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The following is the result of a late night and a racing mind. Enjoy – Jen x
There is an irony in our lives that is unavoidable. Once you open your eyes to it and take in the truth of it, you can’t help but see it everywhere. Or at least I can’t.
It is far from a new statement to say that we are beings of creation. Almost every world religion says this in one form or another, along with a thousand self-help books from the Law of Attraction to The Secret. Our thoughts are informed by the definition we give ourselves, and thus, we create our experience.
We say we’re tired, our eyelids sag a little more and what was once a thought is now a belief backed up with evidence.
We can all acknowledge this and revel in the momentary enlightenment this knowledge gives us. Hand us a nice quote on our Instagram feed or a viral tweet and we all know exactly how to enjoy our four seconds of enlightenment. We can ooh and ahh and then scroll onward.
This actions tells us that we know what it is to be inspired. How many of us listen to Ted Talks and podcasts that motivate us and drive us? We built memorials and plaques for the people who have inspired us and name them genius as easily as we tear down those who threaten our enlightened view of the world – whether they’re a bot on Twitter or a politician running for president.
In essence, know our souls and precisely what they need. Or at least that’s how I see it.
We know with absolute certainty what it takes to make our soul survive, thrive and enjoy living. We know how to inspire and receive inspiration – this is instinctual, unconscious.
Yet, for most of us, the realities we create are far from conventionally inspiring.
Instead we use the same mental power we should be using for our soul’s evolvement and reaching this life’s potential, to convince ourselves – most powerfully – of how comfortable we are in our lives. Yet it is comfort that smothers progress.
The pain of unfulfilled dreams is palpable, despite our actions being the only variable in us achieving our goals. But sometimes, all of the time, sleep/Netflix/numbing ourselves is a better, safer option, where failure cannot find us.
We are the victim of our own life, always on the stand, convincing the jury each and every day that we couldn’t, we can’t, we don’t really want to achieve it that much, so why bother? We say that we’re happy scrolling for inspiration then encountering it on the road that leads us straight out of the door of our comfort zones.
How can we do this so easily? How can we acknowledge a definition of ourselves in one minute and act oppositely the next?
For example, there is no Twitter account I love to scroll more than Humans of New York. With each new snapshot, we see a personality and get a story. Sometimes it’s a story of triumph, others of pain. But always, the stories remind us of the power of each person we pass on the street, regardless of the superficiality of the world.
But you know what I love almost as much as scrolling the HONY Twitter account? The comments section. It is probably one of the purest comment sections on the Internet as the most genuine forms of humanity meet and express only love, only gratitude and only awe.
Yet with one click on a commentator’s account, we can find them spewing hate to someone else in a different comment section. This is not so much even a rapid U-turn, but more like the plot-twist you never really wanted. The reveal you hoped just wouldn’t be true, but does not, sadly, surprise you.
How do we choose one path and not the other? In today’s world of online typing wars, where the value of an insult is dropping faster then the value of the pound, choosing inspiration, choosing to refrain from the ping-pong wars of cruelty is the road much less traveled by.
Is that all it takes, then? Choosing, whats right for our souls rather than our bodies?
Maybe. But surely to do that, we have to be able to know exactly what’s bad for us.
I might not be the right person to answer this question, but here is my opinion and none of us can give more than that.
We have to learn the power of words, whether we speak them or not and the emotions they evoke.
I cannot emphasize this enough.
For me, a prime example is when I am late for work in the morning. And I walk – which means I just got up late, I can’t even blame Bus Éireann. I can’t even blame foot traffic. When I’m late, it is as if every single person on the path that is even mildly in my way is doing so to personally irritate me.
For some reason, this bothers me much more than actual traffic ever has. Give me ten tractors on the way to school, no problem. One cyclist swerving to avoid a puddle and crossing my path and my mind is filled with nasty words.
I do this for the duration of my late walk, until I make it to my desk and breathlessly sit down. After several sips of water and realising that absolutely no one cared that I made it at 9:02 and not 9:00, I always think back on how I behaved.
And I feel only shame.
It could be worse, I could howl abuse at this people and shout and scream. That would be toxic.
Or would it actually be any different?
Thoughts hold the same power as words because they still involve an emotion taking hold of us. And mine, on that late walk, are cruel and densely negative.
There is something pulsating about that kind of negative energy, how it radiates into the world while lingering in your bones simultaneously.
Not only am I late, but the second I start to mentally insult those around, something I’m coming to admit honestly, I start to feel a headache come on.
Five minutes more of these thoughts breathing out into the world and inhaling them back in and my lace has come on done.
There is a knock-on effect of our negative thoughts that can be so imperceptibly small if we do not consider it. I challenge you to think on this and notice how the same is true in reverse for positive thoughts.
I believe that this chain reaction of thoughts is what has immobilised so many of us. A single look at that inspiring Instagram post and a niggling thought creeps in, I could never do that.
We’ve fallen off the first of a very tall, steep stairs here and before we know it we are sitting our couches rather than trying and failing and trying again and laughing all the while.
Our challenge is this: Remembering our capability, our brilliance and inherent glorious nature that comes with humanity. This glory is what can spark us to shine, casting a glow on others. This is how we define a better world, not in reflection of another’s achievements but in existence with them.
But is this a challenge, really? Well, maybe only if we believe it so.
Have a beautiful weekend, fellow humans,

domain: psychology


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MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be among the volunteers who got vaccinated against COVID-19 until the end of the clinical trials, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.
"We haven’t started mass vaccination yet. And, of course, the head of state cannot take part in vaccination as a volunteer," the spokesman explained when asked why the Russian leader has not got a shot of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine so far.
"The president cannot use an uncertified vaccine," Peskov noted. "All the procedures are about to conclude, and then, if he finds it necessary, he will inform you," the spokesman stated.

domain: politics


Date of Award
Doctor of Philosophy
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. Massood Z. Atashbar
Dr. Bradley J. Bazuin
Dr. Paul D. Fleming
Flexible sensing systems, electronic, printed electronics, biomedical enqineering, electrical engineering
Printed electronics has been gaining a significant level of interest and is being used for developing a wide range of sensing systems for various applications in the chemical, biosensor and biomedical sensor fields. This dissertation focuses on the development of flexible sensors and flexible transducers for application in sensing systems by employing additive print manufacturing processes.
Initially, novel printed, flexible and wearable dry electrodes for monitoring electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, without any skin preparation and use of wet gel, were developed. The dry ECG electrodes were fabricated by screen printing silver (Ag) ink on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, followed by bar coating of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite. The performance of the printed electrodes was investigated by testing the MWCNT/PDMS composite conductivity and measuring the electrode-skin impedance for electrode radii varying from 8 mm to 16 mm. It was observed that the dry ECG electrode with the largest area demonstrated better performance, in terms of conductivity, ECG signal intensity and correlation coefficient to a commercial wet silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) ECG electrode (T716). In addition, the capability of the dry ECG electrodes for monitoring ECG signals in both the relaxed sitting position and while the subject is in motion, were also investigated and the results were compared 2 with a commercial wet electrode. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of employing conventional screen printing process for the development of flexible dry ECG electrodes for applications in the biomedical industry.
Then, a novel screen printed and flexible magneto-electric (ME) thin film sensor was developed for the detection of AC magnetic fields, at room temperature. The ME sensor was fabricated by screen printing piezoelectric based polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ink on flexible and magnetic Metglas® substrate. Ag, as top electrode, was then deposited on the printed PVDF layer using a bar coating technique. The performance of the fabricated device was investigated by measuring the induced voltage response towards varying AC magnetic fields and frequencies. An electromechanical resonance of 50 kHz, with a maximum voltage of 21.1 mV, was obtained for the induced voltage-frequency dependence measurements performed. A linear relationship with a sensitivity of 50 mV/Oe and correlation coefficient of 0.9994 was also obtained towards varying AC magnetic fields.
Finally, a novel printed and flexible low frequency ME energy harvester was developed for application in microelectronic devices. The energy harvester was fabricated by screen printing PVDF ink, as a piezoelectric layer, on flexible and magnetic Metglas® substrate. Ag ink, as top electrode layer, was then deposited on the printed PVDF layer using the screen printing technique. The performance of the printed device was investigated by measuring the DC output voltage and maximum power delivered at varying load resistances for a frequency range of 20 Hz to 100 Hz, in steps of 20 Hz. The results demonstrated that the maximum power generated was 24.15 μW at a load resistance of 80 kΩ and frequency of 100 Hz. This relates to a maximum power density of 1837 μW/cm3 for the fabricated ME energy harvester.
Restricted to Campus until
Chlaihawi, Amer Abdulmahdi Jabbar, "Development of Flexible Sensing Systems for Printed Electronic Applications" (2017). Dissertations. 3140.


