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When you are planning for a big trip, your biggest expenses will almost always be the cost to travel and lodging at hotels or resorts. There are a wide variety of factors that you must consider when you are working on booking a hotel for your vacation.
Although it can be tempting to just search for cheap hotels near your destination, there are other criteria that should be included in your decision-making process.
Additionally, there are a number of tools available to help you on your search for the perfect place to stay during your trip. Using our helpful hotel-finding tips and tools, you will be able to find lodging for your vacation in no time.
Although it may be tempting to simply visit several travel sites to book the cheapest room available, there are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hotel. Before beginning a search, travelers are encouraged to ask themselves what aspects of a hotel matters most.
For example, certain travelers may prefer one hotel over another due to the location. In other cases, visitors might choose to stay at a particular location because of the last minute hotel deals available to help them save money. Here are some of the biggest things to consider when booking a hotel.
Instead of looking for the cheapest hotels available, you should consider judging hotels based on their value compared to the price for a night. It’s only natural that you want to get the best value for what you are paying.
For example, although all-inclusive resorts typically cost more than standard hotels, they offer far more value with the amenities, dining and other extras included in the cost.
Instead of searching for hotels that are the cheapest, try to find bookings that will give you the best value for your money while still staying within your budget.
When you are planning for trip and looking for a place to stay, most hotel booking sites will allow you to search for properties that are closer to popular attractions or landmarks.
If you have a point of interest that you will be visiting during your trip, you can search for hotels nearby. Travelers who do not want to stay at a chain hotel can search for smaller B&Bs and independent hotels using booking or travel sites based on location.
Traveler Tip: Sometimes hotels that are farther away from popular tourist destinations will offer cheaper nightly rates than those nearby.
Customers are encouraged to learn about the hotels they are visiting, including the neighborhood where it is located so that they can verify that the property is in a safe and accessible location.
Learning about the neighborhood can also help travelers enjoy their stay by discovering local bars, restaurants and other attractions. Some cheap hotels do not offer dining options, so it can be helpful for customers to familiarize themselves with restaurants in the neighborhood.
Nowadays, almost every hotel booking site allows customers to filter their search to only show hotels that offer certain amenities. For example, some travelers may want to maintain their workout routine so a hotel with a fitness center may be a priority.
Business travelers may want a hotel with an office area available for meetings or a restaurant to meet with clients or partners. Luxury hotels tend to be more costly but they also usually offer more amenities to guests.
When you are deciding between different hotels, it can be difficult to make the right choice if you do not know what to look for. Fortunately, there are numerous tools you can use to help you make your decision.
Websites like ours are helpful resources containing information that can help you find the best hotel room for your trip. We offer information that can help you differentiate between different types of hotels, save money on your reservations and make the most out of your lodging during your trip. Here are some other useful tools you can utilize when booking a hotel.
Travelers can take advantage of numerous hotel booking websites that use search engines to help customers compare different hotels. These websites allow users to compare prices, amenities, location between different hotels and much more so that they can find the best fit for their vacation.
Many of these travel sites also offer deals that package the cost of airfare or admission to an event along with the price of a hotel. Depending on the search criteria, different hotel comparison websites may be more effective at finding results than others.
Before booking a hotel, customers are encouraged to read user reviews to see how people feel about a particular establishment. User reviews are a handy tool for screening a hotel room without having to visit yourself.
However, customers should be cautious when relying on user reviews because one experience may not be indicative of the standards a hotel generally maintains. In order to receive the most accurate assessment of a hotel as possible, guests should check out multiple reviews from different sources.
With the rise of technology, finding discounts and deals on hotels and travel expenses is easier than ever before. Apps like Groupon have listings for discounted hotel rooms and travel excursions that can help guests save a ton of money on their reservations.
Additionally, travelers who forgot to book a hotel room in advance or those who are taking a trip on short notice can find a variety of last minute hotel deals on a number of different websites and apps. However, it is important to read the fine print on these deals in order to ensure you are not caught off guard by any additional fees or charges.


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NewsCorp Australia: "NCIS star David McCallum reveals what it’s like working on the series"
MARCH 15, 20165:30PM
Colin VickeryNews Corp Australia Network
STUFF retirement! That is David McCallum’s attitude to life. The 82-year-old is still going strong as Dr Donald “Ducky” Mallard in NCIS. The Scottish-born actor was best known as Ilya Kuryakin in 1960s spy seriesThe Man from U.N.C.L.E. before he joined the cast of the US navy crime drama.
McCallum goes into a reflective mood when asked about the recent movie remake ofThe Man from U.N.C.L.E. “It was such a big change in my life leaving Britain and going to America, getting the series, and it being successful,” McCallum says.
“It also marked a big personal change because my wife Jill (Ireland) went off with Charles Bronson and I met Katherine. I met her 50 years ago and we’ve been married for 48 of them and have our children and grandchildren.”

domain: entertainment


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Evidence that ALIENS interfered with humanity's DNA found? - Ancient Aliens
In this full Ancient Aliens episode, theorists investigate the mystery of the human genome and ponder the possibility that extraterrestrials aided in the survival of mankind from its earliest days. Historians and experts investigate various events, legends and texts throughout history that may contain evidence of contact between humans and extraterrestrial life. Ancient Aliens examines 75 million years of the most credible alien evidence here on Earth: from the age of the dinosaurs, to ancient Egypt, to the skies over the western desert in the present day US, ancient cave drawings of strange creatures, an asphalt-like substance in an Egyptian pyramid made from the remains of unidentified creatures, continued mass sightings in the USA.

domain: biology


The President traveled to Fort Myer, Virginia yesterday for the Armed Forces farewell ceremony in honor of our 24th Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel.
In his remarks, the President acknowledged Secretary Hagel's courageous work during his lifelong service as a decorated veteran and Secretary:
[T]oday is a celebration of a quintessentially American life — a man from the heartland who devoted his life to America. Just imagine, in your mind’s eye, the defining moments of his life. The kid from Nebraska who, as Marty said, volunteered to go to Vietnam. The soldier outside Saigon, rushing to pull his own brother from a burning APC. The deputy at the VA who stood up for his fellow Vietnam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange. The senator who helped lead the fight for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, to give this generation of heroes the same opportunities that he had.
I asked Chuck to lead this department at a moment of profound transition. And today we express our gratitude for the progress under his watch.


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💞MATERIAL: Made of excellent material, it is natural, protected, non-poisonous and innocuous to your skin.
💞Highlights: Can be utilized to forestall the arrangement of wrinkles, to extend the pores of the skin for a profound cleaning, to hinder the water in the profound skin, to elevate blood course and to quicken the digestion, to build the straightforwardness of the skin, to firm the skin, to help in the assimilation of supplements, and to diminish the saturating pores of the skin.
💞Flexible Catch: 5 movable temperature force levels for each hot or cold back rub can be seen through the LCD screen and blue light for cold back rub, red light for hot back rub.
💞HOT OR COLD: the temperature of hot treatment is up to 42 ° C-45 ° C, which is useful for the pores of the skin to extend and clean top to bottom. The temperature of cold treatment can be from 6 ° C to 3 ° C, which diminishes the pore of the skin, reinforces the collagen, quickens the ingestion of supplements and expands versatility.
The traditional mask has entered the stage of white-hot competition, and all kinds of dazzling brands are limited to changing the inner material and propaganda packaging, which is difficult to break through; the market is launching a new technology in the field of masks - vibrating mask instrument;
Vibrating mask meter, used together with mask; use nutrient silicone mask to fully protect the nutrients contained in the mask is not easily taken away by air evaporation; combined with the principle of Chinese medicine acupoint massage, use vibration to stimulate the corresponding acupuncture points, promote the subcutaneous blood to accelerate circulation, and double the mask essence Absorbed by the skin;
Role: beauty face-lift, enhance mask absorption
English name: Motion mask instrument
Working principle: rechargeable
Material: food grade silicone, lithium battery
1, face-lift function: the use of traditional Chinese medicine acupoint physiotherapy, for the face of the three face-lifting acupressure massage, stimulate acupuncture points to promote blood circulation, burning excess fat, is a safe, non-rebound, no side effects of chronic therapy;
2, beauty function: the shock head can reach more than 9,600 vibration frequency per minute, the vibration is transmitted to the corresponding beauty acupoint nerve, stimulate the lymphatic blood to speed up the circulation, keep the facial skin active; adhere to use, the skin quality is improved, become Pink and elastic;
3, mask auxiliary function: the product is matched with facial mask or other facial skin care products to prevent the mask essence from being lost by the evaporation of air. The essence is more comprehensively retained on the skin, and the vibration massage can accelerate the absorption of the essence by the face, so that the original Some effects have multiplied;
4, convenient function: when the product is used with the mask, the mask can be fixed on the face to solve the inconvenience of the traditional masking; the reading, cooking, surfing the Internet are unimpeded;
5, special features: in addition to beauty for the use of beauty; for facial paralysis patients need to massage the facial muscles every day, the instrument just solves these problems: hand massage is not hygienic, afraid of labor, fear of uneven strength React
The silicone mask is designed with a face shape. The mask contains 8 points of Yangbai, Acupoint, Juyu and Daying points; each acupuncture points corresponds to a vibration connection line; behind the mask, there are two accessories: Velcro or plastic buckle. Fixed mask; controller with lithium battery, is usb line charging type;
The mask is made of high-grade edible silica gel, which is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, non-yellowing, non-sucking, non-deformable and easy to clean. It has stronger toughness and is not easily broken by stretching in the shape of no gap. ;
Instructions for use:
1. Place the acupuncture points that need to be massaged on the silicone mask to place the link line. For the first time, press the main power button on the left side of the controller; put it ready for use;
2, after cleansing, use hot water to help the face open pores; apply the mask or apply the required skin care products;
3, put on the instrument, according to the size of the face needs to adjust the back strap or button to the position that suits you;
4. Press the controller surface switch to adjust the strength and mode that suits you. You can start enjoying your face spa; the instrument will stop automatically every five minutes, and you need to start again.
5, after use, silica gel can be rinsed with water and then air dried;
6, the first few use of the recommended time within 5 minutes, after the facial muscles adapt to the vibration sense can be extended to use time。

