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Faith: The Root of all Hope “I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish, I wish tonight!” Oh how often I looked out at the stars at night making a wish. Hoping against all hope that something wonderful would happen or that some gift would magically appear to me in wonder and awe. Hope is a funny thing. We use it instead of prayer and hold our breath. It’s burst out into midair with no apparent destination other than to boomerang right back into our hearts. God wants you to know that you can call on Him for anything and everything. He says wishful hoping is not what you need now. You need faith. You need the faith that is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11: 1) Oh beloved, turn from the stars in the sky and lean on the Lord! He has given you all the faith you will ever need to produce the right kind of hope in Him! He is your hope. He is your answer. He is everything you will ever need and oh so much more. What are you seeking? It’s found at the foot of the Cross. What are you hoping for? He doesn’t grant wishes, He answers your prayers. He’s not absent mindedly looking around for an occasional seeker, He knows you by name! He’s no distant star maker. He’s the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and He’s the Creator of you! He already knows your hopes and fears. He is bigger than your doubts. He is awesome and true and faithful and good. God loves you and He’s for you! Don’t fear taking anything and everything to Him. Thank Him for His answers as you walk in faith and live in the light of His glory and grace! Romans 15: 13 “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 12: 21 “In His name the nations will put their hope.” Psalm 25: 5 “Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.” Rebekah Beene

Purchase Cannabis Online For Medical Purposes In The Washington State Marijuana is a drug used for medical purposes. The medical use of this drug has been happening for a long time. It has chemicals like

Aric Almirola fights through stomach bug for sixth straight top 10 By Daniel McFadinMar 31, 2019, 9:35 PM EDT While it wasn’t a race-winning effort like Brad Keselowski at Atlanta last month, Aric Almirola fought through a stomach illness to manage an impressive showing in Sunday’s Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Without a relief driver on standby, the Stewart-Haas Racing piloted his No. 10 Ford to a seventh-place finish. Almirola felt “tired” and “really, really depleted” after his sixth consecutive top 10, a career-best streak. “It was a long night last night. I didn’t sleep at all, throwing up with a stomach bug,” Almirola said. “I haven’t been able to keep anything down, so I’m just really hungry, and I’m really tired.” Almirola joins Keselowski at Atlanta and Austin Dillon at Auto Club Speedway in notable driver performances this year despite illnesses. Dillon finished 10th for his first top 10 of the year. While Keselowski and Dillon had relief drivers on standby, missing Sunday’s race wasn’t an option as far as Almirola was concerned. “We don’t get to call in sick,” Almirola said. “That’s the challenging part of our job occasionally. The flu or a cold or a stomach bug pops up and you’ve got to fight through it. “I’m really proud of everybody on our Smithfield Prime Fresh Ford Mustang. We had a good car and track position there and strategy and pit stops and stuff, and we still got out of here with a top 10, so that’s six in a row. I’m proud of that.”

Home > The U.S. Military Could Easily Destroy China's South China Sea Bases The U.S. Military Could Easily Destroy China's South China Sea Bases July 27, 2020 Topic: Security Region: Asia Blog Brand: The Reboot Tags: ChinaSouth China SeaMilitaryTechnologyWorldNavyU.S. Navy They could be a problem, but they'd be hard to defend and reinforce. by Robert Farley Follow drfarls on Twitter L Key Point: These islands could attack U.S. ships with missiles. However, like Imperial Japan, these islands would be spread out and hard to secure for good. China has built some islands in the South China Sea. Can it protect them? During World War II Japan found that control of islands offered some strategic advantages, but not enough to force the United States to reduce each island individually. Moreover, over time the islands became a strategic liability, as Japan struggled to keep them supplied with food, fuel and equipment. The islands of the SCS are conveniently located for China, but do they really represent an asset to China’s military? The answer is yes, but in an actual conflict the value would dwindle quickly. The Installations China has established numerous military installations in the South China Sea, primarily in the Spratly and Paracel Islands. In the Spratlys, China has built airfields at Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross, along with potential missile, radar and helicopter infrastructure at several smaller formations. In the Paracels, China has established a significant military installation at Woody Island, as well as radar and helicopter facilities in several other areas. China continues construction across the region, meaning that it may expand its military presence in the future. The larger bases (Subi, Mischief, Fiery Cross and Woody Island) have infrastructure necessary for the management of military aircraft, including fighters and large patrol craft. These missiles, radars and aircraft extend the lethal reach of China’s military across the breadth of the South China Sea. Several of the islands serve as bases for SAM systems (including the HQ-9, with a range of 125 miles, and perhaps eventually the Russian S-400) and ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCMs). These missiles serve to make the South China Sea lethal for U.S. ships and aircraft that do not have stealth capabilities, or that do not enjoy a layered air-defense system. The SAM installations, buoyed by networks of radars, can effectively limit the ability of enemy aircraft to enter their lethal zone without significant electronic-warfare assistance. The GLCMs can add another set of launchers to China’s A2/AD network, although not necessarily with any greater effectiveness than missiles launched from subs, ships or aircraft. But it is an open question how survivable the missile installations would be in a conflict. Land-based missiles survive air attack because they can hide among hills, forests and other natural cover. There is no effective natural cover on the islands that China has created, and even man-made defensive installations may not survive concerted attack. Moreover, missile launchers depend upon an at least somewhat robust logistical network for fuel, power and munitions, which China may not be able to reliably provide during a shooting war. Airfields The four largest military installations in the SCS have extensive facilities for the operation of military aircraft. This includes advanced fighters, but more importantly patrol, electronic-warfare and advanced early-warning aircraft. The ability to use these airfields effectively extends the reach of China’s A2/AD bubble, enabling the transmission of targeting data to missile launchers at sea and in mainland China. The fighter aircraft themselves serve to make the skies over the SCS even more lethal than they otherwise would be, as well as threaten U.S. ships at a distance with cruise missiles. But in conflict, the durability of an airfield depends on the availability of materials and equipment to execute repairs after an attack. It is not obvious that the islands China has created in the South China Sea will be robust enough to continue in operation after U.S. missile and bomb attacks. Although the larger islands have aircraft shelters, it is an open question whether these shelters could long survive a concerted U.S. attack. SAMs, GLCMs and combat aircraft depend on accurate targeting data for effectiveness. The most important contribution that the SCS islands may offer to the Chinese military is through the radar installations that China has established on many of the islands. These installations, while individually vulnerable, help to provide a much fuller picture of the battle space than China would otherwise enjoy. Together, they significantly enhance the lethality of China’s defensive networks. That said, the radars themselves are vulnerable to a wide array of U.S. attacks. These include kinetic methods such as missiles (launched from submarines, stealth aircraft or other platforms), electronic warfare, cyberattacks and even special-forces raids. In a conflict, China could quickly lose access to the radar network that it has established. Still, the network offers a relatively low-cost way of complicating the job that the U.S. military faces in penetrating the SCS. All the military capabilities of China’s SCS islands depend upon secure communications with mainland China. Most of the islands constructed by China cannot support extensive logistics stockpiles, or keep those stockpiles safe from attack. In a shooting war, the need to keep the islands supplied with fuel, equipment and munitions would quickly become a liability for presumably hard-stretched Chinese transport assets. Assuming that the PLAN and PLAAF would have little interest in pursuing risky, expensive efforts at resupplying islands under fire, the military value of the islands of the SCS would be a wasting asset during a conflict. Unfortunately for China, the very nature of island warfare, and the nature of the specific formations that China has determined to support, make it difficult to keep installations in service in anything but the very short term. Ships vs. Forts As Lord Horatio Nelson may have quipped, “a ship’s a fool to fight a fort.” But there are situations in which ships have a major advantage over forts. China’s islands in the SCS are not mobile, and are not large enough to hide much in the way of military equipment and material. The United States will be able to meticulously map the military installations on each of the islands in the SCS, and will probably be able to track shipments of military equipment to the islands. This will make the islands extremely vulnerable to attack from ships, subs and aircraft, as missiles will not require real-time targeting data. One positive step for the United States would be to reverse the decision to “retire in place” the Advanced Gun System on the Zumwalt-class destroyer. Making available a munition for this gun would enable the Zumwalts to strike Chinese island installations at range, potentially causing serious, practically irreparable damage at a relatively low cost. Otherwise, the islands will suck up cruise missiles that might effectively be used on more juicy targets. The islands of the SCS have some military relevance, but are more important as a political claim to waterways and undersea resources. Militarily, they represent a thin crust on China’s A2/AD system. Under certain conditions this crust could disrupt U.S. freedom of action, but it won’t be hard for the United States’ Air Force and Navy to punch through. Robert Farley, a frequent contributor to TNI, is author of The Battleship Book. He serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky. His work includes military doctrine, national security, and maritime affairs. He blogs at Lawyers, Guns and Money and Information Dissemination and The Diplomat. Image: Reuters This first appeared in 2018 and is being reposted due to reader interest. Source URL:https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/us-military-could-easily-destroy-chinas-south-china-sea-bases-165558

Video Streaming Apps What is a video streaming app or site? Video streaming apps and sites allow people to share activities and hobbies with others in real time or watch their favourite films and TV shows online. There are different types of video streaming services. Twitch, for example, is used for watching others play video games in real time. Movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime or Apple TV can be watched with friends and family. Video streaming has gained popularity in the last few years because there is a sense of community when watching with others and people can comment on videos and ask questions in real time. For more information on the associated risks and online safety tips for parents and carers, watch our explainer video, available to those with a National Online Safety membership. National Online Safety Multi-award-winning online safety training and resources for the whole school community Online Platforms Explainer Videos An Introduction to Online Platforms Most children's introduction to the online world is via video-sharing platforms like YouTube, while social media begins to appeal as they approach their teenage years. While these platforms are undoubtedly entertaining and engaging, they can also be highly addictive and expose young people to a variety of other online risks. Our short video, presented by Myleene Klass, will quickly raise your awareness of online platforms and how children use them. Technology Explainer Videos An Introduction to Technology & Devices Internet-enabled devices are almost everywhere these days - from smart TVs and voice-responsive speakers to mobile devices and wearable tech. Our short video, presented by Myleene Klass, will quickly get you up to speed on the various ways that children can connect with the online world. Online Identity Explainer Videos An Introduction to Identity & Self Image Social media isn't reality, and what people portray on those platforms often isn't an accurate representation of their actual life or personality. That's something which even adults can forget from time to time, so it's even more likely that the boundaries between an online and offline identity can be confusing for children. Presented by Myleene Klass, our short explainer video has all the essentials on online identity.

Cavaliers make it official, Andrew Bogut out for rest of season and playoffs By Kurt HelinMar 8, 2017, 12:51 PM EST Andrew Bogut had played a whopping :58 seconds for the Cleveland Cavaliers after being signed as a free agent (he had been traded to Philadephia as part of the Nerlens Noel deal, then waived) when it happened. Bogut closed out on Miami’s Okaro White at the arc, so White put the ball on the floor and tried to drive past the big man, but White’s knee hit Bogut clean in the shin. Bogut went to the ground grabbing his leg, clearly in a lot of pain and had to be helped to the locker room. The diagnoses came back before the game was over, Bogut had a broken tibia. Wednesday the Cavaliers announced what was expected, Bogut is done for the regular season and playoffs. From the press release: Andrew Bogut underwent additional imaging and evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic yesterday related to his fractured left tibia. His tibia has been set and he is undergoing a non-surgical treatment and recovery plan commencing immediately with an extended period of immobilization and healing stimulation. He will not be available to play the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, but is expected to successfully complete his recovery process in advance of training camp for the 2017-18 NBA season. While not devastating, this is a blow to the Cavaliers heading into the playoffs. Cleveland was counting on him to fill a role for them off the bench providing depth and size, essentially playing Timofey Mozgov role but with better passing and decision making. Now they remain a bit thin on the front line.

BOOK LAUNCH – Mahtoquehs Journey Mi’gmaq artist Braelyn Cyr will be launching her new children’s book, Mahtoquehs Journey at the new College library located at 415 King St. Cyr is a student in the Aboriginal Visual Arts program and worked on this book over the 2018 summer months. Of her work Cyr says “I wanted to create a children’s book that involved language and culture…Creating accessibility to culture for Aboriginal People is one step towards reconciliation and this is my small part in that movement.” Not only will Braelyn be speaking about what inspired her to create this work she will also have demos featuring the different types of art, students make in the Aboriginal Visual Arts Program. This event is family friendly so feel free to bring the kids along!

Inner Views Hunting and Haunting: The Locations in Let’s Scare Jessica to Death – 45 Years Later Posted on August 23, 2016 August 23, 2016 by nemmcoalition By John Campopiano & Matt Spry There may be no greater magic in cinema than achieving the intangible out of the tangible. Yet, we’ve all seen movies filled with blood and fog that aren’t scary, or yawned through a car chase or fight scene because it didn’t quicken our pulses. Mood, atmosphere, or whatever you want to call it is a slippery quality that requires a lot of cinematic elements to fall into the right place in the right sequence. When visuals, sound, pace, and dialogue are working together in unison, as they are in John Hancock’s 1971 film, LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH, the resulting atmosphere immerses the audience in the experience of its characters and the world they inhabit. The story of LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH focuses on a married couple who have moved out of New York City and relocated to a rural town in nearby Connecticut. The titular Jessica, played by Zohra Lampert, is recovering after a stint in a mental health care facility. Her husband, Duncan (Barton Heyman), is a former symphony cellist; and their friend Woody (Kevin O’Connor) has tagged along to help them work in the orchard adjacent to their Victorian-style farmhouse. The townspeople they encounter largely consist of standoffish older men, but the trio find a similarly aged woman named Emily (Mariclare Costello) squatting at their house when they first arrive. She provides a friendly warmth that slowly morphs into something potentially more sinister and supernatural as the film progresses — though Jessica’s unreliable perspective casts ambiguity over much of what the audience observes. The most basic and immediate visual aspect that informs the atmosphere of a film is the physical setting, expressed through its locations. For LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH, the filmmakers chose a cluster of towns in southeastern Connecticut, partly out of the quality of the locations but also due to film’s producer Bill Badalato’s familiarity with them. After befriending Charles Moss, Jr., during their time at a commercial company one summer, the pair discussed collaborating on a feature film. When Moss, Jr., and his father pooled together some financing later on, the wishful chatter began to take on a real shape. With a finished script and Hancock in the director’s chair, the team started discussing locations. “My wife and I had a weekend house in Chester, Connecticut,” Badalato recalled via email. “We loved the area and shared our feelings with John [Hancock] and the Mosses. After a preliminary scout we all agree that this was where JESSICA should be filmed.” The Chester locations added solid production value to a modestly budgeted film. The filmmakers utilized a storefront near the intersection of Main Street and Maple Street for the “in town” visits. Featuring a front porch with an overhang and a plain, white paint job, the unremarkable store recalls the humble notion of “Anytown, USA.” The store’s unassuming appearance juxtaposes well with its elderly clientele, whose increasingly hostile behavior towards Jessica and company remains a mystery until the final act. Just a short drive away is the Pattaconk Reservoir, surrounded by the lush green trees of the Cockaponset State Forest. It was used to great effect for various water scenes, some playful and one that’s truly menacing (and features one of the more memorable shots of the film — a ghastly Emily wading out of the water and onto the beach). Other locations we see in the film were purely serendipitous. According to both Hancock and Badalato, the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry crossing was an unexpected but beneficial discovery that they were able to use as something of a narrative bookend. Essex, a 15-minute drive from Chester, provided the farmhouse’s interiors via the Dickinson Estate (a 19th century mansion once owned by witch hazel mogul E.E. Dickinson). In discussing the importance of location scouting, Hancock noted that “noise, too, is a tremendous factor… the absence thereof.” The house was a perfectly quiet set for more dialogue-heavy scenes, and its interiors were visually compatible with a farmhouse exterior that was, in reality, located three miles away in Old Saybrook. Large, old Victorian houses have been woven into the American horror lexicon as inherently spooky in everything from “The Addams Family” and 1986’s House to Hitchcock’s PSYCHO. “That scary house exterior was a real find,”Hancock said. “I’d hate to see the movie without it.” The Victorian-style “old Bishop House,” with its distinctive tower, is one of the more consistently striking visuals in the film, mostly framed in long shots against an overcast sky at dusk or bathed in a dreary fog. Originally built in the 19th century, it still stands to the present day. “Given the period houses, beautiful foliage, and picturesque country lanes, the Old Saybrook area is ideal for filmmaking, especially the horror genre,” Badalato added. Like a number of places in New England, the Connecticut towns chosen by the filmmakers offered the ideal blend of rustic features and grand, historical homes that resonate both visually and thematically for many fans of horror film. JESSICA performed well commercially during its original theatrical run but has gained even broader appreciation among fans who viewed it on cable or home video releases over the years. At least part of what may have fueled its renewed popularity as a hidden gem is genuine and sustained fan interest in its locations. From message board threads to blog posts and guided YouTube visits, fans have connected online to puzzle together where various Jessica scenes were shot (and from what angles) and how the locations have changed since they appeared in the film. From where does this interest originate? And how does it affect how viewers connect to films they love? While the filmmakers always move on, the locations they leave behind remain. In a recent interview about his decades-long fascination with visiting film locations, Horror’s Hallowed Ground creator Sean Clark likened the feeling of going to a location to that of reconnecting with other parts of one’s past. “To me the feeling of visiting a famous filming location is much like revisiting your childhood home or school,” Clark said. There’s a familiarity in visiting filming locations–as if you’ve been there before. And if it’s a location from a film you’ve cherished for years, it may even feel like a place in which you grew up. The mixture of these spaces feeling foreign and familiar simultaneously is both fun and strange. It also seems that film location hunting–particularly among those in the horror community of film viewers and filmmakers–has been largely rooted in two things: access to fellow fans on social media networking platforms like Instagram and Facebook and a desire to physically connect with films by way of meeting talent at conventions and, of course, visiting the geographical places where films were shot. Much like memorabilia collectors who bring pieces of films home with them (e.g., screen-used props, memorabilia, and fan art) in an attempt to get closer to the films they love, location hunters appear to be trying to establish a deeper, tangible connection to certain films by stepping directly into the places where they were shot. Today there are so many ways to connect with people who share similar interests. For location enthusiasts, Instagram has become a vehicle for the quick and easy sharing of film location photographs while other online social networking services like Facebook allow for more in-depth discussion about these places and how to reach them. If you’re someone who isn’t able to actually travel to the film locations of your dreams, odds are there are others who can, and not only that; they’re likely to post their findings on social media. This was the genesis behind Clark’s desire to start HHG in the first place. In that same interview Clark revealed that the reason he started HHG “…was to be able to share these locations with those that are unable to go see them for themselves and to help others to go see them if they are able.” For some fans and location hunters, it’s not enough to merely see a photograph or watch a video of someone else in a location. Part of the thrill seems to also be in stepping into the physical locations themselves. There’s a kind of out-of-body experience the moment you step onto what was an active film set–a real, tangible space–that you’ve explored and gotten to know from afar. Stepping into a film location can almost feel like stepping onto a live set. You can hear the faint echoes of actors reading lines and can fantasize hearing the sound of a director yelling, “Cut!” and feeling the buzz of crew members bustling about. It’s as if there lies a dormant energy that is suddenly awoken when a fan comes into contact with it. For some people–like New England-based filmmaker Stacy Buchanan–film locations in the New England area, in particular, possess a haunting quality due to its dark and storied history. “I can’t remember the last time I walked into an old New England building and didn’t immediately feel a sense of historical foreboding,” Buchanan said. “New England locations make good settings for horror films because they’re loaded with history, often a dark history. This is the place where the country began…” A place with a complex history dating back several centuries is bound to carry with it plenty of filmmaking fodder–in terms of not only atmosphere and style but also in stories and infamous legacies. “And with that legacy,” continued Buchanan, “come the legends and myths and tales that evolve over time and influence the stories we now tell on film.” There’s a third element to film location hunting which may not apply to all location hunters but that most certainly does to some: mourning the passage of time. Each time I visit a film location, a melancholy feeling overwhelms me. Some hunters, however, actually enjoy seeing the evolution of landscape. “I actually like seeing that a little bit of change has taken place over time,” James Gelet, a prolific film location hunter and freelance editor, told us. “Not to the point where it’s unrecognizable,” he continued, “but seeing a little bit of evolution is pretty cool.” Gelet was profiled in a Boston.com article where he discussed at length the genesis of his film location fascination. Regardless of which way you lean, one thing is for sure, and that is locations nearly unrecognizable today are a reminder that the passage of time is inescapable. Thankfully, though, these places–regardless of changes–are immortalized in the films we’ve watched and continue to watch as the years march. If fans can evoke the feeling they had when first watching a film by visiting its filming locations, this begs the question: Do the filmmakers themselves ever revisit these same places? In reference to the old Bishop House, Hancock remarked that he “drove around the area several years ago without finding it. I wish I could see it again.” It was interesting to hear that even a director can feel an urge to revisit the places in which he or she made films — places in which they are at their most creative and challenged. On the contrary, due to his personal connection to the area that preceded the filming of JESSICA, Badalato has resisted any revisits. “The Old Saybrook area is a place of many heartwarming memories both personal and professional, and somehow I feel I need to keep everything as it is in my mind of one of the best times of my life,” he said. Posted in FeaturesTagged 1970s, Connecticut, Filming Locations, Horror, Let's Scare Jessica To Death, New England Previous Post Comics, Costumes, & Candles: The Makings of History at the Providence Public Library Next Post Summer Regattas, Peter’s Cove, Blue Hill, Maine, 1934 Capturing the Squid: The AS220 Archives Story Footage from the Fogarty Building Funeral in Providence, RI The Fogarty Building Funeral Keeping Maine Strange, Part I – The Beginning New England Archivists Jan ’17 Newsletter Features NEMMC Joel locks on Gator Bait: A Love Story steve dalachinsky on Keeping Maine Strange, Part I… Matt Spry on Reel Music: A Conversation wit… WilliamBruceWest.com… on Sifting: Technology, Trash,… Miss M on Sifting: Technology, Trash,… nemmc.org

Tag: Little Rock Nine Will Ross to Receive Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award WashU Nephrology congratulates Will Ross, MD, MPH, Alumni Endowed Professor of Medicine, Nephrology, and Associate Dean for Diversity at Washington University School of Medicine, who will receive the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award at the Ethical Society of St. Louis this Friday, February 17, 2023. The event is sponsored by the St. Louis County Library (SLCL), […]

Tag Archives: MIS Why Aren’t There More Technical MBAs? This weekend I was listening to the latest episode of the Art of Network Engineering podcast featuring Russ White. Russ is one of those guests that has a breadth of knowledge outside of technology that colors the way he looks at things in the realm of enterprise IT. Plus he’s a fun interview. One of the questions he asked was around the idea of technical MBAs. For those that might not know, MBA stands for Masters of Business Administration, which is a post-graduate college business degree. An MBA is widely regarded as a way to put yourself on a track to be a manager for a company in some capacity. An MBA is punching a ticket to be a future CEO. Why does it seem like the number of MBAs coming out of prestigious business schools don’t have a technical background then? Where the Action Is I’m going to quote liberally from a book I’ve been reading called The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman. In it, Kaufman lays out the reasoning behind using his book to study the principles behind the information given in MBA classes instead of spending $200,000 to go to a business school for two years for the same material. The layout of the first few sections gives a great overview of the way that most people think about MBAs as well as how most MBAs view the business world. The original reason to get an MBA was to apply scientific reasoning to management. The goal was to have managers for factories that looked at the numbers and made sound decisions based on facts and not hunches. In theory that was a great way to get started. However, the numbers started to change in favor of a newer, more exciting way to apply numbers. Instead of crunching them to make people more productive, MBAs started moving toward ways to apply that analysis to make the company rich. In the past 50 years the number of business school graduates going into finance and consulting has exploded. Per Kaufman, something like 60% of the people getting MBAs have moved toward finance as their preferred area of management. When you think about it that makes all the sense in the world. Finance is where a company can get bigger and more profitable. Value creation can be heavily impacted by workers that are looking to invest profits and reduce costs across the board to increase return to investors. Likewise, investors more heavily reward managers that make them money. This feedback loop means the easiest way to pay off your MBA debt is to go into finance and make the company rich. On the flip side of the discussion, do you think of value creation when you think of IT? I can remember way back in college when getting my BBA in MIS and being taught that I was going to be spending a lot of my time convincing management that IT departments were not just cost centers. Sales generates revenue. Marketing supports sales. Accounting makes sure we’re actually making money. IT? Well, we ask for stuff and then install it and then fix it when it breaks. We don’t actually do anything to make money. I know a lot of my readers are probably shouting at their screens right now talking about how IT supports the business and enables the value creation that other parts of the organization do. You’d be absolutely right in your assertion. However, the stigma that IT has is that we take money and don’t give any back to the organization directly. Kind of like how plumbers and electricians are still seen as “dirty” or “low brow” kinds of jobs. Despite evidence the contrary IT is drag on the whole organization. IT doesn’t do the hard work of making money through emails or apps or ensuring databases are up and running to search through for customer leads. Given that IT is a cost center and the real rock stars all go to finance to keep the shareholders and investors happy is it any wonder that MBAs want to work on spreadsheets instead of Excel? If you had a choice between limiting your career trajectory while also having a lot of business school debt to pay off would you do it knowing tech is a much more exciting role? The question pretty much answers itself. Let’s look at the second major reason that MBAs are always technical disciplines. Who is in charge of your IT department now? Is it an MBA? Is it a manager that came from accounting or sales? Or is it someone technical that got promoted a few times and now finds themselves in charge of all the IT teams? Does that manager have a formal background in management or a degree? Or do they learn the ropes as they go and feel a bit rough around the edges? In many IT organizations that I’ve worked with and worked for the management in those areas tends to be promoted from the bottom up. Instead of a more formalized structure of managers trained to be managers and hired into the organization to manage, IT is more about enabling intelligent and qualified individuals to maintain the department. You see far more people with advanced technical certifications or years and decades of technical experience working to keep the lights on as opposed to the lessons of quantitative analytics from business school being applied to streamline operations. Admit it. You’d rather work for someone who knew the tech as opposed to someone that had been trained to be a manager right? Is there anything worse than walking into a meeting with the head of the IT department knowing that they won’t understand the challenges of a new hardware installation or implementing a new protocol that could impact operations? The nerve of those people! If they would just get someone technical in that seat that you could talk to things would be different for sure. This place might even run right for once! The fact is that most technical professionals prefer someone that understands them over someone that is good at managing others. They would rather spend time talking to a promoted tech resource that understands the differences between SSL and TLS instead of someone that was trained in how to go to management and ask for more budget this quarter. We’re more comfortable with people that understand the things we do. It’s the same in accounting and finance and sales. We want to be managed by people that know how to deal with our special areas of expertise. Extend that to the business school. MBAs go into finance so most finance people are managed by MBAs. IT is managed by people that worked in IT, which is more focused on certification and practical knowledge rather than formal learning in universities. The divide grows each time a new class of business school graduates starts applying for roles in a company. Would you take an interview with a cost center department full of people that automatically don’t like you because they think you don’t know the difference between a switch as an access point? Or would you rather talk to people that “get” you in the finance department? There have been attempts to bridge this gap. In the above episode AJ Murray mentioned a hybrid degree that offered training in IT and in business. I too looked at the possibility of obtaining an MBA and a MS in MIS from my graduate school. As mentioned by AJ that major was the least popular option at his school and it didn’t last too long at mine either. That’s because the amount of work that you have to do for both degrees is far above what you’d have to do in order to get just the MBA. And there isn’t a lot of crossover either. You could be in a quantitive analysis class for finance on Monday and writing Python code on Tuesday for a program that was due at the end of the semester. It just doesn’t make sense when most of the candidates would prefer one over the other. Russ wondered why there aren’t more people with a technical background getting an MBA. My answer is that the ones with a technical background don’t want it and the ones that want it don’t want to deal with tech. Management doesn’t care if you can manage a team of high-performing nerds to streamline operations for the business. They do care if you can cut costs and use financial wizardry to make the company more profitable. Why do you think so many people who are CEOs are former CFOs and not former CTOs or CIOs? The MBA is a degree to teach people to manage and the roots of it go back much further than enterprise IT as a discipline. As much as we might hate to admit, MBAs are focused on the business, not the departments. And as long as the road to the CEO’s chair involves making money for the shareholders you won’t see many technical people in that chair any time soon. Posted in Education | Tagged Business School, CIO, CISO, CTO, MBA, MIS | 3 Replies

The politics of climate change are playing out in the fire on Saddleworth Moor. By Margaret Welsh The fires raging on moorland outside Manchester have fallen off the front pages of the national press. But they tell a vital story of climate change, land management, and our broken economic system. The huge wildfire that began on the 24th June on Saddleworth Moor has been declared a major incident, with over 30 homes evacuated and four schools closed in the area. Five days after the fire began, two other fires started to the north of Manchester before merging into one. The army has been called in, and firefighters are reportedly working 17 hour days to try and control the blaze. The latest report from the Greater Manchester Police is that the cause of the Saddleworth Moor fire is being treated as arson. But it was the heatwave conditions which enabled the fire to spread so rapidly across 2000 acres of moorland. With no rain forecast in the area for days, this is unlikely to change soon. And when it does rain, it’s possible that the extremely dry conditions will have compromised the moor’s ability to absorb rainfall, leading to flooding. Multiple scientists have warned that wildfires like these will become more frequent and severe as the changing climate creates more heatwaves. And the origins of the changing climate are themselves locked away in the geography of the moor. Image: Manchester Fire (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Saddleworth Moor is an area of peatland. Peat moors are the largest natural land store for carbon in the UK. When the peat is burned, it creates a positive feedback loop: it releases its carbon into the atmosphere as CO2; and in turn, degraded burned peatlands are less effective as a carbon sink. Climate change is both a cause and effect of the scale of the moorland fires. But CO2 isn’t the only pollutant that peatlands absorb. As ​“the first industrial city”, 19th century Manchester was home to over 100 cotton mills and a rapidly expanding population. The surrounding moors will have soaked up ​“the fallout from many years of heavy industry”, according to Prof Susan Page of the University of Leicester. And the moorland fire may be releasing these toxic pollutants, absorbed during Manchester’s time as a hub of the Industrial Revolution, back into the air. There’s a grim poetry to the pollutants generated by the Industrial Revolution’s fossil fuel technologies being released through fire exacerbated by an extreme weather event. In addition, the first moor fire spread across land which appears to be intensively managed for grouse shooting. This involves draining boggy ground and burning areas to encourage the growth of new heather. A representative from the RSPB said that grouse land management turns ​“wetlands with a high water table to a drier, heather-dominated environment”, making them less able to absorb water and more susceptible to wildfires. Land campaigner and co-creator of Who Owns England Guy Shrubsole has suggested that this may have been a contributing factor to the rapid spread of the fire. https://​twit​ter​.com/​g​u​y​s​h​r​u​b​s​o​l​e​/​s​t​a​t​u​s​/​1​0​1​1​9​2​5​5​4​7​8​0​1​3​33763 According to Who Owns England, grouse moors ​“cover an area of England the size of Greater London, and rake in millions in public farm subsidies”. Our broken economic system is pumping public money towards land that is not being managed in the public interest — in fact, it is being managed in a way which is likely to expose the public to the dangers of wildfires, CO2 release, and flooding. The Committee on Climate Change has also identified the burning of the peatland carbon sink as a barrier to fighting climate change, and recommend ​“the widespread restoration of upland peat habitats which includes a programme for reviewing existing consents for burning on protected sites”. We have a tendency to see all these factors as separate, as if they do not interact with one another. But these aren’t stories that exist in isolation: the industrial pollutants stored in Greater Manchester’s peatlands are part of the same story as the management of huge swathes of English land for grouse shooting, and of the heatwave currently sweeping the country. Unfortunately these entangled connections with serious ramifications for the climate are often forgotten as MPs approve the expansion to Heathrow airport, and the government scraps plans for a tidal energy project in Swansea Bay. The dynamics of climate change are more than the heat charts and emissions graphs we’ve become so familiar with. There are layers of interconnected geological, historical, and political forces at work — and a holistic response to climate change can only come from paying attention to them. These dynamics of climate change, of extreme weather events, the Industrial Revolution, positive feedback loops, and a broken economic system, are playing out right now, on Saddleworth Moor. Topics Climate change Environment Housing & land

Canada offers a great variety of public and private schools that are open to anyone regardless of their citizenship. However, some expenses may be involved. Early Education: Nursery Schools and Kindergartens In Canada, children between the ages of 2–3 and 4–5 can attend nursery schools (daycares) that are not mandatory. Options for child care are varied, ranging from nannies, daycare centres, and home daycares. In most provinces and territories, children can be registered for kindergarten when they are 5 years of age on December 31 in a school year. Kindergarten is a preschool where children are prepared to study at school. Usually, they have one year in kindergarten before Grade 1 of elementary school. Attendance at kindergarten is required in the majority of Canadian regions except for the Prairie provinces. Full-day kindergarten is not mandatory — you can choose to send your child part-time. Children may attend kindergarten in local elementary schools that can be public or private. There are various types of organizations offering preschool education in Canada, including the following: Co-operative schools are non-profit schools where parents work voluntarily as teachers’ aides alongside professional teachers Church-affiliated schools are usually attached to religious organizations and may include religious education Private schools are for-profit organizations and are usually expensive Local public schools offer free education Children of all permanent residents of Canada, either Canadian- or foreign-born, have the right to attend kindergarten in a public elementary school for free. Kindergarten registration usually begins in January or February for the following September. To register your child, you should submit these documents: Your child’s birth certificate Immigration documents or proof of Canadian citizenship for both you and your child Your child’s immunization record Proof of your residence address (a purchase or rental agreement, your current year property tax receipt or current month rental receipt) Many preschools are private and charge between C$450 and C$1,300 a month or between C$5,400 and C$16,200 a year. Early education in Ontario and British Columbia is more expensive, and in Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, it is rather affordable. Costs of child care services can vary depending on the city. Montreal is one of the most affordable Canadian cities to raise children: in this city, child-care services cost 10 times less on average compared to Toronto and other major cities in Canada. For instance, the average monthly cost of raising a child in Montreal stands at C$175, at C$650 in Winnipeg, and at C$740 in Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), while in Toronto this figure amounts to C$1,675. Quebec is more affordable because it has a universal child-care program that has been effective for more than 20 years. If your child attends kindergarten in the public elementary school, there are normally no fees. However, you may need to pay for school supplies, lunches, and trips. Children in Canadian kindergartens are prepared to study in elementary school and receive basic skills related to literacy, numeracy, socialization, and creativity. In kindergarten, children acquire the following skills: Early literacy and numeracy: learning to write, doing basic math, learning to think critically Citizenship and identity: developing as a citizen, through a sense of personal connectedness to their class and school Environment and community awareness: understanding their connections as part of a community and the natural world Personal and social responsibility: learning to think for themselves, assessing the consequences of their actions, understanding their feelings and those around them, respecting differences in others Physical skills: playing and developing motor skills Creative expression and creative thinking Main activities include reading, math lessons, handwriting, and playing to learn. Children also have outdoor and rest time. A full-day kindergarten can start as early as 7:30 AM and may be open until 6:00 PM. Kindergartens operate from Monday to Friday, from September to June. There are also kindergarten summer camps in July and August. The next steps of education after kindergarten are elementary and secondary schools. Schools in Canada can be public, private or independent, English or French: Public schools are free government-financed organizations Private schools are paid for-profit organizations that do not receive public funding. Some of them are religious-based, and they can be day schools or boarding schools, coed, boys or girls schools Independent schools are private schools that are accountable to a board of governors or trustees English or French schools: education can be offered in English or French across the country, even in areas where one language is more commonly spoken than the other. In Quebec, the children of immigrants are typically required to attend public schools in French. However, private schooling options in English may be available It takes 12 years (11 in Quebec) for children to receive elementary and secondary education in Canada. School education includes two or three levels: Elementary (primary) school normally runs from grades 1 to 6 (or from 1 to 3 if there is a middle school). In most provinces and territories, it also includes kindergarten. In Ontario, elementary schools include 2 years of kindergarten — Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Senior Kindergarten (SK) Middle school (junior high school) is offered in most provinces. Middle school typically runs from grades 6–7 to 8–9 (age 12–15). In Ontario, it normally only includes grades 7 and 8 Secondary school (high school) normally runs from grades 9–10 to 11–12. It ends in grade 12 in all provinces except Quebec where after grade 11 students proceed to a pre-college program such as CEGEP (Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel) In most provinces and territories, children must start school in a year when they are 6 or 7 years of age on December 31 and attend school until they rich the age of 16 or 18 (depending on the province or territory). Age ranges of compulsory education across Canadian provinces and territories are the following: Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Quebec, Yukon: from 6 to 16 New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories: from 5 to 18 Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island: from 5 to 16 Manitoba: from 7 to 18 Ontario: from 6 to 18 Saskatchewan: from 7 to 16 You may be able to choose the school for your children. To enroll your child in elementary or high school, contact your local school board — it is recommended to do it well before the school year begins. To apply for admission to a school, it is required to have: Completed application forms Child’s birth certificate Immigration documents or proof of Canadian citizenship for parents and child Details of child’s medical history including immunization record Proof of residence address (a purchase or rental agreement, current year property tax receipt or current month rental receipt) School results from your home country or previous school in Canada. The child is required to have finished certain grades that correspond to grade levels in Canada (if you immigrate from another country). He also must have proficient skills in English or French Non-refundable application fee (in private schools) Test scores (depending on the school, it may be necessary for your child to pass an entrance exam) Many Canadian public schools accept international students who can choose to study in English, French or both languages. The school may offer free language courses before your child begins classes. In Manitoba, enrolment of international students is limited to 20% of total school enrolment in any school in a given year. The admissions process in prestigious private schools usually begins long before the child reaches school age (sometimes right after he is born). Public schools in Canada are free. But there may be fees for school supplies and fees for your child to participate in extra activities. Public schools are allowed to charge parents with the following fees: Schools supplies (pencils, pens, markers, pencil cases, paper, exercise books, folders, scissors, glue, geometry sets, and gym clothing) Costs associated with extra courses and programs (theatre, photography, aquaculture, web design, etc.) Extracurricular activities, field trips School clothing, school photos Rental of musical instruments Also, many public schools charge international students (non-residents) fees. Annual costs can range from approximately C$8K to C$14K. Private schools in Canada charge fees, and it concerns both international and local students. Minimum annual tuition can be under C$2,500 and maximum can reach C$70,000 or even more. Among the most expensive private schools are St. Michaels University School (Victoria), Brentwood College School (Mill Bay), St. George’s School (Vancouver), Applewood Academy for Progressive Learning (Belleville), and Appleby College (Oakville). Programs and Schedule In Canada, the education year usually begins in early September and ends in late June, with about two months off during the summer and two holiday sessions at Christmas time (late December) and Easter (April). The school year is divided into periods (quarters, terms or semesters). Schools run from Monday to Friday. The school day in elementary schools is typically from 8:30 AM to 3:00 or 3:30 PM, with a one-hour lunch break. There are also two 15-minute breaks. In high schools, hours are normally from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Extracurricular activities and sports are scheduled after school hours. There can be English and French programs in Canadian schools (depending on the province or territory). School subjects include Arts, Business Education, Career and Technical Education, Information Technology, English, French, Health, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, and many others depending on the school. Around grade 9, students receive career guidance counselling and select subjects that will be useful in their chosen career. Larger schools may offer specific levels, for instance, academic (sciences, higher mathematics, advanced languages), vocational (agricultural education, business education, economics, medical care), and general levels. High school students get a high school diploma which allows being admitted to a Canadian university. Another way to get high school equivalency is to pass the General Educational Development (GED) exam test. If you made up your mind about studying in Canada, make sure you apply several months in advance for a post-secondary program at a university or college. To do so, you need to take 4 steps. Read more about Post-Secondary Education in Canada →

Home news Nigeria will be Africa’s maritime hub Nigeria will be Africa’s maritime hub By; KAYODE ATOFOLAKI, Lagos. The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has reiterated the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria becomes the hub of maritime activities in Africa, thereby making it a reference point in the continent. The DG stated this when he officially took over from the former Acting Director General, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro at the headquarters of the Agency in Lagos. Dr. Peterside who observed that the Agency has competent personnel to drive the mandate of the Agency also called on Mr. Baba Jauro to always avail the Agency of his experience and expertise whenever the need arises. “We will harness the vast potentials available in the Agency in order to make Nigeria a maritime hub in the West and Central Africa sub-region by implementing all international laws and conventions, increased enforcement of our mandate and build the necessary capacity for indigenous operators leveraging on the Cabotage Act” the DG stated. He described the former Acting Director General of the Agency, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro as an Ambassador of NIMASA to the Federal Government and called on him to continue to support the Agency whenever his services are needed. In his comments, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro expressed gratitude to God and the Federal Government for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation in the last three and half years and that he is ready to work for the success of the present Management anytime his services are required. While welcoming the new DG, Mr. Jauro enjoined him to look through the Act that governs NIMASA as his guiding compass, while also noting that the Cabotage Act should be reviewed with a view to impacting positively on the indigenous operators. It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari recently appointed Dr. Dakuku Peterside as the Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), thereby replacing Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro as the substantive Director General of NIMASA. Previous articleOil Price Crash: Nigeria’s economic prospect still high Next articleCourt stops Ekiti Airport Project

First Wild Amazon Catfish Bred in North America Home // Home // First Wild Amazon Catfish Bred in North America COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University aquaculturists have successfully bred and reared the first wild Amazonian catfish in North America, opening the doors for improved sustainability of a species fast becoming overexploited for food fish production. Konrad Dabrowski, an aquaculturist with the School of Environment and Natural Resources, said that South American catfish of the Amazon region, mainly species Pseudoplatystoma faciatum, are popular with consumers throughout such countries as Argentina, Guyana, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia because of excellent meat quality and minimal bones. However, overexploitation of wild fish for consumption is jeopardizing the viability of species. "Fish caught in the wild along the Amazon, Parana or Orinoco rivers and tributaries have become very limited, so aquaculture of these species is of high priority," said Dabrowski, who holds a research appointment with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. "It is evident that studies promoting the artificial propagation of these fishes will improve the profitability of aquaculture operations for South American fish farmers and, consequently, economic conditions of rural communities that consume these species. In addition, readily available techniques of farming these fishes will reduce the pressure of catching fish from the wild." The purpose of the Ohio State research was to complement South American studies in the areas of improving fish development, gaining a better understanding of reproductive physiology, and determining the nutritional requirements of larvae. The research project was a collaborative effort of Ohio State researchers with The Sao Paulo State University in Jaboticabal, Brazil, and The University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru. "To the best of our knowledge, induced spawning of Pseudoplatystoma species has not been accomplished before in North America," said Dabrowski. It took three years of research in reproductive development, hormone treatment to synchronize male and female sexual maturation, and the careful balance of water temperature and light requirements for an end result of the hatching of several thousand 3.5 millimeter hatchlings at Ohio State's tropical aquaculture laboratory on the Columbus campus last month. "The hatchlings were out of their shells within 14 hours, one of the fastest rates of embryonic development in vertebrates," said Dabrowski. "This species is so voracious that if not given a sufficient diet, the fish will begin to cannibalize their own siblings within hours." Pseudoplatystoma species, commonly known as tiger shovelnose catfish, are carnivorous bottom-feeders, growing over three feet long. Tiger shovelnose catfish have an elongated body and a long snout, with silver or brown bodies accented with black spots or stripes. The exotic species inhabit the South American waters of the Amazon, Corintijns, Essequibo, Orinoco and Parana basins, and are among 1,000 other catfish species that inhabit the Amazon region. Amazon catfish account for almost half of all the catfish species in the world. The Ohio State research was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program and the Peruvian Science Foundation. Domestication of the species and developing selective breeding techniques are the goals of future research. Files related to this article catfish larvae.jpg catfishembryo.jpg tigershovelnose.JPG Konrad Dabrowski

