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Are you spending too much time at work in order to make money for things you don’t need? Are you letting someone else define success for you, and is this a definition with which you would agree?
Have you sacrificed your home life for success at work? These ideas are discussed by Nigel Marsh, Alain de Botton and Peter Reinhart in these three TED Talks which will help you gain insight into the work-life balance. These talks consider our definition of success, how that affects us and what we can do about it.
Nigel Marsh: How to Make Work-Life Balance Work
What is your ideal schedule for a normal weekday? How much time would you like to be spending with family, friends and at work? How far are you from that ideal? Nigel Marsh, author of Fat, Forty and Fired says it’s time we take our lives in our own hands. He challenges us to consider what a balanced life would look like, and then make it work. Marsh asserts that the corporations for which we work may give us casual days, but that isn’t getting to the root of the problem. They will only ask as much of us as they can get. In order to get balanced lives, we need to unite in a voice that demands family time before we’re too old to enjoy it. Marsh encourages us to make time for family now, instead of waiting until we’re divorced and the kids have moved out.
Alain de Botton: A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success
In a society full of snobbery about success at work, it’s easy to let other people define success for us. Alain de Botton explains that our fear of being judged by other people affects what and how much we buy and what we choose as a career. When we don’t live up to this definition of success that we accepted, rather than one we created, our life outside of work is affected in the form of low self-esteem. Botton asserts that the discussion of the work-life balance at times leads us to believe we can have it all, and this is false. Botton suggests that we are all failing in some way, either in the way of our idea of a successful career or in our idea of a good home life. He challenges us to make our own definition of success, and implied is the challenge to let others define their own success, as well.
Peter Reinhart on Bread
As a master bread maker, Peter Reinhart is dedicated to making healthy bread taste good. In this speech Reinhart shares his secrets for baking healthy bread, wisdom we can apply to our lives in trying to create a healthy and enjoyable life. Are you taking time to craft a truly enjoyable life like a baker would take time to create a pre-dough? Are you aware of the sacrifices you have to make in one area to gain success in another? Reinhart talks about the transformation from dough to bread, which includes sacrifice on the part of the wheat plant and the dough. So it is in life, that when we choose to change our life in some big way, it will include a sacrifice of what we had before. When choosing to spend more time at work, we’re choosing to spend less time at home and vice versa. Reinhart’s talk on bread is an analogy we can apply again and again each time we make a choice.
- License: Creative Commons image source
Dan Woods is HR Consultant who recommends 10 Great TED Lectures on Work and Success for personal growth and evaluation.

domain: psychology


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One of the most notable items at the auction is a first edition account by John Harrison, written in 1763, regarding the success of his newly invented chronometer—a clock that could, for the first time, accurately measure longitude at sea—which helped bring maritime navigation into a new era. Harrison’s writing is an appeal to a member of British Parliament, as he believed the contraption was eligible for a full £20,000 reward (estimated at about £3.17 million in today’s money) the British government had offered to any inventor that developed technology to establish a safer way for ships to navigate.
“This is a very rare and desirable pamphlet that represents an important part of scientific maritime history,” Powell said. “It tells the interesting story of Mr. Harrison’s quest to obtain prize money from Parliament when they initially only wanted to pay a fraction.”
The pamphlet carries an estimated value of £30,000-40,000 ($39,000-52,000), and is one of three original items written by Harrison at the auction.
Another eye-catching item up for auction is a Bible that belonged to Matthew Boulton, a renowned silversmith best known for his credited role in helping invent the Boulton & Watt steam engine. Boulton was also a key member of the Lunar Society, a group of Birmingham men that played an active role in the arts, sciences, and theological movements of the time period.

domain: library


Main Article Content
The study was carried out to assess the abundance and diversity of soil fungi under the canopies of different tree species (T. grandis, G. arborea and K. senegalensis). The plantation was stratified in to three strata according to species. In each of the strata 4 transects line of 100m were laid. On each transect 4 plots of 4x4m were systematically located at 25m interval, this gives a total of 16 plots in each strata, and 48 plots in the plantation. Five plots were randomly selected per strata making a total of fifteen soil samples. In each plot, five soil sample were taken, four of the five soils samples were collected at the four corners of the plot while one soil sample was collected at the center. The soil was mixed up to form one composite sample per plot and this was repeated throughout the plantation plots. The soil samples were collected at the depth of 15cm each and the collected soil samples were taken to the laboratory for soil analysis. The data collected was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA)and species diversity indices.A total of 8 soil fungi were recorded, only 4 species were found in Khaya senegalensis, Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea. Aspergillus nudulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penilline fungus and Mucorales fungus from the soil sample were significantly influenced by the tree species (T. grandis, G. arborea and K. senegalensis)at 5% probability(0.035*, 0.040*, 0.008**, 0.005*, and 0.050** respectively).The study recorded species richness value of 1.987 and diversity index value of 1.987.The result of the study also shows significant correlation between Aspergillus fumigatus and Penilline fungus with the value of 0.542*. It was established that, the tree species under the study has the ability to support growth of different soil fungi species. Different tree species affect the abundance of soil fungi differently. It is evidence from this study that, the tree species (T. grandis, G. arborea and K. senegalensis) should be recommended to the farmers among tree species for agroforestry practice and improving ecosystem functioning.


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NBC Charlotte has learned the Queen City is in the process of changing its sexual harassment policy for city employees.
It comes after our Defenders team began asking questions about the policy which hasn’t been updated since 2010. City officials said a new version will be presented to the city council.
Nationwide, several high-profile men have fallen from grace due to sexual harassment and assault claims. In Charlotte, female leaders have climbed to the top of local government, including human resources director Sheila Simpson, who is crafting the updated sexual harassment policy.
“Doing the groundwork to scrub that policy, to see where our strengths are where our weaknesses are,” said city council member Braxton Winston.
Our Defenders team began asking questions about the 2010 policy a few months ago. Winston says he “absolutely” supports change.
“Especially being the government we have, where we have women that play very significant roles in our leadership, whether elected or appointed, that we are fixing the policy,” Winston told NBC Charlotte.
Our Defenders investigation highlighted specific sections of the policy. For example, an employee gets three chances after displaying sexually suggestive material before being fired.
“(It’s) outdated,” said local attorney Meg Maloney, who handles sexual harassment cases.
NBC Charlotte went line by line through the policy with Maloney. In one section, the policy said an employee rubbing themselves or against another person could keep their job, at least on the first offense. Yet, anyone reporting harassment could be suspended if it’s shown to misrepresent or tarnish someone else’s reputation.
“What they’ve done is try to intimidate people from making complaints,” Maloney previously told NBC Charlotte.
“Some of that is pretty ridiculous,” Winston said.
The city of Charlotte gave this statement: “Our employees are the heart of this organization, and maintaining a culture that ensures their wellbeing is essential to our success. We are strengthening the city’s current harassment policy to continue providing a workplace where our employees are valued, trusted and respected. This is more than just a policy. It’s the right thing to do.”
The updated sexual harassment policy will go to the city council. No timeline has been set yet, but Winston said he's looking forward to that day.
“One Charlotte, a united Charlotte, where we exist under one crown,” said Winston.


