim Street was revamped to provide an \"inspirational and collaborative environment for Heineken Ireland's 200+ employees. The new site includes a state-of-the-art smart lighting system and a centrally controlled heating system that maximises natural light and day, a new waste management system and an employee education programme.\nA hug in a bowl \u2192\nCategory focus: Cold weather, warm hands \u2192\nBest C-Store Marketing Campaign 2022\nThroughout 2022, brand marketers excelled in ensuring their advertising campaigns grabbed consumers' attentions; helping to deliver those...\nLily O'Brien's Salted Caramel Truffles wins Product of the Year\nLily O'Brien's Salted Caramel Truffles will now feature the Product of the Year logo on their packaging\nSpar's Better Choices campaign launched by Irish Olympians\nBrand ambassador Kellie Harrington takes on rower Gary O'Donovan in a series of \"healthy\" challenges\nSolving the top five pain points for retailer technology\nRocsolid Retail outlines how to solve retailers' technology challenges\nPure profit\nBottled water is considered a main footfall driver in stores across the globe and continues to be the most popular soft drink in Ireland. Here,...","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"How Many RIPE Atlas Probes Believe They Have IPv6 (But Are Wrong)?\nSt\u00e9phane Bortzmeyer \u2014 11 Jun 2013\nBased in Paris (France)\nI work at AFNIC (the registry of .fr domain names), in the R&D department, on, among other things, DNS, security, statistics.\nipv6 measurements atlas\nTo check the connectivity of an IPv6 device with RIPE Atlas, one typically asks N probes to ping the target and deduces the reachability of the target from the percentage of failures. But RIPE Atlas probes, like many IPv6 devices, often believe they are IPv6-connected while they are not.\nWhen you want to check the IPv6 connectivity of a device with RIPE Atlas, you typically request RIPE Atlas to send pings to your target from a given number of probes. The percentage of probes reporting a failure gives you a good idea of the reachability of your device. But IPv6 is not IPv4: it is quite common in the IPv6 world to have devices that believe they are connected to the IPv6 Internet while they are not. For instance, this problem can occur if a router on the local network advertises a global IPv6 prefix with Router Announcement (RA) packets while, in fact, the local network has no connection to the outside world.\nThe methodology we used is as follows: we chose a few well-connected targets, devices that most certainly have a stable and working IPv6 connectivity (www.afnic.fr, www.ietf.org, www.icann.org, www.freebsd.org and www.wikipedia.org). We then requested one-off measurements for these targets, using the address family 6. The set of probes for the first target is choosen at random by the RIPE Atlas system, but only among those probes that claim IPv6 connectivity (typically because they received an RA announcement with a global IPv6 prefix). All the other targets then reused the same set of probes (thanks to the option \"type\": \"msm\" in the measurement creation API). We then counted only the probes that cannot get even one reply from any of the targets. These probes are regarded as \"without a real IPv6 connectivity\".\nWith 1,000 probes worldwide, we see that 10% are \"without a real IPv6 connectivity\". Per target, we observed a percentage between 10 and 11. (See public measurements #1010569 to #1010579.) The practical consequence of this is that when you use RIPE Atlas to measure the connectivity of an IPv6 device, 90% success is the maximal reachability you'll get.\nThe results do not depend on the area (continent). For instance, in area West (North America in RIPE Atlas terminology) and in area North-Central (Europe), we observed the same (taking into account the confidence interval) ratio of 10%.\nThe problem is very specific to IPv6. When doing the tests with IPv4 on the same targets, only 0.4% of the 1,000 probes fail to ping any of the targets. (See public measurements #1010583 to #1010588.)\nWe also wanted to make a distinction between those probes that time-out and those that get an explicit error (typically \"sendto failed: Network is unreachable\", probably an explicit ICMP error received). We observed that around 2\/3 of of the probes timed out which is unfortunately pretty annoying for actual users.\nWe might want to retry this study with longer measurements (instead of one-off measurements) to be sure we were not a victim of a general problem of the IPv6 Internet at the time of the measurement. But since these tests were repeated several times at different days, I believe they truly represent a permanent state of the network.\nConclusions & Solutions\nA possible solution to this issue could be for the RIPE Atlas developers to do these tests periodically and to warn the owners of the probes. Or maybe to stop using these probes for IPv6 tests. The RIPE Atlas team confirmed that it is currently thinking about improving the probe selection process in this regard. For instance, RIPE Atlas could look at how successful the probes were in general doing IPv6 measurements, and exclude the ones that consistently fail. And perhaps later a knob could be added so that users can specify if they want this or not.\nThe source code to start the measurements that we used in this survey (and to analyse their results) is in the contrib repository under the name \"survey-connectivity-v6.py\").\nAs we see, the IPv6 Internet is still not on par with the IPv4 Internet. Please note that RIPE Atlas probes are typically installed by engineers on better-than-average local networks. The problem is probably worse for general devices, hence the \"happy eyeballs\" problem described in RFC 6556 .\nCreating RIPE Atlas One-off Measurements with Blaeu\nQuad9, a Public DNS Resolver - with Security\nProcessing RIPE Atlas Results with jq\nSt\u00e9phane Bortzmeyer Based in Paris (France)\nludovic \u2022 12 Jun 2013 09:59\nwhy not send ipv6 measurement requests only ivre ipv6?\nSt\u00e9phane Bortzmeyer \u2022 12 Jun 2013 10:12\nI'm not sure of the internals of the Atlas system but, as far as I know, the probe establishes a secure channel (remember many probes cannot receive unsollicited connections from the outside, because NAT or firewall) with its master (either with IPv4 or IPv6) and then uses this channel for everything (reports, measurement requests, responses).\nRobert Kisteleki \u2022 12 Jun 2013 13:08\nThe command channel can be on either v4 or v6. Regardless of this, if the probe indicates that it can do \"the other\" protocol too, we'll involve it in those measurements.\nVal \u2022 12 Jun 2013 15:55\nHello, I checked all \"pingable\" addresses from route6 object from RIPE database, and 10 (from 48) don't answer on pings.\nSebastian Castro \u2022 12 Jun 2013 20:48\nThanks Stephane for this. My own experience shows similar perception of probes not being able to reach v6 destinations. We recently used ATLAS for testing reachability of a new DNS server and roughly 8% of the probes used couldn't reach it. In the process of finding out why, we ran a one-off traceroute measurement, and probes failed on the second hop.\nNote there is also a interesting discussion about this article on the mailing list of the RIPE IPv6 Working Group http:\/\/www.ripe.net\/ripe\/mail\/archives\/ipv6-wg\/2013-June\/002153.html\nPhillip Remaker \u2022 21 Jun 2013 23:54\nIs there any way to get the source IPv6 address of the failing probes? Or at least the prefix? I am especially interested to know if the failing devices posses 6to4 or Teredo addresses, or are otherwise behind a router serviced by a poorly maintained or unpredictable IPv6 tunnel. I would suggest that any probes reporting 6to4 or Teredo addresses be prohibited from participating in IPv6 test measurements. It would be useful to conduct further research on the failing probes and adjust the probe firmware accordingly.\nDan Wing \u2022 22 Jun 2013 03:41\nI have a suspicion that many of these failures are IPv6 tunnels that have suffered bit rot. Could you analyze the IPv6 address that the Atlas probe thinks it has and split them into two categories: (a) known tunnels (e.g., Hurricane Electric, SixXS, 6to4, Teredo) versus (b) presumably \"native\" IPv6 addresses.\nSt\u00e9phane Bortzmeyer \u2022 04 Jul 2013 14:49\nI don't have time right now for analyzing the addresses (these are public measurements so someone else may do it). But I don't think it would be a good idea to exclude probes based on the type of address. Global and \"normal\" IPv6 addresse may have connectivity problems, too. Exclusion from measurements should be based on actual tests (probing the Anchors), not on guesses.\nI tried to answer your question but was not able to do so because, unfortunately, the JSON results do not contain the source IPv6 address of the probe when the ping failed. So, i cannot check it.\nBehrooz Behzadfar \u2022 25 Jul 2013 04:33\ncontain the source IPv6 address of the probe when the ping failed.\nIsn't there something missing at the beginning of your message? What \"contains the source IPv6 address\"?","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"OnePlus 8 vs. Samsung Galaxy S20: Which is better for you?\nBy Michael Archambault\t May 3, 2020\nFor quite a while now, Samsung has sat at the top of the smartphone food chain, presenting itself as one of the major players in the world of Android devices. OnePlus, a company that had initially positioned itself as an enthusiast budget brand, is now attempting to sit at the big kids' table with the OnePlus 8, but is it enough? We take a look at the new OnePlus 8 and how it stacks up to Samsung's Galaxy S20. If you're stuck on the fence deciding, our guide will help you make a final decision, selecting the smartphone best for you.\nOnePlus 8 Samsung Galaxy S20\nSize 160.2 x 72.9 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.87 x 0.31 inches) 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 inches)\nWeight 180 grams (6.35 ounces) 163 grams (5.75 ounces)\nScreen size 6.55-inch AMOLED (90 Hz) 6.3-inch AMOLED (120 Hz)\nScreen resolution 2,400 x 1,080 pixels (402 pixels-per-inch) 2,400 x 1,080 pixel (563 pixels-per-inch)\nOperating system Android 10 (under OxygenOS) Android 10\nStorage space 128 GB \/ 256 GB 128 GB \/ 256 GB \/ 512 GB\nMicroSD card slot No Yes\nNFC Yes Yes\nProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865\nRAM 8 GB \/ 12 GB 8 GB \/ 12 GB \/ 16 GB\nCamera 48MP f\/1.75 Wide-angle, a 12MP f\/2.2 Ultra-Wide, 2MP f\/2.4 Macro 12MP f\/2.2 Ultra-Wide, 12MP f\/1.8 Wide-angle, 64MP f\/2 telephoto\nVideo Up to 4K at 60 fps, 1080 at 340 fps 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps\nBluetooth version 5.1 5.0\nPorts USB-C USB-C\nFingerprint sensor Yes (under-display) Yes (ultrasonic under-display)\nWater resistance IP68 IP68\nBattery 4,300 mAh\nWarp Charge fast charging (30W) 4,500 mAh\nFast charging (25W)\nFast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W)\nApp marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store\nNetwork support Verizon, T-Mobile AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon\nColors Onyx Black, Glacial Green, Interstellar Glow, Polar Silver Cosmic Gray, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White, Aura Red\nPrice $700 $1000\nBuy from OnePlus Samsung\nReview score 4 out of 5 stars 3.5 out of 5 stars\nDesign, display, and durability\nJohn Velasco \/ Digital Trends\nSamsung's Galaxy S20 continues forward with a familiar design; the only minute changes are to the rear camera assembly and position of the forward-facing camera. Constructed from metal and glass, the S20 comes in an assortment of three colors: Cosmic Gray, Cloud Blue, and Cloud Pink. Flip the device over, and you'll find one of the most beautiful 6.2-inch Quad HD+ displays, sporting AMOLED technology and HDR10+ certification for vibrant colors. The S20 sports a 120Hz refresh rate, making everything from video games to scroll-through menus appear butter-smooth. While the S20 is Samsung's smallest offering, we want to note that it is still quite large in the hand, but is indeed comfortable thanks to the 20:9 aspect ratio. One setback from the ratio is that some content will be displayed with black bars on either side, such as YouTube videos and even some games.\nThe OnePlus 8 has quite a muted design also constructed from metal and glass, sporting three color options: Glacial Green, Interstellar Glow (a purple-pink option), and Onyx Black. The back of the device proudly displays the OnePlus logo, and a stack of triple cameras sits atop the marking vertically. The 8 sports a slightly larger 6.55-inch display, also backed by AMOLED technology, providing an HDR experience. Somewhat slower than the Galaxy S20, the OnePlus 8 display sports a 90Hz refresh rate, but it still makes for a smooth graphical experience.\nWhen it comes down to durability, both smartphones feature sturdy metal constructions but find themselves surrounded by glass. As with most modern smartphones, you'll likely want to throw a case on both devices to keep them safe. If you're looking to keep down on weight, the Galaxy S20 will be your best option with the device coming in at 163 grams, versus the OnePlus 8 at 180 grams.\nWinner: Samsung Galaxy S20\nPerformance, battery life, and charging\nAndy Boxall\/DigitalTrends.com\nWhen it comes to performance between the OnePlus 8 and Samsung Galaxy S20, there isn't much of a fight \u2014 it's an immediate tie. Both devices sport the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and sport a minimum of 8GB of RAM. As we move up a tier, both Samsung and OnePlus provide the option to increase RAM up to 12GB for increased performance. With top-tier hardware, we don't believe you'll see much of a performance difference, as OnePlus has upped its game for its latest smartphone.\nBattery life will require further testing on the OnePlus which includes a 4,300mAh battery, but for the Samsung Galaxy S20, which opts for a slightly smaller 4,000mAh option, we found it to last through a day with about 15% left by 11 PM. When it comes down to wired charging, there's a clear winner. Samsung's S20 includes fast 25W charging that we were able to charge from 0 to 55% in 30-minutes, but it's left in the dust by the OnePlus 8's 30W Warp Charge. Unfortunately though, the OnePlus 8 doesn't include wireless charging like the OnePlus 8 Pro, so it loses some points to the Galaxy S20. Based on that exclusion, this is a tie.\nMany smartphones live or die depending on their included cameras, but both the OnePlus 8 and Samsung Galaxy S20 provide reliable options. Flip the S20 over and you'll find a triple camera array \u2014 a 12-megapixel f\/2.2 ultra-wide, a 12-megapixel f\/1.8 wide-angle, and a 64-megapixel f\/2 telephoto. Optical image stabilization is on board to help in low-light situations, and the phones include Samsung's Super Resolution Zoom at up to 30x. On the front of the device, you'll find a small centered hole-punch featuring a 10-megapixel f\/2.2 camera for selfies and video calls. As usual, portrait mode works well, but when it fails, it crashes.\nThe OnePlus 8 also brings forward a triple camera setup on its rear \u2014 a 48-megapixel f\/1.75 wide-angle, a 12-megapixel f\/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel f\/2.4 macro option. You won't find any unique zoom technology here, but the OnePlus 8 stands out as a healthy option if macro photography is a particular hobby that you enjoy. Flipping around to the front camera, you'll find a left-centered hole-punch with a 16-megapixel f\/2.45 camera.\nWhen it comes down to video recording, the Samsung Galaxy S20 can capture 8K video at 24fps or 4K UHD video at 60fps \u2014 both include HDR10+ recording capabilities and video stabilization. The OnePlus 8 doesn't push into 8K territory, but can still capture a respectable 4K video at 60fps. Overall, both smartphones offer excellent camera performance with Samsung favoring more vivid color profiles; however, we would have liked to see more shadow detail from the OnePlus 8.\nWhile the OnePlus 8 takes good photos, it's edged out by the Galaxy S20's improved camera.\nBoth the Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8 are running Android 10, the latest variant of the mobile operating system. Onboard the Samsung device, you'll find the typical software expected from the technology giant, including Samsung Pay, the Bixby voice assistant, and an anti-virus suite powered by McAfee. We aren't fans of the Samsung Daily screen, which we didn't find extremely useful, but none the less, it is available.\nThe OnePlus 8 makes things a bit more interesting, however, with its OxygenOS, a skin developed by OnePlus that aims to make Android a bit friendlier. OnePlus even opted to include Amazon's Alexa voice assistant available straight out of the box. Overall, we like both interfaces, and the choice will be a personal preference ultimately.\nThings aren't as personal when we move to updates though, and while both phones will undoubtedly get Android 11, update speed is likely to be quite different. Samsung is far from the fastest to update its phones, while OnePlus is much faster. OnePlus takes this round on the strength of its update speed.\nWinner: OnePlus 8\nBoth the Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus standardize on several features, such as including a built-in under-screen fingerprint sensor and 5G connectivity support. However, it's the unique features between these two devices that make them attractive. For Samsung, its ultimate showcase is the added camera array with a new ability, Single Take, that takes several photos over 10 seconds and then presents you with the best options. OnePlus stands out with its Warp Charge technology, but also makes an impression with its Smart Pet Capture mode, helping you snap the cutest picture of your little pals. Overall, both smartphones are packed full of features, but neither has any extreme standouts.\nSamsung's Galaxy S20 comes in with a price tag of $1,000, although we have regularly seen it on sale for as low as $800 \u2014 you can also add on Samsung Premium Care for an additional $12 per month. OnePlus, on the other hand, offers the OnePlus 8 at a standard price of $800. Of course, these prices are for unlocked smartphones, and paying through your carrier could net you a discount. Currently, both smartphones are available internationally via a variety of primary and local cellular carriers.\nOverall winner: Samsung Galaxy S20\nIs a good camera good enough or do you need the best? That's one of the key questions you should be asking when choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8. Both devices feature beautiful designs, but neither leave us awe-struck. While each device offers a few minor software features over the other, nothing stands out as revolutionary between these two devices. We can say, however, that if you are looking for a small Samsung device, you might want to keep looking as the display here is still quite large.\nThe OnePlus 8 pulls ahead in its price tag and excellent fast-charging abilities, while the S20 offers a better display, impressive cameras, and wireless charging. In the end, OnePlus 8 flashes around an attractive price, but Samsung brings a better assortment of hardware and an excellent camera to the table, winning this battle.\nThe best Android phones for 2021\nSamsung Galaxy A71 5G vs. OnePlus Nord: Midrange phone battle\nSamsung Galaxy S21 vs. Galaxy S20: What difference does a year make?\nSamsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Go Plus or Pro?\nThe best cell phone plan deals for January 2021: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and more\nThese are the best cheap Fitbit deals for January 2021\nThese are the best Google Pixel deals for January 2021\nBest Google Pixel 4 deals for January 2021: Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL\nThe best Apple iPhone deals for January 2021\nBest iPhone 11 deals for January 2021: iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"nml.fs-lnm.et@phac-aspc.gc.ca\nThe Field Studies section provides reference and diagnostic services for selected zoonotic disease agents including:\nBabesia species including B. microti, B. duncani and B. divergens\nBartonella species including B. henselae and B. quintana\nBorrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) sensu stricto and B. burgdorferi sensu lato including B. mayonii and European genospecies B. afzelii and B. garinii\nColorado tick fever virus*\nEastern equine encephalitis virus*\nEhrlichia chaffeensis\nFrancisella tularensis*\nLeptospira species\nHeartland J virus*\nHantaviruses including Sin Nombre virus and Seoul virus*\nPowassan encephalitis virus including prototypic POWV and Deer tick virus (DTV)*\nRelapsing Fever Borrelia including B. hermsii and B. miyamotoi\nWest Nile virus*\nIn addition, the section undertakes outbreak investigations, national surveillance and research studies related to these zoonotic disease agents. Research interests include field- and laboratory-based investigations on the factors determining the distribution and prevalence of zoonotic diseases in Canada with emphasis on tick-borne (e.g., Lyme disease), mosquito-borne (e.g., West Nile virus) and rodent-associated diseases (e.g., hantaviruses). Results of these activities are used to better inform interested parties (including the general public, non-governmental and governmental agencies) about the relative risks of contracting these zoonotic diseases in Canada and form the basis for recommendations about how best to prevent or minimize exposure to these pathogens. Applied research interests include development and optimization of assays to detect emerging tick and mosquito-borne pathogens. The section also performs a reference role by providing proficieny panels and technical expertise to external clients.\n* The Field Studies section performs testing for these pathogens on samples collected from non-human sources such as ticks, mosquitoes and rodents\nDetection of Tick-borne Pathogens by Real-time PCR Anaplasma phagocytophilum\nDetection of Tick-borne Pathogens by Real-time PCR Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato\nDetection of Tick-borne Pathogens by Real-time PCR Borrelia miyamotoi\nDetection of Tick-borne Pathogens by Real-time PCR Ehrlichia chaffeensis\nDetection of Tick-borne Pathogens by Real-time PCR Babesia spp.\nEastern Equine Encephalitis virus Detection in Mosquitoes by RT-PCR Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV)\nWest Nile virus Detection in Mosquitoes by RT-PCR West Nile virus (WNV)\nMolecular Testing for Selected Zoonotic Agents\n12-Requisition-form-Field-Studies-Molecular-ENG.pdf\nSerological Testing for Selected Zoonotic Agents\n12-Requisition-form-Field-Studies-Serology-ENG.pdf\nSample Submission Guide\nMG FS - Sample Submission Guide EN.xlsx\nAnaplasma phagocytophilum Molecular Detection and Genotyping Molecular Detection\nAnaplasma phagocytophilum Serology Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay (IFA) \u2013 IgG\nBabesia spp. Molecular Detection and Genotyping Molecular Detection\nBartonella henselae Serology Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay (IFA) - IgG\nBartonella quintana Serology Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) - IgG\nBartonella spp. Molecular Detection and Genotyping Detection of Bartonella species by PCR and sequencing\nBorrelia burgdorferi Serology Immunoblot (Western blot) - IgG\nBorrelia burgdorferi Serology Immunoblot (Line blot) - IgM\nBorrelia burgdorferi Serology Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) on Serum\nBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Molecular Detection and Genotyping Molecular Detection by PCR and Sequencing\nBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Serology Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) on CSF\nBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Serology Immunoblot (Line blot) - IgG\nEhrlichia chaffeensis Molecular Detection Molecular Detection by PCR\nEhrlichia chaffeensis Serology Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) \u2013 IgG\nFrancisella tularensis Serology Microagglutination Test (MAT) on Specimens from Non-Human Sources\nFrancisella tularensis Molecular Detection Molecular Detection and Typing of Francisella tularensis in Specimens from Non-Human Sources\nLeptospira spp. Serology Microagglutination test (MAT)\nLeptospira spp. Serology Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) -IgM\nLeptospira spp. Molecular Detection and Genotyping Detection of Leptospira species by PCR and sequencing\nRelapsing fever Borrelia Molecular Detection and Genotyping Molecular Detection by PCR and Sequencing","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"EPA Analysis Shows Increased Toxic Chemical Releases in Vermont in 2015\nTen-year trend shows major reductions of emissions in New England\nDavid Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov)\nBOSTON - EPA's most recent Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data is now available for the reporting year of 2015. In Vermont, the reporting data show that overall releases of pollutants to the environment increased since the previous reporting year (2014). However, the analysis shows a 15.6 percent decrease of reported chemical releases in Vermont from 2005 to 2015.\nDuring 2015, the latest year for which data are available, approximately 15.1 million pounds of chemicals were released in the six New England states, a reduction of about 1.3 million pounds (decreased by 8.3 percent) from 2014 (the previous reporting year). During this period, total air emissions in New England were reduced by 9.4 percent.\nBetween 2005 and 2015, New England facilities reduced their total on- & off-site disposals and other releases by 50.1 percent. During this span of 10 years, New England facilities reduced their air emissions by 70.9 percent \u2013 exceeding the national air trend of a 50 percent reduction.\nIn Vermont, 38 facilities reported in 2015 approximately 354,804 pounds (an increase of 45,679 pounds, or 14.8 percent). Since 2005, reporting facilities in Vermont have reduced their releases from 420,486 pounds, a reduction of 15.6 percent.\nTRI information is a key part of EPA's efforts to provide greater access to environmental information and get information to the public as quickly as possible. TRI reporting provides Americans with vital information about their communities by publishing information on toxic chemical disposals and releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. Data from the Toxic Release Inventory is an important tool for citizens to know what chemicals are used in their communities, and what companies are doing to prevent pollution.\n\"The trends that show steady declines of chemicals being released into New England's air, water and land show without any doubt that we can have a strong and growing economy while enjoying a clean, healthy and protected environment,\" said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. \"It's also a testament to American ingenuity and know-how, to see our companies and citizens respond to the call to reduce harmful emissions while continuing to prosper.\"\nEach year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company's facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.\nReporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation's air, land and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility's pollution prevention program(s).\nThe top ten chemicals released to the environment on- and off-site during 2014 in Vermont were:\nNITRATE COMPOUNDS 209,815\nNICKEL 31,927\nZINC COMPOUNDS 17,495\nSTYRENE 16,080\nCOPPER 14,370\nETHYLENE GLYCOL 14,031\nLEAD 13,027\nAMMONIA 12,673\nCHROMIUM 10,235\nHYDROGEN FLUORIDE 5,795\nThe ten facilities that reported the largest quantity of on- and off-site environmental releases in Vermont under TRI for 2015 were:\nGLOBAL FOUNDRIES US 2 LLC, ESSEX JUNCTION 166,786\nCABOT CREAMERY, CABOT 62,929\nGE AVIATION PLANT, NORTH CLARENDON 39,662\nUS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ETHAN ALLEN FIRING RANGE, JERICHO 26,008\nMOORE CO FULFLEX OF VERMONT, BRATTLEBORO 18,720\nTANSITOR ELECTRONICS INC., BENNINGTON 13,241\nWEIDMANN ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY INC., ST JOHNSBURY 9,098\nQUESTECH CORP., RUTLAND 6,982\nGE AVIATION PLANT, RUTLAND 4,527\nSWAN VALLEY CHEESE, SWANTON 1,660\nTRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals. Nationwide, nearly 22,000 facilities submitted TRI data for calendar year 2015.\nEPA will hold training workshops to assist facility managers to understand and comply with TRI reporting requirements during the spring of 2017 in each of the six New England states.\nToxic Release Inventory (www.epa.gov\/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program)\nFurther TRI Analysis for Vermont (go.usa.gov\/x9Pqk)\nTRI training workshop details will be posted at: www.epa.gov\/aboutepa\/epa-region-1-new-england","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"You are at:Home\u00bbPosts Tagged \"broken kneecap\"\nBrowsing: broken kneecap\nDobbs chose Option 3, and other reasons he should be considered for Heisman\nBy on\t August 3, 2010 Football, Navy\nCBSsports.com columnist Gregg Doyel has weighed in on the Ricky Dobbs For Heisman movement that has gained steam recently (there's even a Twitter account pushing for Dobbs). Turns out Doyel is onboard, although he has no illusion about how difficult it will be for Dobbs to garner serious consideration. \"This is a long shot, of course. You know it. I know it. Even Dobbs knows it, \" Doyel writes. \"He's a confident sort \u2014 in his official bio at Navy he not only says he wants to be President of the United States, he tells us which year he wants\u2026","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"On the National Day of Hungarian Culture, Hungarian workers in the cultural sector demand better pay!\nEPSU affiliates KKDSZ are holding a demonstration to protest the unacceptable low level of pay across the culture sector and the lack of any pay increase for their members for over 10 years.\nAll-Ukrainian Trade Union Forum Kiev\nUpdate situation in Ukraine \u2013 unions united in rejection of labour reform\nThe All-Ukrainian trade union Forum, the body that has representatives of more than 60 thousand primary trade union organisations, mandated by five million trade union members, is calling for a wide range of actions.\nCroatian public service unions supporting the Ukrainian trade union protests against labour law reform\nCroatian unions: higher wages and stronger bargaining a key priority. Supporting the Ukrainian unions\nEPSU's Croatian affiliates have a clear message for the European Commission and their government, now chairing the Council of Ministers.\nETUCE and EPSU show solidarity with Ukraine's Trade Unions\nEurope's public service workers are concerned about the impact of the new labour legislation on workers in the Ukraine.\nLarge health sector strike in Northern Ireland\nHealthcare services will be heavily disrupted today as paramedics, nurses, and other healthcare workers are going on strike.\nTrade union movement raises concerns about the Labour Law in Ukraine\nThe Ukrainian government continues to push for a reform of the labour law without involving the trade unions.\nFirefighters demonstration in Roma 12 December 2019 - EPSU General Secretary speaking\nEPSU expresses solidarity with actions of the Italian public service unions\nThe Italian public service unions are organizing a series of actions to put pressure on the Italian government and the employers.\nUpdate on the situation in Ukraine\nToday, trade unions of Ukraine are facing many challenges related to reduction of state support for certain sectors of economy\nSuccess of EPSU's actions for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women\nOn the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, EPSU organized a campaign to promote a health and safe environment in the world of work, through the ratification of the Istanbul and the ILO 190 Conventions.\nProtest pension reforms in France, 5 December 2019\nMassive actions, demonstrations and strikes to protest pension reforms in France yesterday\nThe French government has proposed changes to the pension system in France. These changes face opposition of all French unions.\nSuccess for Australian unions \u2013 solidarity works\nFor months, Australian trade unions have been fighting a piece of legislation that would make it very difficult for unions to organise themselves and represent workers.\nPrevious action Latvian health and care workers on 7 November\nEPSU supports Latvian health workers in new protest for quality care\nOn 28 November Latvian health and care workers are staging a new protest in front of the Parliament (Saeima).\nPodkrepa unions organising a national-wide protest rally on 27th November 2019\nEPSU and EFBWW support for protests Bulgarian unions\nBulgarian unions are organising actions and protests to demand the government takes steps to ensure decent living and working conditions for workers and families in the country. Podkrepa unions are organising a national-wide protest rally on 27th November 2019.\nEPSU solidarity with Dutch workers in hospitals on strike 20 November\nDutch workers in hospitals will be on strike demanding more staff to deal with high workloads, better conditions and respect for working time, and higher wages.\nEPSU's senior vice-president Francoise Geng with the European delegation including representatives of UNITE and Unison (UK) as well as ITUC and leading unionists from Turkey\nEPSU supports President Turkish confederation DISK in defence of free speech \u2013 drop the charges\nThe second public hearing in the trial of Arzu \u00c7erkezo\u011flu, President of DISK took place 14 November in Sapanca, near Istanbul.\n(-) Remove Solidarity filter Solidarity\n--Choose--(-) Solidarity (482) Union Rights (317) Collective Bargaining (37) Health (31) Social Services (19) Equality (14) Central government (12) Health and Safety (12) Privatisation (12) Economic Policy (11) Migration (10) Energy (9) Local government (9) Quality employment (9) Strike (9) Tax justice (9) Company policy and EWCs (8) Low pay\/minimum wages (8) Water (7) Social Dialogue (6) Childcare (5) Environment\/Climate Change (5) Trade (5) Electricity (4) Outsourcing (4) Pensions\/retirement (4) Transparency & Corruption (4) Waste (4) Working Time (4) Digitalisation (3) Precarious employment (3) Culture (2) Information & consultation (2) Work-life balance (2) Gas (1) Gender pay gap (1) PPPs (1) Recruitment & organising (1) Restructuring (1)\n--Choose-- Health and Social Services (34) Utilities (14) Executive Committee (11) National and European Administration (11) Local and Regional Government (9)\n--Choose-- Firefighters (10) EWCs (5) Women & Gender Equality (4) Prisons Services (3) Public Services (3) Youth (2)\n--Choose-- Press Release (16) Papers and publications (9) Statement (6) Position paper (4) Resolution (3) Constituency (2) Briefing (1) Congress Briefing (1) Editorial (1)\n--Choose-- Turkey (37) U.K. (18) France (15) Greece (13) Ukraine (12) Germany (9) Hungary (8) Spain (7) Belgium (6) Ireland (5) Italy (5) Croatia (4) Lithuania (3) Portugal (3) Romania (3) Russia (3) Slovenia (3) Australia (2) Austria (2) Denmark (2) Europe (2) Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.) (2) Korea (2) Kosovo (2) Latvia (2) Norway (2) Serbia (2) Sweden (2) USA (2) Armenia (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) Bulgaria (1) Czech Republic (1) Finland (1) Georgia (1) Kazakhstan (1) Montenegro (1) Slovak Republic (1) Switzerland (1) The Netherlands (1)\n--Choose-- English (478) French (2) Greek (2)\nEvents to come\nWorking group on EPSU Vice-PresidentsRue du March\u00e9 aux Herbes 105 - ETF - Brussels [BE]\nWorking group on EPSU Vice-Presidents\nEPSU Collective Bargaining Working GroupBoulevard du Roi Albert II 5 - Brussels [BE]\nEPSU Collective Bargaining Working Group\nCEMR - EPSU Project: \"Localising the European Semester\" - Final ConferenceCalle Larga Ragusei Dorsoduro 3489\/E-C - NH Venezia Rio Novo - Venice [IT]\nCEMR - EPSU Project: \"Localising the European Semester\" - Final Conference","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Maryland Humanities Awards Nearly $75,000 in Grants to 13 Maryland Nonprofits\n(Baltimore) \u2013 Maryland Humanities is pleased to award $74,146 to 13 organizations based in or creating projects in Maryland. The grantees span six Maryland counties and Baltimore City: recipients are located in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Wicomico County.\nMaryland Humanities' major grants support up to $10,000 per recipient. Mini grants support up to $1,200 per recipient. Funding goes to nonprofit organizations that use the humanities (literature, philosophy, history, etc.) to inspire Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities. Grant criteria encourage free public programming in many forms.\n$69,547 in major grant funding will go to the following organizations: Accokeek Foundation, Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation, Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation, Docs in Progress, The Lost Towns Project, Olney Theatre Corporation, The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Wicomico Public Libraries.\nBlair Network Communications, Historic Hampton, Patapsco Heritage Greenway, and Salisbury Middle School will receive a combined total of $4,599 in mini grant funding from Maryland Humanities.\nProjects funded in this most recent round of awards include a set of storytelling workshops about home and family; educational programming surrounding a public art project entitled The Black Vote Mural Exhibit; and a series of events, lectures, and exhibits commemorating the history and culture of the Patapsco Valley within the context of the nineteenth amendment.\nMaryland Humanities' Grants Program is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Maryland Historical Trust in the Maryland Department of Planning, and the Maryland Department of Labor.\nLearn more about the recently funded projects here and learn more about our Grants Program, eligibility, and deadlines here.\nRemembering Marilyn Hatza\nMaryland Humanities Announces New Board Chair\nMaryland Humanities Tour of Smithsonian Exhibition Travels to Western Maryland","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"In honor of the United Nations' 75th Anniversary and GivingTuesday, Playing For Change and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are thrilled to announce Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice, produced by Playing For Change and Blackbird Presents, exclusively on Facebook Live for 48 hours. The event will then be streamed on demand on the Playing For Change YouTube channel in honor of Human Rights Day on December 10th and will be available until December 31st.\nThe global virtual event will inspire people to act for peace, justice and equity, everywhere and for everyone. It will feature performances from some of the world's most iconic artists, including: Aloe Blacc, Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., Jack Johnson, Jim James, Keb' Mo', Keith Richards, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Peter Gabriel, Rhiannon Giddens, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sheila E., Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, The War and Treaty, Yo-Yo Ma and many more. Special appearances include Billie Eilish, Ellie Goulding, Killer Mike, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, Norman Lear, Prince Ea and Sara Bareilles.\nWATCH EVENT:\nThrough the universal language of music and the art of storytelling, the event will call for equality, human rights, and an end to discrimination, spotlighting people of African descent and championing the full protection and promotion of human rights for all. It will embody the unity and common purpose that beat in the heart of humanity.\nContributions from partners and all donations made to Peace Through Music's Facebook Fundraiser will support the Playing For Change Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund, Sankofa, Silkroad, and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation \u2013 organizations that strive to eradicate poverty, inequality, and systemic racial and gender discrimination around the world.\n\"We are stronger together than we are apart, and it is an honor to partner with like-minded artists and charities that echo this sentiment. The power of music is one tool we can use to unite and eradicate racism, inequality, poverty, and all other diseases that have plagued our world for much too long. The things in life that divide us, disappear when the music plays, and that's something we hope you see and feel during this event,\" says Mark Johnson, Playing For Change Co-Founder.\n\"Music is a wonderful medium to raise awareness about our collective quest for peace, justice, equality and dignity \u2013 the noble ideals of the United Nations. It is a powerful, unifying language that can help build bridges and advance social justice in all of its forms,\" says Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund.\n\"We need to rediscover and reassert the language of our unity, of our common fears and common hopes, forged through the crucible of the pandemic. And what better example is there of a common language beyond our differences, notwithstanding our divisions, than music? We are delighted to be a part of this exciting event, advocating for social justice, and in honor of UN75,\" says Fabrizio Hochschild, Special Adviser on the Preparations for the Commemoration of the United Nations' 75th Anniversary.\n\"We are honored to work with artists and organizations that share in the values of peace, justice, and equality for all humans. This event is a reflection of these values at a time when they are sorely needed in this world,\" says Keith Wortman, Founder, and CEO of Blackbird Presents.\n\"We're proud to collaborate with Playing for Change and UNFPA on this exciting event,\" said Scott Forester, Division Vice President, Business Director, Corning\u00ae Gorilla\u00ae Glass. \"Over the last two years, the Gorilla Glass business' relationship with Playing For Change has showcased the importance of music as a universal language and helps unite us as a global community. In today's digital life, music is shared, and even created through our mobile devices \u2013 which is why we at Corning are excited that Gorilla Glass technology can play a small but important role in helping to protect our devices and ensuring that we stay connected to one another.\"\n\"For over 100 years we have been inspiring, supporting and engaging with musicians across all generations, genres and nations, but it feels like the world needs music now more than ever to bring us together,\" says James \"JC\" Curleigh, President and CEO of Gibson. \"The opportunity for us to partner with Playing For Change will create a compelling music movement around the world.\"\nFull Lineup:\nAbdiel P\u00e9rez, Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets), Afro Fiesta, Ahmed Al Harmi, Al Harban Brothers, Alceu Maia, Alcione, Alfred Howard (US), Ali Boulala, Aloe Blacc, Amin Dominguez, Amina J. Mohammed (UN), Ana Carolina Pitti, Andr\u00e9 Siqueira, Andreus Vald\u00e9s Torres, Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Armando Chiari, Azue\u00ef, Barou Sall, Becky G, B\u00e9la Fleck, Bernardo Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead), Bill Summers, Billie Eilish, Binho, Bizung Family Band, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Candombe Drum Group, Carl C-Wyya Edwards, Carlinhos 7 Cordas, Carlos Amaya, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Cesar Pope, Chandrajit, Chango Spasiuk, Char, Cheikh Gueye, Chouloute Minouche, Cizinho Jorge, Clarence Bekker, Congo Drums, Cory Henry, Courtney \"Bam\" Diedrick, Cristina Pato, Damaso Mel\u00e9ndez, Danny Glover, David Cass\u00e9us, Debora Do Santos, Dianelys V\u00e1zquez, Dimitri Dolganov, Dina Elwebidi, Di\u00f3genes Villanueva, Django Degen, Donald Harrison and Congo Square Nation, Dr. John, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dudu Nobre, Dynamic Music Collective, Eduin Vald\u00e9s Hern\u00e1ndez, EduMundo and Caveman, Eli\u00e1n De Hoyos, Elianys de Hoyos, Ellie Goulding, Elsa Molinar, Epsy Campbell Barr, Erubide Arias, Estefani Moreno, Estevenson Padilla Vald\u00e9s, Eyadou Ag Leche, Fabi\u00e1n Miodownik, Fabrizio Hochschild-Drummond, Fernando Caballero, Fernando \"Lobo\" N\u00fa\u00f1ez, Francois Viguie, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., George Porter Jr., Geraldo & Dionisio, Gilberto Mu\u00f1oz, Grandpa Elliott, Guardians Of The New Fire, Guimel Jimenez, Gustavo Montemurro, Heraldo De Hoyos, Hiromitsu Agatsuma, Hugo Soares, Hutch Hutchinson, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, Ibram X. Kendi, Ignacio Mateu, Iluska Qui\u00f1ones, Ivan Neville, Jack Johnson, Jaguara, Jairo Esquina, Jamal Murray, James Vergneau aka Rebel Layonn, Jason Tamba, Javoci Do Imperio, Jeanine Gall, Jim James, Joao Viana, John Cruz, John Prine, John Herno, Jorge Jim\u00e9nez, Jorge Williams, Jos\u00e9 Luis \"Bocha\" Mart\u00ednez, Jos\u00e9 Vald\u00e9s Ter\u00e1n, Julieta Rada, Junior Kissangwa Mbouta, Karl Perazzo, Kasha Sequoia Slavner, Keb' Mo', Keiko Komaki, Keiler Vald\u00e9s Herrera, Keith Richards, Killer Mike, Kolgate, La Escuelita del Ritmo, Larkin Poe, Lee Oskar, Lindomar Fraga, Los hijos de Benkos, Louis Mhlanga, Lucas Pietro, Lucila Rada, Luis Carlos Cassiani Simarra, Luiz Augusto, Luiz Otavio, Lukas Nelson, Lurielys Albert, Mamadou Sarr, Mambueni Bisalu, Manuel Beteg\u00f3n, Manuel P\u00e9rez Salinas, Marcelo Blanco, Marcus King, Marfa Kurakina, Mark Johnson, Mary Ann Ortiz, Massamba Diop, Mateo, Matias Rada, Mbonda Tempelo, Mavis Staples, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, Mermans Mosengo, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mestra Joana Cavalcante, Michelle Bachelet, Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), MishCatt, Mohammed Alidu, Nasreen Sheikh, Natalia Kanem (UNFPA), Nathaniel Rateliff, Nayelis Boltier, Nelson Cedres, Nelson Rangel, Nielson Do Tamborim, Nikki Burt, No\u00e9 N\u00fa\u00f1ez, Norm, Norman Lear, Ousseynou and Assane Kaba, Papa Lusamba, \"Papi\" Felix Garemua, Paulo Heman, Peter Bunetta, Peter Gabriel, Playing For Change Band, Playing For Change Foundation, Pokei Klaas, POPO, Prince Ea, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Rajeev Shrestha, Reggie McBride, Renan Silva, Rhiannon Giddens, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph, Roberto Luti, Robin Moxey, Roger Ridley, Rub\u00e9n Rada, Rudson Daniel and Enio Taquari, Rui Dinis, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sanjay Shrestha, Santiago Luzacando, Sara Bareilles, Sean \"Pow\" Diedrick, Sebastian Robertson, Sexteto Tabala, Sheila E., Shemekia Copeland, Sherieta Lewis and Roselyn Williams, Silkroad, Sinamuva, Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, Sol Homar, Songhoy Blues, Stefano Tomaselli, Taikoproject, Taimane, Tal Wilkenfeld, Tatiana Mu\u00f1oz, The Cape Town Ensemble, The War and Treaty, Tia Vilma, Tito Puente Jr., Toumani Diabat\u00e9, TP OK Jazz, Tuca Da Cuica, Tula Ben Ari, Tushar Lall, Twanguero, Twin Eagle Drum Group, Venkat, Victor Gabriel Castro, Victor Jim\u00e9nez, Vientos de Cordoba, Vusi Mahlasela, Washboard Chaz, Welele Doubout, Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, Wilbert Vald\u00e9s Torres, Williams Callender, Yo-Yo Ma, Yu Hatakeyama, ZEPA, Zulu Choir\nFor more information about Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice, please visit https:\/\/peacethroughmusic.live.\nPosted in Blog, NewsTagged aloe blacc, ang\u00e9lique kidjo, annie lennox, becky g, billie eilish, bob marley foundation, brandi carlile, carlos santana, ellie goulding, exclusively streaming on facebook', facebook exclusive, facebook givingtuesday match, facebook season of giving, gabi melim, gary clark jr., givingtuesday, human rights day, jack johnson, jamal murray, keb' mo', leaving no one behind, mavis staples, music for social justice, norman lear, peace through music event, peace through music social justice, peter gabriel, peter gabriel biko, playing for change foundation, prince ea, ringo starr, Robbie Robertson, rock & roll hall of fame, run the jewels, sankofa, sheila e., silkroad, skip marley, social justice event, the war and treaty, un75, un75 event, united nations 75th anniversary event, united nations population fund, yo-yo maLeave a comment\nWhat are the impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on people of African descent and their communities?\nOn Thursday 23 July, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem was joined by government and civil society leaders and other experts to discuss this question in the latest Nairobi Commitments\/ICPD25: What's Next? Global Thought Leadership Conversation. Participants reflected on how we can build a better world, one that breaks the cycle of systemic inequalities and brings us unequivocally toward equal societies, free from discrimination, marginalization and racism.\nThe virtual moderated event featured music and other performances by people of African descent and the African diaspora and Playing For Change co-founder Mark Johnson joined the conversation to share some exciting news!\nPromote the conversation on your social media channels using the hashtags #ICPD25 and #WhatsNext4Women so we can engage a large global audience and continue our march for change.\nCheck out the conversation below:\nPosted in Blog, NewsTagged #ICPD25, #whatsnext4women, afro descent, COVID-19, mark johnson, music, peace through music, pfc, playing for change, playing for change foundation, united nations, we shall overcomeLeave a comment\nAudio-Technica: PFC's Exclusive Global Sponsor of all Headphones and Microphones\nLOS ANGELES, CA\u2014Playing For Change (PFC)\u2014the global movement that was created to connect the world through music by recording, filming, and distributing musical performances\u2014is proud to announce its new sponsor, Audio-Technica, will supply microphones and headphones to all international PFC-related events. Additionally, the Playing For Change Band and the Playing For Change Foundation will receive donations of microphones and headphones as well as technical support from Audio-Technica.\nReflecting on their future relationship, Playing For Change CEO\/Co-Founder Mark Johnson offers, \"We have been using Audio-Technica headphones for years and are excited to have them joining in on our ongoing mission of connecting the world through music. Much of what PFC does involves getting audio in the field\u2014a task to which Audio-Technica microphones and headphones are well-suited. Audio-Technica also understands that music is about people, that it's our global language and heritage, and it must be preserved and cherished. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with Audio-Technica and together, show that great sound is everywhere.\"\n\"Playing For Change represents the ways in which music unites us around the world,\" adds Audio-Technica US President\/CEO Phil Cajka. \"We are proud to support their endeavors and we look forward to serving as an advocate for their efforts throughout the year.\" That shared mission will result in Audio-Technica's sustained presence in all PFC ventures as the organizations work together.\nIn addition to PFC Day events, PFC\u2013affiliated concerts, and the Playing For Change Band directly benefitting from the Audio-Technica sponsorship, students from around the world who participate in any of the 15 Playing For Change Foundation music programs will also receive headphones, microphones, and Audio-Technica technical support.\nFor more information, please visit audio-technica.com.\nPosted in Band, Blog, Foundation, News, PFC FoundationTagged audio-technica, California, concert, concerts, connect, donation, donors, filming, foundation, global language, headphones, international, live outside, Los Angeles, mark johnson, microphones, music, Musicians, partnership, Performance, pfc, pfc day, pfcband, playing for change, Playing For Change Band, recording, shows, sponsor, tour, unite, world, World musicLeave a comment\nListen to the Music Contest | nana music\nPlaying For Change is proud to join our partner, nana, for the \"Listen to the Music\" Contest!\nCollaborate with musicians from around the world using official Playing For Change tracks exclusively available on the nana app. Nana will carefully hand-select 20 finalists from all submissions and the PFC team will choose the \"Best Collaboration\" and \"Outstanding Collaboration\" to win some special prizes.\nSTEP 1: Learn the original song\nSTEP 2: Choose which track you would like to collaborate on and record\n>Check out the official tracks by Playing For Change\n>Go to the track you want to collaborate on and Hit the Collab button to add your sounds\nFor Singers: You can sing solo or sing with the backing chorus. You can also add some harmony or ad-libs to it.\nFor Musicians: You can play your instrumental tracks and build on sounds.\nSTEP 3: Post with hashtag #nanaPFC\nPosts without the hashtag above will be disqualified.\nPosts without any singing voice or instrumental sound will also be disqualified.\n>1 year PFC membership including an audio digital download of the \"Listen to the Music\" album and access to PFC's entire music library\n>PFC Shop e-Gift Card (worth $50 USD)\n>Receive a special shout-out on PFC social media\nOutstanding Collaboration\n>3 month PFC Membership\nAbout nana music\nMusic social app \"nana\" is a social community where you can \"record & post,\" \"collaborate & share,\" whenever and wherever you are with your smartphone. Since its release in August 2012, more than 6 million registered users across the globe are collaborating and enjoying a global music session. Learn more about nana.\nPosted in Blog, Music Videos, NewsTagged char, collaboration, contest, Ellis Hall, listen to the music, mobile app, music, musician, Musicians, nana music, Opportunity, Performance, Rock, Song Around The World, The Doobie Brothers, World musicLeave a comment\nCollaborative Lyric App | Aballoon\nSONGWRITERS, ARTISTS & FANS CREATING MUSIC TOGETHER!\nWe invite you to discover \"Aballoon\" a platform that allows you to connect with people from all over the world and create lyrics together!\nMeet new people, make new friends and share your creativity by writing lyrics that might turn into amazing songs!\nPrivate Lyrics\nWrite your own lyrics privately in an organized & verse-like format, and print them as in a Word file!\nCreating Songs Together! MUSICIANS & FANS\nAballoon Platform Write Lyrics with People From All The Globe! Lyric Together Start Writing Aballoon Songwriter\nPosted in Blog, News, PremiumLeave a comment\nPlaying For Change Announces WE ARE ONE Benefit Concert\nLos Angeles, CA, August 22, 2017 \u2014 Playing For Change, the multimedia company responsible for the popular 'Songs Around The World' video series, has announced it will host WE ARE ONE, a concert benefitting the Playing For Change Foundation and celebrating 10 years of positive change through music. Official partners for the event include Los Angeles' premier rock radio station 95.5 KLOS, LA Weekly, and Japan-based music app Nana. The concert will take place on Tuesday, October 3, at the historic Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles and feature performances from The Doobie Brothers members Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and John McFee; as well as Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett from Little Feat; The Playing For Change Band, that features 10 respected musicians from 10 different countries; world-renowned drummer James Gadson; The Ambassador of Soul, Ellis Hall; legendary harmonica player Lee Oskar; and more. Ticketing options include an exclusive VIP experience with a pre-show meet and greet reception with The Doobie Brothers and musicians, bar offerings, a priority seating area, and VIP gift bag which includes a commemorative poster. Tickets are on sale now at https:\/\/tickets.alistixs.com\/event\/weareone\nPlaying For Change has garnered much success over the years by combining musicians from all walks of life, all over the world and showcasing music's unifying power. Their videos have more than 450 million total online views, with their first 'Songs Around The World' video, \"Stand By Me,\" accumulating more than 100 million views on YouTube since its release in 2008. Artists such as Keith Richards, Bono, Jack Johnson, David Crosby, Jimmy Buffett, Sara Bareilles, Manu Chao, and many others have participated in these multi-cultural videos performing songs such as Bob Marley's \"One Love\" and \"War\/No More Trouble,\" Otis Redding's \"(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay,\" and John Lennon's \"Imagine.