text:
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Lawmakers are back together at the Texas Capitol, but top Republican leaders have never been further apart. Proposals for major new public school funding are competing with the Governor’s priority for private school subsidies as legislative leaders trade attacks more hostile than ever.
Education funding leads the debate — both for public schools and private schools. The governor is calling for a universal ‘educational freedom’ plan that would use state money to subsidize private education expenses, while legislators are also prioritizing major increases to public school funding and teacher pay.
The Texas Senate on Monday moved swiftly to advance their school finance package, allocating $5.2 billion in additional school funding in Senate Bill 2.
That package includes $400 million for school safety, doubling the minimal funding that came with the legislature’s sweeping school safety bill passed in the regular session.
Senate Bill 2 also gives every Texas teacher a $3,000 raise, with teachers in districts with fewer than 5,000 students receiving an additional $7,000 per year.
“The future of Texas begins in the classroom, and it is incumbent on lawmakers to unleash the potential of education for the 6 million students we serve. This package of legislation infuses historic new funds into public schools, raises the basic allotment and provides immediate across the board raises for Texas educators,” the bill’s author State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, said in a statement Monday.
House leaders have also supported a teacher pay raise and school funding boost, but have been slower to act without an explicit call from Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor alone can set the agenda for the special session, and he has not yet asked for any public school funding measures.
Top Republicans, however, have stressed the importance of passing school funding in tandem with an education savings account program.
“School finance is very important to this. The governor knows that,” House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said.
“Every single one of us wants to give the teachers a pay raise. We all know they deserve it. So we want to be able to vote for them to get a raise, no question about it,” House GOP Caucus Chair Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, told Nexstar.
Democrats have unequivocally rejected any such compromise.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Trey Martinez-Fischer told Nexstar his caucus would not support a deal to pass a school voucher program along with teacher pay.
“We’re united. No vouchers. No deals. It’s pretty simple,” he said.


The first ‘Global CEO Summit’ generates a buzz in the global events industry.
January saw a strong performance for the inaugural edition of the Global CEO Summit. Co-organised by UFI and tfconnect, the event is the result of a partnership intended to bring together the ‘best of both’ from two different approaches to a global event industry networking conference for ‘C-level’ delegates.
The Summit took place at One Whitehall Place, the Royal Horseguards in Westminster, bringing together one hundred and twenty-five of the world’s leading figures in the exhibitions industry. Hot topics included the mutually beneficial relationship between face-to-face and digital, how we’re tackling the behemoth that is big data, and the challenges that surround developing markets.
Trevor Foley at tfconnect said, “A key element of the event was to avoid an all-work-no-play environment. An early indicator for the tone of the event was certainly event chairman, Andreas Gruchow of Deutsche Messe setting aside his shirt and tie, and presenting the opening session clad in German football shirt and scarf! Later sessions would also include a top-secret presentation from one Professor Arne Svenelse, who was either an expert in cryogenics – or could have been Chris Hughes of Brand Events in full prosthetic make-up, putting on an accent. None of us are really sure.”
While there were plenty of takeaways, one phrase that really resonated was a comment from Dr Baris Onay at ITE Group that we are in the ‘Handshake Business’ as distinct from ‘Eyeballs businesses’ by which he referred to digital media, “[Exhibitions] are still part of the marketing mix, but the clients don’t look at this as one against the other – it’s run from different budgets by different people. Digital, in that case is complimentary, not contradictory. We’re selling handshakes and monetising our user-base by square metre.”
Delegates also heard practical advice from business leaders who are already putting digital and data to work. Paddy Cosgrave is the founder of Web Summit – an event in Dublin. He described how he achieved growth from 400 to 22,000 visitors in just four short years by way of targeting digital influencers and organising pub-crawls. Simon Burton, CEO at Exposure Communications said as part of his session, “We put on compelling content [at the event] but that’s not what makes it work. What does make it work, is our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter following. The age-old problem of how to get your exhibitors to promote your event for you is solved by social media – exhibitors are your content!”
Feedback on the event was hugely positive. UFI MD, Paul Woodward was pleased with the response, stating that, “It was a fantastic three days and I’m sure it will have been of great value to the industry. The feedback has been incredibly useful and we look forward to refining both content and format for next year.” The Global CEO Summit is set to return in January 2016, once again in Europe.
To see all the photos from the event, check out the Global CEO Summit 2015 Photo Gallery.


