text:
The Timbers are playing a bit better in recent weeks. Six points from six, they're playing something resembling reasonable defense, and the season that looked so scattered and hopeless a month ago is starting to look solid again. Second in the West on points, fourth on PPG, the Timbers are definitely rounding into something resembling playoff form right now, and they'll look to continue that turnaround in form against....
/checks schedule for next opponent
/runs from room, screaming
That's right. Portland's next opponent is the Seattle Sounders, the second team in Cascadia to win an MLS Cup. They're local rivals, of course, but more germane/interesting to Sunday's action, they're also unbeaten in their last 10 games, of which they've won six. If the Timbers are rounding into form, the Sounders have already rounded, and they're running with a full head of steam, downhill, with the wind at their backs, towards winning the West.
Oh, and the extra dose of mustard on the chocolate sundae that is this fixture is that it's in Seattle. The Timbers' record of success in Seattle in the MLS regular season is, well, it's nonexistent:
Yup. Two points from nine visits to Seattle since 2011. The last time Portland got a point in Seattle during a season was four years ago, in March of 2013. They've been outscored 14-4 in the nine games up to this point, and have never scored more than a single goal in any game played up in Seattle.
So, while history doesn't play games and while that record of futility doesn't really matter except in a banter sense, by any measure, given the respective way these teams are playing lately, this weekend's going to be tough. If Portland wins, though, they will both take over first place in the West and also put one hand firmly on the Cascadia Cup, with only the game between Portland and Vancouver in October to play in that series.
This game will be made even tougher for the Timbers by a trio of absences. David Guzmán will miss this game after stupidly picking up his fifth yellow card on Wednesday against Colorado, and Fanendo Adi and Liam Ridgewell will not make the trip as they continue to recover from their respective injuries. Look for highly promising Jeremy Ebobisse to get the start in Adi's place; Darren Mattocks started on Wednesday and didn't play all that well, so between that and the tiredness factor, Ebo should be up front for the kickoff.
Jake Gleeson is also out, as the Timbers' starting keeper also continues to recover from his hamstring pull.
Seattle, meanwhile, is missing Brad Evans and Lamar Neagle through injury, and Joevin Jones through an unanticipated self-callup to Trinidad & Tobago's team for a friendly, which is probably the last thing Sounders fans will remember about him, as he's off to Germany after this season (and maybe, as a result of going AWOL, more like now-ish).
Attinella; Vytas, Mabiala, Olum, Valentin; Chara, Okugo; Nagbe, Valeri, Blanco; Ebobisse
Frei; Nouhou, Marshall, Torres, Leerdam; Alonso, Roldan; Morris, Dempsey, Lodeiro; Bruin
Portland Timbers at Seattle Sounders
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
Sunday, August 27, 2017
US TV: Fox Sports 1
Elsewhere: MLS Live (subscription service, blackout rules apply)

domain: sports


Humans: Series 1 Episode 6 Review
Reviewed by Louis Rabinowitz.
Due to the deliberate pace of the first few episodes, it doesn’t seem like that long ago when Humans premiered – but the antepenultimate episode of the season (or series) has already rolled around. With Humans beginning to put the chess pieces in play for the season’s endgame, did episode six continue the strong form of the last two episodes?
As the show has progressed, Humans has taken the opportunity to introduce nuance and unexpected complexities into seemingly simple situations – nothing, at this point, is quite what it seems, and that’s particularly emphasised by the surprising first few minutes of the episode. Fred’s survival avoids the anticlimax that last episode’s ending initially purported to be, and introducing a fresh new Synth onto the streets is an intriguing way to mix things up for the central family of Synths as we head into the last couple of episodes – but it’s the revelation about Hobb’s true motivations that surprised the most here. As it turns out, Hobb is far from a technology-fearing zealot, with his bombastic ‘singularity’ speeches cooked up to deceive his colleagues – and while he’s still very much the show’s central villain, his motivations seem far more noble and understandable now they’ve truly been revealed. The idea that these advanced Synths are special, amazing creations is one that the viewers have been encouraged to believe, so to have Hobb share that view is a clever way of muddying the waters a little and keeping the audience on their toes, allowing our opinions to align with the bad guy in some form– there’s no late-game upending of the entire dynamics of the show, but this new development does introduce an encouraging amount of complexity into a character whose only distinguishing facet before this episode was his overt villainy.
Humans recently brought the previously estranged George and Niska together, and this exceedingly strange dynamic continues to be a fantastic well of philosophical conundrums and moral ambiguity for the show to draw upon among the more overtly soap-opera style family drama. In particular, the continuing deconstruction of Niska is engaging due to the show’s coyness on providing an answer to questions about her character. Is Niska really on the same level as a human? For every piece of evidence suggesting that she is very much a human, such as her emotional responses and self-consciousness, there’s another piece of evidence to the contrary – Niska can’t quite grasp the idea of Millican’s unconditional love for the malfunctioning Odi, as it’s an inherently irrational love that yields no benefits for George, and struggles with the idea of subtext. It’s not as simple as ‘this scene points to Niska not being like a human’ or vice versa – Niska’s confusion at irrational actions and blunt attitude is one shared by many humans, and as we later learn, even the human creator of Synths, David Elster, was particularly aloof and preferred to work on his inventions to human interaction.
The brief, yet potent revelation that Niska was seen as ‘more than a child’ than Elster is a thoroughly grim one, showing the horrific crimes that humanity can perform against beings they see only as machines and deepening the exploration of the relationship between the creator and the created that also appears within Hobb’s story. Was Niska merely underestimated by Elster, as he saw his creations as beneath him? It’s a relationship that will hopefully be explored further next episode, but this brief moment does dovetail with Fred and Hobb’s in an intriguing and surprising manner. It’s unclear whether Humans will firmly settle on an answer to how human these Synths really are by the finale, but the show would be hard pressed to find a conclusion that’s remotely satisfying after the thought-provoking array of questions and debates thrown up by Niska’s scenes with Millican alone – and that’s a testament to the thoughtful yet cleverly written (the show has gotten a hell of a lot better at organically introducing these moral questions as it’s gotten on to boot) writing of Niska’s scenes in particular.
When we have a Synth as complex as Niska, it’s inevitably a little frustrating to have to spend screen-time with the simpler and more common breed of Synth – and while there’s comedic value in Synth Simon’s hilariously blunt addresses to Drummond about his wife, flicking back to a Synth as overtly artificial and fake as Simon for comedy value undercuts the exploration of the core family of advanced Synths. There’s merit in the idea of exploring the debate of whether the advanced and regular Synths are truly different and deserve different rights to the garden variety Synth, but simply using a ‘shop bought Synth’ for comic relief jars with the complex and nuanced study of the humanity of the advanced Synths. In an episode that’s packed with strong emotional moments and several surprise revelations, Drummond’s story never ceases to rise above the level of passable entertainment – even a potentially complex moment such as Karen’s revelation of her true nature right after a one night stand simply boils down to another moment re-iterating Drummond’s hatred of Synths. It’s intriguing enough, but Drummond’s story remains a weak link amidst the other, increasingly strong plotlines, and there’s little to no interest from this reviewer as to how his story will end.
Perhaps the biggest development of this episode was the return of Mia, as the rogue personality embedded within Anita resurfaced. The plot mechanics behind the sudden emergence of Mia are flimsy at best, but the transformation provided another chance for Gemma Chan to showcase her acting prowess after a quiet couple of weeks. Seeing Chan instantly transform from the distressed Mia to the placid and blank Anita underlines the acting talent that this reviewer had almost taken for granted at this point – and Chan was assisted by an excellent emotional performance by Colin Morgan, who managed to convey the intimate, motherly relationship between Leo and Mia (revealed, surprisingly, to be a surrogate mother and son pair) with Chan despite the obvious barrier of the two actors looking about the same age.
Everything seemed to be going well for the reunited family of Synths – but then, of course, we still have a little time left before the finale. It’s surprising that the architect of Synth Max’s downfall was in fact Joe, who continually failed to make amends for his actions with Anita here. The show, and the perception of Synths, has evolved around Joe – his opinion that they’re just machines and can’t feel feels hopelessly antiquated and bigoted at this point, despite it being a viewpoint that’s perfectly rational and understandable. Nonetheless, Joe’s steadfast refusal to really change leaves him as an intriguing presence – with his opinions rejected by his family, all Joe can do is lash out with a show of power (calling the police) that ended up having fairly dreadful consequences. It’s hard to see where the character will go from here, but shaking up the Hawkins family dynamic has certainly been a welcome move from the writers, with Joe’s distrust and confusion now making him very much responsible for Max’s death.
Max was always a supporting character, tagging alongside the more interesting Leo – but that role is actually used to finally flesh out Max this episode. His self-confessed status as the burden is an inherently sympathetic one – but, ironically, as soon as Max confesses this it’s easy to see him as a loyal companion rather than a burden to Leo, providing moral support throughout their time on the run. It’s this character work that makes his death all the more impactful, with his final line a hopeful yet darkly tinged raising of the idea that his death will ensure that he lived. It’s a complex statement that can be interpreted in a lot of different ways – but as this episode shows, that’s Humans in a nutshell.


text:
Like it or not, this eye catching watch will surely help you make a statement wherever you go. The Romain Jerome Tourbillon Pokemon is part of a limited series of.. just one piece, which surely turns this beauty into an instant collectible. Showing off a black PVD-coated stainless steel 48 mm case, this stunning watch seems to have been designed by a very passionate child – one with incredible attention to detail and the technical skills of a genius.
Featuring double sapphire crystals and the ability to dive as deep as 50 meters, this new Romain Jerome creation has taken us all by surprise. Movement is provided by the impressive Swiss automatic Romain Jerome caliber RJ400-TS, which consists of 27 jewels, with 28,800 vph and a 60 hours worth of power reserve.
By now we’re sure you’ve already noticed Pikachu and many other popular Pokemon characters on the incredible dial of this watch, that’s probably meant to get you really excited and bring back some awesome memories. Did it work? These colorful characters look like they’re almost alive, hand-filled with enamel to add a magical touch to the blacked out case of this new Romain Jerome wonder.
At the end of the day, this extraordinary Pokemon watch comes with a black alligator leather strap with yellow and blue stitches and a black PVD-coated folding clasp. But we think you need to be a massive Pokemon fan, not to mention wealthy, if you’d like to pay $200,000 for this stunning piece. Are you that kind of guy?