Tariq Khaitous (Visiting Fellow at the Washington Institute) has compiled a personal report for the Institute entitled, ‘Arab Reactions to a Nuclear-Armed Iran’.
It is available to the link below.
If you don’t want to wade through the 40 pages here is a brief summary with a UAE slant:
Generally there is Little Support
“Arab regimes share a belief that Iran is using its civilian nuclear program as a pretext to develop a nuclear military capability. Since the end of the Cold War, Iran’s sense of security has been in constant flux. Iran has been wary of the growing U.S. presence in the region, first with the removal of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 and then with the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Arab countries understand Iran’s security concerns and recognize that the Islamic Republic faces numerous challenges. However, with the exception of Syria, none of the Arab regimes has expressed support for Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
Fear of Iran Influence
“A nuclear-armed Iran would lead to a cascade of conventional arms buildup in the Middle East, a trend that has already begun. Arab regimes would fear that Iran would become the most influential country in the region and, as a result, they might seek to modernize their military capabilities in order to mitigate the acceleration” toward Iranian hegemony.”
Multilateral Discussions Needed
“To avoid such escalation [of weaponry], Arab states should intensify their involvement in multilateral discussions with Iran…. The involvement of the Arab regimes might make Iran more likely to take negotiations seriously. If Arab states remain on the sidelines and Iran succeeds in acquiring a nuclear weapon, this would have major consequences for the future of the Arab world. It would serve as a tool to intimidate Arab regimes and envelop them in Tehran’s sphere of influence. The Iranian regime would take a significant step forward in establishing itself as a regional power, and it would have more leverage to interfere in Arab issues. This only underscores the need for joint Arab action against Iran’s nuclear threat.”
On UAE Mistrust
“Some Arab states consider Iran to be an occupying power in Arab lands: the United Arab Emirates has claimed sovereignty over the three disputed islands located at the entrance of the Persian Gulf since its independence in 1971, and Iraq has a long-standing dispute with Iran over control of the Shatt al-Arab waterway.”
Huge Military Expenditure by UAE
“A notable example is the largest GCC arms purchase in the decade 1995–2005: the purchase by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of sixty F-16 aircraft from the United States. The UAE engaged in tough negotiations to obtain good terms and invested substantially in training and infrastructure to make effective use of the planes once they arrived.”
“In the field of air and air defense forces, some of the wealthier regional states (particularly the UAE) have stepped forward and displayed a commitment to playing a credible role in the air defense network. In September 2008, the UAE agreed to purchase a U.S. missile defense system for $7 billion, including the Theater High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system.5 According to Defense News, “The proposed sale of the weapons will strengthen the effectiveness and interoperability of a potential coalition partner, reduce the dependence on U.S. forces in the region, and enhance any coalition operations the U.S. may undertake.”6 In December 2008, the UAE ordered its first shipment of U.S. Patriot-3 missiles. According to the clauses in the contract, “The agreement...includes technology, training, and supply of the medium range missile system, which is part of a multi-tiered defensive shield the UAE Armed Forces is building to protect the nation from perceived threats in the region.”
See the graph in the report that illustrates the growing expenditure in things military.
UAE Defence Against Iran
Given the character of the weapons systems purchases, the best explanation is the Iranian threat. Consider the UAE’s $7 billion THAAD purchase. There is only one threat the UAE could have had in mind, namely, Iranian attacks on U.S. interests in the region…. For the UAE, the U.S. missile defense system is a necessity to counter Iran’s advanced missile capabilities.”
“Historically, Arab states have been tight-lipped about their military expenditure, but because they now fear Iran’s growing strength, these regimes have shown more transparency in order to send a warning message to Tehran to stay within its borders.”
UAE Seeking Western Assistance
“The UAE has already begun opening its territory to new Western powers. On January 15, 2008, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Emirati officials signed an agreement to establish a new permanent military base in Abu Dhabi, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz and facing the Iranian coast.”
Seeking US Nuclear Arms Umbrella
“Under the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, it is likely that America’s Arab allies would seek to expand military cooperation to include de facto U.S. nuclear deterrence in the region.”
Tariq Khaitous, ‘Arab Reactions to a Nuclear-Armed Iran’, Washington Institute.
Dr Geoff Pound
Image: Photo from front page of report.
Saudi: 90-day Amnesty for undocumented migrants - Last week, Saudi Arabia announced an amnesty for irregular migrants. Starting March 29, undocumented migrant workers will be able to avoid fines and penalt...
11 hours ago


text:
The Garden of Eden is full of life. The circle of life hidden in the power of the flowers, necessary for all insects. The endless summer feeling with a garden full of the most beautiful flowers attracting the bees and fantasy flowers.
70’s Fantasy Land
Blandat’s SS20 collection was inspired by the Palm Springs luxury summers in the early 70’s. The interiors with lush wallpapers and busy patterns, where the interior and fashion are 1.
Colours are bright and sometimes slightly dirty, for this collection the prints give a lot of different shades and an awkward fun balance. It is all about the mix and mis / match.
This print comes in a quilted kimono, boxy blouse and shirtdress

domain: design


text:
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domain: economics


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Even in a plunging true estate industry, you can income from investing in genuine estate if you know where to spend your dollars.
So, do you know in which you should be investing correct now in this difficult genuine estate marketplace?
The answer: Lake Tahoe real estate
This is why you must spend in Lake Tahoe real estate, especially in the South Lake Tahoe location.
Top 7 Factors to Commit in Lake Tahoe Genuine Estate
#7: Ideal Weather conditions Problems & Year Round Recreation Draws in New Buyers
Summer season vacationers in nearby Sacramento and Reno knowledge temperatures in the 100’s. The Bay Region is socked with fog. Lake Tahoe usually enjoys highs in the reduced 80’s.
And, will not let the simple fact that this is known as a planet-class ski destination fool you into considering that the winters are not comfortable. An common January working day ranges from fifteen – 41 levels with outstanding sunshine compared to Vail ( – 31,) Jackson Gap (five – 28,) and Stow (one – 25.)
When a storm comes it drops the snow and leaves us basking in daylight. In reality, the sunshine shines about 275 days a 12 months.
This permits Lake Tahoe to offer you the complete variety of recreational activities all yr spherical
In contrast to most ski or golfing resorts, Lake Tahoe has anything for everyone. The pristine blue waters and sandy beaches supply swimming, fishing and sun bathing. Boating possibilities range from kayaks to sailing to motors. The forest and mountain trails draw hikers, bikers, rock-climbers, snow mobiles, snow sneakers, cross region skiers and campers. Golf resorts selection from lakeside to higher desert. Photographers, painters and artists of all mediums flock to the region.
#six: Actual Estate’s Rolling Boom Influence
When an area is going through higher genuine estate activity, buyers ought to search to the surrounding places for the up coming wave of action.
The Lake Tahoe genuine estate marketplace benefits from the encompassing Reno, Sacramento, and general San Francisco Bay communities. We are getting studies that increased genuine estate exercise in the region and values are stabilizing.
With today’s’ inventory surplus, reduced curiosity charges and the news blasting everyday “doom and gloom” stories, sellers are a lot more willing to negotiate now.
#five: Little one Boomer Are Purchasing Lake Tahoe Actual Estate Now
Little one Boomers are the driving power behind the resort market industry and they have only just begun to invest. Several little one boomers are now inheriting different ranges of prosperity from senior household associates. At the very same time, they are in their peak earning many years and investing actively in next properties and retirement properties.
They are searching for second properties close to shorelines, lakes, ski resorts and golf courses. Lake Tahoe is a single of the number of second home locations that can supply all a few.
#4: It really is Affordable
Realistic pricing is 1 of the essential reasons to commit in Lake Tahoe real estate. In accordance to the South Lake Tahoe Association the price for a solitary family property inside of its South Shore is less than half than residences in Vail, Aspen and Jackson Gap.
#3: Possibilities for Supplemental Income
Lake Tahoe is a entire world-class vacation location. Trip rentals provide in backed revenue which can support include the fees of your actual estate investment decision. When a property provides the “Tahoe Seem,” dwells in a desirable area (close to outside recreation) and involves features this kind of as a very hot tub or pool table, need instantly will increase.
For illustration a single of our recent listings, a 6 bed room modern day property has averaged an cash flow of over $125,000 for five many years now.
# two: Substantial Demand from customers and Strictly Restricted Provide
In a nutshell, there is no chance of real estate above-growth getting a damaging influence on the worth of Lake Tahoe residences. Usually, Marina One Residences is reduced and demand from customers is large.
For the duration of the 2004-2005 “increase,” investors and builders had been throwing up properties at break-neck velocity in hopes of massive earnings. When this industry arrived to a screeching halt, these places have been the first to see foreclosures. Supply will constantly be in the favor of the investor due to the fact Lake Tahoe genuine estate is an environmentally protected spot. That indicates growth is strictly restricted.
And, the # 1 Reason to Commit in Lake Tahoe Real Estate: Boost Your Quality of Life:
Would You Relatively View Your Investments or Dwell Them?
Daily, we hear individuals who have invested in Lake Tahoe genuine estate praise the positive aspects received by way of dwelling a less demanding and more joyful life. These positive aspects contain better overall health, more time life, far better interactions, and so forth.
How does this relate to investing?
Feel about it.
Would not you rather observe it expand whilst calming on the beach locations of Lake Tahoe relatively than pulling your hair out in entrance of your computer?
You can view arrows likely up and down or you could experience the chair lift up and swish your way down. You can listen to personal computer chimes or you can pay attention to the wind in the pines.
What could be greater than wrapping “top quality of life” and long time period investments into 1 “total advantages” package deal?
Robert Frost influenced us to unite vocation with avocation. Investing in Lake Tahoe actual estate is just these kinds of a enterprise. The pay out offs can be huge.

domain: geography


New Website Offers More Accessible Training Tool in Reporting Child Neglect
Community Partnership of the Ozarks says it has launched an online tool to help educate those responsible for reporting child abuse and neglect.
CPO says the organization and its partners have been working to reduce the number of cases of child abuse through in part the Mandated Reporter Training program. It educates individuals who have the care, custody or control of a child about what to look for and how and when to report potential child abuse and neglect. But the three-hour training is only provided in-person on quarterly dates throughout the year.
Now, an online mandated reporter training is accessible 24 hours a day and can be completed at a person’s leisure.
The organization says there were over 4,600 calls to the child abuse and neglect hotline from Greene County alone in FY 2014, citing the latest report from the Missouri Children’s Division.
CPO says while the online course is not designed to replace the in-person training, it does comprehensively cover the same information in a series of videos and question modules. Once an individual has successfully completed the course, they will be able to print a unique certificate showing the completion of 2 clock hours in the course.
According to a news release, Messiah Lutheran Church provided funding for the creation of the program, and Community Partnership’s staff worked alongside its three mandated reporter partners to film the training videos and develop the curriculum.
The website is www.momandatedreporter.org.