domain: health


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Find out if this Sony X90J TV is really "perfect for PlayStation" like the brand claims.
The Sony Bravia X90J claims to be smarter than any other 4K LED TV out there, but that’s not a reference to its smart TV platform. Its new Cognitive Processor XR processor apparently uses novel AI techniques to replicate the way we all see and hear. This is also one of the TVs that Sony deems ‘Perfect for PlayStation.’
So what does this all mean for you, dear reader? Let’s investigate.
We’re sold on the X90J. It’s one of the most impressive new Sony LED TVs we’ve seen in some time, offering impressive 4K picture quality, good sound, and some welcome next-gen games console support.
Overall, we rate it a great buy because there’s not much that it doesn’t do well – movies, gaming and sports. It won’t break the bank either.
Price: The TV typically costs £1199, but you can currently buy the 55-inch Sony Bravia X90J for £899 at Currys.
The 55-inch Sony 55-inch X90J is listed at £1199/$1199. It’s also available in 50-, 65- and 75-inch screen sizes (XR-50X90J, XR-65X90J and XR-75X90J), priced at £1099/$1099, £1599/$1499 and £2299/$2099 respectively. The 55-inch model is the sweet spot in terms of screen size and price.
The X90J is the more affordable stablemate to the Sony X95J. The two models share the same feature set and connectivity options, although the more expensive X95J comes with additional cosmetic flourishes, enhanced picture contrast and a slightly more powerful audio system.
You can buy the XR-50X90J from Currys for £879.
You can buy the XR-55X90J from Currys for £899.
You can buy the XR-65X90J from Currys for £1399.
You can buy the XR-75X90J from Currys for £1699.
We rate the X90J a high-value TV option from Sony. There are caveats, including HDMI connectivity for gamers and the lack of Freeview Play, but they’re not deal-breakers. When it comes to picture performance, this is a premium screen at a mid-range price.
The X90J is one of the first screens we’ve built around the Google TV smart platform. A variation of the more commonly used Android platform, it places emphasis on content curation and recommendations. The interface is easy to use and includes Android niceties like Chromecast and Google Assistant support and a decent selection of streaming services (Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.)
Unfortunately, it lacks Freeview Play and has limited catch-up TV services (just All4 at the time of writing). You’ll definitely want to use the set with a set-top box or streaming media stick, something like a Fire TV player or Roku streamer.
The screen looks neat, with a very thin bezel. It utilises a full-array backlight, which aids picture quality, but this means it’s a little deeper (70mm) than edge-lit rivals.
The model has adjustable feet, which can be placed either towards the edge of the set or more towards the centre - Sony calls this a 2-way Slim Blade stand. The good thing is it allows some freedom when it comes to AV furniture choice, and it can also help create space for a soundbar. It’s worth noting that the adjustable feet are not available on the 50-inch model.
Connectivity comprises four HDMI inputs. Only two HDMIs are 4K 120fps ready for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and one of these is also used as an eARC connection to a soundbar. There’s support promised or Variable Refresh Rate (we’re waiting on a firmware update due before the end of the year).
Other connections include two USBs, a digital optical output, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Ethernet for wired networking.
The screen is reasonably straightforward to set up, although you’ll need to log in with your Google account as part of the process.
We’re increasingly seeing Artificial Intelligence used to enhance image TV picture quality, but here Sony has taken a slightly different approach to its rivals, creating an all-new Cognitive Processor XR processor able to process picture information in a way that mimics the human eye.
When we look at objects, we focus on a given point, rather than the entire scene. Cognitive Processor XR tries to do the same, focussing its processing power where it’s most beneficial. The system effectively divides the screen into zones in order to detect the ‘focal point’ of the picture (whereas regular AI will detect specific picture elements).
The set has a full-array backlight, which combines good overall picture brightness with more control over peak HDR highlights. Also in play is XR Contrast Booster technology and XR HDR Remaster technology to give an HDR look to regular HD TV programmes.
You’ll want to take some care where you position the screen, though, as it tends to lose contrast and colour intensity when viewed off-axis.
The set transpires to be a great HDR performer; we noted bright highlights and a strong contrast range. It comes with Dolby Vision support, in addition to HLG and HDR10. The TV doesn’t acknowledge HDR10+ dynamic metadata, as favoured by Prime Video, though.
As you would hope from TV pitched as ‘perfect for PlayStation’, input lag is low. We measured latency at 17.2ms (1080/60) with Game mode engaged.
Uniquely, the set also has two dedicated modes for use with a PlayStation 5, namely Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. With the former, it’ll handshake with the PS5 and then self-optimise for the best possible picture, ensuring you’ll see fine detail and rich colour even in high contrast scenes.
With Auto Genre Picture Mode, the set automatically switches into Game Mode when gaming, minimising input lag, or Standard Mode when watching movies from a streaming service or an Ultra HD Blu-ray.
The set also boasts Ambient Optimization technology; a sensor monitors the ambient light in your viewing room and tweaks the picture automatically.
The X90J uses a simplified version of Sony’s Acoustic Multi Audio system. Two downward-facing speakers are supported by two sound positioning tweeters high on the rear of the set.
This allows it to present a soundstage that’s more expansive – wider – than lesser models. It doesn’t have any deep bass capability, though, but with 2x10W on tap, it does go reasonably loud.
We reckon the X90J sets a high benchmark for a mid-range 55-inch UHD LED TV. Its Cognitive Intelligence enhanced picture quality is first-rate, with superb detail and colour depth. It’s really contrasty, too, doing a great job with HDR movies and TV shows. It would have been nice to have a couple more full spec HDMI inputs, and the lack of Catch-up TV support is annoying, but motion handling (always a Sony strength) is excellent.
Overall, a fine 4K TV and a must-audition for PlayStation gamers.
You can buy the 55-inch Sony X90J from Currys for £899.


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There is nothing more certain than a loving mother.
She rallies when the chips are down and shows up to cheer when the sails are high.
She trudges through dark of night for a gallon of milk, and braves the brutal sun to see the bat swung by her wee-ist tyke.
She holds a steady heart during a good old tantrum, and five minutes later plans a family trip to the ocean per chance a whale spotting might delight.
She bites her tongue when a blistering quip is just right for the battle, and sometimes to her chagrin out it all tumbles.
She can be long suffering in truly ridiculous ways, so she rarely sees anything but the last cold pancake with one bruised berry on her breakfast plate.
She can joke about painful things, though in the quiet of her private space she is raw to the bone.
She laughs and cries like her life depends on it, and frankly sometimes is actually does.
She holds her children when they need love and safety; adoring the former while hating every minute of the latter.
She works and studies and cleans and tidies; and picks up and puts up and keeps right on going toward the things that matter.
She is a perfect blend of Super Girl and Wonder Woman, even though there are times when she feels more like a rag doll who has lost some stuffing.
She is strong and tender; tough and kind.
She means business and is, by her child’s account, uncool in the most inappropriate places.
She endures all things, giving up only occasionally on make-up, hair-cuts, and the latest fashion.
She pulls-off this whole child rearing thing every day because she was made for it, and once in a blue moon she wishes she wasn’t.
She is a contradiction; both symphony and garage band in three-quarter time.
She is amazing and dazzling in her ability to juggle.
She is love in action, rarely resisting the third request for a tickle or a snuggle.
She is terribly flawed and beautifully human for sure.
She is committed and dedicated, as only she can be.
She takes time for herself, when internal combustion nears.
She is on a mission of her own making; on this you can trust.
She falls down and pulls herself back up, because her family needs her.
She has soft eyes to comfort the most fearful heart, and a stink-eyed, hairy-eyeball like nobody’s business.
She has the laser focus of a Jedi, whenever her child is at stake.
She is love.
She is certainty itself.
She is a mother.
…and mom love matters,
Ce Eshelman, LMFT is an attachment therapist, adoptive mother, stepmother, guardian mother, dog/cat mother, grandmother, not her husband’s mother, and author of:
Available on Amazon.com.

domain: literature


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- 20 Oct 16
Bowie's music lives on!
Music legend, David Bowie, left behind a musical treasure when he died back in January this year. Newly released is 'Killing a little Time,' which will appear in his final recordings on the album Lazarus Cast Album.
The album features the original music from Bowie's musical Lazarus. The first disc includes the cast's performance of the songs, while the second disc contains Bowie's versions.
Lazarus Cast Album appears as a 2-CD or 3-LP set tomorrow.


