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If This Is a Man by Primo Levi is a story about his personal experience of the journey through Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Right from the very first trip to the unknown destination, to the point of near death, Primo’s life was a constant battle between life and death. Throughout the book, Primo portrays his walk through living hell in a way that is both powerful and painful.
The cover of the book displays a black and white picture of three bald men, one of which is Primo, all in the striped clothes that bore the title of “prisoner.” The black and white could represent their lives in the sense that its either death or mere survival, never anything grey, never anything good. Their faces are ...view middle of the document...
The following quote by Philip Roth, gives a personal opinion on the book and the style of writing. This modern point of view shows that the message in If This Is a Man is very influential.
With the moral stamina and intellectual poise of a twentieth-century Titan, this slightly built, dutiful, unassuming chemist set out systematically to remember the German hell on earth, steadfastly to think it through, and then to render it comprehensible in lucid, unpretentious prose. He was profoundly in touch with the minutest workings of the most endearing human events and with the most contemptible. What has survived in Levi's writing isn't just his memory of the unbearable, but also, in The Periodic Table and The Wrench, his delight in what made the world exquisite to him. He was himself a magically endearing man, the most delicately forceful enchanter I've ever known.
Another critic, Alice Young, also reveals her love for the text; the following quote is a part of her review published in January, 2012.
Primo Levi was an ordinary man with an extraordinary story; his book If This Is a Man recounts his experiences in Auschwitz and is known to be one of the greatest literary insights into the shocking fate which befell so many guiltless men and women at the hands of the Nazi regime.
Primo Levi, born in 1919, was a Jewish Italian writer, but trained as a chemist. He was arrested as a member of the anti-fascist resistance and taken to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 1944. Through his survival in the camp, Levi has written a few other books such as Moments of Reprieve and A Tranquil Star. Primo’s death occurred in April, 1987.
An important event that occurred in 1947, when the book was first published, was the Cold War. Although it was said to have begun in 1947, Historians haven’t fully agreed on dates. The United States and Soviet Union were both...

domain: library


Driver Snaps Utility Pole in Gilford
According to the Laconia Daily Sun, a driver suffered minor injuries after crashing into a utility pole off Cherry Valley Road Wednesday morning.
At around 9:20 a.m., a single-vehicle collision occurred on Route 11A, just east of Gunstock Mountain Resort.
Gilford Police Captain Dustin Parent reported that a westbound vehicle operated by a female driver left the roadway and collided with a utility pole, snapping it in half.
Parent said the driver suffered minor injuries in the crash.
He said there was no sign of intoxication, no other vehicles involved, and no other passengers in the vehicle, which had to be towed from the scene.
The driver was wearing a seat belt.


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BERKELEY COUNTY, W.Va. (WDVM) — Three former employees of the Berkeley County School system were in court on Tuesday for a status hearing.
Christina Lester, a former Berkeley Heights Elementary teacher, and her two teaching aides, Kristin Douty and June Yurish were arrested in August for failing to report suspected abuse or neglect in regards to an incident that occurred in October of 2018, according to Martinsburg Police.
During the hearing, the court confirmed with the defendants on their decision for joint counsel and trial. And despite the defendants saying they believe there will be no issues down the line when being tried together, the judge said there is a cause for a conflict of interest to arise.
The three suspects were in court for a status hearing on November 21 where the prosecution was given 10 days to respond to the defense’s memorandum regarding the disqualification of joint representation.

domain: sociology


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A luxury and unique shadow box Christmas Card inspired by the buildings of the City of Lincoln.
Made with beautiful pearlescent card with a gold Christmas tree message label for you to write your own seasonal greeting.
Pop a led tealight inside to light it up to make a pretty festive display.
PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT USE WITH A NAKED FLAME
Comes with an A5 size white envelope

domain: artistic


Written by Haseeb Iqbal, a poet from London.
“Still earning respect but it don’t pay off your bills or your debts bruv.”
– Debtford, Bunker Club/Khole
Comprised of punk poet / rapper Cecil B, and producer K3MP, Debtford possess a powerful sound built on a combination of “spoken-word and drawn-out chords”, as they describe it when we meet for a walk around their Deptford home. Often politically charged, their distinct tone is hard-hitting, introspective, explicitly blunt and totally unpredictable. And with only two tracks online, there’s a real sense of mystery surrounding their music.
“We’ve known each other for 21 years, since we were four years old”, the two of them work out. Having been separately making music for the last eight years, it was only a year and a half ago that the pair joined forces to start Debtford. “It was just so easy from the start”, adds Cecil, with their years of chemistry extremely evident both on- and off-stage.
On stage, they stand close together, facing the audience. Cecil relaxes the room after intense, forceful verses by taking a seat in an armchair or lying down on the floor, while K3MP moves easily between his controller and the keyboard, always mindful of “the importance of making the musicians’ process visible”. The enjoyment and discipline of live performances has driven their music forward from the beginning, giving them a “kick up the arse, away from the relaxed casualness of making music in a bedroom” and “allowing concrete songs and ideas to form”.
Those songs and ideas have a deep political focus, analysing the complications of an ever-changing south east London very close to their hearts. “I was born in the room above that shop”, Cecil says, pointing three doors down from The Royal Albert pub and putting into perspective just how close to home their project is. Examining the complexities of gentrification, Cecil acknowledges the positive aspects of new businesses opening in the area: “a good coffee shop is a fucking good coffee shop – I’d rather go to an independent coffee shop than Costa or Starbucks. And a vegan restaurant is probably more healthy than a lot of other stuff”. But with better quality, he observes, comes a higher price, making these hipster-yet-healthy cafes very hard for locals to engage with. “I’m still gonna buy the fried chicken, because that’s what I can afford.” And it’s those who choose to come to the area’s “up-and-coming creative spaces” who keep the new businesses open and widen that gap – often with disregard for the local people. As Debtford know: “There’s a lot of attention on south London musicians, but not south Londoners”.
K3MP’s main issue with the changing face of South London is primarily the rent prices. Pointing at a new-looking brick block of apartments across the road, he says, “I mean look at that building there – that’s been empty for two years right?” “Yeah”, Cecil responds, “It was meant to have a certain amount of social housing and not a single flat has been given”. The scale of the issue, locally, only becomes more pronounced throughout our conversation; Cecil speaks of a friend who has lived in the same flat since birth, which has now been earmarked to be knocked down by the council in order to “build better flats” – something he notes would never happen to an old Georgian house. They talk about how some people growing up in post-war high-rise blocks struggle with finding a sense of identity because of how little care or attention to detail has been given to building their homes, in contrast to the to treasured character of old townhouses entwined with the identity of middle-class Londoners. And then those middle-class Londoners move into the new-build flats, fetishising and glamourising something that was never glamorous.
K3MP elaborates on this: the problem is worsened when those working-class styles are fed off by the same middle-classes who subsequently move into the “trendy new blocks”, an irritation they address clearly in their work. “You don’t wanna be like us, you wanna seem like us”, Cecil stresses in one of their songs. It’s an issue that was very well explored by Ruka Johnson in her recent Trench article exploring the fetishisation of Camden’s famous Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate, where she grew up. As she writes: “all of a sudden, the same type of people who made my life hell for living here were living here too. Their rich parents were buying up cheap council flats from ex-residents and their “trendy” offspring started moving in.”
Discussing a potential solution to an issue of such magnitude, Cecil believes a lot needs to be done before anything can change. “The people who can enforce the needed change – be it the local council or the government – don’t because they’re making money out of it”. And with over 100 MPs currently profiteering off the housing market, it is clear that the fundamental rules need to be altered before this issue can ever be addressed effectively.
Though their music is full of big ideas and opinions, the casualness of their appearance and setup give nothing away to the crowd. It’s something the pair laugh about – they very much enjoy toying with the preconceived assumptions made about them before they begin, something amplified by the little volume of music they have online. At a few of their recent gigs in fancier locations, Cecil has been wearing a full suit, using his attire to deceive those looking at him. “Well I can wear a fucking suit. Just because I’m from ends doesn’t mean I have to wear a tracksuit”. When the audience are met with lines such as “Fuck off you cunt. Stab a bailiff in the neck with a previously sharpened knife”, it’s their shock that amuses and satisfies the pair on stage. Debtford’s sartorial subversion is part of their work’s strong statement; a nod at the importance of not basing any assumptions on appearances, especially in music.
It’s their disregard for audience expectations combined with their brutal outspokenness that’s almost guaranteed to unsettle everybody watching. K3MP enjoys seeing “the audience suddenly freeze when Cecil comes in with the bars. You can see them wondering ‘is that bar about me?’”. In case it’s not clear, at the end of one of their tracks he declares: “I hope you know I’m talking about you”. (He does acknowledge the irony of generalising the hipsters and gentrifiers with scolding terms like “Reebok classics” and “buzzcuts” while deriding the audience for judging his own suit.) “And it doesn’t mean that if you look like that then you’re who I’m talking about, but it makes you ask the question”, he adds. It’s discomforting. As they say in the final words of the set: “There is nowhere left to hide”.
After a gig, walking past people who obviously haven’t enjoyed their set, K3MP says is “a great thing, since that split in opinion gets the conversation started”. But it’s the shock of them expressing their minds in a genuine, raw manner which highlights society’s issue of too many people being reluctant to voice how they truly feel. Cecil mentions a recent poetry night that was followed by group discussions, which were stopped by the facilitator halfway through, because “everyone was just agreeing with each other, whether they had something questionable to say or not. It got boring”. Too many musicians choose to play it safe and appeal to popular opinion out of fear of being met with dispute. That’s why space for artists like Debtford is essential to ignite a discussion which is all too rare.
With performances full of lyrics deeply rooted in their own experiences, I ask about their favourite lines from Debtford. Cecil’s reads: “These concrete slabs are my red carpet. These ends are my starship. Sky’s the limit, blue life’s within it. We’ve been denied a harness but still try to win it.” For him, it’s about the pride of where he’s from – “I love my working class background, I’m proud of it”, he explains, “and that will never change”.
For K3MP, the line that makes him smile at every gig says: “This posh girl’s love for Morley’s was her way of fitting in. Surely you’re more accustomed to organic, being brought up on a farm fam, I smell porkies. Cos we all know you’re gonna be in a detached house voting for the Tories when you reach your forties.”
Though it’s too easy to feel victimised by Debtford’s lyrics, their introspective nature is evident when they’re recognising their own privilege in tracks such as Washed white, which Cecil says explores “the ignorance of the white man in a position of comfortability”. As he says: “we’re in that position whether we like it or not”. The most important part of the discussion, for Cecil, is unsettling the audience and forcing them to “actively acknowledge their privilege, whether it’s being a man, a white person, a westerner, working-class, middle-class or upper-class”. Only then, he says, “can you become aware that it comes with a price – people can only be privileged because of the underprivileged. And if you’re not actively acknowledging that, then come to a Debtford gig.”
Debtford play The Kite Bar on Friday night at this year’s Brainchild Festival.