Anton Siluanov has served as acting Finance Ministrer since September 27, 2011.
* * *
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Siluanov, I have signed an Executive Order on appointing you to the Finance Minister post. I wish you success. This is difficult work, especially during a time when overall financial stability is under threat, not just in Russia but throughout the world. And all discussions and international meetings show that unfortunately, for now, there is still a whole range of negative trends in global finances, particularly given the crisis in the Eurozone.
Thus, you will have a great deal of work. Nevertheless, you are an experienced individual who has worked in the Ministry for a long time; you are most familiar with all its mechanisms and are well-acquainted with the budget process and the tax legislation, so I think you will be able to handle all the challenges assigned to the Finance Ministry. The work of the entire Government depends on the Ministry’s accurate operation. But even more important is the fulfilment of all budgetary appropriations, all budgetary positions, in accordance with the high-quality execution of the budget, the payment of monetary assets – in other words, everything that the Finance Ministry is responsible for.
“I would like you to give particular attention now to issues of ensuring social payments, issues pertaining to fulfilling our main tasks in social welfare: pensions, healthcare, education, paying salaries to state employees. Because these things must always be under the Government’s control.”
I would like you to give particular attention now to issues of ensuring social payments, issues pertaining to fulfilling our main tasks in social welfare: pensions, healthcare, education, paying salaries to state employees – naturally, within the Finance Ministry’s authority. Because these things must always be under the Government’s control, particularly during a fairly difficult financial period, when various kinds of political events are underway – I am referring to the recent and upcoming elections. These situations always call for additional attention.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov: Mr President, thank you very much for your support and your assessment of our work, the work of the Finance Ministry. Indeed, the current situation on the global markets, particularly in Europe, is unclear, and for our part, as the Finance Ministry, we are preparing for various scenarios of how things might develop. So this year, in implementing the budget, we have tried to create maximum reserves to get through the next year.
This year, we received additional budgetary revenue – first and foremost, due to the good market situation, due to an increase in revenue collection. We have reserved a large part of this additional revenue for next year – we have put it in the Reserve Fund – and we will reduce borrowing next year. Of the additional revenues we collected, we have used only 11.6 percent on expenditures, and forwarded all the rest to the Reserve Fund and toward reducing our loans on the market, since today the question of liquidity on the market is fairly acute, and we are trying to borrow less through the budget, retrieving this liquidity from the economy. So we have accumulated a reserve for next year – the Reserve Fund of 1.8 trillion rubles – and that’s just our Reserve Fund for next year. The initial plan in the budget set it at about 50 billion rubles in the Reserve Fund by the end of the year. So we have really increased that volume.
Dmitry Medvedev: We might need it next year, because we are not growing this fund so as to feel that everything is good in our nation, but for the sake of the future that may not be so sunny, even in comparison to today.
Anton Siluanov: That’s right. Thus, we have set a reserve in the form of the Reserve Fund, and we have prepared all the necessary regulatory and legislative acts in the event that the situation gets worse. They are on the stand-by, ready, and if we see that the situation is deteriorating, we will quickly pass these acts in contrast to the situation we had at the beginning of 2009, when it took us quite a long time to respond.
In addition, within the framework of the rights granted to us by the Federal Law On the Federal Budget, we have already created an additional reserve through the reallocation of expenditures that the legislators gave us. And we have made provisions for the possibility of fulfilling state guarantees taken into account for next year, for implementing those same possible anti-crisis measures. We do not know how the situation will develop, but we must certainly build up the necessary reserve of stability. Currently, we are preparing all relevant regulatory acts for all the federal ministries and agencies in order for the law on the budget to be launched in a timely manner. We have already instructed them on the target points for next year. In other words, the ministries and agencies have already received their necessary funding, which they have the right to use starting on the first business day of next year. We are currently preparing the necessary legal acts, so I think that everything will be fine.
Dmitry Medvedev: I am certain that we will overcome these problems too, although I have just returned from Brussels where yesterday I was at the centre of the European Union and the mood there is not stellar, so we must be ready for any scenarios. That is precisely why it is good that you recalled that we passed some laws in 2009, and now we are armed with legislation, because we have mechanisms that can be launched at any moment, as well as the reserves you spoke about, of which you were able to set aside a sizable volume this year. So I count on everything to be in good order. And I once again wish you success in your job, which is very difficult, but exceedingly important for our country.
Anton Siluanov: Thank you Mr President. We won’t let you down.