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Juhi Chawla was born on 13th November 1967 in Ludhiana, Punjab. Her parents are Dr.S.Chawla and Mona. She has a younger brother Sanjeev. Satish Anand, a film distributor in Karachi, Pakistan is her uncle.
She studied at the Sydenham College, Mumbai. She won the Ms.India-Universe title in 1984 and the Best Costume Award at the Miss Universe contest.
She married industrialist Jai Mehta in a hush-hush ceremony in 1997. They have two children, a daughter called Jhanvi and a son Arjun.
The couple recently became co-owners of the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders along with Red Chillies Entertainment. She is also the co-founder of Dreamz Unlimited, a production company with co-star Shah Rukh Khan and director Aziz Mirza.
The Leading Lady
1986 to 1990 Juhi Chawla’s debut was Sultanat in 1986. She then worked in movies in the South in 1997 like the Kannada movie Premaloka and Kindara Jogi, Tamil movie Parvaragam. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in which she played a star crossed lover Rashmi was a hit. She signed up for several movies like Love Love Love, Shandaar, Swarg, Kaafila and Prathibandh.
1991 to 1995 In 1991, she acted in several Hindi, Tamil and Telugu movies. Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman with Shah Rukh Khan and Bol Radha Bol with Rishi Kapoor, released in 1992 did well. The year 1993 was one of her best years as Darr immortalized as Kiran and in Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke she played Vaijanthi Iyer that won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She followed this up with Shatranj, Eena Meena Deeka, Andaz, Ram Jaane and Naajayaz.
1996 to 2001 She had a mix of hits and misses between 1996 and 2006 like Aziz Mirza’s Yes Boss with Shah Rukh Khan; a romantic comedy Ishq with Aamir Khan, Kajol and Ajay Devgan; Mahesh Bhatt’s Duplicate and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani which was released by Dreamz Unlimited of which she was a co-owner.
2002 to 2005 Chawla returned back to movies after two years and was more selective with her roles and moved away from mainstream cinema with releases like Nagesh Kukunoor’s 3 Deewarein that received critical acclaim; as Shanti in Jhankaar Beats and My Brother Nikhil in 2005 that was about AIDS and her role as Anamika is said to be one of her best performances.
2006 to 2009 Bas Ek Pal, Salaam-e-Ishq, Bhoothnath and Kismat Konnection were her other releases. She is part of the star cast of Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance, playing the role of Minty Rolly.


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Birmingham police say a 19-year-old shot on Tuesday died Thursday.
Ladarius Thomas was shot around 11 p.m. Tuesday night in the 700 block of Sun Hill Road.
Birmingham Police Department spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards says officers found Thomas lying in the parking suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
He was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment but died from his injuries Thursday.
Edwards says the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Anyone with information pertaining to the case can call Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777.
Copyright 2014 WIAT-TV CBS42


- Coming through Spectral Sound, Side Piece follows Patricia's fine debut, Body Issues, which came out on Opal Tapes last year. It features three dusty, lo-fi tracks from the Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based producer that are a little less melodic than the stuff on that record.
"Drip Dawn" is all greyscale, with the sort of repeated chords and raspy percussion that should be familiar to Patricia fans, alongside what sounds like de-tuned vocal samples. In "Hulderhusan," mellow, barely-there chord progressions are matched with raw, frenetic drums. The claps and snare hits come in flurries, and the whole thing sounds like it's been smoothed over to the point of submersion. "Foie Gras" is the record's highlight, locking into an assertive but cozy groove with an elastic bassline and globs of acid. The "I-94 Lick" of "Drip Dawn," courtesy of label stalwart JTC (AKA Tadd Mullinix), completes the release. Upending the heads-down mood of the original, it's a cheerfully oddball cut, thanks to its swaggering drums and a shimmering, free-flowing melody.
A1 Drip Dawn
B1 Foie Gras
B2 Drip Dawn (JTC’s I-94 Lick)


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India is a nation known for its social and strict variety. So the weddings in India are events loaded up with vivid and dynamic wedding dresses and extras. The Indian marriage wear is considered as an encapsulation of the social qualities inserted on flawlessly planned dresses. The most generally utilized wedding wear in India incorporates the customary Saree, Salwar Kameez and Ghagra Choli.
Fantastic and Outstanding Indian Bridal Wear
Indian wedding wear contrast as per the local varieties In the North of India, ladies enhance Salwar Kameez and Ghagra Choli though in the South, ladies are known to wear Sarees. The conventional marriage wear of India is eminent worldwide for its unpredictable examples, unpretentious and perfect textures and dynamic tones.
Since ages, red was viewed as the most promising shading for wedding outfits in bridal sarees online. However, as time and age progress, ladies love to explore different avenues regarding numerous different shadings like blue, green, yellow, orange and pretty much every conceivable shading under the sky.
Various Types of Bridal Wear in India
Contrasted with the western wedding wear, the Indian marriage wear is wealthy in shading and complicatedly planned with dabs, sequins reflect work, weavings and valuable stones. The accompanying segment illuminates the various kinds of marriage wear famously utilized in India.
Sarees: it is perhaps the most esteemed outfits of each lady in India. This nine yard piece of material can be hung around the body in various examples. The majority of the ladies in India like to embellish wonderful and rich sarees on their wedding days. The wedding sarees which are accessible in unadulterated silk, glossy silk and georgettes are known for its polish and unique magnificence. These sarees mirror the magnificence and beauty of a lady.
Indian marriage wear sarees incorporate the most famous Kanchipuram silk sarees and the Banarasi Silk Sarees. These sarees are very costly as it is woven from unadulterated silk and incorporate strings of gold. The pallu of these silk sarees are the point of convergence of fascination with luxurious prints in gold and sequin works.
Today ladies love to wear originator sarees of different sorts. Originator sarees with pearl works, stones and zari work are famous among current ladies. Indian fashioner sarees are noted for its excellent examples of kundan work, reflect work and weaving work.
Salwar Kameez: famous Indian wedding dress likewise incorporates richly planned Salwar Kameez of different styles and examples. Marriage wear Salwar Kameez incorporates textures made of velvet, silk and other costly materials. The Kameez is decorated vigorously with zari work, stone work, globules, and sequins and excellent weaved designs.
Ghagra Choli: noted as perhaps the richest wedding wear worn by ladies and their family members, the Ghagra Choli is a blend of a short pullover and a long skirt. A dupatta or a scarf is likewise worn with it. The Ghagra cholis are likewise flawlessly planned with hefty embellishments and enhancements.
The particular highlights of the Indian wedding wear have prompted its prominence in the global business sectors. Today there a wide scope of wedding sarees and other wedding clothing types accessible in the online stores.

domain: artistic


On the ninth of October last, a man became the murderer of his son, who had not even been born. In the middle of an argument he attacked to his romantic partner who was pregnant and expecting twins. One was the fatal victim of the assault. The man was identified as Juan Felipe Achure.
The Prosecutor’s Office managed to demonstrate the presumed responsibility that the man would have in the physical and psychological attack against his romantic partner. The case turned into a formal investigation against the designated aggressor, with accusations and a request for a measure of assurance before a judge in Zipaquirà, Cundinamarca.
“It was shown that the woman was the subject of beatings, psychological humiliation and even death threats, allegedly, by the accused. According to the testimony of the victim, interviews with witnesses and the assessment of Legal Medicine, the most recent acts of violence happened last October 9 in a house located in Zipaquirà (Cundinamarca), where the couple lived”, said the Prosecutor’s Office after the hearings.
The recent assault against the woman was the trigger for a series of acts of domestic violence that also included psychological and financial attacks against the victim. All of them, added together, became evidence of acts of domestic violence, precisely one of the crimes that were charged by the Prosecutor’s Office in the preliminary hearings.
“The indicated aggressor was captured by the National Police in Zipaquirà, Cundinamarca. The Prosecutor’s Office charged her with the crimes of personal injury due to permanent physical deformity aggravated by pre-intentional abortion, in conjunction with aggravated domestic violence”. explained Carlos Manuel Silva, sectional director of prosecutors in Cundinamarca.
Evidence and victim statements were instrumental in establishing how the man became a murderer. by attacking violently when his wife was 24 months pregnant and with twins in her womb. The attack affected one of the babies who died.
“It seems that Achure Vásquez in the middle of an argument would have beaten the pregnant woman so violently that one of the babies died. Given the severity of the injuries, the victim, who was 24 weeks pregnant, had to wait another month with both fetuses in her body to save the life of one of the children”, said the Prosecutor’s Office.
After the imputation of charges made by the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigators in charge of the process demonstrated before the guarantee control judge a need to impose a security measure in the prison center and against the aggressor identified by consider that it represents a danger, not only to the victims, but to society. The level of aggression was disturbing as he attacked his own child when he was in his mother’s womb.
“The forcefulness of the technical evidence presented by a prosecutor attached to the Sectional of Cundinamarca allowed a judge to control guarantees of deprivation of liberty in prison Juan Felipe Achure Vásquez, investigated as allegedly responsible for assaulting his ex-girlfriend sentimental, who was in a state of pregnancy”, said prosecutor Silva.
With the evidence, the statements and the opinion of Legal Medicine, the Prosecutor’s Office hopes to bring this man to trial and obtain an exemplary sentence against him, thus guaranteeing the safety of the child who survived and the mother who had to endure for several months the assaults