domain: artistic


Home Tags Anthony Spina
Tag: Anthony Spina
Anthony Spina Jr. started testing the public’s perception of his pies in 2021 with pop-ups at the Dairies that aligned with concerts at the the Eastern. There, guests could purchase his margherita, funghi, and Hot Boy (pepperoni with hot honey) pies. These will headline the brick-and-mortar menu, along with five other varieties.
“Virginia-Highland just got stale; it needed a refresh,” says Gene Kansas, a cultural developer and founder of Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate. “Atlantans wanted current places to go on dates and take their children. [Virginia-Highland] didn’t have what they wanted and needed, so the community went elsewhere.”
Atlanta's restaurant scene is a resilient one, and despite the pandemic, many still have plans to open their doors in 2021. Here are a few we're eagerly anticipating.
ITP fans of Anthony Spina's grandma pie were heartbroken when he announced it wouldn't be served at Nina & Rafi. But the restaurant has promised to bring the grandma pie back for one-night-only pop-ups, the first of which is in March.
The Grandma Pie that made O4W Pizza is off the menu at Anthony Spina and Billy Streck's new restaurant, Nina & Rafi. Instead, the duo are focusing on the restaurant's other pizza styles and Italian-American comfort foods.
Doughy, crispy, semi-deep-dish Grandma Pie reigns supreme at Anthony Spina’s O4W Pizza, which he moved to Duluth from Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward last summer. But that Grandma Pie! Sizzled in a cast-iron pan and finished with whole fresh basil leaves, it’s a must-order.
If you wept when O4W Pizza departed for Duluth, your prayers have been answered—Anthony Spina is bringing his pizza back to the Old Fourth Ward in mid-2018.
12Page 1 of 2


Operators in Nigeria’s capital market have lamented the plan by Barclays Bank to delist the Federal Government’s bond from its index, attributing the development to volatile foreign exchange and macro-economic concerns in the country.
US investment banker JP Morgan Chase & Co. announcement last month to delist Nigeria from its Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) is already costing the country billions of dollars in lost foreign investment.
The operators were worried over the recent reports that Barclays Bank will consult with its index users on whether Nigeria’s sovereign debt should remain in its emerging market local currency government bond benchmark, According to newspaper reports.
The index provider had said it would drop Nigeria from its index, citing same lack of liquidity and currency restrictions and coming on the heels of the pronouncement by JP Morgan to delist Nigerian bond from its index, says The Guardian.
Already, Barclays has listed Nigeria’s eligibility for inclusion in the Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index among the primary topics to be considered in its yearly review process, according to a statement, though without additional details.
However, the operators have urged the government to take more proactive fiscal measures to restore confidence in the nation’s economy, stressing the need for it to work out modalities that would help to forestall further occurrence.
JP Morgan had, early last August, announced the phased removal of Nigeria from its GBI-EM indices of local currency government bonds for failing its liquidity and transparency tests. The US bank announced last month the remove half of Nigeria’s bond listed on its GBI-EM.
Several analysts were of the opinion that apart from the plug which the decision would put on foreign portfolio investments, the few foreign investors within the system were not unlikely to withdraw.
Nigeria’s central bank governor Godwin Emefiele has been under pressure from foreign investors and Nigerian manufacturers, to further devalue the naira despite the pressure on the currency of Africa’s top oil producer amid the global price crash. They say his policies are worsening the oil-dependent country’s economic woes.
The Naira lost more than 20 per cent of its value between the start of the oil price fall in July 2014 and February, the last time the central bank allowed the currency to depreciate.
Since then, Mr Emefiele has introduced a range of currency controls — doing everything but adjusting the currency to defend its value. The result has been an effective freezing of the country’s foreign exchange market. The lack of liquidity — the ability to move hard currency in and out of the country — was one reason JP Morgan removed Nigeria from its influential emerging markets bond index last month.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was inaugurated in May, has not yet appointed a cabinet or defined an economic policy to guide the country through the crisis sparked by the oil price crash.
This has frustrated investors who strongly disagree with the monetary policies enacted by Mr Emefiele and argue that in the absence of a fiscal policy, the central bank governor is straying beyond his mandate and intervening in manufacturing policy.


text:
The Schuyler Flatts Burial Project | New York State Museum
Clip | 3m 9s
In 2005, the remains of more than a dozen 18th Century African slaves were found buried at the former Capital Region estate of the Schuyler Family known as Schuyler Flatts. Students from All Saints Catholic Academy visited the New York State Museum to learn about the remains to inform them as they help to build burial containers for New York State’s Colonial Africans.
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

domain: history


VMware vCloud NFV OpenStack is a production proven carrier-grade OpenStack solution that provides the fastest path for communications service providers (CSPs) to deploy services on OpenStack. Many of the world’s leading CSPs rely on vCloud NFV OpenStack to develop modern cloud computing stacks, transform their networks, operations, and business models to support new revenue streams, lower operating costs, and evolve to 5G.
With advanced resource placement, fast and hitless installs and upgrades, high availability, security with micro-segmentation, and intelligent operations with carrier-grade vRealize Operations, vCloud NFV OpenStack is not only easy to deploy and operate alongside your current infrastructure but also ready for what’s next.
CSPs achieve the fastest path to a fully operational OpenStack environment with VMware Integrated OpenStack. As a downloaded virtual application within the vSphere web client, a production-grade OpenStack infrastructure can be deployed in a few simple steps, with all the components required.
Benefit from 360-degree visibility, proactive and predictive analytics, issue isolation, root cause analysis and fast remediation capabilities. VMware vRealize Operations Manager, vRealize Log Insight and vRealize Network Insight are fully integrated and provide real-time operations monitoring and analytics from a single pane of glass.
VMware Integrated OpenStack is architected with separation of control plane and data plane. Through hitless upgrades and patch updates in the VMware vCenter maintenance mode, this separation enables network service continuity during maintenance cycles.
Take advantage of the latest upstream functionality using the most recent OpenStack release.
Run container-based virtual network functions in production on top of OpenStack through integrated container management, enabling VM and container-based VNFs to run on a single Virtual Infrastructure Manager.
Leverage VMware’s highly available, multitenant vCloud NFV platform, which has been tuned for service provider requirements. With optimized resource management and prioritization of resources based on NFV workloads, vCloud NFV ensures top performance, scalability and high resiliency for your critical network services.
Realize 360-degree visibility of all components within the deployed service. Gather continuous real-time data on the health, performance and capacity of network resources, along with prioritized alert notifications for closed-loop integration into resource and service orchestration workflows. Reduce operational costs with active workload remediation and northbound integration via OSS/BSS and third-party solutions.
Deliver on infrastructure SLAs and improved capacity planning while securing tenants within your network with resource-level tenant isolation and guaranteed resource availability for each tenant. Every tenant can have one or more dedicated resource pools that provide exclusive compute reservation and are completely isolated from other tenants. This isolation ensures no tenant is adversely impacted by activities of another tenant.
Respond to real-time network traffic conditions with an elastic service construct that can seamlessly scale up based on usage patterns and ceilometer alarms and triggers. Utilize cloud resources more efficiently with live resizing of running VMs, allowing CPU and memory capacity to be dynamically added based on real-time network traffic conditions.
Deliver carrier-grade data-plane performance with low latency. This allows CSPs to maintain superior network performance to deliver a high quality of experience for subscribers while optimizing resource utilization. Optimal network performance for latency-sensitive workloads are achieved through EPA capabilities, including CPU pinning, NUMA placement, Huge Page support and Direct Passthrough SR-IOV support.
Support for multiple NIC types gives the VNF vendor the ability to use the correct interface for each communication channel. Direct passthrough/SR-IOV can be used for data plane traffic while a regular NIC device is used for all management and control plane traffic.