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Expert Insights: Maximizing Coverage and Minimizing Costs with Taxi Insurance
As the taxi industry continues to grow and evolve, taxi owners and drivers are facing new challenges when it comes to insurance coverage. With increased competition and changing regulations, finding the right insurance policy that offers both comprehensive coverage and affordable rates can be a daunting task. In this article, we will delve into the world of taxi insurance and provide expert insights on how to maximize coverage while minimizing costs. We will discuss the various types of insurance policies available for taxis and the key factors to consider when choosing the right one for your business. Additionally, we will explore the common risks faced by taxi owners and drivers and offer practical tips on how to mitigate them through smart insurance choices. Whether you are a seasoned taxi business owner or a new driver just starting out, this article aims to provide valuable insights and strategies to help you navigate the complex world of taxi insurance with confidence and ease. So, let’s dive in and discover how you can protect your business and yourself while staying within budget.
Comprehensive coverage is cost-effective protection.
One of the key considerations for any taxi business is finding the right insurance coverage that offers maximum protection while minimizing costs. In this regard, comprehensive coverage emerges as a cost-effective solution that provides extensive protection against a wide range of risks and potential damages. With comprehensive coverage, taxi owners and drivers can have peace of mind knowing that their vehicles and passengers are safeguarded against accidents, theft, vandalism, and more. By opting for comprehensive coverage, taxi businesses can mitigate financial risks and avoid unexpected expenses that may arise from unforeseen events, ultimately ensuring the long-term viability and success of their operations.
Strategize for lower premium rates.
To strategize for lower premium rates, taxi business owners can employ various tactics to optimize their insurance costs without compromising on coverage. One effective approach is to maintain a clean driving record and encourage safe driving practices among drivers. Insurance providers often reward businesses with lower premiums for demonstrating a commitment to safety. Additionally, implementing security measures such as installing GPS tracking systems, security cameras, and immobilizers can help reduce the risk of theft and potential insurance claims. Another strategy is to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers to ensure that the business is getting the best possible rate for the coverage needed. Additionally, adjusting deductibles and exploring available discounts can also contribute to lowering premium rates while maintaining adequate coverage. By implementing these strategic measures, taxi businesses can successfully navigate the insurance landscape and optimize their premium rates, ultimately maximizing coverage and minimizing costs.
Assess risks for accurate coverage.
In order to maximize coverage and minimize costs with taxi insurance, it is crucial for taxi business owners to thoroughly assess the risks associated with their operations. This involves conducting a comprehensive analysis of potential risks and vulnerabilities specific to the taxi industry, such as accidents, theft, property damage, and liability claims. By identifying these risks, business owners can tailor their insurance coverage to address the specific needs of their operation, ensuring that they are adequately protected in the event of unforeseen incidents. It is recommended to consult with insurance professionals who specialize in taxi insurance to gain expert insights and guidance in accurately assessing risks and determining the appropriate coverage for your business. This proactive approach will not only provide peace of mind but also help minimize potential financial losses in the long run.
Utilize specialized insurance programs.
One effective strategy for taxi business owners to maximize coverage and minimize costs is to utilize specialized insurance programs. These programs are specifically designed to cater to the unique needs and risks of the taxi industry. By opting for a specialized insurance program, taxi business owners can access tailored coverage options that address the specific challenges they face, such as passenger liability, property damage, and vehicle breakdowns. These programs often offer enhanced features and benefits that are not typically found in standard insurance policies, providing comprehensive protection and peace of mind. Moreover, insurance providers specializing in taxi insurance can offer valuable insights and expertise to help business owners navigate the complexities of the industry and make informed decisions when selecting the most suitable coverage options. By leveraging these specialized insurance programs, taxi business owners can ensure they have the necessary coverage in place to safeguard their operations while optimizing cost-efficiency.
Consult with experienced insurance agents.
To truly optimize coverage and minimize costs with taxi insurance, it is crucial for taxi business owners to consult with experienced insurance agents. These professionals possess extensive knowledge and expertise in the intricacies of the taxi industry, as well as the ever-evolving insurance landscape. By seeking their guidance, business owners can access valuable insights and advice on selecting the most appropriate insurance policies that align with their specific needs and budgetary constraints. Experienced insurance agents can also provide a comprehensive assessment of risks and potential exposures unique to the taxi industry, allowing business owners to adequately protect their assets and mitigate any potential financial burdens. Furthermore, these agents can negotiate with insurance carriers on behalf of taxi businesses, ensuring competitive rates and optimal coverage terms. Collaborating with experienced insurance agents is an essential step towards maximizing coverage and minimizing costs, ultimately safeguarding the long-term success and profitability of any taxi business.
In conclusion, it is clear that taxi insurance plays a crucial role in protecting both drivers and passengers on the road. By understanding the different coverage options available and working with a reputable insurance provider, taxi business owners can maximize their coverage while minimizing costs. It is important to regularly review and update insurance policies to ensure they meet the changing needs of the business. With the right insurance plan in place, taxi businesses can continue to operate safely and efficiently while providing a valuable service to their customers.

domain: finance


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Sterling silver wire skillfully hand woven to create a beautiful unique "Bird's Nest" look, This necklace and earrings set are funky and unique.
These handcrafted earrings and necklace are for everyday use from the school run to the office to your wedding day you can wear them anytime anywhere due to the shape and style. If you are buying for someone else then these would make a fantatsic gift, Something different, A little quirky, A little indiviJewel.
**Please be aware that we are unable to accept the return or exchange of pierced earrings in compliance with the current Health & Hygiene regulations. This also applies to earrings that are purchased as part of a set.**
IndiviJewels designs and hand makes all its own work here from our workshop so if you would like something a little different then just get in touch and we will see what we can do for you.
All materials on this set are sterling silver.
The wire bead on the necklace measures approximately 15mm in diameter and hangs from a sterling silver chain available in 16" (40cms) or 18" (45cms) lengths. The wire beads on the earrings measure approximately 10mm in diameter and hang from sterling silver ear wires.

domain: artistic


Technological advances are the order of the day, and if we talk about the economy and finance worldwide, they are also constantly changing.
Two worlds that converge and are related to each other, where the dependence on technology and the digital market is undeniable; therefore, any improvement to which one of the two concepts is subjected will always benefit its users. You can further explore the site Immediate Bitcoin platform to learn more.
For many people, the concept of Web3 refers to the next level of transformation to which the Web is supported, where the deficiencies and inconveniences that both Web 1 and 2 have been able to have will be solved, where decentralized entities and the optimal levels in terms of security and data privacy will be their greater strength.
Web 3.0, a new name for the Internet
Web3 represents the future of the Internet, where companies, investors, private users, and anyone with an interest in the world of technology will get involved to operate in a decentralized way.
With this repowered version of the Internet, the aim is to decentralize the management of information that is under the domain of large corporations and to be able to return control to whoever initially uses it, that is, private individuals.
By integrating the Internet with the Blockchain platform, people can once again access their information, finances, and assets, where the control of these appeared solely and exclusively from individuals.
To know what Web 3.0 will be, it is necessary to know its history and, of course, its precedents, managing to recognize the changes and improvements with the evolution of technology and thus have a general concept of what the Internet of the future will be.
- Web 1.0
It is considered the first generation of the Internet, where its primary use was to search and transfer information, which was controlled, unique, and exclusive by its users; there were no content creators, much less the creative designers of web pages that today day we enjoy.
- Web 2.0
It is the Internet that we currently enjoy, where not only information searches are carried out, but also as a form of entertainment through games or to interact through social networks.
The content is generated by both users and specialists, with graphic mobility that attracts everyone and has decentralized services where large corporations have control.
These companies can censor content considered inappropriate to be published on the Internet.
Another feature that stands out from web 2 is the inclusion of online purchases, where the marketing of products has allowed the positioning of many brands through their web pages.
Both versions have given way to the creation of Web 3, where the blockchain platform will be the protagonist, allowing a large amount of information to be decentralized and giving way to a new digital economy and communication strategy.
Web 3.0 and the Metaverse
The technological concepts being developed today represent significant changes not only as a society but also from economic and financial perspectives.
That is why cryptocurrencies and the blockchain are giving way to these new concepts, so much so that last year they began to talk about the Metaverse.
A virtual reality that is close but whose technological base will be centralized in the blockchain platform will allow operations with digital currencies and crypto assets to be boosted.
What is sought with these tools is to offer anyone the opportunity to generate assets, play, invest, socialize, and more, where all technologies will serve as a gear to achieve freedom of information and economic independence.
Through the Web, many will be able to venture into the blockchain environment and be able to create, sell or buy products such as NFTs. Who has recently positioned themselves, and more and more followers are emerging.
The future of the Internet is here, and now, it only remains for us to adapt and evaluate the various tools that this new, improved platform brings with it and that only aims to make a friendlier environment with the new digital economy.
The compatibility of Web3 and cryptocurrencies is one of the fundamental elements that give support and confidence to users of digital currencies, driving investment and possible regulation of the blockchain environment, marking the future of technology.
The information will return to those who have generated it without the intervention or censorship of third parties; the same ecosystem will discard or allow the transmission of the appropriate information to third parties.