Ancient wisdom in today’s electoral system in France by News Decoder | 20 Mar 2017 | Europe, Future of Democracy Sculpture of Herodotos, Metropolitan Museum of Art (Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons) This is part of a series of News-Decoder articles on elections in Europe. By Robert Holloway France goes to the polls next month to start choosing a new president with a method that would have pleased the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. On April 23, French voters will be able to back one of 11 candidates. The two with the largest number of votes will face each other in a second round on May 7. The following day, the winner will take office as the eighth president under the constitution adopted in 1958. Writing more than 2,450 years ago, Herodotus described how the Persians took two rounds to decide important matters of state. “It is also their general practice to deliberate upon affairs of weight when they are drunk,” he wrote. The next day, they would reconsider their decision while sober. “If it is then approved of, they act on it; if not, they set it aside.” Drunkenness might facilitate uninhibited discussion, but it is unlikely to be accepted today as a formal aid to decision-making. However, several dozen countries, including 11 members of the European Union, have adopted two-round voting to choose their presidents. France uses the method also to elect members of parliament and of regional and local administrations. A chance to change your mind A two-round system gives voters an escape valve for anger, outrage and pent-up passion in a tactical, free-wheeling first round. Then in the more consequential second round when faced with two choices, voters weigh their options more carefully — and in many cases bite their tongues hard. Its advocates say this is a safeguard against extremism and point to the French presidential election of 2002 as illustration. Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron is expected to make the second round run-off (EPA/Oliver Weiken) That election saw a record number of 16 candidates, including President Jacques Chirac, a conservative seeking a second term in office, and outgoing Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, a Socialist. They were the front-runners in early opinion polls. But to general surprise, Jospin was beaten into third place on the first round of voting by Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the extreme-right National Front. Le Pen’s margin was narrow — he took 16.86 percent of the vote to 16.18 for Jospin — but it was enough to secure him a place in the run-off against Chirac, who scored 19.88 percent. Some commentators blamed Jospin’s defeat on the fact that the left-wing vote was split: more than 27 percent of the electorate supported other left candidates. On the second and decisive round, however, they rallied behind the conservative Chirac, helping to boost his score to 82 percent, while Le Pen’s share increased only marginally to 18 percent. It was one of the biggest electoral landslides in a democratic country, so large that in other circumstances it would have aroused suspicions. If banks offer a grace period, why not the electoral system? Le Pen’s daughter Marine now heads the National Front and is its candidate in the forthcoming election. For weeks she has been running first or second in polls indicating voters’ first-round choices. Many of her opponents are optimistic that she, like her father, will be crushed on the second round. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is also expected to make the run-off (EPA/Caroline Blumbert) Critics such as the UK Electoral Reform Society, which favors proportional representation, say two-round voting is costly and only slightly more representative than the first-past-the-post system used in Britain and the United States. The divisive outcomes of the British referendum on EU membership last June and of the U.S. presidential election last November have led to new calls for some kind of electoral reform in those countries. Not all reforms would necessarily give voters the opportunity to think twice. But, if a bank allows a prospective house buyer a week or more to change his or her mind about accepting a mortgage, how much stronger is the case for giving voters the possibility to reverse a decision they might have come to regret? Robert Holloway is News-Decoder Editor. A British-born French citizen, he had a long career at Agence France-Presse as a journalist and editor before becoming director of the AFP Foundation, the international media training arm of the global news agency. He joined AFP in 1988 and served as Sydney bureau chief, foreign editor, head of the English desk in Paris, United Nations correspondent in New York, deputy managing editor and acting editor in chief. Tags: European Union, France, Marine Le Pen WorldEuropeAncient wisdom in today’s electoral system in France

Obamacare, the President’s unkept promise by News Decoder | 9 May 2015 | Americas, United States By Jane Macartney For Democrats, Obamacare is the most sweeping social change in decades and one that will help millions to afford to see a doctor. Republicans see the reform – the Affordable Care Act – as a stealth means to bleed the rich to pay for the poor. It has taken almost the whole of Barack Obama’s time in office to make his flagship policy a reality. But 2014 is the year when healthcare for all Americans comes into being. The system is fiendishly complicated; one reason that opponents, mainly Republicans, have been able to play on fears among the elderly that it dooms Medicare. It does not. In fact, it will slightly reduce insurance costs for those who are signed up. After all, the aim is to ensure that all Americans have health care insurance – not to benefit the poor at the expense of the rich but to get everyone to a doctor or a hospital when they need to. As of 1 January, more than two million had signed up for Obamacare. And more than four million had signed up to Medicaid. That’s more than six million Americans out of anywhere between 32 million and 50 million who have no health insurance at all. People who simply take their chances when it comes to getting sick. And when they do they may go bankrupt or simply fail to pay their hospital bills – raising the costs for everyone else. This is one of the problems that Obamacare aims to solve. Obamacare requires everyone to enroll in health insurance by March 31. Those who don’t are to be taxed about one percent of their 2014 income. The whole program got off to a terrible start when the website set up to an online insurance marketplace crashed on its October launch under the weight of just a few thousand users. The whole program got off to a terrible start when the website set up to an online insurance marketplace crashed on its October launch under the weight of just a few thousand users. It can now handle 50,000 concurrent users and 800,000 users a day, officials say. And then the President made a promise he could not keep and which was dubbed by the PolitiFact fact-checking website as “the lie of the year”. He had maintained that if you like your current insurance, you keep your current insurance. But in early November he acknowledged that some would not be able to keep their policies and had to apologize for understating the law’s impact on those people. In fact, the minimum coverage standards imposed by the healthcare law meant that hundreds of thousands of people with inexpensive, bare-bones policies had their policies cancelled. They must buy coverage that in some cases is more expensive. Federal subsidies will help many low-income Americans make that transition. Those fiascos may carry a high political cost for the President. Obamacare may now be pretty much back on track, but mid-term elections loom later this year. Democrats worry that the public may punish them at the ballot box. But Republicans, many bent on an increasingly fruitless campaign to repeal the act, could also suffer if they try again to paralyze government as they did last year. Obamacare is here to stay. But its impact on politics in 2014 is more of a question mark. Jane Macartney Jane Macartney, writer, has worked for The Times and for Reuters as a foreign correspondent. She was The Times correspondent in China for six years and lived in Japan, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong and London when working for Reuters. She is the author of part of a book on the 1989 student movement in China as well as a contributor to a book on the Afghan war. WorldAmericasObamacare, the President’s unkept promise

BANGKOK (NNT) – China’s JD.com will close its e-commerce services in Indonesia and Thailand, retreating from Southeast Asia after a bruising year for China’s retail and technology sectors. Local websites showed JD.com will end its services in Thailand from March 3 and in Indonesia from the end of the same month. Both units will stop taking orders on February 15. A spokesperson for JD.com said in a statement on Monday that the company will continue to serve global markets, including Southeast Asia, through its supply chain infrastructure. The company, which did not give a reason for the closures, started its e-commerce operation in Indonesia under the name JD.ID in 2015 as a joint venture with Provident Capital, while the Thai platform was launched two years later with the kingdom’s largest retailer Central Group. However, JD.com failed to gain traction against larger players such as Alibaba Group’s Lazada, Sea Ltd’s Shopee and GoTo Group’s Tokopedia. The company, which also runs the omni-channel retail brand Ochama in Europe, said in November that “new businesses” – including units abroad as well as other ventures such as JD property – accounted for just 2% of total revenue in the third quarter. In China, the company, like many of its tech peers such as Alibaba, has been battling a slowing economy and the impact of strict curbs, which have prompted cost cutting and worker layoffs. While JD.com has performed better than its peers, posting an 11.4% rise in third-quarter revenue, its chief executive has described the second quarter as the most difficult one since listing in 2014. Information and Source Reporter : Paul Rujopakarn National News Bureau : http://thainews.prd.go.th 7 Career-Boosting Resolutions For The New Year How to raise a happy and healthy kid Why China isn’t about to save Thailand’s economy yet

Admissions Marketing Campaign Uses ‘Augmented Reality’ Oct 21, 2014 Copy Link Prospective students now have the opportunity to interact with The University of Scranton even before they step on campus. A new marketing campaign from the school implements “augmented reality,” a technology that presents users with sound, video or graphics that appear to be imposed on a live, physical environment. Posters highlighting The University’s upcoming open house events invite users to download a free app, called Layar, point their mobile device or tablet at the ad, and watch it “come to life.” As users watch through their mobile device or tablet, The University of Scranton logo transforms into a short video about the campus. A button invites users to “share with friends” using their messaging app or social media platform, making it easy to spread the word. Another link redirects users to The University’s website for more information about the college and how to register for open house dates. “When we showed a poster to current students and asked them to scan it they thought it was really cool, and something that would appeal to prospective students, and that they would tell their friends about,” said Lori Nidoh, director of marketing at The University of Scranton. “Though the technology isn’t new, most people have never seen it in person.” An additional poster design was added to the mix to explain to shoppers how to utilize the Layar app and interact with the various advertisements. The posters will be on display in the following shopping malls until late October: Connecticut: Stamford Town Center and Westfarms Mall Massachusetts: Burlington Mall and South Shore Plaza Maryland: Arundel Mills, Towson Town Center Mall and Westfield Montgomery New Jersey: Monmouth Mall, Paramus Park Mall and the Mall at Short Hills New York: Roosevelt Field, Smith Haven Mall and the Westchester Pennsylvania: The Court at King of Prussia and Lehigh Valley Mall Virginia: Fashion Centre at Pentagon City The University promoted the campaign on its Facebook page and campus e-newsletter. Students and alumni also can enter a contest by submitting videos of themselves interacting with the posters at a shopping mall in or near their hometown. According to Nidoh, augmented reality opens up more options for The University’s marketing campaigns. The college hopes to use the technology in future print marketing materials, like viewbooks and posters that are mailed to prospective students. “It is exciting for us to explore the new ways technology can help us share the Scranton story and engage in a more interactive way with prospective students,” said Nidoh.

Home » low-fiber diet low-fiber diet LiveSmart: Stomach Pain? Cramping? It Could Be Diverticular Disease Diverticulosis generally doesn’t require medical treatment and there is no cure. But, you can take steps to manage it. [...]

Tag: call for paper call for papers news Research The African Journal of Health, Safety and Environment : Call For Papers The African Journal of Health, Safety and Environment (AJHSE (eISSN: 2695-1819, pISSN: 2695-2386) { https://www.ajhse.org/index.php/ajhse } (an authoritative International, Open Access, Bi-annual, Double-blinded Peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal) hereby invites researchers, scholars, scientists and professionals,…

HomeWorldUN says Ukraine nuclear plant had its integrity violated UN says Ukraine nuclear plant had its integrity violated The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) mission to assess the situation at Ukraine’s Zaporyjia nuclear plant, occupied in March by Russia during the invasion of its neighbor, said that the fighting in its region violated “the physical integrity” of the site and that it will be necessary to retain technicians from the agency for further investigation. “I worry, and I will continue to worry about the plant until we have a more stable situation, one that is more predictable. It is obvious that the plant and its physical integrity were violated several times by chance and by deliberation”, said this Thursday (1st) the Argentine Rafael Grossi, director general of the agency linked to the UN. He led a group of 14 people who, after much negotiation, carried out an on-site inspection. The convoy of nine UN vehicles had left Kiev the day before, and faced the risk of passing through areas where Russians and Ukrainians are attacking each other to reach Zaporijia. The plant is on the edge of the area occupied by the Russians in the homonymous region, which does not include its capital, also called by the same name. In recent weeks, fighting has intensified in the region, with both sides accusing the other of hitting the plant’s grounds. The Russians claimed to have shot down a Kiev military drone in the area, which landed on the roof of a building in the complex. The Ukrainians, for their part, claim that Moscow uses the plant as a shield to fire at their positions. “The IAEA will remain in Zaporijia,” Grossi said in a video posted on Twitter. “I think in those few hours we were able to get a lot of information. I saw the main things I needed to see and the explanations were very clear,” he later told reporters at a Ukrainian military checkpoint. Diplomatically, Grossi did not suggest which side the physical breach of the plant came from. What is known is that since the beginning of the war it only had 2 of its 6 reactors working, and one of them was shut down this Thursday by what Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom called “terrorist activity” by the Russians. State-owned technicians continue to operate the plant under the supervision of Russian military and experts. It began operating in the 1980s, when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union, as was Russia – in 1986, one of the worst nuclear accidents in history took place in Chernobyl, in the north of the country. In addition to the fear that a reactor or its cooling systems will be hit, there is danger all around, in the form of various radioactive waste dumps. If one of them is bombed, there is a risk of large-scale contamination. In Zaporijia, the city still in Kiev’s hands, iodine pills were distributed, a substance that helps to delay the absorption of radioactivity by the thyroid. The same happened in neighboring countries such as Romania, echoing the panic that set in Europe when the cloud from the explosion of a reactor in Chernobyl spread across the continent. Grossi left the plant, but part of his team stayed behind. In principle, this group of five people must stay until Saturday (3). The Argentine is expected to return to Kiev and continue negotiations for what he called a “continued presence” there. Ukrainians want more. With the support of the United States, they are calling for the complete demilitarization of the plant’s region, which the Russians obviously refuse because they do not want to lose control of the source of a fifth of the energy consumed in the country they invaded. It is a very valuable bargaining chip, including for eventual ceasefire talks, which are now unfathomable. By giving in to the IAEA, however, Moscow wanted to convey an image of responsibility and cooperation. What remains to be seen now is the degree of autonomy of the technicians’ investigation, which Grossi had said anyway to determine risks and not assign blame. “We did a first assessment. We saw the dedicated work of the staff and management. Despite the very difficult circumstances, they continue to work as a professional,” said Grossi, who, like his team, wore a bulletproof vest on the way to and from but not at the plant. Guedes talks about a state of calamity as a solution for Auxílio Brasil of R$ 600 in 2023 Mitsotakis: Holistic plan of more than 30 projects with a horizon of 2030 for Thessaloniki Ukraine: Concern in Kiev over President Xi’s visit to Moscow France: In a “handful of votes” the fate of the Macron government will be decided – Faced with two motions of censure ChatGPT “crashed”. Trikala: the 84-year-old gave 20 euros at a time to the 17-year-old girl – The role of the mother is being examined Giving a face to the unknown dead – Skulls from a 3D printer

Boston Pilot (1838-1857), Volume II, Number 23, 29 June 1839

Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 16, Number 271,Decatur, Adams County, 18 November 1918

Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 19, Number 160,Decatur, Adams County, 8 July 1921

Evansville Daily Journal Evansville Daily Journal, Volume 4, Number 97,Evansville, Vanderburgh County, 15 August 1851

Severe weather hits Italy, causing widespread damage and loss of life. What to expect from the UK solar eclipse in 2022 Analyzing the Controversy Surrounding Zidane’s Return, and What It Means for French Football The reports suggest that Monday’s voting of Conservative legislators will mark the first time that junior minister Steve Baker has voted for Sunak. Baker feels that it is impossible for the nation not to repeat the drama that was built before Johnson’s departure. The Speaker of the House of Commons is said to be trailing both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak in the number of supporters who have publicly declared their support. But, when asked which of them she’d prefer to support, Mr Johnson or Mr Sunak the Leader of the House, Mrs Mordaunt declared: “I’m standing to become the Prime Minister. 1. How important is the Conservative legislator’s first decision? The initial vote taken by Conservative lawmakers is important because it is the first indication of the MPs from the Conservative party who they believe is the best candidate to become prime minister. This is important because it gives us an indication that which political party members support and which candidate they think has the greatest chance of winning in the race for the presidency. Sunak currently leads his competitors by just one day before the nomination deadline. This is an excellent sign that Sunak has a good chance of becoming the next prime minister. 2. What did junior minister Steve Baker say about the result? We’re aware that Rishi Sunak has a clear advantage over other contenders in the contest for the post of Premier Minister of the UK. The junior minister Steve Baker has come out for Sunak by saying Sunak is the ideal choice for the job. Baker claimed that Sunak has the right mix of experience and fresh ideas that the UK will need for it to advance. He also lauded Sunak’s job as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, saying that the Chancellor has performed a superb job in difficult times. Baker’s endorsement can be an encouragement Sunak’s cause, and it’s clear Sunak is considered to be the best candidate for the job in the current stage. 3. Who is the present frontrunner for Prime Minister? Rishi Sunak is the current leading candidate to become the next the next Prime Minister. He is only one day away from closing nominations. Sunak is an ex-minister of the Conservative Party politician who has served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer since 2019. The public regards him as a skilled and experienced politician. He was recognized for his leadership in steering the UK economy during the Covid-19 epidemic. 4. The who’s the Leader of the House of Commons? Rishi Sunak is currently leader of the House of Commons and has an advantage that is clear over the other candidates who are competing for the position of the Premier Minister of the United Kingdom. Sunak has received a lot of praise by his management of the COVID-19 disease and the consequent economic crisis, and he can be seen as a common leader within the Conservative Party. Boris Johnson (current Prime Minister) as well as Michael Gove (current Chancellor of Exchequer), are the main contenders in the race for the top spot. Sunak is widely seen as being the favourite to win in the presidency contest. Sunak is likely to be officially announced from the Conservative Party later today. Boris Johnson is fighting to gain enough support to be the next Prime Minister of Britain after some prominent figures were seen expressing support for former finance minister Rishi Sunak. When it comes to public-declared supporters in the House of Commons, the leader of the House of Commons trails Mr Johnson as well as Mr Sunak. The different types of butterflies found around the world, and their unique features. The Demon King: A powerful ruler with great strength The father of Meliodas and Zeldris: Two powerful and strong members of the Ten Commandments A villain with great strength: The Demon King can tear up the ground with his great power Jake Ellis Reviews the Most Surprising Bachelors 2023 Moments Why the buzz cut is London Fashion Week’s most controversial hairstyle Nanophotonics in Solar Cells How to troubleshoot common boiler problems Exploring the Cinematography of All Quiet on the Western Front Exploring the Top 10 Most Innovative Fintechs in London

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women’s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels. These activities were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. In 1989 the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month Commemorative Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. In October 1994 NCADV, in conjunction with Ms. Magazine, created the “Remember My Name” project, a national registry to increase public awareness of domestic violence deaths. Since then, NCADV has been collecting information on women who have been killed by an intimate partner and produces a poster each October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, listing the names of those documented in that year. source: ncadv.org Domestic Violence Awareness Month was originally published on praisecleveland.com Domestic Violence information women and men

← Roenick has a point on these risky long-term investments DeAngelo finally re-signs → True Warrior Dan Girardi retires After 13 years, Dan Girardi called it a career today. Once undrafted, he became a fixture on the Rangers defense. One of Glen Sather’s best signings, he developed into a shutdown defenseman who did whatever it took to help the Blueshirts win games. For 11 years, Girardi wore the Rangers jersey with pride and passion. He would frequently sacrifice his body for the cause. Whether it was a huge hit or death defying block, number 5 was a true warrior. Imagine going from not even drafted to a key piece of those teams that went deep in the playoffs. They made three Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup appearance between 2012 and 2015. They don’t get there without Girardi, who frequently paired up with Marc Staal and then Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers paid tribute to him in a special video tribute with praise from Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Kreider and Staal. They know what he meant. Thank you for 11 years of giving us your all. Thank you for being one of us. #NYR pic.twitter.com/74EBkG6CnG Girardi was like having a second goalie. How many times would he lay out for the good of the team? Some of the blocks were insane. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his teammates. It’s no wonder he became such a popular Ranger with appreciative fans, who loved the heart he played with. It’s still hard to believe he finished his career with the Lightning. But that’s where all former Rangers seem to wind up. In Tampa at Rangers South. Ryan Callahan recently had to retire too due to injury. He was a lot like Girardi. I guess it’s just ironic. I knew this day was coming. Staal made sure to talk further about what he admired most about his former partner. When you really think about it, that’s how it started. With 18 and 5 on the blueline. They both are warriors. “I was happy and proud to be able to play with him for as long as I did in a #NYR uniform. That’s something that we’ll have for the rest of our lives.” Marc Staal’s thoughts on Dan Girardi’s retirement + his preseason debut tonight at New Jersey: pic.twitter.com/UdsXlcgq7I One day when Staal reaches this point in his career, Garden Faithful will feel similarly. All the criticism will go away like it did for Girardi. Deep down, these guys are revered for what they give. The end of the old Black and Blueshirts Era is coming soon. Staal and Lundqvist are the only remaining members. Both have lasted a long time. They still have more to give. Kreider too even though I don’t think of him that way due to arriving during the Spring of 2012. He has a lot more left. Thank you to No. 5, Dan Girardi for becoming one of my favorite players to represent this city. Enjoy your retirement. This entry was posted in Battle News, NYRangers and tagged Black and Blueshirts, blocked shots, Chris Kreider, Column, Dan Girardi, heart, Henrik Lundqvist, hits, Lightning, Marc Staal, Number 5, Rangers, retirement, Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh, sacrifice, tribute, true warrior. Bookmark the permalink.

FSC Audit on the White River Forest This week, NFMC is participating in a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Audit on the White River Forest. This audit is to ensure that all sustainability measures are being maintained, which allows us to keep the FSC certification on the White River Forest. The certification proves to wood buyers that the products from our forest meet […]

MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS: Buenos Aires Neighborhoods Posted on February 2, 2023 March 15, 2023 by Nicki Coming to a new city can be really overwhelming for the first time. You need to figure out where to live, and how to get around, often before you have even seen the city with your own eyes. I put together this Buenos Aires neighborhood guide to help you get a bit more acquainted with the area, and hopefully make your transition a bit easier. Also, make sure to check out these TIPS for moving to Buenos Aires. Check out these other Buenos Aires neighborhoods: Guide to the Best Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires Almagro & Caballito SUMMARY IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS San Nicolas and Monserrat are two neighborhoods located in the city center of Buenos Aires. San Nicolas is known for its lively nightlife scene, with a variety of bars, clubs, and entertainment options. However, Monserrat, on the other hand, is known for its government buildings, cultural institutions, and historic architecture. Both neighborhoods are considered more traditional and are home to a mix of government workers, students, and young professionals. They are also home to many traditional Argentine restaurants and cafes, and both are known for their street vendors selling traditional Argentine snacks (garrapiñadas). VIBE IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS These two neighborhoods make up what is considered the “micro-centro,” or the main city center. Therefore, on the weekdays, you’ll find the streets busy and full of people going to work. On the weekends, they are definitely less busy as people stay home or leave the city on the weekends. That said, certain areas of the neighborhoods are very lively on weekends and weekend nights (Avenida Corrientes). Rents tend to be a bit lower in these neighborhoods as the buildings are older and less trendy. TRANSPORTATION IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS The transportation is fantastic. You have bus stops and subte stops galore. All the subte stops converge here in the center, angling towards La Casa Rosada. You can find Catedral (green line D), Bolívar (purple line E), and Plaza de Mayo (blue line A) within a few minutes walking from La Casa Rosada. There are several bus stops all along Paseo Colon and Leandro Alem as well. This neighborhood is the easiest and best for getting public transport. SHOPPING IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS San Nicolas and Monserrat are neighborhoods in Buenos Aires known for their traditional markets and local shops. These areas offer a variety of items such as clothing, jewelry, and crafts, as well as traditional Argentine food and souvenirs. Visitors can also find street vendors selling handmade items and local produce. The neighborhoods are also known for their historical and cultural significance, and offer a unique shopping experience with a mix of traditional and modern products. Calle Florida is one of the main shopping streets in the area. PARKS IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS The neighborhoods of San Nicolas and Monserrat in Buenos Aires, Argentina have several plazas that offer a variety of recreational activities. The main park of these neighborhoods would be the Plaza Lavalle, located just behind the Teatro Colon. Here you can find people walking dogs, resting, or even having group dance practices. EATING & DRINKING IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS San Nicolas and Monserrat neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, Argentina offer a diverse selection of restaurants that serve traditional Argentine cuisine, as well as international options. Visitors can find traditional parrilla (grill) restaurants, pizzerias and cafes that serve traditional Argentine dishes such as empanadas and asado. Plaza Mayo is a traditional restaurant in Buenos Aires that serves pasta and fish dishes at very fair prices. It’s quite a local place and would be uncommon to see other tourists here. Good lunch specials. Celta Bar Celta Bar is one of Buenos Aires’ ‘Bares Notables,’ and is a great place to eat traditional Argentine cuisine in a location that has remained virtually unchanged in the last 80 years. Pizza Guerrin Pizzera Guerrin is the most famous pizza restaurant in the entire city of Buenos Aires. It serves thick slices which can be eaten in the back of the restaurant at a table, or you can stand in line for a slice to be eaten around a counter top shared with several other eaters. I also suggest getting the faina, which is made of chickpeas. Another famous pizzeria is El Cuartito. Saigon Noodle Bar The absolute best Vietnamese food in the city is found at Saigon Noodle Bar. I can’t recommend this place enough when you’re craving a warm bowl of pho on a cold day. Rooftop Bars/Restaurants The Guemes Gallery and Trade Sky Bar are two excellent rooftop bar/restaurants. The former is much more casual, and the latter much more hip. Reservations are required at Trade Sky Bar. Purchase my BUENOS AIRES travel guide on Amazon WHAT TO DO IN MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS There is so much to do in the micro-centro, and luckily it’s all within walking distance (if you like walking). Plaza de Mayo Plaza de Mayo is a historic square located in the center of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the main political and social center of the city, and has been the site of many important events in Argentine history. The square is best known for being the location of the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, the Cathedral Metropolitana, the main Catholic church in Buenos Aires, and the Cabildo, a museum of Argentina’s past. Avendia 9 de Julio Avenida 9 de Julio is a major avenue located in the center of Buenos Aires. It is one of the most famous streets in Argentina and is named after the country’s Independence Day, July 9th. The avenue is also home to several notable landmarks such as the Obelisk, a monument that commemorates the city’s founding, and the Teatro Colon, one of the most famous opera houses in South America. There are 16 lanes of traffic, making it the widest avenue in South America. Teatro Colon is a historic opera house located in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the 9 de Julio avenue. It is considered one of the most important opera houses in South America and one of the ten best opera venues in the world. The theater was opened in 1908 and has undergone several renovations, the most recent one was finished in 2010. It has a capacity of 2,487 seats and it’s known for its acoustics and beautiful architecture. There are daily tours in English (at 3pm). The Obelisk is a monument located in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the 9 de Julio avenue. It was built in 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city. It is also a symbol of Buenos Aires and a popular tourist attraction. The obelisk is 67.5 meters tall and stands on the spot where the original city was founded in 1536 by Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza. You may recognize this obelisk from the many videos that were shown after Argentina won the World Cup in 2022. Avenida Corrientes Avenida Corrientes is a major avenue located in Buenos Aires. It is known for its cultural and entertainment offerings, it’s often referred to as the “Broadway of Buenos Aires” due to its many theaters and live performance venues. The avenue is also home to several notable landmarks such as the Teatro Colon and the Obelisk. It is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, as it offers a variety of dining and shopping options, as well as a lively nightlife scene. The avenue shuts down to cars on weekend evenings and is great for a nighttime stroll to see street performers and theatre goers. The Centro Cultural Kirchner, also known as CCK, is a cultural center located in Buenos Aires, which is free to enter. It was inaugurated in 2015, and it is named after former President Néstor Kirchner. The CCK is dedicated to promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of Argentina, it has exhibitions and spaces for concerts, theater performances, and art shows. It also houses a library, a cinema, and a research center. Ateneo Grand Splendid The Ateneo Grand Splendid is a cultural center located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is housed in an opulent former theater and bookstore from 1919, it has been restored to its original splendor and used as a cultural center. It is known for its grand architecture and beautiful interior design. The Ateneo Grand Splendid is a popular spot to browse books and attend literary events, concerts, and art shows. VISIT MONSERRAT & SAN NICOLÁS WITH WAYAWAY Use my affiliate link at no extra cost to you to sign up for WayAway Plus. Withhin that Plus account, you have access to cashback on flights, hotels, car rentals etc. from things like GetYourGuide, Viator, Booking.com, etc. You get the cashback via paypal. Posted in Argentina, Buenos Aires, South AmericaTagged almagro, Argentina, argentina 2022, argentina expat 2022, argentina money, argentina travel, argentina travel blog, Baires, balvanera, barrio, barrio norte, belgrano, bsas, buenos aires, caba, caballito, capital federal, chico, ciudad de la furia, colegiales, congreso, hollywood, la boca, micro centro, montserrat, neighborhoods, palermo, puerto madero, recoleta, san telmo, soho, villa crespo Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo: Argentina’s Military Dictatorship Discover Argentina: Comparing Argentina’s Top 5 Cities

YEAR IN REVIEW: National Institute for Reproductive Health Drives Wave of Progress for Reproductive Freedom at State and Local Level Contact: Liza Dee, [email protected], 860-304-2294 For NIRH and its Action Fund, 2019 Was a Year of Protecting Access to Abortion in States and Localities, Breaking Down Barriers to Contraception, and Overcoming Anti-Abortion Attacks to Win Elections New York – While the Trump administration and its allies in conservative state legislatures waged war on access to reproductive health care, the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) and its Action Fund helmed the passage of critical state legislation to protect Roe v. Wade, innovated new policy opportunities on the municipal level, removed barriers to care, and fought back against damaging misinformation campaigns set forth by anti-abortion extremists – securing important electoral wins in the process. “For many years, NIRH’s model has been to build power in states and cities to advance reproductive freedom, and 2019 was a watershed year in securing crucial victories at the state and local level, in the face of attacks from the federal and so many state governments.” said Andrea Miller, president of NIRH and the NIRH Action Fund. “Change starts from the ground up, and NIRH is proud to have worked in the states to secure and protect legislative wins from New York to Illinois, to have helped elect champions for abortion access in Virginia, and to have expanded the vision of what’s possible when it comes to protecting and advancing reproductive freedom. In the year ahead, we will continue to build on that momentum.” Protecting the fundamental right to abortion in the states NIRH and its Action Fund plunged headfirst into 2019 by leading the charge to pass the Reproductive Health Act in New York State, paving the way for more states to pass laws protecting abortion access than ever before. In January, the Action Fund launched a half-million-dollar public education campaign calling for immediate passage of the RHA, which safeguards the fundamental right to abortion in New York State, decriminalizes abortion, and ensures access to care regardless of a blow to Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court. The RHA was signed into law on January 22, 2019, the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. NIRH worked with state advocates in Illinois and Vermont this year as they passed laws to codify the fundamental right to abortion, applying the lessons learned from New York to ensure that anti-abortion backlash and misinformation did not derail those bills. NIRH also supported its partners’ efforts in New Jersey to pass a law to keep reproductive health care providers and staff safe by protecting their private information. In Connecticut and Massachusetts, NIRH worked with state partners to move their proactive bills through the legislature, setting the stage for passage in 2020. As NIRH reported in its 2019 Midyear Report, California, Connecticut, Maine, Nevada, and Rhode Island also passed proactive bills to safeguard abortion access – meaning more states protected abortion access this year than in any previous year. Writing for The Washington Post, NIRH president Andrea Miller summarized the importance of these landmark laws: “Even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, giving anti-choice legislators an opportunity to turn even more of the country into ‘abortion deserts,’ we still have options to preserve the oases women need so badly to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.” Innovating opportunities on the local level In 2019, NIRH broke new ground in securing wins for reproductive freedom in cities and counties. The organization was at the forefront of a growing movement at the municipal level to remove financial obstacles to abortion care. In June, the NIRH Action Fund was instrumental in securing $250,0000 in New York City’ FY2020 budget for the New York Abortion Access Fund, making New York the first city in the nation to directly fund abortion care. Following the first-of-its-kind effort in New York, NIRH provided counsel to groups on the ground in Austin, including the Lilith Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, who in turn secured $150,000 in city funding for practical support for abortion care, including transportation, lodging, childcare, doula, and emotional support to Austinites. The funding makes Austin a bright spot as an increasingly complex web of Texas abortion restrictions create new obstacles for patients. And in St. Louis City and County, NIRH partnered with NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri to protect the reproductive health of incarcerated people by requiring access to quality prenatal and postpartum health care, nutritious food, and sanitary products. Summarizing the range of possibilities to advance reproductive health, rights and justice at the local level, NIRH launched its biennial Local Reproductive Freedom Index in October, providing a snapshot of the policies of 50 cities across the United States, and offering a roadmap for cities to follow. Acting on the possibilities at the local level and prompted by the launch of the Local Index, the Atlanta City Council initiated a Reproductive Justice Commission dedicated to improving public health outcomes related to maternal, infant, and reproductive health, including abortion care. This Commission will serve as a counterbalance to the state’s efforts to ban abortion entirely. Striking Down Barriers to Contraceptive Access In 2019, NIRH worked with state partners to secure several wins to expand access to long acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as IUDs and implants. NIRH supported advocates in Arizona and New Mexico to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to make these devices more accessible. Back in Albany, NIRH successfully pushed for passage of New York State’s Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which expands access to contraception, including emergency contraception, by requiring health insurers to cover contraception without a co-payment. Combating Misinformation Campaigns, Winning Elections In response to the multitude of proactive actions taken at the state level – including laws dedicated to enshrining Roe – the anti-abortion camp in 2019 launched a calculated misinformation campaign designed to sow confusion and opposition to our successes. NIRH fought back. In New York, NIRH led a public campaigns throughout the first several months of the year to pass and then continue to demonstrate support for the RHA, and in Illinois and Vermont, NIRH launched campaigns to set the record straight and spread factual information about the benefits of proactive abortion policies that established fundamental rights to abortion access in those states. In the Virginia election, the NIRH Action Fund worked with partners to mount an electoral program that confronted the same inflammatory and misleading attacks against abortion. Cutting through the misinformation to connect with voters’ support for abortion access was essential, and the NIRH Action Fund worked with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia to train 44 candidates and candidates’ campaigns – including every candidate that flipped a seat in the Virginia General Assembly, helping them articulate their support and vision for reproductive freedom across the Commonwealth. This electoral program also supported seven candidates for statehouse and demonstrated that protecting abortion access is a galvanizing issue that drives voter turnout, and that candidates can win by demonstrating support for access to abortion. “As we close out the decade, NIRH has gained significant ground by targeting states and localities as the battleground for protecting access to abortion” Miller said. “In 2020, we will continue to capitalize on this momentum, activate voters, and advance reproductive health, rights and justice – in communities, cities, and states nationwide.” The National Institute for Reproductive Health builds power at the state and local level to change public policy, galvanize public support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception. Using a partnership model, NIRH provides state and local advocates with strategic guidance, hands-on support, and funding to create national change from the ground up. We form strategic partnerships with a wide range of organizations to directly impact the reproductive health and lives of women across the country. Each year, NIRH works in at least 20 states and more than a dozen localities; to date, NIRH has partnered with 175 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations in 43 states and 64 localities across the country. 2019 Year-End Report — Gaining Ground: Proactive Legislation in the States

Students connect with Haitian kids By NJJN Staff April 12, 2010, 12:00 am Edit Abrams H.O.P.E. students are reading to raise funds for Haiti. Students at Abrams Hebrew Academy in Yardley, Pa., are bearing witness to the devastation caused by Haiti’s Jan. 12 earthquake through a series of live videoconferences — part of Students Rebuild, an initiative in partnership with Global Nomads Group, the Bezos Family Foundation, and Architecture for Humanity (www.studentsrebuild.org). In April, the Abrams students are scheduled to connect with their peers in Haiti via a live two-way broadcast. A team of GNG educators will be on the ground, meeting with Haitian youth and hearing their stories of survival and hope. The Abrams students will learn from their Haitian peers about the realities of the country’s troubles and will discuss ideas on rebuilding Haiti. Students Rebuild aims to enlist students across the globe to help in rebuilding better, safer schools in Haiti through participation in a $500,000 matching grant challenge. Abrams students have committed to raising money for Students Rebuild, which will match their efforts up to $2,500. Abrams students, led by the middle school club H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) and teacher and H.O.P.E. adviser Chris Konopka, are holding a fund-raising read-athon for students in grades one-eight. “Our students are truly performing an act of tzedaka,” said school director Rabbi Ira Budow. “They’re working diligently to read as much as possible for the benefit of fellow students so far away. Our entire staff is proud of their initiative to help others in such great need.” GNG cofounder David Macquart said, “It’s important that students develop a deep connection to the people on the ground. Our live interactive broadcasts will enable participants to glean real insight into Haiti and the people who live there, not just their plight. At the end of the day, making connections with the people they help will make students’ philanthropic efforts that much more gratifying.” Konopka said taking part in the program “is critical because it allows the students to get to know their counterparts in Haiti whom they are helping through their efforts.” To donate to Abrams’ read-athon team raising money for the Students Rebuild program, visit www.abramsonline.org/?p=1446. Princeton Mercer Bucks News