April 12, 2002
DUNS Limited Edition double 010
Ever since Fred Guy turned from the banjo to the guitar in Duke Ellingtons orchestra about 1933, the possibilities for banjo in post Trad jazz have been severely limited, or to be truthful, non-existent. Guitarist Chuck Wayne did record a bop-banjo track in the early 1960s — you could look it up — but generally if a banjo appeared on a jazz date, so did the New Orleans repertoire.
However British guitarists John Adams — not to be confused with the American composers of the same name — and Philip Gibbs dont miss an opportunity to flail away at the what is probably the only indigenous African-American instrument during this two- CD set of collaborations with woodwind player Paul Dunmall. Adams, who has been part of Dunmalls working trio, also plays both acoustic and electric guitars and mandolin plus banjo here, while Gibbs, who has recorded duo, trio and quartet sessions with the reed man, solos on both type of guitars and ukulele as well as the banjo. Not to be outdone, Dunmall, best-known as one-quarter of the Mujician group, trots out his flute, bagpipes, soprano and swannee saxophone, preznophone and moxeno — whatever the last three might be — on his side of the equation.
Furthermore, you shouldnt expect any Earl Scruggs-meets-Steve Lacy style tunes here, although there are times that sort of soprano saxophone and banjo operating in improv time concept comes into play. However over the course of 16 tracks, the three men in duos and trios attempt to come up with as many different playing combinations as can be imagined from this SUV load of instruments.
There are times when Gibbs and Adams playing together seem positively conventional, strumming away like Herb Ellis meets Barney Kessel or any other of the so-called Great Guitar meetings, following each other like squirrels chasing around a tree, and prodding Dunmall to moderate into mid-range his soprano tone. One another track the saxist produces some ethereal flute work, probably reminiscent of his stint with harpist Alice Coltrane, while a combination of guitar body pats and string extension allows the others to reference the sounds of sarods, tablas and other South Indian instruments. An exercise in cross-cultural approximation, it, like many of the other tracks, points out that instruments limitations are only what you make of them. Nevertheless another tune seems to be made up in equal portions of straightforward guitar strumming and an echoing slide whistle tone — maybe thats the sound of the preznophone or the moxeno.
Shorter guitar interludes of two sorts appear among some of the extended improvs. Imagine the folksy tablature demanded during the more self-conscious phrase of the 1960s and 1970s British folk revival and youll get an idea of what goes down there, sort of Brownie & Sonny meets Davey Graham. Other pieces are awash with bluesy steel string pulls, bottleneck whines and a quasi-psychedelic wash effect straight out of what could have been the Yardbirds setlist. On some tracks one guitarist will take one role and the other glom onto another style. Considering that he played on Johnny Guitar Watsons AINT THAT A BITCH LP back in 1976, these blues-based experiments probably dont bother the saxophonist.
The best parts of the session, though, come when the players head down into serious improvisation. Sometimes sounding as if hes blowing cross wise across his flute, Dunmall mostly concentrates on a soprano saxophone tone that ranges from a fire siren shriek to a more modulated, deeper multiphonics. Tongue slaps and reed biting at supersonic speeds also spurs the plectrumists to put aside their inner George Formbys or Jeff Becks. Instead one or both will concentrate on intervals, strumming, picking and exploring the strings below the bridge and in the guitars neck, produce hollow body percussion and the sounds of something that could be duct tape being stretched across the studio.
All in all, while an interesting session SOMETHING NORMAL (sic) may be too much of a good thing. With CDRs so economical to produce, excesses as well as essential music get preserved for posterity. Perhaps a better route would have been to create two single CDs — one with Dunmall and the two guitarists, the other of string duets.
— Ken Waxman
Track Listing: Disc A: 1. Deprived of oxygen 2. Fens to the right, boilerman 3. Hey! Hes eating my teeth 4. Disturbing events 5. Ill drink to that 6. Discussions with an astral being 7. Full moon creeper 8. Beautiful young lady
Disc B: 1. Come on in the seats are filthy 2. Psycho snuffling 3. The boyman who ate a whole sweet 4. Normal past, out future 5. True phenomenon 6. The ambrosia of kuppaswamy 7. Shiva's gift 8. The final wedge
Personnel: Paul Dunmall (soprano and swannee saxophone, flute, preznophone, moxeno, bagpipes); Philip Gibbs (acoustic, electric guitars, banjo, mandolin); John Adams (acoustic, electric guitars, banjo, ukulele)


text:
Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart ePub Download
Download “Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart” ePub eBook free. “Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart” is a beautiful book that is now available for download in PDF and ePub format. Man Splain by Vanessa Vale ePub Download
Cuffing His Bride Summary
“Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart” is a popular book that is now available for download in PDF and ePub format. “Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart” is the author of this impressive book. Here is the summary of this book;
I’m having the worst day ever. My fiancé, a guy I didn’t even like to begin with, has left me at the altar. The only reason I was marrying him was to secure a trust fund from my late grandfather, and now he’s completely ruined my plans. Of course, I probably could have reacted better; assault and destruction of property are ill-advised, even on the worst of days. Now I’m being dragged away from my own wedding in the arms of the biggest, nicest-smelling cop I’ve ever met. I’m totally screwed. How am I going to buy my mom’s flower shop back now?
I’ve been on the force long enough to think I’ve seen it all, but some things still manage to surprise me. When I got the call about an altercation happening at the church down the street, I was expecting a real bride-zilla. Instead, I end up with Amelia, and she takes my breath away. I can’t help relishing how she feels against me as I drag her off her fiancé. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know she’s too good for a man like him. How did she end up with a jackass like him?
Details About Cuffing His Bride
- Book Title: Cuffing His Bride
- Authors: Cassi Hart
- Language: English
- Genre: Military Romance
- Format: PDF/ePub
- Size: 1 MB
- Price: Free
What is Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart about?
This is a book full of
Is Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart Based on a true story?
No, all the stories in this novel are fictional.
Where can I read Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart?
You can get a free copy of the book from the bottom of the page. A PDF and ePub copy is attached and you can also request the book in any other format.
What is the best time to Read Cuffing His Bride by Cassi Hart?
The best time to read a book depends on your personal schedule and preferences. Here are some suggestions:
- Early morning: Some people find that reading in the morning helps them start their day with a positive and productive mindset.
- During the day: If you have a flexible schedule, you may find it helpful to take breaks during the day to read a book.
- Before bedtime: Many people find that reading before bedtime helps them unwind and relax, which can promote better sleep.
- During your commute: If you take public transportation or have a long commute, you may find it helpful to use that time to read.
Ultimately, the best time to read a book is whenever you have a chunk of time available and are in the right mindset to focus on reading. Experiment with different times of day to see what works best for you.

domain: library


text:
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
U.S. and China planning war?
By Doug Saunders, Globe and Mail, July 13, 2013
Both the Pentagon and the People’s Liberation Army are arming for an all-out war and pursuing enormously expensive master strategies that assume that such a war will occur.
In the case of the United States, this appears to be taking place without any authorization or approval from the White House or Congress. The Pentagon is now basing its global strategy on a detailed plan known as the AirSea Battle concept, in which the U.S. Army and Air Force defend the presence of 320,000 U.S. troops in the area by readying themselves for a full-scale land and air assault on China in the event of a threat in the South China Sea or its surroundings.
In a detailed analysis paper in this summer’s issue of the Yale Journal of International Affairs, the famed sociologist and military-policy expert Amitai Etzioni asks, “Who authorized preparations for war with China?” His answer is stark: Mr. Obama has spoken of a “pivot to Asia,” but there has been no political intent or desire to have such an active military confrontation with China – in fact, the politics and diplomacy have been moving in the opposite direction.
This is the epitome of geopolitical hypocrisy, when two super powers are publicly friendly, agreeing to joint measures to combat global warming and to make trade in both directions more feasible, through letting the Chinese currency rise, while at the same time, secretly planning for all-out military combat. And it is especially galling, not to mention frightening, that these two super powers would choose this moment in history, coming up on the 100th anniversary of World War I, in 2014, to even contemplate such a move.
It is not as if the U.S. government does not have enough perplexing questions to answer to its public already:
1. When will the U.S. end forced feeding of Guantanamo prisoners?
2. When will the U.S. establish a credible presence in Egypt?
3. When will the U.S. and her allies agree to a peace conference to end the civil conflict in Syria?
4. When will the U.S. finally grant a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants currently living, working and paying taxes in the U.S.?
5. When will the U.S. come to its senses on Edward Snowden, and while pursuing his extradition, also grant some form of clemency to the man who has initiated one of the most epic and long-overdue public debates about the U.S. counter-intelligence activities?
And the list could go on for many pages….so it is not as if the White House needs to look for issues in which to become engaged; their plate is full to overflowing and will remain that way until the end of the current administration.
However, there is now, and has been for many decades, an undercurrent to American political life: that it is driven by American economics and that American economics are driven, when the economics is moving in a favourable trend line, by military engagements.
As George Carlin reminds us, “America is a nation of war!”
Pure and simple, while some may judge Carlin’s judgement as juvenile, there is little doubt that military contracts, both for the production of hardware and increasingly software for the defence systems, and for the hiring either through contract or through direct recruiting fuel the economy is many parts of the country. And this fuel is especially required as the country tries vainly to emerge from one of the worst economic downturns in the last century.
So the policy at the Pentagon and the White House may not be “war absolutely” but rather “war if necessary but not necessarily war” there has never been a time in American history when the engines of war have not been either undergoing retrofit, or preparing for new technologies, or actually machining the weapons, planes, ships and missiles that will bear the U.S. coat of arms into the other side of the world, whenever called upon.
Etzione is right to ask, “Who has authorized this AirSea Battle plan?” And furthermore, “Who is going to reign it in once unleashed on a Pentagon whose appetite for a war waged with drones from desks back home has never been more rabid?”
Let’s hope that the piece in the Yale Journal of International Affairs is enough to spark a public debate, both inside the U.S. and around the world, about how relations between China and the U.S. can be cooled, moderated, mediated and if not reconciled, at least pushed into long-term negotiations. Clearly, Russia would be very interested in the Yale piece, if they were not already familiar with the plans of both countries, as we suspect they are.
Let’s not build another “successful economic upswing” on the back of the military-industrial-now –technological establishment. Rather, let’s put American and global ingenuity toward new ways to combat collective and shared problems like global warming, finding jobs and housing, education and health care, clean water, land and air for all our people….and build a stable economy on the back of those initiatives, not again on war or the prospect of war.

