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Dubai: The Saudi Arabian Oil Company (“Aramco”) today announced it has successfully raised $6 billion, following the sale of US dollar-denominated Shariah-compliant securities to leading institutional investors.
The issuance comprised three tranches of senior unsecured sukuk trust certificates issued under Aramco’s newly established International Sukuk Program, with the funds raised allocated for general corporate purposes.
“We are very pleased with the global investment community’s response to Aramco’s first international dollar sukuk, which attracted demand 20 times the initial targeted issuance size,” said Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO. “The outcome demonstrates further evidence of Aramco’s unique value proposition, which is underwritten by its operational and financial resilience.”
Khalid Al-Dabbagh, Aramco Senior Vice President of Finance, Strategy and Development, said: “The success of the transaction is a strong endorsement from the global investment community of our leading position in the industry, and our ability to deliver on our long-term business strategy. The issuance attracted more than 100 new investors across the globe.”
The transaction settled on June 17, with the sukuk admitted to the official list of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, for trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market.


A former Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, has told the Federal Government to empower Nigerians with disabilities, to make them survive the prevailing economic hardships.
Adefisayo was speaking via zoom in a keynote address on Wednesday, to formally flag off the activities of the British-registered charity, Seeing Hearts Foundation in Nigeria (SHF).
She said that Nigerians with disabilities were at the receiving end of the current economic crisis, saying that government should come to their rescue to save lives.
Nigerians have been contending with intense economic hardships, due to a deepening crisis in the economy that has resulted to galloping inflation.
The development has prompted labour unions to embark on street protests, to compel the Federal Government to seek urgent measures to pull the country out of the woods.
According to the former commissioner, government should consider the plight of people with disabilities in their daily struggles to make a living and come to their rescue at a time like now.
She argued that people with disabilities appeared to have been excluded in ongoing efforts by the government to pull Nigerians out of dire straits and crippling poverty.
Adefisayo said that since there was hardly any job for the teeming population, the government should endeavour to support people with disabilities to acquire entrepreneurial skills to earn their living.
“There are no jobs any more so the government should support people to acquire entrepreneurial skills to survive the distressing realities of the moment.’’
She pleaded that people with disabilities should be given a sense of belonging for them to achieve their set goals and to contribute their quota to nation building.
In a speech, the Chief Executive Officer of SHF, Ms Tope Songonuga, said that she decided to bring the activities of the foundation to Nigeria, to show compassion to people with disabilities in the country.
“Our goal is to help people with disabilities to attain their life goals and to be the best they can be in a society in crisis.’’
Songonuga lamented that people with disabilities had been experiencing social exclusion, recalling that she had been a victim of social exclusion at age 15.
She said that the foundation had been supporting up to 18 visually-impaired people at the moment, assuring that the number would increase significantly in the years ahead.
In his contribution, a researcher, Mr Femi Samuel, disclosed that up to 29 million Nigerians were currently having one form of disability or the other.
He said that there were similarly, about 13 billion people with disabilities around the globe, many of them having challenges relating to their sights and that there was need for the society to assist people in need.
“Inclusivity is the best form of social justice, therefore, governments should do the needful by ensuring that people with disabilities are taken care of,’’ Samuel advised.
Two persons, Mr Monsuru Shodeyi and Miss Deborah Ogunsina, who were assisted by the foundation, expressed their appreciation to the foundation for adding values to their lives.
The SHF, established in February 2022, is currently active in South Western Nigeria with plans to expand its operations to other Nigerian cities. ##


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As we approach the last few months of the year, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep many of us sheltering at home and avoiding crowded outdoor activities like baseball and softball games for the foreseeable future. While it’s important to keep ourselves and others around us safe and healthy, it’s definitely a bummer to miss out on a season of competitive action.
But you don’t have to let your softball skills get rusty. In fact, this is an awesome opportunity to spend some time honing in on your technique without the pressure of others watching. There are several fun and practical ways that you can practice in your own backyard or indoor space to keep yourself in tip-top shape.
We’ve put together this helpful guide loaded with drills and tips so that you can hone in on your softball technique while at home on your own. Let’s get started!
First, Set Up Your Space
Before you can get down to business, you’ll need to set up your space! If you don’t have a huge backyard or any backyard at all, don’t let that stop you. Make do with what you have!
You can easily set up your living room, garage, basement or other space and transform it into your very own training area. Just make some space and be sure to dress it up with the gear you have on hand, such as a net, tee or other training tools.
Once your space is ready to go, you can get started practicing! The following is a list of tips for practicing softball at home.
1. Ball Handling
This first drill is an excellent way to improve your ball handling. The more time you spend with a softball in hand, the better. That’s why this drill is great to do while you’re watching TV or just hanging out around the house.
Think of basketball players and how their warm-ups usually consist of swiftly moving the ball around their torsos and legs with just their two hands. This drill is similar to that!
In a similar motion, grab a softball and quickly move it around your torso from your stomach to your back and continue repeating the motion. Be sure to switch between clockwise and counterclockwise a few times. See how much you can pick up the speed without dropping it.
Next, move on to your legs and do the same action, moving the ball in a circular motion around each leg. Then try doing a figure-8 motion around each leg. This drill can help you get comfortable with the ball and be able to handle it with more control!
Pro Tip: When performing this drill, keep your hands soft! This is an important skill to develop for defense.
Fielding a ground ball during a game requires specific skill and footwork technique. You would never traipse up to the ball in a nonchalant, careless manner. The way in which you approach the ball has a direct impact on your effectiveness in carrying out the play.
The correct footwork technique involves stepping with your right foot, then your left foot, getting into a ready position for the catch. Then, follow through by stepping through onto your right leg, moving it across your left and stepping out with your right in a side-ways movement as you build up power into the throw. For left-handed players, you would start with your left foot first instead.
It is also key to ensure that as you catch the ball, you keep your glove down between your legs and tucked in towards your glove-side leg slightly.
Practicing this footwork technique without a ball and with tapping incorporated will help you move through these steps naturally. To do so, you’ll want to get into a ready position and then move through the steps with your right foot first, then your left. After the left foot is planted, tap your glove down on the ground twice. Be sure to keep your glove to the side you’re wearing it on. Repeat.
This drill will help you get a good workout and learn how to field more quickly and confidently!
Pro Tip: As you move through this drill, focus on keeping your glove-less hand hovered over your glove as you tap the ground and your eyes on where the ball would be. Also, focus on your posture. You want to have your butt back and your back straight with a slight 45 degree angle towards the ground.
This next drill piggybacks off of the right-left-tap-tap to allow you to not only hone in on your footwork, but the follow through as well. To perform this drill, you’re going to do the same footwork technique with two taps on the ground. However, this time once you tap the ground, keep your hand over your glove and pretend as if you have just caught a ground ball.
Next, move through the remaining steps of the footwork and step across with your right then left leg in a sideward advance. As you do so, bring your imaginary ball into your body and on the second sideward movement, pull your arm back as if you were about to thrust it forward.
Pro Tip: Remember again – focus on your posture and stance to ensure that you’re protecting your back and learning how to move through these steps with speed and control.
4. Wall Ball
This next drill is super simple! All you need to do it is a wall and a ball – as the name suggests.
Wall ball is fun and can help you hone in on the techniques in the drills we’ve already discussed. Practice throwing the ball against the wall and catching it as it bounces back. Be sure to keep enough distance between yourself and the wall so that the ball can bounce off the wall then off the ground before it comes back towards you for the catch. Don’t throw the ball too high!
As the ball bounces and rolls back towards you in different directions, you can practice fielding ground balls, catching and being quick on your feet.
5. Momentum Drill
Fielding ground balls is part mastering the footwork and part mastering how you approach the ball to allow yourself enough momentum for the throw. This next drill will help you set yourself up for a successful pass out on the field.
You should never run directly toward the ball in a straight line. This will only cause a sudden stop in your inertia, which leaves you with no momentum to follow through with a strong throw.
Instead, the key is to run in a curved path toward the ball. This will allow you to field the ball and continue moving through your footwork and throw with the same power.
To practice this momentum-building technique, you’ll need a softball and three pylons or cones. Then, you want to start with the softball placed on the ground in front of where you’re standing. Set up the three pylons in a triangle, so that they create a diamond formation with the ball. Make sure they are a few feet apart.
With everything arranged in this way, you’re ready to start the exercise. Position yourself behind the cone that is at the “point of the diamond”, behind the ball. Then, as you run to field the ball, you want to step around one of the other two cones in a “C” formation. As you approach the ball, be sure to step through your right-left step to position yourself correctly and grab the ball. Repeat your right-left step and go for the throw.
After running through this exercise several times, you’ll be sure to work up a sweat and train yourself to approach a ground ball from the right angle!
6. Behind the Back Hitting
Now that we’ve covered some in-field drills, let’s move on to hitting drills! First up is a hitting exercise that will help you sharpen the mechanics of your lower half.
For this drill, you’ll need to first set up a tee and situate your softball on top. Next, hold your bat behind your back with both hands while making sure it is parallel to your lower back side, just above your tailbone. The barrel should be sticking out from behind you long enough for you to rotate and hit the ball off the tee – which is precisely what you’re going to do next!
Practice hitting the ball off the tee in this position. However, you want to execute the drill with the same posture and form. So make sure to load your weight back, lift your front leg and as you rotate your body to hit the ball, make sure you are driving forward as you would if you were in the correct position.
Pro Tip: Focus on your driving from the bottom half of your body. Run this drill a few times with 10 or 12 hits each.
7. One Leg Kneeling Drill
Next up is another hitting drill, but this time it's to build up your upper body strength! The point of this exercise is to isolate the motion of your top half by hitting the ball off the tee in a kneeling position.
To get started, you might want to put some padding down on the ground to protect your knees and lower the tee down as far as it will go so that it is at a suitable height for you when kneeling. Position the tee close enough so that you can touch it with your arms in full reach – because you’re going to run this drill and hit the ball with bent elbows!
In a kneeling position, stretch one leg out in front of you and keep it straight. With your elbows bent, pull your bat back to load up for the swing. Your chin and cheek should be touching your shoulder. Then go for the swing! Your cheek should touch your other shoulder as you follow through with the swing.
Be sure to focus on driving through the upper half of your body! That is the essential aspect to this drill.
Pro Tip: As this drill gets easier for you after a few tries, chock up on your bat and try it that way.
8. Full Swing
For this final drill, you’re going to put the last two techniques together. Simply set your tee up at its normal height again and practice hitting the ball at a full swing.
Remember to incorporate the skills you’ve practiced in the last two exercises for driving through your bottom and top halves. For your bottom half, make sure you’re loading your weight back, lifting your front foot up, and fire through the swing with momentum. For your top half, make sure your cheek connects to your back and front shoulders as you follow through.
Always pay attention to your posture, grip and hand position! All three of these hitting drills combined will really help you to perfect your swing and see success once you’re finally back out on the plate.
Until life gets back into the normal swing of things, you can practice these awesome, fun drills at home by yourself. Keep your head in the game and your skills sharp so when it’s finally time to get back out on the field, you’re ready to be victorious!