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To register your U.S. legal entity, contact the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) accredited LEI issuing organization of your choice.
An LEI issuer — also known as a Local Operating Unit (LOU) — supplies registration, renewal, and other services, and acts as the primary interface for legal entities seeking an LEI. Through self-registration, the registering legal entity must supply accurate reference data to the LOU. The LOU must then verify the reference data with local authoritative sources — a national Business Register, for example — and issue an LEI that is compliant with the LEI standard.
A legal entity is not limited to just using a LOU in its own country. It can use the registration services of any LOU, including one outside its home country, so long as the LOU is accredited by the GLEIF to validate LEI registrations across all its authorized jurisdiction(s). For more information on LEI registration, go to (GLEIF).
The GLEIF is responsible for monitoring LEI data quality. The GLEIF data quality management program ensures that the LEI remains the industry standard best suited to providing open and reliable data for unique legal entity identification management.

domain: law


CHANDIGARH: Agri-economists have called for special economic package for Punjab from the Centre in the upcoming budget to rejuvenate its agri sector plagued with stagnant yields, declining share in Gross State Domestic Product, plummeting water table and piling debt.
They further argued in favour of a fiscal package to enable Punjab, the food bowl of the country, in providing food security for the nation in the future, particularly, in the wake of high commodity prices that are fuelling inflation.
"A special package for Punjab is really needed to invigorate the state's farm sector which has been passing through a tough time...
The centre has to announce a package for short-term and long-term needs of the state (Punjab) if it wants it to continue feeding the country," noted Sucha Singh, economist and Director General of Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development( CRRID).
Justifying the demand for the package, Gill pointed out that the state's farm research and extension activities had completely collapsed on account of shortage of funds with the state government. "It is essential to provide funds to strengthen research and extension activities in order to develop new high-yield and less water-consuming crop varieties, which will also withstand the impact of climate changes," he said.
Punjab, known as bread basket of the country, contributes 50 per cent of wheat and 30 of rice on an average to central pool. However, according to the state economic survey, farm production in the state has reached plateau with soil health deteriorating due to intensive wheat-rice cultivation.
The average yield of wheat and paddy has been hovering around 43 quintals and 58 quintals per hectare for the past several years. To arrest the declining water table, economists stressed on the need for funds to be utilised for recharging and desilting water bodies, setting up ponds or small dams to store rain water and popularising micro irrigation schemes.
Out of 142 blocks in the state, water table in 107 blocks and 5 blocks is under overexploited and critical categories, respectively.


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EA (Foreign exchange specialist Advisor) is another viable alternative. This automated systems run using Meta Investor platform. Marketers can tout there are no failures related to this. That you are guaranteed get. There’s a whole lot they do not tell you; like for you yourself to get 10 pips, you are risking as much as 100 pips. This equals you are able to earn 9 from 10 and thus in the long haul you could wind up producing deficits. Total currency trading can be an undertaking that is worthwhile.

domain: finance


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A network for co-production practitioners
We're looking for someone excited by new challenges and who isn't scared to pioneer new ideas and ways of working. You will be part of a team which focuses on creating the conditions for people (affected by cancer - in the broadest sense) to live well in whatever way that makes sense to them. You will help to pioneer a new place based way of working, supporting individuals and communities to take the lead in defining what they have, want and need to manage their condition and support…
Posted on September 4, 2015 at 13:29
We are looking for someone with partnership-building, project management and analytical skills to manage a range of projects to support the involvement of people affected by cancer in our service development and influencing activities.
You will play an important role in Macmillan's Inclusion department, building relationships with individuals and organisations to engage with easy to ignore communities. You will collaborate with others to develop and deliver innovative involvement…Continue
Posted on February 17, 2015 at 12:16
The RSA is almost one year into its ambitious programme to deliver personalised recovery services and support to people experiencing substance misuse problems in West Kent. Our approach is based on extensive research undertaken by our Whole Person Recovery programme. We are seeking an ambitious, entrepreneurial, dynamic Lead Recovery Community Organiser to work from our one of our…Continue
Posted on February 13, 2013 at 9:24
The RSA has been working with communities to strengthen and develop a greater number of accessible and vibrant pathways for social and economic inclusion for those in recovery from problematic drug and alcohol use for a number of years now. In April a major programme of work launched across West Kent which takes forward our Whole Person Recovery System at scale.
This is an extremely exciting and ambitious programme of work and we're looking to add…Continue
Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:06

domain: sociology


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Directory of knitting and crochet designers, tech editors, yarn dyers, spinning fiber dyers, and accessories. Accessible design, diverse makers, no migraines.
Leah B. Thibault is the designer behind Ms. Cleaver. U.S. TV mom “June Cleaver was the epitome of the mid-century stay-at-home mom, the one who vacuumed in high heels and pearls,” Leah says. Leah’s Ms. Cleaver is a modern lady: a full-time working mom, with a side-gig as a craft designer, and a deep appreciation for all things homemade and handmade.

domain: design


And my xml files are pretty much identical, there are one or two differences, but I wouldnt expect those to cause that error.
My JDBC driver is in the correct place, I know this as I am "upgrading" a non-DBCP tutorial to be connection pooled.
Anybody have any idea what this error maybe? Should I have copied DBCP.jar, Collection.Jar and Pool.Jar to the tomcat (6)lib directory? Should I set the datasource as autocommit=true? (I am not using JTA (thats the next step)).


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Divyanshu Tejwani (Born: 9 June 2007) is a Musical Artist, Songwriter, Music Composer and also a performer. He is well known for his singing. He has won many competitions in his life. He started singing at the age of 5 and slowly-slowly he crossed the finish line of success. “O JANNAT” is the first song that he released in the music industry.
Divyanshu Tejwani is the youngest singer two put his first step forward towards the music industry.
Divyanshu Tejwani born in Delhi on 9 June 2007. His father is Mr. Naveen Kumar Sindhi while his mother's name is Meena Tejwani both of them belong to a Sindhi family.
Divyanshu Tejwani is an Indian singer. He was introduced to the music industry to launch his first song “O JANNAT” on different music platforms like Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, JioSaavan, Hungama, and many others. Divyanshu Tejwani has released his songs on foreign music streaming platforms like Deezer, Tidal, Napster & many others. You get Divyanshu Tejwani music on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook library also. Basically, Divyanshu Tejwani starts his career first as a tech blogger or YouTuber.But, sometime later he enters the music field. Now if you search about them on Google then you will get all information about them. YouTube officially verified his youtube channel as an official artist. Youtube gives him a music verified badge on youtube. Moreover, Divyanshu Tejwani also verified people on Google and Bing.
Albums / Singles
This list contains songs that are sung/composed by Divyanshu Tejwani.
|2021||O JANNAT||O JANNAT||Divyanshu Tejwani||Divyanshu Tejwani||Divyanshu Tejwani||3:14|
|Maa Ka Vo Aachal||Maa Ka Vo Aachal||Divyanshu Tejwani||Rishabh Sethi||Divyanshu Tejwani||2:57|


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A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about 3.6 × 1011 kJ of energy per mole of He42 produced.
How much energy is produced in the Sun’s core?
The density here is about 40 g/cm3, or about 27% of that at the center. Some 91% of the solar energy is produced within this radius. Within 24% of the radius (the outer “core” by some definitions), 99% of the Sun’s power is produced.
How much energy does a fusion reaction produce?
At present, fusion devices produce more than ten megawatts of fusion power. ITER will be capable of producing 500 megawatts of fusion power.
Do fusion reactions release energy in the Sun?
Nuclear Fusion reactions power the Sun and other stars. In a fusion reaction, two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus. The process releases energy because the total mass of the resulting single nucleus is less than the mass of the two original nuclei. The leftover mass becomes energy.
How is fusion One of our sources of energy?
Fusion already happens naturally in stars — including the sun — when intense pressure and heat fuse hydrogen atoms together, generating helium and energy. This process is what powers the sun and makes it so hot and bright. Researchers who work on fusion energy are essentially trying to make tiny stars here on Earth.
How much energy do we get from the sun?
A total of 173,000 terawatts (trillions of watts) of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously. That’s more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. And that energy is completely renewable — at least, for the lifetime of the sun.
How much more energy does fusion produce than fission?
Abundant energy: Fusing atoms together in a controlled way releases nearly four million times more energy than a chemical reaction such as the burning of coal, oil or gas and four times as much as nuclear fission reactions (at equal mass).
How does fusion work in the Sun?
Inside the Sun, this process begins with protons (which is simply a lone hydrogen nucleus) and through a series of steps, these protons fuse together and are turned into helium. This fusion process occurs inside the core of the Sun, and the transformation results in a release of energy that keeps the sun hot.
How much energy does the tokamak produce?
The world record fusion power output of 16 megawatts was achieved in the JET tokamak in England in 1997. The ITER central solenoid will be the largest superconducting magnet ever built. It will produce a field of 13 tesla, equivalent to 280,000 times the Earth’s magnetic field.
How much energy does hydrogen fusion release?
Proton/proton fusion into deuterium accounts for 40% of the reactions by number, releasing 1.44 MeV of energy for each reaction: 10.4% of the Sun’s total energy.
How much energy is released by the Sun per second?
The sun releases energy at a mass–energy conversion rate of 4.26 million metric tons per second, which produces the equivalent of 384.6 septillion watts (3.846×1026 W).
How many fusion reactions per second does the Sun have?
If the Sun gives off 4 x 1026 watts of energy, how many fusion reactions happen every second? 4 x 1026 Joules/second / 4.3 x 10–12 Joules/react = 9.3 x 1037 reactions/second.
How does nuclear fusion in the Sun create energy?
Nuclear fusion, the source of all the energy so generously radiated by the Sun, does two things: it converts hydrogen into helium (or rather, makes helium nuclei from protons) and it converts mass to energy. … The outward pressure from the fusion reactions keeps the stars from collapsing.
What is the overall nuclear fusion reaction in the Sun?
The type of nuclear reaction taking place in the core of the Sun is known as nuclear fusion and involves hydrogen nuclei combining together to form helium. In the process, a small amount of mass (just under one per cent) is released as energy, and this makes its way to the Sun’s surface before beaming out into space.
How much energy is released when an atom is split?
The only split you can do is to ionize the atom, separating the proton and electron. That requires 13.6 eV, the amount of energy one electron acquires on falling through a potential of 13.6 Volts. In ordinary terms, this is a minuscule amount of energy.