[email protected] DESTINATIONS australia A combination of spellbinding natural wonders, big city comforts, perfect weather and a laid-back approach to life make Australia one of the most appealing destinations for any traveller. Its youthful, energetic and cosmopolitan cities, from Sydney and Melbourne to more far-flung Perth and Darwin, offer tons of entertainment, nightlife and cultural activities, while the indescribable magnetism of the Outback, Blue Mountains, Great Barrier Reef and endless beaches epitomise the beauty of this expansive country and the diverse habitats of its unique wildlife. As one of the world’s most exciting epicurean destinations (not to mention, leading wine producers), it is a country to eat your way through. All Lazy beach days Be Active Hidden gems With your kids Sustainable cities I Love Culture Shopper's Paradise ArrivalGuides' Favourites Vibrant People have been flocking to Cairns in search of treasure since the first gold rush. However, the prospectors of today come to mine the abundance of natural and environmental treasures that surround the city. With the tropical rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef in close proximity, Cairns attracts a young and intrepid crowd that adds to the vibrancy of this lively and welcoming city. Situated amidst the 74 Whitsunday Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other: glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, wondrous coral reefs, unique flora and fauna, divine food and wines, and a buzzing calendar of special events. With its laid-back luxury and activities almost too numerous to mention, Hamilton is the next island in the Great Barrier Reef you should visit. Australia’s Gold Coast is a diverse city, offering action packed days and fun filled nights to over 10 million visitors each year. Families, couples, business delegates and solo travellers will all find an experience to suit their needs and budget, as the Gold Coast serves up more attractions and venues than any other destination in the southern hemisphere. Get into the Gold Coast’s easy living lifestyle with 70 kilometres of sun, sand and surf at your doorstep plus 100,000 hectares of world heritage-listed rainforest just a short drive away. Edged by mountain ranges, Canberra is a planned city built on vast limestone plains. Canberra is Australia’s national capital – seat of the Federal parliament and home to many institutions and national monuments. Four distinct seasons add to its charm and visitors quickly discover that it really is Australia’s hidden gem. The surrounding countryside contains historic and picturesque rural villages and a burgeoning cool-climate wine industry. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Townsville is a very popular destination for sun seekers and provides easy access to the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville is situated in the dry tropical region and serves as a gateway to the Outback, wet tropical rainforest, with wetlands teeming with bird life. A number of tropical islands can be reached easily reached from Townsville. Boasting a 2.5 km beachfront area known as the Strand, it is an exciting and vibrant city to visit. The spectacular escarpment and beautiful beaches make Wollongong idyllic for outdoor adventures and fun. Just 80 km south of Sydney, Wollongong is NSW's third-largest city. Skydive, hang-glide and paraglide above the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Surfing, water skiing, sailing and fishing are popular, too. Play golf on picturesque courses or relax on a beach. Rent a bike and ride along 60 km of cycle paths or walk on rainforest trails. After all the outdoor activities, visit the city’s splendid art gallery and enjoy quality cafés and restaurants. Adelaide is a new city in an old land, founded as a British colony in 1836 and now the capital of South Australia. Today, its rich mix of diverse cultures has adapted a relaxed and cosmopolitan lifestyle amidst green parks as well as 30km of beaches stretching along its suburbs. The city is famous for its al fresco eating culture, and it is the centre of the Australian wine industry, with some of the best food and drinks in the world. Ballina Byron The Ballina/Byron region is delightfully diverse. It ranges from the quiet family world of Ballina to Byron Bay, the former hippy capital of Australia. Byron Bay was once a simple whaling station later rediscovered by surfers. Now, long after the 60s, the place is swarmed with tourists and celebrities wishing to experience this alternative town, which is still one of the most hippy destinations on the East Coast. Lord Howe Island is a World Heritage-listed paradise where at any time of the year, you'll be one of only 400 visitors. A holiday on this exquisite subtropical island promises a serene and unhurried experience. Getting around by bike or on foot is the way to go here. This idyllic island boasts a wealth of activities, including exploring its gorgeous beaches, tranquil lagoons, magnificent coral reefs, and lush rainforest regions, all of which display the island's stunning natural beauty. Blessed with 26 white sandy beaches, a vast blue bay and many tranquil inlets, Port Stephens is an idyllic destination about 2.5 hours' drive north of Sydney. With a marine park rich in diversity, the area is famous for its resident dolphins, crystal clear waters and towering sand dunes. Daily dolphin-watching cruises depart from Nelson Bay and the ocean is great for watching whales during their annual migration. Charming towns are framed by bushland, wetlands and volcanic peaks. Enjoy fresh seafood and local wines in delightful settings. Broome is situated in North-Western Australia, a two and a half hour flight from Perth. The surrounding region is full of colour, culture and captivating scenery. Fiery red ochre cliffs contrast with the unspoiled turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, dinosaur footprints tell secrets of ancient days and a multi-cultural population provides arts, performances and inviting cuisine. The pearling industry has been an important part of the region's economy. Many places and shops offer visitors closer insight into this trade and the jewellery craft. Newcastle is the hub of the Hunter Valley wine region in New South Wales, located right at the mouth of the Hunter River. It is home to stunning beaches, a rich heritage of Victorian architecture and plenty of live music events for all tastes. There are also lots of places for recreation, hiking and outdoor adventures nearby. Whether you are looking for vibrant city life or a spectacular natural retreat, in Newcastle you will get it all. A combination of big city comforts, good weather and a laid-back approach to life make Perth one of the most livable cities in the world. It is a youthful and cosmopolitan city. In terms of entertainment, nightlife and cultural activities it can stand up to even the fiercest competition. When it comes to food, Perth raises the bar, boasting fabulous beachfront restaurants, succulent seafood and some of the country’s best vineyards. An excellent public transportation system allows visitors to explore the city with ease. Fraser Coast Though famous for its paradise-like Fraser Island and the visiting whales, the Fraser Coast offers plenty of other amazing places and adventures. This picturesque region is centred on the twin cities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough. Check out the former gold mining town of Gympie and the beautiful nature surrounding Fraser Coast, both on land and in the water. The warm and mild climate means that the Fraser Coast is perfect to explore all year around. Rockhampton is known by many as the unofficial capital of Central Queensland and as the official beef capital of Australia, with three million head of cattle calling the region home. With its historical buildings and tree-lined streets facing the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton is a great place to visit. Its location on the Tropic of Capricorn gives the city over 300 days of sunshine a year. Enjoy the beaches of the Capricorn Coast, or explore the region’s national parks and caves. The Sunshine Coast is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most beautiful regions with amazing beaches, stunning sunlight, picturesque hinterland and plenty of breathtaking views. The vast area, which extends along the golden Pacific coast for nearly 60 kilometres, offers a wonderful and immense mix of cultures, cuisine, nature and outdoor activities that are all ready to be explored. Coffs Harbour is a paradise of attractions, from thrilling skydives and underwater adventures to dolphin shows and waterfront dining. Nearby you can walk above a rainforest canopy in a World Heritage wilderness. Famous for its bananas, fish and surf, this coastal city on the NSW North Coast is at the southern edge of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, a haven for turtles and great for diving. And relax on beautiful beaches in Coffs, as the locals call this much-loved destination halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and easy to get to by air, road or rail. Whitsunday Coast The sun, sea and sand all add together to make the Whitsunday Coast the ideal place to relax. Enjoy great atmosphere and nightlife in a spectacular setting. A beach lover’s paradise where everything is on hand to make your stay in this area one you won’t forget. Close to the Great Barrier Reef and just 26 km from the Whitsunday Islands, there is plenty to see. Backpackers and families alike will enjoy the many attractions such as the Airlie Beach Lagoon and the amazing croc safaris up the Proserpine River. Situated halfway between Brisbane and Cairns, Mackay is surrounded by lush rainforests, pristine white sandy beaches, and the fertile Pioneer Valley. It is home to one of Australia’s richest sugar cane growing regions. Beyond its shores, the Great Barrier Reef's awe-inspiring coral formations, diverse marine life, and serene islands offer a tropical paradise for all. With its outstanding dining options, picturesque parks, and thriving art scene, Mackay caters to every taste and budget. Port Macquarie is a vibrant coastal city at the heart of a beautiful region teeming with outdoor adventures, gorgeous beaches and delicious fresh produce and seafood. A fascinating history dating back to the convict era adds to the allure. Australia’s biggest population of coastal koalas is here, on the mid North Coast of New South Wales. And the region is famous for its Hastings River oysters and its vineyards produce award-winning wines. From local culinary delights to splendid natural beauty, Port Macquarie is a picture-perfect gem to visit. Sydney is Australia's most famous city, with the majestic Sydney Opera House, the impressive steel arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the sparkling waterways and the white sands of Bondi Beach. Beneath this glittering surface, Sydney has many more enchanting layers to discover. This beautiful cosmopolitan city celebrates its cultural diversity and heritage, and passion for arts and sports. A temperate climate makes Sydney spectacular at any time of the year, and the city's friendly, casual attitude keeps visitors coming back Down Under for more! The Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest and most visited wine region, is a stunning vacation spot. Indulge in delectable wine and cuisine, stay in stylish accommodations, and attend exciting events. With 150 top-notch wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms, there's no shortage of wine-tasting opportunities. From being pampered at a valley day spa to playing golf at a championship course, you'll be greeted with a friendly country charm in the Hunter Valley. From World Heritage rainforest to sparkling beaches, the Byron Bay region on the NSW North Coast is full of natural wonders. The Aboriginal Arakwal people call it Cavvanbah - the meeting place. The area is also famous for its surf culture, alternative philosophies, organic food and outdoor adventures. Byron Bay's natural attractions are impeccable - humpback whales cruise past the headland, dolphins frolic in the bay and storms create rainbows on the mountains. People from all walks of life meet here, drawn by Byron Bay's vibrant energy. The Blue Mountains get their name from the natural blue haze created by vast eucalypt forests in this World Heritage area. Tiny droplets of oil released from the trees mix with water vapour and sunlight to produce the distinctive colour. Enjoy crisp mountain air, beautiful panoramas, charming villages, one of the world’s oldest cave systems, and exhilarating adventures in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney. You can even see dinosaur trees in the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah. This is a great Australian escape and a natural wonder of the world. Alice Springs, or 'The Alice', lies in the heart of Australia, and is unofficially considered the Outback's capital. While it was regarded as a 'dead heart' during colonial times, due to the surrounding barren landscapes, today both residents and visitors recognise the physical and spiritual importance of Australia’s Centre, and it indeed is beating alive with Aboriginal traditions and sacred sites, a vibrant local art culture with a fascinating pioneering history, and still incredible landscapes. Rising majestically from the tropical depths of the vast Indian Ocean, and surrounded by the azure waters of Asia's southern fringe lies a stunning natural wonder - Christmas Island ... Its name alone is intriguing and stirs interest. This tiny island in the Indian Ocean is a truly fascinating paradise, inviting you to uncover its remarkable surprises of nature in a one-of-a-kind environment. Venture to this awe-inspring island for an unforgettable getaway. Embark on a journey to Jervis Bay, a stunning location on the untouched NSW South Coast. Admire the pristine white sands and crystal-clear waters of the marine park, inhabited by dolphins and seals. Watch in wonder as whales migrate along the coast. Take a stroll through the enchanting national parks filled with native wildlife and rich Aboriginal heritage. Indulge in water activities like kayaking, boating, fishing, diving, and surfing. This magnificent area offers the perfect mix of relaxation and breathtaking scenery, allowing you to choose your level of activity. Brisbane is a bustling, cosmopolitan city with excellent restaurants, beautiful riverside parks, a busy cultural calendar, and lively nightlife. Queensland's capital city is surrounded by some of the state's major tourist attractions, and there is an abundant choice of day trips. Explore the coast for the golden beaches or go inland for some of the region's serene bushland — there is something for everyone here. Darwin is a thriving, prosperous and multicultural city with lively bars and wide-ranging international cuisine. It is lush, tropical, and the gateway to top-end outback adventures through the world heritage Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Darwin boasts an eclectic cultural mix: Asian music, food, and languages live side-by-side with aboriginal artistry, Australian beach culture, love of the outdoors, and a profound appreciation of cosmopolitanism. Tasmania is an island at the edge of the world. Small enough to get around easily, big enough to explore diverse landscapes and make countless discoveries. In one day, wake to the cleanest air in the world, hear stories of early convict life, cruise soaring sea cliffs, sip whisky at cellar doors, and devour paddock-to-plate food. In Tasmania, anything’s possible. Melbourne is an artistic powerhouse with a vibrant and multicultural soul. Nicknamed "Paris of the southern hemisphere", Melbourne is not only known to be Australia’s cultural hot-spot, but is also famous for its major sporting events and its culinary delights from all across the world. With its high-rise city centre and far-reaching suburbs, it is hard not to be dragged in by the life of the capital of Victoria, but day trips to the wild nature of the state are also extremely attractive. Australia’s highest peaks are in the Snowy Mountains, where there’s thrilling downhill skiing and snowboarding during the snow season. Lively towns and resorts in this alpine region in southwest NSW are also popular destinations in warmer months for hiking, horseriding, kayaking, mountain biking and fishing. When spring melts the snow into cascading waters and wildflowers bloom, streams shelter trout and attract many fly fishermen. Vineyards in this beautiful region produce excellent cool-climate wines, and fresh produce is on sale at farm gates. Australia Travel Specials Sails in the Desert Hotel New Zealand Cruise Komodo & the Australian Coast Noble Travel 616.633.9313 • [email protected]

Blog, Bob Smith USA, Jesus Dressup, News Holidays Upon Us Jesus Dressup fridge magnets available Zen with Jesus Dressup magnets Fridge magnet sales are rolling in & reminding me that I’m still the manager of a website. Those orders are being shipped out next day despite my lagging on all other activities on the site. I am however at the lowest selection I’ve had for a long time. Here’s what I’ve got. Officially I have 4 sets of Jesus magnets available: BDSM, Final Justice, Halloween & Lady Gaga Jesus. I also have Mohammed dress up games as well. And if you wanna know the facts, sales for these are indeed coming in, from Europe mostly. So anyhow, that’s 5 – Officially. Unofficially I also have special sets available. Like for instance the first print of Final Justice Jesus from 2006. This has always been my personal favorite, and I have one and a half boxes left of these. They are for sale until I feel like I don’t want to lose any more of them. This is the last year for Christmas JDU because now, after ten years, they’re starting to “brown.” The muddiness is most noticeable in the yellow part of the cross. The Christmas Jesus Dressups are beginning to “brown.” They’re just not looking as bright as they did in 2005 when they first arrived at my door, and I’m not even offering them to the stores I sell to any more. That means this’ll be their last year. Same thing happened to my last boxes of the Original sets, so they had to be tossed as well. But if you can deal with their slight aging (see sample) they’re just $10. And if you email me after you’ve purchased them and request I fit as many as I can into your Flat Rate envelope (about 4 or 5 I think) I’ll happily do so for no additional cost, because I will never produce these ones again. Too limited of a sales window! I’ve still got the “All 7 for $77” offer up that includes many of the unavailable sets. I was reminded of this when someone a couple days ago purchased it, and I had to come to grips with what I had available. So as it turns out, if you put in that order I’ll just dip into the sets I’ve got tucked away in my lockbox to fulfill it. You heard right. I have plans after the holidays to start restocking with new selections. Immediately I’ll be getting both Batman & Star Wars sets made. I’m quite excited. Now that I’m out of NYC and where I am I have more space for storage so I’m able to begin building up this aspect of my business again. It’s a beautiful & satisfying process. Jesus Dressup App I’ve been given another shot at making the Jesus Dressup app. This’ll be the 4th attempt at making it! The three that failed before this all stopped short for a different reason each time. The first time it got made was a guy who after it was complete and Apple posted it for people to purchase, decided to not hand it over to me and just keep the profits for himself. I had to threaten him to take it down. The second one (read about it in left sidebar) I paid a guy to make, and he did a beautiful job with it, but this time Apple rejected it because it was offensive content. That really killed my spirit on trying to make it again. The third time was from another person who said they’d make it for no charge, and after a year passed he realized it was too big a job and bailed. So a couple weeks ago a guy in Italy said he’d do a Droid app for free as long as his name was in the credits for making it. I’ve agreed, and he’s already shown me samples of how it might play, and it looks sharp! But I also have a grasp on the plausibility of it. As for the Amazing Strangers of Union Square videos, I think those’ll just have to wait. I’ve tried several times to go in and start putting together some of the unused videos I’ve got stored away, but my heart’s not in it. And quite honestly, the best footage has been posted. If I were to start posting the stuff you’ve never seen before your first thought would be “Yeah, I can see why he didn’t post this before.” Normal Bob answers question about God outside Verb Coffee in Bedford Mall In 2003 when Neil Abramson came out and filmed me for his Bob Smith USA movie, he interviewed Shaggy & I and followed us around the city with his camera, then never used the footage. I realized that when I finally do put together this Union Square movie (or whatever it’s going to be) including that footage of Neil’s is my dream. It just has to be there. I’ve sent him a couple requests, but I also know he’s a busy man, and that footage is buried somewhere. Anyhow, that’s the goal, and until then, I am just not feelin’ it. My plans As for what I’m planning to do from here? That has yet to be determined. I know what I want and what I don’t want but I have no idea where this place exists. For now I’m completely content here in Michigan looking forward to a country Christmas winter, playing with the dog, helping my folks in their daily lives… and just a little bit of Grand Theft Auto V.

Net UK housing wealth exceeded 7 trillion for the first time last year That’s according to analysis by estate agents, Savills Net UK housing wealth exceeded £7 trillion for the first time last year, according to calculations from an estate agent. The total value of UK homes reached £8.68 trillion at the end of 2022, Savills said. With outstanding mortgage debt standing at £1.66 trillion, according to Bank of England records, Savills calculated that net housing wealth stood at more than £7 trillion. Of this, nearly half – £3.34 trillion – was held by mortgage-free homeowners, the estate agent said. Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: “The growth in house prices over the past three years has added considerably to the paper wealth of homeowners, driven in no small part by the well-documented ‘race for space’ over the period.” But he added: “Recent interest rate rises are going to continue to put first-time buyer and second stepper budgets under pressure in 2023 and 2024. “Combined with the prospect of lower levels of housebuilding, we expect that 2022 will represent a high watermark for the value of the nation’s housing stock for a few years.” Savills used a combination of sources for its calculations, including census, English Housing Survey and Land Registry data as well as Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Nationwide Building Society house price figures. 900000 more households to receive 400 energy bill support It has come into effect for households in England, Wales and Scotland An online portal has opened to help 900,000 more households across England, Scotland and Wales to access the £400 support from the Government to help with energy bills. Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes and care homes, can now apply on the online portal to receive the support […]

Nadya Martinowsky I have been a patient here for over 12 years. I have referred several people and my son is a patient as well. Dr. Desai, Julie, Cheryl, Jen and Jenny in Manassas are. Wonderful as is Tara in South Riding. I know I missed a few names. This is without a doubt the best doctors… Sagar Chand Dr. Desai has been our family doctor for more than 20 years since he was working with Prince William Medicine. Later on, he started his own practice which is currently known as Northern Virginia Family Medicine. Due to his passion of taking care of his patients and expert medical vision and diagnostics he got popular… Jen Ragland

9 Fitness Instagrammers Who Prove There's No One Way to Be Fit – Everyday Health These influencers show there’s no one way for a fit body to look. Have you ever turned to social media for workout inspiration? The hashtag #fitspo (short for “fitspiration,” or fitness plus inspiration) is attached to more than 74 million posts on Instagram; videos with the same hashtag have racked up over 1.4 billion views on TikTok. Do these posts capture what fitness really looks like? A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in March 2017 examined 415 social media posts tagged with #fitspo and concluded that the majority of the images promoted a narrow, gendered view of fitness: Female subjects tended to be thin and toned, while male subjects tended to be extremely muscular. But Jacque Crockford, an American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified personal trainer based in San Diego and a senior product manager at ACE (where she focuses on some of the organization’s education efforts), says if those mainstream #fitspo images are the only ones you’re seeing on your social media feeds, dig a little deeper. There are plenty of fitness professionals (including fitness influencers on social media) whose bodies don’t look like that, and who are doing a lot to highlight what it actually means to be fit. “Health and fitness professionals do have the power to continue to shift the tides toward more inclusive, positive ideas around fitness,” she says. So, how can you identify which influencers are getting it right? Accounts that foster a healthy relationship with fitness tend to focus on topics that aren’t necessarily related to size or weight, Crockford says. For example, they might encourage followers to “feel great and get better sleep” rather than “lose weight to fit into a bikini.” She recommends following social media accounts that support body confidence, self-care, and positive relationships with food and exercise. If an account suggests that food or exercise is some kind of punishment, there is a good chance they’re contributing to stigma and bias around weight and size — which isn’t good for the fitness industry or society as a whole, she adds. Also be wary of accounts that try to sell you a program, piece of equipment, or meal plan that equates getting fit with losing weight, Crockford says. “Every body is different,” she says. Weight loss is not always the goal, and it isn’t necessarily a marker of fitness. If you’re looking to add some positive fitness inspiration to your Instagram feed, consider following these nine workout pros, who prove fitness can look different for every body. With Hampton Liu’s guidance on calisthenics, you don’t need exercise equipment, an expensive gym membership, or even a current workout routine. Traditional calisthenics exercises work large muscle groups using mostly a person’s own body weight, with minimal equipment, but Liu’s approach uses a combination of yoga, martial arts, and gymnastics, too. He regularly posts at-home workouts that you can modify to match your fitness level. His philosophy is that fitness is a journey, and his posts promote fitness at all levels — whether you’re wondering “What if I can’t do a push-up?” or “What should I do if I’m not seeing the results I want?” Jessie Diaz-Herrera is the New York City–based dance teacher and fitness enthusiast behind Curves With Moves, which offers virtual body-positive dance classes and in-person plus-size wellness events. She’s not afraid to call out toxic workout culture buzzwords (like “fat-burning” or “beach body”), and instead focuses on ways to feel good about your fitness practice, whether it’s by practicing affirmations or embracing your “jiggle.” Miles Borrero is a transmasculine Latinx yoga instructor certified by the Yoga Alliance whose work creates a safe space for transmasc and nonbinary folks to practice yoga. He teaches a Beyond Binary class dedicated to celebrating members of the queer, trans, and nonbinary communities, and sometimes shares clips from his classes to his feed. (Borrero also hosts annual yoga retreats in Colombia if you want some off-the-’gram fitness inspiration.) Fitness isn’t the realm of any one particular age group. Just ask Tania Dalton, who completed her first Ironman Triathlon at 52. Dalton’s interest in fitness and healthy aging took hold after her father died of a heart attack at 47, per her website. Now she’s a personal trainer certified by the Australian nonprofit AUSactive, and she specializes in post-menopausal health and fitness. Follow her for motivational quotes about life post-menopause, workout clips with her dog Chilli, and pics of the gorgeous Australian landscape. You can also check out her blog, where she muses on topics like body image, self-esteem, and her fitness practice. Come for the pole dancing workout tips, stay for Roz Mays’s hilarious takes on life. This National Academy of Sports Medicine–certified personal trainer is as real as they come. She posts highlights from her workouts, reminders that everybody is shaped differently, and tips for elevating your exercise routine. She even teaches workshops on how to make the fitness industry more inclusive to LGBTQ+ athletes, plus-size athletes, athletes with disabilities, and those working through body dysmorphia and fitness anxiety. Catch one of her in-person pole dance fitness classes if you live near New York City, or reach out to her for a personal training session over Zoom. James Sutliff is a personal trainer and disability coach based in Leicester, England. He lives with dystonia, a condition in which muscles contract involuntarily and cause repetitive or twisting movements in one or several parts of the body, per the Mayo Clinic. But Sutliff’s account doesn’t just give visibility to an often invisible disease; he regularly posts videos of himself working with clients of all different abilities, showing that ableism has no place in the fitness community. Dianne Bondy is a Yoga Alliance–certified yoga instructor. She’s also the founder of Yoga for Everyone, a yoga class streaming service that aims to empower anyone, regardless of their shape, size, or ability level, to adopt a yoga practice they feel good about. Bondy is also a public speaker who talks about how, as a woman of color living in a larger body, she’s trying to change an industry dominated by people who are young, thin, flexible, white, and able-bodied, according to her website. Follow her to add some positivity to your feed, whether she’s talking about her journey to a healthier body image, taking a moment of mindfulness while doing Pilates, or sharing thought-provoking quotes about her practice. Cadence Dubus is a Brooklyn-based Pilates instructor who teaches strength and mobility for all bodies. She regularly posts demonstrations of quick, simple, at-home movements to help with everything from knee pain to morning muscle stiffness to stress. She doesn’t focus on what your body looks like; she focuses on how your body feels. The website for her Pilates studio, Brooklyn Strength, states “The impetus is always to make you skinny. I want to make you strong.” Joan MacDonald has 1.6 million Instagram followers, and her feed is packed with at-home workout routines, tips on correct form, and motivational quotes. She has also launched a fitness app, a goal-setting journal, and a YouTube channel. Oh, and she’s 75 years old. She began working out when she was 70, after her daughter Michelle suggested that exercise could help MacDonald manage some of the symptoms of high blood pressure, acid reflux, edema, and arthritis, according to her website. Now she’s on a mission to show people that it’s never too late to make a positive lifestyle change, improve your fitness, or love the way you feel in a bathing suit. Swimming can have some not-so-pleasant effects on the body. Before you throw in the towel, learn how to handle mishaps, with this expert advice. Personal trainers and VR fitness experts reveal their top picks for virtual reality games that are fun and can offer an intense workout. Yes, data shows virtual reality workouts can burn just as many calories as other workouts. Plus, some games make you forget you’re even working out. From boosted heart health to improved mood, this water workout comes with a lot of advantages for well-being. This aerobic and muscle-strengthening routine is designed to be done in the sand. Take it on your next waterside vacation.

Issue 45: Spider-Man: No Way Home Live! By notallpods | December 24, 2021 We saw Spider-Man: No Way Home, you saw Spider-Man: No Way Home, we loved it, you loved it now listen to us talk about it. SPOILERS galore on this podcast. Listen Now >> Episode Archives Select Month March 2023 (3) January 2023 (4) December 2022 (3) November 2022 (1) October 2022 (1) September 2022 (1) August 2022 (2) July 2022 (2) June 2022 (2) May 2022 (2) April 2022 (1) March 2022 (2) February 2022 (2) January 2022 (2) December 2021 (2) November 2021 (2) October 2021 (2) September 2021 (1) August 2021 (1) July 2021 (3) June 2021 (2) May 2021 (2) April 2021 (2) March 2021 (2) February 2021 (1) January 2021 (2) December 2020 (2) November 2020 (1) October 2020 (1) August 2020 (2) July 2020 (2) June 2020 (1) May 2020 (1) April 2020 (3) March 2020 (1) February 2020 (1) January 2020 (2) December 2019 (1) November 2019 (2) October 2019 (1) September 2019 (1) August 2019 (2) July 2019 (2) June 2019 (1) May 2019 (2) April 2019 (1) Andor (1) Ant-Man (1) Batman (1) Black Panther (1) Book of Boba Fett (1) DC (5) DCEU (5) Disney+ (3) Dr. Strange (2) Game of Thrones (3) Glass Onion (1) Halo (1) HBO (2) HBO Max (2) House of the Dragon (1) Hulu (1) Invincible (1) James Bond (1) Joker (1) Loki (2) Marvel (23) MCU (8) Moon Knight (1) Ms. Marvel (1) Netflix (2) No Time to Die (1) Paramount+ (1) Peacemaker (1) Predator (1) Prey (1) She-Hulk (1) Spider-Man (1) Spider-Man: Far From Home (2) Star Wars (10) Stranger Things (1) The Boys (3) The Clone Wars (1) The Eternals (3) The Last of Us (2) The Mandalorian (4) Thor (1) Top 10 (4) Wandavision (3) Watchmen (2) What We Do In The Shadows (1) Now that The Last of Us has wrapped, we’re back again to talk about the entire season as a whole and what we think made this show so great.

Technologists Notes https://technologists.com/ « CSS: "A man's got to know his limitations" A brief history of Dell UNIX » Eulogizing MP3.com The other day I discovered that Amazon would conveniently sell me an MP3 of the “Three Stripped Gears” 1931 rendition of “Black Bottom Strut” for $0.89. What a find! I’d been inspired by Mike Seeger’s version for nearly forty years but only knew of the T.S.G. version through Seeger’s liner notes. (I attempted my own recording for the soundtrack for Jack Moore‘s Sandscript in 1975.) Then I started seeing comments on Wired’s article about Doug Morris, chair and CEO of Universal Music Group, particularly where he’s quoted: “There’s no one in the record company that’s a technologist.” Given all of the technical wizardry of musicians, audio engineers and producers, that disclaimer is hard to accept. For example, I’ve thought of Peter Gabriel as a technologist ever since being dazzled by a concert at the old Austin Coliseum in 1982. But what is more striking in the article and commentary is the lack of homage to MP3.com. The Wikipedia summary of MP3.com history seems approximately correct. (In searching though http://web.archive.org for charts with Kay Buena’s songs, I discovered archives of MP3.com a little older than Wikipedia’s report of a 1998 founding date.) Michael Robertson‘s MP3.com (not the c|net one) started to make us aware of “MP3”. But more than that, My.MP3.com seemed a plausible way for the music industry to monetize MP3s almost eight years ago. What would be the fortunes of that industry if significant MP3 sales had started in the year 2000? Universal Music Group prevailed in stopping Robertson. U.M.G. had another chance to leverage the MP3.com concepts and technology when Vivendi Universal acquired MP3.com but then Vivendi sold the domain to c|net in November 2003 and abandoned the rest. There were other eulogies four years ago. This week I still wonder what could have been. P.S. Billboard.biz considers the Wired article a “hatchet job” but goes on “Morris and the other labels need to stop living in the past as well. They need to quit their bellyaching about how digital piracy decimated the business and start communicating the steps they’re making for the future.” This entry was posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 5:04 pm and is filed under music, Web. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. vidconf.net Technologists Notes is proudly powered by WordPress

This Tuesday is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary – Holy day of obligation. “In giving birth you (Mary) kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death. (966 – Catechism of the Catholic Church). Thus, the Assumption of Mary is not only a participation in her Son’s resurrection, but a preview of our future resurrections through the same Son. Come celebrate this great feast with us. Vigil Mass Monday, Aug 14 @ 7pm. Tuesday, Aug 15 Masses @ 7am, 8:45am and 7pm.

A journey through Chile’s conflict with Mapuche resistance groups | Conflict News “The possibility of rebuilding the Mapuche nation is on the horizon of many in the Mapuche movement.” Hector Llaitul, leader of the CAM The south-central region of Chile is breathtakingly beautiful. There are snow-capped volcanoes, lakes and rivers, and majestic Araucaria trees that are hundreds of years old. There are endless forests and wheat fields. And, until 150 years ago, it was all Indigenous Mapuche territory. The Mapuche call it Wallmapu, which means “men of the earth” in their language, Mapuzugun. The majority of the Mapuche live in Chile, but there are also some on the other side of the Andes Mountains, in Argentina. They were renowned as fierce warriors. Unable to conquer them, the Spanish colonialists recognised the Mapuche – or Araucanos, as they called them – as an autonomous, independent nation, stretching thousands of kilometres south of the Bio Bio River. When Chile became an independent country in 1818, the southern border of the new republic ended where the Mapuche nation began. But Chile decided to expand southwards. In a series of military campaigns from 1861 to 1883 – called “the pacification of the Araucanía” – the once-prosperous Mapuche people were pushed off their land and plunged into poverty. From simmering conflict to full-blown confrontation Chilean forestry companies now own and exploit the lion’s share of this land, while the Mapuche earn approximately 60 percent less than the average Chilean and live in substandard and overcrowded conditions, often without access to potable water or electricity. More than half have not completed secondary school, and many of their parents never learned to read and write in Spanish. But this is not where the story ends. What had been a simmering conflict between the Mapuche and the Chilean state over inequality, land ownership, discrimination and cultural identity since the end of the 1800s has today exploded into a full-blown confrontation. In the last few years, the Araucanía region has become the scene of continuous clashes between Mapuche communities that want to take over what they claim as their ancestral land, and militarised Special Forces police, who have been accused of abuses of power, human rights abuses, fabricating evidence against Indigenous activists, and killing unarmed Mapuche. The most high-profile case was that of Camilo Catrillanca, who was shot in the back by police as he was fleeing on a tractor in November 2018. The case outraged Mapuche communities and led to an escalation in the confrontation, spurred on by a younger, better-educated generation of Mapuche who believe that it is time to take back what they regard as their land and autonomy. Attacks on vehicles owned by forestry companies take place daily [Alvaro Carrasco/Al Jazeera] Armed Mapuche groups have long carried out daily attacks against Chilean forestry companies, large farming estates and other economic interests. Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, trucks and property have been destroyed. But more recently, even small Chilean farms have been targeted and Chilean civilians have been attacked or killed – something that rarely happened before – while scores of homes have been torched. Now, people who have lived there for decades say that it has become like the Wild West, and that the government has abandoned them. Targeting journalists On March 27, high profile Chilean television journalist Ivan Nunez and his cameraman, Esteban Sanchez, were ambushed and nearly killed. They had travelled to the region to produce a special report on the conflict, and had just come from a meeting to finalise plans for an interview with the leader of one of the principal Mapuche resistance groups, the CAM (Arauco-Malleco Coordinator), when their vehicle came under heavy gunfire. The attack lasted almost five minutes, during which Sanchez was hit three times. He was left blind in one eye. Nunez was also wounded but managed to drive their vehicle to safety. My crew and I were preparing to fly to the region – our second visit in six months – when we heard of the incident. Until then, journalists had been caught in the crossfire but had never been specifically targeted. We debated whether to cancel our trip, but decided to go ahead. I wanted to understand why previous attempts by moderate Mapuche leaders and successive Chilean governments to contain the conflict had failed so miserably. An interview with an elusive leader For more than two decades, the CAM has carried out armed sabotage attacks, primarily on the assets of forestry companies. It is still the largest and most organised Mapuche armed group, but it is no longer the only one. Younger, more radical and less disciplined groups are springing up, and unlike the CAM, many of them are equipped with modern assault rifles and even camouflage uniforms. These newer organisations rarely coordinate with others, they have no apparent leader and their tactics are more violent. The name most often mentioned is the WAM (Weichan Auka Mapu), an umbrella group made up of several other groups who answer to their own leaders. Hector Llaitul, the leader of the CAM, in conversation with Lucia Newman [Al Jazeera] In the context of this rapidly changing scenario, the elusive leader of the CAM, 53-year-old Hector Llaitul, agreed to an interview, the first with an international news organisation in many years. Llaitul was born in southern Chile and studied Social Work at the University of Concepcion, where he became a member of the Leftist Revolutionary Movement (MIR). During Chile’s military dictatorship (1973-1990), he joined the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Revolutionary Front (FPMR), a Marxist guerrilla group that fought against General Augusto Pinochet’s regime. Then, in 1998, with other Mapuche leaders, he formed the CAM to fight for the recovery of Indigenous land and cultural and political rights. He agreed to my request to meet in a place that would guarantee security for us all – after all, the attack on the Chilean TV crew had taken place just after they had met with Llaitul, in what was assumed to be an area he controlled. I decided on a discreet house I had rented for the occasion on the outskirts of Temuco, which is under lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When he arrived – at a date and time of his choosing – he was dressed in civilian clothing and accompanied by a woman I assumed to be his partner. He was serious, but also nervous – his eyes often shifting towards the window through which he could see the street beyond the curtains. It reminded me of the time I interviewed a Colombian ELN rebel leader in an area he did not control. Llaitul has spent much of his adult life on the run. He is labelled a terrorist by the Chilean government and has been arrested numerous times, accused of attempted murder, acts of sabotage and illegal possession of weapons. In 2017 he was apprehended and charged with a series of crimes under Chile’s anti-terrorism legislation, as part of an intelligence police case called Operation Hurricane. But he was released a year later after it was revealed that the police had manipulated evidence. He was anxious to discuss the CAM’s decision to consider entering into talks with the Chilean state in order to explore a political solution to the escalating confrontation. But, first, he wanted to make something clear. “The fact that there are other groups (in the conflict) is something new in the scenario of confrontation between our people and the state,” he explained, choosing his words carefully. “The CAM cannot be put in the same sack as all the other groups. We have nothing to do with actions where lives were lost. We have been very clear about this. Since the creation of the CAM more than 23 years ago, we have taken on direct actions and territorial recovery processes against forestry companies, hydroelectric companies or other capitalist investment interests.” A house belonging to a small land owner that was burned down in Cañete [Lucia Newman/Al Jazeera] He clearly does not want the CAM to be associated with the more extreme forms of violence that have been taking place, and staunchly denies that his group targets civilians. ‘Our historical enemies’ Llaitul also claims that hired gunmen – possibly Mapuche – are working for forestry companies and that they were behind the ambush of the Chilean TV crew. “Who would be interested in silencing an interview like that one?” he asked, leaning forward as he spoke but never changing his tone. “We think that there was an intention to silence an authorised voice, like ours, because of the proposal of resistance we are carrying out,” he added, explaining that this was one of the reasons he had granted Al Jazeera an interview. “And clearly those who are most interested in silencing our voice are our historical enemies, the forestry companies, that are deeply involved in the conflict.” Forestry companies have long been the targets of attacks by armed resistance groups, but increasingly medium-sized and small farms are also being attacked [Alvaro Carrasco/Al Jazeera] Chile’s two largest forestry companies have multi-billion dollar investments in the region and are politically influential. But there is no irrefutable evidence to back claims that they are arming groups to defend their interests. Asked specifically about Llaitul’s claims, Chile’s largest forestry company, MININCO, issued a statement saying it would not respond to allegations made by “terrorists”. ‘The only difference is the method, not the goal’ The situation has long gotten out of control. Armed attacks are taking place every day against cargo trains, transport trucks, summer homes, large haciendas, municipal buildings, churches and, of course, forests and forestry equipment. White Chileans (referred to as winkas, or outsiders) are being killed, as are police and Mapuche. The death toll is not high, but it is rising. And when the authorities respond, they do so as if going to war, in armoured trucks. Last September, I attended a historic meeting that for the first time brought together representatives of Chile’s executive, legislative and judicial branches, with several dozen moderate loncos (Mapuche community leaders) and machis (healers and spiritual leaders). It aimed to increase trust between the two sides and to present an alternative to the more hardline groups. Outside the meeting hall, dissident Mapuche communities protested and denounced their moderate counterparts as “lackeys” or servants of Chilean capitalist interests. Mapuche women in traditional clothes at a Mapuche community gathering [Lucia Newman/Al Jazeera] Jaime Huenchumir, the president of the Mapuche Economic Confederation, was the master of ceremonies at the ultimately unproductive meeting. Six months later, I met him again in Temuco, where he explained that one of the key problems is that the government wants to pick and choose with whom to negotiate. But Chile’s president, Sebastian Pinera, has said on numerous occasions that he will not discuss Mapuche grievances with those who use violence and terrorism. “The only difference that exists between the various Mapuche groups today is the method, not the goal,” Huenchumir told me. “Some believe it is through violence, others dialogue. But all believe that land, cultural and economic rights are urgent. Regardless of the different leaderships, the demands are the same. The state will never advance towards a political solution if they wait for a single leader to emerge.” A time for dialogue The CAM’s leader, Llaitul, concedes that intolerance on all sides is making the dispute impossible to resolve. And that is why he wanted to discuss the seemingly unthinkable: the possibility of entering into a dialogue with the Chilean state. A deep distrust of Chilean institutions and the conviction that successive governments would never recognise Mapuche demands, has made Llaitul shy away from such a discussion – until now. “First of all, the committed parties must sit down, and they must be truly committed. It’s not about just sitting down with the institutionalised Mapuche movement that has already been co-opted by the system,” Llaitul explained. “The ones who have to sit down are those who represent the Autonomist Movement and particularly those of us who are part of the Mapuche resistance, who represent the real counterpart in this struggle, in this confrontation,” he added, becoming more energised. What would be the other conditions for a dialogue, I asked? “If the dialogue takes place at a local level, at the level of the Chilean state, it won’t offer many guarantees. That is why we have accepted or at least see with interest, a proposal made by Senator (Francisco) Huenchumilla, that raises the possibility of guarantors, international observers, maybe from the UN or NGOs, or international bodies that relate to Indigenous or human right groups,” he answered. It is a mechanism similar to what the Colombian government and the FARC rebels used to ultimately negotiate a peace accord in 2016. At the time of writing, President Pinera had not responded to the proposal. ‘From the moment the Spaniards arrived, we’ve been stigmatised’ But it is obvious that there is little time to waste if progress is to be made in resolving the conflict. Llaitul points to the government’s insistence on equating Mapuche violence with terrorism, describing it as a dangerous evolution of Chile’s national security doctrine in which the Mapuche are defined as the internal enemy – and one which could impact public sympathy for Mapuche demands. “From the moment the Spaniards arrived, we’ve been stigmatised in some way, as barbaric Mapuche savages, soulless …. And then we became drunk, lazy, when we were left with little or no land and we were subjected to blood and fire.” It is a theme common in Chilean depictions of Mapuche men, in particular. “Afterwards came the idea of the ‘good Mapuche’ vs the ‘bad Mapuche’. And nowadays the concept has been installed of the ‘Mapuche delinquent’, the ‘Mapuche terrorist’ and more recently, the ‘Mapuche narco-terrorist’,” Llaitul added, with irony. A Mapuche child playing palin, an ancestral game, at a social gathering of Mapuche communities intended to strengthen bonds between them [Lucia Newman/Al Jazeera] I asked him about allegations that the CAM is linked to drug trafficking and also that it receives economic aid from Venezuela. “Those are all political and police strategies that are spread by the media in order to vilify the Mapuche cause,” he explained. “But the Mapuche cause is not linked to drug trafficking. We say categorically that there are no funds that come from drug trafficking.” Ties to Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution were not financial but ideological, he suggested. “As a leader of CAM and of the Autonomous Movement in general, I can say that we have always been accused of having ties to everyone, from ETA to the FARC, at some point even the Taliban. But that’s absolutely false.” A forest where Mapuche communities gather for a meeting [Lucia Newman/Al Jazeera] He remained vague, however, about where the CAM does get its money or how much it has at its disposal. While there may not be massive amounts of drug trafficking in the greater Araucania region, police have found marijuana being produced in a few Mapuche communities. And it is well known that there is widespread timber trafficking in the region, estimated to be worth $200m a year, carried out by Mapuche and non-Mapuche. ‘Politically explosive’ Amid the explosion in the number of attacks on land owners, farms and forestry companies, President Pinera is under pressure from the conservative parties of his coalition and, in particular, the business and agricultural sector of southern Chile, to declare a “state of siege” so that he can send in the army to regain control of the region. But a high-ranking regional government official in Temuco told me, off the record, that he believes “sending in the army is too politically explosive”. “The president doesn’t want to risk being held accountable for any human rights crimes committed by the military. And the police are demoralised because of recent convictions in this region for human rights violations and the scandalous revelations that some of them manipulated evidence to prosecute Mapuche extremists. The police can be near an attack or land grab and not move a muscle,” he said. Angry landowners I spoke to accuse the Chilean state of leaving them to their fate. Now, just as happened in Colombia, there are reports of “self-defence” groups being organised to counter Mapuche gangs. Although I was not able to independently verify these reports, an official police document acquired by CIPER (Chile’s Investigative Journalism Centre) expresses concern that a group of 35 armed people under investigation “could evolve into a group of paramilitary nature”. ‘We’re tired of waiting’ When I arrived in the Araucanía, I contacted a huerken, or spokesman, for a Mapuche community, whom I had met earlier in one of the more conflict-ridden areas, near Lake Lanalhue. He told me that the situation in his particular community had become very tense and that it was no longer safe for me to visit, as we had previously agreed. Mapuche leaders always underscore that each Lof (community) makes its own decisions, but compared to my previous trip in September, there seemed to be less coordination among the more militant communities. Or perhaps it is just that the confrontation is becoming more chaotic. A sign claiming property for the Mapuche [Lucia Newman/Al Jazeera] Going into the conflict zone is like entering a different world, with different codes, a different culture and language. Outsiders are deeply mistrusted, especially journalists. Unless you are introduced by a Mapuche they trust, you are likely to be expelled. In Temucuicui, two Mapuche men saw us filming a bus stop full of bullet holes and told us in no uncertain terms to leave “if you know what’s good for you”. But over time, my crew and I were fortunate to gain access to a few Mapuche families who have taken over land and claimed it as their own. Carolina Soto and Joel Guajardo are both huerkenes of their respective communities in Collipulli, another so called “red zone”. I had met them in September, so they allowed us to visit them. I found Guajardo digging a well on property he had cleared two months earlier and which legally belongs to a forestry company. He has built a small cabin for his wife and three children. There were chickens and geese running freely. He says he plans to plant wheat and vegetables in the spring (winter is about to begin in the southern hemisphere). “For too many years the Chilean state had us cornered. They reduced our land to almost nothing. My parents owned only three hectares to divide up among all eight of us brothers. We need land to exist! What we want is territory, not just a handout of a few hectares, so that our children won’t keep living in poverty like beggars. We’re tired of waiting, so as Mapuches we’ve made the decision to occupy and work our land, because Chile has a historic debt towards us,” Guajardo told me. His hands are covered with callouses, but he and his family seem happy – even though they have no water or electricity in their small cabin and the Special Forces police could expel them at any time. ‘Rebuilding the Mapuche nation’ Six months ago I needed to search for signs of land occupation. Now, everywhere I went I saw Mapuche flags and banners reading: “ancestral territory in process of recovery”. In Collipulli, one community alone has taken over at least 10km of land, not hidden in the forest, but along the main highway. Some of that land officially belongs to forestry companies, other parts to large or medium-sized farms. Hundreds of enormous properties are being claimed. As in the case of the Guajardo family, militarised police move in and try to expel them. But the communities return time and time again, and, eventually, the police seem to give up. A CAM note at the site of an act of sabotage [Lucia Newman/Al Jazeera] This is what Llaitul describes as “recovering territorial control” of the Wallmapu; a precondition, he says, for rebuilding autonomy and reconfiguring the map of the Mapuche nation on what was their ancestral land. Is he suggesting turning the clock back 150 years, I asked him? After a long pause, he replied: “The possibility of rebuilding the Mapuche nation is on the horizon of many in the Mapuche movement.” He explained the process by which this takes place. “When we fight and carry out actions, there is first a process of eviction, then comes the occupation and the transformation processes so that another kind of relationship can be rebuilt or reproduced. A social, ideological, cultural, spiritual fabric. That is the Mapuche world. This implies that our strategic horizon is a revolutionary, autonomist and separatist position, as was the Mapuche nation south of the Bio Bio River before.” The CAM leader added that he envisions a newly independent Wallmapu as a nation without political parties, the church, NGOs, or anything else identified with Western culture, particularly capitalism. But not all Mapuche people share this vision. Approximately 12.5 percent of Chile’s population identifies as Indigenous, the vast majority Mapuche. Yet despite this reawakening of Mapuche historical demands and ethnic pride, the vast majority do not support a divorce from the Chilean state. For many, autonomy could take the form of self-government and the recognition of language and traditional authorities. Llaitul concedes that the format of an autonomous Mapuche region will ultimately have to be decided by all of the Indigenous communities. “Within the Autonomist Movement we have our differences as well. There are some that are comfortable with a type of autonomy within the framework of power of the capitalist system, with capitalist definitions. But for the Autonomist Revolutionary Mapuche groups like the CAM, we want the reconstruction of the Mapuche nation outside of the capitalist system,” he explained. ‘For generations, Mapuche parents changed our names’ That discussion is still a long way off. Right now the Mapuches I met who live in impoverished communities are concentrating not only on obtaining more land, but on recovering respect, as well as their culture and language. “For generations, Mapuche parents changed our names and surnames into Spanish ones, and refused to speak Mapuzungun at home, hoping that this would shield us a bit from discrimination. But it did not,” explained huerken Carolina Soto, on whom it is an issue that clearly weighs heavily as she tries to learn the language of her people. Increasingly, divisions and hostilities are mounting among Mapuche communities who recognise the Chilean state – warts and all – and those who opt for confrontation. “I can say very responsibly that 70 percent of the Mapuche people embrace the institutional solution. The more hardline, radical sectors, with all the legitimacy that they may also have, are a minority,” explained well-known Mapuche writer Pedro Cayuqueo during a Zoom interview. In the countryside, we visited Mapuche families who had been attacked by masked youths who accused them of being yanakonas, which loosely translates as “slaves of the rich”, or “traitors”. ‘It is a very sad thing to fight against our own brothers’ For more than 30 years, 76-year-old Eduardo Curipán has worked for a landowner who also provides drivers and machinery to forestry companies. Curipán’s employer paid him to keep several harvesters on his property at night for safekeeping. But three weeks ago, in the early hours of the morning, a group of armed men burned down the machinery and fired rounds into his house. He showed me where two of the bullets had entered his home, close to where his family was hiding. Camilo Sanchez, 42, of the Boroa Mapuche community, took me to see where his family’s land had just been torched. The fire almost reached their homes. Now, he fears reprisals for talking about it. “Here, they burned between 3,000 and 5,000 bales of dry grain to feed our animals. They did it because we didn’t agree with their violent, radical methods of land takeovers. We fully support Mapuche demands for land. We need more land, too, but not the terrorist methods that are discrediting the Mapuche people,” said Sanchez. Sanchez and his neighbours have applied for land grants from the state institution in charge of distributing territory to Indigenous communities. But he concedes that he may never see it. “Maybe my children will,” he reflected. As I am writing this, a new arson attack has just destroyed a school and a tourist bureau in Lleu LLeu, where several Mapuche leaders have been accused by the CAM and other Autonomous Movement groups of being traitors. In a statement, leaders of 13 Mapuche communities from Lleu Lleu justified negotiations with a forestry company to obtain land. “Yanakona are those who attack their Mapuche brothers in cold blood,” their statement read. If nothing else, Hector Llaitul agrees that the Mapuche should not be fighting each other. “One thing is to fight the forestry companies directly. But another is to fight Mapuche against Mapuche. History has shown that there have been traitors and Mapuches fighting each other. But today, in this situation, it is a very sad thing to fight against our own brothers, even if we are on opposite sides of the fence.” NVIDIA and MediaTek Want to Bring RTX Graphics to ARM Laptops German CDU and CSU clash over Merkel’s succession