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became a material for memes all over the internet after a video of the veteran actress sweeping outside the Parliament as part of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
’ started doing rounds on the social media. Dharmendra
too found her attempts to clean the Parliament very ludicrous.
The senior actor had earlier tweeted saying that in films, Hema looked very novice to him too and on the other hand he used to help his mother during his childhood with household chores. He also called himself very efficient at sweeping with brooms.
While his witty yet sarcastic comment won over his fans, seems like it did not go down well with Hema Malini. The actor today took to his Twitter
handle to apologise for his previous tweet. He wrote that he has been misunderstood and that he will never tweet about the broom
again. Along with his tweet, he shared an old picture of himself where his younger self can be seen joining his hands and apologising.
Check out his tweet here:
The actor-turned-politician, along with Minister of State For Finance Anurag Thakur
, had taken part in a cleanliness drive within Parliament premises.
In the video, the actress was seen dressed in black trousers and a grey kurta and was spotted sweeping the roads inside the premises with a broom in hand. Even after trying to sweet, she did not seem to be doing a good job. Needless to say she attracted a train of memes thereafter.
Check out the video here:

domain: celebrity


text:
Romantic photo book template psd (mini photo album template) for photo lovers.
Free for personal use. Download free photo book template psd can Google cloud.
Enhanced version of album can be purchased from the author (details in the archive)
File Format: 3 PSD | Resolution: 7205 x 3602 ~ 300 dpi |File Size: 495 MB

domain: artistic


text:
COMING LATE APRIL!
Kissing The Moon Goodbye is the THIRD book of the Midnight Mafia Trilogy.
Book one is titled "When The Sun Goes Down" The link is below, OR you can go to my profile and will be able to find all of my books there.
Book two is titled "Chasing Stars" The link is below, OR you can go to my profile and will be able to find all of my books there.
I would STRONGLY suggest you read these books before giving this one a shot as you will otherwise likely be confused.
I would like to take the time to mention, so everyone is aware, that this book will have multiple POV's, meaning maybe even a few outside of Kate and Alessio. I will specify at the start of each chapter who it is in the pov of, if I forget to specify it will be because it is in Kate's POV.
I would like to apologize for the choppy sound of this trailer. The video editing program I used for my other trailers was absolutely amazing, but costly. My free trial has expired so I had to use the window movie maker my laptop came with which is severely lacking in comparison to what I had used previously which could stack sound bits, merge them together, do all kinds of neat things...windows movie maker, uh, not so much. So it came out a bit choppy but it will do for now.
When this book begins (as currently book two is not finished) I WILL maintain weekly updates like I have for book one and book two, every Monday, if Monday's update is less than 1500 words I will post a second update throughout the week.
Don't forget to vote and comment!
"Your madre was beside herself all night wondering where you had slipped off to." He scolded with a playful glint to his eye. "And of course when the family was looking for you this morning and you were nowhere to be seen, it was quite a bother."
I gave Alessio a side eye. The family?
"Was there something you needed Padre?"
"No, no, it's quite alright. Just keeping tabs on my son is all. Guests arrived today and you were nowhere to be seen. You can imagine how rude this may have seemed."
"Our apologies. We'll greet them as soon as we are appropriate."
Ugo glanced down, as if just now noting our apparel and then back up. "Certainly son. Do grant me a favor of going to lock up my office before you slip off with your wife. I've business to attend to and you do know how I hate when wandering feet find themselves within those four walls."
"Of course Padre." Alessio replied without hesitation.
"Atta boy." Ugo said giving his shoulder a fatherly pat before brushing past us and continuing towards the door where he was immediately met by several other suited men.
When they'd gone and we started towards his office I sighed. Ugo still made me feel uncomfortable. And never did he ask, but always command. "You'd think he would have remembered to lock his own study if it was that important." I muttered.
"You can go to the room, I'll meet you for lunch. You must be famished."
"It's fine." I shook my head. It would only take a minute after all.
We entered the study, I had been in here a time or two. Ugo referred to the room as his study because it sounded less controlling I suppose, but it was his office. It was where he handled his business. I had heard him through the walls, speaking in the most calm tone possible, never raising his voice, never losing his cool, as he described in graphic details the way in which he would murder the person on the other line did they not complete the task desired of them. I had heard him sigh heavily as if he was under great burden and tell one of his men it would be a shame if he had to kill him right now being he would have to change his carpet and get a new chair. He kept things a very particular way, much like Alessio kept his. Neat, organized, meticulously placed, and private. Very private.
So when we came into the "study" and there was someone else in the room, I was a little more than surprised.
We came into the room, a gorgeous woman was by the bookcase casually inspecting the bindings of the books. Her dark hair was longer and way shiner than mine and fell in pleasantly loose curls. She was dressed way too flashy to just be standing around looking at book titles. The one shouldered red dress she wore could have easily passed for a shirt if she'd slapped on a pair of pants but instead her legs went on for miles before reaching her shiny red heels.
She'd pulled a book out, skimmed through several pages, and then shut it and returned it to the shelf, she did this again and then the sound of the door closing alerted her to our presence, she straightened, and slowly half turned to face us. Bright red lips curled up instantly and before I knew it she had tackled Alessio. Arms around his neck, cheek against cheek, legs around his waist.
He stumbled backwards his mouth open just a hair as he'd clearly not expected this assault either but his arms enclosed her immediately. His voice came out like a whisper quickly swept away by air. "Ari?"
YOU ARE READING
Kissing The Moon Goodbye - A Midnight Mafia NovelRomance
------------------------ This is book THREE of the series, so if you haven't read book one (When The Sun Goes Down) or book two (Chasing Stars) I would suggest you do so before indulging in this piece. (: ------------------------ You were there when...