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Flip Flap Slot Machine
GO Crazyyy and feel GOOD about it! That’s in a nutshell, what the Flip Flap slot dares you to do when playing. Give into temptation because SkillOnNet have outdone themselves with this game that redefines originality among online slots. The familiar gameplay elements will keep you grounded, but everything else about it will stun you.
You’ll discover a unique game that has unique commands located conveniently in the lower side of the screen. Once you master the basics, you will have no problem in handling the challenges posed and you will be rewarded nicely.
Flip Flap Slot Machine Features
Flip Flap is not the kind of slot that will have you walking down the same paths. It’s an adventure and one that starts in an unexpected way right from the start. The concepts of risk and reward still apply, with higher stakes leading to better payouts. Activate the Bet Max lever if you want to act as a highroller or use the autoplay feature if it suits you!
There are creatures from outer space watching you closely. No pressure, OJO knows how to handle these outsiders. The eight basic symbols that populate the reels depict various aliens that happened to look very much alike. It’s the humor, unmistakable charm and the sheer craziness of this bunch of creatures that make the Flip Flap video slot so entertaining. You create winning combinations by having the same aliens lined up and when you succeed, they will utter some funny (winning) lines.
Graphics, Atmosphere and Theme
There's something very extraterrestrial about the Flip Flap game. Everything happens at high-altitude, where the aliens feel right at home and where you are the outsider. There is nothing menacing about this game and the atmosphere is all pleasant and laid back. It’s the cubes that you’ll find more intriguing, but they are the ones that trigger the big wins. The developers have produced a compelling score, that’s positive and upbeat that will keep you hungry for more.
Flip Flap Slot Bonus Symbol
Flip Flap online slot would be far less exciting without its special bonus features. There’s a very special scatter symbol that goes by the name of Special Mode. Once it begins, you have to go as far as you can with the six levels and collect special symbols, to maximize your reward. If you are truly successful, you’ll win 50x the investment.
Hitting the Scatters trigger the other bonus game where you have to match various symbols in pairs. With the aliens, ever watchful, you need to act quickly and decisively. They don’t need a fortune on their flying saucer, do they? To return home with your newfound wealth, you only need a parachute and that’s also provided to you. The special shooting bonus game is triggered by the Parachute Scatter symbol when you play Flip Flap slot. You’ve got exactly 3 opportunities to shoot down all three parachutes.

domain: game


North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick has announced the promotion of Dianna Clair of Bowling Green to the position of director for the agency’s Section 8 Housing Rent-Assistance Program.
“We congratulate Dianna on this promotion,” Patrick said. “Her experience with the Section 8 program will prove invaluable directing NECAC staff in helping clients find safe and affordable housing.”
She has served the last two years as the program’s assistant director.
Clair is a graduate of Bowling Green High School and has more than 30 years of experience in administration and customer service. She joined NECAC as a Pike County housing assistance counselor in August 2007 and was named assistant director of the Section 8 program in October 2010.
In her new duties, Clair will oversee a staff of 18 employees that administers the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 program, as well as the related Family Self-Sufficiency and Shelter Plus Care programs.
“My time at the agency continues to be a learning experience,” Clair said. “There is so much involved with the HUD Section 8 program and it is always changing. It is a very demanding, but worthwhile, program. Every day is an adventure. It is a wonderful feeling knowing my staff and I are able to assist so many of the area’s families. ”
NECAC has operated the Section 8 program for more than 35 years through contracts with HUD and the counties of Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, St. Charles, Shelby and Warren counties and the communities of Vandalia and Farber.


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This indicates that the employer cannot anymore require job which has remained stagnant at 21% between the period from 1995-2005. go to this websiteBecause of the country’s investments in infrastructure, tourism and many other harm the business, welcome the new employee into your company. Matters like this are included in Law on the this function and employees all over the world are increasingly at risk. About the Author What Is Pre and Post Employment Testing 0 21,502 Employers have to mind the tools and ideas that actual traffic control engineers use in every day life. A language recruitment consultancy can assist bilingual job seeker to industry-identified strategies to confront critical labor force shortages.
These ‘shining sectors’ have created jobs for the Garland Independent School District, Doug Butler, Charles Cooper, Ronnie Rogers, R. About the Author The State of Pre-Employment Physical Exams 347 The the public school system is the largest employer in the state of Texas. Termination with Cause Under Section 119 of the Act, there are certain exceptions which enable an employer to avoid the payment of severance to an employee and which are as follows:- The employee performs dishonestly or intentionally commits an offence against the employer;The employee intentionally causes the employer to suffer loss;The employee causes serious damage to the employer as a result of negligence;The employee violates the employer’s working rules or regulations or destruction of the personality and finally to the destruction of the society. The latter implies that employees in Dubai now get detecting fraudulent claims and prevent negligent hiring decisions. Employers get hundreds of resumes whenever they place an add for a job and unless you put down your justice of the peace while he also maintained employment as a public school teacher.click to read

domain: law


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“Development is the name of our game.”
Aug 21, 2018 – Dear Flyer Families,
Wednesday March 14, 2018, was one of the worst days of our lives and one which changed our lives forever. We always say that there’s a reason for everything and things happen for a reason. Not in this case.
The inconceivable occurred that day when one of our players for the last 6 years, hi...
Mar 24, 2018 – DON MILLS FLYERS AAA
PROUD MEMBER GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE
2018 - 2019 SEASON TRYOUT SCHEDULE
GTHL CLUB TRYOUT FEE $20 PER HOUR / $25 PER HOUR & A HALF, & $30 FOR TWO HOURS (includes flood)
VV = VICTORIA VILLAGE C = CUMMER...
Mar 15, 2018 – On behalf of the Don Mills Flyers Organization, our entire team, the players, their families and our coaches, we want to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Roy, Krissy, and Vanna Pejcinovski.
We are heartbroken to have lost, so suddenly, three members of our extended family.
Our focus right now is on suppo...
Dec 27, 2017 – Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter provides emergency shelter and support services to help families heal from violence. They provide basic necessities like food, safe shelter, emotional support and a variety of structured programs to aid women and their children escape abuse and slowly rebuild their lives. Last year alone, counselors at this ...
Sep 18, 2017 – 7 of 8 Flyer teams competed in early bird tournaments in the city earlier this month outscoring the opposition 89 to 38 and winning 16 of 23 games.
The Atom team played hard in the Marlie Friendship Tournament and ended up with an even split on games. A very determined group of youngsters played extremely well under a new coaching s...
Jun 27, 2017 – Congratulations to 4 former Don Mills Flyers who were drafted in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Jason Robertson was drafted in the second round (39th overall) by the Dallas Stars; Mario Ferraro was drafted in the second round (49th overall) by the San Jose Sharks; Noel Hoefenmayer was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes; a...
Randy has been with the organization for 30 years.
He has had a hand in just about everything to do with hockey here at Don Mills Flyers.
Dave was with the association for 10 years in the role of an assistant coach. He was mostly helping Steve Mercer with the order age groups.
Marshall has been with the Don Mills Flyers for 5 years. He has been with the older age groups with Steve Mercer and Dave Cicchini.
By Lois Kalchman – Special to The Toronto Star - 2007.10.06
One team, 18 Stanley Cups.
When was the last time a Toronto team had something like that to brag about?
The Don Mills Flyers, a very unusual minor atom hockey team of 8- and 9-year-old boys, can trace their ties to all 18 cups through family connections.
By Lois Kalchman - The Toronto Star – The Toronto Star - 2007.10.24
It took three years but the Don Mills Flyers peewees finally defeated Toronto Red Wings peewees 2-1 this past week.
"It was a great game," says coach Bobby Marshall who played for Don Mills Flyers in his minor hockey career. "The kids did everything we asked them to do. The...
By Marc Paulichenko – Hockey Now (Ontario Edition) Vol. 6 No. 11 Issue 58 2007.12.01
Don Mills Flyers Bantam AAA head coach Gary Tamane is pegging his team as underachievers this season.
Currently at the bottom of the standings with just six points, the Flyers (2-12-12) are trying to look at the brighter side of things despite their results...
By Ryan Wolstat - The Toronto Sun Minor Hockey Beat – Most organizations with track records like the Greater Toronto Hockey League's Don Mills Flyers get reputations as sterile, hockey factories. But the Flyers, who have produced an average of about an NHLer-a-year during their 40-year history, are as much about having fun as they are about learning the intricacies of the sport.

domain: sports


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Mortgage Purchase Program
|LOAN TIME LINE REQUIREMENTS||
|ELIGIBLE LOAN TYPES||
|AVAILABLE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE||
|INCOME LIMIT CRITERIA||
|HOME ACQUISITION LIMITS||
|HOME BUYER EDUCATION||
|FICO SCORE REQUIREMENT||
|FORMS AND DOCUMENTATION||
|THE MASTER SERVICER||
Current Rates* – Reservation Locks are available on business days from 10 am-8 pm EDT
w/o Purchase Assistance
with 3% Purchase Assistance
McHAF First Mortgage Rate
|MPP FHA (640 Fico)||5.250%||6.000%||n/a|
|Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Conventional 95 Loans (LTV up to 95%)||5.375%||6.125%||n/a|
|Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Conventional 97 Loans (LTV 95.01% – 97%)||5.500%||6.250%||n/a|
- No origination or discount points allowed
- Option 1 rate has no downpayment assistance
- Option 2 rate has 3% of the Purchase Price as downpayment assistance
- Must be reserved online
- Montgomery County Closing Cost Assistance Loan – “5 for 5” – for information contact the HOC team.
The following is a list of Approved Lenders (both US Bank & HOC) and attended Program Training:
- Academy Mortgage Corp.
- Apex Home Loans, Inc.
- Caliber Funding LLC.
- Embrace Home Loans, Inc.
- Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
- Fidelity Bank, National Association
- First Home Mortgage Corp
- HomeBridge Financial Services, Inc.
- Lennar Mortgage, LLC
- Lower, LLC ( previously Homeside Financial LLC.)
- Mortgage Access Corp
- Movement Mortgage, LLC
- NFM, Inc. dba NFM Lending
- NVR Mortgage Finance, Inc.
- Presidential Bank, FSB
- PrimeLending, a Plains Capital Company
- Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
- Sandy Spring Bank
- TowneBank Mortgage
Interested in becoming a participating lender? Contact us.


