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Researchers from Texas A&M International University studied 75 children between the ages of 3-8. The children were shown a film that included two cartoons with three commercials in between each cartoon. The kids were randomly divided into two groups: one watched a film that included a commercial for French fries; the other watched one that included a commercial for apple slices with dipping sauce.
Afterwards, the children selected a coupon for either advertised food while they received "encouraging" input ("You should choose the one that is healthiest") or neutral input ("You should choose whichever one you want more") from their parents.
Of the children who watched the commercial for French fries, 71% chose the coupon for French fries when parents were neutral; 55% did when parents were encouraging. Of the children who watched the commercial for the relatively healthier item, only 46% chose the coupon for French fries when parents remained neutral; 33% did when parents encouraged the more healthful selection.
The researchers were surprised to find that despite parental input, children were more likely to choose the coupon for the item they saw advertised.
“We were very skeptical about the power of food advertising on kids’ food choices, particularly when parents were available to potentially offset those influences," says lead author Christopher Ferguson, Ph.D. "Although parents were able to blunt the effects of food advertisements, it wasn’t to the extent we had speculated."
The researchers do acknowledge their findings may not apply to all, in part because the sample size was small and largely Hispanic.
The power of fries shouldn't be discounted, either. Even the crunchiest apple slice may not be as appetizing as a salty fried slice of potato.
However, parents should not despair: they may have a greater influence on children's food choices in the "real world," especially when they make frequent, consistent recommendations to their children.
“My biggest concern is that parents will think this study suggests they’re powerless in the face of advertisements," Ferguson says. "That's not the case at all."
It may not be easy, but one way to lessen the power of food commercials, especially the high-fat, high-calorie sugary ads that dominate children's programming is to limit daily screen time to 1-2 hours to reduce kids’ exposure to food advertisements and any negative nutrition consequences that may stem from them, suggests Sarah Krieger, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
Ferguson adds, “Although more research is needed, I suspect that charting a good course for your children means making more healthful choices yourself. That doesn’t mean we have to be perfect, but even small efforts to make more healthy food choices and to exercise more can pay dividends for the family down the road.”
From the October 6, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.


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These recyclable, sustainable, vegan trainers are made from plants but stay stylish
Spotted: Many people today are concerned about the impact of the fashion industry on the environment. While some dislike using animal products, such as leather, others are concerned with the amount of pollution and waste generated. For trainer lovers, a new company, MoEa, has a solution – sustainable trainers made entirely from plants and recycled materials.
The MoEa trainers use a bamboo lining, recycled rubber for the soles, recycled wood fibre for the insoles and recycled polyester for the labels. On top of this, the company has developed an innovative way to use fruit and vegetable waste in the construction of the vegan leather used in the uppers: apple waste from the Italian juice industry; grape waste from the Italian wine industry; pineapple leaves from the Philippines; cactus and non-edible American corn.
To stabilise the biomass waste, fruits and plants are blended with organic cotton, bio-polyurethane or recycled plastic – depending on the plant. The result gives a breathable, leather-like material that emits 89 per cent less carbon than leather, according to MoEa’s Life Cycle Assessment. Each shoe is also colour-coded to correspond to the type of plant material used, yellow trainers are made from pineapple leather, red shoes from apple leather, etc.
MoEa’s trainers are handcrafted in Portugal using USDA bio-preferred materials certified, or that comply with Global Recycled Standards. Achille Gazagnes, founder and CEO of MoEa, told Springwise that the company is committed to providing people with sustainable and stylish trainers that are, “comfortable to wear and usable for a variety of different occasions. Unfortunately, they are also contributing negatively to the planet.” He adds that MoEa was launched to create trainers that “offer the same level of style and comfort you’d expect to see in your favourite leather pair, whilst ensuring that the planet isn’t some sort of a meaningless afterthought and that animals aren’t treated with cruelty.”
Products made from vegan leather and other types of fruit and vegetable waste are becoming extremely popular – and increasingly stylish. Springwise has seen a rapid increase in the number of vegan and fully recyclable clothing products available – everything from textiles made from packing waste, to sustainable, biodegradable sequins.
Written By: Lisa Magloff

domain: design


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BVRGER (pronounced burger) is a leading vegan takeaway restaurant that offers a gourmet plant-based menu to families and individuals living across London. We are passionate about creating delicious fast food whilst looking after our health and our planet at the same time. Our delicious food is for everyone, not just vegans!
The business is growing rapidly and we are looking for like-minded people to help us in our mission to bring the finest plant-based food to as many people as possible.
We are looking for full-time Assistant Manager to join the BVRGER team! This role will be based at our brand new site in Shoreditch. This newly created role would be perfect for an experienced Kitchen Manager, Grill Chef, Sous Chef, or Chef de Partie wanting to take the next step into management. This role will report directly to the General Manager.
The company is growing rapidly which means there will new opportunities to move into more senior positions in the future.
– Ensure the kitchen is set up and ready for service on a daily basis. We take pride in our kitchens and use state-of-the-art equipment. Our standards are high and our ingredients are the highest quality.
– Customer facing – preparing our menu to order and working as part of a fun and supportive team.
– Train, develop, and manage the kitchen team. Ideally you will have worked as a chef and have a passion for food.
– Ambassador for the brand – we are looking for someone who loves customer interaction and has great communication/people skills.
– Cooking and delivering high volumes of gourmet fast-food quickly and efficiently to the highest possible standard.
– Daily food preparation and kitchen management – communicates preparation tasks to the team.
– Supervise food preparation to keep wastage to a minimum.
– Maintaining kitchen cleanliness and hygiene standards.
– Stock Ordering – place daily orders to ensure the kitchen is always fully stocked.
About BVRGER LTD
BVRGER (pronounced burger) offers a 100% vegan menu to families and individuals across London. Working with leading London based chefs, the company has curated a varied menu, including flame-grilled vegan burgers, a selection of tasty sides (including truffle fries, and vegan chicken bites) as well as hand spun milkshakes and soft-serve ice cream – all made to order.
Consumers have the choice to customize their burger with the option of brioche, beetroot or charcoal buns, and can choose from a variety of add-ons. The burgers are packed with plant protein and are free of hormones, antibiotics & GMO ingredients. The team at BVRGER have developed their own in-house products, seasonings and sauces and also offer junior meals for children.

domain: food


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Expected Release Date: Q3 2021 (subject to change without notice)
Regular Price: $89.99
Pre-Order Deadline: 2021-01-25 *Availability is not guaranteed after deadline *Customer cancellations will incur a fee of 20% item price *Shipping costs will be invoiced before shipment
From Kotobukiya.Magatsuki is based on the Frame Arms model of the same name designed by ToMo and transformed into an original female character illustrated by E-ji Komatsu. A bonus pamphlet made by SB Creative is included with this model kit which includes special content such as an original illustration.

domain: artistic


The Bogs® Ultra Cool Tech Mid is the perfect boot for any weather. Built with durable rubber, to withstand harsh conditions and features Cool-tech Technology that combines Neo-Tech™, Everdry & Bogs Max-Wick™ to regulate foot temperature and keep your feet dry.
Protects from the elements in any season.
Four-way stretch inner bootie provides insulation and comfort.
Lightweight insulation that provides warmth and protection
Lightweight fabric that absorbs and evaporates sweat.
Provides a shock absorbing cushion and foot support that lasts the life of the product
The highest standard of chemical and slip resistance.
Earth-friendly bio-technology that activates to fight unwanted odors.
Guards against snakebites and prevents sharp objects from piercing the boot.