text:
Tourism Malaysia is making a new push to bring tourists from the Middle East. At the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz – …
The Malaysian Government has passed legislation imposing a room-night levy on hotels, enabling the country’s DMO to greatly increase spending on tourism promotion and infrastructure.
Tokyo's Metropolitan Government is to open a website and 360-degree VR movie channel to promote diverse tourism attractions in Tokyo and Tohoku, Chugoku and Shikoku Regions.
Coinciding with the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development, the five winners of the 2017 National Geographic World Legacy Awards were announced at ITB Berlin.
The world’s largest festival of light music and ideas, Vivid Sydney returns bigger, bolder and brighter in 2017
The Japan National Tourism Organisation's (JNTO) has launched a specialised website for Japan incentives, featuring information on incentives in the country.

domain: travel


text:
622 Mn Internet Users in India : Kantar Icube 2020 Report
The ‘ICUBE 2020’ report by IAMAI and Kantar indicates that the Internet usage in India continues to grow. Internet users are estimated to grow by 8% in 2020.
• As of 2020, estimated number of Internet users who have accessed Internet in the last one month is around 622 Mn. The number of active internet users are expected to grow and reach 900+ Mn by 2025.
• In Urban India, Active internet users have grown by 4% over last year to reach 323 Mn (est.), while in Rural it has increased by 13% over last year to reach 299 Mn (est.)
• There are 58% Male Internet users and 42% Female Internet users in India. The ratio of male to female in Urban India is 57:43 and that in Rural India is 58:42
• 94% of urban internet users are accessing internet daily while 90% of rural internet users are daily users
• Mobile phone has been the key driver for growth of internet in India. All the active internet users use mobile phones to access internet
• Entertainment, Communication and Social Media are the topmost activities done online among internet users in urban and rural India

domain: sociology


text:
1lb Bee Downtown Honey
This delicious honey is quite possibly one of our favorite honeys from the 2021 year. On the nose we pick up earthy notes with hints of fresh rain, wheat, and a delightfully bright green tea smell. As we move into the flavor, the smell of tea carries through into the taste of this honey paired with juicy fruit flavors and hints of berry. The middle flavor of this thin, wet honey is the strongest of the flavors and then it beautifully tapers off into a delicate, light finish that leaves the mouth feeling clean and refreshed. This honey is incredibly smooth in the mouthfeel and its sunflower colored White Honey is somewhere around 30 mm on the Pfund scale.

domain: food


84-year-old Sask. senior spends year knitting 175 cozy holiday gifts for less fortunate
SASKATOON -- A Prince Albert senior has spent about 900 hours this past year knitting and crocheting scarves for people in the city who are living homeless.
Eleanor George, 84, said it took her a minimum of five hours to make each scarf.
With knitting and crochet needles in her hands for several hours a day this past year, she managed to make 175 scarves to gift to the less fortunate.
“Not everybody gets something homemade,” said George. “I always feel there’s a need in the city.”
She also washed, dried, conditioned and individually bagged the scarves.
George donated them to city council’s annual holiday initiative that distributes bags of necessities to homeless people in Prince Albert. The pandemic has forced its usual Christmas Eve get-together at the Union Centre, where people can pick up the bags and visit over coffee and snacks.
In the past, Ward 1 Coun. Charlene Miller and former Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha took on the project. This year, all of city council is helping out with Miller leading.
She said councillors be distributing bags of warm clothing to places like homeless shelters and detox centres.
“When Eleanor got ahold of me last year at Christmas time to say she was going to do 175 scarves for me, I was overwhelmed,” said Miller.
“I didn’t know if somebody could do 175 scarves in a year, but she did it.”
Miller, along with Mayor Greg Dionne, picked up the scarves at George’s home on Saturday afternoon. She also gave scarves to Miller and Dionne.
George’s friend, Arlene Kennedy, made an additional 31 scarves for the bags.
George said she finished making her last scarf on Friday night. Somehow, she said, she still has yarn left over.
Last year, George made a monetary donation so that Miller could buy scarves. Because she taught herself how to knit and crochet at a young age, she wanted to challenge herself to make them instead.
When the pandemic hit in March, George said she had a lot of time to make them. She only took breaks in the summer to take care of her garden.
“I don’t drive anymore, so I can’t go out, so this just kept me sane,” said George.
“I belong to Mont St. Joe's (Joseph) Auxiliary and I work in the canteen there and I teach an art class there. I can’t go there anymore. I belong to Senior Advocacy, I can’t go there anymore. I can’t go to exercise class — I have to do something,” she said with a smile.
The bags city council is distributing will also contain other warm clothing items such as toques, mitts and socks.


