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Slightly last year on an anonymous, ordinary day, I wrote on my old blog a gibberish issue about a common attitude of any ordinary people. It is: the sense of self that everything is going to be okay. The sense of self that if there's any disaster, misfortune, or any other bad luck, it's not going to be me; it's anyone else's matter. The sense of self that if there's something that the world need; a change, an improvement, a sacrifice, then it's someone else's responsibility but me. I gave examples about war, accident, crime, earthquake, homosexuality, philosophical thought. And the list continues to add with atheism, bankruptcy, crisis and so forth.
I presume this kind of things happen as an idealized vision of a life, of a family. Just see the image of a happy, nice family on any commercial ad broadcasted on television. A couple, having two nice kids, living in a sleek modern house, buying a new car, touring the neighborhood. Well this image may appear in a society as everyone's hope for a good living. For most, a life is simply being born, growing up and go to school, achieving good scores in any subject, going to a prestigious college, easily getting a job with the so called proper salary, getting married, having kids, getting old, watching the kids grow up, having grandchildren, then die peacefully. I don't judge here, that if you have such vision, then you're wrong, at all. But unconsciously we miss a lot of details that involve both external and internal factors and after all, seriously, life is not that simple.
Going home early, avoiding bad guys, doing everything on the straight line, over-protecting your kids, then you think everything's going to be alright? I don't think so.
The world is rough and cruel. Closing your eyes to everything you don't want is not the way to solve any problems. Intrigues. Pretenders. Heartaches. Greed. Syndicates. Just when you think your day is hard enough, you'll figure out that something bigger and meaner might happen to you the next day. And just when you think you're mature enough to face everything in your life no matter how old you are, please rethink.


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***fault party’s reconciliation moves
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State deepened yesterday as an aggrieved aspirant in the recent governorship primaries, Abubakar Ibrahim, has gone to court seeking go be declared the candidate of the party.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the campaign spokesman of the Abubakar Ibrahim campaign organisation, Shaba Ibrahim, who was flanked by Ibrahim and the director general of the campaign, former acting governor, Clarence Olafemi.
The campaign spokesman who faulted the process that produce Engr Musa Wada as candidate of the party ahead of the election, faulted the authenticity of 600 votes recorded for the candidate.
Noting that the process and conclusion of the committee on the primaries the falls short of the expectation of rational minds, the spokesman questioned why 247 votes which the committee initially ignored was later announced as belonging to Senator Dino Melaye.
He said, “We as democratic and law abiding people have taken steps to seek redress within the confines of the law. We have approached the court to seek redress and it is because this matter is not otherwise subjudiced, we will not go into many details.
“But suffice to state that we have won and pray to the court that Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim be and ought to be declared as the candidate of the PDP based on the valid votes recorded at the primaries. We are not unaware of insinuations going round that we seek to void the entire process that is far from the truth. Our prayer is sole and that is we won the election and ought to be so declared. We seek no more and we ask for no less,” he said.
Noting the inconsistencies arising from the primaries, he said “I want us to recall that it was upon the assurances of the chairman of the committee no less a person than his excellence, governor of Adamawa State Umar Fintiri that all the materials and the ballot used in the election that was disrupted by gun men on the September 3 have been fully recovered did we consent to the counting and sorting of the ballot and process on September 4, 2019.
“We want to state that it was not until the process of counting had been concluded the chairman made a u-turn by announcinh to the people present including yours sincerely and the candidate that some 247 ballot papers were missing. It is instructive to note that the margin of lead between the two leading aspirants was and remains 38 votes. In our mind that is substantial.
“Next is the fact that the committee quite strangely accepted from Engr Musa Wada 600 ballot papers brought from the comfort of his home. They didn’t just accept but they also collated and added it to the already sorted 148 votes which now threw Engr Musa votes to 748.
“It is interesting to note that of all the aspirants and their agents, it was only Engr Musa wada agents or himself that was capable of that feat, that is, in securing his ballot notwithstanding the mayhem that was unleashed on defenseless and helpless people at the venue of the primaries on the September 3, 2019.
“That before the conclusion of the exercise we had laid claims to the missing 247 votes which the committee conveniently ignored, and quite interestingly, some days after the committee announced that those votes purportedly belong to Senator Dino Melaye. How they came about that finding beats our imagination and that is an issue.
“By simple arithmetic, you will agree with me that if you deduct 600 votes that was brought in from the confines and comfort of the candidates home from the 748 votes that are ascribed to him our candidate will be leading comfortably,” the campaign spokesman said.
Speaking on the reconciliation moves by PDP and Wada, the candidate Abubakar Ibrahim said “sadly, not only has the candidate not approached me, but even the appeal committee has not even replied my petition. This is 14 days after, certificate of return has been given to the candidate and for what reason, I still want to know. But none of them, the party or Engr Musa, has addressed it.”
Reacting to claims of defection among his members, he said “I beg to disagree on that but you must agree with me that everybody has his or her choices to make. Being a leader I have to sit down and listen to my own people and find out what is best for all of us. It is not just about me. We unianimoulsy agreed that we need to seek legal redress and that is what is happening right now,” he said.
Spokesman, said “As far as we are concerned the information that members of this group are defecting to the APC is incorrect.
“It is not impossible however, that the APC may be reaching out to our members because of the seeming division within the house. But that is not an indication that members are defecting, if we are defecting we won’t be here,” he said.
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domain: news


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SweetTree Discover Our Blog,
Tackling loneliness together
Loneliness is sadly something that affects many older people in the UK.
A study by Independent Age estimates that severe loneliness in England affects the lives of 700,000 men and 1.1m women over 50. And its prevalence across all age groups has even led to Britain being labelled ‘the loneliness capital of Europe’ by some researchers.
Statistics from Age UK reveal that 23% of people aged 75+ who live alone do not see or speak with someone every day, with the charity also reporting on the hugely negative impact that loneliness has on physical health, mental health, wellbeing and maintaining independence.
So what is being done to tackle loneliness?
Esther Rantzen MBE is one high profile campaigner who has been working hard to highlight the issue, as well as looking at ways to help individuals who are struggling with it. Following the death of her husband and her own experience of loneliness, Esther went on to found The Silver Line, a national helpline offering support to vulnerable older people, signposting projects and services, and aiming to break through the stigma of loneliness and isolation.
Many other charities and support groups are also pioneering companionship schemes on a local level that aim to help build networks, while encouraging everyone to look out for those people living near them who may be feeling isolated.
Another area that has been shown to help combat loneliness is arts and culture. Activity of this nature has been found to help improve health, wellbeing and quality of life for older people.
In a survey of people aged 65 and over by the Arts Council, almost 60% said arts and culture was important for making them feel healthy and for encouraging them to get out and about, 57% said that it was important for helping them to meet other people, and over half said it was important in helping them to feel less alone.