Revisiting Jessica Chastain’s breakout year We can agonize over choosing NOW’s TIFF cover. Some years, we’ve gone back and forth over potential candidates until the very last second; some years all of our careful planning collapses and we’re forced to scramble for a story. And after the panic of the 2010 process, which shredded everyone’s nerves until we wound up with our delightful Emma Stone cover, we wanted 2011 to go as smoothly as possible. And I knew we’d be fine, because we had Jessica Chastain. Chastain, who’d broken out in Terrence Malick’s The Tree Of Life the previous year, was coming to TIFF with two highly anticipated projects: Jeff Nichols’s apocalyptic psychological study Take Shelter, in which she co-starred opposite Michael Shannon, and Ralph Fiennes’s adrenalized adaptation of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, in which she had a smaller but still potent role as the antihero’s wife, Virgilia. She was also starring in the August sleeper hit The Help (alongside Stone, as it turned out), in a comic-relief role that would land Chastain her first Oscar nomination. I’d seen Take Shelter, and was impressed with the way Chastain matched Shannon’s full-bore panic with increasingly fraying compassion; her performance makes sense of his. And I knew she’d be able to talk about how she does what she does, no matter how subtle or ephemeral, because I’d interviewed her when The Tree Of Life opened and knew she was a major talent. Technically I’d interviewed her twice for that movie, since our scheduled sit-down was preceded by an on-stage conversation after the preview screening, and that’s a story in itself. I’d been asked on my way into the screening if I’d be able to step in and do the Q&A with Chastain if needed. The scheduled host hadn’t shown up yet, and the publicists wanted to make sure they had a back-up plan. They’d let me know before the movie started, so I could prepare, but when the lights went down and no one appeared, I figured they wouldn’t need me. So I watched The Tree Of Life, and was dazzled and awed and shattered by Malick’s exquisite meditation on life, the universe and everything, and stunned by Chastain’s ethereal performance as a version of the filmmaker’s mother. And then, as the credits rolled and I tried to pull myself together from this unexpectedly moving experience, the lights came up – and I was called to the stage to do that Q&A. If you were there that night, you know it was a little messy. (Okay, I was a mess.) But Chastain, despite having to make her way to the stage on crutches with a torn ACL (“motocrossing,” she explained), was a total pro, discussing the process of making the film while deftly avoiding any discussion of her famously private director’s personal life or philosophy, no matter how many times the audience asked. Instead, she talked about spending two weeks in a kitchen with Brad Pitt, shooting the film’s most powerful scene. She talked about working with Al Pacino on a Salome project that had yet to be released. She talked about wanting to play Strindberg’s Miss Julie, which she’d do three years later opposite Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton in a film directed by Liv Ullmann. (She’d been working in movies and television for a decade since graduating from Juilliard – you can find her in a first-season episode of Veronica Mars – but The Tree Of Life marked her arrival.) So when it came time to pitch the 2011 TIFF cover, there was never any doubt in my mind: Jessica Chastain was going to be a major star after that festival. Hell, it was already happening. Original photo by Fabrizio Maltese/Corbis Online Two years later she was back with Ned Benson’s The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby, a story of a couple coming apart after a tragedy which was one of the best American films of the last decade – in its original two-part, three-hour version, anyway, before Harvey Weinstein demanded it be recut into a two-hour shadow of itself. At least she and co-star James McAvoy gave the performances of their careers in that film; trust me, if you’ve only seen them together in the hollow studio projects X-Men: Dark Phoenix and It Chapter Two, you have no idea what they can do. I don’t begrudge Chastain the studio stuff; she tries to make it interesting, and if appearing in movies like Interstellar, The Martian and The Huntsman: Winter’s War help her get smaller projects like Woman Walks Ahead and The Zookeeper’s Wife off the ground, more power to her. And it never hurts to have Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott in one’s corner. (We shall not speak of Xavier Dolan, who cut Chastain out of The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan entirely.) Chastain’s coming back to TIFF this year with Michael Showalter’s seriocomic The Eyes Of Tammy Faye, in which she plays evangelist and cultural icon Tammy Faye Bakker (opposite Andrew Garfield as Tammy’s husband Jim), and as this year’s TIFF Tribute Award honouree… which I’m hoping also means the festival will have her new HBO adaptation of Scenes From A Marriage, which reunites her with Oscar Isaac – her co-star in the underappreciated A Most Violent Year – for a loose remake of Ingmar Bergman’s devastating domestic study. A TIFF with two Chastain projects is a very good TIFF, you see. We proved that 10 years ago. Below is my TIFF cover story, Jessica Chastain: The Help Star Continues her Breakout Year With Two Big Fest Films, republished from NOW’s September 8, 2011 issue. The Next Big Thing: The star of current box office hits The Help and The Debt, “It Girl” Jessica Chastain wows in two big films If it feels like you’re seeing Jessica Chastain all over the place… well, you are. Vaulted onto the global stage at Cannes in Terrence Malick’s The Tree Of Life, where she embodied grace and love as the ethereal mother of Malick’s young protagonist, Chastain subsequently turned up as the socially hapless Celia Foote in surprise summer smash The Help, and just recently as the younger version of Helen Mirren’s Israeli spy character in the thriller The Debt. Suddenly she’s everywhere. Literally. “Get a load of this schedule,” she says from an airport lounge at LAX. “I do press in Paris for The Help, and then I go to Venice for Wilde Salome, and then I go to New York for Take Shelter, and then I come to Toronto.” Chastain’s coming to the Toronto Film Festival with the psychological thriller Take Shelter and the Shakespeare adaptation Coriolanus, two very different features that should cement her status as one of the most versatile and interesting American actors of her generation. Her role in Jeff Nichols’s Take Shelter initially seems fairly straightforward: as the concerned wife of Michael Shannon’s family man, she spends most of her screen time worrying about her husband, who’s experiencing recurring apocalyptic nightmares and spending far too much time reinforcing the storm shelter in their backyard. “People have asked me what parts have been harder – The Help, The Debt, Take Shelter,” she says. “And for me, Take Shelter was very, very difficult. We didn’t shoot in chronological order, and I have to be so aware of what has happened the moment before. Most of the time, with my character, the subtext is ‘What’s wrong with you?’ And I have to have different grades of what that means. It had to be so subtle, and Jeff and Mike both really helped me. “Before we shot a scene, I would pull out my binder and look at exactly what had happened before – even if we hadn’t shot it – and we’d all talk through it so I could have it in my head.” As Shannon’s performance grows bigger and more manic, Chastain becomes stronger and more resolute, grounding the story in psychological reality. To borrow the old line about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Chastain does everything that Shannon does, only backwards and in heels. “It’s funny that you’d say that,” she says. “I always try to work with actors who are better than me, because they make me better, and he’s like that; I really had to keep on my toes. Being in a scene with him, it’s a wild experience. Every moment with Mike is different, and he’s so intense – he has this great power and strength – and at the same time he has a deep well of vulnerability that is so beautiful.” We should be discussing her performance, but Chastain is so fond of Shannon – and so clearly in awe of him – that she keeps steering the conversation back to his work. “He’s just not self-conscious,” she says. “A lot of actors are – you can see it sometimes, when they’re a little bit intimidated. He’s just free. He’s free in his body, he’s free in his voice. He’ll do anything – he doesn’t get embarrassed. And to watch someone have that moment in front of a hundred strangers – be so exposed and so free to it – was a learning experience. It inspires me to be more like that.” Many actors who come up through the Hollywood system have a moment when they stop letting other people steer their careers and start chasing projects they care about. Working with Malick gave Chastain instant legitimacy, putting her on the radar of major filmmakers. She’s made the most of that opportunity, pursuing work that offers the chance to grow and expand rather than enhance her star status. She took the role of Virgilia in Ralph Fiennes’s modern-day adaptation of Coriolanus just to be part of the cast. “I went to Juilliard and studied Shakespeare for four years,” she says. “I really missed doing Shakespeare and the classics. So when I had the opportunity to sit down with Ralph and he told me Vanessa Redgrave would be playing Volumnia? Okay, this is a situation where I’m going to be in a room with Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes watching them do Shakespeare. The learning experience is going to be incredible. “To know that I was going to watch Vanessa Redgrave every single day… I was going to watch her rehearse, do her scenes. And in 30 years I’ll be able to tell people I did Shakespeare with Vanessa Redgrave. That, to me, is beyond anything.” Not that she’s averse to being in something popular, of course. More people will see Chastain in The Help than in all her other movies to date – though she doesn’t think it’ll do all that much for her. “People are gonna be so disappointed when they see me in real life,” she says. “They’re gonna think I’m this voluptuous, gorgeous blond bombshell, and they’ll see me and be like, ‘Oh, you’re nothing like we wanted you to be!’ “That started happening on the set,” she laughs. “All the men, all the crew would look at me – I’m not used to being looked at, I’m not a bombshell – and at the end of the day I’d take my wig off, take the makeup off, put on my cutoffs, put on my T-shirt and walk out of the trailer. The look of disappointment on every man’s face when they realized I wasn’t Celia Foote was quite sobering.” We’ll be seeing a lot more of the real Chastain in the months to come. In addition to starring in Al Pacino’s Wilde’s Salome, a meta-textual examination of Oscar Wilde’s play, she’ll be reunited on screen with her Debt co-star, Wam Worthington, in the thriller Texas Killing Fields. She’ll have so many movies going, you’ll think you see her in line at Tim Hortons. That might actually be the case; she’ll be in Toronto shooting Mama this fall for executive producer Guillermo del Toro. “When I come to the festival, I’ll have like a week to get to know Toronto,” she says. “Then I’m back at the end of September until December.” Details are scarce about the project, and Chastain’s keeping mum. “All I can tell you is that it has very similar elements to The Ring and The Orphanage. I play a character unlike anyone I’ve ever played. She’s a bit of a punk, and she’s the guardian of two girls. That’s all I’m gonna say.” Check back every Monday for a new 40 at 40 cover story marking NOW’s 40th anniversary year. @normwilner

Top 6 New Player Tips for The Elder Scrolls Online by Zara Latinkos July 3, 2020, 11:10 am 96 Views img source: fathipster.net The Elders Scrolls Online is an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) action that was first released in 2014. Even though it had a lot of negative critics and player opinions, the developers tried really hard to improve the gaming experience and make the game better. Today, there are more than 2.5 million active players every month and the game is sold in more than 15 million copies. The first versions weren’t that good as it was expected, but every next release was attracting more players. The initial version was released for Windows and OS X, following the PS4 and Xbox versions, and today it’s also available for Stadia. The player is taking the role of an explorer, and you can choose between different races who have different skills and fighting styles. Beginners in Elders Scrolls Online need to carefully explore the concept and get to know everything they think it’s important to start playing the game. You need to be aware that the concept is pretty complex and you will need to practice the basics before you can become an expert in ESO. After you pass that lesson, you will also need to: 1. Build a strong character img source: ignimgs.com You have plenty of choices and options, so you can choose how your character looks and which skills they own. You need to also choose the race and class and set the character up following your preferences. As you make progress, you’ll be able to upgrade the character and improve its skills, so you can win the next levels and gain more experience. Assign the needed skills, even though you won’t need them all at the beginning. First, you need to choose the faction, then the race, the class, and specializations, and assign the skills in the end. Factions allow you to join a team or an individual player so you can complete the tournaments. Races offer different packs of skills and use appropriate weapons. Classes and specializations are helping you to determine the style and advantages of your character. You can try different sets of skills until you find the winning combination. 2. Try everything that is offered The game has some basic rules you need to respect, but you are able to develop your own winning strategy, which includes different types of weapons and armors. You need to explore the game very carefully and pay a lot of attention to the details that may be crucial for your progress. Strategy multi-player games offer a lot of modes and skills and it’s on you to try everything that seems interesting and useful until you find your style and improve it as you gain more experience through the gaming process. 3. Complete the quests When you enter the ESO world, it’s always better to follow some tutorials so you can have some pictures of how you will need to play this game. You need to follow the questlines provided by the creators. That will let you discover the magical world of Elder Scrolls Online and explore the gaming zones and maps. When you reach the first town, you may need to choose a profession, but if you are not sure about that, you can skip this step, until you decide what you’ll do. The game is also offering books that it’s better for you to read because they can improve your character’s skills. Wait until you earn enough money before you build your first house. 4. Follow the skill advisor img source: twimg.com The game is generating a skill advisor tailored following your initial preferences. That will help you level up, so it’s always a good idea to follow these recommendations and make your decision. These bits of advice may change if you decide to change the character. Many players decide do upgrade their current character or even rebuild it, so they can explore the possibilities and try something new. 5. Boosters are allowed It’s normal to have hard times passing the levels and gaining more experience, especially when you need that the most. We all know how desperate we can be when we are trying so hard to complete some quest or win some game, but sometimes that just doesn’t work as we wish. But, people at lfcarry.com offer you a different pack of boosters with competitive prices. When you join the service you’ll be assigned to a professional player who will offer you different solutions to your problem. Generally, you need to choose what do you want to do, so they can know what’s your priority. The whole price will be charged after the booster is used. You are not limited on how many boosters you can use. You can buy new packs every time you need them, as long as you have enough money for this type of service. 6. Learn the different types of attacks and fighting mechanics img source: thetecheducation.com This game offers a lot of mechanics that can be combined and used together. Your character can perform light, but also heavy attacks, depending on the conditions and what’s required. Also, you can use different types of blocks, but you need to follow what attacking method your opponent will choose. ESO offers a different kind of attacks, including basic pack, Magicka attacks, Stamina attacks, and Special attacks. Maybe it’s too complicated to explain them theoretically, but as soon as you start playing, a lot of things will be more clear. You only need these guides to create some basic pictures of what you can expect during playing Elder Scrolls Online. In the beginning, the game will look too complicated and confusing, but we surely recommend you to give it a chance and try to understand the characters, weapons, attacks, and quests. This article contains just a few of the basic things you need to know, so you can get interested in the game. About the rest of the specifications and experiences, we will let you discover them by yourself. As you play, you will understand why this game is so popular between the video-game players all around the world. GameNew PlayerOnlineplayingThe Elder Scrollstips Previous article Top 3 Things That You Need to Know About Jeep Hardtop Hoists Next article Top 5 Useful Tips for Building Your First Business Website Solve Captcha* 75 + = 82 Top 3 Things That You Need to Know About Jeep Hardtop Hoists Top 5 Useful Tips for Building Your First Business Website

Hated for what we are We have completed and posted the last of our trident series entitled "The Trident Of National Socialism'' and we are now focusing our efforts on the production of the revised second printing of the fifth edition of Siege, as well as our very own 666 edition. As always we are busy as ever and still very much grateful for the work our associates have put into our endeavors. As we check the site traffic over the last month, we see that we are getting thousands of new views from Russia. So many in fact that at times our Russian viewership has been, on more than one occasion, the majority of new visits to nso9a.com in particular. To be exact last month we saw more than 5000 visitors to our dot com site alone with about 16,000 hits in the US and 8000 from the Russian Federation! It's also worth mentioning that Germany, Austria and Great Britain are not far behind (in that order). To be honest, we could not be more pleased with this recent development! We could not be more pleased because in the history of neo-nazism worldwide there is nowhere on the planet that currently has so many militant and active National Socialists and true warriors for the White Race as Russia in particular, and Eastern Europe in General! Not to mention having one of the best NSBM scenes on the planet! We also want to ensure our Russian readership that any groups you may be looking up to here in the U.S. do not deserve your admiration, for it is us that should be looking up to you. Because although actions SHOULD speak louder than words that is not always the case. Because of the internet, how things look, graphics, and wording are typically mistaken by people as being substance, as being more important than reality. But we do not feel this way, we of the NSO9A are far more impressed by the man in the street fighting and breaking unjust jewish laws than we are about whoever is currently in the news in our own country for merely talking or being part of groups that have hyped up names so that our jewish government can scare people with threats which they know are manufactured and phony. That's not to say that good and noble actions (such as murder in the name of our race) do not occur here. But from what we can see there's nothing like the organization and steady resistance that you have there. Therefore, we are very happy to see that our brothers in Russia, and abroad, have taken an interest in such numbers and are studying our ideology of National Socialist Satanism with such thoroughness. And whether you agree with us, or not (and we hope that you will) we want you to at least know that we are for real, and that we are with you. As we are fond of saying "WE WOULD RATHER BE HATED FOR WHAT WE ARE, THAN BE LOVED FOR WHAT WE ARE NOT." And to our associates here in the U.S. we would like to say that it's time for you, and for us as well, to learn about the struggle for National Socialism outside of the JEWnited states of america and learn what our white brothers have been up to today, while we wallow in our past. For instance groups in Russia such as The National Socialist Organization, The Russian Cleaners and Sanitater 88 are shining examples of action that we can all learn from and should do our best to emulate. Rahowa! This planet is all ours! Hail the End -WOLF

The Adolescent Female's Lived-Experience of Obesity Jamie L. Randall-Arell, Clark Community Mental Health Center Rose Utley, Missouri State UniversityFollow For adolescent girls, negative messages about obesity and body image from society, media, school, family, and peers are plentiful. Yet the lived-experience of obese adolescent girls has rarely been reported in scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived-experience of the obese adolescent female and understand the impact of the messages received. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with eight adolescent girls, age 11-18. Participants were recruited through network sampling and had a body mass index of 30 or more. Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy of embodied perception guided interpretation and data analysis. Seven themes describe their lived experience and reflect the internal and external messages perceived including, false assumptions, myth of perfection, nonculpable diversity, nobody’s perfect, beauty is not skin deep, disengagement, and society’s misplaced focus. Awareness of the livedexperience described in these themes, may guide health care providers to formulate a holistic plan of care that will positively impact both the physical and psychosocial health of the adolescent female who is obese. Adolescent Female, Obesity, Descriptive Phenomenology, Lived-Experience, Embodiment, Perception, Merleau-Ponty Randall-Arell, J. L., & Utley, R. (2014). The Adolescent Female's Lived-Experience of Obesity. The Qualitative Report, 19(23), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1219

Nucleus Advisors is ranked among the Top Transaction Advisory Firms We are elated to share that Nucleus Advisors is ranked among the Top Transaction Advisory Firms in India by Venture Intelligence, which is the leading source of information and analysis on private company financials, transactions (private equity, venture capital and M&A) and their valuations in India. Nucleus Advisors is a boutique advisory firm providing specialized services in the field of Corporate Advisory, International Taxation, Investment Banking and Valuations. With a base of 200+ Clients, we have successfully closed 50+ Deals & Transactions worth USD 25 Mn+.

1:1 Tutoring Rates Proctored Tests High School Entrance Tests CPS Selective Enrollment 7th Grade Skill-Building for High School Admissions Tests Grad School Entrance Tests Achievement Tests CPS Academic Centers EF Skills Optimizing for Ownership Jumping into the Deep End: Moving from Surface Structure to Deep Structure A Closer Look at Surface Structure In her previous post, Sara described the difference between surface and deep structure in math word problems. Here, she talks about how students transfer prior knowledge to new situations. Applying past knowledge to new situations or problems is called transfer. As many of us have experienced, getting a child to transfer knowledge isn’t always easy. The ‘laps around the track’ problem that I gave my 7-year-old son was a poignant example for me. Students will often focus so much on the unfamiliar surface structure of word problems that they miss the deep structure. They don’t realize that they actually have the skills to solve the problem. Why do students put so much emphasis on surface structure? Because it’s the clearest part of the problem. The surface structure is written out and obvious, whereas the deep structure is hidden and unclear. It seems more efficient to work with obvious and concrete information rather than take haphazard stabs at what the deep structure might be. Background Knowledge It is important to remember, however, that paying attention to surface structure – the content of the words, the meaning of the story – is actually a necessary step when we’re learning new information. We learn new information by connecting it to information we already know. For example, the other day my son was reading a children’s non-fiction book about murals. I know that he already has some background knowledge on the concept of art: painting and sculpture are kinds of art, Picasso and Van Gogh are famous artists, paintings are done on paper or canvas, etc. After reading the book, he fit the new information about murals into his conceptual understanding of art. Since he already had some context of what art is, he was able to fit this new art form into his previous understanding of art. As time goes on and he gains more knowledge and exposure to this topic, this understanding will grow and deepen. If there’s no background knowledge or context for understanding a new fact or idea, the chances of a student learning is pretty slim. When a student focuses on the surface structure of a problem (like laps around a track), he’s recalling related background knowledge (laps, tracks, runners) to see if it will help to solve it, or to see if there’s anything new that can be attached to what he already knows. If this is how we learn and understand, we can hardly fault a student for placing so much emphasis on the surface structure. Though surface structure can be helpful for absorbing new conceptual information, it wasn’t enough to help my son solve the “laps around the track” addition problem that I presented to him. Doing the Work How can we help students recognize deep structure, which is also a very important skill, and promote transfer? The short answer: lots of practice. In my next post, I’ll go into more depth about how to help transition from surface structure to deep structure. Why Does My Child Hate Math? Surface and Deep Structure Learning, Mindset, and Confidence Chicagoland & Beyond © 2022 Nurturing Wisdom | All Rights Reserved Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know about learning insights and tutoring services! Kimberly Pilot Tutoring Director [email protected] Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below. My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways. I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals. On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy. What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches. Sarah Tracy [email protected] Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below! A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much! I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee. On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession. What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors. Shannon Crassweller [email protected] Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below! My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world. My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today. On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside. What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.