domain: sports


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Paper Thin Nerves
Harav Y. Reuven Rubin Shlita
My phone doesn’t stop ringing, (or bleeping, as the ring tone is now of one’s own choice). I sense that many of us, if not all, are living with paper thin nerves. Months of COVID have worn us all down, and even if one puts on a positive face, inside their emotional landscape is filled with craters caused by the threat of the unknown. Arguments break out between family members who have been forced to live cheek by jowl for too long. The winter sky is its usual grey, and we tire easy yet find sleep often alluding us.
This generation has often been derided as being spoilt, precious, and overindulged. Yes, things in this Golus have been pretty good all things considered, and living in a democracy has suited us right down to the ground. Then Hashem sent the pandemic, and now we are truly being tested. However, this is why we each were born to this time and place. It is our individual nisoyon to weather these storms davka in the midst of all the material good we have all been brought up to expect. The phone speaker throbs with anguish, sweet Yidden seek understanding and direction, and perhaps mostly, a bond without being judged. Is there an elixir that can see us through all these difficult times?
One of my grandson’s recently sent me a letter wherein he shared one of those nuggets of truth that only our Tzaddikim can convey. As is well known the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita is very strict about adherence to rules preventing the spread of COVID. There are no Tishen (Chasidic gatherings around the Rebbe’s table) as we know them, and the Rebbe doesn’t attend the huge Gerrer Bais Medrash for davening. So that the younger Chasidim should have some time with their Rebbe, bochurim go into the Rebbe every Motzei Shabbos. Last week a bochur went in and asked the Rebbe: ‘It is known that in Poland the Chasidim used to argue with each other a lot, what was that all about, what was pshat? The Rebbe answered, “In Poland people were very poor and also had problems with the rampant inroads of the haskala (this was before the Churban), so they would come to the shtieble at night and let out there pain and anguish on one another…. (Then the Rebbe sighed) …But they paid a high price for it” The Rebbe then went over his words emphatically, “They paid a high price for it.”
Those holy Jews had difficult lives, and their upset could be understood. Life wasn’t easy in the ‘good old days’, not in prewar Poland. Yet, blowing off steam was not the answer, nor has it ever been. I heard from a Gutta Yid the following:
Two friends were captured by the Nazis and sent to a labour camp. As they stood together in a ditch they were digging, one turned to the other and said, “The Nazis have taken everything from us. We have no tefillin here, no prayer books, no kosher food, we can’t even keep Shabbos. The only thing they cannot take from us is our love for one another. Let us grasp on to this last mitzvah of ‘Love your neighbour’, and do everything we can to help one another.”
Both of these holy Yidden survived the Churban and went on to rebuild their lives in Eretz Yisroel.
We aren’t standing in any ditches, and we have food and siddurim galore, yet, well we are on edge, and perhaps letting ourselves forget about what it means to be an Ohev Yisroel.
Parshas Vayigash sees the final denouement of the epoch between Yoseph Hatzadik and his brothers.
“I am Yoseph your brother….” After all that had gone on, being sold by them into slavery, the challenges, being distanced from his father, the attainment to leadership without his family, all this and so much more. Yet, after all, “I am Yoseph your brother…” These were the Shivtai Koh, the Twelve Tribes that were the holy seeds of everything we strive to be. Brotherly bonds are the glue that holds all that is holy in Klall Yisroel. Time and again we find that this ingredient has made our travel through golus bearable.
The Chiddushei HaRim once heard someone call another Yied a disparaging nickname, and chastised him for it. “But everyone calls him that,” the miscreant protested. “Don’t worry,” said the Tzadik, “Gehinom is big enough for you all.”
COVID is our nisoyon, and we will come through this. The question we must all ask ourselves is, will we be any the better. Will we leave behind our petty disagreements, our race to wallow in Glatt material temptations, or will we nebech ensconce ourselves with the ‘old’ normal?
These questions will have to be answered, each to our own personal selves, and the price we pay as a nation will be so measured.
After all this pain and shredded nerves, we should aspire to a new level of ahavas Yisroel, and this will bring our tikun, may it be soon, Amein.

domain: literature


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Nykaa closes new round of Rs165 crore funding1 min read . Updated: 14 May 2018, 10:45 PM IST
The investment is largely meant to fund Nykaa's offline foray; the funding is largely from existing investors, including Hero Group's Sunil Munjal, and family offices of Harsh Mariwala and Dalip Pathak
New Delhi: Nykaa, a retailer of beauty and fashion products, on Monday said it closed a new round of funding of Rs165 crore.
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domain: news


Summary: See How the Lord makes what some would see as a dismal situation into a Glorious Celebration
As I prepared for this morning’s mother’s day celebration, I began to look at how society has formulated our own mind thinking of what a mother is supposed to be. On television, we had June Cleaver, from Leave It to Beaver. Black stilletoe shoes, Crisp linen dress, and a string of pearls…. Cooking and cleaning and taking care of the home. We had Caroline from Little House on the Prarie to Claire Huxtable – from the Cosby Show. All of these women – idolized the position of motherhood – and actually even though they worked hard, made it appear simple. Than we grew up…. Tried to be June – and broke our necks vacuming in high heel shoes. We tried to be Caroline, but found it was easier to go to the grocery store for our actual food and just garden for relaxation. Even Claire made mothering appear as simple as raising an eyebrow, but we found that many times it takes more than a facial movement to get stuff done. In fact many of us though we may not publically admit it could actually see many simalarities in our household and The Clan from Rosanne or even the Bundy’s, or the Simpson’s. Yes many of us fit into the later group. A few extra pounds, frazzled, tired, and oft times broke. Some of us were teenage mom’s – some having a family who made the boy marry you where others just suffered through. Some of us still in relationships with the first baby’s daddy…. Some of us on round two or three. Some of us…. Dealing with babies having babies. Some of us wondering when will we stop having them ourselves. And yes there are even those who never birthed a child, however the mother role still appears to be a part of your life. But June and those other fanciful mothers just don’t tend to fit into our mold. Each of us looking at our families and according to the society in which we live we are each considered a part of a dysfunctional family. You know – absent dads, blended families. Mothers working two three and four jobs. Children coming home to empty houses – cooking there own dinners. Grandmothers raising their children’s children. Not at all like the model “Typical” family that we see painted before us. But I got good news for you this morning… when you look at the word of God and the various blends of folk that God deals with, dysfunctional appears to be the normal. Adam – got his wife from a bone. Noah lived on a boat with his wife – his sons – and their wives – and a whole lot of animals. David was after somebody else’s woman. The children of Israel were just outcast. Yes even the mother of Jesus. She too would fall under the category of abnormal family. She too would be classified by Physiatrist today as dysfunctional. Here she was – the one who would birth to us a child that would saved everyone – an unwed teenage mother. Mary, a teenager who was engaged but not married. Broke, uneducated, just a kid – pregnant.
God came to her and said “Have My Child who will save the world” and she said “OK” Now She knew even if she could tell somebody what was going to happen – who would believe her. She was taking a chance of being stoned to death because back in the day – these folk took it serious about having babies before you got your I do’s out of your mouth. But this kid said “OK” She knew that she was giving birth to a child that would not live out a long life but she said “OK”. She knew that she was giving life to a son that would lay down his life for others, but she said “OK”. Enduring prejudice, judgemental attitudes, gossip. All because she loved God enough to be the best mother despite the circumstance. A teenage mom…… you know one of those we talk about. A teenage mom --- you know one of those we don’t want around our daughters because the pregnancy may be contagious. A teenage mom…. You know the one we frown upon even though it is only because of the grace of God some of us were not in the same situation, and some of us were but are still lying about it to this day….. A teenage mom …. The one that is put out of school now when they begin to show. A teenage mom…… made to feel like she made the worst mistake ever… and unforgivable sin…. Which she passes on to that child who grows up to feel unforgivable and unlovable. But look at this woman named Mary…. A woman who loved her son regardless of what society thought or said. A woman who loved her son regardless of how hard it was or how difficult things were made for her. A woman who was willing to do what was necessary and go where she needed to go to ensure her son’s birth came to pass. Now she could have said no… but then when you and I went to the gates and asked to come in what would the angel’s answer be. She could have aborted the pregnacy = thusly aborting our trip into heaven. She could have stayed around and let her infant son be murdered when the King began to slay male babies – thereby killing our chances to walk up the king’s highway.