domain: chemistry


Not content with breaking just one campaign promise with its transmogrification of Obamacare into Swampcare, GOP establishmentarians are now signaling that the border wall with Mexico–one of Donald Trump’s signature issues–might be getting some resistance:
As the issues mount, several prominent Republicans are making their concerns more explicit.
Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told constituents during a telephone town hall Wednesday that “billions of dollars on a wall is not the right way to proceed” to secure the border. “I don’t support a tariff to pay for any kind of wall.”
Although Gardner framed his position in the language of a fiscal conservative, his concerns are also those of a lawmaker who will face reelection in 2020 in a state where Hispanics already account for 21 percent of the population.
Because as we know, all Hispanics don’t want immigration law to be enforced, right?
Left unmentioned by Gardner is what he thinks the right way to secure the border might be. Perhaps a few non-theatening signs posted at the more popular coyote crossings, painted a friendly shade of lavender with hearts and flowers and Hello Kitty saying, “No Trespassing Pretty Please”? Of course, this being the federal government, they’d still find a way to make even that cost north of a million bucks.
Not wanting to be left out of the action, Mitch McConnell also weighed in on the Republican’s next cop-out:
Despite Trump’s insistence that Mexico will pay for the wall, Mexican officials have routinely rejected that assertion — and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell couldn’t help but laugh at it.
“Do you believe that Mexico will pay for it?” POLITICO Playbook’s Jake Sherman asked the Kentucky Republican on Thursday morning. “Uh, no,” he shot back, chuckling.
Way to go, Mitch. It’s not like we were looking to use our leverage with Mexico or anything. With props like that, I’m surprised Barack Obama didn’t have him negotiate the Iran Deal.
The Politico article goes on to say that since illegal border crossings are way down, some Congressional Republicans, whose natural position is to cringe anyway, don’t see the urgency in building a wall at this point in time. What they surely understand–but are not saying because they assume their voters are dense–is that the only reason border crossings have plummeted is because illegal immigrants believe President Trump’s talk about getting tough on enforcement. Not building the wall would telegraph that the United States isn’t serious after all, which would cause the illegals to come pouring in again. But that’s rather the point for the open borders types, isn’t it?
The truth is we have a lot of huge advantage in our position with Mexico, in that around $24 billion worth of remittances get sent back there every year–the vast majority of it from the United States. That represents more money than the country takes in from oil sales, and just a bit less than it takes in from tourism. Simply put, Mexico depends on that free flow of cash, and there are a number of ways to use that to incentivize them to help finance construction of the wall. A fee of 5% on every remittance could also be levied, which could potentially yield $1.2 billion a year. No doubt people would try to find a way around it (as they always do), but at least it’s a place to start.
Because we need that wall. Just as we need a military to keep the nation secure, we need control over our borders. Whether we can build it has never been a question. Whether we will–well, that just depends on us. Voters sent a clear message last November when they sent Donald Trump to the White House. We just need to keep the pressure on Congress to make sure they get it as well.


Remember when we spotted Miley Cyrus doing the walk of shame from Channing Tatum’s house last week and we totally blew up her spot. Well turns out the joke’s on us because she wore that pride of stride outfit for Jimmy Kimmel’s “(I Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum” music video. It debuted on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night and it’s already being hailed by esteemed outlets like Crushable.com as “the must listen to song of the day that will get stuck in your head despite making absolutely no sense.”
The basic premise of the song is that people want to channing all over your tatum. (and your tatum and your tatum and everyone’s getting channing all over their tatums!) Confused? You haven’t even begun to be confused yet. Because not only does the song repeat this line over and over again, but the music video features cameos from Miley Cyrus and Gabourey Sidibe and a magical dove. It’s everything you didn’t know you wanted on a Wednesday morning. In other words, perfect.
Oh did I mention that it stars Jamie Foxx singing alongside Channing Tatum. Why? Don’t ask silly questions. Why wouldn’t Jamie Foxx be in this video? Why wouldn’t a pool noodle get a shoutout? Why wouldn’t a young Jimmy Kimmel try to channing all over his mom’s tatum — only to be called out as a huge pervert? There are no answers today. Just the sweet sounds of Miley Cyrus singing after getting rescued from under a vending machine.
While Channing Tatum’s never really revved my personal engines, I’ve always understood the appeal. And now, after watching him rap in this video, I’m starting to think that maybe he is my type after all. He’s funny, he owns a white suit and he can fly. And call me crazy, but those are the top three things I look for in a guy.


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Palistinian TV: Jews put Palestinian Kids in ovens
Do you like this story?
Our tax dollars at work.
A PA TV musical for children included the ultimate abuse of the Holocaust, teaching children that the Jews didn’t suffer a Holocaust, but rather made ovens to burn Palestinians:
“…They [the Jews] are the ones who did the Holocaust… They opened the ovens for us to bake human beings… When an oven stops burning they light 100 [more] ovens.”
More from Israel Matzav and Palestinian Watch
- Palestinian journalist admits Hamas faked blackout
- Islamic Rape Gang Shows No Remorse For Raping Jews In Israel
- Palestinian Leader: "Kill every American and Jew"
- Abbas won't negotiate: wants Jerusalem to be Palestinian capital
- Jimmy Carter: Too many Jews on Holocaust council

domain: news


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ENGL 341: Reading Literature for Future Teachers
Dr. Kim Jaxon
Section 01: MWF 12:00-12:50 in MLIB 442
Office Hours: Mondays 1:00-2:00pm & Wednesdays 1:00-3:00pm (*Note: Check-in to the English Dept office first in Siskiyou 109; the office staff will let me know you’re there to meet with me.)
Email for sharing Google Docs: firstname.lastname@example.org
This course is required of all Liberal Studies majors. As the title of the course, “Reading Literature,” suggests, students will read an array of literary genres, including short stories, novels, poetry, and drama. Students will also read books and articles by teacher-researchers about reading pedagogy. By the conclusion of the term, students will be able to read a wide array of literary texts, both those written for adult readers and those written for younger readers; students will be able to identify literary devices and consider their effects; students will be able to select literature for children to read and develop teaching plans to help students read literary texts with understanding and pleasure. Students will demonstrate their learning through successful presentations/performances, group projects, and written/visual assignments. This course addresses the literary study areas specified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as requirements for multiple-subject teachers: literary concepts and conventions; literary genres; interpretation of literary texts.
There are 9 books total you need to have your hands on for the semester. The good news: all but one text are children’s books and I tried to make selections that you could keep for your future classrooms. I am hoping you’ll start to build your class library. Total cost is around $80, but feel free to check out from library, swap books, etc. But, you must have the book in class so you can participate (ebook is fine if you prefer). You’ll also notice a lot of choices in book selection: my mission is to support you as you find books you like to read.
These texts we will all read (3 total):
- Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer’s Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits by Donalyn Miller
- Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
- One picture book (I’ll explain in class)
These texts you will read in teams. You can choose from the lists below (6 total):
Series Study: choose TWO books from the same series below
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Weenies Series by David Lubar
- Babymouse Series by Jennifer Holm
- The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories) Chris Colfer
- Origami Yoda Series by Tom Angleberger
Book Club 1: choose ONE from list below (The selections are from Newbery Winners and Honor books)
- George by Alex Gino
- The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
- After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
Novels in Poetry & Verse: choose ONE from list below
- Monster by Walter Dean Myers
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
- Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
- Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Graphic novels: choose ONE from list below
- Drama OR Smile by Raina Telgemeier
- Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brisgol
- El Deafo by Cece Bell
- Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
- Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Book Club 2: choose ONE from list below
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
- The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
In the first week of class, you’ll let me know your text choices by taking this survey: HERE
Other things you’ll need to do to be a full participant in our class:
Your Grade (see Assignment tab for full descriptions)
Blog Posts (8 @5 points each; 40 points)
Picture Book Presentations (20 points): in trios, you’ll do a short presentation about a picture book author.
Reviews on Goodreads (5 @5 points each: 25 points)
Gallery Walk (2 @20 points: 40 points): We will create artifacts based on the book club books you are reading. Artifacts can be created individually or in teams.
Reflection and Manifesto (25 points): we’ll end the semester with a teaching reading manifesto and a reflection on what we’ve learned about the teaching of reading in our course.
A note about attendance: This class is highly participatory and we need each other to do the work of the class. For this reason, you can miss 4 times (I don’t distinguish between excused and unexcused). After four, you cannot pass the course.
I look forward to reading together this semester!
Americans with Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or chronic illness, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Please also contact Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) as they are the designated department responsible for approving and coordinating reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities. ARC will help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide you further assistance with requesting and arranging accommodations.
Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting
As a Chico State professor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment for Chico State students. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share information regarding sexual misconduct with the University.
Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the Counseling and Wellness Center (898-6345) or Safe Place (898-3030). Information about campus reporting obligations and other Title IX related resources are available here: www.csuchico.edu/title-ix

