World Cup 2022: A Few Stats to Know November 18, 2022
One of the few remaining global events that much of the world tunes into, the FIFA World Cup in Qatar starts this weekend. Here are a few stats to know from various pieces of research that have been released in the lead-up to the event.
[Before starting, a quick note of acknowledgement of the many controversies about this year’s event regarding its location and human rights abuses. You can read more about those here.]
45% of American Sports Fans Are Interested in Watching
Almost half (45%) of “monthly sports viewers” in the US are either very or somewhat interested in the World Cup, according to a survey from Altman Solon of 17,000 respondents across 17 countries. Yet, this is the joint-lowest figure of the 17 countries, with only Australia matching that low level of interest. (However 28% of US respondents said they are “very interested,” compared to just 19% of Australian respondents.)
The countries with the most rabid World Cup fan bases are Brazil and Argentina, with 94% of sports viewers in each saying they are interested in watching the event. That includes more than three-quarters (79% and 76%, respectively) in each country who are very interested.
Soccer Fans Engage in 15% More Brand Conversations Each Week Than the Average
Sponsoring brands might be encouraged to hear that soccer fans engage in more word-of-mouth than average. According to data from Engagement Labs, they engage in 90 offline brand conversations each week, compared to 78 for the average person. Compared to the average, they’re 48% more likely to talk about Travel Services brands, 41% more likely to have offline conversations about Children’s Products brands, and 29% more likely to discuss Personal Care/Beauty brands.
Some of the top-indexing brands discussed by soccer fans include the MLS, Trivago, Nivea, Audi, and Adidas.
Read the full MarketingCharts article, here.
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There is new hope on the horizon for men with end-stage prostate cancer who have exhausted all their treatment options.
Australian researchers have shown a highly targeted form of nuclear medicine can reduce their pain, improve their quality of life and in some cases, significantly extend their survival.
The researchers conducted a proof-of-concept study that was published in the journal Lancet Oncology on Wednesday.
"In some men, the results are striking," says Professor Michael Hofman, who led the study at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
The therapy, called LuPSMA, was developed in Germany where it is used on a compassionate basis.
Although a small number of retrospective case reports or series have previously been published, the Australian study is the first formal assessment of the therapy.
This therapy has two stages. First it locates the cancer spread throughout the body. Then it loads up a molecule with a radioactive payload and sends it into the cancer cells.
The payload is Lutetium 177 and it is loaded into a molecule known as PSMA-617, which opens the door to the cancer cell so it can be destroyed.
Because of the potential of this treatment, the biotech community is now describing PSMA-617 as a "billion-dollar molecule".
After the NASDAQ-listed US biotech Endocyte purchased the worldwide rights to this molecule late last year, its share price rocketed from $US1.40. This week it rose over US$11.00 reflecting the global interest in this new approach to treating prostate cancer.
It paid a king's ransom to the German biotech ABX in a complex deal involving upfront cash, shares, warrants and should it prove successful, milestone payments and royalties.
Endocyte is now planning its own trial in the US and Europe. If successful, it predicts (and hopes) the molecule could have a worldwide market greater than $US1 billion ($1.3 billion) a year.
Australia is planning more trials too.
The one just published involved 30 men for whom no further help was available. To enter the study, they had to have a life expectancy greater than 12 weeks.
While the treatment is not curative, the average survival of all the trial participants was 13 months. This might not seem much but as an average it includes those who passed on quickly and those who are still with us, more than two-and-a-half years after starting the study.
Hofman, a nuclear medicine physician-scientist, says the study aimed to show whether this treatment could halve the level of PSA, prostate specific antigen, which is the blood marker for prostate cancer.
When PSA is reduced in men with advanced prostate disease, it indicates a reduction in cancer activity.
In the study, PSA was halved in almost 60 per cent of the men. In 20 per cent the response was exceptional with their PSA falling by more than 80 per cent. Whole body scans confirmed these dramatic changes.
At one extreme, a man had no reduction in his PSA at all. At the other, a man's PSA became undetectable and 18 months later, he still has no symptoms and clear scans.
Most men who respond report feeling feel better quite quickly. Overall, there was a 37 per cent reduction in pain with scans showing tumours shrinking in 82 per cent of men.
"Some men reported the therapy gave them rapid relief from otherwise severe bone pain and that they had more energy for daily tasks and to enjoy family time," says Hofman.
During the first stage of treatment men have a PSMA-PET scan to identify and locate their cancer.
Prostate cancer expresses a unique substance on the surface of each cancer cell. It is called prostate specific membrane antigen or PSMA.
For this stage, radioactive substances are labelled to PSMA and injected into a vein.
The substances, gallium-68 or flourine-18, are attracted to and bind strongly to the cancer cells.
They have no killing power but radiate out of the body where they can be detected by the PET scanner.
This creates three-dimensional whole-body pictures that can detect prostate cancer clusters as small as a few millimetres in size, which is far more sensitive than CT or MRI.
The radiation decays quickly so men are only exposed to a small amount of it, significantly less than a standard CT scan.
Around Australia numerous men with prostate cancer are already having PSMA PET scans to see how much cancer they have and where it is.
'Seek and destroy'
For the second "seek and destroy" stage, lutetium-177 is labelled to PSMA and injected.
Like tiny, heat-seeking missiles, these molecules look for cells with a high expression of PSMA. They attach to them and become absorbed. Once inside, they unload their radiation. This takes several weeks.
For about two months men passing through biosecurity radiation monitors at international airports would likely set off the alarms.
Hofman says this therapy is exquisitely targeted. Unlike chemotherapy that affects many other parts of the body, it delivers its toxic load directly into prostate cancer cells.
Its main side effects are a dry mouth and eyes but these are usually mild and recover over time.
Unlike external beam radiation, which may radiate a large area damaging adjoining tissues and organs, lutetium enters the cells directly with its high energy "killing" particles only capable of travelling one millimetre, thereby limiting damage to normal tissue.
"It is a disruptive therapy and has the potential to change practise," he says. "Prostate cancer is a particularly dynamic field and is highly amenable to new technologies. I think it will take off."
And there was more optimism from an editorial in the Lancet Oncology that carried a headline questioning if this new therapy could be a magic bullet.
The Italian editorialists asked whether it could be used earlier in the cancer journey.
While considerably more research was needed to illuminate the road ahead, they said "the first step on this road has now been taken".
Potential game changer
New therapies are often tested on people at the end stage of their disease, where there is nothing to lose. If these therapies work, they can gradually be moved backwards, one step at a time.
If nuclear medicine for prostate cancer ever reached the first line, along with treatments such as surgery or radiation, it would be a game changer.
Hofman is now leading a new nationwide trial of 200 Australian men approaching the final stages of prostate cancer.
It is taking one step back and will compare lutetium therapy with chemotherapy.
This trial is jointly supported by ANZUP Cancer Trials Group Limited and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
"Today's results are clearly very encouraging, and we now want to expand access to other patients not just in the TheraP study, but to patients with earlier stages of prostate cancer, "says Associate Professor Declan Murphy, director of genitourinary oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
"When we see such stunning results in some patients with very advanced cancer, who have exhausted all options, imagine what we might see if we offer this at earlier stages of the disease?
"We have a number of additional lutetium-PSMA studies about to open at Peter Mac, and we are collaborating with others around the country to develop more trials using this therapy in earlier stage disease.
"All eyes are on Australia as we are among the world leaders in this area".
A favourable regulatory environment and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) have helped propel Australia into this leadership position.
ANSTO has been producing lutetium-177 for several years and supports the research.
Mark Moore, general manager at ANSTO Health says LuPSMA's achievements are remarkable. "We now look forward with great interest and optimism to the results of our Australia-wide TheraP trial."
He says ANSTO produces a range of nuclear medicines used for diagnosis and treatment of a range of cancers, as well as heart, lung, liver and muscular-skeletal conditions, that one in two Australians need on average in their lifetime.
"ANSTO is proud to partner with the wider clinical community to develop potential new treatment options."
ANZUP Chair, Professor Ian Davis, says clinical trials like this are the only way we can find out how well new treatments work, whether they are safe "and whether they should become the new gold standard for treatment in the future."
But despite the heady optimism, this therapy is experimental. It has a long way to go before it finds its place among treatments currently available.
*Jill Margo is an associate adjunct professor at the University of NSW
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domain: news


29 May 2017
Kendall Jenner offered a new spin on ballgown dressing by wearing a top with a dramatic train and cut-off denim shorts- all by Alexandre Vauthier- as she arrived at the Fashion for Relief gala.
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Consumers unaware of 'eating GM food'LOUISE BARNETT
Nov. 18, 2007
Swedish Journalist Who Worked To Demystify No-Go Zones Gets Shot In No-Go Zone
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Says All Men Should Be Feminists, Calls For End to 'Bro Culture'
Disturbing Video Shows Brutal Assault On Elderly Teacher by Middle School Students
Here's The Source Of The 'End-of-World Prediction' That Interrupted TV Broadcasts in Orange County
CNN Cuts Off Black Trump Supporter After He Rejects Concept Of 'White Guilt'
GENETICALLY-modified food is entering the UK by stealth via feed given to animals reared for dairy and pork products, a campaign group has warned.
Supermarket chains are widely stocking goods sourced from animals fed GM soya and maize, according to the Soil Association.
GM material could find its way, in small quantities, into the milk and animal tissue of GM-fed livestock, the group said.
The Soil Association, which is pro-organic, said consumers were eating food produced from GM crops without their knowledge.
There is no requirement to label food produced from GM-fed animals.
Most supermarkets have not banned dairy and meat products from GM-fed animals, despite banning GM ingredients from their own-label products, according to the association.
Tests carried out on 35 feed samples from dairy, pig and poultry farmers found 73 per cent contained GM soya.
Of the GM soya samples, 27 per cent had a GM soya content of more than 70 per cent.
Supermarket and feed company sourcing policies showed that GM maize was also widely used, with the dairy and pig sectors most likely to do so.
The Soil Association is calling on the government and the European Commission to bring in compulsory labelling for foods produced from GM-fed animals.
Patrick Holden, director of the association, said the findings were alarming.
"This amounts to deception on a large scale," he said. "This is not just accidental contamination, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of GM grain are being used to produce our food each year.
"Biotechnology companies have clearly used imported animal feed as a 'Trojan horse' to introduce GM into the UK food chain, despite the fact that the British public have voted overwhelmingly against GM."
It says the Little Red Tractor and Freedom Foods labels do not guarantee that products have not come from animals fed on GM food.