There are many reasons that a hunter would get truly harmed, yet the main cause is ill-advised gun dealing with. It is a brutal reality yet, such a large number of hunters overlook essential security shields while hunting and do not take great consideration of their weapon. Hunting wounds or fatalities are in effect very normal worldwide of hunting and many individuals do not appear to be too worried about the lethal real factors of these occurrences. The intelligent hunter, regardless, takes cautious note of all of the security insurances including their weapon and learns the basics of gun security for hunters. One of the primary key laws of hunting security is to constantly regard the gun as though it is stacked. Connecting with having a gun as a rule, one ought to never accept that it is dumped. One ought to never be sassy with a gun or wave it around, point it at others or work imprudently with it. There is perpetually the off bet that something could occur as a result of any gun powder buildup or different potential outcomes, giving the chances of a dangerous occurrence more ground than needed.
In relationship to the previously mentioned law of gun safety, it is fundamental to be mindful and save the gun dumped until it is prepared for the application on the hunting grounds. This maintains a strategic distance from any injury or passing because of the gun unintentionally going off because of reckless use or because of unlawful memory. Numerous a stories has been told about gun wounds about guns going off in truck compartments and shooting through truck seating, in regards to the idea that the gun was the correct way put away as well as that the inappropriately put away gun was stacked. Because of reasons, consistently store the gun as dumped. When on the hunting field, recalling hunting security methods is significant. Continuously keep the fingers in recorded positions until ready to fire. This evades any coincidental terminating which can clearly stretch out to basic injury.
In the event that the fingers are bound to be close to the gun’s trigger, keep them collapsed and away from any indents until the prey is well inside scope range. One misleading action with a finger excessively near the trigger could bring about inadvertent terminating bringing about injury or passing and click site https://allaboutshooting.com/ to read more information. Keep the gun pointed in a protected heading. This, obviously, implies that the gun ought to never be pointed at someone else. Numerous a stories has learned of guns pointed at hunting companions jokingly. All in all, these essential guidelines ought to be observed if one has any desire to make sure a protected and happy hunting trip. Without focusing on safety guidelines, the gamble component of the standard hunting trip increases and injury is practically inescapable. Be protected while hunting or managing gun of any sort.


text:
shoppers are viewing this right now!
- Size :
Please select an available size.
Please select a size.
Description: Hand-Tufted Shag:
- Hand-tufted Shag construction
- Soft, lush pile
Due to the handmade nature of this product, please expect slight variations in size and color.

