Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have committed to holding the Government to account over the promises David Cameron made in the debate over airstrikes in Syria. The Liberal Democrats believe that the UK's relationship with Saudi Arabia continues to be a key concern.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the antithesis of a liberal state. Despite nods to opening up the democratic process in the recent years, the reality is that this is still a country where nearly all freedoms are restricted.
The involvement of Saudi Arabia is critical to the success of the Syrian Peace Process. Saudi Arabia carries a huge amount of influence in the region. It is considered a spiritual leader by many Sunnis and has the resources and convening power to bring together disparate groups as well the means by which to help squeeze supply lines to ISIL and other militant groups.
Saudi Arabia also has its own agenda, and is committed to maintaining its own regional power while diminishing the power of the Iranian State and Shia Muslims. This is most visible in the Sunni/Shia cold war playing out in Yemen at severe humanitarian cost.
The UK government has a responsibility to engage with Saudi Arabia as a key regional state, but it is important that this engagement does not become complicit acceptance of all that Saudi Arabia does, either internally or externally.
We believe there are a number of areas where the UK government's interaction with Saudi Arabia is hypocritical, illiberal and ultimately endangers any chance of long term stability in the Middle East. Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians will be putting pressure on the UK government in the following areas:
- Arms Trade. There is considerable evidence that British-supplied weapons are being used in Yemen to specifically target civilians and to destroy Yemeni cities. This is a breach international humanitarian law, and we are calling for the suspension of new arms contracts with Saudi Arabia pending independent verification of this evidence.
- ISIL Supply Lines. Not enough has been done to establish how ISIL is receiving weapons, finding buyers for oil or being funded. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States need to commit to stamping out any funding of ISIL from within their borders, and the UK government should be explicit about this demand.
- Human Rights, Internal Executions and Medieval Punishment. We cannot hold countries across the world to account for oppression, executions and torture if we do not condemn it universally. Following the execution of 47 people in early January, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond mitigated his criticism by saying "these were convicted terrorists" and FCO minister Tobias Ellwood said he was "disappointed". That is a pathetic response, and we will not allow the UK government to cower away from criticising what is an inexcusable and disgusting practice. Similarly, the treatment of women and minority groups in Saudi Arabia is some of the worst in the world, and it is inexcusable that the UK supported their application to the Human Rights Council. We believe the government should reverse this decision and publically call for Saudi Arabia to step down. Finally, the UK is involved in a number of bilateral programmes with Saudi Arabia, including through our Department of Justice and through the Home Office. Complete details of this involvement should be made public, including the "memorandum of understanding" between each department and the Saudi government, which the UK government is currently refusing to publish.
- Shia/Sunni Sectarian Incitement. The decision by the Saudi regime to execute Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr along with 46 others was not an act of national security- it was religiously motivated and a clear message to Shia Muslims throughout the region. Religion is a defining feature of countries throughout the world, but when championing the supremacy of your own religion leads you to deliberate provocation and persecution of another and risks further destabilising an already fragile region, it is right for the UK government to condemn those actions fully and without caveat.
On 5th January, Tim Farron raised a number of these points in Parliament:
"The executions over the weekend, including that of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, must surely raise fundamental questions about the United Kingdom's relationship with Saudi Arabia. People in the UK have every right to want to know what arrangements we are entering into as a country with another country that has acted with such brutality and with such disregard to the impact of its actions on co-operation across the middle east, especially in the light of the Vienna process and the ongoing conflict involving Daesh. Will the Government now commit to publishing both the memorandum of understanding on security, which was signed by the Home Secretary on behalf of the United Kingdom, and the memorandum of understanding on judicial co-operation, both of which have been withheld in full despite Freedom of Information Act requests? Bearing in mind the Saudi Government's appalling record on human rights, especially the rights of women, will the Government call on Saudi Arabia to step down from chairing the UN Human Rights Council? The Minister carefully avoided condemning the actions of Saudi Arabia over the weekend, so will he do so now? Clearly, Saudi Arabia has a great influence over this Government. Will this Government now prove that they have some influence over Saudi Arabia?"


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Many real world engineering problems are characterized by the presence of several conflicting design objectives. In this paper, a new multi-objective genetic algorithm is employed to optimize two different concepts of hydraulic actuation systems. The different concepts have been modeled in a simulation environment to which the optimization strategy has been coupled.
The outcome from the proposed optimization strategy is a set of Pareto optimal solutions elucidating the tradeoffs between competing objectives. By comparing Pareto frontiers for competing concepts, valuable insights about the properties of the different concepts can be gained. Depending on how the decision-maker values the different objectives, different design solutions are more appropriate. This is exemplified in the hydraulic actuation systems, where the acceptance of a larger control error results in a design with low energy consumption.

domain: design


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Estimated GFR Reporting Linked to Nephrologist Visits
In kidney disease patients, estimated glomerular filtration rate reporting tied to higher first-visit rate
TUESDAY, March 23 (HealthDay News) -- Laboratory reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is associated with a significant increase in first nephrologist visits, especially in some subgroups of patients, according to a study in the March 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Brenda R. Hemmelgarn, M.D., of the University of Calgary in Canada, and colleagues conducted a community-based cohort study of 1,135,968 patients from a laboratory registry in Alberta, Canada, who were followed up from May 15, 2003, to March 14, 2007.
After estimated GRF reporting was implemented on Oct. 15, 2004, the researchers found that the rate of first outpatient visits to a nephrologist for patients with chronic kidney disease increased by 68.4 percent. In patients without chronic kidney disease, however, they found no association between estimated GFR reporting and rate of first nephrologist visit. They found that women, patients ages 46 to 65 years, patients aged 86 years and older, and those with hypertension, diabetes and comorbidity accounted for most of the increase.
"The association with estimated GFR reporting and long-term patient outcomes, as well as economic consequences, remains to be determined," the authors conclude.

domain: medical


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My visit to the Titanic Centre was a bit of a disaster because of the mist and rain. I got soaked and had to return to my hotel to change my clothes and dry my equipment.
In the case of street photography it is necessary to take photographs in such a way that people do not notice you but sometimes this can backfire. Today I waited about fifteen minutes in order to get a clear view of Titania but every time I tried to take a photograph someone walked into the frame.
In front of the Titanic Belfast building is Titanica, a sculpture by Rowan Gillespie depicting a diving female figure. Made of bronze, it is mounted on a brass base, evoking the design of figureheads on ships' prows, and is meant to represent hope and positivity. The figure was dedicated by representatives of the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches on 27 March 2012, a few days before the opening of Titanic Belfast.
You will find links to buy products from Amazon, Google and other partners. If you click on these links, you’ll find that the URL includes a small extra piece of text which identifies that the click came from my websites. This text is an affiliate code, and it means that I get a small percentage of the money you spend if you choose to buy that product, or, in some cases, other products from the site soon after. These affiliate links help pay the costs of producing my websites and ensure that the content is free to you.

domain: artistic


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First drug 'slows decline' in progressive MS
The first drug to slow the decline in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis has been reported at a conference.
The disease affects nerves and leads to fatigue, muscle problems and loss of vision.
Preliminary data from trials of 732 people showed that ocrelizumab slowed the onset of disability by 24% over the course of 12 weeks.
The MS Society said the findings were a "big moment" in treating the disease.
There are two main forms of MS - relapsing remitting, which comes in a cycle of flare-ups and relapses, and primary progressive, which is a gradual deterioration.
In both forms the immune system attacks the layer of myelin that surround nerves. It acts like the insulation around a cable to allow electrical signals to be passed down the nerve fibre.
Ocrelizumab depletes a part of the immune system in order to protect the myelin.
Data presented by the pharmaceutical company Roche at the European Committee for Treatment Research in Multiple Sclerosis suggested the pace of the disease could be slowed.
Prof Gavin Giovannoni, one of the researchers involved in the trial at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, told the BBC News website: "These are very significant results, the drug is effective and the safety profile is very good.
"It's not going to fix the damage, it's going to slow the accumulation of more damage. We don't want to raise false expectation that it will reverse disability."
He said there was now an onus on Roche to "keep the price down" so patients could benefit.
Nick Rijke, from the MS Society, said: "These phase 3 trial results will provide a great deal of hope for people with primary progressive MS.
"Finding effective treatments for multiple sclerosis is our number one priority and this is a big moment.
"So far only the top line results from this trial have been announced, so we look forward to seeing the full details with great anticipation."

domain: health


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Four British soldiers including a teenager paid to protect the Queen are feared to have gone AWOL to fight Vladimir Putin’s invading forces in Ukraine.
A 19-year-old member of the Queen’s Guard, whose identity has not been revealed for security reasons, reportedly dropped his ceremonial duties as a Coldstream Guardsman and signed up for Ukraine’s International Legion of foreign volunteer fighters.
The soldier reportedly wrote to his parents before booking a one-way ticket to Poland over the weekend with an intention to then cross the border into Ukraine. He has since posted a photo of his boots on Snapchat, according to the Sun newspaper.
The shock development has sparked panic at the Ministry of Defence, with security chiefs racing to intercept the teenager in case Russia tries to claim that Britain has entered the war if active army soldiers are found fighting on the frontlines.
Click here to read more.
Source: Daily Mail

domain: news


The HCCA Chamber Chorale will present their annual spring concert on Thursday, April 12 -
with an evening full of jazz, contemporary, traditional and new choral music.
The highlight of the concert will be the premiere of "Green Is the Color of Its Flame", a special
commission for the Chamber Chorale. This innovative work is by former HCCA principal conductor Dr. Julian Bryson - and the HCCA Chorale will be joined by the UNA Chamber Chorale for its premiere performance.
The free concert will be presented at 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church in downtown Huntsville. The public is invited to attend at no charge.
For more information: Call 256-533-6606 or go to thechorus-dot-org.