\" Playing For Change's new record, being released next year, features The Doobie Brothers along with more than 20 musicians from across the globe in a Song Around The World version of the band's iconic hit song, \"Listen to the Music.\" The video for this song will be premiered at the show on October 3rd.\nThe Playing For Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 organization, was established in 2007 in order to give back to the communities of the musicians met while filming these videos. Now embarking on its 10th year, the foundation has developed 15 music programs in 11 countries including South Africa, Rwanda, Nepal, Thailand, and Argentina, and serves more than 1200 children. All proceeds from the WE ARE ONE benefit will support free music education as well as supplemental primary educational support, and life enhancement services provided by the Playing For Change Foundation and assist in its effort to serve even more communities.\n\"When one thinks of the thousands of children around the world positively impacted by the Playing For Change movement, gaining free access to music education in their own homelands, the love over a decade is simply immeasurable,\" said John McKenna, Executive Director of Playing For Change Foundation. \"What better place to celebrate than right here where it all started? We look forward to an unforgettable evening of joy, celebration, and recommitment to the children everywhere, through united love and song.\"\n\"This concert represents 10 years of traveling to over 50 countries connecting the world through music. From the streets and villages to the stage to the hearts of the people, Playing For Change,\" states Mark Johnson, Co-Founder of Playing For Change.\nPosted in Band, Blog, Foundation, News, Tour DatesTagged Benefit Concert, Classic Rock, core water, Doobie Brothers, Ellis Hall, James Gadson, KLOS, la weekly, Lee Oskar, Little Feat, live music, Los Angeles, Mayan Theater, music education, Nahko, nana, Playing For Change Band, playing for change foundation, roland, Siedah Garrett, World musicLeave a comment\nHow Music Can Build Community: Fandango Fronterizo\nEvery year since 2008, musicians, dancers, and spectators assemble on either side of the border between San Diego and Tijuana for an annual music event known as the Fandango Fronterizo. This heavily patrolled enforcement zone named Friendship Park, welcomes many Americans and Mexicans for a day of musical celebration even though there's an 18-foot metal fence separating them.\nFandango Fronterizo shares the music of son jarocho, a traditional form of music from the south of Veracruz which incorporates Spanish, African, and Indigenous influences. It is a lively event with communal participation of people playing instruments such as the jarana, requinto, padero tambourine, quijada, and tarima.\nThe original idea for Fandango Fronterizo was for the purpose of joining all of the son jarocho musicians in one place where they didn't have to worry about having documentation to cross into America and friends in America didn't have to be fearful of the narco-violence then taking place in Tijuana. Today, musicians and friends from both sides continue to share joy, smiles and music as they join in solidarity with their fandango community across the border and prove that even physical barriers cannot break the unifying power of music.\nPosted in Blog, NewsTagged border, fandango fronterizo, friendship park, mexico, music, son jarocho, united statesLeave a comment\nPlaying For Change Argentina, Work In Progress\nThe Playing For Change Foundation has now its own branch in Argentina with a fantastic team of people committed to bring positive change through music education across the country.\nLast November, the PFC band hit the road in Argentina and performed one of its most amazing shows, in Buenos Aires, in front of 8000 people. This concert was the result of the great work from our Argentinian team and also became the starting point of our educational work in Argentina.\nIn Patagonia, we partnered with the IUPA ( Instituto Universitario Patag\u00f3nico de las Artes ) in order to create music workshops in the area as well as connexions with the PFC programs in Argentina and around the world. Our first music program in the country is also located in Patagonia, and despite a flood that destroyed part of our school a few months ago, we have carried out several workshops in the community: Dance, traditional music, instruments making, Mapuche language as well as English classes. The idea is to be able to establish a program of consistent classes and workshops in 2017 and continue the work that has been done so far thanks to the hard work of the team in Argentina:Guillermo Schulmeier, Vanessa Ulloa, Jorge Amaolo to mention just a very few.\nThe second node of the PFCF work in Argentina is located in Diamante and coordinated by our friend Patrick Liotta who is putting together a music program in his hometown. Diamante is located 450km north of Buenos Aires and has a very rich musical heritage. We are looking forward to start this new Music program and as we're doing in Patagonia, use music as a tool for education as well as contributing to the preservation of the cultural heritage.\nThis Wednesday, PFC co-founder Mark Johnson will speak at the Sustainable Brand Conference in Buenos Aires. For more information check out the SB 16 website.\nYour support is crucial for the continuation of positive change.\nMake a donation here\nPosted in Foundation, NewsLeave a comment\nThe International Songwriting Competition Wants Your Songs!\nRegular Deadline: September 9, 2016\nExtended Deadline: September 10 \u2013 November 4, 2016\nOne of the most respected songwriting competitions throughout the world, ISC is known for being a launching pad for music and songwriting careers. More than $150,000 in cash and merchandise will be awarded to 71 winners, including a Grand Prize of $25,000 in cash.\nTo enter, go to http:\/\/www.songwritingcompetition.com\nHave your music heard by some of the biggest names in the music industry. Renowned for having prestigious celebrity and industry judges, ISC has an impressive line-up for 2016, including: Tom Waits, Chris Cornell, Ziggy Marley, Bastille, Lorde, Sara Evans, Donovan, India Arie, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Marti Maguire (Dixie Chicks), Joy Williams (The Civil Wars), Ryan Bingham, Salif Keita, Vijay Iyer, and more \u2013 plus top industry executives from major record labels including Craig Kallman (Chairman\/CEO, Atlantic Records), Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros.), Seymour Stein (Chairman\/CEO, Sire Records), Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records), Craig Balsam (Co-Owner, Razor & Tie), John Esposito (Chairman\/CEO, Warner Music Nashville), Steve Yegelwel (Senior VP, Island Records) and many more.\nCategories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Americana, Blues, Children's Music, Comedy\/Novelty, Country, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), Folk\/Singer-Songwriter, Christian, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin Music, Lyrics Only, Music Video, Performance, Pop\/Top 40, R&B\/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, World Music, Unpublished, and Unsigned Only. Entrants may submit as many songs as they wish \u2013 in the same category or in multiple categories.\nNEW IN ISC 2016\nThis year ISC has added a new category called Unpublished. We all know how important publishing is to an artist \u2013 it is one of the major sources of revenue, but it is so difficult to get your music heard by publishing companies. So, ISC is taking steps to open the doors for you by having established, high-profile publishers as judges for this category only. This is your chance to get your music heard by publishers who can help your songwriting career. Songs entered into Unpublished cannot be owned in any part by a music publishing company (entrant must own 100% of the publishing rights to the song). Songs entered into the Unpublished category must also be entered into at least one other category (excluding the Unsigned Only category). Entries in this category will be entered in ISC 2016 and be eligible for all associated prizes.\nJoin the ranks of past winners Vance Joy, Kimbra, Goyte, The Band Perry, Passenger, For King and Country, Bastille, Kasey Chambers, Gin Wigmore and many others \u2013 and enter your songs now.\nPosted in Blog, NewsTagged AAA, AC, Americana, Blues, Children\u00b4s Music, Christian, Comedy\/Novelty, Competition, EDM, Folk, Hip-Hop, Instrumental, Jazz Latin, Lyrics Only, music, Music Video, Musicians, Opportunity, Performance, Pop, R&B, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Songwriting, Teen, Unpublished, Unsigned, World musicLeave a comment\nPFC is now an official B Corporation\nPlaying For Change is proud to announce that we are now a Certified B Corp!\nWhat is a B Corp? B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.\n\"When people think first about the money and then about the music, the music won't be worth the money they were thinking about.\" \u2013 Bob Marley\nWe are happy to stand with a community of more than 1,600 certified B Corps, spanning 42 countries and over 120 industries who believe in using business as a force for good. With our new certification we join likeminded companies in the shared vision of not only being the best in the world but also being the best for the world. We will continue to spread Peace Through Music and create positive change in our world \u2014 one heart and one song at a time.\nView our B corp Profile\nPosted in NewsLeave a comment\n#ArtsForChange\n#ArtsForChange is a movement to bring together those who believe that all young people deserve to experience the power of the arts in school! It also symbolizes the shared belief of Turnaround Arts and Playing For Change that the arts and music have the power to change lives, schools and our world.\nComing Friday, May 27th\u2026a music video produced by Playing For Change in partnership with Turnaround Arts.\nTurnaround Arts, a signature program of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, empowers high-need, low performing schools with innovative arts, dance, theater and music programs, arts integration across subject areas, arts resources, musical instruments, and high-profile artist mentors, as a proven strategy to help address broader school challenges and close the achievement gap.\nLearn more: http:\/\/turnaroundarts.pcah.gov\nCheck out our photo album here:\nPowered by Cincopa Video Hosting Platform for Business solution.\nPosted in Blog, NewsLeave a comment\nListen to Mermans Mosengo's heart touching rendition of \"Africa Unite,\" which is the first Bob Marley song he ever sang. Like the songs of Bob Marley, Mermans along with his bandmate Jason Tamba, hope to share their songs and stories of perseverance, peace, love and dignity with the world. It has been a lifelong dream of theirs to get out on the road and thanks to your support via Kickstarter they are making it happen!\nPFC3 Cover Contest 2016\nTO ALL MUSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD!\nWe are happy to invite you to participate in our PFC3 COVER CONTEST, where you can be eligible to win a LIMITED EDITION PFC3 Songs Around The World vinyl.\nPlus, we will FEATURE YOUR PERFORMANCE on our Facebook page!\nYou just have to:\n-Record yourself performing a cover version of any of our PFC3 songs.\n-Upload to youtube and share on your wall using #ICoverForChange\n-Send us your youtube link through a private message on Facebook.\n-All videos must be submitted by Wednesday February 3rd.\n-Our team will select the winner and will be announced on Friday February 5th.\nPlaying For Change 3: Songs Around The World, is a musical journey featuring over 180 musicians from 32 countries.\nThe songs to choose include:\n-La Bamba -Words of Wonder\n-Get Up, Stand Up -Reggae Got Soul\n-Down By The Riverside -A Better Place\n-What's Going On -Guantanamera\n-Clandestino -United\nSo get your jammin' on. One Love!\nThe Playing For Change Family\nPosted in Active, Blog, NewsLeave a comment\nPlaying For Change on Spotify\nEnjoy this selection of playlists from around the world.\nPFC Songs with originals Songs from our friends and heroes\nAmazing songs from Brazil Amazing Songs from Cuba\nSounds from Mali Music from the Congo\nGrandpa Elliott \" Sugar Sweet\" Great Jazz\nTal ben Ari \"Tula\" Jamaica Roots\nA Visit to Cuba | Photo-Video Blog\nCuba is a mystery: why so much amazing music, so many great musicians and music genres in this small and beautiful country? Historians and musicologists might have a logical explanation to this but I still think Cuba is blessed and blessed we were to travel there to record and film musicians. It has been quite a short but intense trip, with 4 full days of recordings in Havana. We've added some incredible musicians to our latest videos and also started a version around the world of the Buena Vista Classic \"Chan Chan.\"\nHavana is obviously a unique place in the world, were time seems to have frozen dozens of years ago but despite this vintage look, Cuba is also at the vanguard of many arts, especially in music.\nCheck out this video of maestro Pancho Amat introducing the tres (cuban guitar) as well as photos from our recent trip to the island.\nPancho Amat explains the tres and its role in Cuban music\nA street in La Habana vieja\nPianist Roberto Carcass\u00e9s, recording on our upcoming version of Chan Chan around the world\nRecording a horn section in the streets of Havana on our upcoming version of Bring it on Home to Me\nTrombon player Juan Carlos Mar\u00edn\nClarinet player Israel Figueredo\nMark and Carlos Miyares\nAmazing drummer Yissy Garc\u00eda\nRecording our friend Carlos Varela and his bass player Julio C\u00e9sar Gonz\u00e1lez\nPFC producer Enzo Buono with Yoana and Olivia, who helped us connect with all these amazing musicians in Havana and organised our schedule in Cuba . Thank you so much Yoana and Olivia for your amazing work.\nBet\u00fan on timbales and Bernardo Garc\u00eda on cowbell\nConga player Adel Gonz\u00e1lez listens to the track he is going to record on, the congolese song Afrika Mokili Mobimba\nRecording vocals with Tet\u00e9 Garc\u00eda Caturla\nFrancisco and his 360\u00b0 camera\nRumba en el callejon de Hamel\nLISTEN TO GREAT MUSIC FROM CUBA AND DISCOVER OUR CUBAN PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY\nA journey in Argentina | PhotoBlog\nThe recent travel of the PFC Band and crew to Argentina has been one of the most amazing highlights of this year for us and sets the start of a lot more to come.\nDuring a week we had the chance to play a show in Buenos Aires with over 6000 people, record musicians on new Songs Around the World, travel to Patagonia to start working on a new educational project as well as grow and strengthen the PFC global family.\nEverything that happened during this quite short amount of time is obviously the result of the hard work of the PFC Argentina team over the last months. We thank you SO MUCH and look forward to come back soon.\nHere is a photo report from this trip.\nThe PFC Band after a concert at the diary La Naci\u00f3n's headquarters\nAt Radio Metro after a live session in Buenos Aires\nRehearsals at the Direct TV Arena: GrandPa' is on Fire !\nThis venue is a brand new stadium out of buenos Aires which : the construction just finished a few weeks before the show, and the very first concert welcomed Sting: a week after the PFC Band is in the place.\nMike Shaeffer, our sound engineer and tour manager, during the soundcheck\nMermans, giving it all, as always, at soundchecks, as if they were shows\nGrandPa Elliott, Backstage, takes some rest before the show.\nThe Argentinian actor Boy Olmi introduces the project to the crowd\nOpening act with Tonolec\nMark introducing the Band\nThe blues harmonica meets the bandoneon\nMaestro Louis Mhlanga on the flying guitar\nChinese vocalist Jin Wu joined the band on Stage\nFrom Argentina, on percussions, our friend Don Camel\nLooks like the Venezuelan baseball team just scored!\nThe PFC band by Manu. The guy floating in the air is our beloved Clarence Bekker, himself.\nOn our way to Patagonia to play a second concert and discover the location of the first PFCF music program in Argentina\nJorge Amaolo is the founder of the Movimiento Nueva Escolaridad, an educational project that has developed a network of alternative schools in Argentina. We are currently working on a partnership with his organisation to provide music education across these schools and connect them with the PFCF music programs around the globe.\nThis photo was taken during the presentation of the school that will host our first music program in Argentina.\nInterview with a local TV in Rio Negro.\nRecording our very first Song Around The World in 360\u00b0\nRecording Roberto and his Argentinian soul brother, Nico Bereciart\u00faa\nLast show in General Roca, Patagonia\nThe venue was so packed that some had to stay outside\u2026\nPhotos by Fran\u00e7ois Vigui\u00e9, Sandra Selva and Patrick Liotta.\nPFC newsletter issue 5 \u2013 October 2015\nClick here to access the newsletter\nIntroducing the PFC PhotoShop App\nThe entire Zebra team is honored to join forces with Playing For Change to introduce PfcPhotoShop, a new mobile photo experience that allows PFC fans to personalize their favorite PFC photos and shop them on popular products such as iPhone cases, playing cards, mugs and tons more. When Mark Johnson and the PFC team showed us their photo library we were blown away by the richness, beauty and power of PFC's images. We knew right away that they would be a perfect fit for our technology and give fans an opportunity to experience PFC's images in a brand new way.\nWe are launching the PfcPhotoShop with 20 images available exclusively on the new app with five new images to be added to the app every week.\nWe are excited to partner up with PFC\u20ac\u2122 as we share their love for music and firmly believe in its power to end hatred and divisions around the world, heal the people and bring them together to create a loving and prosperous future for one human race.\nDownload the app here.\nAnton Pereiaslavtsev\nCEO, RunZebra.com\nVenice, California\nA leader in mobile product personalization, Zebra works with leading musicians and brands to make their images available on great products their fans can use and enjoy every day.\nStand By Me Lives On\nThe New Yorker published the following article regarding Ben E. King's passing. King started his career in the late 1950s with The Drifters, singing hits including \"There Goes My Baby\" and \"Save The Last Dance For Me\". After going solo, he hit the US top five with \"Stand By Me\" in 1961. We thank Mr. King for his song \"Stand By Me,\" as it transformed Playing For Change from a small group of individuals into a global movement for peace and understanding.\nThe Eternal \"Stand By Me\"\nPHOTGRAPH BY GEMS\/REDFERNS\/GETTY\n\"Stand by Me\",\u20ac\u009d the hit by Ben E. King, who died last week, was the fourth-most-popular song of the twentieth century; a 1999 music-industry report revealed that it had been played on the radio and television more than seven million times since its release, in 1961. (\"\u20ac\u0153You'\u20ac\u2122ve Lost That Loving Feeling\"\u20ac\u009d was No. 1.) The song's popularity was due in part to its use in the 1986 film of the same name, with River Phoenix, which sent King'\u20ac\u2122s hit back to the charts and revitalized his career. But the song itself has a unique ability to connect people. No one, short, perhaps, of John Donne, has better articulated our need for mutual connection.\nMusic fans know that there's much more to King than that one song. They know that he was born Benjamin Earl Nelson in 1938, in North Carolina, and moved to Harlem when he was nine. They know that he came from foundational doo-wop and went on to the Drifters, where he secured that group'\u20ac\u2122s place in music history with \"\u20ac\u0153There Goes My Baby,\" and then gave voice to the Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman songwriting partnership. Records like \"\u20ac\u0153Save the Last Dance for Me\"\u20ac\u009d and \"\u20ac\u0153This Magic Moment\"\u20ac\u009d became sort of the bedrock of East Coast R. & B. as it turned into soul. The work also connected him, at least spiritually, with a generation of rockers \u20ac\"Lou Reed had a longstanding relationship with Pomus, and Led Zeppelin played King'\u20ac\u2122s song \"\u20ac\u0153We'\u20ac\u2122re Gonna Groove\"\u20ac\u009d frequently. His later releases tended toward different orbits \"\u20ac\u0153Supernatural Thing\",\u20ac\u009d from 1975, was very much of its time, mid-tempo, Latin-flavored funk; it topped the R. & B. charts in March of that year, and was later covered by Siouxsie and the Banshees.\nBut \"Stand by Me\" remains King'\u20ac\u2122s crowning achievement, one that connected not only with the public but with an exceptionally high number of performers \u20ac\"more than four hundred cover versions have been recorded. John Lennon's loose, poignant rendition, from 1975, is the most widely known, but everyone from Muhammad Ali (who laid down a remarkably respectable version, in 1963, when he was still Cassius Clay) to Stephen King (his verbose, tongue-in-cheek take appeared in 1999) has tried it. With YouTube and other forms of digital media, the number of times that the song has been paid homage is incalculable. Just over two weeks ago, Tracy Chapman performed it on \"\u20ac\u0153Late Show with David Letterman.\"\n\"\u20ac\u0153Stand by Me\"\u20ac\u009d has a deeper resonance than most pop songs, which is perhaps why it has such a lasting and universal appeal. The instantly recognizable bass line echoes humanity'\u20ac\u2122s collective heartbeat. The gentle tapping of a triangle at the introduction functions as a reminder to wake up, calling to mind Buddhist chimes. The song cuts across generations as it starts with a childish concern \u2014 fear of the dark \u2014 and then offers a kind of adult relief two-thirds of the way through, with an uplifting orchestral break. And there'\u20ac\u2122s a twist to the pronouns at the end that essentially says, \"If you help me, I'\u20ac\u2122ll help you.\"\nThis message of mutual support is rooted in the origins of \"Stand by Me\"\u20ac\u009d itself. Like many songs of the Brill Building era, it was written by a number of people working together. In this case, King was in the company of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He had just left the Drifters, for whom the three of them had crafted \"There Goes My Baby,\"\u20ac and he had scored a huge hit with their \"Spanish Harlem,\"\u20ac\u009d written by Leiber and Phil Spector. According to \"Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography,\"\u20ac\u009d King and Leiber worked up the lyrics for \"Stand by Me,\"\u20ac\u009d Stoller came up with the signature bass line, and the arranger Stan Applebaum was responsible for the strings. Some might add that a higher power had a hand in its creation, too, as it was inspired by the gospel song \"\u20ac\u0153Stand by Me,\"\u20ac\u009d written, in 1905, by the Rev. Charles Albert Tindley, and also borrows from Psalm 46:2. Finally, it was King'\u20ac\u2122s divine vocals, full of aching tenderness, that brought it all together.\nOf all people to cover \"Stand by Me\", perhaps the most influential was Roger Ridley (1948-2005). A year before he died, Ridley was playing it on the streets of Santa Monica, where the music producer Mark Johnson, who was working on a project devoted to showing how music can connect people and change the world, saw him perform it. Johnson was so moved that he recorded Ridley in situ, and went on to create a video with him and thirty other artists around the world contributing to the song. Since that video went up on YouTube, in 2009, it has been viewed more than seventy-four million times, and Johnson's organization, Playing for Change, has found great success building music schools around the globe, reducing isolation, one note at a time.\nSee original article here.\nPlaying For Change Advent Calendar\nWelcome to the PFC Advent Calendar & Holiday Sale! Every day until December 25th, we are offering a FREE digital download of a video or song along with a different PFC product at a discounted holiday price! Be sure to keep visiting this page to see the surprise sale item as well as receive your free download (available for only 24 hours \u2013no purchase necessary)!\n\"La Bamba\" Performance Contest Winners & Fan Video!\nAfter receiving many amazing fan video entries for our \"La Bamba\" Performance Contest, we're excited to announce the Grand Prize Winner of the signed Fender Telecaster Guitar is the Official Ukulele Orchestra Dordrecht from the Netherlands!!\nFor the top 4 runner-up video entries, we've selected contestants Xander Lee and Chris Ren (Connecticut, USA), the Caburrasi Segundo Family (C\u00e1\u00a1diz, Spain), Philadelphia Phil (Pennsylvania, USA), and Rodo Vior (Madrid, Spain). These musician fans will be receiving a copy of PFC3: Songs Around The World for their excellent work.\nAdditionally, we've chosen clips from a few of our favorite video submissions and incorporated them into our original Playing For Change video! These contestants put a great deal of time, effort, and passion into each of their videos, and we're proud to share their talent with you. Enjoy this PFC fan video version of \"La Bamba\", featuring many amazing musicians playing for change around the globe.\nThank you SO much to all who participated; we hope you continue to join your friends, family, and community in creating peace through music together!\nWelcome to the PFC Joy Business Newsletter\nCheck out and sign up for the new PFC Joy Business Newsletter\nClick on the image bellow to discover the first issue.\nMeet with PFC Band Members Mermans and Jason\nJason Tamba and Mermans Mosengo are from the Congo and now live in South Africa. Since 2009, they have brought their spirit great music and soul to the Playing For Change movement touring with the PFC Band, composing songs, and recording on the Songs Around The World.\nTheir last album with Afro Fiesta, their Cape Town-based band that mixes congolese influences with roots reggae, is available soon!\nMo Fire\n10 Playing For Change Songs That Will Change Your Life\nBy: Jaime Lutz\nIn honor of Playing For Change's newly-released third album, PFC3: Songs Around The World\u009d, we'\u2122ve put together a track list of ten amazing Playing For Change songs that truly deserve the (usually insultingly vague) classification of World Music and exemplify the amazing body of work they'\u2122ve created over the years.\nIf this is your first time hearing about Playing For Change and you'\u2122re not sure what the fuss is all about, imagine yourself listening to a musician on a street corner who is way too talented to perform for free. That was Mark Johnson'\u2122s experience in 2005. Mark heard a man named Roger Ridley sing \"\u0153Stand By Me\"\u009d in Santa Monica. Johnson was so moved by the troubadour'\u2122s voice that he asked \"\u0153With a voice like yours, why are you singing in the streets?\"\u009d\n\"\u0153Man, I'\u2122m in the joy business,\"\u009d Ridley replied. \"\u0153I come out to be with the people.\"\nThis week, Playing For Change takes the joy business online as \"Songs Around The World\" meets fans around the world for the first time. Please join them for a series of interactive live video performances on Wizeo, the second of which will be streamed from Barcelona this Friday, July 18th and third from Austria on Saturday, July 26th. Check out a video from the first performance PFC Band members did live from San Francisco on July 10th.\n1. Clandestino\u009d\nLed by French sensation Manu Chao, this reggae-Latin jam features artists from five continents; everything but Antarctica and Oceania.\n2. Stand By Me\nThe song that started it all. Totally stunning.\n3. What's Going On\nMarvin Gaye's \"What's Going On\"\u009d took years to cover, but the final result, featuring Sara Bareilles, is something special.\n4. What a Wonderful World\nIt'\u2122s a \"What a Wonderful World\"\u009d sung by children's choirs. Come on, you like this one before you even hit play.\n5. Gimme Shelter\nThe Rolling Stones'\u2122 counter-culture anthem takes a bluesy, swampy turn on this inspired cover.\n6. Teach Your Children\nYou might want to cut onions before you play this one; you know, in order to save face.\n7. \u0153(Sittin'\u2122 On) The Dock of The Bay\nThis video begins with Roger Ridley in a live, street-side performance. I'\u2122m charmed by the way he thanks everyone who gives him a tip, and how his voice is so remarkably similar to Otis Redding's, the original singer of this classic.\n8. \u0153Lamuka\nThis original, by Congolese musician Christian Baklanga, is mesmerizing, and accompanied by nothing more than his guitar.\n9. \u0153Satchita\nAnother, highly danceable original by Playing For Change.\n10. \u0153Groove in G\nThis one'\u2122s really cool -\" Playing for Change went around the world and asked musicians to play a blues groove in the key of G. The end result is an original composition, written by composers hundreds of miles apart.\nSCENES DE RUE: From the Streets to the Stage\nThis past Monday, conductor Philippe Fournier directed one of the most amazing benefit events for the Playing For Change Foundation in Lyon, France. In front of an audience of 2,700, a symphony orchestra of over 100 musicians united with Playing For Change musicians as well as an incredible diversity of other artists, dancers and singers, through the universal language of music.\nThe concert is about to start. Outside the venue, a musician is playing guitar, busking in the cold. Hardly anyone notices him; they came to see a concert, a real concert. A few minutes pass and everyone is now sitting in a comfortable seat. When the curtain opens, the same seemingly invisible musician who was busking outside is now on stage with his guitar. A video appears on a wide screen behind him. There he is again, on the screen, playing in the subway! He and his virtual self begin playing Les Yeux Noirs together. After a minute or so of this virtual jam, a double bass player and a drummer show up on stage to join the party. Behind them, the symphony orchestra adds to the mixture of sounds. 130 musicians are now playing together with one man in the subway while 2,700 people remain captivated by the awesome sight and sound. The effect is powerful and the message quite clear: with music, barriers between us can only last for so long before powerful connection arises.\nPhilippe Fournier, director of the show and conductor of the orchestra, has been removing barriers between people for over 25 years, working with superstars, classical musicians, and street musicians all over the globe. A few months ago, he contacted us to share his idea for this incredible project and his hope for Playing For Change to be involved in it. Just a few months later, Philippe transformed his vision into a reality!!\nResulting in an especially compelling portion of the night, the orchestra played live with PFC videos \"\u0153Stand By Me\"\u009d and \"United,\" displayed on a screen behind them. During this performance, PFC Band musicians Clarence Bekker and Tula joined the orchestra on stage to sing their parts and improvise with the videos and the rest of the musicians.. The show ended with \"United,\" a Song Around The World composed by PFC Music Producer Enzo Buono and produced for the United Nation'\u2122s 7 Billion Campaign. In the middle of the song, a choir of 100 people emerged, hidden amongst the audience, and began to sing along. They made their way up to the stage, joining the 150 musicians on stage for an indescribable moment of connection and harmony.\nIt was truly impressive to see how one man, armed with a great deal of talent, passion and inspiration, was able to put together such an incredible show in support of the PFC Foundation'\u2122s work to create positive change through music education. He not only directed over 200 musicians on stage with power and ease and inspired an audience of 2,700, but he also raised a great deal of awareness for the work of the Playing For Change Movement. We are greatly proud to have been part of this, and we hope that this show will take place again in the near future.\nClick here or on any photo to access the photo gallery.\nPosted in Active, Blog, Foundation, News, Tour DatesLeave a comment\nRecording in Palenque de San Basilio, Colombia\nPalenque de San Basilio is one of the most uniques places in Latin America, a corner of Africa in Colombia. Founded by fugitive slaves more than three hundred years ago, Palenque has preserved its African roots over the centuries: music, traditional medicine and even a language that mixes Spanish with African languages. In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed Palenque \"Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.\" We had the chance to record in Palenque in 2010, while recording a Song Across Colombia, and in 2012, during the recording of \"United,\" a music video created for the UN'\u2122s 7 Billion Campaign.\nWe recently worked for the MDG Achievement Fund by creating and directing social and musical initiatives in 4 different countries (South Africa, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia) to support musicians in their craft to help make this world a better place through music. Palenque immediately appeared as a ideal place to host of one of the projects. The main idea behind this project was to be able to offer the opportunity to amazing roots musicians to record some of their music and help promote their work and culture on a larger scale. We hired a local film and recording crew, who went to Palenque for a week to capture it's unique music and provide the palenqueros with the recordings and videos.\nThis video features one of the main expressions Palenque's roots music, El sextet Tabal\u00e1, a band who has evolved through generations since its formation in the 30's.\nThe production team in Colombia:\nAllan Kassin: Production\nLucas Silva: Music producer\nGabriel Bocanegra: Sound engineer\nLuis Fernando Barbosa : Camera operator and film direction\nNicolas Cabrera: Camera operator\nJuan Martinez & Rodolfo Camino: Assistants sound and camera\nLuis Ender Ca\u00e1te Martinez: Sound engineer assistant\nGugulethu Sings in honor of South African heroes\nGugulethu sings for a Better Place !\nThe students and teachers of the Ntonga Music School, in Gugulethu, South Africa, came together to compose and record a song inspired by the great heroes of South Africa: Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Myriam Makeeba \u2013 The Song is called \"Strong\" and gives a clear message on how we have to face life, whoever we are, wherever we come from.\nThe song has been composed and arranged by two of our elder students at the Ntonga Music School, Faith Nomungeka and Nonvuyo and recorded at the school, with the participation of all our students and staff.\nThe township of Gugulethu is located 20 kilometers from the city of Cape Town, South Africa. This is where the Playing for Change Foundation built its first music school in 2009. Like many of the townships formed during the government-imposed Apartheid that lasted from 1948 to 1994, Gugulethu is a community in need of assistance and inspiration. South Africans are still striving to repair the damage and injustice created during Apartheid, and the Ntonga Music School is setting a strong example of how the country can come together to create a brighter future for its people.\nDuring the summer 2013, we were able to work for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals campaign by creating and directing social and musical initiatives in 4 different countries (South Africa, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia) to support musicians in their craft to help make this world a better place through music. In each country we identified musicians thanks to our contacts and travel experiences and gave them the opportunity to express themselves through music, by recording songs, organizing workshops, produce videos and educate the young generations. This song is the first release of a series of videos destined to demonstrate that music is a tool for positive change in this world.\nPosted in Active, Blog, Foundation, NewsLeave a comment\nOnly the sound of this word make you dream about this far and yet so famous island in the Caribbean.\nIn my mind, Jamaica was always a synonymous of music. Reggae, roots, ska, mento music, dance hall, and of course, the Great Bob Marley!\u2026 \"These words of freedom.\" \"Stand up for your rights.\" \"Don't worry, every little thing is gonna be all right.\" More songs are popping in mind, taking me back to so many moments in my life where this music could pull me out of a gloomy or sad moment, give me a bit of hope in difficult times, made me dance, made me think, made me rebel ,made me imagine this place across the ocean far away.\n\"One day, don\u00b4t know when, don\u00b4t know how, but I\u00b4ll get there\"\u00a6 I always said to myself when I was still a teenager dancing and singing to the beat of these songs alone in my room back in Israel.\nAnd so, years later, it\u00b4s precisely music, that brought me to fulfill this dream of visiting Jamaica. And not only visit Jamaica, sing in Jamaica, and not only sing in Jamaica, I was invited with a part of the \"Playing For Change\" crew, to participate in the \"Women International Forum\" that was held in Montego Bay, this last May. What an Honor!!!!\nThe theme of the conference this year was \"Music as an instrument of change\" and the guests, that have traveled from all over the world, among them educators, politicians, writers, investigators, journalists, people from the music industry, musicians, and so many more, were gathered together, to debate this important subject, to learn from each other and connect together, each one from it\u00b4s field, to promote, emphasize and improve this cause all over the world.\nIn 2013. A year of Change.\nBeside singing, I was asked to give a little speech, what at first scared me so much, because singing is one thing I love to do, I sing since I can remember myself, but to give a speech in front of everybody is another thing and it was something new and yet unknown for me. While I decided to just throw all drafts away and to just \"speak from the heart, taking Mark Jonhson\u00b4s advice, I was recalling moments and experiences in my life where music just overcome all differences of language or culture, moments in which Music IS the only language. Because we all write or sing out of love, or about love, we write out of suffering, or happiness out of pain or joy. It makes no difference where you come from, as human beings we share these emotions everywhere and we can all understand them and feel them. I can feel them strongly while singing in languages I sometimes don\u00b4t even speak, sharing music with musicians from totally different countries and culture, but yet, we ALL feel it. And as I was thinking about all that, I got to realize how music has changed ME and how grateful I am to life that gave me this gift, to sing, to change and be changed through music.\nThe whole event was such an inspiration and the emotions overflowed the room when Rita Marley got on stage when we finished playing with the band , to say just one phrase, written by her husband years before, but today still remains one of the most truthful and powerful messages, that for me resumed the conference perfectly with it\u00b4s simplicity. \"One love, one heart, let\u00b4s get together and feel alright.\" And for a moment time stood, silence filled my head as I watched her, I watched the band members and the people in the crowed all smiling and applauding, in this such ecstatic moment, with tears in my eyes from excitement. Being there, in Jamaica, in THAT particular moment, hearing these words that meant more sense than ever, will be an unforgettable moment in my life forever. The incredible views, the different fragrance and sounds all mixed together in vivid memories\u2026 Jamaica has it\u00b4s own particular smell that i can still feel tickling my nose. A mix of fried bananas, sweet rose chilli and rum, mixed with the hot air and the salty ocean. The different smell of spices and beer are taking me downtown where we went with the guys to the market to record base for \"songs around the world.\" Surrounded by curious little girls that wanted to see what it was we were doing there and who we were and how did the music sounded on headphones, looking, laughing\u2026 Little wooden carts full of vegetables and fruits everywhere and rastafari passing by speaking in patwa and singing songs; us drinking beer in the killer heat with our T-shirts soaked with sweat, recording in the middle of this busy crowd. The smell of \"Jerk chicken\" takes me on the road, driving into the countryside on our way to Chris Blackwell\u00b4s farm, stopping on the side of the road to taste the traditional jamaican plate, that mixes with the smell of the mango trees that appears outside of the bus windows. On this bumpy road, we exchange smiles and greet to the local people that always smiles back to us while we pass through their village. The impressive beauty of nature all around us . The giant Guango trees that stand so nobly in the sunset, the endless fields to almost get lost in, on the bus, on the road, in Jamaica.\nUnfortunately, my visit in Jamaica was short, too short, now knowing what this island has to offer; with it\u00b4s culture, it\u00b4s incredible people, and so much more. But I can only be grateful again, and cherish every moment of it, with hope that my destiny will lead me again to this magical land. As I mentioned earlier, I have imagined Jamaica before this trip many times in my head, but this time I can only say that reality exceeded my imagination by far.\nI wanted to finish this blog, leaving you with a song that I heard on the radio on my way to the airport. It completes the musical memory of that moment and besides, it\u00b4s a great song, by a Jamaican artist , Eric Donaldson. The song is called \"My Jamaica.\"\nNew Music & Sports Program in Kigali, Rwanda\nThe Playing For Change Foundation is establishing a new music program in Masaka, a village located 15km from capital, Kigali. For the first time, a PFCF program will officially include sports as one of the disciplines. Emmanuel, our young soccer teacher explains that sport is an ideal complement for the education of the kids. This new program will take place at Star School, a primary and secondary school founded a few years ago by Bishop Nathan Amooti in order to provide education to underprivileged children.\nWe are excited to partner with this amazing school and have the opportunity to introduce music to the students there. Like in many countries in Africa, music is part of daily life, and this was made clear by the students\u2122 talent for singing, dancing and drumming before we even start our program. The idea of the music program is to help them to reach another level and focus on traditional music and dance. Our music teacher Samuel, is one of the best dancers and drummers in the country and has been touring around the world to represent the music and culture of Rwanda. Rwanda is a very special country when compared to other African countries: on the wall of Marjorie's office (the Star School principal) a paper on the wall sums up the essential values of the nation. Number one : \"Speed. A country in a hurry.\" Rwanda is also the only African country I have visited where every person on a motorbike wears a helmet and each taxi driver asks you to fasten your seatbelt! Those two example might seem like unimportant details, but in reality they reveal a great deal about the current dynamic and the spirit of the country.\nThe recent history of Rwanda is absolutely unique. Since the genocide in 1994, which took nearly one million lives, the country is clearly trying to move forward as one and make a difference. This call for unity is why transmitting their ancestral cultural knowledge through music is very important. The music is an essential part of Rwanda'\u2122s identity, and therefore, as we do in our music schools in Mali and Ghana, we are trying to value and support the preservation of the cultural traditions here. We at PFCF believe that understanding one'\u2122s own roots and traditions is a great way to build a better future, adapted to a cultural context.\nThe program is officially starting in the next two weeks, so stay tuned to learn more about it!\nSupport the Playing For Change Foundation and help us continue making a difference for the young generations of this planet through music education.\nPosted in Blog, Foundation, Foundation, NewsLeave a comment\nPlaying For Change Day 2013\nMusic lovers around the world will rally once again to spread peace through music with the Playing For Change Foundation'\u2122s (PFCF) third annual global event on Saturday, September 21, 2013. This year marks a new beginning as Playing For Change partners with the 1Love Foundation for this year'\u2122s event, renaming the event 1Love Playing For Change Day,\" Make Way for the Positive Day. On this day, musicians and fans will gather on stages, street corners, schools, and even watch via live-stream music performances, concerts and events that promote peace and positive social change.\nInspiring the collective audience of both Playing For Change and 1Love, 1Love Playing For Change Day will raise awareness and funds to create lasting change through music for generations of children to come. Proceeds from the event will provide direct support for the Playing For Change Foundation'\u2122s free music education programs that serve children and their communities around the world. 1Love, a foundation started by the Marley family, works to inspire a global community to join together and build a better tomorrow, a philosophy shared by the Playing for Change Foundation that will be realized by bringing music into the lives of young people who might not have access to it otherwise.\nPeople in every corner of the world will be able to participate in this memorable day of music by hosting, attending, or performing at an event on September 21st, 2013. Even those who are unable to physically go to an event will have the opportunity to watch one of the many performances streamed live online.\n1Love Playing For Change Day is a unique opportunity to advance the missions of both organizations and forge even greater connections as the world comes together to play for change. The event will build on the success of PFC Day 2012, during which thousands of volunteers hosted over 300 events in 52 countries on 6 continents. Funds raised through the day will support PFCF music programs that give children the opportunity to develop new skills and find personal expression through music.\nAnyone interested in participating in 1Love Playing For Change Day can visit www.pfcday.org to create an event and learn more about getting involved in this global day of action.\nPlaying For Change en el Congo (Spanish Blog by Enzo Buono)\nEl viaje al Congo sin lugar a duda fue uno de esos viajes que no te olvidas mas, desde la entrada al aeropuerto hasta agarrar los equipos del carrusel, todo es caotico y desorganizado, saliendo del aeropuerto de Kinshasa los militares nos pararon cuando vieron una camara de fotos y la secuestraron, despues de media hora la recuperamos, todavia no se como pero no hubiese sido una buena experiencia perder un Leica de entrada.\nCuando la musica se enciende es cuando el caos desaparece y comienza el sabor de la cultura que tiene tantos a\u00f1os de explotacion y de injusticia para los ciudadanos del Congo.\nLa Rumba Congolesa es una mezcla de la musica Cubana de los 50 y las raices de la jungla, para mi es alegria, miseria, calor humedo y tristeza al mismo tiempo. Tiene algo que te hace sentir bien, tiene ritmo para bailar toda la noche y tiene historias romanticas en sus letras.\nLa ciudad de Kinshasa parece como si la autoridad no existiera, creo que vi un semaforo en toda la ciudad. La pobreza es mayoria, no es un lugar para salir a caminar solo por las calles. Un dia comenzamos a armar el equipo para grabar y tuvimos que meter todo en el auto porque nos decian que venian los chicos con machetes, por supuesto no nos quedamos para averiguar como eran esos chicos.\nVolviendo a la musica, sin dudas el Congo fue una de mis influencias e inspiraciones mas fuertes que he tenido musicalmente ultimamente.\nTenemos planes de volver y fundar una escuela en Kinshasa, un lugar con muchisima historia y talento!!\nPlaying For Change Day\nIf you haven't heard about Playing For Change Day, you need to check this link. The first annual Playing For Change Day is taking place September 17th, and is going to be celebrated by thousands of people all over the world. Musicians are taking to the streets and stages in their communities to raise funds and awareness for Playing For Change Foundation, a non-profit organization that is bringing music education programs to children around the world.\nThere are many ways you can participate in Playing For Change Day! Musicians, you can create an event in your community, or transform an existing gig you have on September 17th into a PFC Day event. If you are not a musician, you can still host a Playing For Change Day event\u2013 many yoga studios are holding \"Yoga For Change\" events at their studios; a couple whose wedding is on PFC Day is donating to the cause in lieu of buying party favors for their guests; one young woman is even hula hooping for change! How creative can you get? Log in to playingforchangeday.org and show us!\nIf hosting an event is not in the cards for you this year, you can still support Playing For Change Day by spreading the word and by attending other folks' events. There are currently more than 75 events to choose from in dozens of countries. Get out there and have fun! Enjoy the music and the community energy of the world coming together to support music education.\nPlay a Song. Change the World.\nMark Johnson Interviewed on CNN\nCheck out PFC Founder Mark Johnson interview with CNN International's \"Connect the World\"\nOne Love from Davos\nWell my time at Davos and the World Economic Forum has come to an end. I leave with a strong feeling of optimism. I understand that there is plenty of room for skepticism in the economics of the world, but somehow I feel that music and the arts left a strong impact on leaders of all kinds across the globe.\nAs I was walking out of the Congress Center on my last day a CEO of a major company stopped me and said after hearing about Playing For Change and watching our One Love video he has decided to implement a new job at his company titled, Chief Music Officer. The role will be to instill inspiration in the work place!\nI believe that the power of music is being felt in places we never imagined. This project started ten years ago in a subway station with two monks singing and playing guitar. To this day I cannot tell you where they where from or what language they where singing in. I am starting to believe that this is meant to be, as they serve as a symbol that regardless of who we are or where we come from we are all united with music. Let's continue to build a global family with love and inspiration at our core so we honor the message of Roger Ridley, Grandpa Elliott and those monks in the subway station.\nChanging the world for the better, and creating peace through music must always start from the inside out. I want to ask all of you to reach out to your friends and families and ask them to join our movement so we can expand our mission to everyone. Music is the greatest tool for healing broken countries, cultures and hearts!!!!\nA Holiday Smooch from PFC\nIt has been another amazing year for Playing For Change. This fall the PFC Band completed its largest tour ever. On the road we rekindled old friendships, and rejoiced in new ones. Along the way we learned about an amazing project called \"The Smooch! Project\" that was started by Bonnie Fournier, a Minneapolis-based photographer.\nSmooch! is a documentary record that demonstrates that all humans, regardless of social, economic, or political barriers, share a joyful willingness to welcome love and affection into their lives. To learn more about this beautiful project, click here.\nAs soon as we learned about Smooch!'s mission, we were excited to get involved. Bonnie offered to do a \"Smooch! shoot\" with the band while we were in town for a show, and we readily accepted\u2013 that's where the above pic of PFC Band drummer Peter Bunetta being smooched by our roadie\/photographer Lindsay Fishman came from! Click here to see more photos from the PFC Band's Smooch! photo shoot this fall!\nSince its humble beginnings in 2004, The Smooch! Project has archived thousands of images, working toward their goal of 10,000 smooches. If you would like to \"pucker up\" and be a part of this historic, heartwarming effort email Bonnie: [email protected]\nFrom all of us at Playing For Change, we wish you a very happy holiday season surrounded by friends and family, love and light.\nPeace and Love from Boston,\nRecording with the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars\nHello Everyone, here is my latest update from the road with the PFC crew.\nEveryday is a blessing with Playing For Change; we travel the world and meet different people offering us all greater insight into humanity and the power of music. Today was another great day of filming and recording with the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars during their North American tour. We met the band in Chicago and spent a beautiful day together.\nWe are close to finishing our new Songs Around the World album (currently untitled) and I really want to share the experiences with all of you as this is your global family!! Today I learned, \"One day you are suffering in this world and the next day you are healing other people's pain through music.\" I first heard about this band when I saw a movie about their lives titled \"Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars.\" This group of musicians represent one of the great human triumphs of our time. They struggled through death, famine and genocide and yet moved forward with love in their hearts and melodies in their minds. They are not only searching for a better world, but are also creating one!!!\nThanks to the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, this is our ever growing PFC family and together we will connect the world through music.\nOne Love, Mark\nRecording at Shiba Rikyu\nWe just got back from a fantastic day of recording in Shiba Rikyu, a lush oasis in the middle of Tokyo's urban sprawl. As we wended our way along the pristine paths of this beautifully maintained garden, we sometimes forgot that we were in fact still in downtown Tokyo. However the surrounding sky scrapers peeking down through the trees (and the elevated train that dodged between them) reminded us of where in fact we were.