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Since 1933, the University of Toronto has offered instruction in East Asian art history, the third institution in North America to do so, after Princeton and Columbia. The political situation in China in 1933 prevented the University from realizing its goal of establishing a Chair of Chinese Art, but the University of Toronto nonetheless began to train students in East Asian art, awarding its first PhD in the field in 1943. Major scholars and other prominent figures (the Right Reverend William White, Professor John C. Ferguson, Mr. Mark Gayn, and Professor David Waterhouse) built the extensive collection of books and research resources for East Asian art history now available in the University.
Currently, two historians of East Asian art history in the department, Yi Gu and Jenny Purtle, explore a wide range of Chinese art in their research and in their graduate seminars. Jenny Purtle provides coverage of China from the Song through Ming dynasties, Mongolia, and selected topics in modern and contemporary art; Yi Gu addresses a wide range of topics in modern and contemporary art in China, including photography. We share a commitment to the study and research of East Asian art history in dialogue with Western art historical methodologies; our recent seminars such as “Can Art History Speak Chinese?” and “Methods in Art History” reflect this interest. In recognition that East Asian art history requires not only strong art historical skills but also good philological training and heightened awareness of the geographically- and historically-specific concerns of East Asia, we are active participants in the larger community of East Asianists at the University of Toronto, and we encourage students to take courses in other departments and institutes with faculty from this community. In cooperation with faculty in other departments, a wide range of research topics can be possible at the MA and PhD level.
As historians of East Asian art, we share a commitment to the primacy of objects, studied at first hand. The city of Toronto has rich repositories of East Asian objects: the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and the Gardiner Museum all have significant permanent collections, as well as dynamic rotating exhibition programs that include East Asian material. The vibrant contemporary art scene of Toronto, including U of T galleries, provides access to works by contemporary East Asian artists. As historians of East Asian art, we also encourage the use of primary texts and archival materials in research: two specialist libraries, the Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library, and the Bishop White Committee Library of East Asia at the Royal Ontario Museum have significant holdings for East Asian art history; the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library includes important archival holdings. Scholarly research in East Asian art is further supported by the resources of the University of Toronto Libraries system, ranked the third in North America.
With two East Asianists in the art history department, a large cohort of East Asianist faculty in multiple departments throughout the University (including specialists in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan studies outside the department), and colleagues appointed to the Royal Ontario Museum in related fields (ancient Chinese archaeology, Chinese painting, modern Japanese art, and costume and textiles of the Eastern Hemisphere), the University of Toronto offers expansive opportunities for students interested in graduate study of East Asian art history. Dissertations in progress reveal the interest of faculty and students in a range of topics and approaches; this breadth is achieved in part because every dissertation committee in East Asian art includes at least one faculty member from outside the department. Current students have received prestigious grants, both those awarded by the Canadian government and those awarded by other national and private granting agencies to support their research in Toronto and abroad. We are currently engaged in a teaching and research exchange with the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts on the theme of “Global and Postglobal Perspectives on Medieval Art and Art History” to train students in Chinese and Western medieval art history in dialogue with each other as part of the Getty Foundation’s Connecting Art Histories Initiative.
With one of the largest communities of scholars pursuing research on topics related to the art history and visual culture of East Asia in North America in multiple departments, extraordinary access to objects, and excellent library holdings, the Graduate Program in Art History at the University of Toronto provides exceptional opportunities for graduate study in East Asian art history with both strong emphasis on the discipline of art history and numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Please feel free to contact and/or visit us to learn more about our program.
|Areas of Interest
History of infographics, cold war visual culture and post-socialist art, photography of Asia, politics of aesthetics, art and amateurism, visual methodologies across disciplines
Chinese painting history, China and Mongolia in the Global Middle Ages

domain: library


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Here's an 8x12 General Store coop we delivered to day to Wimberley, Texas.
We've got the coop up and are installing the shutters...
Leave a Reply.
Here I will post some recent deliveries.
Click on the images for a larger view.

domain: hobby


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Welcome to Clouds and Currents!
Working out of a tiny studio in the medieval market town of Coggeshall, I dream up handmade delights for weddings and homeware!
Clouds and Currents specialises in little items that have a large impact on your special occasion. Our forte lies in providing the finest bespoke wirework wedding hangers, to further accentuate your dress, and bespoke handmade silver necklaces that make the perfect gift.
We're also proud to present our range of bespoke guest books and greetings cards, perfect for your special occasion, and our all new chopping boards, designed to make a visit to the kitchen even more mouthwatering!
Having studied Art and Design in London, our attention to detail and style is sure to add a truly unique feature to your special occasion.
Feel free to browse through each item, in the knowledge that most of them can be completely customised to your exact specifications. If you can't quite see what you're after, then do get in touch and I'll be happy to help!


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The eight track album, to be released this fall, will knock you down, pick you up, bang your head against the wall, pull the steps out from under you, and you will love every minute of it. This female-fronted rock band features three members who presently attend the esteemed Berklee College of Music: lead vocalist and bassist Jessica Prouty and guitarists and back-up vocalists Aaron Shuman and Cody Nilsen. Drums are competently handled by Cam Pelky. They also call on players like keyboardist Andy Covino when that ivory touch is needed. The band, formed in 2007, hails from Boston, MA, and its recordings have received significant airplay in the Northeast U.S.
The song "Set Me Free," from the album of the same name, was released as a single this past March. It, like the album, was produced and engineered by Brian Maes and mixed and mastered by three-time Grammy winner Bob St. John. I have been fortunate enough to hear all eight tracks. The single is just a teaser and a great sounding one at that! The album is a bit more eclectic. The eight tracks on Set Me Free let the band display its versatility. From slide guitar to metal to pop to an acoustic duet and, yet, the album does not come off as a mish mash of styles. Each tune is played with aplomb. Here's how the band's publicity describes the tracks:
Light This Place Up
Beginning with some old fashioned slide guitar and amped up, thick chords, this song brings out modern pentatonic rock all about going to a rock concert and lighting things up.
Set Me Free (Single Released March 2013)
The song the album is named after. It's about being bound up, chained up, stuck in a hard place - and breaking those chains to be truly free, unbound from anything.
Bi-polar verse and chorus make this song vicious and soothing... all in 3 minutes and 22 seconds. "I Know" is the breakup song taken to the next level.
Sometimes I Wonder
This piece questions every past relationship you've had. What if the one who got away asked you to run away with them? Somber, haunting, and oddly uplifting towards the end.
Filled with hidden meanings and various visuals of fire and ice, Devastate can be seen as a song about conquering your worst nightmare - whether that be someone you loathe, a dragon, or a necromancer.
Also known as the sexy song.
More "rock/heavy pop" than anything else on the album, "Tired" combines a catchy, upbeat melody with the heartache of having to breakup with significant others in numerous relationships.
Take a Walk With Me
This song features a duet between Cody and Jess, and is THE acoustic/moderately slow song on the album. The meaning behind the song lies in a broken romance, a silent phone call, and yearning to fix what went wrong.
It all makes for a great rock experience, one The Jessica Prouty Band will reenact as they play these tunes live during their summer New England tour. See if you can set yourself free and catch one of their shows! Here is their performance schedule - http://jessicaprouty.com/jpband/Events.aspx
- Old School


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In April, I purchased some organic cherry tomatoes in different colors, I cut them in slices and then put them in some good soil. I wanted to grow my own tomatoes!
This is my first time growing anything except herbs. My parents grew salad, carrots, had apple trees, cherry trees and plum trees, but I have never embarked om the adventure of growing my own food (mostly cause I’ve lived in an apartment and/or haven’t been interested).
Well, I’ve found a new passion in growing my own food, and although I still live in an apartment, I thought that tomatoes would be fun to grow as I looooove tomatoes!
The tomato plants started to grow pretty quickly! It was great to see. About a month and a half after planting them, I went overseas for a total of 1 month, and a friend gave them water regularly. I was surprised to see how much they had grown when I got back home!
We’ve had a cold and rainy summer in Sweden this year. Fortunately, we had a glassed in balcony, so the plants stayed warm and nice.
When I saw that the plants leafs started to go yellow, I realized that all energy went to growing the actual fruit, and to help the plants further, I purchased some organic ”food” for them, which I gave the plants about 2-3 times per week.
A month ago, we moved apartments. I was afraid that the plants would get damaged, but they didn’t. But now they stay on our balcony which is NOT glassed, which means it’s colder for them and more windy. Still a lot of rain as well, so they don’t get much sun. I’ll keep them outside for a bit longer as we’re renovating at the moment and they’d only be in our way (and they’re so big, they wouldn’t fit in the kitchen near the southern window.
It wasn’t until a week ago, that’s mid September, that I finally got to taste one deliciously sweet and at the same time tangy little cherry tomato. Yum! I’ve had a total of 4 tomatoes be ripe enough for eating now. Can’t wait for the rest!