Summer Concerts at The Street
The Street, an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment destination located in Chestnut Hill, is home to a variety of Berklee artists performing on Sundays at noon on the Green. (View map.)
Check out some of the great shows that have been part of the Summer in the City series in prior years.
CANCELED: This event has been canceled due to the weather. Refunds are available at the point-of-purchase site during business hours.
Ignacio González Nappa, who performs as Nacho González, is an Uruguayan musician, composer, and social entrepreneur currently studying jazz composition and performance at Berklee College of Music.
Cuatro player Fabiola Méndez, winner of the 2011 National Cuatro Player Competition hosted by the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture, performs.
Brandon Diaz is a solo artist fulfilling his goal of creating an R&B/soul fusion band with equally talented fellow Berklee students.
a l e a is the stage name of Maria Alejandra Jimenez '16, a singer-songwriter from Barrancas, La Guajira, Colombia.
Molly Kupris, a singer-songwriter from Boston, performs.
Nicolas Emden, a Chilean singer-songwriter who lives in Boston, performs the music from his new album.
MIXCLA performs, led by composer, pianist, and singer Zahili Gonzalez Zamora with Gerson Esteban Lazo Quiroga on bass and backing vocals and Takafumi Nikaido on percussion.
Daniel Patiño, a singer-songwriter from San José, Costa Rica, performs.
Ceci Juno is an Ecuadorian singer-songwriter, composer, and music therapist in training. Seven to Five is a Boston-area band that makes reharmonized arrangements such as mashups and medleys.
CANCELED: This event has been canceled due to the weather.
Singer-songwriter Idelle from San Juan, Puerto Rico, performs.
Guitarist Wepro (the stage name for Marco Castelluzzo) performs.
Honeysuckle is a progressive folk trio that blends older influences and traditional instrumentation with modern effects and inspiration.


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Saturday, April 30, 2011
Today was a beautiful day! I met Hailey and her Mom for a photo shoot for her 16th Birthday with her friends!
It was so nice to meet Hailey and her friends, they were so much fun and had some great ideas!
Here are a few photos from our morning!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Today I was at Pinto Valley Ranch for one more Easter Portrait session!
This time it was all the bunny as the baby goat is now mobile and too hard to catch!!
I had some adorable kids stop by for photos!
It was so nice seeing returning clients and some new faces!
Its always fun taking photos of kids and animals!
The rabbit, appropriately named Mother, was amazing with the children! Thank you to Lise for allowing us to have Mother in the photos! A huge thank you too, to Tracy and Ben for again having us at the farm for the day!
Here are a few photos from today!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Today was my third session with Paul ( Little Ray ) and Sheri and their gorgeous triplets!
Now almost 6 months old!
It was a dark rainy morning, but there was still enough light to shoot natural!l
It is always so much fun photographing this family!
I can not wait for the next session!
Here are a few photos from this morning!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Happy 1st Birthday to baby Avi!
Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting him and his family for some candid, fun family portraits!
This shoot was so much fun! Avi was very serious and sister Anna fell in love with bear! She was a perfect bunny as well!
Here are a few of many photos from our session!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Shayne works at Pinto Valley Ranch and as soon as I saw him - I had to photograph him!
What a cowboy! I have to do more photos in the summer, in the fields, on the trail.... it will be great!
Love his look! More to come in the summer! Thanks Shayne for being such a good sport! :)
A huge thank you to Tracy and everyone at Pinto Valley for having me for the day last weekend to photograph children with the baby animals for Easter!
Especially Emma and Gabby for getting each animal, putting them in the set, putting them back in the set... taking them for feedings, back and forth! You guys are amazing!
I am back there again for more portrait this coming weekend, April 24th, if anyone missed the first date and want to come then, please message me! It will be another fun filled day! Remember to bring some spare clothes to explore the farm after, pony rides, petting zoo and lots more!!
Here are a few photos from this day! Anyone who has not received them images yet, I'm working on it! Soon! My apologize for the wait!
Thanks everyone who came out!
Today I had the pleasure of photographing this family!
Mike and Diane, their daughters, Katie with her husband Chris and daughter Brooklyn, whom I had met and photographed before at Petrie Island, and daughter Jennifer, her husband Steve and son James!
This session was a gift for Diane and I was so happy to get in all the photos of her family she wanted!
Here are a few photos from our session!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Today I met Zoe and her family!
I was supposed to meet mom and dad for a maternity session, but Zoe had other plans and came early!
She is absolutely precious!
Such a beautiful day turned dark and raining, but created some beautiful natural light for us to work with!
Here are a few photos from our afternoon!


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Golden Vessel's SLOWSHINE TOUR - London
After touring his SLOWSHINE album across North America, Australia and New Zealand over the last few months, Golden Vessel is now excited to be making his way to Berlin, London & Paris this October!
The Pickle Factory
London, United Kingdom
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Now that you’ve applied for a line of credit through The Credit Junction and gone through the underwriting process, the next step is to wait for your loan deal to arrive. (This usually happens within 24 hours of that initial call with the underwriter we mentioned in the last article.)
Once you sign the deal, you’ve essentially given The Credit Junction a green light to conduct further due diligence into your company and management team. You’re also one step closer to getting your new line of credit.
To give you a better sense of what a loan deal looks like with The Credit Junction, we’ve come up with a primer on what you can expect to see in your letter of intent. Take a look.
What’s In Your Loan Offer Letter?
1. The Nuts and Bolts
The first thing you’ll see in your letter are the terms of your loan. These include:
- Your company name.
- The credit line amount extended to you, which is the maximum amount you can tap into.
- The amount of your initial advance. To avoid any confusion, if your line amount is $3 million and your advance is listed as $2 million, you’ll have initial access to the $2 million advance amount.
- Your interest rate, typically around 15%.
- Your approximate interest-only monthly payment, based on your initial advance. Keep in mind that this amount can change if you tap into more of your credit line in the future.
- Your closing fee. This is usually about 1.5% to 3% of the amount drawn. “This way you’re not paying on any of the amount you’re not using,” says Mac Trivedi, head of financial partnerships at The Credit Junction.
- The length of your loan. This typically ranges from 6 to 24 months, depending on your company’s needs and the specifics of your funding deal. Before offering you a loan, your advisor will work with you on the phone to help you determine how long you’ll need the credit line. “We really want to tailor this to what’s happening in your business today and the future,” says Trivedi.
- Prepayment penalty. This fee charges you if you pay back the loan prior to the end of its term, and it’s usually 12% of the amount you prepaid during the first 12 months, says Trivedi.
- Due diligence deposit. This fee is generally about $2,500 for loans up to $1 million and $5,000 for loans between $1 million and $2 million, and higher for loans over $3 million. The deposit gets paid when you sign your initial letter of intent and before The Credit Junction team member visits your site, and you can get a refund if The Credit Junction then decides not to fund your business. Otherwise, the deposit is applied to your closing fees.
2. The Nitty Gritty
In this part of your letter, The Credit Junction breaks down information on how it arrived at the amount of your loan and what it’ll require from you in terms of reporting. Some of the information you can expect to see here includes:
- The accounts receivable and inventory amounts that The Credit Junction used to determine your borrowing base.
- Your ongoing requirements, which will likely include weekly accounts receivable and payable reports, as well as monthly internally prepared financial statements and inventory reports. Depending on your particular loan, you might also need to report your yearly financial statements. You can either integrate your accounting system with The Credit Junction’s system or drag and drop your reports into the lender’s online portal, says Trivedi.
3. Certain Conditions
This is where The Credit Junction lists out any other conditions that could impact your line of credit. This section, for example, might include:
- A reminder that your loan is still subject to the completion of the underwriting. Remember: you’ll have received this letter before The Credit Junction visited your business site.
- An execution of a deposit account control agreement stating that The Credit Junction can take control of your bank account only in the event that you default on your loan.
- An agreement between The Credit Junction and the landlord of a warehouse where you store collateral inventory. The Credit Junction might be given the right to take possession of the inventory if you default on your loan. This type of provision would only be in place if your inventory is used as collateral for your loan, explains Trivedi.
Although these are not unusual conditions for a large line of credit, it’s a good idea to call your advisor at The Credit Junction if you have any questions about the information in your loan letter.
4. Are We There Yet?
Almost! Here you’ll enter in wire instructions to send your deposit to The Credit Junction. You’ll then sign the agreement.
Your funding is now nearly complete. The Credit Junction will then plan a site visit to your business (like we talked about in part 2 of this series). This will happen the very next day, generally. In the meantime, an underwriter will prepare your closing documents. As soon as the site visit is conducted, your documents will be sent to you for a final signature.
“As soon as you’ve signed the closing documents, we fund your loan—if not same day, the next day,” says Trivedi.
from Fundera Ledger https://www.fundera.com/blog/2016/05/16/credit-junction-part-3/