domain: news


text:
Did you know that golf is a great game for cardiovascular health? That's because golfers can walk up to six miles each round and burn as many as 1,400 calories. When you're ready to tee off, here are three courses near The Mark apartments you don't want to miss:
Great River Golf Club
Named one of the "Best Places to Play in America" by Golf Digest, Great River is an 18-hole golf club that welcomes golfers of all skill levels. The website states that it is the region's most unique and challenging golf course, and players begin on a wooded front 9 before making their way to the back 9 that is known for raising a player's score. This is because water comes into play on every hole.
Whitney Farms Golf Course
What was once a property that featured a rare horse breeding stable is now a scenic 18-hole golf course that has received recognition from publications such as Golf Digest and Connecticut Golf Magazine. There are no membership fees and the course states that the wide fairways and challenging greens are always in excellent shape. Those who wish to enjoy a meal before or after their round can do so at the Sand Trap Grill and Bar.
The Tradition Golf Club at Oak Lane
Designed by Geoffrey Cornish, this golf club is the number one seller of online tee times in New England. Known for offering a private club experience without the fees, it features well-maintained fairways, sand traps, water hazards, and mature trees throughout the course.
If you are interested in calling Shelton, CT home, please contact us to learn about our apartment community.View All Posts

domain: hobby


Norwegian black death metal band BLACK SUN BROTHERHOOD have recently released their debut album “God & Beast” on vinyl via their own label MJØLNIR MUSIC NORWAY.
Only 300 hand-numbered copies of the vinyl edition were pressed. Every single copy of the vinyl was also signed by all band members! The release sold out pretty fast, with the edition sold out only in a couple of weeks! The band now hopes this release will become an interesting item for record collectors.
Vocalist/bassist Kristian “Dr. Doom” Kjelsberg says: “We wish to thank all the people who bought the album from us directly. We truly appreciate your support! Also, we got a lot of help from Stian “Occultus” Johansen from Old House Records, who has an amazing network in the global metal underground. He helped us spread the release all over the world. We are very grateful”.
“God & Beast” has mostly been met with very favorable reviews in the metal underground worldwide. The CD version was released by METAL BLAST RECORDS in Berlin, Germany – and is still available.
The album is also available on all the major streaming platforms.


Diagnostic Methods Working Group
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Joachim Mayer
Chair of Microstructure Analytics and Central Facility for Electron Microscopy (GFE)
The Diagnostic Methods working group focuses on the diagnosis and analysis of the molten mass, heat flow, and the temporal and local formation of the solidification process throughout the entire duration of the collaborative research center. The diagnosis of individual sub-process of the melting-based process is a prerequisite for quantitative modeling of the processes, dependant on the respective factors of influence, and provides a significant contribution to the comprehension and evaluation of processes and process parameters. In-situ methods, which not only depict the surface of a process but also the internal structure in and on the molten mass, are used to provide evidence about energy transfer, solidification dynamics, mixing, and the construction of internal tension. Work is completed in close collaboration with the Simulation working group, in order to mutually build on the respective results and ultimately, learn more.
High-speed Videography is considered a central tool to investigate the formation and movement of melt. Recording frequencies of up to one million images per second make it possible to analyze most dynamic movements of the melt and,
in combination with simulation models, to get an overall picture of melt dynamics. With the help of high-speed thermography, the model and the process description will be extended to address essential questions concerning transient energy transfer.
After a requirement analysis, the various devices available in the labs of the project partners will be made available to the processes that need them the most. A large part of the group’s activities focus on the development of method-specific lighting technologies which help to mask the respective process radiation fractions and thus make it possible to represent specific process details.
Large-Chamber Scanning Electron Microscopy
The working group “Large-Chamber REM” is concerned with the use of this unique high-resolution analytic tool for the purpose of providing a detailed description of melt processes with free surfaces. By means of temporary integration of e.g. laser beam sources into the large-chamber REM, movements and solidification processes can be registered that cannot be detected using conventional methods. Through the collaboration with partners from high-speed videography it becomes possible to achieve a high-resolution process representation for a number of melt-technological techniques.
Neutron Diffraction, Roentgen Analysis
The “Neutron Diffraction, Roentgen Analysis” working group is concerned with the volume analysis of molten phases and their impact on the development of mixtures and internal stresses within the component. It is planned to collaborate with TU Munich and Stuttgart University, a cooperation that provides access to high-resolution transmissive analytic tools that make it possible to determine the influence of energetic modulations on melt movement, energy transfer, and the dynamics within the melt. For welding, soldering, and coating processes, with the help of neutron diffraction methods, new insights into the inner structure of materials during the melt and solidification phases shall be gained.
Determination of Heat Transfer During Casting Processes
The working group “Determination of Heat Transfer During Casting Processes“ is concerned with investigating energy transfer processes in casting and injection molding tools. By means of a locally resolved measurement of thermal conditions using novel thermo sensors, the heat transfer from the solidifying component and the tool wall will be quantitatively determined. For plastics injection molding processes, which are thermally less demanding, transparent wall elements within the tool shall make the process optically accessible so that it can be captured using a thermo camera. In this way, temperature fields during and after the melt phase can be determined within the polymers at the wall, locally and temporally resolved. Thus insights into the heat development in the component can be gained.


The secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Gutteres, has called for an immediate halt to “all hostile acts” to avoid “a new conflagration” in the Middle East after Israeli forces bombed Iranian targets inside Syria.
Israel said the strikes it carried out against Iranian assets inside Syria on Thursday were retaliation for an Iranian rocket barrage on its positions in the Golan Heights, the disputed territory between Syria and Israel. That barrage came soon after President Donald J. Trump’s announcement Tuesday that he is ending the United States’ participation in the Iran nuclear deal. Israeli jets struck back at Iranian forces in Syria, bombing dozens of targets, according to the Washington Post.
But this is only a flare-up of long-simmering tensions. Iran’s leaders have called for Israel’s elimination ever since the Iranian revolution in 1979, when religious hardliners came to power. Iran rejects Israel’s right to exist, considering it an illegitimate occupier of Muslim land, the BBC explained.
Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, Iran has played a bigger and bigger role backing the government of Bashar al-Assad by sending thousands of fighters and military advisers. Iran, along with Russia, helped turn the tide in the war and give Assad the upper hand.
But Iran’s assistance to Damascus is considered to be just one part of its playbook to build a “Shia Crescent” across the Middle East, with the western tip of the crescent pointing towards Israel. Its backing of radical groups such as Hezbollah, the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, and the Houthi Rebels is another. Tehran has also intensified its involvement in Iraq and Lebanon. Israel worries that Iran is trying to send weapons to fighters in Lebanon. Over recent months, the Israelis say, a variety of Iranian installations have been established in Syria: weapons stores, barracks, air defences and so on, the BBC notes:
The immediate tensions stem from an Israeli air strike on what they claimed was an Iranian drone facility at the so-called T-4 air base, near Palmyra, on 9 April, which reportedly killed several Iranian military advisers. Iran vowed to respond and since then there have been sporadic incidents that appear to be Israeli efforts to thwart just such a response. There was an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air strike on an underground missile depot where the explosion was so large it registered on earthquake-monitoring systems. And just a few days ago, Israel claimed it struck at missiles that were being readied to be launched.
Then this week, the Iranians fired about 20 rockets at Israeli military positions on the Golan Heights. Israel says it destroyed the launcher from which these were fired and went even further, striking most, if not all, of the Iranian installations it knows about in Syria, in an attempt to set back the development of Iran’s military infrastructure in the country.
The UN’s Guterres “followed, with utmost concern, reports overnight of missile launches from Syria targeting Israeli positions and retaliatory strikes by the Israel Defense Forces,” said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement issued on Thursday.
Guterres noted “with relief, today’s partial normalization of the situation,” and urged “an immediate halt to all hostile acts and any provocative actions to avoid a new conflagration in the region already embroiled in terrible conflicts with immense suffering of civilians,” added the statement.
The Golan was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, and in 1974, a UN observer force was set up to monitor the ceasefire reached that year by Israel and Syria.
Dujarric noted that the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has maintained contact with forces of both sides during the latest hostilities and urged them to exercise “maximum restraint” and abide by their obligations under the 1974 agreement.


text:
FILE – This June 25, 2014 file photo shows New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaking in Haddon Heights, N.J. Conservative Republicans claimed victory this week in the Supreme Court ruling on religious freedom and the White Houseís acceptance that an immigration overhaul wonít happen this year. Todayís victories could haunt the GOP in two yearsí time, as the partyís presidential nominee looks for much-needed support among women and Hispanics in the 2016 election. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) ORG XMIT: WX104
Boehner talks to Fox News about the new session of Congress and holding President Obama accountable.
Wisconsin governor tells radio host he sees “gaps” in potential 2016 presidential field.
Likely GOP presidential contender conducts his first Snapchat interview with CNN.
Likely presidential contender to touch on foreign policy, economic opportunity and poverty in speech at Mississippi State University.
President Obama’s pick for attorney general started a chapter of storied sorority at Harvard with Eric Holder’s wife.
Clinton supporters seize on Iowa speech by the GOP’s 2008 vice presidential nominee.
Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker among the Republicans who say charges against former Texas governor are politically motivated.


text:
Instead, dive into the Steam Community varieties, read some guides, talk to some gamers, after which rope in a couple of pals to help you get hooked on the unique MOBA, and one of the largest PC games in history. Real-time Strategy (RTS) games don’t get much grander than those in the Total War sequence, and the most recent entrant, Battles KINGDOM, is free-to-play. Available to play on iOS and Android, in addition to PC, you’ll be able to choose up where you left off even when you’re not at your primary battle station.
The Story Maps allow you to have interaction in the traditional turn-based mostly grid battles towards a range of unlockable heroes from the series as you battle to avoid wasting the Kingdom of Askr. Then there is a training tower you’ll be able to grind to earn EXP, area duels to battle other gamers, restricted-time occasions to catch, and a ton of seasonal occasions with new stories and heroes to experience. One of the preferred free-to-play PC games, like ever, Dota 2 is a prime-down area battler – aka a MOBA – that pays out critical cash to the most effective players.
We used our gaming experience to assemble all the most effective free games 2020 has to offer, so you’ll spend less time researching and get proper to playing. And, since the best free games cover a wide range of genres and types – from free-to-play Battle Royale games like Fortnite to on-line CCGs like Hearthstone – we’ve compiled a pretty diverse list. So whenever you get tired of one genre, you possibly can switch to another, all with out having to worry about the fee. Rounding out the top 10 free PC games is the unique Command & Conquer real-time strategy sport from Westwood Studios. Originally released in 1995, the original Command & Conquer was nicely acquired by fans and critics alike.
Fire Emblem Heroes is bite-sized techniques in your telephone, featuring your favourite characters from decades’ worth of Fire Emblem games how to. It options a variety of modes to play and a dizzying number of anime associates to add to your squads.
The sport options two playable factions who battle over an alien substance called Tiberium. It was also some of the influential RTS video games for its multiplayer element and other great options.