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Salvador Dalí Desert
Salvador Dalí Desert (Spanish: Desierto Salvador Dalí), also known as Dalí Valley (Valle de Dalí), is an extremely barren valley of southwestern Bolivia, in the Potosí Department. It is entirely contained within the borders of Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and is characterized by landscapes that resemble surrealist paintings by Salvador Dalí.
- "Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 May 2012.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salvador Dali Desert.|
|This Potosí Department location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.|

domain: geography


BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Insurance companies have paid out $5 billion to thousands of Louisiana customers with damage from the 2020 hurricanes so far, according to data released by Insurance...
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says people who need to file proof of loss documents for insurance claims involving property damage from Hurricane Laura have...
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers across a wide swath of Iowa are dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of a rare wind storm that turned what was looking like a record corn crop into deep losses...
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A rare storm packing 100 mph winds and with power similar to an inland hurricane swept across the Midwest, blowing over trees, flipping vehicles, causing widespread property...
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday issued disaster proclamations stemming from flood damage along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — Officials are reminding Merrimack Valley residents that Friday is the deadline to file a claim in the $143 million class action settlement stemming from 2018's natural gas...
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has declared a local emergency from flooding brought on by an ice jam in Willow Creek.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The toll of massive flooding in Kansas is proving to be high for the agency that operates state parks.
KCUR reports that the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and...
DALLAS (AP) — A tornado tossed trees into homes, tore off storefronts and downed power lines but killed no one in a densely populated area of Dallas, leaving Mayor Eric Johnson to declare the city...
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Homeowners with property damage from flooding along Lake Ontario this year can apply for financial assistance from the state.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Narda soaked the resort city of Mazatlan with sheets of driven rain and whipped palm trees with its strong winds Monday, swamping streets and causing some...
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana businesses and homeowners with damage from Hurricane Barry are eligible for disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
As a spokesperson for the insurance industry, Loretta Worters often gives tips to homeowners on preventing water damage. Some of her knowledge comes from personal experience.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for South Dakota because property damage caused by a snowstorm and flooding this spring.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — In a story May 24 about property damage at a Noah's Ark attraction in Kentucky, The Associated Press reported erroneously that flooding caused the damage. The damage was...
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is asking for a presidential disaster declaration because of property damage caused by a snowstorm and flooding this spring.
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Florence killed 22 people across three Southeastern states, was the ninth most destructive storm in terms of property damage in U.S. history and spawned 44 tornadoes, a...
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Years of increasingly deadly California wildfires spurred lawmakers to consider regulations Tuesday that would toughen local governments' requirements for approving...
BOSTON (AP) — The natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts last September have cost Columbia Gas more than $1 billion.
NiSource, Columbia's parent company, said in a financial...
WAILEA, Hawaii (AP) — The Latest on a Maui brush fire (all times local):
Maui firefighters say a brush fire is mostly contained.
Officials say the Wailea fire is 60 percent contained Monday after burning 200 acres (81 hectares). Winds that fanned the fast-moving fire have died down and a shelter for evacuations is closed.
Swirling winds estimated at 15 mph (24 kph) to 20 mph (32 kph) made conditions challenging for firefighters.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are likely to face renewed debate in the next legislative session about how or whether to hold oil and gas companies accountable for property damage caused by earthquakes in Kansas.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — It's been 10 years since a devastating ice storm hit New Hampshire, leaving more than 400,000 residents and businesses without power.
Emergency management officials said over 200 communities had experienced power loss when the storm hit Dec. 11 and 12, 2008. Some were without electricity for two weeks.
More than 450 schools were forced to close and the state suffered more than $150 million in property damage.
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Southern California authorities say that a major house fire early Sunday injured four people and caused significant property damage.
Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya said crews arrived to find two separate homes in flames.
LLANO, Texas (AP) — The Latest on flooding in Texas (all times local):
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster in 18 flood-stricken counties in Central and South Texas.
Tuesday's declaration lifts state restrictions and regulations on any state response to the emergency.
In his proclamation, Abbott notes that severe weather and prolonged flooding that began Oct. 7 "has caused widespread and severe property damage and threatens loss of life."
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on a special legislative session in North Carolina designed to approve money to help recovery in communities flooded last month by Hurricane Florence (all times local):
North Carolina legislators are spending $400 million to speed recovery from Hurricane Florence and setting aside another $450 million for upcoming needs, temporarily setting aside the sharp partisanship that's typified government.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton declared a state of emergency Thursday in response to severe weather in the past month that has caused flooding and property damage across much of Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Latest on flooding in Minnesota (all times local):
Gov. Mark Dayton has declared a state of emergency in response to severe weather in the past month that has caused flooding and property damage across much of Minnesota.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana residents who suffered property damage during late-winter flooding are running out of time to seek federal disaster assistance.
Indiana's Department of Homeland Security says Thursday is the deadline to apply for federal aid for the Feb. 14 to March 4 flooding.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers may make it easier for utilities to reduce liability for wildfire damage as the state braces for more severe blazes in the face of climate change.
EASTPOINT, Fla. (AP) — Officials estimate $1.7 million in property damage was lost to a "controlled-burn" fire that blazed out of control and destroyed 36 homes in a tiny Florida Panhandle community.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two Missouri counties have reported weather-related property damage amid severe thunderstorms in several parts of the state.
Officials from Jackson and Johnson counties said Tuesday that there had been no reported injuries.
Deputy Raashid Brown of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office says a mid-day storm around Lake Lotawana damaged several homes and caused power outages.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's governor and Legislature promised a dizzying array of fixes following the devastation of last year's hurricanes. But heading into a new storm season, the state has enacted only a few changes — the largest aimed at protecting seniors in nursing homes.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says home and business owners in Dewey County who sustained uninsured damage from wildfires can now receive disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Advocacy groups said Friday that Texas is poised to unfairly distribute billions in federal funding provided for housing repairs following Hurricane Harvey's devastation — prioritizing wealthy homeowners over poorer victims in ways that could constitute racial discrimination.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — State and federal officials are set to begin preliminary damage assessments in areas hit by a tornado that struck central Virginia last week.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration were to begin evaluating property damage on Monday to determine what programs might be available to support recovery efforts.
SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) — No injuries or property damage have been reported following a 3.1 magnitude earthquake near the Oregon state capital.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the earthquake hit about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) southwest of Silverton at 8:45 p.m. Saturday.
Some nearby residents said they felt the earthquake, which also struck near the state capital city of Salem.
ST. PETER, Minn. (AP) — St. Peter residents say that a tornado 20 years ago that heavily damaged the city also brought the community together.
The twister reached wind speeds of 175 miles per hour, killed two people, destroyed 200 homes and damaged hundreds of others, Minnesota Public Radio reported. St. Peter sustained more than $120 million in property damage.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More than three months after Hurricane Harvey walloped Texas, many affected residents say they're still not getting help they need and President Donald Trump is getting low marks for his handling of the disaster, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation/Episcopal Health Foundation survey released Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California authorities say firefighters made significant progress over the weekend combatting wildfires that devastated the state's famed wine country and nearby areas, killing 42 people and destroying 8,400 buildings.
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said Monday that several days of rainfall helped the firefighters and that authorities are confident most of the wildfires will be contained this week.
In a story about hurricane categories, The Associated Press erroneously reported that at least 1,800 people died in Hurricane Katrina. As many as 1,800 people died, though some estimates are lower. The AP also reported that Hurricane Andrew caused more than $20 billion in damage. Andrew caused $26.5 billion in damage in 1992 dollars (about $50 billion in 2017 dollars), according to the National Weather Service.
In a story about hurricane categories, The Associated Press reported erroneously that storm surges were linked to the Saffir-Simpson scale. The National Hurricane Center removed storm surge from the Saffir-Simpson scale several years ago. Hurricane Ivan was a Category 3, not Category 4, when it made U.S. landfall. Hurricane Andrew killed 65 people, not 55. This story also clarifies the number of deaths blamed on Hurricane Charley. Forty people were killed directly and indirectly by the storm.