domain: economics


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Prince Andrew had 'intimate relationship' with Ghislaine Maxwell - ex-royal police officer
PRINCE Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell had an "intimate relationship" which gave her "unrestricted access" to Buckingham Palace, a former royal police officer has claimed.
Report: Prince Andrew & Ghislaine Maxwell Were So 'Intimate' She Had Full Buckingham Palace Access
Prince Andrew has faced massive condemnation over his ties to late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. The latter was sentenced to 20 years in prison on sex...
Ghislaine Maxwell had 'unrestricted' palace access thanks to 'intimate relationship' with Prince Andrew
The Prince and the Pedo: Ghislaine Maxwell's 'intimacy' with Andrew gave her 'unrestricted' access to Buckingham palaceA former Royal cop has claimed that Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell had an "intimate relationship" that granted the socialite "unrestricted access" to Buckingham Palace.The relationship between Maxwell, 60, and Andrew, 62, is being scrutinized after she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in grooming girls for t…
Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell Had ‘Intimate Relationship,’ Ex-Royal Cop Claims
Plus, Prince Charles in new cash-for-honors scandal, Queen Elizabeth is officially moved to lighter duties, and the one royal military role Andrew has not been forced to give up.

domain: news


‘Keep corruption busters out of SAPS’
Deon de Lange
SA’s corruption-busting capabilities should be removed from the SAPS and restructured as an independent body which can investigate graft at the highest levels without fear, favour or political meddling. This was the thrust of argument in Parliament’s police committee yesterday.
Proposed amendments to the SAPS Act were discussed and interested parties made oral presentations.
The Constitutional Court found in March last year that parts of the law were inconsistent with the constitution, and therefore “invalid”.
It found that chapter six of the Act – which replaced the Scorpions (then under the National Prosecuting Authority) with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (or the Hawks, currently within the SAPS) – failed to secure an “adequate degree of independence” for the unit. Parliament was given 18 months to rectify the problem.
The bill now under consideration reveals that the government chose to address the shortcomings by tweaking the Hawks – and keeping them within the SAPS – and not, as many have suggested, by creating a separate anti-corruption body.
In fact, 20 out of 21 written submissions handed to the police committee by experts in law, the constitution, policing and legislative matters, all agreed that the bill did not go far enough to ensure the unit’s protection from political interference.
Only one submission, from Professor Mtende Mhango at Wits School of Law, argued that the current draft was adequate in this regard.
UCT’s Professor Pierre de Vos, a constitutional law expert, said that while he sympathised with the committee’s difficult task, it was imperative that the country’s corruption busters be depoliticised.
“Because where such an institution is politicised, then whenever a decision is taken to prosecute, investigate or not to prosecute and investigate somebody, there is always the suspicion that this is being done for political reasons, as our recent history clearly shows.”
De Vos pointed out that the bill would allow the minister of police to appoint the head of the unit – making the anti-graft boss a “political” position – and that it provided no guidelines about the specific skills or qualifications required for the job. The bill also makes provision for the head of the unit to be dismissed on the subjective grounds that he or she was not performing “sufficiently” – leaving room for the head to be removed for political reasons.
De Vos also reminded lawmakers that they should not legislate for what they “think” politicians will do with the powers granted them, but for what they “fear” politicians “might one day do”.
And he stressed that, whatever MPs decided to do in the end, the anti-corruption unit should be able to take its own decisions on what, when and who to investigate.
Currently, the bill makes provision for a cabinet sub-committee to draft regulations about what type of investigations may be pursued by the unit.
The hearings continue today.


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Metal and mining stocks shine after rise in global commodity prices
London (Feb 4) Shares of eight metal and mining firms rose by 0.06% to 8.35% at 13:06 IST on BSE after High Grade Copper for March 2016 delivery was currently up 1.12% at $2.1185 per pound on the COMEX.
Vedanta (up 8.35%), Hindalco Industries (up 4.95%), Steel Authority of India (up 0.64%), JSW Steel (up 2.83%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 4.96%), Hindustan Zinc (up 5.87%), National Aluminium Company (up 1.49%) and Hindustan Copper (up 1.35%) edged higher.
NMDC rose 4.37%. The company in its latest price review has kept prices of lump ore unchanged at Rs 1,800 per tonne. The state-run iron ore miner also kept the prices of iron ore fines unchanged at Rs 1,560 per tonne. The prices are excluding royalty, taxes, DMF, duties, levies etc. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 3 February 2016.
Tata Steel rose 0.06% ahead of its Q3 December 2015 result today, 4 February 2016.
The S&P BSE Metal index was up 2.37% at 6,666.82. The index outperformed the S&P BSE Sensex which was up 1.06% at 24,479.48
The S&P BSE Metal index had underperformed the market over the past one month till 3 February 2016, sliding 12.54% compared with 7.41% decline in the Sensex. The index also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 9.78% as against Sensex's 8.90% fall.

domain: finance


ADSR Sounds has launched a promotion on two collections of presets for the Massive and FM8 software synthesizer instrument by Native Instruments.
Offered at a huge 98% discount, the NI Massive Preset Bundle contains 49 packs with 2,300 presets featuring the hardest basses, smoothest chords and searing leads.
The FM8 Preset Bundle is 95% off the regular price of all 22 packs included. It contains a total of 1,100 presets featuring gliding leads, elastic bass & heavenly pads.
The bundles are available to purchase for $20 USD for a limited time only.
More information: ADSR Sounds


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The International Directory of Film and TV Documentation Collections contains information about collections of paper archives, scripts, press materials, stills, posters, and all other film documentation held in more than 145 of the world's foremost film archives, libraries, and educational institutions in fifty-four countries. Entries include contact information, descriptions of each collection's scope and contents, and access guidelines.
Indexes over 200 international periodicals that cover all aspects of the performing arts, including dance, film, drama/theater, stagecraft, broadcast arts, circus performance, comedy, storytelling, pantomime, puppetry, magic, and the performance business.
CMMC incorporates CommSearch (formerly produced by the National Communication Association) and Mass Media Articles Index (formerly produced by Penn State) along with numerous other journals to create a research and reference resource of unprecedented scope and depth in the communication and mass media fields.
Indexes materials on literature, languages, linguistics, and folklore, excluding book reviews. Citations from over 4,000 journals and series published worldwide, as well as books, essays, working papers, proceedings, dissertations, & bibliographies. Also includes citations to books and journal articles having to do with linguistics and language topics. Video tutorial on searching writer's names as subjects
Historical Abstracts is an exceptional resource that covers the history of the world (excluding the United States and Canada) from 1450 to the present, including world history, military history, women's history, history of education, and more - essential for libraries supporting upper-division and graduate research. This authoritative database provides indexing of more than 1,700 academic historical journals in over 40 languages back to 1955.
Part of Nineteenth Century Index. Indexes the contents of thousands of periodicals in the humanities and social sciences from 1665 to 1995, including many European titles. Includes links to some full-text articles. Dates of full-text coverage vary by title.


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Cheap Chinese aluminum is a national security threat
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
From the Chicago Tribune:
Cheap Chinese steel has upset U.S. steel producers for years, as Chinese manufacturers have unloaded excess capacity on world markets at unbeatably low prices. The Trump administration has even invoked the supposed threat to national security from cheap imports to threaten trade restrictions on steel imports.
But the United States has plenty of steel-manufacturing capacity to meet its defense needs. What's genuinely threatened, however, is another sector altogether: Aluminum. A glut of cheap Chinese aluminum has done more than hollow out that industry; it may also actually be jeopardizing national security.
Since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, cheap Chinese aluminum has flooded American markets, closing factories and putting people out of work. The number of aluminum smelters in the United States has fallen from 23 to five in that time. Eight smelters have either shut down or scaled back operations since 2015, and about 3,500 aluminum jobs have disappeared in the last 18 months alone.
A bigger worry, however, is national security. High purity aluminum is used to make certain kinds of jets, such as Boeing's F-18 and Lockheed Martin's F-35, as well as armored vehicles. But the United States now has just one domestic manufacturer of high purity aluminum left - Century Aluminum's Hawesville, Ky. plant, which is currently operating at 40 percent capacity amid dropping prices.
The prospects for importing high purity aluminum, from a geopolitical risk standpoint, aren't friendly; only a few smelters in the world produce it, and those are located mostly in Russia, the Middle East, and China.
The situation prompted the Trump administration to launch a probe into aluminum imports on April 26, after launching a similar probe on steel earlier in the month.
"It's very, very dangerous, obviously, from a national defense point of view, to only have one supplier of an absolutely critical material," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross at an April 26 press briefing.
The probe invokes a portion of a Cold War-era law, known as section 232, which permits special protections for smelting in industries key to national security. The investigation would determine whether or not the United States produces enough high purity aluminum to meet its needs during wartime.
"You're really left with just a kernel of the industry," Jesse Gary, executive vice president and general counsel for Century Aluminum, told Foreign Policy. "Century Aluminum is only running at 40 percent capacity. As Secretary Ross mentioned, we truly are on the precipice of losing that smelter." Read more...