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The summer transfer window is not open yet, but practically all clubs are already working on various agreements to improve their squads. They are also working to get rid of some of those they consider unnecessary for the future.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have started working to sell players on their books that are considered in excess of the requirements.
The first name on the list is Victor Moses, who will join Spartak Moscow in a permanent deal, following the expiration of his one-year loan in the Russian capital. The deal between the two clubs has already been reached for the 30-year-old winger, whose contract at Stamford Bridge would have run out in 2022.
Midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and left-back Emerson Palmieri are also expected to leave, while AC Milan is considering an offer for the permanent transfer of Fikayo Tomori. The 23-year-old has made 21 appearances for the Rossoneri on loan from Chelsea.


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A team of researchers from Cornell University, the University of Minnesota, and Minnesota Population Center recently conducted a study on the well-being of mothers and fathers. And while it was found that both mothers and fathers report greater well-being after spending time with their children, mothers also report that they are more stressed out and overtired than their dad counterparts.
Part of the reason? Moms do less of the "fun" tasks associated with parenthood, and more of the "work" tasks.
For example, when mothers are with their kids, they're often by themselves. Which means they must take sole responsibility for every plea for more milk, book reading request, poop-splosion, or other demand for their attention. Dads, on the other hand, are more likely to have other adults around to lend a hand and ease the parental pressure.
Women also tend to do more of the basic day-to-day care and management tasks related to parenthood, while men seem more than happy to focus their parenting time and effort on children at play.
And in the end, mothers find themselves forced to multitask more often, ceding their leisure time to their children's needs while dads think nothing of holing up in the back room with their coffee, their wireless headphones, and the latest episode of "Homeland" while Mom is forced to abandon her quiet reading time in order to deal with diaper changing, teeth brushing, and breakfast.
Or at least this is what has been extrapolated using time diary data from the approximately 13,000 participants in the 2010 American Time Use Survey, combined with some pointed questions about how parents felt during specific activities.
If any of this sounds familiar, it's because not much has changed in the six years since those time diary entries were submitted. Even though men have taken on a greater role in parenting in recent years, the expectations that society carries for mothers—and that mothers carry for themselves—hold greater weight than any of the incremental shifts in gender roles that have occurred.
In fact, long before my husband and I became parents, we made a deal in regard to what parenthood would look like for us, and that vision was pretty traditional. Because he was the breadwinner—and I was on the income roller coaster that was freelancing—Michael would take on less of the childcare and housework tasks to focus on his work, while I would squeeze my career into the tiny cracks that were left over in my day.
But shortly after we discovered I was pregnant, something funny happened. My career shifted. I was excited about my work again. I was finally gaining momentum. My work fulfilled me for the first time in a long time and I was enjoying it so much, I began taking on even more of it.
This development has left me—surprise, surprise!—more stressed out and tired.
So yes, I spend more alone time with my daughter, while my husband is quicker to call his parents for help.
And yes, I end up doing more of the "work"-related parenting tasks, fetching my daughter from her crib and getting her dressed and feeding her and ferrying her to and from activities, necessitating that I squeeze in my work while Dad takes her on walks to the playground.
And yes, it took me two years to finish binge-watching the entire "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" series once my daughter was born because something had to give and what eventually gave was my leisure time.
Do I blame my husband? Societal expectations? Myself?
A combination of all three?
Luckily, the same study that correctly classifies me as an overtired, stressed out mess also points out that women find more meaning in the time they spend with their children. And this has held true for me as well. Like a teenage girl in the throes of puppy love, I miss my daughter whenever I'm not with her, and spending time with her gives me some intense warm fuzzies. So how could I not make her my top priority at the expense of my health and sanity?

domain: sociology


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Expel insider · 2 MIN READ · NEIKO LAMPKIN · MAR 8, 2023 · TAGS: Careers / Company news
The cybersecurity industry has an unfortunate reputation for lacking diversity. But we at Expel are out to change that, because we know we’re better when different. We like to say that we’re a stronger organization when we recognize, celebrate and learn from those whose backgrounds and perspectives are different from our own. To support that focus on diversity, Expel has a number of employee resource groups (ERGs) that nurture and bolster various communities of Expletives and their allies. These include WE (Women of Expel), The Treehouse (LGBTQ+ Expletives), The Connection (a community of Expletives focused on mental wellbeing), and BOLD (Black Opportunities for Learning and Development).
Our BOLD ERG was excited to honor Black History Month in a particularly BOLD fashion (see what we did there?). Heading into February, we thought about the many things that bring the Black community together and showcase its beauty, which helped us identify the perfect vessel for education: music. From there, we determined our Black History Month 2023 theme would be An Introduction to Black Art through Music.
Throughout February, our BOLD community shared weekly Slack posts that educated our people on the impact of Black music throughout the world. These posts explored genres such as ragtime, blues, gospel, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and reggaeton. These posts also painted a timeline that acknowledged music as one of the few possessions slaves brought with them to the Americas.
But the celebration didn’t stop there. To further connect to our theme, we brought the education to life by hosting a live performance at Expel’s interdimensional HQ by genre-bending Washington, D.C.-based duo April + VISTA. The performance was filled with lush, multidimensional sounds as the duo guided us through ancestral reflections through song. The performance was accompanied with a lunch from Maker’s Union Pub for the People and sound equipment was provided by Zoney Sound—both Black-owned businesses—enabling us to lean into an all-around celebration of Blackness.
Still stunned by April + VISTA’s performance, our journey then took us to the heart of Miami for our first-ever company kickoff (CKO), which brought together more than 400 Expletives to meet, learn, and plan for the year ahead.
Miami is known for its warm weather, great food, beautiful beaches, and most importantly its rich and vibrant culture. We knew Miami would provide a great backdrop to further explore Black impact and influence. To emphasize this, we brought in Miami-based, Ghana-born artist Nii Tei to DJ our welcome reception. Nii’s set seamlessly blended house-, electronic, and disco-inspired sounds with African influences, creating a soundscape that reflected Black creativity and expression.
Having most Expletives in one place for CKO also presented an ideal opportunity for additional education about Black history in Miami, so our BOLD community collaborated to create an exhibit that highlighted the Black historical context of the city. The exhibit acknowledged the Black impact on places like Overtown (formerly known as Colored Town), as well as Little Havana—a place many Cuban Americans call home and has now expanded to include a large population of people from other parts of the Caribbean and Central America. We recognized iconic places like Little Haiti that boast rich French–Creole culture and also highlighted how important the Jewish community’s alliance with Black racial equality activists in the late 1950s supported desegregation efforts.
Wow…what a month! And to add on to our celebration of Black impact, our Women of Expel (WE) and Treehouse ERGs shared their support by highlighting the intersectionality among our communities recognizing Black women and LGBTQ+ trail blazers such as Bell Hooks, Alice Ball, Marsha P. Johnson, and Gladys Bentley. As we carry the celebratory spirit into Women’s History Month, we’re excited for continued programming and educational opportunities.
We encourage you to check out our equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) page to learn more about our ERGs and our approach to EID.