domain: artistic


text:
The National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, has given strike notice to the Federal Government over its dissatisfaction with payment of salaries through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS and the alleged breach of Memorandum of Understanding, MoU reached between the government and the association in 2018
This is as the Vice President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, (North), Comrade Solomon Alfa, has said that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation should be held responsible if there is any disruption of academic activities when schools are reopened.
Alfa said that the payment of the consequential adjustment from the minimum wage increase has not yet reflected on their salary.
The threat for strike is coming on the heels of plans by the federal government to re-open schools that were shut down following the declaration of lockdown to curtail the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.
The association said that the strike will be comprehensive, indefinite, total and would start immediately the lockdown is lifted and that there would be no other notice.
In a letter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, NAAT stated that its disenchantment was as a result of the alleged anomalies and lack of transparency in the payment of salaries of its members through the IPPIS platform.
The letter which was signed by NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, was copied to the Minister of Education, Accountant General of the Federation, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC and the President of Nigerian Labour Congress
We write with a view to drawing the attention of the Honourable Minister, of the tension, total loss of confidence and disillusionment brewing in the University Community cutting across the teaching and the non-teaching staff and staff of other tertiary institutions across the nation.
“This disenchantment is occasioned by the anomalies/ irregularities and lack of transparency in the payment of salaries of our members through the IPPIS Platform.
“These shortcomings continued to the last payment of salaries in April, in spite of protests through memos and phone calls from the leadership of the union
The Honourable Minister Sir, our Union has been at the forefront of the clamour for visitation panels in the Universities and the implementation of reports arising from such visitation.
“Based on this and as a responsible union the leadership directed her members to key into IPPIS for payment of salaries to checkmate corruption, the menace of ghost workers and over-bloated salaries in the system with the understanding that the peculiarities of our members and the universities, as different from the core civil service will be taken care of.
In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Minister is hereby put on notice that our union in compliance with the generality of the views, expectations and agitations of our membership, will resume the suspended strike action of March 2018 to press home our legitimate demands listed as anomalies under IPPIS and non-implementation of the memorandum of action willingly entered into by the Federal Government, are not resolved before the date of re-opening of schools.

domain: news


Polar FT1 Basic Heart Rate Monitor
The Polar FT1 basic heart rate monitor is for those who are interested in a watch that can also be used while exercising to monitor their heart rate.
It comes with extra large digits for easy display. It includes the T31 coded transmitter strap to prevent interference from other heart rate monitors.
Body measurement features
Average and maximum heart rate of training
Heart rate – bpm
- Heart rate is the measurement of the work your heart does. Heart rate is expressed as the number of beats per minute (bpm).
HR-based target zones with visual and audible alarm
- You can define your target zones for a training session based on heart rate to help define the right intensity. When you are out of the preset zones, the training computer will give a visual and audible alarm.
Manual target zone – bpm
- This feature enables you to manually enter the target zone that is suitable for your training. You can set the target zone for your training as beats per minute (bpm).
Polar OwnCode® (5kHz) – coded transmission
- Coded heart rate transmission automatically locks in a code to transmit your heart rate to the Polar heart rate monitor (training computer). The training computer picks up your heart rate from your transmitter only. Coding prevents interference from other training computers.
Training files (with summaries) – 1
HeartTouch – button-free operation of wrist unit
- When HeartTouch is on, different training information during training can be accessed without pressing buttons, for instance, when gloves make pressing buttons difficult, by bringing your training computer close to your transmitter.
Date and weekday indicator
Display text in English
Time of day (12/24h)
Water resistant – 30m
Much more than Polar FT1 basic heart rate monitor found on the home page