domain: entertainment


text:
Sometimes, a good idea is enough – and other times, you need a good idea and a lawyer. On topics as diverse as federal health care, protecting freedom of speech and protecting taxpayers and business owners, the Goldwater Institute ensures that government at all levels adheres to the constitution by standing up for taxpayers’ rights in court.
Biggs v. BrewerPosted on September 11, 2013 | Type: Case
Earlier this year, the state passed a Medicaid expansion program that levies an unconstitutional provider tax on Arizona taxpayers, to fund the program. Under Prop. 108 of the state constitution, bills that enact new taxes or increase taxes must receive two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the legislature. The state’s Medicaid expansion bill fell well short of this threshold. The Goldwater Institute is representing legislators whose votes against Medicaid expansion should have defeated the bill but were effectively nullified when the expansion bill became law without the constitutionally required two-thirds majority approval guaranteed by Prop 108, their constituents who were denied representation when their senators’ and representatives’ votes were not counted, and Arizona taxpayers who have been deprived of the protection of constitutional separation of powers.
Wright v. StantonPosted on August 15, 2013 | Type: Case
The City of Phoenix’s public retirement systems are sinking further into the red, but that hasn't stopped the city and Mayor Stanton from encouraging senior police officers to spike their pensions in violation of state law. Phoenix’s contract with public safety workers permits employees to “cash in” unused sick leave, vacation leave, compensatory time, and other fringe benefits as salary in the years preceding retirement, thus inflating or “spiking” final salary for pension calculation purposes. Depending on the extent of the spiking, this can lead to significant increases in pension payments over the lifetime of the pensioner – or hundreds of millions of dollars in increased costs to Phoenix taxpayers. The Goldwater Institute is representing Phoenix taxpayers to stop this abusive and unlawful practice.
Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission v. BennettPosted on August 06, 2013 | Type: Case
On August 6th, 2013, the Goldwater Institute filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit the Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission filed against the state of Arizona claiming that its new campaign finance law violated the Voter Protection Act. The Goldwater Institute is asking for the right to intervene in this case to protect the First Amendment rights of candidates, political committees, and individual contributors in Arizona.
Cheatham v. DiCiccioPosted on April 24, 2013 | Type: Case
In September, Goldwater Institute investigative reporter Mark Flatten released an investigative report showing that Phoenix and other Arizona cities spend millions of dollars every year to pay employees to perform union work on city time. It's called "release time." The Goldwater Institute is taking on the city's contract with the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA). By executing this deal with PLEA, the members of the Phoenix City Council have violated the Arizona Constitution and their duty of loyalty to the taxpayers.
Arizona Students Association v. Arizona Board of RegentsPosted on March 21, 2013 | Type: Case
The Goldwater Institute is representing five public university students whose First Amendment rights were violated when the Arizona Students Association used mandatory tuition surcharges to support a 2012 ballot initiative that the students opposed.


text:
Whipped Bakeshop is an appointment-only business and orders must be placed in advance.
We are currently booked for custom orders through October 21, but cupcakes can be ordered by calling 215-598-5449.
Gold leaf adorns this perfectly smooth buttercream wedding cake. Clean and simple with just a hint of glamour, this cake is perfect displayed as is, or with the addition of fresh flowers!
Fill out the form to get started!

domain: food


text:
IN just over two weeks, Zimbabwean citizens will vote in a poll that some fear will be yet another disputed election in the country’s 43-year-old democracy.
The traditional recipe of political violence, a compromised electoral commission, and an uneven campaigning field are joined by unconstitutional changes to the electoral laws, lawsuits, and appeals at every turn.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa summed up what he saw ahead of the polls as chaos.
“He [President Emmerson Mnangagwa] is driving the country into chaos. He is actually instigating instability. He is violating the law. He is tearing apart institutions of the country,” he said.
But Mnangagwa said during his rally on Saturday in Mashonaland West that the opposition would never rule the country because he has a huge support base, and even if they “vote with their hands and ears”, they won’t come close.
A Zanu-PF activist, Lovedale Mangwana, last month filed a court challenge claiming that former Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere was not eligible to stand as a presidential candidate because he had been out of the country for more than 18 months.
Kasukuwere’s lawyers went to almost every court in the land to argue his case without success.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) began printing presidential election ballot papers without Kasukuwere’s name.
But ZEC was forced to stop the process after Kasukuwere’s lawyers informed them that they had mounted another appeal.
The appeal will be heard at the last avenue, the Constitutional Court, on Tuesday.
In Bulawayo, an opposition stronghold, Zanu-PF activists filed their court appeal against 17 parliamentary candidates from opposition parties, 12 of those from the CCC, over a month ago.
The argument was that they submitted their papers to the Nomination Court past the 16:00 deadline, which the ZEC said was not the case.
After numerous appeals against the judgment, it was finally solved last week when the candidates were allowed to stand.
Postal vote crisis
The delays ate into the time frame for the postal vote — a reservation for those working in embassies abroad, or police, healthcare workers, and the army, who won’t be available to vote due to work commitments of national interest.
According to Section 74 of the Electoral Act, the chief elections officer must receive a request for a postal ballot paper no later than noon on the 14th day following the election’s nomination day.
This disenfranchised at least 17 000 voters, which the ZEC said qualified for the postal vote — a first for Zimbabwe.
The ZEC said the delay in printing ballot papers for the postal votes was due to the numerous matters before the courts.
With a quandary on its turf, late last week in a government gazette, the ZEC enacted the Statutory Instrument 140A of 2023 to amend the Electoral Act to create room for the postal vote.
But CCC lawyer David Coltart argues that what the ZEC did was illegal.
His sentiments were shared by Professor Jonathan Moyo, a former Zanu-PF cabinet minister under the late Robert Mugabe.
Moyo argued that once an election date was proclaimed, the electoral laws should not be tampered with.
“After an election has been called, no change to the electoral law or to any other law relating to elections has the effect for the purpose of that election,” he said.
An unfit electoral body
A new study titled Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe, Volume I: The 2023 Election and Beyond by Esther Mavengano and Sophia Chirongoma argued that the ZEC was highly compromised to run the general elections.
The study believed Zimbabwe was headed for another disputed election.
The study found:
The study suggested that for best practice and to ensure the independence of the ZEC, international partners should support Zimbabwe’s electoral processes so that they become transparent.
“International organisations such as the European Union should also continue to support electoral processes so as to enhance and promote transparency in elections. Local and international observers should continue monitoring the electoral environment to boost citizens’ confidence in the electoral process,” the report said.
On Monday, Chamisa led a procession of party supporters at the funeral of Tinashe Chitsunge, who last week was killed in skirmishes with Zanu-PF supporters.
The Zanu-PF supporters drove away the CCC activists from a football field in Harare’s Glen Norah township, where they were set to host a rally.
While chasing them away, they threw stones at them, leading to Chitsunge’s death.
The police have since arrested two people in connection with the killing.
Amnesty International’s deputy regional director, Southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, said the death of Chitsunge presented “a grim picture of the human rights environment” ahead of the polls.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said it had recorded a trend of arson attacks on opposition party members by suspected Zanu-PF supporters.
ZimRights, a local body, said “50% of the community activists were living in a state of fragile peace. There is also an observation that elections presented a nightmare rather than an opportunity for Zimbabweans – all of which is avoidable with the correct mindset and political will.”
The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) deployed 75 provincial magistrates to deal with cases of political violence.
The European Union (EU) observer mission leader, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, said they were observing the elections in “a fact-based manner”.
“We base our findings on direct observation only and will not use any hearsay or rumours in our assessment,” he said.
He said his team had met with civic society, election candidates, government officials, and the media across the country.

domain: law


text:
Published: October 2020
Disaster survivors are not always aware of behaviors in themselves or others that are associated with adverse reactions to a disaster. This poster assists adult disaster survivors with identifying possible reactions and provides resources to turn to for help.
Los sobrevivientes de acontecimientos catastróficos no siempre están conscientes de los comportamientos, sea en sí mismos o en otras personas, que están relacionados con reacciones adversas a estas experiencias. Este póster ayuda a los adultos que han sobrevivido un acontecimiento catastrófico a ide.
Published: June 2018
This infographic is a Spanish language version of information for the general public on the prevalence and impact of traumatic events on children, and what actions can be taken to support children who experience traumatic events.
This toolkit offers strategies to health care providers, communities, and local governments for developing practices and policies to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Access reports for community members, prescribers, patients and families, and those recovering from opioid overdose.
Published: November 2017
This brochure explains the signs and symptoms of retraumatization. Gives guidance on how to manage the symptoms. It provides resources for building resilience and an adequate support system for dealing with triggering events.
Published: December 2016
This fact sheet, developed for tribal audiences and the agencies that work with them, reviews suicide prevention in Indian Country and how the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention can apply to tribal communities.
This fact sheet provides information and resources related to the specific bullying prevention needs for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It highlights effective school-based anti-bullying prevention strategies.
Published: September 2014
This fact sheet helps disaster response workers better understand historical trauma in the American Indian culture and how it may affect disaster preparedness and response efforts. It also offers strategies for providing disaster response assistance with cultural sensitivity.
This fact sheet offers information for disaster response workers to build cultural awareness for supporting American Indians before, during, and after a traumatic event. It discusses cultural values, types of traumatic events, traditional teachings, and talking circles.
Published: January 2014
In a disaster, it's essential that behavioral health responders have the resources they need—when and where they need them. The free SAMHSA Disaster App offers first responders immediate access for any type of traumatic event at every phase of response, including pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance and post-deployment resources.
Published: November 2013
This report presents program evaluation findings of a federally funded initiative that supports systems of care for community-based mental health services for children, youth, and their families. It includes data from fiscal year 2011 data that track service characteristics, use, and outcomes.
Millions of Americans have a substance use disorder. Find a treatment facility near you.
Free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7.
Find treatment facilities confidentially and anonymously, 24/7.
Treatment referral and information, 24/7.
Visit the SAMHSA Facebook page
Visit SAMHSA on Twitter
Visit the SAMHSA YouTube channel
Visit SAMHSA on LinkedIn
To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information.
Have a question about government service? Contact USA.gov.