domain: library


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Date: December 29, 2022
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
State-Controlled Religion and Religious Freedom Violations in China – This report provides an overview of China’s state-controlled religious organizations and their role and function within the country’s institutional control of religion, demonstrating their complicity in the government’s systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. Central to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) institutional control of religion are the seven state-controlled national religious organizations and their local subsidiaries, often known as “patriotic religious associations,” which are responsible for managing religious affairs of the five officially recognized religions—Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. These religious organizations are legally required to be politically loyal to the CCP and to work with the CCP and its government in promulgating, implementing, and enforcing state laws, regulations, and policies. That complicity extends to the CCP’s deeply coercive sinicization of religion policies that have led to severe religious freedom violations against the majority-Muslim Uyghurs and other Turkic groups, Protestant house church Christians, and Tibetan Buddhists.
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. government redesignate China as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC. In December 2022, USCIRF held a hearing on the Chinese government’s domestic and transnational repression of religion, as well as its malign influence abroad through lobbying in the United States.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at


as of 01/23/2022 (Details)
The DF10D digital depth sounder with auto-ranging and auto-sensitivity features is designed to give precise depth readings from 2.5 to 200 feet at speeds up to 63 mph. The depth sounder incorporates an advanced three-stage depth alarm warning system for the user programmable shallow and deep water alarms. Keel-Offset allows readings to be adjusted for vessel draft. The 1.65" x 0.85" LCD reads depths in feet and meters, and uses SoftGlow backlighting for easy and reliable operation at night. The included transducer can be transom-mounted or glued in-hull. The Depth Sounder includes white and black Interchangeable Face Plates and Bezels. Requires a 2 1/8" Diameter Mounting Hole or can be surface mounted with the 1000-10 Surface Mount Bracket. INCLUDES: Digital Depth Sounder Display, White/Black Interchangeable Faces & Bezels, Transom/In-Hull Transducer w/ 30 Feet of Transducer Cable, All Mounting Hardware For In-Dash Display Installation and Transom/In-Hull Transducer Installation, Display Sun Cover, 2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY.
- Marine tool delivers instant depth updates to help keep you safe in the water
- Gives precise depth readings (in feet or meters) from 2.5 to 200 feet at speeds up to 63 miles per hour
- Incorporates an advanced three-stage depth alarm warning system with programmable shallow and deep water alarms;
- Easy touch, algorithmic, digital programming; waterproof front face, and large, , illuminated display
- Display dimensions: 1.65 x 0.85 inches (WxH); comes with a two year warranty


The UK's most expensive number plate
Click here for the Highest Prices Paid for UK Personal Number Plates.
There is a curse, usually claimed to be of Chinese or Arab origin, expressing a wish that the cursed individual should live in “interesting times”. Well, since 2008 we have lived in very interesting times, especially in an economic sense. Around that time it all went a bit wobbly, didn’t it? Businesses suffered, investments evaporated: it was altogether rather untidy and alarming. Amid the chaos and concern people sought out things that would reassure them that there was still some stability. Those things were found in some surprising places.
It is striking how robust the private registrations market has proved to be, not just during the recent and ongoing financially challenging times, but consistently over the last 30 years. Owners of nice cars continue to value good quality cherished registrations, considering them the finishing touch that an attractive car deserves. Outstanding numbers have not only held their values, but have very often seen significant appreciation.
Prices paid at auction continue to set new records, both in the UK and around the world. One such auction record was set in November 2014 when the registration 25 O was sold at DVLA auction for £518,000, thus becoming the most expensive number sold at public auction in the UK, and one of the most expensive numbers in the country. The purchaser was John Collins, owner of classic Ferrari dealer Talacrest, who also bought the numbers 250 L and 500 FER at the same auction. Regtransfers visited John at his Berkshire headquarters.
“I thought maybe I would have to pay 20 to 25 thousand for 250 L but then it kept going up and up and up. Finally I got it [for £130,000] but I kind of figured that was going to make 25 O quite expensive; I thought it might go to £200,000. When the bidding started I knew that a few culprits who I know in the Ferrari world would be bidding on it but, to be honest, after I got 250 L I just decided that nobody but me was getting 25 O, it was that simple. I would just have kept going.
I wanted 25 O and I won’t sell it
“One of the papers or magazines got it wrong and said that every time I bid the other bidder jumped in immediately. Actually, it was the other way round: he was hesitating and I just kept going, because that’s the only way to knock somebody’s confidence in a situation like that, and win. I certainly didn’t expect to pay £500,000 for a number plate but I really think it’s worth it. A good Ferrari 250 GTO is worth £35m today, and for a short wheel base, a good one, anything from eight million to 15 million. That particular car that I have put the number on was once owned by Eric Clapton. It’s one of the best right-hand drive, short wheelbase cars that’s ever been built, so it’s on that. You can’t get a better number plate. I wanted 25 O and I won’t sell it. Someone has asked me if I’d sell the car and the plate but I said no. Actually, there is one car I’d sell it for but I doubt I’d get that. It’s a Ferrari 330 LMB, an early 1960s car. I’ve owned it twice and let it go, like an idiot. The price of those just keeps going up and up and up. Of the three LMBs [known to exist], I’ve sold two of them a total of eight times in the last 25 years. The first time I bought one, in 1994, it cost a million pounds. Today the LMB is worth £20 million pounds, so I should have kept it.
“I’ve always been Ferrari mad. I started driving when I was 15, in Scotland, as you do [Laughs]. You know, on L-plates. I passed my test first time, as I’d already been driving for years. I had a Triumph Spitfire GT6 a TR4, TR5, TR6. My mate had a TR6 and a Porsche. I really always wanted a Ferrari but they were too expensive. I mean, I think the Triumph GT6 was like £850 new in 1967, so I bought that in 1969 for £500 when I was seventeen. Ah, but I was Jack the Lad in Glasgow with that!
“I eventually bought my first Ferrari in 1976: a Dino 246 that I got for £7000. You could buy a house for £7000 at that time. There was no other car that came close. Porsche? They never did it for me. It was always really just Ferrari.”
In a life of various careers and varying fortunes, John has been a model and a DJ as well as spending 20 years as a top photojournalist working with high profile publications such as the Daily Express in the UK and the National Enquirer in the USA. He showed our team scrapbooks of his work from the 1970s and 1980s and talked through some of the stories and images he produced during those years.
One of the highest paid photojournalists
“I sold my soul to the Enquirer because they paid huge money. I became one of the highest paid photojournalists in the world. I did stories on Joan Collins, Princess Grace, Bo Derek. Front pages… and there was a huge spread on the Pope. There was no peering through windows: I was always up-front and there was no need, people would come to me.
“That’s what allowed me to really get into the cars, the fact that I was so highly paid. In those days there were very few proper photojournalists. There were lots of photographers who could write a few captions but I could work some days in the Daily Express as a reporter on a shift, or as a picture editor, or as a news editor or a photographer.”
The obsession with cars that John’s income allowed him to indulge led to the purchase of more Ferraris but that first flush of success was cut short in 1987 with the Black Monday stock market crash. “I lost all my money then. I hate stocks and shares because of that, because I went bust. I didn’t actually go bankrupt but I had no money, so I decided to sell my cars. I phoned all the dealers and was assured that one car I was selling would be worth £50,000. I sold it to this guy and then drove past his window a week later only to see my car up for £70,000. I went in and challenged him over it and he just told me that the market prices were rising. So, I got ripped off for £20,000 by a car dealer.”
The Black Monday crash
Let’s just recap. John lost most of his wealth due to the Black Monday crash. Immediately after that he was, in his words, ‘ripped off’ to the tune of £20,000: a significant chunk of the value of one of his few remaining assets. The phrase ‘insult to injury’ barely seems adequate, but John Collins shrugged off this adversity without noticeably breaking his stride.
“At that time I also had an F40 coming but, having lost everything, I obviously didn’t have the money to pay for it. So, I went to the pub and borrowed £300,000 from all my friends. The idea I had – what Talacrest was originally going to be about – was to start a company where people could buy a £1000 share in a car; so 100 people could own a £100,000 Ferrari. However, the Financial Services Act stopped that.
“My friends had belief in what I told them. I did a little business plan, which I’ve still got actually. It was a cool idea and they all got it. They would have invested £5000 for 5 shares in a car and had great fun. They’d keep it for 3 years and then sell it so everybody gets a profit. It would’ve worked fantastic, but you’re no longer allowed to advertise and take the public’s money without about ten million licenses.
“With the money I’d borrowed I had put 10% deposits on £3 million worth of cars, saying to the dealers, ‘I’ll pay you in six months when I come into my inheritance. Of course, that was a complete lie, but because I had experience as an investigative reporter I had done my research and the market really was going up, so I plunged in.
“I bought out a big advert with twelve cars for sale. Suddenly, all these dealers phoned up saying, ‘You can’t advertise my car!’ They used a few expletives that I won’t repeat. So, I told them to check with their lawyers. I told them that they’d find that I owned the cars as long as I paid on time. I told them that they could sue me if I didn’t pay, but at that moment they no longer owned those cars [Laughs]. Some of them tried to send the deposits back but I refused. The ones who did check with lawyers found out that I was right. So, I sold all the cars and made half a million in profit in the six months before I had to pay for them.
“Funnily enough one of those dealers, Michael Fisher, who was a big Ferrari dealer for a long time, is one of my best friends now. Back then though, he was one of those guys who screamed and shouted. He ended up becoming a good friend because I ended up buying loads of cars from him.”
John’s company, Talacrest, rapidly built a reputation and between 1988 and 2000 became one of the world’s top classic Ferrari specialists. After more than a decade at the top of that game, John decided it was time to play a new one.
“Talacrest used to be the biggest in the world, but in 2000 I sold up because I was burnt out. I played polo instead, as you can probably see from the pictures [indicates photographs on the wall]. It’s funny: years ago I used to do stories and photos of Princess Diana for the papers but then I ended up playing polo with Prince Charles.”
Sorry, that was Chris Evans
At this point in the interview, John was interrupted by the phone. “Sorry,” he said after cutting the call short. “That was Chris Evans".
“I met Chris at an auction in London in 2007 – the first one I’d been to since 2000. He said, ‘I want to buy some cars.’ I told him, ‘Well, I’m not in the business anymore Chris. I’ll help you but I’m not cheap!’ [Laughs]. I told him that I would charge a 10% commission and he said okay. Anyway I put an amazing collection together for him and we became buddies. He’s still a great friend.
“In 2008 I broke my back. When Chris’s house wasn’t finished I told him to come and stay with me in my house. That was where I used to have all my horses but I had to give them away because the injury meant that I couldn’t play polo any more. Anyway, Chris and I got drunk, and you know what? Chris Evans bought my house off me when I was pissed, and I didn’t even want to sell it! He said, ‘There must be a price.’ I told him I didn’t want to sell, but he kept saying, ‘There must be a price.’ In the end I said “OK, there,’ and said a price. He just went ‘Done!’ [Laughs].
“Then next day, I said, ‘We were just drunk last night weren’t we? I didn’t sell the house to you?’ Chris said ‘What did you always tell me John? A deal’s a deal.’ So he bought my house. I liked that house… [Laughs]. But it was kind of big, you know, 15 acres.
A five year car collection plan
“That car collection I put together for him? Well, I told him it was a five-year plan and I bought him a Ferrari 250 GTO. I sold it on his behalf for $25 million. The guys who bought it, a couple of years later sold it on for $42 million. $17 million in two years: not a bad return.”
Meeting Chris Evans set John on a new path – or, rather, put him back on a old one. Unable to play polo as he had done before his injury, John was ready to focus on something different. Chris’s request to assist with the acquisition of good cars steered John back into the habit.
“I restarted Talacrest in October 2007. The people who’d bought it from me – an American company – basically screwed it up: they’d started selling Cobras and crap. Anyway, I still owned the building, so I took it back. If it hadn’t been for bumping into Chris at that auction I probably wouldn’t be back in the car market, but once I started buying for him, a lot of old customers were like, ‘Oh can you get me this car?’, and before I knew it I was back in the game”.
Clearly, the love of cars, Ferraris in particular, is in John Collins’s blood. His enthusiasm for cherished registrations is similarly ardent – as might be expected in a man who would pay half a million pounds for one.
“I’ve also got HDT 1, VRP 1, 1 VRP, ENZ 40, ENZ 246 and then the three
I bought at the auction: 25 O, 250 L and 500 FER. They’re not all on cars; I have some on retention that are in the process of being put onto cars. With 25 O, nobody suspected me because I’m not known for buying number plates, you know, so it was a surprise.”
At the time of the DVLA auction at which John bought 25 O, the most prolific and widely believed rumour was that Chris Evans had purchased it. Although that wasn’t the case, it wasn’t long before John heard from him.
“Chris phoned me up and he went, ‘Do you know what somebody paid for that number?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it was a lot, wasn’t it?’. Chris told me that he liked the number but the bidding went a bit too crazy. When I told him I’d bought it, he said, ‘You [expletive deleted]!’ I hadn’t told a soul because I really wanted that number, you know?
“The car it’s on, 25 O, I’ve turned down nine million for it, and I know if I said £10 million the guy would buy it, but I don’t want to sell it. I can’t replace it.
Where am I going to get another? I did sell that car once and I bought it back. I gave the guy twice what he’d paid. The minute I sold it, I regretted it. That’s one of the regrets, [John points at a picture on the wall] up there with the California with VRP 1 on it, that is now worth 20 million bucks.
“I sold that to a friend who promised me, swore blind, that if he sold it he’d sell it back to me, but he didn’t. I’ve never spoken to him since because if I’d known what he was going to do I would never have sold it to him, you know? He kept it for a while and then sold it without even picking up the phone to call me. I was pretty angry. But what goes around comes around, and in 2008 he went bust. I thought, Yes! Thank you very much!”
Interview: Angela Banh
Story: Rick Cadger
Photography: Stan Thompson