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Sea of Shards
Fugitive Aasimar Oracle
Mazikeen is a superpowered aasimar teenager who wears conservative angel-themed clothing and likes to fly around the market district with her friends. In her spare time, she relaxes by running away screaming from a vengeful Goddess of the Wind whom she has served for most of her life.
Her nervous disposition seems a strange counterpart to her beautiful sea green skin, silver hair and golden eyes and her extremely inappropriate anecdotes. Concealed in an enormous “masterwork backpack”, Mazikeen hides a pair of mighty wings that she can call on to take to the sky.
Often, Mazikeen responds to questions by belching “yes” or “no” unless you tell her to stop.
Mazikeen has profaned the power of Jujani by turning it toward the natural energies of life, rather than the tyranny that the Mountain Breath had intended. She loves all her little animal friends, and is sad when you die. To this end, she siphons power from under the nose of her divine mistress, and channels it into divine magic to aid allies and smite things that are gross.
Mazikeen takes her divine calling very seriously, and casts spells by snapping her fingers and pointing them at the target while winking. Touch spells are achieved by engaging the target in an enthusiastic high five. You’re buffed, bro.
The young aasimar has served Jujani since she was a small child – but no longer. Fallen out of favour with her divine Mistress, Mazikeen took on the name of a primordial devil and absconded with Jujani’s power.
Furious, Jujani continually attempts to sweep Mazikeen up into her heavenly domain with divine winds – for now, it seems a few heavy weights tied to her feet is doing the trick, until the two of them can sit down and discuss a reconciliation.

domain: literature


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Imgur ‘Boedith’ Traveled To Australia. Everything Sucks.
Imgur user 'Boedith' shared a range of selfies online, documenting his travels around Australia. The unusual album was entitled, 'I travelled Australia alone. It was terrible.' He shared 13 photos of himself at some of Australia's best-loved spots, including Bondi Beach, the Great Ocean Road and ... More

domain: entertainment


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2LP Vinyl – RCV1 92733
Released in 1996, Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim. After achieving success with the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. and their album Conspiracy (1995), Kim began working on her solo album with the Notorious B.I.G. serving as the executive producer.
The album was notable for its overt raunchy sexual tone and Kim's lyrical delivery, which was praised by music critics and is considered a classic album. Kim's high glamour, sex appeal and commercial success made her a new standard for female rappers.

domain: celebrity


PLEASANT HILL — The William Penn men’s wrestling team took its talents west on I-163 to compete in the star-studded Grand View Open Saturday.
149-pounder Cameron Hargrove (Fr., Bolingbrook, Ill., Undecided) and 197-pounder Jesse Schwery (Fr., Panama, Iowa) both had significant outings as they placed in the top six.
Hargrove dropped his first match, but then reeled off five wins in a row, including one by fall, one by technical fall, and one major decision to reach the fifth-place bout.
Schwery matched Hargrove with his advancement, going 4-2 on the day with a pair of pins and one major decision.
Makail Stanley (Fr., Oreana, Ill., Biology) was next for the navy and gold, claiming a trio of victories at 174 (one fall), while Matheson Meade (Fr., Knoxville, Tenn., Exercise Science) was a multiple winner as well (one technical fall) at 165 pounds.
157-pounder Steven Skewes (Fr., Duchesne, Utah, Exercise Science) pinned one foe, while 141-pounder Troy Mita (Fr., San Jose, Calif., Nursing) and 165-pounder Marco Guzman (So., Miami, Fla., Business Management) each had their hands raised once in triumph as well.
The Open also featured a Freshman/Sophomore division and Brendan Nantz (Fr., Tipton, Iowa, Industrial Technology) recorded one victory at 125 pounds.
“I am proud of our performance today,” Head Coach Aron Scott said. “Our guys responded well to the tougher competition and we continue to improve.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Marshall, Mo. next Wednesday to face Missouri Valley in a Heart of America Athletic Conference dual meet at 6 p.m.


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Another month passed, another round of exclusive releases from Tamashii Web Shop. For November we had AccelTrial and Machine Decader. Today, we take a look at AccelTrial, the speedy form of everyone’s favorite cop with gay tendencies and infatuation towards dolphins. Accel was a really nice Figuart, particularly due to the metallic red paint. Needless to say, AccelTrial is no exception.
He comes boxed in a standard Figuarts box, this time colored in a light blue, the lettering done in a brilliant white, which looks a lot better than Accel’s secondary silver, had they chosen to follow that route. Fits in with the stack of W boxes perfectly. The front has a picture of AccelTrial, while the back, as always, features multiple shots of the figure.
The figure itself is pretty damn awesome. While he has the same base limb mold as Accel, everything is reminded and updated to suit AccelTrial’s design. The wheel on the back still spins! People bitch about his head being wrong, but it’s good enough to me. I guess I’m not picky enough about my toy figures. Toys. Just like people they aren’t perfect. Chill the fuck out. Anyway, nothing hinders poseability much on this figure. He’s sleek, sculpted fantastic, and the paint is beautiful and metallic. Joints are tight, so I really see no major faults with this figure. His visor, being a nice orange, is now transparent enough to see the speedometer detailing inside.
Accessory wise he comes with eight hands: two for holding the Trial Memory, two for holding the Engine Blade, two relaxed pose, and two stylized pose (one with a thumbs up, and one spread out), a Trial Memory to hold, an Engine Blade (it still opens), and for some reason, an Accel Driver with an Accel Memory in it, despite the fact that it should be empty. At least paint it black and pretend Bandai. Ah well. At least he comes with everything he needs, the only other thing it could have possibly came with was a Trial Memory in Memory Mode.
Overall, for W fans, AccelTrial is an amazing addition to the line up. He’s not completely necessary as normal Accel is, but if you are a huge fan of W or Accel, I feel like this is a must have for the collection. Between the beautiful paint job, the great sculpt, and the overall awesomeness of the figure, no sane person should be disappointed with this release. Accept it, enjoy it, love it. Good day.
Check out a photo gallery by the awesome Shishioh HERE.

domain: hobby


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Tuesday, August 17, 2004 –
In the morning after breakfast, we grabbed our boxed lunches and headed into Denali National Park. For an early morning guided bus departure that would take us on a tour of the park. Denali is quite different than most national parks in the lower 48 in that you cannot drive most of it by private vehicle. Instead, you must take a bus beyond Mile 15 on the Denali Park Road.
Several fully narrated tours of the park are available, and we took on of the most popular: the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Our tour began at the main Visitor center and took us on parts of the 92-mile-long Denali Park Road, which runs parallel to the Alaska Range. The first 15 miles to Savage River were paved, and our bus pulled over on several pullouts for photos. Around mile 10, we caught a brief glimpse of Mount McKinley shrouded in clouds. Then, we started to see caribou.
After Mile 15, Denali Park Road turned to gravel and traffic became restricted to buses, mountain bike or foot. Only a small fraction of the road is paved because permafrost would add significant cost to maintaining the road. We traveled through boreal forests and low valleys before ascending high mountain passes and entering the tundra on the way towards the Toklat River.
Denali National Park includes more than 14,500 square miles consisting of high mountains, glaciers, forests and tundra. The longest glacier is the Kahiltna Glacier. About 400,000 people visit the park annually to view wildlife, climb mountains, hike, raft, bike, backpack, or practice winter sports. Many ride the buses, like us.
Along the ride, we saw a variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, herds of caribou, moose by streams, hoary marmots and foxes. We saw several interesting birds such as Arctic Warblers, tundra swans, several golden eagles, hawks and a gyrfalcon.
At mile 53, we stopped at the Toklat River Contact Station. The views along the river were beautiful. Inside, a couple of park rangers answered some of our questions.
As we left and ascended upwards, we noticed that the low tree line in the park. When we crossed at 2,500 feet, much of the terrain turned into vast tundra. As we climbed up a mountain pass, we arrived at Eielson Visitor Center about four hours after leaving the park entrance, at mile 66. We saw several Dall sheep munching on bushes on nearby cliffs. We listened to some rangers inside talking about the Mt. McKinley and saw some art inside depicting it. As we walked outside, we could faintly see it in the distance. Unfortunately, the largest forest fire in U.S. history was making visibility tough. In Alaska, they generally don’t fight forest fires because the threat of overall damage is usually minimal in such a big state. They just let them burn!
Mount McKinley goes by Denali in Alaska, which is the native Athabaskan word meaning “the high one. It is indeed great, with a summit elevation of 20,237 feet. Measured from base to peak at some 18,000 feet, it is also the largest of any mountain entirely above sea level. The summit is unique in that it has two! The South Summit is highest, while the North Summit has an elevation of 19,470 feet. Last year around 58 percent of climbers reached the top. However, as of this year, it has claimed nearly 100 lives of mountaineers.
After a 6-hour ride from the main Visitor Center, we reached Wonder Lake. The smoke here was pretty bad, we still had some good viewpoints and saw several grizzly bears. In this western lowland, we saw a number of spruces and willows in beautiful forests near the lake. On a clear day, Mount Denali would be reflected in the lake. We could only imagine it today! We ate our lunch and enjoyed it the best we could.
On the way back, we noticed a number of landslides. These were caused by the magnitude 7.9 earthquake from last November. Some German tourists on our tour were obsessed by caribou and yell excitably whenever they wanted to stop the bus for photos. “Caribou am listig … halten sie die autobus!” It was hilarious!
It was a long day, but we made it back to the park Visitor Center that evening. We headed back to the lodge and ate a marvelous salmon dinner at the Creekside Café. We talked about our plans for Wednesday, but the smoke was really bothering Mom and me. Dad and Jeff decided to go on a full-day tour and hike the next day, but Mom and I decided to make other plans.
Categories: Alaska, Denali, North America, United States
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domain: geography


text:
Play the karaoke of Gold Lion
Lyrics of Gold Lion
Any reproduction is prohibited
as made famous by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Original songwriters : Karen Orzolek, Nicholas Joseph Zinner, Brian Chase
This title is a cover of Gold Lion as made famous by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
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The Dolphins had a couple of wideouts opt out of playing this season ahead of last Thursday’s deadline and they’ve added two receivers to the roster this weekend.
The team signed Ricardo Louis on Saturday and they announced the signing of Chester Rogers on Sunday.
Rogers spent the last four seasons with the Colts and has 111 catches for 1,221 yards and five touchdowns over the course of his career. He ended last season on injured reserve due to a fracture in his knee.
Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns were the wideouts who opted out, which leaves Rogers and Louis to play with DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Preston Williams, Isaiah Ford, Gary Jennings, Mack Hollins and Malcolm Perry.