domain: literature


text:
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domain: food


WASHINGTON—For the fourth consecutive year among the largest federal agencies, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) ranked number one in employee commitment and satisfaction, while during the same period, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ranked last, 19th out of 19.
The determination is based on the Annual Federal Employees Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), administered by the Office of Personnel Management. It enables employees to offer their opinions on engagement, motivation, job satisfaction, and agency leadership. By this tool, NASA is said to be the best place to work in the federal government. No one is exactly saying aloud that DHS is the worst place to work in the federal government, but their scores would seem to indicate a serious morale problem.
On April 27, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing, titled, “The Best and Worst Places to Work in the Federal Government,” to probe into some of the issues that affect federal employee engagement and satisfaction. Testifying were personnel administrators from NASA, DHS, Department of Labor (DOL), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who each have the identical title, Chief Human Capital Officer. DOL and HUD were specifically invited because as a large and medium-size agency, respectively, they had made the largest improvements in employee satisfaction and engagement.
Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) found much from the 2015 FEVS results to be encouraging, but noted there was a lot of need for improvement. He and ranking member Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) have made several visits to various federal agencies and have discussed worker morale with many federal employees.
The rankings are produced by The Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization. “The 2015 rankings reflect the views of more than 433,300 federal employees from 391 agencies and subcomponents,” states Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public, in his written testimony.
Objections of Federal Employees
Stier said, “The [federal] government continued to struggle” to the “extent to which employees feel they are rewarded and promoted in a fair and timely manner for their performance and innovative contributions to the workplace.”
To the question, “Pay raises depend on how well employees perform their jobs” only 19.2 percent of employees responded positively,” he wrote.
In response to the statement “In my work unit, steps are taken to deal with a poor performer who cannot or will not improve,” only 25.8 percent, responded positively.
Less than half (45.5 percent) of employees believe senior leaders “maintain high standards of honesty and integrity.”
Chairman Meadows also cited the above points but found encouraging other statistics also cited by Stier. The data show that 94.8 percent of employees are willing “to put in the extra effort to get a job done,” and 88.1 percent believe the work they do is important.
Stier said, “These data reinforce the commitment of federal employees to their agency’s mission, but also their dissatisfaction with senior leaders and performance management practices.”
NASA’s Mission Motivates
Representing NASA, Lauren Leo spoke in glowing terms what it is like for her to work at NASA. She said, “I work for an agency that inspires, challenges, and empowers our employees daily to carry out missions that benefit humankind here on earth. What job could be better than that?”
Leo described NASA’s “awesome” mission. “Last year, for example, the entire world watched as New Horizon sent back the first close-up images of Pluto, and we continue make new discoveries about Mars that will help inform human missions there. … The Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch system rocket that will carry us again to deep space continued to reach milestones…
“Given that NASA is strongly mission and project focused, our employees believe in the importance of the mission and are heavily engaged in their work. They come to work at NASA because they want to be part of something bigger, not because it’s a job.”
Leo mentioned NASA’s oldest employee, an 89-year-old engineer, who has worked there for 49 years.
NASA has a unique way of providing incentives to its employees. “While monetary awards are always nice to receive, we have found that recognizing employee creativity and allowing that creativity to be incorporated into one of our exciting missions an amazing incentive for employees,” she said at the hearing.
She said that NASA “empowers its employees to telework whenever possible.” She said that employees don’t always have to be “in the office” to get work done.
Ranking member Connolly wondered how much of NASA’s success can be attributed to its uplifting mission, which the other agencies can’t compete with.
Stier said that he disagreed with Connolly. He felt that NASA’s successes were not due to its missions but rather to its excellent leadership.
Homeland Security Seeking Answers
Unfortunately, the spokesperson for DHS, Angela Bailey, who has only been with DHS since January, could not explain the persistent low rankings of her organization and instead chose to use the bulk of her testimony to describe the difficult missions the organization has to cope with.
Bailey spoke much of the time using in-house conceptualizations and generalities, such as “Department-wide employee engagement action plan,” “leadership development framework,” and “engagement and performance management.” The heavy-laden bureaucratic terminology doesn’t communicate well to the Congressional members and the general public.
Bailey was not alone in using bureaucratic language. HUD representative Towanda Brooks used the term “Deep Dive projects,” in her oral and written testimony, which was not defined even in the written testimony.
One idea Bailey mentioned, however, in her written testimony, had promise. She said, “I was also encouraged to see that two of our components—U.S. Coast Guard, with over 8,000 civilian employees, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with over 14,000 employees—consistently score above the government-wide average on Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) indices. We are looking at their promising practices to see if we can leverage them for Department-wide use.”
Ranking member of the Committee Connolly was sympathetic to the DHS plight, noting its origins and lack of a time to build cohesion.
“We must remember DHS was created under the most intense pressures following 9/11. It combined all or parts of 22 federal agencies under one roof with the incredible difficult mission of protecting the American people from a variety of threats,” he said.
Department of Labor’s Approach
The Department of Labor received recognition for the most improved score for departments and large agencies. In 2015, the Labor Department ranked as the eighth best place to work in the federal government of 19 departments and large agencies, which was a big jump from 17th in 2013.
Secretary Thomas E. Perez, who was confirmed in July 2013, “has made improving employee morale and engagement a top priority, since the minute he arrived at the Department of Labor,” said DOL’s Ms. Sydney Rose.
“He came to the Department with a belief that an engaged workforce is a more productive workforce. Virtually all communications from the Secretary’s Office now reinforce his commitment to, and the importance of, employee feedback,” Rose said at the hearing.
Rose said it was important to strive to implement actions, even those that may not appear to be important. Examples are putting microwaves in the lunch area and increasing signage in the building.
Other programs begun are “greater access to telework and flexible work schedules, a greater use of time-off awards to recognize superior performance, an emergency dependent care back up program, improved accommodations and facilities for nursing mothers, and improved leadership training for managers.”
Federal Employment Lags Behind Private Sector
Stier said that although there was overall much improvement in the 2015 FEVS results, the government “still lags far behind the private sector.” He cited survey research data by the firm Sirota of 1.5 million employees from 115 organizations around the world and across a broad range of industries. Private sector employee satisfaction and commitment were substantially higher than the government.
“The federal government scores well below the private sector on all survey questions that we compared to the private.”
“For example, only 59 percent of government employees say they receive constructive feedback compared with 74 percent of workers in the private sector, a 15-point difference, and only 44.4 percent of federal employees feel recognized for high-quality work, compared to 67 percent of employees in the private sector,” Stier said in his written testimony.
Once again, Rep. Connolly was sympathetic to the federal workers situation. He said they suffered from two sequester cuts by Congress, which caused nearly one million employees to be furloughed for some time, and “the uncertainty and anxiety that created.”
He also mentioned the 16-day shutdown in 2013, “fed pay was frozen for three consecutive years; retirement benefits were reduced for new employees, and training budgets slashed. In all, federal employees were hit by more than $180 billion in compensation cuts.”
Hence, it was not surprising Connolly said that federal workers “were feeling unappreciated and demoralized.”