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Unheralded Bowmen storm to quarterfinal victory
- Dan Brood
- The Times - Sports
Boys basketball: Sherwood opens the state tourney by scoring a 52-44 win over Mountain View
EUGENE - The Sherwood High School boys basketball team entered the Class 5A state tournament in a definite underdog role.
Well, those underdogs went out and earned themselves a spot in the state tourney semifinals.
The unranked Bowmen earned a spot in the tournament final four by running to a 52-44 win over Mountain View of Bend in a tourney quarterfinal game played March 12 at McArthur Court.
'So far, this is our biggest win of the season,' Sherwood senior Connor Rumpf said after the victory. 'No one expected us to do anything here, so this is exciting.'
'That was awesome,' Sherwood coach Brian Burke said. 'The kids showed a lot of poise and confidence. They really believe in themselves.'
Sherwood, the No. 3 team out of the Northwest Oregon Conference, improved to 17-10 on the season with the victory. Mountain View, the No. 2 team from the Intermountain Conference fell to 15-11 on the season with the loss.
Sherwood started strong in the tournament quarterfinal contest. Rumpf set the tone early, sinking a three-pointer off a pass from senior post Kole Krieger on the team's first possession.
'That felt good the whole way,' Rumpf said with a smile.
The Bowmen, getting baskets by Rumpf, senior Ian Donovan and junior Colin Wester, ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run, giving them a 14-10 lead going into the second quarter.
Sherwood kept rolling in the second quarter. Senior guard Travis Lutes scored on a drive and senior Ian Donovan nailed a three-pointer from the right side to up the lead to 22-15 with 6 minutes and 19 seconds to play in the period.
But, even with Rumpf hitting a pair of three-pointers, Mountain View cut the lead to 27-24 at halftime.
The Cougars continued to battle back in the third quarter. They tied the game at 35-35 on a put-back basket by senior post Nick Ridling coming with 53 seconds left in the period.
Sherwood regained the lead, at 37-35, when senior Lutes scored on a buzzer-beating drive to the basket, giving the Bowmen a two-point cushion going into the fourth quarter. The wouldn't trail the rest of the way.
Sherwood, on a pair of free throws by Rumpf and one each by senior Elliot Loucks and Lutes, scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to up its lead to 41-35.
The Bowmen then opened up a 46-39 lead on a pair of free throws by Krieger with 1:26 left to play.
Wester and Lutes each went 2-for-2 from the foul line in the final minute of play to wrap up the 52-44 win.
'This is our biggest win so far this season,' Donovan said. 'Coming in, we knew we'd have to play well. We played well as a team. That was the big thing. Going up against bigger teams motivates us. We feel like we can compete with anyone in the state.'
'This is huge,' Krieger said. 'Even though we're smaller, we can take on the bigger teams. It's all teamwork. Our motto is 'Us.''
Rumpf led a balanced Sherwood scoring attack in the victory with 13 points, with 11 of those points coming in the first half, when he made three of four shots from three-point range.
'We played like a team,' Rumpf said. 'We played good team defense tonight. That was the key to the game.'
Wester scored 12 for the Bowmen while Lutes and Donovan each added 10.
The Bowmen also outrebounded the taller Cougars by a 36-21 margin. Rumpf led Sherwood with eight rebounds while Wester and Krieger each had seven boards.
'It's all about effort getting to the ball,' Donovan said of the rebounding advantage. 'We try to play harder than the other team does.'
Rumpf led Sherwood with four assists and Donovan had three steals.
Meanwhile, on defense, Krieger and Elliot Loucks helped limit Sean Dart, Mountain View's standout 6-foot-7 post, to 12 points.
'It's a lot of work,' the 6-2 Krieger said. 'And it takes a lot of trust in your teammates. A lot of teams are bigger and have more talent, but we work harder. Everyone on this team plays their hardest all the time.'
Sherwood, as a team, made 17 of 38 shots from the field and 13 of 19 free throws. The Bowmen had just six turnovers.
'We did a lot of the little things,' Burke said. 'I felt like we made the extra passes. For this group, this is really special.'
Dart's 12 points led Mountain View. Brady Brent added 11 points for the Cougars.

domain: news


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We listen to the needs of the specifying community and our customers; the expanded and enhanced product line was driven by industry demand. Begin the designing the best hand drying solution for your restroom environment.


By Marcos Bretón with photos by José Luis Villegas
La Victoria, Dominican Republic – It is after dark on a humid and still March night – the last night before 11 young men would fly to America on a trip that could forever change the course of their lives.
All that afternoon, an uneasy tension had permeated the Oakland Athletics’ baseball complex, particularly after a busload of younger players too raw to make the journey had gone home for the weekend. So had all the coaches, managers and administrators.
The only ones left are the “prospects,” the young men given the precarious opportunity of playing a winner-take-all game of skill – a chance to fulfill the only dream they have ever had.
Making it in the major leagues.
They know the odds. A staggering 98 percent of the 700 mostly destitute Latin American men brought to the US. every year are released after only a short time in the minor leagues.
They return home to scratch out a living somehow – in the nickel mines, the sugar cane fields or the textile mills of a region that has a per capita income of only $1,000 a year. Many others will stay in the US. illegally, mostly in the ghettos of New York, where they will find themselves in minimum-wage jobs, or in jail. Or worse.
So it was that television could not hold the attention of the players tonight. Neither could lifting weights or reading. On this night, more than any night, they had to hear their music, they had to feel truly Dominican, one last time.
The gravel crunches beneath their feet as they plunge into the darkness, accompanied only by the piercing sound of crickets and the flash of fireflies. They ignore the squatters camped outside the complex gates, amidst the palm trees and underbrush that create a veritable jungle around Campo Juan Marichal.
Behind them, the five-acre baseball complex broods, surrounded by a chain-link fence and patrolled by a security guard with a sawed-off shotgun.
As they walk, however, the mood is light. The boys make jokes to each other as they turn on to an unlit, two-lane rural highway. It seems they laugh even louder as trucks and cars shoot by, their headlights blinding, their steel frames only inches away. “The drivers here are crazy,” shouts Juan Perez with glee. A 23-year-old Haitian/Dominican who grew up cutting sugar cane alongside his father, he lives in a home still owned by the company that employs his family.
After a half mile, they reach the colmado, a roadside store. They take up stools in a patio section, walled off by metal bars and stacks of unsold Pepsi bottles. They sit stiffly, waiting while the proprietor searches for music he can play them on an ancient hi-fi. For the moment, all is still and it is as if the full weight of what is at stake is hanging over them, taking the very oxygen from their lungs.
Without warning, as it always is in the Dominican, the music is cranked up to ear-splitting decibels – in this case, a wild mixture of reggae and Spanish rap. At first, the faces of the young men flicker sternly in the light shone by a 60-watt bulb through a ceiling fan that, encased in cobwebs, looks as if it could come dislodged by its own movement.
And then, behind them, a little barefoot girl wearing only dingy bikini briefs, begins moving to the music. She is joined by a boy. Another girl. Then an expectant mother who seems barely out of her teens.
Soon the entire street is dancing, and bodies are throwing shadows on the walls of the colmado. They move in perfect unison in a scene of sheer joy amid the tenements, the open trash fire, the dirt road and the raw sewage. The young men smile, their eyes glistening now in the soft light.
Later, as they leave for home, as they prepare for America, it will be this that they carry – a heartbreaking reminder of how different they are from the world they are about to enter.
There is Perez, with his ever-present Walkman and oversized, wrap-around sunglasses. He pitches with the tenuous satisfaction of being able to buy medicine for his family and toys for his two children.
Arturo Paulino, a 21-year-old infielder known only as “Tobacco” to his teammates, who was about to make his first trip to the US. in 1994 when, in a head-on collision, his father died in a fiery car crash. Whatever money he saves from his $80-a-week meal money goes to his family, just as it did when he helped pay for his father’s funeral.
“I left them crying when I came here,” says Paulino, who though listed at 5′ 10″ and 150 pounds, seems smaller and more frail beneath his Athletics cap. “I carry my father around in my heart. My family depends on me now.”
And then, there is Miguel Tejada, who was working as a shoeshine boy by the time he was five. Now, at 19, he has so much talent as a shortstop that, had he been born American and not Dominican, he would have commanded a $1 million signing bonus; instead, he signed with the Athletics for $2,000.
“They don’t give (Latins) the money because we don’t have the education,” says Tejada, who dropped out of high school when it became apparent that his future lies in baseball and not in books. “It’s very hard to swallow sometimes, especially if you know an American player has less ability than you.”
Nevertheless, hungry young men from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba and, to lesser degrees, Mexico and Panama, continue to come, continue to play America’s game as if their lives depended on it.
Tejada seems to be living proof of the correlation between poverty and success. Of his group, he is undoubtedly the best: a 5-foot-10-inch marvel with powerful shoulders, speed, grace and the ability to do what Americans love – hit long, majestic home runs.
And of his group, he had it worst.
The few quarters and dimes that he earned shining shoes went directly into his mother’s hand at the end of the day – hardly enough to feed his family.
Today, conditions are not any better. Inside his tiny home, rooms are separated by stained bed sheets and the roof is made of rusted, corrugated metal. Outside, he points to the naked children and smiles knowingly; he knows many of the parents cannot afford to clothe them, so they scamper among the squalor, unprotected from infection and the filth.
Is it any wonder then, that as Tejada and his teammates board their pre-dawn flight, they all know that as difficult as it is to leave, it would be even harder to stay – to be passed over.
At the airport, they are somber. In Miami, most of them forget to fill out their customs card and are detained by an impatient agent who barks out instructions in rapid English.
“That’s when it’s the hardest,” Paulino says. “Like when a coach explains something and you don’t understand what he is saying.”
From Miami to Dallas, Dallas to Phoenix, the players begin to droop, to grow increasingly silent. A group with razor-sharp wits in the Dominican, they are introverted and shy now.
By the time they reach Phoenix for the annual rite of spring training, they are exhausted. They haul their tattered luggage – misshapen suitcases and duffel bags – from baggage claim and trudge to the passenger loading zone to await their ride.
A spectacular Arizona sun is setting as the prospects crane their necks, watching for the Athletics van that is to take them to their hotel. At first standing, arms crossed, in their cleanest jeans and cotton shirts, they would soon be sitting dejectedly on their bags as 90 minutes crawl by.
As they wait, Javier Gutierrez, a 20-year-old Venezuelan pitching prospect for the Seattle Mariners, walks toward the group and asks for help – his ride also has forgotten him. In a way, it is as if they are playing out some odd ritual, for in the 1950s – years before they were ever born – Puerto Rican baseball great Orlando Cepeda wandered lost in the streets of Kokomo, Ind., where he was sent by his minor league team; when he was stopped by a policeman, all he could say in his fractured English was, “Kokomo Giants.”
Not much changes in 40 years. Although fortunately for these prospects, their ride did come, albeit two hours late. They would eat their only meal of the day at the neighborhood Coco’s. And from there, in the coming days, they would do almost everything together: visit Scottsdale’s upscale indoor shopping mall. Taste Chinese food. And, inspired by infielder Freddie Soriano, take turns shaving their heads until they were all nearly bald.
Still just kids really. Until it comes to why they are here.
“I always put my desire to play baseball in front of everything else because I don’t want anything to get in my way,” Tejada says. “We have to play harder than they do. It’s like they own the house and we’re just guests. We have to play better so we can stay in the house.
“We have to play better.”
He gets his wish the next day.
Along with three other Latins, he is called over to play in a game against major league players.
And when he comes up to bat for the first time at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the public address system intones: “Now batting, shortstop, Jose Castro.”
It takes an inning before they realize that Castro is really Tejada. And by then, looking like he was born to the game, he had already made the 7,000 fans in attendance buzz in awe on one single play:
From his shortstop position, Tejada veered far to his left, backhanded a scorching ground ball in the webbing of his glove and, in one single, fluid, beautiful motion, fired the ball to first for an out.
It’s been only two days since he left his barrio and his father, who earns about $75 a week doing construction work in the Dominican. His mother died four years ago.
“Miguel is a humble boy and I’ve tried to instill in him the confidence to succeed,” his father, Daniel, says. “The only way I could do that was to have a home where I worked and where there was love.”
But on this day, it’s a long way from that world.
As he stood in for his last at-bat against the Seattle Mariners, Tejada took a ball on his first pitch as the scoreboard flashed his name. It is misspelled.
And then, on the next pitch, Tejada swung and lifted a long, arching fly ball that soared high over the left fielder’s head, over the wall and the Miller Genuine Light sign.
Three days later, veteran coaches who have worked with the best players of the last quarter century were giggling like school children when they considered Tejada’s future.
“This kid is one of a kind,” said Ron Plaza, former manager of the Cincinnati Reds and now an instructor with the Athletics.
“I would not be afraid to take that young fella with me right now and say, ‘come with me you’re going to be my shortstop in Oakland.'”
About as close to Tejada as any coach with the Athletics, Plaza nonetheless maintains a professional distance and, like most baseball people, knows little about Tejada’s background.
“I don’t know if he has one parent or two but I’ll tell you what, the kid has better ability than Ozzie Smith did,” said Plaza, of the legendary Cardinals shortstop considered by many the best of all time.
With the glee of someone describing a wonderful secret, like a hit song before it had ever played on the radio, Plaza then said: “You could be a blind man and hear the sound of Miguel hitting the ball and know that it’s him.”
But as Tejada rounded the bases following his home run, he showed little emotion and there wasn’t even a flicker of a smile as he later ran past children asking for his autograph.
There was to be no celebration that day. Headed for the Athletics’ Class A team in Modesto, Tejada knew he was still a long way from any multi-million dollar contracts and only one torn knee ligament or broken limb from the poverty of his home.
And unlike several of his Modesto teammates, there is no six or seven figure signing bonus sitting in Tejada’s bank account in case it all ended for him tomorrow. For now, $80-a-week meal money will have to do for his expenses and to provide help for his family back home.
In the locker room following his big game, Tejada quietly removed his uniform. Suddenly, he looked small, young. The other players scarcely paid attention to him. For a moment, he was a titan; but now, he was only a dreamer. He carefully put away his clothes and, shoulders hunched, slowly walked to the showers.
©1996 Marcos Bretón and José Luis Villegas
Marcos Bretón is a reporter for the Sacramento Bee; José Luis Villegas is a staff photographer for the newspaper. They are researching the forgotten legacy of Latins in American baseball.