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Free Lecture at the Deering Estate at Cutler: ''Biscayne National Park: Long Reef Cannon Site and the Black Wreck''
(MIAMI, February 23, 2015) - In partnership with the Archaeological Society of Southern Florida, the Deering Estate at Cutler presents a free lecture on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Lectures are held in the Visitor Center Theatre at the Deering Estate at Cutler located at 16701 S.W. 72 Avenue. The lectures are free and open to the public.
Thursday, March 12, 2015, at 7 p.m.
Topic: “Biscayne National Park: Long Reef Cannon Site and the Black Wreck”
Presenter: Joshua Marano
Visitor Center Theatre; FREE & open to the public.
Within sight of Downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne National Park is a unique environment with evidence of 10,000 years of human history from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Come and hear maritime archaeologist Joshua Marano discuss his involvement with the archaeological excavation of the Long Reef Cannon Site and the Black Wreck located within Biscayne National Park.
Joshua Marano is a recent graduate from East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime Studies and has earned a MA degree in maritime history and nautical archaeology where his research focused on the application of social theory to maritime archaeology. He is currently working at Biscayne National Park. Mr. Marano has previously been employed as an archaeological technician for the State of North Carolina and has participated in several major maritime archaeological projects. In addition to his interest in archaeology, Marano is an active member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve where he serves as a Second Class Petty Officer at the USCG Station in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
About the Deering Estate at Cutler
The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 S.W. 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Natural areas tours are offered daily at 12:30 p.m. (October – May). DeeringAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate's educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org.
About the Archaeological Society of Southern Florida
The Archaeological Society of Southern Florida (ASSF) was established in 1949. The ASSF operates as a non-profit, volunteer organization which acts as a support mechanism for the office of the Miami-Dade County Archaeologist, serves as a focal point for local archaeology enthusiasts and professionals in the field, and helps to promote knowledge and appreciation of native archaeological and historical sites in the South Florida area.


Cary - Work is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 12, on a Town of Cary project to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety on Walnut Street and Buck Jones Road. The construction area will include Walnut Street from the US 1/64 southbound ramp to Piney Plains Road, and Buck Jones Road from Walnut Street to the Best Motor Imports business.
Improvements include new sidewalks from Walnut Street to Buck Jones Road; the addition of a third northbound lane from Meeting Street to Buck Jones Road to help alleviate congestion; improved lane alignment; and widening of the existing bridge over US 1/64. All businesses and citizens who live within or adjacent to the construction area will have access to their business or residences during all phases of the work.
Intermittently, throughout the project, one or more lanes of travel in each direction of Buck Jones Road and Walnut Street may be closed to facilitate the roadway and bridge widening work. Citizens can anticipate daytime lane closures on Buck Jones Road and Walnut Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; nighttime lane closures on Buck Jones Road and Walnut Street between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday; and nighttime lane closures of US 1/64, US 1/64 ramps and Crossroads Boulevard ramp from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Night work with lane closures are anticipated on weekdays. Regular project updates, including lane closure details, will be communicated throughout the project via the Town's email service and traffic Twitter feed.
The project should be finished by summer 2016.
The estimated total project cost is $7,000,000, which includes design, right-of-way acquisition and roadway construction. This project is funded through the Transportation Bonds Referendum that was approved by nearly 70 percent of Cary citizens who voted on November 6, 2012. For more, search "Walnut Street Traffic and Pedestrian Improvements" or "Community Investment Bonds" at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 380-4104.


Fred Haas Toyota Country is ready to handle your car or truck's next brake job and service. If your Camry sedan is due for a brake job or the rotors squeal when you come to a stop, get in touch with our Houston, Texas, Toyota dealership. You can make your appointment for brake service over the phone by calling (281) 738-1690, in person, and right here on our website by clicking schedule your brake service.
We are proud to offer quick and reliable brake repair near Cypress, Texas. When you bring your used Tacoma truck to our service department for an auto repair, you will experience:
If one of our professional auto mechanics determines that your RAV4 crossover is in need of new brake pads, rotors, calipers, or other brake hardware during the inspection, our team members will install factory-approved Toyota parts.
Regular brake service is an essential part of maintaining your vehicle. It goes without saying how important the brakes on your car are to your automotive safety on the roads and highways of Houston, Texas. While your vehicle is in for service, our team will also inspect for any signs of future repairs, top off any low fluids, check the tire pressure on your vehicle, and update your service records.
Our full-service Toyota dealership is proud to offer a state-of-the-art service department with high-end diagnostic tools. Bring your car, truck, or crossover to Fred Haas Toyota Country for your next brake job in Houston, Texas.


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Cromwell is one of New Zealand’s hidden gems. As well as being the home to Aurum Wines, Cromwell is also surrounded by stunning mountains and lakes and sits at the heart of the Central Otago wine region.
Cromwell is a popular destination for day trippers from Queenstown and Dunedin. Located only 45 minutes from Queenstown and two and a half hours from Dunedin, the drive to Cromwell will take you through the heart of the stunning Otago region and it’s the perfect opportunity to get out and explore beyond two of the South Island’s major cities.
As well as being at the heart of wine growing country, Cromwell is also known for its fruit production and is a hotspot for backpackers and students looking for seasonal work in the orchards and the vineyards.
Cromwell is also the home to some great activities from action-packed jet boating to the more relaxing walking and hiking opportunities that are abundant in and around Cromwell.
If you are planning a trip to Cromwell and you are looking for ideas for things to do, here are some of our favourites:
Whether you’re looking for action or relaxation, you should find plenty in this list to keep you busy on a day trip or longer to Cromwell.
Perhaps we are a little biased on this one, however one of the main attractions in Cromwell is the vineyards. Here at Aurum, you can visit our cellar door during the summer from 11am to 5pm for tastings, locally sourced platters, and sales. Our cellar door is situated in the original farm cottage and is surrounded by a fragrant country garden with plenty of off-road parking. Throughout the year we offer tastings of our Single Estate Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir, Mathilde Pinot Noir, Madeleine Pinot Noir, Amber Wine, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Gris Rosé, Dry Riesling and Dessert Wines. You can also taste and purchase our Central Otago organic olive oil.
If you are looking for something a bit more energetic, why not hire a bike and go and explore one of the many cycle trails located in and around Cromwell. The Cromwell to Bannockburn Lakeside Trail is one of the most popular and one of the easiest and takes in some of the stunning scenery along the shores of Lake Dunstan, through Old Cromwell Town and along the Kawarau River. The ride ends at Bannockburn Bridge where you will find a pub serving great food and cold drinks.
Jet boating has become one of the most popular activities in New Zealand for locals and tourists alike. Whilst Queenstown is a popular spot for jet boating, consider exploring the Kawarau River from Cromwell where Goldfields Jet will take you along the Kawarau River Gorge, taking you dangerously close to the towering canyon walls and performing some thrilling 360 degree spins.
Cromwell was at the heart of the gold rush in New Zealand in the 1860s and gold mining is still a pretty big deal in Cromwell. Remarkably, there is still gold to be found in the surrounding rivers so why not try your luck and strike for gold at the Goldfields Mining Centre. It’s not just about the panning for gold – there are some lovely walks and a lot to learn about the history of golf mining in the area and you can either take a guided tour or self-guide your way through a range of cool machinery and historic information boards. There’s also some stunning views over the Kawarau River.
For thrill seekers, it may surprise you to know that Cromwell is home to a motorsport park, with the Highlands Motorpsort Park located in Cromwell. Highlands hosts a number of professional racing events, however, it’s also a great place for you to enjoy an adrenaline-packed day of motorsport. There are a number of options depending on your budget and experience – from go-karting to fast laps, driver training t0 the car museum – there is a little bit of something for everyone at Highlands.
Cromwell is extremely accessible no matter where you fly into – Queenstown or Dunedin. If you are looking for a rental car when you hit the South Island, look no further than locally owned and operated GO Rentals. With rental car locations in Queenstown and hire cars at Dunedin Airport, they have a wide range of modern rental cars to suit all budgets and all traveller groups.