Grand Seiko GMT quartz watch. Model SBGN005. A tribute to the pioneering 1993 watch that introduced 9f caliber. Each quartz oscillator is specially selected to allow the achievement of an annual accuracy of ▒10 seconds. Comes in a stainless steel case with 1-24 hours bezel, bracelet, blue dial with date calendar, and second time zone 24-hours hand.
Factory Model Number. SBGN005.
SEIKO Quartz Analog ( Battery powered ). Seiko Caliber 9F86.
Date calendar, window display. Second Time Zone indicator.
Combination satin/polished finish. Solid AISI 316L Stainless steel.
Satin finish. Fixed position (stationary). 1-24 Engraved numerals.
Sport style, screw-down (threaded). Factory Logo engraved/embossed.
Very slight dome profile. Sapphire. Anti-Glare treated.
Blue color. Applied polished steel tone markers.
Dauphine style. Steel color. Luminous filled.
Solid Stainless steel. Satin finish.
3 YEARS Manufacturer's Warranty. Purchased 05/2021 from Hyde Park.


text:
Britain's Best Bike Rides is designed for people who want an active vacation, one that allows them to escape the congested tourist areas and get out on their own. This guide shows how to power your own way through the rolling English and Scottish countryside -- stopping off at picturesque villages and historic abbeys, or pedaling around beautiful national parks and nature reserves. The 46 carefully selected and researched rides in this book are for all ages and ability levels, and some rides will even work for the whole family. These day trips take riders into the countryside, but never far from attractions, lodging, and places to find pub grub and down a pint of English ale. Britain's Best Bike Rides makes it easy to design your vacation and see the best of Britain on two wheels according to your own interests and timetable.
Each ride gives precise instructions -- where to turn, landmarks to look for, and historic and architectural sights along the way. Every route is illustrated with a full-color, easy-to-read map with the route clearly plotted and all steep hills and difficult or off-road sections highlighted. And it's accompanied by wonderful full-color photos
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Suggests forty-six bicycle touring routes through the English, Scottish, and Welsh countrysides and provides information on landmarks, places to visit, country inns and restaurants, and local railway stations and bike shops.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Book Description ALPHA, 1999. Mass Market Paperback. Book Condition: New. Bookseller Inventory # P11002862940X
Book Description ALPHA, 1999. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1. Bookseller Inventory # DADAX002862940X
Book Description ALPHA. MASS MARKET PAPERBACK. Book Condition: New. 002862940X New Condition. Bookseller Inventory # NEW6.0925083
Book Description ALPHA, 1999. Paperback. Book Condition: New. New item. Bookseller Inventory # QX-001-X0-1501001
Book Description Book Condition: Brand New. Book Condition: Brand New. Bookseller Inventory # 97800286294071.0

domain: geography


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Kat Dennings' Nude Pics Leak Online Again
Kat Dennings won't be happy if she knows her nude photos are posted online for the second time. On November 1, TMR Zoo reported that the "2 Broke Girls" actress' naked pictures have been leaked again.
Back in 2010, the 26-years-old actress already dealt with nude photo scandal. At that time, a picture showed her looking into the camera without wearing any clothes while sitting down on her bed. It's said that the photo was hacked from her cell phone.
Kat is currently working alongside actress Beth Behrs on "2 Broke Girls". The CBS comedy series is about two poor waitresses, who dream of opening a cupcake shop one day. It was nominated at the Emmy Awards and won Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series category. It premiered its second season in September.
Beside gaining fame, Kat also found love from the series. She is now dating Nick Zano, her on-screen love interest.
- Katy Perry Crowd-Surfing Twice at Glastonbury 2017
- Blac Chyna Involved in Car Accident
- Kelly Osbourne Shows Her Derriere While Struggling to Get Out of Her Dress
- Kendall Jenner Looks Unrecognizable in Her Latest Instagram Pictures
- Heidi Klum's Boyfriend Vito Schabel Spotted Kissing Another Woman in London
- Angelina Jolie Is Worrying That Brad Pitt Will Get More Custody
- Amanda Bynes Steps Out for Shopping in Beverly Hills
- Gal Gadot Is Already Planning for Baby No. 3