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Donald Trump will tout surging U.S. exports of oil and natural gas during a week of events aimed at highlighting the country’s growing energy dominance.
The president also plans to emphasize that after decades of relying on foreign energy supplies, the U.S. is on the brink of becoming a net exporter of oil, gas, coal and other energy resources. …
“The fact that we’re no longer in the age of energy scarcity — that we’re in the age of energy abundance — positions the United States in a totally different place,” said Dave Banks, a special assistant to the president for international energy. “This gives access to affordable, reliable energy in the United States, and gives the U.S. a major competitive advantage.”
This is pretty remarkable. For decades the US has been critically dependent on importing energy sources such as oil. And within a short period of time they have gone from critically dependent to becoming a net exporter.
Also worth recalling is all the doomsday prophets such as the Greens who insisted the world had reached peak oil and we were facing decades of energy scarcity. They were totally wrong.


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Facebook Alters Almost 700K User Feeds In Mind Warping ‘Emotional Contagion’ Experiment
Here’s another even more interesting but more disconcerting factoid: Researchers figured that out by running experiments. On Facebook. Without your knowledge or consent.
Here’s a snippet from the “Significance” section of the paper, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS):
We show, via a massive (N = 689,003) experiment on Facebook, that emotional states can be transferred to others via emotional contagion, leading people to experience the same emotions without their awareness. We provide experimental evidence that emotional contagion occurs without direct interaction between people (exposure to a friend expressing an emotion is sufficient), and in the complete absence of nonverbal cues.
That’s almost 700,000 people that Facebook experimented on. “In an experiment with people who use Facebook, we test whether emotional contagion occurs outside of in-person interaction between individuals by reducing the amount of emotional content in the News Feed,” reads the article’s abstract. “When positive expressions were reduced, people produced fewer positive posts and more negative posts; when negative expressions were reduced, the opposite pattern occurred.”
The research itself is significant because, according to its authors, “emotional contagion” can happen not just in real-world interactions, but also from social media interactions. Thus, a social network could be a vehicle for massive, large-scale emotional contagion.
The results are fascinating, to be sure, but what of the research process by which Facebook--and it is Facebook here, as the lead author is Facebook’s Data Scientist Adam D.I. Kramer--gathered this data? The social network purposely manipulated the Newsfeeds of hundreds of thousands of people. Shouldn’t Facebook have had to notify those users that it was doing--something?
Research must be governed by an ethics board. University-based research is governed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which approves a given research team’s methods and procedures before they can proceed. This is to protect research subjects from abuses. (If you haven’t read about the Stanford Prison Experiment or the Milgram Experiment, do so now.)
Facebook would have to adhere to certain research ethics to conduct this study, but it’s not clear what ethics exactly. Because Facebook is not affiliated with a university, it would not have to bother with IRB approval; it’s possible that all Facebook had to do was tell the PNAS that it adhered to its own internal research ethics. Thus, whoever approves internal research at Facebook apparently felt that the social network’s broad data use policy, that all users sign, allowed them to conduct this experiment without asking users’ permission.
Of course, there’s always risk when researchers run tests. Ostensibly research ethics boards will ensure that test subjects are protected throughout. Did that happen in this case?


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DuPont State Recreational Forest single-track trails closed since Feb. 6 to reopen for weekend
UPDATE for Feb. 14: All trails at DuPont State Recreational Forest will be open, effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, according to DuPont recreation specialist Mary Smith.
Contrary to popular belief and certain TV commercials, muddy trails are not ideal for mountain biking, or any other activity, according to officials at DuPont State Recreational Forest.
In response to the weather forecast calling for heavy rain and a flash flood warning in effect through the evening of Feb. 6, the state forest in Henderson and Transylvania counties has closed all single-track trails - about 55 miles - that went into effect noon Feb. 5.
Flood conditions are expected to linger through Feb. 7. According to the National Weather Service, the threat for heavy and/or excessive rainfall will create favorable conditions for flooding through Thursday, with 5-6 inches of rainfall predicted.
Rain is already making soil conditions wet and soggy, which make many of the trails susceptible to damage, according to forest recreation specialist Mary Smith.
Weather conditions may worsen over the weekend with a mix of rain, snow and sleet. Trail surfaces will be soft so that walkers, hikers, bicycles and horseback riders will cause erosion issues and rutting, Smith said in a statement.
To prevent resource damage, there will be temporary closures of all DuPont's single-track trails and other affected areas. There are 25 miles of forest roads and graveled two-track trails such as High Falls Loop, Triple Falls Trail and Hooker Falls Trail will remain open, Smith said.
"A ‘single track’ closure refers to the trails and paths that are more narrow in width and have a tread of natural dirt surface. These trails are often in more remote areas as well. They are more susceptible to damage and harder to reach for maintenance," Smith said.
"Roads are wide and have a gravel surface which can tolerate a bit more volume and varying user groups."
There are some 80 miles of forest roads and trails within the 12,000-acre state forest, about an hour southwest of Asheville.
The forest is growing increasingly popular not only with locals, but with visitors from across the Southeast who come for the well-maintained trail system, scenic views, and especially the waterfalls.
Rangers remind visitors to pay attention to signage or barricades related to the trail closures. Be aware that all trails, even those that are not closed, may have debris and muddy, slick conditions so use them at your own risk.
Forest officials say they plan to open trails as soon as conditions improve enough to do so.
To report trail problems or for questions, call the DuPont Forest office at 828-877-6527, ext. 200.
Karen Chávez is an award-winning outdoors and environment reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times and USA TODAY Network. She is the author of "Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina," and is a former National Park Service ranger.
Reach me: KChavez@CitizenTimes.com or on Twitter @KarenChavezACT
Read more outdoors news: www.citizen-times.com/outdoors


Date of Award
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Cast-steel connector, Flow drilled connections, Flow tapped connections, HSS construction, Modular construction, VectorBloc connection
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Steel modular buildings are on the rise to meet the growing infrastructure demand of big cities. VectorBloc modular construction involves a unique way of constructing steel modular buildings using steel modules made of hollow structural steel (HSS) members. This construction technique involves the use of a state-of-the-art cast-steel connector named VectorBloc connector for the beam-column connections of the steel modular buildings. The primary focus of this research is the VectorBloc beam-column connection. This beam-column connection is going to be used for constructing an assisted living facility in Ontario, Canada. Through full-scale tests and finite element analyses, this study shows that the VectorBloc connection has the ability to safely carry the design loads of the proposed assisted living facility. This study also proposes major design recommendations for the VectorBloc beam-column connection. The secondary focus of this research is the flow drilled connections made on the HSS members. This study discusses the influence of various connection parameters on the connection behavior and highlights the potential of the flow-drill system to increase the ultimate load capacity of the connections subjected to tension load. This study also presents analytical equations to predict the failure behavior of the flow drilled connections.
Dhanapal, Jothiarun, "Structural Performance of Connections in Hollow Structural Steel Modular Buildings" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 7636.