In This Moment
Shabbat-O-Gram, February 12, 2021
Photos of the week...
7th Graders trying on their home-made tefillin at our World Wide Wrap
Scenes from Temple Rock
(the full album of Aviva Maller's photos is still being compiled)
The Hebrew letter Aleph traces its ancient origins to a pictograph of an ox. Well, it looks like an Israeli company named for that letter might just be headed toward putting cattle out of business! Read more about what's at stake - er, steak - here. For one thing, if Israel is to revolutionize the laws of Kashrut, the meat industry and animal husbandry, is my title now going to become Rib-eye Hammerman?
Evidently someone has been sending out SPAM in my name today. Just another annoyance of the Cyber Era. We've had to become pretty savvy about such intrusions lately. Rule of thumb. If it looks suspicious, check the return email address.
Let me begin with a few quick announcements (and thanks to Sheila Romanowitz for sending that hopeful, uplifting and timely Shabbat art at the top of this email).
- If you know someone who is looking for work, TBE's Suzanne Fruithandler mentioned to me that Garden Homes is looking for Property Management / Customer service office support. For more information, contact Suzanne directly, at firstname.lastname@example.org.
- This is Black History Month. See flyer below for our "Shared Legacies" film and program. In the meantime, take a look at these two backgrounders:
Why Jews Should Celebrate Black History Month (Forward) and When Black History Month and Torah Come Together (My Jewish Learning)
- Today we enter the happiest month of the Jewish year, Adar. The Women of the Wall celebrated at the Kotel.. by being doused by coffee. See the video:
- A question arose this week following the presentation of the former president's Orthodox defense lawyer David Schoen, who kept covering his head while drinking water: Can a hand be a yarmulke? I was always led to believe that a part of your body can't serve to cover the head. But I was willing to give him an A for effort, especially given that wearing a yarmulke is more a matter of custom than law - and that I appreciated his decision not to wear one that day. Read more about the custom of wearing a kippah here, and in particular this note, explaining that one's own hand can not be used. He may have had the tiny plastic bottle cap in his hand (which also may have been to small). He also could have asked someone else to cover his head with his hand. Imagine the conversation between David Schoen and, say, Chuck Schumer sitting in the front row. "Hey Chuck, do you mind putting your hand on top of my head while I take a swig of this water?" Halacha makes strange bedfellows!
- Many have been receiving Covid vaccinations this week (I had my second on Monday and will speak about it tonight in relation to this week's portion of Mishpatim). Others have theirs scheduled for upcoming weeks. People have been wondering how to mark this awe-inspiring moment. Here is a suggested blessing. Here is another and another, and here's a nice selection, and some from the Rabbinical Assembly and here's a full halachic discussion of the matter from Orthodox sources. This is undoubtedly the most blessed event since the birth of Moses. But if you want to pick just one to clip and save, this one below (actually two, including the Shehechianu, which is what I said) is clean and simple - short enough so you won't hold up the line!
- Purim is on the evening of Feb. 25. Here are two assignments for you to make our virtual services the best virtual Megilla reading ever!
1) SEND US YOUR VINTAGE PURIM PICS!!! (I've also got lots). Show yourselves and your kids in their favorite all-time Purim costumes - send directly to me (email@example.com). I mean firstname.lastname@example.org.
2) Come in virtual (or real) costumes yourselves, using Zoom filters, like the Texas cat lawyer filter video that went viral this week (and gave me the best laugh I've had in a year).
- Stamford Interfaith Refugee Resettlement (SIRS) sends along this important announcement:
At this time, SIRS is pleased to let you know that we are beginning the process of applying to Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) for a third family to resettle in Stamford in 2021. Many volunteers are needed for the various teams involved both before and/or after their arrival.
Assisting in the resettlement of refugees is rewarding and interesting, and we hope you will find this is the right time to be part of this process.
On February 17, at 6:30 PM, we will have a virtual Community meeting as we begin this new journey.
At this meeting we will also share with you what SIRS has done over these last four years; the status of refugees in the world today; and the changes this year which should bring a significant increase in refugees admitted to Connecticut through IRIS.
We invite you to attend this virtual meeting. Please email one of us if you can attend, so we can send you the Zoom link for the February 17th meeting'.
We hope you will join in this journey.
Jean Meyer (email@example.com)
Amy Ewing (firstname.lastname@example.org)
Co-Chairs of Stamford Interfaith Refugee Settlement (SIRS)
Last Week's Venomous Pinprick
By now most of you are aware that our services were Zoom bombed last weekend. The intruders were "kind" enough to wait until the end of our service to desecrate our sacred space. The fact that the space was virtual did nothing to diminish the sense of violation that we felt, combined with anger and despair. It was, on a smaller scale, what the whole nation experienced with the desecration of the Capitol last month, and re-experienced so vividly in the trial this week. It is what Jews have felt whenever sacred spaces have been violated, from ancient times until today...with one big difference: We were never in any real danger.
Looking back - and we did a lot of postmortems this week - I'm proud of so many aspects of our response, including the fact that people turned up at services in large numbers every day this week, and hopefully will in even greater numbers this Shabbat.
The fact that we did not succumb to fear showed that we recognized the low level of the threat and did not overreact.
It is true that even when the threat was far greater, like after the massacre in Pittsburgh, 400 people gathered in our sanctuary the following Friday night. In that case we overcame the fear of real danger. In this case, we were stung for a moment, then turned around and realized that this act of intended intimidation was was in fact not an existential punch to our gut, but rather a pathetic pinprick by a couple of weak, gutless juveniles (and in saying this I must apologize to the many courageous juveniles I know - and I am not necessarily referring to chronological age).
As annoying and reprehensible as this act of hate was, it was also cowardly, because the perpetrators could fall back their on online anonymity. But we recognized their weakness. They thought they were intimidating us, but it was clear that night and over subsequent days that they did not. We had every right to be shocked and upset, but ultimately, we saw it for the fraud that it was. I do not minimize the impact on those who are still shaking over what happened. I'm just reminding you that the only thing we have to fear is the shadow of fear itself, our own muscle memory fear from our tragic history. Last weekend we traversed through the valley of the shadow of death. Psalm 23 teaches us that we have to overcome our fear of shadows, and we can do that with faith.
We were angry - I know I was, and part of me wishes I had threatened the intruders with my newly installed "Jewish Space Laser" as a way of mocking their Q-clouded ignorance. But as I did say last week in an instant response to their stupid, hateful intrusion, this was the act of a desperate group that has found themselves on the losing side of a long-term battle against hate. The battle is far from over; anti-Semitism and racism were emboldened by January 6 and what led to it, but while we have much reason for engagement, we have no reason to fear.
They can't hurt us. And we have our knee on racism's neck.
Compare the hateful words uttered by a couple of pathetic pranksters posted on our Zoom windows last week to what this family saw from their real window in Germany on Hanukkah, 1932.
Or to this anti-Semitic flyer posted on a German train this week, blaming Jews for the plague. Gee, couldn't they at least be a little more original? We've been blamed for plagues since the Middle Ages.
The response on that Hanukkah in 1932 was to shine the light of their menorah, right back at ya. And they were not afraid, even though the enemy literally knew where they lived. If they were not afraid, neither should we be.
It is noteworthy that that assertive, courageous response occurred before Hitler manipulated an election to ascend to power, burning down the Reichstag and gutting German democracy along the way. By the mid '30s, such courageous responses to hate were few and far between. But on my personal fascist-ometer, I reckon that we are closer to 1932 than 1935 right now, and pointing in the right direction.
We should never underestimate the pure venom in the ideology of White Supremacy that was conveyed in last week's Zoom intrusion. It has not been this empowered and enabled since the Klan marched down those same DC streets a century ago. But let us not wear the cloak of victimhood, as if to compare our suffering to the victims of Pittsburgh, Charlottesville, Selma and yes, now we can add the Capitol that list. What for us was an annoying reminder was for them life-threatening. It is that ideology whose life must be ended.
Last week's attack only highlights the importance of what we are doing as a congregation. Our efforts to combat hate with love throughout the community has intensified - our spectacular paddle raise last weekend to help alleviate food insecurity is only the latest example. And next week, on Feb 21 (see flyer on the bottom), we are partnering with local Jewish and Black organizations to watch and discuss the film "Shared Legacies," which if you haven't seen it yet, you must - follow the instructions on the flyer to access it and then join us for the panel discussion.
This program grew out of the fruitful, prolific and intensifying partnership we've developed with the Union Baptist Church. Having joined together in events ranging from deep discussions of the roots of racism to cooking classes, we now are completing each other's sentences. Next month, on March 21, we will partner on an interfaith Freedom Seder. Mark your calendars for that one!
Ultimately that's the best response to last week's futile attempt to violate our sacred virtual space. We respond to hate with intensified love. We seek unity where unity is possible, and we never accommodate those whose ultimate goal is the perpetuation of racism, autocracy and alternative facts.
We've put in safeguards, but future attacks are inevitable, at least as long as Big Lies are repeated by those who know better and conspiracy theories like the Jewish Space Laser are allowed to spread. But I encourage you not to succumb to fear or despair. If we are intruded upon again, we will eject the intruder and move on, feeling momentarily pained for our lost innocence, but much sadder for our country's.
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
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Auteur: Uitgeverij 010, uitgever: Uitgeverij 010
Hardcover, druk 1997 | Engels | 9789064502507
Tweedehands: Als nieuw
In nieuwstaat. Dagelijkse verzending, stevig verpakt en bezorgd door PostNL.
Europe:Coast Wise, ranging from the Bosphorus to the Barents Sea, is a unique compilation created by more than twenty schools of architecture representing nearly all of Europe's coastal countries. In twenty-one chapters, each featuring a single country, every participating school charted a coastal strip approcimately 1OO kilometres long. These areas line three major bodies of water vital to the history of Europe: the Baltic, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. This lavishly illustrated book propagates a critical geography of tourism and responds to the many forms taken by this growing international pastime. A hike through the Finnish Archipelag provides a story virtually free of tourism. The Prora complex on the German island of Rügen evokes the origins of organised seaside culture. Spain's Costa Brava reveals the consequences of modern mass tourism. Europe: Coast Wise discusses architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture. Although it deals with the present, whille keeping