domain: entertainment


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Second Sisters Series Boxed Set uIzzy s mom is distant and they move a lot Her dad died before she was born So when her mother gets a chance to study in Costa Rica for the summer and sends Izzy to live with her grandmother in New Mexico she finally gets a chance to find out about her mother s past and it sheds a great deal of light on who she is and how she lives Her grandmother is warm and open and Izzyickly falls into life in their small Latino community Mysteries paranormal events and an attractive slightly older boy add to the story Most kids in grades 4 and The Bride Wore Scarlet up with find something to like in this book This was a sweet book about a twelve year old girl Izzy who spends the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico while her mother finishes her studies While she is there she becomes immersed in the Mexican culture that her mother had surpressed out of grief after the death of her husband Izzy searches for answers about her father s death and she may find them if she can find the voice in the windI m always looking for books with Latino culture and was very happy to have found this one There is lots of language food tradition folklore and even superstition that really make the reader feel that the have traveled to New Mexico This will be a great addition to my elementary school library Izzy has just gotten settled into yet another new home Whilenpacking she comes across a baseball that had belonged to her father It has the words becausemagic on it When she asks her mom about it her mom takes it away ReviewWhat would you do if you were confronted with a mystery about your father and your mother won t talk about it Izzy s mother has always been restless After many moves in California they have just moved again While npacking Izzy comes across her father s old baseball with the mysterious words Because Love written on one side The words between have been rubbed out Her mother has never told Izzy anything about her father except that he died before Izzy was bornIzzy likes to write stories although she seldom gets beyond the beginning Now a new story is buzzing in her mind about the strange words on the baseball Then Izzy learns she is to spend the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico while her mother finishes research in Costa RicaIn New Mexico Izzy soon steps into another world Her grandmother Nana is an herbalist full pithy wisdoms The Castillos live in part of Nana s house Their son Mateo is Izzy s age When the two become friends Mateo tells Izzy about Socorro the village storyteller who sees the future and a map that tells of hidden treasure And often as life nfolds in the village her mother came from Izzy hears a mysterious whisper carried by the wind that seems to be the voice of her fatherTortilla Sun is a beautiful story of a young girl s search for wisdom and truth and her discovery of her culture The book moves at a leisurely pace that gathers in momentum and mystery with a touch of magic The characters are richly drawn and the village blossoms with life Izzy is a sympathetic protagonist entirely believable To tell why the book is called Tortilla Sun would give away too much of the story and I don t want to be a spoiler This is a book young people will enjoy and read than once I love when a new storytelling talent creates such a beautiful first novel that we re left wondering how they could have possibly been the one behind it as possibly been the one behind it As as I spotted Tortilla Sun on bookstore shelves in 2010 I
instinctively identified it as a contender for the Newbery awards The book s aura was magical and identified it as a contender for the Newbery awards The book s aura was magical and description on the book jacket promised a powerful story if the author executed it well Jennifer Cervantes s ability to come through in that regard was Mirror Image (SWAT: Top Cops unknown but if she could put forth an exceptional inaugural performance I sensed this book would be special Tortilla Sun didn t endp winning recognition *from the Newbery Committee and it took me six years to pick p *the Newbery Committee and it took me six years to pick p book and find out if my preliminary appraisal was accurate but I m happy to say it lived p to my expectations and Jennifer Cervantes s writing is milk and honey dripping from the story s branches a soothing treat for parched throats The tree itself is robust and deeply rooted to draw nourishment from the rich soil of Mexican culture it s planted in but Tortilla Sun is a joy to read for the melody of its prose as much as any strength of plot or character creation like the song of a million crickets on a muggy summer night It s rare to find a novel that approaches Tortilla Sun s ability to enchant s with the sound and rhythm of words and those of Soldiers Pregnancy Protocol us who took a chance on Jennifer Cervantes s first book were blessed by what her talent brought to our lives This is a cuento a story about magic love hope and treasure If you read thisnder the glow of the moon or by the light of the summer sun listen for whispers in any breeze that passes by Then close your eyes and let the cuento take you to where magic still exists and spells of fear and hope are told through the heart of the storyteller from the Prologue to Tortilla Sun It s twelve year old Izzy Roybal and her mother against the world without their father and husband who died before Izzy was born We don t get long to see mother and daughter together before Izzy s mother is called away on a research expedition to Costa Rica but we get a hint that Izzy wishes she knew about her father when she finds a scuffed Behind the Throne (Morgan Crowe Trilogy, up baseball of his in an old box of her mother s belongings a ball with the words Because magic scrawled on it Izzy s mother always shuts down talk of Izzy s father putting it off for another day and it looks like it ll have to wait at leastntil the end of summer now that Izzy s mother is leaving for Costa Rica Izzy travels to New Mexico to stay with her mother s mother Nana in a cozy hamlet steeped in Latino culture and it doesn t take long for Izzy to observe that the town is vastly different from rban California where she and her mother have apartment hopped for years Nana hosts a fiesta to welcome Izzy the first full day she s there inviting dozens of neighbors to her garden estate merry conversation twinkling in evening repose as Izzy meets the village residents Nana s house is roomier than most in the area large enough to service boarders and the Castillos who share the house are the first pe. When twelve year old Izzy discovers a beat p baseball marked with the words Becausemagic while npacking in yet another new apartment she is determined to figure out what it means What secrets does this old ball have to tell Her mom cer. .
Ople Izzy gets to know Thirteen year old Mateo Castillo lives on the other side of the small door off Izzy s bedroom she learns this her first night at Nana s when she hears soft talking and the muted thrum of guitar music beyond the door Izzy meets Mateo at the fiesta and they get along comfortably from go but he s not the only friend she makes at the party Nana s village is populated by interesting people than Izzy could get to know in a single novel and she takes a special liking to a few of them Six year old Maggie stands out from the Latino neighbors with her blonde hair and blue eyes shadowed by her dog Frida a feline who nconvincingly masuerades as a canine Maggie s parents are deceased and she lives with an elderly lady named Gip who has stories to tell about Izzy s father from before he married her mother Izzy s parents were beloved in the village but her mother hasn t returned since Izzy was a baby and Izzy isn t sure why She doesn t know any details of her father s passing either but answers await in the village Is she ready to learn the whole truth The most intriguing village resident is Socorro a lithe woman of indeterminable age who mostly keeps to herself The silver streak in her hair marks Socorro as a soothsayer Mateo A Mighty Big Wish uietly informs Izzy she can glimpse the future and advise those willing to listen but she must be approached with solemnity and respect A seer is not to be lightly regarded Could Socorro tell Izzy what she longs to know about her father As Izzy relaxes into village life for the summer she finds that everyone in these parts knows something about her father She learns of his awesome athletic talent the indomitable love he demonstrated for his new wife and soon to be first child and the details of his heartbreaking death Izzy s father was a baseball star in the making a terror with the bat who was on the brink ofalifying for a Major League roster His young life held nlimited promise before tragedy stole him from his wife and daughter and Izzy wants to know everything about that tragedy even if it hurts Her ties to Nana s community strengthen as friends regale her with stories of her family s past and she finds herself watching over six year old Maggie like a big sister when Gip s wavering health prevents her from taking care of the girl On the verge of learning from Socorro what could have been had her father survived Izzy nintentionally waltzes into another tragedy one she doesn t see coming The Italians Stolen Bride until too late Her relationships with dear friends in the village are sorely tried when Izzy s mistake imperils the life of one as precious to her as her departed father Is history set to repeat in the saddest of ways or will love s magic spare Izzy and her family another traumatic loss that will change the course of their future From the moment she arrives in Nana s village Izzy senses the wind is whispering to her a spiritual companion kept at a distance most of her life but eager to embrace Izzy now It s as though the spirit of lost loved ones is guiding her stepsrging her to connect with Nana Mateo Maggie Gip and Socorro to throw herself into the fiesta of village life and take comfort from a community that adores her so When you know you re The Greek Tycoons Mistress unconditionally loved you can relax and breathe easy letting the stress ofncertainty melt off your body in waves Tortilla Sun is a story of profound wisdom derived from Mexican tradition and that wisdom gives Izzy s heart wings to soar above the heaviness of past sadness We see in Nana s philosophy of color and excitement that life is to be perpetually celebrated CAN THERE BE TOO MUCH LAUGHTER DANCING AND COLOR there be too much laughter dancing and color reacts to Izzy s surprise at the wild array of colors in her house But of course it s colorful Life is color isn t it Color and fun and lovely words and Nana has a place for all three in her home That s why Izzy s bedroom is named Estrella the room with the best view of the stars at night hovering majestically in the firmament Different as Estrella is from her bedroom back home in the city Izzy comes to love it like a member of the family Though she wishes Izzy and her mother had visited years ago Nana Tikki Tikki Tembo understands her daughter s hesitancy to return to the village After the sudden death of her new husband before their first child s birth the village is as much a place of mourning as joy for her now and though she d surely like to mingle again with loved ones plans often don t solidify if a portion of our heart is reluctant Sometimes plans stretch so long and thin that they break and you re left with no plans at all Nana tells Izzy Perhaps by letting Izzy go she s sending a signal that she too may be ready to rejoin the community in the near future Twelve years is a long time to be separated from friends and family Tortilla Sun is chock full of luxurious writing phrases that sound so nice I re read them several times just for the pleasure of it My favorite I felt as though melted chocolate had oozed its way from my heart to my toes coating me with comfort on its way down Oh my yes I ll certainly think on that description from time to time imagining my sweetest moments as a fountain of chocolate gurgling its cacao pathway over my insides salving my heart in delicious flow Of course that might make me hungry The process of storytelling is addressed compellingly in Tortilla Sun focusing on an aspect many impatient consumers forget Readers and viewers of television and movies can be so impatient to get to the good part that writers are forced to set events into motion prematurely to keep their audience content That often mutes the story s power because the triumph of good over evil only has maximum impact if it arrives fortuitously We need time to feel the inevitability of evil s success for it to be a welcome relief if and when the good guys suddenly improbably find an avenue to victory It should feel like such annexpected gift that it leaves laughing and physically trembling in relief
because we genuinely believed wouldn t turnwe genuinely believed it wouldn t turn the way it should How euphoric it is to get a game changing victory after you were certain of doom That s the crux of exceptional story weaving and Nana nderstands it well She could give Izzy all the details of her father s life and death at once but it won t mean as much as it should. Tainly isn't sharing anyespecially when it comes to Izzy's father who died before Izzy was born But when she spends the summer in her Nana's remote New Mexico village Izzy discovers long buried secrets that come alive in an enchanted lan. ,
Summary Tortilla Sun,
Apart from context and that context can only be achieved by Izzy interacting with the villagers who loved her father hearing from them the part of his story they knew and can relate as no one else could It s not dry facts Izzy craves but a true portrait of her father and portraits take time to paint finesse brushstrokes blotting and detail work to reveal what the subject of the portrait meant to its artist Nana ses tomatoes for the analogy as she slices a couple of them for Izzy s lunch All stories are told in due time Just like these needed time to grow on the vine Hoofd in de wolken (Puffin Island until they were ripe Annripe story is like an Twos Company unripe tomato no good at all What impatient consumers of art need to realize is that they can push for storylines to wrapp His Convenient Highland Wedding uickly but all they re getting is annripe tomato A story has to plump on the vine to grow succulent enough for Secret Hideout (Cooper, us to sink our teeth into and enjoy Nana reinforces this concept later when Izzy presses her to reveal too much at one time Remember some stories need to benfolded slowly so we can appreciate what s inside of them Socorro take the same approach to the magic of story and as a soothsayer she knows something about magic You must be very patient to tell stories And you must sit with the idea allowing it to simmer like soup on the stove You wouldn t go to all the trouble of cutting False Family up the ingredients throwing them in the pot and expecting it to cook without fire right Creative artists can learn from these similes about the writing process but so can fans who give in to their own short attention spans and demand the delivery of their entertainment be expedited Writers will concoct better stories and consumers have higherality entertainment to enjoy if everyone slows down and shows patience The payoff is exhillirating Much of Tortilla Sun is Izzy s struggle to wrap her mind around her father s death a calamity that couldn t have affected her mother personally but feels distant to Izzy because it occurred before she took her first breath She wants to know her father well enough to love him but is afraid of how sad she ll feel if she Regency Improprieties understands what she lost It s a conundrum but there are many in Nana s village who would love to help her through it Izzy doesn t see why anyone should die young especially a good man as everyone says her father was but Nana explains that some lives weren t fated to last long Each ofs comes into this life with only a thread of time to live our essence Some threads are shorter than others It s not the length of the thread but the strength of its fiber that determines a life s value a sturdy strand may taper prematurely but it s never going to snap When the end comes for a dear friend of the family while Izzy is living in the village Nana has hopeful words about the future of death we won t endure its sting forever Death sweeps the earth but has no power in el cielo Heaven is where we will really know those we love She is gone only for a short moment Remember that The moment of loss feels interminable when we re left stranded without the reason for our heart s contentment the one who brings meaning to our daily existence but the parting isn t permanent Death is not absolute Nana assures Izzy Yet Izzy is full of estions about her father s passing Is it legitimate for her to
miss him even though they never met Does one ever recover from death to tastehim even though they never met Does one ever recover from death to taste again in spite of missing their loved one so much Nana gives s words of comfort to deal with bereavement a gentle shepherd s staff to guide s forward so we don t get stuck in the muck and mire of grief You will always feel his absence but you can still find joy Like now we are sad but that doesn t mean we can t smile or that life won t ever be normal again You shouldn t feel bad for moments of joy We must find our way back to joy Bit by bit And some of s will find it sooner than others But the final lesson for Izzy is that life cannot break as easily as she fears We may believe it s shattered beyond repair by a tragedy that makes Mistletoe Hero (4 Seasons in Mistletoe us feel like prisoners of our own grief but no catastrophe no matter how agonizing can really destroy our life Socorro conveys this point to Izzy with her truth catcher a talisman Socorro says will reveal to Izzy the truth about her own life and the tragedies that shaped it When the truth catcher is accidentally smashed Izzy despairs of discovering the truth she s waited twelve years for but Socorro isn t concerned The truth has a habit of appearing one way or another and the talisman s broken condition isn t as fatal to itssefulness as Izzy assumes You know mija sometimes we need to see things from a different point of view You are still looking at the truth catcher as a whole But you see it has only changed shapes Try not to see the truth catcher as you think it should be Instead study two pieces at a time to see if or how they connect That s how you will remake it We crack like glass nder the relentless pressure of tragedy and can never be glued back together perfectly the fractures will always be visible But our truths hopes and dreams have merely assumed new shape and we can benefit as much from them as we did before if we re able to reconcile ourselves to a little brokenness We can divine the truth even after our catcher shatters There s still a wonderful life to be
*pieced back together *back together lived with thankfulness and joy 2011 was a year of spectacular candidates for the Newbery awards but I feel justified saying Tortilla Sun is superior to all four Honor books selected by the Committee I think it s at least as good as Clare Vanderpool s Moon Over Manifest which won the 2011 Newbery Medal What a blissful experience Tortilla Sun is the confection of the words melting on one s tongue like ice cream awakening the senses with its flavor aroma and texture Few books are as sensuously
ENJOYABLE AS THIS ONE WHICH IS SOMEWHAT SURPRISING FORas this one which is somewhat surprising for novel that deals so frankly with death If all authors could write like Jennifer Cervantes the world would be packed with enthusiastic readers I give Tortilla Sun three and a half stars and considered rounding p to four and I believe I ve found a new nderrated book to recommend to those who have yet to be wooed by its velvety voice Thank you Jennifer Cervantes for a treasure like Tortilla Sun I love Dscape of watermelon mountains whispering winds and tortilla suns Infused with the flavor of the southwest and sprinkled with just a pinch of magic this heartfelt middle grade debut is as rich and satisfying as Nana's homemade enchiladas. .