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Famous Nollywood actress Peggy Ovire, who happens to be the wife of popular actor Frederick Leonard, shows off her beauty to her fans as she went on an outing to enjoy herself.
- Advertisement -
She is someone who loves to show off her beauty in different outfits on social media, and she did exactly the same again by appearing in a lovely outfit.
The majority of her fans who came across the post could not hold their nerves and had to react quickly on her page.
In her new post, she showed up in a beautiful blonde hairdo that enhanced her beauty. She applied neatly done makeup to her face that matched the color of her skin.
She showed off a nice-looking crop top outfit and leggings that look good on her as she went out to catch some fun.
The actress has established herself as one of the most sought-after Nollywood actresses.
Thanks to her roles in movies and her relationship with Frederick Leonard, which helped her achieve more fame.
see some comments below;
What is your thoughts on this article? Share it in the comments section

domain: celebrity


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UW in the media
Recent mentions of the University of Washington in the news
Some of the stories below may require a third-party subscription. Please contact UW News if you have any questions or concerns.
- Jay Inslee for president? Governor’s profile is on the rise | The Seattle Times8 hours ago
Along with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Gov. Jay Inslee has enjoyed multiple victory laps after the state’s legal wins in a lawsuit to block Trump’s executive order halting travel from seven mostly Muslim nations. Margaret O'Mara, associate professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
- University offers course to help sniff out and refute 'bullshit' | Engadget8 hours ago
Not only is fake news everywhere, but its purveyors call genuine news fake. Luckily, there's now a course at the UW, "Calling BS in the Age of Big Data" that helps you find bad information and show others why it's bad.
- Is Dave Reichert getting a bit comfy in his district? | Crosscut9 hours ago
Congressman Dave Reichert has refused to hold any public meetings since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, despite demands for meetings from a growing number of his constituents. Mark Smith, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.
- Air pollution causes 4.2 million premature deaths around the world | Fast Company9 hours ago
In 2015, ambient pollution was the fifth leading cause of death worldwide, according to a major new report. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the UW was one of the report's authors.
- Language lessons start in the womb | The New York Times9 hours ago
New research is teasing out more of the profoundly miraculous process of language learning in babies. And it turns out that even more is going on prenatally than previously suspected. Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the UW's Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, are featured.
- Valerie Curtis-Newton and Sheila Klein receive Artist Trust's innovator award | The Stranger9 hours ago
Valerie Curtis-Newton, head of performance, acting and directing at the UW School of Drama, was awarded $25,000 by winning the Artist Trust's 2017 Arts Innovator Award.
- UW researchers help identify autism clues earlier | seattlepi.com9 hours ago
Researchers, including a team from the UW, used MRI scans to measure how the brains of “low-risk” infants (those with no family history of autism) compared to those of “high-risk” infants, who had at least one autistic older sibling.
- BS detection 101 becomes actual university subject | The Register9 hours ago
UW biology professor Carl Bergstrom and assistant professor at the UW's Information School Jevin West have devised the “Calling BS in the Age of Big Data” course as their small contribution to moving manure out of scholarly discourse.
- Rainy forecast ahead, Puget Sound might break monthly record | The News Tribune9 hours ago
The risk for landslide remains elevated as the month inches closer to becoming the wettest February on record in the Puget Sound. Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the UW, is quoted.
- What racist movie inspired a protest in Seattle, and who the heck is Eddie ‘The Sheik’ Gardner? | The Seattle Times9 hours ago
Susan Kelleher features Quintard Taylor, a University of Washington professor, and his website, BlackPast.org, in Sunday’s Pacific NW magazine.
- Free trip planner helps pedestrians navigate maze of hills, curb cuts, construction | The Seattle Times9 hours ago
A University of Washington team has designed a free trip planner for pedestrians — one that takes into account how steep hills are and whether sidewalks have curb-ramps to make them wheelchair-accessible.
- ‘Blob’ in Pacific Ocean ramps up ozone levels above Western US | Tech Times9 hours ago
The strange relation between ocean disturbances and terrestrial climate has been underscored in a new UW Bothell study.
- On free press, Supreme Court pick at odds with Trump | The New York Times9 hours ago
On the campaign trail, long before he called the news media “the enemy of the American people,” President Trump pledged to curtail press freedom. “We’re going to open up those libel laws,” he said. Ronald K.L. Collins, professor of law at the UW, is quoted.
- Smartphones to become pocket doctors after scientists discover camera flash and microphone can be used to diagnose illness | The Telegraph10 hours ago
Smartphones will soon become mobile laboratories which can monitor bone density, calculate red blood cell levels and even predict if an asthma attack is imminent. Shwetak Patel, professor of computer science and engineering and electrical engineering at the UW, is quoted.
- Colony of 1 million penguins flock to Argentina to feast on fish | Tech Times10 hours ago
Lured in by the unusual abundance of small fish, a colony of more than a million Magellanic penguins flocked to the Argentine peninsula before migrating elsewhere. Dee Boersma, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
- Feasibility study says UW Tacoma law would be an expensive proposition; officials pause plans to proceed | The News Tribune10 hours ago
A newly released study has found trends in law school applications and available jobs that persuaded officials to wait a few years longer than they hoped to add a law school to UW Tacoma.
- Trump called the news media an ‘enemy of the American People’ — here’s a history of the term | The Washington Post10 hours ago
President Trump is not known for his subtlety. But even by this standard, his tweet Friday night was extreme. Trump called the news media “the enemy of the American People.” Serhiy Yekelchyk, affiliate associate professor of Slavic languages and literatures at the UW, is quoted.
- Under Trump, scientists could face more sweeping challenges than they did under George W. Bush | The Washington Post11 hours ago
Academics and scientists have already played a central role in the immigration debate. In Washington state’s thus far successful lawsuit over Trump’s immigration executive order, the UW attested that it had numerous students and professors who were citizens of the seven countries targeted.
- Seattle week in review: Life sciences at risk, Keiretsu Record and more | Xconomy11 hours ago
Here’s a quick look at news from the Northwest innovation economy this week, including new funding for the University of Washington’s computer science and engineering expansion project.
- Wash. senator seeks Department of Justice intervention in local plan for safe injection sites | KIRO-TV11 hours ago
A Republican state senator is so opposed to King County opening safe injection sites for heroin users, he wants the Trump administration to intervene. Caleb Banta-Green, senior researcher at the UW’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, is quoted.


text:
Not listening to anything?
Try one of the ReverbNation Channels
Great arrangements and variety. Especially like Alba the way it builds from just quiet acoustic guitar and accordion. Wish I understood the lyrics!
Hi from Scotland,glad to share,stop by.CWC
Thanks for the support Francesco! We greatly appreciate it! Keep up the awesome work man! Ciao
Saying hello from Los Angeles CA!
Thank you for the support!
Hi Francesco-, thanks for the add! How are things? Wishing you a great 2013!
Great music dude , Keep it going , keep the faith
I love your music! Keep it up! My favourite track is' alba ' - Luna
Loving the tunes!
eMinor, Inc. (c) 2013

domain: entertainment


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Yugi Moto solves an Ancient Egyptian Puzzle and brings forth a dark and powerful alter ego. Whenever he and his friends are threatened by evil in Duel Monster Card Game, this alter ego breaks out to save them.
A group of young teens is unexpectedly sent to the mysterious Digital World and paired up with their own powerful, morphing monster called the Digimon. Together the entire group set out on an adventure to fight evil and save the world.
Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town is 10 years old today. This means he is now old enough to become a Pokémon Trainer. Ash dreams big about the adventures he will experience after receiving his first Pokémon from Professor Oak.
When Pikachu is taken to the Tree of Beginnings by the playful Mew, Ash Ketchum and friends are guided to the tree by Lucario, a time-displaced Pokémon who seeks answers regarding the betrayal of his master.
An animated series based on the popular children's toy "Digimon", in which kids raise and train electronic monsters to fight against those raised by other kids. The show follows the ... See full summary »
Ten-year-old Ash aspires to be the greatest Pokémon (pocket monster) trainer in the world. To do this, he enlists the help of many friends, and his own Pokémon, Pikachu. Together, they must search their world for new Pokémon, while avoiding the likes of Team Rocket, as well as other evil organizations, as well as battling rivals, and meeting legendary Pokémon.Written by
Although Pokémon is a series that internationally renews it's theme song style regularly with new singers, fans in the Netherlands have successfully battled for the return of singer Herman van Doorn multiple times over the years. See more »
Despite what the show frequently implies with Pikachu's attacks, electrical attacks can NEVER harm ground types. See more »
The Pokemon logo makes one last appearance at the very end of the credits, after the Summit Media Group bumper. See more »
The 4Kids version included removing suggestive content and changing the fate of several characters, as well as editing the story to be much lighter and kid friendly in tone for the US release. Such edits as removal of written Japanese characters on various signs, billboards,etc.; cigar or anything that's a tobacco product, alcoholic like beverages, and any scenes that seem too violent. See more »
This show is one of the best on the air! It is also the best Game Boy game ever made! It remains partially true to (the game.) It tells the adventures of Ash, Misty, and Brock as they search for all 150 Pokemon. There is only one word to describe this show: Great!
14 of 17 people found this review helpful.
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Forget about the Alice you knew and loved growing up. Now, picture a dark and twisted Tim Burton-esque setting with characters you loved as a child. That is more like what you will see in the latest Alice in Wonderland creation.
As a young girl, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) would tell her dad about her crazy dreams and would ask if she’d gone crazy. His response would be to lovingly squash those ideas and reiterate that all the best kinds of people have a little crazy in them. Fast forward 13 years and Alice is on the verge of being married off when she starts seeing animals that no one else is privy to.
In the middle of an undesirable proposal, Alice runs off and follows the rabbit she keeps seeing. She falls into a rabbit hole and after a drop that seems to last forever, she hits the ground in a circular room of doors. All of the doors are locked when she finds a key to a tiny door that she can’t fit through. While deciding her next move, Alice finds a liquid that instructs her to drink it and a piece of cake that instructs her to eat it. After following the directions she goes through a few changes that help her get through one of the doors.
Now the interesting things really begin. Her new surroundings are dark, but colorful and mysterious, but enchanting. Alice comes into contact with a group of characters who appear to know who she is. Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas), White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman) are a few of her new companions and it doesn’t take long for them to find themselves in a scary situation.
After escaping an unwelcome guest, Alice is introduced to the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). Much like the other beings in this new land, Hatter knows exactly who Alice is and what she is destined to do. Wonderland is made up of the good and evil as well, White Queen (Anne Hathaway) vs. Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).
Alice ends up in the queendom of Red Queen, but Red doesn’t recognize this older Alice. She is under the assumption that Alice is a giant girl named Um. Alice is there looking for Hatter after he was captured by Red’s henchmen. As Alice tries to release her new friends and dethrone Red, she must decide whether she’s strong enough to fight off her enemies.
Even trying to describe the details of this film was difficult, so legitimate opinions are even more so. I thought artistically the film was well done; Burton has such a visceral mind that anything he thinks of can become reality. However, the special effects were just a little too much for me. I realize that Wonderland is a magical world, but I was just overwhelmed with the visuals of the setting and characters.
I can’t say I loved Wasikowska as Alice. I suppose her somewhat moody portrayal of this iconic character worked for what Burton was trying to create, but overall she seemed too depressing. Depp is always great in what he does and he was so well disguised in this character that I was able to separate the actor from the character. His accents changing were a bit confusing for me; I couldn’t remember if Hatter did that in the original takes of this story.
Bonham Carter was amusing, but I found myself more immersed in her male counterpart, Stayne (Crispin Glover). How great is Glover? He never needs to speak much in the roles he plays because his presence speaks so much more than dialogue ever could with him. I’m usually great at picking up the voices of animated characters and I was able to easily pick out the voice of Rickman as the caterpillar. His voice is so distinctive and I thought he was a great choice for the voice role.
I didn’t hate this film, but it wasn’t my favorite either. I can appreciate the art that Burton was bringing to life. However, when the film was over I found myself thinking…”huh?” The artsy/special effects/fantasy elements in film are usually not my first choices when I’m picking a film to watch, so it’s entirely possible I’m missing the bigger picture here. Had any other director created this film I probably would have hated it, but if you are familiar with Burton’s work, you know to be prepared for seeing something completely odd and original.