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- Starring: Alice Cooper, Michael Douglas, Shep Gordon, Sylvester Stallone
- Summary: Shep Gordon is the consummate Hollywood insider. Though he isn’t a household name, Gordon has become a beacon in the industry, beloved by the countless stars he has encountered throughout his storied career. Shep is known for managing the careers of Alice Cooper as well as stints withShep Gordon is the consummate Hollywood insider. Though he isn’t a household name, Gordon has become a beacon in the industry, beloved by the countless stars he has encountered throughout his storied career. Shep is known for managing the careers of Alice Cooper as well as stints with Blondie, Luther Vandross and Raquel Welch, among others. He even found time to invent the “Celebrity Chef.” Though the chef as star is part of the culture now, it took Shep's imagination, and his moral outrage at how the chefs were being treated, to monetize the culinary arts into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. Personal friends with the Dalai Lama through his philanthropic endeavors with the Tibet Fund and the guardian of four children, Gordon’s unlikely story will be told by those who know him best, his pals, including Alice Cooper, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, Emeril Lagasse and more. [RADiUS-TWC]… Expand
Oct 26, 2014This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film starts off fun and fast-paced, but loses steam about two-thirds of the way through. The final act simply becomes a frenzied scramble by a bunch of rich old people to see who can lay the most superlatives on Shep (who, if you listen closely to earlier stories, wasnt always the nicest guy in the world). On that note - these passing clues to the fallibility of Shep are just that - there are evidently stories here, perhaps truly interesting ones, that get hinted at, then entirely glossed over, as not to upset the on-screen love-in that is taking place (the multiple ex-wives - so few got ANY airtime?).
That said, that first two thirds has a bunch of wild stories about some serious music/ film stars of the 60's and 70's that are really fun. IE - if they had paced this better, and rounded out the interviews with a few less sycophantic ones, it could have been an entertaining and interesting character piece.… Expand
Dec 19, 2014Shallow, but effervescent and tirelessly optimistic. The sheer number of celebrity appearances in this film is unprecedented. Gordon seams toShallow, but effervescent and tirelessly optimistic. The sheer number of celebrity appearances in this film is unprecedented. Gordon seams to weave in and out of the life of nearly every famous artist relating to film, music, cuisine, you name it. It paints a community of people who most of us are associated with through their fame all centering around someone who, up till now, has been to the majority of anyone out of this circle, an unknown. He makes for an interesting subject, and if Myers has anything going for him in 'Supermensch', it is that. I'm glad for Mike, to be able to come out with a quality film after nearly four years of public silence. His return seems more personal than any of his works as an actor before. Gaining some perspective, all this really is is a victory lap for someone incredibly wealthy and successful. It can be overindulgent at times and Myers' over-the-top lens through which he projected his early comedy films can seep into the narrative and produce some overbearing results at times, though 'Supermensch' feels like a work of minimalist restraint compared to films like 'Wayne's World' and 'Austin Powers'. The tone is lighthearted and fun, which makes the ride a pleasant one, but also leaves you feeling kind of devoid of emotional impact. All-in-all, 'Supermensch' isn't really a warts-and-all, profound expose of a prominent figure in Hollywood, more an surface-level conversation with someone who has some really good stories.… Expand

domain: entertainment


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« President Obama honors Miami Heat at White House |
| President Obama to LeBron: 'It's your world, man.' »
Culled from various Twitter and Instagram accounts from players and others ...
Chris Bosh photo bomb!
Battier practicing his best Bill Clinton.
And more Battier and the Clinton thumb.
Posted by Joe at 06:19 PM
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Monday, January 28, 2013 at 06:44 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.

domain: politics


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Iran, two worlds apart: Exploring an Iranian society more divided than ever
Every day in the Iranian capital Tehran, thousands of supporters of the most conservative branch of the Iranian regime visit mausoleums honouring Shiite martyrs or other places linked to the Islamic Revolution. But on the streets, a younger generation is scorning the country's strict rules. Young women and men alike are yearning for change and a better relationship with the West. Our reporters went to meet this optimistic Iranian youth, which is becoming emancipated and dreaming of a future of freedom, in radical contrast to the most conservative Iranians.
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domain: news


XLAB, the partner of ACDC has recently released its Device Monitor Application which provides additional mobile network security by monitoring as well as reporting any malicious events which may occur on Android devices. The cyber threat pertaining to botnets has become of great concern due to the manner in which it is spreading and due to the intensity with which it is happening. It makes use of a number of hijacked resources in order to realize the presence of a cyber attack.
Techniques which are used on personal computers as well as existing malware infrastructure can be made use of in the mobile phones as majorities of the C&C communications which take place are HTTPS based.
The device which has been designed by XLAB provides network security and allows several of the Android devices to remain protected. The app’s main feature consists of detecting any kind of master key and fake ID’s, SMS hijacks, malicious URL’s being visited and also warns users of applications which may leak out their personal data. Malicious applications knowledge base are also searched in order to conduct detection of anything malicious. These knowledge base’s include Central Clearing House which is also used within the ACDC project.
In the upcoming months, a number of ACDC infrastructures will make use of this Device Monitor Application and it will also become available through the National Support Centers as well as the ACDC’s Community Portal. The ACDC which is the Advanced Cyber Defense Centre has been in operation since February of 2013 and is an EU CIP funded pilot project, consisting of 28 partners from 14 countries throughout the world and has duration of 30 months i.e. up until July of 2015.
After July 2015, the ACDC has the aim of continuing their operations as being a centre that is self sustained and will build upon the value of delivering the biggest European source of data which has been acquired through end users and operators along with a set of solutions which would be targeted to help both end users and operators in detecting, mitigating as well as recovering from botnet attacks.
The methods of detection are based on existing and known attacks. The main concerns are that of security, data transferring, speed and the impact the battery life has on the device itself. The solution consists of making use of a broker GCM Server as well as mobile sensors such as the Device Monitor itself. The GCM Server is what works as broker and it can be extended further using connectors towards the external database of malicious events.
Thus keeping in mind the excess of attacks and threat that cyber attacks and botnet attacks are associated with, it is a good idea to have software such as the Device Monitoring Application which can prevent a user from being the victim of such attacks. With the intensity at which it is spreading, any individual can become a victim which is why it is a wise idea to keep your data protected by making use of this software. Similar to the way in which computers are vulnerable to such malware, so are our phones and this concept is not one which everyone is aware of. Attacks are made on both types of devices in the same manner thus while you keep your personal computers safe by installing a variety of applications and software’s, the same should be done with regard to your mobile phones. Awareness is increasing with companies such as XLAB coming up with such products and these must be made use of.


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Australian, singer/songwriter Alexander Biggs has revealed the title of his debut full-length, Hit or Miss, the full-length will be released on February 3rd. Along with the news, Biggs has shared a taste of the LP, with the album’s opening track “Low.” On the song, Biggs shows his vulnerability, and his true talent as a songwriter. Hit or Miss was written/recorded/produced by Alexander Biggs and mixed by Matthew Neighbour. In his young career, Biggs has supported Julien Baker, Frightened Rabbit (Rip), and Evan Dando.
Alexander Biggs on “Low:”
“Low is about being in a perpetual state of sadness, and sharing that with someone else in a very complicated way, even in your joy and anger and everything in between, always feeling a thin veneer of low perpetual shades of blue.
It’s about the constant feeling to want to lay down and let everything in life happen to you without any input from yourself because navigating all those Things is exhausting and difficult.
It’s about the Laying Down Feeling but laying down in the blanket of your special person that is also sometimes low.”
The debut album Hit or Miss will be released on November 5, 2021 and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp now.


Apr 20th 2020
Hands-On Tech 87
OnePlus 8 & OnePlus 8 Review
OnePlus launches two new Android smartphones.with the OnePlus 8, and OnePlus 8 Pro. The OnePlus 8 features the Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, a 90Hz AMOLED display, and support for 5G connectivity. The OnePlus 8 Pro adds Warp Charge 30 wireless charging, a new color filter camera, and ups the screen to 120Hz. Jason Howell compares the two with his review.
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech
Find more products we recommend at https://twit.to/amazon