\nThe musician we worked with began the session with an upbeat traditional song. Then he demonstrated his versatiliity by improvising along the pentatonic scale in the keys of our new Songs Around the World. He added a unique sound to each track we recorded, and by the end of the day we were all very pleased with how the session had gone.\nWe are nearing the end of our stay here in Japan. We will not be recording tomorrow, instead we will be participating in a couple of amazing cultural experiences. Our crew has been invited to Togoshi Shrine to celebrate their Matsuri, an annual harvest festival. Before heading to Togoshi, we will be going to an exhibition that we feel will be very profound. It is called \"Dialogue in the Dark,\" and offers small groups of people the opportunity to spend an afternoon in complete darkness. Visitors are led through a building by a staff of guides that are all blind. The crew are all very excited about this amazing opportunity. I know I often take my sight for granted, and I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how I can relate to the world more consciously without the use of my eyes.\nLove From Japan!\nHello and Konichiwa to everyone! Today was our second major shooting day in Japan, and I feel compelled to thank all of the Japanese people for treating the Playing For Change crew with so much love and respect. The greatest lessons on our journey are usually what we can learn from other cultures. Today I realized that we are constantly surrounded by such positivity everywhere we go. PFC has been to approximately 30 countries and each trip we gain deeper insight into the power of music to open doors and climb over walls. Each recording and every song around the world are collective statements that we are going to make it as a human race as long as we remember the importance of respect. I know very little Japanese but I can easily understand the smiles and laughter surrounding us.\nI can'\u2122t wait to share all the music and love we are experiencing with all of you because this is your global family and we are a movement of people everywhere who see the future is what we make it. We will continue to travel and personalize this project with every country we can until the world embraces love and inspiration from the inside out. One song and one smile at a time. Thanks to Japan and thanks to everyone who supports us on our journey, we LOVE you all. Arigato!\nP.S. I need to mention my immense joy for the birth of my little nephew,\nWill Johnson;\" son of Greg and Erin Johnson, I love you more than the blood that runs through my veins!! One Love.\nTokyo Rain\nWe awoke this morning to the gentle sound of rain splashing against our window. At first we were optimistic that it would blow over, but a look at the weather forecast told us that the day had something else in store. As the morning wore on the rain grew stronger, and by 10 o'clock we decided that we would have to cancel the musician we had lined up to record. It was disappointing to everyone, but we made the best of it.\nOur guide met us at our hotel and we spent the day out and about in Tokyo, getting a sense of the city (and also taking advantage of the opportunity to film everywhere we could). We took the subway to Shibuya and then to mid-city, but the rain's intensity kept increasing! We discussed it over lunch and determined that given the weather, the best use of our time would be to head back to the hotel and work on some of the material that we had already recorded.\nThe weather tomorrow calls for clouds and a chance of rain. We are crossing our fingers that that chance remains low, and are planning to be on location by 10AM. I'm packing an umbrella, just in case though\u2026\nPeace and Love from Tokyo!\nOur First Day of Recording in Japan\nWe just got back to our hotel after an amazing day of filming. We started the day in Happoen Garden, a lush oasis amidst the urban sprawl of downtown Tokyo. We could not have asked for a more picturesque location to record in than here, amidst the buzz of cicadas, the whisper of the wind through the trees, and the occasional splash of coy from the pond. We almost forgot that we were still in Tokyo\u2013 but nearby skyscrapers occasionally poked their heads through gaps in foliage, reminding us where we were\u2026 It was incredibly hot work, but the staff of Happoen Garden were kind and accommodating, even going so far as to supply us with towels soaked in ice water to help combat the sweltering heat.\nIn the middle of the afternoon we changed locations, trading the natural beauty of Happoen Garden for a view of Tokyo Bay, with the city's majestic skyline rising behind it. We arrived at dusk and filmed into the night, trading natural light for the city's warm tungsten glow. As the sky continued to darken, the bay slowly filled with brightly lit boats enjoying a Summer evening's cruise. At long last we completed our recording for the day, and returned to our hotel to rest up and prepare for what is yet to come.\nIt is fantastic being able to add Japanese musicians to our new Songs Around the World, and we can't wait to get back to work again tomorrow! And speaking of tomorrow, please stay tuned as we will be launching a new episode in the next 24 hours!\nConnections Made\nOver the course of the past four years the Playing For Change crew has had the privilege of meeting amazing people all over the world. During our travels we have explained PFC's principles, values, and mission to many people in many languages.\nToday we had the opportunity to speak with several groups of people who share PFC's goal of connecting the world through music. Our morning began with an interview at InterFM with an amazing radio host, Peter Barakan. On his show Mark explained how Playing For Change began, what we are all about, and where we are going. Following the interview, we returned to our hotel where we spoke with a group of journalists from Sotokoto, a socially conscious magazine based in Tokyo. Later in the evening our hosts here in Japan officially welcomed us with a beautiful reception dinner. We screened some of our new Songs Around the World (that we will be adding Japanese musicians to this week!) and again shared PFC's principles and values, hopes and dreams. All these conversations were made possible by the assistance of amazingly talented translators.\nLife is a creative teacher. Over the course of the day something resonated for me in a way that it had not previously\u2013 at least not consciously. Hearing Mark's words translated into Japanese\u2013 his pausing between thoughts to allow for the translator to speak; the light of comprehension sparking to life in his listeners' eyes; the conversation resuming; the pattern repeating again and again\u2013 after so many years of participating in this global movement, I was overwhelmed by its power in a way that I had not been since the first time I watched Stand By Me. The experience occurred to me as a poignant reminder of humanity's desire for connection. And that just as translators make it possible for us to communicate here in Japan, so too can music help unite us all if we choose to listen.\nTomorrow is our first day of recording, and the whole crew is very excited to get under way. I look forward to continuing to share our experiences with the Playing For Change Family all around the world, and encourage you to spread the love and stay engaged.\nOyasumi nasai from Tokyo!\nA Day of Location Scouting\nToday was our first full day in Japan, and what a great day it was. We are being hosted by a wonderful group of people here in Tokyo that we have been in communication with for many months, and together we have been working very hard to ensure the success of this trip. Today it was fantastic for everyone finally to meet eachother in person. Over the course of many long distance conversations we have been discusing where would be best to film, not to mention all of the production logistics necessary to execute the shoots. This morning we met up with our Japan-based team, hopped in a bus and had the opportunity to scout half a dozen of the locations that we have been discussing together.\nIt was a long hot day, but it could not have gone better. We visited beautiful gardens and ancient shrines\u2013 an amazing juxtaposition against the glass and steel backdrop of modern Tokyo. This city is a beautiful blend of the old and the new, and I know that this unique vibration will resonate powerfully in the music that we find. Everyone's hard work these past weeks is beginning to pay off, and the whole crew feels great knowing that we have assembled a collection of beautiful locations for our musicians to perform in.\nWe have another day of preparation ahead of us tomorrow, and then are scheduled to begin filming on Tuesday. Please stay tuned for more updates, photos, and videos yet to come\u2026\nAfter an eleven-hour flight from Los Angeles, the PFC crew has arrived in Tokyo, and we couldn't be more excited! Narita airport is pretty far outside the city\u2013 it will take our bus about an hour and a half to reach Tokyo\u2013 but we are in no hurry. The sun has finally set (having departed LA during the day and flown west for so long, we've had nearly 24 hours of straight daylight!) and we're all enjoying the view as the hilly country side passes by. It's hot and humid, but the evening air streaming in through the bus's open windows feels wonderful, and is a welcome change from the recirculated air of our flight.\nAs we continue to drive the landscape is slowly becoming more urban. The road is getting wider, and we are finding ourselves surrounded by more and more cars. Highways merge and cloverleaf off. An elevated train joins the chase. We drive across a beautiful suspension bridge, and suddenly we are in the midst of a massive urban sprawl. What began as a vanguard of brightly lit outlying buildings has now swallowed us, and we are surrounded by cityscape.\nOur bus is now slowly wending its way through densely flowing traffic toward our hotel. I am looking forward to a good night's sleep and an early start tomorrow. We are all excited to get to work on a week of amazing music here in Japan. And we can't wait to share the experience with you, so stay tuned!\nNext Stop: Japan!\nI am excited to announce that the Playing For Change crew will be leaving for Japan this weekend! We have been hard at work this past year creating new Songs Around the World, and we are very excited to have the opportunity to add Japanese musicains to these tracks. Japan has a unique and beautiful culture, and we know that we are all in for a real treat. And we are looking forward to sharing this experience with the Playing For Change Family!\nMake sure to keep checking the website, facebook, twitter, and flickr, as we'll be posting updates daily! We have already lined up some amazing musicians for our time in Japan, but we are always on the lookout for more. If you know of any musicians living in Tokyo that you would like to introduce us to, mail us at [email protected], and tell us all about them! Playing For Change is a musical movement built by the world, and we always love to hear from you.\nPeace and Love from Los Angeles!\nGreetings From Jamaica!\nI originally wrote this blog high in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica last week\u2013 unfortunately we did not have internet access in that beautiful part of the world, so I am only just now able to post it, having just gotten back to LA\u2026\nWow, it feels great to be in Jamaica. Such a beautiful place with beautiful people. Naturally, with that comes beautiful music. We have only been here two days and have already met, filmed, recorded, and embraced some of the most talented musicians we have ever encountered. A big thank you to Courtney and Sean Diedrick, who showed us some serious love and not to mention brought some serious fire to our songs. After landing in Montego Bay we shuttled to Discovery Bay to film at some extraordinary and \"\u0153real\"\u009d Jamaican locations. From Discovery Bay we crossed the island through mountains to Kingston. As I write this we are 4000 feet up in the Blue Mountains outside of Kingston. Truly a country filled with a rich culture and proud people. You can feel the history and legacy that Bob Marley has left here as one of the great ambassadors of music and peace in the world. No place is this more evident than in Kingston. I can'\u2122t wait to see what tomorrow brings\nIts all about RESPECT here in Jamaica. Earn their respect and they will certainly win yours.\nPFC Band's Fall Tour + A Chance To Meet the Band!\nI am thrilled to announce that the Playing For Change Band is back by popular demand, and is getting ready to kick off a Fall Tour visiting 30+ cities in the U.S. and Canada! And, over the course of their tour the band will be making special stops in communities all along the way to meet with \"Changemakers.\"\nWe want to hear from you! If you live in one of the cities the band is performing in, and you or someone you know is making a positive contribution in your community, please send your story to [email protected]. We may feature your story on our website and what is more, the Playing For Change Band may pay you a visit this Fall at your home, school, hospital, community center\u2013 or wherever you may be!\nTo be clear, this is not a contest\u2013 we are not looking for the \"best\" or most amazing stories. We just want to share some of the good things people are doing to make the world a better place. And if you are interested in helping spread the message of Playing For Change, please email us at [email protected] for information\u2013 we want your help!\nPFC Founder Mark Johnson is currently on location in Jamaica working on new Songs Around The World. He just sent this video explaining the upcoming Tour and this exciting opportunity to meet the band\u2013 check it out:\nThe PFC Band is coming to a community near you! ($1 of every concert ticket purchased goes to benefit the Playing For Change Foundation, building music and art schools in communities around the world.) Below is the current line-up for the PFC Band's Fall Tour; we hope to see you at a show!\nDate Location Venue\nOctober 13 Calgary, AB, Canada MacEwan Hall\nOctober 16 Atlanta, GA Center Stage\nOctober 17 Asheville, NC Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF)\nOctober 19 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theater (Soundstage)\nOctober 20 New Orleans, LA House of Blues\nOctober 22 Dallas, TX House of Blues\nOctober 23 Austin, TX Antone's\nOctober 24 Houston, TX House of Blues\nOctober 27 Los Angeles, CA Wilshire Ebell\nOctober 29 Petaluma, CA Mystic Theatre\nOctober 30 San Francisco, CA Yoshi's\nNovember 01 Medford, OR Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater\nNovember 02 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater\nNovember 03 Seattle, WA Moore Theater\nNovember 05 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater\nNovember 06 Aspen, CO Belly Up\nNovember 08 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center\nNovember 09 Madison, WI Capitol Theater\nNovember 10 Chicago, IL TBD\nNovember 13 New York, NY The Concert Hall \u2013 Ethical Society\nNovember 14 Northampton, MA Calvin Theater\nNovember 15 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live\nNovember 17 Boston, MA Symphony Hall\nNovember 18 Lebanon, NH Lebanon Opera House\nNovember 20 New Haven, CT Stage One\nNovember 21 Annapolis, MD Ramshead on Stage\nNovember 22 Washington, DC The Birchmere\nPosted in News, Tour DatesLeave a comment\nLove Rescue Me\nA dear friend of mine was married last weekend in Montana. A couple days before the wedding, I was surprised and pleased to learn that she and her fiance had chosen one of Playing For Change's songs to be featured at their wedding: The Omagh Community Youth Choir's version (arranged by Daryl Simpson) of Bono's original \"Love Rescue Me.\" They asked me to sit in on a rehearsal the night before their wedding, where a band made up of the bride's closest friends and family was preparing their musical accompaniment for the ceremony. They had a copy of our \"Songs Around the World\" release, and after listening to the track through a couple times they asked me to talk about the significance of the song.\nI explained the history of the choir\u2013 that it was founded by Daryl Simpson shortly after a terrible bombing that took place in Omagh, Northern Ireland in 1998. He created the choir in an effort to bring peace and reconciliation to the community and to bring Catholic and Protestant young people together through music. His vision was so perfectly aligned with ours that as soon as we learned about his organization our crew began making plans to film and record the choir.\nThe healing and connective power of Music touches us all throughout our lives\u2013 sometimes in ways so subtle that we barely take notice, and other times so profoundly that our life's path pivots on the spot, transposing itself into an entirely new key. The next day these thoughts played along in my subconscious as I joyously watched my friend exchange vows with her groom while music filled the air.\nI was in a Playing For Change Foundation board meeting when I got the message: Jason Tamba and Mermans Mosengo have landed\u2013 they're in a hotel in Marina del Rey.\" The meeting had just adjourned, and I couldn't help but smile. The last time I had seen my friends was December in Madrid\u2013 we had just concluded an unforgettable tour (almost thirty shows over the course of 6 weeks)\u2013 and now here they were in LA! My brother and I drove straight from the meeting to their hotel; sheer joy as we hugged our hellos!\nWe headed back to our home in Venice and caught up. Before too long our conversation turned to the band's upcoming tour (which, or course is why Jason and Mermans were in town). My brother and I had just picked up an advance copy of the band's about-to-be-released live performance film, and we thought it would be fun to watch it together. Just as we popped in the DVD, Mark and Raan showed up\u2013 perfect timing!\nI could not have predicted the impact that pressing \"PLAY\" would have on me. I have been watching cuts of this film for the past six months. I knew every word that our band members were going to say, and every note that was going to be played. And yet as I watched Jason and Mermans watch themselves\u2013 larger than life\u2013 I was overcome.\nThe gravity of this project was hammered home for me. Years of traveling the world, meeting people who became my family; who opened their lives to our crew; who left their homes because they felt a connection to musicians across the planet; who created a band that connected the world\u2026 seeing the joy in their faces at the realization of a vision so powerful\u2013 it left me speechless.\nThe group migrated to our backyard fire pit, and the evening was transformed into a campfire acoustic jam that beckoned the neighbors to come and join. I am so thankful to be a part of this project, and it is a true honor be able to contribute to its message being shared with the world. One Love!\nPFC in Brazil!\nToday, the PFC crew arrived in the beautiful city of Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. When we arrived, we asked a local if we were likely to find some musicians for our project\u2013 they laughed and said, \"In Bahia, you shake a tree and musicians fall out of it!\"\nWe have been traveling the world for years trying to build a global community and somehow we knew all along this intention could never meet its potential without Brazil!! We have received so much love and support while traveling in Brazil and spent the last week recording every day in Rio de Janeiro. It is such a beautiful city full of life and music. We recorded and filmed Samba, Bossa Nova, Reggae, and recently we were given the opportunity to work with one of the greatest organizations in the world, \"Afro Reggae.\"\nThis organization works all over Brazil and the planet using the power of music to transcend differences and conflicts and replace them with love, respect and community. They are very well known here in Brazil for all of their work in the Favellas (poorer neighborhoods), and offered us an inside look into their transformational programs. They provided us the freedom to visit some of these neighborhoods and add some of their musicians to our new songs around the world. Our Producer, Raan Williams, told me today, \"If there is ever proof that music saves lives, this is it. And if you let it, it just might save yours.\"\nThese are words to live by, and everyday when Playing For Change travels the globe we are always reminded that we ARE the Change we want to see in the world. Music Is Our Ammunition!!!\nPlaying For Change in Colombia\nWe landed in Colombia about 11 days ago to create a new song involving musicians from different parts of the country. The idea of a song around Colombia came from our friend Fernando Vila who works for the non-profit foundation Americas Business Council (ABC), in order to unite the different cultures of Colombia trough music. The project was a double challenge for us: South America was still a land that we never explored, and we had to create a song around Colombia in less than ten days!\nWe started our journey in Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast. We couldn't have imagined a better place to start. The song we picked is a well-known Colombian tune called \"La Tierra del Olvido\" by Carlos Vives. The idea was to create an organic version of the song based on the union of different traditional instruments, rhythms and cultures. We started the process recording percussions, gaitas (traditional Colombian flutes), an accordion, and a guitar. After just one day of intense recordings we all had the strange sensation of feeling as if we had been in Cartagena for a week already.\nOur second day in Colombia, we went to Palenque de San Basilio, a village two hours from Cartagena founded by fugitive slaves about three hundred years ago, a unique corner of Africa in South America. The people from Palenque knew how to preserve their roots and their music trough the years. There is also an undeniable and curious Cuban spirit in the music they play. Meeting the people from Palenque was a dream come true for all of us, an unbelievable human and musical experience. In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed Palenque \"Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity\". In Palenque we recorded two bands at the same time: \"Las Alegres Ambulancias\" and \"Sexteto Tabal\u00e1\". They laid down a perfect groove to the track and sang the song all together. Four generations of the Batata's family where playing at the same time. That was just magic! I'll never forget that handsome little kid playing the \"tambora\" (traditional bass drum) perfectly with his father, while his mother and grandmother were singing the song.\nAfter only two days in Colombia we already had more than 20 musicians on our version of \"La Tierra del olvido\"! Then we flew to Bogota to record a symphonic orchestra that consisted of 37 kids. Tot\u00f3 la Momposina then played a version of her song \"Los sabores del Porro\" and added her spirit to our song around Colombia. Every day was a new experiment of connection and fusion between different musical styles, cultures and situations. Beyond the recording of the new song, trough the amazing work and the love of the people we met there, we had the chance to extend the PFC family in South America. On April 7th, a video of this song around Colombia will be presented in Medell\u00ed\u00adn during the World Economic forum on Latin America to represent the healing power of music. We hope the example of different cultures connected and united together trough music will contribute to convey human values into the world of those that governs us, in order to help change this world for a better place for everybody.\nDreams of Kirina\nWhen we think about the role of dreams in our lives, they serve as both the places we go when we shut our eyes as well as the hopes and aspirations we hold for the future of our loved ones and ourselves. Playing For Change began as a dream to create something that could be full of positivity and inspiration for the human race. We have found that music is the greatest tool on earth for us to achieve our dreams of a better world for everyone. The village of Kirina, Mali is the heart and soul of this dream and a place with music at its core.\nIt is an ancient village with about 1,000 people, all of whom are descendents of musicians, many of them over 75 generations of musicians. They have no electricity, but enough soul to brighten all of us as we share this journey together. It is also the home of the newest Playing For Change Music School. When they heard the Playing For Change crew was coming to visit them to discuss the idea for the new school, they told us they had dreamed we would come, and they are prepared to be a part of the next chapter of our life'\u2122s journey, and thus have titled the new school \"The Playing For Life\"\u009d Music school.\nLast week we traveled with the Playing For Change team to Kirina with our brother and soul mate, Baaba Maal. He is a legendary singer in West Africa, and even he was humbled by the opportunity to visit the people of Kirina and meet the elders. He told us that he learned about Kirina growing up in school, but did not realize that it was a real place that still maintains their ancient traditions and culture. We traveled with 4 cars full of musicians and the Playing For Change Foundation crew and were greeted with open arms and songs from the villagers. We gave gifts to the elders and were granted permission for Baaba and friends to perform music for the village chief under the mango tree. I swear, if ever humanity has shined a light, it was on this day!! Baaba performed for all the people in Kirina and was joined by our friend and percussion master, Mohamadou Diabate. The elders from the village had donated land for us to build our new music school, and this day was an opportunity to celebrate the great future we all share together.\nI ask everyone who believes in a better world for tomorrow to join us today to build our next great music and art school in the village of Kirina, Mali. Together, it is a dream that we can make come true, and we will always know that there is a place where music and inspiration are passed on from generation to generation for the betterment of all of humanity \u2013\" Playing For Life!!!\nA day in Bamako, Mali.\nA day in Bamako,\nBamako, February 5, 2010, 33 degrees Celsius in the shade.\nRendezvous at noon with members of the group Tinariwen, former rebels of the Tuareg rebellion, who now preach peace through their music. They play tonight in Bamako and the idea is to take this opportunity to record them before their concert. We're in a neighborhood a few miles from the center of the capital and we need to quickly find a place to capture their music and their message. Ideally, it would be a garden with a little shade and a power outlet to connect to their amps. After a quick eye at the area, we decided to knock on the door of a local resident to ask if we can record the band in their yard. An old man welcomes us with open arms and therefore, in his small garden, we plant our cameras and microphones to record Tinariwen. After several hours of music in the shade of a mango tree, under the curious eye of neighborhood children who clap their hands to the sound of the haunting music of these men and women from the desert, Ibrahim gives us his impressions on the music's meaning to him. The idea that music is a perfect tool for sharing and a universal language emerges naturally in his testimony, joining once again, the point of view of many musicians we met around the world. \"Our feeling is that music is the best tool to be able to communicate with the entire world and find solutions about our today's life\".\nUne journ\u00e9e \u00e0Bamako,\nBamako, 5 f\u00e9vrier 2010, 33 degr\u00e9s \u00e0l'ombre. Rendez-vous \u00e0midi avec les membres du groupe Tinariwen, anciens rebelles de la r\u00e9volte touareg, qui pr\u00eachent d\u00e9sormais la paix \u00e0travers leur musique.\u00a0Ils jouent ce soir \u00e0Bamako et l'id\u00e9e est de profiter de l'occasion pour les enregistrer avant leur concert.\u00a0On est dans un quartier \u00e0quelques kilom\u00e8tres du centre de la capitale et il faut qu'on trouve au plus vite un endroit pour pouvoir saisir leur musique et leur message.\u00a0L'id\u00e9al, \u00e7a serait un jardin avec un peu d'ombre et une prise de courant pour pouvoir brancher leurs amplis. Apr\u00e8s un rep\u00e9rage sommaire des lieux, on se d\u00e9cide \u00e0frapper \u00e0la porte d'un habitant du quartier pour lui demander si on peut enregistrer dans sa cour. Un vieil homme nous accueille \u00e0bras ouvert et c'est donc dans son petit jardin, devant chez lui, qu'on plante nos cam\u00e9ras et nos micros pour enregistrer Tinariwen. Apr\u00e8s quelques heures de musique \u00e0l'ombre d'un manguier, sous l'\u0153il curieux des enfants du quartier qui tapent dans leurs mains au son de la musique lancinante de ces hommes et ces femmes du d\u00e9sert, Ibrahim nous livre ses impressions sur le sens qu'a la musique \u00e0ses yeux. L'id\u00e9e que la musique est un parfait outil de partage et un langage universel se dessine naturellement dans son t\u00e9moignage qui rejoint ainsi, une fois encore, celui des musiciens des quatre coins du monde. \"Nous pensons que la musique est le meilleur outil pour communiquer avec le monde entier et nous aider a trouver des solutions pour notre vie de tous les jours\".\nUn d\u00eda en Bamako,\nBamako 5 de febrero del 2010, 33 grados a la sombra. Hemos quedado a las 12 del mediod\u00eda con los miembros del grupo Tinariwen, antiguos rebeldes de la revuelta Tuareg originarios de la ciudad de Tombuct\u00fa que predican la paz a trav\u00e9s de\u00a0la m\u00fasica. Tocan esta noche en Bamako y la idea es aprovechar la oportunidad para grabarlos antes del concierto. Estamos en un barrio a unos kil\u00f3metros de la Capital y necesitamos encontrar lo mas r\u00e1pido posible un lugar para poder captar su m\u00fasica y su mensaje. Lo ideal ser\u00eda un jard\u00edn con un poco de sombra y un enchufe para poder conectar los amplificadores. Despu\u00e9s de una breve caminata de reconocimiento decidimos preguntar a un vecino si era posible grabar a la banda en el patio de su casa. Un hombre\u00a0de unos 70 a\u00f1os nos recibe con los brazos abiertos y enseguida nos ponemos a armar el estudio delante de su casa. Despu\u00e9s de un par de horas de m\u00fasica a la sombra de un \u00e1rbol de mangos, con una audiencia de ni\u00f1os curiosos\u00a0que marcan el ritmo con sus palmas, Ibrahim, el l\u00edder de la banda, nos transmite durante una entrevista su percepci\u00f3n del poder de la m\u00fasica: una herramienta esencial para la uni\u00f3n del ser humano. \"Creemos que la m\u00fasica es la mejor herramienta para poder comunicarse con el mundo entero y encontrar soluciones para nuestra vida cotidiana\".\nGetting Things Rolling in 2010\nWith all the travel and excitement that the PFC Band and Crew enjoyed in the last three months of 2009, it was wonderful for us all to have a restful holiday break with our families. We are now all back in LA, and tomorrow is going to be our first meeting of the new year. We have a lot of exciting things to discuss, not least of which is \"where to next!\"\nThank you for all the love and support we have received from our community over the course of this journey. Whether we are home or abroad, it always means so much to us to read your feedback, comments, and emails. Please continue to keep them flowing in 2010, and we'll do the same with the music!\nA Day in the Studio\nThe PFC Band spent the day in the studio today. It was a long day but we got a lot accomplished. The band recorded a beautiful version of Clarence Bekker's original \"Mr. Morality\" to start with. Following that the band went to work on a version of a song by The Temptations that was absolutely through the roof (Mr. Bekker has a gift for Motown!). We wrapped the day by adding a few of the band members to our new Songs Around The World, which was the perfect end to a long session.\nBy the time we got home we were all beat\u2013 we all pulled close to 12 hours at the studio, and were looking forward to catching a bit of rest before rehearsal the next day. Bhekani and Sinamuva are due to arrive in the morning, and we can't wait to add them into the mix. Until then\u2026\nPeace and Love from Madrid!\nA Family Roadtrip\nWe woke up this morning and checked out of our hotel in Seville, and are now traveling by bus to Madrid. As I write this, we're about two thirds of the way through the 350 kilometer journey, but the time has been flying. For the past four hours the back of the bus has been one big jam session, where a constantly changing group of musicians are singing, playing, and writing music. Mark Johnson and Jonathan Walls have turned the middle of the bus into a screening room, where they are sharing videos of the various shows the band has performed around the world this past year (don't worry\u2013 we are planning on releasing these soon!). Meanwhile Enzo Buono has transformed the front of the bus into an editing studio, where he's working on mixing the new Songs Around the World we just began in West Africa. And while all this has been going on, I have been sorting photos from the past few weeks (10 gigs down, 30 to go!). Jonathan Walls edited this short piece together so that you could share in the fun with us, I hope you enjoy it:\nWe're due to arrive in Madrid in a couple hours, at which point it will be full steam ahead as we all prepare for our final concert of the year on the 17th. We'll be adding Venkat and members of the Sinamuva choir to the lineup from last night, and will be performing in front of the largest indoor audience we've ever had. If you live anywhere near Madrid, I would not miss this show\u2013 More Fire!\nPeace and Love from the road!\nA Family Gathering\nAfter tonight's rehearsal the crew and band returned to the hotel to quickly clean up and drop gear, then we all headed out for Tapas. We are a large group\u2013 over 20 people in all\u2013 and finding a Tapas bar that could accommodate us was no small feat. However after a half an hour of roaming the streets of Seville (and doubling back on our route more than once), we ended up finding a restaurant that was perfect.\nA couple dozen plates of tapas and a few bottles of wine later, we had managed to wile away 2 or 3 hours over joyful conversation and excitement about the next day's show. The excitement was not just about performing together, but more about everyone coming together again. Over the course of the band's 5-week adventure across North America last month, this group of musicians became more than a band\u2013 they became a family. And after not seeing each other for the past couple weeks, bringing everyone back together again was cause for a celebration in its own right.\nIt wasn't long before our group was one of the only tables left, and we decided we should all be on our way. While everyone finished their last glasses of wine, Clarence and Mermans entertained us (and the couple at the other remaining table) with a cappella versions of a selection of the band's set list. It was another beautiful evening with the band, and we can't wait to share the same energy with the crowd tomorrow night!\nBienvenue au Mali\nAfter sharing one last magical night of music with Baaba Maal in Dakar, the PFC crew has just arrived in Mali. The Playing For Change Foundation's next school is being built in Mali, and we're here to begin work on that\u2013 and of course to keep finding more amazing musicians to add to the project as well.\nTomorrow we are heading out to the site of where the new school will be built\u2013 a village of Griots (the musician's caste in West Africa) about an hour outside of Bamako. Mali is the right at the heart of West African music, which is the root of so much of the music we enjoy today\u2013 rock, blues, jazz\u2013 it's all from here. We are only going to be in Mali for a short time, but I can already tell we are going to find a tremendous amount of inspiration during our stay\u2026\n2 More Great Days with Baaba Maal\nWe just got back from yet another amazing day with Baaba Maal and his band. We've spent the past two days recording up on the roof of Baaba's home in Dakar. The intermittent calls to worship echoing from across the city and the chittering of the birds that live in one of Baaba's trees have added a beautiful environmental component to our recordings. He has been a wonderful host to our whole crew, and we've all developed quite a taste for the local tea he brews\u2013 it's an extremely strong green tea, served sweetened in small (maybe 2 ounce) glasses. Both days we've kept going long after the sun set (the tea kept us all wide awake), completing our sessions by the warm glow of tungsten light bulbs.\nWe've established a great foundation for our new Songs Around the World here in West Africa, adding percussion such as the calabash, talking drum, and djembe, in addition to guitar, and vocals. We're looking forward to tomorrow, when a very famous kora player is arriving from Mauritania to add her talents to the project.\nWe also had a great interview today with Baaba's Talking Drum player, Massamba Diop\u2013 what a player! He gave us some amazing insight into the history of the talking drum and how it was used as a means of communication between families and villages. He then went around the room and played each of our names. It was so cool to hear our names being spoken by his drum\u2013 his drum does talk!\nBaaba Maal and his band are performing a pair of shows Friday and Saturday here in Dakar. We're planning to meet up with them tomorrow afternoon before the show to get another session in. We can't wait to begin to share all the great music we're experiencing with the Playing For Change Family\u2013 and we will\u2013 just as soon as we have the chance to do some editing! In the meantime\u2026\nPeace and Love from Senegal!\nDrums and Dancing at the Beach\nToday we drove to a beach about 45 minutes outside of Dakar to film Baaba Maal's talking drum player, Massamba Dioup (who is out of this world!). He brought with him a couple other talking drum players he performs with, as well as six of Baaba's dancers who set the sand flying. As they began to play and dance, children and adults from the neighboring village gathered around to enjoy the show, and even joined in the fun with some impressive moves of their own! The children in particular took great joy in watching the musicians and dancers, and their presence added something so special to the energy of the afternoon.\nThe performance lasted a little over an hour. The drummers' rhythms swirled with the dancers' colors and choreography to create a truly mesmerizing experience. By the time the performance ended dusk was upon us (and the rising tide was only a mere few feet away from swallowing our recording gear).\nWe packed up quickly and headed back to Baaba's house to thank him again for arranging such a beautiful day for us, and to say our goodbyes to our new friends. Tomorrow we are planning to head back to Baaba's house to film and record him again with more of his amazing musicians. As Mark said earlier this evening, \"the music never stops.\"\nAnother Amazing Day with Baaba Maal\nWe met up with Baaba and his band this afternoon at his house and have been filming and recording him for the past 12 hours straight. His music is so powerful\u2013 you don't have to be able to understand the lyrics to be awestruck by the beauty of his songs' melodies and his amazing voice. After recording three or four songs with his band, we started working with his some of his musicians one at a time, adding them to our new Songs Around the World. As of today we are up to six musicians on our first track, representing three different countries.\nWe filmed and recorded until the light was gone, then lit a lantern and sat in a circle w\/ Baaba and his band. They performed an other worldly campfire-style acoustic concert that grew and grew in numbers. In the beginning there were only 8 or 10 of us, but by the end of the evening we were surrounded by a few dozen of Baaba's friends and family all singing and celebrating with us.\nAround 11:00PM the crew and I headed to the stadium where Baaba would be performing, to setup our gear. He took the stage around midnight and performed until 3AM! Unfortunately we had to stop filming around 2 o'clock because by that point we had shot through every memory card we had brought with us\u2013 what a day!\nThe crew and I are now on our way back to our hotel in Dakar\u2013 I'm actually typing this posting from the back seat. We're all looking forward to getting a good night's sleep, and then are planning on taking the day tomorrow to go through all the footage we have shot since arriving in Senegal four days ago\u2013 we've been so busy filming and recording that it's been difficult to keep up with it all\u2026 but of course, that is a good problem to have.\nPeace and Love from West Africa!\nBaaba Maal's concert in Dakar\nWe spent another amazing day with Baaba Maal yesterday. He invited the PFC crew to his home in Dakar to share a festive meal with him in celebration of Tobaski. It was an incredibly special experience for all of us\u2013 not to mention delicious! Following the meal we spent some time discussing the history of music in Senegal with Baaba, and he explained the special role griottes and musicians in general play in society here. It was also very interesting to learn how Senegalese society takes care of its musicians, with gifts of money, goods, food, livestock\u2013 and more!\nFollowing our time at Baaba Maal's home, we went to a large open air stadium downtown where he was performing. We set up to film the event, but none of us were prepared for the overwhelming energy of the show. When Baaba came out on stage, the crowd ignited, and everyone's excitement only went up from there. The performance was a blend of music and dance with brilliant choreography\u2013 it surpassed all my expectations and was unlike any show I have ever seen.\nIt was a late night last night, and the crew is just now waking up and gathering gear. We're meeting in the lobby of our hotel in an hour and will be heading back to Baaba's home to add him and some of his musicians to our new Songs Around the World. More to come\u2026!\nWhat an amazing day of music, recording, and sheer joy we all just shared with Baaba Maal at his house outside of Dakar! Mark first met up with him in England this past Spring while the PFC Band was preparing to share the stage with him at Glastonbury. Since then we have been planning a trip to Senegal to work with him, and today was the day we've all been dreaming of. Baaba invited our crew over to his home to record performances by himself and a few of his incredibly talented friends, and it went SO well.\nFollowing a breakfast of fresh fruit and tea, we setup beneath a towering mango tree in Baaba's front yard and spent the day recording some of the most beautiful music. We fell absolutely in love with one of his songs called \"Tara.\" After the session Baaba explained to us that he wrote the song years ago, but had never recorded it\u2026 until now that is\u2013 and what a recording it was! We concluded the day with a delicious meal served on a mat beneath the mango tree, and it was the perfect end to an unbelievable day.\nThis past year has been a beautiful journey for Playing For Change\u2013 releasing the album \"Songs Around the World\" and our film \"Peace Through Music,\" and putting together the Playing For Change Band's first coast-to-coast tour\u2026 But all of those milestones owe their existence to days like today.\nThere was something magical about going back into production in the field. There is no doubt that a huge part of that magic came from Baaba Maal and his friends. More of it was created by the synergy of the music with the environment\u2013 The birds and the breeze, children playing and roosters crowing, and even the occasional passing cars all made their own contributions to the musical experience we recorded today. And knowing that we would soon be sharing this afternoon's intimate performance with the rest of the world was the final ingredient to that special magic we all felt today.\nTomorrow is going to be another big day. The whole country (and much of the continent) is celebrating Tobaski, and Baaba is performing a large concert in honor of the holiday. We are all looking forward to another magical day of music, but for now it is back to the hotel for our crew.\nThanksgiving in Senegal\nAfter nearly 24 hours of traveling, the crew and I have finally arrived in Senegal. We are here to begin production on some new Songs Around the World, and cannot wait to get started. We were met at the airport this afternoon by some colleagues of Baaba Maal, who were all very kind and helped us get situated in our hotel.\nWe took today to get settled in, but decided to grab dinner in downtown Dakar and get a bit of a sense of what the local scene is like. We enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner that consisted of a mix of international and local fare that tasted delicious after our long trip. Following our meal we made friends with an energetic young man named Faluo who recommended a band playing at a club on the other side of town. And so we all piled into a cab (that sounded and felt like it was going to fly apart at any moment) to check out the local music scene. The band was great, but jet lag started to hit us all midway through the set and so we parted company early. We are meeting Baaba Maal at his home outside of Dakar tomorrow, and we wanted to make sure we were well rested for that!\nAnd with that, I will conclude this Thanksgiving posting. Whether you are celebrating in the company of friends and loved ones, or reading along from the comfort of your own home, all of us at Playing For Change are honored and proud to count you among our global family. Peace and Love!\nMidwest Moments\nI was fortunate to join the Playing for Change Band'\u2122s tour in Cleveland, Ohio and hopped on the bus for another journey of a lifetime through the Midwest region of our beautiful country. The fall season was in full blossom; the air was crisp, the sounds of crunching leaves were beneath my feet and the vibrant music of the Playing for Change Band consumed my soul. To be united again with the musicians and our family was rejuvenating, putting a dancing smile in my step. I wasn't sure how the band, or myself for that matter, was going to handle the rigorous and nomadic ways of life on the road, but my hopes of an exuberant and joyous journey manifested itself and this energy became contagious and transferred itself to all audiences. The Playing for Change Movement is on FIYA right now and I am so blessed to be a part of its\u2122 beautiful journey and would like to thank the band and our PFC family for everything we are all doing to spread the message of global unity and peace through music! Below is a short video of some moments experienced in Milwaukee. I hope you enjoy and celebrate with us as our journey continues!\nMoments in Milwaukee | Playing For Change Band from Playing For Change on Vimeo.\nPFC Band Visits a Philadelphia School\nLast Tuesday, October 27th, was a special day for the Playing For Change Band as the Band descended upon the Philadelphia School (K-8), in, of all places, Philadelphia. Mark Johnson was invited to speak to the school about the Playing for Change project and the Foundation. However, when the Band heard that Mark was speaking at an elementary school and his two nieces (Anna and Claire) attended the school they all volunteered to come to the school and play a few songs for the teachers and students. Mark was also asked to speak to Anna and Claire's individual music classes, and was assisted by 4 Playing for Change Band members; Louis Mhlanga (Zimbabwe), Mermans Kenkosenki (Congo), Jason Tamba (Congo), and Mohammed Alidu (Ghana). The first class, the second graders, listened to the musicians play some of their traditional music, and then joined in playing with their own xylophones. As Mermans Kenkosenki said after the class, along with music, the smiles and laughter of children is universal.\nNext, the four musicians spoke and played for the kindergarten class. At the end of the class when Mohammed Alidu was going to teach the children a traditional song from Ghana, the music teacher asked the children if they knew a song that they could sing to Mohammed, and, to everyone's surprise, they started singing a song in one of Ghana's native languages. It was clear that both the students and the musicians were both learning and sharing that day.\nJust when you thought things couldn't get better, the rest of the Playing for Change Band showed up at the school for the concert. The rest of the musicians showed up during a third grade gym class, and it wasn't difficult to convince Clarence Bekker, Mohammed Alidu, and Mermans Kenkosenki to play soccer with the children. Grandpa Elliott had other plans. Grandpa picked up a basketball and started shooting the ball. It clearly was not the first time Grandpa had picked up a basketball. After being told where the basket was, Grandpa took several free throws, and to everyone's surprise (except for Grandpa) he made a shot. Not two shots later, Grandpa made his second shot!! I don't think the Playing for Change family will ever be surprised of what Grandpa Elliott is capable of.\nAfter gym class, the students, teachers, and administration poured into the gymnasium for the concert. It was amazing to see groups of children staring in awe of Grandpa and the other musicians they recognized from the Playing for Change videos. During the Band's performance of Stand by Me, and to the amazement of several teachers standing around, you could see children singing the lyrics and holding each other arm and arm. The grand finale came when Clarence Bekker treated the students to a searing tribute to Michael Jackson with his rendition of Billie Jean. Several students (with great dance moves) came up and danced with Clarence, and by the end the entire audience was up singing and dancing.\nIt truly was a remarkable day, and reminds all of us in the Playing for Change family what this project is all about\u2026connecting ALL people of the world through music..it certainly connects old and young!\nPeace and One Love,\nGreg J\nJonathan Walls to speak at PFC Screening near Colorado Springs\nPlaying For Change: Peace Through Music co-director Jonathan Walls will be present at a screening of the film at Colorado College Campus this Tuesday, November 10th at 7PM. The event is open to the public and will be held at Armstrong Hall. Following the screening Jon Walls will be hosting a short Q&A session.\nIf you're not in the Colorado Springs area but have friends or family who are, spread the word!\nChange In Action: Ivano Newbill\n\"\u0153When the night has come, And the land is dark\nAnd the moon is the only light we'll see\nNo I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid\nJust as long as you stand, stand by me\"\n-Ben E. King\nOn September 20, former NBA player Ivano Newbill set out from the steps of Capital Hall in Atlanta, Georgia alone on a bike. In just 12 days he would cycle over 700 miles to Washington D.C. in time to attend the 2nd annual summit on Global Hunger. He rode to raise awareness about the billions of people who face hunger around the world each year. He rode to raise money for the Global Hunger Fund. He rode, as a volunteer, to take action against a crisis that kills over 25,000 people each day, and to fight against an issue that creates conflict in developing countries. He rode with the hope that more children will have the chance to receive healthy meals at school \u2014 \"just as he had. \"Growing up, many days the only meals myself and siblings had were provided through the school system. Without these meals I do not believe I would have excelled to graduate from high school, as well as go on to Georgia Tech and graduate. I know most definitely the NBA would not have been a part of my future. Now I have a moral obligation to try and help end the world'\u2122s deadliest disease: \"hunger.\"\nDuring his journey through the back streets and on the highways, Ivano encountered stares and rebel flags, the symbols used to generate fear and hate in the South. With his past in his heart and Playing For Change \"\u0153Stand By Me\"\u009d on his MP3 player, Ivano valiantly faced the negativity and, in turn, left a positive impact on the locals who learned about his cause. With each additional extended hand and offer to contribute, change had taken place \u2014 change prompted by Ivano'\u2122s courage, endurance, and faith.\nWe got the chance to speak to Ivano about his ride and his cause. He told us tragic stories about world hunger, but included inspirational insights into how we can lend a helping hand. He told us how global hunger is the biggest killer in the world, taking the lives of over nine million people each year. He explained to us how food deprivation is used as a weapon, and how warlords keep people down by keeping them hungry. He described to us how \"\u0153hunger does not discriminate.\"\u009d It affects men, women, and children,\" no matter your race or religion. He instructed us to view ourselves as united through our humanity, \"to see this issue as one that affects our own. He warned that \"a whole generation of our children could be lost. Proper nutrition is vital for any child to excel in school. Serving food at school not only helps alleviate hunger among the world'\u2122s poorest children, it also helps get them into school providing them with an important key to a better future \u2014 \"an education.\" Despite these dismal realities there is hope; \"hunger is after all a curable disease. This is why as the volunteer co-chair of Friends of The World Food Program Committee of Atlanta, Georgia, Ivano has dedicated his time, his energy, his thoughts, and his prayers to raising awareness and contributing to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).\nIvano wrote to us to let us know, \"\u0153When I hear '\u02dcStand By Me'\u2122, I think that whatever the problem is, there is a solution to it.\"\u009d With the faith to make the world a better place Ivano has triumphantly embraced that he IS the solution and we are honored that Ivano took us along on his journey. Ivano, we stand by you as you stand by those who go hungry each day. We are inspired by your determination and energized by your enthusiasm.\nChange can be made now. Change can be made today. It can be as simple as a smile to a stranger or as meaningful as lending a helping hand in the global hunger crisis. Ivano wrote to us saying \"I know change will come along; \"it really will\"\u009d We share his faith in all of you and in ourselves. We can all make change if we are brave enough to take action. Ivano took action and that is why we are sharing his story with you. We hope you will continue to share your inspiring stories with us. Thank you for helping us change the world!\nThank You Boston!\nWhat an amazing show it was Thursday night in Boston! The PFC Family took the Orpheum by storm, nearly packing the 2000 person venue. From the moment the first note was struck, there was a palpable energy created in the space between the cheering crowd and the performers on stage. The result was an explosion of sight and sound that has set the bar very high for the rest of our North American tour!\nI spent the 6 hour flight from Boston to LA going through photos, and am almost done. I am looking forward to sharing them with you later this weekend, so check back soon\u2013 I will post when they are available!\nGet ready North America, the Playing For Change Band is on its way!\nBring It On Home\nWe just got back to the hotel, following another great rehearsal. The band has put together a version of \"Bring It On Home\" that you absolutely have to hear! The song features Grandpa, Titi, Clarence, and Mermans and is an amazingly emotional performance that will hit you right in the heart.