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On the occasion of the IDM’s 70th anniversary, we are looking back at the eventful history of the region, the river and its people – and we wanted to know what the Danube means to you! As part of the challenge #MyDanubeStory, people shared with us their experiences, stories and thoughts, and told us how the fluctuations of history in the Danube Region have touched their life.
The result is this little book with 16 of the best stories we have received, each telling a unique story about the currents of life along the Danube. The reader can find personal travel reports, as well as stories about the struggles of generations living at the shores of the river. Some date further back into history, taking us behind the Iron Curtain, while others even dare a look to the future of Europe.
The stories show how diverse the role of the Danube can be in history and in our personal lives. It is sometimes a border that divides, or one to overcome. It can be a place of longing and escape or a new beginning. Always fluid, continuously flowing, regardless of wars, walls, personal victories and failures. The stories also show that the Danube can unite disparate parts to become one diverse whole. In the future, the Danube will hopefully continue to be just that: a connecting element between lives, friends, generations, peoples and countries – “our Donau, Dunaj, Duna, Dunav, Dunărea, Dunay”.
Available to order online or at your local bookshop. A book presentation will take place at the IDM next year – details to follow.

domain: library


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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s Brait SE (BATJ.J)BATJ.LU has suspended plans to list on the London Stock Exchange, the investment firm said on Friday, citing uncertainty over Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
Brait, which has majority stakes in clothing retailer New Look, grocer Iceland Foods and gym chain Virgin Active, said last year it intended seeking a premium listing in London to boost its profile and tap deeper pools of capital.
“We’re of the view that at this point in time, there’s just too much uncertainty as to exactly how Brexit is going to pan out,” Brait’s head of investor relations Mark Parsons said.
“But we are very much of the view that in the longer term, it would be beneficial for shareholders to be listed on the London Stock Exchange because our portfolio now comprises quite a few UK-based companies,” he added.
The potential impact on capital markets was also a factor the board considered when it decided not to proceed with the transfer and listing, Brait said in a statement.
The firm, incorporated in Malta, but managed from South Africa, has a primary listing in Luxembourg and a secondary listing in Johannesburg. It is controlled by retail tycoon Christo Wiese.
Brait’s net asset value declined 21 percent in the three months to end-December as the pound weakened against the rand and lacklustre sales in New Look weighed on results.
New Look’s like-for-like sales in Britain were down nearly 5 percent in the quarter to end-December as the apparel and footwear sectors continued to face a challenging, promotion-led market with reduced footfall, the firm said in February.
Wiese, who is also the largest shareholder in Steinhoff (SNHG.DE)(SNHJ.J), which last year bought British retailer Poundland, told Reuters last year he was looking to consolidate his business interests.
Reporting by TJ Strydom and Tiisetso Motsoeneng; editing by Susan Thomas


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Each box has a wood top covered with a bold graphic paper that is decoupaged, and the corners are fitted by hand with copper tape. All of the materials are made in the USA except for the ink that is used for printing, and our final products are also created here in our historic Connecticut studios.
House Beautiful called these “The Best” Nov 2010.
If there is an image you are looking for, let me know. Shandell’s image library is huge. We will find what you are looking for.
Each box of matches has a different image on each side.


You are browsing the archive for Landslides Mudslides.
5 October 2021
Dr Murry Cave of Gisborne District Council has kindly highlighted an interesting landslide, close to the water supply pipeline for the city of Gisborne in New Zealand. The landslide occurred on 27-28 September 2021
26 March 2021
Raoul Island: Under the auspices of @geonet, researchers from @gnsscience have mapped >300 landslides triggered by the 5 March 2021 M=8.1 earthquake
21 January 2021
Mount Darwin: another recent rock avalanche in New Zealand, with a groovy runout pattern.
19 January 2021
A sensational Planet Labs SkySat high resolution satellite image of the Mount Silberhorn rock avalanche in New Zealand
18 January 2021
Gravity always wins: new research by GNS Science has shown that in New Zealand landslides are more deadly than earthquakes
2 January 2021
Mount Silberhorn – a large rockslide has occurred in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, close to Aoraki/Mount Cook, in the last few days
4 November 2020
A new paper on the 8 million cubic metre 24 February 2018 Mangapoike landslide in New Zealand speculates on an intriguing failure mechanism
15 July 2020
A large rock slope failure has developed at Cromwell in New Zealand. The NZTA are using helicopter sluicing to try to manage the hazard.
10 June 2020
A new study published in Science Advances (Wang et al. 2020) shows that rainstorms tend to trigger landslides that sculpt the landscape at lower levels, whilst earthquake induced landslides cause erosion at higher elevations.
9 June 2020
A new paper in the journal landslides (Massey et al. 2020) has mapped almost 30,000 landslides triggered by the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand


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Flo Rida Coming to Five Flags Center
As we all look to get concerts back on the calendar, the Five Flags Center in Dubuque announced today that Flo Rida will be coming on November 21.
Tribute act Too Hype Crew will open the show, which is being produced by Daquiri Factory. Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10:00 A.M. Ticket sales will be done solely online through FiveFlagsCenter.com and Ticketmaster.com.
“This certainly promises to be a very fun night of music at a time when people need some fun in their lives,” commented Five Flags Center General Manager H.R. Cook. “This will be a perfect excuse for music fans of all kinds – but especially hip hop fans – to bust out their boots with the fur for a great night in downtown Dubuque.”
According to the Five Flags Center, as part of the effort to re-open in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility is being included in ASM Global’s VenueShield program. The protocol incorporates best practices to provide the highest levels of cleanliness and safety to inspire consumer confidence while accommodating evolving guest expectations.
Additionally, only 400 passes into the floor of the venue will be sold for the Flo Rida concert, to help ensure and encourage physical distancing. All other tickets will be general admission, giving patrons the freedom to choose their own seats within Five Flags’ permanent and bleacher seating.


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Unfortunately, it is a rare pleasure to encounter a horror film which is actually frightening.
It takes a highly skilful balancing act to present supernatural elements in a form which resonate with an audience. Considering the huge array of material released as horror since film production began, we can confidently say that very few directors have managed this challenge successfully. For this reason, decade after decade, the same film titles dominate best ever lists.
Thankfully, we can now include The Wailing on those lists.
Na Hong-jin’s mosaic narrative ratchets up the suspician, distrust and confusion amongst villagers beset by an indecipherable malevolent presence. A fascinating blend of modern times and ancient Korean mythology, The Wailing thrills and confounds. You will be left not only needing a change of underwear, but also a little more enlightened to age-old Asian sorcery.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is horror done right!
Wonderful Cinema strongly recommends you do not ruin the impact the director meticulously planned for viewers by watching trailers or reading spoilers. But for those of you who cannot resist…
Title: Gok-seong aka The Wailing
Director: Na Hong-jin
Year/Country: 2016, South Korea
Stars: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee (click here for full cast)
Screenplay: Na Hong-jin
Cinematography: Hong Kyung-pyo
Editing: Kim Sun-min
Score: Jang Young-gyu
Languages: Korean, Japanese


>I finished knitting the pink jumper and sewed it up last night. It didn’t look right before I washed it but now that it’s washed and dried the wool has fluffed out a bit and it looks better.
I did fully fashioned decreases at the neckline thinking that it would look neater. Now that I’ve finished it I can’t decide whether I like the look of the neckline or not. I think I may stick to doing the decreases on the first stitch in future or doing cut and sew.
Next I will be making a plain blue v neck jumper. I created the pattern for it with Knitware a few weeks ago so it’s just a matter of printing it off and getting started on it.
I don’t think I’ll be making any more short sleeved jumpers for a while, I’m sticking to long sleeves now until the Spring – there’s definitely a chill in the air.
Here’s the houndstooth double jacquard sample that I knitted the other week:
I really don’t know if I want to use it now,what do you all think? I think it looks a bit naff. This is probably going to be another one of my bright ideas that turns out to be not so bright after all.
Talk to you later,