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Rita Hlavacek was grateful at the speed in which she was able to pick up some books from the Deer Park Library during a recent curbside visit that gave her time to take care of several errands within the hour.
“It’s awesome. I’ve never used their online catalog before this,” said the mother of a third-grader and a Pre-K student. “If you already have a library card, you can reserve books online. They’ll call you when they have them ready.
“When you arrive, you just pick one of the numbered (parking) spots, call the number on the placard, and they’ll bring the books out to you,” Hlavacek said.
Before the novel coronavirus pandemic led the library to close indoor access, Hlavecek’s trips to the library were a near free-for-all as her children scouted out books as they roamed from aisle to aisle.
For parents thrown into their new role as part-time teachers for students staying at home while schools are closed, the staff can suggest books for various subjects. Once the phone call has been made, in less than a minute or so a staff member is at a patron’s car with their books.
Hlavacek’s mission at the library was to pick out books that go with the kids different lessons. It was only her second time to go through the process.
“I definitely hope it will stick around because it makes it way more convenient,” she said of the curbside service.
Those comments are music to the ears of librarians who, like everyone else, are trying to navigate their way through the uncertain waters of a pandemic.
“Despite mandatory closures, the library has made every effort to maintain communication with its patrons and offer curbside and online services that could be made available safely during this time,” Deer Park Public Library Director Rebecca Pool said.
They began curbside pick-up services on March 17 and was seeing positive response. Then the library was forced to suspend all in-person services due to the Stay Home, Work Safe order on March 25.
From then through May 4, patrons were directed to online resources.
City ponders procedures for reopening library building
The library staff is developing a virtual summer reading program that will include a virtual book fair. Pool said details about those plans will be announced on the city’s website, http://www.ci.deer-park.tx.us, as will eventual plans to reopen the facility.
“We are working with city administration and our public health authority to develop procedures to safely reopen the facility for public use based on federal and state guidelines,” Pool said.
Pool said she felt relief that none of her employees were furloughed or laid off.
One of the many benefits utilized by area residents has been the Wi-Fi connection from the library.
“We have Wi-Fi available and it extends to the parking lot,” Pool said. “The strength may vary depending on conditions.”
Pool and the staff took advantage of existing access to electronic books, movies, magazines, music and audiobooks to provide services to patrons.
“We were able to increase checkout limits as well as add copies of best sellers and other popular material,” she said.
“We do offer online registration for new cards. Patrons must use our current contact-less curbside process to show proper identification to complete the process,” she said, encouraging the public to sign up.

domain: library


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Results for: English.
Jul. 18 2012
For the past five years the financial crisis in Europe is heavily questioning the European Union fundamental principles of its foundation. Along with the Arab Spring on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the media is constantly relaying worrying messages to EU citizens from their political leaders about losing stability, failing economies and reduced social welfare and a changing identity.
Jun. 29 2011
These questions are worth asking: what is it about these Kathmandu-based NGOs that make them feel so high? Is it the high international aspect of our work, the travel, and the perks? Is the word ‘international’ so important that it would define our raison d’être and everything we do? Does the letter ‘I’ on our acronym actually add prestige to the latrines we dig for the people? Do we feel we are doing much more important work than our national counterparts? Or is it about status?
Jun. 15 2011
Child rights advocates often hear about paedophiles abusing Nepali children but it’s been quite hard to catch them. Two recent verdicts in Australian and French courts served as stark reminders that orphanages, especially middle size to large dormitory-style facilities, are dangerous places for children. Mr Pringge and Monsieur Haye were not one-time sex tourists interested in young boys— they were founders and directors of orphanages who had been operating in Nepal for years (in the case of the latter, since 1985). Orphanages were the perfect cover for these men: At least 12 boys were sexually abused, raped and exploited on a daily basis.
This begs the question: What made Nepal so attractive to these paedophiles? So attractive indeed that Haye, after being released on bail in June 2004, escaped and came back to Nepal where he was arrested a second time.
Alberto and Cristina Reinoso, a Spanish couple eager to travel, discover and understand better this world where we live, wanted to “fulfill a life dream of travelling round the world”. Already engaged with Tdh and another organization, they decided to add to their trip by collaborating with these two organizations. Out of 30 countries visited, they have gone through eight countries where Tdh implements projects. Here is their first account about what they experienced in Ecuador.
May. 16 2011
My name is Naïm*, I am 14 years old and I am living in a low level family. To support them, I started selling cigarette, chewing gums and sometimes drinking water during the football matches in the stadium. Regardless of being tired, I could earn an amount of 50 to 70 Afghanis during the day; sometimes I was even earning nothing. This situation continued for almost four/five years, and I made no complains about my life.
Im Februar hat Christian Hafner, Stiftungsratspräsident von Terre des hommes – Kinderhilfe (Tdh), das leidgeprüfte Sri Lanka bereist, um sich ein Bild des Tdh-Engagements zu machen. Obwohl die Probleme und die Armut auf der Insel immens sind und noch lange nicht gelöst sein werden, kehrte Christian Hafner doch auch zurück mit Eindrücken, die hoffen lassen. Hier sein Reisebericht.
Mar. 13 2011
Although Bangladesh is going through a period of rapid growth, there are a number of serious problems affecting the wellbeing of the nation’s children. One of these problems is acute malnutrition, which greatly increases the risk of child mortality from normally benign ailments such as diarrhoea and common infections…
Mar. 08 2011
Despite recent debates concerning when did the first International Women’s Day occur, everyone agrees that it is at least 100 years old. It was originally launched in order to put women’s rights on top of the agenda.
And every year, during a week or so, articles are published to highlight women’s plight around the globe.
And every year, the situation described is horrendous.
Mar. 03 2011
In the framework of the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s Day, we want to introduce you to the extraordinary women working with Terre des hommes. We had to choose only few of them. But there are hundreds more working hard from behind the scenes to change the fate of women and children all over the world.
Ladies, wherever you are, thank you!
Today, meet with Dr Noor Khanum, Terre des hommes’ coordinator of the mother and child health project in Afghanistan.


New Delhi, Aug 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Thursday laid foundation stone for the party's new headquarters at a two-acre plot on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, near the busy ITO cross-junction.
Prime Minister Modi was attended by Shah in the 'Bhoomi Poojan' for the new building. The new building will have wi-fi, underground parking, conference halls, media facilities, eateries, studios, a library, reading room and other facilities.
The building is expected to be ready before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Present office at 11 Ashoka Road is considerd small for party's expanded activities..


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Highly Recommended - 2019 Hobson’s Bay Rotary Art Show “Good morning Vietnam “
2020 Glover Art Prize Finalists “Tayakna Symphony”
We had pretty good show considering it was run as a COVID Safe Event with timed 2 hour sessions and ticketed. We achieved Sales above 20% grossing $104k (including Artist in Residence) which was our highest result ever and yielding an averaging selling price point of $537.
Date: Sun 11 Apr 2021

domain: artistic


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Established in 1952, Yongjia County Library consists of County Library, ChildrenĄ¯s Library, Oubei Twin Tower Library Branch and Motor Library.
With 28 staff members Yongjia County Library covers an area of 3,157 square meters. The library has realized automation management.
The library offers a collection of 115,000 volumes and features in local literature, reference books, database for digital local theses and electronic audio-visual materials.
Yongjia County Library provides services including lending, newspapers and


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This week it's Birthday Week here at my house. The two men in my life, my two main squeezes, the two guys who really float my boat, have turned 4 and not-4, respectively.
So, as I am forced to play Monopoly Deal for the eleventy-seventh time today, I am typing one handedly a recipe for you. You, my little sweets. Here you go:
Chocolate Fudge Cake with Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Instead-of-Frosting Frosting
Mix in bowl:
1 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cocoa (baking, not instant hot chocolate, silly pickle)
1 1/2 teaspoons soda (baking, not ginger ale, dingaling)
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (or milk with a splash of lemon juice in it to make it lumpy and nasty)
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
Ask your four year old to turn on the mixer. Tell him to turn it on ONE. He will turn it immediately on the highest setting. Change your clothes and comb cocoa powder out of your hair. Have the dog lick up the batter that splatters on the floor. Threaten small child. When mixed, bake at 350 40 minutes, or if your oven is like my oven and likes to compete in the Indy 500 of ovens, 30 minutes.
Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:
Cream together 2 sticks of butter with 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar
Add 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon each soda and salt
2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips
I personally think cookie dough is kinda foul, but most people find it a guilty pleasure. I find a large bar of Lindt Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt in my purse more of a guilty pleasure, or sipping a glass of Merlot while watching Parenthood on my DVR a guilty pleasure, but to each his own. Needless to say, a cake spread with cookie dough will make your little kids eyeballs pop out with delight. Stick a candle on it and you're done.
Happy birthday, my little crumb cakes!
This recipe was linked up at http://www.littlehouseliving.com/2011/11/old-fashioned-recipe-exchange-11-1.html which is a very sweet little website.