domain: library


The Gamesmen is a family owned & operated business, since 1982.
We dispatch within 1 business day to ensure the fastest delivery time.
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Live Fast. Drive Faster.
Test Drive Unlimited 2 transforms the driving genre, adding the persistence, progression and customization of the latest multiplayer games to the critically acclaimed racing of the Test Drive franchise. Test Drive Unlimited 2 integrates a new generation of online and multiplayer features, creating a dynamic world of evolving content and challenges.
Test Drive Unlimited 2 is ""always live" with automatic content updates and seamless online/offline integration. New content, challenges and features will integrate dynamically into the gameplay as the world evolves over time.
|UPC||Does not apply|
|Product Type||Xbox 360 Software|
|Packaged Weight (Kg)||0.1000|


Luigi Chinetti recognized the viability of sporty open cars in the American market. The 250 GT SWB California Spyder in particular proved itself a resounding success. But whereas the 4-cam’s predecessor — the 275 GTB — offered a Spyder variant, the wind-in-your-hair alternative to the 275 GTB/4 was a 330 GTS.
As such, the 275 GTB/4S NART Spyder was born of a direct request from Luigi Chinetti to Ferrari. NART stands for North American Racing Team, the American face of Ferrari’s racing efforts. They were one of endurance racing’s most successful teams, with drivers that included the Rodriguez Brothers, Bob Grossman, Masten Gregory, Phil Hill, Jean Guichet and many others. Lending the NART name to the new car and embellishing it with a NART badge made it unique in Ferrari history. This new model was unlike anything Ferrari had built before. Road & Track magazine called it “the most satisfying sports car in the world” and featured it on their cover.
The NART Spider was an open-top version of a 275 GTB/4. The powerful lines of the car were a welcome change from the rather demure 275 and 330 GTS. With over 300 horsepower, a 4-cam, 3.2-liter V12 fed from six Weber carburetors, a 5-speed gearbox, and 4-wheel independent suspension, the car had the performance to back up its styling.
Only 10 NART Spyders were built, and not all of them were equal. Some were built in alloy and some in steel. Some were originally built up as an open-top model and others were built from converted coupe panels. The first NART chassis was raced very successfully at Sebring, and it was later featured in the Steve McQueen film “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Another NART was ordered new by McQueen after he filmed the movie.
This particular car was originally finished in Azzurro Metallizzato (Metallic Blue). A recent inspection confirmed the exceptional condition of the car and how well it has been preserved over the course of its life. The body lines are excellent, and the car’s presentation is thoroughly correct. It runs and drives nicely, pulling through the gears with tremendous power and stopping without issue.
10709’s exceptional purity, matching numbers, and one-owner history makes it unique among NARTs — and particularly desirable. 10709’s offering at auction is quite simply an unrepeatable — and almost unbelievable — opportunity.


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Like another precocious young golfer that recently went through Eaglecrest High School, Andrew White has big goals.
White had a strong debut season a year ago — much better than eventual state champion Davis Bryant had in his freshman year in terms of finish at the Class 5A state tournament — and is eager to take another step.
Once the uncertainty of whether or not there would be a season because of the coronavirus pandemic came to an end, White could set goals as he looks to build on a 14th-place finish last season.
“My goal again is to qualify for state and if I do that, shoot for the top five and I definitely want to see if I can go win,” White told the Sentinel.
Should that big leap happen, it would be an even greater jump than the talented Bryant, who capped an outstanding prep career with a 5A state championship in 2017 before moving on to Colorado State.
Bryant — who just played in the prestigious U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes in Oregon — tied for 30th as a freshman, moved up to 12th as a sophomore and to second as a junior before winning.
In an odd year due to COVID-19, White’s game to be in a very good place after he was able to play in some junior tournaments over the summer.
Eaglecrest coach Stan Adams has noticed White’s growth in physical stature, which has helped him add greater length to his drives and enhance his all-around game.
“My handicap went down from two to scratch, so I definitely got better,” White said. “I definitely got better on putting, I’m good with the wedges and I can hit the ball pretty far, so I’m thinking I’m really close to the point where I can go under par a lot.”
White is likely to play with a lot of players capable of shooting under par this season as part of the talented Centennial League.
Arapahoe’s Will Kates is the defending state champion — after shooting 3-under-par over two rounds last season — and the Warriors were the 5A runner-up to boot. Cherry Creek returns a pair of state qualifiers as well.
“I would love to play well in the league and maybe win it; it’s going to be fun to battle it out,” White said.
White has yet to go under par in the two Centennial League tournaments thus far, but he shot 1-over 73 at South Suburban G.C. to finish in a tie for fifth place along with Grandview’s Alex Chitkoksoong. White, who shot 75 in the opener at Meadow Hills, is currently ranked seventh in the individual league standings.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or [email protected] Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports


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The Benefits of a Live Casino
If you are looking for a casino where you can play real money games with real dealers, you may want to look for a Live Casino. The most common types of live dealer games include roulette and blackjack. Both versions of the game can be played online. If you are looking for a classic casino experience, a Live Casino will be a great choice. You can place bets on your favorite lucky numbers, odds, and evens, and bet on colors or streets.
In addition to the most popular table games, a Live Casino can offer a variety of other games. For example, live Blackjack has different rules and can be played in many different ways. The classic seven-card version of the game is available, and you can choose what chip value to place. The dealer will be able to interact with you, and you can wear whatever you like! In addition to the traditional rules of blackjack, some Live Casinos also feature a variety of other games, including video poker.
A Live Casino is very different from an online casino. The dealer is a real person. Instead of using a number generator, a live dealer pays attention to the needs of the players. This can greatly increase the excitement of the game. Another benefit of a Live Casino is that you can interact with other players and the dealer. You can try new strategies and interact with the dealer. The best part about a Live Casino is that you can wear whatever you like.
Playing a Live Casino game is as easy as selecting a live dealer and playing the game. You can see the live dealer play any time of day or night. There are many games you can choose from, and there’s no need to leave your home. You can enjoy the best of both worlds without having to step outside your home. With a Live Casino, you can play from anywhere, and your privacy is maintained throughout. There is no need to worry about privacy, as your identity is protected by encrypted encryption.
A Live Casino offers a wide range of games, including the most popular one, Texas Hold’em. There are separate tables for VIP-users and ordinary players, so clients can choose based on style of play and betting size. You can also choose from a variety of variations of blackjack. In live blackjack, the player chooses between classic and American blackjack. The gaming tables are usually overcrowded, making the game more interesting and exciting.
Live Casino is a great way to play your favorite casino games with real dealers. The games are played in real time. You can even chat with the dealer. The dealers are trained croupiers who are skilled in the art of playing the game. While you’re playing a game, be sure to choose a legitimate US live casino. You can also play at other popular online casinos, but these are not as legitimate as a Live Casino.