domain: artistic


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Here's How a 'Handmaid's Tale' Sequel Could Happen
The terrifying dystopian world of Gilead comes to an abrupt stop at the end of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale when protagonist Offred is carted off to an unknown fate. But not so fast — a new change in the audiobook hints at a sequel to the 1986 classic.
In the new audiobook, which is narrated by Claire Danes, Atwood has updated the original ending. Previously, it consisted of Professor Pieixoto’s lecture on the world of Gilead the reader has just been immersed in. In a jarring jump, the story leaps from Gilead to the year 2195, when the events of the story are ancient history.
The old version simply ends with him asking, “Are there any questions?” The new version, however, ends with him saying, “I hope to be able to present the results of our further Gileadian investigations to you at some future date.”
Margaret Atwood coyly gave a follow up along the lines of “no promises but yes.” She said, “I am in consultation with the Professor, but he is being very cagey about this. He evidently doesn’t want to make any promises before he has finished authenticating his new discoveries.”
These “new discoveries” are unlikely to revolve around the novel’s protagonist Offred. At the end of the story — spoiler alert — she steps into a van that is either being driven by the resistance movement or is about to cart her off to her doom. When the narrative then jumps ahead to Professor Pieixoto’s, her story is lost on the wind. However, the impending Hulu show is expanding upon side characters like her fellow Handmaid Offglen or friend Moira.
A sequel could therefore hone in on one of those characters, dive into Serena Joy’s past, or chose an entirely new Handmaid who is further involved in the Mayday movement. Gilead has plenty of corners to plumb, and no modern dystopian author is as witty as Atwood.

domain: literature


text:
360 Degree Baby Gyro Bowl
Regular price $22.99 Sale price
About the product-Universal Gyro Bowl, great for babies and kids to have fun while they eat but without the mess. Made of premium quality food grade PP material, safe for your kids to use.Main Features
1.Anti-Spill design- the inner bowl with gyroscopic motion can rotate 360 degrees to keep dry food inside and avoid food spilling; Easy to Clean and Dishwasher Safe.
2.Designed with a gyro shape-just like a toy for kid. When they enjoy their food, they can play with it as well. It will must come a lot of fun to your kids and let mom are out of trouble.
3.Plus- we added three handles for easy carrying and lid to cover the food when not in use.Easy to carry outside, Just hang on your Baby car.
4.Multiuse-Not only for food, you can use it for place your small office equipment such a clip, pin, needle or coins. Also, it makes an unique gift for your close ones!
5.Detachable Design- you could take apart and reassemble gyro bowl that could be clean it easily.Specifications
- Material: PP
- Color: Blue / Green / Rose Red
- Total dimension: 17 x 17cm / 6.7 x 6.7inch
- Bowl diameter: 10cm / 3.9inch
- Bowl depth: 7cm / 2.8inch
- Suitable age: babies over 6 month
- Gyro Bowl x1

domain: design


text:
The Des Moines Water Works has opened a new stream of litigation in the Clean Water Act as the board voted Thursday to sue three northwestern counties in Iowa over agricultural runoff.
The board voted to sue Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties in federal court. Each of the counties is a minimum of 125 miles from Des Moines, but water work officials claim those three counties are the major driving force behind high nitrates that are found in the Des Moines River.
As the Des Moines Register reported, "The lawsuit targets several drainage districts feeding into the North Raccoon River that are managed by the three counties. Weekly samples taken from the river in Sac County since March have shown high concentrations of nitrates, according to officials with the Des Moines utility."
"We're not out there to seek damages," said Graham Gillette, chairman of the waterworks board. "We're really out there to seek this permitting and regulatory process. This isn't about us recouping losses or protecting our individual asset. It's about protecting Iowa waterways."
Neil Hamilton, director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University, told the Register that he's unaware of any precedent for this type of dispute, but he said the issue has merit.
"They have some legitimate concerns," Hamilton said.
The full Des Moines Register story can be read at http://dld.bz/…
The Iowa Soybean Association issued a news release denouncing the litigation.
“Claims by Des Moines Water Works that we have a water quality crisis in Iowa is sensationalistic at best and, at worst, dishonest," said Tom Oswald, president of the soybean association. "The Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Geological Service officials all agree there is not a trend of rising nitrate levels in the Raccoon River. This is backed by an analysis of thousands of water samples from 41 locations in the Raccoon River Watershed from 1999-2014 that found nitrate concentrations decreased by nearly 25 percent due to refinements of cropping systems."
Oswald added, "There is no evidence that the regulatory scheme ultimately sought by Des Moines Water Works will improve water quality as it relates to non-point source issues. There is, however, ample evidence that conservation practices tailored to specific farms and watersheds do. Just last year, 2,400 farmers and land owners invested $22.5 million on conservation practices to prevent soil erosion and improve water quality, of which $13 million came out of farmers’ own pockets."
The Iowa Soybean Association noted the litigation comes just 18 months into Nutrient Reduction Strategy set up to deal with decades of nutrient issues in the state. ISA was one of several farm groups that joined together last year to better promote to farmers practices that would make the nutrient strategy more successful across the state.
“Iowa farmers are committed to providing the best water possible for use by Des Moines Water Works. We encourage the entity and its CEO to abandon the political posturing in favor of pragmatic, workable and sensible activities that will truly have a positive impact on environmental performance and water quality. The Iowa Soybean Association will continue to extend invitations to Des Moines Water Works and its CEO to be partners in this progress.”
Environmental groups that have long battled farmers in Iowa praised Des Moines Water Works for its decision. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement declared the litigation is the fault of farmers and state officials who have failed to pay heed to the Clean Water Act.
“We’re in this situation today because Farm Bureau and other commodity groups, many of our legislators, our Governor and the Iowa DNR fight back against any attempt to enforce the Clean Water Act for factory farm polluters.” Said Larry Ginter, retired family farmer from Rhodes, Iowa. “Bravo to Bill Stowe and the Des Moines Water Works for taking this powerful step forward to begin cleaning up our water.”
Follow me on Twitter @ChrisClaytonDTN.
© Copyright 2015 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.


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Bengali Books for Your Child- Bengali Alphabet or Bangla Bornomala Book for Kids
Looking at all the beautifully illustrated, high-quality English alphabet books in the stores, have you ever wondered
“Oh! I wish there was a similar quality Bangla alphabet book for my child!”
If you did, you are not alone. I also searched quite a bit for a beautiful Bangla alphabet board book suitable for kids but didn’t find many options. That led me to decide, “What if I design one?”; not only for my children but also for all the parents who would love to give a quality Bangla alphabet book to their kids. That kind of started the journey of Dear Prodigy!
Designing this book was a lot of fun! Putting myself in a kid’s shoes, I tried to imagine what words and objects children interact with regularly. Then I contextualized them with Bengali culture and tradition and illustrated them in a simple yet modern, visually interesting way with rich and vibrant colors. I selected laminated whiteboards for the book’s pages so that they can withstand all of your child’s experiments Also, the book is wrapped with a hardcover with rounded corners to avoid any injury. So, the main features of the book are-
- A Bengali alphabet board Book that connects Bengali culture, tradition with modern illustrations creating a unique learning experience.
- The words and images for the letters are selected from children’s familiar objects, often contextualizing with Bengali culture. The pages and objects are illustrated with attractive, rich, and vibrant colors.
- A Bilingual (Bangla-English) Book with Bengali and English word meanings and English pronunciations.
- Easy to clean any stain or water. Thick Laminated Whiteboard inner pages and Laminated Hardboard cover.
- Easy for Little Hands to Grasp. Page size 6 inches x 6 inches. Book weighs less than a pound. Rounded corner to avoid injury to your child.
You can order the book from Amazon. Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737016605
Please let me know how your child liked this book. If it helps even a tiny bit in your child’s Bangla language learning, that would be my success. If you have any feedback, just reach me on any of Dear Prodigy’s social accounts or through email. I will keep improving the book in future editions. Thanks for believing in Dear Prodigy!
Check our Bengali Numbers Book with Rhymes and The Bengali Word Spelling Puzzle
Our Recent Blogs
- Bangla Schools for Kids in USA- Learn Bengali Language
- Bengali Books for Children in USA
- Bengali Books for Your Child- Bengali Alphabet or Bangla Bornomala Book for Kids
- Bilingual Myth Busting
- Thinking about Bangladeshi Gift for Foreigners, Friends, or Family?