text:
Parshat Hashavua Lech Lecha
By: Rav Nissim Mordechai Makor
“And the souls that they made in Haran” (Bereishit 12:5)
Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef zt”l always emphasized that patience and endurance is key to the success of bringing people close to religion. He quotes a story from the Midrash.
One day an old man who did not believe in Hashem entered the home of Abraham Abinu. Abraham immediately served him a beautiful meal to satisfy his hunger. After the meal, Abraham sat with him for hours, many hours, talking to him about believing in Hashem. After the long talk, the old man stood up and foolishly declared, “Do you want to know who created the world?” He then took out a mini-idol from his pocket and pointed to it.
At that point Abraham Avinu got fed up and angry at that old man who closed his ears to all of the words of truth that Abraham had told him. So Abraham chased him out of the house. Immediately Hashem appeared to Abraham and angrily told him, “I have endured and I have had patience with this old man already for ninety years hoping he will make teshuvah, and you couldn’t hold out with him for a few hours?”
Immediately Abraham ran out to find the old man. He found him and brought him back, and started gradually working on him. Slowly his words entered the old man’s heart, until finally he declared, “Hashem is one and His name is one!”
All Jews deserve a lot of patience from us, just as Hashem has been patient. The results are truly amazing.
Rabbi Reuven Semah
“Go away from your land – to a land that I will show you” (Bereishit 12:1)
“Every man, wise of heart, knows that the souls of the wicked are not like the souls of the Nation of Israel,” because wicked souls are from the outside world of division, whereas the souls of the righteous are from the holy world of unification. Therefore, the souls of the Jews are all considered as one, as it says, “All of Israel are united one with the other.” We also know from the Sages, of blessed memory that anything in the realm of holiness does not leave from it’s place, but it’s primary root and source remains, and from there spreads out. These are the words of Hashem to Abraham, “Go away,…” Go away, commands Hashem, to yourself and to your source; specifically, his “source” is his connection to Hashem, and the land to which he goes is the Land of Israel. So, by living in the Land of Israel, one is connected to himself, to his source – to Hashem, and his life is thereby improved and sanctified, because he himself is not the same abroad as he is in the Land of Israel. (from the Alshich)
Regarding such advantages of dwelling in the Holy Land, the Ramban writes, “Know that the judgment of Sodom was due to the superiority of the Land of Israel, since Sodom is part of the ‘Inheritance of the Eternal’ (II Samuel 20:19), and it does not tolerate men of abominations.” And see that G-d destroyed Sodom as a sign that Israel would inherit the Holy Land, for there shall be the Temple of Hashem.” According to this, we can understand the words of Kalev ben Yephuneh: “Very, very good is the [Land of Israel], but don’t rebel against Hashem.”
Insights on life from the above: “As settlers in the Holy Land, we must be very strong in the fulfillment of Torah and Mitzvot.” Thus the Gra, of blessed memory, writes, in his letters, “In the Land of Israel we must truly walk in the ways of Hashem.”
And he trusted in Hashem (Bereishit 15:6).
The Baal Shem Tov and his disciple, R’ Menachem Mendel of Ber, were walking along a deserted road. They were far from any signs of civilization; all was desolate, scorched by hot summer sun. There was no water to be found in sight, no farmhouse, no well.
“What are we going to do? We will die of thirst!” R’ Menachem Mendel said desperately.
“Where is your faith in Hashem, your Bitachon?” the Baal Shem Tov chided his disciple. “Your faith has to be strong enough for you to believe in miracles. If you really and truly have faith that Hashem can provide us with water, in this deserted, desolate spot, if you believe with your heart and soul, then He truly will! Now begin to concentrate!”
R’ Menachem Mendel closed his eyes tightly and thought deeply. Then he opened his eyes and said, “Hashem can surely provide us with water, even in this forsaken spot.”
Suddenly, a gentile appeared, as if from nowhere. “Have you perhaps seen horses roaming about? They have run away from me. I have been looking for them for the past three days but have found no trace of them.”
The two men shook their heads. “No, we are sorry, but we have seen no horses here. They must have gone in a different direction.”
The gentile was about to turn around when suddenly a thought struck him, “You look like you are very thirsty. Would you like some water? Here I have a pitcher full, much more than I need. Drink your fill.”
The two men tipped the water pitcher to their lips and drank until their thirst was quenched. Thanking the man, they continued along.
R’ Menachem Mendel turned to his teacher and said, “I am now really convinced that faith can perform miracles. But there is one thing I do not understand. The man said that he had been wandering around this area for three days in search of his horses. I know that Hashem sent him especially to quench our thirst. Why, then, did he set out three days ago?”
The Baal Shem Tov replied, “Hashem expected us to be traveling through this area. He anticipated our thirst and wanted the water to be on hand at the very moment that we needed – and prayed – for it.”
There was a quarrel between Abram’s shepherds and Lot’s shepherds. The Canaanites… were living in the land… Abram said: “Let there neither be a quarrel between us, nor between our shepherds… please go away from me: if you go to the left, I will go the right, and if you go to the right, I will go to the left” (13:7-10).