text:
Demonstrates the use of serialEvent() function.
This example demonstrates use of the serialEvent() function. This function is automatically called at the end of
when there is serial data available in the buffer. In this case, each character found is added to a string until a newline is found. Then the string is printed and set back to null.
- Arduino Board
None, but the board has to be connected to the computer; the Arduino Software (IDE) serial monitor may be used to communicate the single or multiple characters and receive the string back.
You can find more basic tutorials in the built-in examples section.
You can also explore the language reference, a detailed collection of the Arduino programming language.
Last revision 2015/07/29 by SM
The Arduino documentation is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.


John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Jesus Christ was a carpenter. But sometimes a church needs a pipe fitter.
Just ask the Franciscan friars at St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center in downtown Boston, who found themselves facing a crisis hidden behind the walls of the center’s chapels, friary, and other facilities where 230,000 people come every year to pray, volunteer, and receive services.
“It was a building that was in really, really tough shape,” said Kevin Sheehan, 59, a former mechanical contractor who has been attending Mass at the shrine for seven years. “Honestly I was shocked. I was really, really shocked.”
The 12-story building was relying on systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning that dated back to the shrine’s opening in 1954 and had never been replaced.
The Rev. Thomas Conway, the shrine’s executive director, feared the aging system would just give out in the dead of winter and leave the facility uninhabitable. If that happened, he wondered, where would the 29 friars living there, many 65 or older, go?
“I don’t want to think what it would be like to have a 12-story building with no heat on a zero-degree day,” Conway said.
Luckily, the shrine had Sheehan, the manager of technical maintenance services at Harvard University, sitting in the pews and itching to help the church he loves. The friars honored him last month with the shrine’s “Social Consciousness Award.”
“He’s like a pied piper,” Conway said. “It’s kind of this beautiful thing. Kevin is absolutely the ring leader of this. I tease him that I work for him now.”
Since last fall, Sheehan has accomplished what was once considered unthinkable: replacing and updating heating and cooling systems throughout the 200,000-square-foot facility for half of the $1.5 million cost. The project is expected to be completed this fall.
The overhaul was massive. Pneumatic controls, which most stopped using 25 years ago, still operated the heating and cooling systems. There was no way to moderate heat on the shrine’s 150 radiators. The utility bills topped more than $350,000 annually and occasionally required the shrine to take up special collections to cover costs, Conway said.
Last October, the shrine replaced a large cooling tower on the roof using a crane. The friars paid $100,000 for the tower and renting the crane, but all the labor was donated, saving $150,000, Sheehan said.
While systems were replaced, Conway said, volunteers formed an impromptu ministry, meeting most Saturdays and at other times during the week to serve their church by doing demolition work, painting, and installing new heating and cooling systems.
“I just wanted to help out the shrine,” said Joseph Januszewicz, 16, who volunteers with his father, Pawel. “It’s been really nice working with my dad. I really like the experience.”
The volunteers came from all walks of life. Some were from the building trades while others had no experience.
Sheehan approached building trades unions for volunteers and Conway put out the call at Mass to get some extra hands. In all, 47 people volunteered.
Pipe fitters from E.M. Duggan Inc., which is known for working on big projects like the Millennium Tower Boston, created piping to connect a new water chiller to the existing system in its prefab shop in Canton and then installed it over four weekends in March for free, said Ken Hagan, who organized the volunteers.
“They’re very, very appreciative of what we’re doing,” Hagan said. “That makes it all the better you can see how much what you’re doing means to people.”
Charles D. Sheehy Inc. donated fittings and E.M. Duggan gave pipes, said Vincent Petroni, E.M. Duggan’s president.
Petroni said he and his wife, Maureen Duggan Petroni, attend the shrine.
“It was very touching that they would do that,” he said of the volunteers. “These are construction workers. They have families. They have children and they gave up their weekends. . . . I didn’t expect that to get the response that we did.”
Vendors like Metropolitan Pipe & Supply Co. in Cambridge provided much of the equipment needed for the project, including buffer tanks for the air conditioning, circulator pumps to move water through the shrine, valves, piping, and coils, said Bob Barry, 64, a sales representative.
Metropolitan supplied the equipment at cost, saving the shrine between $40,000 and $50,000, Barry said. He said he also donated his commission.
Sheehan said he is amazed how people continue to volunteer to help almost a year after work began.
“People are still coming in,” he said. “It grows.”
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text:
This relaxed shirt is made of dip dyed satin silk woven in France at Les Tissages Perrin. The fabric which is adorned on the mat side by vaporous clouds of color is printed at the heritage company Siegl, based in the French Alpes. Each shirt is unique and features its own variation of the printed pattern.
The Teenage Wildlife shirt is worn with the Velvet Goldmine pants and the Jean Genie coat.
Fabrics and care
Made in Croatia. 100% silk. Woven in France at Les Tissages Perrin. Oversized fit. A French placket. Mother-of-pearl buttons. Each piece features its own pattern. Dry clean.
Size and cut
Saet is 1m79 and is wearing a size 2. Measurements: Hips 90cm / Waist 62cm / Chest 80cm.