\nI shot this photo of Clarence and Titi celebrating after their first run through the song this afternoon, and I can't wait to hear it live at the Birchmere on Tuesday!\nMaking friends in DC\nThe band has been rehearsing in DC for the past three days, and they sound great! They have made some really exciting additions for this tour, and I know that each show is going to be an amazing experience!\nTonight after rehearsal a bunch of us went out for a (short) night on the town. We ended up at a West African bar in DC where a local band was performing. About thirty minutes into their set, I noticed a very familiar sound to the song they just started playing. I walked up to the front of the house and instantly realized why it sounded so familiar\u2013 Mermans had jumped up on stage and was singing lead vocals!\nWe didn't stay long, as we all had to be up for rehearsal tomorrow. But everyone's energy is through the roof right now, and we can't wait to get take this show on the road!\nWelcome Colbert Nation!\nWe are honored to welcome citizens of Colbert Nation to Playing For Change and appreciate the power of the Colbert Bump you are providing by sharing PFC with everyone you know.\nAfter seeing members of the Playing For Change band perform on Stephen'\u2122s storied stage, we hope you are inspired to \"Journey\" around the site and discover the hundreds of other musicians who make up our growing music movement.\nMake sure to \"Join the Movement\" for updates and exclusive content offered to our community members including \"behind the scenes\" footage from our 22-city North American tour this fall.\nClick here for tour dates and info.\nThank you for becoming part of our growing Peace Through Music society and for sharing the love with your family and friends.\nMark Johnson and members of the PFC Band on The Colbert Report tonight!\nHello everyone. Just a quick reminder that Mark Johnson will be on the Colbert Report tonight! Mark will also be joined by PFC Band members Grandpa Elliott, Peter Bunetta, Reggie McBride, and David Sancious (former keyboardist and guitarist of the E Street Band) to perform a song or two as well\u2013 you won't want to miss it!\nTune in or set your DVR to Comedy Central tonight at 11:30pm \/ 10:30c to see the show.\nMark Johnson on Tavis Smiley\nMark Johnsonn will be appearing on PBS' Tavis Smiley Show this Tuesday, August 11th. Please spread the word among your friends and family members to tune in!\nPFC on Tavis Smiley and the Colbert Report!\nHello Playing For Change Community! I want to share some exciting news with you. This Monday, August 10, Mark Johnson will make an appearance on the Tavis Smiley show.\nAnd then, on Wednesday, August 12, Mark will be joined by Grandpa Elliott, Peter Bunetta, Reggie McBride, and David Sancious (former keyboardist and guitarist of the E Street Band) on the Colbert Report! I hope you'll join me in tuning in to Comedy Central at 11:30pm \/ 10:30c to see Mark and the guys with Stephen Colbert!\nThere's lots more exciting news coming up soon, so be sure to check back frequently\u2013 or Join the Movement for regular updates!\nPFC on PBS all month long in August!\nA 57 minute version of our feature length documentary film, \"Playing For Change: Peace Through Music,\" is going to air nationally on PBS throughout August\u2013 click here for the schedule! Over the course of this film, you will not only have the chance to see and hear new amazing performances from around the world, but you will also get to meet the musicians who make them so special.\nAdditional screenings are being scheduled by PBS daily, so for the most up to date listing check with your local station. We will also be updating the screening schedule linked above often\u2013 this schedule is current as of July 30th right now.\nThere is no better way to introduce your friends and family to Playing For Change than through this film, so please share this information with your loved ones!\nPFC on PBS in August\nAn abridged version of the feature length documentary film, Playing For Change: Peace Through Music, is going to be broadcast on PBS stations across the United States in the month of August!\nIn the next couple days we will be posting stations and screening times so that you can find out when this film will be screening in your area. So be sure to check back soon, and tell your friends and family to tune in with you!\nPhotos from our show at Tipitina's\nHey everyone, we just uploaded some photos from last Saturday's show at Tipitina's, check them out!\nPFC featured on ABC's World News with Charles Gibson\nMark Johnson and the musicians from Playing For Change were just featured as \"Persons of the Week\" by Charles Gibson on ABC's World News. It is always exciting to have the opportunity to share this project with fresh eyes and ears who have not experienced it yet, and Charles Gibson did a great job of that tonight.\nLiving in LA, I don't usually have the opportunity to share these moments with my family, however I am currently home on vacation, and was fortunate enough to be able to watch this broadcast with my family, which was really special.\nIf you missed the show tonight, or would like to share it with your friends or family, you can watch it on ABC's website. (link no longer available)\nMark Johnson featured as keynote speaker at TED\nPlaying For Change and founder Mark Johnson received a rousing standing ovation from the technorati at the TED Convention in Oxford, England. The theme of the conference was \u0153The Substance of Things Not Seen,\u009d but the 600 attendees were moved by the very visible substance of our \"Stand By Me\" andWar No More Trouble videos. Among those in attendance was actress Cameron Diaz, who showed her appreciation with a hug for Mark.\nClick here for a summary of Mark's presentation. As soon as TED posts the video feed from Mark's speech, we will let you know!\nTiti Tsira, Welcome to PFC!\nI'd like to take a moment to officially welcome a new musician to the Playing For Change Movement: Titi Tsira. We first met this lovely young woman in Guguletu, South Africa, at a concert held to celebrate the opening of the Playing For Change Foundation's Ntonga Music School in the Spring of 2009. As soon as we heard Titi's voice, it was love at first sight\u2013 or, in this case, love at first sound.\nShe joined the PFC Band for an amazing performance at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, and then traveled with the band to New Orleans to perform again with us at Tipitina's last Saturday.\nWe are very excited to add her beautiful voice to the Playing For Change Band's global chorus. Though our Summer Tour just ended, we're planning a Fall Tour which is going to be out of this world. I hope to see you at one of our shows soon, so you can enjoy Titi and the rest of the PFC Band live on stage\u2013 it's an experience you won't soon forget!\nFarewell For Now\nIt was a beautiful last day in New Orleans. Spirits were high among the band and crowd. Once the first note was played, I just knew that this show was going to be something special. And it was. The concert at Tipitina's was the longest show to date. The band played 23 songs during their performance, lasting over 2 hours. It was truly an extraordinary night of music and celebration.\nIt's amazing to think that after spending a month on the road, together with the most passionate and talented musicians imaginable, it has come to a close. Still, I thought it was going to be more difficult to say goodbye than it was. I think it's because it isn't goodbye forever. It'\u2122s just a break so everyone can go back home, and share some stories with their family and friends. It'\u2122s a time for reflection. It'\u2122s a time for thankfulness. There is something very special happening with Playing For Change. Our family is growing every day and you feel that love permeate everywhere you go.\nGrandpa Comes Home\nLast night at Tipitina's, the stage was set for greatness before the first note was struck. For starters, we were performing in a venue with a long and storied history in one of the most amazing cities in the world for live music. The amount of love New Orleansians had for Grandpa Elliott, and the band that had brought him around the world and back this past month was through the roof.\nAdd to that the fact that the band has gotten consistently better with each passing day. The whole time we've been on the road there has been a continually developing synergy among its members. The stage is an environment where you have to be able to know what the people around you are doing without words, and this can only be accomplished by trust and mutual respect for each other.\nOn top of all this, last night was the first show we've had all tour with no curfew. With our initial downbeat at 10:30PM, the band played until almost 1AM\u2013 2 sets and a three song encore totalling 23 songs in all. When the house lights finally came up, the audience was still screaming for more!\nAfter the show, we all stayed backstage in the green room reliving experiences from the past month, and saying our goodbyes. What started at the venue, continued on the bus to the hotel, and finally ended one last time at Cafe du Monde, over 3AM beignets and cafe au lait.\nAnd with that we all hugged our final goodbyes, sending each musician and crew member back to their respective hotel rooms to begin packing and preparing to return to their homes. At least for now\u2026\nAs I sit typing this now from Chicago's O'Hare Airport, I am both incredibly grateful, and at the same time humbled to have been a part of the PFC Band's tour this past month. I am already looking forward to this Fall, when we'll have the opportunity to do it all over again. Until then, stay tuned to playingforchange.com for continual updates.\nPFC Band live on 90.7 WWOZ in New Orleans\nMark and the band just finished a great on-air interview and three song set here in New Orleans. The room was tight with all of us crammed into the studio, but no one seemed to mind, as the energy was through the roof! There was a really special moment when Grandpa discussed what it was like to come back to his home town with the PFC Band, and what it meant for him to be a part of this project.\nWe've got a couple of hours for lunch, and then we're off to rehearse for tomorrow night's show at Tipitina's. Everyone is really excited about tomorrow's performance\u2013 I hope to see you there!\nEverything Tastes Like Chicken\nDuring set break at one of our shows here in New Orleans, I was grabbing a bite with Francois. He had already eaten, and so I asked him what was good. \"The fried chicken is very nice,\" he replied. And so I went over to the buffet to investigate.\nI was a bit confused when I looked over the food options, and did not see the fried chicken to which he was referring. Then it dawned on me\u2013 they must not have fried crawfish in Barcelona.\nPFC Band, welcome to New Orleans!\nThe PFC Band and Crew take the Tonight Show by storm\nThank you to everyone who tuned in last week to watch the PFC Band perform on the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien\u2013 it was a truly special day for the whole PFC Family. For this performance, we were thrilled to make a couple of additions to the PFC Band. Long-time friend of PFC, Singer-Songwriter Sara Bareilles joined us on stage, as well as six members from the Zuni People's Twin Eagle Drum Group (who drove all the way from New Mexico, as their drum was too large to be transported by plane)! As I was walking onto the studio lot, one of the security guards pulled me aside and told me that our band was the largest musical guest they'd ever had (we had 16 performers on stage!)\nFollowing the show's taping, members of the PFC Band and crew celebrated at Universal Studios theme park. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Clarence Bekker on a few of the rides. If you thought his voice was powerful on stage, you should have heard him screaming on those roller coasters\u2013 it's a wonder I can still hear!\nThat evening, we all enjoyed sharing each other's company over the course of an enormous group dinner\u2013 close to forty of us, all told. In addition to everyone's good cheer from the day's events, we learned at dinner that it was Grandpa Elliott's birthday! Surrounded by musicians from all over the world, the singing of \"Happy Birthday to Grandpa\" lasted almost fifteen minutes, and was performed in accordance with South African, Dutch, American, and Zuni traditions! Be sure to check out the video of Grandpa's Birthday song below:\nGrandpa's Birthday Song from Playing For Change on Vimeo.\nIt was a truly memorable day by all accounts. Keep sending in your video (or written) responses on this content or anything you would like to share about the Playing For Change Movement, upload them to your favorite streaming video site, and send the links to [email protected]. Also, make sure to Join the Movement to get updates and other exclusive content.\nThe band is currently in New Orleans having a great time and grateful for the tremendous love they are receiving from the Big Easy! There's plenty more to come, so stay tuned!\nI'd like to share an article I wrote for One.org\nThree years ago an inspired film crew came to my house in the Mamelodi township and filmed me performing \"One Love\", \"Stand By Me\", and a few of my originals.\nOver the past few years, this same film crew has traveled all over the world\u2013 from the Mamelodi township, to Santa Monica, CA to Tel Aviv, to Barcelona, to Northern Ireland and back a few times filming musicians all around the world.\nThe result is Playing For Change, of which I'\u2122m proud to be a part. The beautiful videos and music that they have created show the power of music and the power to effect peace through music.\nMusic is a universal language that we can all understand. Visit playingforchange.com to find out about the amazing work they'\u2122re doing in South Africa and throughout the world and to see the beauty of what they have brought to the world.\nHarmony of Humanity by the Beach\nIt would be an understatement to say it was a special night for the exceptionally fortunate 10,000 or so people at the Santa Monica Pier for the biggest opening night of the outdoor concert series in its 25 years. The unique mix of pure joy and emotion emanating from those packed on the pier and the thousands of others camped out on the beach below was palpable. I'\u2122ve been attending the free Thursday night concerts over the years and have never experienced anything like it. The ban'\u2122s performance was beyond memorable; it was magical. You had folks of all ages dancing, singing, clapping and cheering with the music showing, once again, the power of music to connect people across boundaries. All on different, yet shared walks through life: enjoying in their own way together; an eclectic harmony of humanity.\nIn Step Before the Set\nI arrived at the pier just as Bushman, a respected reggae band from Jamaica, began their set. I immediately walked back stage, where I joined Clarence Bekker and South African legend Vusi Mahlasela in an impromptu dance session. Within minutes, Grandpa Elliott had joined in with his graceful grooves to which Vusi responded with some swift, smooth moves of his own that brought his knees just inches from the ground. Other band mates and young fans jumped in; the musical moments had already begun and the band had yet to play a single note.\nPaying Respect to Roger\nJust before the band began their set, Mark welcomed old and new PFC fans alike and poignantly dedicated the concert to Roger Ridley, who used to perform just a few blocks away on the 3rd Street Promenade. As I stood with Whitney, PF's Co-founder and Foundation Executive Director, and the rest of the crew, we all took a moment to appreciate how far this people-powered movement had come. It was the right moment to celebrate Roger'\u2122s legacy and the impact he continues to have on all us.\nSinging in the Streets\nAfter the show, nobody wanted to leave and security eventually asked us to clear out. As we exited, I spoke briefly with Jackson Browne, a long-time mentor and supporter of PFC and even filmed Norman and Grandpa catching up before they booted us. Afterwards, we stopped by the Afro Funke party at Zanzibar and talked about the band'\u2122s recent trip to Glastonbury. Our evening ended with Clarence and I singing \"When Doves Cry\"\u009d A Cappella as we walked the band back to their hotel.\nFortunately, if you weren'\u2122t able to attend, the concert'\u2122s audio was recorded, and Kevin filmed a few songs in HD that you'll get to experience yourself. Keep sharing episodes and telling everyone you know to \"Join the Movement\". Due to your inspired participation, we are truly bringing peace to the world through music.\nThank you for emailing your written reaction or video response to the band's performance on The Tonight Show. We're going to do some flip cam filming backstage and will reciprocate with footage of the band's feelings after the show.\nUpload your video, photos to YouTube, Flickr, or wherever and email the links (not the actual media files) to [email protected]\nExcited to hear from you and share your feelings with the community!\nIf you didn't see the performance yet, click Tonight Show . (the video for this performance has since been removed, so this is another recording of it)\nKeep checking the blog for stories and experiences from a variety of voices, especially the musicians \u2026stay tuned. Here are some of Jeremy's photos from the show just posted on the PFC Flickr page.\nit's on to New Orleans\u2026\nCampfire Backstage at Glastonbury\nWith all the excitement of the performance itself, I neglected to share one of my favorite moments from Glastonbury. This came not during the show itself, but immediately afterward. The whole band and many of our special guests sat around a campfire backstage and were entertained by impromtu a capella performances by Clarence Bekker, Grandpa Elliott, and Vusi Mahlasela.\nThe three of them took turns, presenting pieces ranging from spoken word prose to ballads, and everything in between. Clarence offered a beautiful tribute to Michael Jackson, who had just passed two days earlier. Grandpa sang an amazing version of \"Old Man River,\" and Vusi incorporated a sequence of interpretive dance into one of his songs (which is the origin of the above photograph).\nBy the time anyone had bothered to check a watch, it was already 3AM. Between these three's exhibitions and the rest of us rehashing stories from our week in London, we had wiled away most of the night. And with that, we all piled back into the bus to begin the 3 hour drive back to our hotel.\nPFC Band Headlines the Jazz\/World Stage at Glastonbury\nIt is not often that I find myself at a complete loss for words. Experiencing the Playing For Change Band perform at Glastonbury was one of those rare occurrences. For this very special concert, Playing For Change musicians Clarence Bekker, Grandpa Elliott, Tal Ben Ari \"Tula\", Mermans Mosengo, Jason Tamba, Louis Mhlanga, Reggie McBride, Roberto Luti, Stefano Tomaselli, Mohammed Alidu, Peter Bunetta, and Francois Vigui were joined by a number of very special guests.\nTraveling from Mali, Tinariwen took the stage with the PFC Band to peform a hypnotic version of their original song \"Imidiwan\" leading into \"War \/ No More Trouble.\" From South Africa, Vusi Mahlasela joined the PFC Band to perform beautiful renditions of his original songs \"When You Come Back\" and \"Letter From Havana.\" And bussing their way down from Northern Ireland, Daryl Simpson and the Omagh Community Youth Choir added their beautiful voices to \"Imidiwan,\" \"War \/ No More Trouble,\" \"Billy Jean,\" \"Stand by Me,\" and performed their own version of \"Love Rescue Me.\"\nFor years our team has been traveling around the world in search of musical inspiration that transcends life's daily challenges. Looking at that stage and seeing so many musicians\u2013 over 50\u2013 from such varied backgrounds who had all traveled hundreds, if not thousands of miles to perform together in the name of peace was something I will never forget.\nIf you were unable to attend this amazing night of music, keep checking the site, as we will be updating it with content from the show when it is available. Also, make sure to check out the PFC Band page frequently, to see when shows are announced in your area!\nThe Playing For Change Band Goes to England\nCheck out this great article about the PFC Band's appearance at Glastonbury in the Independent.\nThe Omagh choir will be joining us at Glastonbury!\nCheck out this great article by the BBC covering the Omagh choir, and its plans to join us at Glastonbury on June 27th.\nSeeing Through the Eyes of Grandpa\nPlaying For Change has always been about the journey we all take together to find great music and connect people through that music. There is always a sense of discovery whenever the Playing For Change crew arrives in a new city or records a new musician.\nThis past October, Playing For Change was asked to play a concert in New Orleans. It was there that I discovered a man named Grandpa. Our crew had filmed Grandpa for the first time a few years ago, but I did not travel with the crew to New Orleans at that time. I had only seen and heard Grandpa through performances we had filmed and recorded.\nOur crew was picked up from the hotel in a shuttle bus and taken over to our rehearsal space. There were musicians from Spain, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Los Angeles, and New Orleans all coming together to help spread the message of Playing For Change.\nAs we walked into the front door of the rehearsal building, I saw a man with a big white beard and overalls standing quietly in the corner of the lobby. I was certain that it was Grandpa. I walked over to him and said, \"\u0153Grandpa?\"\u009d\n\"Yes, indeed,\"\u009d he replied.\nGrandpa explained to me that he is almost completely blind and will need help getting around over the next couple of days. I told him, \"\u0153I'\u2122m your man.\" This was the beginning of my journey in New Orleans with Grandpa.\nWe kicked off the rehearsal and it was like these musicians had been playing together for years. They all worked together so naturally. It was apparent that every one of them was extremely talented, and that they all had embraced the values of listening to each other and working as a team to achieve the right sound.\nGrandpa is a mean harmonica player. He had with him this small side bag that was stuffed to the brim with harmonicas. He must have had 15 harmonicas in that little bag. Grandpa explained how each of them was in a specific spot. He had them organized a certain way so when he'\u2122s performing in the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans, he can do everything himself. If he squinted really hard and held the harmonica about an inch away from his eye, he was able to make out which key was listed on the harmonica. Working with Grandpa, I started to pick up on all of the little things that not having eyesight would make incredibly difficult.\nAfter our rehearsal, Mark Johnson says, \"Hey Grandpa, we'\u2122d like to take you out to a nice big meal. Would you like to join us?\"\u009d Grandpa, with a big grin on his face says,\"You bet your sweet bippy!\" And off we went.\nThere must have been 20 of us at the dinner; musicians from all over the world, and the Playing For Change crew eating together in a truly magical city, and celebrating the gift of music and its ability to help heal the world and make it a better place. I remember looking down the table and at the far end of the table was Grandpa. He had such a content look on his face as if he was saying, \"these are the blessings that music brings. This is why I love what I do.\"\nAs the meal was wrapping up, I asked Grandpa if he could take tomorrow off from playing in the French Quarter so he could rest up for the show the following night. He told me that he has to be up at 5 AM to get down to the French Quarter in order to secure a seat so he can perform and make a living. I handed him enough money so that he would be able to take the next day off.\nOur next rehearsal went off without a hitch. Grandpa had presented the idea of me being his harmonica holder. Our set list at this point left Grandpa having to switch to different harmonica keys several times throughout the show. It was a little shaky at first, but after we ran through it a few times, I felt comfortable with the process.\nShowtime. There must have been two thousand people assembled to see the Playing For Change Band perform in the French Quarter. Grandpa took his seat at the front of the stage. He looked so iconic sitting there gazing out over the crowd as if he could see every one of their faces.\nWhen Grandpa and Clarence began to sing a duet version of \"Change Is Gonna Come,\" it felt like each harmonica note he held made my body bend to the tone. As the band played on there was such a sense of camaraderie going on between the crowd and the band. It was like everyone was thinking the same thing if we all come together through music, we really can spread a positive message throughout the world. Stop trying to build walls between all of us, and instead build bridges connecting with one another and come together as a human race.\nAs Grandpa left the stage, I walked him out into the crowd. He was a celebrity. Everyone was coming up to Grandpa hugging him and requesting a picture with him. He has such a positive and warm feeling about him. You just feel good being in his company, and it was so evident that it was an experience that many people shared.\nAs the show came to a close, Grandpa came up to each and every member of the crew and the band and thanked them all for sharing such a special few days with him. After reflecting on the past few days, I shared with Grandpa what I thought about what it must have felt like to go through that experience without having the use of his eyesight. Grandpa came up to me and said, \"\u0153Thank you for helping me get around my friend. Thank you for helping me see all of the beautiful things we have just shared together.\" It was at that point I felt like I was truly seeing through the eyes of Grandpa.\nThe PFC crew has always embraced the spontaneous, and our trip to Ireland was just that. On Christmas day of 2008 the crew got on a conference call and decided that we would head to Ireland on New Year's Day. We came from all corners of the country and met in Atlanta only to discover our flight was delayed. This gave us a great opportunity to discuss our goals for this once in a lifetime trip.\nFirst, we would make our way to Northern Ireland to meet up with Daryl Simpson and the Omagh Community Youth Choir. This was a very exciting opportunity because of the choir's history and what it represents to the entire planet. Daryl formed the choir after a horrific act of terrorism due to the Protestant \/ Catholic conflict that has plagued Northern Ireland. The choir was formed to bring the children of both groups together using music as a bridge to allow these kids to see their similarities and ultimately form a bond and connection that could not be broken by social, political, or religious differences. Additionally, the parents of the singers also came together in an arena that allowed them to open up and communicate with one another. Thus the processes of healing, forgiveness, understanding, and collaboration were able to flourish in an environment rich with love, happiness and unity. The result is a much stronger community that can embrace differences and celebrate connections. This was a community we had to meet and a group of singers we had to collaborate with. If music could bring peace to this community then surely it has to power to affect the rest of the planet. They are an ideal group to represent the lyrics of War \/ No More Trouble.\nSecond, we would film and record Bono. More about that later!\nWe arrived in Dublin, rented a car and drove to Omagh. That night we met Daryl and had a great evening of getting to know each other. The next morning we met the choir at the church where they rehearse and headed out to our filming location. This location was very special. Alexandra Anastasia \"Sacha\" Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn, is a big supporter of the choir and the arts and offered us a house that was built on her property. It was a true retreat constructed of beautiful wood with an amazing skylight in the center nearly 30 feet above. We entered to meet a lively group of teens eager to sing. After a moment of reflection to allow each of us to focus, we set up and began the recording session. It is hard to describe the impact of the moment when the first note was sung. The crew just stood in awe, taking in every note and voice, and looked at each other knowing that we had come to the right place and were about to be a part of something very powerful. We admired the smiles and confidence with which the teens sang and realized at that moment that we were surrounded by the music that had brought peace to this community. We could feel the power within each voice, see the connections between the individuals, and hear the wisdom behind each note. We left that evening knowing that we had filmed and recorded one of the most important group of singers this world has ever heard.\nWelcome everyone to the new Playingforchange.com website. It's just the beginning\u2014we have lots more planned\u2014but we're sure you're going to enjoy exploring the depth and breadth of material here. Visit the amazing locations and meet the wonderful people we've met through our journey. At our core we're filmmakers, so we're going to continue to publish new videos that chronicle our ongoing adventure. Thanks for stopping by. Please tell your friends about us! One love, Mark.\nPlaying For Change on Huffington Post\nThanks to our friends at Huffington Post for a great article on Playing For Change.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Commentary: Abortion access for students a matter of racial, economic justice\nPro-choice supporters rally in Los Angeles in 2005.\n(Getty Images)\nBy CAROLINE SIEGEL SINGH\nMy work in reproductive justice began on my own campus when I realized that our student government, Associated Students at University of California San Diego, had previously installed dispensers for condoms, but they were broken and not being filled. Thus, the products were not easily accessible.\nIt was after working on this initiative that I realized condoms aren't enough \u2014 students needed a backup method for when birth control failed, or in the case of sexual assault, when sex was not consensual. With the support of the Associated Students and campus administration, I'm proud to say my campus should be getting our first vending machines for emergency contraception very soon. But we shouldn't stop there.\nRelated: Why college campuses should not dispense abortion pills\nThe reality is that college students need a full range of reproductive care accessible on campus, from birth control options and sexually transmitted infections screenings to abortion care, and that's exactly what I hope to achieve.\nAs an elected student leader at UCSD, I am committed to improving the health of my fellow students and I'm proud to be part of a statewide campaign to make the abortion pill accessible at every public university student health center. I've heard from students at my school and across the state about the struggles they face when trying to get an abortion.\nRight now, no public university student health centers in our state provide abortion care, forcing students who need this care to leave campus, which usually means missing class, work shifts, or both. Students should not have to leave campus to see a provider they've never met, and potentially fall behind in their education, when the abortion pill can easily and safely be provided on campus.\nOur university is in the middle of an affluent community \u2014 but students often struggle to make ends meet. It's hard to focus on your education when your basic needs aren't being met, and students may have trouble paying rent or even buying food. Our campus has been working to improve this, by implementing an on-campus food pantry and basic needs resource center. In my time at UCSD I've learned that for something to truly be accessible to a student \u2014 most of whom don't have cars \u2014 it needs to be available on campus.\nForcing students to leave campus for abortion care can mean lost wages and added costs such as transportation, which many simply can't afford. In particular, students of color and first-generation college students face added barriers to accessing reproductive care. When we speak of access we must remember that this is also an issue of racial and economic justice. Abortion is health care and bodily autonomy is a human right.\nStudents are now working side by side with reproductive justice organizations, funders who've come forward to cover the costs of implementation, other supporters, and lawmaker champions to make the abortion pill available in student health centers. California is already leading the fight to improve access to comprehensive women's reproductive health care \u2014 let's make sure students are included in this fight. Together, we can make California a leader in student health care as well.\nHow will we do it? The California legislature is currently considering Senate Bill 320: the College Student Right to Access Act, sponsored by Sen. Connie M. Leyva, D-Chino, which would implement medication abortion at every UC and CSU campus. If SB 320 is signed into law, we can help ensure that this important care is available to students wherever we live, wherever we go to school and however much money we have.\nI've learned in my advocacy for this bill that there's a lot of misinformation out there about sexual and reproductive health. For example, not everyone knows the difference between emergency contraception \u2014 a birth control method you take after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure to prevent a pregnancy, and the abortion pill, which is a totally different medication to end a pregnancy. Both of these medications are safe and effective, and both should be available to students, but we should all know the difference and understand when one might be appropriate and necessary.\nI'm currently in my second year at UCSD studying political science and public policy. I also sit on the Associated Students at UCSD as a senator and represent UC students statewide through the UC Student Association. After I graduate, I want to go into higher education policy to help build an even brighter future for California students. Today, I'm starting that journey by fighting to make reproductive health care and the abortion pill at student health centers \u2014 I hope you'll join me in making history.\nSiegel Singh is a student at UCSD.\nCommentary: How Del Mar is improving safety for racehorses\nLocal racetrack adopting stringent standards\nCommentary: Why horse racing needs new rules to survive\nPETA pushes better protections for animals\nChris Reed: Abuses of prosecutorial discretion go far, far beyond Jeffrey Epstein\nWhen a DA can \"indict a ham sandwich,\" overprosecution may be a bigger problem than underprosecution\nRuben Navarrette | Is Duncan Hunter beyond redemption?\nThe Republican walked into a federal courthouse and rolled the dice on a last-ditch attempt to skirt punishment for his sins.\nDavid Brooks | A source of meaning in our lives\nA shocking number of respondents described lives of quiet despair\nThe most 2019 Fourth of July celebration possible: A fight over Nike's Betsy Ross shoes\nIf you're looking for heroes in the battle over the flag-emblazoned shoes Nike made and then recalled, you're out of luck.\nCommentary: Catherine Rampell | Census-related emails need to been seen by voters\nWe should be laser-focused on these newly discovered private emails.\nCommentary: Talking with Latino leader Janet Murguia\nUnidosUS will be holding its 2019 annual conference in San Diego.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"TV for the Both of You\nAuthor: Wired News ReportWired News Report\nAt last, a way to end squabbles over which TV channel to watch \u2013 without buying a second set. Sharp has developed a liquid-crystal display that shows totally different images to people viewing the screen from the left and the right.\nOne person can be surfing the internet, using the display as a PC screen, while another watches a downloaded movie or TV broadcast. It also works for watching two TV channels.\nThe \"two-way viewing-angle LCD\" will go into mass production this month and will cost roughly twice as much as a standard display.\nSharp will offer the product for worldwide sale, but the company will also supply other manufacturers with the displays for various products expected later this year.\nWho's in charge?: A U.N. panel created to recommend how the internet should be run in the future has failed to reach consensus but did agree that no single country should dominate.\nThe United States stated two weeks ago that it intended to maintain control over the computers that serve as the internet's principal traffic cops.\nIn a report, the U.N. panel outlined four possible options for the future of internet governance for world leaders to consider at a November \"Information Society\" summit.\nSome countries were satisfied with the current arrangement, while others, particularly developing ones, wanted to wrest control from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which is controlled by the United States, and place it with an intergovernmental group, possibly under the United Nations.\nFlying high: Substantial challenges remain to the in-flight use of mobile phones even if communications regulators ease their ban, the Federal Aviation Administration told lawmakers.\nFAA rules restricting the use of portable electronic devices on aircraft can be waived but a carrier would have to show that each model of phone posed no threat to aircraft navigation or communications systems.\nThe Federal Communications Commission has proposed lifting its ban on in-flight mobile-phone use, provided it is technically feasible and does not overwhelm ground-based networks.\nThe FAA last year allowed a test of a \"pico cell\" device on an American Airlines (AMR) plane that was designed to keep phones operating at their lowest power level. And last month the FAA gave United Airlines approval to install equipment on a 757 aircraft that will give passengers wireless internet access.\nLosing streak: Samsung said that second-quarter profits fell 46 percent, largely due to a sharp drop in prices for computer chips.\nSamsung, South Korea's biggest company by market capitalization, said it earned $1.63 billion in the three months ended June 30, down from $3 billion in the same period a year earlier.\nPrices for Samsung's mainstay businesses \u2013 chips, mobile phones and liquid-crystal displays used in computer monitors and televisions \u2013 peaked in the first half of last year. Profit margins have since been eroded by a global oversupply of dynamic random access, or DRAM, chips and LCDs, and stiffer competition in the mobile-phone business.\nSamsung said its average DRAM selling price fell by almost half during the quarter to the high $3 level from the high $6 level in the same period last year.\nCompiled by David Cohn. AP and Reuters contributed to this report.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Bridging the Divide 2020\nWe at the University of Notre Dame are not immune from the political polarization in our nation. However, we have the benefit of being members of a supportive academic community \u2013 one that encourages respect for others' opinions, promotes critical thinking, and recognizes the struggles of those around us.\nFeatured Speakers:\nJohn Duffy, Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame\nLisa Fazio, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University\nMaura Policelli, associate professor of the practice and executive director of the Keough School's Washington, D.C., office, University of Notre Dame\nDavid Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame and the chairperson of the political science department\nCaitlin Conant, political director of CBS News\nDarren Davis. Snyder Family Mission Professor, Lilly Presidential Fellow, Department of Political Science, University of Notre Dame\nVeronica Root Martinez, Professor of Law and Director of the Law School's Program on Ethics, Compliance, & Inclusion\nDavid Hooker, Associate Professor of the Practice of Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding in the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies\nRev. Thomas J. McDonagh, C.S.C., Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame\nDianne Pinderhughes, Notre Dame Presidential Faculty Fellow, Professor in the Department of Africana Studies and the Department of Political Science\nChristina Wolbrecht, professor of political science, director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy, C. Robert and Margaret Hanley Family Director of the Notre Dame Washington Program.\nKenya Young '94, executive producer of \"Morning Edition\" at National Public Radio (NPR)\nAnne Thompson, NBC News' chief environmental affairs correspondent\nPete Buttigieg , American politician and former military officer\nGreg Miller, junior at the University of Notre Dame, Co-President of BridgeND, Co-Founder of the Student Policy Network\nEmily Garcia, junior at Arizona State University, National Director of Youth Development BridgeUSA\nRoss Irwin, BridgeUSA's Chief Operation Officer\nJane Wang, co- founder of BridgeEmory, a branch of BridgeUSA\nRiya Shah, BridgeUSA Director of National Engagement, Student Government Member, University of Notre Dame.\nView Series Takeaways\nBeyond Good Manners: Promoting Civil Discussion on Issues that Divide Us\nVideo 64 minutes View the Event\nArticle 1 minute John Duffy\nArticle 1 minute Lisa Fazio\nArticle 1 minute Maura Policelli (Moderator)\nArticle 1 minute Tim Weninger\nPodcast 34 minutes On Reporting and Politics Office of the Provost\nVideo 60 minutes The Media and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Campaign Notre Dame Alumni Association\nVideo 4 minutes Arguments and Disagreement Notre Dame Alumni Association\nPolitical Polarization in America\nArticle 1 minute David Campbell (Moderator)\nArticle 1 minute Caitlin Conant '08\nArticle 1 minute Darren Davis\nVideo 90 minutes Poverty in America: Is Progress Possible in our Polarized Times? American Enterprise Institute\nVideo 86 minutes Partisan Politics in the Era of Trump Notre Dame Law School\nVideo 81 minutes A House Divided \u2013 Polarization in Our Common Life de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture\nExploring Racial and Social Injustice and Inequality in America\nArticle 1 minute Veronica Root Martinez (Moderator)\nArticle 1 minute David Hooker\nArticle 1 minute James Sullivan '93\nVideo 24 minutes Race, Religion, and Reparative Justice: Black Lives Matter and International Human Rights Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion\nVideo 87 minutes Race, Violence, and Protest: A Conversation about the Ongoing Struggle for Justice Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies\nVideo 53 minutes Deepfake Conference Panel III: Marginalized Populations Technology Ethics Center\nThe 19th Amendment and the Myth that All Women Vote the Same\nArticle 1 minute Dianne Pinderhughes\nArticle 1 minute Christina Wolbrecht\nArticle 1 minute Kenya Young '94 (Moderator)\nArticle 2 minutes Political scientist releases definitive research on the first century of women voters Office of Public Affairs and Communications\nPodcast 28 minutes Women's Suffrage and Political Barbies Office of Public Affairs and Communications\nVideo 60 minutes Was Women's Suffrage a Failure? College of Arts and Letters\nRebuilding Trust in our Nation's Institutions\nArticle 1 minute Pete Buttigieg\nArticle 1 minute Anne Thompson '79 (Moderator)\nCivil Dialogue and Free Expression on College Campuses\nArticle 1 minute Meet the Moderator\nArticle 1 minute Meet the Panelists\nArticle 1 minute Study Shows Social Media an Effective Tool for Predicting Voting Outcomes Office of Public Affairs and Communications\nVideo 10 minutes Domer Dozen 2019 Honoree: Nicole Sganga '15 Alumni Association","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Thread: This Is It, Lost Fans, Tonight...\nJEVLACH\nLocation: South Shore Long Island\nFor all of you 'Lost' fans, this article is from NY Post online and thought it was pretty funny:\nHell, I'm Lost\nBy Joanna P. DelBuono\n\"I'm dead, too?\" Jack asks at the end of Lost. OMG, what tripe. From the pens of Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams this is the best they could come up with? After six seasons of black smoke monsters, others, a crazy French woman, bite your nails off cliffhangers and polar bears in the Pacific, all Lindelof and Abrams can come up with is \"I'm dead, too?\"\nLet me get this straight, for the past six seasons they've all been dead, but had to wait for Jack to remember that he was dead so they could all be together? And Benjamin, Mister Meanie himself, had some issues to deal with so he was staying, staying where, outside of the church, in the alternate world, at the island? Where oh where did he stay and where oh where did they die? IDK.\nOkay, okay, they're all dead, I get it, but did they die initially in the plane crash, did they die at different times on the island, did they really get saved and then go back to the island, but then died, or did they wait for Jack to die before they could die and did Lock really die at the end? Was he faking it laying on those rocks? Did Jack's surgery really cure his spinal injury, or was that just my imagination? I'M SO LOST.\nWhy where they in the church, wasn't that building the portal to get back to the Island, was there going to be a group funeral mass for the Oceanic 11? Why wasn't the entire cast there and why was it a different brother? And finally where did the dog come from?\nI stayed up till 11:30 pm waiting for a really boffo ending and all I got was a GPS full of dead ends.\nNot for nuthin'\u2122 Damon and J.J., but fading to black would have been better, then there would have been a reunion option. Cue \"Don't Stop Believin'!\"\nSend a private message to JEVLACH\nFind More Posts by JEVLACH","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Topic: The Center for Michigan\nBridge Michigan, Chalkbeat Detroit expand education beat with veteran hire\nTracie Mauriello has spent 25 years covering schools and government. Her new post will give her the opportunity to do both. (Bridge courtesy photo)\nBridge Staff\nMichigan K-12 schools, Michigan colleges and universities, Detroit\nAward-winning journalist Tracie Mauriello is joining the staff of Bridge Michigan and Chalkbeat Detroit, in a nonprofit newsroom collaboration to provide additional in-depth reporting on state education policy.\nMauriello will report on legislation and policy initiatives coming out of Lansing that impact Michigan schools, often through the experiences of children, parents and teachers.\nBridge will now have two full-time reporters covering education.\n\"We're delighted to double Bridge's education team at a time when schools are so vital to Michigan's future,\" said Bridge Michigan Senior Editor David Zeman. \"We see this partnership with Chalkbeat Detroit as a win for students and families across the state.\"\nMauriello brings a wealth of knowledge of education and government to the new post. Mauriello served as Washington bureau chief for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where her work included contributions to the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Tree of Life synagogue massacre.\nPrior to that, she was an education writer for the Republican-American in Waterbury, Conn., assistant city editor of the Springfield News-Sun in Ohio, education and municipal government reporter for The Herald in New Britain, Conn., and executive director of the Journalism Association of Ohio Schools. She taught journalism at Urbana University in Ohio and co-wrote a chapter about libel law in the 2006 textbook \"Emerging Issues in Contemporary Journalism.\"\nShe spent the 2019-20 academic year as a Knight-Wallace journalism fellow at the University of Michigan.\n\"I spent the first part of my career covering schools and the second covering state and public policy. Now I get to bring what I've learned together, and I see a lot of opportunities there,\" Mauriello said.\n\"There's a lot at stake next year as students return to in-person learning. My goal is to not just tell readers what's happening in Lansing but to show them why it matters.\"\nMauriello's reporting will be shared by Bridge Michigan and fellow nonprofit newsroom Chalkbeat Detroit. Chalkbeat focuses on coverage of K-12 schools, with particular emphasis on children who have historically lacked access to high-quality education.\n\"Chalkbeat and Bridge are innovative news organizations that are thoughtful and deliberate about the kind of journalism they do,\" Mauriello said. \"It's nice to be a part of both teams and to build on the good coverage of teaching and learning that both have been providing readers.\"\nMauriello joins Ron French, who has reported on K-12 schools, higher education and early childhood education since Bridge was founded in 2011.\nYou can reach Mauriello at tmauriello@chalkbeat.org; you can reach French at rfrench@bridgemi.com.\nA school fight, a gun, and a Michigan community demands action\nJanuary 27, 2023 | Janelle D. James in\nCollege enrollments stay down in Michigan. Blame paychecks and the pandemic?\nJanuary 26, 2023 | Mike Wilkinson, Isabel Lohman in\nFewer Michigan snow days this winter means more days in classrooms","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Bench players shine in Mizzou soccer's overtime win over Northern Colorado\nby KCOU Sports\nBy Matt McFarland\nIt was a stressful Sunday afternoon for Bryan Blitz and his Missouri Soccer team as it looked to break a two-game losing streak at Walton stadium as it battled Northern Colorado. The Tigers were the better team for the vast majority of the game the Bears defense looked outmatched and overwhelmed. The Tigers were offensively dominant in regulation, outshooting the Bears 10-6 and having a whopping 10 corners to Northern Colorado's measly two.\nEven with the offensive onslaught, Missouri struggled to find goals, a beautiful pass from Easley to Kingsley in the 26th minute gave Blitz's girls a 1-0 lead after a good period of soccer. However, the Bears responded with an Avery Smith goal off a free kick that took several deflections. The story of the first half wasn't the Bears goal- it was the struggles for the Tiger's strikers. By the time the Bears responded in the 39th minute, the game should have been 3-0, both Kingsley and Julissa Cisneros blew chances in front of goal. Blitz didn't start the Sophomore striker, saying he wanted to bring in \"some fresher players.\"\nThe second half was an uneventful defensive battle- both teams seemed affected by the oppressive heat, with highs hitting 90, on turf that makes the playing surface around 100 degrees. Both teams' strikers seemed to have little pace and finish, which is fair considering neither team has played in much heat this year.\nDespite being dominated much of the game, the Bears had a wonderful chance to win in overtime. Were it not for Peyton Baumann making a miraculous stop in the 94th minute to save the game, the Bears would have left Walton Stadium happy. However, Baumann did make the save and just one-minute Grace Kitts blistered a strike into the top right corner to win the game for the Tigers.\nCoach Blitz seemed to think his keeper made the next step in her progression today.\n\"She's knows she might have to win us some games and that's the first time she's done that this year,\" Blitz said. \"She's done the routine nice stuff but that's the first time she's done something like that.\"\nBlitz also said he was happy with his bench- his \"game changers.\" Depth is a strength for the Tigers, as a deep freshman and senior class lends itself well to the multitude of subs Blitz has used this year. Depth upfront is imperative for Missouri especially is Cisneros continues to struggle.\nAfter suffering an injury and some other hardships last year, the redshirt Junior made the most out of her chance on Sunday. With the ball falling perfectly to her in the box, Kitts said her only focus was \"putting the ball on goal.\" Kitts seemed focused on the SEC schedule ahead and if the Tigers can win more games on the backs of their bench, the Tigers could be a force to reckoned in conference play.\nEdited by Garrett Jones | gcjh23@mail.missouri.edu\nAbout KCOU Sports\nView all posts by KCOU Sports \u2192\n\u2190 Fantasy Football \"Love\/Hate\" Week 2\nGertz goes to SEC Nation \u2192","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Commoners win control of Tongan parliament\nTonga \u2013 one of the world's few remaining political monarchies \u2013 has moved a decisive step closer to democratic government, electing the first national Government which is not subject to royal and noble control.\nBut the role of the monarch as a constitutional figure who exercises his legal powers subject to advice from the elected government has yet to become fully settled.\nTonga is an emerging democracy, and a society with a continuing class system.\nThe role of the monarch \u2013 currently King Tupou VI \u2013 remains constitutionally paramount, and there continues to exist a small class of nobles.\nThe bulk of the Tongan population are still termed 'commoners'.\nNonetheless the nation's small Legislative Assembly has been evolving towards a more normal democracy, with progress accelerating in the past decade.\nEssentially a blend of a commoners house and a nobles house in one chamber, the 26-seat Legislative Assembly, the Fale Alea, is a blend of 17 seats elected by the commoners together with 9 seats set aside for special election by (and from among) the noble lords, a class which includes 33 hereditary title-holders as well as a small number of 'life peers' created by the King.\nIf the Government appoints ministers from outside the Assembly \u2013 up to 4 in number \u2013 they are also appointed as additional MPs in the parliament.\nUntil constitutional changes made in 2010 the Assembly had only 9 elected commoners, and there were more additional MPS appointed directly by the king. Reforms in that year at least paved the way for a majority of the seats to be elected by the general population of Tonga.\nThe Tongan electoral democracy is not entirely normal. There is only one main political party \u2013 the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI) \u2013 led by the long-serving democracy campaigner 'Akilisi P\u014dhiva. All other elected commoners are identified as non-party independents.\nTongan Prime Minister (2014-) and long-serving democracy campaigner 'Akilisi P\u014dhiva\nThe 17 elected commoners are elected in single-member electoral divisions by the plurality (first past the post) voting system.\nAt the first modern \u2013 and more genuinely democratic \u2013 elections held in 2010, the DPFI party won 12 of the 17 elected seats. But the 5 independents and the 9 noble members of parliament managed to lure away a DPFI member, and formed a government led by the nobleman Siale \u02bbAtaongo Kaho, Lord Tu\u02bbivakan\u014d.\nThe 2014 elections seemed at first to be a setback for the DPFI, with the party losing 3 seats to independents. However DPFI leader P\u014dhiva somehow managed to cobble together a majority, and became the Prime Minister.\nPohiva's government has been subjected to regular criticism by nobles (and other Tongans) for its performance, but survived a no-confidence motion last year.