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The treaty creating the African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples' Rights, if and when it comes into force, contains innovative elements that have potentially significant implications for current substantive and procedural approaches to regional and international dispute settlements. Bringing together leading authorities in international criminal law, human rights and transitional justice, this volume provides the first comprehensive analysis of the 'Malabo Protocol' while situating it within the wider fields of international law and international relations. The book, edited by Professors Jalloh, Clarke and Nmehielle, offers scholarly, empirical, critically engaged and practical analyses of some of its most challenging provisions. Breaking new ground on the African Court, but also treating old concepts in a novel and relevant way, The African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples' Rights in Context is for anyone interested in international law, including international criminal law and international human rights law. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
This book provides a self-contained introduction to the simulation of flow and transport in porous media, written by a developer of numerical methods. The reader will learn how to implement reservoir simulation models and computational algorithms in a robust and efficient manner. The book contains a large number of numerical examples, all fully equipped with online code and data, allowing the reader to reproduce results, and use them as a starting point for their own work. All of the examples in the book are based on the MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST), an open-source toolbox popular popularity in both academic institutions and the petroleum industry. The book can also be seen as a user guide to the MRST software. It will prove invaluable for researchers, professionals and advanced students using reservoir simulation methods. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
This volume opens a door into the rich history of animals in China. As environmental historians turn their attention to expanded chronologies of natural change, something new can be said about human history through animals and about the globally diverse cultural and historical dynamics that have led to perceptions of animals as wild or cultures as civilized. This innovative collection of essays spanning Chinese history reveals how relations between past and present, lived and literary reality, have been central to how information about animals and the natural world has been processed and evaluated in China. Drawing on an extensive array of primary sources, ranging from ritual texts to poetry to veterinary science, this volume explores developments in the human-animal relationship through Chinese history and the ways in which the Chinese have thought about the world with and through animals. This title is also available as Open Access.
This is the first book-length study of the archaeology of Australia's deserts, one of the world's major habitats and the largest block of drylands in the southern hemisphere. Over the last few decades, a wealth of new environmental and archaeological data about this fascinating region has become available. Drawing on a wide range of sources, The Archaeology of Australia's Deserts explores the late Pleistocene settlement of Australia's deserts, the formation of distinctive desert societies, and the origins and development of the hunter-gatherer societies documented in the classic nineteenth-century ethnographies of Spencer and Gillen. Written by one of Australia's leading desert archaeologists, the book interweaves a lively history of research with archaeological data in a masterly survey of the field and a profoundly interdisciplinary study that forces archaeology into conversations with history and anthropology, economy and ecology, and geography and Earth sciences.
Why do states block some foreign direct investment on national security grounds even when it originates from within their own security community? Government intervention into foreign takeovers of domestic companies is on the rise, and many observers find it surprising that states engage in such behaviour not only against their strategic and military competitors, but also against their closest allies. Ashley Lenihan argues that such puzzling behaviour can be explained by recognizing that states use intervention into cross-border mergers and acquisitions as a tool of statecraft to internally balance the economic and military power of other states through non-military means. This book tests this theory using quantitative and qualitative analysis of transactions in the United States, Russia, China, and fifteen European Union states. It deepens our understanding of why states intervene in foreign takeovers, the relationship between interdependence and conflict, the limits of globalization, and how states are balancing power in new ways. This title is also available as Open Access.
In this exploration of the meaning of home, Annie Zaidi reflects on the places in India from which she derives her sense of identity. She looks back on the now renamed city of her birth and the impossibility of belonging in the industrial township where she grew up. From her ancestral village, in a region notorious for its gangsters, to the mega-city where she now lives, Zaidi provides a nuanced perspective on forging a sense of belonging as a minority and a migrant in places where other communities consider you an outsider, and of the fragility of home left behind and changed beyond recognition. Zaidi is the 2019/ 2020 winner of the Nine Dots Prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary social issues. This title is also available as Open Access.
When women agitated to join the medical profession in Britain during the 1860s, the practice of surgery proved both a help (women were neat, patient and used to needlework) and a hindrance (surgery was brutal, bloody and distinctly unfeminine). In this major new study, Claire Brock examines the cultural, social and self-representation of the woman surgeon from the second half of the nineteenth century until the end of the Great War. Drawing on a rich archive of British hospital records, she investigates precisely what surgery women performed and how these procedures affected their personal and professional reputation, as well as the reactions of their patients to these new phenomena. Essential reading for those interested in the history of medicine, British Women Surgeons and their Patients, 1860–1918 provides wide-ranging new perspectives on patient narratives and women's participation in surgery between 1860 and 1918. This title is also available as Open Access.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a biological mechanism whereby a micro-organism evolves over time to develop the ability to become resistant to antimicrobial therapies such as antibiotics. The drivers of and potential solutions to AMR are complex, often spanning multiple sectors. The internationally recognised response to AMR advocates for a 'One Health' approach, which requires policies to be developed and implemented across human, animal, and environmental health. To date, misaligned economic incentives have slowed the development of novel antimicrobials and limited efforts to reduce antimicrobial usage. However, the research which underpins the variety of policy options to tackle AMR is rapidly evolving across multiple disciplines such as human medicine, veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences, epidemiology, economics, sociology and psychology. By bringing together in one place the latest evidence and analysing the different facets of the complex problem of tackling AMR, this book offers an accessible summary for policy-makers, academics and students on the big questions around AMR policy.
Sometimes solving climate change seems impossibly complex, and it is hard to know what changes we all can and should make to help. This book offers hope. Drawing on the latest research, Mark Jaccard shows us how to recognize the absolutely essential actions (decarbonizing electricity and transport) and policies (regulations that phase out coal plants and gasoline vehicles, carbon tariffs). Rather than feeling paralyzed and pursuing ineffective efforts, we can all make a few key changes in our lifestyles to reduce emissions, to contribute to the urgently needed affordable energy transition in developed and developing countries. More importantly, Jaccard shows how to distinguish climate-sincere from insincere politicians and increase the chance of electing and sustaining these leaders in power. In combining the personal and the political, The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success offers a clear and simple strategic path to solving the greatest problem of our times. A PDF version of this title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core at doi.org/10.1017/9781108783453.
Reprinted by the John Charnley Trust, the original text having been out of print for many years, this beautifully presented book deals very simply and scientifically with most of the difficult fractures an orthopaedic surgeon is likely to meet in his/her practice. Despite the fact that the original text was published in 1950, the basic principles espoused in the book still apply today, and it remains one of the most concise and complete books on closed fracture treatment ever written. This core textbook has been basic reference for orthopaedic surgeons for half a century. It describes the elementary mechanics of reduction and immobilisation and shows how the commonest injuries can be managed by proven methods based on these general principles. It is a must for anyone embarking on a career in orthopaedics and is a classic text that all orthopaedic trainees and consultants should have on their shelves.
The United Nations estimates that four billion people worldwide live outside the protection of the law. These people can be driven from their land, intimidated by violence, and excluded from society. This book is about community paralegals - sometimes called barefoot lawyers - who demystify law and empower people to advocate for themselves. These paralegals date back to 1950s South Africa and are active today in many countries, but their role has largely been ignored by researchers. Community Paralegals and the Pursuit of Justice is the first book on the subject. Focusing on paralegal movements in six countries, Vivek Maru, Varun Gauri, and their coauthors have collected rich, vivid stories of paralegals helping people to take on injustice, from domestic violence to unlawful mining to denial of wages. From these stories emerges evidence of what works and how. The insights in the book will be of immense value in the global fight for universal justice. This title is also available as Open Access.
Conservation research is essential for advancing knowledge but to make an impact scientific evidence must influence conservation policies, decision making and practice. This raises a multitude of challenges. How should evidence be collated and presented to policymakers to maximise its impact? How can effective collaboration between conservation scientists and decision-makers be established? How can the resulting messages be communicated to bring about change? Emerging from a successful international symposium organised by the British Ecological Society and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, this is the first book to practically address these questions across a wide range of conservation topics. Well-renowned experts guide readers through global case studies and their own experiences. A must-read for practitioners, researchers, graduate students and policymakers wishing to enhance the prospect of their work 'making a difference'. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Most Muslim-majority countries have legal systems that enshrine both Islam and liberal rights. While not necessarily at odds, these dual commitments nonetheless provide legal and symbolic resources for activists to advance contending visions for their states and societies. Using the case study of Malaysia, Constituting Religion examines how these legal arrangements enable litigation and feed the construction of a 'rights-versus-rites binary' in law, politics, and the popular imagination. By drawing on extensive primary source material and tracing controversial cases from the court of law to the court of public opinion, this study theorizes the 'judicialization of religion' and the radiating effects of courts on popular legal and religious consciousness. The book documents how legal institutions catalyze ideological struggles, which stand to redefine the nation and its politics. Probing the links between legal pluralism, social movements, secularism, and political Islamism, Constituting Religion sheds new light on the confluence of law, religion, politics, and society. This title is also available as Open Access.
The International Criminal Court emerged in the early twenty-first century as an ambitious and permanent institution with a mandate to address mass atrocity crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity. Although designed to exercise jurisdiction only in instances where states do not pursue these crimes themselves (and are unwilling or unable to do so), the Court's interventions, particularly in African states, have raised questions about the social value of its work and its political dimensions and effects. Bringing together scholars and practitioners who specialise on the ICC, this collection offers a diverse account of its interventions: from investigations to trials and from the Court's Hague-based centre to the networks of actors who sustain its activities. Exploring connections with transitional justice and international relations, and drawing upon critical insights from the interpretive social sciences, it offers a novel perspective on the ICC's work. This title is also available as Open Access.
International criminal law has witnessed a rapid rise after the end of the Cold War. The United Nations refers to the birth of a new 'age of accountability', but certain historical objections, such as selectivity or victor's justice, have never fully gone away, and many of the justice dimensions of international criminal law remain unexplored. Various critiques have emerged in socio-legal scholarship or globalization discourse, revealing that there is a stark discrepancy between reality and expectation. Linking discussion of legal theories, case-law and practice to scholarship and opinion, A Critical Introduction to International Criminal Law explores these critiques through five main themes at the heart of contemporary dilemmas:The shifting contours of criminality and international crimesThe tension between individual and collective responsibilityThe challenges of domestic, international, hybrid and regional justice institutionsThe foundations of justice proceduresApproaches towards punishment and reparationSuitable for students, academics and professionals from multiple fields wishing to understand contemporary theories, practices and critiques of international criminal law. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Debating Humanity explores sociological and philosophical efforts to delineate key features of humanity that identify us as members of the human species. After challenging the normative contradictions of contemporary posthumanism, this book goes back to the foundational debate on humanism between Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger in the 1940s and then re-assesses the implicit and explicit anthropological arguments put forward by seven leading postwar theorists: self-transcendence (Hannah Arendt), adaptation (Talcott Parsons), responsibility (Hans Jonas), language (Jürgen Habermas), strong evaluations (Charles Taylor), reflexivity (Margaret Archer) and reproduction of life (Luc Boltanski). Genuinely interdisciplinary and boldly argued, Daniel Chernilo has crafted a novel philosophical sociology that defends a universalistic principle of humanity as vital to any adequate understanding of social life.
Carbon is one of the most important elements of our planet, and ninety percent of it resides inside Earth's interior. This book summarizes ten years of research by scientists involved in the Deep Carbon Observatory, a global community of 1200 scientists. It is a comprehensive guide to carbon inside Earth, including its quantities, movements, forms, origins, changes over time, and impact on planetary processes. Leading experts from a variety of fields, including geoscience, biology, chemistry, and physics, provide exciting new insights into the interconnected nature of the global carbon cycle, and explain why it matters to the past, present, and future of our planet. With end-of-chapter problems, illustrative infographics, full-color images, and access to online models and datasets, it is a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers, and professional scientists interested in carbon cycling and Earth system science. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
The intentional spread of falsehoods – and attendant attacks on minorities, press freedoms, and the rule of law – challenge the basic norms and values upon which institutional legitimacy and political stability depend. How did we get here? The Disinformation Age assembles a remarkable group of historians, political scientists, and communication scholars to examine the historical and political origins of the post-fact information era, focusing on the United States but with lessons for other democracies. Bennett and Livingston frame the book by examining decades-long efforts by political and business interests to undermine authoritative institutions, including parties, elections, public agencies, science, independent journalism, and civil society groups. The other distinguished scholars explore the historical origins and workings of disinformation, along with policy challenges and the role of the legacy press in improving public communication. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Iran has one of the world's highest rates of drug addiction: estimated to be between 2 and 7 percent of the entire population. This makes the questions that this book asks all the more salient: what is the place of illegal substances in the politics of modern Iran? How have drugs affected the formation of the Iranian state and its power dynamics? And how have governmental attempts at controlling and regulating illicit drugs affected drug consumption and addiction? By answering these questions, Maziyar Ghiabi suggests that the Islamic Republic of Iran's image as an inherently conservative state is not only misplaced and inaccurate, but in part a myth. In order to dispel this myth, he skilfully combines ethnographic narratives from drug users, vivid field observations from 'under the bridge', with archival material from the pre- and post-revolutionary era, statistics on drug arrests and interviews with public officials. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
If treated as a single economy, the European Union is the largest in the world, with an estimated GDP of over 14 trillion euros. Despite its size, European economic policy has often lagged behind the rest of the world in its ability to generate growth and innovation. Much of the European economic research itself often trails behind that of the USA, which sets much of the agenda in mainstream economics. This book, also available as open access, bridges the gap between economic research and policymaking by presenting overviews of twelve key areas for future economic policy and research. Written for the economists and policymakers working within European institutions, it uses comprehensive surveys by Europe's leading scholars in economics and European policy to demonstrate how economic research can contribute to good policy decisions, and vice versa, demonstrating how economics research can be motivated and made relevant by hot policy questions.