As a result, the Arts Council has launched a new funds that will focus on improving access to arts and culture for older people. The ‘Celebrating Age’ fund is designed to support organisations to become open, positive and welcoming places for older people. As well as taking arts and culture into places where older people will find it easier to engage.
Art Therapy at SweetTree
Providing companionship and supporting individuals to stay socially active, stimulated and to pursue the activities and hobbies they are passionate about is a key part of the care we provide at SweetTree. Whether that’s music, theatre, art, dance, literature, or crafts.
Our care team works closely with each client to find out what their personal preferences and interests are, before looking for opportunities to build on these individual passions. They will then provide the support that is needed to access and continue with them.
We are always looking for ways to enhance and expand our care services and that has also seen the introduction of an Arts Therapist to the team.
Art therapy is a form of expressive psychotherapy that uses the act of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It has been shown to have many benefits, including reducing feelings of isolation.

domain: health


New ATO investment strategy guidelines can benefit trustees amid uncertainty
The ATO’s new investment strategy guidelines have caused the need for increased compliance, but SMSFs can use this to take advantage of renewed opportunities to reshape investment strategies amid ongoing uncertainty, says a technical expert.
Last year, the ATO released its guidance for trustees around the formation of an investment strategy for SMSFs, confirming that specifying asset ranges of zero to 100 per cent within the investment strategy document is “not a valid strategy”.
SuperConcepts executive manager of SMSF technical support Nicholas Ali said one of the main themes in the guidelines highlighted that relying on a table of broad investment ranges in the fund’s investment strategy to simply satisfy compliance requirements will no longer cut it, but this could present an opportunity for a readjustment in strategy.
“While there is nothing in the legislation preventing a fund borrowing to invest largely in one asset class, the trustees must be able to provide the rationale for the decision, considering the sole purpose of superannuation being to provide retirement benefits to the members,” Mr Ali said in a blog.
“One could argue the ATO’s musings seem almost like a premonition, given the economic uncertainty caused by the ever-present pandemic. However, maybe the ATO’s guidance is as much optimism for the future as it is cautionary tale.
“Now I don’t profess to be an investment expert, but stock markets, at least, and some elements of the property market, seem to be proving reasonably buoyant.
“So maybe some thoughtful planning is worthwhile now. It may well be the investments are fit for purpose, which is likely to be the case for many, if not most, SMSFs.”
But Mr Ali said that for funds with older members or those approaching retirement, diversification is a way to preserve capital.
“Drawing down income streams from cash holdings and not having to liquidate distressed assets, giving them time to recover, is a logical course of action,” he said.
“For those funds that have younger members, such economic turmoil can actually be an opportunity.”
With a diversified mix of asset classes and enough cash holdings to take advantage of the market downturn to purchase undervalued investments, Mr Ali said this would allow a sufficient time horizon to build healthy superannuation balances.
“That old chestnut, ‘It’s time in the market, not timing the market’, rings true all the time,” he said.
“A lack of diversification, on the other hand, with funds largely invested in property via an LRBA, could lead to rent not being received due to the economic impact of the shutdown.
“Members potentially no longer have a job, which impacts on their ability to make contributions to the fund and have cash to pay back the loan.
“The fund itself may have asked for a deferral of loan repayments, which still need to be repaid. These issues impact on the nest egg of Australians and make those retirement goals that much harder to achieve.”
Tony Zhang is a journalist at Accountants Daily, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the accounting sector.
Since joining the Momentum Media team in 2020, Tony has written for a range of its publications including Lawyers Weekly, Adviser Innovation, ifa and SMSF Adviser. He has been full-time on Accountants Daily since September 2021.


Ford's friend criticizes FBI for not interviewing him
A friend of Christine Blasey Ford has criticized the FBI for not interviewing him as part of its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Keith Koegler said in a sworn statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday that Ford told him in 2016 that a federal court judge in Washington, D.C,. sexually assaulted her in high school. He said Ford identified the alleged assailant in an email as Kavanaugh.
Koegler said he is a "corroborating witness," which is a witness whose testimony supports or confirms testimony already given. It is not the same as an eyewitness.
Koegler said there are a minimum of seven people who knew about Ford's allegation of sexual assault against Kavanaugh before his nomination and were not interviewed by the FBI.
"The process by which the Senate Judiciary Committee has 'investigated' the facts related to the assault has been a shameless effort to protect Judge Kavanaugh," Koegler wrote in his sworn statement. "The fact that the FBI did not interview either Christine or Judge Kavanaugh, by itself, renders absurd any assertion that the investigation was 'thorough.'"
Koegler said in the letter that he had the copy of an email thread with Ford from June 29, 2018, in which she identified Kavanaugh as the man she previously said sexually assaulted her.
Ford testified last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee that she is "100 percent certain" Kavanaugh tried to sexually assault her in 1982. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.
After Ford and Kavanaugh's testimonies, President Trump called for an FBI investigation. The investigation concluded earlier this week, and senators reviewed the 46-page report on Thursday.
Ford's lawyers have slammed the investigation as "not a meaningful investigation in any sense of the word." Several Democrats have also criticized the investigation.
The Senate is expected to confirm Kavanaugh Saturday.
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A few threads ago some one mentioned a product that moves the position of the sway bar. It was this part http://www.trdparts4u.com/scripts/pr...dproduct=-8797
Has anybody had any experience with this.. I have 285/60/18 with X runner wheels and I rub on my sway bar. Do you think this will help so that I don't rub.
I'm also planning on doing the Fat bobs lift with bilstien hd's in the front and trd off-road shocks in the back.
Any help is appreciated


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President Hugo Chavez accepts the defeat of his constitutional reform proposals in good spirit but vows to pursue them afresh.Hugo Chavezat
THE narrow defeat of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavezs proposals for constitutional changes in a referendum is being viewed as a minor political setback for the President. Observers of the Latin American scene, however, have been heartened by the fact that the percentage of votes polled by the United States-backed Opposition did not increase. The high abstention by the traditional support base of Chavez was the key factor that led to the defeat of the proposals.
The government-sponsored referendum lost by less than a percentage point. In the 2006 presidential election, Chavez polled 7.3 million (63 per cent). This time, the turnout of Chavez supporters was only 4.3 million (56 per cent).
Since Chavez came to power in 1998, this is the 14th time Venezuelan people have gone to the polls. A combination of voter fatigue and the governments failure to convince even its supporters about the more radical aspects of the constitutional changes, contributed to Chavezs first ever electoral defeat. Podemos, a socialist democratic party, which normally supports the Chavez government, campaigned against the referendum.
The Opposition also found a new supporter in former Defence Minister Gen. Raul Baduel. Baduel, who was the countrys Defence Minister until last year, had played an important role in smashing the U.S.-backed coup against Chavez in 2002.