2da Files baseitems.2da Created by Pstemarie, last modified by Jasperre on Mar 16, 2023 baseitems.2da defines (most) of the base item types in the game and allows new ones to be added. Enhanced Edition Improvements / Unhardcoded Aspects Early on in EE these columns were added that unhardcoded what feats were used for what weapon bonuses. See the table below for further information on these columns: WeaponFocusFeat, EpicWeaponFocusFeat, WeaponSpecializationFeat, EpicWeaponSpecializationFeat, WeaponImprovedCriticalFeat, EpicWeaponOverwhelmingCriticalFeat, EpicWeaponDevastatingCriticalFeat, WeaponOfChoiceFeat. In version 1.84.8193.29 several game engine changes were made: BaseAC for the 3 shield lines (14, 56, 57) now correctly alter the shield AC granted. Note that you still cannot add more shields. IsMonkWeapon - allows a weapon to be used for Flurry of Blows (even ranged weapons like Shurikens) and other bonuses monks recieve on weapons (such as Unarmed Base Attack Bonus) that previously only applied to the Kama, line 40 and Torch line 15 (although the torch can't attack itself, it can be equipped and the primary weapon be a Kama or empty to enable the same bonuses). Note that gloves/bracers do not need to have this set. WeaponFinesseMinimumCreatureSize - If set to a creature size (see creaturesize.2da), that size (and higher) can finesse using that weapon unhardoding the Weapon Finesse feat. It previously was entirely hardcoded. Hardcoded Limitations Line Limits There is a game engine limit of 256 (0-255) lines in baseitems.2da. It is recommended to reuse "reserved" lines for new ones. One problem with going over 255 lines is that the base item type TLK identifier will not be loaded correctly, such as in this example. In a MP game it might just not even appear properly for players, so do not use lines higher than 255 (at least for player-available items!). Note: This happens if the item is "unidentified" when the OnAcquire event fires. The engine seems to wrap around to a random baseitems.2da row for the feedback message. New Armor Cannot Be Added The "armor" line is hardcoded. There is no way to add fully functional new armor even if the slot type is defined correctly (ie it fits on the chest). This is because the actual AC value of armor is linked to the appearance, which is in turn hardcoded to the armor line in baseitems.2da (ie other items will not read from the "ACBonus" column in armor.2da). New Shields Cannot Be Added While the column "BaseAC" now is functional for Small, Large and Tower shields (1, 2 and 3 AC respectively), you cannot add more shield lines. In addition Tower shields are hardcoded to be unusable by smaller creature sizes than Medium. New Ranged Weapons Cannot Be Added Not sure why - needs investigating. There are some engine hardcoded aspects around it however, even if you reuse the ammo (given there are limited ammo slots) similar to an existing items. Scroll Hardcoded Aspects There are technically 2 scroll item lines, but one is incomplete and unused (but can be re-added). Scrolls have special properties such as disappearing when used up (even if the item has charges), the animations involved in using the item as per below, and the fact the game assumes a single usable property making multi-spell scrolls difficult to have. See Items for more info. Potion Hardcoded Aspects Animations - as per below - and the fact you can drag potions (line 49) to a henchman to have them drink it is hardcoded. They also disappear on the last use even if they have charges or uses/day added, and the game assumes only one usable item property when dragging to the quickbar. Hardcoded Animations There are some "use item" animations that are hardcoded: Potion line 49 uses the "Drink" animation Scroll line 75 uses the "Read" animation (seems line 54 which is a deleted line, see below, also might use this) Grenade line 81 uses the "Throw" animation Everything else uses the default "Hands, forward" use item animation - so no new potion items that, at least, make sense. The torch line15 is hardcoded so it will do the proper animations for torches (holding them high at rest/when moving) and a sound effect / proper light animation. Deleted and Cut Item Types Some possibly interesting reviews of deleted lines; see also Cut Items for more details. Line 23: Probably another "Misc" item due to the only remaining information being EquippableSlots (set to the same as other misc/inventory only items) sized 2x1 - it_sbox Line 30: Looks to be a Repeater Crossbow - models WBwXr - still are in the game files, and look like your "classic" repeater crossbow. However additional ranged items can't be added apparently. Line 43: Probably another "Misc" item due to the only remaining information being EquippableSlots (set to the same as other misc/inventory only items). Unknown size. Line 48: Looks to be a Nunchaku - models WSpNn - still are in the game files, and look like one (chain connecting two end points). No idea if there are any animations left however. Line 54: iit_spscroll000.tga and iit_spscroll001.tga exists (a green scroll) which in a referenced TLK line is for divine spell scrolls. Presumably they did this before scroll icons were dynamic based on what was cast. This actually is reusable but has some quirks - ie it acts like a scroll where in some cases just assumes 1 castable property and the item's icon is used without the spell appearing in the background as with misc items. There are other issues like Learn Scroll isn't present (may be a good thing) and the last use of the item - even if it is 1 use/day - removes it from the inventory unless plot. Line 67: A "it_bag" - so an old bag perhaps. it_bag.mdl is one of the more common default droppable item models/loot bags and even has an icon iit_bag.tga (1x1 icon) There's a number of dummied/padding/"XP2SpecReq" which presumably are just unused for XP1 and XP2 item types. Not sure if any of these have any hardcoded relevance, probably not but sometime it might be worth testing. 2DA Columns Example Contents Description and Notes Name 106 String reference Odd it's first but it's the base game item name (eg; unidentified items, in toolset, etc.) string reference point to rows in dialog.tlk / custom .tlk file. label shortsword Anything Human readable name of the item InvSlotWidth 1 1 - 10* The number of horizontal squares occupied by this item's icon in the inventory panel. Equipable item may have a height/width limit, if you experience crashes adjust this number down. The number of pixel the icon has does not need to change, just number setting. 1 point = 32 pixels in art program. InvSlotHeight 2 1 - 6* The number of vertical squares occupied by this item's icon in the inventory panel. EquipableSlots 0x1C030 Bitflag of slots A bit flag indicating the inventory slots into which this item can be placed. See the Equippable Slots notes at the bottom for more information. CanRotateIcon 1 - rotated in quickbbar (eg; swords) 0 - not rotated in quickbar (eg; potions) 1 if inventory icon for this item may be rotated 90 degrees clockwise, such as when placed on a player's quickbar. 0 if the icon may not be rotated. 0 = a simple item (can only select an icon/model pair); 1 = a colored item, e.g. cloaks and helms (can additionally select colors); 2 = a configurable item, e.g. weapons (select three item parts instead of an overall model); 3 = armor. A code indicating how much the look of this item can be customized. Given some of the ModelType values are tied to specific lines due to the hardcoded of armor and so forth only a few are really usable for new lines. Has Color Layers Number of Parts 0 simple (one icon to one model) no 1 1 layered (PLT coloured icon and model) yes 1 2 composite (weapons, 3 item parts) no 3 3 armor (PLT, complex parts) yes 18 ItemClass WSwSs Model resref Resref of the item's model, or the base part of the resref Due to the above ModelType, MinRage and MaxRange this will end up being: 0 - Simple - ItemClass_XXX.mdl - eg; Small Shield is AShSw, MinRange is 10 and MaxRange is 100, meaning ashsw_011.mdl is the first one (01 is model 1, 1 is the first color variant, so 3 colour variants are for instance ashsw_031, ashsw_032 and ashsw_033) 1 - Layered - ItemClass_XXX.mdl - eg: Helmet is helm, MinRange is 0 and MaxRange is 50, meaning helm_001.mdl is the first one and it increments by 1 (so helm_001 is the next and so on). Cloaks are special and rely on extra copies for different phenotypes (but use a similar naming convention, in this case the first cloak is pfa0_cloak_001.mdl) 2 - Composite - ItemClass_L_XXX.mdl - eg; Shortsword is WSwSs, MinRange is 10 and MaxRange is 100. This type has the special letter "L" which is "t", "m" and "b" (top, middle, bottom) meaning swwss_t_001.mdl is the top, swwss_m_001.mdl is the middle and swwss_b_001.mdl is the bottom. There is no color selection so it's just incremental numbers. 3 - Armor - Armor is special with multi-parts based on phenotypes essentially replacing the "Naked" model used when armor is unequipped. See parts_XXX.2da (based on the type) model IDs and AC given (if chest piece). For instance a normal human female phenotype belt piece is called pfh0_belt001.mdl. (p = phenotype, f = female, h = human (RACE column in appearance.2da, 0 = "normal" phenotype.2da entry). This is used to prefix the visual effects you can apply using iprp_visualfx.2da so don't make it too long. 5 characters is the recommended maximum. GenderSpecific 0 0 if icons and models identical for all genders of players 1 if the icons and models differ Indicates if the item changes appearance based on the gender of the possessor. Only works for non-composite items, ie; simple, layered and armor Needs further testing since the only two instances of this are armor and cloaks which are special and weird, and for some reason arrows which as above it will ignore it for since it's composite. It changes the naming convention adding a gender into it - eg: ItemClass_gender_modelnumber.mdl - miscgen_m_001.plt / dds / mdl for a "miscgen" item, male (m), ID 001. At least cloaks are named this way, although since the cloaks only have icloak_m_001.plt preusmably it'll just default to loading the "m" variant if the "f" isn't found? Part1EnvMap 1 1 to use environment mapping 0 to not use environment mapping (transparency instead) Indicates how the alpha channel for model part 1 is used. Indicates how the alpha channel for model part 2 is used. Only used for model type "2" items. DefaultModel it_bag Resref of MDL file Items can have a model named after their ItemClass identifier - eg: it_midmisc_151.mdl - which is a gem model - and that is loaded. All weapons need this setting up properly (with different numbers for different parts, and sometimes top, middle and bottom references). See existing items for examples. If a model is not found then this is the default model used, usually when the item is lying on the ground. Armor and cloaks get a seemingly hardcoded ground item (at least a replacement for this value, not sure if it can be changed) see Items for more info on what they are. This makes this not work for those particular hardcoded entries. DefaultIcon invalid_1x1 Resref of a texture inventory Icon file The default icon used when the item's icon doesn't exist. 0 if this item is not a container 1 if this item is a container and can contain other items Indicates if this item can contain other items, like a bag. WeaponWield **** = standard one-handed weapon (although may be two handed if small creature is wielding it) 1 = not wieldable; 4 = two-handed weapon (polearm) 5 = bow 6 = crossbow 7 = shield 8 = double-sided weapon 9 = creature weapon 10 = sling 11 = throwing weapon (dart, shuriken or throwing axe) This defines the base kind of weapon it is (or if it isn't a weapon as such, such as if you added equippable wands) This affects: Which animation set is used when this item is wielded (equipped) in one of the weapon slots If the weapon is a bow, crossbow or sling it changes the ammo needed If the weapon is a throwing weapon then the ammo is the weapon stack itself If a double sided weapon it takes both slots If a two handed weapon being of a certain size may affect if it is single or two handed May also affect which slots it can work in (eg; double sided weapons take both slots, and small creatures wielding larger weapons do so two handed). Note that since you can't add more ranged weapons (See notes at the top) 5 and 6, 10 and 11 are pretty much hardcoded to their respective lines. WeaponType 1 = Piercing 2 = Bludgeoning 3 = Slashing 4 = Slashing and Piercing 5 = Piercing and Bludgeoning The type of damage inflicted by this weapon (item). If it is of two types, the game tests both types and takes the better one to do damage. WeaponSize 1 - tiny 2 - small 3 - medium 4 - large 5 - huge The size of the weapon item. These numbers correspond to the rows in creaturesize.2da - and is relative to them (eg; what weapons are considered "2 handed" for Small creatures like Halflings for instance, and which weapons are too large or small for certain sized creatures to wield). Note while the Bioware documentation suggests just 1- 5 (with 5 not being used by the game by default) there's no reason to suggest it couldn't go a bit higher (although no lower presumably). If you test this add a note here. Should be blank **** for non-weapons. RangedWeapon 1 or more if ranged weapon **** or 0 if not ranged Bioware set this to an index to the row in Baseitems.2da specifying the type of ammunition used by a ranged weapon. Projectile weapons point to either row 20, 25, or 27. Thrown weapons point to themselves (i.e. they are their own ammunition) but the exact number does not make a difference as long as it is not 0. Note: it does not appear to be possible to create a new ranged weapon, although it is possible to replace an existing one with a new ranged weapon. PrefAttackDist **** if not a weapon Float values if a melee weapon **** if not a weapon. Otherwise the preferred distance for attacking with this weapon. The distance is selected so that attack animations look their best in the most commonly anticipated situations. Interacts with creature size values in appearance.2da for each creature, and their WeaponScale value (eg; Half Orcs are bigger so can stand slightly further away and swing). Ranged weapons tend to just use the value "30". MinRange 0 through 255, although logically 0 is fine to have as a default (see notes) The minimum number of models of this type. The actual value to put in here is the range you want x 10. For Multi-Part Items (Weapons): A value of 10 here indicates that your model numbering starts at 011, incrementing by one to 019, before indexing by 10 (e.g. 019 >> 021-029 >> 031 etc. MaxRange 0 through 255, although logically 255 is fine to have as a default (see notes) The maximum allowed number of models of this type. Only used in the toolset. The actual value to put in here is the range you want x 10 but setting it to the maximum possible value of 255 is fine (although the Bioware docs suggest 999) due to network limitations (any higher than 255 it loops back to 0). For Multi-Part Items (e.g. Weapons): The MaxRange should be set no higher than 249, as the hard-limit is 255, capping the range for model 25 below 9. When reading model numbers, the first two digits correspond to the Model field of the drop down menus under "Item Properties>>Appearance" in the Toolset. The last digit of the MDL filename corresponds to the Color field in the drop down menus. The range of colors available for higher Model numbers is solely dependent upon the number of colors available in the lowest range. For example, if you only have models numbered 011-014, higher level Model numbers will only display a range of 4 Colors. Thus, continuing the example, if you added models 015-019, you would enable colors 5-9 in the Color drop down menu. In the toolset the icon of the bottom part actually determines what is available, oddly. For instance iashto_091 would enable model line "9" for all the colours available (in this case tower shields go colours 1 - 4 by default). The MDL file may not even be present for some variants (it'll just be blank). You can see this on the Bioware staffs where one model has just one available colour variant, and conversely they included more longsword weapon model variants but no icons thus they're not used. Note, model numbers ending as "0" (e.g. 010, 020, 030, etc.) appear as Color 0 in the Color drop down menu. This might work in game - needs testing - but the script functions suggest only colours 1-9 are valid. For simple single-part and PLT items (shields, helms, slings, bullets, books, etc.): The full range of numbers is available starting at the MinRange value and ending at the MaxRange value. Again the icon determines availability. NumDice **** for non-weapon, else positive Integer The number of dice rolled for this weapon's (item's) damage. DieToRoll **** for non-weapon, else positive Integer The number of sides of the dice rolled for this weapon's (item's) damage. CritThreat **** for non-weapon, else positive Integer The chance (out of 20) that this weapon (item) will threaten a critical hit. For example, "2" would mean two chances out of 20, for a threat range of 19-20. CritHitMult **** for non-weapon, else positive Integer The critical multiplier for this weapon (item). 0 - none 1 - melee 2 - ranged 3 - shield 4 - armor 5 - helmet 6 - ammo 7 - thrown 8 - staves 9 - potion 10 - scroll 11 - thieves' tools 12 - misc 13 - wands 14 - rods 15 - traps 16 - misc unequippable 17 - container 19 - healers 20 - torches? This seems to not be used by the engine much or if at all. It might be mostly a holdover and intended for the toolset but the ItemProps column is what the toolset uses to decide what item properties are valid for what item. The categories to the left are from the Bioware documentation/from baseitems.2da. BaseCost Float value probably (since Darts are 0.1) The base value (in gold pieces) of an unenchanted item of this type. Note that darts use the value "0.1" for this so need to determine the real properties of this column. The game UTC files use a DWORD to store the value for later use. Likely used in the cost calculation of magical items as well, see itemprops.2da, itempropdef.2da, iprp_costtable.2da and iprp_paramtable.2da. 0 - 65535 (but setting it to over 57600 won't work in the toolset properly). The maximum number of this item type that can be combined (stacked) in one inventory icon. For example, most items have this set to 1, while arrows have this set to 99. Realistically don't set this too high, you'll encounter pain. The toolset sets the maximum to be 57600 regardless of this value, so really should stick to this as a maximum. Absolute maximum is pretty much 65535 as defined by the UTC file WORD stored value - which means if a save game (or BIC is exported) with a stack over this number it will not work correctly. Having tried much higher values in this field it sort of works but it'll likely break things badly. ItemMultiplier Float value Used in the cost calculation of magical items, see itemprops.2da, itempropdef.2da, iprp_costtable.2da and iprp_paramtable.2da. StringRef A StringRef that indicates the default description for this item type. This will be used in the game for items that lack specific descriptions. It is also displayed as part of an item's properties (above the unidentified and identified descriptions) in the Toolset. InvSoundType inventorysnds.2da line index An index into inventorysnds.2da indicating the sound used when this item is placed (or moved) in a character's inventory. For reference these are the default values: Click here to expand... 0 soft_plate 1 hard_material 2 soft_material 3 cloth 4 leather_armour 5 chain_armour 6 plate_armour 7 small_blade 8 med_blade 9 large_blade 10 huge_blade 11 med_chain 12 large_chain 13 med_metal_blunt 14 large_metal_blunt 15 large_pole 16 small_wood 17 med_wood 18 arrow&bolt 19 med_wood_twang 20 large_wood_twang 21 gem_ping 22 key_ping 23 ring_ping 24 potion_ping 25 amulet_jingle 26 coin_jingle 27 paper_rustle 28 misc_tiny 29 misc_small 30 misc_med 31 misc_big 32 whip MaxProps 0 - ? The maximum number of "cast spell" properties items of this type can be given when designed in the Toolset. The maximum appears to be 8, since setting it to 10 just changes the error message - it says "More than 10" when at 11 or more, but "More than 8" when at 9 or 10. Whether or not the game loads all of the spell cast properties if edited by script commands or GFF edits separately, I'm not sure - edit here if someone knows. But 8 spell cast properties per item should be sufficient! MinProps The minimum number of "cast spell" properties items of this type must be given when designed in the Toolset. Need to test: Does this realistically do anything other than affect the item wizard? Likely not. The game won't check for this. PropColumn itemprops.2da column ID This actually links to itemprops.2da, itempropdef.2da, iprp_costtable.2da and iprp_paramtable.2da. The main file it links to is itemprops.2da. In the toolset itemprops.2da lists what item property lines are valid for which item types, the game then validates scripted added item properties using this value too. You can technically add new ones - for instance if you put in column number 22 you'd need to add a new column to itemprops.2da after the "21_Gloves" column, then set corresponding item properties that are valid. In most cases however it is much easier to reuse an existing appropriate Bioware one. It is doubtful that item properties GFF edited into an item will be checked by the game but this is untested. StorePanel 0 = armor and clothing 1 = weapons 2 = potions and scrolls 3 = wands and magic items 4 = miscellaneous. A number indicating where this item can be found in a store. ReqFeat0 **** or feat.2da line index An index into feat.2da indicating a feat that grants proficiency with this item. A character must be proficient with an item in order to equip it. If this column is "****" then either all characters are automatically proficient with this item or this item is armor. (The default proficiencies are 32 = shield; 44 = exotic; 45 = martial; 46 = simple; 48 = druid; 49 = monk; 50 = rogue; and 51 = wizard. However, any feat can be used as a proficiency, if desired.) **** or feat.2da line index An index into feat.2da indicating a feat that grants proficiency with this item. If not "****", this is an alternate to that in the preceding column. **** or feat.2da line index An index into feat.2da indicating a feat that grants proficiency with this item. If not "****", this is an alternate to those in the preceding columns. AC_Enchant 0 = dodge 1 = natural 2 = armor 4 = deflection The type of armor class bonus granted, if this item grants one. BaseAC Used but only for 3 shield lines. The armor class value of this shield (before enchantments). Not used for armor. NWN:EE has made it so this column now works, but only for lines 14, 56 and 57. No new shield can be added currently. ArmorCheckPen Integer The armor check penalty inherent to this item. Not used for armor which uses armor.2da. (By default, this column is only set for shields.) This is used by the game. BaseItemStatRef StringRef A StringRef that indicates the basic statistics of this item. This is displayed under the description when an item is examined in the game. ChargesStarting The starting number of charges this item has by default in the toolset. Usually 50. RotateOnGround 0 - no rotation 1 - rotate 90 degrees around positive y-axis 2 - rotate 90 degrees around positive x-axis Rotation of the item model when laid on the ground. Helps potions stay upright! TenthLBS Integer Ten times the weight of this item in pounds. (Prior to version 1.69, this value was divided by 256, and the remainder was used as ten times the item's weight.) WeaponMatType An index into weaponsounds.2da indicating what sounds this weapon (item) makes when it hits an opponent. For reference default weaponsounds.2da entries are: 0 Unarmed 1 Blade 2 Metal_Blunt 3 Chain 4 Wood_Blunt 5 Bow 6 Sling 7 Dart 8 Throw_Axe 9 Crossbow 10 Unarmed_Low 11 Blade_Low 12 Metal_Blunt_Low 13 Chain_Low 14 Bow_low 15 Crossbow_Low 16 Axe 17 Polearm 18 Dagger 20 Halaster 21 Shark AmmunitionType 1 = arrow 2 = bolt 3 = bullet 4 = dart 5 = shuriken 6 = throwing axe The index+1 into ammunitiontypes.2da that indicates the type of ammunition used by this weapon (item). This determines the models and sounds used during ranged attacks. This is pretty much hardcoded according to the Bioware documentation (although admittedly the slots for ammo is hardcoded anyway, as it were, so no new ranged ammo types). QBBehaviour **** or 0 - default 1 - select spell, targets normally 2 - select spell, always targets self Determines the behaviour when this property appears on the player's quick bar. If set to 2, any cast spell item properties on an item of this type will always target the item's possessor (c.f. potions). ArcaneSpellFailure **** or Integer The percentage this item adds to the chance for arcane spell failure. Not used for armor which uses armor.2da. (By default, this column is only set for shields.) %AnimSlashL **** for non-weapon Or Integer, see right The chance (expressed as a percentage) that a character wielding this weapon (item) will be animated as making a slash from the left during an attack. % chance to use the left-slash, right-slash, or stab animation when using this weapon. **** if the item is not a melee weapon. Left-Slash and Stab should add up to 100, and Right-Slash and Stab should add up to 100. The Left and Right slash percentages are the chances of doing that move if the wielder is in the already proper stance. For example, a creature in the right-ready combat animation can only left-slash or stab, and after a left-slash, it enters the left-ready stance %AnimSlashR The chance (expressed as a percentage) that a character wielding this weapon (item) will be animated as making a slash from the right during an attack. %AnimSlashS The chance (expressed as a percentage) that a character wielding this weapon (item) will be animated as making a straight slash (from the center) during an attack. StorePanelSort A number indicating the order in which this item will be listed in a store (within the panel indicated by the "StorePanel" column). Since Bioware uses identical numbers for some rows (possibly for weapons of identical inventory sizes? maybe?) presumably those with matching values will just be sorted as they come in sale-wise. Bioware uses 0 - 99 for this, but it could be set higher most likely. ILRStackSize The stack size used when calculating this item's value in regards to item level restrictions. Bioware only used this for ammunition - presumably because the "value" of the item in those cases are more important when stacked, and stops a someone just splitting 99 arrows into size-1 stacks to get around Item Level Restrictions. Not sure if it has any effect on Use Magical Device. WeaponFocusFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat provides weapon focus for this item. EpicWeaponFocusFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat provides epic weapon focus for this item. WeaponSpecializationFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat provides weapon specialization for this item. EpicWeaponSpecializationFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat provides epic weapon specialization for this item. WeaponImprovedCriticalFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat allows improved criticals to be performed with this item. EpicWeaponOverwhelmingCriticalFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat allows overwhelming criticals to be performed with this item. EpicWeaponDevastatingCriticalFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat allows devastating criticals to be performed with this item. WeaponOfChoiceFeat **** or feat.2da line index NWN:EE. An index into feat.2da indicating which feat identifies this item as a weapon of choice. IsMonkWeapon **** / 0 or 1 NWN:EE. If set to 1 it will be considered a Monk weapon, and have Flurry of Blows available plus the Unarmed Base attack Bonus progression. Can even be applied to ranged weapons like Shurikens. If set to 0 or left blank will not be considered a Monk weapon. Note the fist-only aspects (eg Stunning Fist) are not affected, and for dual weapons you'd need both hands to have one in to allow the bonuses (Eg; 2 Kamas, not 1 Kama and 1 Shortsword). WeaponFinesseMinimumCreatureSize **** / 0 or a creaturesize.2da value NWN:EE. If set to 1 or higher, a creaturesize.2da size ID, it will be considered to be a finesse weapon. If the FEAT_FINESSE_WEAPON is taken then dexterity may be used for the attack roll instead of strength. This unhardcodes the feat. Equippable Slots Notes The "EquipableSlots" column is a bit field expressed in hexadecimal notation. The following table lists the values that can be added together to produce a value for this column. Inventory slot 0x00001 Helmet 0x00200 Amulet 0x00002 Armor 0x00400 Belt 0x00004 Boots 0x00800 Arrow 0x00008 Gloves 0x01000 Bullet 0x00010 Main hand 0x02000 Bolt 0x00020 Off-hand 0x1C000 Creature weapons 0x00040 Cloak 0x20000 Creature armor 0x00180 Rings Example: Since most melee weapons should be able to go into the main hand, off-hand, and creature weapon slots, the value of the "EquipableSlots" column would be "0x1C030". Some of the slot types in the above table already combine two or more codes. For example, Rings can be separated into Left Ring (0x00080) and Right Ring (0x00100). Likewise Creature Weapons can be separated into Left Claw (0x04000), Right Claw (0x08000), and Bite (0x10000). 2da Contents Expand source 2DA V2.0 Name label InvSlotWidth InvSlotHeight EquipableSlots CanRotateIcon ModelType ItemClass GenderSpecific Part1EnvMap Part2EnvMap Part3EnvMap DefaultModel DefaultIcon Container WeaponWield WeaponType WeaponSize RangedWeapon PrefAttackDist MinRange MaxRange NumDice DieToRoll CritThreat CritHitMult Category BaseCost Stacking ItemMultiplier Description InvSoundType MaxProps MinProps PropColumn StorePanel ReqFeat0 ReqFeat1 ReqFeat2 ReqFeat3 ReqFeat4 AC_Enchant BaseAC ArmorCheckPen BaseItemStatRef ChargesStarting RotateOnGround TenthLBS WeaponMatType AmmunitionType QBBehaviour ArcaneSpellFailure %AnimSlashL %AnimSlashR %AnimSlashS StorePanelSort ILRStackSize WeaponFocusFeat EpicWeaponFocusFeat WeaponSpecializationFeat EpicWeaponSpecializationFeat WeaponImprovedCriticalFeat EpicWeaponOverwhelmingCriticalFeat EpicWeaponDevastatingCriticalFeat WeaponOfChoiceFeat IsMonkWeapon WeaponFinesseMinimumCreatureSize 0 106 shortsword 1 2 0x1C030 1 2 WSwSs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswss 0 **** 1 2 **** 1.2 10 100 1 6 2 2 1 10 1 2 1684 8 8 0 0 1 45 50 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5410 0 1 30 1 **** **** **** 35 35 65 19 1 103 633 141 671 65 723 509 925 **** 2 1 166 longsword 1 4 0x1C030 1 2 WSwLs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswls 0 **** 3 3 **** 1.5 10 100 1 8 2 2 1 15 1 2 1687 9 8 0 0 1 45 256 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5417 0 1 40 1 **** **** **** 50 50 50 70 1 106 636 144 674 68 726 512 928 **** **** 2 169 battleaxe 2 3 0x1C030 1 2 WAxBt 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwaxbt 0 **** 3 3 **** 1.2 10 100 1 8 1 3 1 10 1 2 1685 9 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5415 0 1 70 16 **** **** **** 100 100 0 41 1 110 640 148 678 72 730 516 931 **** **** 3 168 bastardsword 2 4 0x1C030 1 2 WSwBs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswbs 0 **** 3 3 **** 1.6 10 100 1 10 2 2 1 35 1 2 2288 9 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5434 0 1 100 11 **** **** **** 65 65 35 71 1 123 652 161 690 85 742 528 940 **** **** 4 176 lightflail 1 3 0x1C030 1 2 WBlFl 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwblfl 0 **** 2 3 **** 1.4 10 100 1 8 1 2 1 8 1 2 1686 11 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5416 0 1 50 3 **** **** **** 100 100 0 42 1 114 644 152 682 76 734 520 935 **** **** 5 178 warhammer 2 3 0x1C030 1 2 WBlHw 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwblhw 0 **** 2 3 **** 1.2 10 100 1 8 1 3 1 12 1 2 1690 14 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5420 0 1 80 12 **** **** **** 100 100 0 43 1 115 645 153 683 77 735 521 936 **** **** 6 173 heavycrossbow 2 4 0x00030 1 2 WBwXh 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwbwxh 0 6 1 3 25 30 10 100 1 10 2 2 2 50 1 2 1679 20 8 0 1 1 46 49 50 51 **** 4 0 0 5414 0 2 90 15 2 **** **** **** **** **** 99 1 92 622 130 660 54 712 498 **** **** **** 7 174 lightcrossbow 2 3 0x00030 1 2 WBwXl 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwbwxl 0 6 1 2 25 30 10 100 1 8 2 2 2 35 1 2 1674 19 8 0 1 1 46 49 50 51 **** 4 0 0 5402 0 2 60 9 2 **** **** **** **** **** 29 1 93 623 131 661 55 713 499 **** **** **** 8 170 longbow 2 4 0x00030 1 2 WBwLn 0 0 0 0 it_bag iwbwln 0 5 1 4 20 30 10 200 1 8 1 3 2 75 1 2 1697 19 8 0 1 1 45 256 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5429 0 1 30 14 1 **** **** **** **** **** 72 1 101 631 139 669 63 721 507 **** **** **** 9 177 lightmace 1 2 0x1C030 1 2 WBlMl 0 0 0 1 it_bag iwblml 0 **** 2 2 **** 1.2 10 100 1 6 1 2 1 5 1 2 1668 13 8 0 0 1 46 50 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5399 0 1 60 2 **** **** **** 100 100 0 44 1 94 624 132 662 56 714 500 921 **** 2 10 175 halberd 2 5 0x1C010 1 2 WPlHb 0 0 0 1 it_bag iwplhb 0 4 4 4 **** 1.7 10 100 1 10 1 3 1 10 1 2 1694 15 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5428 0 1 150 17 **** **** **** 35 35 65 99 1 112 642 150 680 74 732 518 933 **** **** 11 171 shortbow 2 3 0x00030 1 2 WBwSh 0 0 0 0 it_bag iwbwsh 0 5 1 3 20 30 10 100 1 6 1 3 2 30 1 2 1695 19 8 0 1 1 45 50 256 **** **** 4 0 0 5421 0 1 20 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** 25 1 102 632 140 670 64 722 508 **** **** **** 12 172 twobladedsword 2 5 0x1C010 1 2 WDbSw 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwdbsw 0 8 3 4 **** 1.5 10 100 1 8 2 2 1 100 1 2 1702 10 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5431 0 1 150 11 **** **** **** 50 50 50 99 1 127 655 165 693 89 745 531 943 **** **** 13 167 greatsword 2 5 0x1C010 1 2 WSwGs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswgs 0 **** 3 4 **** 1.8 10 100 2 6 2 2 1 50 1 2 1693 9 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5427 0 1 150 11 **** **** **** 65 65 35 99 1 107 637 145 675 69 727 513 929 **** **** 14 179 smallshield 2 2 0x00020 0 0 AShSw 0 1 1 1 it_bag iashsw 0 7 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 3 9 1 1 2287 16 8 0 6 0 32 **** **** **** **** 3 1 -1 5443 0 1 60 **** **** **** 5 **** **** **** 7 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 15 180 torch 1 3 0x00020 1 0 it_torch 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_torch_000 0 1 0 2 **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 20 1 1 0.02 1725 17 8 0 20 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5444 0 1 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 1 **** 16 335 armor 2 3 0x00002 0 3 AArCl 1 1 **** **** gifp iit_chest 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 100 **** **** **** **** 4 **** 1 1 **** 30 8 0 6 0 **** **** **** **** **** 2 0 0 **** 0 0 100 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 17 182 helmet 2 2 0x00001 0 1 helm 0 1 **** **** it_bag ihelm 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 5 3 1 1 1710 0 8 0 7 0 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5445 0 0 20 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 18 515 greataxe 2 4 0x1C010 1 2 WAxGr 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwaxgr 0 **** 3 4 **** 1.4 10 100 1 12 1 3 1 20 1 2 1692 9 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5426 0 1 200 17 **** **** **** 100 100 0 73 1 111 641 149 679 73 731 517 932 **** **** 19 1516 amulet 1 2 0x00200 0 0 it_neck 0 1 **** **** it_bag iit_neck 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 12 1 1 1 1715 25 8 0 16 3 **** **** **** **** **** 1 0 0 5446 0 0 5 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 20 1517 arrow 1 2 0x00800 0 2 WAmAr 1 1 1 1 GI_WAmAr_001 iwamar 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 10 40 **** **** **** **** 6 1 99 0.01 1696 18 8 0 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5422 0 0 0 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 99 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 21 1518 belt 2 1 0x00400 0 0 it_belt 0 1 **** **** it_bag iit_belt 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 12 1 1 1 1714 2 8 0 16 0 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5447 0 0 10 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 3 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 22 191 dagger 1 1 0x1C030 0 2 WSwDg 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswdg 0 **** 1 1 **** 1.1 10 100 1 4 2 2 1 2 1 2 1667 7 8 0 0 1 46 48 49 50 51 4 0 0 5395 0 1 10 18 **** **** **** 65 65 35 9 1 90 620 128 658 52 710 496 920 **** 1 23 0 DELETED 2 1 0x00000 0 0 it_sbox 0 **** **** **** it_bag **** 1 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 17 5 1 1 2285 30 8 0 15 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 **** 0 1 100 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 24 192 miscsmall 1 1 0x00000 0 0 it_smlmisc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_1x1 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 1726 28 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5448 0 0 3 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 25 1519 bolt 1 2 0x02000 1 2 WAmBo 0 1 1 1 GI_WAmBo_001 iwambo 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 6 1 99 0.01 1675 18 8 0 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5403 0 0 0 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 99 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 26 1520 boots 2 2 0x00004 0 2 it_boots 0 1 **** **** it_bag iit_boots 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 12 1 1 1 1713 2 8 0 16 0 **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 0 **** 0 0 5 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 2 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 27 1521 bullet 1 1 0x01000 0 0 WAmBu 0 1 1 1 GI_WAmBu_001 iwambu 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 6 1 99 0.01 1678 28 8 0 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5406 0 0 0 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 99 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 28 1522 club 1 3 0x1C030 1 2 WBlCl 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwblcl 0 **** 2 3 **** 1.1 10 100 1 6 1 2 1 1 1 2 1670 17 8 0 0 1 46 48 49 50 51 4 0 0 61890 0 1 30 4 **** **** **** 100 100 0 26 1 43 619 47 657 15 709 495 919 **** **** 29 1523 miscmedium 2 2 0x00000 0 0 it_midmisc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_2x2 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 1726 29 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5449 0 0 5 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 30 0 DELETED 2 3 0x00030 1 2 WBwXr 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_2x3 0 6 1 3 **** **** 10 100 1 8 2 2 2 250 1 2 1706 4 8 0 1 **** 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 **** 0 1 100 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 31 1525 dart 1 1 0x00010 0 0 WThDt 0 1 1 1 it_dart_000 iwthdt 0 11 1 2 31 30 0 50 1 4 1 2 7 0.1 50 0.01 1676 18 8 0 2 1 46 48 50 **** **** **** 0 0 5404 0 1 1 7 4 **** **** **** **** **** 12 50 91 621 129 659 53 711 497 **** **** **** 32 1526 diremace 2 4 0x1C010 1 2 WDbMa 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwdbma 0 8 2 4 **** 2 10 100 1 8 1 2 1 40 1 2 1703 14 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5433 0 1 200 2 **** **** **** 65 65 35 99 1 125 653 163 691 87 743 529 941 **** **** 33 1527 doubleaxe 2 4 0x1C010 1 2 WDbAx 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwdbax 0 8 3 4 **** 1.5 10 100 1 8 1 3 1 30 1 2 1701 10 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5430 0 1 250 **** **** **** **** 100 100 0 99 1 126 654 164 692 88 744 530 942 **** **** 34 1528 misclarge 2 3 0x00000 0 0 it_talmisc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_2x3 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 1726 30 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5450 0 0 5 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 35 1529 heavyflail 2 4 0x1C010 1 2 WBlFh 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwblfh 0 **** 2 4 **** 1.5 10 100 1 10 2 2 1 15 1 2 1691 12 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5424 0 1 200 13 **** **** **** 100 100 0 74 1 116 646 154 684 78 736 522 937 **** **** 36 1530 gloves 2 1 0x00008 0 0 it_glove 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_glove 0 **** 2 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 1 1 1 1 1712 3 8 0 21 0 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5451 0 0 10 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 100 630 138 668 62 720 506 **** **** 1 37 1531 lighthammer 1 2 0x1C030 1 2 WBlHl 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwblhl 0 **** 2 2 **** 1.1 10 100 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 2 1681 13 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5408 0 1 20 2 **** **** **** 100 100 0 27 1 113 643 151 681 75 733 519 934 **** 2 38 1532 handaxe 1 2 0x1C030 1 2 WAxHn 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwaxhn 0 **** 3 2 **** 1.1 10 100 1 6 1 3 1 6 1 2 1682 8 8 0 0 1 45 49 50 **** **** 4 0 0 5409 0 1 50 17 **** **** **** 100 100 0 14 1 108 638 146 676 70 728 514 930 **** 2 39 1533 healerskit 2 1 0x00000 0 0 it_medkit 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_medkit_001 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 19 50 10 1 1720 29 8 0 19 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5452 0 0 5 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 40 1534 kama 2 2 0x1C030 0 2 WSpKa 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwspka 0 **** 3 2 **** 1.1 10 100 1 6 1 2 1 2 1 2 1699 8 8 0 0 1 44 49 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5396 0 1 10 18 **** **** **** 100 100 0 16 1 117 647 155 685 79 737 523 880 1 2 41 1535 katana 2 3 0x1C030 1 2 WSwKa 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswka 0 **** 3 3 **** 1.3 10 100 1 10 2 2 1 40 1 2 1704 8 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5423 0 1 100 1 **** **** **** 50 50 50 75 1 122 651 160 689 84 741 527 939 **** **** 42 1536 kukri 1 2 0x1C030 1 2 WSpKu 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwspku 0 **** 3 1 **** 1.2 10 100 1 4 3 2 1 8 1 2 2284 8 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5442 0 1 30 18 **** **** **** 65 65 35 18 1 118 648 156 686 80 738 524 881 **** 1 43 **** DELETED * * 0x00000 * * **** * * * * it_bag **** * * * **** **** **** ** * **** **** **** **** * * * * * 30 * * * * **** **** **** **** **** **** * * **** * * * **** **** * **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 44 1538 magicrod 1 3 0x00000 1 2 WMgRd 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwmgrd 0 **** **** **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 8 1 1 1 1708 16 8 0 4 3 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 66197 50 1 20 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 45 1539 magicstaff 1 5 0x1C010 1 2 WMgSt 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwmgst 0 4 2 3 **** 1.6 10 100 1 6 1 2 8 1 1 1 1709 15 8 3 3 3 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 76436 50 1 40 4 **** **** **** 50 50 50 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 46 1540 magicwand 1 2 0x00000 1 2 WMgWn 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwmgwn 0 **** **** **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 8 1 1 1 1707 16 1 1 10 3 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 66196 50 1 10 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 47 1541 morningstar 1 3 0x1C030 1 2 WBlMs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwblms 0 **** 5 3 **** 1.4 10 100 1 8 1 2 1 8 1 2 1671 11 8 0 0 1 46 50 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5412 0 1 80 3 **** **** **** 100 100 0 20 1 95 625 133 663 57 715 501 922 **** **** 48 0 DELETED 2 2 0x1C030 0 2 WSpNn 0 1 1 1 it_bag **** 0 **** 2 2 **** **** 10 100 1 6 1 2 1 2 1 2 1700 30 8 0 0 **** 44 49 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5397 0 1 20 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 49 1543 potions 1 2 0x00000 0 2 it_potion 0 **** **** **** it_potion_000 iit_potion 0 1 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 9 1 10 0.2 1719 24 1 1 8 2 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5455 0 2 1 **** **** 2 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 50 1544 quarterstaff 1 4 0x1C010 1 2 WDbQs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwdbqs 0 4 2 4 **** 1.6 10 100 1 6 1 2 1 1 1 2 1673 15 8 0 0 1 46 48 49 50 51 4 0 0 5413 0 1 40 4 **** **** **** 50 50 50 99 1 96 626 134 664 58 716 502 923 **** **** 51 1545 rapier 1 3 0x1C030 1 2 WSwRp 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswrp 0 **** 1 3 **** 1.4 10 100 1 6 3 2 1 20 1 2 1688 7 8 0 0 1 45 50 256 **** **** 4 0 0 5418 0 1 30 18 **** **** **** 35 35 65 28 1 104 634 142 672 66 724 510 926 **** 3 52 1546 ring 1 1 0x00180 0 0 it_ring 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_ring 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 12 1 1 1.25 1716 23 8 0 16 3 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5456 0 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 53 1547 scimitar 1 3 0x1C030 1 2 WSwSc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwswsc 0 **** 3 3 **** 1.3 10 100 1 6 3 2 1 15 1 2 1689 8 8 0 0 1 45 48 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5419 0 1 40 1 **** **** **** 65 65 35 29 1 105 635 143 673 67 725 511 927 **** **** 54 0 DELETED 1 1 0x00000 0 0 it_spscroll 0 **** **** **** gi_scrl **** 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 10 1 10 0.25 5022 30 1 1 9 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5457 0 1 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 55 1549 scythe 2 4 0x1C010 1 2 WPlSc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwplsc 0 4 4 4 **** 1.5 10 100 2 4 1 4 1 18 1 2 2290 9 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5425 0 1 120 17 **** **** **** 100 100 0 99 1 121 650 159 688 83 740 526 938 **** **** 56 1550 largeshield 2 3 0x00020 0 0 AShLw 0 1 1 1 it_bag iashlw 0 7 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 3 50 1 1 2286 30 8 0 6 0 32 **** **** **** **** 3 2 -2 5458 0 1 150 **** **** **** 15 **** **** **** 7 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 57 1551 towershield 2 4 0x00020 0 0 AShTo 0 1 1 1 it_bag iashto 0 7 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 3 100 1 1 1717 6 8 0 6 0 32 **** **** **** **** 3 3 -10 5459 0 1 450 **** **** **** 50 **** **** **** 7 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 58 1552 shortspear 1 4 0x1C030 1 2 WPlSs 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwplss 0 4 1 4 **** 1.4 10 100 1 8 1 3 1 1 1 2 1672 15 8 0 0 1 46 48 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5401 0 1 30 17 **** **** **** 35 35 65 76 1 97 627 135 665 59 717 503 924 **** **** 59 1553 shuriken 1 1 0x00010 0 0 WThSh 0 1 **** **** it_bag iwthsh 0 11 1 1 59 30 0 50 1 3 1 2 7 1 50 0.01 1705 7 8 0 2 1 44 49 **** **** **** **** 0 0 5398 0 1 0 7 5 **** **** **** **** **** 0 50 120 649 158 687 82 739 525 **** **** **** 60 1554 sickle 2 2 0x1C030 0 2 WSpSc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwspsc 0 **** 3 2 **** 1.1 10 100 1 6 1 2 1 6 1 2 1669 8 8 0 0 1 46 48 **** **** **** 4 0 0 5400 0 1 30 18 **** **** **** 100 100 0 22 1 98 628 136 666 60 718 504 879 **** 2 61 1555 sling 1 2 0x00030 0 0 WBwSl 0 **** **** **** it_bag iwbwsl 0 10 2 2 27 30 0 50 1 4 1 2 2 1 1 2 1677 3 8 0 1 1 46 48 49 50 **** 4 0 0 5405 0 1 1 6 3 **** **** **** **** **** 10 1 99 629 137 667 61 719 505 **** **** **** 62 1556 thievestools 1 2 0x00000 0 0 it_picks 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_picks_001 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 11 1 10 0.25 1722 22 8 0 11 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5460 0 0 5 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 63 1557 throwingaxe 1 2 0x00010 1 2 WThAx 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwthax 0 11 3 2 63 30 10 100 1 6 1 2 7 1 50 0.01 1680 8 8 0 2 1 45 **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5407 0 1 10 8 6 **** **** **** **** **** 24 50 109 639 147 677 71 729 515 **** **** **** 64 1558 trapkit 2 2 0x00000 0 0 it_trap 0 **** **** **** it_trap_001 iit_trap_009 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 15 1 1 1 1721 1 1 1 12 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5461 0 0 5 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 65 1560 key 1 2 0x00000 0 2 it_key 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_key 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 1723 22 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5462 0 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 66 1562 largebox 2 2 0x00000 0 0 it_bigbox 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_bigbox_001 1 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 17 15 1 1 2289 1 8 0 18 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5463 0 0 10 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 5 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 67 0 DELETED 1 1 0x00000 0 0 it_bag 0 **** **** **** it_bag **** 1 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 17 5 1 1 1724 30 8 0 15 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 **** 0 0 100 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 68 **** DELETED * * 0x00000 * * **** * * * * it_bag **** * * * **** **** **** ** * **** **** **** **** * * * * * 30 * * * * **** **** **** **** **** **** * * **** * * * **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 69 534 cslashweapon 2 2 0x1C000 0 0 it_cr_sla 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_cr_sla_001 0 9 3 3 **** **** 0 50 0 0 1 2 **** **** 1 2 5027 30 8 0 14 1 289 **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5465 0 0 1 1 **** **** **** 50 50 50 0 1 291 656 290 694 292 746 532 **** **** 1 70 2188 cpiercweapon 2 2 0x1C000 0 0 it_cr_prc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_cr_prc_001 0 9 1 3 **** **** 0 50 0 0 1 2 **** **** 1 2 5028 30 8 0 14 1 289 **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5466 0 0 1 1 **** **** **** 50 50 50 0 1 291 656 290 694 292 746 532 **** **** 1 71 2189 cbludgweapon 2 2 0x1C000 0 0 it_cr_blud 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_cr_blud_001 0 9 2 3 **** **** 0 50 0 0 1 2 **** **** 1 2 5029 30 8 0 14 1 289 **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5467 0 0 1 4 **** **** **** 50 50 50 0 1 291 656 290 694 292 746 532 **** **** 1 72 2190 cslshprcweap 2 2 0x1C000 0 0 it_cr_bite 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_cr_bite_001 0 9 4 3 **** **** 0 50 0 0 1 2 **** **** 1 2 5030 30 8 0 14 1 289 **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5468 0 0 1 1 **** **** **** 50 50 50 0 1 291 656 290 694 292 746 532 **** **** 1 73 530 creatureitem 2 2 0x20000 0 0 it_cr_item 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_2x2 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** **** **** 1 1 5031 30 8 0 13 0 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5469 0 0 1 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 74 531 book 2 2 0x00000 0 0 IT_BOOK 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_book_001 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 16 1 1 1 6726 1 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 **** 0 0 10 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 75 532 spellscroll 1 1 0x00000 0 0 IT_SCROLL 0 **** **** **** gi_scrl iit_scroll_001 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 10 1 10 0.36 1718 27 1 1 9 2 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5470 0 0 1 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 1 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 76 535 gold 2 2 0x00000 0 0 IT_GOLD 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_gold_001 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 17 **** 50000 **** 5025 26 8 0 17 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5471 0 0 0 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 77 965 gem 1 1 0x00000 0 0 IT_GEM 0 **** **** **** it_bag iit_gem_001 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 17 0 10 1 5024 21 8 0 17 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5472 0 0 0 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 78 2194 bracer 2 1 0x00008 0 0 IT_BRACER 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_bracer 0 **** 2 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 4 1 1 1 1711 0 8 0 16 0 **** **** **** **** **** 2 0 0 5473 0 0 10 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 1 1 100 630 138 668 62 720 506 **** **** 1 79 2294 miscthin 1 2 0x00000 0 0 IT_THNMISC 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_1x2 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 1 1 1 1726 29 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5474 0 0 5 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 80 2220 cloak 2 3 0x00040 0 1 cloak 1 1 **** **** it_bag icloak_m_001 0 **** 0 **** **** **** 0 100 **** **** **** **** 4 1 1 1 5023 3 8 0 16 0 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 5475 0 0 30 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 15 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 81 2730 grenade 1 1 0x00000 0 0 it_x1_gren 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_x1_gren_003 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 100 **** **** **** **** 16 0 10 1 2731 28 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5448 0 0 3 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 82 7666 Encampment 10 6 0x00000 0 0 it_encamp 0 1 1 1 it_bag **** 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 7666 29 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5449 0 0 500 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 83 **** padding **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 92 111697 Lance 1 4 0x1C030 1 2 WPlLc 0 1 1 1 it_bag **** 0 4 1 2 **** 1.4 10 100 1 0 1 3 1 1 1 2 111699 15 8 0 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 111703 0 1 30 17 **** **** **** 0 0 100 76 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 93 111698 Trumpet 1 3 0x1C030 1 0 it_horn 0 1 1 1 it_bag iit_horn_001 0 **** 2 3 **** 1.1 0 100 1 2 1 1 20 1 1 1 111700 17 8 0 20 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 111704 0 1 5 17 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 94 111701 MoonOnAStick 1 2 0x1C030 1 0 it_moon 0 **** **** **** it_moon iit_moon_001 0 **** 2 2 **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 13 1 1 0.02 111702 2 8 0 16 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 **** 0 1 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 95 67251 trident 1 4 0x1C030 1 2 WPlTr 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwpltr 0 **** 1 4 **** 1.4 10 100 1 8 1 2 1 1 1 2 110846 15 8 0 0 1 45 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 110899 0 1 50 17 **** **** **** 5 5 90 76 1 1072 1076 1073 1077 1074 1078 1075 1079 **** **** 96 **** XP2SpecReq **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 100 **** XP2SpecReq **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 101 76389 empty_potion 1 2 0x00000 0 2 it_potion 0 **** **** **** it_potion_000 iit_potion 0 1 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 9 1 1 0.2 86786 24 1 0 8 2 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5455 0 2 1 **** **** 2 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 102 76390 blank_scroll 1 1 0x00000 0 0 IT_SCROLL 0 **** **** **** gi_scrl iit_scroll_002 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 10 1 1 0.36 86787 27 1 0 9 2 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5470 0 0 1 **** **** 2 **** **** **** **** 1 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 103 76391 blank_magicwand 1 2 0x00000 1 2 WMGWn 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwmgwn 0 **** **** **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 8 1 1 1 86788 16 1 0 1 3 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 66196 50 1 10 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 104 83365 crafted_potion 1 2 0x00000 0 2 it_potion 0 **** **** **** it_potion_000 iit_potion 0 1 0 **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 9 1 10 0.2 1719 24 1 0 8 2 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5455 0 2 1 **** **** 2 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 105 83364 crafted_scroll 1 1 0x00000 0 0 IT_SCROLL 0 **** **** **** gi_scrl iit_scroll_002 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 50 **** **** **** **** 10 1 10 0.36 1718 27 1 0 9 2 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5470 0 0 1 **** **** 2 **** **** **** **** 1 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 106 83363 crafted_magicwand 1 2 0x00000 1 2 WMGWn 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwmgwn 0 **** **** **** **** **** 10 100 **** **** **** **** 8 1 1 1 1707 16 1 0 1 3 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 66196 50 1 10 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 10 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 107 **** XP2SpecialRequest **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 108 83310 dwarvenwaraxe 2 3 0x1C030 1 2 WAxBt 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwaxbt 0 **** 3 3 **** 1.2 10 100 1 10 1 3 1 30 1 2 83311 9 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 83312 0 1 150 16 **** **** **** 100 100 0 41 1 952 956 953 957 954 958 955 959 **** **** 109 83379 craftcompbase 2 2 0x00000 0 0 it_midmisc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_2x2 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 83632 29 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5449 0 0 5 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 110 83380 craftcompsmall 1 1 0x00000 0 0 it_smlmisc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_1x1 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 83699 28 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5448 0 0 3 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 111 83617 Whip 2 2 0x1C010 0 2 WWhip 0 1 1 1 it_bag iwwhip 0 **** 3 2 **** 1.7 10 100 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 85392 32 8 0 0 1 44 **** **** **** **** 4 0 0 85391 0 1 20 19 **** **** **** 100 100 0 74 1 993 997 994 998 995 999 996 1000 **** 2 112 83664 craftbase 2 2 0x00000 0 0 it_midmisc 0 1 1 1 it_bag iinvalid_2x2 0 1 0 **** **** **** 0 200 **** **** **** **** 16 0 1 1 83698 29 8 0 15 4 **** **** **** **** **** **** 0 0 5449 0 0 5 **** **** 1 **** **** **** **** 0 1 **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** Pstemarie Under Hard-Coded Limits, I cannot repro the issue in the first screenshot "BadStrRef" message when the item is picked up. I'm testing on a LAN server from the host machine. Is this still an issue? {"serverDuration": 100, "requestCorrelationId": "0cf17537b810ac31"}

Kendra's Law expansion remains a final hurdle in New York state budget PUBLISHED 6:30 PM ET Apr. 06, 2022 PUBLISHED 6:30 PM EDT Apr. 06, 2022 An expansion of law that requires people in a mental health crisis receive treatment remains one of the final stumbling blocks for lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul as they seek to forge a final state budget agreement. But the measure known as Kendra's Law remains controversial for some Democrats in the Legislature as well as advocates for mental health treatment. The effort to expand and extend the law was part of a broader package of proposals by Gov. Kathy Hochul to combat concerns over rising violent crime in New York — heightened after the death of a woman, Michelle Go, when she was pushed in front of a subway train. Advocates, including Harvey Rosenthal of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, have opposed the law being extended to include provisions for court-ordered treatment. "We again urge rejection of this provision of Kendra’s Law amendments under consideration that would permit a restoration of a court treatment order for standards that are far below the initial intent and language of the bill, which largely referred to some form of harm or dangerousness," the group said in a statement. Some lawmakers, including Democratic state Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, are worried the expansion of the law will have unintended consequences for vulnerable people. "The concern that we've raised is that the mechanism that the governor has proposed might actually make things worse rather than better, will not help the people who are being confined and will not actually reduce the crime problem," Abinanti said. Abinanti is worried people on the autism spectrum could be mistaken for someone facing a mental health crisis and be swept up in the process. "We don't want people with autism to be mistaken for someone with a mental illness, thrown into a system and get lose," he said. "It's very difficult to get someone out of a mental institution and with our courts back logged, it's very easy for people to just get lost."

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The Fragile Promise of the Pan-Orthodox Council By Webmaster on August 26, 2015 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople celebrates an Orthodox liturgy for the feast of the Dormition of Mary at the Panagia Soumela Monastery near Trabzon, Turkey in August 2010. The Patriarch will preside over the Orthodox council to be held in Constantinople in 2016. (CNS photo/Umit Bektas, Reuters) Source: The Catholic World Report The announced 2016 council of Eastern Orthodox Churches is historical, but expectations should be modest Fr. Cyril Hovorun An Assembly (Synaxis) of the Primates of the local Orthodox Churches, meeting March 6-9, 2014 in Istanbul, has agreed to convene a Pan-Orthodox council. A “Communiqué of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches” released on March 9th stated that “the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church … will be convened and presided by the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople in 2016.” This decision brings to the homestretch a long process of preparation that goes back as far as the 1920s, had an active phase in 1960s and 1970s, and then was rather quiet until very recently. The last Pan-Orthodox council of this scale was convened in Constantinople well over a thousand years ago, in 879-880, when Photius was reinstalled to the Patriarchal throne. That council dealt mostly with the issues of inter-Church relations and had wide representation of the Eastern Christian Churches, with over 380 bishops in attendance. Some Orthodox believe that the IV Council of Constantinople (its other name) was the eighth and last ecumenical council. After Byzantium lost most of its territories, the councils of the same scale became impossible. Nevertheless, the Eastern Church continued exercising its synodality. Many Eastern bishops and even Patriarchs were unable or did not want to stay with their flocks on the occupied territories. They either preferred,or had no choice but to spend most of their time in safe Constantinople. The old institution of endemousa synod—that is, a gathering of all bishops who, by chance, found themselves in the capital—became a major instrument of the Church’s synodality. Not only the hierarchs under the jurisdiction of Constantinople, but also bishops and even Primates of other Patriarchates, participated in such councils, which managed ecclesial matters related not only to the Church of Constantinople but to the entire Eastern Church. After the collapse of the Ottoman empire, the Orthodox Churches began discussing the possibility of convening a Pan-Orthodox council. In 1923, the Patriarchate of Constantinople called an inter-Orthodox assembly, which nevertheless did not consider itself a Pan-Orthodox council. There were several attempts to convene such a council in the interwar period, but they were also unsuccessful, mostly because the Russian Church was isolated and suffered from severe persecutions. The Orthodox Churches returned to this idea after World War II, and Vatican II especially inspired the Orthodox to accelerate the process of preparation for the Pan-Orthodox council. Pan-Orthodox consultations were instrumental in the preparation process, taking place at Rhodes in 1961, 1963, 1964, and in Geneva in 1968. These consultations were succeeded by the Pan-Orthodox commission and the Preconciliar consultations, which took place from the 1970s until the new millennium. Finally, the institution of the Synaxis (gathering) of the Primates of the Orthodox Church took the process of preparation for the Pan-Orthodox council to its final stage. The last Synaxis took place in Constantinople in 2008. Many Primates who participated in the Synaxis were also active participants in the previous preparatory meetings. They clearly want to accomplish this important work, which has been a major focus of their lives, as well as the lives of their teachers and predecessors. If the council does take place, it will summarize the history of the Orthodox Church of the last century and will be the most important event in modern Orthodox history. Risks, compromises, weaknesses That the Pan-Orthodox council has been scheduled for 2016 is of great significance. The question remains, however, as to how effective it will be in addressing the issues that really matter for the Orthodox Church. There also remains also a real possibility that the council can and will be postponed. A postponement would take place if the tensions between local Orthodox churches become more intense, or something transpires within inter-Orthodox relations making council impossible. Simply put, the inter-Orthodox peace is still very fragile. The participants in the Synaxis were obviously aware of these risks. In order to minimise them, they adopted a roadmap towards the council. An inter-Orthodox preparatory committee will be set up, which will work from September of this year to Easter Sunday of 2015 (April 12th). This committee will work on the documents that will be considered at the council, and on the details of its procedures. It will also quickly intervene if difficult issues arise in inter-Orthodox relations during the period before the council. The Synaxis in Istanbul much time discussing the format of participation of the local Churches in the council. The agreement is that each Church will send 24 bishops plus the Primate of the Church, a number doubled from 12 bishops, plus the Primate, which was agreed in the midway. Because some Orthodox Churches (for instance, Cyprus, Poland, Czech Lands and Slovakia) do not have so many bishops, those Churches can send as many bishops as they have. The initial idea to allow these Churches to “borrow” bishops from other Churches was abandoned. The number of the participating bishops does not necessarily matter, because each Church will have only one vote. Only the autocephalous Churches (whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop) will have right to vote. The autonomous churches (whose highest-ranking bishops are approved by the patriarch of an autocephalous Church) will be able to participate in the council only through their “mother” Churches. Decisions will be taken only if there is a consensus among the voting Churches. Finally, all the sessions will be presided over by the Patriarch of Constantinople—a point listed first among the decisions of the Synaxis regarding the procedures of the council. These decisions of the Synaxis are the result of compromises achieved through very tense negotiations. The main protagonists of the negotiations were the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow. Other Primates contributed mostly by suggesting solutions that would satisfy the two sides. The Patriarch of Moscow initially suggested that all Orthodox bishops should take part in the council. Other Churches did not accept this proposal since it gave the Russian Orthodox Church, with its over 320 bishops, a distinct advantage. Instead, a limited number of bishops from each Church was accepted, which gave the Church of Constantinople with its allies an advantage over the Russian Church. To balance this decision, the Russian Church insisted on the procedure of consensus in taking decisions by the council. (Consensus means a right to veto for each Church and effectively neutralises the numerical majority of the Churches.) This means that the compromise about the procedures significantly reduces the possibility of the council accepting any decision regarding burning issues. Only the council could have an authority to take such a decision, and yet it has been a prioriparalysed in addressing the issues that divide the Orthodox Churches in our days. This is one of the weakest points of the upcoming council. Pressing, divisive issues The most divisive issues on the Orthodox agenda relate to the relations between the local Churches. The models of these relations are constantly evolving, reflecting global political frameworks. Understandings of the fellowship of the Orthodox Churches changes constantly, and there is no agreement on it. Some Churches consider this fellowship in terms of an utilitarian cooperation of sovereign entities, which safeguard their territorial integrity and punish any intruder, including another local Church. This philosophy reflects the logic of international law and, particularly, the idea of sovereignty of the national states. Other Churches believe the pan-Orthodox fellowship should be regarded as a confederation (or even a federation) of local Churches, with an effective and not just ritualPrimus. The upcoming council could help in moving to an acceptance of a single philosophy of the Orthodox fellowship, although that is unlikely. Two particular points of this philosophy were chosen decades ago for the agenda of the Pan-Orthodox council: the diptychs (the order) of the Churches, and the procedure of granting autocephaly (which means, literally, “self-headed”). Since it very unlikely the Churches could reach an agreement on both issues they were excluded from the agenda of the council. The issue of granting autocephaly has an immediate implication in Ukraine. The Synaxis dedicated a disappointingly laconic text to the situation in Ukraine: We fervently pray for peaceful negotiation and prayerful reconciliation in the on-going crisis in Ukraine. We denounce the threats of violent occupation of sacred monasteries and churches, and pray for the return of our brothers presently outside of ecclesiastical communion into the Holy Church. There is no mention of the bloodshed during the recent protests in Kiev and of the military aggression against Ukraine, where the majority of population is Orthodox. The laconism of the statement apparently reflects the deep tensions over Ukraine; the Primates of the Churches did not want to really touch on the Ukrainian issue, in order to save the council. Any meaningful discussion and message regarding the crisis in Ukraine would have probably destroyed the process of council’s preparation. However, the Synaxis did not completely avoid conflict. The Church of Antioch refused to sign the documents of the Synaxis because of its dispute with the Church of Jerusalem over a community in Qatar. The Patriarch of Antioch, John X, was not present at the Synaxis because of illness. However, he ordered his representatives to avoid signing the decisions of the Synaxis unless the problem of the parish in Qatar was solved. His ultimatum did not work, however, and so the signature of the Church of Antioch is absent. There is no also a signature of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. The Russian Church facilitated the recent election of Archbishop Rastislav, the new Primate of that Church. This election is not, however, recognised by the Church of Constantinople and the majority of other Orthodox Churches. Finally, the signature of the Orthodox Church in America is also absent. This Church was granted autocephaly by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1970, but that autocephaly is not recognised by the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the majority of other Orthodox Churches. Implications for Catholic-Orthodox relations The ecumenical relations of the Orthodox Church are among the most important articles on the agenda of the council. It will probably encourage the Orthodox Churches regarding engagements with other Churches, including the Catholic Church. However, it is unlikely that the council will touch on the issues at the core of the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, especially the issue of primacy. The position of the Orthodox Churches on the issue of primacy of the Bishop of Rome depends entirely on the consensus on primacy within the Orthodox Church. Yet there is no such a consensus on this issue; instead, there are two dominating interpretations. According to one of them, primus inter pares (“the first among equals”) is just an honorary title, a rudiment of the past, which does not imply any real authority of the first Church.Inter pares is accentuated in this interpretation, which was recently expressed in the document adopted by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, Position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the problem of primacy in the Universal Church. According to the other perspective, primacy is something real within the Orthodox Church, and it implies real authority and responsibility of the first Church. According to Metropolitan Elpidophoros of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who responded to the document of the Russian Orthodox Church, the first Church, in its primacy, has no equals among the other Churches. The two interpretations of primacy seem to be irreconcilable. And it is very unlikely that the Pan-Orthodox council can accept a single Orthodox interpretation of Primacy. Without this, however, it will be difficult to proceed in the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue. In conclusion, it seems that the current leaders of the Orthodox Churches are resolved to be etched in history as the fathers of a council, which in the Orthodox world will be regarded on the same scale with the ecumenical councils of the first millennium, (although, in the Orthodox tradition, only the following council can accept such a council as ecumenical). In contrast to the first ecumenical councils, however, this one will not touch on many of the dividing issues, which have been excluded from its agenda. This fact demonstrates the fragility of inter-Orthodox unity and cooperation. God performs miracles, however, and there is always a chance that the council will exceed its tentative agenda, and thus provide a more firm and viable framework of cooperation between the Churches. Fr. Cyril Hovorun is a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), and currently a researcher at Yale University. From 2007 to 2009 he was Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and initiated the first attempts at dialogue with the non-recognized Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. He has participated in official Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, and is also a member of the St Irenaeus group, which constitutes an unofficial dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic theologians. From 2009 to 2012, he was the first deputy chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is the author of Will, Action, and Freedom: Christological Controversies in the Seventh Century(Brill, 2008). Originally posted on March 14, 2014 Previous ArticleGreece condemns demolition of orthodox church in Albania Next Article Our beloved lady: Exploring Egypt’s fascination with the Virgin Mary Albanian Church calls for Pan-Orthodox Council A BLESSEDLY UNPREDICTABLE COUNCIL THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM HAS THE RIGHT TO CALL A PAN-ORTHODOX COUNCIL