domain: food


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Aida with Washington National Opera
The Italian Cultural Institute and the Washington National Opera present a program highlighting WNO's Aida. E. Loren Meeker, stage director, will give a presentation on the new production and Amber Wagner, soprano, will perform excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi's opera.
The timeless conflict of duty versus desire rises like a pyramid in Verdi's towering, impassioned epic. Aida, a young woman enslaved by the Egyptians, harbors secret feelings for military hero Radamès. Unbeknownst to her captors, she's also an Ethiopian princess and daughter to their sworn enemy. Torn between love and loyalty to her people, Aida must make an impossible choice--all as the King of Egypt's own daughter Amneris desperately seeks Radamès's affections for herself.
WNO launches the 2017–2018 season with this dazzling new production, marking the first time they have staged Aida in the Opera House in more than 25 years. The striking sets and costumes are inspired by visionary artist RETNA, whose vibrant hieroglyphics and calligraphy lend the classic story a unique modern edge. Spirited dance and the breathtaking acrobatics of parkour draw you even further into this mythic world. But it is Verdi's expressive music that makes Aida a love triangle for the ages, laid bare against the backdrop of two warring societies spinning out of control.
Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ON STAGE: SEPTEMBER 9-23, 2017
Special Offer for Italian Cultural Institute Guests: 15% off all weeknight performances of Aida!
Mention offer number "268669" if ordering by phone at (202) 467-4600 or at the Box Office.
Order online here.
*15% off on select seats offer available for Washington National Opera’s: Aida on weeknight performances only . Offer subject to availability. Not valid in combination with any other offer. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Service fees may apply.
REGISTRATION & PHOTO ID REQUIRED
DOORS OPEN AT 5:30PM AND CLOSE AT 5:55PM
PLEASE NOTE: RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH EVENTBRITE. NO PHONE OR EMAIL RSVP AVAILABLE.


This foot is referred to as darning, free motion quilting and embroidery. It has a spring loaded design to enable the foot to jump up and down on your fabric. This with lowering your feed teeth enables you to freely move your fabric around to darn holes or "draw" with your machine. mainly used for free motion quilting.
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BUDAPEST (Sputnik) — The Hungarian border, which serves as an external border for the European Union, is currently only protected by the police.
"We will send 3,000-4,000 soldiers to the border, including reservists," recently-appointed Simicsko said in a parliamentary address.
Currently, refugees are allowed to freely cross Hungary's border with Serbia near the Hungarian village of Roszke.
Hungary is used as a gateway to wealthier EU countries by thousands of migrants. As a result, the country is experiencing an unprecedented influx of undocumented immigrants. Budapest estimates that over 156,000 migrants have illegally entered the country since the beginning of 2015.


VP Mike Pence urges Iowa congressional members to vote against impeachment
Vice President Mike Pence called on Iowa's Democratic members of Congress Monday to vote "no" on impeachment.
In a one-on-one interview, Pence told KCCI chief political reporter Cynthia Fodor that he considers the impeachment process a "sham."
Pence said he wants Iowans to reach out to Rep. Cindy Axne and urge her to reject the articles of impeachment against Republican President Donald Trump.
The Democrat-controlled House will officially vote Wednesday but Axne, a Democrat, has not yet announced her intention. If impeached by the House, it would then be up to the GOP-controlled Senate to decide whether to remove Trump from office.
"I'm joining you today in Des Moines because the people of Congresswoman Cindy Axne's district deserve to know that we can still end this in the House," the Republican vice president said. "I mean, the fact is that Congresswoman Axne was just elected a little more than a year ago, she promised that she would work in a bipartisan manor with this administration, and yet here we have this partisan impeachment moving forward on this, after a sham investigation. I just think the people of her district deserve better."
A spokesperson with Axne's office and said the congresswoman will make a statement on her decision prior to the vote.


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By Janine Warrington
Over the past several weeks, I have been looking at misconceptions that conservative Christians often hold about the LGBTQ+ community and Scripture’s stance on homosexuality. As I begin to wrap up this series, I would like to look at a misconception held not only by Christians, but by people from all parts of society: the idea that pride parades are all about sex.
One night, while having dinner with some of my friends, who happen to be both Christian and a gay couple, they asked me if I attend Pride events. When I told them that I do, they told that they do not support such events. Not because they have anything against the LGBTQ+ community, obviously, but because they are uncomfortable with the blatantly sensual nature of these events. I understand their discomfort and support their decision not to participate – half-naked attendees and free condoms are not everybody’s cup of tea – but it is important for us all to understand that pride parades and their displays of sensuality are about much more than sex.
The Spokane Pride Parade is taking place on Saturday (June 9), nearly 49 years after the Stonewall Riots took place June 28, 1969. Ann Bausum in her book Stonewall recounts the convoluted politics that led to a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a bar that provided refuge for LGBTQ+ individuals in New York who had to keep their sexual orientations hidden in all of the other parts of their lives. As the story goes, those who had been in the bar at the time of the raid stood outside watching as the police escorted individuals into their squad cars, until one of those arrested called out, “Why don’t you guys do something?!” (p. 43). In response, New York’s LGBTQ+ community and allies began throwing coins and bottles, protesting the raid and effectively trapping the police into the now otherwise empty bar. This event’s momentum continued into the following days and years and the establishment of global pride events every June.
So, why are these events ripe with promiscuity? It isn’t, as society is prone to believe, all about sex and partying. Suggestive dress at pride events is a political statement. In the 1960s, strict dress code laws existed. As Bausum writes, “masquerading in the attire of the opposite sex was a criminal offense, except on Halloween. Local law required individuals to wear at least three gender-appropriate articles of inner and outer clothing at all times” (p. 14). So, when planning the first pride parade, activist Craig Rodwell “emphasized that there would be no ‘dress regulations’ – a stark departure from previous gay protests and marches, which had enforced strict guidelines on who could attend and how they could dress,” as Jim Downs writes in his book Stand by Me (p. 76). No longer would anybody be told that their clothing preferences were deviant or wrong. In this post-Stonewall era, people can dress how they choose and march for what they believe in.
So, as Spokane prepares to commemorate this riot, here are a few things for us all to keep in mind: Pride parades are not vulgar gatherings all about sex. When members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies gather together in June, it is both a way of honoring those who have fought for equal rights and a political statement that we will continue to fight. When we gather together downtown this year, the flamboyant attire that will be on display is not something to be taken for granted – people had to fight against unjust laws to be able to march with the expressive freedom we have today. Pride parades are a beautiful display of human diversity and the refusal to conform to society – a bold statement that God created each and every one of us exactly as we are and there is no reason to apologize for that. Indeed, this is something to celebrate.
The Spokane Pride Parade, hosted by Out Spokane, will take place on Saturday beginning at noon in Riverfront Park.