domain: library


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The show centers on Shelby (Lauren Taylor) and Cyd (Landry Bender), who gain the power to leap forward and backward in time whenever they want, and sometimes when they don’t.
Now, the duo experience the twists and turns of friendship as they try to decide between fixing mistakes in the past or catching a glimpse of the future. While aspiring scientist Barry (Gus Kamp) and his trusty assistant Naldo (Ricky Garcia) try to figure out how to replicate time travel for themselves, Cyd and Shelby use their newfound power to navigate high school, life and Shelby’s mischievous twin brothers Bret and Chet (Benjamin and Matthew Royer).
In the premiere episode, Shelby enlists Barry and Naldo to help create the perfect ambiance at school to ask her crush Cameron to the big dance. When the unexpected spoils her plans, Shelby and Cyd try to use their newfound power to travel back in time to fix everything.
The new show will premiere right after Teen Beach 2 on Friday, June 26th on Disney Channel!
The promo will also air TONIGHT, during K.C. Undercover’s “Double Crossed” Weekend – stay tuned for a sneak peek!
Ian recently took to his Twitter account to advise his fans not to use HD settings on their televisions.
“A note to this generation of movie & television viewers. High Definition settings on your TV are ROBBING you. It cheapens the quality. It’s tragic,” he said. “Film making now doesn’t even have a chance anyone’s – By the time it makes it to TV its destroyed. Since when do films look like video games. Do the research online- calibrate your TVs. I fear, as a soon to be film maker & TV producer, that Im uninspired to put so much into something that is going to look terrible. Help.”
A note to this generation of movie&television viewers.High Definition settings on your TV are ROBBING you.It cheapens the quality.Its tragic


Community members met on June 6 for a public hearing on the proposed zoning map amendment that would allow a 44-room boutique hotel and restaurant to open in the former Grace’s Furniture building (2618 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa hosted the meeting at the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in collaboration with the 35th Ward’s Community Driven Zoning and Development Tables.
Hotel Plans Come to Life
Plans for the vacant commercial structure come from Marc Realty and LG Development, hotel operator Holiday Jones and restaurateurs The Fifty/50 Group. As Zoning Map Amendment Applicants, the developers presented plans to the community using photos, artist renderings, and blueprints. The developers predicted the hotel will draw tourists, increasing patronage at local restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues. They also estimated the project will add 100 full-time jobs to the community. Other plans for the building include a rooftop restaurant, retail space, and an outdoor seating area.
The developers highlighted their collaboration with Ramirez-Rosa, Logan Square Preservation and Logan Square Neighborhood Association. The groups worked together to ensure that the Paseo Prairie Garden, located next to the building on the corner of Milwaukee and Kedzie, would remain public space. The developers also chose to re-purpose the original Grace’s Furniture sign, incorporating it into the design for the hotel’s facade.
Out of the more than 100 people in attendance, over 20 lined up to speak during the Q&A section of the meeting. Many offered their support for the project, noting the building has been a vacant eyesore for years.
“I think we all agree that that corner right now is not particularly attractive, and what these gentlemen are proposing is a dramatic improvement,” said Bill Thurman, member of Logan Square Preservation. Another community member said, “I’m tired of seeing a bare, ugly, worn down building on this block.”
However, there wasn’t unanimous support for the proposed development.
Resident Edith Bautista felt the hotel would compromise the character of the neighborhood, turning it into a “small Wrigleyville.”
“Is this more gentrification?” asked another resident, concerned the hotel will cause rental prices in the neighborhood to increase further.
Resident Isaac Maria argued the neighborhood needs more housing, not a hotel. “The building sits empty…until they can make a buck, then we get luxury housing and luxury hotels. That’s not right,” Maria said.
Two speakers requested that the developers and operators hire union labor for the construction and staffing of the hotel.
Another asked if the project could cause a disruption to the flow of traffic on Milwaukee. She suggested a dedicated drop-off zone to ensure buses and bicyclists could still travel unobstructed. Other attendees speculated that a hotel could make it even more difficult to park around the neighborhood. Holiday Jones plans to use the Emmett Street parking lot for self-service and valet hotel parking.
Another resident and social worker expressed humanitarian concerns for individuals who sleep near the building. She said she wants to know if there has been talk about getting people who are homeless in the area into job programs to work in the business.
“We all know them as neighbors and members of our community,” said the resident. “When private investment comes in, often times the surveillance of poor people increases and those people are displaced. It’s happened all the way up the blue line from Wicker Park.”
Holiday Jones and The Fifty/50 Group responded by saying they plan to work with Center for Changing Lives to hire locally for hotel and restaurant staff, as the Dill Pickle did when they moved to Milwaukee Avenue.
Comment forms counted after the meeting reflected 105 in favor and 11 against the proposed zoning amendment. Ramirez-Rosa’s office is taking public feedback until June 20. Comments can be submitted in person at Ramirez-Rosa’s office at 2710 N. Sawyer Ave. or by phone (773) 887-3772.


text: When you are using basmati rice follow the first 4 steps. For rice like basmati, just 1-1/4 water to 1 cup rice is sufficient. This is because of the difference in the variety and the amount of water taken. For an adult 1 cup of rice is more than enough. Add enough water (as the amount mentioned in recipe card, here 4 cups of water for 2 cups of ponni rice) and mix well, make sure there is water at the bottom of the pot. Method for cooking rice in pressure cooker 1. Open pressure cooker, fluff rice with fork, and serve. Ponni raw rice (Ponni pacharisi): 1 cup of rice requires 2 cups of water. ©. The pot will take few minutes to come to pressure and start cooking. After this reduce the flame, simmer the stove. After a natural pressure release of 12 minutes, carefully do a manual release by turning the lid to venting position slowly, releasing the pressure manually very carefully and gradually. Use a ratio of 2 … More articles: Tamil recipes Health care Health tips. Once the cooking is done and the pot beeps, press the 'keep warm/cancel' button and wait for a natural pressure release of about 12 minutes. Immediately turn off the heat and let the rice rest in the cooker till the pressure settles down. Do not include your name, "with regards" etc in the comment. Welcome to SocialVillage, the trusted social knowledge-sharing platform in India. Once the pressure is all released, open the pot and fluff the cooked rice with a fork or use a spoon or spatula or gently mix in. 2. For simple boiling, add the water and rice in the pressure cooker and place the lid. This rice is perfect for South Indian meals and thali (Indian style meal including rice and side dishes). Write detailed comment, relevant to the topic. (Use 2¼ cups water for 2 cups rice, 3¼ cups water for 3 cups rice, and so on.) The description for my blog itself is “A Blog for beginners which led me to post “how to cook rice in a pressure cooker”. Parboiling White and Brown Rice Bring 2 parts water and a pinch of salt to a boil. One cup of white rice, for instance, needs 1.5 cups of water. how to cook ponni raw rice in instant pot pressure cooker, instant pot ponni rice, instant pot south indian rice recipe, perfect instant pot rice, pressure cooker ponni rice. Take the required amount of rice and wash well with water. « Baked Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese Easy Recipe, Cellentani Pasta In Creamy Tomato Sauce ». Digital Marketing by SpiderWorks Technologies, Kochi - India. Take a cooker, add 1 cup of water in the cooker. In this resource I have given you few tips for cooking rice perfectly. https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-rice-in-the-electric-pressure-cooker-234656 The following list will help you to know the ratios of different varieties of rice to water.1. Rinse the rice very well, transfer the rinsed rice to the inner pot of instant pot (discard the water used for rinsing the rice). Cook rice at high pressure for 3 minutes, then remove pressure cooker from heat or turn it off and let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. The best and simple way of cooking rice is by using the pressure cooker. Cook on a high flame till the pressure builds up and the whistle blows. Ponni boiled rice (pulunghal): 1 cup of rice requires 3 cups of water.Method for cooking rice in pressure cooker1. Cooking rice in a Electric rice cooker This is an easy, hassle free and hands free ;-) way … Basmati rice: 1 cup of rice requires 1 ½ cups of water.2. Get to know the method of cooking basmati rice, ponni raw rice and ponni boiled rice. Share your knowledge and earn revenue! Ponni boiled rice (pulunghal): 1 cup of rice requires 3 cups of water. Wait for 3 whistles for raw rice and 4 whistles for boiled rice. Absolutely no spam allowed. No HTML formatting and links to other web sites are allowed. Keep this inside the cooker above the plate.3. Take a cooker, add 1 cup of water in the cooker. When the rice is cooked you will get a whistle. 3. Add the water and mix, make sure there is water has reached at the bottom of the pot. Next fit the rubber gasket inside the cooker lid (keep the rubber gasket inside the freezer when not in use).4. Serve the rice hot with any side dishes or curry for lunch or dinner as you like!  X Research source Substitute all or part of the water with a liquid for flavoring if you wish, such as chicken broth, vegetable broth, or prepared bouillion. This is a strictly moderated site. 7. Once the pressure is all released, carefully open the instant pot and fluff the rice with a fork or use a spoon or spatula and gently mix the rice. 2. Steps To Cook Ponni Raw Rice In Instant Pot (The Process). The simplest& fastest method to cook rice is by using the pressure cooker. Measure out rice and water.