by Sharon Niederman
COLFAX — Despite New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Friday, March 27, 2020 executive order to close all New Mexico public schools through the end of the academic year, when it comes to graduation, milestones, academic achievement, and support, a “can do” spirit is flourishing among Colfax County educators.
Raton Public School Superintendent Andy Ortiz sounded upbeat when asked about the fallout of closing schools for the rest of the year as the “learn-at-home” model replaces classroom teaching.
“Seniors are our number one priority,” Ortiz said. “We will work with our seniors, reaching out to those who may still need a few credits to graduate.” “We will have some kind of graduation ceremony in June or July,” Ortiz promised. The graduating class numbers between 50-60 students.
Anticipating the extended shutdown, RPS notified all parents of the situation. Teachers will continue to interact with students through distance techniques. As “learn-at-home” kicks in, “We are sending learning packets and working with students who may be without home devices,” he said. A meeting was held Monday, March 30 to deal with this issue.
“The PED (Public Education Department) and the district will design a continuous education curriculum,” Ortiz stated. “As our plan comes together, we will communicate it with the community.”
Lou Martinez, RPS special education director, said, “ I don’t think it’s going to be a bad thing.” Martinez oversees a department that has 160 special education students, ten teachers, 18 education assistants, and numerous specialized contractors to work with students’ special needs.
All parents of special needs children have access to her through cell phone and email. “We have to follow guidelines for the health and welfare of students and staff,” she said. “This is new to everybody, so there’s going to be a period of trial and error. We’re sending a letter to parents and planning how we can execute the directives, getting underway as soon as possible. We are being creative as we can be to adapt to different situations. We are lifelong learners and will provide the very best we can,” she pledged.
As her program targets students’ individualized needs, Martinez foresees the closure as an opportunity to fine tune what works best for each and become even more individualized. “This might turn out to be exactly what we need,” she says.
Teaching in a Remote Area
“We are not an online school,” said Superintendent of Des Moines Schools Kodi Sumpter, “yet due to the crisis we have to adjust. Our goal is to provide the best education in a different environment.”
She, her staff, and community anticipated this change and already brought together resources to provide textbooks, computer devices, and Wi-Fi to each and every one of the 90-plus enrolled students.
With the help of local Internet provider Baca Valley, offering reduced rates, and government programs, they have the critical elements in place for each family in the remote area to go on line the week of April 6.
“Every teacher has reached out to every student,” she said. “We will use Zoom, and teachers and students will be trained in that program.”
While Sumpter does not expect perfection, and despite inevitable glitches along the way, “We will take care of every student socially, emotionally, and academically.”


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IN THE NEWS: Efforts under way to expand cultural diversity includes a workforce that is culturally proficient.
San Diego Association of Government honors Sigurd Kallhovde for his rides to work
Annual concert brings together musicians from througout district
4:30 PM Scripps Ranch Cluster Meeting
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM Clairemont High Chieftain Chowdown
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM University City EdUCate Food Truck Night
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Parent Advisory Committee Meeting


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The song was taken off Stormzy forthcoming studio album ‘Heavy Is The Head’ which will be released on the 13th of December.
The music video for ‘Own It’ was directed by Nathan James Tettey. Check out the music video below.
Check the audio here
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Following paths must be set in the servers.json entry:
After packaging the *.tar.gz archives, the file will be uploaded to the server and pasted in the build directory.
For a complete tutorial see this article: https://wiki.apx.chmr.eu/doku.php?id=example_event_bmw_m8_gte_custom_liveries_autopolis
apx.py --server servername --cmd build_skins --args <pathtoyourconfig>
Introduced in version 1.0.0
build_skins will only do something if you configure and update to be build. See event configuration for more details. The command will look for files following the <shortname>_<entrynumber> file name format.
Inroduced with R80
The comman diwll not alter filenames anymore. The names must have suitable names.


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Dolly is a US Dollar bill who leaves the United States Engraving and Printing where all her friends are and departs on a heartfelt adventure where she meets a young girl named Matilda. Dolly becomes attached to Matilda but Matilda must make a painful decision on whether to give up her very first dollar bill for a friend in need. As she does make this decision, Dolly the Dollar Bills travels from W...
Grade Level: 2 - 3
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouse (December 11, 2015)
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 11 inches
Format: PDF ePub Text djvu book
- Leslie-Ann Messina pdf
- Leslie-Ann Messina ebooks
- English epub
- epub ebooks
- 1504960394 epub
Coee culture book Here Fifteen minutes with jesus in the blessed sacrament quince minutos con jesus sacramentado pdf link The vanishing neighbor the transformation of american community Nccer millwright books Go clean sexy you Here Susan mcmartin books pdf link Log horizon vol 5 light novel
.C. to many points going West. n this book, Dolly visits, Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Find out how Dolly makes new friends in Violet, the $5 five dollar bill and Billy the $10 ten dollar bill. As Dolly moves to the western part of the U.S., she is still thinking about Matilda and how to get back home to her. Find out in this second heartwarming story of friendship and not to mention learning how money travels!!


Germany will be able to survive the coming winter without energy from the Russian Federation if it fills gas storages and saves fuel. This was stated by the German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habek.
The vice-chancellor, in an interview with WirtschaftsWoche, noted that if the country had full storage by the end of the year, and if two of the four leased floating LNG tankers were connected, then Germany could “to some extent” survive the winter without Russian supplies. In this case, the country is less likely to fall into distress.
Habek noted that reducing energy consumption by 10% will help to avoid an energy crisis. We are talking about savings on the part of both individuals and industry.


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|The MAN From U.N.C.L.E. copyright METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER|
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
TV TIE-INS OF THE TIMES: PART THREE - THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. ANNUAL 1967...
The MAN From U.N.C.L.E. was big - very big. It was probably the closest thing to JAMES BOND that viewers of a certain age could watch before they were old enough to see 007 in his own big-budget movies. And NAPOLEON SOLO had been created by Bond author IAN FLEMING himself, thereby lending an air of secret agent authenticity to the show developed by SAM ROLFE for TV.
I had an attache case with U.N.C.L.E. badge and gun, plus the ID card that one sent away to the RADIO TIMES for - and it was free! I don't remember ever buying any of the Annuals though, of which there were four. The first one (above) was for 1967, and there were ones for '68, '69 & '70 as well. There was a comic album issued in 1966, and two Television Picture Story Books for '67 & '68.
The comic strip in the '67 Annual was reprinted from a GOLD KEY Man From U.N.C.L.E. comicbook, but the remainder of the contents were predominantly text stories. WORLD DISTRIBUTORS was the publisher for all three of the Annuals we've seen in this blog series thus far, and this was the format of most of their output at the time. No doubt it was down to budgetary restraints, but I can't help think that they missed a trick by not having more comic strips in their many hundreds (at least) of Annuals over the years.
Strange to think that the first Annual was issued only the year before the TV show was cancelled, and that they continued for a year (the 1970 Annual was issued in 1969) past the show's demise. However, I guess it continued in repeats for a year or two afterwards.
Posted by Kid at Tuesday, August 30, 2016


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Welcome to the Dark Parables Wiki! We're striving to create a comprehensive encyclopedia about the Dark Parables adventure / hidden object game series by Blue Tea Games and Eipix Entertainment. Please enjoy your stay, and if you have information, images, or data to add to the wiki, please do so! Thank you :)
If you're playing a Dark Parables game for the first time and would like to avoid spoilers, we at the wiki recommend you avoid that game's page and comments. Enjoy your stay!


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back to: Things to do in Banff National Park Alberta Canada
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Lake Minnewanka Cruise
On this hour-long cruise, take a break and take in the scenery along Lake Minnewanka, located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Along the way, learn about the wildlife and vegetation that populate...
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via Wall Street Journal, 15 December 2021: WSJ’s review of Revealing Krishna at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Paywalled.
Shifting a statue’s torso less than 20 degrees may not seem a big deal, but, oh, the difference it has made in a portrayal of Krishna at age 8. Made around the year 600 in Phnom Da, southern Cambodia, the life-size figure has been on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art since its 1973 acquisition. It dates from the earliest phase of Khmer stone sculpture when artists began combining imported Indian styles with a predilection for large figures in the round and features that foreshadow those of later Angkor sculptures. The museum first displayed this masterpiece as a head and torso. Then, after a 1978-79 conservation, Krishna acquired legs reconstructed from fragments also found in Phnom Da. Facing forward, the figure stood before us, beautiful and benevolent, but somewhat bland.