Lubbock Symphony Orchestra To Host Greatness Concert This Weekend, Beatles Concert Later This Month [AUDIO]
On Thursday's edition of Lubbock's First News, Mary Saathoff from the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra spoke with Tom Collins and Laura Mac about some of their upcoming concerts.
This weekend, LSO will hold it's first major concert of the year: the "Greatness" concert. Saathoof explained that the show would feature pieces from Germany and Italy, with a German guest conductor at the baton as will. The show will also feature a special bass solo concerto, performed by Mark Mason. The show will be performed Friday, January 17th and Saturday, January 18th, at the Civic Center.
Also coming up this month, LSO will be hosting a Beatles tribute concert on January 31st and the City Bank Auditorium. Saathoff said that the show will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America, and that there will be classic cars on display outside the show as well as a costume contest.
For more information on LSO and to purchase tickets to their upcoming shows, visit their website at lubbocksymphonyorchestra.org or call them at 806-762-1688.
Listen to the full interview with Mary Saathoff here:
You can also listen on your iPhone, iPad and other mobile device by following the link below:
Be sure and tune in to Lubbock's First News with Tom Collins and Laura Mac weekday mornings from 6 AM to 8:30 AM on NewsTalk 790 KFYO and online at KFYO.com.


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Run towards him and attack him while he charges his energy ball, then run away from him as fast as you can. Just repeat this tactic and you could win. It’s not necessary to defeat him, but it will allow you to get more items later in the game.
The keyhole is in a well near the entrance to the First Ward. As the player approaches the keyhole, he/she must fight against protective armor and enemy armor before he/she can seal it. There is a Trinity sign in the store. You can access it by using Thunder on the broken cables in the Third District.
Opposite Armor uses all of Guard Armor’s tricks, so you should be familiar with whirling and stomping attacks. Avoid them and attack during cooldown. Start by taking out the gauntlets as they have the least HP and thereby greatly reduce stress, followed by the Hammerlegs.
Squall (or Leon as he is called in kh) is a miniboss in Traverse Town. In the cutscene, Sora loses to him anyway, but you can actually win the fight against him in game. I believe you will get an item for winning, but you don’t have to win to continue. Yes, I hit him.
Speaking of numbers, just for a moment, it’s best to reach End of the World by level 50 or just a bit more. If the party needs to get a little tougher, fight in Traverse Town or the Coliseum, where the Hades Cup is currently taking place.
If you have Aerora or Aeroga, you can deal more damage to Kurt if the shield is also in range of Kurt’s hands or head. Another strategy to quickly overcome his shield mode is to summon either Mushu, Genie, or Dumbo. Then use Water, Fire, or Showtime to pierce Kurt Zisa’s shield.< /p>
Aim at it and cast the Thunder spell to turn on the power in the district. Then go to the door and open the keyhole and you have a door from the 1st district to the 3rd district.
Sora and Riku arrive in the sleeping city of Traverse at the start of their Mastery Trial, but they are separated into two separate but interconnected iterations of the city. You will meet the former residents of Shibuya who continue to play the Reaper’s Game despite being separated from their partners.
Opposite Armor is not an optional boss and Aero has nothing to do with the reason for fighting him, it’s just a nice reward. To unlock Hollow Bastion you need 2 Navi-G parts. You get one when you seal the Neverland Keyhole and one when you seal the Traverse Town Keyhole (which happens after defeating Opposite Armor).
The Guardian Armor is extremely resistant to all forms of magic, so use melee attacks to overcome it. Jump and attack its head, then move away when it starts marching and slam the ground, then circle it to continue attacking its head.
To get to the Gizmo Shop walk down the path next to the hotel entrances and at the end of this path is the Gizmo Shop (it’s the big building with the clock tower in the second district) . When you enter these locations, you’ll briefly see Donald and Goofy searching.
A very useful strategy is to keep your distance and wait for Leon to fire a fireball. You can attack to distract it, deal damage, and stun Leon. You can then hit him with a combo without fear of being hit, then retreat and repeat the process.
Squall takes on the name Leon as an alias because he was ashamed of not protecting those he loved from the Heartless when his homeworld, the Radiant Garden, was consumed by darkness. His role in Kingdom Hearts is to guide the protagonist Sora in his fight against the Heartless.
Yuffie is sixteen years old at the beginning of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and seventeen during the events of Kingdom Hearts II.

domain: game


Did you realize a 12 pound Yorkie is the same as an average female weighing 218 pounds and a 14 pound cat is equivalent to a 237 pound man?
Pet obesity by itself is classified as a disease, but the health conditions associated with obesity reveal the heart of the epidemic’s impact on pets and their owners. Osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint injury, various forms of cancer and decreased life expectancy are all linked to obesity in pets. “The body of evidence indicating that obesity causes costly and painful conditions is clear,” according to Dr. Joe Bartges, a veterinary nutritionist; “Without the obesity risk factor in place, the likelihood of pets getting many serious diseases is inarguably reduced.”
How can this be fixed/ prevented? Change in amount of food fed vs. amount of exercise... Just like humans.
Not only will the weight loss add to your pets overall health and increase their lifespan.... it will also ultimately make them feel better and be an overall happier dog/ cat. Isn't that what we all want in our furry friends?
Most bags of dog/ cat food advise you to over feed your dogs/ cats with the amount of "recommended" cups per day - Ask your Vet what the proper feeding amounts are for your pets particular brand of food. Also, have them review the protein % in your pets diet. An over abundance of protein can cause additional future health problems.


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A poem by Mr. Wild Dingo
Dauntless flew young scarecrow blue
Unfettered he, from sac set free
Fearless into trouble’s jaws
While wild scrambled monster’s paws
Beauty’s yellow eyes not pleased
O’er that which trouble’s jaws hath seized
Tattered now brave hero’s breast
Soon be he empty, soon he’ll rest
Of whitest mettle thus freed
And brave end, sadly be decreed
This poem... this utterly gut-wrenching epic verse on modern life has touched me to my very core. Well done Mr. Wild Dingo.
I think I am crying a little. Such a very brave stuffie to die so suddenly, so violently. And what of Juno? Surely as a spectator she holds as much responsibility for the demise of the hapless scarecrow as Loki jaws of doom does.
Lovely post. Perhaps MWD can be a guest more often.
Barkless...utterly barkless...what talent...what literary genius!!!!! AND WHAT A STUFFIE DESTRUCTION.....
Scruffy, Lacie and Stan bow due east across the Pond.
Me thinks MWD reads way too much epic poetry. (I was waiting for the wine-dark seas...) But the accompanying photographs make me think of the Iliad with pictures! 😀 Heehee. Seriously, I don't think I've ever read such a dramatic description of the death of a stuffie. Way to go, MWD!
- Dr. Liz, who read Beowulf as a child, which probably explains a great deal 😉
I agree, we need more poetry from MWD! Now I have to make sure that a certain pair of Shepherd eyes don't see this and get ideas about my slippers!
Wonderful! You are as talented at stuffie kills as Teka Toy. What an accomplishment.
Oh, and the muzzer says the poen was fine
gus n teka
Oh no, Mr. Bill! Mr. Bill!


Audacious, the fourth of seven Astute-class attack submarines being built for the Royal Navy was launched recently at Barrow-in-Furness. The 97-meter long, 7,400 tonne nuclear-powered submarine emerged from the Devonshire Dock Hall on April 27.
The following day, it was lowered into the dock water for the first time to begin the next phase of its test and commissioning program ahead of leaving Barrow for sea trials next year.
Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Submarines Rear Admiral John Weale said, “It’s an exciting moment to see HMS Audacious enter the water for the first time ahead of trials. Such a feat of engineering is testament to the skills of the BAE Systems workforce in Barrow. As part of an increasingly capable Royal Navy, HMS Audacious will go on to serve on operations right around the world, helping keep Britain safe.”
Armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk land attack missiles, the Astute-class submarines are the most highly-capable submarines ever built for the Royal Navy. They can strike at targets up to 1,000km from the coast with pinpoint accuracy, are equipped with a world-leading sonar capability and powered by a nuclear reactor.
The first three submarines in the class, HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful, are now in service while the final three Astute-class submarines are at various stages of construction at the Barrow site.
BAE Systems is the prime contractor in the Astute program and the industrial lead for the Dreadnought program, which is responsible for delivering the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines.
Construction of the first of four submarines, named Dreadnought, began last year.
For more information, click here.