domain: food


text:
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Mayhew Steel in Turners Falls buys Leominster plastics company to take control of supply chain
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- Jim Kinney, The Republican
Tired of waiting months for the plastic handles and guards it ordered to arrive from overseas, toolmaker Mayhew Steel Products has purchased a Leominster injection molding plastics company to make its own handles.
Mayhew announced the purchase off Basque Plastics last week. The new Mayhew Basque will continue with about 19 employees in Leominster, a city that serves as a center in the industry with about 120 other plastics companies in town and a wealth of experienced workers, said Bill Lawless, one of the owners of Mayhew Steel.
Mayhew has about 90 employees not counting the plastics plant. "We expect to do as well price-wise as we were when we were buying product outside," Lawless said. "But having control over the supply chain is key to us."
It can take three to four months for products to come from Asia, he said. The Leominster plant can fill orders almost immediately, Lawless said.
Mayhew , a 158-year-old company, will be able to turn orders around more quickly now that it has the Leominster factory, said Dave Sepavich, marketing and sales director for Mayhew Steel Products. Mayhew also will save on inventory cost because orders will be smaller and it won't have to keep stock on hand for fear of running out.
"The cost of buying large quantities from overseas has gotten increasingly higher," Sepavich said "You have to buy in container-sized shipments and you have to wait longer. That just doesn't work with our customers."
Mayhew makes hand tools including pry bars, scrapers, chisels and punches for the auto specialty, industrial and do-it-yourself market.
Sepavich said many of the tools are sold under private labels with brand names like Snap-On, Mac Tools and Stanley. Some are sold through specialty supply houses but others end up on the shelves of hardware stores.
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text:
Middle-earth: Shadow of War - Free Demo Trailer
Download and try the demo for the game, available now.
Did you enjoy this video?
In This Video
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Middle-earth: Shadow of War features an original story with the return of Talion and Celebrimbor, who must go behind enemy lines to forge an army and turn all of Mordor against the Dark Lord, Sauron.
PublishersWarner Bros. Interactive
FeaturesSteam Deck Verified

domain: hobby


Compatible Component Selection Under Uncertainty Via Extended Constraint Satisfaction Approach
This paper deals with compatible component selection problems, where the goal is to find combinations of components satisfying design constraints given a product structure, component alternatives available in design catalogue for each subsystem of the product, and a preliminary design constraint. An extended Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) is introduced to solve component selection problems considering uncertainty in the values of design variables. To handle a large number of all possible combinations of components, the paper proposes a systematic filtering procedure and an efficient method to estimate a complex feasible design space to facilitate selection of component combinations having more feasible solutions. The proposed approach is illustrated and demonstrated with a robotic vacuum cleaner design example.


text:
This post outlines every chord you can use for the key of A major. I've provided a few common chord progressions for you to use as well as the fingering for both guitar and piano. I've also listed out all of the 7th chords you can use in the same key.
The chords in the key of A major will be derived from the A major scale. The A major scale is:
The chords in the key of A will only be constructed using these notes. The chords can be figured out using the regular pattern of
Major -Minor - Minor - Major - Major - Minor - Diminished
Common Chords Progressions For The Key Of A
I - IV - V
A - D - E
I - VI - IV - V
A - F#m- D - E
II - V - I
Bm7 - E7 - Amaj7
I – VI – II – V
A - F#m- Bm - E
I – V – VI – III – IV
A - E - F#m - C#m - D
Guitar Chords In A
Here are the basic guitar chords for the key of A.
Piano Chords In A
Here are the basic piano chords for the key of A.


It’s often said that music is good for the soul. The belief that music has healing properties set the stage for the National Symphony Orchestra’s new community initiative, “NSO Sound Health,” which kicked off with an NSO chamber orchestra performance in the atrium of the Clinical Research Center on Sept. 11.
Hundreds of NIH staff, patients and visitors gathered for a 50-minute classical performance of five works. The rich sounds filled the 7-story space and drifted upward, permeating much of the building. Many people lined the hallways to watch and listen from the floors above, not to mention patients listening from their rooms.
The CRC atrium is a fortuitous setting for such a concert. “Music flows in all our corridors, into patient wards, reaching those in beds who cannot come,” said CC director Dr. John Gallin in welcoming remarks.
The orchestra performed works by Rossini, Mozart, Barber and Prokofiev under the direction of conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl. Musical selections ranged from light and lively to hauntingly beautiful. Many in attendance could be seen wiping tears from their eyes during the performance of Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Hearing this ethereal piece on 9/11 made it even more poignant.
Also that day, the NSO’s violin ensemble, Viva Violins, performed “From Baby Talk to Mozart” at the Children’s Inn at NIH, followed by a Q&A with inn residents and an instrument petting zoo.
“The musicians of the NSO are known throughout the country for their artistry and their joy in sharing that artistry with the community,” said NSO Executive Director Rita Shapiro. “There is no better way to continue that commitment to community than through performing at the Washington area’s hospitals.”
At the launch of the NSO Sound Health initiative, the CRC’s atrium and hallways overflowed with eager listeners, a testament to the need for such a project. The NSO plans to hold an orchestral concert each year at a selected hospital or health-related venue and extend its reach with smaller ensembles and other activities.
“We’re grateful to the NSO for choosing NIH to launch their Sound Health initiative,” said NIH director Dr. Francis Collins, “and hope this marks the beginning of a long, fruitful relationship.”
Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl (c) and the NSO chamber orchestra acknowledge the crowd’s applause.
NIH director Dr. Francis Collins (l) and Clinical Center director Dr. John Gallin (r) offer brief remarks before the concert.
At left is the crowd as seen from an upper floor of the atrium, and a view of passersby who took in the music from high above the first floor.
Photos: Bill Branson


text:
The ‘Abundance mala necklace’ is made of Rudraksha mala beads alternated with Pyrite beads of the same sophisticated size. Above the tassel we use a Mica pendant. This Mala resonates with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Chakra.
Hindus discovered already thousands of years ago the power of the Sacred Rudraksha beads. Rudraksha Mala beads are treated as Sacred in many cultures. Rudraksha beads offer the wearer peace, clarity, and direction, this is how they give space for positive energy and thoughts. The smaller Rudraksha beads are the rarest and most strong in energy.
Also known as “the fool’s gold”.
But who is the fool?
This magical, warming talisman leads you,
as a mirror of the hidden,
on the way to self knowledge.
Full of fire and creativity
new positive energy builds up.
The Warrior within you awakens and calls for action.
Manifestation and Abundance
become part of your existence.
The Pyrite beads in this mala necklace are supported by Mica, which offers protection to your whole energy field.
For more information about the gemstones, please follow this link.
Hanging length mala necklace: around 61 cm, often possible to wrap twice around the neck
Size Rudraksha beads: 4 mm
Each mala necklace and mala bracelet is lovingly handmade with original mala beads by Aum Rudraksha Designs in Bali.
* The malas / bracelets and mala beads are authentic, sustainably harvested, fairly traded and ethically produced.
Because each mala and bracelet is handmade and the use of natural products, no two products are identical. The used gemstones for example, can vary in color, drawing and inclusions.
*Our mala necklaces and mala bracelets are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The results are the sole responsibility of the wearer.


Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA) has unveiled its new off-road vehicle for the US market, called Mahindra Roxor. A total of 4 paint shades are on offer – Carbon Black, Classic White, Fire Orange and Tahoe Blue.
The Mahindra Roxor shares its chassis and engine with the Mahindra Thar DI that’s sold in India but comes with some tuning to meet the US regulations. The company has also modified the front grille to avoid any legal issues with Jeep in the USA.
The Roxor is inspired from the classic CJ series Jeep. This bare-bones SUV has 2-seats, a roll cage and it does not have doors or windshield or even a hard top. The interior is very basic, albeit functional with a circular, white-faced speedometer positioned in the centre of the dashboard, a 3-spoke steering wheel and a grab handle on the passenger side.
Mahindra has equipped the Roxor with the same mechanicals as the Thar DI 4WD, which comes powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 62 BHP of peak power and 180 Nm of peak torque mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that drives the rear wheels in 2WD mode. In 4WD mode, all four wheels are powered.
The Roxor will be sold through Mahindra’s powersports dealerships and will be assembled at the company’s Ann Arbor, Michigan plant. Official launch date and prices will be announced in coming months.
Checkout more pictures and video, after a jump.
To read more on Mahindra Thar, Click here
GALLERY: Mahindra Roxor