text:
David’s second-grade class at a Maine school was given the assignment to bring in their favorite Easter story and they would take turns reading them to the class. When it was David’s turn, he brought his children’s story Bible with the Easter story marked. When the teacher realized what she was holding she told this precious little boy that he would have to bring in a different book.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in Tinker v. the Iowa Independent School District, the continual assault on students and teachers to silence all references to one’s faith continues even when it’s on their personal time during the day. The majority opinion in Tinker was clear: “It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the school house gate.”
At the federal level, the previous case, and many others, prompted the House of Representatives and the Senate to approve, nearly unanimously, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which then-President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1993. One would think that would have at least mitigated the ingrained religio-phobia inundating our culture when it comes to even the most reasonable exercise of one’s faith.
Still, this hasn’t stopped the incessant challenges coming at predictable times of the year. School graduations seem to be a reliable season of contention. Every pre-game prayer huddle on field or in a locker room is scrutinized, and the greetings, music and scenery of religious holidays incessantly foment needless assaults on the “free exercise” clause of the First Amendment. Even religious organizations have fallen prey to the nonsense of a growing hostility toward people who simply want to live out their faith honorably.
When a regional food bank was contacted to place a church-operated, central Maine homeless shelter on their distribution run, they refused when they discovered the shelter required its guests to attend regular sessions of practical life instruction, which includes some faith-based wisdom as well. Apparently such expectation was too much for the administrators of the food bank, fearing if they included this shelter they would lose part of their funding that came from government sources.
The irony of this is poignant considering the mission statement of the food bank includes doing the work of Jesus. Stating the obvious, one religious organization would not deliver food to another religious organization precisely because it was acting religiously.
People of diverse faiths all see the need for “An Act to Protect Religious Freedom,” or L.D. 1428, now in front of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. At the public hearing last week, those speaking in support of the bill included evangelicals, Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Mormons, and Native Americans.
Others, of course, were not enthusiastic. Maine’s attorney general spoke in opposition to L.D. 1428, expressing dire fears that if this bill passed it would open the flood gates to all manner of bizarre, not to mention illegal, behavior occurring under the rubric of religious freedom.
The AG said: “Under this bill â¦ if I believe that it is part of my religious faith, that I should be able to butcher and sacrifice a dog every Saturday morning in the town square and offer up its remains to the supreme being, no police officer or state official could stop me under this law.”
The attorney general alluded to other equally strained, if not silly, hypotheticals, which is perplexing. There are decades of case law clarifying the meaning and application of “compelling interest” and “least restrictive means,” precisely concerning when and how governing authorities may and may not respond to the more difficult cases that may arise.
In light of it, the attorney general’s stated fears strain credulity.
Whatever your personal thoughts are regarding L.D. 1428, time is of the essence. The Judiciary Committee will vote today. If this bill is important to you, please contact the committee members and your representative before this date to let them know your desires.
William Cripe is the senior pastor at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Waterville.

domain: politics


text:
Waves of Opposition
About the BookRadio sparked the massive upsurge of organized labor during the Great Depression. The powerful new medium became an important weapon in the ideological war between labor and business. Corporations used radio to sing the praises of individualism and consumerism, while unions emphasized equal rights, industrial democracy, and social justice.
Elizabeth Fones-Wolf analyzes the battle to utilize, and control, the airwaves in radio's early era. Working chronologically, she explores the advent of local labor radio stations such as WCFL and WEVD, labor's campaigns against corporate censorship, and union experiments with early FM broadcasting. Using union archives and broadcast industry records, Fones-Wolf demonstrates radio's key role in organized labor's efforts to fight business's domination of political discourse throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. She concludes with a look at how labor's virtual disappearance from today's media helps explain why unions have become so marginalized, and offers important historical lessons for revitalizing organized labor.
About the AuthorElizabeth Fones-Wolf is a professor of history at West Virginia University. She is the author of Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism, 1945-1960 and the coauthor of Struggle for the Soul of the Postwar South: White Evangelical Protestants and Operation Dixie.
Also by this author
Reviews"Fones-Wolf tells her story extremely well and constructs it on a foundation of archival research and general reading that is impressive indeed."--Labor History
"Waves of Opposition is a significant book, and useful to organizers."--Social Policy
"Extensive archival research explores labor-owned radio stations and productions of local and network labor shows for news and entertainment. . . . Potential parallels with current debates about spectrum allocation and sustained class bias in broadcasting abound. . . . Recommended."Choice
"Elizabeth Fones-Wolf has written a definitive history of how, from the 1930s to the 1950s, unions struggled with corporations for radio outlets, airtime, and audience attention, in both national and local arenas."--Journal of American History
"Waves of Opposition is an important addition to the literature in the radio reform movement, moving beyond the emphasis on policy debates to direct our attention to the ways in which movements struggled on a day-to-day basis to air their views in an often hostile environment."--American Journalism
"Elizabeth Fones-Wolf has written an intriguing volume on the history of the U.S. labor movement's radio broadcasting efforts. . . .The book is thoroughly researched, gracefully written, and uncovers a little-known aspect of labor history."--Jhistory
"Elizabeth Fones-Wolf and Ken Fones-Wolf have written a nuanced, well argued monograph on the role of religion in Operation Dixie, the attempt by the Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO) to organize southern workers after World War II. . . . An illuminating study for a variety of historians."--Journal of American History


A recent study by the popular design tool developers Canva and Sago, specializing in quantitative research, reveals that nearly half of job seekers use AI to enhance their resumes.
This research, drawing on insights from 5,000 hiring managers and an equal number of job seekers across diverse global regions, including the US, UK, India, Germany, Spain, France, Mexico, and Brazil, found that 45% of applicants have utilized generative AI to craft, refine, or update their resumes.
You might think recruiters take a dim view of such practices, but the research says otherwise.
Acceptance of AI in the job application process is notably high, with 90% of hiring managers considering it appropriate and nearly half considering it to create content for the interview process.
Findings further illustrated a shift away from traditional text-only resumes, with 71% predicting the obsolescence of the typical CV in the next few years.
Amy Schultz, Canva’s global head of talent acquisition, emphasized the value of AI in the job-seeking process, stating to FOX Business, “We know that job seeking can be really hard, it can be really daunting, so if there’s something that can make you feel better about that experience, then I think that folks should lean into that.”
AI is frequently called a democratizing technology because it equips millions of people with intuitive, intelligent tools for creative processes.
The impacts are both positive and negative. Language models are excellent for non-English native speakers (or indeed anyone else) looking to improve their written communications, for example. Ensuring CVs, essays, etc., are of a high written standard encourages recruiters to focus on the applicant’s merit.
On the other hand, you still have to pay for the best AI models like GPT-4, which can be prohibitive for some users.
In the wider recruiting landscape, there’s been a string of controversies surrounding recruiters’ use of AI, with automated resume-scanning tools being outed for bias and discrimination.
AI-enhanced resumes boost candidate success rates
Other research corroborates Canva and Sago’s findings.
In 2023, Emma van Inwegen, an MIT Sloan Ph.D. candidate, and her colleagues found that job applicants who use AI to craft their resumes – specifically, tools enhancing spelling, grammar, and usage – stand an 8% better chance of securing employment.
The investigation involved a comprehensive analysis of 480,948 newcomers to a global online labor marketplace from June to July 2021, encompassing a wide range of job categories from design and creative fields to software development.
The study engaged a diverse group of participants from English and non-English-speaking countries.
The experiment randomly divided applicants into two groups: one received algorithmic writing assistance, while the other proceeded without.
Those who used AI or ‘algorithmic assistance’ – which could also include tools like Grammarly – received 7.8% more job offers and commanded higher wages, averaging $18.62 per hour compared to $17.17.
Van Inwegen pointed out, “If you take two identical workers with the same skills and background, the one with the better-written resume is more likely to get hired.”
The research also delved into specific errors that deter employers, with spelling mistakes being a major red flag. Job seekers with nearly flawless spelling were significantly more likely to be hired than those with lower accuracy.
Interestingly, while certain writing errors were detrimental, the study found that “flowery language” was tolerated and often favored by employers.
Overall, these studies suggest AI can level the playing field for job seekers, particularly for non-native English speakers.


text:
Welcome to the Jewelry Designer Network ... JewelryNetwork.org
To create something artistic, a creator has poem in heart.
While he is working on an art object, poetic music constantly
moves his fingers and hands. When his work is completed,
everything is absorbed into pure silence.
Someday I want to design and create a jewel object that
mesmerizes Venus. This aspirationkeeps me going.