\nThen in August this year the Speaker of the Parliament \u2013 the same Lord Tu\u02bbivakan\u014d whom P\u014dhiva had replaced as Prime Minister \u2013 prevailed upon the King to dissolve parliament early.\nKing Tupou VI himself, having ascended the throne in 2012 on the death of his elder brother, is a former noble member of the Assembly, and was Prime Minister from 2000 to 2006.\nAt first seen as something of a royal coup against the democratic government, the early election move has now backfired, with the DPFI winning 14 of the 17 elected seats.\nThe November 16 election result has thus for the first time gives the DPFI a functional majority in the Assembly, enabling it to form a government which not need to rely on votes from independents or nobles.\nThere remains the risk of individual MPs being lured away by inducements from the nobility. And there is, of course, also the eventual problem that Tonga has only the one political party.\nBut for the past decade, the political faultline in the country has been between democratic government and noble government, rather than between competing partisan electoral camps.\nP\u014dhiva is also 76 years old, and his impending retirement may test the democracy movement, which has operated under his leadership for many years.\nP\u014dhiva denies that he wishes to overthrow the monarchy itself, instead talking of wanting to 'protect' the king from constitutional embarrassment.\nWhat remains to be seen is the extent to which Tonga is evolving towards a constitutional monarchy with ordinary responsible government, in which the monarch acts on the advice of the government supported by the Parliament. So far it seems that King Tupou is not entirely ready to complete that constitutional journey.\nAnother of the constitutional conflicts in the nation is between the rival institutions of the Privy Council \u2013 which advises the King \u2013 and the government's Cabinet.\nIn most Westminster-style monarchies the two institutions are effectively merged. In Tonga they have been a source of ongoing governmental rivalry as democratisation has unfolded.\nIndeed, the explanation given by parliamentary Speaker Lord Tu\u02bbivakan\u014d for urging the recent dissolution included the claim that Prime Minister was striving to give the Cabinet political pre-eminence over the Privy Council.\nFor years P\u014dhiva has continued to annoy the nobility with calls for more democratisation. During the 2010-14 term he called for the 9 noble seats to become elected by the general population as well \u2013 an idea to which he may yet return.\nThis entry was posted on November 24, 2017 by Malcolm Baalman in Tonga, Uncategorized.\nhttps:\/\/wp.me\/p3WdvP-50V","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Clinical Predictors of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome in Obese Subjects With Obstructive Sleep Apnea\nZuleyha Bingol, Aylin P\u0131ht\u0131l\u0131, Penbe Cagatay, Gulfer Okumus and Esen K\u0131yan\nRespiratory Care May 2015, 60 (5) 666-672; DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4187\/respcare.03733\nZuleyha Bingol\nDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine\nAylin P\u0131ht\u0131l\u0131\nClinic of Pulmonary Medicine, Private Ke\u00e7i\u00f6ren Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.\nPenbe Cagatay\nDepartment of Biostatistics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.\nGulfer Okumus\nEsen K\u0131yan\nBACKGROUND: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is not a routine test in sleep laboratories due to its invasive nature. Therefore, the diagnosis of obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is underestimated. We aimed to evaluate the differences in subjects with OHS and pure obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to determine clinical predictors of OHS in obese subjects.\nMETHODS: Demographics, body mass index (BMI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, polysomnographic data, ABG, spirometric measurements, and serum bicarbonate levels were recorded.\nRESULTS: Of 152 obese subjects with OSA (79 females\/73 males, mean age of 50.3 \u00b1 10.6 y, BMI of 40.1 \u00b1 5.6 kg\/m2, 51.9% with severe OSA), 42.1% (n = 64) had OHS. Subjects with OHS had higher BMI (P = .02), neck circumference (P < .001), waist circumference (P < .001), waist\/hip ratio (P = .02), Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores (P = .036), ABG and serum bicarbonate levels (P < .001), apnea-hypopnea index (P = .01), oxygen desaturation index (P < .001), and total sleep time with SpO2 < 90% (P < .001) compared with subjects with pure OSA (n = 88). They also had lower daytime PaO2 (P < .001), sleep efficiency (P = .032), mean SpO2 (P < .001), and nadir SpO2 (P < .001). Serum bicarbonate levels and nadir SpO2 were the only independent predictive factors for OHS. A serum bicarbonate level of \u2265 27 mmol\/L as the cutoff gives a satisfactory discrimination for the diagnosis of OHS (sensitivity of 76.6%, specificity of 74.6%, positive predictive value of 54.5%, negative predictive value of 88.9%). A nadir SpO2 of < 80% as the cutoff gives a satisfactory discrimination for the diagnosis of OHS (sensitivity of 82.8%, specificity of 54.5%, positive predictive value of 56.9%, negative predictive value of 81.4%). When we used a serum bicarbonate level of \u2265 27 mmol\/L and\/or a nadir SpO2 of < 80% as a screening measure, only 3 of 64 subjects with OHS were missed.\nCONCLUSIONS: Serum bicarbonate level and nadir saturation were independent predictive factors for the diagnosis of OHS.\nnadir saturation\nobesity hypoventilation syndrome\nserum bicarbonate\nObesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is characterized by alveolar hypoventilation, severe sleep-disordered breathing, abnormal pulmonary mechanics, hypersomnolence, and multiple comorbidities.1,2 Patients with OHS have higher morbidity, lower quality of life, more health-care expenses, greater risk of pulmonary hypertension, and higher mortality compared with eucapnic obese patients with or without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).3\u20136 Diagnosis of OHS requires arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, but ABG analysis is not routinely performed in sleep laboratories due to its invasive nature. Therefore, OHS is often unrecognized. Daytime hypercapnia in patients with OSA has been reported at 10\u201338%, and prevalence increases with rising body mass index (BMI).2,7\u201314 Most patients with OHS have coexisting OSA.15 As patients with OHS have a worse prognosis than patients with pure OSA and use more health-care resources, understanding the clinical characteristics of OHS is important. In this study, we therefore aimed to determine the predictors of OHS in class II and III obese (BMI \u2265 35 kg\/m2) subjects with OSA.\nObesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is characterized by alveolar hypoventilation, severe sleep-disordered breathing, hypersomnolence, and multiple comorbidities. Subjects with OHS have higher morbidity, lower quality of life, greater health-care expenses, and a higher risk of pulmonary hypertension and mortality compared with eucapnic obese subjects. The diagnosis of OHS requires blood gas analysis, a procedure not always available in a sleep lab.\nOHS subjects had higher body mass index, waist circumference, waist\/hip ratio, and bicarbonate levels and lower daytime oxygenation. Sleep efficiency and nadir oxygen saturation were also lower with OHS compared with sleep apnea alone. Serum bicarbonate levels \u2265 27 mmol\/L and nadir oxygen saturation of < 80% provided a satisfactory discrimination for the diagnosis of OHS.\nThis prospective study was conducted in the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine of Istanbul University from January 2013 to January 2014. The subjects voluntarily gave their informed written consent. The study was carried out according to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine institutional board (2013\/381).\nWe studied all consecutive subjects with class II and III obesity (BMI \u2265 35 kg\/m2) who were admitted to the sleep laboratory because of a clinical suspicion of OSA from January 2013 to January 2014. The exclusion criteria were a diagnosis of neuromuscular disease, chest wall disease, kyphoscoliosis, diaphragmatic paralysis, obstructive or restrictive pulmonary diseases, severe hypothyroidism, congestive heart failure, or renal failure; receiving diuretic treatment; total sleep time of < 4 h on polysomnography; drug use affecting sleep architecture (benzodiazepine, narcotic drugs); and failure to perform spirometry.\nThe demographics, characteristic symptoms of OSA (snoring, witnessed apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness), anthropometric measurements, BMI, and comorbidities were recorded. BMI was calculated using the formula of Khosla and Lowe16: weight (kg)\/height2 (m2). Neck circumference was measured at the level of the cricothyroid membrane. Waist circumference was measured from the midpoint between the top of the iliac crest and the lower margin of the last palpable rib in the midaxillary line. Hip circumference was measured around the widest portion of the buttocks. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to measure daytime sleepiness. An ESS score of \u2265 10 was considered to be excessive daytime sleepiness. All subjects underwent spirometry, daytime ABG analysis, and all-night polysomnography. Spirometry (ZAN 74N, nSpire Health, Sydney, Australia) was performed according to approved standards.17 FEV1 and FVC were recorded as percent of predicted. ABG analysis was performed on room air after 15 min of rest using an ABL 5 blood gas analyzer (Radiometer, Br\u00f8nsh\u00f8j, Denmark) in the morning before polysomnography. Serum bicarbonate levels were measured (Cobas 6000, Roche Diagnostics, Ibaraki, Japan) in the morning on the same day of polysomnography.\nAssessment of Polysomnographic Findings\nAll-night polysomnography was performed on all subjects. Polysomnography included recording of electroencephalogram (central and occipital), electrooculogram, submental and pretibial electromyography, oronasal flow (thermistor and nasal pressure transducer), thoracoabdominal movements (abdominal and thoracic strain gauges), and SpO2.18 Sleep stages and respiratory events were scored according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2007 guidelines.19 Obstructive apnea was defined as a cessation of air flow of \u2265 90% compared with baseline for \u2265 10 s while there was evidence of persistent respiratory effort. Hypopnea was defined as an amplitude reduction of \u2265 30% in air flow for \u2265 10 s that was associated with an oxygen desaturation of \u2265 3% and arousal.19 Polysomnographic records were scored by a trained technician and interpreted by a sleep specialist. OSA was diagnosed if the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was \u2265 5\/h with the presence of clinical symptoms or if AHI was \u2265 15\/h without any symptoms. OSA severity was graded as mild (AHI = 5\u201314\/h), moderate (AHI = 15\u201329\/h), or severe (AHI \u2265 30\/h).19,20 OHS was defined as a combination of obesity (BMI \u2265 30 kg\/m2), daytime hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 45 mm Hg), and sleep-disordered breathing in the absence of other known causes of hypercapnia.21 OSA subjects without daytime hypercapnia are referred to as pure OSA.\nStatistical analysis was done using the SPSS 17.0 pocket program (SPSS, Chicago, Illinois). Descriptive values were given as mean \u00b1 SD. Categorical variables were expressed as the number of cases and percentages. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to identify normal distribution of the data. For comparison of normally distributed variables, the Student t test was used, whereas the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of variables without normal distributions. Comparison of categorical variables was performed using the chi-square test. All data are presented as mean \u00b1 SD. P \u2264 .05 was considered to be statistically significant. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between the polysomnographic data, ABG, spirometric measurements, and serum bicarbonate levels. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the related factors of OHS (AHI, BMI, oxygen desaturation index [ODI], serum bicarbonate levels, sleep time with SpO2 < 90%, nadir SpO2). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for serum bicarbonate levels was analyzed to determine a cutoff level of bicarbonate for identifying OHS. To assess the predictive performance of serum bicarbonate levels, multiple 2 \u00d7 2 contingency tables were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values.\nA total of 165 class II and III obese subjects were enrolled in the study. Thirteen subjects with AHI < 5\/h were excluded from the study. The remaining 152 subjects (79 females, 73 males, mean age of 50.3 \u00b1 10.6 y, BMI of 40.1 \u00b1 5.6 kg\/m2) with OSA (51.9% severe, 28.9% moderate, 19% mild) were evaluated. For 152 subjects, the mean total sleep time was 432.4 \u00b1 64 min, the sleep efficiency percentage was 84 \u00b1 10%, stage I\u2013II sleep was 69.8 \u00b1 15.3%, stage III sleep was 20.9 \u00b1 12.7%, and rapid eye movement sleep was 9.4 \u00b1 6.8%. The mean arousal index was 23.2 \u00b1 16.0\/h; the arousal index was > 10 in 80.2% (n = 122) of the subjects. The AHI of all subjects was 40.2 \u00b1 27.1\/h (range of 5.2\u2013118\/h). The ODI was 43.3 \u00b1 30.3\/h (range of 2\u2013125\/h). The mean SpO2 was 92.6 \u00b1 5.7%, and the nadir SpO2 was 73.2 \u00b1 15.6%. The percentage of total sleep time with SpO2 < 90% was 19.5 \u00b1 25.9%.\nOf 152 subjects with OSA, 88 had a diagnosis of pure OSA without hypercapnia, and 64 had a diagnosis of OHS (42.1%). For the pure OSA group, 45.4% had severe, 35.2% had moderate, and 19.3% had mild OSA. For the OHS group, 60.9% had severe, 20.3% had moderate, and 18.7% had mild OSA. Demographics, spirometric measurements, ABG analysis results, ESS scores, and serum bicarbonate levels of the OHS and pure OSA groups are given in Table 1. BMI (P = .02), neck circumference (P < .001), waist circumference (P < .001), waist\/hip ratio (P = .02), ESS scores (P = .036), daytime ABG bicarbonate levels (P < .001), and serum bicarbonate levels (P < .001) were significantly higher, whereas daytime PaO2 was significantly lower (P < .001) in subjects with OHS.\nDemographics, Spirometric Measurements, ESS Scores, and ABG of Study Groups\nNearly all subjects (148\/152) had current echocardiography, but systolic pulmonary arterial pressures could be measured in 107 of them. Pulmonary arterial pressures was similar in the OHS and pure OSA groups (30.8 \u00b1 5.7 vs 29.6 \u00b1 5.4 mm Hg, P = .29). Of 107 subjects, 23.4% (n = 25) had pulmonary arterial pressures \u2265 35 mm Hg (range of 35\u201352 mm Hg). The frequency of subjects with pulmonary arterial pressures \u2265 35 mm Hg was also similar in both groups (21.3% vs 19.7%, P = .63). The right ventricle diameter was significantly higher in the OHS group than in the pure OSA group (2.86 \u00b1 0.33 cm vs 2.71 \u00b1 0.26 cm, P = .003).\nPolysomnographic data for the OHS and pure OSA groups are given in Table 2. The AHI (P = .01), ODI (P < .001), and total sleep time with SpO2 < 90% (P < .001) were significantly higher in subjects with OHS. Sleep efficiency (P = .032), mean SpO2 (P < .001), and nadir SpO2 (P < .001) were significantly decreased in subjects with OHS.\nPolysomnographic Data of Study Groups\nThe variables that were associated with the presence of OHS (serum bicarbonate, BMI, AHI, ODI, nadir SpO2, time spent with SpO2 < 90%) were examined by logistic regression analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that serum bicarbonate levels and nocturnal nadir SpO2 were the independent predictive factors for OHS. There was a collinearity between AHI, ODI, lowest SpO2, and sleep time spent with SpO2 < 90%. When we removed AHI from the analysis, the result did not change. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for serum bicarbonate levels was 0.77. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, using a serum bicarbonate level of \u2265 27 mmol\/L as the cutoff gives a satisfactory discrimination in class II and III obese subjects for OHS diagnosis (sensitivity of 76.6%, specificity of 74.6%, positive predictive value of 54.5%, negative predictive value of 88.9%). Table 3 gives the predictive parameters of different serum bicarbonate levels for identifying subjects with OHS.\nPredictive Parameters for Serum Bicarbonate Levels in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome\nFor all 152 subjects, serum bicarbonate levels correlated with age (r = .23, P = .003), BMI (r = .19, P = .02), neck circumference (r = .19, P = .02), waist circumference (r = .24, P = .003), hip circumference (r = .19, P = .02), daytime PaO2 (r = \u22120.19, P = .02), PaCO2 (r = .52, P < .001), SaO2 (r = \u22120.32, P < .001), ABG bicarbonate levels (r = .43, P < .001), ODI (r = .22, P = .007), mean SpO2 (r = \u22120.17, P = .033), nadir SpO2 (r = \u22120.30, P < .001), and time spent with SpO2 < 90% (r = .27, P = .001). No correlation was found between AHI and serum bicarbonate levels. No difference was observed in serum bicarbonate levels at different OSA stages.\nFor subjects with only OHS, serum bicarbonate levels correlated with age (r = .38, P = .002), BMI (r = .28, P = .03), hip circumference (r = .32, P = .01), daytime PaCO2 (r = .34, P = .005), daytime SaO2 (r = \u22120.26, P = .041), and ABG bicarbonate levels (r = .42, P = .001).\nMost of the subjects with OHS (82.8%) had a nadir SpO2 of < 80%. A nadir SpO2 of < 80% as the cutoff gives a satisfactory discrimination in class II and III obese subjects for the diagnosis of OHS (sensitivity of 82.8%, specificity of 54.5%, positive predictive value of 56.9%, negative predictive value of 81.4%). When we use a serum bicarbonate level of \u2265 27 mmol\/L and\/or a nadir SpO2 of < 80% as a screening measure, we missed only 3 of 64 subjects with OHS.\nFor all 152 subjects, the nadir SpO2 correlated with neck circumference (r = \u22120.28, P < .001), waist circumference (r = \u22120.30, P < .001), waist\/hip ratio (r = \u22120.18, P = .02), ESS scores (r = \u22120.23, P = .005), daytime PaO2 (r = .21, P = .01), daytime PaCO2 (r = \u22120.48, P < .001), SaO2 (r = .27, P = .001), ABG bicarbonate levels (r = \u22120.21, P = .01), AHI (r = \u22120.59, P < .001), ODI (r = \u22120.69, P < .001), mean SpO2 (r = .55, P < .001), and time spent with SpO2 < 90% (r = \u22120.69, P < .001). For only subjects with OHS, the nadir SpO2 correlated with daytime PaCO2 (r = \u22120.32, P = .009), AHI (r = \u22120.59, P < .001), ODI (r = \u22120.66, P < .001), mean SpO2 (r = .47, P < .001), and time spent with SpO2 < 90% (r = \u22120.65, P < .001).\nIn this study, we prospectively investigated the clinical predictors of OHS in obese subjects with OSA. OHS prevalence in patients with OSA varies from 11 to 38%.2,7\u201314,22\u201325 The prevalence increases with obesity severity. In our study, OHS prevalence was 42.1% in OSA subjects with class II and III obesity, which is higher than in previous studies.2,8\u201314,22\u201325 The mean BMI of our subjects was higher than in most previous studies.9\u201312,14,23\u201325 This might be the reason for our higher rate. However, the frequency of OHS in our study was also higher than in previous studies with a mean BMI of > 40 kg\/m2.2,8,13,22 The largest OHS study in the literature was retrospective, and the prevalence of OHS was 11%.12 In that study, the prevalence was 24% in subjects with a BMI above 40 kg\/m2.12 There are few prospective studies, and OHS prevalence in these studies is between 13% and 37%.2,8,13,23\nPatients with OHS have higher mortality than pure OSA patients with a similar degree of obesity.26,27 Hospitalization rates and use of health-care service requirements are also high for these patients.5,6 Therefore, identifying patients with OHS is important. However, there are few studies that evaluated the clinical differences between OHS and OSA.8,14,24 According to one of these studies, subjects with OHS were significantly younger and heavier and had lower PaO2 and higher PaCO2 than subjects with OSA and had more severe restrictive defects on spirometry.8 On the other hand, Trakada et al14 reported that subjects with OHS were older and did not differ in terms of pulmonary function compared with non-subjects with OHS. They also reported that subjects with OHS were more obese and more somnolent; had higher neck, waist, and hip circumferences and waist\/hip ratios; had lower PaO2, PaCO2, and mean and nadir SpO2 during sleep; and spent more time with SpO2 < 90% during sleep.14 Macavei et al25 compared the data of subjects with OHS and normocapnic obese subjects. They reported that subjects with OHS were older and heavier and had higher anthropometric measurements, lower spirometric values, and worse ABG and nocturnal oxygenation parameters (ODI, mean and nadir SpO2, time spent with SpO2 < 90%). In a recent study, Basoglu and Tasbakan24 showed that subjects with OHS had higher rates of daytime sleepiness; decreased FVC, FEV1, and PaO2; and increased ABG PaCO2 and bicarbonate levels. Mean and nadir SpO2 during sleep were decreased, and sleep time spent with SpO2 < 90% was increased in subjects with OHS. Our findings are consistent with the previous studies. Our subjects with OHS had higher BMI, neck circumference, waist circumference, waist\/hip ratio, ESS scores, daytime ABG bicarbonate levels, AHI, ODI, and total sleep time with SpO2 < 90% compared with subjects with pure OSA. Mean and nadir SpO2 were significantly decreased in subjects with OHS.\nThe most common comorbidities in OHS are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, congestive heart failure, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.14,24,25 Similarly, the most common comorbidities were hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus in our subjects with OHS (54.6%, 50%, and 31.2%, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in comorbidities between subjects with OHS and pure OSA.\nIn terms of the invasive nature of ABG analysis, identification of simple and noninvasive predictors of OHS is important. Studies evaluating the clinical predictors of OHS reported that higher BMI and AHI and lower FEV1, FVC, daytime PaO2, mean and nadir nocturnal SpO2, sleep time spent with SpO2 < 90%, and ABG and serum bicarbonate levels are predictors of hypercapnia.2,8\u201310,12,13,24,25,28 Most of these studies did not provide particular thresholds that may be useful in clinical practice to predict OHS. In a few of these studies, bicarbonate levels were found to be related to OHS diagnosis.2,24,25\nIn OSA, recurrent upper airway obstruction can lead to acute intermittent hypercapnia during sleep.29\u201333 When obstructive events are too long and repetitive, compensation failure occurs and leads to excessive hypercapnia. Nocturnal intermittent hypercapnia in OSA leads to renal bicarbonate retention to compensate for acute respiratory acidosis.33,34\nAs we know, patients with OHS have both obstructive events and severe hypoventilation during sleep, which lead to daytime hypercapnia. In the light of these data, patients with OHS should have high serum bicarbonate levels. Additionally, we do not expect high serum bicarbonate levels in patients with OSA. We speculated that serum bicarbonate levels should differentiate subjects with OHS from subjects with pure OSA. Three studies showed that increased bicarbonate levels are a sensitive screening measure for daytime hypercapnia, but 2 of these studies used ABG bicarbonate, not serum bicarbonate.2,24,25\nIn the literature, there is only one study that evaluated serum bicarbonate.2 This study revealed that serum bicarbonate levels (P < .001), AHI (P = .006), and nocturnal nadir SpO2 (P < .001) were independent predictive factors of OHS.2 That study selected a threshold of 27 mmol\/L for serum bicarbonate and found a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 50%. When combining serum bicarbonate levels of > 27 mmol\/L and AHI > 100 as screening measures, only 3% of subjects with OHS were missed.2 Our findings for bicarbonate were consistent with that study, but AHI was not a predictor of OHS in our study. We found that serum bicarbonate levels and nocturnal nadir saturation were the predictive factors related to OHS.\nThe mean BMI and AHI of subjects in the study of Mokhlesi and Tulaimat2 were higher than those of our subjects. This might be the reason that we did not find AHI to a predictor in our study. However, Mokhlesi and Tulaimat2 used only BMI, AHI, nadir SpO2, and serum bicarbonate levels as potential variables for OHS prediction. In contrast, we used BMI, AHI, ODI, nadir SpO2, and sleep time spent with SpO2 < 90%. This might explain why we did not find AHI to be a predictor of OHS in our study. There was a collinearity between AHI, ODI, nadir SpO2, and sleep time spent with SpO2 < 90%, but when we removed AHI from the analysis, the result did not change. In our study, serum bicarbonate levels \u2265 27 mmol\/L had a sensitivity of 76.6%, a specificity of 74.6%, a positive predictive value of 54.5%, and a negative predictive value of 88.9%. Additionally, a nadir SpO2 of < 80% had a sensitivity of 82.8%, a specificity of 54.5%, a positive predictive value of 56.9%, and a negative predictive value of 81.4%. When we use serum bicarbonate levels \u2265 27 mmol\/L and\/or a nadir SpO2 of < 80% as a screening measure, 3 of 64 subjects with OHS were missed.\nIn the study of Basoglu and Tasbakan,24 hypercapnia was found to be associated independently with ABG bicarbonate levels and SaO2. Bicarbonate levels \u2265 27 mmol\/L had a sensitivity of 88.1% and a specificity of 73.1%, and an SaO2 of \u2264 95% had a sensitivity of 64.4% and a specificity of 73.9% for identifying OHS.24 Macavei et al25 reported that PaO2 and ABG bicarbonate levels were independent predictors of OHS and that bicarbonate > 27 mmol\/L had an 85.7% sensitivity and an 89.5% specificity for diagnosis of OHS, with a 68.1% positive predictive value and a 95.9% negative predictive value.\nOur study showed that serum bicarbonate levels were significantly higher in subjects with OHS compared with subjects with pure OSA. However, no correlation was found between AHI and serum bicarbonate levels. No difference was observed between bicarbonate levels at different OSA stages. Additionally, we found a moderate correlation between serum bicarbonate and daytime ABG bicarbonate levels, PaCO2, and SaO2. According to these findings, elevated serum bicarbonate levels can be helpful in identifying patients with OHS.\nOHS can be diagnosed only after other causes of hypercapnia have been excluded. In some previous studies, respiratory comorbidities causing hypercapnia were not exclusion criteria.8,12 Excluding respiratory diseases that might cause hypercapnia and a study sample with a definite diagnosis of OHS are strong points of our study. The presence of COPD is a confusing factor for OHS prevalence.35 The prevalence of daytime hypercapnia in patients with OSA is higher when associated with COPD.12 Similar results were reported by Chaouat et al.36 The prevalence of daytime hypercapnia was 27% in subjects with OSA and COPD and 8% in subjects with OSA only. In our study, all subjects had spirometric and ABG results, and we excluded subjects with COPD. Excluding OHS subjects without OSA and using a homogenous group are additional strong points of our study.\nNevertheless, there are some limitations of our study. Our study group did not include class I obese subjects. We aimed to find more OHS subjects, so we selected class II and III obese subjects. We could not use end-tidal CO2 measurements or capnography. However, we think that the OHS prevalence in our study would be greater whether we performed end-tidal CO2 measurements or capnography.\nOHS is common in class II and III obese patients with OSA. Serum bicarbonate levels \u2265 27 mmol\/L and a nadir SpO2 of < 80% in OSA patients with class II and III obesity should prompt clinicians to measure ABG to confirm the presence of hypercapnia. Serum bicarbonate is a reasonable screening measure for hypercapnia, especially because it is less invasive than an arterial puncture. More studies should be done to determine the place of serum bicarbonate and nocturnal nadir SpO2 in the diagnosis of OHS and threshold levels.\nCorrespondence: Esen K\u0131yan MD, Gogus Hastaliklari Anabilim Dali, Istanbul Tip Fakultesi, Istanbul Universitesi, 34360 Capa\/Istanbul, Turkiye. E-mail: kiyanesen{at}gmail.com.\nOlson AL,\nZwillich C\n. The obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Am J Med 2005;118(9):948\u2013956.\nMokhlesi B,\nTulaimat A\n. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome: prevalence and predictors in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath 2007;11(2):117\u2013124.\nHida W\n. Quality of life in obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Sleep Breath 2003;7(1):1\u20132.\nHida W,\nOkabe S,\nTatsumi K,\nKimura H,\nAkasiba T,\nChin K,\n. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure improves quality of life in obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Sleep Breath 2003;7(1):3\u201312.\nBerg G,\nDelaive K,\nManfreda J,\nWalld R,\nKryger MH\n. The use of health-care resources in obesity-hypoventilation syndrome. Chest 2001;120(2):377\u2013383.\nJennum P,\nKjellberg J\n. Health, social and economical consequences of sleep disordered breathing: a controlled national study. Thorax 2011;66(7):560\u2013566.\nMokhlesi B\n. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome: a state-of the-art review. Respir Care 2010;55(10):1347\u20131362; discussion 1363-1365.\nResta O,\nFoschino Barbaro MP,\nBonfitto P,\nTalamo S,\nMastrosimone V,\nStefano A,\nGiliberti T\n. Hypercapnia in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Neth J Med 2000;56(6):215\u2013222.\nAkashiba T,\nKawahara S,\nKosaka N,\nIto D,\nSaito O,\nMajima T,\nHorie T\n. Determinants of chronic hypercapnia in Japanese men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Chest 2002;121(2):415\u2013421.\nGolpe R,\nJim\u00e9nez A,\nCarpizo R\n. Diurnal hypercapnia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Chest 2002;122(3):1100\u20131101; author reply 1101.\nVerin E,\nTardif C,\nPasquis P\n. Prevalence of daytime hypercapnia or hypoxia in patients with OSAS and normal lung function. Respir Med 2001;95(8):693\u2013696.\nLaaban JP,\nChailleux E\n. Daytime hypercapnia in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in France, before initiating nocturnal nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Chest 2005;127(3):710\u2013715.\nLeech JA,\nOnal E,\nBaer P,\nLopata M\n. Determinants of hypercapnia in occlusive sleep apnea syndrome. Chest 1987;92(5):807\u2013813.\nTrakada GP,\nSteiropoulos P,\nNena E,\nConstandinidis TC,\nBouros D\n. Prevalence and clinical characteristics of obesity hypoventilation syndrome among individuals reporting sleep-related breathing symptoms in northern Greece. Sleep Breath 2010;14(4):381\u2013386.\nBerger KI,\nAyappa I,\nChatr-Amontri B,\nMarfatia A,\nSorkin IB,\nRapoport DM,\nGoldring RM\n. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome as a spectrum of respiratory disturbances during sleep. Chest 2001;120(4):1231\u20131238.\nKhosla T,\nLowe CR\n. Indices of obesity derived from body weight and height. Br J Prev Soc Med 1967;21(3):122\u2013128.\nAmerican Thoracic Society. Standardization of spirometry, 1994 update. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995;152(3):1107\u20131136.\nPolysomnography Task Force, American Sleep Disorders Association Standards of Practice Committee. Practice parameters for the indications for polysomnography and related procedures. Sleep 1997;20(6):406\u2013422.\nIber C,\nStuart Quan M\n. AASM manual for the scoring of sleep and associated events: rules, terminology, and technical specifications. Westchester, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2007.\nAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine. International classification of sleep disorders: diagnostic and coding manual, 2nd edition. Westchester, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2005.\nPiper AJ,\nGrunstein RR\n. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome: mechanisms and management. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011;183(3):292\u2013298.\nNowbar S,\nBurkart KM,\nGonzales R,\nFedorowicz A,\nGozansky WS,\nGaudio JC,\n. Obesity-associated hypoventilation in hospitalized patients: prevalence, effects, and outcome. Am J Med 2004;116(1):1\u20137.\nKessler R,\nSchinkewitch P,\nFaller M,\nCasel S,\nWeitzenblum E\n. The obesity-hypoventilation syndrome revisited: a prospective study of 34 consecutive cases. Chest 2001;120(2):369\u2013376.\nBasoglu OK,\nTasbakan MS\n. Comparison of clinical characteristics in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome and obese obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a case-control study. Clin Respir J 2014;8(2):167\u2013174.\nMacavei VM,\nSpurling KJ,\nLoft J,\nMakker HK\n. Diagnostic predictors of obesity-hypoventilation syndrome in patients suspected of having sleep disordered breathing. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(9):879\u2013884.\nCarden KA,\nFogel RB\n. Obesity-associated hypoventilation\u2013a \"growing\" concern. Am J Med 2004;116(1):58\u201359.\nJavaheri S,\nColangelo G,\nLacey W,\nGartside PS\n. Chronic hypercapnia in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. Sleep 1994;17(5):416\u2013423.\nKaw R,\nHernandez AV,\nWalker E,\nAboussouan L,\n. Determinants of hypercapnia in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and metaanalysis of cohort studies. Chest 2009;136(3):787\u2013796.\nFoschino-Barbaro MP,\nLegari G,\nDe Pergola G,\n. Prevalence and mechanisms of diurnal hypercapnia in a sample of morbidly obese subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea. Respir Med 2000;94(3):240\u2013246.\nNorman RG,\nOppenheimer BW,\n. Hypercapnia and ventilatory periodicity in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002;166(8):1112\u20131115.\nTobin MJ\nAdrogue HJ,\nMadias NE\n. Arterial blood gas monitoring: acid base assessment. In: Tobin MJ . Principles and practice of intensive care monitoring. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1998:217\u2013241.\nMadias NE,\nWolf CJ,\nCohen JJ\n. Regulation of acid-base equilibrium in chronic hypercapnia. Kidney Int 1985;27(3):538\u2013543.\n. Postevent ventilation as a function of CO2 load during respiratory events in obstructive sleep apnea. J Appl Physiol 2002;93(3):917\u2013924.\nGoldring RM,\nRapoport DM\n. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2009;30(3):253\u2013261.\nBradley TD,\nRutherford R,\nLue F,\nMoldofsky H,\nGrossman RF,\nZamel N,\nPhillipson EA\n. Role of diffuse airway obstruction in the hypercapnia of obstructive sleep apnea. Am Rev Respir Dis 1986;134(5):920\u2013924.\nYou are going to email the following Clinical Predictors of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome in Obese Subjects With Obstructive Sleep Apnea\nZuleyha Bingol, Aylin P\u0131ht\u0131l\u0131, Penbe Cagatay, Gulfer Okumus, Esen K\u0131yan\nRespiratory Care May 2015, 60 (5) 666-672; DOI: 10.4187\/respcare.03733","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Main Local news\nN\/Assembly leadership: APC risks repeat of what happened in 2015 - Chieftain\n2 months ago 2171 views by Omotayo Yusuf\n- An APC chieftain said the party may see a repeat of hat happened in 2015 in the National Assembly leadership saga\n- According to the lawmaker, Okafor, Femi Gbajabiamila was qualified to be speaker of the House based on merit\n- Okafor, however, said national unity and federal character were important issues to also be considered\nJohn Chike Okafor who is a contender for the speaker of the House of Representatives has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks a repeat of what happened during the 2015 National Assembly leadership tussle.\nDaily Trust reports that the APC chief on Monday, April 29, said the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, \"has been lobbying for his preferred candidates for the positions\" but that Nigerians will be shocked with the outcome.\nOkafor who is also a lawmaker on the platform of the party said although the APC's preferred candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila, was qualified for the job of speaker of the House, he cautioned that zoning and federal character were also important considerations.\nREAD ALSO: Zamfara: Commissioner says small scales are behind mining, not influential individuals\nThe lawmaker noted that the need for national unity and sense of belonging demands that the southeast should be allowed to produce speaker of the 9th House of Representatives instead of the southwest that already occupies the position of vice president.\n\"With regard to the party's zoning arrangement, the approach being adopted now is not different from what happened in 2015. Interestingly, we are having the same two candidates we had in 2015, and you know the outcome. We are waiting to see what the outcome will be in 2019.\u200e\u200e\n\u200e\"My take is that the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, is lobbying for his preferred candidates, including Gbajabiamila. \u200eLobbying is one of the modes of engagement in politics. But the party should be looking at national unity, social justice, and equitable inclusion of all the federating units of the country, in line with the 1999 Constitution.\u200e\n\"That means allowing the southeast geopolitical zone to produce the speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.\"\nMeanwhile, Ahmed Suleiman Wambi said that President Muhammadu Buhari settled for Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives in the interest of the nation.\nThe national vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the north-central spoke in Abuja where he answered question on National Assembly leadership issue.\nThe APC chief claimed that \"excellence, loyalty and experiences in the affairs of the legislature by the duo informed President Buhari's support.\"\nNAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better\nLet's Talk About Salaries of Nigerian Senators | Legit TV\nSource: Legit.ng\nAdams Oshiomhole Latest NewsAPC Latest News\nAccess Bank's xclusiveplus wins best affluent banking initiative in West Africa","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Insured vs. Insured Exclusion: No Coverage When Claim Includes Both Non-Insured and Insured Claimants\nBy Kevin LaCroix on February 2, 2017\nPosted in D & O Insurance\nAs I readers of this blog well know, a frequently recurring D&O insurance question is whether or not the policy's insured vs. insured exclusion operates to preclude coverage. One of the many issues that can arise under the exclusion is whether or not the exclusion precludes coverage if the underlying claim is brought both by claimants that are insured persons under the policy and persons that are not insured persons. In a January 30, 2017 decision applying Florida law (here), Southern District of Florida Judge Beth Bloom ruled that a condominium association's D&O insurance policy's insured vs. insured exclusion barred coverage for the a claim brought by two claimants, one of whom was insured under the policy and one of whom was not.\nThe Marbella Condominium Association hired a contractor to install hurricane impact windows in the association's condominium building. The windows were not compliant with city requirements. The city issued a notice of violation to the association. Two condominium owners, Jack Leone and Franklyn Field, sued the association, the contractor that installed the windows, and Norman Sloane, the association's president. Leone previously was the association's president. The association submitted the claim to its D&O insurer, which denied coverage for the claim, in reliance on the policy's insured vs. insured exclusion. The association and Sloane filed a civil action seeking a judicial declaration that they were entitled to coverage under the policy. The insurer filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings.\nThe policy defines Insured to mean \"any Insured Organization and\/or any Insured Person.\" The policy defines the term \"Insured Person\" to mean \"any past, present or future director, officer, trustee, Employee, or any committee member of a duly constituted committee of the Insured Organization.\"\nThe policy's Insured vs. Insured exclusion provides that \"The Insurer shall not be liable to make any payment for Loss in connection with any Claim made against any Insured \u2026 Brought by or on behalf of any Insured.\" (A provision in the exclusion preserving coverage for claims brought by officers who have not served in the capacity for at least three years prior apparently did not apply; in any event, it does not appear that arguments based on the this provision.)\nThe January 30, 2017 Order\nOn January 30, 2017, Judge Bloom granted the insurer's motion, finding that the insured vs. insured exclusion operated to preclude coverage, even though the underlying lawsuit involved claims by a non-insured person (Field) as well as by an insured person (Leone). Bloom cited and expressly relied on two cases in support of her decision, PowerSports, Inc. v. Royal & Sunalliance Insurance Company, 307 F. Supp. 2d 1355 (S.D. Fla. 2004) and Sphinx International, Inc. v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 412 F.3d 1224 (11th Cir. 2005).\nThe association and Sloan had tried to argue that the exclusion did not apply, relying on the Seventh Circuit's 1999 decision in Level 3 Communications, Inc. v. Federal Insurance Company. In that case, plaintiffs who were not insured persons initially brought the underlying claim. An additional plaintiff who was an insured person under the policy at issue was later added as a claimant in the case. The Seventh Circuit held that the insured vs. insured exclusion did not preclude coverage, because applying the exclusion to preclude coverage \"would produce the odd result that a claim fully covered when made could become fully uncovered when another plaintiff was permitted to join it.\"\nJudge Bloom said that the circumstances involved in the Level 3 case were not present here, since here, unlike in Level 3, the underlying action at the outset involved claims by both an insured person (Leone) and an individual not insured under the Policy (Field), and \"was therefore not covered from the inception,\" and the exclusion operates \"to bar coverage for the entire Underlying Action.\"\nJudge Bloom rejected the argument that the two underlying plaintiffs' claims could be distinguished on the basis that they each sought distinct damages. Apparently this argument was made in reliance on the policy's allocation provision, which allow loss to be allocated between covered and non-covered matters. She said that \"while the measure of damages may be different by virtue of Field and Leone owning separate units, the claim asserted were brought on behalf of both together, and stemmed from the same installation of non-compliant glass.\" Judge Bloom added that \"As such, the allocation provision of the Policy does not apply since the duty to defend was not triggered.\" Judge Bloom cited with approval from an earlier Southern District of Florida decision as saying that \"allocation clauses only become relevant in the event that a loss involves both covered and uncovered claims. Whereas this action involves uncovered claims only, the allocation question is moot.\"\nThe outcome of this case is consistent with the January 2017 decision of the Eighth Circuit (discussed here), in which the appellate court affirmed a district court holding that the insured vs. insured exclusion in the relevant D&O insurance policy operated to preclude coverage for the underlying action, which involved claims brought both by an insured person and by her children who were not insured persons under the policy.\nAs I said in my discussion of the Eighth Circuit decision, the claims in the underlying action (both in that prior case and in this one) could have been brought as separate complaints. In neither case did the non-insured person's claims depend on the claims of the insured person. To say that the claims by the non-insured person \u2014 which could have been brought separately and, if they had, would have not been precluded from coverage \u2013 are precluded because they were brought in an action that included both claimants' claims arguably elevates from over substance.\nAs I also noted in my discussion of the Eighth Circuit decision, there is an argument that the insured vs. insured exclusion could be read together with the allocation provision so that both provisions in the policy are given effect. That is, the exclusion could operate to preclude coverage for the insured person's claim but not for the claim brought by the non-insured person, and the allocation provision could be applied to separate covered amounts from non-covered amounts.\nAll of that said, I recognize that the recent court decisions are lining up in favor of the point of view that the exclusion applies to preclude coverage for an entire claim, even if the claimants include persons who are not insured persons under the policy. And I suppose that makes sense. It certainly could be argued that it doesn't matter that hypothetically the claims of the insured person and the non-insured person could have been brought separately, since that didn't happen here.\nTags: Insured Persons, insured vs. Insured exclusion, Policy Coverage, Policy Exclusions\nGuest Post: The State of the D&O Market: 10 Reasons to Be Cheerful\nGuest Post: Mind the (SPAC) Gap\nDelaware Supreme Court: Appraisal Action Not a \"Securities Claim\" and Therefore Not Covered by D&O Insurance\n\"Bump-Up\" Exclusion Blocks Coverage for Inadequate Consideration Paid for Insured Company's Acquisition\nGuest Post: Bankruptcy and D&O Insurance: Top Tips and Reminders","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"GEORGE VECSEY\nWorld Cup, Day 10: 'Here.......Comes Germany!'\nThanks to Hannah Mckay of Reuters for this gorgeous shot\nThat's exactly what I said in the final frantic minutes of Germany-Sweden.\nLike watching some great beast of a thoroughbred like Secretariat turn on the burners into the home stretch. You know it is in there.\n\u200bLike watching Bill Russell lock eyes with K.C. Jones with a few minutes left.\n(Sorry for the dated references, but I have my sporting examples-for-life.)\n'They never give up. They never get an attitude.'\nI said that to my wife in the TV den on Saturday afternoon, watching the defending champions play with a man down -- dumb foul by Boateng, but they did not let it kill them.\nI am doing my watching in our den this week; no pubs right now, no crowds. My wife watches with me, here and there. She witnessed Zidane's final in '98, in the Stade de France, down low, at that end, for his two headers; that would make anybody a fan for life.\nGermany was in desperate condition Saturday, down by a goal. A draw would barely keep it alive, but then Germany scored in the 48th minute, and then attacked in the final 13 minutes of regulation and stoppage time, one man down, going for it, going for it. And Toni Kroos put in a perfect curling shot from a hard angle on the left side. Talent and will.\nI've seen them over the last nine World Cups -- relentless, talented, smart, with only one really nasty play that sticks in my mind -- Toni Schumacher's ugly mugging of Patrick Battiston in 1982.\nWorld Cup soccer should be viewed beyond old national stereotypes. I've watched them win a World Cup in 1990 as West Germany and another in 2014 as Germany, and do not equate the team with ancient history or the admirable western democracy it is today, with its beautiful anthem, music by Haydn.\nThe football pitch is a place onto itself. In the modern imbalance of soccer talent and expertise and confidence and money, Germany is the old New York Yankees, with Yogi swinging from his ankles, the old Montreal Canadiens (who still ought to be seeded into the finals of the Stanley Cup ever year), the old Notre Dame.\nThey may lose, even to relentless and physical South Korea on Wednesday. But don't ever count them out. Not when they are a goal down, or a player down. Like a horse race: \"Here...comes Germany.\"\nAndrew Sollinger\nI thought the Germans missed their chance after the Swedish keeper deflected a sharp header over the crossbar at the end of regulation. But Kroos bent it like Ronaldo. Agree that Germany = Yankees.\nHi, Andrew, nice to see you at the park today.\nIt was a great save by the Swedish keeper.\nComparison with Yankees. When I started covering Yankees a bit (1960) Casey Stengel raved about his new man, Maris, not for his power but because \"He goes from first to third, and always hits the right base\" Maris played the game right.....apt comparison.\nEnjoy upcoming games....GV\nStill learning about this beautiful game, but whispered \"trick shot\" before Kroos's delicate touch. Controlling 75% of possessions will put any team in position to win. Kroos notched 144 touches in contrast with Messi's 50 in Argentinian humiliation to Croatia. Gotta be in it to win it.\nMendel:, well said. Did you see Rory Smith's piece on Argentina? Explains Messi's lack of touches. GV\nBrian Savin\nI'm looking forward to this upcoming last round of group play. This morning we hosted a family of good friends who lived in England for decades (summers in Connecticut) for full English breakfast. Told them we were honored they chose our pub for the match. England-Belgium is set up as a spectacular show.\nI'm particularly interested in tomorrow's Russia-Uruguay to see how good the home team may be.\nAs to others, good luck to Iceland on Tuesday...theyll need it against Croatia. Mexico-Sweden on Wednesday - Sweden may be good enough to recover their bearings which were at sea at the end of that last match. Thursday's Senegal-Columbia should be as spirited and even more decisive as England-Belgium on Thursday. Fun. What was not fun was watching Poland play 1950's European soccer just now.\nAndy Tansey\nWith the score 1-1 until the final \"trick play,\" I was wondering to myself, \"Will Mexico and Sweden waltz?\" Wasn't it Germany and Austria that did so back in the day? Doesn't matter any more! Now Sweden are up against it, though anything is mathematically possible in this incredible group!\nI love Kroos's little pass to himself in a slightly better position, at a better angle, throwing off the sturdy and disciplined Swedish defense. Have wondered why it's not used more often. I have sentiment in favor of Sweden, but it was with very mixed emotions as Germany are too good to be out, in many senses. They respect the game.\nAndy, yes, 1982, first round, Germany and Austria waltzed to the result that worked for both, screwing Algeria, as I recall. FIFA, in a rare moment of doing the right thing, started simultaneous third games the next World Cup, to cut down on shenanigans of teams knowing what they need to advance. But with electronics more urgent every time, teams know. The US, getting whupped by Poland, knew right away that S. Korea had gone ahead of Portugal in 70th minute...and held on. I was there. somebody had a phone on the sidelines, as I recall. GV\nI meant to add, that was 2002. Park scored for S.K.\nAltenir J. Silva\nDear George,\nI liked your statement that Germany is the old Yankees. In the same way, I think Cristiano Ronaldo is the new Derek Jeter because of his life in and out of the game. This man deserves to get on his hands the FIFA World Cup Trophy. I'm rooting for him.\nBest. Altenir\nDear Altenir: I'm curious about the comparison between Jeter and CR7.\nCT7 is so much more flamboyant than Jeter, it seems to me, factoring out the differences between the two sports. Jeter presented himself as a team guy; CR7 seems to be flaming ego. But there is probably something I'm missing....G\nI was referring to the charity work of him. His good things out of the game, like Jeter. Take a look at this. http:\/\/www.tribalfootball.com\/articles\/cristiano-ronaldo-amazing-charity-work-real-madrids-superstar-4053752\nAltenir, thanks so much. I did not know that about CR7.....those personal reactions to misfortune indicate a real person is in there.\nI gather he does have tax issues, and his on-field persona is what it is, but now I will think of him in a more complex way.\nMuito bem, meu amigo\naltenir,\nronaldo is lightning in a bottle. best pure goal scorer of his time--and in the top handful ever.\nhowever, i don't love him. always seems like a prima donna. shocked him to be suspended for five games for shoving a referee at the start of the past season..\ndives way toooooo much. that's, as george knows, my pet peeve about soccer--that and penalty kicks to decide a game.\ni prefer the hockey way....sudden death until somebody scores.\nsee the spanish tax man caught up to ronaldo as well.\nthink it was $21,800,000 USD, if memory serves.\nDear Bruce, as I said to George, I was referring to the charity work of CR7. Take a look at this: http:\/\/www.tribalfootball.com\/articles\/cristiano-ronaldo-amazing-charity-work-real-madrids-superstar-4053752\ni read it. very impressive.\ni recently saw a video of him, from japan i think, telling the audience to shush up when a young boy was trying to speak portuguese to him.\nsome of them started to laugh at the kid's efforts and ronaldo chastised them--in english.\nJoel Gardner\nYes, but . . .\nSweden had the ball and a breakaway with about a minute to go, then, instead of pulling the ball back and\/or heading for a corner to kill time, the Swedish player took a soft and easy shot, which was grabbed effortlessly by Neuer.\nIn our household we refer to a play like that by the name of a lacrosse player from Johns Hopkins (my wife's alma mater) who, with a minute or less to go in a postseason game against Princeton, couldn't resist a shot at an empty goal, the goalie being occupied chasing a double-tesm. He missed. Princeton got the ball, scored to tie the game, then won it in overtime.\nSo it was with Sweden. Take thirty seconds off the clock, and the whistle blows before Kroos draws the foul and takes the free kick. Yes, the Germans finally played like the Germans, having adjusted the lineup, and they could easily now stay hot. But the Swedish player who took that shot deserves some of the credit--blame--for their win.\nDear Joel Gardner, absolutely right. I'm always surprised by players who fire a shot when they could invite the whistles from the mob and spurn back-passing to the keeper or a lone defender somewhere.\nMy Rio friend compared CR7 to Derek Jeter; you mention lacrosse. As an old Hofstra guy, I love the sport (never played it) and in fact we know people who played lax for both schools. As I recall, an offensive coach like Howdy Myers at Hofstra had guys who could kill many seconds by taking a little jog into a corner and open up the field. Care to mention the year? I'll run it past my friend who played for Hopkins. GV\na few things....you and i have talked about germany and their ability to just keep on coming.\nno matter where they're ranked they always seem to be there.\ni've said for years they deserve to be called the best, not brazil. they have one less world cup title but have appeared in--if memory serves--nine finals.\ni felt the same way you did. sweden looked desperate to hold the lead and laid back too much. i thought it inevitable that germany would at least tie it. when they tied it, i thought they'd win tho perhaps not as late as they did. helluva kick.\nas for lacrosse, it is officially canada's game, not hockey.\ni covered it as a sports reporter. willie plett and mike french were stars playing box lacrosse which what hockey rinks are often used for in the summer. no field lacrosse that i know of.\nfrench went on to great things tho i forget which university gave him a scholarship--cornell? plett went on to a decent nhl career.