text:
Haha, this is nothing great but he is one of my favs so I though I should just write a quick fic for him!
“Hey, Y/N.” Bernard said as he sat back on the couch, you looked over to him. “Yes?” You reply, he thinks for a moment. “You want to come with me to the park?” He asked, you nodded slightly and he stood. “Ok, we’ll go now, come on.” He smiled, you stood and followed him out the door. The both of you walked down the street, where the street lamps were beginning to come on. You could hear Bernard humming softly to himself as you walked, you glanced at him a few times and his smile never left his face. It was a bit darker by the time the both of you got to the park, and there was no one there. He leads you over to a bench near a fountain and under a street lamp, he sat and patted a space next to him, you sat down and looked at the fountain. “Y/N…” He whispered, you look at him. “Yeah?” You reply softly, he smiles softly to himself. “Do you like me?” He continued, your face heats up. “Y-yeah, I like all of you guys…” You reply shyly, he looks at you. “No, I mean, do you “like” me?” He asked again, you bit you lip. You though you hide it well, but apparently not. You nod shyly, he sighs. “I love you though.” He replied, you looked at him in shock. “L-love…” You breathed, he nods. “Mm hmm, but we never get to be alone in that house, so I never got to tell you how I fell…” He says, he looks at you and smiles again. “Why did you bring to the park to tell me this?” You asked. “…We only got to be alone right now because they have gone to a party, and it’s nice here” He relplied, he then leans in for a kiss, at first you hesitate but lean in as well. Your lips only touch for a moment, before you pulled back with a burning face. He tilts his head a little before placing his hands on your cheeks and leaning in again, with a bit more force behind the kiss. He then stood up and grabbed your hand. “Come on, let’s go home, they won’t be back until around 2am.” He said as he started walking.
“He’s not moving.” Bucky mumbled and nudged Natasha’s arm, lips twisted into an amused smile.
“I know.” Natasha hisses back, hands on her waist while she watched her friend’s jaw dropped in shock.
Once they realized this will take lot longer than they expected, they started to look around the destroyed park and took a seat on the only standing bench near them, eyes still trained on Steve and the woman standing in front of him.
“She’s cute.” Bucky commented after a while.
“For a supervillain.” Natasha nodded, lightly chuckling at the slight twitch of Steve’s eyes when the woman’s face brightened.
* * *
“HELLO, STEVIE!” She pranced towards him. Pranced. Steve could hear Bucky laughing behind him and it took every willpower in him not to throw his shield at his best friend.
Steve let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. She had her hair tied in a high ponytail today and she was wearing a different shade of dark blue denim jacket. God. He hated this and he hated himself more for paying attention to these kind of details. She stopped short in front of him, eyes twinkling with glee, which was never a good thing. God knows what else she had done aside from almost leveling the park to the ground and he didn’t want to think about that at all.
“You know I have to arrest you, right?”
“But I got us a table at the new restaurant around the block!” She gawked at him as if he was the evil one. God help him. Steve’s eyes twitched a little at her shocked expression. He’d tell her she was an adorable if it weren’t for the fact that she is a supervillain.
“And who did you threaten to get that reservation?”
“I did not threaten anyone.” She gasped in mock hurt, clutching her hand to her chest and Steve let out another sigh.
“Look! Here’s the ticket.” She took it out of her jacket pocket and showed it to him, smiling sheepishly when he noticed the names and the tiny red stain on the corner. “They’re not going to miss it.”
“Please tell me you didn’t kill them.” Steve groaned.
“I didn’t! They’re already dead, okay! I found this in the morgue when I was snooping around. And it’s a nice restaurant!”
Steve squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds and took a few deep breaths. He could still hear Natasha and Bucky laughing at him from across the park. Another sigh escaped his lips before he turned to face her again. She was still staring at him with her hopeful eyes and flushed cheeks and goddammit he wasn’t supposed to think she was cute. He wasn’t supposed to think about her at all. He snatched the ticket from her. Her face broke into a huge smile and he cursed himself when his heart did that stupid pit-a-pat thing. She destroyed a park. She just destroyed a park. Get a hold of yourself.
“So, are you going to pick me up at six? We could go to a little ice cream shop afterwards. The weather’s a bit chilly but we’re both kinda immune to that, right? We could bond and be friends. I even let you have a sleepover at my pl–HEY!”
“You’re coming with us, [Y/N].” Steve grumbled, sensing an oncoming headache while he cuffed her hands.
“I guess that’s a no on the dinner and ice cream?”
* * *
In retrospect, he probably should have seen it coming. Why else would they ask him to come to stop a robbery. Tony invented a fucking state-of-the-art stun gun that could help the bankers put down the robbers discreetly. The man even went down to the bank himself to teach them how to use it. Maria Hill only shook her head when he mentioned this and forced him to go and stop the robbery. She literally pushed him into the car, not giving him time to change, shove the shield inside, and slammed the car door shut before he could say anything. So much for a weekend, Steve thought,
“STEVIE!” Steve (along with Bucky and Sam who wanted to tag along) turned his head towards the building and gawked at her. She was standing by the window, flailing her arms around to get his attention. And she beamed. She fucking beamed when he finally caught her eyes.
“Your girlfriend’s real cute.” Sam snickered.
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Keep telling yourself that, pal.” Bucky smacked Steve’s shoulder before he and Sam jogged away from him. Steve flipped them off and muttered a string of curse words as he made his way inside the bank.
She had rounded all civilians in a corner and was busy emptying the vault when he walked inside. Blue swirls of her power floated past him as she put the money inside another duffel bag.
“What the fuck is this, [Y/N].” Steve said before he could even stop himself. She pushed the plate of cookies towards him with her power and moved away from the empty vault. Steve fleetingly wondered what these civilians were thinking as they watched the interaction between [Y/N] and him.
“Cookies! Chocolate chip cookies! Fresh from the oven!” She grinned, taking a piece of the cookie. “I even bought you coffee,” she added as she took out a cup of starbucks coffee from under the table and for a moment, he was touched. The warm feeling quickly replaced with mild indignation when he read the name on the cup.
“Mr. Stan.” He looked up from the cup and narrowed his eyes at her. “You stole this.”
“He was nowhere to be seen.” She shrugged. She casually took a sip from the cup before munching on her cookie.
“Come sit here, Steve.” She pat the chair next to her and gestured her other hand towards the frightened group of people. “I promise I’ll let them go.”
“…..fine.” He begrudgingly sat next to her, eyes fixed on her as she opened the door with a flick of her hand.
Her lips curled into a smile and she motioned at the opened door, voice light and cheerful as she spoke, “You’re free to go.”
“So…. How are you, Steve? You look good in leather jacket. I like it.” She was so bubbly and cheerful it threw him off for a good minute. She was wearing a similar brown leather jacket paired with a turtleneck and black skinny jeans. She even braided her hair today, he noticed.
“Why are so quiet? Are you pissed that I didn’t go to your thanksgiving dinner?” She asked again. “You know i was in jail, right?”
“I know. I PUT YOU THERE.” Steve groaned, slamming his head against the cold table.
She laid her head on the table and gave him a little smile when he opened his eyes. “Look at us, being friends and shit. We’d make a lovely couple too.”
“We’re not friends. You’re a villain, [Y/N].”
“Labels are not my thing.” She shrugged and rested her hand on his shoulder. Steve’s heart definitely didnot skip a beat when she didn’t break eye contact with him and gave him the most adorable smile he has ever seen.
She hummed a little christmas tune and started to tell him about her days, oblivious to Steve’s inner turmoil.
“I saw your fat dog the other day. Kept it in my place while you were gone.”
“Such a nice dog. I love him. I named him Eggtart.”
Steve buried his face in his arms and groaned. “So that’s why he never responded when I call his name.”
“ANYWAY… I think I want to borrow Eggtart again next week. I found a nice dog beach not far from here and I want to take him there. You’re free to join us if you want.”
“Eggtart is a ridiculous name.” Steve finally said after a while.
“So… you’re coming with me and Eggtart next week?”
Steve wished he could go into cryostasis and sleep for another century.
You were sat beside Chan on a bench, a blanket thrown over you to keep you warm. “Why did we come here? It’s freezing,” you asked Chan who told you he was going to show you something amazing, so he had dragged you out at midnight.
He grins and pulls you into his arms, shaking his head. “You’ll see.”
“What even are we waiting for?” you asked out of curiousity after a few minutes of cuddling. Chan sighed, clearly a little confused himself. “The lights here are supposed to- ah.” Now you saw what he meant, the big lights near the benches turned off and only the city lights brought you light but now you could see the huge amount of stars in the sky.
“The stars are amazing!”
He chuckles, a content look on his lips - it had all worked out in the end. He then slips his hand under your blanket, finding your hand and interlocking your fingers.
“They’re usually so hard to see in the city but I came here once alone and noticed that this way you could see the stars really well.”
“Yeah,” you reply, still looking up. “They’re incredible.”
“Did you know I know nearly all the star formations?” Chan asks you with a smirk. “Name at least three then,” you challenged him. There was no way he knew all of them, and besides he had started bluffing a lot these days but mostly just to make you laugh.
Chan successfully named two but after he realised his defeat, he blushed out of embarrassment and you couldn’t help laughing at his cute reaction. “It’s been a while so I’ve just forgotten,” he tried to explain but you weren’t buying any of his excuses. “The third one is clearly our star…” you whispered, cringing at your own words immediately.
“That has got to be the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said Y/N,” Chan commented, laughing so hard he had to bend down a little. “Did it ruin the mood?” You asked, honestly quite worried if you had but Chan disagreed and said that if anything, you had just made it better.
Kiseok (Husband 💍) explaining to the fans how you two meet (feature Gray lol ) :
Kiseok - It was really awkward , for being sincere !
MC - Awkward ? What do you mean ?
Kiseok - (y/n)…is really a particulary person. You can’t find another person like her , in this world , i guess. She and i meet in front of the building ||of AOMG , of course , just imagine that their agency being like YG || near a bench. All the fans were crying , screaming , jumping !
MC - Jumping ?
Kiseok - Yes , they were too excited and (y/n) was there too, she was like “I’m not interesed about him , who is he ?”
Seunghwa - Her friend said “(y/n) is just shy . She likes you so bad ” and she turned her head and said “Nope , i don’t know them !” with a salty voice. I was shocked by her attitude lol !
Kiseok - We had to go…But her friend told me to talk to her maybe she will not be like this…I didn’t do it , i just signed the autograph that she asked me and leave away…But (y/n) catched me by the shoulder. She gave me a paper where she wrote her number and she ran away !
Gray - She was so cute 😄!
Kiseok - I’ve waited near 4 days for call her. I was wondering if it wasn’t a joke and she respond, we talked a little bit . I really don’t knew her and i tried to explain her that i could not do stuff like that. She tried to understand but i knew that she was so mad !
Gray - Why you lying ? That man stayed near 5 hours at phone with her that we all tought that they were preparing for their wedding 👰💐💒!
Kiseok - We had a good conversation , and i tought a lot about her after the call !
Gray - He was saying “I did something bad , i want to kill me ” !
Kiseok - Anyway, i can not remember all the things but it was really really a good experience !
Gray - Wtf , are you talking about 😐?
Kiseok - I do like youtubers “story time” 😃 !
Gray - So , you watch stuff like this ?
Kiseok - No , my wife watches this and sometimes she forces me to watch with her lol !
This really was a bad idea. Robbie is sure about that now, when he and Sportacus sit down on a bench, near the woods. He glances at the hero before he snaps without the usual edge in his voice “Why are you insisting on sitting down? You’re usually the LAST person who sits down!”
“Because this is no question to discuss standing near a mailbox,” Sportacus looks at him openly and with an encouraging smile “So. What exactly would you like to know about love?”
“This… This is ridiculous!” Robbie attempts to stand up again. But Sportacus rests a hand on his shoulder and holds him back with gentle force “No. It is not. Please. You said, you haven’t slept in days because of this… And a good night’s rest is…”
“All right, all right!” interrupts the villain one of Sportacus’ usual health educations. He sighs lowly, before finally muttering “I really don’t know if love actually exists… It’s…unlikely…”
Sportacus looks at him wide-eyed “But…of course it does! Robbie, how do you even get the idea that it does not??”
“Well, there’s been no prove of its existence! Surely not for ME, anyway!” he didn’t intend to say this out loud, but the hero does this to him. For some reason, he can’t help but speak his mind when he’s around and they’re talking normally. That’s why it’s easier for him in disguise, since then, everything is a big act… “Robbie…” Sportacus’ shocked voice rids him out of his thoughts and he realizes, his nemesis is looking at him with these puppy eyes again, that always start this funny feeling in his stomach again. “Robbie, that surely isn’t true. You MUST have experienced love of some kind in your life! You’re just…confused…”
Robbie gives him a look. The hero thinks about it for a moment, then his eyes brighten up “What about your parents?!”