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Combining style and comfort with our extra long singlet top. Featuring our signature Desti logo on a charcoal panel with large statement font.
A loose fitting women's gym tank for the days you aren’t feeling 100% and crave comfort.
Lightweight quick dry fabric that will move effortlessly with your body through your workouts. The clean lines are designed to suit all body types with a minimalist appeal.
Cotton, Polyester, Spandex
Desti Original Malaga Leggings
Flattering high rise fit, hugging the body in all the right places. The Desti Leggings accentuating every curve from your waist down with a 7/8 cut length for added comfort. Stretch mesh panels added for comfort and style.
Four way stretch fabric providing ultimate comfort and sweat-wicking probabilities. Whilst enough stretch through the waistband provides the right support, avoiding the leggings to become see through. Complete with subtle designer Desti logo in charcoal.
Featuring a mesh panel design for a unique wardrobe statement that combines style and subtlety.
Designed to be your daily essential.
Desti Original Marbella Crop Top in Black
The Marbella crop was cut to fit your liking, featuring a basic crew neckline and monochromatic sleeve.
Fitting nicely around the torso and arms, the contrasting sleeve has a staple logo insert in signature orange.
Perfect wardrobe essential to use during your next outdoor training session or one of your every day go to items.
Desti Original Alto Women's Long Line T-shirt
If there was ever a t-shirt you’ve always been looking for this is it. Naturally fitting the womanly curves and accentuating your figure with a long line hemline.
Designed carefully and specifically for woman who crave comfort whilst training and running daily errands.
Finished with a scooped back neck as a design feature with simple Desti logo branding.


The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raised an alarm over a planned attack on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and Lagos states.
Our heritage reporter learnt that Katsina state, which is President Muhammadu Buhari’s homestate, is the main target.
The NSCDC stated that insurgents of the Boko Haram and its splinter, Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) have mobilised themselves and had equipped themselves with dangerous weapons like anti-aircraft guns and general purpose machine guns in preparation for the attacks.
These were contained in a leaked report signed by the Deputy Commandant General Controller in charge of Operations, DD Mungadi, addressed to all commands dated July 25.
“We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade launchers, Anti-Aircraft guns, and General Purpose Machine Guns which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State,” the report reads in part.
The NSCDC said from the intelligence gathered, terrorists had equipped themselves with dangerous weapons like Anti-aircraft guns and general-purpose machine guns, among others, in preparation for the attack on President Buhari’s home state.
These were contained in a leaked report dated July 25, titled,
The report also hinted at plans by bandits groups to attack Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, and Zamfara states, adding that the Commandant General had directed the state Commandants to put measures in place to avert the attacks.
It read, “We have received credible intelligence that Boko Haram and the ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade launchers, Anti-Aircraft guns, and General-Purpose Machine Guns which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.
In another development, two separate bandit groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-West, North Central and South West (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos respectively).”
“Consequently, the Commandant General has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places including Schools, Worship Centres, and Critical National Assets in your respective states, to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements. Please treat as urgent,” the report added.


In the months since his surprise departure from Fox News, Tucker Carlson has been running a fairly quiet operation, recording most of his shows from his home in Maine and posting them on Twitter. But as he approaches the end of his contractual obligations to the network that fired him, he’s reportedly eyeing some big backers for his next business venture.
CNBC reports that Carlson has been in talks with conservative megadonor Rebekah Mercer about funding his next move. The donor, whose billionaire family gave millions to the Trump campaign in 2016, has already invested indirectly in Carlson’s new media company via her investment firm 1789 Capital, which she has poured $150 million into with the aim of backing “non-woke” companies. Any additional cash routed Carlson’s way would be on top of that.
The billionaire Peter Thiel is also considering throwing some money Carlson’s way, per CNBC. The PayPal founder, who helped get Senator J.D. Vance elected in Ohio, reportedly told allies that he might invest in the company after he heard a pitch from Carlson’s people.
The recruitment of Thiel and Mercer would be a major break for Carlson as he seeks funding for his next big thing. The former Fox News host has had some success attracting advertisers, but his viewership has declined since his first shows on Twitter in June, and pulling in two huge Republican donors could help him regain momentum. He’s going to need the money, too. Carlson, who wants to run a subscription-based network potentially hosted on Twitter, remains under contract with Fox News until January 2025 —meaning that he’s theoretically subject to a noncompete clause through the entirety of the next election. In June, the network sent him a cease-and-desist letter for breaching that contract with his show on Twitter.


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Taylor Swift snaps a pic with Julia Roberts at the Grey Goose vodka party for The Weinstein Company and eOne Entertainments ‘August: Osage County’ and ‘One Chance’ at Soho House Toronto on Monday evening.
Taylor was on hand for the premiere of the film One Chance for which she co-wrote the end credits song of the film, “Sweeter Than Fiction.” Taylor looked beautiful at the premiere in a white dress with cutouts on the side.
Tonight= my first Toronto Film Festival experience-Going to the premiere tonight of One Chance, honored to have written the end credit song!
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) September 9, 2013
What do you think of Taylor’s look? We also loved her cute blue floral dress she wore at a photo session for the film at TIFF earlier in the day. Check those pics out here.


Barcelona news: Statistics that prove they are Europe's new comeback kings
- Statistics reveal that Barcelona are comeback kings of Europe
What's the story?
Barcelona have gained eight points in the last 10 minutes in LaLiga this campaign. The fact depicts the fighting spirit of Ernesto Valverde's sides, who are leaving everyone behind in the Spanish top flight.
In case you didn't know..
Barcelona was trailing against Villareal for 90 minutes but two late minute goals saw them winning a point from the match. Ernesto Valverde started without Lionel Messi against Villareal and the Blaugrana made a fierce starting, going up 2-0 up in the first half. Villareal was quick to respond and went up 4-2 in the 60th minute.
Valverde was quick not to waste any time and brought the Barcelona captain on the pitch around 60 minutes. The Argentine magician once again conveyed that he is still football's finest as his majestic free-kick and vision helped Barcelona salvage a point. Messi tops the goalscoring and assist charts in Europe.
The Catalan giants sit top of the league table with an eight-point lead over Atletico Madrid- the point difference is the same number of points Barcelona has won in the last 10 minutes of their LaLiga fixtures this campaign.
Barcelona are also in the Copa Del Rey Final, where they face Valencia and are through to the Quarter Finals of the Champions League.
The heart of the matter
Marca reveals that Barcelona won eight points in the last minutes. Despite the fact that Barcelona are dependent on Messi, the stats show that the Blaugrana players are showing tremendous fighting spirit to lead the Spanish top flight.
Against Rayo Vallecano in November, Barcelona were trailing 2-1 till the 87th minute but Dembele and Suarez scored two late goals to win the match. Sevilla endured something similar when they lost 4-2, despite leading 2-1 at the half time in their own home.
Dembele silenced Atletico Madrid fans with his late goal, which held Atletico to a 1-1 draw at Wanda Metropolitano while Munir El Haddadi rescued a point late on at against Bilbao.
Barcelona will take on Atletico Madrid in LaLiga before facing Manchester United in the Champions League.