"The year of the Linux desktop is coming!" This has been the battle cry of the Linux stalwarts for well over a decade now, but the operating system's impact on desktop and notebook computing has been insignificant.
But now with the era of the PC on the wane, and post-PC devices such as smartphones and tablets grabbing the headlines, where does this leave the open source operating system?
Linux has failed to take advantage of a number of opportunities over the years. While Windows was dominant, it had little chance of breaking into the lucrative PC market, but Microsoft has stumbled a few times with its operating system, with Windows Vista's release being mired by problems, and Windows 8 failing to ignite hearts and minds with its touch-centric approach to computing. On each of these occasions Linux could have stepped up to the plate as a real contender, and while there's been plenty of noise from Linux fans, traction has been painfully poor. In fact, in five and a half years the platform's usage share has gone from a little under one percent, to a little over one percent.
By any yardstick, that's slow progress. Perhaps now is the time to give up on the platform and call it a day?
But I'm not ready to give up on Linux just yet.
First off, Linux is all around it, as the kernel powering hundreds of millions of Android devices. Most users might not be aware of the Linux name, but without the effort that's been poured into the platform by countless enthusiasts and companies, Android as it is today wouldn't have been possible. It could be argued that without Linux, Android might not have come into existence, and the massive PC machine that was driving the tech industry might not have ground to a halt like it did.
So in some ways, Linux did bring down the PC industry, indirectly, and not by going head-to-head with Microsoft over the desktop.
But I'm also not ruling out Linux as a contender on PCs.
Microsoft has taken Windows 8 in a touch direction, and there's a large — and discontented — subset of users who are not keen on this shift and are planning to either stick with an older version of Windows, or look to alternatives. While OS X is one such alternative, it's an expensive route, and one that isn't open to all.
This is where Linux comes in. There was a time when application compatibility was paramount, and people simply couldn't switch to Linux, but now that the browser has replace the operating system as the primary platform, and apps have moved from the drive to the web, Linux becomes an option.
And there's a good reason for PC makers to embrace Linux on PCs – price. PC prices have been driven into the dirt, and Windows now makes up the bulk of the cost of a PC, and if manufacturers could eliminate this cost, it would allow them to cut prices a little, while at the same time pulling in a few extra dollars per PC. I've spoken to a number of OEMs who, off the record, have said that they are actively exploring the possibility of putting Linux on hardware aimed at mass-market users. The problem, I'm told, is marketing and how to make it clear that Linux won't run Windows applications.
Just because Linux hasn't made it on the PC yet doesn't mean that it won't. In fact, the stars might be better aligned now than ever. And while I don't think that Linux has a chance of ousting Windows as the dominant PC operating system, but it could offer consumers and manufacturers a way forward without having to embrace touch.


About 100 apartments are expected to be built in two buildings next to Jewell Railway Station in Brunswick as part of a government push to rejuvenate infrastructure.
VicTrack has appointed boutique developer Neometro to redevelop two run-down, low-rise buildings on the eastern side of the historic railway station into residential apartments, alongside open space with shops, cafe, community garden and public art.
The $70 million project would revitalise the station, Transport Minister Terry Mulder said.
"Neometro was selected from a field of 22 developers and is the right partner to work with the community to reinvent this precinct," Mr Mulder said.
Neometro director James Tutton said plans to rejuvenate the area included demolishing two buildings and reconstructing on their footprints with public space in between, in front of the station's main entrance.
The heritage station building will also get a makeover as part of the project.
Neometro wanted it to be an "exemplar" of integrating community gardens, contemporary art and public performance in a medium-scale development, Mr Tutton said.
"Business can deliver on both profit and social and community outcomes. That's important for VicTrack, it's important for Neometro and it's important for Besen, our capital partners," he said.
Neometro has several projects under development, including Nine Smith Street in Fitzroy and 126 Walsh Street in South Yarra that are also backed by Besen Group, one of Melbourne's wealthiest families.
The upgrade will cater for the existing Upfield line bike path which runs along the railway line.
Neometro will purchase the land as part of the deal but VicTrack will have control of the development process.
Mr Mulder said the government had a pipeline of about a billion dollars of redevelopments and station improvement works.
VicTrack's next station upgrade will be in Hampton.
The Ikon project in Glen Waverley, part of the same "station precinct enhancement program", was completed in 2013.
There VicTrack partnered with Consolidated Properties on a similar-sized $70 million development of an office, retail and residential building with 116 apartments.


Today on Buckmaster- Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias sits down with Bill to talk about the county budget, redistricting, and to break down the county’s side of the Marana wastewater treatment battle. Next, Buckmaster Show Border Contributor Keith Rosenblum provides an update on US-Mexico relations. Following that, Marana Mayor Ed Honea shares Marana’s side of the battle to assume control over the wastewater treatment facilities. To close out the show, Mark Sublette of Medicine Man Gallery interviews Jeff BurseyÂ about hisÂ record store calledÂ Ancient Radio, located at 341 North Hoff Avenue near Seventh Street and Fourth Avenue.
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Decentralised control redefined
Pilz is launching the PSS4000 Automation System and PAS4000 software suite that together provide a new way to design, program and implement automation. A key feature of the concept is the integration of safety, standard and motion control, as well as visualisation and diagnostics
The Pilz PSS4000 takes decentralised machine control to a new level by virtue of the close integration of all aspects and the way in which configuration and programming of the entire decentralised control system is carried out via a single Pilz Automation Suite, the PAS4000. Material can therefore be copied and reused extremely easily both within a project and from one project to another. This feature is believed to be unique.
Today machine designers typically specify the hardware then write the control program to suit. However, any changes required either during the development or after the machine has entered service are cumbersome and costly to execute. With the PSS4000 and PAS4000, this approach is turned on its head. The programming phase can start as soon as the machine's basic functions are known, with the hardware specification following on or taking place in parallel. This saves time in the development phase and means that changes are much simpler and less costly to implement.
Another innovation in the PAS4000 suite is the programming of safety-related functions using tools that are compliant with the IEC 61131-3 standard for PLC programming languages. Pilz believes that this is another industry first. Furthermore, safety has been integrated from the outset rather than added later, which means that it is far more closely integrated with the other aspects of the system than is the case with products from other manufacturers.
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Douglas Park Cultural & Community Center, ChicagoDescription Everyone gets crafty in this creative and fun-filled class. Participants will dabble with all kinds of art material such as paper art, clay projects and more...
Rosemont art family events
Wednesday, Sep 17 6:30p
Sunday, Sep 14 10:00a
Saturday, Sep 20 2:00p
Amelia’s Restaurant, Forest ParkArt at Amelia’s! Saturday September 20th at 2pm Choose which famous Impressionist painting you’ll create! Vincent Van Gough’s ‘Starry Night’ Mary Cassatt’s ‘Lilacs in a Window’ Claude Monet’s ‘Oat ...
Rosemont art family Related Topics
arts & crafts | community | business & tech | dance | fairs & festivals | food & dining | music | performing arts | sports & outdoors | visual arts | other | comedy | shopping | holiday | education/campus | vendor | art show | tractor pull | "november project" | 07/26/14 | disney on ice frozen | july 24 | maria | theater | veterans | entertainment | bloomingdale fest parade | skokie | today | fashion | lucy wainwright roche evanston | christmas | craft fair | dancers | 2014 art festival