domain: sociology


text:
Labor groups urged the Regional Tripartite Wage and Boards (RTWBs) not to be distracted with DTI’s “sincere effort” of a 500 pesos noche buena budget and the one year ban on wage increase by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
The DTI price guide that shows that P500 is enough to buy ham, cheese, spaghetti and salad for the traditional noche buena by picking the cheapest brands and small portions of goods—like the 1/8 kilogram of ground pork—is a distraction from the call of trade unions and workers to increase wages, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said.
“While the FFW and other unions of NAGKAISA Labor Coalition welcome the undertaking of the National Wages and Productivity Commission to review the existing wage rates, we urge the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) to urgently convene the RTWPBs with their newly appointed and reappointed board members and, at their instance, issue wage orders in their respective area of jurisdictions,” enjoined Atty. Sonny Matula, FFW president.
Matula added: “NAGKAISA holds, while considering many factors, the rule prohibiting the issuance of wage adjustment within a period of one year unless there is a supervening condition shall not be considered a major factor as the same is not a law but a part of the implementing rule which can be amended by the NWPC itself. With or without any petition, said tripartite body under the law can also promulgate wage orders.”
The non-declaration of any of the RTWPBs that a “supervening event” exist that would necessitate an immediate wage increase should not be an obstacle to another wage hike in the first quarter of 2023, Matula further explained.
Employeers groups may argue that raising the minimum wage will artificially create imbalances in the labor market that may lead to inflation.
Historically, however, it does not necessarily follow. A number of economists observed that when minimum wages hike have been mandated, inflation did not follow.
Citing government statistics, Matula showed that supervening conditions exist. “Phil Statistics Authority reported that the annual inflation rate in the Philippines rose to 8.0% in November 2022 from 7.7% in October. This 8.0% rate was the highest noted since November 2008, with food prices rising the most since March 2009 (10.0% vs 9.4% in October). Additional upward pressures also came from cost of basic needs like housing (6.9% vs 7.4%), transport (12.3% vs 12.5%) and alcoholic beverages (10.6% vs 10.4%).”
5-POINT LABOR AGENDA
Last November 30, to commemorate the 159th birthday of working class hero Andres Bonifacio, organized labor presented a 5-point Labor Agenda that called for a wage hike, decent work, security of tenure, quality public service and respect for the right to unionize.
Some 15,000 workers converged at Liwasang Bonifacio from different parts of Manila to lay a wreath at the monument of the plebeian hero and honor the man responsible for uniting the working class and oppressed Filipinos by forming the Katipunan and leading a revolution against Spanish colonizers.
The commemorative rally was led by ‘United Labor’ composed of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Paggawa, All Workers Unity, Public Services International and a host of other labor groups.
“We carry our continuing calls to improve the living and working conditions of the Filipino working people. As part of the United Labor initiative with other labor centers and unions of organized labor, we march as one based on the 5-point Labor Agenda,” said Nice Coronacion, deputy secretary general of Sentro and from the Nagkaisa Women Committee.
In sum, the 5-Point Labor Agenda of United Labor, includes (1) reforms in the existing wage mechanism created under RA 6727, (2) establishment of a robust public employment program, (3) an end to endo (4) an end to trade union repression, both in the private and public sector, and (5) the holding of regular labor summits for policy reforms discussion.

domain: economics


It may have been “a million years ago” that he co-built Ingres and Postgres, but Dr. Mike Stonebraker is no dinosaur. Today, he’s co-founder and CTO of StreamBase Systems, a company on the cutting edge of CEP (complex event processing) for streaming data.
Stonebraker and Brown University’s Professor Stan Zdonik came up with the idea for StreamBase after noting the rise of “high-volume firehoses of information” untapped by commercial CEP technology. And that information will only become richer as sensors are deployed “to tag everything on the planet,” Stonebraker says.
In 2001, Stonebraker and Zdonik developed a prototype of StreamBase, a real-time processing engine that can analyze hundreds of thousands of messages per second; today the company boasts customers in the military and government security sector. StreamBase differs from competing products in that it operates at the database level, Stonebraker says. “We’re doing for streams what SQL did for storing data.”
Next-generation applications combined with geopositioning would allow StreamBase to power cutting-edge location-based services such as outpatient tracking and real-time traffic coordination. “The downstream value of the technology is dramatic,” Stonebraker says.


text:
A leaf is an above-ground plant organ. Its main functions are photosynthesis and
gas exchange. A leaf is often flat, so it absorbs the most light, and thin, so that ...
Mar 6, 2012 ... Leaves so often take a back seat to the more showy and colorful flowering
blooms and fruits. ... The three major functions* of leaves: 1.
Jun 18, 2011 ... The five most important functions of leaf are: The leaves perform three main
functions such as manufacture of food, interchange of gases ...
The main function of the leaf is to produce energy/food for the plant through
photosynthesis .And hi.
The leaf blade is composed of several layers. On the top and bottom is a layer of
thickened, tough cells called the epidermis. The primary function of the ...
Aug 11, 2010 ... What external part of the leaf is made of fatty substances and prevents ... The
main function of leaves is to capture light, exchange gasses, give ...
A secondary school revision resource for OCR Gateway Additional GCSE
Science about Functions of the leaf and photosynthetic pigments,
Simple leaves, as shown above, have only one main blade that originates from
the bud. When a leaf has multiple blades originating from a single bud, it is called
The palisade layer of a leaf is one of the leaf's most important features. ...
Cylinder 6:45; Root System Growth: The Root Cap, Primary Roots & Lateral
Roots 5:40 ...
Leaf Function: Leaves are the powerhouse of plants. In most plants, leaves are
the major site of food production for the plant. Structures within a leaf convert the

domain: agronomy


The incident took place during the morning hours today while a group of police men had been deployed at Kapilash chhak and tried to detain a speeding Royal Enfield Bullet rider.
Instead of stopping his bike the accused tried to escape from the spot to evade the fine which could have been imposed on him due to not wearing face mask. In the bid he hit a policeman on duty who sustained critical head injury.
“The injured cop has been admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). Though he is out of danger now, his injury is critical in nature. We are noted the Registration Number of the bike involved in the accident and efforts are on to trace the rider,” informed Sarat Chandra Panda, Additional District Magistrate.


text:
There was a 40% off sale on Robert Simmons brushes recently at my local store. Naturally, I raced down there and bought a couple. Their “white sable” brushes have fast become my favorite to use with acrylics. I now have two flats, two filberts, and a round.
The question of edges has come out recently in relation to my art. There are plenty of decisions around when to have hard edges and when to soft ones. The choices you make create movement or slow it, give new direction or maintain it. In short, it’s a fascinating part of art making, one that I have only begun to appreciate.