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The Redhouse Park Residents Association received grants from Vulcan Renewables Community Fund between 2019 and 2021, to help fund a project to construct and equip a community marquee.
The building process was a team effort being partially undertaken by residents on site, many of whom are tradesmen and had the skills needed to undertake the work.
The new marquee replaces a smaller one that had been irreparably damaged by winter weather, leaving the residents without a communal gathering space. The replacement offers a more professional solution with a hard-core base and insulation.
Amenities such as accessible toilets and a kitchen area enable it to be used as a social space for the residents serving as an event space for exercise clubs, bingo and the annual gala to name some, offering an all-weather programme throughout the year. The book corner, music corner and televisions area offer a space for residents to gather and share hobbies.
Terry Gibbs and Lynda Mackintosh, both trustees of the Vulcan Renewables Community Fund together with Michael Jarmuz, our regional feedstock manager, were very happy to attend the opening in July and to see the results of everyone’s hard work.
Linda Lawcock, Chairperson of the Residents Association commented “For me as Chair of the association it was wonderful to see the smiles on faces and hear the laughter of our residents. Many of the residents hadn’t seen the inside of the marquee and again, to see the delight on their faces when they first stepped through the door was wonderful. Now we have a facility that we can use all year round which is also accessible to our residents with reduced mobility. I am very excited and hopeful that the marquee will provide a facility to encourage the community spirit at Redhouse Park.”
Vulcan Renewables are delighted to have contributed to such a worthwhile project that benefits a local community and supports social outreach at such a crucial time.

domain: sociology


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These small, sweet, seedless golden green grapes are the most widely grown variety of grape. They’re super versatile and can be grown for wine, raisins, or table grapes.
Thompson Seedless are a softer grape. Put them in the freezer and enjoy them frozen or eat fresh out of hand. They’re great paired with creamy, soft cheeses too, juiced, or added to smoothies.
We recommend leaving your grapes attached to the stem when you store them. Cut bunches of grapes into smaller clusters to keep the stem from drying out quickly, and pick off any damaged fruit and discard.
Leave your table grapes unwashed until you’re ready to eat them, then rinse with cool water.
Store your grapes in a perforated plastic bag or in a colander in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Keep them away from ethylene releasing fruits and green onions, as the grapes could spoil more quickly or absorb the flavor of the onions.
They should last several weeks in the fridge.


Pentagon: US ground troops may join Iraqis in combat against Isis
Spencer Ackerman, Guardian
Tuesday 16 September 2014 14.50 EDT
The Pentagon leadership suggested to a Senate panel on Tuesday that US ground troops may directly join Iraqi forces in combat against the Islamic State (Isis), despite US president Barack Obama’s repeated public assurances against US ground combat in the latest Middle Eastern war.
It was the most thorough public acknowledgement yet from Pentagon leaders that the roughly 1,600 US troops Obama has deployed to Iraq since June may in fact be used in a ground combat role, something Obama has directly ruled out, most recently in a televised speech last week.
Dempsey, who has for years warned about the “unintended consequences” of Americanizing the Syrian civil war that gave rise to Isis, said he envisioned “close combat advising” for operations on the order of taking Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, away from Isis.
He also opened the door to using US “advisers” to call in air strikes from the ground, something Dempsey said they have thus far not done but which the US Central Command leader, General Lloyd Austin, initially thought would be necessary when pushing Isis away from the Mosul Dam last month.
Isis’s ultimate defeat will be a “generational” effort, Dempsey said, during which “moderate” Muslims abandon its ideology – raising questions about what the US military’s actual endpoint will be in pursuing the goal of “degrading and ultimately defeating” Isis, Obama’s stated goal.
Obama to send 1,500 more troops to Iraq as campaign expands
By Phil Stewart and Roberta Rampton, Reuters
Fri Nov 7, 2014 6:44pm EST
President Barack Obama has approved sending up to 1,500 more troops to Iraq, roughly doubling the number of U.S. forces on the ground to advise and retrain Iraqis in their battle against the militant group Islamic State, U.S. officials said on Friday.
Obama’s decision greatly expands the scope of the U.S. campaign and the geographic distribution of American forces, some of whom will head into Iraq’s fiercely contested western Anbar province for the first time to act as advisors.
About 1,400 U.S. troops are now on the ground, just below the previous limit of 1,600 troops. The new authorization gives the U.S. military the ability to deploy up to 3,100 troops.
Kirby said many of the additional American troops would be dedicated to securing bases where training and advising would take place, but he cautioned that American troops still face risks.
“We already had a couple of military deaths associated with this conflict … Nothing we do is without risk,” he said.
Officials said one location to which military advisors would soon travel was western Anbar province, bordering Syria, where Islamic State fighters are on the offensive.
First US military death announced since Isis offensive started in Iraq
Spencer Ackerman, The Guardian
Friday 24 October 2014 23.49 EDT
Marine Lance Corporal Sean P Neal, one of 1,600 troops serving in Iraq to support the Iraqi struggle against Islamic State (Isis), died of a “non-combat” injury, the US announced late on Friday. Neal, of Riverside, California, died in Baghdad, more than 7600 miles from his home, on Thursday.
Neal, 19, was the first American acknowledged to have died in Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military’s new name for the war Obama launched on August 7. Americans have been dying in Iraq since 1991, some four years before Neal was born.
Technically, Neal may not have been the first US fatality of the Iraq-Syria war against the Islamic State. Naval forces assigned to US Central Command, which has operational control of the war, acknowledged on October 3 that a Marine, Corporal Jordan L. Spears, went missing at sea in the North Arabian Gulf after bailing out of his MV-22 Osprey. Spears took off from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, which carried Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, assigned to support the war in Iraq and Syria.
Neal was a mortarman with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. He was part of the special Marine air-ground task force that deployed to Iraq around September, according to the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office. He had barely been in the Marines a year, having enlisted on July 22, 2013.
The Marines said the circumstances surrounding Neal’s death were under investigation. Marine Central Command did not immediately return inquiries seeking additional comment about how Neal died or what function he was performing in Iraq.
The second Iraq War, lasting from 2003 to 2011, claimed the lives of 4,487 American servicemembers.
Groups In Egypt And Libya Pledge Allegiance To ISIS
By: DSWright, Firedog Lake
Tuesday November 11, 2014 4:22 am
Militant Islamist groups in both Libya and Egypt have now pledged loyalty to ISIS and recognized the Islamic State. Despite efforts by governments in Iraq, Syria, neighboring states, and the US it appears ISIS has been able to continue to spread throughout the region. Though it is, in theory, incumbent upon Muslims to pledge loyalty to a caliphate once it is declared, most Muslims do not recognize the authority of ISIS. Not only do not all Muslims hold the theological views of ISIS but even many of those that do have yet to recognize ISIS as the best vehicle for the realization of the caliphate.
However, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis of Egypt and Jaish al-Isla of Libya have pledged their loyalty to ISIS and sought to both recruit others as well as emulate ISIS’ tactics of taking and holding territory. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis is of a particular concern given both their location and capabilities while Jaish al-Isla appears more indicative of the collapse of Libya into fragments, providing another opening for ISIS.
What does seem to be clear is that the United States’ involvement in the fight against ISIS is not isolating the group. If anything, it has increased their popularity in the region and legitimized them among other Islamic militant groups.
America’s George W. Bush disorder: Why our new Iraq war is doomed to fail
Peter Van Buren, Salon
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2014 07:15 AM EST
Karl von Clausewitz, the famed Prussian military thinker, is best known for his aphorism “War is the continuation of state policy by other means.” But what happens to a war in the absence of coherent state policy?
Actually, we now know. Washington’s Iraq War 3.0, Operation Inherent Resolve, is what happens. In its early stages, I asked sarcastically, “What could possibly go wrong?” As the mission enters its fourth month, the answer to that question is already grimly clear: just about everything. It may be time to ask, in all seriousness: What could possibly go right?
Short answer: Almost nothing. Squint really, really hard and maybe the “good news” is that IS has not yet taken control of much of the rest of Iraq and Syria, and that Baghdad hasn’t been lost. These possibilities, however, were unlikely even without U.S. intervention.
And there might just possibly be one “victory” on the horizon, though the outcome still remains unclear. Washington might “win” in the IS-besieged Kurdish town of Kobane, right on the Turkish border. If so, it will be a faux victory guaranteed to accomplish nothing of substance. After all, amid the bombing and the fighting, the town has nearly been destroyed. What comes to mind is a Vietnam War-era remark by an anonymous American officer about the bombed provincial capital of Ben Tre: “It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.”
More than 200,000 refugees have already fled Kobane, many with doubts that they will ever be able to return, given the devastation. The U.S. has gone to great pains to point out just how many IS fighters its air strikes have killed there. Exactly 464, according to a U.K.-based human rights group, a number so specific as to be suspect, but no matter. As history suggests, body counts in this kind of war mean little.
And that, folks, is the “good news.” Now, hold on, because here’s the bad news.
The U.S. Department of State lists 60 participants in the coalition of nations behind the U.S. efforts against the Islamic State. Many of those countries (Somalia, Iceland, Croatia, and Taiwan, among them) have never been heard from again outside the halls of Foggy Bottom. There is no evidence that America’s Arab “allies” like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, whose funding had long-helped extreme Syrian rebel groups, including IS, and whose early participation in a handful of air strikes was trumpeted as a triumph, are still flying.
Absent the few nations that often make an appearance at America’s geopolitical parties (Canada, the Brits, the Aussies, and increasingly these days, the French), this international mess has quickly morphed into Washington’s mess. Worse yet, nations like Turkey that might actually have taken on an important role in defeating the Islamic State seem to be largely sitting this one out. Despite the way it’s being reported in the U.S., the new war in the Middle East looks, to most of the world, like another case of American unilateralism, which plays right into the radical Islamic narrative.
Though Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi chose a Sunni to head the country’s Defense Ministry and direct a collapsed Iraqi army, his far more-telling choice was for Interior Minister. He picked Mohammed Ghabban, a little-known Shia politician who just happens to be allied with the Badr Organization.
Even if few in the U.S. remember the Badr folks, every Sunni in Iraq does. During the American occupation, the Badr militia ran notorious death squads, after infiltrating the same Interior Ministry they basically now head. The elevation of a Badr leader to – for Sunnis – perhaps the most significant cabinet position of all represents several nails in the coffin of Iraqi unity. It is also in line with the increasing influence of the Shia militias the Baghdad government has called on to defend the capital at a time when the Iraqi Army is incapable of doing the job.
Those militias have used the situation as an excuse to ramp up a campaign of atrocities against Sunnis whom they tag as “IS,” much as in Iraq War 2.0 most Sunnis killed were quickly labeled “al-Qaeda.” In addition, the Iraqi military has refused to stop shelling and carrying out air strikes on civilian Sunni areas despite a prime ministerial promise that they would do so. That makes al-Abadi look both ineffectual and disingenuous. An example? This week, Iraq renamed a town on the banks of the Euphrates River to reflect a triumph over IS. Jurf al-Sakhar, or “rocky bank,” became Jurf al-Nasr, or “victory bank.” However, the once-Sunni town is now emptied of its 80,000 residents, and building after building has been flattened by air strikes, bombings, and artillery fire coordinated by the Badr militia.
Meanwhile, Washington clings to the most deceptive trope of Iraq War 2.0: the claim that the Anbar Awakening – the U.S. military’s strategy to arm Sunni tribes and bring them into the new Iraq while chasing out al-Qaeda-in-Iraq (the “old” IS) – really worked on the ground. By now, this is a bedrock truth of American politics.
Having deluded itself into believing this myth, Washington now hopes to recreate the Anbar Awakening and bring the same old Sunnis into the new, new Iraq while chasing out IS (the “new” al-Qaeda).
To convince yourself that this will work, you have to ignore the nature of the government in Baghdad and believe that Iraqi Sunnis have no memory of being abandoned by the U.S. the first time around. What comes to mind is one commentator’s view of the present war: if at first we don’t succeed, do the same thing harder, with better technology, and at greater expense.
Unlike the U.S., the Islamic State has a coherent strategy and it has the initiative. Its militants have successfully held and administered territory over time. When faced with air power they can’t counter, as at Iraq’s giant Mosul Dam in August, its fighters have, in classic insurgent fashion, retreated and regrouped. The movement is conducting a truly brutal and bloody hearts and minds-type campaign, massacring Sunnis who oppose them and Shias they capture. In one particularly horrific incident, IS killed over 300 Sunnis and threw their bodies down a well. It has also recently made significant advances toward the Kurdish capital, Erbil, reversing earlier gains by the peshmerga. IS leaders are effectively deploying their own version of air strikes – suicide bombers – into the heart of Baghdad and have already loosed the first mortars into the capital’s Green Zone, home of the Iraqi government and the American Embassy, to gnaw away at morale.
IS’s chief sources of funding, smuggled oil and ransom payments, remain reasonably secure, though the U.S. bombing campaign and a drop in global oil prices have noticeably cut into its oil revenues. The movement continues to recruit remarkably effectively both in and outside the Middle East. Every American attack, every escalatory act, every inflated statement about terrorist threats validates IS to its core radical Islamic audience.
Things are trending poorly in Syria as well. The Islamic State profits from the power vacuum created by the Assad regime’s long-term attempt to suppress a native Sunni “moderate” uprising. Al-Qaeda-linked fighters have just recently overrun key northern bastions previously controlled by U.S.-backed Syrian rebel groups and once again, as in Iraq, captured U.S. weapons have landed in the hands of extremists. Nothing has gone right for American hopes that moderate Syrian factions will provide significant aid in any imaginable future in the broader battle against IS.
Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin Dempsey has twice made public statements revealing his dissatisfaction with White House policy. In September, he said it would take 12,000 to 15,000 ground troops to effectively go after the Islamic State. Last month, he suggested that American ground troops might, in the future, be necessary to fight IS. Those statements contrast sharply with Obama’s insistence that there will never be U.S. combat troops in this war.
Taken as a whole, the military’s near-mutinous posture is eerily reminiscent of MacArthur’s refusal to submit to President Harry Truman’s political will during the Korean War. But don’t hold your breath for a Trumanesque dismissal of Dempsey any time soon. In the meantime, the Pentagon’s sights seem set on a fall guy, likely Susan Rice, who is particularly close to the president.
The Pentagon has laid down its cards and they are clear enough: the White House is mismanaging the war. And its message is even clearer: given the refusal to consider sending in those ground-touching boots, Operation Inherent Resolve will fail. And when that happens, don’t blame us; we warned you.
The U.S. military came out of the Vietnam War vowing one thing: when Washington went looking for someone to blame, it would never again be left holding the bag. According to a prominent school of historical thinking inside the Pentagon, the military successfully did what it was asked to do in Vietnam, only to find that a lack of global strategy and an over-abundance of micromanagement from America’s political leaders made it seem like the military had failed. This grew from wartime mythology into bedrock Pentagon strategic thinking.
The idea worked almost too well, reaching its peak in Iraq War 1.0, Operation Desert Storm. In the minds of politicians from president George H.W. Bush on down, that “victory” wiped the slate clean of Vietnam, only to set up every disaster that would follow from the Bush 43 wars to Obama’s air strikes today. You don’t have to have a crystal ball to see the writing in the sand in Iraq and Syria. The military can already sense the coming failure that hangs like a miasma over Washington.
In or out, boots or not, whatever its own mistakes and follies, those who run the Pentagon and the U.S. military are already campaigning strategically to win at least one battle: when Iraq 3.0 collapses, as it most surely will, they will not be the ones hung out to dry. Of the very short list of what could go right, the smart money is on the Pentagon emerging victorious – but only in Washington, not the Middle East.
Just something to think about this Remembrance Day.