domain: hobby


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The essay looks at photographs from American photographer Anne Collier’s ongoing series Woman with a Camera (2006–). The essay argues that Collier’s series anticipates and “invents” the selfie by using anachronistic found materials. A number of Collier’s works in Woman with a Camera depict printed matter from the postmodern period that include photographs of female models posed as if they are shooting playful selfportraits in a mirror, acting as if they are themselves the photographer. Taking Collier’s work as evidence, this essay asks questions about how and why the selfie is so specifically positioned as an artifact of our contemporary moment in technology and culture, addressing some of the more widely held assumptions about selfies and selfie culture today.
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Liz Linden; Women with Cameras: The Invention of the Selfie in the Photography of Anne Collier. Camera Obscura 1 September 2019; 34 (2): 195–207. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-7584964
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Prevent chronic disease, feed the Hungry and foster community
Support the creation and expansion of a sustainable food system and local food economy in North Carolina.
As we fulfill the call to Love God, Love One Another and Serve the World, the Hearts and Hands Food Pantry exists to provide temporary and emergency food aid to individuals and families in Huntersville, NC and the greater Charlotte area.
We are a 501(c)(3) organization
The purpose of the Hearts & Hands Food Pantry is to not only provide for food needs, but to also stock personal care items and baby care items which tend to be sacrificed first in financial crisis. In the future, the Pantry will stock donated clothing items.
Out of the Garden Project’s mission is to show tangible signs of love so that no children go to bed hungry. Our purpose is to nourish children’s minds and bodies with food and hope for every child.
To community garden at the intersection of three diverse neighborhoods in order to plant, grow, and harvest healthy food options for local residents while creating space for racial and disability reconciliation within our community.
Clemmons Food Pantry, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is committed to reducing hunger by providing supplemental groceries to residents of Forsyth County, NC.
AFRICA DIGITAL POULTRY is a non-profit organization that seeks to solve hunger, poverty and illiteracy issues in the rural Sub-Saharan Africa regions through the development of community based sustainable poultry farming, while promoting digital education and basic literacy for mainly women and children.
Our goals are to assist local poultry farmers in the following areas:
The Onslow County Farmers’ Market, Inc. is formed to provide area farmers the opportunity to sell produce directly to the public and to provide the community with fresh, locally grown products at a good value. It also exists to educate the public about the importance of agriculture, proper nutrition and environmental stewardship and to foster the science and art of natural resource conservation by carrying out activities of conservation science, education and public affairs. Its powers are set forth in the articles herein described.
To provide local produce, quality goods, and sustainable agricultural education to enliven and support the community of Onslow County.
To provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in need in Jackson County


text: SUSE® LLC, together with its affiliates, (“SUSE”) is a global software company with 27 years of experience in delivering and supporting enterprise software solutions that help customers innovate faster with lower risk. By applying proven expertise in software and security, we enable customers to utilize new technology solutions while maximizing the value of their investments in critical IT infrastructure and business applications. As a result, they can build, operate and secure the IT systems that bring together existing business logic and applications with emerging technologies—in essence, bridging the old and the new to meet increasingly complex business demands. As a software development company, SUSE does not have an extensive range of local or international suppliers where modern slavery or human trafficking would generally be a material risk and none of our suppliers are key to our businesses success. However, we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking does not take place anywhere in our business or supply chains. SUSE engages with our network of suppliers to ensure that they will comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”). As part of this process, we have reviewed our Worldwide Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and have added an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy. The SUSE Board has overall responsibility for ensuring the new policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations and that all those under our control comply with it.

domain: law


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Have you ever received advice from your doctor to “eat the rainbow”? I heard it from mine just recently! Of course they meant that we need to remember to include a variety of veggies and fruits in our meals to get all the needed vitamins and minerals. The idea here is that different phytochemicals in foods influence their color thus grouping various nutrients by color as well. For example, yellow foods like citrus and carrots are rich in vitamins C and A, while green produce like cabbage, kale, asparagus, avocado is high in vitamin K.
This bowl was built around the idea of mixing colors, textures, flavors, and most importantly, by not making any strict rules and instead listening to what my body was craving on this particular day. I let myself just be creative with my lunch and the ingredients I had on hand.
Brussels Sprouts Bowl
- 1 cup Brussels sprouts (3-4 whole buds)
- 1/3 cup purple cabbage
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 red grapefruit
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
1. Thinly slice Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
2. Peel and cut grapefruit into segments.
3. Add all the components to a bowl, drizzle with a dressing of your choice or just let the grapefruit and avocado play its role. Enjoy immediately!

domain: food


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Earbuds and exposure to bacteria
When we carry our earbuds around with us, they become exposed to all kinds of surfaces, which raises the risks of gathering bacteria from our bags, desks or tray tables.
Not only do our earbuds constantly come in contact with contaminated surfaces, but simply using earbuds can build up more bacteria in your ears. Wearing earbuds traps moisture and heat in the ear canal which can create a breeding ground for bacteria to grow.
Bacteria is bad, but earwax is good
Our ears use earwax, or cerumen, as a protective shield against bacteria. We normally see earwax on earbuds, after removing them from our ears. Earwax helps to clean and lubricate our ears, and reduce the feelings of dryness and itchiness.
Earwax also prevents debris and dirt from coming in contact with our eardrums. The apocrine glands located in the outer section of our ears produce the cerumen. These glands are similar to the glands that produce sweat. The same situations that cause you to go into fight-or-flight mode can make you sweat and induce stress. This circumstance has also been shown to make your ears produce more wax.
If your ears generate a lot of wax, you can use a cloth to clean the outer part of your ear canal or you can place a couple of drops of an over-the-counter ear cleaning solution that will soften and remove the wax. If your ears feel as though they are obstructed or the wax interferes with how you hear, get it removed by a professional. Moving your jaw from eating or talking can also help remove earwax.
There's a very low chance of getting an infection from sharing earbuds
Studies on whether it's safe to share earbuds have varied from different researchers. Business Insider had tested 22 pairs of in-the-ear (ITE) style earbuds in Columbia University's microbiology lab. Most samples tested positive for bacteria that are found in our skin, such as staphylococcus. Two of the samples tested positive for yeast. Yeast is a fungus that can cause infection. You can get an ear infection from yeast.
Sharing earbuds can present new bacteria in your ears, and double the microbial flora in the ears. Most bacteria are innocuous and generally, there's a low risk of infection. But there is also a small risk of producing middle ear infections, fungus, and an increase of swimmer's ear if you share earbuds. If there is a laceration in your ear canal, sharing earbuds can also cause skin infections.
Tips on earbud usage
It would be best to avoid sharing earbuds. If you really need to share them, make sure you or the person you are sharing them with thoroughly disinfect the earbuds with rubbing alcohol, a disinfecting spray, or professional-strength cleaning wipes. Use a dampened cotton ball to remove any visible residue and bacteria.
You might also want to invest in earbud covers.
Hearing aids, just like earbuds, are not for sharing. Each hearing aid is customized and programmed for each individual user. They are at the same risk of exposure to bacteria from various surfaces. It's best to have good cleaning practices for your hearing aids and to occasionally get them thoroughly cleaned by a professional. If you, or a loved one, are in need of hearing aids please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation. If you need to get your hearing aids cleaned by a professional, please contact us.

domain: biology


We present a video coder based on a bit-allocation (BA) scheme for a coding approach where a wavelet-based video compression scheme is used to encode group of frames (GOF). The proposed new BA method utilizes a Lagrangian multiplier technique to determine the optimal bit rate for each frame of a given GOF in a rate versus weighted distortion sense. The proposed baseline coder sequentially employs the application of the wavelet transform on each frame in the group. In the wavelet domain, an optimal-vector BA (rate-allocation strategy) is being used to distribute the bit budget among the frames. The manipulated frames in each group are quantized and coded using techniques from still-image compression. We describe and demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm in wavelet-based coding approaches. The first one, a combination of wavelet still compression and optimal BA (WCBA), is based on frame differences and exploits well the wavelet compression characteristics which keeps, for a given bit budget, the most important features. It does not utilize motion-compensation interpolation or a 3-D wavelet decomposition. In cases where "heavy" motion is detected, we extend WCBA into a combination of wavelet still compression, optimal BA, motion compensation with block matching, and error correction (WCBAM), which uses block matching for motion estimation, while the residual error of the compression is reduced by applying error correction in the wavelet domain to reduce temporal redundancies.
|Number of pages
|IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology
|Published - Jul 2001


Madlock Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 In typical Ford engineering fashion, 2011 Mustang has 20-some unique Body Floor Wiring Harnesses rather than a single, all-encompassing universal harness. (Note to Ford: Is it REALLY worth saving $5 per vehicle rather giving owners a robust, open architecture to leverage for themselves, let alone the additional infrastructure and overhead required to support so many component variants for a single vehicle?) Does anybody know whether or not GT500's with the Electronics Package (Navigation) include the electrical connectors that would otherwise power the subwoofer in vehicles without the Electronics Package (which could include the Shaker 1000 factory option)? I realize I could just source power from an open fuse, but if the existing infrastructure is already present (at least from a power perspective), the entire task of upgrading would be SO much easier. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Runs Intel's new CloverTrail+ Z2580 32nm CPU at 2GHz
ZTE sends word of a newly-announced device at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, China. The ZTE Geek (yes, that's actually it's name) packs the latest smartphone chip from Intel -- the CloverTrail+-based Atom Z2580 at 2GHz -- alongside Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device's other specs are reasonably high-end, if not cutting-edge. It's got 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, a 5-inch 720p display and an 8-megapixel rear camera.
With the latest Intel CPU and the latest version of Android (not to mention its unconventional name and IDF unveiling) it's possible ZTE might be aiming this device at tech enthusiasts rather than average consumers. We'll have to wait and see how the manufacturer markets the Geek in the months ahead.
The new handset follows on from ZTE's previous collaboration with Intel, in the mid-range Grand X IN, released late last year. ZTE reps weren't able to confirm whether the Geek will see release in the UK or anywhere else outside of China, nor was there any information on release timeframes or pricing.
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Double Barrel – Enemy of The State
The MC/DJ duo is bringing back their classic sound with “Enemy of the State.” Breakbeats, dusty samples, razor-sharp scratches and rapid-fire lyrics take listeners back to the days of rope chains, Troop jackets and Timberlands. Tracks include mid-tempo boom bap, hip house, B-Boy friendly electro and an instrumental DJ joint to round things out. Oh, and did we mention there are skits?
Available on all digital platforms, CD, and red/white cassette. Vinyl coming soon.
Release Date – December 3, 2021
Pre-Sale = Open
Check out singles here:


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Justin Bieber's latest update may not add much to his endless list of accomplishments, but the pop singer has finally obtained his high school diploma.
The teen sensation earned his diploma from St. Michael Catholic Secondary School in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario, Thursday evening.
The 18-year-old "Baby" singer was unable to attend the commencement ceremony as one of 192 students in the graduating class.
"We are very proud of Justin and all of the other 192 graduates of St. Michael school, however, we're not at liberty to discuss any personal plans or information about Justin or any other graduate," St. Mike's principal Tim Doherty told QMI, a Canadian news outlet.
"I just finished high school," Bieber told the Daily Telegraph back in May.
"I passed my test – I'm free! It was hard doing school and work every day."
The school offered electronic courses to Bieber who kicked off his music career at the age of 13 when he traveled to Atlanta with his mother.
The school declined to offer other details about his studies or his graduation, according to New York Times.
The teen singer is set to kick off his North American "Believe" tour on September 29th in Glendale, Arizona.
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© 2013 Fashion & Style.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
We’ve all seen Robert Pattinson’s new short haircut but did you know that the star is really getting down and dirty for his new film, “The Rover”?
'Fast and Furious 6' trailer, preview and release date of Vin Diesel new blockbuster.
'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' trailer, preview and release date of the sequel, which hit the Cannes Film Festival.
Deepika Padukone just finished shooting for “Chennai Express” and posted the following hilarious video on her twitter account which shows her beating up Shahrukh Khan and director Rohit Shetty.
© 2013 FASHION&STYLE. All Rights Reserved.

domain: celebrity


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New residential home sales dropped 8.9 percent in October, falling to a new two-year low, according to a new residential sales report released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Single-family home sales fell to a seasonally adjusted rate of 544,000 units — a 12 percent increase year-over-year. Nationwide, the average home sold for $395,000 while the median sales price was $309,700. Such a steep drop is, according to analysts, caused by many factors — among them, mortgage rates’ rise to a seven-year high at 4.72 percent in September.
“New home sales continued the slowing trajectory they began in the spring as rising mortgage rates and high prices dampen buyer enthusiasm and hold back sales,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com, in a statement. “New homes account for a small slice of total home sales, roughly 10 percent, but they are an important measure of the overall health of the housing economy. If tomorrow’s pending home sales data confirms the decrease we saw today, that would be a strong indication of what we could see in existing home sales in the month or two ahead.”
Sales declined even more this month than in September, when new home sales dropped 5.5 percent to a low unseen for nearly two years. However, sales numbers often change unexpectedly from month to month. August, for example, experienced growth of 3.5 percent after two months of straight declines.
Some experts also believe that the various natural disasters to hit Texas and California in the last year could also lead to lower sales as people figure out whether to rebuild or move away.
“The hurricanes in the South and wildfires in the West likely impacted both month’s numbers, and continue to cloud the picture of the housing market’s overall strength,” said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), in a statement.
Regionally, the sale of new homes is down 18.5 percent in the Northeast, 22.1 percent in the Midwest, 7.7 percent in the South and 3.2 percent in the West.
“The steep decline in October new home sales was an unpleasant surprise for a market that was expecting at least a modest rebound from an ugly September,” said Zillow’s Aaron Terrazas in a statement. “[…] As we close in on the end of 2018, it is abundantly clear with the benefit of hindsight that the new home sales market took a turn this year, and not for the better.”


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Two Kent Valley Industrials Properties Change Hands For $12.8M
The building at 5858 South 194th St., Kent, known as the Automatic Products Building, sold for $8.2M. Industrial Property Group LLC was the seller.
The 46,742 SF building was fully leased to Automatic Products Co. at the time of the sale. It has 24-foot clear height ceilings, three dock-high doors and six grade-level doors.
The 24,175 SF building at 25329 74th Ave. S, Kent, sold for $4.6M. Gregory Real Estate was the seller and purchased the building in 2012 for $2M, according to public records. The facility includes 24-foot clear height ceilings, four dock-high and three grade-level doors, as well as 800 amps of 480-volt power.
Industrial buildings in Kent continue to be in high demand as less expensive alternatives to Seattle proper. Kent is known for its wide, truck-friendly thoroughfares, but the city is working to make its streets and city more pedestrian-friendly.
With its 737 Max groundings, the subcontractors in this subregion may be bracing for a serious slowdown. Boeing will shut its Renton plant down in January, but will not furlough any of its 12,000 Renton plant employees. For Kent Valley subcontractors that rely on the 737 Max production, it’s a different story.
Still, City of Kent Chief Economic Development Officer William Ellis has said that while the local economy owes a debt to Boeing and the Boeing Kent Space Center, the region is not completely dependent on it. He cites Blue Origin as an examples of non-Boeing firms that have gravitated to the Kent Valley, in part because of the number of highly trained employees in the area.
“I don’t want to sound complacent about Boeing,” Ellis told Bisnow earlier this year. “But we have made a lot of progress in diversification. The new commercial outer space industry is thriving, and that’s a growth industry for Kent and Washington state. It’s not just about commercial airplanes anymore.”


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There is a lot of truth here. I absolutely hated being single, especially in my early 20’s. And being a single parent can be a special kind of hell, as at times it feels like twice the work with none of the rewards.
So much for the sexual revolution that promised zipless sex with random strangers as a superior replacement for being in love with someone special. Especially as a guy, the singles bar scene just sucks (my 20’s was pre-internet, so no eHarmony.com), where you hope to “make the cut” but rapidly find out that finding a “mate for the night” was simply a case of applied statistics. Being a nerd didn’t help, as woman in the early 20’s did realize that nerd was derived from the Latin “nerdus”, which is roughly translated into “greater potential earnings”. Ironically, I had my most success with women in their 40’s that were recently divorced and didn’t mind a romp with a 20 year old (I called them Mrs Robertson's, as the term cougar was not yet in vogue). Nevertheless, I envied my workmates who got married until an overseas work assignment allowed me to find someone (I felt american girls were too picky, but there is a whole world is out there).


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++ Success for nature conservation and affected residents ++ Big win for the protection of Europe’s last big wild river, the Vjosa in Albania! Yesterday afternoon, the judges of the Albanian Administrative Court in Tirana announced their decision against the construction of the projected hydropower plant “Poçem”: for the time being, the dam must not be constructed.
++ 25 scientists from Austria, Albania, Germany and Slovenia research Europe’s last wild river for a week ++ Press conference held on river island ++ A very unusual press conference was held at the Vjosa in South Albania on April 26 – an initiative like this is without par in Europe. On a gravel island in midst of Europe’s last big wild river – the Vjosa – about 25 scientists from four countries gathered to draw attention to the detrimental impacts that are to be expected from the projected “Poçem” dam.
++ Opportunities for and threats to one of the most valuable rivers of Europe ++ Unique potential for natural flood control identified ++ Today, one of the last living rivers of Central Europe received valuable attention in Brussels. Nature conservation foundation EuroNatur and the European Association of Wetlands International made the Sava River an issue in the European Parliament.
++ Environmental assessments inadequate ++ In the current Enlargement Report of the European Parliament, the Parliament explicitly criticizes the Albanian government in regards to its hydropower policies. In the centre of their criticism are the hydropower projects on the Vjosa – Europe’s last big wild river.
If you want to see for yourself what „green and clean“ hydropower actually looks like, you currently have the chance to do so at the river Mur in Graz. In preparation for a highly contested hydropower project in Graz, about 700 trees – amongst them old willows, poplars and elm trees – have been clear-cut at the banks of the Mur under police protection and against heavy protests of thousands of people last week.
++ Threats and opportunities for one of the most valuable rivers of Europe ++ Flood protection approach developed ++ World Wetlands Day on February 2 ++ On the occasion of this year’s World Wetland Day on February 2, the environmental organisations Riverwatch and EuroNatur today present the “White Book Sava” – a comprehensive work about one of the ecologically most valuable but least known rivers of Europe.
++ New Hope for Balkan Rivers: EBRD withdraws from financing hydropower project in Mavrovo National Park, Macedonia ++ Success for campaign in Macedonia - this is the second decision against damming in the park, since the World Bank has refused to finance Lukovo Pole project last year.
++ Scientists’ analysis sent to Prime Minister Edi Rama ++ Shortly before Christmas, the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and other government representatives got mail from renowned scientists from Austria and Germany.
++ Dam project on Europe’s last wild river was intended to be realised without adequate environmental assessment or civic participation ++ Legal precedent for rule of law in Albania ++ Tirana, Vienna, December 2, 2016. The planned destruction of the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last big wild rivers, is now being challenged in court.
++ Scientists demand 3-year construction freeze for hydropower plants on the Vjosa in Albania ++ Environmental assessment according to EU standards urgently required ++ Memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Edi Rama ++ World Rivers Day on September 25 ++ Just in time for the World Rivers Day on September 25, the last big wild river of Europe – the Vjosa in Albania – receives prominent support from all over the world.