The Opposition, which controls 78 per cent of the television stations and 80 per cent of the print media, has been spewing vitriol against Chavez since the time he first assumed the presidency. The Catholic Church, unsurprisingly, was also solidly behind it. The American media have reported that the Bush administration has been funnelling huge amounts of money to the Venezuelan Opposition through the secretive Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), which is under the U.S. Agency for International Development. The funds are meant for democracy promotion.
Venezuelan officials revealed that they had intercepted communication between the U.S. embassy in Caracas and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the U.S. which showed that $8 million had been channelled to the Opposition through the offices of the OTI. Among the myths propagated by the Opposition was that the state would have the authority to take away babies and expropriate personal property, including cars and homes, if the constitutional changes were approved.
The Opposition-controlled media were full of stories about Venezuela slipping into Castro-communism.
Chavezs supporters say that they have only lost a battle, not the war. Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas said that the recent events were two steps forward and one backward. An opinion poll conducted by the Venezuelan newspaper Ultima Noticias a few weeks before the referendum, showed that 46 per cent of the respondents were of the view that reforms to the Constitution were necessary while 35 per cent were opposed to it; 72 per cent rated the Chavez presidency as either excellent or good; 25 per cent said that it was either bad or terrible. The poll is a reflection of the polarisation of Venezuelan society.
Chavez, while underlining his strong commitment to the democratic process, was quick to concede defeat. He appeared on television after 90 per cent of the votes were counted, with the Opposition leading 50.7 per cent to 49.3 per cent. Only 300,000 votes separated the winners from the losers. Two days before the Election Commission officially announced the results, Chavez congratulated the people of Venezuela and said that he recognised the decision the people have made. There was no unseemly political wrangling, such as the one witnessed in the U.S. presidential election of 2000. The voting process in Venezuela is similar to that in India. Electronic machines are used and the vote count is transparent.
Chavez emphasised that he was not giving up on the reform proposals. He said that he would not withdraw a single coma from the proposals and that the defeat was for now. This was for now line has become a legend in Latin America. Chavez had made this famous remark when he was imprisoned after his failed coup attempt in 1992. We know how to convert apparent defeats into moral victories, he said. He also announced that one of the amendments he had proposed in the referendum the plan to create a social fund for workers in the informal economy would be implemented as soon as possible.
In another speech made a few days after the referendum results were announced, Chavez said that if his radical proposals had been approved by a narrow margin, it would have been a pyrrhic victory for him. The Opposition, which had all the while been claiming that Chavez was out to rig the electoral process, would have cried foul. The Opposition had staged violent protests in Caracas before the referendum. It had issued threats about escalating the violence in case the Yes vote emerged triumphant.
However, the President cautioned his political opponents from going into premature celebrations of victory. After the results were announced, Opposition supporters had thronged the streets of Caracas chanting, This is the beginning of the end (for Chavez).
An unperturbed Chavez said that despite the electoral setback, he was planning to push ahead with another referendum for the revision of the Constitution. I think that the Opposition has nothing to celebrate. We didnt lose anything. Prepare yourself, because a new offensive will come, he said.
The President stressed that the narrow defeat in the referendum had not pushed him back by one millimetre, while acknowledging that he made a strategic mistake about the timing of the referendum. He insisted that the result would not veer him away from the socialist path. Many Venezuelans, he remarked, were still not politically mature enough to openly and wholeheartedly embrace a socialist project.Supporters of Chavez
The 69-point revision of the Constitution that Chavez had proposed was part of his strategy to build the new socialism for the 21st century. The main purpose of the reforms was the equitable distribution of wealth. Among the key proposals was the shortening of the work day and the establishment of a social security system for millions of Venezuelans languishing outside the formal economy. The state would have been allowed to use its resources to develop the neglected parts of the country.
A radical proposal was the idea of setting up a new level of government the popular power. This would have been the last tier of government below the municipalities. The peoples councils would have got more powers as decentralisation was a major plank in the raft of proposals that were put to vote. Chavez has always said that the road to 21st century socialism was through peaceful democratic means and not a revolution.
The reform proposals also envisaged speedier and more effective land reforms. The reforms would have enabled farmers cooperatives to claim the land immediately after the allotment by the state. At present, they can gain possession only after the legal challenges by the landlords are settled in court. The state would also have had the power to nationalise food production distribution in order to guarantee food security. On the economic front, the reforms would have brought the countrys central bank under the control of the government and weakened the hold of oligarchs on the commanding heights of the economy.
Critics of the reforms highlighted those aspects of the reforms described by the government as the New Geometry of Power. They alleged that it was a blatant attempt by the President to centralise power. One of the main purposes of the amendments was to give the President the authority to redraw the boundaries of municipalities for purposes of efficient administration. There have not been any reforms in the past 200 years. The Venezuelan capital Caracas itself has many municipalities, which has led to chaotic planning.
The Oppositions main charge was that the proposed changes in the Constitution would turn the President into a caudillo (a Spanish term meaning dictator) who would never give up power. The constitutional changes that the government wanted would have removed the two-term limit on the presidency. Venezuelan officials say that the only purpose of this amendment was to make the system even more democratic. They point out that in most democratic countries including Britain, Germany and India there are no fixed terms for Presidents or Prime Ministers.
But there seems to be a rethink on the issue owing to the questions raised by many Venezuelans across the political spectrum on the proposal to allow the President to run again after his term in office comes to an end in 2013. Some of Chavezs supporters are of the view that unlimited terms as President is not good for democracy as it would make it difficult for credible challengers to emerge. But Chavez has used the presidency to introduce more and more democratic reforms from the top. From Chavezs point of view, strengthening the presidency is akin to strengthening democracy and grassroots participation.
However, the prevailing mood seems to have had an impact. Chavez told a graduating class of military cadets in the second week of December that he would quit office when his term ended as he had lost the referendum. At the same time he stressed that he would re-introduce the proposals for constitutional changes. Indications are that in the next round, the newly formed United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will play a more active and united role. The party has brought most of the left-wing parties under one umbrella. It will now try to mobilise voters to petition for another referendum on constitutional changes. According to the countrys Constitution, at least 15 per cent of the voters have to sign for another referendum to be held.Former Defence Minister
Many Venezuelans sympathetic to the goals of the Bolivarian revolution felt that the repeated use of the word socialism in the reform proposals was a result of misplaced zeal. The right-wing Opposition derived propaganda mileage from this by misinterpreting it as an attempt to do away with political pluralism. Besides, many supporters of the President point out that the proposed constitutional amendments did not envisage any radical measures against the private sector. In fact, the private sector has grown after Chavez took over. The financial sector in Venezuela, fuelled by petrodollars, has registered the highest growth rate in the world.
The Venezuelan elite has reason to fear that if Chavezs democratic revolution is carried to its logical end, they will no longer be able to enjoy the lifestyle they are accustomed to. Washington would like nothing better than to destabilise Chavez, who is fast becoming the most popular statesman of the developing world.