\njimmy brown was an all american in lacrosse, i believe.\ni think i somewhere many years ago that he was a better lacrosse player than a football guy.\nthat size and speed would've made absolutely frightening in box lacrosse. so too, i assume, in field lacrosse.\nhe was also syracuse's convert\/FG guy too, no?\nthe england\/belgium game will be interesting. both have eight goals for and two against.\nhaven't googled the above, but think i'm close to right. don't like to google for stuff like this. seems like cheating.\nBruce, 2 things: Jim Brown may have been the greatest lacrosse player ever. (I live in the town next to his Manhasset.) He could hold a ball against his chest indefinitely (with a stick, obviously)....and withstand whackings....He played 3 sports in the spring -- lacrosse, baseball and track and field. My friend pitched to him, said he was strong and eager, and could be gotten out.\nOur son was watching the Spain\/:Portugal DH today at our house, and, hockey buff that he is, he compared the writhings of Portugal and Iran to hockey players. His words were, \"Hockey player gets speared in the spleen and won't show pain, til he gets a few stitches between periods.\" Imagine Gordie Howe rolling on the ice like these mugs? Still, I love the sport, but I think it's overboard in this WC,\nI've read he was the best ever in lacrosse, but don't know enough about it to know if it was true.\nI believe he was in football for sure tho rice was named the best when they did some rankings a while back.\nif memory serves brown ran 9.6 in the hundred yards when the record was 9.3 or so.\nno clue what is now....hmmm. think I'll look it up.\nthe mile too. used to know both in those halcyon pre metric days.\nyour son is obviously a perceptive fellow.\nAlan Rubin link\nMy friend played lacrosse for Tufts and had to defend against Jimmy Brown. He said that Jim was impossible to cover. He used a shortened attack stick and Would shoot with power with a flick of the wrist.\nTuft's goalie had red welts all over his chest after the game even with a protector. Jim would defiantly have been a greater star in a professional pro lacrosse league, much more than he was in football.\nA college friend was a high school lineman who played against Brown. The line was told to trip up Brown so that the backfield could tackle him. It did not work very often.\nWith Dalai Lama, 1979\n\u200bLoyal Reader\nHansen Alexander\nhas filed an interview with, of all people, me.\nIt's on his blog. (Just past photo of rat!) My thanks for his interest. GV\n\u200bnotesfromnewratcity.wordpress.com\/blog\/\nMODERN LOVE:\nDavid Vecsey's sweet tale of distant love before the Web, now NYT Podcast, narrated by Griffin Dunne. Please see:\nhttps:\/\/mobile.nytimes.com\/2013\/12\/15\/fashion\/before-the-web-hearts-grew-silent.html?referer=\nAnjali Photos\nChristine Lavin\nGay Issues\nJamaica High\nMusial\nN.F.L.\nSoccer World Cup\nEight World Cups\nBook Appearances 2014\nBooks by George Vecsey\nStan Musial: An American Life\nOther works by the Vecsey Family","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"This was a really lengthy dream which I kept waking up from (it occurred in the morning) and then returning to. I thought I could recall it in full - which was a little optimistic - and only made a few brief notes in my notebook to prompt recall. However, I cannot recall how the scenes linked and some of my memories are really vague and abstract.\nI saw myself in third person, in the dark, lying back on some grass, leaning up on my elbows. I could not see that there was any difference from my real-life appearance - my hair was long and black as it really is. I was joined by a male, who joined me on the grass. I thought it was EB, but I was confused as his hair appeared to be different. He was wearing a white T-shirt. I think I referred to his hair, because he touched his head.\nI was then standing up - and became aware that we were at some kind of outside fair, festival or carnival - there were stalls and people all around and strings of bright lights. I was then inside one of the stalls. PS was running it - it appeared to be a gun shop. He held a gun out (a bright shiny silver revolver), horizontally across both outstretched palms to show me. There was some conversation, but I cannot remember what was said. I realised we were staying at a holiday camp - which was hosting the festival. I was now outside some toilet cubicles - like fancy portaloos. I had a drink in my hand - a clear fizzy drink in a plastic cup. There were other people standing around the toilets and the atmosphere seemed relaxed.\nI was then in a well-lit interior - it was a large house, in a strange, completely monochrome minimalistic style which appeared to be influenced by retro 1970s futuristic designs. There were clean white arches and lots of curved, circular furniture. RL was present - I think it may have been his home. There was some reference to Dalmations or a kind of spotty dog - I'm not sure if I saw the dogs. I looked through one of the arches at the bottom of the room, which led to an open-plan kitchen area. I could see a lot of Christmas decorations hung. I sensed some form of 'threat' or 'menace' and decided to leave. RL smiled at me in a very strange way.\nI was in a dark warehouse or factory - on a field trip with a group of other people. We walked past a round object - it looked like a 'chocolate fountain', but much larger. It was dirty and was pouring a neon green slime from a sort of mechanical spout in the centre, down into the trough. The slime was then sucked back up into the spout and this continued. I was told: \"this is the lungs of a smoker\".\nI was then told by someone - I am not sure who and I am not sure of my exact surroundings - that Freud and Ricky Gervais had (together, in partnership) come up with a new famous quote. The quote was: \"a successful person is one who fails at everything\". I felt peace of mind when I heard this quote and I 'remembered' which book I would find it in if I wanted to read it from source.\nThere was a conversation with PP. I do not know what was said, but it occurred while we were seated next to one another in a brightly lit interior. I thought: 'why is he talking to me now?'\nI woke up. If I recall any other scenes from this dream (sometimes they come back to me spontaneously!) I will update below.\nI was walking down an urban city street. There were tall grey buildings (grand looking) lining each side of a wide street. I was walking down the street with a group of people - it seemed like we were tourists. It was daylight. Some people had backpacks. Someone asked me if I knew (London-based, underground) rap musician, KK. I said I did. I turned around and saw KK was behind me.\nI was then in an unfamiliar room, sitting at a large table. My mum was there and so was RR, a girl I knew at school and who is a friend on Facebook. I stood up and said something to RR. I do not recall what it was, but she became very angry. I sensed a threat of danger. I picked up a glass and threw it at a wall, smashing it. I saw it smash in slow motion, as it hit the bottom of the wall. The threat seemed to have ended, but my hand hurt. I looked at my palm and saw that four shards of glass were embedded there. I took a pair of tweezers and pulled out one of the pieces of glass - it was about three inches long and the pain was horrific. I didn't want to pull out the other three, but my mum said I had to. I did it, with great pain. Long white strands of gunge - perhaps the inner flesh of my hand - began to pour out of the wounds. I poked it all back into place. I wondered if I needed to go to hospital to get stitches, but found my hands had instantly healed.\nI saw a close up of some teeth (my teeth?). They were totally rotten. A finger touched them.\nI was laying in bed, when my mobile rang. It was SL. We had a conversation and when it came time to say 'goodbye' I was hesitant and the call ended awkwardly. I told him not to forget me.\nI was returning from the shops. I had gone out to buy a snack. I had a drink in my hand and a baguette. I started talking to someone - I think it could have been PS. I sat down on the edge of a outside, concrete fountain - which appeared out of nowhere, as I started this dream scene by entering a doorway into an interior space. I looked at the baguette and discovered it was a BLT. I don't usually eat pork, but I decided I might as well as it was all I had available to eat.\nMonday, 1 October 2012\nI was wearing a white prom dress, but was disappointed to find that I had a huge black stain on the left side of it. I was very conscious of the stain. I was in a square room where everything seemed to be red. There were people sitting around the edges of the room - it seemed like a party of some sort.\nI wandered through to the next room - it was a nightclub\/bar with wooden furniture. In the centre of the room was what I thought to be a jukebox. However, on closer inspection it turned out to be a fruit machine. However, this was a touchscreen one, which could be used to access Facebook. I was shocked to see that it was logged into my profile. I went to click on my friend's profile, but instead noticed an update from PS's account. It was promoting a hardcore band, called 'Red October' (I was not previously aware of a hardcore\/emo band named this, but upon Googling it, I found there are several hardcore\/emo bands called 'Red October'\/'The Red October'. I will investigate and report further. Also note, PS only promotes UK hip hop and hates all hardcore\/emo bands intensely and therefore would never post suchlike on his Facebook, much less promote!). I felt a tap on my shoulder, then someone pulling me backwards, towards them. I turned and saw it was a male - a typical 'hardcore kid' as I would describe him. I thought he was beautiful. He had black hair in a side-sweep and a overgrown fringe, flesh tunnels in his ears; tattoo sleeves; a band T-shirt - all very predictable, stereotypical of what I would expect. He had an olive complexion and black eyes, and was exactly my height. He told me he was the singer from Red October. I said that I wanted to hear his band play. We were now standing off to the side, leaning against a bar, which was long and grey. I could see neon lights behind the boys head. He was talking to me in a friendly, intimate manner, but I became shy and tongue-tied. I said to him: \"I really love screamo and hardcore and...\" I tried to say: \"post-hardcore\" but kept stumbling on my words. I began walking backwards. It felt like I was walking down steps. The boy was trying to reach out to me saying: \"It's OK, I know what you meant...\" I then found myself downstairs, in what appeared to be a boxing ring. I was standing on the outside, with the rest of the audience. The boy was with me again. it was dark and there were flashing neon lights. I said to him: \"I love Deftones and Glassjaw\" and he seemed enthusiastic. I felt confident that I had expressed myself well this time and that we had connected over our shared musical interests. I looked down and became aware that I was wearing a cheerleader outfit - a cropped orange sweatshirt and matching mini-skirt.\nI was then sitting at a computer, in an old-fashioned living-room with floral wallpaper and curtains and lots of lace furnishings and teddy-bears on a dresser. I was researching guitars and kept looking up out of the window - the scene was leafy suburbia, but the weather was gloomy and overcast.\nI was then on a bus, seated somewhere near the back. I was watching the people at the front of the bus, when I suddenly realised that the singer from Red October looked like or could have been someone I knew from university, called IM. I then wondered if I was mistaken.\nBelow are some random images which reflect the 'hardcore\/screamo kid' seen in my dream.\nDream date: 29th September 2012\nI saw a navy blue car parked in a residential street in north-west London, from the back. It was night. I was then in my nan, PC's livingroom.She was sitting on the sofa. I was standing, looking in the mirror above the fireplace. She kept telling me there was a letter for me, under the other sofa cushion. I was getting angry, telling her I didn't care about it. She was insistent I look at the letter. Eventually, after quarreling for some moments, she retrieved the letter. It was not in an envelope, but it was two A4 pieces of paper, stapled at the top left corner. From the back, I could see through the paper - there were some typed words and some editing in thick black marker pen. I screamed at PC that the letter did not matter, as it was years old and related to university. She started reading the letter. I sat at her feet. She looked at me and I stared back. She was crying. I felt terrible.\nI was then alone in the living-room. I became aware that a young, white male with light hair had entered the house. I do not know who he was or remember anything else about him. I had a deep sense of dread. I knew something terrible was about to happen. I said: \"You're going to rape me, aren't you?\" and he said: \"Yes, that's why I'm here...\" He walked through the door, from the hallway into the living-room. He lunged at me, grabbing me from behind. I started kicking at him and found a large knife in my pocket. I stabbed it backwards, over my head at him. He fell away from me, and tried to make his way out of the house, although I do not think I caught him with the blade. I knew he had my purse. I ran after him and jumped on his back, putting the knife at his throat. He let go of my purse and made an escape from the house. I walked outside, and once on the garden path, checked that all my money and cards were still in my purse. They were. I went out to the roadside. There was a car parked outside the house, with three young males leaning on it. Two were white, one was black. They asked me if I was OK. I said: \"I nearly got raped in there\" and they expressed shock.\nI was then in a state where I was unsure of my surroundings. I could hear a song - a melody and words (I cannot recall what song which was, it was lost upon waking). I was tasked with the job of identifying the song. I knew it in the dream, but could not remember the name of the song or the artist and was becoming frustrated. A female voice - detached, I could not see its owner - told me I had failed. My new job was to count porcelain racehorses which were running in laps around a racetrack. Every time one of the 'diseased' horses passed the position in which I was standing, I had to sing a song (again, I cannot remember it).\nI was in some kind of booth - like an old fashioned bank of some sort. There was a counter with partitions for privacy. Everything seemed vague and sepia-coloured, wishy-washy - making me think of Wild West films. I looked down at my hands. I saw I was holding banknotes and coins. I began counting them fast, flicking them through my fingers, like a bank-teller does with notes. I said (to someone unseen): \"I bet you haven't seen someone count money as well as I can...\"\nI was then in a bedroom, laying front down across the width of the bed, on top of a white duvet. JH was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, in front of me. She showed me a two-page spread in a fashion magazine, where she was featured as a model. There were close-up images of her face. I admired them.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Jim Bowdish Allegedly Misrepresented an Investment and Faces an Investor Dispute\nJul 27, 2021 Unauthorized Trading\nJim Bowdish (CRD #: 3123554), a broker registered with Edward Jones, faced allegations that he misrepresented an investment, according to his BrokerCheck record, accessed on July 20, 2021.\nOn June 14, 2021, an investor alleged that Jim Bowdish misrepresented certain distributions as non-taxable. The firm denied the dispute. Denials simply mean the firm denied their representative engaged in wrongdoing; they do not indicate that FINRA has reviewed the dispute. Investors can still recover their losses following a denial.\nOn December 15, 2020, investors alleged that Bowdish failed to make timely life insurance premium payments and therefore allowed the policy to lapse. The investor is seeking $651,444; the dispute is pending.\nOn February 22, 2008, an investor claimed that Bowdish executed unauthorized trades. This dispute was also denied.\nJim Bowdish Background Information\nBowdish has passed the following exams:\nSeries 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination\nSeries 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination\nHe is a registered broker in 12 states and a registered investment adviser in North Carolina and Texas.\nDuring his 22 years in the securities industry, Bowdish has only worked with Edward Jones (CRD #: 250)\nIf you worked with Jim Bowdish and you have concerns about your investments, contact Kurta Law today. Call 212-658-1502 or email jkurta@kurtalawfirm.com.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Regional differences in Covid-19 transmission rate emerge in England\nLondon has seen steeper decline in R rate but north has slower fall in infections, and estimates vary\nPassengers waiting at Vauxhall bus station, London: greater use of transport services has been reported in the city this week, reflecting the increasing number of people returning to work. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz\/Barcroft Media\/Getty\nHannah Devlin\n@hannahdev\nFri 15 May 2020 12.53 EDT\nTransmission rates of Covid-19 remain dangerously close to levels that could bring a second wave, even before the easing of some restrictions this week, as the focus shifts to transmission rates in the north of England.\nThe latest official estimate places the national R value \u2013 the rate at which people are passing on infections to others \u2013 at between 0.7 and 1. An R value above 1 means the epidemic will start to grow exponentially again, which would result in a new surge of cases.\nIt raises questions about the extent to which restrictions can be safely eased in coming weeks. In his address on Sunday, Boris Johnson said: \"We have the R below 1, between 0.5 and 0.9 \u2013 but potentially only just below 1.\"\nThe slight increase and narrowing in range is not linked to lockdown relaxations this week as the estimate is based largely on hospital admissions and deaths data, which reflect the levels of transmission two to three weeks ago.\nA likely explanation is that while overall levels of infection have fallen, hospital and care home settings are making a relatively bigger contribution to the overall estimate of R. Lockdown restrictions have less impact in these settings and there are still concerns about the levels of testing available in care homes.\nThe figure suggests that, while the lockdown has been effective at bringing down case numbers, R is still close to 1, meaning that it would not be possible to ease restrictions significantly without new measures to contain outbreaks, such as extensive testing and tracing.\nIt comes as data showed that while London was a hotspot of infection at the start of the epidemic, attention is now shifting to the north of England, where transmission rates of Covid-19 appear to be falling far less steeply.\nMap - Covid-19 cases\nSome epidemiological models suggest transmission rates in the capital are now half those seen in the north-east and Yorkshire, raising the question of whether all areas will be safe to emerge from lockdown at the same time.\nThere is growing unease among civic leaders in the north of England at plans to ease lockdown rules, with one council leader branding it as \"frankly, madness\".\nThe leader of Gateshead council, Martin Gannon, said on Friday that the advice to the public to \"stay at home\" would continue. Gannon, whose views on lockdown were echoed by his counterparts in Newcastle and Sunderland, said there was evidence that the R rate was greater than 1 in his borough.\nHow do models calculate the R value?\nThe R value tells you how many infections each infected person passes the virus on to, on average. For an R above 1, the epidemic increases exponentially; below 1 it will eventually fizzle out. In the absence of direct measures of this elusive number, modellers have to rely on what firm data we have and extrapolate from there.\nSome models, such as one by Public Health England (PHE) and Cambridge University, rely on the numbers of reported deaths, and the steep, steady decline in deaths in London translates into an estimate that community transmission must have also rapidly dropped off.\nDeaths are reliable figures, less subject to biases than some other measures, but they reflect the infection rates that were occurring about three weeks previously and so do not give a dynamic reflection of where things are.\nPolicy changes around working and socialising introduced in the past week may have influenced R, but a model based on deaths will not give any insights into this. The PHE model projected that there might be as few as 24 new cases in the capital per day on 10 May. This reflects the strong downward trend London has been on, but the model is not designed to give razor-sharp predictions of day-by-day infection statistics. On Thursday, 49 people with new infections were admitted to hospitals in London.\nSome models rely on measures such as symptoms reported to phone apps, which have a shorter lag time. However, these data are more \"noisy\" and so give a less robust measure of R overall, although they can give better insight into short-range changes.\nHow sure are we about regional differences?\nAlmost all available data and models suggest there are strong regional differences in terms of the number of infections and current transmission rates. Serology surveys suggest that more than 10% of people in London have been infected with Covid-19, compared with around 4% in the rest of the country. In general, urban centres have had more infections than rural areas.\nThe data from hospital admissions and deaths also suggest that R has come down far more steeply in London than in other regions. The PHE and Cambridge model suggests that R in London is 0.4, compared with 0.8 in the north-east and Yorkshire and 0.75 for the country as a whole.\nR value \u2013 highest in NE and Yorkshire\nThis is one of a handful of models feeding into advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) to government, and all are showing broadly similar patterns across the regions. However, the extent of the differences varies, meaning that an optimistic estimate for London cannot be relied on too heavily.\nMatt Keeling, professor of populations and disease at the University of Warwick, described the PHE\/Cambridge estimate for London as \"extremely low\". His own team's predictions put the London R value closer to 0.6.\n\"This still predicts a faster decline in London than the rest of the country, but not as dramatic \u2026 The difference between 0.4 and 0.6 might sound like scientists arguing over small details, but these translate to very substantial differences in the rate of decline of cases, or the time for the epidemic to halve,\" he said.\nWhat are the reasons for regional differences?\nInitially, London was a few weeks ahead of other regions of the country because far more infections were seeded there at the start of the epidemic. However, it has also seen a steeper decline and, in fact, may have always had a slightly lower community transmission rate than some other geographical regions.\nDaily reported Covid-19 cases by region\nThere are likely to be a wide range of factors behind this. London may now have a higher level of population immunity, which could be playing a role in bringing down transmission, since a higher proportion of people have been infected.\n\"If it turns out that there's loads of immunity in the community, then that's brilliant, but I don't think we should plan for that scenario,\" said Thomas House, reader in mathematical statistics at the University of Manchester. \"We don't really know yet.\"\nThere are also likely to be substantially different contributions from hospitals and care homes, where transmission rates have not been effectively brought under control. In some regions, the spread of infection in these settings, where lockdown does not have the same impact, could be making a major contribution to keeping R close to 1.\nDifferences in living arrangements \u2013 for instance, larger family groups living together outside London \u2013 could play a role. Models may also not fully capture the role of underlying health issues and deprivation in raising the risk of severe cases.\nIs there evidence that people in some regions have complied less with the lockdown?\nThere isn't strong evidence for this. The lockdown has brought down transmission rates in the community across the country, and a forthcoming study from scientists at Imperial College London does not seem to suggest that London has been an outlier in terms of compliance.\n\"The uniformity with which the UK responded to the lockdown is remarkable,\" said Steven Riley, professor of infectious disease dynamics. \"I thought maybe people in London who were close to a large epidemic would be much more compliant than elsewhere. But the behaviour change was very well synchronised across the UK.\"\nDo the models suggest restrictions should be eased regionally?\nThis is an emerging view among scientists. \"Based on just the epidemiology, it makes a tremendous amount of sense,\" said House. \"There's no point locking down if there's no cases to prevent.\" However, he and others acknowledge that the political decision will be weighted by factors beyond simply modelling the trajectory of case numbers.\n\"It's much more difficult to message the relaxation than it is to message the lockdown,\" said Riley. \"I suspect the most difficult aspect on possible regional differences is how you would message it. That uncertainty would be much greater than any mechanistic modelling uncertainty.\"\nWhat does the 'R' number of coronavirus mean? \u2013 video explainer","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Open letter from the Czech Association of Festivals to the Government of the Czech Republic and the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic\n8 July 2019, 1:00\nClassical Music Opera Dance Jazz Rock Pop Traditional Other\n\u010cAF\nWe live in a free democratic society, in which the role of the state is to create the environment and conditions for the development of creativity and creative potential, being aware that today's living art creates cultural heritage for the future.\nArt is a pillar of free, open society that is getting rid of prejudice, it is its mirror and an engine of its further development, brings valuable impulses, experiences and values to citizens that cannot be substituted by anything.\nThe Programme Declaration of the Government of the Czech Republic of 27 June 2018 confirms these facts: \"We consider culture one of the most important factors in the healthy development of a society that fundamentally affects all its aspects. Culture in a variety of forms contributes significantly to the shaping of the image of our society abroad. Cultural expressions and artefacts are part of cultural heritage and reflect the fundamental values of society...\"\nIn utter contradiction with the above declaration is the fact that when discussing the framework of the State Budget for the year 2020, the budget of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic was proposed to be cut by CZK 424 million. By reducing the draft budget for the year 2020, the government is fundamentally breaching its own Program Declaration, which states:\n\"We will increase the budget of the Ministry of Culture. We will focus on simplifying the agenda and on electronic processing and evaluation of applications with the administrative burden for applicants as low as possible... We will prepare a long-term programme of investment support and co-financing of cultural infrastructure projects that would allow the construction of new cultural facilities for the provision of public cultural services throughout the country and in accordance with contemporary worldwide trends and standards.... In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, we will create a subsidy programme to support artistic and creative education.\"\nWe appeal to the government to honour its own Programme Declaration. We are asking: how will the government do so if it cuts the Ministry of Culture budget? The Ministry has not yet had the resources to invest in cultural infrastructure (except state institutions) and for the second year in a row it has been promising a subsidy programme for the much-needed creative education. From what is it going to finance it all? How will it ensure the development of living art as part of cultural activities that are deeply underfunded in the long term, if the funds are cut? How will it meet its commitments to increase salaries of employees in culture?\nWe appeal to the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic not to accept the existing framework of the budget of the Ministry of Culture and to insist on its increase adequately matching the needs of living art and the entire society.\nWe are also deeply concerned about the situation at the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, which destabilises the cultural sphere and together with the budget cuts, a very serious crisis threatens throughout the culture sector. This situation endangers the vast majority of events and organisations that bring culture, but also good name of the Czech Republic abroad.\nWe urgently appeal to the Czech Government and the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic to remedy this alarming situation.\nMichal Schmidt, President\nDavid Dittrich, Vice President\nYvona Kreuzmannov\u00e1, Vice President\nMarek Vrabec, Vice President\nArchive photo\/ Ji\u0159\u00ed Sl\u00e1ma\nNo comment added yet..\nPersonalities, discoveries, sun and rain \u2013 20 years of the Slunce Festival\nFolk & Country Other\nMilan Tesa\u0159\nThe Slunce [Sun] Festival in Str\u00e1\u017enice will be held for the twentieth time this year. Especially lovers of folk music and classical big beat have marked the dates of 12th and 13th July in their calendars. We talked to the director of the Slunce Festival Pavel Kop\u0159iva about the history of the festival, its top moments and hardships, as well as what this year's festival season will be like. more\nWe live in a free democratic society, in which the role of the state is to create the environment and conditions for the development of creativity and creative potential, being aware that today's living art creates cultural heritage for the future. more\nWe met in Str\u00e1\u017enice\nDance Traditional For kids\nMarie Hvozdeck\u00e1\nLast weekend, the 74th Str\u00e1\u017enice International Folklore Festival 2019 as well as the 37th Str\u00e1\u017enice Children's Folklore Festival were held in the South Moravian Mecca of folklore. The biggest folklore festival in the Czech Republic enjoys great interest and it wasn't any different this year either, despite tropical temperatures, with tens of thousands of people coming back to Str\u00e1\u017enice again. more\nOrten's wind was murmuring in the Brno penitentiary\nClassical Music Dance Other\nPetra \u0160vandov\u00e1\nOn the 100th anniversary of the birth of poet Ji\u0159\u00ed Orten, the company ProArt prepared a multi-genre project called Ohnice \u2013 Where the Wind Is Dancing in the former Brno penitentiary on Cejl Street. The poetic production with verses of the young poet, which reflected his hard and short life, was premiered on 25 June. more\nPolished Gemstones of Concentus Moraviae Festival\nLuk\u00e1\u0161 Pavlica\nThe twenty-fourth season of the Concentus Moraviae international music festival came to an end after almost a month of rich musical experiences. Musical works, thematically labelled as the Concert of Nations, guided the festival visitors around thirteen picturesque Moravian towns and gave them a taste of key musical works of (not only) European nations. All this was moreover served in the interpretation of more than twenty world-famous ensembles. With the conscious transnational, cross-border concept overreaching the Czech border, the festival organizers chose the Golden Hall of the renowned Musikverein Concert House as a suitable venue for the closing evening. The extraordinary finals of the 24th season opened thus a series of Concerts of Czech-Austrian Partnership and at the same time announced the celebration of the festival's quarter of a century to be celebrated next year. In accordance with this symbolic overture of the concert, the main star of the festival was the patron of the festival and famous singer Magdalena Ko\u017een\u00e1, accompanied by the no less famous Collegium 1704 orchestra led by V\u00e1clav Luks. more\nThe Borodin Quartet Completely Fulfilled Their Promise\nOne of the biggest promises of the 24th Concentus Moraviae international festival was yesterday's concert of the legendary Borodin Quartet, whose unique sound is the result not only of hard work but also collaboration with the composer Dmitri Shostakovich. This personal and interpretive trail still influences the group and is passed on to each new member. The programme took place in the library of the castle in N\u00e1m\u011b\u0161\u0165 nad Oslavou , where in the 18th and 19th centuries it was the residence music-loving Haugwitz family. The music of Sergei Prokofiev, Joseph Haydn and Dmitri Shostakovich could be heard by the audience in a venue that was more than merely dignified. more\nOndr\u00e1\u0161' Pilgrimage to \u0160pilberk\nDance Traditional For kids Other\nIn the summer months \u0160pilberk Castle's courtyard often resounds to the sound of music. Until September it is possible to combine a tour of the castle with a cultural experience. The organizers have tried to prepare a programme across genres that has something for everyone. Yesterday it was the turn of folk music. Despite the adverse weather the stage was dominated by the Military Art Ensemble Ondr\u00e1\u0161. more\nRadok's magnificent blue-gray dream\nClassical Music Opera\nThe last premiere of the Brno opera season for the first time ever and rather unusually combined two works. The Jan\u00e1\u010dek Theatre presented the surrealist opera Three Fragments of Juliette by Bohuslav Martin\u016f along with the small opera work The Human Voice by Francis Poulenc. The composed evening, with direction and stage design by David Radok, brought together two almost absurd worlds. And this connection was indeed remarkable dramaturgically, visually but also interpretatively. more\nSzymanowski Quartet in the rhythm of mazurka\nThe Polish ensemble Szymanowski Quartet at the Concentus Moraviae Festival presented works by their compatriots Karol Szymanowski, Stanis\u0142aw Moniuszko and Gra\u017eyna Bacewicz in the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in \u0158eznovice yesterday. The concert was part of worldwide celebrations of the two-hundredth anniversary of birth of Stanis\u0142aw Moniuszko, which is considered by many to be the founder of Polish national music. The evening was held under the auspices of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Czech Republic, HE Barbara \u0106wioro. more\nCuarteto Q-Arte filled a blank space\nVisitors to concerts meet quite often with quartet compositions written by masters of European music. Haydn's string quartets are perennial stars in the repertoire of a number of ensembles and attention is also paid to works of contemporary European composers. Only exceptionally, however, can listeners take a peek into the musical cuisine of Asian or South American nations. Cuarteto Q-Arte decided to fill this blank space and dedicated itself to the works of Latin American authors. The programme, which they presented yesterday at the chateau in Slavkov u Brna (Austerlitz), consisted of works by Silvestre Revueltas, Alberto Ginastera and Astor Piazzolla. All these three composers combine elements of domestic culture with European training and influences or impulses of different genres. more\nKupodivu: \u017divo\u010di\u0161n\u00e9 pudy\nWhy be one of the many average bands when we can be a unique band? The ten-year history of the Brno group Kupodivu could be squeezed into this motto. In 2009, saxophonist Jaroslav Piln\u00fd and keyboard player Petr \u0160a\u0161inka first talked about forming a band. In 2019, the band Kupodivu [Surprisingly Enough] is releasing its first full-length album. Exactly in the middle of this ten-year period, in 2014, an important change took place when the original folk band was transformed into an interesting shape with keyboards, saxophone and bass, but without a guitar. The line-up, which resembles rather jazz bands in recent years, has scored at a lot of folk festivals in recent years. Kupodivu won the Porta award for authors, the Rada Notov\u00e1n\u00ed [Council of Notation] award, won the Moravsk\u00fd vrabec [Moravian Sparrow], and won second place at the Mohelnick\u00fd dostavn\u00edk [Mohelnice Stagecoach]. At all these venues they performed music that rather than campfires fits into city clubs, and by far not only folk ones. The album \u017divo\u010di\u0161n\u00e9 pudy [Animal Instincts] summarizes the band's work so far in a dignified way, underlined by the quality sound from the Zl\u00edn Studio V. more\nJerusalem Quartet with tender expressiveness\nThe Jerusalem Quartet is one of the world's leading quartet performers for many years and is currently one of the most cited chamber music ensembles. At the Concentus Moraviae festival, violinists Alexander Pavlovsky, Sergei Bresler, violist Ori Kam and cellist Kyril Zlotnikov performed in the Great Chateau of Mikulov Castle with a programme stretching in time from Joseph Haydn up to B\u00e9la Bart\u00f3k. The concert was held under the auspices of the Israeli Ambassador to the Czech Republic, HE Daniel Meron. more\nEpoque Quartet: Jazz and minimalism\nClassical Music Other\nMan does not live by classical music alone, as the Epoque Quartet, consisting of violinists David Pokorn\u00fd, Vladim\u00edr Kl\u00e1nsk\u00fd, violist Vladim\u00edr Kroupa and cellist V\u00edt Petr\u00e1\u0161ek has been convincing us for twenty years already. For their Saturday concert, staged as part of the Concentus Moraviae festival, which took place in the foyer of the Pas\u00e1\u017e theatre in T\u0159eb\u00ed\u010d, the musicians also invited bass clarinettist Petr Val\u00e1\u0161ek, pianist Karel Ko\u0161\u00e1rek and percussionist Oleg Sokolov. The programme of the evening consisted entirely of works by contemporary authors flirting in their compositions not only with musical minimalism, but also with jazz and other popular genres. more\n\u0160arivary: Melan\u017e\n6 June 2019, 1:00\nJazz Other\nThe title of this album is deceiving. Although the group \u0160arivary uses the Czech phonetic transcription of the French expressions charivari and m\u00e9lange, it is not composed of any Czechs. The quartet that got together in Brno is headed by French singer, flutist and accordionist Aude Martin and American guitarist and singer Chris Coleman. Besides them, the band is formed by Swedish trumpeter Christopher Strandh and Slovak bass guitar player Tom\u00e1\u0161 Ulahel. The band's music is as colourful as its motley ethnic composition. more\nZU\u0160 Open \u2013 Why Should We Not Rejoice?\nClassical Music Musical Dance Jazz Pop Traditional For kids Other\nOn the last day of May, the Dominik\u00e1nsk\u00e9 Square in Brno came to life with music, singing and dancing. At half past two in the afternoon, the programme of the nationwide happening of primary artistic schools ZU\u0160 started under the patronage of the Magdalena Ko\u017een\u00e1 Endowment Fund by announcing the results of the \"TO JE talent\"competition. The participants did not only come to pick up with prizes. Several of the award-winning singers and musicians proved this. For example, Lucie Sedl\u00e1\u010dkov\u00e1 with the song by Ewa Farn\u00e1 M\u011bls m\u011b v\u016fbec r\u00e1d [Did You Love Me At All?] attracted an ever growing crowd of listeners, while singer and pianist Veronika V\u00e1vrov\u00e1 did the same with the ballad Million Reasons by Lady Gaga. more\nZnojmo Music Festival: Andreas Scholl, Adam Plachetka and Pavel \u0160porcl\nClassical Music Opera Jazz Pop Traditional For kids Other\nBrno Music Friendly City\nZnojmo Music Festival enters its 15th season this year. The programme includes concerts, opera performances, gastronomy and a programme for children. The opening concert, performed by the patron of the festival Pavel \u0160porcl and the PKF - Prague Philharmonia under the baton of Derek Gleeson, is dedicated to the reminder of the fall of the Iron Curtain. The culmination of the festival is the premiere of the scenic oratorio Saul by G. F. Handel. The title roles will be performed by Andreas Scholl and Adam Plachetka. The show will be directed by Tom\u00e1\u0161 Pila\u0159. more\nLeo\u0161 Jan\u00e1\u010dek would celebrate his 165th birthday today\nClassical Music Opera Other\nThe 165th anniversary of the birth of Leo\u0161 Jan\u00e1\u010dek falls on today, Wednesday 3 July 2019. Jan\u00e1\u010dek is one of our opera composers most frequently played abroad. TIC Brno dedicated a tram to him for his birthday this year, with the main characters from his operas graphically rendered by Brno artist Vendulka Chal\u00e1nkov\u00e1. Jan\u00e1\u010dek also has his own website, an educational trail, a memorial and an opera festival. more\nToday Va\u0148kovka Fest Begins. Aneta Langerov\u00e1, Dan B\u00e1rta, Luk\u00e1\u0161 Pavl\u00e1sek and Others Will Be Performing\nJazz Rock Pop For kids Other\nThe Multi-genre festival Va\u0148kovka Fest this year offers concerts, an open-air cinema and stand-up performances. The month-long festival at the Galerie Va\u0148kovka in Brno will play host to Aneta Langerov\u00e1, Dan B\u00e1rta, Luk\u00e1\u0161 Pavl\u00e1sek, Ben Cristovao, Michal Pavl\u00ed\u010dek & Trio and many more. more\nNew season at Fl\u00e9da music club is accompanied by names such as GusGus, Hooverphonic, Kadebostany or De Staat\nDance Jazz Rock Pop Clubbing Other\nThe autumn program of the Fl\u00e9da music club in Brno contains big names of the music world. The August visit of Jon Hopkins', who will appear at the Brno Marathon of Music festival is already at its imaginary beginning. The autumn season officially opens with a September dance party featuring GusGus from Iceland. This will be followed by concerts of Hooverphonic with a new singer, Jan Blomqvist & Band with their complete Disconnected project or the Berlin legend DJ Hell with his Zukunftmusic composition. Rockers De Staat will bring their novelty titled The Bubble Gum, Movits! their most hip-hop record so far \u2013 the double album V, Kadebostany in turn will bring their album Monumental. Last but not least, Vitalic with Rebeka Warrior will also be featured presenting their KCompromat project. more\nThe album Koseck\u00e9 p\u00edsn\u011b captures tunes from the meadows\nTraditional Other\nThe album collects folklore tunes and songs from the Moravian meadows. After several years of work on the Anthology of Moravian Folk Music, the Indies Scope label decided to continue with a new series of folklore recordings called Malovan\u00e1 truhla [Painted Chest]. One of them is the album Koseck\u00e9 p\u00edsn\u011b [Mowers' Songs]. The album features Kub\u00edci dulcimer music band from Hor\u0148\u00e1cko, Women's Choir of Hrub\u00e1 Vrbka, Chot\u00e1r male choir from Hor\u0148\u00e1cko and others. more\nUprost\u0159ed festival begins today\nDance Rock Pop For kids Other\nThis festival will enliven the streets in the centre of Brno throughout the summer. The programme promises a total of 53 events such as concerts, workshops, theatre performances, dance rooms or sporting events. more\nBoskovice 2019: WWW Neurobeat, Les Bubbey Mayse or Khoiba\nRock Pop Folk & Country For kids Other\nTraditionally, the beginning of the summer holidays is accompanied by the festival Boskovice \u2013 for the Jewish Quarter. This year's 27th edition will be launched by the Les Bubbey Mayse quartet from France, inspired by Klezmer and traditional Yiddish songs. The musical program also features concerts of bands such as Neurobeat, Khoiba, Kittchen & Aid Kid with Tom\u00e1\u0161 Neuwerth or Panensk\u00e9 plameny. more\nProART Company is preparing a premiere production of Kde tan\u010d\u00ed v\u00edtr\nDance Other\nThe upcoming production of Kde tan\u010d\u00ed v\u00edtr [Where the Wind Is Dancing] is based on Orten's collection Ohnice. The author of the project is the Brno choreographer and director Martin Dvo\u0159\u00e1k. The central character of a poet will be performed by young actor Daniel Krej\u010d\u00edk. more\nBrno Philharmonic opens advance sales administrator position\nBrno Philharmonic announces a selection procedure for the position of advance sales administrator. Starting from 1 August 2019. more\nKamenka Open festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary\nJazz Rock Pop Traditional For kids Other\nThe Kamenka Open multi-genre festival will revive the meadow in the Kamenn\u00e1 kolonie neighbourhood in Brno for the tenth time already. This year's guests include Funky Pappa, Jamiroquai Tribute Band and Pleasure Portable. Theatres will be represented by the Hysterie Theatre, Kor\u00e1b Theatre or the Bez Pravidel Theatre. more","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Martius Tilley Lynde\nM, #8176, b. 8 July 1825, d. 5 August 1899\nFather: Judge Tilley Lynde (b. 9 October 1782, d. 1 March 1857)\nMother: Betsey Warner (b. 13 February 1786, d. 30 May 1871)\nBirth: Martius Tilley Lynde was born on 8 July 1825 in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, United States.1\nDeath: He died on 5 August 1899 at age 74 in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont, United States.1\nBurial: He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery+ in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, United States.1\n[S29] Find a Grave, database and images (http:\/\/www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for , Find A Grave Memorial # , citing , 17 May 2016; Martius T Lynde; 143795809; Green-Wood Cemetery; Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York; Saratoga\nCharles James Fox Lynde\nM, #8177, b. 7 April 1816, d. 9 August 1841\nBirth: Charles James Fox Lynde was born on 7 April 1816 in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, United States.\nDeath: He died due to a steamboat explosion on 9 August 1841 at age 25 at Lake Erie.\nMary Elizabeth Blanchard\nF, #8178, b. 4 December 1819, d. 26 June 1897\nFamily: William Pitt Lynde (b. 16 December 1817, d. 18 December 1885)\nMary Elizabeth Lynde (b. 26 February 1842, d. 17 April 1890)\nClara Blanchard Lynde (b. 1844)\nEliza Warner Lynde (b. December 1847, d. 25 October 1924)\nTilly Lynde (b. April 1850)\nWilliam Pitt Lynde, Jr (b. 1853)\nAnariel Blanchard Lynde (b. 4 September 1854, d. 18 August 1889)\nMary Elizabeth (Blanchard) Lynde\nBirth: Mary Elizabeth Blanchard was born on 4 December 1819 in Tuxton Township, Cortland County, New York, United States.1\nMarriage: William Pitt Lynde and Mary Elizabeth Blanchard were married on 25 May 1841 in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States.1\nDeath: She died of senility on 26 June 1897 at age 77 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.2\nBurial: She was buried at Forest Home CemeteryG+, in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.2\nPerson Source: Mary Elizabeth Blanchard had sources that helped establish her name.1\nLast Edited: 4 February 2017\n[S1434] Ellen D Langill, Speaking With An Equal Voice: The Reform Efforts of Milwaukee's Mary Blanchard Lynde, p. 18-29\n[S35] Wisconsin County Registrars, \"Registration of Deaths,\" (bound registers of county death records, 1852\u20131907, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin): ; FHL microfilm series 2069, volume 22\nTilly Lynde\nM, #8179, b. April 1850\nFather: William Pitt Lynde (b. 16 December 1817, d. 18 December 1885)\nMother: Mary Elizabeth Blanchard (b. 4 December 1819, d. 26 June 1897)\nBirth: Tilly Lynde was born in April 1850 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.\nDeath: He died.\nWitness: Tilly Lynde appeared in the census in the household of John Tweedy Crocker and Eliza Warner Lynde on 1 June 1900 at 4713 Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States. John and Eliza have been married twenty-seven years and have six living children [seven born]. They are renting their home. John is working as a private agent for a rail road.1\n[S1661] 1900 U. S. Census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing the NARA, Washington D. C., microfilm T623, roll 286, Ward 32, Chicago; 1021; sheet 8A [penned], stamped 306; dwelling no. 85, family no. 141; John T Crocker household [indexed as Booker]; 6 February 2017\nEliza Warner Lynde\nF, #8180, b. December 1847, d. 25 October 1924\nFamily: John Tweedy Crocker (b. 27 October 1845, d. 19 March 1927)\nEthel Lynde Crocker (b. 26 August 1875)\nAugusta Crocker (b. 2 March 1878)\nPaul Delafield Crocker (b. 31 July 1880)\nRuth Crocker (b. 5 May 1882)\nGertrude L Crocker (b. 7 January 1884)\nCharles Lynde Crocker (b. 3 May 1885, d. 17 January 1942)\nBirth: Eliza Warner Lynde was born in December 1847 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.1,2\nMarriage: John Tweedy Crocker and Eliza Warner Lynde were married on 15 April 1873 at Episcopal Church in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Officiated by Rev. James Dekoven, D. M.3,4\nDeath: She died on 25 October 1924 at age 76.5\nCensus (fam): John Tweedy Crocker and Eliza Warner Lynde appeared in the census on 1 June 1900 at 4713 Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States. John and Eliza have been married twenty-seven years and have six living children [seven born]. They are renting their home. John is working as a private agent for a rail road.1\nCensus (fam): John Tweedy Crocker and Eliza Warner Lynde appeared in the census on 15 April 1910 at 4713 Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States. John and Eliza have been married thirty-seven years and have six living children [seven born]. This is the only marriage for both. They own their home, mortgage-free. John is a purchasing agent for a steam railway.6\nCensus (fam): John Tweedy Crocker and Eliza Warner Lynde appeared in the census on 1 January 1920 at 109 S Elm Street in Downers Grove, Dupage County, Illinois, United States. John and Eliza own their home, mortgage-free. John is no longer working outside the home.7\n[S34] Wisconsin County Registrars, \"Registration of Births,\" (bound registers of county birth records, 1852\u20131907, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin): , reel 148; Milwaukee County; no. 2713 for [not named] Crocker (1880). Other issue listed are Ethel and Augusta C\n[S286] \"Wisconsin Genealogy Index,\" Index, Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Historical Society (http:\/\/www.wisconsinhistory.org\/ : accessed ); Wisconsin, pre-1907 Vital Records Index, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 6 February 2017; entry for Eliza Warner Lynde (1873); Milwaukee County. Referencing vol. 13, p. 225\n[S36] Wisconsin County Registrars, \"Registration of Marriages,\" series 2073 (bound registers of county marriage records, 1836\u20131907, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin): , volume 13\n[S29] Find a Grave, database and images (http:\/\/www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for , Find A Grave Memorial # , citing , 6 February 2017; Eliza W L Crocker; 32976404; Forest Home Cemetery; Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; Lori Loebel; Michelle Woodham, no. 46636907\n[S1662] 1910 U. S. Census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing the NARA, Washington D. C., microfilm T624, roll 246, Ward 6, Chicago; 371; sheet 5B [penned]; dwelling no. 59, family no. 128; John T Crocker household; 6 February 2017\n[S1663] 1920 U. S. Census, DuPage County, Illinois, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing the NARA, Washington D. C., microfilm T625, roll 365, Downers Grove Township; 9; sheet 11B [penned]; dwelling no. 254, family no. 267; John T Crocker household; 6 February 2017\nMary Elizabeth Lynde\nF, #8181, b. 26 February 1842, d. 17 April 1890\nBirth: Mary Elizabeth Lynde was born on 26 February 1842 in New York, United States.\nDeath: She died on 17 April 1890 at age 48 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, United States.\nAnariel Blanchard Lynde\nM, #8182, b. 4 September 1854, d. 18 August 1889\nBirth: Anariel Blanchard Lynde was born on 4 September 1854 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.1\nDeath: He died on 18 August 1889 at age 34 in Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States.1\nBurial: He was buried at Forest Home CemeteryG+, in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.1\nPerson Source: Anariel Blanchard Lynde had sources that helped establish his name.1\n[S29] Find a Grave, database and images (http:\/\/www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for , Find A Grave Memorial # , citing , 4 February 2017; Dr. Azariel Blanchard Lynde; 96705579; Forest Home Cemetery; Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; EddieM; EddieM, no. 47083914\nWilliam Pitt Lynde, Jr\nM, #8183, b. 1853\nBirth: William Pitt Lynde, Jr, was born in 1853 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.\nClara Blanchard Lynde\nF, #8184, b. 1844\nBirth: Clara Blanchard Lynde was born in 1844 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.\nLast Edited: 26 August 2017\nDora Lee\nF, #8185, b. 9 December 1900, d. 9 September 1971\nFamily: Glenn D Dake (b. 18 October 1896, d. 2 May 1975)\nPearl Dake (b. about 1921)\nEarl Lee Dake (b. 15 September 1925, d. 19 December 2003)\nHarry Glen Dake (b. 7 April 1928, d. 15 February 2010)\nBirth: Dora Lee was born on 9 December 1900 in England.1\nMarriage: Glenn D Dake and Dora Lee were married.\nDeath: She died on 9 September 1971 at age 70 in Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States.\nBurial: She was buried at Highland Memorial ParkG+, in Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States.2\nCensus (fam): Glenn D Dake and Dora Lee appeared in the census on 1 April 1930 in Grand Chute Township, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. Glen and Dora own their home valued at $300; the household does have a radio. Glen is working as a laborer at a college.1\n[S1844] 1930 U. S. Census, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing the NARA, Washington D. C., microfilm T626, roll 2603, Grand Chute; 27; sheet 4A [penned], stamped 121; dwelling no. 73, family no. 73; Glen Dake household; 22 June 2017\n[S29] Find a Grave, database and images (http:\/\/www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for , Find A Grave Memorial # , citing , 21 December 2016; Dora (Lee) Dake; 111270502; Highland Memorial Park; Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin; Julie Mofle; Julie Mofle, no. 47888674\nHarry Glen Dake\nM, #8186, b. 7 April 1928, d. 15 February 2010\nFather: Glenn D Dake (b. 18 October 1896, d. 2 May 1975)\nMother: Dora Lee (b. 9 December 1900, d. 9 September 1971)\nBirth: Harry Glen Dake was born on 7 April 1928 in Wisconsin, United States.1\nInformant: He was the informant on the death record of Glenn D Dake.2\nDeath: Harry Glen Dake died on 15 February 2010 at age 81.1\nPerson Source: Harry Glen Dake had sources that helped establish his name.1\nWitness: He appeared in the census in the household of Glenn D Dake and Dora Lee on 1 April 1930 in Grand Chute Township, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. Glen and Dora own their home valued at $300; the household does have a radio. Glen is working as a laborer at a college.3\nLast Edited: 30 October 2016\n[S25] Social Security Administration, \"U.S. Social Security Death Index,\" database, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ), , , 30 October 2016; Harry Glen Dake; [not available]; before 1951\n[S1354] Outagamie County, Wisconsin; Register of Deeds, Appleton, Wisconsin, death certificate; 95-387; 1975; Glen Dake\nPearl Dake\nBirth: Pearl Dake was born about 1921 in Wisconsin, United States.1\nWitness: Pearl Dake appeared in the census in the household of Glenn D Dake and Dora Lee on 1 April 1930 in Grand Chute Township, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. Glen and Dora own their home valued at $300; the household does have a radio. Glen is working as a laborer at a college.1\nEarl Lee Dake\nM, #8188, b. 15 September 1925, d. 19 December 2003\nBirth: Earl Lee Dake was born on 15 September 1925 in Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States.1\nDeath: He died on 19 December 2003 at age 78.1\nPerson Source: Earl Lee Dake had sources that helped establish his name.1\n[S1160] \"U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,\" database, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland, 27 June 2016; original application for Earl Lee Dake (1942); no. 389-20-3265; November 1942, name listed as Earl Lee Dake; 31 December 2003, name listed as Earl L Dake\nWalter C Wenzel\nM, #8189, b. 19 February 1905, d. 12 August 1994\nBirth: Walter C Wenzel was born on 19 February 1905 in Lanark Township, Portage County, Wisconsin, United States.