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“There are going to be market reactions whenever you’re shifting from an economy that has had very low interest rates for a long period of time to an economy that has more normalized interest rates. While that is a positive story overall, there is a possibility that it will be a bumpy ride.”
– Boston Federal Reserve President, Eric Rosengren in a recent WSJ interview
The shifting and uneven global recovery and ongoing divergences continue to place strains on the world economy and capital markets. In our April Outlook, we described a global economy that was undergoing an adjustment process that would lead to increased volatility as the rapid changes in currencies, oil prices, interest rates and central bank policies work through the system. Since that writing, the markets have not disappointed as evidenced by the sharp increase in the yields of government bonds as the amount of sovereign debt with negative yields decreased from approximately $3 trillion to an estimated $1.7 trillion. The 10-year German bund yield rose from a multi-year low of 0.03% on April 17th to 0.70% on May 12th. This likely contributed to 10-year Treasury yields backing up by approximately 0.50%, while the popular strong U.S. dollar/weak Euro trade, which had become quite crowded, reversed as well. Notwithstanding these recent short-term moves, the current global economic and geopolitical dynamics strongly suggest a continuation of low interest rates, low inflation rates and low growth for the foreseeable future as the global economy cannot tolerate a normalization of interest rates at historical levels under the present conditions. Due to the recent volatility, we wanted to remind our clients what we believe should matter most for investors in the coming quarters:
- Longer term, the U.S. is and should continue to be the standout economy due to a number of structural advantages described in past Outlooks;
- The U.S. economy, which slowed in the first half of 2015 due to weather, a stronger dollar and the west coast port problems, should continue to improve in the second half;
- It would not surprise us to see a cyclical improvement in overseas economies (as signaled by strong international stock markets in recent months) as the benefits of lower oil, expansionary monetary policy and lower interest rates finally work their way through these systems; however, we view these to be transitory factors as the structural challenges for these economies remain unresolved;
- A prolonged period of low interest rates will extend this business cycle and should result in higher corporate earnings and equity valuations over time;
- We anticipate the recent increase in government bond yields can only go so far before higher rates eventually cause a slowdown in economic activity, but we have likely seen the near-term lows;
- The low interest rate environment combined with rising concerns about illiquidity in the bond market and price distortions caused by what is essentially “forced buying” of sovereign bonds by many European financial institutions has raised concerns that bonds might be losing their value as an asset class; and
- We share Mr. Rosengren’s view that it may be a bumpy ride, so we suggest that investors focus on companies that can improve profitability in a world of increasing pricing pressures and where such companies should command premium valuations in the market.
“I guess I would highlight that equity market valuations at this point generally are quite high. Now they’re not so high when you compare the returns on equities to the returns on safe assets, like bonds, which are also very low. But there are potential dangers there. And in interest rates, obviously not only short but long-term interest rates are at very low levels. And that would appear to embody low term premiums, which can move and can move very rapidly. We saw this in the case of the taper tantrum in 2013 where there was a very sharp upward movement in rates and you do have divergent monetary policies, potentially around the world.”
– Janet Yellen, interview with Christine LaGarde of the IMF
There has been a great deal of discussion about valuations with noted investors such as Bill Gross, David Tepper and Jeff Gundlach, each offering a different perspective on stock and bond market valuations. On May 6th, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen weighed in during an interview with Christine LaGarde, President of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at a conference in New York in which she said equity valuations “are quite high”, which led to a selloff in the U.S. equity markets. However, a complete reading of her comments would lead to a different conclusion and one with better context – equity valuations are not so high when you compare their returns to those of bonds. Ms. Yellen was also preparing the markets for an eventual tightening move by the Federal Reserve which will impact not only the U.S. but also foreign markets as well. It has been our view that bonds will be a difficult investment at best with rising concerns about liquidity. Given the fact that the United States is moving closer to a tightening of monetary policy, it is likely that we will continue to see further volatility and movement toward a two-tiered market with clear delineation of the companies that benefit from those that do not, making security selection more critical than in recent years.
As a result of the strong dollar, the 15 largest emerging markets have experienced an estimated $600 billion of capital outflows during the past three quarters according to the Financial Times. Foreign exchange reserves for these nations have dropped by over $350 billion which reflects the stresses facing governments. The slowdown in China and the decline in oil prices have wreaked havoc on the finances of many emerging market economies. The Saudis have reportedly seen their foreign exchange reserves of $750 billion at the start of the year decline by $36 billion in just a few months as low oil prices, entitlement programs and the cost of military actions in Yemen are straining their budget. Elsewhere, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), on May 10th, cut its benchmark lending rate and one-year benchmark deposit rate by 0.25% as it seeks to lower borrowing costs and support the slowing economy. Brazil and Russia have raised interest rates in recent weeks to combat currency and capital outflow issues. The divergences in monetary policy and economic circumstances make the risks of chasing returns even greater which suggests that investment focus should be on markets with better liquidity and higher quality. For our clients, that means continued focus on the United States which is home to the most liquid and mature capital market system in the world.
“There is always a risk that other areas of policy will shy away from unpleasant measures and rely on monetary policy to sort things out … Sustainable growth cannot be built on a mountain of debt.”
– Bundesbank President, Jens Weidmann, 5/4/15
The ongoing negotiations between Greece, the IMF and the European finance ministers are reaching another critical point in addressing the Greek debt crisis. On May 12th, Greece made a 750 million euro payment to the IMF with 600 million euros being paid with funds coming from Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) that IMF member nations can access in times of need from the IMF. In effect, Greece paid the IMF with the IMF’s money. Greece’s anti-austerity government, led by Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras, was elected earlier this year with a mandate to end Greece’s economic crisis that has seen crippling unemployment and poverty. The inability of the parties to reach agreement may push Mr. Tsipras to hold a referendum for the Greek voters to determine what austerity terms the people might be prepared to accept from their lenders in return for a bailout. The terms would include pension cuts and new laws that make it easier to lay off workers, similar to what the Germans implemented under the “Agenda 2010” program under Chancellor Schroeder. A referendum would be a risky but possibly clever political move by Mr. Tsipras to avoid backing away from campaign promises while letting the voters choose to accept the terms proposed by creditors or the potential alternative of exiting the Euro. Surprisingly, the idea of a referendum has recently received support from the German Finance Minister which is a sign of the frustration with the negotiation process. With high unemployment and ongoing challenges, many European nations need to continue the process of implementing structural reforms in order to return to sustainable growth, but high unemployment, especially for the youth, continues to make social stability a challenge for policymakers.
The Long Term Impact of Student Debt on U.S. GDP Growth
“For the moment, the depressing reality is that there is little chance of the $1.3 trillion debt shriveling. That is bad news for millions of households. But it is also unwelcome for the American economy, which can ill-afford to be weighed down by this oft-ignored debt mountain.”
– Gillian Tett, Financial Times 5/8/15
There has been a lot written about the growing amount of student debt in the United States and the escalating costs of college education. Today, student loan debt exceeds $1.3 trillion and has risen from less than $325 billion in 2004. It is estimated that more than 20% of the payments are in deferral, delinquency or default which is a difficult way to build the foundation for future financial success. In 2012, 71% of college graduates left college with an average debt of over $30,000. The student debt problem has huge implications for the future as it keeps young people from starting families, buying houses and taking risks on new businesses. It also exacerbates the growing problem of wealth inequality and declining social mobility, since it gives debt-free graduates from wealthier families an enormous head start over their peers. Today’s college graduates and younger workers are facing an improving, but challenged job market with stagnant wages. Federal and state budget cuts, meanwhile, have spiked tuition costs and cut public services that aid young workers, such as transportation and affordable housing. Unlike mortgage interest, interest on student loans has a maximum tax benefit of $2,500 and is not deductible for those earning over $80,000 as single filers and $160,000 as joint filers.
A different way to look at the impact of the student debt problem would be to compare the cost of servicing the debt to the potential loss of its contribution to GDP growth. Assuming the average student loan carries a 6.75% interest rate and has a 12.5 year term; the cost to service the debt is roughly $92.5 billion a year which is approximately 20% of the forecast for 2015 U.S. GDP growth of $450 billion. Given the aging demographics of the U.S., it is critical that our young people pick up the productive consumption spending that we are losing as the 11,000 baby boomers retiring each day will no longer spend at the same levels as they did during their working years. While the U.S. secondary education system is the envy of many nations around the world, the spiraling tuition costs are making it difficult for students to make a sufficient return on their investment if debt costs remain at these levels. More importantly, will students be able to justify the cost of college and graduate school in an environment of improving but still high youth unemployment and stagnant wage growth?
As discussed in our last two Outlooks, the current global economic and geopolitical dynamics strongly suggest a continuation of low interest rates, low inflation and low growth for the foreseeable future as the world economy cannot tolerate a normalization of interest rates to historical levels under the present conditions. That being said, rates may not return to the recent lows and volatility is likely to persist. Under these conditions, investors should expect an extended business cycle resulting in higher corporate earnings and equity valuations over time. The United States remains the standout economy and we should see improvement in economic activity in the second half of the year. Under these conditions, areas of focus include:
- Technology companies that are benefiting from unprecedented innovation and are helping their corporate customers drive down operating costs. These companies are familiar with operating successful businesses in price competitive environments. In addition, opportunities are developing from rapid technology advances including the large increase in the availability of wireless spectrum and the dynamic growth in mobility, connectivity, search, device sales, memory, data management and storage;
- Industrial investments with well-defined end-market demand, including defense, transportation, power generation and aerospace companies;
- Consumer companies with pricing power that can increase profit margins, improve overall profitability and benefit from lower input costs and stronger consumer spending;
- Financial companies that benefit from continued low interest rates and easy access to financing such as real estate related companies;
- Healthcare companies with technology-enabled breakthroughs, strong product pipelines and growing dividends; and
- Company-specific stories with compelling valuations and strong company-specific catalysts or growth drivers.
As always there are risks to the investment outlook that we factor into our views. These include higher stock market valuations, illiquidity in the bond market, slowly rising labor costs, structural headwinds in developed markets (including demographic challenges and heavy debt burdens), rising student loan debt in the U.S., slower growth in China, the eventual interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve and ongoing geopolitical risks. However, our research continues to identify strong businesses that are well positioned to benefit from the conditions described above.