As Washington has learned from experience, Chavez is a man to be reckoned with. In his characteristic no-holds-barred way of speaking, Chavez had warned the Empire (as he prefers to call the U.S.), that he would cut off oil supplies to it from Venezuela if it continued to interfere in Venezuelas internal affairs. Check because your fists could be wounded. You could have your fingers fractured, Chavez said while accusing the Bush administration of orchestrating the Oppositions attempts to scuttle the reform proposals.


RC Data logger
I have build a datalogger, which can measure voltage and current use for a motor. The board is so small that it can easily be put in a plane or a car.
The data can later be viewed on a small graphics LCD display, which I also have made.
The two main components on the probe is
- A hall effect sensor (Allegro ACS755PSF-100) which can measure up to 100A with a 500A overload protection.
- An AVR processor (ATMEGA-88), which among others have a build in 10bit A/D converter.
The probe can measure 0-100A, 7-25V and store 8000 samples with a selectable interval.
The graph shows both voltage and current. The actual units are in the top line. It is possible to zoom in/out and scroll through the samples.
Here is the schematic for the datalogger: datalogger_sch.pdf
Here is the schematic for the LCD control: lcd_control_sch.pdf


The rule of law is one of the most important core values of our society and the cornerstone of our success as a safe, fair and just community, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, said today (June 21).
Mr Yuen was officiating at the opening ceremony of Prosecution Week 2013, organised by the Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice. The theme for this year is "ROLE", which stands for "Rule of Law Enforced". Its purpose is to promote community awareness of the rule of law in the context of the criminal justice system as well as to emphasise the role citizens can play in furthering the interest of criminal justice.
"Each of us should strive to uphold rule of law at all times and with firm commitment. Disrespect for the law is disrespect for our values, our way of life, our community and, most importantly, each other," he said.
Mr Yuen pointed out that Article 63 of the Basic Law provides that the Department of Justice "shall control criminal prosecution, free from any interference". In performing this very important role, prosecutors of the Department of Justice always use their best endeavours to ensure that justice is done, and is seen to be done, at all times.
"Prosecutions are handled in accordance with the established policy guidelines, namely 'the Statement of the Prosecution Policy and Practice'. Only cases with a reasonable prospect of success of conviction are placed before the court.
"Further, cases will only be proceeded with by way of prosecution if it is in the public interest to do so. Prosecution decisions are always made and taken forward in a fair, independent and objective manner. The Department of Justice does not and will not allow any form of interference in the prosecution work." Mr Yuen said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Kevin P Zervos, SC, said at the ceremony that it is important for the prosecution service to actively seek to increase the public's knowledge and awareness of the criminal justice system and the role and work of the prosecution service. "Taking the mystique out of the law and enabling the public to better understand it will go a long way to help the public feel assured about the criminal justice process."
Mr Zervos also highlighted the concept that "the law is for the people". "It is there to look after all our interests and to provide for a fair and just society for all of us. It therefore needs the respect and commitment of all of us in order to work," he said.
Prosecution Week 2013 runs from today until June 28. During the week, activities including guided visits to the Prosecutions Division, the Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre and High Court, school talks on criminal law justice, as well as photo and poster competitions, will be organised to promote better understanding of the rule of law among members of the public.
Among others, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Paul Shieh, SC, and Vice-President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Hung, also attended today's event.
Ends/Friday, June 21, 2013


SAN FRANCISCO -- It's been less than a year since the Obama administration launched an aggressive crackdown on medical marijuana in California, and the government's actions have already taken a significant toll on the economy.
Since Department of Justice officials announced last October that they would be going after cannabis operations throughout the state, hundreds of dispensaries from San Diego to Yuba County have been forced to shut down. Thousands of employees at said businesses have lost their jobs as a result, and California is losing out on much-needed sales tax revenue.
"The average dispensary employs half a dozen to ten people and has gross revenues on the order of $500,000 to $1 million per year," Dale Gieringer, director of the California chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told The Huffington Post. "Therefore we are talking about thousands of legal jobs and tens of millions in tax revenues lost."
Though the drug remains illegal under federal law, California became the first state to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes when voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996. Recent figures released by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a national coalition dedicated to promoting legal access to the plant, revealed that medical marijuana sales generate upwards of $100 million in annual tax revenues for the state.
California's coffers could certainly benefit from that money. State leaders are struggling to close a foreboding $16 billion budget deficit. Governor Jerry Brown has repeatedly warned that if voters fail to pass his plan to temporarily increase taxes in November, he will be forced to implement severe cuts to schools and public safety services.
But federal officials have plunged ahead with their war on weed, sending threatening letters to dispensaries across the state warning that their storefronts operate too close to parks and schools. Oakland's Harborside Health Center, known as the "nation's largest pot shop," has been targeted for closure simply because it's too big.
Harborside brings in some $20 million each year and employs more than 100 workers. Since Oakland imposes a five percent business tax on cannabis, its shuttering would not only cost the city dozens of jobs, but more than $1 million in potential revenues.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has been seeking information about every dispensary currently open in San Francisco. The city has lost nearly half of its pot shops in the past year -- nine have been forced to close since October. This summer, two dispensaries known for their close-knit communities of patients, The Vapor Room and HopeNet, shut down.
During his time on the campaign trail and shortly after taking office, President Obama and other high-level members of his administration repeatedly stated that they would not go after marijuana operations in states that had legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes. The reasons behind the government's about-face largely remain unclear.
"I can't speak for the Obama administration; I can't speculate," said ASA spokesman Kris Hermes. "The federal government is not giving up and it's absolutely puzzling why they would put so many thousands of patients into harm's way."
Hermes pointed out that many patients have been forced to purchase marijuana using illegal means or simply go without, a plight highlighted in a recent video featuring a variety of regular Harborside customers. "People should be able to benefit from a medicine that is legal under their own state's law," he added.
Obama broke his relative silence on the issue in interview with Rolling Stone in April. "What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," the president said. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana."
Hermes disagrees that the federal government has only been targeting a specific type of business. "It's an indiscriminate attack. They arent going after dispensaries that are breaking state law; they're investigating all of them," he explained. "They've been pretty effective at intimidating the entire medical marijuana community. Much more so than Bush was during his time in office."
HuffPost Live will be taking a comprehensive look at America’s failed war on drugs August 28th and September 4th from 12-4 pm ET and 6-10 pm ET. Click here to check it out -- and join the conversation.


A city councillor is hailing an important win for the residents of the Earls Park area of Podsmead after new bollards were installed – allowing access for waste and recycling crews.
The bollards have been fitted between Manu Marble Way and Millstone Way which means residents no longer having to drag their waste bins and recycling boxes to the end of the street for collection.
It follows discussions between county council Highways, site developer Matthew Homes and Councillor Sebastian Field, Liberal Democrat councillor for Podsmead, over how to improve recycling and refuse collection for residents.