Inflation! Collapse of wages! Welcome to the Marxist utopia under Beijing Biden.
Personal income in America just dived by 13% – the largest drop in the nation’s history, including wars, depressions and disasters – but no disaster ever hit incomes like the American Marxists stealing the 2020 election.
And while incomes dive, the cost of living is shooting up like a rocket under their braindead America Last policies.
Inflation – Personal Consumption Expenditures Index – jumped 3.1% last month. The basics that fuel inflation have risen astronomically since Biden and the Bolsheviks stole the White House.
Can they be any more stupid? Oh yeah. Just watch. They’re Marxists.
Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose – John Maynard Keynes
BIDEN BUYS OIL FROM IRAN WHILE SHUTTING DOWN AMERICA’S ENERGY INDUSTRY & JOBS
I guess the Bolsheviks figure they can rig the next election like they did the last, so they’re destroying America while they can, but the tens of thousands of energy sector jobs they’ve killed will have a political price.
Adding insult to injury for these tens of thousands of displaced American workers – the Marxists are buying oil from America’s enemy, Iran, instead of letting Americans make a living producing their own.
RISING PRICES + SINKING WAGES = STAGFLATION
As an Economist, I can tell you that what Biden and the Bolsheviks are doing is textbook (and therefore, intentional) ruination of the United States economy.
Printing trillions of unbacked dollars – the Marxists’ latest budget is $6 trillion – on top of trillions in ‘stimulus’ has created a situation where too many dollars are chasing too few goods, which has already resulted in price increases across the board – but that’s not all.
American manufacturing, farming and transport of goods all run on oil. Within hours of the putsch taking over the White House on January 20th of this year, Biden’s first act was to shut down the Keystone Pipeline Project.
Then he ended drilling on Federal lands – killing energy production in America, to benefit who?
HOW TO RUIN A NATION IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS
If I were installed as a puppet of a foreign government to destroy America – oh let’s just say by Communist China, to pick a name out of a hat – I would mirror the madness of these Marxists.
First, I’d shut down America’s energy independence, which made the nation Great Again under Trump, restoring it as a competitor in the world, and I’d start enriching terrorists like in the old days, you know, like buying oil from Iran instead of using my own.
Yep, first time they have done that since 1991 – and it’s illegal – but who’s watching when the Department of Justice and the FBI are in our pocket, and nobody in the controlled press will say a word! Just watch! You won’t hear a peep.
That will, of course, lead to some good wars which I can use as a distraction from what we’re doing back home. It will also make me a hero with the war industry.
And I’d invite the world to come to America by flinging open the gates and turning Border Patrol into a daycare centre for unaccompanied little children.
That’ll keep my Democrat and Hollywood fans happy! They love little children, you know – especially ‘unaccompanied’ ones.
What’s more, we will teach them to love Marxism so they vote right.
My comrades in the Marxist Teachers Unions have already been doing that for years!
I’d also keep everyone locked down and scared of a flu that has the death rate of chicken pox to prevent the economy from recovering.
That will give my patrons in Beijing, who sent this bio-weapon to us, a head start in supplanting America as the world’s dominant power.
Got to help out my friends.
And I’d definitely move my madness into the military – making transgenderism the focus instead of battle-readiness.
I’d also mandate racist studies to divide the troops and make them unable to trust each other when under fire.
I’d keep the schools locked down except for online indoctrination in Marxism and racism.
Meanwhile, I’d give my comrades in the teachers unions fat bonuses and the promise of mis-educating kids as young as three once my power is consolidated.
I’d sign the biggest pork spending bills in the nation’s history to give my Marxist comrades billions as payment for fixing the election, while simultaneously taking the national debt to numbers never before imagined.
I’d rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, even though its goal of a 1.5 degree cap was reached by nature when the temperatures dropped by that amount in just two years, restoring our world to pre-1980s numbers.
But I’d rejoin anyway as that would wipe out another $134 trillion unnecessarily while not requiring anything of my pals in Beijing. That’s right, not anything.
And I’d do all this using a power not found in the U.S. Constitution.
Rather than that messy process of passing legislation, I’d just do it all by decree and an invented power of ‘Executive Order’.
I’d have the country on its knees before any court could or would challenge me.
AND SADLY FOR AMERICA, THAT’S WHAT THEY’VE DONE – IN LESS THAN HALF A YEAR
That’s right. It’s not over.
I say that because even the Marxists down for the Revolution didn’t expect to see their nation plummet from the highest job numbers across all races and the best economy in its history, to this.
The thing is, no one can blame it on the Wuhan flu as Florida, Texas, South Dakota and other properly run states have proven.
Those states have rebounded, setting records, while the Marxist-run states are largely bankrupt.
Plus, each week it seems, another State legislature – which Constitutionally hold all power over elections in America – are voting to audit what happened last November.
Do you think they’re happy with Washington plutocrats stealing their power and not leaving any for them? Of course not.
And their crimes are becoming so obvious that few can ignore it, leading to major consequences.
The fake ballots we reported that were found in a Fulton County, Georgia warehouse with the Chinese documents still attached (by Patrick Byrne’s detectives) were ordered sealed and protected by a federal judge.
But this past weekend, as Georgia voted for an audit, the local police under the command of Atlanta Mayor – Soros-funded Marxist, Keisha Bottoms – were called off the watch and they left the doors open to destroy ‘chain of custody’, it seems by intent.
Her own website states that “Mayor Bottoms is responsible for the general management of the City and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced,” but that is only if they don’t conflict with orders from Soros headquarters, apparently.
Let’s be clear. The Atlanta police can only be called off a federal judge’s orders by one person – Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms – and she can only be called off her duty by the Soros clan.
Her illegal actions coincided with her announcement not to seek re-election. Was that part of a plea agreement perhaps?
So, let’s check in on the first big audit
Maricopa County in Arizona has confirmed a level of fraud previously unseen as it finishes half the audit of 2.1 million ballots and just voted to do it again to remove all doubt.
Our sources close to the audit estimate that as many as 33,400 non-Arizonans and false ballots were included as will be found out, erasing the Marxist’s false win by 3:1 and proving us right once again.
What is done with this information is up to the Arizona Senate, not the federal government, the Board of Elections or the compromised Governor, so it’s game on.
The dead voters, fake registrations and vote-switching now proven by other patriots will likely drive this number of false votes much higher.
Even without those, however, Beijing Biden’s alleged 11,000 vote victory is gone already by multiples and the recount is only half over.
The Arizona Senate can now rescind its electoral votes for Biden which were improperly sent by Governor Doug Ducey, and improperly accepted by then Vice-President Pence.
That will throw the entire 2020 election into dispute – not only for the resident President but resounding up and down the ballot.
That will change the entire power structure in America overnight.
Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and even smaller States like New Hampshire, are also moving towards audits, meaning this is far from over. It is only beginning.
As Trump Campaign Strategic Advisor, Boris Epshteyn, told The War Room audience yesterday, “The freight train of audits is traveling across the country!”
Boris added, “To all of those on CNN/MSNBC who are absolutely obsessed with this story, here’s my message: You are right, you should be obsessed with this story because this is the biggest political earthquake in the history of the United States of America!”
In fact, our source just told us that Pennsylvania legislators were in Arizona today to view the audit process, planning a similar one in their own state.
The same fraud was used in all 50 states – as proven in these pages over the past six months – so the outcome will not ultimately accrue in the Marxists’ favour.
The elected President, Donald J. Trump, is tanned, rested and ready – several pounds lighter according to his most recent interviewer (former White House Advisor, Steven Cortes) and prepared to assume his second term.
With the stroke of his pen, all can be put right again.
America would return to energy independence and that would act like a defibrillator to its economy, returning tens of thousands of energy jobs and America’s birthright – self-reliance on its own resources – will once more prevail.
Borders will close and even legal immigration put on hold to allow assimilation as Americans, not hyphenated groups of malcontents, as was required a century ago and lasted until the 1960s.
Racist and Marxist teachings from kindergarten/university to military will be put asunder – and teaching of America’s true history and exceptionalism will return.
The federal bureaucracy – the heart of the Marxist movement – will be put on leave for a month, then fired, with any necessary (Constitutional) duties moved to the heartland, allowing billions of dollars in unneeded federal buildings to be sold to pay off debts or build a surplus.
Marxism will no longer receive federal funding in any shape or form in education, grants, international organisations or any teaching in the U. S. or abroad.
This has been akin to forcing the Church to fund lessons in Satanism – the antithesis of its purpose – and it must stop.
American debt to China ($1.2 trillion) becomes a fund for small businesses decimated by their virus instead, and China’s railroad bonds from the last century ($1.6 trillion) still owed to American investors, are paid by increased tariffs on all Chinese goods until paid in full.
The private Federal Reserve then prints enough of its unbacked currency to pay off all debts accrued in that specie (nearing $30 trillion under the Marxists), and the United States moves forward debt-free with a currency backed by gold, silver, and verified natural resources under its federal lands.
And life in America returns to normal.
If you don’t think that can happen, you don’t know much about my country or its people.
This is what we will do as soon as the real president is re-installed, which I believe will be later this year, judging by the rapid rate the fraud is being uncovered.
If you have any doubt–as many of you do–watch this 20 minute film proving what happened, and then call me crazy.


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'Final Fantasy XV' Holiday Pack Rolled Out; 2017 DLC Adds 4 Episodes But Spin-Off Not Coming In March
"Final Fantasy XV" upcoming DLC is expected to add four story-driven episodes that players may purchase in 2017. Moreover, Square Enix is expected to shut down the "Final Fantasy XV" spin-off by March 2017. In the meantime, the developers have also launched the Holiday Pack while Season Pass owners reportedly got the Holiday Pack+ already.
Holiday Pack And Holiday Pack+ Bonuses
It should be noted that "Final Fantasy XV" players with a standard edition of the game may already have access to the Holiday Pack. Note that the new update was released on Dec. 22 along with a New Game+ mode.
Furthermore, the Holiday Pack reportedly includes the Annihilation Victory Song and Level Stopper. Along with it is a LImited Time Carnival Ticket and a Noctis Exclusive Mog Chocot T-shirt available via the January 2017 update.
"Final Fantasy XV" Season Pass owners may reportedly take advantage of more bonus items with the Holiday Pack+ update. Note that the pack reportedly includes a Noctis Exclusive Phantom and Command Booster as well as a Protection Ring, Limited Time Carnival Ticket+, Key of Fortune, Stamina Anchor and the Instant Kill and Battle Skill Victory Songs. The January Update is further expected to launch a Carnival Style Noctis Exclusive and a Holiday Pack Exclusive Photo Frame, OnlySP reported.
Spin-off Mobile Game "Justice Monsters V" Shutting Down in March 2017
In other news, the "Final Fantasy XV" spin-off free-to-play iOS and Android Mobile game "Justice Monsters V" is expected to be shut down next year. The game reportedly featured several iconic monsters from "Final Fantasy XV". Apparently, Square Enix has announced shutting down service for the mobile game spin-off on Mar. 27, 2017.
"Final Fantasy XV" spin-off reportedly ran for only six months. Apparently, the initial revenue earnings may not have lived up to the expectations of the developers. In addition, note that the purchasable Golden Orbs may no longer be sold after Feb. 27 but Square Enix may reimburse players for unused Golden Orbs, WWG reported. Watch the spin-off gameplay here:

domain: game


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The Foundation has the following main aims:
- identifying, initiating, designing, supporting and deploying some projects and programmes to stand by the members of the Romanian community living abroad;
- encouraging an inter-cultural dialogue between Romanian migrants and the citizens of the states where these migrants live and work, a dialogue that would contribute to improving the living conditions and the integration of Romanian migrants in the countries in which they live and work, while benefiting from a fair treatment (in conformity with the European Union legislation for instance) and mutual respect from their citizens;
- keeping the links of the Romanian migrants communities with Romania;
- reintegrating the Romanian migrants in Romania, if they come back to their native country;
- creating a favourable image regarding Romanian migrants, from 3 perspectives:
– of the migrant himself/herself – to acknowledge his/her exceptional skills;
– of the foreigners from abroad;
– of the Romanians from Romania.
In this respect, FLAME will promote the main qualities demonstrated by Romanian migrants: courage, initiative, perseverance and integrity. Moreover, it will support migrants’ major needs such as: respect, happiness and a better life for their children.
- encouraging Romanians’ entrepreneurial spirit, in the country as well as abroad, via:
– educational programmes;
– facilitating access to capital in order to launch new companies;
– supporting the amending of the current fiscal and legal frameworks, i.e. simplifying them and eliminating bureaucratic and fiscal barriers that burden the setting up of a new company.
conducting activities pertaining to research, education, informing and promoting the interests of the members of the Romanian communities living abroad and developing the collaboration between these communities and the representatives of the authorities from foreign countries.