Critics focus on Fletcher’s about-face on issues
Much has been made of Nathan Fletcher’s political evolution from Republican to independent to Democrat, but what truly irks his most vehement critics is the 180-degree turn he’s made on several key issues.
Some of those issues — project labor agreements, pension reform and managed competition — have formed the bedrock for the dividing line in San Diego between the two major political parties in recent years.
Fletcher, a Qualcomm executive and former assemblyman, is making his second bid for San Diego mayor in as many years but his decidedly different viewpoints this time around have critics on both sides of the political aisle questioning whether he can be trusted. Republican leaders view him as a turncoat who will say or do anything to get elected while some Democratic and labor leaders eye him suspiciously for his past voting record.
On the campaign trail, Fletcher explains his changed views are the result of life-altering experiences that have put him on a straight-line trajectory from Republican to Democrat. Those include serving in the military, the state Assembly, having children and watching others struggle through the recession.
“You know half of the problem in politics today is people entrenched in these just predictable silos and then you see what you see in Washington, which is an inability to reform the immigration system or reform the tax code or to deal with debt and spending,” Fletcher said. “I’m very comfortable as a Democrat, a pro-jobs Democrat.”
That’s a far cry from March 2012 when Fletcher sought the local Republican Party’s endorsement in the mayor’s race. He told party leaders he was a lifelong Republican who supported the June 2012 ballot initiative (Proposition B) to replace pensions with 401(k)-style plans for most new city workers, a ban on project labor agreements that call for city contractors pay union-level wages and benefits, and outsourcing city services.
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Some supporters contend his transformation has been more gradual, as suggested by the annual score cards he received from abortion rights and environmental groups. He received scores as low as 8 percent on environmental issues in his early years as an assemblyman but received an 86 percent rating from the California League of Conservation Voters in his final year in 2012.
Fletcher also received zero percent scores from abortion rights groups in 2009 before receiving a 100 percent grade from Planned Parenthood in 2012. He said he’s always been supportive of abortion rights and the initial low scores stem from procedural votes he made to allow women’s health-related bills to be discussed on the Assembly floor. He said none of them came to an actual up-or-down vote yet the score cards docked him for the procedural votes.
But that doesn’t explain everything.
“I stood and voted for an all-cuts budget, not one that reduced welfare but one that eliminated it,” Fletcher said in his speech seeking the GOP endorsement last year. That quote is referenced in several campaign mailers this year trying to cast him in a negative light.
In a recent interview, Fletcher said he now regrets those comments to Republican Party leaders. He compared it to a relationship that has turned sour after a long time together.
“You make one last attempt at reconciliation and you know it’s not working,” Fletcher said of his speech. “It was kind of that crystallizing moment where you realize as hard as I could pretend or try to belong there, I didn’t.”
The party endorsed his Republican rival, Carl DeMaio, and 18 days later Fletcher announced he would run as an independent. He insisted that his defection didn’t mean his views had changed.
“There’s not one position of mine that’s changed,” Fletcher said in an April 2012 interview. “…There’s not one principle that’s changed. The only thing that’s changed is the party label.”
That no longer holds true today. Fletcher filled out a questionnaire in September for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council that outlined several stark changes. Specifically, he indicated support for project labor agreements and public employee pensions and opposition to putting city services up for competitive bid, a process also known as managed competition.
In recent interviews, Fletcher has likened managed competition to a hammer and said it shouldn’t be the first tool used by a mayor. He made no such equivocations about the process last year.
“Now that we’ve had an opportunity to see some of the results of the competitions, it’s clear that much of what’s been achieved through managed competition could have been achieved earlier and with less bureaucracy through solid leadership,” Fletcher said. “Nonetheless, there may be circumstances in which it could be useful, and I’ll continue to reserve it as a tool to achieve efficiency and savings for the taxpayers.”
Fletcher has also said the ballot measure to ban project-labor agreements that voters approved last year is the type of divisive initiative meant to stir up the electorate. As for pension changes, he said the voters have spoken, it’s a settled issue and he will enforce the provisions of Proposition B.
The Labor Council questionnaire was leaked publicly and it rekindled the fire lit among Republicans when Fletcher left the party.
Tony Krvaric, head of the local Republican Party, issued a scathing written response.
“While it should be self-evident that these dramatic changes in position over such a short period of time could not possibly be genuine, the truth is that since he has undergone two political transformations over the span of just over a year, who’s to say who the real Nathan Fletcher actually is?” Krvaric said. “I’m not sure anyone really knows.”
Fletcher said every candidate in the race has changed positions on an issue but gave no specific examples.
The fact that Fletcher’s position changes have been largely related to labor issues has resurrected the narrative that he’ll do whatever is most politically expedient. He has actively sought and received the endorsement of several unions, including those representing the city’s police officers, firefighters and lifeguards.
Of course the opposite argument is that, as a Democrat, it shouldn’t be a shock that Fletcher now shares the same views as the majority of his new party, which traditionally favors pro-union policies.
Michael Zucchet, head of the Municipal Employees Association, the city’s largest union representing white-collar workers, said his union nearly endorsed Fletcher in last year’s mayoral contest but couldn’t get over Fletcher’s support of Proposition B. Now that he’s a pro-labor Democrat, the union was among the first to back Fletcher this year.
“We always sensed that he was essentially fighting his party registration for many years and so his ultimate coming home, as he calls it, to the Democratic Party was not a surprise to us,” Zucchet said.
Not everyone is so willing to accept that Fletcher’s transformation is legitimate.
Mickey Kasparian, the head of the United Food and Commercial Workers, said he would never criticize someone for changing political parties, but he does have a problem with Fletcher’s Assembly voting record which has been rated as poor by several labor organizations.
“So within one year or year-and-a-half of casting some of the most horrific votes against labor, you want to go from that to becoming mayor,” Kasparian said. “We don’t have a test for Nathan. … Is he a Democrat? Is he going to vote for working families on a progressive agenda? Or is he just moving political parties because he doesn’t think he can be successful in the other one? Is this about political gain or is this about beliefs?”
Nearly all of the attack ads in the race have focused on Fletcher and the general theme has been to paint him as untrustworthy. One series of online ads features zombies, including one that has the undead ambling through a forest and turning around every time the narrator says Fletcher has changed positions again. One of the zombies then throws up his arms and says “Hold it! This guy keeps switching his principles on every issue. I can’t keep mindlessly following Nathan Fletcher, and I’m mindless.”
The ads are sponsored by a political-action committee called “Zombies for Responsible Government,” which has Republican power broker Michael Schroeder of Orange County as its sole financial contributor.
Fletcher and his supporters have countered with several mail pieces, including some from the San Diego firefighters and police officers unions declaring him the best candidate for public safety.
One of the mailers quotes Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown describing Fletcher as a “solid leader who brings people together to get things done.”
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text: In a trial without a jury, Justice Adolph Lucas today reserved his decision for December 7 for 20-year-old Inmas Espinal, charged with the attempted murder of Jose Antonio Saravia. The incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on March 15, 2012 on Rose Cousin Street. Saravia testified that he was passing by Epinal’s house when Espinal came out of his house armed with a knife and stabbed him once in his abdomen. Espinal testified and said that he was coming from Caanan High School, where he attended and was heading home when he was attacked by Saravia who had a glass Coca-Cola bottle in his hand. He said Saravia feinted a blow at him with the bottle and when he lowered his head, Saravia hit him on the back of his head with the bottle and the bottle broke. Espinal said he picked up the broken bottle and stabbed Saravia once in his abdomen. Dr. Emmerson Munguia, who examined Saravia, testified that there were two stab wounds to his abdomen. Saravia was cross-examined for 14 days by Espinal’s attorney Hubert Elrington. The Crown was represented by Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell. The trial began on November 3.

domain: law


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Delaware has been experiencing a significant increase in potbellied pigs running at large in residential and rural areas, including on state lands. Running at large, these pigs pose a nuisance to landowners, increase the threat of establishing feral pig populations, damage natural resources, and risk carrying endemic diseases – such as salmonella or even swine flu – that can spread to both people and animals.
People selling potbellied pigs entice pet owners with marketing terms such as micro pigs, teacup pigs, mini pigs, pocket pigs, and pygmy pigs. New pet owners believe they will have a cute little piglet to love, but as these animals age, the pigs can grow quite large while becoming hard to handle and difficult to contain. Potbellied pigs can weigh between 70 to 200 pounds and can live upwards of 15 to 20 years.
Since 2016, there has been an increase in potbellied pigs running at large in the state. A significant contributor has been the unimpeded pipeline of pet pigs becoming strays. Owners who can no longer manage these animals are likely to relinquish ownership and allow them to roam.
As potbellied pigs are a non-native species, swift action will be taken to mitigate any threats they pose to Delaware lands, livestock, natural resources, and human health. The pigs will be dispatched immediately if they are found at large on state-owned lands, including state forests, state wildlife areas, and state parks. Due to the ability of potbellied pigs to reproduce at a very young age, the state must ensure that a feral pig population does not become established, which could rapidly lead to the spread of disease and property damage.
Male potbelly pigs can breed as early as eight weeks of age, and the females can become pregnant at three months. Owners are encouraged to spay or neuter their pet pigs to prevent unintended litters. In addition, neutering male potbellied pigs can help to decrease behavioral issues, including aggression and the innate need to roam when a sow or other animal is in heat.
Potbellied pigs found at large due to a constituent complaint will be assumed to be stray, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture will determine the disposition of such animals. Pet owners are encouraged to utilize visible animal identification, such as an ear tag, so if a potbellied pig is found by the public, it can be reunited with its owner.
Potbellied pigs can live indoors or outdoors, or a combination of both. However, when outdoors, potbellied pigs require a secure pen where they cannot escape and run at large. It is recommended that owners use hog panels available at local agriculture supply stores, along with wooden or metal t-supports. If the animals are not on a cement-floor pen, part of the fencing should be buried underground, so the pig does not root in the dirt, slip under the fence, and escape.
If you are a potbellied pig owner and need guidance on securing and housing your animal, spaying or neutering, or animal identification, contact the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4561.

domain: biology


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Discover Some Fine Rustic Designs
If you’re fond of charming rustic designs and can’t get enough of that rustic feel, then you’re going to want to see these photos! Rachel Mast Design is a talented interior designer that might be exactly the style that you’re looking for. The beautifully appointed rooms won’t disappoint… from dark wooden floors to vintage doors and furniture all in one, the cohesiveness of concept will impress you to say the least! Take a look at these photos and then tell us what you think on our Facebook Page!
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domain: design