Previously, because of the narrow turning circle, council refuse vehicles could not access Millstone Way all the way to the top – meaning residents could not leave their bins outside their homes.
The new homes being constructed here are nearly complete, so this is good news for these properties too.
The bollards will be on a key access for recycling crews and emergency services, and will allow access from Manu Marble Way to Millstone Way and for vehicles to reach all properties.
Matthew Homes are just awaiting a site visit from the city council to assess what their needs are. In the meantime, Matthew Homes will continue to collect refuse.
Councillor Field said: “I am delighted that after much discussion this is finally happening. I am pressing the council to get the site visit done asap so that we can get on with the new system.
“In the meantime, residents are advised still to take their refuse to the end of the road, but hopefully this will not be for very much longer.
“I am working very hard to resolve issues like this for all the residents of Podsmead. Please contact me if you have any problems with recycling or refuse.”


text:
Rhododendron Near Black Rock Hill is a colorful look at some mountain flowers. Most of my mountain work comes from sights my husband Clyde takes me to.
He is from Ferrum, VA and has been studying the mountains of Southwest Virginia since he was a child. The painting is in a silver colored metal frame.
Rhododendron Near Black Rock Hill
Rhododentron near Black Rock Hill is a 40" x 30" impasto oil painting on hardboard in a silver colored metal frame.
The painting can easily be taken out of the frame if professional framing is desired.

domain: artistic


text:
Tsar Nicolas II -||- Rasputin -||- Discontent and the lure of Communism -||- World War I -||- Bolshevik Revolution
~~~-Russian Revolution & Imperial Russia -~~~
The Bolshevik Revolution
No one expected the Bolsheviks to actually win any power. They were a tiny party, not even the 'majority' as the word 'Bolshevik' meant.
For Lenin, democracy was Bolshevik Party in charge. It was a kind of oligarchy, where everything was controlled by a select few.
Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me explain a little about the Constituent Government that took over. It was run by a combination of the Petrograd Soviet and the Provintional Government. Internal fighting prevented the group from doing a good job running the country, and even worse, they promised the allies continued Russian support in the war. The people turned to Lenin, as he promised peace to the Russians. Peace- sounded good- but it did not come. Bolshevik power would be followed by a Civil War. After that would be the unhappy years of Stalin.
When Lenin first proposed his plans for a Revolution, he was met with much opposition. He was returned to Russia with the help of the Germans, who were eager to weaken Russia. Therefore, they supported whatever conflicts Lenin might cause. His arrival in the Finland Station of Petrograd is made famous by thousands of paintings but what really happened? There are reports that the 'crowd' was paid or forced to be there, but there was probably more than that. A description of Lenin by John Reed can perhaps help with the picture: "...Dressed in shabby clothes, his trousers much too long for him. Unimpressive, to be the idol of a mob, loved and revered as perhaps few leaders in history have been. A strange popular leader- a leader purely by virtue of intellect; colorless, humorless, uncompromising and detached, without picturesque idiosyncracies- but with the power of explaining profound ideas in simple tersm, of analyzing a concrete situation. And combined with shrewdness, the greatest intellectual audacity."
So Lenin returned to Russia and encouraged his party to take action with the words "We must not wait! We may lose everything!" So a compromise was met and plans went under way. The actual revolution itself was overseen by the Menshevik turned Bolshevik- Leon Trotsky. The Red Guards held the former government members at gunpoint, and so they left. When Lenin walked the city, it was so calm, he did not even realize his party had it. Only afterwards when he interrogated his colleagues that he found the truth.
Events followed. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk ended the war with the Germans, but giving up sizable parts of the Ukraine in the process. Many objected to the terms but the Russians had no choice, there was hardly a military left.
The Bolsheviks were in power. However, they did not really have power until they won the Civil War against the 'White Army'.
The White Army was a last attempt by old Cossacks and non-Communists for power. They had allied help and supposidely, more experience. But the thing was, the White Army was not truly united. The only thing that they could agree on was that they hated the Bolsheviks. They fought amongst themselves and terrorized civilians. They ended up losing the war because they failed to convince the people of Russia that they (the Whites) were a better option than the Bolsheviks.
To fund his party's war, Lenin introduced War Communism, where all the people had to contribute food and other things to the soldiers. People went back to the dark ages during this time, being forced to barter to survive. After the war was over, Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP). It was a 'step back to capitalism' as it allowed farmers to sell their crop. It was nicknamed the 'New Exploitation of the Proletariat'. Yet it was needed for rebuilding the country. Lenin was vague about how long NEP should last, and in fact, died before he could specify.

domain: history


text:
I just returned from a family ski vacation in Park City, Utah. We spent four days skiing and relaxing, it was so great. It was so easy for me to stay raw because we rented a condo with a full kitchen. I was able to stock up on fruits, vegetables and greens. This made me very happy!
This was my first time skiing so I wasn’t sure if my raw foods would keep me full all morning until lunch. I do exercise everyday, but I usually go home and eat soon after. I don’t eat a huge breakfast, I tend to graze in the mornings and then eat a big lunch. I was worried I’d be stuck on a mountain hungry. Silly I know, but once a foodie always a foodie I guess. I decided to eat a lot greens, stay hydrated and see what happens.
For breakfast I had plenty of water, then a large plate of spinach with tomatoes and about four clementines. I was a very nice way to start my day. I took fruit with me just in case and ate an apple right before I went to my lesson.
I had nothing to worry about, my salad and fruit gave me so much energy I felt satisfied all morning until lunch. The key is that I felt satisfied, not too full. Before I started my raw diet I was a firm believer in high protein meals before exercise. I would usually fill up on eggs, cheese and a side of toast. As expected this meal would make me feel really full. The problem was a few hours later my blood sugar would drop and I would feel so hungry that if I didn’t eat lunch right away I’d be very cranky. This has not happened to me since switching to raw foods. Even when I’m hungry I never get cranky, I always feel stable.
For lunch my husband and I headed to the lodge. I went to the awesome salad bar for some fresh veggies.
My breakfast was so successful that I ate the same thing every morning. When I’m home I do rotate my greens, but it was just easier for me to stick with spinach since I bought such a large quantity. I knew I’d be back to eating a wider variety of greens when I got home.
This trip was a great experience for me. It was nice to see that I had the stamina to do a strenuous sport like skiing while eating a high raw diet. Your foods should fuel your body and energize it, not leave it feeling sluggish. Living foods make my body feel more alive.

domain: food


text:
Hello, hello hello. How is your journey going? I'm trying something new: making a post from a new device. Please overlook any weirdness while I learn this new skill. :) So how is your journey going? Let me tell you a story about mine. I've posted a picture of a walking path I've been using lately. Beautiful, hey? It's truly incredible to see, so green and lush, vivid intricate beauty in every … [Read more...]