domain: sociology


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Jules Verne is an extremely popular French writer, the founder of science fiction along with Herbert George Wells. Verne’s works, written for both adolescents and adults, captured the adventurous spirit of the 19th century, its charm, scientific progress and inventions. Most of his novels were written in the form of travel notes that take readers to the moon in “From Earth to the Moon” or in a completely different direction – in “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Many of Verne’s ideas turned out to be prophetic. Among his most famous books is the adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days (1873).
“Ah – what a journey – what a wonderful and unusual journey! We entered the Earth through one volcano, and came out through another. And this other one was more than twelve thousand leagues from Sneffels, from this dreary country of Iceland … We left the area of eternal snows and left behind a gray fog of icy open spaces to return to the azure sky of Sicily! ”(From“ Journey to the Center of the Earth ”, 1864) Continue reading
Sir Terry Pratchett was born on April 28, 1948 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire). As a child, he didn’t really like to read books, but his life changed at 10 years old when the book “Wind in Willows” fell into his hands. With this discovery, the boy grew an interest in books, and he began to spend all his free time reading.
In 1959, Terry entered Wycombe High School of Technology. He published the first story, The Hades Business, in a school magazine in 1961, and in 1963 the same story appeared in a professional publication. Terry spent his first fee on a typewriter.
Inspired by his success, in 1965, Terry Pratchett leaves school for journalism. His first novel, The Carpet People, was written when he was only 20 years old. He continued to write while working in the newspaper. At 30, he quit journalism. When Corgi published his fourth book in 1983, The Color of Magic, a brilliant comic-fantasy novel that Continue reading
The American writer Patrick Rotfuss is known for works in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. Being an avid reader and lover of literature, a man once decided to start writing and did not lose: his books diverge in solid runs, receive prizes and are translated into other languages, including Russian. The bearded big man Rotfuss looks like a fairy-tale character and creates magical worlds full of legends, myths and songs.
Childhood and youth
Patrick James Rothfuss was born in 1973 in Madison, the capital of Wisconsin. A loving family encouraged the child’s passion for reading, and by the end of school he had read 2 thousand books, each of which became a creative fuel for the future writer’s start. The author is ironic that this love was caused by the long northern winters and the absence of cable television in the house.
Since 1991, the guy began to study at the University of Wisconsin, where he stayed for 9 years. Initially, he studied chemical technology, but realized that it was boring, and decided to change the profession to a clinical psychologist. Here, Continue reading


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Obesity is an incredibly common health condition that occurs when a person has accumulated so much body fat that it can negatively affect their health. According to studies, nearly 30% of people worldwide are overweight or obese – it’s become an epidemic. Often a local family physician or registered dietician can help with obesity.
The Risks of Obesity
Here’s how medical experts determine if a person is overweight or obese:
- Bodyweight is at least 20% higher than it should be.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight
- BMI of 30 or more is considered obese
Some of the most common reasons people become overweight and obese are consuming too many calories and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Other reasons include not sleeping enough and certain medications. Obesity treatment doesn’t solely involve losing weight. Often a local family physician or registered dietician can help with obesity.
One aspect to treatment is to change eating habits and increase physical activity. While crash diets are attractive in so far as they make the scale look better, they're not the solution. Medically, you want to keep your weight down over many years to hopefully decrease the risks that are associated with obesity. Another medical concern about crash or fad diets is that rapid weight loss leads to siginicant muscle loss. Muscle mass effects metabolic rate, so following a crash diet that leads to muscle loss will lower the metabolism and make it more difficult to lose weight and keep it off. Inevitably, once the crash diet is finished and one returns to old eating habits this slowed metabolism leads to gaining weight and possibly gaining more weight than was initially lost. Often a local family physician or registered dietician can help with obesity.
For some people, diet and exercise aren’t enough for weight loss and other treatment aspects to obesity may include medication and/or surgery. Commonly prescribed weight loss medications include orlistat, phentermine, buproprion and naltrexone. Regular monitoring by a healthcare professional will be required with weight loss medications. If lifestyle changes and/or weight loss medications don’t work, bariatric surgery may be another treatment option.
It is essential to work closely with a healthcare provider to manage risks, other conditions and complications, and to measure progress of obesity treatment.Often a local family physician or registered dietician can help with obesity.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you'd like more information on obesity.
A local Registered Dietitian In treating patients a registered dietitian can also educate them on meal planning, lowering cholesterol, nutritional requirements for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and anorexia and bulimia recovery


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Guernsey will receive 95 cruise calls this season bringing a potential 147,260 passengers to the island, an increase on 2022 figures.
The season got underway on April 15 with the arrival of Conti Group’s Hamburg and finishes on October 22 with MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia.
Silversea is due to call at the port on five occasions in 2023, as the destination pursues a strategy of attracting more luxury cruise ships.
12 cruise ships will call at Guernsey for the first time ever.
The Islands of Guernsey have just run a fam trip showcasing the destination, available shore excursions and disembarkation process to luxury cruise brands, joined by five representatives from Saga Cruises, Explora Journeys, Silversea, Seadream Yacht Club and Ponant.
Experiences included the historic German Underground Hospital, which bears witness to Guernsey’s years under German occupation during World War Two, sampling Guernsey’s sustainable Rocquette Cider and witnessing dramatic coastal scenery with a walk along the South Coast cliffs.
Accompanied by Amanda Johns, cruise business development consultant for CruiseGuernsey, the trip also provided an opportunity for the destination to share forthcoming infrastructure developments and show what passengers encounter on arrival: free Wi-Fi, a dedicated arrivals area and welcome team at Albert Pier.
Tags: Cruise Britain
Appeared first on: Latecruisenews.com


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Dispersed camping in the Coronado National Forest as well as a scenic drive.
A historic mining district that extends along the bottom of a sycamore-shaded canyon is the focal point of this short, easy drive. You’ll start in the quaint little town of Patagonia, with its rich mining and ranching heritage, and drive up the meandering course of Harshaw Creek. The canyons carved by that small stream and its tributaries were the center of extensive mining activity from the end of the last century well into the present one. Even today, mining activity continues in some areas.

domain: travel


1. Farmer’s Training Centre –
COTAAP has built a farmer's training centre. It trains farmers on practices like Vermi-compost, Vermiwash, etc. The training centre also displays a collection of cotton samples. These samples are helpful for the farmers, traders and textile industry to study the varieties of cotton.
2. Multimedia Facility –
Multimedia facilities like LCD projectors, Sound system etc. are given to marginal farmers at a nominal rent. Farmers are also provided with agricultural information through CDs.


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Virtual Introduction of our Clinicians
Luke Fedie, MS, LPC
Clinical Services ManagerLuke earned his Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Wisconsin - Stout and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).Luke's primary approaches include solution focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and interpersonal approaches to counseling. Luke also uses a variety of mindfulness approaches with clients, including meditation, guided imagery, and breathing exercises. Luke enjoys working with students with a variety of concerns, including depression, identity issues, family concerns, anxiety, relationships, personal growth, adjustment issues, and grief and loss. Luke works as the clinical services manager, a clinician, and a case manager for Counseling Services
Wendy Brousseau, MS, LMFT
Wendy earned a Bachelor's Degree from UW - Eau Claire and Master's Degree from Argosy University - American School of Professional Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her history includes working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Her specialties include: grief/loss, sexual orientation, gender identity, multicultural concerns, depression, relationships, anxiety and self-esteem issues. She primarily uses solution -ocused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. Wendy works as a clinician and intern supervisor in Counseling Services.
Jenny Hlava, MS, LPC
Roberta Holman, MS, LPC, SAC
Rosemary O'Brien, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Ashley Walton, MS, LPC-IT
Master's Level Clinician
Ashley is a Master's level clinician at UWEC Counseling Services. She obtained her Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Wisconsin Stout. Ashley's areas of interest include depression, anxiety, adjustment to college,and concerns related to gender identity and sexual orientation. Ashley works from a humanistic and cognitive behavioral approach.
Virtual Introduction of our Interns
Master's Level InternKristen is currently an intern at Counseling Services and is supervised by Roberta Holman. She is in the process of completing her Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Wisconsin - Stout.
Master's Level Intern
Bio coming soon!
Master's Level Intern
Bio Coming Soon!