Dry Weather Leads to Archaeological Finds England's dry summer has allowed researchers to find and photograph archaeological sites that have not been visible since 1976. That year, the area suffered from a drought. Experts say hundreds of sites have become visible this year, and they have taken full advantage of the chance to photograph, record, and examine them. In many cases, these sites have come to light thanks to the fact that crops planted on top of them grow at a different rate from those planted around them, though these features are usually only noticeable from the air. Several prehistoric and Roman-era settlements have come to light, including one near Bradford Abbas, Dorset. Sites already know to experts were able to be better photographed, as well. Labels: archaeology, history, weather

Joshua lost N1.4bn after Usyk defeat Anthony Joshua lost £3m (N1.4bn) worth of sponsorship money after getting outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk the first time they faced off last year, newsmen reports. The 32-year-old lost his heavyweight titles to Usyk when the pair fought in London last September. Joshua was on a mission to win back his belts when the rivals met for the second time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in August, but came up short yet again, as he suffered his second defeat in a row and third in the last four. New financial records for Joshua’s company 258 Management have shown a 35 per cent reduction in turnover from February last year through to February 2022. In the financial year leading up to February 2021, Joshua made almost £8.5m through endorsement deals with the likes of Under Armour, Hugo Boss and Beats. That figure dropped to almost £5.5m in the next financial year, meaning the former two-time heavyweight champion saw around a 35 per cent loss in endorsements. Breaking down the numbers, Joshua’s biggest loss in revenue came from the Non-EU area as this reduced by £3.6m in the financial year leading up to February 2021 to £1.6m in February 2022. Joshua praised for professional conduct Joshua’s stock hasn’t depreciated as much in the UK, as his marketing and sponsorship revenues went down from £3.5m to £2.9m in the region. 258 Management recognised the damage Usyk’s first win over Joshua did for the British-Nigerian’s image, as they said the loss of revenue in sponsorships and endorsements have come from third parties placing less value on his image rights. “The sponsorships and endorsements division has decreased by 35 per cent from 2021 to 2022. This is as a result of third parties placing less value on the use of the fighter’s image rights,” a statement of the accounts read. “The company faces a number of risks and uncertainties and the director believes the key business risks are in respect of competition from both within the UK and international markets. “In view of this risk and uncertainty, the director is aware that the development of the company may be affected by factors outside its control. The directors anticipate the business environment will remain competitive. The directors believe that the company is in a good financial position and that the risks that have been identified are being well managed.” Joshua was in talks for a heavyweight title fight against WBC titleholder Tyson Fury in recent weeks but the domestic clash is now seemingly off after both parties were unable to reach an agreement. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn blamed the unrealistic deadlines Fury put on the fight being finalised as the reason for talks collapsing. <<Punch>> D’banj, Timaya visit Don Jazzy, dad ahead mom’s burial Ajibade leads Super Falcons against Nadeshiko in Kobe

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Music is the light in times of darkness... In a time when people are so afraid of everything around them... their family, their friends even their own existence… in a time when doing nothing is the right thing to do, so as not to do any “harm” and think everything is fine… in a time when following instructions blindly like a herd of sheep without questioning anything or anyone is applauded by the media and the masters… music is an act of courage and boldness! Of course it is, cuz music is still here offering a way out, well probably the only way out! What would have happened without any music at all? Thankfully bands and artists are still around recording and publishing new songs, so as to make people’s lives more beautiful like they used to do in the past… even though now some songs have and they should have a different message… a message for everyone to know of their rights and stand up and fight for them! Fear will drive you crazy and make you sick eventually… specially the inner fear that most (lonely) people are experiencing these days. You do not need a deathly virus to do that… the fear itself can do it most essentially and vastly! Gratefully we can overcome all our fears and even the “made-up ones” via music… listening to music can help us travel to other places and can calm our souls and inner selves in general. Hence, there’s no need to fear anymore as long as you have the music inside you, to lead the way. Music is the Light in a world that has been sinking into darkness and fear every day… but the good days are ahead of us… stay free – stay clean… PS1: Every week we publish a new Grande Rock Playlist on Spotify. You can check out all our playlists here. Make sure to follow us on Spotify as well. PS2: Grande Rock’s Model Spotlight of the Month is the Sexy Model Jessica Maria! Check out her interview and photos here. PS3: This month’s editorial is dedicated to Keyboardist, Orchestral arranger and Conductor Louis Clark, who passed away on February 13th, 2021, at the age of 73. Louis had been a member of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), ELO Part II and The Orchestra. Thx for the music Louis! Rest in Peace…

Home › Art Therapy Course Art Therapy Course Welcome to the Art Therapy Course Our Art Therapy Course provides a fantastic insight into Art Therapy. Art therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes the creative process of making art as a way to promote healing, enhance mental and emotional well-being, and improve overall quality of life. It is based on the idea that art-making can be a powerful tool for expression and communication, allowing individuals to explore and process their emotions, experiences, and thoughts in a non-verbal and often more accessible way. Art therapy can take many different forms, depending on the needs and goals of the individual or group. Some common approaches include drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and other forms of visual art, as well as movement, dance, and music therapy. Art therapy can be helpful for a wide range of conditions and challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, chronic illness, addiction, and relationship issues, among others. It can be used in individual or group settings, and may be integrated with other forms of therapy and treatment. Read all 10 Course Modules Complete the Final Online Exam Module 1 Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour, thoughts, and emotions. It seeks to understand why people act the way they do and what influences their behaviour. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including cognition, perception, motivation, personality, emotion, development, and social behaviour. Neuroscience, on the other hand, is the study of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It seeks to understand how the brain and nervous system work together to produce behaviour, thoughts, and emotions. Neuroscience also examines how the brain processes information and how different brain regions interact to produce complex behaviours. Psychology and neuroscience are closely related fields, as the study of behaviour and mental processes are inherently linked to the workings of the brain. Therefore, psychologists and neuroscientists often work together to gain a more complete understanding of human behaviour. Overall, the fields of psychology and neuroscience offer a rich and fascinating window into the human mind and behaviour, and they have important implications for a wide range of fields, including medicine, education, and law. Unit 1 What is Psychology? Unit 2 The Development of Mental Health Treatment Unit 3 Mental Health Treatment Today Unit 4 Neuroscience Module 2 Introduction to Basic Principles of Art Therapy Art therapy is a therapeutic technique that uses art-making as a means of exploring emotions, thoughts, and experiences. The basic principles of art therapy are rooted in the belief that the creative process of making art can be used to help individuals gain insight, resolve emotional conflicts, and increase self-awareness. Non-verbal expression: Art therapy allows individuals to express themselves non-verbally, which can be especially helpful for those who struggle to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. This non-verbal expression can reveal insights and emotions that may not have been easily accessible through traditional talk therapy. Therapeutic relationship: The relationship between the art therapist and the client is an important aspect of art therapy. The art therapist creates a safe and supportive environment for the client to explore their inner world and emotions through art-making. Process over product: In art therapy, the focus is on the process of creating art, not on the final product. The art therapist encourages the client to let go of expectations and to simply focus on the process of making art. Symbolism and metaphor: Art therapists often use symbolism and metaphor as a means of exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings. Clients may use symbols and images in their artwork to express their emotions, experiences, and beliefs. Integration: Art therapy can help individuals integrate their thoughts, emotions, and experiences into a more cohesive and integrated whole. Through the creative process of art-making, individuals may gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth. In conclusion, art therapy is a powerful tool for exploring the inner world and emotions of individuals. By incorporating the principles of non-verbal expression, therapeutic relationship, process over product, symbolism and metaphor, and integration, art therapy can help individuals gain insight, resolve emotional conflicts, and increase self-awareness. Unit 1 How did Art Therapy Develop? Unit 2 The Basic Concepts of Art Therapy Unit 3 How is Art Therapy Practised? Module 3 Creative Therapy Creative therapy is a broad term that encompasses various therapeutic approaches that use creative arts and expressive techniques to support individuals in exploring their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This can include art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, and writing therapy, among others. The basic principles of creative therapy include: Non-verbal expression: Creative therapies offer individuals a way to express themselves non-verbally, which can be especially helpful for those who struggle to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. Therapeutic relationship: The relationship between the therapist and the client is an important aspect of creative therapy. The therapist creates a safe and supportive environment for the client to explore their inner world and emotions through creative expression. Process over product: In creative therapy, the focus is on the process of creative expression, not on the final product. The therapist encourages the client to let go of expectations and to simply focus on the process of creative expression. Symbolism and metaphor: Creative therapies often use symbolism and metaphor as a means of exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings. Clients may use symbols and images in their creative expressions to express their emotions, experiences, and beliefs. Integration: Creative therapies can help individuals integrate their thoughts, emotions, and experiences into a more cohesive and integrated whole. Through the creative process, individuals may gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth. In conclusion, creative therapies offer individuals a unique and powerful way to explore their inner world and emotions. By incorporating the principles of non-verbal expression, therapeutic relationship, process over product, symbolism and metaphor, and integration, creative therapies can help individuals gain insight, resolve emotional conflicts, and increase self-awareness. Unit 1 Art Therapy: Two Main Approaches Unit 2 Principles and Types of Art Therapy Unit 3 Dance, Drama and Music Therapy Unit 4 Expressive Arts Therapy Module 4 Mindful Creativity Mindful creativity refers to the practice of combining mindfulness with creative activities such as art-making, writing, dance, or other forms of self-expression. Mindfulness is a state of awareness and attention to the present moment, and when combined with creative expression, it can provide a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being. The principles of mindful creativity include: Mindful attention: Mindful creativity involves paying attention to the present moment and to one's experience in a non-judgmental and accepting way. This allows individuals to be fully engaged in the creative process and to access their inner thoughts and feelings. Letting go of expectations: Mindful creativity encourages individuals to let go of expectations and to simply be in the moment with their creative expression. This allows individuals to be more spontaneous and to access their unconscious thoughts and feelings. Acceptance of imperfections: Mindful creativity encourages individuals to accept and embrace their imperfections and to see their creative expression as a way of exploring their inner world, rather than as a means of producing a perfect product. Integration: Mindful creativity can help individuals integrate their thoughts, emotions, and experiences into a more cohesive and integrated whole. Through the mindful and creative process, individuals may gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth. In conclusion, mindful creativity is a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being. By combining mindfulness with creative expression, individuals can explore their inner world, gain insight into their thoughts and emotions, and increase self-awareness. Unit 1 Art and Mindfulness Unit 2 Mindfulness and Meditation Module 5 Colour and Creation Colour is a powerful tool in the creative process and can greatly impact the mood and emotion conveyed in a work of art. In art therapy, color is often used to express feelings, moods, and experiences. The use of color can also stimulate different emotions and memories in the viewer. Psychological effects of color: Different colors can have different psychological effects, and can evoke different emotions and moods in individuals. For example, warm colors like red and yellow can evoke feelings of excitement, passion, and energy, while cool colors like blue and green can evoke feelings of calmness, serenity, and peace. Symbolism of color: Color can also have symbolic meaning, and different cultures and societies may associate different colors with different emotions and meanings. For example, in Western cultures, white is often associated with purity and innocence, while black is associated with mourning and death. Color in the creative process: In the creative process, color can be used to enhance the mood and emotion conveyed in a work of art. Artists can use color to create contrast, to evoke specific emotions, or to create a particular atmosphere in their work. Color and emotions: In art therapy, color can be used as a tool for exploring and expressing emotions. For example, an individual may be asked to choose colors that reflect their current emotional state and to use those colors in their art-making. In conclusion, color plays an important role in the creative process and in art therapy. By understanding the psychological effects of color and its symbolic meaning, individuals can use color as a tool for exploring and expressing their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Unit 1 How Art Therapy Works Unit 2 Colour Therapy Unit 3 Latest Colour Research Module 6 Art Therapy for Children Art therapy is a therapeutic technique that uses art-making as a means of exploring emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It can be an effective form of therapy for children, as it provides a non-verbal and creative way for them to express themselves. Developmental considerations: Art therapy for children takes into account the developmental stage of the child and the specific needs and abilities of the child at that stage. For example, younger children may benefit from using more concrete materials, such as play dough or finger paints, while older children may benefit from using more abstract materials, such as charcoal or oil paints. Play-based approach: Art therapy for children often takes a play-based approach, incorporating elements of play and fun into the therapy session. This can make the therapy experience more engaging and enjoyable for the child. Emotional regulation: Art therapy can help children develop emotional regulation skills by providing a safe and supportive space for them to explore and express their emotions through art-making. Social skills: Art therapy can also help children develop social skills, such as cooperation, empathy, and communication, through group art therapy sessions. Self-expression: Art therapy provides children with a means of self-expression and can help them develop a sense of self-awareness and personal identity. In conclusion, art therapy can be an effective form of therapy for children. By taking into account developmental considerations and incorporating play-based approaches, art therapy can help children develop emotional regulation skills, social skills, and a sense of self-expression. Unit 1 Art Therapy and Child Development Unit 2 Child Brain Development Unit 3 Interpretation by Therapists Unit 4 Art Therapy vs Play Therapy Module 7 Illness and Art Art therapy can be an effective form of therapy for individuals who are dealing with illness. Through the creative process of art-making, individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to their illness and can gain a deeper understanding of their emotional and psychological responses to their health condition. Coping with illness: Art therapy can help individuals cope with the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges associated with illness. By providing a safe and supportive space for self-expression, individuals can work through their feelings of fear, anger, sadness, and other emotions related to their illness. Stress reduction: Art therapy can also serve as a form of stress reduction, helping individuals to manage the stress and anxiety associated with their illness. Empowerment: Art therapy can help individuals feel more empowered and in control of their illness by giving them a means of self-expression and a voice in their own health journey. Physical rehabilitation: In some cases, art therapy may also be used as a form of physical rehabilitation for individuals with certain illnesses or injuries. For example, art therapy may be used to help individuals with neurological conditions to improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. In conclusion, art therapy can be a valuable tool for individuals dealing with illness. By providing a means of self-expression and emotional regulation, art therapy can help individuals cope with the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges associated with illness and can support their overall health and well-being. Unit 1 Art Therapy and Mental Health Unit 2 How Art Therapy in Psychiatric Services has Developed Module 8 Art Therapy with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Art therapy can be a helpful tool for individuals with PTSD, as it provides a safe and non-verbal way for them to explore and express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to their trauma. Processing trauma: Art therapy can help individuals with PTSD process their traumatic experiences and gain a deeper understanding of their emotional and psychological responses to trauma. This can help individuals to integrate their traumatic experiences into their overall life story and to develop a more cohesive and integrated sense of self. Emotional regulation: Art therapy can also help individuals with PTSD regulate their emotions and manage symptoms such as anxiety, anger, and depression. Trauma-focused therapy: Art therapy can be used as a form of trauma-focused therapy, which focuses specifically on the traumatic event and its aftermath. In this type of therapy, individuals may be asked to create art that represents their traumatic experience, which can provide a means of processing and integrating their trauma. Healing: Art therapy can provide a safe and supportive space for individuals with PTSD to heal and to develop a sense of resilience and strength. In conclusion, art therapy can be a valuable tool for individuals with PTSD. By providing a means of processing and integrating traumatic experiences, art therapy can help individuals regulate their emotions, manage symptoms, and heal from the effects of trauma. Unit 1 What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Unit 2 Therapeutic Mechanisms Unit 3 Therapy Methods Module 9 Art Therapy with Older Clients Art therapy can be an effective form of therapy for older clients, as it provides a non-verbal and creative way for them to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Art therapy with older clients takes into account the unique challenges and needs of this population, such as physical limitations, health concerns, and life experiences. Addressing age-related concerns: Art therapy can help older clients address age-related concerns, such as aging, health issues, and the loss of loved ones, by providing a safe and supportive space for self-expression. Reminiscence therapy: Art therapy can also serve as a form of reminiscence therapy, where older clients are encouraged to reflect on their life experiences and to express their memories and feelings through art-making. This can help older clients to feel a sense of connection to their past and to develop a more integrated sense of self. Physical limitations: Art therapy can be adapted to accommodate physical limitations in older clients. For example, art therapy may incorporate the use of adaptive equipment, such as larger brushes or special paint palettes, to accommodate physical limitations. Cognitive stimulation: Art therapy can also provide cognitive stimulation for older clients, helping to maintain cognitive function and to prevent or delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline. In conclusion, art therapy can be a valuable tool for older clients. By addressing age-related concerns, providing reminiscence therapy, accommodating physical limitations, and providing cognitive stimulation, art therapy can help older clients to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and to maintain their overall health and well-being. Unit 1 Changes Related to Ageing Unit 2 How Art Therapy Can Help Older Clients Module 10 Playtime! Art therapy can be a fun and creative way to explore your emotions and thoughts through the act of making art. Here's a simple art therapy activity that you can do on your own or with a group: Gather materials: You will need paper and art materials such as markers, colored pencils, or paints. Set an intention: Before you begin, take a moment to set an intention for your art-making. This could be something as simple as "I want to express my feelings about my day today." Start creating: Allow yourself to let go of expectations and simply focus on the process of making art. Experiment with different colors, textures, and shapes. There is no right or wrong way to create. Reflect on your artwork: Once you have finished your artwork, take a moment to reflect on what you created. What emotions or thoughts came up for you while you were making your art? What do you see in your artwork that represents those emotions or thoughts? Share, if desired: If you feel comfortable, you can share your artwork and your reflections with others, either in a group setting or with a trusted friend or family member. This simple art therapy activity can be a fun and creative way to explore your thoughts and emotions, and to gain insight into your inner world. Unit 1 Art Therapy Techniques Unit 2 Happiness, Gratitude and Self-Awareness To get to this stage you should now have completed all 10-course modules and be ready to take your assessment tests. Art Therapy Exam

Jonathan Richman Founder of The Modern Lovers, whose members have included David Robinson (The Cars), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), Greg “Curly” Keranen (The Rubinoos), D. Sharpe (Carla Bley), Tommy Larkins (Giant Sand) and acclaimed filmmaker Beth Harrington. “Roadrunner” was called “the first punk rock song” by Richard Linklater (School Of Rock, Dazed And Confused) and served as the title of Oscar®, Grammy®, and Emmy®-winner Morgan Neville’s documentary on Anthony Bourdain. His songs have been covered by David Bowie, Sex Pistols, Joan Jett, Echo And The Bunnymen, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Iggy Pop, John Cale, and many more. Appeared in the Ben Stiller comedy There’s Something About Mary. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers — Jonathan Sings! New Release, Rock, CD, Vinyl Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers — Back In Your Life Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers — Modern Lovers ‘Live’ Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers — Rock ‘n’ Roll With The Modern Lovers New Release, Rock, All, CD, Vinyl Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

Victory at All Costs Yesterday I posted a video that exposes that Muslim refugees are flooding into Europe without appreciation of their non-Muslim hosts violating the laws of the land with rapes, theft and murder and more. Today I’m posting a good follow-up with a great submission by Justin Smith that has the message that if the same kind of Muslims going to Europe come to America expect Islamic terrorism in one form or another. Collect the Dead By Justin O. Smith Sent: 4/2/2016 1:57 PM “I’m sick of preening celebrities who tell me to ‘PrayForTheWorld’ and celebrate diversity while indiscriminate floods of Muslim refugees across Europe and America corrode the pillars of peace and freedom.” — Michelle Malkin, March 23rd, 2016 Four murdered Americans among the thirty-five victims in Brussels and seventy-one murdered Christians in Lahore, mostly women and children, blown apart over the Easter Weekend, are representative of the true face of Islam and the severe existential security threat Islam and Muslims pose to America, and Americans would be deluding themselves by thinking otherwise. This is a threat that will only be made worse through the delay of common sense action and the immediate halt of Muslim immigration into our country. Americans cannot place any hopes on the elusive “peaceful” and “moderate” Muslims. While 70% of the followers of traditional Islam have been deemed “moderate” by Leftist politicians and intelligentsia, far too often, the reality has shown us otherwise, and once described “moderates” are found in the ranks of “radicals”, usually after another bloody terrorist attack and too late to do anything but collect the wounded, maimed and dead. If, as stated by a few U.S. Senators, it is an insult to Muslims to advocate tracking Muslim refugees already here and to halt Muslim immigration for any period of time, then I suggest that Muslims stop murdering Americans. And for those who tell us to view the Muslim graves at Arlington, I tell them, that for each headstone, there are a hundred more Muslims who would happily betray America and see Her destroyed. Ali Mohammed, top aide to Osama Bin Laden, immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s from Egypt. He became a U.S. Army sergeant and an instructor at the JFK Special Operations Warfare School at Ft. Bragg. Then Mohammed went on to smuggle suspected terrorists into the U.S. through Vancouver, Canada. And, in his greatest betrayal of this generous America which offered him so much, Mohammed trained El Sayyid Nosair and Mahmud Abuhalima, who took part in the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing. Brussels bombers Ibrahim and Khalid Bakraoui‘s plot to force a nuclear scientist to make a dirty nuclear bomb, brings to mind the New Jersey Al Qaeda member Sharif Mobley, currently serving time on terrorism charges. Mobley worked in several nuclear plants in Salem County, NJ and he had passed multiple federal background checks through 2008. Muslims are the only people committing global wholesale murder in the name of Islam. They are the only people who openly proclaim their desire to kill Jews and Westerners, and Muslims are the only people vowing to conquer the world: These facts are not irrelevant to America’s immigration policy. If every single Muslim grievance against the West and America were addressed and assuaged today, tomorrow a hundred more would be posited by the leaders of Islam, simply because we exist and are not Muslim. Anyone saying “we cannot afford to alienate” Muslims act as though it’s America’s fault that Muslim’s attack us. Offend the Muslim world or not, Islam will always manufacture one more reason to attack America. Over the last four decades, Shamim Siddiqqi [An author of a treatise to Islamize West], leader of the Islamic Circle of North America, has advocated subverting our republic by linking Islamist front groups to racial politics. During the 2015 joint conference of the Muslim American Society, an overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the ICNA, Khalilah Sabra, MAS leader, openly called for “revolution”, as she discussed Muslim support for Black Lives Matter. Drawing parallels between the U.S. and the Middle East and events leading to the Muslim Brotherhood-led Arab Spring revolutions, Sabra suggested, “We are the community that staged a revolution across the world; if we can do that, why can’t we have that revolution in America?” Any Muslim calling for the reform of Islam, in the Western sense of the meaning of the word “reform”, is considered a heretic. However, an infinitesimal number of liberal thinking secular Muslims, such as Irshad Manji, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser and Asra Nomani, are attempting to counter the integral violent doctrines of Islam and reform Islam. But any successes will be next to impossible to achieve, due to Islamic texts and the competing theological hierarchies of Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. And compounding the difficulty of their task, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are still exporting the virulent Wahhabi brand of Islam to 2000 mosques across America: No one can reasonably expect Islam to achieve reformation in this lifetime or the next. Perhaps millions of Muslims are already living peacefully with the rest of the world, the non-Muslims, the Christians, the infidels, as the Progressives and Muslim apologists would have us believe, but on the whole, I have yet to see it anywhere — not even in Jordan where King Abdullah has called for “reform” and yet still allows the persecution of Jordan’s Christian minority to persist. And in the meantime, their “religion of peace” is awash in the blood of Americans, Europeans, Yazidis and Christians and their fellow Muslims. Where is the historical evidence of a mainstream “moderate” Islam or even Islam “the religion of peace” after Islam’s first ten years? Isn’t it reasonable for Americans to decide who is allowed into our country? Isn’t it logical to determine that banning the immigration of Muslim “refugees” will prevent many terrorists from entering America too? Americans have had enough of placing memorial flowers on the graves of their loved ones, who were murdered by Muslims seeking to impose Islam in the name of Allah, and as Progressives and Obama lecture the rest of America on retaining our “American values” it becomes obvious their “values” are a perversion of everything “American”. Our American values are based on Western and Judeo-Christian principles, not Middle Eastern values or oppressive teachings of the Koran, whether Muslims like it or not; and resisting a government utopian policy of open borders and coexistence that allows hundreds of thousands of Muslims to enter America and commit mass murder is not a “hate-crime.” It is our duty to prevent the murder of innocent civilians in America and to defend America and not let Her perish: Here and abroad — We Must Fight or Die. Edited by John R. Houk Text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor. All links are by the Editor. © Justin O. Smith Author oneway2dayPosted on April 3, 2016 Categories Counterjihad, Immigration, TerrorismTags Defend America, Islamic Intolerance, Islamic Terrorism, Islamization, Jew-Hatred, Justin Smith, MB Agenda, Moderate vs Radical, Muslim Immigrants, Muslim Refugees Previous Previous post: The Rape of Europe is Approaching America by Prof Paul Eidelberg Next Next post: Live Your Life – Let Others Live Too

Guru Parulkar, Executive Director, Open Networking Foundation Guru Parulkar is Executive Director of ONF and ON.Lab, and Executive Director of Stanford Platform Lab, and Consulting Professor of EE at Stanford University. Guru has been in the field of networking for over 25 years. He joined Stanford in 2007 as Executive Director of its Clean Slate Internet Design Program. At Stanford Guru helped create three programs: OpenFlow / Software-Defined Networking, Programmable Open Mobile Internet 2020, and Stanford Experimental Data Center Laboratory. Prior to Stanford, Guru spent four years at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and worked with the broader research community to create programs such as GENI, Future Internet Design, and Network of Sensor Systems. Guru received NSF Director’s award for Program Management excellence. Before NSF Guru founded several startups including Growth Networks (acquired by Cisco) and Sceos (IPO’d as Ruckus Wireless). Guru served as Entrepreneur in Residence at NEA in 2001 and received NEA’s Entrepreneurship Award. Prior to this Guru spent over 12 years at Washington University in St. Louis where he was a Professor of Computer Science, Director of Applied Research Laboratory and the head of research and prototyping of high performance networking and multimedia systems. Guru received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Delaware in 1987. Guru is a recipient of the Alumni Outstanding Achievement award and the Frank A. Pehrson Graduate Student Achievement award.

Baccarat Live Going Live! Have you ever tried to play in online live casinos? Most new gamblers tend to be too shy and hesitant to test their luck gambling live. And that is regrettable, as live casino experience is one of the most striking in online gambling. A live casino is a casino where all the games are live streamed from a studio. It is basically an old-fashioned land-based casino with a table and a real human dealer, but it is brought to your home. What can you play at a live casino? Most games are well-known to everyone: the good-old blackjack, poker or roulette. Let’s look at Baccarat to see how it is played live. Baccarat is one of the most popular card games of all time. Probably, it’s because it is very simple and very fast. It takes no time to learn to play it. Some players think Baccarat requires no skills at all. But we are not sure about that. Baccarat is usually played with a 6-deck or 8-deck shoe, each deck starting with a 2 and all the way up to the Ace. Each card has a value. All cards from 2 to 9 worth from 2 to 9 points each, respectively. All the face cards are worth 0 points. And as for the Ace it is worth 1 point. The game features two main bets: on the banker and on the player. You have to predict who of them will get the combination of cards worth 9 points or the closest to it. Also, or you may bet on a tie. The latter means you predict the hands of both sides to be equal in value. So, place your wager and see what the dealing shows. It usually takes two cards to figure out who wins, but sometimes there is a third card used. It usually happens when the player’s hand has the low total value, under 5. If you have guessed right and won on either a player or a banker, you will be paid even money. Except for the 5% commission that is being withheld from your win, if you have won the Banker’s. If you guessed the tie, then the payout will be 8:1, but the house edge is over 14% for this bet. So run the numbers! And that is basically it. All you have to know about baccarat to play it! Is online baccarat any different from the original game? Frankly, not really! There are so many versions of Baccarat online, but their basic rules are the same. Most online Baccarat tables share the same standard features. They offer unlimited access to the table. At the tables with limited seats, there will be 7 seats only. Don’t be confused, they will be numbered from 1 to 8, and the seat number 4 would be missing. It was made intentionally for bettors from Asia, where the number 4 is unlucky and number 8, on the other hand, is extremely lucky! Another trick online casinos use is the scanners. The cards are usually put on them face down; the results are read by the scanner and after you will get visual information on what cards have won either on the screen or on the users’ interface widget. Scanners definitely help to make the game more agile, also despite all the efforts even bigger cards are sometimes hard to see on the screen. It never happens with scanners, though. All the online baccarat versions are played with an 8 deck shoe. All the wagers are standard, but there are some interesting extras like the so-called side bets. The most popular side bet has different variations. There are three main variants: Banker/ Player, Either and a Perfect Pair. These wagers predict a pair dealt to any hand. The payouts vary from 5:1 to 25:1, depending on which type of bet won. Another popular side bat is the Big/Small one. The idea is to predict the total number of the cards dealt. It may be big, from 5 to 6, or small, 4. The last one is Egalite. With it, you try to predict the total value of the hands. The payouts are different. They depend largely on the total value. This bet is awesome as it can be placed independently of the regular hand bet. Actually, the user’s interface may also come as a shock to newbies! User’s interface usually is a very comfortable tool. Check it for all the necessary statistics, odds and wagers. It’s at the bottom of the screen and here you may choose the value of the chips, make a bet and suchlike. So what is so scary about Baccarat’s interface? There is one more mind-blowing extra feature in it. It may be hidden or it might be displayed on the screen the entire game. It looks like a terribly complex chart full of symbols and icons. Plenty of bettors get spooked off by the sight of this device! It is officially called the Baccarat Roadmap, and it is used to record the game’s statistics so you can predict what might happen next. We’ve seen so many gamblers so scared of this strange and complicated tool, they just left the game with no intention to return to it ever. We’ll tell you one thing about the roadmap. You are free not to use it if you don’t know how. It is useful when the gamblers are experienced, or they use some sort of strategy. But if you don’t want to use it, you are free not to. Just close the damn thing and heck with it! If you can, of course. Older interface versions have the damn table fixed so there is no chance to close it. So, either get used to it or choose a table with the new interface. The updated version is much more pleasant to look at. If you visit a live casino for the first time, then you might be taken aback by the variety of baccarat tables. May seem too many for this simple game. You will definitely come across Squeeze Baccarat. It’s a simple Baccarat where the last card of the deal is squeezed to prolong the excitement. There is a Mini Baccarat. It’s identical to the original one, but usually features a limited number of seats. As for Speed Baccarat, obviously, they are very fast. Usually the betting is done within less than 15-20 seconds, and the full round takes no more than 40 seconds. The Progressive Baccarat speaks for itself, it features a progressive jackpot you may win if both hands will have matching suited Aces and 8’s in the same round. The payouts for this jackpot is 10,000:1. Though the chances to hit one are next to impossible. There are some other card combos that get paid according to the progressive jackpot rules, like an Ace and an 8, paid 1,000:1, or a Natural, paid 25:1, and some other variants for lesser hands. The jackpot amount is seeded 7% of each bet to create the pot. Also, there is a No Commission Baccarat. It is said this type of Baccarat doesn't charge you a 5% commission on the Banker’s win. Well, it’s true, they don't, instead they charge you a 50% commission when Banker wins with a 6. Whatever Baccarat you choose to play online will be a great experiment. The best thing about online live casinos is that you can switch tables as often as you want, try different types of the same game. You may log in any time you wish and have a nice little game for as long as you want and you don’t have to wait for a free seat by the table. You don’t have to play some game you don't like while waiting, either. At a live casino it is all you want as soon as you want it! So take your time to choose your perfect Baccarat! Remember, it’s the road, not the destination that matters, so let’s have fun on the way! European Roulette Live American Roulette Live European Roulette Live American Roulette Live I played live dealer roulette in this casino and won!)

Upcoming Events Across Ontario No events scheduled for July 29, 2022. Jump to the next upcoming events. 2022-07-29 July 29, 2022

AUSTON MATTHEWS NHL Debut Ticket Maple Leafs v Senators 4 Goal Game PSA 10 Toronto Maple Leafs v Ottawa Senators. Please reach out with any questions, thanks! The item "AUSTON MATTHEWS NHL Debut Ticket Maple Leafs v Senators 4 Goal Game PSA 10" is in sale since Sunday, July 18, 2021. This item is in the category "Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Vintage Sports Memorabilia\Ticket Stubs". The seller is "signedandslabbed" and is located in Houston, Texas. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay. Team-Hockey: Toronto Maple Leafs Grade: Mint

Women’s Field Hockey Finishes Strong November 21, 2013 Andrew Lief 0 After upsetting No. 9 William Smith College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the SUNY New Paltz field hockey team’s season came to […]

Your search for "Interviews." (as subject) and "Air Force Academy project."(as project) and "United States Air Force Academy."(as subject) and "Air pilots--Interviews."(as subject) and "United States. Air Force--African Americans."(as subject) and "Oral histories."(as subject) and "United States--Armed Forces--African Americans."(as subject) returned 1 hit Reminiscences of Hughie E. Mathews : oral history, [197-?]. [CCOH] .... http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79021946 United States Air Force Academy. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79109909 Air pilots Interviews. United States Armed Forces African Americans. http... Mathews, Hughie E. (1) United States Air Force Academy. (1) United States. Department of Defense. (1)

The President of Turkmenistan ordered to prevent price rises before the holidays President Serdar Berdimuhamedov ordered to control the supply of goods to the trade network and prevent price rises with the onset of the winter period and before the holidays. The instruction was given at a meeting of the Turkmen government on Friday to Deputy Prime Minister Batyr Atdaev, after he reported on the indicators of the trade complex, the textile industry and entrepreneurship for January-October 2022. In particular, in the textile sector, enterprises producing cotton fabrics (130.3%) and yarn (126.6%) showed a significant production growth rate. Manufacturers of clothing, knitwear, carpet and leather products arrived not so significantly, but noticeably. In the business segment, a good increase is demonstrated by the production of agricultural and food products - by 72.5% more than last year. A good indicator is also shown by enterprises producing industrial goods (+9.9%). At the same time, the head of state said that it is necessary to further increase the production of domestic products. Four artists became laureates of the Byashim Nurali Prize

Introduction to OA Links & Extras GALACTOGRAPHY SOPHONTS Solsys Geopolitics 2100 - 2500 CE (131 - 531 AT) History > 0030 to 0900 AT: Solsys Era History > 0030 to 0900 AT: Solsys Era > 130 to 400 AT: The Interplanetary Age History > 0030 to 0900 AT: Solsys Era > 400 to 530 AT: The Solsys Golden Age History > 0030 to 0900 AT: Solsys Era > 530 to 900 AT: The Sundering Culture and Society > Politics & Government Solsys Geopolitics 2100-2500 CE Image from Steve Bowers The 22nd to 26th centuries CE of the Interplanetary and Golden Ages witnessed the beginning of Terragen civilization's spread from its cradle on Earth into the vast frontier of space. Conflict and rivalry between polities, a factor present during all periods of human history, continued as nation-states and an expanding array of new political actors sought to secure their interests throughout the Solar System. As with most events occurring before the Technocalypse, records attesting to the geopolitical situation are often incomplete and of questionable veracity. Furthermore, access to Earth for archaeology is extremely limited due to GAIA. However, over the millennia researchers have been able to piece together a rough chronology accepted by a number of modern mainstream historians. Defining geopolitical characteristics of this time include: Nation-states, especially on Earth, remained the primary form of large-scale political organization throughout this period although there was a significant increase in the influence of non-state actors such as corporations, virtual communities, and genetics based clades. Earth-based nations, organizations, and businesses dominated nearly all of the Inner Solar System, although their influence decreased dramatically further away on the outer planets. A leveling of geopolitical influence on Earth by the slow but steady shift of relative power from nations in Europe, North America, and Northeast Asia to countries in Africa, South America, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. A gradual weakening of national sovereignty with increasing integration of global economic, transportation, communication, and environmental systems. International relations characterized by the virtual absence of direct state-on-state hostilities but frequent rivalries, competitions, skirmishes in remote regions of the solar system, and covert or asymmetrical modes of conflict. Flags of the Free State of Cascadia, the California Republic, and the Independent Republic of Siberia Image from Steve Bowers and MacGregor While the preceding century was largely defined by the rivalry between the United States and China, the globe developed into a truly multi-polar world by 2100 CE. Although China and America were still considered great powers, they were joined by the likes of Brazil, India, East Africa, and the European Federation. Some have labelled the early 22nd Century as the "high-water mark of nationalism" as the planet's 10 billion inhabitants were divided into well over 200 different nation-states. However, things soon began to change. In 2120, the world economy entered a severe recession known as the Great Downturn (151-158 AT). A dramatic increase in unemployment was the primary cause of the economic crisis, with AI and robots replacing human labor across a swath of jobs once thought safe from automation. Other destabilizing factors included global warming and the transition to a fusion-based economy, which stripped certain regions, such as the Middle East, of their former importance as sources of hydrocarbon fuels. The economy, often with governmental assistance, eventually stabilized but left a radically altered political landscape that varied greatly depending on location. The People's Republic of China was transformed into the more decentralized Syndicate of Chinese Provinces (SCP), while the countries of South America sought greater integration, creating the Organización Sudamericana Supranacional (OSS). Indonesia made a series of sweeping political and economic reforms that started its long ascent to becoming a world power as illustrated by its construction of the first Earth-based space elevator in 2170 (201 AT). A variety of transnational and secessionist movements, often labeled "new regionalism," spread across the world in an attempt to deal with a host of global issues such as climate change, AI rights, animal provolution, and human cladization. These included the Cascadia and Second California Republic movements in North America and the establishment of the Independent Republic of Siberia in Asia to name just a few. Furthermore, rising sea levels caused by human-made climate change, which reached their peak at the end of the century, displaced millions of people and destabilized many countries. Flag of the Inner Council Image from MacGregor Off-world expansion, both governmental and commercial, accelerated dramatically in the decades following the Great Downturn, going from just a few permanent habitats on Luna and Mars to dozens of colonies stretching from Venus to Uranus. The establishment of colonies accelerated further after the opening of the first space elevator brought the cost of access to space to unprecedented lows. While most of these settlements remained politically tied to their home nations or corporations back on Earth, a larger number began acting autonomously or even achieved de facto political independence. In 2135 (166 AT), a number of Superior dominated stations and habitats around Earth banded together to form the Orbital League, which some historians consider to be the first true space-based polity. With the United Nations struggling to adapt to the growing amount of off-world settlement, an independent Council for the Peaceful Coordination and Development of the Inner Solar System (CPCDISS) was created in 2184 (215 AT). CPCDISS, soon invariably referred to as the Inner Council, did a passable job of mitigating conflict among state and non-state actors between Sol and the Asteroid Belt. However, the Outer Solar System often remained a dangerous place, as illustrated by the conflict between colonists and antimatter miners over Amalthea in 2189 (220 AT). Although some historians disagree, it is usually thought that the Inner Council was never a sovereign political entity but more of a forum for de-conflicting the interests of major spacefaring Earth nations, corporations, and a small but growing number of orbital and offworld states. A mere nine years after its founding, the Inner Council oversaw the creation of the Martian Union, a supranational entity for fostering economic and political relations between the various colonies and settlements. Among its many duties, the Martian Union coordinated and facilitated the ongoing terraforming efforts. Flag of the Cislunar Alliance During the 23rd century, a number of new political groupings emerged on Earth. These included the South Asian Compact (SAC) in 2217 (248 AT), a supranational organization led by India that promoted regional integration and development. The SAC would oversee the construction of the Vahana space elevator in the Maldives, Earth's sixth and final pre-Technocalypse beanstalk. In the extreme South, dozens of settlements operating under the United Nations Organization for Regulating Colonization of the Antarctic were granted independence in 2221 (252 AT), becoming 32 "Free States" loosely governed by the Antarctic Conclave. Another new alliance was the North American Community (NAC). Formed in 2238 (269 AT), the NAC greatly strengthened the bonds between the United States, California, Cascadia, Mexico, and the various Canadian and Central American states. Overall, geopolitical power during this period continued to drift south with Australia, Indonesia, SAC, OSS, and an assortment of African coalitions cementing their place in the ranks of the leading Earth nations of the day. Intercontinental transportation reached an all-time level of affordability facilitated in part by a highly developed network of vac-trains that spanned the globe. This, and the near ubiquitous translation technology, allowed individuals with various interests and political orientations to more easily interact regardless of nationality or location. Off Earth, in 2244 (275 AT) the Orbital League was recast as the Cislunar Alliance which dominated the increasingly crowded volume between Earth and Luna. Due to its influence, the Cislunar Alliance secured a much-coveted seat on the Inner Council. More distantly, by 2249 (280 AT) several colonies on Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa formed the Jovian League and increasingly acted as an independent polity although many were still nominally tied to their Inner System benefactors. The relative importance of the Jovian League increased dramatically in 2278 (309 AT) when the Cislunar Alliance imposed an export tariff on Helium-3. This forced many of the Belt colonies to rely on the Jovian League for this important fuel resource. Furthermore, as with other places in the Outer Solar System, the lengthy travel and communication times and their exclusion from full participation in the Inner Council facilitated the creation of a separate identity. In response to the growing clout and independence of off-world actors, many Earth based nation-states expanded their military presence in space such as the resurgent United States launching the USS Randolph in 2284 (315 AT). Flag of the Council of Earth The United Nations officially dissolved in 2303 (334 AT) and was replaced by the Council of Earth (CoE). Unlike the strictly nation-based UN, the CoE allowed for representation by non-state actors such as certain multinational corporate conglomerates, transnational advocacy groups for the growing population of ai, splices, and cyborgs. Furthermore, while planetary temperatures had already begun to stabilize over the last several decades, the CoE had much greater powers to ensure the accelerated reversal of climate change. Like the UN, the CoE continued to enforce rather conservative technological policies such as the ban on destructive uploading. Unlike the UN, the CoE largely gave up trying to influence events beyond Low Earth Orbit. Over the course of the 24th century, a host of new political entities began to emerge on Earth. Often these included clade-specific or ideologically based quasi-states. Many of these were located in or under international waters such as the Doggerland Commonwealth and New Mu City. However, the balance of power continued to favor more traditional nation-states, some of which underwent surprising revitalization such as Iran, Algeria, Japan, and even a truncated Russia. Increasingly, Africa became the geopolitical fulcrum for the planet, as it garnered a larger percentage of the Earth's population, economic clout, and cultural vitality. Mars witnessed a huge increase in population during this time, and reached nearly a billion inhabitants by the end of the century. Politically, the Red Planet remained divided between various Earth country enclaves, corporate holdings, and an ever-increasing number of independent territories, nearly all operating under the Martian Union umbrella. In the Outer Solar System, the Jovian League was ultimately subverted and then absorbed by the Genetekker dominated Gengineer Republic. Mining and export of Helium-3, along with its clear superiority in gengineering, allowed the Gengineer Republic to become the single most powerful polity in the Solar System and exert influence far above what the Jovian system's population would normally warrant. Although, the Gengineer Republic's power stilled paled in comparison when considering Earth in the aggregate, it engaged in an intermittent but long running cold war with the Inner Council. Helium-3 extraction drove rapid development on the other outer planets. Often this was done by Genetekkers, such as in the Saturnian Ring Territory, but other groups of colonists were not uncommon. Most, but by no means all, of these new settlements were politically unaffiliated with any polities on Earth or in the Inner System. A notable example was the Cishp Bind on Titan, which in conjunction with several corporations, became an important player in the refined volatiles market. Symbol of the Rojiqali Vecs By the start of the 25th century, Terragen civilization had transitioned into the Solsys Golden Age, which witnessed the proliferation of transformative technologies throughout the Solar System. The development of inexpensive and accessible nanotechnology had a profound effect on political power structures, as new settlements could be constructed more easily and faster than ever before. This included the bubble habitats in the gaseous outer planets, which increasingly flourished. However most of the these 'floater' or 'inworlder' polities, to use local parlance, remained minor powers compared to more established "outworlder" societies. By the end of the century, Saturn and its moons were heavily industrialized with nearly 1.4 billion inhabitants. While a sizable number remained tied to the Inner System, if only nominally, a veritable kaleidoscope of groups, clades, and sects called it home, including the invasive Rojiqali vec culture, deemed by some to be little better than an infestation. Hundreds of small but growing colonies were seeded throughout the Kuiper Belt, with the largest concentration on Pluto. During this century, interstellar colonization missions began to be launched. Tellingly, few were headed by traditional Earth nation-states, with polities like the Gengineer Republic and off-world corporate conglomerates taking the lead. In the Inner System, the Martian Union increasingly acted as if it were a unified independent state, often vocally disagreeing with the rest of the Inner Council on a number of matters. Regardless of these differences, the Martian Union, Council of Earth, and especially the Cislunar Alliance remained united in their longtime rivalry with the Gengineer Republic. These renewed tensions occasionally turned violent as illustrated by the rogue Black Fire terrorist attacks. Flag of the Martian Union On Earth, centuries of planetary engineering had finally reduced the effects of global warming back to near Information Age levels, albeit only with the assistance of extensive automated envirotech systems. The much-improved conditions rejuvenated several regions. These included the Sahara and Sahel of Africa, which served as the world's breadbaskets through extensive irrigation. Politically, the 25th century saw a great consolidation of states into either larger nations, or more commonly, expansive coalitions in order to compete with the growing clout of off-world powers. Although the veracity of records immediately preceding the Technocalypse can be particularly troubling, many historians list the Federated States of Africa, South Asian Union, and the League of the Americas and Australasia as the most powerful of the Earth-based nations and alliances. Despite this consolidation, non-state actors continued to grow and challenge the political order. This can be seen by the sometimes violent clashes between the cold weather adapted tweaks of the Niflhelm Commune and the government of the Republic of Greenland over clade autonomy. While already in terminal decline, the near 900-year reign on Earth's surface of the nation-state would come to an abrupt end with the Technocalypse, the rise of GAIA, and the Great Expulsion. Climate Change on Old Earth Origin of Megacorporations, The Sagawa Corporation Solar System in 560 AT, The Solar System in the 9th Century AT, The Solsys Appears in Topics 0030 to 0900 AT: Solsys Era 130 to 400 AT: The Interplanetary Age 400 to 530 AT: The Solsys Golden Age 530 to 900 AT: The Sundering Politics & Government Text by MacGregor Initially published on 28 March 2018. COPYRIGHT DATA © 2023 Orion's Arm Universe Project Inc.