And Then What Happened?
Hi hi hi -- :mrgreen: :-D :-) :lol: Have you ever played the never-ending story game? This is a fun and creative writing game. I will start the first introduction to the story, and if you will, you all please add the next bit, and then the next bit, and then the next bit. You can add your part of the story in the comments section at the bottom of this page. What do YOU think … [Read more...]


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MSC Cruises Extends Temporary Pause Of US-Sailings Through To And Including February 28, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (December 3, 2020) – MSC Cruises announced today a further extension of the temporary pause of its US-based sailings through to and including February 28, 2021.
The decision will affect the schedules of three ships based in Florida: MSC Seaside in Port Canaveral and MSC Meraviglia and MSC Armonia both in PortMiami.
Guests booked and paid in full through MSC Cruises USA or affiliated US-based travel advisors on the impacted sailings will be offered a 125 percent future cruise credit (FCC) of the original cruise fare where they have the opportunity to transfer the full amount paid for their cancelled cruise to a future cruise of their choice – on any ship, and any itinerary – through April 30, 2022, or can request a refund.
The 125% FCC provides guests with opportunities to upgrade their stateroom category and add pre-purchases such as specialty dining, beverage packages, Wi-Fi, or spa treatments to their booking.
For additional details, guests should contact their travel advisor or MSC Cruises directly.
See more news from MSC Cruises.
To see want an MSC Cruise is really like, check out our MSC Cruise vlogs
Looking for the latest cruise news?
We constantly scour the press release sites of all major cruise brands including: AIDA, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Costa, Cunard, Disney Cruises, Holland America Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, UnCruise Adventures, Virgin Voyages, Windstar, and more.
We make it easy for you to find out what your favorite cruise line is up to. Just click the Cruise News link at the top of the page for the latest news on all lines, or use the links above to find news about the cruise line of your choice.


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Chairman: Jay England, President/President, Decatur County Lender, DecaturvilleChairman-elect: Jim Robinson, President/President, Lifestyle Financial & Believe, ColumbiaFirst Vice-chairman: Adam Robertson, President, Commercial Financial, HarrogateSecond Vice-chairman and you will Assistant/Treasurer: David Prince, Chief executive officer, INSOUTH Financial, Brownsville
Jason Holliman, Chairman, Customers National Bank, SeviervillePieter van Vuuren, President/Chief executive officer, The initial National Bank from Center Tennessee, McMinnvilleGreg Crihfield, President/Chief executive officer, The fresh new Lauderdale State Lender, HallsMark Kline, President/President, The initial National Bank from Oneida, OneidaAndy Collins, Section Chairman, Head Borrowing from the bank Administrator, Safety Bank & Trust Business, ParisMike Rouse, Head Borrowing from the bank Officer, Millennium Bank, Chattanooga Bryant Johnson, President/Chief executive officer, Relationship Bank, JamestownAndrea Browning, President/Ceo, Centennial Bank, Trezevant
Previous Chairmen – Ex-Officio Directors
Matt Daniels, President/Chief executive officer, Top Bank, CamdenPhilip Calahan, President/Ceo, Peoples Bank & Trust Providers, ManchesterTerry Eastwood, President/President, First Growers and you may Commercial Lender, Pikeville
The new Southeastern Colleges regarding Credit
Chairman: Chuck Sisson (West), Town President, Centennial Bank, McKenzieVice Chairman: Tim Shanks (West) – Neighborhood President, Industrial Financial & Faith, Partnership Town
Eastern Tennessee Trustees:Brent Baseball (2020) – Master Credit Officer, FirstBank, KnoxvilleWes Farragut (2021) – SVP/Industrial Credit, People National Financial, SeviervilleTed Sphere (2022) – SVP/Markets Professional, Powell Valley Federal Bank, Kingsport
West Tennessee Trustees:Lee McCullom (2020) – ) – SVP, The latest Hardin Condition Lender, SavannahEd Gentry (2021) – EVP/Chief Credit Manager, Bank3, MemphisAlesha Brown, VP/Society Executive/Financing Administrator, INSOUTH Financial, Jackson
Middle Tennessee Trustees:Lyman Cox (2020) – EVP/Elder Financial, Earliest Federal Bank off Pulaski, PulaskiJohn Foster (2020) – SVP/Credit, Wilson Bank and Trust, LebanonBrian Shaw, Williamson Condition Urban area Exec, Tennessee Bank & Faith, Franklin
Earlier in the day Chairmen:Jeff Lewis, Town President, FirstBank, LexingtonLaura Blackburn, SVP/Master Credit Manager, Volunteer State Lender, PortlandRichard Shaffer, EVP/Commercial Features Manager, Basic Opinions, Chattanooga
Bricks and Mortar: OCC allows Earliest National Bank Tx to start 2 twigs
- Copywriter Marla Viray
- Motif Financial
S&P Around the world Field Intelligence series upwards well-known part spaces and you will closings over the past day. So it link excludes specific motions from the banks with well over installment loan in Lake City $5 billion into the assets and you will specific borrowing unions.
Philadelphia-based Republic First Financial aims to open up a part in the 525 Route 73 N. in the Marlton, N.J., depending on the Pennsylvania Department out of Financial and you may Securities’ breakdown of items.
York Way of life Bank within the Pennsylvania seeks to obtain the state financial regulator’s recognition to open up a branch from the one hundred-102 Letter. George St. when you look at the York.
Warsaw, Letter.Y.-dependent 5 star Lender tries to start a department in the 6255 Sheridan Drive in Amherst, N.Y., depending on the Ny State department out-of Monetary Services’ each week banking bulletin.
Financial out of Oakfield into the Wisconsin, an effective product out of Oakfield Bancorp Inc., tries to get the approval of Federal Set aside Financial out-of Chicago to own a branch at 171 S. Leader Highway inside Happy du Lac, Wis., according to a national Put aside launch.
Sparta, Mich.-based ChoiceOne Financial, a good unit out of ChoiceOne Monetary Functions Inc., used to the il Fed to own a branch from the 590 Age. Section for the Rockford, Mich.
Kalamazoo-founded Very first National Lender out-of Michigan, a good equipment away from First National Bancorp Inc., protected any office of one’s Comptroller of the Currency’s acceptance to help you discover a part from the step 1 W. eighth St. inside the Holland, The state of michigan.
Illinois-established Basic National Financial away from Waterloo, an excellent unit off Earliest Waterloo Bancshares Inc., received the brand new acceptance of your OCC to start a branch at the 107 N. Next St. in Dupo, Sick.
Middletown, R.I.-built BankNewport shielded the fresh new recognition of the Federal Set-aside Bank off Boston to open up one or two twigs inside the Providence, R.I. – in the 55 Dorrance St. and at 5 S. Angell St.