domain: psychology


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These 7 practical tips for letting go of the past will help you heal, flourish, and even Blossom into a new season! Your past is an important part of your life because it helped shaped who you are today – for better or worse. But, the past can also hold you back from being who God created you to be.
Are you holding on to the past? Maybe you know you need to pick up the pieces of your broken heart, but the very thought of life without that person you love is devastating. You’re lonely, sad, frustrated…and you may even think that God, too, has abandoned you.
I know how it feels. I know how difficult it is to let go of the past – and I know how letting go helps you heal! That’s why I created Blossom, and why I share tips for moving into fresh new seasons of life.
How Letting Go Helps You Heal
Letting go of the past is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. And, it’s the most important.
We tend to hold on tight to our memories, old relationships, and past lives because they’re familiar. Comforting. We are creatures of habit, and our past is one big habit that is hard to break! We know saying good-bye and letting go helps us heal, but it’s hard.
Here’s how letting go helps you heal: it frees you from anxiety, guilt, shame, and regret. Letting go allows you to see the world – and yourself – from a brand new perspective. Letting go of the past opens a garden of possibilities and options for you. Letting go helps you heal by giving you the opportunity to rediscover yourself and figure out what you really want from life.
Who I had to let go of
Almost 10 years ago, my sister announced – completely out of the blue and over the phone – that she never wanted to speak to me again.
We weren’t having a fight, I didn’t do anything to trigger a “sister divorce”, and I was completely unprepared. The worst part was that she couldn’t tell me why she decided to let me go. She kept saying “I don’t know” – and I was left confused, shocked, and heartbroken. This breakup was worse than death because she chose to reject me and didn’t give me any reason for leaving.
So, learning how to let go of someone you love became my purpose. I struggled with shame, guilt, confusion, and anxiety because I didn’t know how to move on without her. Now I know that letting go helps you heal by giving you freedom and peace – regardless of the decisions and choices your loved ones make.
How I let go of my sister
I talked to a family therapist, I did a ton of research and interviews and wrote an ebook called How to Let Go of Someone You Love, and I wrote in my journal. Those were helpful strategies – and I do suggest them as “Blossom Tips” for letting go and healing – but they weren’t the Thing That Helped Me Let Go of My Sister.
Here’s the thing: I was asked to write for 15 minutes my thoughts on the question, “How does God see you?” This exercise was crucial to changing how I see myself, to healing my identity as a child of God, and to freeing me from the past. Seeing myself through His eyes was the Blossom Tip that helped me heal, and helped me let go of all the negativity associated with my sister’s rejection.
What about you – what do you need help letting go of? I welcome your thoughts in the comment section below. I can’t offer advice or counseling, but you may find that writing can help you heal. Writing has a funny way of getting the gunk off your chest and lets the light in.
7 Blossom Tips to Help You Let Go and Heal
These are the things that helped me with letting go of my past, forgiving myself, and accepting that I will may never have the answers I sought…
1. Surrender to what is. The worst and most painful thing you can do is rail against reality! Instead of wishing things were different or thinking you “should” have this person or that experience, accept that your life is the way it is.
2. Embrace your life the way it is right now! This is a Blossom Tip that doesn’t just help with letting go and healing, it will fill you with peace and joy. Take your surrender a step further, and actually embrace your situation. Maybe this person’s exit from your life is a blessing. Maybe it’s not. Who knows?
3. Notice how letting go helps you heal. Pay attention to the freedom and peace you feel when you allow yourself to be free from fixating on what you want but don’t have. What does healing feel like to you? How does it change your outlook on life, your experience, your thoughts?
4. Learn about healthy emotional detachment. Detaching from your relationships and expectations in healthy ways will give you airy freedom and space to grow. You can love someone deeply, but not be obsessed or even unhealthily attached to them. Blossom Tip: Figure out who you are apart from your love relationship, marriage, kids, and family members. Give yourself room to breathe by developing your own interests and life. This will help you let go and heal.
5. Trust God. Just try it! Pretend that He knows every intricate detail of your life and every intimate cell of your body, and He cares deeply for you. He loves you so much that He sent Jesus His Son as a living sacrifice, a covenant, a light, a promise. Jesus isn’t just a “Blossom Tip” – He is LIFE. And He will show you how letting go helps you heal…if you let Him.
6. Learn about grief and healing. When we think about letting go and how it helps us heal, we don’t necessarily think about grieving. This is a mistake, because a HUGE part of letting go is allowing ourselves to grieve. When you let go of someone or something (such as a dream or goal), you need to say good-bye to your hopes and attachment. This is what grieving is, and it really is a Blossom Tip that helps with healing.
7. Listen to soothing love songs or angry rock music. If you’re musically inclined, you may find The Best Breakup Songs for Letting Go of Someone You Love helpful. This is my last tip for Blossoming because it doesn’t work for me. I’d rather write in my journal than listen to music, especially if I’m untangling issues in my life. But, to each her own!
What have I missed? If you were writing these tips for Blossoming, letting go of the past, and healing, what would you include?
Help Letting Go of Someone You Love
I wrote How to Let Go of Someone You Love to help me detach from the pain of losing my sister. It helped, especially by showing me that I’m not alone. We’re all living with the pain of learning how to let go and heal – and we can walk each other home.
This ebook isn’t just my experiences and “Blossom Tips” – I interviewed life coaches, relationship experts, and grief counselors to find the healthiest and best ways to recover from a painful breakup or loss. I’ve learned a lot since my sister rejected me, and I summarized it all in this guidebook.
And you – what do you think about how letting go helps you heal? Feel free to share your experience and story below! I’d love to hear from you. I don’t give advice or online counseling, but you may find it helpful to write about your situation.
May you find peace and healing, hope and faith. May you take time to see yourself the way God sees you, and may your identity be changed in positive ways. May you find your own unique tips for Blossoming, and may you find that letting go helps you heal in ways that surprise you.
And may you be set free from whatever is holding you back from being who God created you to be.


More BoKlok homes for Gateshead
October 22, 2007 Following our report earlier this month that applications had opened for the innovative BoKlok housing project in the UK, approval has been granted for even more of the homes to be built at Gateshead in the UK.
The developer of the housing project, Live Smart @ Home, said it was delighted that councillors this week approved its plans to provide a further 57 BoKlok properties on the existing site at St James Village in Felling. With applications closing for the first BoKlok flats this week the news for more development was welcome.
“The first blocks of flats are already going up at St James and will be ready to move in to by the end of January next year, and now we will be able to build the houses, which will be particularly attractive to families,” said Alan Prole, Managing Director of Live Smart @ Home. The increased planning means a total of 83 homes, 36 one and two-bedrooms flats and 47 two and three-bedroom houses will be built at the St James site at Gateshead.
For further info visit BoKlok.co.uk.


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5 Canadian consumer trends to shape the future of retail
BDC study finds value-conscious Canadians want local, healthy, customized goods they can research online
Canadians consumers are increasingly looking for healthy and locally made products, according to a new study from the Business Development Bank of Canada that identifies five trends shaping consumer behaviour.
The BDC study released Monday also looks at the increasing importance of the internet in decision-making, with half of consumers conducting an online search prior to buying.
“It’s a look at how consumers perceive value now and it’s important for small and medium-sized enterprises to be aware of these trends to stand out in a crowded marketplace,” said Pierre Cléroux, chief economist for the BDC.
The five consumer trends identified by the BDC are:
- The buy-local movement: Consumers are shopping close to home, looking for locally made goods and aware that buying Canadian-made may be a better ethical and environmental choice.
- Rising health awareness: The aging population is becoming more aware of healthy choices in food, cosmetics and ergonomically designed products. Half of Canadians consider the health impact of a product when making purchasing decisions and one-third are willing to pay a premium for healthy products.
- Frugality: Canadian incomes are stagnant and debt is high, meaning consumers are cautious about spending. As the baby boomers retire, an increasing portion of the population will be living on fixed incomes.
- The desire for customized goods: Consumers are looking to get exactly what they want and new technology makes it possible for them to buy it.
- The impact of the internet: An increasing amount of research about products is done online, even when consumers don’t buy online. At the same time, online shopping is growing and online reviews are critical.
“We see the impact of technology increasing every year,” said Cléroux. Some products aren’t suitable for buying online – cars, for example – but consumers will turn to the web first to research a product.
- 47% of consumers conduct an online search before buying.
- 70% trust consumer opinions posted online
- 33% are willing to pay more for a healthier product.
- 1 in 3 consumers would pay 15% more for an ethically made product.
- 45% have made an effort to buy Canadian
- 24% have made an effort to buy from their province or region.
- 2 of 3 consumers say the main factor in a purchase is lowest cost.
Consumers use the internet to find out where to buy, how much things cost and details of the product, including dimensions, materials and ratings. Online reviews are critical, with 70 per cent of buyers saying they are influenced by such reviews.
“This is a growing trend. We can’t go back. It is critical for small business to get ahead of internet trends and manage their image, including managing online reviews,” Cléroux said in an interview with CBC News.
About 30 per cent of Canadian small businesses don’t have a web presence, he added. “And it’s not just having a website. They need more than that – they also need a strategy on the web.”
The BDC study found 45 per cent of consumers had made an effort to buy local in the past year, 87 per cent believed it was more environmentally responsible and 97 per cent said they bought a product to support the local economy. They also are paying close attention to corporate business practices.
This goes beyond the local food trend seen in farmers markets popping up in urban centres throughout the country, Cléroux said.
In general, consumers are looking to buy Canadian products because when they buy local it has a positive impact on Canada and Canadian jobs and the environment.- Pierre Cléroux, BDC economist
“In general, consumers are looking to buy Canadian products because when they buy local, it has a positive impact on Canada and Canadian jobs and the environment,” he said.
Marketing a made-in-Canada, or better still, a local connection can be a big advantage for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), he said.
He cites the example of the very successful Canadian coat that markets itself as a Canadian product, and the big furniture store than offers a 20 per cent discount on Canadian-made products.
Cléroux acknowledged that the value consciousness of Canadians may work against smaller businesses at a time when there is intense competition in discount retail.
But he said innovative companies are offering alternatives that save buyers money. Among the ideas to attract value- conscious consumers are group coupon discounts, discounts for buying online and offering rental arrangements instead of buying – such as the car-sharing programs Autoshare and Zipcar.
Customize your muesli
Customization is a niche trend that SMEs can take on with a little innovation. Some are approaching the choosy consumer with a wider range of products – 3,000 brands of flooring instead of 300 – but others are actually tailoring to the individual.
One company makes a “My Muesli,” which provides exactly what they consumer wants in a breakfast cereal. Do the buyers have issues with cholesterol or nuts; do they need gluten-free?; would they prefer strawberries or almonds? The customer can order a product online that exactly meets their requirements and, because of improved production technology, the company can make what they want.
“It’s a great way to differentiate yourself in a crowded market,” Cléroux said.
The BDC, which has a mandate to promote Canadian entrepreneurship, based its figures on a review of the literature, followed by an Ipsos Marking survey of 1,023 Canadians that was undertaken in August.