text:
Green Digital Action at COP28: ITU welcomes partners to join for impact
The world is far behind schedule on Paris Agreement goals. Greenhouse gas emissions, after a dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are skyrocketing again, with no sign yet that the world is building back greener or better.
But new ways of thinking and doing are emerging, and new opportunities for collaboration can be leveraged to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The next United Nations climate change conference, COP28, offers a prime opportunity to showcase the value of digital climate action.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has set out to work with all partners committed to action to ensure green and digital transitions for the benefit of everyone. ITU – the UN agency for digital technologies – is encouraging companies and organizations from around the world to join together for Green Digital Action at COP28.
“Digital inequalities undermine our ability to act as one and accelerate climate action,” says ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “ITU is an essential part of the equation in bringing the remaining one third of humanity online and driving the transition to net-zero emissions.”
Information and communication technologies (ICTs), including new and emerging digital technologies, play a crucial role in climate monitoring, climate change adaptation, including early warning systems, and mitigation measures, such as digital solutions to improve energy efficiency, build green and sustainable networks, and accelerate circular economy practices along the value chain.
“We need to heavily invest in digital infrastructure, because without it we are not going to be efficient,” says José María Álvarez Pallete, Chairman and CEO, Telefónica. “We can save between 15 and 30 per cent in carbon emissions over the next 20 years by using digital technology – and applying it to smart factories, smart cities, smart roads, smart agriculture. This is the kind of transformation that flows through the network.”
Digital tech can support industry decarbonization, agricultural resilience, water management, renewable energy transition, and biodiversity protection. For now, however, the rapid growth of today’s digital society continues to increase energy consumption, ICT-sector emissions, material use, and e-waste.
Aligning digital with a green future
To succeed in the long run, the global digital transformation needs to go hand in hand with the adoption of green and sustainable energy solutions and the transition to a circular economy. Responsible innovation and environmental and circular considerations must become integral in the design, deployment, and decommissioning of digital technologies.
“Collaboration is imperative for effective climate action,” adds Liv Marte Nordhaug, Co-Lead, Digital Public Goods Alliance. “The Digital Public Goods Alliance firmly believes that by working together to harness the power of open-source technology, we can unlock the cross-cutting solutions needed to address pressing climate challenges and pave the way to a more sustainable future.”
Innovative and rapidly evolving digital technologies have shown their value in responding to humanity’s most pressing challenges, including the climate crisis. The Paris Agreement, the Glasgow Climate Pact, and the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda all stress the need for emerging technologies to support climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience measures, with each industry making its own transition.
“As the mobile industry, we recognise we have a big part to play in fighting the global climate crisis,” says Mats Granryd, Director General of mobile industry association GSMA. “To win this fight, we need everyone working together, acting across sectors to address this challenge, and developing solutions to build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.”
“The GSMA is proud to join ITU and other partners to highlight the role of digital in empowering a sustainable and green future,” says Granyrd, adding: 62 mobile operators have already committed to rapidly reducing their carbon emissions, but we cannot stop there.”
Kazu Takano, President of SENKO advanced components, concurs, saying: “SENKO is proud to support ITU and other partners in their mission to promote sustainability in the ICT industry. Together, I believe we can drive positive change, foster innovation, and create a greener future for all.”
International standards will be crucial to align digital technologies with a green and sustainable global future.
As Philippe Metzger, Secretary-General of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), notes: “IEC’s work facilitates off-grid energy access and enables the connection of renewable energy into existing power grids.”
Digital climate solutions can also align private sector innovation with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ITU’s agenda to connect the world.
“Our belief is in the power of digital technology as an enabler of empowering societies and bridging digital divides,” explains Vivek Sood, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Axiata.
Raising green digital ambitions
Green Digital Action discussions aim to raise the ambitions of the ICT sector in reducing its own footprint, in line with limiting the rise in average global temperatures to 1.5°C during the present century.
The COP28 climate talks taking place in Dubai, UAE, between 30 November and 12 December create a key moment to connect the wide-ranging tech industry with governments and civil society. ITU’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) is also happening in Dubai between 20 November and 15 December.
ITU brings together a global community of technology professionals from 193 Member States and over 900 companies, universities, research institutes and international organizations.
While the Green Digital Action track specifically targets COP28 participants, it will engage a wider range of participants through virtual platforms.
Government representatives, international organizations, UN agencies, ITU members, stakeholders in the ongoing World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process development organizations, the private sector, civil society, youth leaders and academia are all encouraged to join.
Learn more about Green Digital Action at COP28.
Quotes in this article were provided by partners for Green Digital Action at COP28.
Header image credit: Adobe Stock


text:
Sales outsourcing firm, Avenue Growth, has partnered with the digital marketing company, IcubesWire. The aim of the partnership is to grow and drive marketing results through an ROI-driven approach. The agencies hope for a long term association.
Sahil Chopra, founder, and CEO, IcubesWire, said, “We believe that this partnership will add value to the ecosystem. IcubesWire believes that this partnership will generate value and hope that this partnership benefits both the organizations in the long run. We are hoping for an increased clientele.
IcubesWire offers performance consulting and technology solutions to over 500 brands in e-Commerce, automobile, technology, finance, travel, hospitality and more in India. The company’s client list includes names like P&G, Amazon, Flipkart, Go Air, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Air Asia, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Standard Chartered, Kotak Group, HDFC Bank, Ford, Honda, Skoda, American Express, NIIT, Tata Group, Dominos, and McDonald's. This year, the agency introduced an AI-enabled engaging tool for brands opting for video marketing. It also bagged the digital mandate for Bajaj Capital.
This year, Avenue Growth Co-founder and CEO Rachit Mathur have been awarded as the Most Promising Entrepreneur for 2019. On the collaboration, he said, “IcubesWire is providing a robust platform to us where we can mutually grow and maintain long-term relationships. We hope to provide sales as a service to as many clients as possible and hence expand further together.” Avenue Growth also partnered with Amit Gupta to expand into a $7bn consumer durables market.


text:
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your ReverbNation experience.
Sounds Like: Matisyahu, Damian Marley, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Iration
Bio: Ben Barbic a musician from San Jose CA that combines a mixture of acoustic reggae and hip hop all wrapping around powerful life seeking lyrics, producing the sound of the new era. Within the last year he has gained notoriety through international radio airplay, big social media following(40,000+)...See Full Bio
“Anyone who is into a unique blend of reggae, hip-hop, rock and jazz should grab this. Ben Barbic's Improve the Silence has a positive, uplifting message with some cool grooves. I knew from the samples alone that this was a keeper. Especially like Rat Race, Diamond in the Rough, and Grow.”


text:
Minnesota Man Accused of Attacking Couple Holding Biden Sign
A Twin Cities man has been accused of attacking an elderly couple, this past Sunday, standing on a corner holding a homemade Biden sign. The couple are reported to be in late 70's & early 80's.
Fifty year old Mark Anthony Ulsaker, from Lino Lakes is accused of attacking the couple after seeing them holding the Biden sign. He allegedly pulled up in his truck and yelled "F**k you" at the couple and then parked his vehicle in a nearby Walgreens parking lot.
He then, allegedly, exited his truck carrying a golf club and approached the elderly couple. According to witnesses that called 911 when they saw Ulsaker attacking the couple.
Witnesses said Ulsaker approached the couple and swung the golf club at the elderly man, breaking the club on the man's chair. He then punched the elderly man on the head.
The elderly couple said they were just minding their own business when they were attacked by Ulsaker. Witnesses got the man's license number and authorities tracked the man down at his home in Lino Lakes. He resisted arrest and swung at an officer before being subdued and arrested.
During a police interview, Ulsaker described himself as a "Trump supporter". My guess is he was angry about Biden being projected at the winner, of the election, the previous day.
Ulsaker was charged with 2nd degree assault with a dangerous weapon, threats of violence and assaulting a police officer in connection with the Sunday incident.
Major Cities at the Same Latitude Line as St. Cloud


text: Spent a week at the Comfort Inn while house hunting in the area. The staff was friendly and helpful. the hotel is very clean and the bed are comfortable. Plus there is complimentary breakfast every morning. Fitness center, swimming pool and small business center. Central location right off I-85; restaurants, shopping center, movie theater and local attractions close by.

domain: travel


text:
#serpentqueens and #snakegodesses and an #indoeuropean #myth found across Eurasia from Greece to India and beyond.
In the Middle East there are tales in Syria Turkey Iran and elsewhere of a shape shifting serpent queen who marries a human and shares treasure called #ShahMaran.
She is depicted in folk art and on jewellery and amulets as a woman wearing jewels and a crown with a snake or dragon body.
France has the legend of Melusine who is said to have an half serpent form and have come to her spring from something in Albania or the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has Lamia and the Echidna who are part serpent.
India and SE Asia has stories of nagas such as this couple!
Given the spread of the myth it appears to be IndoEuropean or even Pre Indo European as the nagas are described as living in caves and rivers.
Another clue is the description of Echidna being pre Olympian and also in one story the ancestress of the Scythians of Central Asia and the Steppes who probably spoke an Indo European Language.
In Greece Echidna like Tiamat in Mesopotamia is a mother of monsters but those monsters were more hostile to the Olympians than humans though there is the story of the Lamia who kills children and preys on adults too.
My personal suspicion is that this sometimes friendly and sometimes hostile entity may even predate the IndoEuropean expansion?
Perhaps she was originally a goddess of water carving out rivers and channels through primodrial wetlands into seas and lakes . The twisting body of a snake may have seemed like the meanders of a river to the ancients.
So why compare Shahmaran to Echidna or the nagas?
It shows us both convergence and divergence play a role to cultural development with preIndoEuropean beliefs across Eurasia fusing with IndoEuropean ideas about dragons and serpents yet changing over the centuries so we have Melusine the Fay with children with monstrous features and yet Nu Wa the half serpent mother creatrix in ancient Chinese myth and Tiamat and Nagas.
Both the vampiric Lamia of Greece and Shahmaran the majestic are echoes or shadows or something else of a power ancient and primal.

domain: geography


FCE Electronics is a professional precision metal stamping manufacturer, which has been engaged in the precision mold design, mold making and stamping production of connector terminals and housing, with products mainly used in the joint-plug ports of computers, mobile phones, cars, medical apparatus, LED, digital cameras, GPS and game consoles and connectors.
Our company meets ISO9001:2008 standard. Every process management system applys strictly in accordance with the requirements of customers. Has successfully developed a 0. 3pitch series of BTB products stroke per minute reaches 1200 rate and smooth production, we are dedicated to delivering every job to your exacting standards, on time, and on budget.
Regardless of the size, shape, or complexity of your stamping, we can meet your needs accurately and consistently. From lead frames to terminals, contacts, covers, and inserts, our metal stamping processes are appropriate for metal parts ranging from 0. 01" to 0. 05" in thickness.
We have consistently invested on the most technologically advanced equipment, which provide for accuracy and speed for both short and long production runs, but allow for quick and accurate changeover to keep costs down.
The use of molds is the key for hardware production. for it determines product quanlity and officiently. By introducing Japanese and western slow wire burning mold processing equipment, Such as KOYRI and ISIS stamping lathes. Coupled with its innovative design. The company has revolutionized the traditional manufacturer process and achieved more precision in product control.
Although we may not promise to offer lowest price, But we assure provide the highest quality.
We pursure more than profits, It is our proud mission and part of our values to ensure that our customers receives the best value products and servise. We keep our eyes on long-term goals rather than short-term profits. Our Persistent endeavors aim to win recognition from more customers.Metal Stamping For Lead Frame price
- Created: 18-09-20
- Last Login: 18-09-20


Departure Coat | Oatmeal
Oversized wool viscose melton coat with lined sleeves and fronts. Features oversized fronts and collar, darted back and vent, wide welt pockets and self-belt.
Details | Long Sleeve Jacket
Semi fitted though back
Front welt pockets
Lined sleeve and fronts
Binding detail on inside
Back darts and vent
Fit | Relaxed - Oversized
Jade wears size 10 and is 5’9/179cm
Style fits true to size, select your regular size based on our size chart.
Please note – If you are unsure of your size, we can help. Contact us here.
Composition | 60% Wool 40% Viscose Melton
50% Viscose 50% Acrylic Lining
Care | Gentle Dryclean Only


text:
Gurgaon: A 22-year-old woman, working in a multinational company here, was ‘kidnapped’ and thrashed inside a moving car by three men, looted of her valuables and later dropped near a metro station, police said Tuesday.
The incident took place Sunday but the woman filed a complaint Monday evening, police officer Jai Prakash told IANS.
The woman said she was kidnapped by three youths from the Sector 31 market, dragged into a car and beaten up.
Her mobile phone, credit and debit cards and some cash were looted.
“I was returning home in Sector 30 from a beauty parlour in Sector 31 market when I was kidnapped by three unknown men,” she said in her complaint.
The woman was later dropped near the HUDA City Centre metro station later that evening.
Police said a case of kidnapping and robbery has been registered.