Eastern Weymouth, Mass.-established Equitable Bank applied towards the Boston Fed to possess a department from the 10 Patriot Parkway inside the Southern Weymouth, Bulk.

domain: economics


In 2006 I modified a Nikon MC-30 to accept input from an external source.This is an older post that I carried over from the old website.
I wanted to experiment with a sound trigger to take photographs of a balloon bursting. Someone borrowed me a homemade sound trigger, but the trigger was wired to an earphone jack type connector, which is not compatible with the round Nikon 9-pin plug. I could have tried to source a conversion cable to the Nikon 9-pin connector, but I had a MC-30 remote trigger and some time at hand.
The casing opened quite easily, but there is a nasty spring inside that I had to put carefully in position again when I re-assembled the parts. I drilled a hole in the side of the casing and I placed a short cable through the hole to an earphone jack socket. Thereafter, I could just plug the trigger into the earphone jack, and the MC30 provided the link to the camera. The MC-30 still functions as before.
The MC-30 white, violet and yellow wires trigger the camera. When the white and yellow wires are shorted the camera metering and focusing activate. When the white, violet and yellow wires are all shorted together the shutter is released. The yellow wire is ground, the white is SW1 (metering/AF) and the violet is SW2 (shutter release).
As they say on TV: “DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME” – I had professional help and we spent quite some time testing first, to ensure we do not blow the camera’s electronics. Someone at Nikon was kind enough to check my MC-30 afterwards.
Here is a link to a similar project: http://www.whatartist.com/blog/2011/04/nikon-mc-30-shutter-release-hacked-for-remote-trigger-pocket-wizard/
I took these photos at that time. Since then, I shortened the cable to the earphone jack. It is perhaps even better to mount the earphone jack directly on the MC-30 casing. I have used this successfully for sound trigger photography, and with an infra-red beam for splash photography.
My (un)willing daughter in 2006 photographed using the sound trigger to get the balloon as it bursts. The microphone is visible in the image.


Associated Industries of Vermont convened its 89th annual meeting Oct. 6 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier. Vermont is currently seeing a convergence of several very significant energy policies that pose imminent challenges for the state and carry serious implications for Vermont's ratepayers.
The legislature, public service board, public service department, and utilities will make critical decisions in the coming months. In addition to looming questions regarding the fate of Vermont Yankee, decisions on future contracts with Hydro Quebec are also coming due placing two-thirds of Vermont's energy supply in question in the near future.
At the same time, the debate continues between market forces versus state mandates regarding renewable energy development. On top of this, regional, national, and international plans are being developed for transmission strategies and projects that will not only impact the sources and generation types in Vermont's own portfolio, but that of the region-all with cost and construction implications not entirely under Vermont's control.
AIV's annual meeting provided presentations from key players in these unfolding events, a panel discussion with some of Vermont's top decision makers and stakeholders, and a luncheon address by Gov. Jim Douglas.
Founded in 1920, AIV is Vermont's oldest manufacturing and business lobbying group.


Paramedics frantically tried to save the life of rapper Coolio for 45 minutes after he was found unresponsive in the bathroom of an LA home on September 28.
TMZ reports that when medics arrived at the home of a friend the rapper had been visiting, they saw no signs of life but administered CPR for three-quarters of an hour before making the decision to stop.
Coolio’s friend and manager Jarez Posey later confirmed the 59-year-old had died.
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WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Coolio’s greatest hit
The musician, who was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr, had gone to the bathroom at the friend’s home and “when he didn’t come out after a while” he was discovered on the floor, TMZ reported.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paramedics sent to the house reportedly believe his suffered cardiac arrest.
No drugs or paraphernalia were found in the bathroom.
Posey told TMZ the rapper had travelled from Las Vegas to LA to sort something regarding his passport.
He had been due to perform in Germany the following weekend.
As fans flocked online to post tribute messages, watch Coolio videos and share memories of listening to his music, a kind and thoughtful side of the Grammy Award-winning artist, famous for his tough lyrics about life on the streets, came to light.
Beneath an interview with the rapper posted to YouTube, a fan recalled a special memory of a kind deed Coolio performed for a stranger after a tragic event.
“So much respect for this man!” the fan wrote.
“My schoolfriend was murdered back in ‘97 and Coolio sent flowers to his funeral in London because had heard he was a fan.”
“That’s dope!”, another fan responded.
“That is pretty cool, sorry about your friend,” wrote another.
“Gangsta’s Paradise will never get old. Even 100 yrs from now, man. Praise this dude for that classic,” added another.
Coolio grew up in Compton, California, according to a bio on his official website.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in 1994, he recalled falling into the drug scene but getting himself out by pursuing a career as a firefighter.
“I wasn’t looking for a career, I was looking for a way to clean up – a way to escape the drug thing,” he told the publication.
“It was going to kill me and I knew I had to stop.
“In firefighting training was discipline I needed. We ran every day.
“I wasn’t drinking or smoking or doing the stuff I usually did.”
His rap career began in the 1980s and he gained fame in the underground scene.
Fantastic Voyage was the first song that really put him on the map.
But it was Gangsta’s Paradise, from the soundtrack to the film Dangerous Minds, that grew his star power to gigantic proportions.
He won a Grammy in 1996 for the song.
In the age of streaming, it has continued to live on.
In July 2022, the song reached a milestone one billion views on YouTube.
“It’s one of those kinds of songs that transcends generations,” he said in a recent interview.
“I didn’t use any trendy words ... I think it made it timeless.”
After news of his death broke, Hollywood star Michelle Pfeiffer said she was “heartbroken”.
Coolio’s song Gangsta’s Paradise was used in Pfeiffer’s 1995 movie Dangerous Minds.
“Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist Coolio,” the actress wrote on Instagram.
“A life cut entirely too short.
“As some of you may know, I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995.
“He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack - which I think was the reason our film saw so much success.
“I remember him being nothing but gracious.
“30 years later, I still get chills when I hear the song.”
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text: No trip to Croatia is complete without a visit to the County of Zadarska. Agoda.com offers big savings on 13179 hotels in top locations. Home to 76 cities, you will never run out of things to do and places to see in this wonderful and exciting County. The County receives many visitors due to its unique and interesting features. More travelers are choosing Agoda.com to book accommodation in Zadarska, with over 170,000 hotels worldwide.

domain: geography


text:
Explore 15+ million radio shows, DJ mixes and podcasts made by passionate creators.
08 May 2021
This upload features tracks from Francis Monkman, Midas Touch and more.
Resident DJ Claude Gagalka with his second set. Beside our new baby SELECTED SOUNDS he is also co-organizer of the very own psychedelic club night cal...