+\nMarriage: He and Leah Evelyn Turner were married on 15 February 1941 in Almond, Portage County, Wisconsin, United States.\nInformant: Walter C Wenzel was the informant on the death record of Leah Evelyn Turner.1\nDeath: Walter C Wenzel died on 12 August 1994 at age 89 in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States.\nBurial: He was buried in Farmington Township, Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States.\n[S1354] Outagamie County, Wisconsin; Register of Deeds, Appleton, Wisconsin, death certificate; 113-1095; 1985; Leah Evelyn Wenzel\nMildred I Dake\nF, #8194, b. 17 September 1902, d. 23 July 1976\nFather: Willard Wesley (\"Will\") Dake (b. 11 July 1867, d. 9 July 1962)\nMother: Irena Isabelle Maxfield (b. 27 April 1869, d. 12 July 1960)\nBirth: Mildred I Dake was born on 17 September 1902 in Nekoosa, Wood County, Wisconsin, United States.1\nInformant: She was the informant on the death record of Irena Isabelle Maxfield.2\nDeath: Mildred I Dake died on 23 July 1976 at age 73 in Farmington Township, Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States.1\nBurial: She was buried on 27 July 1976 at Plover CemeteryG+, in Plover, Portage County, Wisconsin, United States.3\nWitness: Mildred I Dake appeared in the census in the household of Willard Wesley (\"Will\") Dake and Irena Isabelle Maxfield on 1 June 1905 in Port Edwards, Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. Will is farming; he owns his home which is mortgaged.4\nWitness: Mildred I Dake appeared in the census in the household of Willard Wesley (\"Will\") Dake and Irena Isabelle Maxfield on 15 April 1910 in Carson, Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Will and Irena have been married nineteen years and have four children [five born]; they own their farm home through a mortgage.5\nWitness: Mildred I Dake appeared in the census in the household of Willard Wesley (\"Will\") Dake and Irena Isabelle Maxfield on 1 January 1920 in Hull, Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. William and Irene own their home, mortgaged. They operate a general farm.6\n[S25] Social Security Administration, \"U.S. Social Security Death Index,\" database, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ), , , 22 June 2017; Mildred Stelter; 389-68-5552; 1973\n[S515] Portage County, Wisconsin; Register of Deeds, Stevens Point, death certificate; 36-480; 1960; Irena Isabella Dake\n[S29] Find a Grave, database and images (http:\/\/www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for , Find A Grave Memorial # , citing , 5 February 2017; Mildred I (Dake) Stelter; 83345073; Plover Cemetery; Plover, Portage County, Wisconsin; Jonelle; Lisa V, no. 47869521\n[S737] 1905 State Census, Wood County, Wisconsin, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin State Census, 1905. Microfilm, 44 reels. CSUSAWI1905_34, Port Edwards; sheet 1 [penned], stamped 471; family no. 3; Will W Dake household; 21 December 2016\n[S194] 1910 U. S. Census, Portage County, Wisconsin, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing the NARA, Washington D. C., microfilm T624, roll 1733, Carson; 49; sheet 13B [penned]; dwelling no. 211, family no. 213; Will W Dake household; 21 December 2016\n[S195] 1920 U. S. Census, Portage County, Wisconsin, population schedule, , ; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:\/\/www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing the NARA, Washington D. C., microfilm T625, roll 2010, Hull; 68; sheet 8A [penned], stamped 134; dwelling no. 130, family no. 140; William W Dake household; 21 December 2016","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"How Many Planets Are There in Our Solar System?\nNoah Zelvis March 19, 2022\nAs with many things in astronomy, the term planet has been ambiguous for many years. Depending on when you were born, you may feel differently about how many planets there are. This begs the question \u2013 just how many planets are there in the Solar System?\n1) What Is a Planet?\n2) History of Objects Called Planets in Our Solar System\n2.1) Uranus\n2.1.1) Ceres\n2.2) Neptune\n2.3) Pluto\n2.4) Eris\n3) Planetary Naming Conventions\n4) Planetary Categories in Our Solar System\n4.1) Terrestrial Planets\n4.2) Gas Giants\n5) Why is Pluto Not a Planet?\n6) Dwarf Planets\n7) What Else Is Out There?\n8) Are There Other Solar Systems?\n9) How Many Planets Are There in the Universe?\n10) Final Thoughts\nWhat Is a Planet?\nThe ancients were the first to notice that particular objects in the night sky behaved differently than others. Since they moved differently than stars, they called these objects planets, or \"wanderers\" in Greek.\nIn just 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted a more concrete definition for a planet. This definition says that a planet must do three things:\nIt must orbit a star.\nIt must have enough gravity to be spherical in shape.\nIt must be large enough to clear its neighborhood of similar objects near its orbit.\nWhile these are the standing requirements for planethood, these criteria are not set in stone.\nHistory of Objects Called Planets in Our Solar System\nAs mentioned earlier, the ancient Greeks had discovered five wanderers in the night sky, and Renaissance astronomers were able to expound on these findings after the invention of telescopes in the early 1600s.\nAn image of Uranus taken by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986. (Image credit: NASA)\nIn March of 1781, William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus when surveying for distant comets. This marked the first planetary finding in nearly 2000 years. Uranus was quickly labeled the seventh planet in the Solar System.\nAn image of Ceres depicts how the dwarf planet's colors would appear to the naked eye.\nIn 1801, a Sicilian monk located an unknown body in the heavens between Mars and Jupiter. He named the object Ceres and at first believed the thing was a comet. Upon closer inspection, Ceres was labeled a planet.\nUnfortunately for Ceres, such a declaration wouldn't last. As more objects were found around Ceres, William Herschel took to calling these rocks asteroids. Ceres was a planet no more.\nThis picture of Neptune shows the Great Dark Spot. (Image credit: NASA)\nCredit for the discovery of Neptune goes to mathematics and the astronomers who determined its location. After observing oddities in the orbit of Uranus, these astronomers correctly calculated the location of an eighth planet. Neptune was observed for the first time via telescope in 1841.\nAn enhanced color global view of Pluto. (Image credit: NASA)\nIn a similar way, scientists realized that some other object was affecting the orbit of both Uranus and Neptune. In 1929, Clyde W. Tombaugh began combing the skies one small section at a time for yet another unknown object.\nFinally, on February 18th, 1930, Tombaugh located the tiny object through new astronomic techniques. There was no way to tell the size of the object at the time, but Tombaugh decided to give it the name Pluto. Pluto would stay a planet for over 75 years before being declassified.\nThe dwarf planet Eris and its moon Dysnomia as imagined by an artist. (Image credit: NASA)\n2005 brought about a new discovery, this time an object presumably larger than Pluto out in the far reaches of the Solar System. Named Eris, the object sits almost three times further from the Sun than Pluto. Initially hailed as a planet, things changed when the term planet was redefined in 2006.\nPlanetary Naming Conventions\nThe first planets to be discovered were named after gods of the time, up through Saturn and including Earth. Although Herschel originally wanted to name his discovery \"Georgium Sidus\" after King George III, astronomers eventually settled on Uranus.\nEach planetary discovery since, including Ceres, has been named after a god, albeit not always from Greek culture.\nPlanetary Categories in Our Solar System\nAt present, we have eight objects in the Solar System that meet the three criteria set by the IAU. Each of our eight planets falls into one of two categories:\nTerrestrial Planets\nThe four planets closest to the Sun \u2013 Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars- are known as terrestrial planets because each has a rocky, hard surface. These planets vary wildly in composition and characteristics, including surface temperature and atmosphere.\nEach terrestrial planet houses a molten metallic core responsible for volcanic activity. On the surface, it's possible to see distinct features such as mountains, volcanoes, valleys, and craters. None of these worlds have rings, but Earth and Mars do have satellites.\nTypes of planets under the Geophysical Planet Definition (GPD). (Image credit: Johns Hopkins APL\/Mike Yakovlev on Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)\nJupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune represent the gas giants in our Solar System. Unsurprisingly, they are called gas giants because they are comprised almost entirely of hydrogen and helium. These planets do not have a well-defined surface, and it's unclear where one may even begin.\nIf these planets do have a solid surface, it is likely rocky or metallic as each has a strong magnetic field. While Jupiter and Saturn likely have layers of liquid hydrogen before their cores, Uranus and Neptune contain a mixture of water, rock, methane, and ammonia. As a result, these two planets are often called \"ice giants.\"\nThese four planets are sometimes called Jovian planets because each one has similar characteristics to Jupiter. Each planet has rings and several known moons.\nWhy is Pluto Not a Planet?\nThose of us born before the turn of the 21st century likely remember a time when Pluto was our ninth planet. After 76 years as a planet, Pluto's fate changed when the IAU redefined what it meant to be a planet.\nPluto does orbit the Sun and has enough gravity to be spherical in shape, but the ex-planet's declassification came because it has not cleared its orbit. To meet this criteria, the planet must be the dominant gravitational force, which Pluto does not.\nA composite of enhanced color images of Pluto (lower right) and Charon (upper left) captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft as it transited the Pluto system. (Image credit: NASA)\nCharon, Pluto's satellite, is nearly half its size, and the two have a binary relationship. The two objects orbit around each other, rather than Pluto holding all the power in the relationship. This alone is grounds for dismissal from planet status.\nNot all hope was lost when the hammer fell on Pluto in 2006. A new category was created for objects resembling planets but don't have a clear orbit \u2013 dwarf planets.\nThis new designation was a blessing for a few other bodies in the Solar System as well. Once Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, scientists looked to every other object that orbits the Sun to see what else made the cut.\nAnother name that once tasted planet status resurfaced \u2013 Ceres. With a round shape thanks to its size as the largest asteroid, it was upgraded to dwarf planet status as well.\nAt the same time, our very distant tenth planet Eris had to be reclassified because it does not clear its orbit either. To date, it's the furthest known dwarf planet from the Sun.\nTwelve minor planets were considered for inclusion in the list of dwarf planets as early as 2006.\nAlthough discovered a few years earlier, two other rocky worlds were added to the list of dwarf planets in 2008. Both Haumea and Makemake have roundish shapes and orbit the Sun from well beyond the orbit of Pluto. These were never classified as planets and left somewhat in limbo until given this title.\nWhat Else Is Out There?\nThere are likely several other large objects in the Kuiper Belt and beyond that could at least be given dwarf planet status. Scientists currently estimate upwards of 200 more out there, just waiting to be discovered.\nThe biggest planetary question revolves around the mysterious planet X. Mathematical evidence supports the possibility of a giant planet deep in the Solar System, explaining the unique orbit of many smaller bodies in the Kuiper Belt.\nThese artist concepts depict some of the most well-known objects discovered outside of Neptune's orbit. (Image credit: NASA)\nPlanet X could have mass up to ten times that of our Earth. If it does exist, it likely sits some 20 times further from the Sun than Neptune and could take over 10,000 years to complete one orbit around the Sun.\nAre There Other Solar Systems?\nWe've still very limited in our ability to see all that lies outside of our own galaxy, but astronomers have already discovered over 4,000 worlds within the Milky Way galaxy alone. These planets all orbit stars of their own, although many look very different than our own.\nJust 35 light-years away, one particular solar system has some interesting characteristics that mirror our own. This particular system has at least four rocky planets closest to their star and may be within the range that could sustain life. The third planet in this system even appears to have oceans!\nGiven all the strict criteria humans need to survive, there are likely few planets out there that we could live on. Even if we needed to travel somewhere new in a hurry, it would take us nearly 700,000 years to reach this other system!\nNASA discovers a solar system similar to ours, and there may be life similar to ours out there.\nHow Many Planets Are There in the Universe?\nAlthough we currently have no way of knowing for sure, we can extrapolate an answer from what we do know. With an estimated 100 billion planets in the Milky Way and 200 billion galaxies in the universe, there could easily be 20 sextillion planets out there somewhere.\nThe number has changed over the years, but at present, we have eight objects that meet the three criteria that allow them to be called planets. Each is unique, but only Earth has the resources we need to survive.\nWe still know very little of what exists in the far reaches of our Solar System, let alone what else is hiding beyond our borders. At the very least, the five planets closest to us make for some amazing photographs with even just a bit of magnification.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Shedding light on the mysteries of brain disease\nFollow NRC\nNRC Videos\nMay 06, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario\nBreaking down brain barriers one molecule at a time\nThe inner workings of the human brain hold mysteries that continue to challenge medical researchers and scientists around the world. One such mystery is determining how to delay the progression of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's. Now an important Canadian research breakthrough may have found the key to slowing their spread.\nFor the past six years, scientists, medical specialists and researchers with the National Research Council's (NRC) Therapeutics Beyond Brain Barriers (TBBB) program have been developing carrier molecules that enable disease-fighting molecules to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Once across this barrier, these carrier molecules can release medicinal therapeutics directly into the central nervous system (CNS) where they can have an immediate therapeutic impact.\nDanica Stanimirovic, Director of NRC's Translational Bioscience Department, explains that she and her team have developed a series of small antibodies that can infiltrate this barrier by exploiting the same mechanism that allows nutrients to enter the brain. Acting as a Trojan horse, the antibodies trick the blood-brain barrier into allowing their entry and shuttle in therapeutic molecules at the same time.\nGetting meds to where they matter\nTo determine whether the carrier molecules would deliver therapeutics to their intended disease targets, various configurations of the carriers coupled to therapeutic molecules had to be engineered and rigorously tested. This led to a collaboration with Graham Farrington, Director of the Antibody Discovery Group at Biogen, a biotechnology company with a long history of developing MS therapeutics and bringing new therapies to market. \"We were excited to learn that NRC had discovered new carrier molecules,\" says Farrington. \"Their groundbreaking work complements Biogen's focus on identifying antibodies that can have a therapeutic impact on brain diseases.\"\nUsing NRC's technology, Biogen conducted a number of tests to assess the behaviour and effects of NRC's carrier molecule once coupled to different Biogen antibodies. The animal trials, which involved a non-invasive procedure of administering the antibodies intravenously into rats and then analyzing the results, showed that the carrier-antibody fusion molecules do indeed have a highly potent therapeutic effect on brain diseases. \"This was a critical step in validating the efficacy of these antibodies and setting the stage for clinical trials,\" adds Farrington.\nBoth Farrington and Stanimirovic anticipate that the clinical trials for the blood-brain barrier-crossing antibodies could take up to 10 years, but that their research could help to unravel some of the biochemical mysteries that scientists everywhere are trying to understand today.\nMoving beyond the barrier\nBiologics have become the fastest-growing segment of the pharmaceutical market and there is enormous potential to expand their application to the treatment of brain diseases. \"We work closely with Canadian and international companies, medical specialists and other partners to ensure that our solutions get out of the lab and into real life\u2014to industrial sectors, healthcare systems, corporations and the public,\" says Stanimirovic.\nFarrington further adds that \"the NRC-Biogen relationship has been a mutually successful handshake with complementary capabilities on each side.\" Both teams agree that this work will lead to the creation of more therapeutics for both those suffering from brain diseases and for the aging population\u2014conditions that place a heavy burden on not only the patients, but also on families and healthcare systems.\n\"The ability to customize and engineer this solution for multiple applications gives it global appeal to companies that develop medications for different neurological diseases\" says Stanimirovic. With its ongoing research in the field, NRC is well-positioned to break down brain barriers and augment the flow of new brain medicines to clinical trials, thus helping to make treatments available to the public more quickly. And that is what really matters.\nTherapeutics Beyond Brain Barriers program\nA novel platform for engineering blood-brain barrier-crossing bispecific biologics\n(Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology)\nParkinson Society Canada\nMultiple Sclerosis Society of Canada\nAlzheimer Society Canada\nMedia Relations, National Research Council of Canada\n1-855-282-1637 (toll-free in Canada only)\n1-613-991-1431 (elsewhere in North America)\n001-613-991-1431 (international)\nmedia@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca\nFollow us on Twitter: @NRC_CNRC","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Damsel Distressed\nKelsey Macke\nPublished By: Spencer Hill Contemporary\nGenre: YA - Contemporary\nHot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing\nImogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after\u2013in fact, she doesn't think they are possible. Ever since her mother's death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an \"emotionally disturbed\" special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.\nWhen Imogen's new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she's been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace\u2013the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant\u2013aren't enough to save her from her pain this time.\nWhile Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.\nAnd maybe even find herself a happily ever after.\nThe cover is stunning.\nThe publisher is super duper awesome... I love SHP.\nThe blurb is super awesome.\nI cannot wait to read this book. It's gonna be so amazing. I have an insane love for Contemporary novels right now and this one sounds phenomenal. Add to that the fact that there will be a soundtrack to go with the novel... Is it October yet?\nThis week's pick...\nAn Unfortunate Fairytale Series:\n#1 UnEnchanted\n#2 Fairest (Haven't Got Yet)\n#3 Fable (Haven't Got Yet)\nHave you read this series?\nHalf-Bad (Half-Life #1)\nSally Green\nPublished By: Penguin\nDate Read: April 20, 2014\nGenre: YA - Paranormal \/ Witches\nHalf Bad by Sally Green is a breathtaking debut novel about one boy's struggle for survival in a hidden society of witches.\nYou can't read, can't write, but you heal fast, even for a witch.\nYou get sick if you stay indoors after dark.\nYou hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one.\nYou've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen.\nAll you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys. And do that before your seventeenth birthday.\nHalf-Bad was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I do admit that I'm not entirely sure what drew me to it as I'm not really a big fan of witch books but regardless I really wanted to read this one. I'd heard so many amazing things about this book and I really thought that it would be something that I loved. Unfortunately I feel like the hype surrounding this book ruined it a little bit and I was left feeling like it wasn't as good as everyone is making it out to be.\nNathan is a half. Half White witch, half Black witch. Because of this he is treat differently to everyone else. The White Witches don't trust him because he is part Black and the Black Witches don't trust him because he is part White. Nathan has been chained up in a cage since he was fourteen but he needs to escape and find Mercury before his seventeenth birthday... otherwise he may not survive.\nHalf-Bad had such a strong storyline. I felt like the storyline was very unique and different to any other YA Paranormal books out there and I really enjoyed following the story. Nathan has had such a awful life. Nothing has gone right for him and he has been pretty much exiled since birth. I felt so sorry for him and with this being his story this is most definitely not a happy story. It's actually rather depressing and one of my problems with the book was that it just made me depressed. Even though I really liked the storyline everytime I went to read some more I had a thought of 'Yay I'm gonna go depress myself again... hide the knives before I decide to off myself.' I really found it THAT depressing that although I wanted to find out what happened to poor Nathan I really didn't wanna read because it would put me in a very depressing mood.\nSally Green's writing style is so unique and different that it was quite something to read. It was so good for Nathan's mental state at the beginning and her use of foreshadowing at the beginning of the novel was perfect for this story. Though with me listening to the audiobook of Half-Bad I admit that the writing style transferred as quite odd for the first few chapters. Nathan's voice came off as quite strange and I didn't quite understand why his thoughts were so short and snappy. You don't really understand his mental state in those first few chapters until you have listened to more and found out what happened to him in the past.\nHalf-Bad is without a doubt one of the most unique Witch novels I have ever read and I did enjoy the story although I was a little disappointed and didn't think it was as good as the hype surrounding it. Due to all that hype I definitely went into the book expecting something amazing and I feel that that ruined my experience of this book. If I had not heard of any hype surrounding the book and I had gone into it with no expectations I probably would have found it more enjoyable than I did. Regardless it does have a strong, addictive storyline and it definitely worth a read but you will need a very happy book to follow this one.\nAudio Review: A Dance With Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire #5)\nA Dance With Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire #5)\nPublished By: Harper Voyage\nGenre: Adult - Fantasy\nIn the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance \u2014 beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.\nFleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever.\nMeanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone \u2014 a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.\nFrom all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.\n\"I rose too high, loved too hard, dared too much. I tried to grasp a star, overreached, and fell.\"\nTaking place at the same time as the events in the previous installment of the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons follows out favourite characters in the north and the east. After finishing A Feast for Crows I couldn't wait to get started on this one. Especially since I really missed these characters while listening to it, I was always wondering what was happening to Jon Snow, Theon Greyjoy, Daenerys Targaryen and others so I was very excited to see what they had been up to.\nA Dance of Dragons was such an amazing installment of the series filled with action, intrigue and horror. There were so many twists and turns all over the place there were many times where I was going wait what the hell just happened? There were times where I was ecstatic with glee as to what was happening and others where I was so upset and horrified I wanted to stop reading but I couldn't. It's far too addictive.\nThis installment was told from the point of view of 18 characters and if I didn't watch the TV show and know the characters as well as I do because of that I probably would have got a little bit lost. Having seen the show and listening to the audiobook helped keep up with the different characters. Telling a story from the point of view of 18 characters is no small feat for an audio narrator and must have been a daunting task. However her coped with it superbly. He was amazing and really gave voice and life to each individual character and was able to do justice to all of the different perspectives so my hat goes off to him. A big bravo!\nA Dance of Dragons was amazing. It left me hanging and I need to read the next installment like yesterday. I flew through these books and I am very distressed by the fact that the next book has not yet been published. I loved every moment of these five books and I can't wait to read more. For now the TV show will just have to give me my fix of this rather insane obsession I have with this series. If you haven't read these books I urge you to do so immediately.\nAudio Review: A Feast of Crows (Song of Ice and Fire #4)\nA Feast for Crows (Song of Ice and Fire #4)\nPublished By: Harper Voyager\nPublication Date: November 6, 2006\nWith A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth volume of the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and stands as a modern masterpiece in the making.\nAfter centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another into an uneasy truce. But it's not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather. Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces\u2014some familiar, others only just appearing\u2014emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges of the terrible times ahead. Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests\u2014but only a few are the survivors.\n\"Words are wind, Brienne told herself. They cannot hurt you. Let them wash over you.\"\nAfter finished the third book in the Song of Ice and Fire series I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next and instantly started listening to the audiobook of the fourth installment. The previous book in the series brought me so much happiness with the sudden death of a certain character and I couldn't wait to find out how that would effect everything in this book.\nAfter the events of A Storm of Swords everything in the game of thrones has changed. Stakes are higher and those fighting for the throne are more determined than ever. A Feast of Crows is told from the perspective of 12 characters and it follows the characters in the South for the majority of. A Feast of Crows takes place at the exact same time as in the next installment, A Dance of Dragons, which follows the majority of the northern and eastern characters.\nI really loved A Storm of Swords and I could barely stop listening to the audiobook, hence how I listened to a 33 hour audiobook in 5 days. It was filled to the brim with complex relationships, lots of violence and action with a dash of trechery and betrayal. Everything you have come to expect from a George RR Martin book. I really couldn't stop listening to this book as I just had to know what was going to happen to my favourite characters, and even what was going to happen to the ones I hate. A great thing about George's books is that his characters are not good or bad but a mixture of the two. A Feast of Crows makes you question everything that you thought you knew about the characters and had you second guessing who the bad guy is and if any of them are really truly bad.\nA Feast for Crows is a fantastic installment in an addictive series. My only issue with it is that I really missed reading about those in the north and the east, particularly Danerys. Danerys is most definitely my favourite character and the one I want to end up in power and all the way through A Feast for Crows I was constantly wondering what was happening with her and the other characters that were not the narrators in this installment.\nI can't wait to continue with the series and read A Dance with Dragons and find out what was happening in the other parts of Westeros while all this was going down in the South. I will most definitely be starting it as my next audiobook.\n\"Most have been forgotten. Most deserve to be forgotten. The heroes will always be remembered. The best. The best and the worst. And a few who were a bit of both.\"\nSun Catcher (Sun Catcher Trilogy #1)\nSheila Rance\nPublished By: Orion Childrens\nDate Read: DNF\nGenre: YA - Fantasy\nSource: ARC from Orion Childrens\nOn her 13th birthday Maia, who has been brought up by Tareth, the weaver and warrior who she has always believed is her father, falls into an adventure that will take her on a perilous journey to a kingdom poisoned by bitterness and jealousies. A kingdom that she must save. Tareth is no ordinary weaver - the silk he weaves sings of destiny and danger, of Maia's future. Because she is no ordinary girl either. She has always been the flame-headed outsider among the Cliff Dwellers, but she doesn't want to listen to the song of the silk, or to the terrifying words of the village Watcher. Guarding her secret, denying her future, Maia steps into places she has never explored where she'll encounter mercenaries, spies, friends and enemies. And where she will face her destiny as a Sun Catcher.\nExotically located in the Far East in an age when trading and communities were gaining more exposure to a wider world than ever before, this debut novel is beautifully, richly written, thoroughly researched and a pleasure to read\nI hadn't heard anything about this book when it came through my door for review from the publisher. After reading more about it I was pretty excited about it. A new fantasy novel with a unique sounding storyline and dubbed as \"Game of Thrones for younger readers\" I couldn't wait to get started. I am a huge Game of Thrones fan and loved both the books and the TV show. I have to say that for me this is no Game of Thrones. I DNF'd it at page 57.\nSun Catcher had the potential to be fantastic. The premise for the story was really strong and I was looking forward to it. The execution is where this book fell flat for me. I didn't find the characters interesting. Not a single one. The more I read the more I realised that I didn't care for any of them and really had no interest in finding out what happened to them as I just didn't really care. I found myself bored to tears with this book and just trying to read as fast as I could so I could read something else and that is never good.\nI really felt like the storyline needed to start sooner. It took so long to get to the point of the book and I just didn't enjoy it. I was so bored and so decided that if I wasn't enjoying it now the chance of me enjoying the rest was slim. I have had this feeling before, where I wasn't enjoying the book and forced myself to continue and ended up hating the book so much. I decided not to let this happen this time and put the book down and go on to another one.\nThis book definitely has the potential to be great but it just takes too long to get there for me. If you're a fan of fantasy books and don't mind the very slow beginnings then give this one a go. For me there was just something missing.\nGeek Girl (Geek Girl #1)\nHolly Smale\nPublished By: HarperCollins\nGenre: YA - Contemporary Romance\nHarriet Manners knows a lot of things.\nShe knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a \"jiffy\" lasts 1\/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves.\nAs Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did.\nAnd as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?\n\"They're still just clothes. They can't make you something you're not. They can only help to say who you are.\"\nI've had Geek Girl on my shelf for what feels like forever. I've been meaning to read this book for so long and finally I picked it up as my first read in the UKYA Readathon ran by ProjectUKYA. My reaction after reading you ask? WHY DID I NOT PICK UP THIS SOONER? It was so awesome. I found this book so addictive that I couldn't put the book down.\nHarriet is a Geek. At least that's what everyone at school tells her. Harriet is super smart and she knows lots of things but regardless of her brains everyone at school seems to hate her, apart from her best... well, only... friend. So when Harriet is spotted by a modelling agency she is given the chance to reinvent herself... and she takes it. But will a bit of make-up and some new clothes be the answer?\nI love love loved this book. I really loved Harriet. She is so awesome and I compeltely identify with her. I am such a Geek and a lot of her 'geek' behaviours I notice that I do that all the time. Harriet's journey is such a great one to go through with her. She grows a lot in the book and although some of her decisions are questionable they are necessary for her to realise that being herself is actually ok.\nThe thing I adore about this book is that it's uplifting, motivational and just darn right hilarious. There were so many times that I was laughing out loud and the message behind this book, that it's okay to be different and be yourself and be a geek, is just so incredible. Especially for younger readers.\nHolly Smale's writing style is superb in this book. I really felt like Harriet, a fifteen-year-old girl, was telling the story. Harriet's voice was so authentic of a fifteen year old. A lot of YA novels that are written in first person sometimes don't feel so authentic. The decisions made are definitely that of a teenager don't get me wrong but sometimes it does feel like an older person telling the story and then the teenage voice coming out in the dialogue and character interactions. I didn't feel that way at all with Geek Girl. It was just perfect for Harriet.\nGeek Girl was such an amazing book and is the perfect read for any YA Contemporary fans. It's such an easy and quick read as you're just so engrossed in the story and Harriet's journey that it will be over before you know it and you'll be left reeling dying for more. It has everything you could possibly want, humour, friendship, personal discovery and a dash of romance. I loved it.\n\"You need to stop caring what people who don't matter think of you. Be who you are and let everybody else be who they are. Differences are a good thing, it would be a terribly boring world if we were all the same.\"\nI'm so beyond excited today. Why?\nWell because the cover for J. Lynn's a.k.a best author ever in the world Jennifer L Armentrouts new book has a cover.\nLook at the beauty of the third book in the Gamble Brothers series, Tempting the Bodyguard.\nIsn't it gorgeous?\nI love love love it.\nThe best thing? It's releasing on my birthday! SUPER SQUEE! My favourite authors new book releasing on my birthday. Best gift ever or what? AND the main characters surname is the exact same as mine. It's officially this is totally my book!\nKate Ormand\nPublished By: Sky Pony Press\nGenre: YA - Dystopia\nSource: ARC from Sky Pony Press and Edelweiss\nThe future world has been divided into sectors--each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors' thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what's coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.\nSixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she'll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.\n\"You were somewhere I couldn't get to you and that... that kills me. If anything had happened to you there, I wouldn't have been able to protect you from it.\"\nIt's no surprise to anyone who knows me how much I adore a good dystopia novel. It's one of my all time favourite genres and if I had to choose one genre to only read that genre for the rest of my life Dystopia would probably be the one I choose. I've been looking for a really unique dystopia book to get my hands on for a while. After reading so many dystopia books you find that some of them start to seem the same and have the same kind of storyline... Dark Days is one of the most unique and fresh dystopia novels I have ever read. I loved every single second of it.\nThe world has been split into sectors. Each is the same as the others and they are all equal. They are surrounded by steel walls with no way in and no way out. A new world has been created and those who are not chosen for the new world will be destroyed by the new worlds cyborg army. Sia lives in a sector and has been given 15 days before the cyborg army descend. Sia has a list of things she wants to do before she dies. Just when she has resigned that she is alone and living her last days she meets Mace, the mysterious and strong boy who gives her a reason to live. Will Sia give up and wait to die or is life worth fighting for?\nDark Days is such an amazing book. I do admit there is one thing that is similar to other dystopia books and that is the fact that the world was split into sectors. There is a few other YA dystopia novels that have that happen but that is where the similarities start and end. The rest is just pure originality. I loved that we don't actually see what leads up to the announcement that the cyborg army is coming. When we start the story they are already counting down to the end.\nSia is such an awesome character. I really loved her and she grows so much throughout the book. She goes from being pretty resigned over what is going to happen to wanting to fight for her life and will even sacrifice herself if it means she can save the rest of the sector.\nMace is awesome. I loved him. He is most definitely the character that all of the girls will love. He gives Sia a new lease of life and gives her something to fight for while also wanting to protect her. He accepts that she doesn't always need protection but wants to save her anyway.\nDark Days is pure originality wrapped up in a well-written package that is everything that a dystopia fan could wish for. Kate's writing is so amazing and completely entraps you from the start and keeps you hanging on so much that you finish the book in one sitting. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen and I couldn't put the book down.\nDark Days is without a doubt a must-read. It's jampacked with heart-stopping action that has you on tenter-hooks, not able to turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen and breathtaking romance that will leave you breathless. I was sucked in and took on the journey of my life. Kate Ormand had me completely and utterly in love with this book. She sucked me in right at the start and kept me enraptured until she spat me out at the end begging for more. I'm still not sure what 'more' is. The end of the book is perfect. I'd love a sequel but if there wasn't one then that would be okay too as it really is a fantastic well-rounded ending. I just want more writing from Kate.\nDark Days is a must-read. Add this one to you pre-order lists people as this one is not to be missed.\n\"But now I've met you, and now I have something to live for again. I don't need to go back home. You're all I want. I'll do everything I can to keep up both alive. Everything. I can't lose you.\"\nNon Pratt\nPublished By: Walker Books\nIn this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship\u2014from the boy who pretends to be her baby's father.\nWhen the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn't seem to want to get into Hannah's pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah's unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying \"yes.\"\nTold in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron, Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you'll remember your first, real best friend\u2014and how they were like a first love.\nNote: Before I go on to review this book I just want to say that this is possibly the hardest review I have ever wrote. Nothing that I wrote was ever good enough for the masterpiece that this book is. I started this review 5 times before I decided to sit down with some pen and paper and handwrite the review. (I do this when I really can't write a review as it helps me get my thoughts into words.) After all the trouble starting this review I am so thrilled with it and proud of it. This is possibly the best review I may have ever wrote. Thank you for checking it out.\n\"Kittens are about as sexy as granny pants.\"\nTrouble, the debut novel from Non Pratt is totally breathtaking. This is definitely one of those incredibly rare books that you find every once in a while that totally blows you away and you know that it will stay with you for a long time afterwards.\nIt is incredibly rare for me to pick up a book and read it immediately after buying it but Trouble was one of those. After hearing so many amazing things about this book I just had to read it. Everything that I heard about Trouble was completely right. This book is something special. It is not your typical YA Contemporary novel. It's raw, edgy and fresh. If there was only one book that I could recommend and urge people to pick up this year it would be this one.\nHannah is fifteen and pregnant. Suddenly faced with motherhood alone she doesn't know what to do or who to turn to. When new guy in school offers to pretend to be the father to protect her from the students, who have turned into vultures, at school, Hannah accepts. They are thrown into a beautiful friendship but both Hannah and Aaron are keeping big secrets. What will happen when they all come to light? Will it tear the best friends apart or can their friendship stand all weathers?\nTrouble is so amazing. I seriously can't praise it enough. I find it difficult accepting that this in Non Pratt's debut novel. It reads like she has been doing this for years. Her incredible writing completely captures you and pulls you in at the start and won't let you go until you have demolished the book. Trouble is told from split perspectives from our two lead protagonists, Hannah and Aaron. Non completely nailed split perspectives. Both characters voices were superb and there was no 'hang on who is speaking here' confusion that sometimes happens in split perspective novels. She completely nailed them both and made the characters voices so authentic. The writing really is phenomenal.\nHannah and Aaron are the perfect characters to read about because they are so totally not perfect. They both have had tough pasts to deal with and all I wanted to do was hug them both. They have to deal with so much and it's truly beautiful and inspiring to see their friendship blossom and see them conquer everything together.\nOne of the most amazing things in this book is that Non Pratt doesn't sugar coat what teenagers are like in the 21st century Britain, nor does she hide what they get up to. I admit not all teenagers act like this but you can't deny that a lot of them so. Every school has a Kate, who will backstab and step on anyone to get to the top of the popularity cycle. (By the way I hated her so much. I wanted to jump in the book just to punch her.)\nNon most definitely did a very brave thing writing a YA Contemporary book with no main romance. Yes this book isn't a romance. It is so much more and about something so much more important. True Friendship. And how true friendship can withstand everything, It is truly beautiful, uplifting and moving. I loved that there was a little hint of romance at the end. Hannah and Aaron have such a beautiful and perfect friendship so that little hint that it could be more had the hopeless romantic in me aww-ing and squeeing a little.\nMy one little issue with Trouble is the ending came way too fast. I really wanted more and I as left with so many questions. What happened with Katie? What happened to Aaron and Hannah afterwards? What happened to Jay? I felt the ending was a tad bit rushed but I still loved it and it does not take away from the beauty of this masterpiece. I would love to see a sequel to see what happened to everyone after the end of the book.\nTrouble is such a raw, emotional ad beautiful story. This is not just a book. It is something that gives you perspective on everything in life. This book truly moved me and I know it will stay with me for a very long time. It truly is a masterpiece. Nothing will ever really live up to the beauty that is in those pages in Trouble.\n\"Now, when I look at her, I finally see someone I trust. Someone I love.\"\nKythan Guardian Series:\n#0.5 Astarte's Wrath (Already Read)\n#1 Destiny's Fire\nI didn't get any hard-copy books this week but I did get some e-books and audiobooks.\nEleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell\nFangirl by Rainbow Rowell\nLinked (Linked #1) by Imogen Howson\nTrouble by Non Pratt\n^I have already read Trouble the review will be up next week.\nAudiobooks:\nDaughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor\nDreams of Gods and Monsters (Daugher of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor\nThat's it for this week","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Powerline Wins \"employer Of The Year\" Award For 2015: Toronto Region Board Of Trade\n26 March 2022 Green Energy\nToronto Region Board of Trade Congratulates our 2015 Business Excellence Award Winners\nTORONTO, ON, November 5, 2015 \u2014 At a gala event last night Toronto Region Board of Trade announced the winners of its 2015 Business Excellence Awards. Winners and nominees were honoured for their business success and their impact and contribution to the local community. Eligible companies had annual revenues up to $50-million and an employee base of no more than 500 people and winners were selected by a panel of judges.\n\"Whether you're a leader in food and beverage industry, an exciting tech company, or a young entrepreneur breaking into the business world, the stories we've heard tonight show that the Toronto region is a fantastic place to live, work, and importantly start a business,\" said Douglas Goold, Vice President of Policy, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Toronto Region Board of Trade. \"We're honoured to celebrate the success of some truly deserving businesses.\"\n2016 Business Leader Steam Whistle Brewing\nEmployer of the Year\nPowerline Plus\nGlobal Reach INKAS\u00ae Group of Companies\nLocal Economic Impact DMZ at Ryerson University\nCommunity Service Capitalize for Kids\nEmerging Entrepreneur of the Year MediaOne Creative Inc.\nUnder 30 Myplanet\nSustainability FoodShare Toronto\nTechnology Innovation SAMETRICA\n\"It's an honour to be recognized by the business community to win Employer of the Year. Powerline strives to make a positive impact on the communities in which we work, and the people whom we employ, and this achievement reaffirms that\" said Giselle Matin, Executive Vice President, Legal at Powerline Plus Ltd.\n\"The most important thing for Cam [Heaps] and me, and I know this is the case for a lot of the small business folks, is to see consumers enjoying the work that you've done,\" said Greg Taylor, Co-founder, Steam Whistle Brewing.\nThe gala was held at Toronto Region Board of Trade and the Master of Ceremonies was comedian Jennifer Grant.\nAbout Toronto Region Board of Trade (www.bot.com)\nFounded in 1845, Toronto Region Board of Trade is the chamber of commerce for Canada's largest urban centre, connecting more than 12,000 members and 250,000 business professionals and influencers throughout the Toronto region. The Board fuels the economic, social and cultural vitality of the entire Toronto region by fostering powerful collaborations among business, government, thought leaders, and community builders. Toronto Region Board of Trade plays a vital role in elevating the quality of life and global competitiveness of Canada's largest urban centre. Follow us at @TorontoRBOT.\nMatthew Kofsky\nmkofsky@bot.com\nToronto Hydro, Newest Official Supplier Of Toronto 2015 Games\nPowerline Plus Among Canada's Business Elite\nPowerline Attends \"Best Managed\" Awards Gala\nToronto's Powerline Plus Ltd. Named One Of Canada's Best Managed Companies\nProject Spotlight: Clonmore Phase 2","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Johnsonville recalls 95K pounds of sausage over plastic contamination fears\nPosted: May 31, 2019 \/ 08:08 PM CDT \/ Updated: Jun 1, 2019 \/ 01:47 PM CDT\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Johnsonville is recalling roughly 95,393 pounds of its ready-to-eat jalape\u00f1o cheddar-smoked sausages that may contain a foreign ingredient \u2013 hard green plastic.\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall Friday.\nThe meat products under recall were produced and packaged on March 12 and 13, 2019. The 14-ounce vacuum packages have a \"best by\" date of 06\/09\/2019, and \"EST.34224\" inside the USDA mark of inspection.\nThe company announced the recall after a customer complained of the plastic. The Wisconsin company says there hasn't been any confirmed illnesses or adverse reactions.\nIn January, Johnsonville recalled over 48,000 pounds of pork products that may have contained black rubber.\nCustomers who may have purchased the tainted sausages are encouraged to throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased. For more information, see the USDA website.\nAhead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday, Facebook is making several changes to prevent a repeat of the Jan. 6 deadly U.S. Capitol riots.\nThe social media giant, criticized for years for seemingly loose and inconsistent content monitoring, announced new restrictions to prevent misinformation about the 2020 Presidential Election from proliferating.\nB-2 stealth bomber from Whiteman AFB to fly over Arrowhead for Chiefs-Browns playoffs game\nWhat you need to know if you're going to Arrowhead for the Chiefs-Browns playoff game\nChiefs \/ 2 hours ago","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home \u00bb Lifestyle News \u00bb How selfies, filters affect body image- trigger dysmorphic disorder\nHow selfies, filters affect body image- trigger dysmorphic disorder\nNews Agencies | Updated on: 4 August 2018, 12:30 IST\nWith the advancements in photo-editing technology through applications like Snapchat and Instagram on a rise, the level of physical 'perfection' is now all over social media.\nPeople's perceptions of beauty worldwide are changing, which can take a toll on a person's self-esteem and can trigger body dysmorphic disorder.\nBoston Medical Center (BMC) researchers in a JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery Viewpoint argued that body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in appearance, often characterised by people going to great lengths to hide their imperfections.\nThis can include engaging in repetitive behaviors like skin picking and visiting dermatologists or plastic surgeons hoping to change their appearance. The disorder affects around 2 percent of the population and is classified on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum.\nThe viewpoint authors reference studies that show teen girls who manipulated their photos were more concerned with their body appearance, and those with dysmorphic body image seek out social media as a means of validation.\nAdditional research has shown 55 percent of plastic surgeons report seeing patients who want to improve their appearance in selfies.\nDirector of the Ethnic Skin Center at BMC and Boston University School of Medicine, Neelam Vashi said, \"A new phenomenon called 'Snapchat dysmorphia' has popped up where patients are seeking out surgery to help them appear like the filtered versions of themselves.\"\nVashi added,\"Filtered selfies can make people lose touch with reality, creating the expectation that we are supposed to look perfectly primped all the time. This can be especially harmful for teens and those with BDD, and it is important for providers to understand the implications of social media on body image to better treat and counsel our patients.\"\nAccording to the authors, surgery is not the best course of action in these cases, because it will not improve, and may worsen underlying BDD. They recommend psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and management of the disorder in an empathetic and non-judgmental way.\nThe full findings are present in the journal- JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.\n(ANI)\nFirst published: 4 August 2018, 12:30 IST\nDysmorphic disorder Selfies Snapchat Instagram\nUK sees record tourism growth in 2017 from India\nREAD NEXT >> UK sees record tourism growth in 2017 from India","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Gilmer Public Library\nA multimedia community resource for education & entertainment.\nBooks\/Movies Available\nFree News\/Magazines\nFree Audio\/eBooks\nPIN Numbers\nFree Childrens Books\nTalking Books\nWorld Book eBooks\nRobert F Kidd Library\nSchool\/Career Resources\nCool Kids' Corner\nStudy & Practice Tests\nBasic Research Course\nComputer Lessons\nUsing Google Platforms\nUsing Microsoft Apps\nAll About Streaming\nFighting Fake News\nConsumer Toolbox\nDealing with Addiction\nReliable Research Sources\nWV Encyclopedia\nHistory\/Genealogy\nEbsco Articles\nFarming: 1798-2020\nInteractive Encylopedia\nElementary Lessons\nGrades 9 & Up\neBooks \u2013 All Ages\nLibrary Programs\/Activities\nSpin-and-Win!