Payday 3 releases teaser to confirm release time in 2023 Studio Overkill Software and Starbreeze just kicked off the new year by revealing the Payday 3 logo along with the opening of the game’s Steam store page. Payday 3 is currently in development with a confirmed release date in 2023. A new teaser on Overkill Software’s YouTube channel has revealed the Payday 3 logo, which serves as one of the first big announcements of the new year. Along with the logo reveal, Payday 3’s Steam store page has been opened to waitlisted gamers ahead of the 2023 release, and more details about the game will be available soon. While the trilogy that began with Payday: The Heist received mixed reviews in 2011, Payday 2 exploded in popularity and has been a staple of the cooperative shooter genre ever since. The Payday series puts players behind the masks of the Dallas, Hoxton, Houston, Chains, and Wolf gang members as they embark on a life of violent crime and armed robbery. Players must work together to plan and execute a variety of heists in locations ranging from simple bank heists to Vegas casino robberies, and with Payday 2’s stellar series of DLC has helped The game flourished for over a decade. With the announcement of Payday 3 in 2016, fans have been waiting quite a while for news of the third season. A short trailer titled “A New Criminal Dawn” posted by Overkill Software shows Payday 3’s logo, a clean and simple design that omits the red or blue color from previous installments. The video covers New York City in Payday 3 while also showing the team looking out over the Brooklyn Bridge, potentially planning their next big job. The trailer claims that “this is the year of Payday 3”, again confirming the game’s 2023 release time. A specific release date has yet to be announced, but a Steam store page has been opened online allowing players to put it on a waiting list and keep an eye on future updates. So far, only a few details about Payday 3 have been revealed, such as the setting of the game in modern tech New York. Payday 3’s modern setting will open up opportunities for all sorts of technologies, and ideas like cryptocurrencies and mass tracking will have a profound impact on the gameplay of the game. Hopefully a new set of tools will upgrade the gameplay even further thanks to hacking devices and other useful gadgets that will give players interesting choices during their experience. Payday 3 will also switch to the Unreal Engine instead of using the Grin engine from previous games to bring the scale and detail of New York to the players in the most realistic way. Although very little gameplay information has been revealed so far, Payday 3 is one of the most anticipated games of 2023. See also: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hits a new record sales milestone Genshin Impact: How does Baizhu work in the Boost squad?

Panorama of the Mountains Liam Sullivan's Ideas and Reflections Favorite Songs by Year Music Discoveries My 250 Favorite Albums of All Time Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time Beer List Around the World for a Good Book Book List ’08 Book Lists ’09 Favorite Books of All Time Cahiers du Cinéma Greatest Films of All Time The Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2012 The Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2022 TV Review: Tales of the City (1993) 2019-07-17 2019-07-15 ~ Liam Title: Tales of the City Release Dates: 1993 Number of Episodes: 6 Summary/Review: After watching the new Tales of the City miniseries on Netflix, I saw that this original miniseries is also on Netflix and had to rewatch. As good as the new series is, this original is really a masterpiece of television. There’s a lot about it I love – the dialogue, the pacing, the way San Francisco is incorporated as a character, the camerawork (I especially enjoy how many scenes are shot through windows), and the music, both the period-specific pop tunes and the original score for the series. The new series, and well, a lot of television misses these deft touches. I also like how it slowly reveals that in a city where no one seems to have any secrets that everyone has deep secrets indeed. I like how well they handled a romance between an older couple – Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) and Edgar Halcyon (Donald Moffat) – something you rarely see depicted on film. Marcus D’Amico is really the most heartwarming perfomer as Michael Tolliver, and I really loved his strong friendship with Mona Ramsey (Chloe Webb). That Michael in the new series doesn’t share any memories of Mona and even changes the story of how he met Mrs. Madrigal is all the more disappointing. Even though I haven’t watched this in at least 20 years, I was surprised how well I remembered so many scenes. The big exception is that I forgot the whole thing about D’orothea (Cynda Williams) pretending to be Black and Mona trying to appeal to her with sould food, which is one of the big misteps of this whole series and worth forgetting about. Otherwise this is a terrific show and if you have Netflix give yourself a treat and watch it. 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Home/Financial News/Sports & General/Cuban Americans rally in Miami to support dissidents who plan protests in Cuba Cuban Americans rally in Miami to support dissidents who plan protests in Cuba People attend a rally ahead of an opposition demonstration in Cuba, in Miami, Florida, U.S. November 14, 2021. REUTERS/Marco Bello By Brian Ellsworth and Marc Frank MIAMI/HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban Americans in Miami held rallies and led prayers on Sunday to support dissidents on the Communist-run Caribbean island who plan to hold protests this week to push for greater political freedoms and demand the release of jailed activists. Dissidents in Cuba have for several weeks been preparing a “Civic March for Change” following nationwide protests in July, the largest on the island since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution. Rights groups say more than 1,000 people were detained following those rallies and hundreds remain in jail. The government of President Miguel Diaz-Canel has prohibited Monday’s march in Havana as well as protests planned for other Cuban cities, saying they are part of a destabilization campaign by the United States, which maintains a Cold War-era embargo on Cuba. U.S. officials have denied the allegations. Demonstrators clad in white to show support for Cuban dissidents gathered in a park on Sunday in eastern Miami, and a collective prayer for the civil rights of Cubans was held later in the afternoon at Miami’s Our Lady of Charity National Shrine, which honors the Roman Catholic patron of Cuba. “Today’s activity is more than anything else moral support for our people … to show them that they are not alone,” said Niurka Prestamo, a 45-year-old realtor who attended the demonstration. The rally in Miami took place around the same time as Yunior Garcia, a playwright and dissident leader, was expected to leave his house in Havana to march alone, with a white rose in hand, to underscore the non-violent nature of his movement. Garcia had said he would depart his home at 1 p.m. But nearly two hours later, it appeared he was still inside. Government supporters surrounded his house early in the afternoon, and had draped the building in Cuban flags, obscuring the view of Garcia’s window from the street. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday condemned “intimidation tactics” by the Cuban government ahead of Monday’s planned march in Cuba and vowed the United States would pursue measures seeking “accountability” for the crackdown. A Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) group called Archipielago, led by Garcia, is at the front of Monday’s planned protests – which coincide with Cuba’s reopening of its borders to tourism following restrictions tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Archipielago says it has 31,500 members, more than half of whom are inside Cuba. The group in September sought official permission for the march, which was quickly denied. Miami has the United States’ largest Cuban-American population, which grew in the years after the 1959 revolution. About a quarter of Archipielago’s members live in the United States, the group says, including 1,200 in Miami. The city was a hotbed of anti-Castro conspiracy efforts during the Cold War, and its Cuban-American residents as a group remain staunchly opposed to the Havana government, although some in the younger generation have sought to re-establish connections in recent years with the island. “We are here to give a cry of freedom. We want to tell the people that they are not alone,” said Miami demonstrator and journalist Serafin Moran, 43. “Today we send a greeting, a message to the people of Cuba: If you are in the streets, so are we.” Small rallies in support of the Cuban dissidents took place in other cities across the globe on Sunday, from Canada to Spain. Supreme Court seeks U.S. government view on charter school’s skirt requirement Biden and EU’s von der Leyen to talk trade, Balkans, climate at White House Navy medics join COVID fight in hard-hit New Mexico Virginia capital removes last public Confederate monument U.S. plans sanctions on Russia, China – officials U.S. orders non-emergency government employees to depart Abuja, Nigeria U.S. African American studies does not include material targeted by Florida governor

David Scott Member of the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) PacNet #14 – South Korea’s Indo-Pacific pivot strategy 2022 ended with South Korea adopting specific Indo-Pacific terminology with the Dec. 28 release of its Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region (SFPPIP). The key takeaway: The SFPPIP, and President Yoon Suk Yeol, signal an end to South Korea’s “strategic ambiguity” under the previous president, Moon Jae-in. Seoul pivoting away from Beijing and toward Washington—delicately, but clearly. This “Free, Peaceful Prosperous Indo-Pacific” formulation from South Korea converges with the US and Japanese “free and open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) formulation(s) enunciated since 2016-17. The key shared element is the SFPPIP assertion that “in realizing the vision for a free Indo-Pacific, the Republic of Korea is committed to partnering with like-minded countries that share the values of freedom, rule of law, and human rights as well as international norms.” This indicates a normative base for foreign policy. Much of the SFPPIP was uncontroversial, such as cooperation across the Indo-Pacific on economic, environmental, counterterrorism, and international crime issues. The SFPPIP identified ASEAN as a “key partner” for peace and prosperity and noted wider formats for economic cooperation like Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Regional and Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. However, the SFPIPPR also displayed sharpness of purpose on the security front. First, it announced that it would “pursue partnerships with minilateral groupings”; specifically, the South Korea-Japan-US trilateral, a future Australia-South Korea-US trilateral, and the AP4 (Australia-Japan-New Zealand-South Korea) NATO Partners format. Second, the SFPPIP singled out continued participation in (the US-led) RIMPAC, and Pacific Dragon (Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, United States) naval exercises. On the minilateral front, the SFPPIP announced South Korea would “gradually expand” cooperation with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (“Quad”) between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. In 2022 Chinese state media had attacked South Korea over such participation—warning in April with regard to the Quad; in July with regard to the AP4 format at NATO and trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo; and in August regarding the Pacific Dragon exercises in the Western Pacific. On the bilateral front the SFPPIP was careful but revealing. It stated that: our inclusive Indo-Pacific Strategy neither targets nor excludes any specific nation. We will work with every partner that is aligned with our vision and principles of cooperation. This is conditional inclusivity; China falls short in specific normative values enunciated in the SFPPIP vision and principles. Mounting distrust of China in South Korea cuts across the SFPPIP linkage that “our partnerships will be based on strong mutual trust.” In bilateral relations, the SFPPIP focus was to “continue to strengthen our alliance with the United States.” It identifies Canada as “a comprehensive strategic partner with common values,” and Australia as “a comprehensive strategic partner” with whom South Korea further “deepen[s] our ties by identifying new cooperation agenda in the areas of national defense.” It made a similar pledge to “advance our special strategic partnership with India, a leading regional partner with shared values.” Concerning Japan, despite previous frictions, it aspires to “seek a forward-looking partnership that supports our common interests and values.” Security convergence with those countries is predicated by their shared values; namely democracy, the rule of international law, and norms embedded in the “free” component within the SFPPIP formulation. In the wake of a strained Yoon-Xi Summit in November, the SFPPIP’s China section was one sentence. It proposed that with China, a key partner for achieving prosperity and peace in the Indo-Pacific region, we will nurture a sounder and more mature relationship as we pursue shared interests based on mutual respect and reciprocity, guided by international norms and rules. This language was limited and revealing. To hope for a sounder and more mature relationship in the future implies the current relationship is rather unsound. “A partner for peace” was strained given that the SFPPIP’s “peace” section pinpointed the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait as (China-related) flash points threatening peace, with freedom of navigation specifically called for. Talk of guidance via international norms and rules raises the question of a China not guided by universal norms and rules. “A partner in prosperity” pointed to potential economic cooperation; for which the SFPPIP advocated resuming the China-Japan-South Korea Summit, which last met in 2019, and reinforcing the CJSK Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, to focus on green and digital transitions. This reflects the weakness and marginality of the CJSK mechanism. Some China-related barbs are discernible in the SFPPIP. On the one hand, the SFPPIP contained no reference to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which South Korea has distanced itself from. On the other hand, the SFPPIP announced South Korean participation in the launching of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in 2022 as “building economic security networks…in support of open and free trade,” an initiative denounced in China. The SFPPIP outlined that “to stabilize supply chains of strategic resources, we will seek cooperation with partners with whom we share values.” This values-driven rationale pointed to the Indo-Pacific supply chain initiatives developed by the Quad countries and, again, denounced by China. Trilateral cyber-security cooperation with the United States and Australia was another China-related issue arising in the SFPPIP. Very different responses ensued from Washington and Beijing to the SFPPIP. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan immediately welcomed the whole SFPPIP and its focus on shared “universal values” underpinning cooperation. In contrast, China’s foreign ministry merely “noted” the SFPPIP while warning about Korea being involved in “exclusive coteries,” leaving its state media to criticize the SFPPIP as South Korea “pivoting towards the US.” The biggest areas of ambiguity in the SFPPIP rest with South Korea’s reiteration of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. South Korea could, like Washington, consider raising those two issues at regional platforms like the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit. Regarding the South China Sea, Seoul is unlikely to carry out freedom of navigation exercises, though it could consider giving verbal public support to such US operations. Seoul’s increasing deployments and exercises in the West Pacific with the United States and like-minded states like Japan, Australia, and Canada could also be extended into the South China Sea. Seoul calling for observance (i.e., by China) of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea could advance the SFPPIP call for the rule of law in the South China Sea. Side-stepping the still-uncomfortable US-China confrontation, Seoul could quietly strengthen the maritime capabilities of South China Sea littoral states like Vietnam and the Philippines most under threat from China. Regarding the Taiwan Strait, it is again unlikely for Seoul to deploy its naval units on transit operations there, though South Korea could consider giving public verbal support to such US transit operations. South Korea could strengthen some links with Taiwan, though. Military-to-military links are probably too much to expect, given the furor from China. However, they could maintain political-economic links, including supporting Taiwan’s application for membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. Seoul’s responses to Chinese actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait during 2023 will show up the exact nature of South Korea’s delicate tilt signaled in its new Indo-Pacific strategy David Scott ([email protected]) is member of the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) and is a prolific writer on Indo-Pacific geopolitics (www.d-scott.com/publications). PacNet commentaries and responses represent the views of the respective authors. Alternative viewpoints are always welcomed and encouraged. Photo: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol introduces his officials to U.S. President Joe Biden before their meeting at the presidential office on May 21, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. (28 June 2022, The Heritage Foundation) by Jung Yeon-Je-Pool/ Getty Images

The Sun of God October 16, 2022 October 23, 2022 sebjig Imagine there’s a a sun in the heart of every human being, covered with a thick black blanket. Some people believe in the sun and some people don’t. Those who believe read about it in sacred sun scriptures, which contain special teachings about the sun of God. Each teaching is like a set of coordinates pointing to a specific point on the black sphere. The believers dutifully mark the point on a map. As they progress through the teachings, they collect more and more points on their map and begin to notice connections between them. The rationalist types will find logical connections and the very keen ones will even go to the trouble of developing a philosophical system based on these connections. They might call it “theology”. The non-rationalist types will find correspondences between the points via sympathetic magic. Some will even build a fantastical, poetical system and call it “theosophy”. Other believers will come along and look at the map and try their best to follow the directions and precepts put there by the map-makers. These are the followers of “exoteric” religion. They are mostly interested in what they should do and how they should behave. The more closely they follow the map, the better they feel about themselves. But rather than marking, listing, organizing and mapping the original sacred teachings into a system, there are those believers who just receive the teachings as they are given. You could say they “meditate” on them, reading them with a special attitude of receptive attention called “lectio divina”. Often they get a vague sense of what the teaching is really pointing to, but occasionally, the penny drops, they experience an epiphany, a “eureka” moment, and a hole is opened in the blanket. Light shines through the blanket, like a star in the night sky. These are the followers of “esoteric religion”. They do not claim credit for this “shining through”. They understand that they were just in the right place at the right time. They are blessed with each revelation through an act of mysterious grace from beyond. They were in a sacred place, and a holy word tore a hole in the blanket of the heart. First one star, then two, then eventually, as they continue to study and meditate on the sacred scriptures, hundreds begin to shine. Now instead of points on a two-dimensional map, they can see the actual contours, and the shape and size of the sun plotted in three dimensions, not through inferential, deductive reason or creative imagination, but with their own eyes. A sun made of stars. These believers, who can see the sun, can see the organic relations between each of the “stars” and intuit the simple whole of which they are expressions. They are the “holy men” and “holy women”, who have direct access to the divine, and have developed the faculty of divination, which is the ability to see and experience the holy in the real world. It can happen that the holes are big enough and numerous enough that a tipping point is reached (often triggered by a psychedelic blast) and the sun bursts through and burns up the blanket completely. These are not just holy men and women. These are the “suns of God”. “I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘I am this dark world’s Light; Look unto me, thy morn shall rise, And all thy days be bright:’ I looked to Jesus, and I found In him my Star, my Sun; And in that light of life I’ll walk Till travelling days are done.” Previous Article The Hardest Lesson Next Article The Way of the Holy Mushroom

Facebook Inc. Corporate Social Responsibility & Stakeholder Analysis Updated on Updated on June 20, 2018 by Daniel Kissinger Nashville resident Amy Frogge uses Facebook’s social media mobile app to display pictures of flood and damage to her home. Facebook Inc.’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy must address the interests of communities as stakeholders. (Photo: Public Domain) Facebook Inc. supports its social media business through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs that address stakeholders’ interests. In Archie B. Carroll’s theory of corporate citizenship, businesses affect stakeholders, and vice versa. In this business analysis case of Facebook, the stakeholders are diverse because of the global reach and nature of the social network. As one of the largest social media businesses in the international market, the company affects billions of online users as stakeholders. These online users include individuals, groups, and businesses. Facebook Inc. needs to ensure that its corporate social responsibility programs and policies are satisfactory in addressing stakeholders’ concerns. Doing so supports customer loyalty and business competitive advantages, such as the strengths identified in the SWOT analysis of Facebook Inc. The company needs corporate citizenship initiatives that prioritize the most significant of these stakeholders. In this way, the corporate responsibility approach recognizes resource limits while strategically enhancing business image and competence. A stakeholder analysis of Facebook Inc. underscores the significance of comprehensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and programs. The company’s corporate citizenship strategy satisfies stakeholders’ concerns while also supporting Facebook’s business strategic objectives in the multinational online social media market. This corporate responsibility approach helps protect the business against the competitive effects of the CSR programs of other online advertising companies like Google LLC (parent company of YouTube LLC), Snap Inc. (Snapchat), Twitter Inc., and Amazon.com Inc. Facebook’s Stakeholder Groups & CSR Initiatives Facebook’s social media business affects stakeholders around the world. This situation requires global standards for the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives to satisfy stakeholders’ interests. For example, the company must maintain privacy policies that satisfy various standards and expectations among users and governments. Facebook Inc. has the following stakeholder groups relevant to corporate citizenship, arranged according to importance in its CSR strategy: Users/Members (most important) Users/Members. Facebook’s online social media service has billions of monthly active users. These users or members of the social network are the stakeholder group that receives the company’s top prioritization in corporate citizenship, considering Facebook Inc.’s mission and vision statements. Users are significant in CSR because they determine the popularity and attractiveness of the company’s display advertising service. For example, advertisers are more likely to pay for such service as the online social network gains more users or members. Thus, the business aims to continually grow its user base, which aligns with Facebook’s generic competitive strategy and intensive growth strategies. As stakeholders, users are interested in the ease of using the firm’s social media services and in the privacy and security of personal information. The company faces criticism on the ethics of addressing this stakeholder group because of data privacy and security concerns such as those involving Cambridge Analytica. However, Facebook’s corporate citizenship approach continues to improve its social networking website and mobile apps to make it easier for users to protect the privacy of their accounts. Moreover, the company is the primary participant in the launch of Internet.org in 2013, which aims to make the company’s platform and other online resources more accessible in the developing world. Nonetheless, Internet.org faces criticism regarding net neutrality. Thus, even though Facebook Inc.’s corporate social responsibility strategy satisfies the main interests of users or members as stakeholders, further improvement is needed in this area. Advertisers. Advertisers are the chief source of Facebook’s income. Thus, this stakeholder group is significant because it directly influences the company’s financial status. The CSR interests of these stakeholders include effective and efficient advertising service, as well as accurate data from the company. In its corporate social responsibility efforts, Facebook Inc. addresses these interests through automated reporting to minimize human intervention in the advertising process. Also, the provision of options for advertisers to target specific audiences on the online social network maximizes the benefits of the advertising service and contributes to the fulfillment of corporate citizenship in this area. Therefore, Facebook’s corporate social responsibility strategy addresses the interests of this stakeholder group. Employees. Facebook Inc. values employees in terms of their contributions to the social media business. These corporate citizenship stakeholders are significant in affecting the company’s evolution, especially in developing and improving products. The CSR interests of employees include high compensation and career development. Facebook’s corporate social responsibility programs directly address these interests through competitive human resource policies. For example, the company gives some of the highest salaries in the industry, especially as a way of attracting talent while competing against firms like Google in the labor market. Such efforts show that the company satisfies corporate social responsibilities in considering the interests of employees as a major stakeholder group. Addressing this stakeholder group’s concerns influences Facebook’s corporate culture, which shapes employees’ behaviors. Governments. Governments are significant CSR stakeholders because they impose requirements on the social media business, as shown in the PESTEL/PESTLE analysis of Facebook Inc. This influence keeps the company in compliance with governmental policies and interests, which include regulatory requirements. Facebook’s corporate social responsibility strategy involves negotiations and partnerships with governments to show support for governmental efforts and programs. In the case of China, for example, Facebook continues to participate in education programs as a corporate citizenship approach to convince the government to open the market to the online social network. Communities. Facebook Inc.’s corporate citizenship efforts give the least priority to communities as a stakeholder group. These stakeholders significantly affect the company by influencing the perception of users/members and advertisers. Communities are interested in developmental support from companies. Facebook addresses such CSR interests through green technology and Internet.org, which was launched in 2013 as a way to increase online access in developing countries. However, critics argue that Internet.org violates net neutrality and is just another way to promote the company’s online social network over competitors. Also, a limited Ph.D. fellowship program allows students to work with the company, and for the corporation to find new hires. These efforts show that Facebook Inc.’s corporate social responsibility strategy is weak in satisfying the interests of communities as a stakeholder group. Facebook Inc.’s CSR Performance in Addressing Stakeholders’ Interests As the leading social media company, Facebook Inc. has corporate social responsibility policies and programs that satisfy the interests of some of its major stakeholders. For example, the interests of advertisers, employees, and governments are satisfied. These programs partly support public relations in Facebook’s marketing mix or 4P. However, the company’s CSR strategy neglects to provide satisfactory support for the interests of communities as stakeholders. Also, the company faces issues in fulfilling corporate citizenship goals pertaining to the users/members of its social network. Facebook Inc., together with other firms, launched Internet.org, but this effort is criticized as a violation of net neutrality and as having hidden proprietary motives. Based on these CSR challenges, it is recommended that Facebook Inc. enhance its corporate citizenship initiatives to satisfy the concerns of communities, especially through sustainability and ecological community development programs, which are two of the firm’s corporate social responsibilities. In addition, it is recommended that the company develop more stringent data privacy and security policies for strict compliance. This recommendation addresses the interests of users/members and communities, while contributing to business competitive advantage to counteract the moderate competitive forces shown in the Porter’s Five Forces analysis of Facebook Inc. Andriof, J., & McIntosh, M. (2017). Global corporate citizenship in a dot. com world: the role of organisational identity. In Perspectives on Corporate Citizenship (pp. 66-82). Routledge. Carroll, A. B. (1998). The four faces of corporate citizenship. Business and Society Review, 100(1), 1-7. Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press. Ditlev-Simonsen, C. D., & Wenstop, F. (2013). How stakeholders view stakeholders as CSR motivators. Social Responsibility Journal, 9(1), 137-147. Facebook Inc. – An Update to Our Plans to Restrict Data Access on Facebook. Facebook Inc. – Form 10-K. Facebook Inc. – Sustainability – Innovating and Sharing What We Learn. House Energy and Commerce Committee (2018). E&C Announces Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Will Testify April 11th. Miles, M. P., Munilla, L. S., & Darroch, J. (2006). The role of strategic conversations with stakeholders in the formation of corporate social responsibility strategy. Journal of Business Ethics, 69(2), 195-205. Pater, A., & Van Lierop, K. (2006). Sense and sensitivity: the roles of organisation and stakeholders in managing corporate social responsibility. Business Ethics: A European Review, 15(4), 339-351. Peloza, J., & Shang, J. (2011). How can corporate social responsibility activities create value for stakeholders? A systematic review. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 39(1), 117-135. Purnell, N., & Yuniar, R. W. (2015). Things to Know about Facebook’s Internet Initiative. The Wall Street Journal. U.S. Digital Advertising Landscape and Key Players (Part 2). Forbes. Visser, W., & Tolhurst, N. (2017). The world guide to CSR: A country-by-country analysis of corporate sustainability and responsibility. Routledge. Waddock, S. (2018). Beyond CSR to System Change: Creating a New Socio-economic Narrative. In Corporate Social Responsibility (pp. 377-401). Emerald Publishing Limited. Werther Jr., W. B., & Chandler, D. (2010). Strategic corporate social responsibility: Stakeholders in a global environment. Sage Publications. Tags: Case Study & Case Analysis, Computer Technology, Information and Communications Technology Industry, Information Technology, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Inc.), Social Media, Social Networking, Stakeholder Analysis & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Previous PostPrevious Facebook Inc.’s Marketing Mix (4Ps) Analysis Next PostNext Facebook Inc. Operations Management: 10 Decision Areas, Productivity Harley-Davidson’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Amazon.com Inc. Stakeholders, Corporate Social Responsibility (An Analysis) Whole Foods Market Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Nike Inc. Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis McDonald’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Wendy’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Facebook Inc.’s Marketing Mix (4Ps) Analysis Facebook Inc. Five Forces Analysis (Porter’s Model) & Recommendations Burger King’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis PepsiCo’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Costco Wholesale’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Facebook Inc.’s Generic Strategy & Intensive Growth Strategies Unilever’s Corporate Social Responsibility & Stakeholders Home Depot’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis Toyota’s Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis General Motors’ Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy & Stakeholders Sony’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy & Stakeholders Facebook Inc.’s Organizational Culture (An Analysis) Microsoft’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy & Stakeholders (An Analysis)

When your roof comes crashing down like ours did this past Memorial Day, a LOT of thoughts race through your head. Things like, “Holy cow, that could have killed people!”, “Ugh, this is going to take a TON of work to set to right”, and “Oh boy, I hope my insurance company has my back”. […]

How to Plan an End of Life Celebration for Your Senior Parent End-of-life celebrations: tips for choosing the type that best fits your parent and a look at Parentis Health's yearly celebration. Palliative Care vs. Hospice: What’s the Difference? Palliative care and hospice are two types of health care that are often used interchangeably—but they differ in several key ways Home Health, Comfort Care, & Crisis Care Due to advances in medical science, services once available only in hospitals can now be provided in the safety and comfort of home. They are overseen by licensed professionals – nurses and therapists who work with patients one-on-one to help them regain their strength, monitor their health, and manage chronic conditions. Mottling of the Skin Before Death Mottling is caused by poor circulation; the patient’s heart can no longer pump blood effectively. This causes deprivation in the outer extremities, but eventually affects other body parts as well. It normally starts a few days prior to death but can appear up to four weeks earlier. Haldol & Nausea: Keeping Sickness at Bay Haldol & Nausea: Keeping Sickness at Bay Haldol is Nausea and vomiting are unfortunately common in terminally ill patients. They are some of the most distressing and complex symptoms hospice teams have to deal with. Treating them requires not only powerful medication, but family members willing to act as in-home caregivers.an unusual but highly effective drug in hospice and palliative care. During the final stage of life, each person goes through a unique set of physical and psychological changes. As their body begins shutting down, their thoughts gradually turn inward while they come to terms with their mortality. Signs death is near can appear as early as three months, but often occur much closer to the end. Regardless, understanding the process enables families to support their loved ones as they approach the final moments of life.

Cooper Park Commons Hidden away in a corner of North Brooklyn across the street from Cooper Park is the former site of Greenpoint Hospital, which was decommissioned in 1982. Attempts to redevelop the five-acre property, which consists of the main hospital building and seven outbuildings, have been frustrated by decades of corruption, lawsuits, and strong community opposition to plans without ample affordable housing. As of now, much of the property remains abandoned and fenced off from the surrounding community. Recently, a team consisting of Hudson Companies Inc., Project Renewal, and St. Nick’s Alliance have crafted a development plan known as Cooper Park Commons that has won favor from the local community and City Hall. Though the redevelopment plan is still awaiting approval following the city’s public review process, support appears to be very strong, because it creates 557 units of affordable housing across three buildings, better integrates the property into the community, and includes greenspaces that can be accessed by future residents and the public. Joseph Moyer, associate principal at Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP), says he hopes to have the rezoning in place as early as next year, as this means work at the site could begin as early as June 2022. If approved, the project will retrofit three buildings on the former hospital campus and see the construction of two new buildings, one of which will be an 18-story, Passive House tower known as Cooper Park Commons Building 2 that is currently on the site of a parking lot. The plan may also serve as a lodestar to developers by illustrating that inclusivity, affordability, and high-performance building methods make for a winning combination when attempting to redevelop a property. An Excellent Building Designed by MAP with associate architect Architecture Outfit and sustainability consultant Steven Winter Associates, Cooper Park Commons Building 2 has drawn a great deal of attention independent of its association with the Cooper Park Commons plan. The 311-unit building is still in the design phase and has already received a Buildings of Excellence award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA). The award recognizes high-efficiency designs that can be easily replicated at a relatively low cost, thereby helping New York State in its efforts to hit some of the country’s most ambitious climate targets. Additionally, NYSERDA stipulates that award recipients’ designs must improve the safety, health, and comfort of occupants. Sara Bayer, associate principal and director of sustainability at MAP, also noted that the project was one of five recipients to receive the additional distinction of a Blue Ribbon for Design Excellence from NYSERDA. Building 2 had already been planned to optimize tenant comfort and health by pursuing PHI certification prior to winning the Buildings of Excellence award, but the additional funding that comes along with the prize has given them the opportunity to explore options to further improve tenant comfort and safety. According to Moyer, these include an analysis of possible battery backup for the building’s large PV systems, as well as increasing the size of the generator to be able to handle more than what’s required by code. “In the event of an outage, we’re not just providing power to the emergency systems,” Moyer says, but also to a few refrigerators and select outlets. The generator could also partially power the building’s VRF systems to ensure that select communal rooms continue to receive heating and cooling while the grid is down. Beyond providing occupants with comfort and safety during outages and weather extremes, there is a conspicuous attention to creating spaces within the building that foster a sense of community and take into consideration the social dimensions of how people utilize these spaces. The laundry room, for example, is not isolated away in a dungeonlike basement. Instead, it is situated on the first floor and opens out to the courtyard of the U-shaped building. It also looks onto a children’s playroom. This means children can play in the courtyard or the playroom while their parents are doing laundry. According to Matt Scheer, director of communications at MAP, this strategy is standard practice at the firm. “We always try to be sure those common spaces are connected to some nice outdoor spaces,” he says. Becoming a Standard Standard Moyer believes that Building 2 will take approximately 30 months to build and is optimistic that construction will stay close to schedule. “The Hudson Companies has a partnership with a GC called Broadway Builders,” he explains, and they are already advising MAP “about materials that we should consider and alternatives, because they’ve seen issues with availability and cost.” Planning ahead for potential materials shortages and remaining flexible ensure that these roadblocks can be avoided. “Hopefully Building 2 will be occupied in three to four years,” Moyer adds. However, foresight alone doesn’t account for Moyer’s optimism. Broadway Builders has a strong relationship with the Hudson Companies, and the Hudson Companies strives to pursue Passive House certification on its new buildings. By prioritizing building to the Passive House standard, Hudson Companies has encouraged several members of the Broadway Builders team to become Passive House certified installers. As Broadway Builders has become increasingly accustomed to working on Passive House buildings, they can better advise MAP about using alternative materials that do not minimize performance and help keep construction on schedule. Scheer echoes Moyer’s point, adding that the affordable housing industry overall has been instrumental in spreading the popularity of Passive House and enhanced building standards in general, thereby making them more common—or standard. Scheer adds that this shift is largely attributable to public funding agencies adopting stringent sustainability standards that encourage the industry to exceed code minimums. “Passive House is a term that people have become very familiar with…and everybody that we talk to at least knows it, at least knows what they think about it, and there has become a lot more acceptance of it even within the last couple of years,” he notes. Moyer has noticed a similar trend among the contractors he’s worked with in New York City. As more high-performance building techniques are being increasingly employed on construction sites within the city, more contractors are comfortable doing a Passive House project. “I would say that all the contractors that we ask want to do a Passive House project,” Moyer said. “They see the future, and they want to get that experience.” Bayer observes that the trend extends beyond New York City and that it has received additional support due to agencies like NYSERDA. “I think New York has a great approach,” she says. Box Out: The Bumpy History of Greenpoint Hospital Brooklyn’s Greenpoint Hospital opened its doors in 1915 as a five-acre complex located at the intersection of three working class neighborhoods—Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick. By the end of the 1950s, the municipal hospital had become outdated and it was viewed as a dangerous relic that offered patients second-rate medical care. By the late 1960s, it had fallen into such a state of disrepair that one administrator evidently failed to address a fly infestation or get the institution’s screens fixed (for two years) because other “emergencies kept coming up.” Eventually, calls for a state-of-the-art hospital to better serve North Brooklyn led to the construction of nearby Woodhull Hospital, which finally replaced Greenpoint Hospital in 1982. Before shuttering its doors, however, the city had devised a plan with local community groups—Neighborhood Women and the St. Nick’s Alliance—to convert the primary hospital building into a nursing home and the outbuildings to senior housing. The city backed out of the deal, however, and instead put the main building to use as a 1,100-bed men’s homeless shelter. Years of bickering and a lawsuit followed that the two groups ultimately won in 1990. Consequently, many of the outbuildings were converted into affordable housing, one building became a community center, and the number of beds for the men’s shelter was significantly reduced. Several ideas about how the remainder of the campus could be developed have been proposed in the interim years, but efforts have been repeatedly frustrated. The plan currently under consideration will rehabilitate the main hospital building and Cooper Park Commons Building One—the only outbuilding on the site that has remained abandoned since 1982—while also allowing for the construction of two new buildings, Cooper Park Commons Building 2 and Cooper Park Commons 4. This process will be divided into two phases. The first phase of the project will involve the construction of Building 2, renovating Building 1, and then moving the men’s shelter from the hospital’s main building to its permanent home at Building 1. The second phase will see the construction of a Building 4 and the renovation of the main hospital building, which will then become affordable housing for seniors. 1.85 kBtu/ft2/yr Cooling energy 1.70 Site energy 21.7 Airtightness 0.60 ACH50 (designed) Jay Fox is a writer and musician based in Asheville, NC. His work has appeared in Crain’s New York, Salon, Stay Thirsty Magazine, Aethlon, a... [email protected]eaccelerator.com

Deal Reached on Ukraine A “good day’s work.” The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, the EU and the United States met in Geneva Thursday and actually managed to agree on a deal to stop the violence and unrest plaguing Ukraine’s eastern regions. “Pro-Russian separatists” must pull out of government buildings they control, while Russia, in the words of Secretary of State John Kerry, is “absolutely prepared to begin to respond with respect to troops.” We suppose that’s mealy mouthed diplomatic jargon for withdrawing forces from the border. Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk did not, however, sound convinced, noting that Russia had already virtually invaded eastern Ukraine and saying the deal would hardly be sufficient reversal, especially given that separatists say they don’t recognize the government of Ukraine. Not to worry, though; Kerry called the deal a “good day’s work.” It's Right, It's FREE – Subscribe. Stay current with America’s News Digest. It's Right. It's Free.