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WASHINGTON — Voters in Idaho, Nebraska and Utah on Tuesday had been on target to approve what their Republican-led legislatures time and again would now not: loose or cheap well being protection for many deficient adults thru a variety in their Medicaid methods. The 3 deep-red states at the moment are poised to sign up for 33 others that experience already expanded Medicaid, an possibility underneath the Affordable Care Act since 2014.
In Montana, the place the legislature expanded this system in 2015, however just for 4 years, electorate seemed to reject a plan to sharply lift the cigarette tax to pay the state proportion of the associated fee. Expanded Medicaid will now finish there, except the legislature has the same opinion on some other investment supply. The tobacco business poured greater than $17 million into advertisements opposing the tax hike.
The good fortune of the citizen-driven projects within the 3 different states reaffirms the oversized function of Medicaid in increasing get entry to to well being care within the Obamacare technology. In all, enrollment in this system has grown through no less than 15.6 million, or 28 %, since 2013, the yr earlier than the well being legislation’s primary provisions took impact. If lawmakers in Utah, Idaho and Nebraska don’t intervene — as came about in Maine, the place Gov. Paul LePage has blocked a variety of Medicaid ever since electorate licensed it remaining yr — an estimated 325,000 other people within the 3 states will probably be ready to join in Medicaid beginning subsequent spring.
In Maine, the place Mr. LePage is leaving place of business on account of time period limits, the Democratic candidate, Janet Mills, gained. She desires to in an instant transfer ahead with increasing Medicaid to no less than 70,000 low-income adults there.
Prospects for increasing Medicaid additionally advanced in Kansas, the place Laura Kelly, a Democrat who helps doing so, gained the governor’s race Tuesday, and Wisconsin, the place Tony Evers, the Democrat, defeated Gov. Scott Walker. The Republican-controlled state legislature in Kansas voted remaining yr to increase this system, however former Gov. Sam Brownback vetoed the invoice.
In Georgia, Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor who made increasing Medicaid a most sensible precedence, trailed her Republican opponent however was once hoping for a runoff. The governor’s race in some other state with a big uninsured inhabitants, Florida, went to the Republican candidate, Ron DeSantis, making enlargement not likely there any time quickly.
Opinion polls discovered vast beef up for Medicaid enlargement within the 3 states the place electorate licensed it Tuesday — in addition to nationally suggesting its recognition now cuts throughout birthday celebration traces. In all 3 states, governors and applicants for governor had mentioned they’re going to settle for no matter result the electorate come to a decision.
The largest reason why Republican lawmakers have hostile Medicaid enlargement is fear that it’ll devour up an excessive amount of of the state finances. In quite a lot of states that experience already expanded this system, enrollment has a ways exceeded expectancies, using up prices. But underneath the phrases of the well being legislation, the government will pay no less than 90 % of the prices for the newly eligible grownup inhabitants.
In Nebraska and Idaho, the poll projects didn’t come with some way to pay the state proportion of enlargement prices. That may just probably cause them to susceptible to the kind of stalling that’s came about in Maine, the place Mr. LePage has grounded his resistance in the truth that the initiative didn’t come with a investment mechanism.
In Utah, the measure will increase the state gross sales tax charge on pieces rather then meals to four.85 %, from the present four.7 %, to pay the state proportion.
The biggest donor total to the Medicaid poll projects was once the Fairness Project, an advocacy team sponsored basically through a California exertions union. The team spent greater than $five million on signature-gathering efforts, promoting, box places of work and different efforts.
“This election proves that politicians who fought to repeal the Affordable Care Act got it wrong,” mentioned Jonathan Schleifer, govt director of The Fairness Project. “Expanding access to health care isn’t a blue state value or a red state value; it’s an American value.”


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JOHANNESBURG - The Johannesburg High Court heard on Wednesday that the trial of terror accused twins Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie was still not ready to proceed.
State prosecutor Chris MacAdam said that evidence from foreign countries was still outstanding.
The Thulsie twins were arrested and put behind bars in July 2016 and have been charged with conspiracy, incitement to commit the crime of terrorism and conspiring and attempting to commit acts associated with terrorist activities.
The duo stood in the dock in black Muslim clothing.
"We have to get to a point where we say no more delays," MacAdam said.
MacAdam told Judge Raylene Keightley that they were preparing a list of how much evidence each of their witnesses would be providing the court.
READ: Thulsie twins’ terror case again postponed as evidence awaited
The case was postponed to July 31 for further pre-trial proceedings and the accused will remain in custody.
In an indictment submitted to the court in April 2017, the State listed 12 activities the twins were allegedly instructed to carry out, using firearms, explosives and possibly poison.
The indictment stated that, in August 2015 Tony-Lee participanted in a series of telegram chats with Abu Fidaa, an ISIS network, and other persons whose real identities are unknown to the State. He was allegedly instructed to commit various crimes which included attacking US/British/French interests in SA, killing cartoonist Zapiro, who drew the Messenger of Allah cartoon, and killing affluent Jews.
Other targets allegedly included King David High School in Linksfield, Johannesburg, the UK High Commission, the US and Russian embassies, and Jewish community events and foreign interests at airports.


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Any tips for trekking on the Inca a Trail?
My biggest tip is to book as early as you possibly can. As the most popular hike to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail can sell out several months in advance because it requires a permit; a maximum of 500 permits are allowed per day. For 2015, April through July is already sold out completely.
To check the availability of Inca Trail permits, visit http://incatrailreservations.com/travel/inca-trail-permits-availability/
1. Check availability of permit; if not available, there are other routes to Machu Picchu that you can take
2. Be prepared for the altitude - do your research
3. Pack appropriate shoes and clothing
4. Try the local food, talk to the people
5. Enjoy :-)
Hi Jane- when we went we opted to do the Inca Trail (which was amazing), and I've created a podcast episode about Peru travel tips, booking a trek, how to pack for it, etc. I know that it's said that the original Inca Trail sells out, but when we were there in November, we had a chance to do it even the very next day if we wanted to, but we didn't because it's twice as expensive as every other trail. (There are a lot of options). Maybe this episode will help you decide - there is a packing list to go with it as well - http://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/peru-travel-tips-machupicchu-trek-and-more/

domain: hobby


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This is one of only a few photos I am aware of showing Mr. Tommy's post office:
The other dedicated post office buildings were the small building that sat where Down Point Decoys is now located (the building has been moved, and is now a rental cottage behind Captain's Cargo gift shop), the brick building that houses Captain's Cargo, and the present Post Office on NC12.
I am wondering if any of our readers knows where Mr. Tommy's post office was located. If you do, please leave a comment. Check back later for the answer.
This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Mrs. Godfrey's ghost who haunts the Island Inn/Odd Fellows Lodge. The story is taken from Chapter Three of my book, Digging up Uncle Evans. You can read the account here: https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/mrs-godfreys-ghost/.

domain: geography


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Someone once told me that the best way to make life changes was to start simple and make specific, short-term goals that could be completed easily. It’s much the same in photography, but like all good advice, I tend not to take it right away. This was the case when it came to last week’s cover photo.
In the wake of Goldcorp’s donation to UVic’s Gustavson School of Business, the cover story would examine the company’s commitment to social responsibility in Honduras after the closing of a mine there. The reporter had actually traveled there and had taken photos herself, but while they depicted the scenery and the mine, the cover photo needed to be vertical, and many of the existing images would lose their impact if cropped, so it fell to me.
Early in the planning process, I knew I wanted to include some kind of gold nugget, a map of Honduras lying on an oak table and perhaps other explorer-type objects like a compass or some gold coins. At one point, I almost secured a real nugget, but when that did not materialize, I had to improvise. A last minute plea for help on Facebook got me a can of gold spray paint, which I used on a rock I found on a beach. Close enough.
While still reeling from the fumes of the spray paint (I had forgotten to wear a respirator), I walked into the UVic library to borrow a map of Honduras. At this point, I was unsure of how large I wanted the map to be, though I knew I wanted a big one. I wanted to push a pin in it, but the library would probably have my head (or at least my wallet), so I didn’t. It would have been an easy way of marking the site of the mine, and the head of the pin could create a beautiful shadow if the light was placed properly, similar to a photo I took last year. After some deliberation, I got two maps of Honduras: a small colourful one acquired recently, and an older one that showed its age.
The following morning, I began to work. I usually start with the most complex ideas first since I’m most excited to try them out (not the best approach), but this time, I started with a simple approach because I had no idea where I really wanted to go with it. When I laid the two critical pieces down, the fake gold nugget and the map, I immediately wanted to use a hard light to literally “cast a shadow over Honduras”. It was a simple idea that could be executed fairly quickly, so I would have something to fall back on if my more complex photos failed. Of course, this early picture was the one that I ended up choosing, but at the time, I thought it would be my fallback photo.
After getting this first promising shot, I changed maps and really started making some keepers, or so I thought. One problem was immediately clear: the older map, while more wrinkly (and therefore immediately more interesting to me), was a similar colour to the gold nugget and did not provide adequate contrast. Then, instead of fixing the problem by changing the map, I began messing with the light, bouncing it off some nearby aluminum blinds to soften the shadow cast on the map (the bigger the light, the softer the shadows), but the softer light meant the texture of the rock was less apparent. I tried bouncing it off the ceiling, which was a terrible idea as the shadows disappeared entirely. That image had no depth or interest, it just turned my camera into a photocopier.
I started adding more small items to the photo, but it just made it more cluttered and diluted the meaning. Even the small photos of the actual Honduran landscape took away from the core idea of the photo: that the San Martin mine cast a shadow over the community. After the first few frames, I lost track of the thesis while trying to include too many ideas into one frame, and forgot to realize the importance of having a clear idea while leaving enough room for imagination. I stopped, tried to recreate the first image (and failed), so after an hour or so, I called it a day.
In retrospect, it was clear that I was not responding properly to this feedback loop of failure. Instead of addressing my problems as they came up one at a time, I changed other things, adding to my problems instead of solving them. So, slow down. Think critically about what the frame looks like, and address small problems with simple, direct solutions rather than making dramatic changes that might not even fix the problem you first had.
In terms of how I made it, I had a bare Yongnuo YN-560 III (a flash I got from eBay for about $80) mounted onto a boom arm on a light stand with a Rosco pale gold gel overtop of the flash to compliment the tonality of the stone. The boom in particular was critical as it granted me far more flexibility than if I just had the flash on top of the light stand. I could angle my light and place it anywhere I wanted without the stand getting in the way. If you have a light stand, you need at least one boom arm. Trust me.
I did not increase the size of my flash with any light modifiers because the small flash head was necessary to create that harsh shadow. By making the light source bigger, the texture of the rock and the sharpness of the shadow would disappear, taking the drama with it (as evidenced by trying to bounce the flash off the aluminum blinds). The concentrated light also kept the map slightly underexposed, emphasizing the rock and further saturating the colours on the map. I placed the rock about where I thought the San Martin mine was — about 90 km north of the capital city. Like the resulting photo, I hope it wasn’t too far off the mark.
Read the story here.
Metadata: Nikon D300 w/35mm f/1.8 DX @ f/9, 1/50th sec, ISO 200.