Here’s the crux: The feds, who will write the $850 million check to build light rail
to Vancouver, require a healthy transit system to connect with those trains. If this
November’s sales tax goes down, C-Tran could find itself talking about light rail
while eliminating bus routes and making other cuts. That could put the second vote,
and light rail’s funding plan with it, in question.


text:
Wentworth Miller: Prison Breakout Star
The new season of Prison Break begins Monday, September 1, with a two-hour episode, which means lots of the hotness that is Wentworth Miller.
Unfortunately for Wentworth, his hit drama isn’t filled with hotties like Gossip Girl—only one or two leading ladies are in the cast. However, word on the street is that the tatted stud isn’t a fan of luscious lips or well-endowed lady parts.
The Internet rumor that just won’t go away is that he swings the other way. Although he’s denied the speculations—kinda (“I’m cool with the fact that they exist, I mean this is about fantasy”)—he has yet to appear with any woman in public.
Not helping the rumors is the fact that Wentworth appeared in two separate Mariah Carey videos before his career took off.

domain: celebrity


text:
A teenage girl died after choking on a pickled egg, an inquest heard.
Anna Sexton suffered a cardiac arrest after swallowing the preserved egg at her home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.Miracle goose survives being shot through the head with a crossbow
An ambulance was called and her grandfather attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but Anna could not be revived.
The 14-year-old, who weighed nearly 22 stone and had a BMI of 47, was declared dead shortly after arriving at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on the evening of June 8 this year.
Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court heard that Anna had struggled with her weight and was trying to diet.
Anna lived with her paternal grandparents, Michael and Sally Sexton, who were her legal guardians, but would regularly see her parents and siblings.
Coroner’s officer David Peake said: ‘She was severely obese and weighed 22 stone and had a tendency to gorge on pickled eggs at night. According to her grandparents she would sneak downstairs to eat them.’
Shortly after 7pm on the night Anna died, Mrs Sexton saw her granddaughter in the kitchen but left the room when she received a telephone call.
‘Her grandmother then heard her husband shouting for help. She returned to the kitchen to see Anna lying on the floor in the lavatory and her husband was performing CPR,’ Mr Peake said.
‘Anna had been eating a pickled egg and choked. Her grandfather slapped her on the back in an attempt to clear her airways but she collapsed on the floor.’
An ambulance was called and took Anna to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital but she had suffered a cardiac arrest. Shortly after arriving at the hospital she was declared dead.
‘The ambulance staff struggled to get an airway and did discover egg in her tube ways,’ Mr Peake said.Hillary Clinton’s concession speech following shock Donald Trump defeat
‘Airway blockage was consistent with the account given by the grandparents. Pieces of egg were found in her tracheal pipe.’
Police did not treat Anna’s death as suspicious.
Pathologist Dr Linmarie Ludeman, who carried out a post mortem examination, said toxicology tests for drugs and alcohol proved negative.
Sign Up for News Updates
Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
Not convinced? Find out more »

domain: medical


text:
Last season, it was a freshman linebacker in Harold Perkins that took the SEC by storm as he took over games defensively for the Tigers in order to help LSU win the SEC.
With just a couple of linebackers returning, it is an opportunity for LSU to have another breakout standout at the position from a new face. We are not including the jack position players here as they were mentioned with the defensive linemen.
A top candidate to be that new LSU Tiger that stands out at linebacker is a transfer from Oregon State in Omar Speights. At 6’1, 233 pounds, Speights is a tackling machine and was one of the best linebackers in the Pac 12. Making 1st Team All-Pac 12 last season, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native really stuffed the stat sheet.
He finished his college playing career in Corvallis, Oregon with an outstanding 308 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. Speights is all over the field making plays and he does so while staying patient, seeing the play develop, and then exploding to the ball carrier. When he entered his name in the transfer portal, there were plenty of college football programs that showed interest including SEC West rival Alabama, but in the end, the former Beaver chose to play in Baton Rouge for his final year of eligibility. Just a couple of practices into spring, Speights has already made his presence known and is the other starting linebacker in defensive coordinator Matt House’s 4-2-5 defense besides Perkins.
There is still some spots open for depth and right now, the Tigers signed only two freshmen at linebacker.
The Weeks name is a familiar one at the linebacker position at LSU and there will be another one as Whit Weeks joins his older brother West Weeks. All in all, the Weeks family has great athletic genes as their dad David Weeks was a three year starter on the offensive line for the Georgia Bulldogs. Whit was a big signee for the Tigers coming out of Oconee County High School as one of the top players in the state of Georgia rated as a four star by On3. Playing for the Warriors, Whit helped the team reach the Class 3A semifinals by doing whatever he can for his team.
The 6’3, 217 pound freshman helped the team by seeing action at running back, wide receiver, kick returner, and linebacker. For his senior season, he had 396 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on offense while also having 104 tackles, 19 TFLs, two sacks, and three interceptions on defense. As the first linebacker commit in the 2023 class, Weeks chose the Tigers over Georgia, Oklahoma, Stanford, USC, Tennessee, and others. Weeks is incredibly athletic and is an explosive football player that plays well in space and excels well in coverage.
The other freshman LSU was able to sign at linebacker is Christian Brathwaite. From Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas, Brathwaite is another versatile linebacker that is incredibly athletic, physical, and already has the size at 225 pounds to be a thumper in the middle of a defense. He plays best when he plays downhill as a run stopper or as a pass rusher. The four star prospect from Texas was a top 10 player at his position in the country. It was his senior season that the green light really went on.
Last season, Brathwaite had 104 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. The late bloomer was a one time commit to Baylor before flipping his commitment to LSU after going on an unofficial visit for the Ole Miss game. It was a crucial pickup for Brian Kelly’s crew as linebacker was a critical position of need for the Tigers. Getting a player like the Cypress, Texas native is big as he has the ability to be an all-around linebacker when all said and done.
Considering that the numbers are still low at linebacker, it will not be surprising if LSU continues to go after some players once the transfer portal opens back up in May.
To read more about the future Tigers, check out the rest of our “Meet LSU’s Latest Additions” articles below. Next up, I will talk about the newest defensive backs to join the Tigers.


text:
Walk to the best garden-vegetable garden near Paris
• Walk to the best garden-vegetable garden near Paris
In Paris and its suburbs are many beautiful and lush gardens, but the most impressive one I came across by chance and decided to go in a not very tourist estate of Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard (Saint-Jean de Beauregard) 30 km to the south-west from the capital.
Saint-Jean - a huge private park in the English style, in the center of which stands a small castle, and is located next to a wonderful garden, vegetable garden, where the harmoniously flowers, plants, vegetables and fruit trees. Riot of colors and flavors, huge lawns and bright sunshine, proximity to Paris and privacy at the same time - it is not surprising that here come from apart whole families and for long periods, waiting patiently for the opening.
Dedicated to the upcoming villa-garden season.
Chateau Beauregard was built of light sandstone in 1612 at the behest of the royal councilor François Dupuis. It is believed that the name beauregard (fr. "Beautiful view") refers to the panorama of the valley of the river Salm, opening from the castle terraces.
On the terrace, I did not see anything special, besides the French garden was a pretty pitiful sight, as it was closed for renovation:
Around the castle stretches a large park in the English style, whose territory spread dovecote, an orangery, a chapel, auxiliary facilities and the glacier (freezer).
But the main manor pearl can be considered an incredible garden, vegetable garden (the best of all that I have seen in the outskirts of Paris), marked by the sign Jardin remarquable (fr. "Remarkable garden").
At the entrance of the breathtaking fragrances, shades of green and bright flower points.
The garden is divided into squares with the help of wide avenues of soft grass on which so pleasant to walk.
In the spring and summer you can watch the riot of colors and paints.
In the garden center adorned small round pool of water for irrigation, framed lavender. On a hot day, it sometimes seems that you suddenly found himself somewhere in Provence.
Greenhouses for table grapes are elegant, but empty. But the atmosphere is created by the right - as Herbology lessons in Harry Potter films.
In the center of flower squares Ogorodnaya is part of the garden. Here you can find rare or forgotten varieties of vegetables, such as grass pea, evening primrose or Biennial spinach strawberry, as well known to us tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and so on. D.
Of particular interest are fruit trees - apples and pears.
apple smell intoxicates instantly.
The first time I walked through the apple orchard, and I must say that the experience of such trips are the most striking.
Twice a year, in the wonderful garden arrange holiday plants, attracting amateur gardeners and professionals. On the vast exhibition you can buy the seeds and seedlings of rare plants, as well as to exchange experiences and get priceless advice on gardening.
Opening: from 15 March to 15 November, on Sundays and holidays, from 14 to 18 hours.
Cost: 7 euros.
How to get there: by car (35 minutes from Paris).
Best time to visit: from March to September.