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PetSmart Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed at two of Toronto Cat Rescue’s affiliated PetSmart locations in Brampton and Vaughan. We are currently seeking volunteers to visit the cats in-store to make sure they have fresh food and water, clean bedding, dishes and litter boxes, as well as spend time cuddling and playing with the kitties! The shifts are one hour each and we need volunteers to go into the store each day to care for the kitties. Training is provided. session. Please fill in our Volunteer Application if you would like to help!
PetSmart Brampton: 547 Steeles Ave. East / 905-874-9999 / map
PetSmart Vaughan: 7575 Weston Road / 905-850-8970 / map

domain: pet


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New York Times bestselling author Barry Eisler spent three years in a covert position with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, then worked as a technology lawyer and start-up executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan Judo Institute along the way. Eisler’s award-winning thrillers have been included in numerous Best Of lists, have been translated into nearly twenty languages, and include the #1 bestsellers The Detachment, Livia Lone, The Night Trade, and The Killer Collective. Eisler lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when he’s not writing novels, blogs about national security and the media. For more information, visit www.barryeisler.com.
“Another high-fatality, high-spirited revenge fantasy.” —Kirkus
“Eisler juggles the complicated plot and large cast, imbuing his diverse characters with robust backstory and emotional motivation.” —Publishers Weekly
“Eisler’s eleventh novel to star John Rain is a spectacular revenge story. Eisler, who was briefly a covert operative for the CIA, has an energetic writing style: his dialogue gets right to the point, and his action scenes are clean and vividly rendered. The John Rain novels seem to fly under the radar of many genre fans, even though they deserve to sit alongside Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels and Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills’s Mitch Rapp thrillers.” —Booklist