A snort. Sportacus’ smile drops and he clearly considers asking about Robbie’s parents, but realizes that this very likely isn’t the right place nor time for that. He tries again “…Uhm… Siblings.” A frown. “…Any…crushes?…” A raised eyebrow. “…Pets?…” A long, annoyed sigh. Sportacus actually becomes desperate now “Okay. Then what about…” he claps his hands happily “…yourself!?” Silence. “…Huh?…” Robbie looks at him, his eyes giving away his confusion “What…do you mean?…”
“Well, everybody has a certain love for himself! It’s what keeps you going and motivated!” Sportacus’ smile drops again and his gaze turns into horrified realization, when Robbie just stares at him uneasily “…You… You know… Acceptance!?”
“Yes. You accept yourself. Your body, your actions, your mind… What makes you YOU, you see!? That’s the first step to loving yourself!” the hero forces himself to calm down a little when Robbie just lowers his eyes and obviously doesn’t understand what Sportacus is trying to tell him. The hero takes a deep breath in. He knows that he’s about to go in deep water now, but he really wants to help Robbie and it’s obvious that the question about love has taken a turn to aim at something much more serious even. - The way, Robbie sees himself and maybe why he acts like he sometimes does. Sportacus knows that he’s the only one who might be able to help him with understanding his own thoughts, actions and emotions better. His voice is calm and soft when he now hesitatingly rests a hand on Robbie’s tensed back “…Robbie… Do you…like the way you are?…”
(this is dedicated to the my lovies @breathedean and @polaroidcas)
“Dear Cas,” Dean starts as he twirls a black ink pen in his hand and stared at a blank notebook. “This is the story of how we met, of how we fell in love. This is the story that never ends. This is the story of us.”
Winter of 1990
Dean walks along the deserted park trail, the cold December wind numbing his face. Though it was cold, Dean paid no attention to the below zero temperature that seeped through his veins, practically putting the blood flow to a halt as it freezes to ice. In reality his blood doesn’t freeze; it stays at its constant temperature of 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dean goes nowhere in particular. He lets his feet take their own path. Dean shivers as he pulls the warmth of his worn leather jacket closer to his body. When he nears the bench he normally sat at to ponder life, he sees a boy with dark, messy hair. He wore only a black hoodie and jeans and a pair of worn out sneakers. Curious, Dean makes his way to the boy who took his beloved wooden bench.
“Hey.” Dean greets, sitting down. The boy looks up and the first thing Dean notices are his eyes. He had the most beautiful, bright, crystal clear blue eyes. “Hi.” He says quietly. “You’re only wearing a hoodie, aren’t you cold?” Dean asked. The boy shook his head. “I’m used to it.” Dean nodded, analyzing the boy who sat next to him. “When meeting someone new, pay close attention to their eyes. Eyes show what words cannot say.” Dean’s mother had said that to him while he stood by her deathbed. Since then, with every person Dean met from then on he paid close attention to their eyes.
When Dean looked into the boy’s blue eyes and saw emptiness. “So, what are you doing out here by yourself in this freezing cold weather wearing nothing but a hoodie?” The boy looked at Dean warily before answering. “Just thinking.”
“Just thinking huh?” Dean nodded. “Well,” Dean started, “we can think together.” Dean smiled at the boy. “I’m Dean, by the way.” The boy returned the smile. It was small, but it was still a smile. “I’m Castiel, but call me Cas.” The boy said. “Nice to meet you, Cas.”
Dean and Cas sit in an awkward silence, Cas stared at the grown while Dean studied Cas. Noticing him shiver, Dean shrugs off his jacket. “Here.” Dean says, catching Cas’ attention. “You’re shivering so take it.” Cas shakes his head. “No, I can’t wear your jacket. You’ll be cold.” Dean rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. Now take the damn jacket.” Reluctantly, Cas reaches out and takes the jacket. Cas feels warm instantly, yet he still feels bad. “Are you sure?” Cas tries again. If Dean was cold, he sure as hell won’t show it. For some strange reason, Dean felt the need to keep Cas safe. Like he was Dean’s responsibility even though he just met the guy. “So, Cas. How old are you?” Dean wonders. “22.” Cas vaguely answers. “No kidding? That’s my little brothers age. His names Sam, but I call him Sammy. Sammy, now he’s one smart kid. He’s off studying law at Stanford.” At this Dean paused and glanced at Cas. “Sorry for my rambling. I probably just bored you huh?” Cas shook his head. “No, you didn’t. Your brother sounds like a nice guy.” Dean smiles fondly. “Yeah, he is. So, Cas. You got any siblings?” Cas hesitates before answering. “Yeah. I have three older brothers. Michael, Gabriel, and Luci. I haven’t heard from Michael or Luci in a while, but I talk to Gabriel pretty much everyday. Gabriel’s the type of brother who jokes around all the time, but he can also become serious instantly if need be.” Cas stops, realizing that he’s talking to a stranger who probably doesn’t even care. “Well, Cas, you seem to have a great brother.” Cas smiles softly and nods. “Yeah, I do don’t I? Hey, um I have to get to work. It was nice talking to you, Dean.” Ignoring the sinking feeling he gets in his gut, Dean smiles. “It was nice talking to you too, Castiel.” Against his will, Cas blushes when Dean uses his full name. Dean stays behind as he watches Cas walk away, not caring that he still wore his jacket.
Requested by Anon -
the reader, who is dating Bart Allen, has trouble walking and is insecure because they think that they’re ‘weighing him down’, and seeks reassurance from Bart.
You knew this was a bad idea. Bart had wanted to take you to this new amusement park in Central City for weeks now. You kept saying no, but then he looked at you with those green puppy dog eyes, and your heart melted.
After about ten minutes of walking around slowly, you had to sit down. Bart quickly led you to an empty bench near the swing ride. You collapsed onto the bench, sighing in relief. Bart plops down next to you and gently takes your hand in his.
“You okay, Babe,” Bart asks, squeezing your hand. He studies your face with concern.
“I’m fine, I just need a minute,” you gasp as you try to catch your breath. Absentmindedly, you entwine your fingers with his. Taking a glance at Bart, you notice him watching the swing ride with interest. “You can go on without me if you want.”
“No, we can go together once you’re ready,” Bart replies sweetly, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek.
You both sit in silence for a moment while you were lost in your thoughts. “Why do you stay with me,” you question, gazing off into the distance. In the corner of your eye, you see Bart give you a startled look.
“What are you talking about,” he says, while trying to get you to look at him. You keep your gaze away from him.
“You know what I mean,” you explain, tears filling your eyes. “I can barely walk sometimes, and you’re one of the fastest people alive. You are so strong, and I’m so weak. I feel like I just weigh you down all the time because of my problems.”
Bart hushed you before gently sliding his arm over your shoulders to pull you closer to him. He buries his face in your hair. “I stay because I love you. I love the way you see the best in everyone you meet. I love how you make me laugh at the simplest things. You are so much stronger than I am that I don’t know how you could possibly be interested in me,” Bart whispers into your ear as tears slide down your cheeks. “If anything, I think I weigh you down.”
“No, you don’t,” you shoot back, turning to meet his gaze. “I love you, you couldn’t possibly weigh me down.”
“Then you understand how I feel about you,” Bart laughs at your wide eyed expression while brushing away tears on your cheeks. He begins to press butterfly kisses all over your face at super speed, making you giggle.
You push him away, saying, “Bart, stop. We’re in public.”
He playfully raises an eyebrow at you. “I can have us to your place in a minute,” he teases seductively. You shake your head at him.
“I thought you wanted to go to this amusement park,” you ask, tapping his nose.
“Yeah, but I have a different ride we can go on,” he whispers with lust in his eyes.
“Down Boy,” you warn, giving him a stern look. “I’m ready to ride the swings now if you’ll help me over there?”
Bart grumbles before helping you stand and slowly walk towards the swing ride. “I’m totally feeling the mode.” You laugh at his grumbling before giving him a quick kiss.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you later,” you promise, loving the way his eyes lit up.
“That would be crash,” he exclaims as he scoop you up in his arms to spin you around. You laugh when he carries you over to the line for the swings, knowing you were secure in his arms.
“Conrad!!! Where are we going?!” I couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous this was.
“Almost there, Y/n/n! He laughed as well, and pulled on my hand for a little bit longer.
It started to warm up when we arrived. We stopped at a bench near the lake in the wide, open park. The sight was breath taking. Conrad turned around and smiled again. It was like a breath of spring. I pulled myself closer to him and let our lips meet again. It was a passionate yet subtle kiss.
“Here, come sit by me. I want to show you something.” He carded his fingers through my hair and led me to the bench. I sat next to him, and he pulled out his guitar.
He stood by the bench near the big oak tree where he told her he’d wait for her.
Jungkook was never late.
As he looked at his watch, he sighed, wondering why time seemed to go too slow whenever he waited–whenever he waited for her.
He chuckled when he remembered that he wasn’t even fazed by time itself; even letting himself believe that the moments you go through in life will merely pass you by and a new one will always come along. Moments which could make you smile, laugh, and even cry.
Jungkook always loved to move forward. But right now as he waited, he wished time could slow down, go back even…
Because that’s what happens when you took precious moments for granted.
Cass chuckled and pulled her guitar a little closer to her, strumming softly as she watched a middle aged man moonwalk his way past her. Seeing a young couple nearing her bench, she changed the tempo of her song so they would, literally, waltz right by her.
Coming to Biodome Park and messing with people was actually one of Cass’s favorite ways to entertain herself. Honestly, besides the skills she used for her gigs, the ability to convince people to randomly burst into song and dance was her favorite. This evening was no different. The air was clear and cool, and she was in a good mood.
As she spotted another figure heading toward her from the darkness to her side, she smirked and picked up the tempo, while putting a little more funk into her song.
-Wait a second- you asked for what seemed like the tenth time.
You were with Yoongi at the mall, you two had been walking through every men store looking for a new sweater Yoongi wanted and also taking advantage of this to have a little fun together and relax; but you decided that this was the perfect time to dress all fancy and put on those new high heels you were dying to wear for the first time. Everything to look good for your already gorgeous boyfriend. But now those heels that seemed all so pretty were killing you slowly.
-Jagiya, It’s like the eleventh time you told me to stop, what’s wrong? – He was dressed so casual in ripped jeans, a plain black t-shirt and his air jordan’s but he looked so good.
You smiled at him despise the pain. –Nothing, I’m just a little tired-
He squinted his eyes examining you from head to toe. –Let’s go sit over there- he pointed a near by bench and took your hand again, walking a little bit slower to get there. You thanked god, sitting down never had felt so good. –Wait here- he told you, not giving you a chance to ask him where he was going, so you just sat there, waiting for him to come back.
Yoongi took his good twenty minutes, in which you were awfully bored with the sole company of your phone, so you instantly brighten up when you saw him coming. –What do you have there? Did you find your sweater? - You asked noticing the bag in his hand, feeling a bit bad for not being able to go and buy it with him. All because of those heels.
Yoongi pulled out a box, and extended it to you. –These are for you-
You opened the box and saw a pair of stunning black Air Jordans, much like his but his were in white. –Babe… this is… why?-
-You shouldn’t wear shoes that damage your body- he kneeled in front of you and you blushed hard. He was actually going to change your shoes. –Here- he said while getting it all together, he even bought socks and band aids so your feet wouldn’t get more hurt.
When he was done he sat back next to you without saying anything. You couldn’t stop smiling. Your Yoongi loved you too much. –Thank you babe- you said stretching your body a little so you could give him a quick peck. –You are the best-
Yoongi smirked, taking your hand and getting up the bench. –I know-
more houseless discourse because this morning has already been a trip
some good advice to heed is that you should always clean up after yourself 100% after you sleep in a spot but what’s even BETTER ADVICE is if you SEE A HOMELESS PERSON GETTING UP FROM THEIR SPOT don’t FUCKING yell at them about getting up from the spot and cleaning it. if you work on the property, you can be like “hi good morning can you clean up please? Thank you.” it happens all the time. This is easy to do. respect gets respect in return. this grown ass man waking up on a bench near us started crying because a man yelled at us for previous messes that we didn’t even make. if you treat the homeless like this i hope you lose your house
West got up from his crouching position on the floor, wiped his hands clean and picked up a small, near empty container from the bench R5 was laying on. His third leg was malfunctioning. Again.
“Could you pick me up some more pegs while you’re out?” He didn’t take his safety goggles off, looking a bit comical. A few of the metal pegs dance around in the container as he held it out to her. “Whatever sizes they have. I need mostly the real small ones though.”
Anna didn’t know why it struck her as comical as it did, but she found herself laughing at his appearance. Not in a mocking way at all, but quite amused. She thought she had gotten used to having him around to the point of comfort and not even being phased by his current quirky appearance but she was wrong. Placing her hands on her hips she eyes what he is doing and answers, ❝Sure, pegs, got it. How’s the patient?❞ She raises a brow, motioning with the nod of her head to the droid.