text: Johnny McCarthy is a terrific accordion player from Ennis, Co. Clare, whose style of playing has all the subtlety associated with the music of that region--and not usually with the accordion. Somehow, McCarthy, with his sliding into the notes and his relaxed tempo (which incidentally makes this a great CD to learn from), makes it sound like we're listening to Bobby Casey or Paddy Canny on the fiddle. McCarthy is also a former hurling star, and this CD was an opportunity for him to combine his passion for both music and sport, which makes for beautiful music as well as very entertaining record notes. Alph Duggan, previously heard behind Tommy Peoples on "The Quiet Glen," accompanies expertly, while McCarthy's son Conor, himself an impressive player (see above), and his wife Anne Marie McCormack (fiddle), as well as Mike Fitzgerald (fiddle) make guest appearances. This "run" is a winner.


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The KONG Cozie cat toys are constructed of ultra-soft plush fabric that cats love to tackle and cuddle.Our Price: $7.49. Bead-n-tease Cat Teaser.It has a unique tail shape and texture that is ideal for back leg.
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Purchase cat toys online from trusted brands in Dubai. Kong Cat Toy Catnip Kickeroo Mouse. AED: 31.50. View Details.Cats Need to Play.The KONG Cat Cozie is constructed of ultra-soft plush fabric that cats love to tackle and cuddle.Kong Kong Kitten Kickeroo Cat Toy - Assorted Toys Catnip Assorted colors - let us choose one for you.The KONG Kitten Kickeroo is specifically designed for energetic you kittns who are discovering the world of cat toys.This toy utilizes top quality, natural North American catnip.Watch your cat attack, wrestle and snuggle with its KONG Kitten Kickeroo.

domain: pet


text:
The chronic issues besetting the labor sector will now be addressed effectively with the creation of the Inter-Agency Committee, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma announced Sunday.
Laguesma said they expect a concerted effort by the concerned agencies to remedy the concerns and issues raised by various labor groups regarding the freedom of association within the sector.
“Ang layunin po nito ay upang gawan ng mga hakbangin at solusyunan ‘yun pong mga complaints na nakasaad doon po sa report ng ILO (International Labor Organization) High-Level Tripartite Mission,” Laguesma said in a media interview during the 121st Labor Day celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Sunday.
“At inaasahan po namin na ito po ang simula nun pong mga concerted na aksyon, hakbangin ng atin pong pamahalaan na matugunan ‘yung mga long-standing issues na may kinalaman po sa freedom of association,” the Labor chief added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has earlier approved Executive Order No. 23, creating the inter-agency committee aimed at strengthening the coordination and speedy resolution of labor cases in the country.
The EO, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 30, 2023, also reinforces and protects and freedom of association and right to organize of workers.
The EO noted the concerns raised by various groups on the Philippines’ implementation of ILO Convention No. 87, “in view of reported incidents of acts of violence, extra-judicial killings, harassment, suppression of trade union rights and red-tagging allegedly perpetrated by State agents, targeting in particular, certain trade unions and workers’ organizations.”
The newly created Inter-Agency Committee will be headed by the Executive Secretary and co-chaired by the Secretary of Labor.
On the other hand, Laguesma announced the government, through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, is facilitating the review of wage increase petitions by various labor groups and associations.
“At ang proseso po ay gumugulong, umiikot po ‘yan ngayon at umuusad ang atin po – at pinapabilis ng atin pong mga wage boards ‘yung kanilang deliberations ng sa ganun ‘yun pong mga nakahain na petition ay matugunan,” Laguesma said.
“Subalit gusto ko lamang bigyan ng diin, ang pwede pong gawin ng Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board ay may kinalaman sa adjustment ng minimum wage na prevailing. Hindi po kasama sa mandato ng atin pong iba-ibang wage boards ‘yung may kinalaman sa across-the-board,” he added. (PND)


text:
Handmade in Africa.
The Multicolor Beads Earrings are beautifully handcrafted in Africa.
The earrings are made from a combination of black and white beads in a lovely pattern that is sure to catch the eye.
Not enough items available. Only [max] left.Browse WishlistRemove Wishlist
Multicolor Rice Beads Earrings

domain: design


text:
On Saturday the 2nd, the Cambridge Farmers’ Market is kicking off Father’s Day early. So dads, come to the market and let your family treat you to a fresh market breakfast and a face paint (matching your little daughter's). Listen to live music and challenge your loved ones to a Giant Games match! They might even let you win. Send the kids off to the crafts table or on the treasure hunt and have them share the booty with you. Celebrate Father's Day early with the Cambridge Farmers Market, Saturday the 2nd at Victoria Square, 8:00-12:00.
1 large bunch carrots 2 tbsp honey 1 shoulder roast 1-2 heads broccoli 1/4 cup golden raisins 2 tbsp tahini 2 tsp ground sumac 2 star anise 1+1 small garlic clove 1 tbsp sesame oil 3+1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter Salt and pepper
Look for bold ingredients at the market.
For the meat, mix 1 tbsp olive oil with 1 minced garlic clove and salt and pepper and brush shoulder roast with the mixture. Roast in oven for 20 min at 220º C, turn oven down to 160º C and slow roast for about 4 hours.
For the dressing, whisk together the tahini, 1 tbsp cold water, 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 minced garlic clove and drizzle in 1 tbsp olive oil until runny. Season with salt and pepper.
For the broccoli, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan and separate broccoli into florets. Cook until almost tender. Add the raisins and 1 tbsp water and cook for 2 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
For the carrots, quarter carrots lengthwise and fry in 1 tbsp olive oil with star anise at medium heat for about 8 minutes. Add butter and melted honey and toss at low heat for another 2 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
Serve everything together, with dressing drizzled over broccoli.


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Army plans to modernize AKO-ES with new IDIQ
- By Matthew Weigelt
- Oct 29, 2014
The Army anticipates awarding a four-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for technical support services as well as reuse and redesign of existing systems in the Army Knowledge Online–Enterprise System (AKO-ES).
Army officials released a draft performance work statement (PWS) Oct. 29, after issuing an initial request for information in May.
The services will include a broad range of technical services to manage day-to-day operations and maintenance (O&M). The systems integrator will provide the foundation for responding to changes to Army and Defense Department missions for enterprise capabilities, developing and implementing new technologies in the enterprise service space.
In the initial RFI notice, Army officials wrote that their PWS was a change in focus. Previous actions have focused exclusively on AKO-ES O&M and sustainment activities. Officials have expanded the support services to more IT initiatives, such as O&M, modernization, and reuse and redesign of existing systems and applications. More specifically, the Army wants to redevelop and repurpose its existing systems and the systems connected to core data centers. The Army is considering closing down applications, systems and facilities.
The Enterprise Content Collaboration and Messaging (EC2M) AKO-ES provides web-based enterprise information services to approximately 2 million customers. They are primarily from Army, but it includes joint and DOD customers.
The Army released the draft PWS Oct. 29. Responses are due by Nov. 12.
Matthew Weigelt is a freelance journalist who writes about acquisition and procurement.