\nTea Party Tuesdays\n30-Second Dance Party\nVideo Storytime\nAbout GPL\nThe Knotts Genealogy Room at Calhoun County Public Library in Grantsville has a large collection of documents relating to local family names. The room also contains a microfilm reader and microfilm of Calhoun Chronicles going back to the late 1800's.\nThe archives at Robert F. Kidd Library on Glenville State College campus maintain and preserve historic materials related to the development of Glenville State College and the history of north-central West Virginia.\nGilmer County Resources from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History.\nHacker's Creek Pioneer Decendents, Inc. has a history\/genealogy library is housed in an old grade school in Horner, Lewis County. Initially, we focused on the Hacker's Creek area but our growth during the ensuing years has come to include many of the surrounding counties.\nThe Allegheny Regional Family History Society is located in the I.O.O.F. Lodge Building, US Rt. 219 & 250, about 3 miles South of Elkins.\nGenealogy Trails transcribes genealogical and historical data and placing it online for the free use of all researchers.\nThe Gilmer County Historical Society has an active facebook page.\nCLIO is your guide to the history around you. It has 11,367-plus historical entries from all across the country. What will you discover about your city, town, or neighborhood?\nDigital Virginias houses and supports the subset of Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) records contributed by organizations from Virginia and West Virginia. The DPLA is a portal where users can freely search digital collections from libraries, archives, and museums nationwide. These collections contain photographs, manuscripts, books, sounds, moving images, and more that are generally of artistic, cultural, or historical in nature. (See this site for more information about the Digital Virginias partnership and its featured collections.) For a tutorial on using the DPLA, click here.\ne-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia is the comprehensive reference resource for the Mountain State of West Virginia. Based on the best-selling West Virginia Encyclopedia, e-WV offers thousands of articles on West Virginia's people and places, history, arts, science and culture.\nOhio County Public Library Archives houses a substantial collection of material related to the rich history Wheeling and the surrounding area have accumulated since settlers first arrived in the 1700s. In addition to the collection of local and regional history books located in the Wheeling Room, the library maintains an archive of photographs, ephemera, musical recordings and a vast assortment of other materials preserving our area's unique and diverse heritage.\nOnline Exhibits from West Virginia Archives and History showcases specific moments in West Virginia history, including the State's involvement in World War I, governor pictorial histories, the creation of the State Capitol, and more. Besides an online exhibit, the Archives and History library contains governor and senator papers, genealogies, photographs, newspapers, video, and a vast assortment of materials that tells the State's story.\nSanborn Maps (Library of Congress) Contains searchable images of historical Sanborn Map Company fire insurance maps from the collection of the Library of Congress. Maps are arranged by state, county, and city and include building locations, construction materials, and information on exterior features. For more information about this collection including symbol and color keys and legends, see \"About this Collection.\" Consult this tutorial on our Niche Academy website for a more general introduction.\nSelected Library of Congress Resources for West Virginia The extensive collections at the Library of Congress contain historic artifacts and cultural materials from across the U.S.\nVirginia Heritage A consolidated database of archival finding aids from libraries, archives, and museums throughout the state of Virginia. This organization works closely with Digital Virginias (see above) and may have collections of interest to West Virginia history and genealogy scholars.\nWest Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) at West Virginia University Libraries collects, preserves and provides public access to materials showing the history and culture of West Virginia and the central Appalachian region. In addition to records of their print and on-site collections, their website features digital collections, digitized newspapers, digital images, and more of interest to historians and genealogists.\nWest Virginia, a Digital Primer, West Virginia State Museum Education This resource seeks to bring the West Virginia State Museum into the classroom in a new digital format. When you navigate to the main screen, you will be presented with icons to choose from grades K-5.\nWest Virginia Archives and History This website for the state archives and history center features primary and secondary source documents, photographs, and databases; lists collections and other materials available in the State Archives; and provides research guides and assistance for genealogists. Also includes teacher resources and document-based question exercises.\nClasses & Clubs\nCommunity Bag Holder\nDial A Story!\ndirector@gilmerpublib.org\n214 Walnut Street, Glenville WV 26351\nCopyright \u00a9 2023 Gilmer Public Library","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Roger Stone and the Trump-Nixon Connection\nBy Jeffrey Toobin\n\"Get Me Roger Stone,\" a new Netflix documentary about the political provocateur and Donald Trump ally, contains a timely message about Richard Nixon's lasting influence on Republican politics.\nPHOTOGRAPH BY BARBARA NITKE \/ NETFLIX\n\"I believe in winning,\" Roger Stone, the notorious political provocateur, says near the beginning of the fascinating new Netflix documentary about his life. The film, called \"Get Me Roger Stone,\" takes us from his days as a teen-age dirty trickster in the Watergate era through his rise to prominence as a consultant for Ronald Reagan; his precipitous fall in a sex scandal, during Bob Dole's 1996 Presidential campaign; his murky role in the Florida recount of 2000; and, finally, and most important, his long-time sponsorship of the Presidential ambitions of Donald Trump. (Netflix has posted a trailer for the documentary, which will be available for streaming on May 12th. I profiled Stone in 2008, and I'm interviewed in the film.) Stone sometimes appears to be in on the joke about his cartoonish cynicism, but there's a serious message at the core of the film\u2014and in Stone's return to prominence with Trump. For more than a generation, Republican politicos have worshipped at the altar of Reagan and sought to emulate his optimistic vision for a growing nation. Stone worked for Reagan and offers dutiful praise for him, but it's clear that Stone's sentiments are really aligned with a different Republican President. In his heart, Stone is a Richard Nixon man. More to the point, so is Trump.\nThe documentary premi\u00e8res on Netflix on May 12th. COURTESY NETFLIX\nAfter resigning from the Presidency in disgrace, in 1974, Nixon remained, for the most part, off limits as a political hero. Stone and a small handful of others kept his memory alive by conveying their admiration for Nixon's toughness and determination. (Stone, though, is the rare Nixon follower who has a tattoo of the great man on his back.) It was convenient for many Republicans to pretend that Reagan had excised Nixon from the Party's DNA. But, as the rise of Trump shows, Nixon never really went away.\nReagan is remembered as the keeper of the conservative ideological creed, and Nixon never pretended to have the same kind of philosophical core, or a set of beliefs that was distinct from his opportunism. While Nixon made his name as a red-baiting ally of Senator Joseph McCarthy, as President he opened relations with Communist China. Nixon ran for President based on a Southern strategy of appealing to the white devotees of Jim Crow, but his Administration backed affirmative action. Nixon made his name as a conservative but presided over the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and expansions of the welfare state.\nIt's Nixon's affect and ferocity, more than any policies, that Stone admires and that Trump reflects. Like Nixon, Trump has held positions all over the spectrum; he's been pro-choice, pro-Iraq War, pro-national health care, and now he holds opposing views on all those issues. But what has remained consistent over the years is Trump's primal need to dominate and humiliate his adversaries. The first hundred days of his Presidency have demonstrated that he's more interested in winning than in governing. Nixon, too, wanted to win more than he wanted to accomplish anything in particular, and his legacy reflects those oddly paired objectives.\nNixon made his name with anti-Communism, at a time when Communist influence was nearly nonexistent in the United States. Likewise, Trump made his name in politics by pushing the false claim that Barack Obama was not born in America\u2014a conspiracy theory that was far more absurd than Nixon's warnings about the Red Menace. But both Nixon and Trump tapped into ugly and real sides of the American character\u2014fear of outsiders, anger at a changing world. When Trump finally ran for President (which Stone had urged him to do for years), he adopted more of Nixon's tropes than Reagan's. Nixon built his Presidential campaign around the slogan of law and order, and so did Trump. When confronted by protesters, Nixon talked about the \"silent majority,\" and so did Trump.\nNixon and Trump ran on fear; Reagan ran on hope. And the contrast is clearest on the issue of immigration. One of Reagan's signature domestic achievements was immigration reform, and his sunny outlook included a generally welcoming attitude toward the newest Americans. Trump's planned wall along the Mexican border is only partly a physical barrier against illegal border crossings; more profoundly, it's an act of aggression against a diverse, modern world, a sentiment that Nixon would recognize and applaud.\nIt is in the business of campaigns (rather than on any issue) that Stone made his name, and how he remains in the news. During the 2016 Presidential race, he demonstrated extraordinary prescience about forthcoming disclosures from WikiLeaks, which has led to speculation about Stone's connection with that group, with hacking, and about the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. Stone plainly relishes the controversy surrounding his role, and the Netflix documentary itself, because his enduring notoriety will keep him in \"in the arena,\" which also happened to be a favorite phrase of his mentor, President Nixon.\nJeffrey Toobin has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1993 and the senior legal analyst for CNN since 2002. He is the author of, most recently, \"American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst.\"\nThe Political Scene\nThe Dirty Trickster\nCampaign tips from the man who has done it all.\nDept. of Fixers\nA Political Provocateur Talks Trump\nRoger Stone reminisces about his friendship with the candidate, which started during Ronald Reagan's Presidential campaign.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Keynesian Liberal\nA Miscellany*\nI've been away on holiday (Anglo-French hiking around Chichester followed by visiting long-standing friends near Margate) for a couple of weeks, hence no posts. However, here are a few random thoughts on what I've gathered from such of the news I've caught.\nLiz Truss is so awful that I find myself willing Rishi Sunak to do well in the debates and interviews (in some of which Truss is too chicken to participate.)\nSadly we need to remember that Sunak is not only a lightweight (see previous comments on his Chancellorship) but also without backbone. His predecessor as Chancellor resigned rather than accept Johnson's demand that the Treasury should sack its advisors and rely on those in Downing Street. Good for Javid. No person of principle would have accepted the job under those conditions. But Sunak did.\nLiz Truss promises that under her premiership entrepreneurial economic energies will be released and all sorts of wonderful prospects will eventuate as a result of growth. That myth, if not as old as the hills. goes back at least to Harold Wilson at the opposite end of the political spectrum He promised us that under socialist planning a healthy, caring and prosperous state would emerge and wouldn't cost us a penny (real pennies in those days): It would be financed out of growth. There are two problems with Truss's policy. First there is no lever to pull that will produce wondrous growth in the short run - but poverty-stricken households need help to eat, and heat thee homes, this winter, not is some golden decade in the future. Secondly, she may be right in the long run, maybe even before we're all dead, but additional growth based on additional consumption is gong to exhaust the planet's finite resources and make it uninhabitable, as is evidenced by fires in France, floods in Australia and aridity in Africa, to name but some.\nYet, following on form that last point, both Truss and Sunak cheerfully advocate undoing such modest measures as we have to alleviate global heating. Truss would abandon the Green Levy and Sunak reduce the VAT on fuel. Such short-termism is now totally unacceptable. As Truss said in another context THIS-IS-A-DISGACE.(https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aj49CogLemQ)\nIn the Guardian on the 10th August George Monbiot quoted some interesting facts about our water industry: not a single new reservoir has been commissioned since privatisation in 1989; the distribution system leaks at the rate of 2.4bn litres per day on current estimates; untreated sewage is poured into our rivers on a regular basis; rather than fix these problems the companies have distributed \u00a372 billion (that's billions, not mere millions,) into the bank accounts of their shareholders.\nI don't have any figures to hand, but I suspect much the same can be said of oil industry, as for years it has cheerfully denied that its product has anything to do with the climate crisis (much as the tobacco companies denied that there is any connection between smoking and lung cancer. In Africa one of the most popular cigarette brands was called \"Life.\" )\nThe use of food banks has increased, is increasing and ought to be not so much diminished as eliminated. In addition we are now reduced to the humiliation of having to create \"warm banks\" to which we may retreat when they can no longer afford to heat our homes. THIS-IS-A DISGRACE.\nThe reality is that the economic model touted by the Tories, based on the \"trickle down effect\"** does not adequately serve the needs of a significant proportion of our population. A tiny proportion - 0.1%, 1% or maybe even 10% - do very well indeed out of it. The vast bulk of us live very comfortably indeed, taking as normal luxuries (foreign holidays, designer clothes if you like that sort of thing, meals out, centrally heated houses, separate bedrooms of the kids, arts and entertainment, gadgetry galore) beyond the wildest dreams of our grandparents and even, for some of us, our parents. But a bottom 20% to 25% are constantly on the breadline, tempted into unaffordable debt, and some can't manage at all without recourse to food banks and, coming shorty, warm banks. THIS-IS-A-DISGRACE. As still one of the richest society in the world we need to be devising ways of sharing our incomes and wealth more equitably. The candidates for the Tory leadership are offering the opposite.\nConservatives, including both leadership candidates, like to indicate that their inhuman and possibly illegal policy towards refugees is aimed at combatting \"the evil business of people smuggling.\" Hmm? If that were the case then the easiest and quickest way to do it would be to set up booths on the coast of France, or wherever else potential migrants are gathering, with banners saying \"Welcome to Britain.\" I forget which European crisis it was which produced a lot of refugees at an airport, and an assertive woman, probably from the WVS or something similar,announced in commanding tones: \"Those who wish to come to Britain follow me!\" and marched them on to a nearby RAF transport. Whoever they were will have contributed considerably to our prosperity and diversity. The comfortable and ageing Conservatives who form the electorate for our next prime minister might like to ponder how much these and similar migrants have contributed to their comforts. But they won't read about it in the Daily Mail, the Sun or the Express.\n*Very old readers may remember this as the heading for a Guardian column.\n** Shorthand for cutting taxes and scrapping regulations to release the energies of entrepreneurs and the resulting employment opportunities will eventually benefit the lower orders.\nPosted by Peter Wrigley at 19:04\nMick Taylor 15 August 2022 at 15:26\nSpot on Peter. Some people never learn\nBut a bottom 20% to 25% are constantly on the breadline\nWhere did you get this statistic from? It sounds suspiciously like the 'one-fifth of the population is in poverty' you trotted out before, but as was established then that's the figure for those in relative poverty, ie, are on less than 60% of the median income. As the median household income in the UK after tax is about \u00a331,000, that means 20% of the population live in households with an after-tax income of below \u00a318,600. That equates to a salary of somewhere in the high \u00a320,000s.\nSomeone with an after-tax income of \u00a318,600 is not well off, but they are clearly not 'constantly on the breadline' either. So where's the source for that figure?\nthe easiest and quickest way to do it would be to set up booths on the coast of France, or wherever else potential migrants are gathering\nI think I agree with whoever said that the best way to stop people landing on the south coast would be to fill the beaches with GP receptionists. No living soul can get past that barrier.\n'On the breadline' is a vague term but it seems to be something to do with being unable to reliably afford food; in which case a good place to look for figures would be the 'State of Hunger' report produced by the Trussell Trust, as that means a diehard leftie can hardly quibble with its use as a source.\nThat report (p. 10, https:\/\/www.stateofhunger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/State-of-Hunger-Report-November2019-Digital.pdf ) gives:\n8-10% of UK households as 'food insecure'\n2.8% of UK households experiencing 'severe food insecurity'.\nSo for accuracy in future if you want to give a figure for the population 'on the breadline' you should probably give one between 2.8% and 10%, depending on whether you think that means 'food insecure' pr 'severely food insecure'.\nBut certainly the figure is nowhere near 20% let alone 25%.\nPeter Wrigley 17 August 2022 at 11:48\nAgreed, we've been over this argument before;: \"breadline\" is a vague term and 20% to 25% are what i believe we can now call \"ballpark figures\" (ie approximations.) However, the precise extent of the poverty is not the point: it is undoubtedly too large. Your 2.8% people in \"severe\" food insecurity amounts, given a population of 67m, to 1 876 000 people, presumably many of them children. THIS IS A DISGRACE. 8% in just plain ordinary (ie not \"severe\" food insecurity is more than the population of either Yorkshire or Scotland. And we are still the sixth richest economy in the world. By any standards it unacceptable.\nYou are far too dismissive of the concept of \"relative poverty.\" It means an inability to participate in what is regarded as \"normal\" in a society. \"Normal\" in a developed country is very different to what is \"normal\" in, say, sub-Saharan Africa (or what was \"normal\" in the 1940s when we all had patched trousers and elbows, only two ounces of sweets a week and used the communal lavatories \"down the yard.\") The median (or is it mean?) income sounds a lot, but if a third of it goes in rent, plus the ring cost of travel to work, school uniforms,10% inflation, rising fuel costs, than many people with insecure housing rights, short-term contacts, child care, juggling with several part-time jobs, punished by the bedroom tax or the two child limit, are not enjoying the secure minimum quality of life our society can well afford to guarantee\n20% to 25% are what i believe we can now call \"ballpark figures\" (ie approximations.)\nSomething which is out by, at best, a factor of 100%, and at worst, an entire order of magnitude, is not an 'approximation'. An 'exaggeration' would be a better word. Especially when there's no excuse because you have had the true figures pointed out to you.\nI can only imagine what your reaction would be if Labour proposed some programme that you were in favour of that would cost \u00a32.8 billion, and the Conservatives started claiming that it would actually cost \u00a325 billion. Would you accept that was just 'an approximation'? I doubt you would. You'd be livid. You'd be jumping up and down spitting tacks about how they were evil and dishonest and a bunch of lying liars not fit to govern, wouldn't you?\nit is undoubtedly too large\nI agree: it's a serious problem. Which is why we need to be accurate about both the nature, and the scale of the problem, because that's the only way to come up with real strategies to reduce it.\nThe median (or is it mean?) income sounds a lot\nIt's median. I wrote 'median' and the reason I wrote 'median' is because it was is the median. If it were the mean I would have written 'mean' instead of 'median', but I did write 'median' because it is the median. I'm not sure how that isn't obvious.\nIt doesn't sound 'a lot'. What it sounds like is the income which half the people in the country earn above and half earn below, and the reason it sounds like that is because that is what it is.\nthe secure minimum quality of life our society can well afford to guarantee\nAnd what do you think is the 'secure minimum quality of life our society can well afford to guarantee'? Does it include, say, one foreign holiday a year? Serious question. If a family cannot afford a foreign holiday every year, do you think that family should be described as living in poverty? Or not? I just want to find out precisely where you draw the line, because you obviously have a pretty solid line in mind, and I am curious as to where exactly it is.\nWill you answer two questions:\n1. Do you agree that there is a serious level of poverty in the UK?\n2. Do you believe that, with the political will, his could be reduced to a tiny, but inevitable, minimum?\nI can't answer that unless you define what 'a serious level' is. Is 1% a serious level? Is 10%? Is 20%? Tell me what you think is a 'serious level' and I'll tell you whether I think there is that much poverty in the UK.\nThis one's simple: No. I don't think political will is enough. I think it would also take a proper analysis of the problem and a reasonable amount of competence in delivery. Someone with sufficient 'political will' but no understanding of the realities of the world might well force through well-intentioned but bonkers plans that would be aimed at reducing poverty but would in fact end up unintentionally increasing it instead (eg, communism).\nYou seem to prefer niggling about the actual size of the problem rather than being concerned about the consequences for the unfortunates involved. For a definitive answer to the question (the minimum to which poverty can be reduced) you'd need to ask a sociologist with expertise in that area. 1% of the UK population is well over half a million. I would hope it could be squeezed down to half that. And of course it can be done, with the will (and without communism.) For example, street sleeping was almost eliminated during the first stages of the pandemic. Now I believe it's back.\nYou seem to prefer niggling about the actual size of the problem rather than being concerned about the consequences for the unfortunates involved.\nI don't understand what you mean here. That isn't an either\/or proposition. One can be concerned about the consequences for the unfortunates involves and also think that it is important to be accurate in one's use of figures, and I happen to be both.\nI seems to remember you, for example, getting quite het up about a certain inaccurate figure on the side of a bus. It's a bit hypocritical to make a big deal of an inaccurate figure used by someone else and then declare that you don't care whether your figures are accurate. Either be scrupulous about using accurate figures yourself, or lose any moral right to criticise others when they use inaccurate, exaggerated figures just like you. Choose.\nFor a definitive answer to the question (the minimum to which poverty can be reduced) you'd need to ask a sociologist with expertise in that area.\nSociologists' predictions are about as much use as economists' forecasts, aren't they? Which is to say, neither one has ever given a prediction that has turned out to be even close to reality.\n1% of the UK population is well over half a million. I would hope it could be squeezed down to half that.\nAnd I hope I get a pony. See how much good hope is?\nAnd of course it can be done, with the will (and without communism.)\nAs I wrote, not just the will. Also with the right ideas and the the competence to carry them out. An enthusiastic amateur with a lot of will and no idea can do a lot of damage, and a committee of experts suffering from groupthink can do hundreds of times as much damage as the amateur.\nFor example, street sleeping was almost eliminated during the first stages of the pandemic. Now I believe it's back.\nYes you can do a lot if you round people up and imprison them. but it's not really how we want to run our society long-term, now, is it?\n(Actually maybe imprisoning people for their own good is how technocrats like you want to run our society. Do you admire the efficiency of the Chinese way of doing things, by any chance? Do you wish people like you could be in charge and, like the Chinese Communist Party, just implement the policies that seem rational to you without having to worry about whether the population agrees with you or not, because you're acting in their best interests, as they would see if only they were smart enough to understand, like you?)\nSevern Boar 16 August 2022 at 22:32\nPerhaps the \"Trickle Down\" concept should have been put in the hands of the water companies.\nNice one!\nLabour's post-war failings\nHelping the eaters or heaters\nPeter Wrigley","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Trauma Updates\nTrauma Assessment Team Issues Key Recommendations\nAn independent seven-member team of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) has concluded its external review of Florida's current trauma system. The four-day assessment was organized to provide the Florida Department of Health (DOH) with recommendations to improve Florida's trauma system. Individuals who participated on this assessment team had no relationship with Florida by birth, education and training, or employment.\n\"This ACS site visit represents a milestone in Florida's Trauma System development. For more than five years, the trauma community has been asking for this systems consultation, and now, the Department has delivered,\" said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. \"It is time for the trauma community to come together and use these recommendations to make Florida's trauma system even better. The people of Florida need a trauma system that is inclusive, sustainable and focused on safe, effective, and efficient care for injured patients in Florida.\"\n\"Make peace,\" said Robert J. Winchell, MD, FACS, Team Leader, who reminded stakeholders to find ways to collaboratively develop the system. The systems consultation team identified 18 preliminary key recommendations, including the following:\nConvene a small, multi-disciplinary work group to analyze all existing statutes and regulations pertaining to the trauma system\nEstablish a transparent, broadly accepted process for initial full designation and ongoing re-designation of trauma centers based upon system participation, center performance, and participation in quality improvement programs\nRequire that all acute care facilities participate in the inclusive and integrated trauma system as a condition of licensure.\nEvaluate the content, implementation, and method of enforcement of trauma transport protocols (TTPs) to assure uniformity and efficiency of patient flow both within trauma regions as well as statewide\nCollaborate with the Florida Department of Transportation, Highway Safety Office to initiate and conduct a National Highway Traffic Safety EMS Reassessment\nThe committee identified several assets in the current system including long-standing legislative support, substantial funding and committed Department leadership. A final report from the systems consultation team is expected to be released within several months. The PowerPoint presentation along with the listing of key recommendations are posted below.\nDOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.\nFlorida Trauma System Consultation: PowerPoint Presentation (PDF, 1MB)\nFlorida Trauma System Consultation: American College of Surgeons\u2014Key Recommendations (PDF, 69kB)\nOrange Park Medical Center Letter (PDF, 245kB)\nStatement from DOH Regarding Trauma Center Verification (PDF, 16kB)\nTrauma Center Standards (PDF, 268kB)","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Apples Lead EWG's 'Dirty Dozen' List\nBy Mary Rothschild on June 14, 2011\nApples, celery and strawberries are at the top of the latest \"Dirty Dozen\" list compiled by the Environmental Working Group, while onions, sweet corn and pineapples are among the \"Clean 15\" fruits and vegetables the EWG says are least likely to carry pesticide residue.\nIn releasing the 2011 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, its seventh edition, the advocacy group emphasized that the health benefits of a diet abundant with fruits and vegetables outweigh the risk of pesticide exposure.\nThat observation wasn't enough to prevent a withering reponse from the United Fresh Produce Association, which detests the regularly released lists. United Fresh blasted EWG for \"misleading consumers\" with \"a sensational publicity stunt disguised as science,\" that it claimed \"will almost certainly discourage many people from eating the recommended amounts of fresh produce.\"\nStudies have linked pesticides to nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone system disruption and IQ deficits. But there's debate and uncertainty about the relative health risks of trace amounts of residue.\nThe EWG says it uses data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual reports on pesticides in food, and rates produce based on a composite score, equally weighing six factors that reflect how many pesticides were found in testing each type of produce and at what levels.\nIt said \"most samples were washed and peeled prior to being tested,\" so the rankings reflect the amounts of chemicals that would likely be present on food when is it eaten.\nUSDA says in its latest report, released last month, that less than one-third of 1 percent of the food samples it tested contained pesticide residues exceeding the safe intake tolerances set by the Environmental Protection Agency.\nAlthough about three percent of the foods USDA sampled contained pesticides for which the EPA hasn't set standards, the department's overall conclusion is that pesticide contamination of food is below the EPA limits.\nUnited Fresh Produce Association president and CEO Tom Stenzel noted, in a prepared statement, that \"If anything, the USDA data report, from which the Dirty Dozen is purportedly created, underscores the safety of fruits and vegetables.\"\nEWG said the latest USDA report showed that 98 percent of apples tested had at least one pesticide residue, which pushed apples up three spots from the last list, bumping celery from the top of the \"Dirty Dozen.\" On the other hand, only 0.1 percent of fresh sweet corn had a detectable pesticide.\nCilantro made its debut in the new shopper's guide. In testing the herb for the first time, USDA found 33 unapproved pesticides on 44 percent of the samples tested. EWG said that is the highest percentage of unapproved pesticides recorded on any guide item since the organization started analyzing the data in 1995.\nFor those fruits and vegetables listed as most likely to carry pesticide residues, the EWG suggests shoppers buy organically grown varieties.\nHere are the EWG's lists:\nDirty Dozen: Apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grades, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, domestic blueberries, lettuce, kale\/collard greens.\nClean 15: Onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, asparagus, sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, domestic cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, mushrooms.\nTags: Environmental Working Group, produce","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Our comeback in opposition to Leicester City present we wish to play \u2013 Crystal Palace midfielder Jeffery Schlupp\nCrystal Palace midfielder, Jeffery Schlupp has stated their late comeback in opposition to Leicester City proves they had been decided to combat.\nThe former-Leicester man scored simply seconds after being launched within the second half, because the Eagles got here again from 2-0 all the way down to safe some extent on Sunday at Selhurst Park.\n\"You can see from the way the team performs, how we're transitioning to a possession-based team,\" Schlupp instructed Sky Sports after the sport. \"We're taking part in in defence, we're taking part in out from the again.\n\"We're taking part in by the midfield, and clearly we're attempting to get behind groups. We're doing that effectively, however clearly, it's nonetheless early on.\n\"We've all been there before [at half-time]. We knew we had a long task ahead of us. First-half we did well but things didn't go how we wanted, so we just had to stay positive, and we managed to do that.\"\nSchlupp revealed that Vieira had instructed him to assist Edouard within the Palace assault.\n\"The gaffer has put me on to try and impact the game, and get in the box,\" he defined. \"I managed to do this immediately and clearly I'm completely satisfied to get the objective. I'll take the objectives nonetheless they arrive. I needed to get within the field and with my header, I simply needed to get it on the right track.\n\"[Vieira] told me to play in the pockets, play close to the strikers as a right-forward and I managed to find myself close to the goal \u2013 and I managed to get myself into the box and get a goal.\"\nMatch Review Panel reviews Gold Stars vs. Asante Kotoko tie, others\nGhanaian youngster Ibrahim Sadiq arrives in Saint-\u00c9tienne to complete \u20ac2 million move\nGMB 2021: Sarfoa, representing the Ashanti Region Crowned Winner\nRapper Nines jailed for importing 28kg of hashish\nEnterprise Insurance pays GH\u00a269m in motor claims\nPapavi, Leader of Separatist Group To Be Laid to Rest in October\nOrganizers threaten to sue Wizkid over absence; releases statement \u00bb GhBase\u2022com\u2122\nLatest on Ghanaian participant who collapsed throughout match\n[3News Live] Nine withdraw suit against NCA after NIA exposes them \u2013 Out Source\nThe fees towards Amar'e Stoudemire stemming from an alleged home violence incident at his dwelling in December...\nAmar'e Stoudemire Domestic Violence Charges Dropped February 1, 2023","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"This Site umd.edu\nContact, Directions and Map\nInnovate Maryland\nInvention of the Year Awards\nFOR INVENTORS\nInventor Disclosure Responsibility\nUniversity System of Maryland Policies\nWhen to Contact OTC\nDISCLOSE INVENTION\nFaculty and Graduate Student Startup Support\nUMD Startups\nBusiness Fundamentals Workshops\nBROWSE & SEARCH TECHNOLOGIES\nArchived Patents\nUMD Receives NSF Major Research Instrumentation Award in Support of Virtual and Augmented Reality\nVisualization tools that allow a surgeon to \"see through\" a patient during surgery. Wearable sensors that encourage healthier behavior. Virtual-based headsets that train soldiers how to remove a wounded comrade from the battlefield.\nInnovations like these and more under development at the University of Maryland just got a big boost.\nThe National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded UMD a $600,000 Major Research Instrumentation grant in support of virtual and augmented reality research and education. Virtual reality (VR) either mimics real-world settings or creates fantasy worlds; augmented reality (AR) embeds digital information into real-world settings.\nBoth fields are expected to expand exponentially in the near future in applications tied to scientific visualization, entertainment, military uses, architecture, navigation, education, prototyping, collaborative communication, and more.\nThe NSF grant will be used to purchase new equipment and provide infrastructure support for a 1,000-square-foot \"augmentarium\" now under construction. The Virtual and Augmented Reality Laboratory will feature interactive projection displays, robotic mounts and high-speed computing clusters that, university officials say, will position UMD as a leader for the effective visualization of large and complex data.\nWhen launched later this year, the interactive lab will bring together researchers from across campus and beyond to explore ideas and technologies that combine real-time data within virtual settings and backdrops.\n\"These technologies will engage our faculty and students to explore new pathways of discovery that can have far-reaching scientific and societal benefits,\" says Jayanth Banavar(link is external), dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences(link is external) (CMNS).\nThe virtual and augmented reality lab is the latest addition to the university's Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), with its director, Amitabh Varshney, named as principal investigator of the NSF award.\nProjects supported by the grant include: understanding large-scale astronomy data (Lee Mundy(link is external) in astronomy); weather and climate prediction (Kayo Ide(link is external) in atmospheric and oceanic science); characterization of stem cells (Peter Bajcsy(link is external) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Antonio Cardone in UMIACS); large-scale simulation of rotorcraft brownouts via accelerated algorithms (Ramani Duraiswami in computer science and UMIACS); data visualization for cybersecurity (Tudor Dumitras in electrical and computer engineering and UMIACS); user interaction with augmented reality (Catherine Plaisant in UMIACS and Rama Chellappa in electrical and computer engineering and UMIACS); visualization of big data (Joseph JaJa in electrical and computer engineering and UMIACS, and Varshney); and augmented reality-based, image-guided surgical interventions (Rao Gullapalli(link is external) in radiology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and Varshney).\nThe NSF grant also provides for education and training, with plans for the Maryland Center for Women in Computing(link is external) to develop workshops that encourage middle school and high school girls to participate in VR and AR projects.\nOther research will study how people interact with VR and AR technologies, and how they can best be used in an educational setting.\nThe virtual and augmented reality lab will also take advantage of several cross-institutional partnerships supported by MPowering the State(link is external), which joins scientists at the University of Maryland with physicians, clinicians and other health experts at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.\n\"We look forward to further collaboration with our colleagues in Baltimore to identify opportunities and leverage our combined strengths in computing power and clinical expertise,\" says Varshney.\nResearchers from both institutions envision specialized headgear that surgeons can wear in an operating room, providing real-time patient and surgical data that is \"overlaid\" on top of a patient during surgery.\nAdditional projects will look at wearable sensors that can track the movement of people suffering from neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, keeping tabs on the disease's progression in hopes of providing better therapeutic outcomes. Also under discussion are wearable technologies that monitor human activity and offer visual feedback via warnings or positive responses, both of which can promote healthier behavior.\nThe federal government is very interested in VR and AR applications, including the development of specialized headwear that can provide soldiers with critical information like weather, combat efficiency, and the location of both friendly and adversarial forces. Other applications can train soldiers in essential tasks, such as evacuating wounded comrades while under fire on a virtual battlefield.\nInitial seed funding for the UMD virtual and augmented reality lab came from CMNS, with additional support from the university's Division of Research and the provost's office.\nTo view illustrations of several virtual and augmented reality projects under development at UMD, go here.\nUMD Researchers Creating First Onboard Fast-Charging System for Electric Vehicles\nNSF Funds Novel Research to Create Scalable Wireless Networking, Averting Usage Crisis\nDachman-Soled Wins NSF Career Award\nUMD Researchers Use Artificially Engineered Materials to Create Breakthrough for Sound Sensors\nLi and Hu Awarded NSF Grant to Study Challenges in Creating Materials that are Both Stronger and Tougher\nUMD Welcomes Johns Hopkins to DC Innovation Corps\nMC2 Director Katz Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee on Investing in Cybersecurity\nVishkin Offers Fresh Perspective on Commodity Computing in ACM Viewpoint\nUMD, Xerox Seek to Improve Mobile Document Scanning\nUMD Plays Key Role in Project IDing Bacteria that Cohabit Human Body\nNew International Fire Safety Consortium Launched to Address Most Urgent Global Challenges\nBrain and Behavior Initiative Hosts 3rd Annual Seed Grant Symposium\nNew Report Recommends a Path for the Future of Maryland's Clean Energy Economy\nClark professors Wu, Liu named National Academy of Inventors Fellows\nIBBR Researchers Receive $1.1M from FDA and NIIMBL to Support Biomanufacturing Innovation\nResearchers' Study of Vaccine-Related Facebook Ads Reveals Ongoing Challenges for Public Health\nNew Artificial Intelligence System Automatically Evolves to Evade Internet Censorship\nUMD Ranked in Top 10 for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education for Fifth Straight Year\nReturn to Newsroom\nEvents Resources\nUM Newsdesk\nDisclose to OTC\nIntellectual Property Policies\nFind a Technology\nFor Corporate Partners\nContact OTC\nOffice of Technology Commercialization\n2130 Mitchell Building\n7999 Regents Dr.\nEmail: umdtechtransfer@umd.edu\n\u00a9 Copyright 2013 University of Maryland\nUMD's Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility, which simulates weightlessness, is one of only two such facilities in the U.S.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Home > Faculty > Schleis Stephanie\nStephanie Schleis Lindley, DVM, DACVIM\nAssociate Clinical Professor, Oncology\nDepartment of Clinical Sciences\nses0034@auburn.edu\nDr. Lindley is a native of Louisiana. She graduated from Texas A&M University summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in biology before entering the veterinary program at Louisiana State University.\nFollowing veterinary school graduation with honors in 2004, she completed a one-year rotating small animal internship at Texas A&M University. She completed a three-year residency in medical oncology at the University of Tennessee in 2008.\nDr. Lindley joined the Auburn faculty in 2008. While at Auburn University, she has pursued further interests in veterinary medical communication, equine oncology, marine mammal medicine and oncology, and continued collaboration with other universities for oncology clinical trials and retrospective studies. During her tenure at Auburn, Dr. Lindley has authored more than nine publications.\nLymphoma, hematologic neoplasia, histiocytic diseases, flow cytometry, and equine oncology.\nSchleis SE. Cancer Screening Tests for Small Animals. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2014 Sep; 44(5):871-81.\nBack AR, Schleis SE, Smirkovski OA, Smith AN, Lee JI, Phillips J. Mechlorethamine, vincristine, melphalan, and prednisone (MOMP) for the treatment of relapsed lymphoma in dogs. Vet Comp Oncol. 2013 Aug 5. doi: 10.1111\/vco.12055. [epub ahead of print].\nTaintor J, Schleis S. Equine Lymphoma. Equine Veterinary Education. 2011 Apr; 23(4):205-213.\nSchleis S,Rizzo S, Phillips J, LeBlanc A. Asparaginase Associated Pancreatitis in a Dog. Can Vet J. 2011 Sep; 52(9): 1009-12.\nSchleis SE, LeBlanc AK, Neilsen NR, LeBlanc CJ. Flow cytometric evaluation of multidrug resistance proteins on grossly normal canine nodal lympocye membranes. Am J Vet Res 2008 Oct; 69 (10):1310-5","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Real Sociedad 'lining up January move for Juan Mata'\nReal Sociedad are reportedly keen to sign Manchester United attacker Juan Mata in January.\nThe 33-year-old has not played a single minute of Premier League football for the Red Devils during the 2021-22 campaign, with two of his three appearances coming in the Champions League.\nMata's contract at Old Trafford is due to expire next June, and there has been speculation surrounding the Spaniard's future ahead of the January transfer window.\nAccording to The Sun, Real Sociedad are hoping to persuade the 20-time English champions to let the playmaker leave on a free transfer at the start of 2022.\nThe report claims that the Basque club's head coach Imanol Alguacil wants Mata's 'big-time experience' to help them push for a top-four finish in La Liga this season.\nThe Spaniard, who has also been linked with Barcelona, came through the youth system at Real Madrid before representing Valencia for four years ahead of a switch to Chelsea.","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Startseite \/ News \/ Panorama Magazine \u2013 Turbo 3.0 Book Review\nEnglish Featured Reviews Turbo 3.0\nPanorama Magazine \u2013 Turbo 3.0 Book Review\nPanorama's May 2018 issue reviewed the Turbo 3.0 book:\nFollowing its domination of the Can-Am racing series in 1972 and 1973, Porsche used its experience with turbocharging technology gained in motorsports for serial sports car production. Launched in 1975 with a turbocharged flat-six engine, flared wheel arches to accommodate wider wheels, and unmistakable \"whale tail\" rear spoiler, the 930 Turbo was revolutionary in its performance. It was the fastest German production car upon its introduction, helping Porsche to fortify its reputation as a seminal sports car manufacturer.\nFollowing in the considerable wake of his award-winning Carrera 2.7, author Ryan Snodgrass again hones in with laser-like focus on just a single variant of the iconic 930 Turbo\u2014the earliest 3.0-liter examples produced from September 1974 through June 1977\u2014tracing the model's roots and origin during an era that is often referred to as a dark time for performance cars.\nNaturally, there are the de rigueur in-depth chapters that one might expect to be found on the subjects of turbocharging, drivetrain, chassis, body, and interior, incorporating first-hand accounts and interviews with factory personnel who worked on the project. Additional content includes sections on accessories; literature; marketing materials; and special bespoke models built by the factory for exhibition, executives, and important clients. Racing derivatives such as the Martini Carrera RSR Turbo 2.14, 934, 934.5, and privateer Turbo 3.0 entries are also examined. An appendix at the end of the book lists all 2,819 Turbo 3.0 chassis numbers complete with notations on original colors, interior, and equipment.\nOver 536 beautifully designed pages, the prose is supported by more than 1,500 incredible color and black-and-white images, including illustrations, charts, publications, and internal documents, the majority of them truly uncommon or not published before.\nBefitting a book that Snodgrass states demanded almost 5,000 man-hours of research, writing, design, and production time, the attention to detail is incredible, surpassing the already superb levels of data analysis and engineering development insights from the author's previous effort. The book's production quality is on an equal plane of existence with its writing and utilizes special wide-gamut inks and high-resolution, 15-micron stochastic screens, allowing the reader to zoom in on the details should they want to scrutinize the photos more closely with a magnifying glass when researching various minute details for their own restorations.\nAvailable in a slipcased standard Limited Edition, of which 2,500 have been printed, and a numbered-series Publisher's Edition (shown here) limited to just 300 copies containing additional niceties, Turbo 3.0 is a sublime reading experience, automotive book or not, and one that will undoubtedly generate feelings of lust for the 930.\nAlthough a starting price of $395 might seem lofty, consider it a small price to pay\u2014the reader is gleaning the immeasurable benefit of all the hours of effort and achievement the author has invested into uncovering anything an owner, collector, or re- storer could possibly want to know. A monumental piece of work, Turbo 3.0 must be considered one of the finest automotive books extant, and the definitive word on the model.\n\u2014Benjamin Shahrabani\nEnglish Reviews Turbo 3.0\nElferspot Magazine - March 2021\nVollst\u00e4ndigen Artikel anzeigen \u2192\nOctane Magazine \u2014 Turbo 3.0 Review\nReview of the Turbo 3.0 book in Octane magazine's October 2019 issue:\nWe'll come clean: this book was released last year but our review copy was mislaid during Octane's hastily carried-out office relocation form Bedfordshite to London. It's author, Ryan Snodgrass, very kindly offered to send us another one\u2014and we're so glad he did, because this is a truly exceptional work.\nA companion volume to Snodgrass' previous magnum opus, Carrera 2.7, this mammoth 536-page tribute to the Porsche 911 Turbo is printed on creamy archival paper and presented in a stout slipcase. Pay extra for the 300-off Publisher's Edition and you get an even stouter clamshell box that additionally houses convincing reproductions of Porsche ephemera such as press releases and photos, and actual 35mm colour slides, plus a 20-page supplement on how the book was put together.\nIs either version worth the money? Emphatically yes, because the level of detail and the production values are stunning. To give just two examples: expert financial book-keepers were hired to check the production data for all 2819 Turbos built; and because no detailed cutaway drawing was ever made of the Turbo, noted cutaway artist Makoto Ouchi was commissioned to draw on. The print specification\u2014which apparently involved '15-micron stochastic hybrid screens' and 'special wide-gamut inks'\u2014will have any bibliophile salivating over their silkscreened linen slipcase.\nEvery possible aspect of the 1975\u201377 Turbo is covered in depth: development, build, mechanical, design, one-offs and special editions, racing versions... There's even a spread devoted to specific tyre inflators, jacks and plastic gloves supplied by Porsche for the Turbo's space-save tyre.\nAs you'll have gathered, we're impressed. It's taken a while for Turbo 3.0 to make it into these pages, but it was well worth the wait.\n\u2014Mark Dixon\nPanorama Editor-in-Chief picks Turbo 3.0 As Best Book\nRob Sass, Editor-in-Chief of PCA's Panorama magazine, had this to say (at 0:34:16) when asked during a Cars Yeah interview to pick his favorite automotive book:\n\"Ryan Snodgrass's book on early Porsche Turbos is probably the greatest single model book that I've ever seen in my life. I have not been able to put it down since getting it. It is just full of every bit of geeky goodness about those cars. It is phenomenal.\"\nOf course, when asked at 0:28:07 by Mark Green if manifested into a car, what kind of car would Robb Sass be, his affinity for the Turbo was clear. Sass answered he'd like to be a 1975 or 1976 Turbo Carrera, the first generation Turbo: \"I think that they are kind of a little bit edgy. It was the height of the malaise era. A car I really respect as when everything else was slow and crappy, you had this car that would go 0 to 60 in about 5 seconds. Performance on par with a muscle car from ten years before at a time when people were building the Mustang II. If I could aspire to be any car...I'm not a 75-76 Turbo Carrera, but if I could that is probably what it would be as it was so shocking and so surprising and a little bit unpredictable.\" \"Porsche never got the memo that the malaise era was going on.\"","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}
{"text":"Mutek San Fransisco 2018 - Exploring technology on the dance floor Words by Marjolijn Oostermeijer\nMutek San Fransisco 2018\nExploring technology on the dance floor\nWith the festival season in full swing, there are plenty of great events you can spend your sleepless nights at. Especially if you live in the bustling city of San Francisco. However, one particular event stands out: Mutek is a boundary-pushing festival that explores digital creativity in sound, music and audio-visual art. Kicking off in the Golden Gate city on the 3rd of May for its first edition, it focuses on innovative musicians and artists from the Bay area whilst also including a strong international line-up.\nYou may already know Mutek from the namesake festivals this non-profit organization has put together in Montreal, Buenos Aires, Mexico, Tokyo, Barcelona and Dubai. Their debut in San Fransisco this weekend will also mark their first event in the United States, making it an exciting exploration of emerging American talent. The festival spans over four days and includes four unique segments with captivating titles such as Digi Lab, A\/visions, Nocturne, and Experience. Divided over nine venues across the city, it promises to be a dynamic and transdisciplinary blend of live electronic performances, art installations, audiovisual works, panel discussions and more.\nSome unmissable acts include Tim Hecker, who produces experimental soundscapes that are hauntingly beautiful and emotional. Kyoka, the Japanese artist who uses glitches and broken beats to create a new form of minimal techno, and the moody left-field pop produced by Perera Elsewhere. For the visually informed, there is Craig Dorety, an artist that uses mathematics and engineering to create animated sculptures that will change your perception of time.\nMore audiovisual experiences include Nonotak, an incredible French-Japanese duo blurring the limits between concert, performance, and site-specific installation. Alexandre Burton & Julien Roy, who together form the group Artificiel, which incorporates music, visuals, and new media to create a mesmerizing experience. And Joanie Lemercier's & James Ginzburg's collaboration that will submerge your senses into projections of light in space accompanied by a musical performance. Those who love to dance cannot miss King Most, serving some soulful disco beats. Matias Aguayo will play a life set of genre-diminishing and intelligent sounds that hypnotizes bodies to move, and B\u00e9zier is a well-known DJ in the San Fransisco queer rave scene.\nMutek San Francisco will take place from May 3 to 6 in different locations across the city. To check the full program, visit their website.\nMarjolijn Oostermeijer","meta":{"redpajama_set_name":"RedPajamaCommonCrawl"}}