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Pink Cat Trees
. Cat trees are big (or, sometimes not-so-massive) structures that your cat can use for several purposes scratching, lounging, and climbing. these are all activities that appeal to your cats instincts that is, cats like to climb and scratch, and a cat tree provides a way for them to do it without leaving fur or claw marks on furniture.
to make the cat tree even more appealing, set it up. This super-soft cat tree from go pet club is the best cat tree for multiple cats. we love it. its a perfect size and the perches are incredibly sturdy even when under stress. it features a rope and a hanging toy to keep cats busy during playtime, we found ours liked the rope the best, but every cat has its favorites.
List of Pink Cat Trees
Custom cat trees and furniture ideas, are sometimes best conceived by our customers. over the years playtimeworkshop.com has fulfilled many custom cat condo requests. posted on this page are just a few examples of the alterations we can make. since we hand-make every cat tower to order, there is always room for alterations, some times free of.
Some cat trees look more like modern art, like the arc cat-oomph cat tower from revel zoo. this curvy structure stands six feet tall and has four shelves to climb and nap on. even a. Bead tree (china ball tree, paradise tree, lilac, white cedar, bead tree, umbrella tree, pride-of-india, tree) scientific names family.
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Ultimate cat tree.this video is about how i made a cat tree for our cat. its has multiple levels, platforms, scratching posts and games to keep he. From our farm to your front door. shop our huge inventory of trees, shrubs plants for sale. free shipping over.
call us today ---. The all-in-one citrus tree for every home and patio why lemon trees lemons are different from the small, tart and acidic lemons at your grocery store because the fruit is literally a cross between traditional sour lemons and sweet oranges yes, you get both sweet and savory flavors from each squeeze of this world-beating fruit as you know, the fruit available at your grocery.
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A definite top contender for best cat tree for large cats, the large cat tree is a magnificent specimen. the options for cat positioning and lounging around are virtually infinite, thanks to tiers of fun. at the top, a well-placed scratch pad offers a new place to sharpen claws and save your furniture.
- huge cat tree tower with sisal scratching posts, ceiling high cat tree condo scratching post tower, indoor -level cat tree condo furniture kitty activity center, white. reviews. The cat tree has been specially made so as to satisfy your cats needs and to enable your pet with namely all the necessary environment for entertainment and healthy development.
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Not all the cat trees contain the toy to engage the pet to play and have fun - but this model does have this feature. thus, your cat can play with the toy, exercise. - cat tree in case you are concerned about the height and space offered by a cat tree, this one is absolutely no.
with maximum height, this is the tallest cat tree in the list, and it can easily accommodate around cats. best cat for cats that love variety go pet club cat tree. A fountain of pink blooms each spring weeping cherries are a delight to see year-round, but in full bloom, they are absolutely stunning a fountain of bright pink flowers blankets the tree each spring.
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As the flowers fade, they begin to fall like fresh snow, soon to be replaced by glossy green leaves. this striking specimen tree will be the center of attention in your yard year-round. autumn. Second life places, clothes, hunts, events, gifts. second life,, , ,.
pink cat other names. pink cat genus. variety or pink cat pink cat is a compact, mound-forming, herbaceous perennial with aromatic, broadly lance-shaped, toothed, veined, grey-green leaves and upright spikes of whorled, two-lipped, tubular, pink to lilac-pink flowers throughout summer.
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Cat trees offer comforting height, a safe relaxation spot, and, in many cases, stimulating activity centers and that encourage your cat to play and exercise which can help reduce stress. choosing the best cat tree. choose the cat tree that suits both your cats and your households needs.
the perfect cat tree will accommodate. Treat your cat to something love for years to come with this cat tree. made from solid wood, it is crafted into a three-tier design, featuring a bottom hideaway hole with three round entrances (which doubles up as a place for the litter tray), a bottom platform with a jump step in between the third platform, which features a house and balcony and a top open platform with balcony.
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Pink flowering dogwood is an important source of food for songbirds. your new pink flowering dogwood tree offers great winter interest with red fruit and rust accents on smooth gray bark. the fruit provides an excellent source of winter food for birds.
a graceful, low-branched tree will add four-season beauty to your yard. It is a pink horned entity (or to a softer extent, a pink cyclops-cat) that causes mayhem throughout the land of paradise by corrupting the so-called tree of life and splitting it into three different parts throughout the games world.
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It was responsible for the creation of the tower and battles the player in several different occasions. Castle designs cat tree. an awesome free cat tree plan envisioned by castle follows detailed in the link below, it has three levels, places to scratch, a treat for your feline.
you will find a tool list and a material list to help along the project, color photos and written instructions will make this project super-easy to follow. If looking for an unusual plant for your garden, a novelty plant or a new idea for a hanging basket to bring inside for the winter, try growing chenille plants.
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Chenille plant info indicates that several versions of the plant, botanically of the genus, are available. finely cut foliage and long, fuzzy flowers may spread along the ground or cascade over the sides of a hanging. But, trust me, a pink cat scratching tree will brighten up their lives and your home in the process.
pink is a colour that really represents fun and vibrant personalities. so, if your pussy is a little bit on the wild side then make no mistake, pink is the way forward. solid cute sisal rope plush cat climb tree cat tower ratings. off., bought single door cat litter box cat house ratings.
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Off. bought -story outdoor waterproof pet house raised wooden cat cottage kennel ratings. off. bought cat cave house and kitty. I have a cat tree on each of my farms. on one farm, the hearts are red, on another they are purple and on the other, they are pink.
on each farm, no matter how many charms i have collected or need, there are two cats - one who remains near the tree jumping in and out of the box provided the other is running all about on the farm much like my dogs. Personalized cotton cat collar with bell, pink purple velvet, buckle, kitten collar, birthday gift.
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From shop. out of stars reviews. sale price.. original price. ( off). Blankets of pink blooms welcome spring why eastern trees prized for its vibrant pink flowers that welcome the warmer months, the eastern marks the change from winter to spring. in fact, its one of the first trees to bloom each year and it blooms on old wood, offering a breath of fresh air after the cold season.
but despite its delicate appearance, the eastern is. Do you have a cat if you are a fan, then we bet going to be thrilled to know there are lots of projects out there especially for cat lovers.
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You can make your feline a kitty condo, cat tree, cat and other types of kitty furniture. one of the best things about -ing your cat condo or other types of kitty furniture is you can easily match it to your home decor. Description. your cat can be the kitty king of his castle with the -inch cream cat tree.
the ultimate all-in-one hangout spot for felines, it features platform perches at various heights for a shift in purr-spective. Boy and girl with black kittens and black mother cat accessory figurine belle (princess) figurine holiday tree ornament - limited availability - newest design.
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Out of stars. black grey white brown beige red pink orange yellow ivory green blue purple gold silver clear chrome bronze brass copper. Cream is not to be confused with creamy, as queen is not to be confused with or cream and queen are a duo of characters, who are self inserts of and his sister.
character biographies creams episode roles. starring. queens episode roles. starring. creams fates. injuries queens fates. injuries. classic cat tree, model b this popular cat tree stands tall but is extremely compact, so it is perfect for a corner that has more vertical space than a horizontal width.
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Covered in soft ivory fleece over pressed wood, this model will safely hold up to pounds, or four large or five normal-sized cats. Here at cat tree, we are passionate about providing cat owners with the very best information, advice and products available on the market for your feline friend.
from luxury cat trees, cat scratching posts, outdoor cat trees and cat houses to budget cat bedding and wall bridges. we have the largest range of stunning products to suit. These cat trees were made with a large cat in mind. therefore, they should have solid bases and sturdy posts to withstand the force your adult cat make.
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Such as when they are jumping on and off the cat tree. felines have a natural instinct to climb, scratch, and sleep in high places. looking for. These trees come in different shapes and sizes from under feet to over feet. brighten up your place with a lovely pre-lit tree that has even light placement and minimal wires.
we have unlit artificial trees if you like to decorate the tree with your family and friends or want to try new decorations every year. Kitty mansions offers the highest quality cat tree and cat furniture with unique designs. - update kitty mansions is enforcing safe social distancing measures inside the workplace.
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We are operating under limited resources. please expect delays with times additional - days. Discount cat trees, furniture and hammocks give your cat a space of her own. with great discounts on cat trees, furniture and hammocks, kitty condos, outdoor cat houses, beds and, can help make life for your cat even sweeter.
Maury was born in, , grew up on long lake, and attended timberline high school. was predeceased by his parents, n and jun. cat tree king tiger cat tree for extra large cats, in. when it comes to the best cat trees for large cats, cat tree kings is the best company.
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They are sturdy, made with high-quality materials and loads of room for your cat to do everything it needs to. there is even room for another cat friend even if it is also large. Cat t-shirt. discover cat t-shirts that match your style and taste in the t-shirt marketplace.
with reviews from customers, easily find quality cat t-shirts designed with love and creativity. just take a look at the imagination put into the cat t-shirts above, all of them starting from prices as low as. Assorted green scotch pine artificial tree with led lights pine pre-lit tree.
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With code. foot spruce pre-lit tree. with code.,. foot pine tree. with code. national tree co. foot pre-lit tree. Mega perch cat tree. quick view sale. jungle gym cat tree.. quick view sale. cute pizza cat bed. quick view sale. mouse hunt cat toy, app controlled.
. no, an sit. ea , id . , . Large cat trees that make your cats happy. when selecting large cat trees, shop around for quality and durability. if your cats are going to be jumping and bouncing, you want large cat trees that are sturdy and stable.
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If you purchase cat trees that are unstable, they could fall or topple over onto your pet, causing possible injury. Shop cat fabric at the worlds largest marketplace supporting indie designers. print custom fabric, wallpaper, home decor items with starting at.
This cat tree is fantastic, with four poles covered with sisal rope for your cats to scratch on. it is inches in height so plenty of space for your larger cat to go without upsetting the other cats. the tree is made of really strong abs plastic which makes it sturdy, all the better for your larger cat.
19. Cat Trees Furniture Handmade Condos Built Park Place Cats Kittens Pink
. Featuring a cutout of a cat on the top, pink cat favor boxes are a perfect way to send off friends and family. fill them up with cat-themed toys, candy, and more turn your plain birthday party into a cat party with these cat party supplies with pink decorations, tableware, and more featuring cute hipster cats, your loved ones.
solid cute sisal rope plush cat climb tree cat tower ratings. off., bought v w portable dog cat pet hair dryer hairdryer ratings. off. bought walnut brown cat litter box cover house. off. Find large cat trees. if you have a cat, you know they love to climb, the love to scratch, love to hide, and love to relax.
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And why not give them the medium to do all of the above. enter our collection of large cat trees and see if we have the model that will make your kitty purr with excitement. give.
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One way to get cat trees that look like trees, is to actually use a real tree, or a part of one for your new cat scratching post. of course this is one of the best ways you can obtain cat trees for less and even no money at all. and of course there is great satisfaction knowing that you build a cat tree for your cat yourself. is the best-in-class manufacturer of cat trees and the only one that carries replacement parts. you can be sure your cat tree is built strong to last for many years. when the occasional sisal post or perch becomes worn from use, we stock a full line of parts so you can replace only what is damaged.