Government & Politics / Arnold Ahlert / March 23, 2017 An Untrustworthy FBI Director Something smells rotten about James Comey’s latest testimony. Print Listen “Where did Comey get the idea to investigate the Trump campaign?” —George Neumayr, American Spectator In testimony best described as a series of obfuscations, FBI Director James Comey never directly answered that essential question. But he confirmed to the House Select Intelligence Committee that his agency has been investigating Russian interference in the election since last July, including “the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts,” Wired reported. What kind of interference? “Testifying before the House Intelligence Committee Monday morning, NSA Director Admiral Michael Rogers and FBI Director James Comey stated unequivocally that there was no evidence the Russians manipulated election machines to rig the vote,” stated the Conservative Review. Yet if the vote itself wasn’t rigged, then what — exactly — does such “coordination” consist of? If it amounts to some sort of quid pro quo, why didn’t former President Obama’s open-mic promise to former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev he would “have more flexibility” following his re-election merit similar inquiries? Moreover, what quid pro quo? The sanctions remain in place, the U.S. troops Obama sent to Poland are still there, and U.S. ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has strongly condemned the Russians for the occupation of Crimea that occurred on Obama’s watch. Freshman Rep. Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY) managed to cut through some of Comey’s orchestrated fog, making him visibly uncomfortable in the process. She asked Comey what the typical protocols are for notifying the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the White House and senior congressional leaders that an FBI investigation is taking place. “There is a practice of a quarterly briefing on sensitive cases,” Comey replied, adding that his agency was making an effort to shorten it. Yet when Stefanik asked, “When did you notify the White House, the DNI and congressional leadership”? Comey revealed that timeline was an utter sham, stating the DOJ knew about the investigation “all along,” and congressional leadership was notified “sometime recently.” The DNI? “I don’t know what the DNI’s knowledge of it was because we did not have a DNI until Mr. Coates took office, and I briefed him his first morning,” Comey insisted. Former Indiana legislator Dan Coates was confirmed by the Senate on March 15. What about former DNI James Clapper? As Reuters reported on Jan. 5, Clapper “publicly defended his analysts against attacks by Donald Trump following their conclusion that Russia interfered in the November election.” If we believe Comey, he and Clapper were pursuing what amounted to parallel investigations without ever communicating with each other, even as “current and former American officials” were feloniously outing former national Security Director Michael Flynn, as the New York Times reported Feb. 9. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) was the other Republican willing to focus the inquiry where it deserved to be focused. He wanted to know the status of the investigation into those actual crimes committed, including the number of people capable of doing so. Comey refused to confirm the FBI has even begun an investigation into the leaking of Flynn’s name. And while he assured Gowdy he could provide the number, he insisted the “culture” of the FBI and NSA is a far more important consideration. Gowdy wasn’t buying it. “NSA, FBI — what other government agencies have the authority to unmask a U.S. citizen’s name?” he asked. Comey replied that “all agencies that collect information pursuant to FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) have what are called standard minimization procedures which are approved by the FISA court that govern how they will treat U.S person information. So I know the NSA does, the CIA does, obviously the FBI does. I don’t know for sure beyond that.” With Comey’s agreement, Gowdy added “Main Justice” to the list. When asked about the White House and other entities, Comey called them “consumers” of such intel who were not allowed to legally disseminate it. Yet Gowdy forced Comey to admit that White House appointees such as Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former AG Loretta Lynch and former acting AG Sally Yates would all have access to an unmasked U.S. citizen’s name. Gowdy then posed the critical question. “Did you brief President Obama on any calls involving Michael Flynn?” Comey refused to answer. “I’m not going to get into either that particular case, that matter, or any conversations I had with the president.” Why not? The Times and other media sources are excoriating Trump for tweets accusing Obama of “wiretapping” him. But the same paper’s Jan. 20 headline was, “Wiretapped Data Used in Inquiry of Trump Aides,” and the article included the following sentence: “One official said intelligence reports based on some of the wiretapped communications had been provided to the White House.” To the delight of Democrats, Comey testified there was no evidence of such wiretapping. Yet once again the question arises: Who ordered the investigation into Trump and his associates? Moreover, what about other types of surveillance, Mr. Comey? On Feb. 2, CNN reported they received a transcript of the private phone call between Trump and Mexican President Peña Nieto. Published transcripts infuriated Gowdy, who asked Comey if he could assure the public such felonies would be investigated. “I can’t,” Comey replied, “but I hope people watching know how seriously we take leaks of classified information. But I don’t want to confirm it by saying we’re investigating.” Again, why not? “Comey is adept at using innuendo and leaks to remind the powerful that he cannot be ignored,” NY Post columnist Michael Goodwin asserts. “The prerogative to investigate, and the willingness to feed a scandal-hungry media, is close to being God in politics, and Comey plays the role with relish.” With an ample assist from the Obama administration, it’s a role Comey will likely play for a long time. “In its final days, the Obama administration has expanded the power of the National Security Agency to share globally intercepted personal communications with the government’s 16 other intelligence agencies before applying privacy protections,” the Times reported on Jan 12. On March 1, the Times reported that White House officials “scrambled” to spread information about the possible Russian/Trump collusion “across the government.” Who ordered the exponential increase in the number of people privy to such intel — which had the incredibly coincidental byproduct of exponentially increasing the number of suspects that need to be investigated, and the time it takes to investigate them — thereby keeping a cloud hanging over a Trump administration for as long as possible? This week it got even worse. House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) revealed that intelligence community members “incidentally collected” information on Trump transition team members that engendered “dozens” of reports that ultimately unmasked many individuals’ identities. Moreover, those reports were “widely disseminated.” None of this was mentioned by Comey at the hearings. There’s a noxious odor arising from this investigation — and FBI Director James Comey is in the middle of the stench. As a result we are fast approaching the most perilous question of all for a democratic republic that cannot survive without a certain level of faith in those imbued with the power to protect the Rule of Law: Who investigates the investigators? Trey Gowdy Nate Jackson The Biden Crime Family’s Chinese Millions Try Our Liberty Brew

Ox's GM on the Spot's Two-Hour Waits, Campfire Scents by Jen Stevenson Aug 9, 2012, 3:03am PDT Share All sharing options for: Ox's GM on the Spot's Two-Hour Waits, Campfire Scents This is the Gatekeepers, a feature in which we roam the city meeting the fine ladies and gentlemen that stand between you and some of your favorite impossible-to-get tables. [Avila, 8/5/12] Since chefs Greg and Gabrielle Denton's busy, buzzy, deliciously-smoky Ox opened April 24 to near-instant adoration, general manager Natalie Obeso (Commander's Palace, Metrovino) has deftly manned the door, as wildfire word of mouth and critical acclaim (particularly the Oregonian's grade A late-July review) prompted waits to balloon to two and a half hours — inspiring the Dentons to open their own bar/waiting room, Whey Bar, scheduled to debut next week. Eater sat down with Obeso and got the skinny on eager diners willing to endure two-and-a-half-hour waits, the best lamb chop she's ever tasted, becoming immune to smelling like a campfire, and the restorative power of an empanada. When is the dinner wait at its most gruesome? Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays tend to be the nights when it gets the most gruesome at the door. I think with summertime, on Friday and Saturday nights people go out of town, or they go to the river, so we're still busy, but we're not running a 90-minute to two-hour wait. But last Tuesday, I ran the door, and we were running two and a half hour waits for some tables. Sometimes, randomly, the restaurant will fill up between 5:30 and 6p.m., but those nights are few and far between. It's mainly between 6:30 and 7p.m. that it fills up, and since the dining room is so tiny, once everything is seated, that's it, it's going to be two hours. Is there any way around the wait? Reservations, sitting at the bar, cold hard cash? No cash. I cannot accept that. But what I can do, is if you are willing to sit anywhere, I'll get you at the bar, I'll get you at the grill, I will do my best to make something happen for you. I will bring you cocktails outside and I will make you as comfortable as I possibly can. Reservations are for parties of six or more, the space is just too tiny to accept reservations for all sizes. You can walk in and sit at the bar, the earlier you come, but once dinner service gets going and people want to sit at the bar, I'll save these seats for people who want to have dinner. Have you had lines and waits from the get go, or is this a relatively new development? We've had waits from the get go, but as the reviews have come out, the waits have been getting longer, and ever since the O's very generous review, the phone does not stop ringing. And you'd be surprised how many patrons have come in to say congratulations, or "we read the review, we're here to try it." I was so nervous about that review, I didn't realize how much it would matter to me, but it feels like our hard work is paying off. How do people respond when you tell them it's going to be a two-hour wait on a Tuesday? Not everybody wants to wait, and not everybody is happy to hear that it's 90 minutes. And I'm sympathetic to that, I totally understand that. I've never had anybody be mean about it, but what I've found is that if you get somebody a drink and you make sure they have bread and you get them some water and you let them know that you care and that you are doing everything you can to get them a table, people tend to understand. Not everybody does, not everybody wants to sit and wait, I've had people say "Uh-uh, I'm not doing that, we'll just come back tomorrow at 5," but I'm surprised at how many people want to stay and wait, it's amazing. What's your crowd like? Is it neighborhood types, foodies, out of towners? Obviously it's Oregonian readers. It's a mix. We get a lot of neighbors, a lot of our regulars that have been so supportive from the beginning that live in the neighborhood. We do get a lot of foodies, people in the industry recommend Ox, and some of the best chefs come here, and it's such a compliment. And I've had a lot of people call from out of town, who've read about the restaurant and want to try it. If you could only eat one cut of meat on the menu until the end of time, what would it be? The lamb chop. I love lamb, and chef makes the best lamb chop I have ever tasted. Lamb has a really distinct flavor and smell, and it reminds me of home, my mom always made lamb. I like the marbling, I like the fat, and I like to suck on the T-bone, it's so succulent and juicy, it's just delicious. How do vegan diners fare here? They are blown away, because it's a great restaurant for vegans and vegetarians, and for people who have gluten allergies or dairy allergies. The menu is so approachable and well thought out — it appeals to everyone and doesn't exclude anyone. What is your ideal meal, apertif to digestif? To start, my cocktail would be the Dirty Grandma Agnes, it's so delicious. For an appetizer, I would start with the truffle pork pate, and the beef tongue, it's beautiful, then I would have the lamb chop, the hominy, and the grilled radicchio salad. For dessert, I'd have the hazelnut brown butter torte with chamomile ice cream. And I'd finish with a Fernet. How do you unwind after a particularly wild night at the restaurant? Xanax, a good scream in the woodshed, a favorite bar? I usually end up at the Rose and Thistle after a crazy night. I like to go on Wednesdays and Thursdays when Marty the owner is bartending, and I'll have a cocktail or a glass of wine, and you can sit on the patio and smoke and laugh and talk. Considering that you're new to the GM role, is the job what you expected it would be? It's more. I knew I would enjoy it, but the people I interact with, and the people that work here, and all the glorious reviews — it's all very gratifying. I've never been a GM before, so to get such nice feedback and to work with so many great people, it really feels like I've made the right decision. It's very intense and intimidating, and I questioned myself a lot in the beginning but I don't do that anymore. And everyone's been so supportive, we have a really great team, it's one of the few restaurants I've worked at where there is no division between the front of the house and the back of the house, we all work really well together. That's probably one of the things that makes Ox so appealing, you can feel when you walk into the restaurant that everyone enjoys being here and everyone enjoys one another, and it's such a happy place, so bright and inviting, and with the smell of the grill, the ambiance here is lovely. Speaking of smelling the grill, do all your clothes smell like campfire now? At first I couldn't really smell it, but my husband would be like, oooohhh, and I'd be like [sniffs shirt], oh, I do smell like smoke. I don't notice it as much now, or maybe I just don't smell it anymore. I'm not a camping kinda girl, but it's a good smell. What's your most important Gatekeepers tool? You have to be strong and you have to be kind — there's a way to tell people that it's 90 minutes and they still want to stay and wait. It's really important for people to feel like you care about them getting a table, and that you're paying attention to when they came in, and what wait they were quoted. People like to hear an update and they don't want to be forgotten. When someone's waiting for a table, 30 minutes can feel like an hour, so if you just pop out and say "it's been 30 minutes, please know this is where you're at and I'm watching," it's very reassuring. There have been times when I've under-quoted by accident, and then the tables didn't turn or there were too many big tables, and I go out and say "I'm so sorry and here's a cocktail and I will bring you an empanada," because that's what people need and that's what I would want, I would want somebody to care about what's happening to me! When people have dedicated that much time to dining at your restaurant, it's important that they know you care for them. · Ox [Official site] · All Previous Ox Coverage [Eater PDX] · All Previous Gatekeepers Coverage [Eater PDX] 2225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97212 Visit Website 2225 Northeast MLK Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR

Car Insurance in Kane, PA – How to Find the Best Rates If you're a driver in Kane, PA, you need to know that you're legally required to have auto insurance. It protects you from out-of-pocket expenses that you may encounter in case of an accident. You should find a policy that is affordable and meets your needs. If you are looking for liability insurance in Kane, Pennsylvania, State Farm offers many affordable insurance plans that will cover you in the event of a car accident. These insurance plans can also cover a wide variety of situations, including rental car coverage, rideshare, and more. As one of the biggest car insurance companies in the country, State Farm can provide you with many different options to suit your needs. Annuities are another type of policy offered by State Farm in Kane, Pennsylvania. These types of policies can provide guaranteed lifetime income or can grow your savings tax-deferred. The best type of annuity for you will depend on your personal circumstances and financial goals. If you're unsure about which one is right for you, an agent at State Farm in Kane, Pennsylvania can answer your questions about annuities. State Farm has 1 branch location in Kane, Pennsylvania. You can find details on their hours of operation and location by contacting them directly. They also offer online quotes. If you'd prefer to do business over the phone, you can also find contact information for State Farm agents. You can also look up other State Farm locations in Pennsylvania using State Farm's website. When you are looking for a policy in Pennsylvania, you will be glad to know that U.S. Bank is a banking partner with State Farm. This means that you will have access to their products and service. Additionally, you will have access to the insurance agents in the Philadelphia area. State Farm in Kane, PA can help you find the right insurance for your needs. They offer supplemental health plans, Medicare supplement plans, individual medical coverage, and disability insurance. You can choose the best plan for your needs based on your financial goals and the current market conditions. Steve Tunall is available to answer your questions and help you find the best plan for your needs. Many insurance companies offer discounts for certain things. For example, drivers with a clean driving record and no claims history will qualify for a reduction in their premiums. You can also get discounts for purchasing safety devices like anti-lock brakes and daytime running lights. These features will also help you save on comprehensive coverage. You can also save on car insurance in Pennsylvania by taking a defensive driving course. Wirefly Wirefly is a comprehensive comparison site that makes shopping for car insurance in Kane, PA a stress-free process. Many states require drivers to purchase auto insurance, but the amount of coverage and rate can vary dramatically. It is important to understand what you need and what your budget is before shopping for car insurance. Wirefly allows you to compare different insurance policies side-by-side to find the best one for your needs. You can rank policies based on price, coverage level, customer service, and brand stability. That way, you can easily get a quote for the cheapest car insurance in Kane, PA and obtain the most comprehensive coverage at the same time. In addition to your driving habits, other factors can also influence your insurance rate, including the type of area you live in. For example, if you live in an area with high crime rates, you may pay a higher insurance rate. Installing an alarm system or anti-theft device on your vehicle may reduce your risk rating and lower your premium. Wirefly makes it easy to compare car insurance in Kane, PA by comparing rates from multiple providers. The primary consideration is affordable price, while features and restrictions are secondary considerations. The best policy will fit your budget and satisfy your needs. Whether you need basic coverage or comprehensive coverage, Wirefly will be able to help. In addition to providing car insurance in Kane, PA, Wirefly can also help you find the right health insurance plan. This company offers supplemental health insurance, rideshare insurance, and individual medical coverage. Wirefly's website even lets you search for a health insurance policy by zip code. State Risk Management The Risk Management Division of the State of Pennsylvania is responsible for first-party losses on state-owned property and for insuring State vehicles. It also defends most lawsuits filed against state agencies. It also provides liability coverage to participating agencies for accidents involving state/agency-owned vehicles and personal vehicles used for official duties. State Farm offers an array of car insurance in Kane, PA. In addition to traditional auto and homeowners insurance, they also offer ride-share and rental car coverage. You can even get coverage for antique cars and recreational vehicles. State Farm also offers discounts for home and auto policies, making it a great choice for anyone who needs car insurance in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, insurance companies consider your driving record when determining your premium rate. If you have had multiple accidents or been arrested for DUI, you may face higher premium rates. But if your driving record is clean, you may qualify for discounts. However, in order to get the best coverage at the lowest price, it is necessary to understand Pennsylvania automotive laws. Insurance companies have a range of policies, allowing drivers to choose the amount of risk they are willing to take. Some policies include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you from being hit by an uninsured motorist. In Pennsylvania, car insurance must cover at least $5,000 in medical benefits. Pennsylvania has a high uninsured/underinsured motorist rate - at least 8 percent of motorists in the state were uninsured in 2015. Besides auto insurance, you should know that drivers in Pennsylvania must wear a seat belt when riding their vehicles. Drivers who fail to wear a seatbelt are subject to fines and can lose their license. Uninsured drivers can also face higher insurance premium rates if they cause an accident. Pet medical insurance If you're looking for car insurance in Kane Pennsylvania, look no further than State Farm. This insurance provider offers many benefits, including rental car coverage, rideshare coverage, and individual medical coverage. They also offer disability insurance, which helps you pay monthly expenses if something were to happen to you. State Farm also offers discounts for multiple policies. Choosing the right policy depends on many factors, including the age of your pet, the zip code you live in, and your financial standing. Using a tool such as Pawlicy Advisor to compare different pet medical insurance companies in Pennsylvania will help you make the best choice. You can also read customer reviews and third-party ratings before deciding on a policy. A pet medical insurance plan can cover up to 90% of the cost of your pet's treatment. Pet care can be expensive, and unexpected illnesses and injuries can skyrocket your expenses. By getting coverage for your pet, you'll make vet bills more manageable. In addition to reimbursement for expenses, many pet insurance policies offer discounts that can stack together. Comparing quotes is the best way to determine how much coverage you'll need. Some pet health insurance companies offer unlimited coverage. Others may only cover a portion of a given expense. If you're looking for unlimited coverage, Healthy Paws may be a good choice. Pets Best offers several options for insurance coverage. The company's Ultimate Plan includes coverage for illnesses, accidents, and surgeries. It also offers pet wellness benefits like dental care. For an even better price, consider a multi-pet plan. The average monthly cost of such a plan is just $23! PreviousCar Insurance in Emerald Lakes, Pennsylvania NextCar Insurance Companies in Loyalhanna Pennsylvania

Parks Director Spotlight: Travis Tranbarger, Brownsburg Parks by katy | Sep 20, 2021 | blog-post With unique trail experiences like the recently completed portions of White Lick Creek Greenway, Brownsburg Parks Director Travis Tranbarger has much to be proud of in the community. This trail, for example, connects Brownsburg residents north of I-74 to businesses, restaurants, and Arbuckle Acres Park through an elevated boardwalk through the trees. According to Travis, parks are an important piece to a community’s economic development strategies by helping to attract businesses, organizations and new residents. The connectivity of the trails is a prime example of the park’s role in this development. “Parks conserve essential community resources, increase home values, and provide low-cost opportunities to improve your well-being,” Travis said. Travis began his career with Brownsburg Parks 12 years ago as the recreation superintendent. When the parks director role became available, he knew he wanted the job because he had been a part of planning for some larger development projects and was interested in carrying those plans forward. “These parks development projects held a lot of value to our community,” Travis said. “I also knew the parks and recreation system had exciting potential for growth in Brownsburg.” One of his favorite parks is Williams Park because of the variety of experiences it provides from various trail types to play options—and the work that has been done to improve conservation education efforts for park users throughout the property. “I’m proud of what we have in Brownsburg,” Travis said. “And what the Town has for parks and recreation is substantial!” Travis leads a team of 16 full-time and over 30 part-time employees. They maintain over 300 acres of parkland, 18 miles of trails, and a comprehensive offering of programs, events and activities throughout the year. The agency oversees the summer farmers market and major events like Blues in the ‘Burg, Christmas Under the Stars and the Fourth of July festivities in partnership with the Lions Club. The agency also operates the before and after school program and out-of-school services for the Brownsburg Community School Corporation. “I appreciate the Parks Foundation of Hendricks County’s model of supporting all parks throughout the county,” Travis said. “The work that PFOHC does to promote all the great things being done in parks throughout the county is vital to the future success of each agency.” Brownsburg Parks has significant community impact projects in the works. The Virgil Park in the southeast part of Town will have different play features and trailhead amenities for the B&O Trail—including enhanced wetlands and prairies. The all-wooden playground in Williams Park that was originally built in 2000 by a community group of volunteers is being renovated with more accessible play features and with more sustainable materials to help ensure the structure lasts another 20 years. Additionally, Brownsburg Parks are currently working with the, Park Board and Co-interim Town Managers on the ten-year site master plan for Lincolnwood Park, a 51-acre property along White Lick Creek and west just west of the downtown area. “Investing in parks is a crucial investment back into your community. Whether folks use the local parks, trails and recreation programming regularly or not, they have both a direct and indirect impact on a community in so many different ways,” Travis said. When he’s not busy with the Parks team, Travis enjoys spending time with his wife, two children and Fox Red Labrador Retriever. You can catch him coaching his nine-year-old daughter’s team in the Brownsburg Junior Basketball League each year—or running her to dance and Girl Scouts.

“The man of Virtue rests without thought, moves without plan. He has no use for right and wrong,…” “The man of Virtue rests without thought, moves without plan. He has no use for right and wrong, beautiful and ugly. To share profit with all things within the four seas is his happiness, to look after their needs is his peace.” – Zhuangzi, The Complete Works of Zhuangzi, Watson tr. (Ch 12) “To convince someone of the truth, it is not enough to state it, but rather one must find the path…” “To convince someone of the truth, it is not enough to state it, but rather one must find the path...

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Photos September 6, 2017 March 26, 2018 At the Confirmation Hearing for the Promotion of Senior Military Officers Filed under: Commission on Appointments, military officers, promotion “We’re looking for a long-term solution.” Before the Start of the Regular Session

CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES (Note: The novel is divided into three parts. There are no chapters within the parts. For the purpose of commentary, the parts will be divided into sections based on the major actions or events that occur. These sections are not noted in the novel, nor are they intended to suggest the novel should have been arranged so. Instead, the author of this guide has given suggested section headings within each part to facilitate better understanding of the major events taking place in that section. The section headings are given in Italics.) PART 1: "THE HEARTH AND THE SALAMANDER" Montag meets his neighbor Clarisse The main character, Montag, is a fireman in the 24th century. His job is not to put out fires, but to start them in the homes of people who have defied the laws by owning and reading books. At the start of the novel, Montag finds it extremely pleasurable to watch the fires spouting forth from the nozzle of his hose and see the house in front of him being razed by flames. He feels proud to be doing the work of his dictatorial state. After fighting the fire, Montag returns to the station, hangs up his helmet and walks out into the night towards his home. On the way, he feels strange, as if someone is "faintly breathing near him." He turns the corner and runs into his new neighbor, Clarisse McClellan. She is a lovely young girl and Montag is enthralled by her presence. She walks the rest of the way with him and questions him about his job. She whimsically reminds him that firemen of old used to put out fires rather than start them. Her strange and unfamiliar way of talking about the laws makes Montag uneasy. He feels she is too free-spirited, questioning the society as it exists. In contrast to Clarisse's easy pleasantness, Montag is jaded and accepting of the status quo of things. When they reach Clarisse's house, which is next door to Montag's, he bids her a warm good-bye. Clarisse runs toward her door, but comes back after a moment. She asks Montag, "Are you happy?" Without waiting for his answer, she disappears into her house. From the opening of the novel, the setting and tone are established as eerily futuristic. Firemen no longer are needed to put out fires, for all the homes are sheeted with inflammable materials; as a result, there is never an opportunity to put out the fire in a burning building, to rescue possessions, or to save lives. Instead, the job of firemen is now to set fire to the homes of "criminals" who have dared to defy the government and possess books. Montag, the protagonist of the novel, is a fireman. At the beginning of the book, he relishes his job of destruction, grinning wildly as flames consume the home of a criminal. He feels honored to be part of a team of men who insure that there are no books in existence. The government does not allow them, for it does not want individuals to think on their own or become wiser than the next citizen. Bradbury's main theme in the novel becomes immediately apparent. The entire story will be about the destructive force of censorship, even though the practice is never called by its name. Montag is one of multitude of firemen who are responsible for property destruction; in the book, he becomes a sort of everyman who unthinkingly does his duty and has even learned to find macabre pleasure in his powers of destruction. He has worked at his same job for ten years, never questioning the evil of what he does. Significantly, his helmet is number 451; this number assumes symbolic importance in the novel since it is also the temperature at which most paper burns. Montag's life is changed by his new next-door neighbor, a seventeen-year old girl named Clarisse McClellan. One night on the way home from work, he chances to run into her and they walk on together. He is amazed at her free spirit and her questioning of governmental authority. Clarisse has no qualms about expressing her opinions, even when they are radical and revolutionary. She talks about the feel of the green grass underfoot and the smell of the pink flowers, things that Montag has never noticed. It is obvious to him that she is a free thinker and an individual. From their first encounter, she fully challenges Montag. She asks him the simple question, "Are you happy?" These three words set off a volley of doubts and queries in Montag's mind. In the past, Montag has always been content with his job and his life; but Clarisse's question makes him realize that he has never been happy like she seems to be. As a result, this young teenager becomes the catalyst for Montag's self-realization. From this point forward in the novel, he will question his purpose and involvement in life.

Paying the Price 2003 A 19-State Survey of the High Cost of Prescription Drugs In the spring of 2003, the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) conducted a survey of more than 500 pharmacies in 18 states across the country and Washington, D.C. to determine how much uninsured consumers are paying for 10 common prescription drugs. We then compared these prices with the prices the pharmaceutical companies charge one of their “most favored” customers, the federal government. Paying_the_Price_2003_USPIRG While the pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable industry in the world, millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans struggle to afford the medicines they need, even forgoing medically necessary drugs when prices are out of reach. Meanwhile, the federal government uses its buying power to negotiate fairer prices for the drugs it purchases for its beneficiaries—such as veterans, government employees and retirees. Unfortunately, uninsured individuals have no one doing the same on their behalf. They thus remain at the whim of the pharmaceutical industry, one that has behaved in a manner considered by many to be monopolistic and unethical. Frustrated by years of gridlock and inaction at the federal level, states across the nation are now considering filling that role for their citizens by establishing state-run buying pools and using their power to negotiate fairer drug prices, allowing uninsured or underinsured consumers of all ages to buy their prescription drugs at lower cost. The time for state governments to act to lower drug prices has never been greater. The costs of the 50 most popular drugs rose three times higher than the rate of inflation in 2001. As drug prices have climbed, some employers have dropped or reduced the prescription drug coverage offered to their employees. The recent wave of corporate bankruptcies and layoffs has left many consumers without any health insurance at all. Medicare recipients—senior citizens most likely to take prescription medications—lack prescription drug coverage entirely. Moreover, the recent efforts by the Bush administration and U.S. Congress to reform Medicare have failed to address the root cause of the skyrocketing cost of prescription medication. In each of the surveyed locations, we found that uninsured citizens are paying much more than the federal government for these 10 common prescription medications. Among the key findings from this survey: Nationally: • Based on the results of our 19-state survey, uninsured Americans pay 72 percent more on average for these 10 common prescription medications than the federal government. The price differences ranged from 31 percent for Lanoxin to 110 percent for K-Dur 20. • Many of the drugs featured in the PIRG survey treat chronic conditions—meaning that the percent difference between the retail and discounted prices quickly adds up. An uninsured person regularly taking Zocor for his high cholesterol, for example, would pay at least $1671 for a year’s supply of Zocor. The government, on the other hand, must pay only $814 for the same quantity of Zocor—a savings of $857. • Prices varied sharply amongst the surveyed regions. Prescription drugs cost substantially more for uninsured consumers in urban areas in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states; somewhat less in the Midwest and Mid-South; and substantially less in the Southeast and South/Southwest. • Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed, the four most expensive cities in which to buy medication were Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Boston. Prescription drugs were the least expensive, but still significantly above the federal supply price, in New Orleans, Denver, Grand Rapids, Houston and Tampa.

Tag: The Washington Post Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas playing @Smiling Moose on October 10th September 11, 2017 September 11, 2017 by Alan D. Welding, posted in Pittsburgh Event, Pittsburgh Premiere Jessica is on the road in support of her critically acclaimed sophomore album “Telephone / Telefono,” a bilingual recording that sees Jessica upping the ante on her already one-of-a-kind sound-clash of pop, psychedelic rock and punk cabaret, with fresh and emotive Spanish and English recordings. Jessica fuses “the ska/punk ethos of Save Ferris and the … Continue reading Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas playing @Smiling Moose on October 10th Tagged 2010 Haiti earthquake, American Red Cross, Arizona State University, Barack Obama, Gail J. McGovern, Hurricane Harvey, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, NPR, ProPublica, The Washington Post Bronze Radio Return at Diesel Club Lounge on 10/16 September 29, 2016 September 29, 2016 by Alan D. Welding, posted in Pittsburgh Event Bronze Radio Return's radio single “Only Temporary” is already getting a ton of early spins from SiriusXM The Pulse and many other key Alternative Radio stations ahead of impact date. The band is touring behind their current albumLight Me Up. Listen HERE. The title track was recently featured on Showtime’s new show “Roadies” – in fact … Continue reading Bronze Radio Return at Diesel Club Lounge on 10/16 Tagged Associated Press, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Coca-Cola, Content creation, European Central Bank, Howard Schultz, Starbucks, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post

These Are The 100 Trendiest Baby Names of 2017 If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you’ll know that planning out baby names are something that takes a lot of time. While most people keep some names written down somewhere in the back of their minds, it doesn’t always happen that their partner wants to name their kids after their significant other’s favorite song or character from a movie (I guess Eric Clapton will be disappointed my boyfriend refuses to name our future daughter Layla). If you’re stuck on baby names and want to be trendy and “in,” here are the most popular boys and girls names of 2017, according to Baby Center. Girls: 1. Emma: A popular name amongst literary heroines. Emma comes from German origins meaning “whole,” “universal.” Can also mean “nanny.” 2. Olivia: Feminine form of the name “Oliver.” Used very often by Shakespeare, especially in “Twelfth Night.” 3. Ava: Ava is a popular name amongst those in the Hollywood elite. Comes from the Hebrew word for “bird,” and the Persian word for “voice.” 4.: Isabella: The Spanish and Italian variation of “Elizabeth,” it’s a newer name that many European Queens have sported. 5. Sophia: A feminine and lyrical name popular in the ’80’s from the film “Sophie’s Choice.” Derived from the Greek word for “wisdom.” 6. Mia: A popular name for those who want to keep their daughter’s name shorter. In Hebrew, it comes from the word for “bitter,” but, also comes from the Scandinavian word for “beloved.” 7. Amelia: A romantic name from the 20’s, Amelia comes from the English word for “industrious” and “hard-working.” 8. Charlotte: Feminine version of “Charles,” and also the name of several Queens throughout history. Comes from the French word for “free man.” 9. Harper: A very popular name in the 1800’s, and become popular again after the publication of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. Comes from the English word for Minstrel. 10. Aria: Comes from the Italian word for “melody,” or an elaborate song that is sung by a soloist at the Opera. Also can be spelt, Arya. 11. Ella: Comes from the English word for “a beautiful fairy woman.” Also, has German roots for “all,” and “complete.” 12. Evelyn: Evelyn is a Celtic name that means “life,” and “giver of life.” It also comes from the English meaning for “wished for.” 13. Abigail: Considered to be a very “vintage” name by some, she was the Old Testament wife of David and known for her beauty and wisdom. Comes from the Hebrew word for “gives joy.” 14. Emily: A very popular name in literature, such as Emily Dickinson. Comes from the Latin word for “Industrious,” and “striving.” 15. Avery: Feminine meaning for the name Alfred. Comes from the old English words meaning elf, and counsel. 16. Madison: Madison is a name that is popular with many and comes from the Teutonic history from the Son of Maud. 17. Scarlett: A popular name for a daughter with a big personality and who is head-strong. Comes from the English word for “fiery red.” 18. Chloe: Comes from the Greek origin for “a young green shoot,” and the Goddess of fertility. 19. Sofia: The Spanish version of “Sophia.” Known as someone with a vibrant personality. 20. Lily: A delicate name derived from a beautiful flower, and known as someone who is “well-loved.” 21. Mila: Comes from the Persian word for “stork.” Also, Russian for “Favor of the people.” 22. Layla: A lyrical name of Arabic origin for “dark beauty” and “night.” Also thought to mean “intoxicating.” Popular from Eric Clapton’s hit song. 23. Ellie: Short for the English version of Eleanor and Ellen. 24. Riley: Comes from the English, Gaelic and Irish words for “brave.” Can be used for both a girl and a boy. 25. Zoey: Zoey became a popular name in the mid-90’s. Comes from the Greek word for “life.” 26. Elizabeth: A timeless name for those who like to celebrate the Royal Queen of England. Also, comes from the Hebrew word for “God is my oath.” 27. Luna: Comes from the Latin word for “moon.” 28. Aubrey: A popular name for girls in the modern day, many celebrities have named their own daughters Audrey. Comes from the French word for “elf ruler.” 29. Grace: A very biblical name, like Hope or Faith. Comes from the Latin word for “lovely” and “graceful.” Also, means “a virtue.” 30. Penelope: Comes from Greek and Roman mythology, the faithful wife of Odysseus during the Trojan War. 31. Victoria: The Roman Goddess of victory. Comes from the Latin word for “victory.” 32. Hannah: Comes from the Hebrew word for “favor,” and “grace.” 33. Nora: Comes from the Latin word for “honor.” 34. Camila: Comes from the Arabic decent of the word “perfect,” or “complete.” A feminine version of Kamal, which means “completion.” 35. Stella: A vintage name in modern day society. Comes from the Latin and Swedish words for “star.” 36. Addison: A biblical name from the English for “Son of Adam.” 37. Bella: A name that is synonymous with beauty, as comes from the Latin and Italian words for “beautiful,” and “fair,” or “lovely one.” 38. Natalie: Originally, this was the name for a “Christmas baby,” coming from the Russian and French meaning for “born on Christmas.” 39. Savannah: An American name coming from one who is born on an “open plain.” 40. Brooklyn: A very hipster and trendy name stemming from the New York City borough. Also, comes from the English word for “small stream,” or “bringing forth.” 41. Maya: A “divine” name, from Hindi roots and has a strong relation to Roman Goddesses of Spring. 42. Paisley: A name that is most popular amongst those from Scotland, from the fabric that was originated in the country. 43. Aurora: Popular from the Disney movie “Sleeping Beauty.” The name also is popular as the Roman Goddess of Dawn. 44. Skylar: Comes from the English meaning of “eternal strength.” The Dutch, however, translate that of “the sky.” 45. Hazel: A name coming from the 1960’s, a vintage and Earthly name, coming from the English origin for “the hazel tree.” 46. Lillian: Comes from the English origin for the divine flower of “Lily.” Symbolic of innocence, purity and beauty. 47. Audrey: Comes from the English origin for “noble strength.” Popular amongst women who admire the iconic Audrey Hepburn. 48. Lucy: Comes from the Latin origin for “light.” 49. Aliyah: A very biblical word in terms of prayer. Comes from the Hebrew word for “rise up” or “to ascend.” 50. Zoe: Comes from the Greek word for “life.” Another version of the name “Zoey.” Divorced Dad’s Post About Why He Still Buys Ex-Wife Gifts Will Touch Your Soul P!nk Cried With A Mom In A Grocery Store And The Story Behind It Will Make You Emotional Woman Has The Craziest Maternity Photo Shoot Completely Covered In Bees in Dad-Shaming Mom Writes Hilariously Honest Poem About Dads Who Sleep Instead Of Helping With Newborns

The album of the week is William Shatner's Has Been, with arrangements by Ben Folds. It's a Shatner album you'll actually enjoy listening to! The best track is the cover of Pulp's Common People, be sure to listen to the original.

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Home>>Business>>How to Create an Effective Inbound Call Strategy How to Create an Effective Inbound Call Strategy Zuri KashMay 28, 2020 If your business relies on a steady stream of inbound calls, whether that is to provide the process for customers to make the final purchase decision on one of your products or services, or as a way for customers to make complaints or queries and to maintain high standards of customer service, it can be daunting to know exactly how to create an effective strategy. This is where the help of a professional call centre team can come into play, providing you with the key components to deliver a high standard of quality on every single call, consistency being the key to any long-term customer strategy. When your customer has a problem, or your potential customer calls you looking to take the next steps in their purchase journey, it is vital that you have the employees, technology and processes in place to help them solve the problem in place. It is your responsibility as a business to have empathy and the power to go above and beyond when helping a customer with a query, no matter what it is. A good response in these situations can have a positive effect on maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction, where a customer will remain loyal for many years and recommend you to other potential customers. A bad response can have the opposite impact, losing customers and damaging well-earned brand reputation that might have taken you years to cultivate. There are different ways to measure the success of inbound calls, but what you should always remember is that the best call centre agents understand that they have to remain level-headed in the role. There will always be a certain number of angry calls, calls that don’t go the way you wish them to, as well as positive experiences. Even the very best call centre operatives will have bad calls, so by remaining level-headed there is a much better chance of the process being delivered to the same high standard every time. If you can guarantee the same performance and delivery, the results will come over time. It is important to put in place the processes, technology and support that helps the call centre staff understand where to direct calls, how to deal with different problems. A big part of this is training in the client’s brand, products and services, proving that a white label service can maintain high standards for a company that has outsourced a customer service team. Creating an effective inbound call strategy should be on of your priorities as a business that relies on taking in calls from customers and potential customers. If your in-house team is overwhelmed with the volume of calls you are receiving, or you wish to hand over sole responsibility to an outsourced team of call centre specialists to allow your in-house team to concentrate on other matters internally, it pays off to seek out a professional contact centre contract that can help you out. Whether you are looking for support with an overflow call handling service, order-taking processes, out of hours hotlines, emergency helpdesk teams or one of many other services you could find in this industry, you’ll see that it makes a big difference to your inbound call strategy, improving standards. Get Quality Services at a Competitive Price with Tiger Mount Confusion Causing Chargebacks to Grow Why Invest in Singtel for Business Communication Needs How to find the Perfect Courier Service in Singapore: 3 steps How to Trade CFDs: The Ultimate Guide How To Improve Your Business Using AI? Web Marketing Challenges

Posted on February 10, 2020 February 10, 2020 by g.garais

All posts tagged: Nunobiki Herb Garden Planted on the mountainside of Mount Rokko in Kobe, Nunobiki Herb Gardens 神戸布引ハーブ園 is Japan’s largest herb garden and home to 75,000 herbs and flowers. It is a must-visit if you love flowers, herbs, and nature. There are lots of see, do, and learn at this beautiful botanical garden. Kobe / Travel

Home » copyright cheryl overs holds copyright cheryl overs holds PLRI Website Terms and Conditions of Use This website is provided as a public service by Cheryl Overs of the Michael Kirby Centre for Public Health and Human Rights at Monash University Melbourne Australia. Use is subject to the following terms and conditions. Your use of the site is subject to these terms – if you do not agree to them, please leave the site. People from many different walks of life are quoted and depicted on this website. Their inclusion here does not indicate their HIV status, sexual preference or occupation, nor does it imply that they agree with the content of the website or PLRI

How To Run Your Home Business Like A Boss Any home business is an excellent way to earn some extra cash or even earn a full-time living. If you invest the necessary time, you'll find success. The following article contains tips for helping you establish meaningful guidelines regarding your at-home business. Maine Business Information Begin putting away some funds now for retirement, even if you just began your home business. Saving for retirement is a habit that is hard to get into if you don't begin doing it as soon as possible. Even if you feel you could use those extra few dollars for some helpful, but unnecessary, supplies, put them instead into a retirement fund. If your home office has enough room, create a portion of it as a separate sitting area with a couch or lounge chair. When the work you need to do does not involve the computer, utilize this relaxing space. It can help you brainstorm, spur your creativity and keep you fresh. Make sure you keep accurate records of all your home business activity. It's easy to put off pesky record-keeping tasks till you feel like doing them, but strive to keep everything pertaining to your business up-to-date so that you won't be confused and stressed out later on. Set up a P.O. Box for your home business. It can be dangerous to use your home address on the internet, so setting up a P.O. Box will allow your family a measure of security. Even if your business is not on the internet, it is still a good idea to give yourself some anonymity through the use of this service. What kind of business do you find most attractive? Think about your talents, desires, interests and goals. For instance, you can combine your interests in music equipment and carpentry into a speaker cabinet manufacturing business. What is most important, is that you really enjoy what you do. The more passion you feel, the more successful you can become as an entrepreneur. Create a flier for your home business. Promote your company by sending the flier out to others and posting it in different locations in the community. You can also scan the flier and put it up as an attachment on your web page. Each of these steps will increase the visibility of your business. Your office needs some sort of door or "barrier". Your office needs to be separate from the living areas in the home. This will be a mental and physical signal that your work space is separate from your rest space. The separation will help you to leave your work behind when you are busy with the rest of your life. Install a separate phone line for your business calls. This way, you can be sure your business calls are handled in a professional manner. Make sure others in your home don't answer your business phone unless it is done in a professional fashion. You should also set up a voicemail on your business line. You should make sure that you fully support the product or service you are offering. If you have any qualms about a product or service that you are attempting to sell it can be very difficult to push the product or service and make a profit. It is important to advertise things that you can completely support. Find ways to include the entire family in the home business. It may not be easy to find something for the little ones to do but even if you give them some paper to send through the paper shredder, they will feel included in what you are making into a family business. Keep good records of all transactions that apply to your home business. If you find that you are getting lost in some of the financial paperwork, consider hiring an outside accountant to do that work for you. There are also some great software programs that will make it fairly easy to keep track of everything. Make sure that your home business has contingency plans to deal with unexpected or infrequent difficulties. Pay attention so that you can recognize signs of impending trouble before it happens, instead of being surprised. You can't avoid rough times entirely, but a good contingency plan makes it much easier to weather the storm. Use a separate phone number for home and business if you are running a business from your home. This helps to ensure that you will not be taking unrelated calls during your business hours. This also aids in maintaining a separate mindset for home and work time, which is essential to keep from feeling as though you are working all the time. Starting your own business offers the freedom to do what you want, when you want. Whether you are looking for profit or fun, you could find it to be fulfilling. This article's tips and ideas are what you need to begin laying a strong foundation for a successful home business.

Michael Otsuka Uehiro Lectures: Practical solutions for ethical challenges The annual public Uehiro Lecture Series captures the ethos of the Uehiro Centre, which ... Politics and International Relations Podcasts Podcasts from the Department of Politics and International relations and its centres. ... 2020 Annual Uehiro Lectures in Practical Ethics (3/3): The case for an unfunded pay as you go (PAYG) pension Professor Michael Otsuka (London School of Economics) delivers the final of three public lectures in the series 'How to pool risks across generations: the case for collective pensions' Michael Otsuka 17 November, 2020 2020 Annual Uehiro Lectures in Practical Ethics (2/3): The case for collective defined contribution (CDC) Professor Michael Otsuka (London School of Economics) delivers the second of three public lectures in the series 'How to pool risks across generations: the case for collective pensions' Michael Otsuka 17 November, 2020 2020 Annual Uehiro Lectures in Practical Ethics (1/3): The case for a funded pension with a defined benefit (DB) Professor Michael Otsuka (London School of Economics) delivers the first of three public lectures in the series 'How to pool risks across generations: the case for collective pensions' Michael Otsuka 17 November, 2020 CSSJ: Cohen Conference: Justice as Fairness: Luck Egalitarian, not Rawlsian Rescuing Justice and Equality: Celebrating the Career of G.A. Cohen - Conference at the Centre for the Study of Social Justice (CSSJ), Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford. Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January 2009. Michael Otsuka, Jonathan Wolff 23 April, 2009

Citizens Wake Up: The Chukua Hatua (Take Action) programme in Tanzania Effective community participation in local governance in Tanzania is not an easy process. Power is centralized, and few people are prepared to speak out. That is why the Chukua Hatua (Take Action) programme is so exciting. This case study – one of a series of Programme Insights on Local Governance and Community Action – outlines […] English case study (301 KB) Effective community participation in local governance in Tanzania is not an easy process. Power is centralized, and few people are prepared to speak out. That is why the Chukua Hatua (Take Action) programme is so exciting. This case study – one of a series of Programme Insights on Local Governance and Community Action – outlines pilots from the first phase of the project, tracking election promises and training farmer animators, active musicians, and student councils; and shows where and how they were successful and the challenges they faced. It also explains the plans for the next phase, in which Oxfam will work with local decision makers as well as local communities, integrating the most successful elements of the pilots. In this way, the programme will continue to build people’s capacity and skills so that they are truly able to become active citizens. Lonsdale, Jane No Longer Sitting Quietly: Building space for community participation in Vietnam For most people in Vietnam, living conditions have steadily improved since the doi moi reforms began in 1986. But inequalities continue to widen, especially between people living in rural and urban areas, and between majority and minority ethnic groups. And local people, especially if they come from a minority group, still have little say in […] Nothing is Impossible: The Raising Her Voice programme in Nepal Women in Nepal experience discrimination in all areas of their lives. The goal of Oxfam’s Raising Her Voice programme is to ensure that public policy making reflects the interests of poor and marginalized women in the country, especially by increasing their participation and influence in community decision-making bodies that have a particular impact on their […] Local Governance and Community Action: How poor and marginalized people can achieve change Most people experience the impacts of governance, fair or unfair, at a very local level. It is where poor and marginalized people, including women, experience inequalities most keenly – in the way that issues that particularly concern them tend to get de-prioritized and their participation is obstructed. In most political systems it is also at […]

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William Prowse It is time for our leaders to look to the future and not be reactive to our current situation. The city has little control on housing prices but can look to increase employment opportunities and expand future tax base to help create the city we all want. If the city wants to help their citizens in this high inflation environment where 1 out of 6 citizens are behind on their utility bill, impacting financial assistance to those in need would be a good place to start.

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