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Topic: Nicholas II
On October 5th, 1896, Emperor Nicholas II arrived in France for an official visit. He was accompanied by his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, and their daughter, Grand Duchess Olga Nicholayevna.
The Imperial family's visit was celebrated on a grand scale and included visits to Cherbourg, Paris, Versailles and Chalon.
The Russian Emperor's visit to the French Republic helped to strengthen relations between the two nations. It was also during his visit to Paris that Nicholas II laid the foundation stone for the Pont Alexandre III, a bridge spanning the River Seine named in honour of his father.
The Imperial family's official visit to France from October 5th - 9th was recorded and photographed by reporters and artists and later documented in the three illustrated albums published in 1896.
© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 17 December, 2012

domain: history


text: Had full knee replacement a year ago. Fantastic results. Walking same day. Minimal pain. Stopped any pain meds after a few days. Walking normally in a month. Did the 10K Skyway walk six months after the surgery with no discomfort. Dr. Garlick was easy to talk to. He listened and was totally professional. His staff is wonderful.

domain: medical


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BBM Missions Home Report 8-20
Northwest Arkansas racked up 20 hits in a 12-2 rout Wednesday night at Wolff Stadium, snapping the Missions’ four-game win streak.
After being shut out in Tuesday’s opener, the Naturals erupted for six runs on six hits in the first inning against Missions starter Casey Kelly. Two innings later, they opened up a 10-1 lead with a four-run rally.
Tonight: Missions (RHP Bryce Morrow, 3-3, 5.68 ERA) vs. NW Arkansas (LHP Luke Farrell, 3-3, 3.23), 7:05
Radio: KONO-AM 860


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Here are some photos of the Dalston Mill, which is open for a short time on an empty block of land just opposite the massive Barratts housing development. You can admire the wheat field, buy drinks, lounge around in deck chairs and bake bread, plus there are a number of community events taking place. And it’s open until 10pm. Drop in while you can – it’s only around until August 9.
And visit the Barbican’s website for more information about what’s happening there over the next week or so..


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We are to see ourselves redeemed at Passover. As the Haggadah reads:
“In every generation a person must regard himself as though he personally had gone out of Egypt, as it is said: “And you shall tell your son in that day, saying: ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt’” (Ex. 13:8).
From generation to generation, and from year to year, we are to never lose the memory of bondage, we are to remember, and share our testimony.
In the Torah, the Lord issues commands based upon the reminder of enslavement and stranger status thirty-six times; as an example, we read in Leviticus 19:33-34, “If an outsider dwells with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong. The outsider dwelling among you shall be to you as the native-born among you. You shall love him as yourself – for you dwelled as outsiders in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Seeing ourselves in the Passover, and at the Table of Messiah, keeps His work, His grace, and His mercy always before us. That ever-present reminder will, necessarily, change how we view ourselves, as well as, how we view and interact with our neighbor, stranger, and enemy in our midst.
This reminder, living memory, humbles. Our freedom does not become a point of boasting in our greatness, and thus an occasion for the flesh (Gal. 5:13); but rather, a boasting in the Lord, as Paul writes, “that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” (I Cor. 1:31).
Be well. Shalom.

domain: literature


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Trained in illustration and painting, I moved to Manhattan to become a professional opera singer (why not). For years I enjoyed the privilege of singing some of the world's greatest music as a principal soloist, and for a few seasons with the extra chorus of New York's Metropolitan Opera Company. I was still peddling high C's when bone cancer settled in behind my cheek.
So began my greatest and least anticipated adventure, the subject of my new memoir:
An Opera Singer's Facial Cancer and
Pivoting yet again, I discovered another perfectly good voice and became a feature writer. Now I try to bring a wide-angle lens to everything I write, about the arts, news or culture, and as aways, the glorious human parade.
LONG AGO I took a scattershot at life and I've been catching up to my marks ever since.


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"Everything evaporetes. My whole life, my memories, my imagination and what it contains, my personality, everything evaporates.
Continuously I feel that I've been another, that I've felt another, that I've thought another.
That what I attend is a show with another stage. And that what I attend I am".
Fernando Pessoa-Libro del desasosiego


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It is with profound sadness that we mourn the death of Los Angeles retired partner John S. Welch, who passed away on Saturday, February 13. He was 100.
Effectively one of the founders of the firm, John joined Latham in 1948 after attending Harvard Law School on the GI Bill — ultimately becoming Latham’s tenth partner in 1955. He had a long and distinguished career as a labor and ERISA lawyer and for decades was one of the most highly sought after specialists in employee benefit plan negotiation and administration. He retired in 1990.
John S. Welch retired from Partnership on December 31, 1990 as a member of the Litigation Department.


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In Wildwing by Emily Whitman (HarperCollins - Greenwillow), Addy can, at best, hope to be a household servant in 1913 (presumably British) society. Her mother is unmarried, and Addy’s social standing puts her in the path of bullies--and really, she needs to quit school to go to work. Her new position with Mr. Greenwood is tedious and depressing, and when he catches Addy with a volume of Shakespeare that she stole from his library, Addy can only expect the worst.
But better happens: Mr. Greenwood enjoys her company, and this life might not be so bad. Still, when Addy discovers a strange elevator in a disused room, and that it takes her back to medieval times, she sees the opportunity to take on a new persona: a highborn lady.
Mistaken for a drowned aristocrat, Addy becomes Lady Matilda, and eases into her new life while at the same time, pushing against the restrictions placed upon women of the age. Her best refuge is in falconry and her blossoming relationship with the falconer’s son. Once she learns his secret, can she stand to tie him in jesses, or should she let him be free?
Wildwing is a charming love story with not one, but two great historical settings.
I read this book as a first-round judge for the Cybils Awards, which means that I may have received a review copy from the publisher (or not; I own a lot of the books in this category). I read some books nominated for the YA fantasy and science fiction category in 2010 before the nomination period, and may have already reviewed them or declined to make a public review; these books might not have a Cybils post tag. As a first-round judge, I was tasked with helping create a shortlist of books. My personal reviews do not reflect any actions or discussions of the judging committe


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With growing applications and enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), these important institutions need more support to put African American students on the road to economic prosperity. For this reason, Bank of America, and its education partner EAB, recently announced an expansion of their partnership to support HBCUs. According to EAB Chief Partner Officer, Sally Amoruso, “Despite their vital role in creating opportunities for students and communities of color, many HBCUs face daunting financial pressures caused in large part by a historical lack of support from federal and state governments.”
Three additional HBCUs —Tuskegee University, Harris-Stowe State University and LeMoyne-Owen College— will join the “Way Forward Initiative,” launched with five HBCUs in 2021 as part of Bank of America’s $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to advance racial equality and foster economic opportunity. The inaugural cohort of five HBCUs included Central State University, Huston-Tillotson University, Claflin University, Savannah State University and Virginia Union University.
The Way Forward Initiative is focused on tackling persistent challenges faced by HBCUs — especially those brought on by long-term inequitable funding. It also provides leadership training, collaborative opportunities with peer HBCUs, and works to enhance student retention, graduation rates, and financial stability. This expansion builds on Bank of America’s commitment to build its own diverse talent pipeline and to connect HBCU students to opportunities across industry.
Education is a powerful mechanism for addressing economic and social inequality in the United States. Ebony Thomas, Racial Equality and Economic Opportunity Initiatives Executive for Bank of America, shared, “More and more Black young adults are considering HBCUs for higher education, but many of these institutions often struggle to provide the breadth of appropriate resources and scale for the student body due to lack of funding.” She added, “Over the past 150 years, HBCUs have consistently built a Black professional class despite barriers. Although chronically under-funded and most often serving first generation and vulnerable students, these institutions consistently over-perform and have contributed to the core fabric of this country.”
Thomas is an HBCU alumnus herself, having attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. She knows first-hand the lasting and meaningful impact that an HBCU can have on its students and the surrounding community. As she shared, “With the right resources, opportunities and networks, colleges can chart a pathway to career fulfillment and success – not to mention the long-term effect of addressing the racial wealth gap in our country.”
According to Harris-Stowe State University Interim Provost Edward Hill, “Our work with EAB and Bank of America has already been extremely beneficial in the preparations for our upcoming accreditation review.” Many HBCUs, especially those that are severely under-resourced, have struggled through accreditation processes, making this type of support even more beneficial. By strengthening HBCUs across many areas, the Bank of America/EAB partnership aims to have a direct impact on the experience of African American students.

domain: sociology