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Why does everyone has to leave like this why is it so hard to be with me.
How many times am i gonna get through this feeling of void in my heart.
I’m tired now. I’m tired of collecting pieces of me everytime someone shatters me again and again.
One way or another if i hold onto someone thinking they would never hurt me i still am there. Left alone.
Can’t even stop someone can i? How can i hurt them? I’ll try to be better . Even after I don’t have them.
How desparate and pitiful have i become in order to just be happy it’s hard . It’s hard for them too i hope they still find a way and a better person and better love

domain: psychology


For 60 hours, the Japanese bought 300 Chevrolet CorvetteFebruary 9, 2020
Only 60 hours it took motorists to buy up 300 new sports cars with right-hand drive.
Note that the Chevrolet Corvette first got the right wheel, which made the new product incredibly popular. Japanese motorists praised the released model and the first batch of cars in the amount of 300 units was sold out in just 60 hours.
At the same time, the company reports that the supply of new products to the Japanese market will be established only after a year – in the spring of 2021. The cost of the car starts at $ 91,084. It is noted that the sports car should be popular with both young people and motorists of the age category 60+.
Recall that the right-hand drive modification of the new Chevrolet Corvette is absolutely identical to the American version with a classic steering wheel arrangement. An eight-cylinder engine with a capacity of 502 hp is installed under the hood of a sports car, a pair of which is an 8-speed automatic transmission.
- China to ban sales of gasoline and diesel cars from 2035
- 44-ton truck tractors staged a straight line race
- Ford may release yet another “charged” crossover
- Chevrolet plans to launch “heavy” Suburban
- Mercedes-Benz has become the most popular premium brand in 28 countries


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Total Results: 680Displaying: 11 - 20
- Resurgence of SMS marketing
- Published: February 2, 2016
- By Kalin Kassabov
For almost as long as mobile phones and text messaging have been around, people have been predicting the death of SMS marketing. There are, in fact, reasons to suppose that the future of SMS is more secure than many other types of marketing.
- Reviewing SMS and MMS retail holiday marketing
- Published: January 25, 2016
- By Melinda Krueger
Retailers made great strides, baby steps and big gaffs in the march toward SMS marketing excellence this past holiday season. Here is a recap of ideas to emulate or avoid.
- Frito-Lay, Colgate reimagine mobile receipt promotions with enticing rewards
- Published: January 13, 2016
- Frito-Lay and Colgate are bringing a revamped spin to SMS-based receipt promotions by offering participants alluring rewards from other brands instead of standard money-back offers.
- Favorable TCPA court decision for text message marketers
- Published: December 15, 2015
- California Federal Judge Manuel Real recently granted defendant Microsoft Corp.’s motion to dismiss the TCPA actions brought by plaintiffs Edmund Pietzak and Erin Hudson. The decision affects brands and retailers engaged in opted-in SMS marketing.
- Should SMS be taken more seriously for mobile app engagement?
- Published: November 24, 2015
- By Brian Heikes
Even though app usage is incredibly strong, conversion rates through that mobile channel remain weak. Forrester Research reports that “most retailers say their mobile Web sales continue to outweigh their app sales.”
- RCS promises new opportunities – and more complexity – for mobile messaging
- Published: October 12, 2015
- The mobile messaging landscape continues to add more options, with Google’s acquisition of Jibe Mobile suggesting that Rich Communication Suite services, or RCS, could help wireless carrier recover lost ground here.
- Heineken simplifies mobile promotion and scores big
- Published: October 2, 2015
- Heineken’s Champion the Match promotion delivered significantly higher mobile engagement levels and a lower bounce rate compared with a previous effort by significantly streamlining the consumer journey.
- Subway unwraps mobile sweepstakes and SMS to court Redskins fans
- Published: October 2, 2015
- Subway Restaurants’ franchisees are ramping up to court fans of the Washington Redskins football team by rolling out mobile sweepstakes and SMS promotions, proving that sports-based activations are successful in boosting subscription bases.
- Pepsi uncaps SMS to add fizz to NFL sweepstakes
- Published: September 25, 2015
- PepsiCo is taking to mobile to promote its National Football League sponsorship by encouraging users to text football-related keywords to a designated number and receive links to microsites offering sweepstakes entries to win Pepsi merchandise.
- GapKids proves SMS’ potency by linking customers with Ellen DeGeneres
- Published: August 19, 2015
- GapKids is leveraging a partnership with comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her lifestyle brand, ED, to enable consumers to send a text to receive encouraging messages from the talk show host, highlighting the potency of SMS campaigns among younger consumers.


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Karan Singh Grover and Bipasha Basu’s Alone hit the theaters on Friday, and the social networking sites are buzzing with messages for the actors.
The recent updates revealed that ‘Alone’ has managed to accumulate 3.25crs (approx.) at the Box office on the 1st day of the release.
Bipasha Basu has undoubtedly turned out to be the Horror Queen of Bollywood. Most of her films are of horror genre (Raaz, Raaz 3, etc), so expectations from Alone were high. But the film’s release got a rather lukewarm response.
Alone is a story played by Bipasha Basu as the twins who are conjoined at birth. They have poles apart personalities, portraying good and evil, who end up falling in love with the same guy, Karan Singh Grover.
In the most clichéd way, Karan chooses the good sister while the other one dies in an operation to separate the sisters. Then follows the haunting of the evil sister who must claim the hero even if it means in death.
Although the actors are shown flaunting their well- toned bodies, Alone’s story is somewhat intriguing, at least the elementary parts; as the story of conjoined twins make for an interesting start.
But what follows are the horror sequences which are nothing out-of-the-box and most of them are just taken from various horror films and even from TV serials like ‘Shh….Koi hai’ and ‘Aahat’.
To ruin the horror, just before any horror sequence is about to unfurl, there is an implied noise that takes away the surprise fear element. The horror film also lacked a good promotion because of its gimcrack treatment and suggestively bad plot.
The film was expected to earn in the range of Rs 4.5-5 crore to bank back its investments, but it definitely suffered a huge blow from Vikram’s I which released on the same day.
Alone as a horror film has nothing new to show for. Our suggestion would be to watch it only if you are ready to sacrifice good horror for a flesh appeal.


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I recently had the opportunity to be part of a team of amazing freelancers making content for Spirit Walk's Shardbound. This game has a very fun art style and great team working on it.
Concept by Jeremy Anninos https://www.artstation.com/anninosart
Model and Texture by me (Hector Moran)
Rigging by Dr.Reel www.drreel.com
Shardbound is a Tactical Collectible Card Game that gives streamers and their viewers exciting new ways to interact and play together on Twitch!