The president is expected to again push major regulation reform, including a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, in his State of the Union address Wednesday night.
But the initiative remains stuck in the Senate Banking Committee, where the top Republican, Sen. Richard Shelby, (R-AL), has been negotiating with Chairman Christopher Dodd, (D-CT), over a possible bipartisan compromise on legislation. Financial industry sources say one of the main sticking points is the CPFA—and a showdown is coming.
In an interview with FOX Business, Shelby said that while he hopes committee Republicans and Democrats can reach a deal on reform, “we don’t have to have a bill.”
He said he remains “vehemently opposed” to creating a CFPA and “we’ll soon find out” if Democrats are willing to compromises on it and other issues to proceed with legislation.
Shelby would not discuss details of the negotiations. But two financial industry sources said he recently gave Dodd a list of provisions that committee Republicans and Democrats could likely agree on—and provisions Republicans will not accept, including a CFPA.
As recently as Friday, the President pounded the rhetorical table for a CFPA, which he has made the cornerstone of his reform push. He and consumer advocates say it is necessary to regulate the sales, structure and marketing of mortgages, credit cards and other consumer financial products--especially to halt predatory sales practices in the industry.
“So long as I'm president, I won't stop fighting to protect you from the kinds of deceptive practices we've seen from some in the financial sector,” he said in a speech in Ohio. “That's why I'm fighting for a tough consumer financial protection agency, to protect you against those hidden overdraft fees that can make a single ATM withdrawal cost 30 bucks.”
But Shelby and the banking industry say a CFPA would add an unnecessary layer of regulatory oversight and bureaucracy for firms that would raise costs to consumers and limit innovation in financial products. Among possible compromises on the issue, sources said: beef up consumer protection in existing agencies or create a new consumer protection office in the Treasury Department.
As part of ongoing business outreach efforts, the President and members of his economic team had lunch at the White House Tuesday with six corporate CEOs, including Jamie Dimon of JPMorganChase (JPM) and Ed Rust of State Farm Insurance.
According to a financial industry source with knowledge of the meeting, the President told the executives he has expended a lot of political capital on financial regulation reform and he again raised concerns about bonuses at financial firms.
Bonuses are a populist hot button that the President is also likely to discuss Wednesday night, as he pushes fresh proposals to constrain the size and riskier activities of financial firms and promotes a new bank tax to raise at least $90 billion to repay projected taxpayer losses in the government’s TARP bailout program. The tax would be levied on the top 50 financial firms, including those that have repaid TARP funds.
A White House spokesperson was seeking comment from officials on the meeting.
As with health care, the upset victory of Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race last week strengthened Republican leverage in the negotiations on financial reform, though Shelby downplayed the significance of Brown’s win. Under Senate filibuster rules, it takes 60 votes to defeat a filibuster. With Brown’s victory, Democrats will have just 59, to the Republicans’ 41, enough to block any legislation.
“It give us another vote and I guess you could infer leverage there,” Shelby said. “We do have 41 votes – 41’s a lot better than 40.”
But one financial industry lobbyist, who asked not to be identified because he has current dealings with the banking committee, said Brown’s win “greatly decreases the probability of a bill…the momentum has slowed dramatically.”
Proponents of ambitious financial reform, including a CFPA, argue lawmakers cannot face voters in the Congressional mid-term elections in November without completing work on a bill. But the lobbyist said Senate Republicans are prepared to argue that they tried to reasonably compromise with Democrats and that the initiative failed despite Democratic control of both houses of Congress and the White House.
Another industry official, who also asked not to be identified because he has current dealings with the committee, said, “The problem is that if Obama makes the CFPA the litmus test--then there is no bipartisan chance and no bill. There is no appetite among the moderate Democrats, after health care and MA (Brown’s victory in Massachusetts) for a big fight on the CFPA, and the Republicans are highly unlikely to budge. I think the Republicans are quite willing to work on a bill but are not willing to give on the CFPA to get one. Dodd would certainly like a bill.”
Last month, Dodd announced he will retire from the Senate at the end of his term. He faced a declining poll numbers and voter anger in his home state of Connecticut over his ties to the financial services industry.
Also dimming prospects for a major overhaul – new national polls showing voters more concerned about jobs and the overall economy. In a poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center, 33% of voters said the President is paying “too much attention to the concerns of banks and financial institutions, the highest percentage for ‘too much attention’ for any group asked about,” the Center said.
Shelby said other concerns for Republicans in financial reform include derivatives trading – “a very complicated area”—and how to tackle failing companies that are “too big to fail” and could require future taxpayer bailouts.
On the latter, Dodd and the White House have proposed granting regulators new powers to take over and wind down a failing firm before it can damage the financial system. But Shelby said he instead favors establishing a new type of bankruptcy court to handle such firms.
Finding compromise on these and other issues, Shelby said, “depends on how we continue to work together and whether or not Democrats want to go it alone. I hope they want to work with us in a bipartisan fashion…I hope they will…We have made some progress but we have not crystallized the language of the bill.”
But he added, “There’s always a possibility of getting nothing up here because to move a bill of this complexity, we’re going to have the have bipartisan agreement. We’re working toward that end now, but we are not there yet.”
Financial industry analyst Jaret Seiberg, of Concept Capital’s Washington Research Group, agrees.
“Our view is that the loss of the filibuster-proof majority will not derail financial reform because Democratic leaders were always going to need Republicans to pass the measure,” he said in a note to clients last week. “To us, the issue is whether Democrats will decide it is in their interests to enact a bill or to force Republicans to kill the measure. This has always been the calculation. What is different today is that the Massachusetts election suggests the prior Democratic strategy did not work.”
Seiberg said he believes Senate Democrats “ultimately will decide it is better to compromise and get a bill than to hold fast” in part because “achievements matter in politics when you are in charge” and Dodd “really wants a bill as the capstone of his congressional career.”
Shelby said the President’s new proposals to tax banks and limit their growth and riskier activities will slow the legislative process, in part because they will require additional hearings.
“He’s raising the ante up,” Shelby said. “We ought to flesh it out.” The banking committee announced Tuesday it will hold its first hearing on the proposals next week.
But Shelby went on to criticize them.
“I’m not a tax man,” he said. “I don’t think taking money from banks that have already paid their TARP money back…makes sense.”
Shelby said he believes existing regulation “can deal with” limiting banks’ activities and additional legislation is unnecessary.
The House passed its 1,300 page financial regulation reform bill, which includes a CFPA, late last year with no Republican votes. Any Senate legislation would have to be reconciled in a conference committee with the House.
In a briefing with reporters Tuesday, House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said, “We’ve acted. We look forward to working with the Senate.”