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Champions by Design
Starting with the original RC10, Team Associated has been at the leading edge of 1:10 scale 2WD off-road for the last 40 years and is proud to introduce this next generation RC10 to the world—the RC10B7. 40 years have seen a lot of development and changes, with each generation being a step forward from the last. The RC10B7 is no exception, boasting new long-arm suspension geometry, weight-centralized electronics layout, KPI adjustable steering blocks, and increased tunability throughout the whole chassis. These innovations have increased the potential for grip and corner speed, which leads to faster lap times and an overall easier-to-drive feel than the previous generation.
- 5-gear laydown transmission with low profile motor mount moves weight of motor closer to the center of the car
- Long-arm suspension geometry improves grip and predictability in all conditions
- KPI adjustable steering and caster blocks allow for fine-tuning steering feel. Three options are included in the kit.
- Vertical front outer ballstud allows fine-tuning of roll center, camber gain, and link length
- Height adjustable aluminum front bulkhead allows for further tuning of front roll center
- Standard and HRC (High Roll Center) rear hubs included
- Easy access anti-roll bars front and rear
- High volume gear differential improves consistency of differential action over longer runs. Fits LTC internal diff gears from the RC10B74.2.
- Highly adjustable battery holder with thumb tabs allows for easy battery removal and fine-tuning of weight bias
- 7075-T6 aluminum chassis with increased departure angle and optional weight plate pockets
- 6.5mm aluminum front axle increases stability and grip when using slim front wheels and low-profile tires
- HD 69mm CVA bones and differential outdrives for improved durability
- Lightweight molded servo mount
- One-piece rear wing mount improves durability
- New 7-inch rear wing and 2.5-inch front wing
- Low-profile body
- Shock tower covers front and rear
- 3.5mm turnbuckles and ballcups


Dark Majesty: The Bentley GT W12 Black Edition Experience
- February 11, 2024
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- Posted by Dourado Luxury Car
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Bentley, a name synonymous with luxury and performance, has redefined opulence with the Bentley Continental GT W12. The GT W12, a testament to craftsmanship and power, stands as a pinnacle of grand touring excellence. Now, with the introduction of the Black Edition, Bentley raises the bar, presenting the GT W12 as more than a luxury car—it’s an experience, a journey into the realm of dark majesty. In this comprehensive exploration, we unveil the mystique behind the Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition, delving into its distinctive design, potent performance, cutting-edge technology, and the immersive experience it promises to those seeking the epitome of automotive indulgence. Dourado Luxury Car is a dealership or a private seller specializing in luxury cars, supercars and elite cars for sale in Dubai UAE.
Chapter 1: The Allure of Darkness – Design Elegance
1.1 Exterior Panache
The Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition captures attention from the first glance with its exterior panache. Cloaked in a monochromatic symphony, the Black Edition redefines elegance with a touch of mystery. The iconic Bentley matrix grille, traditionally adorned in chrome, now stands resplendent in a high-gloss black finish. The darkened chrome accents, bespoke black wheels, and the streamlined body design create a masterpiece that transcends traditional notions of luxury. The exterior allure of the GT W12 Black Edition is not just a visual treat; it’s an introduction to an extraordinary driving experience.
1.2 Craftsmanship at Its Zenith
Craftsmanship is the hallmark of Bentley, and the Black Edition is a testament to the brand’s commitment to excellence. Every inch is meticulously crafted, from the hand-applied black trim to the bespoke badging that signifies the exclusivity of the Black Edition. The exterior serves as a canvas where Bentley’s skilled artisans bring forth a vision of dark majesty, creating a grand tourer that is not only a symbol of status but a rolling work of art.
1.3 Luxurious Interior Opulence
Stepping into the Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition is a plunge into luxurious interior opulence. The cabin, adorned in sumptuous black leather and carbon fiber trims, offers an ambiance that resonates with the sophisticated exterior design. The Black Edition introduces bespoke black detailing, from the stitching on the seats to the darkened chrome accents, providing an interior environment that immerses the occupants in an exclusive cocoon of luxury.
Chapter 2: Power Unleashed – Performance Dynamics
2.1 W12 Engine Prowess
At the heart of the Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition lies a powerhouse—an extraordinary 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine. This marvel of engineering propels the grand tourer into the echelons of high-performance vehicles, delivering an awe-inspiring 626 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. The Black Edition not only enhances the already exhilarating performance of the GT W12 but elevates it to a level where power becomes an experience, an immersive journey through performance excellence.
2.2 Dynamic Driving Symphony
The Continental GT W12 Black Edition is not just about brute power; it’s about the symphony of dynamic driving. The chassis, suspension, and all-wheel-drive system are finely tuned to achieve the perfect harmony between comfort and sportiness. Whether navigating through city streets or conquering winding mountain roads, the Black Edition showcases a level of agility and responsiveness that sets it apart as a true grand tourer—a machine that not only moves but dances with precision.
2.3 Sporty Black Edition Exhaust
The Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition doesn’t just deliver performance; it announces its presence with a sporty exhaust note that adds aural pleasure to the driving experience. The Black Edition exhaust system, tuned for a more pronounced soundtrack, transforms the journey into an auditory symphony. The blackened exhaust tips serve as visual cues, hinting at the sporty intent and delivering an unmistakable signature to the GT W12 Black Edition.
Chapter 3: Cutting-Edge Luxury – Technological Marvels
3.1 Innovative Infotainment
Inside the Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition, cutting-edge technology merges seamlessly with luxury. The advanced infotainment system, displayed on a high-resolution touchscreen, offers not just entertainment but a suite of intuitive controls and connectivity options. Whether embarking on a cross-country adventure or navigating urban landscapes, the Black Edition ensures that every drive is accompanied by the latest in entertainment and information technology.
3.2 Driver Assistance Marvels
Bentley has spared no expense in outfitting the Continental GT W12 Black Edition with state-of-the-art driver assistance systems. From adaptive cruise control to lane-keeping assistance, these features not only enhance safety but also contribute to a more relaxed and enjoyable driving experience. The integration of cutting-edge technology reflects Bentley’s commitment to providing a grand tourer that is as intelligent as it is powerful.
Chapter 4: The Black Edition Legacy – A Symbol of Exclusivity
4.1 Exclusive Ownership Bliss
Owning a Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition is not just a luxury; it’s a curated experience. Bentley extends the Black Edition legacy beyond the vehicle, offering a suite of exclusive ownership experiences. From meticulously crafted events to personalized concierge services, Black Edition owners become part of an elite community that shares a common appreciation for the extraordinary.
4.2 Personalization Beyond Imagination
Understanding that true luxury lies in personalization, Bentley offers an unparalleled level of customization through the Black Edition Atelier. Owners can collaborate with Bentley’s skilled artisans to create a Continental GT W12 Black Edition that is a true reflection of their individual taste and style. From bespoke exterior colors to personalized interior trims, each Black Edition becomes a unique masterpiece—a symbol of personal exclusivity.
Chapter 5: The Future of Dark Majesty – Bentley Black Edition Evolution
5.1 Continuing the Saga
As the legacy of the Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition unfolds, it becomes clear that this grand tourer is not just a fleeting marvel; it’s a stepping stone toward the future of automotive opulence. Bentley’s commitment to evolving the Black Edition legacy promises new chapters, each more captivating than the last. The Continental GT W12 Black Edition is not merely a vehicle; it is a testament to Bentley’s pursuit of perfection and a symbol of what the future holds in the realm of luxurious grand touring.
Conclusion: The Majesty Unveiled
The Bentley Continental GT W12 Black Edition stands as the epitome of dark majesty in the world of grand touring. Its striking design, powerhouse performance, cutting-edge technology, and exclusivity make it a beacon of automotive excellence. As it graces the roads, the Black Edition not only commands attention but leaves an indelible mark on the landscape of high-performance grand tourers—a true embodiment of Bentley’s commitment to luxury, performance, and the allure of dark majesty. The experience of driving the GT W12 Black Edition is not just a journey; it’s an immersion into a world where elegance and power coalesce, creating an automotive masterpiece. Dourado Luxury Car is a multi-brand certified used luxury cars and supercars store in Dubai UAE, offering an extensive range of high-end brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Benz etc. and many more.


Arizona Republican calls on Biden to revoke John Kerry’s security clearance
Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs on Tuesday asked President Biden to revoke the security clearance of special envoy for climate John Kerry after allegations that Kerry revealed Israeli military secrets to Iran.
The Biden administration has defended Kerry, saying he discussed facts that were widely known at the time, and Kerry denied he had ever revealed Israeli secrets, “either when I was secretary of State or since.”
The allegations were made public in a recording of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who in a conversation last month with economist Saeed Leylaz said Kerry had informed him that Israel had attacked Iranian assets in Syria at least 200 times.
Republican reactions to reports of Zarif’s recollection of the events have varied from calls for Kerry to resign, to calls for an investigation.
In his letter, Biggs asks for revocation of Kerry’s security clearance, an extraordinary measure for a former secretary of state.
“If Mr. Kerry provided sensitive information to Iran about Israel’s activities in Syria, he undermined a friend and bolstered an enemy. At best, such behavior would be despicable; at worst, it would verge on treason,” wrote Biggs.
In the recording, Zarif said he was “astonished” by Kerry’s revelations.
“And the American people should be astonished as well,” wrote Biggs, adding that “Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.”
Biggs, an outspoken House conservative, also asked Biden to conduct a fuller investigation into the allegations against Kerry.