Rashi brings the tradition of what the quarrel was about. Lot’s shepherds let their sheep and cattle graze on Canaanite-owned pasture, arguing that those lands in due course would become family real-estate property: “I will give this land to your children” (12:7). In contrast, Abraham and his shepherds respected the reality that the Canaanites were at that time in possession, feeding their domesticated animals on the inferior wild grasses that were available to all.
There were arguments supporting the behavior of Lot and his shepherds. The text relates: “The Canaanites were then in the Land” (12:6). Rashi explains the significance of the word “then”. The Canaanites were in the process of conquering the Land from Abraham (and Lot’s) extended family, who were the descendants of Shem. As the Caananites took the land by force, they had less right to the pastures than Abraham and Lot who were the heirs of the previous owners.
But the basis of Abraham’s outlook was: “You shall do what is right and good in the eyes of G-d” (Deut. 6:18). Common decency: “doing what is right and good” is a product of human and ethical sensitivity. A decent person does not exploit something in the hands of others without permission.
Lot, in contrast, was a tactician, an opportunist, and a schemer. The Torah mentions that “Lot, who was going with Abram” (13:5) had acquired a great deal of material wealth. Rashi derives from those words that it was Lot’s “going with Abram” which generated his riches, and he didn’t miss a chance to let his affluence expand including when it came from dubious sources. But even that was not good enough: his eye was on the settled urbanized lifestyle of Sodom which afforded far more wealth-acquiring potential than the migratory pastoral-nomadism of Abraham and his company. Therefore he took advantage of the over-pressure on land to accede to Abraham’s request and make a “gentleman” departure: they indeed became “separated” from one another.
That, according to the Ohr HaChayim is exactly what Abraham wanted all along. G-d told Abraham, not Lot, to “go to the Land that I will show you” (12:1). Lot was not invited, nor was he wanted, but he got into the company and went with (12:4, Ohr HaChayim to 12:1), probably in the mind-frame of being ready to use the “host” when it suited him, and “ditch” him when better prospects appeared “down in the valley”. Abraham no doubt knew with whom he was dealing, but he did not turn him away as he did not want to shame him; he was after all his orphaned nephew. He hoped that Lot would turn himself away from him on his own accord when the time came. The quarrel, when it happened, reflected badly on Abraham as well as Lot: the Ohr HaChayim suggests that as Lot was related to Abraham, their respective shepherds wrongly saw Abraham as being of similar character to Lot.
Abraham’s dilemma of stepping out with Lech-Lecha and not wishing to include Lot in the company put him a difficult situation; one that many can relate to. For example, a person is offered a once-a-lifetime brilliant position on a team, but finds that it includes an undesirable individual whose attitude and work-politics are an embarrassment and a thorough nuisance. Following the Ohr HaChayim’s explanation, he or she might be well advised to take the job rather than wait for the ideal conditions that will probably never happen. As Kohelet puts it, “Those that wait for the wind will never sow the seeds, those who stare into the rain clouds will never reap the crops” (Eccl. 11:4). Though the conditions are imperfect and the undesirable hanger-on may be included, just go ahead with the faith that the reality of the project could well elbow that particular individual to the side and then out of the project.
The Pearls of Life
The Pearls of Life focus on one of Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s favorite talks reminding us that throughout your life you should be grateful to people who benefit you. If you don’t learn to be grateful to people, you will never achieve the status eved [servant] of Hashem. You cannot even have a natural behavior pattern of thanking people. If you acquire that behavior pattern, you will thank your mother, or your wife for making your meals, you will thank your father for buying you clothing, and you will thank your rebbi for teaching you Torah. You can then use this attitude in expressing your gratitude to Hashem. But if you are not accustomed to thanksgiving people (so if somebody holds a door open for you, you don’t say thank-you), you can forget about being an eved Hashem. The most important thing you need to learn in This World is how to feel thankful and how to express your thanks. It is only then that you will be on the first rung of the ladder to personal growth. After that you can climb higher little by little until you reach the point where you can say thank you to Hashem and really mean it.
Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim
Edited, compiled and contributed – Rav Nissim Makor

domain: literature


text:
(Item 2 of the Agenda)
9. The objectives for the workshop and the reasons for holding it were presented with the Provisional Agenda and Provisional Timetable (see annexes 2 and 3 respectively).
10. The paper Improving the relevance and contribution of food and agricultural Statistics in poverty reduction strategies and food security programmes by Prof Ben Kiregyera, Statistical Consultant and Chairman, Board of Directors, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, was used to introduce the first topic. Prof Kiregyera noted that in many countries food and agricultural statistical systems have been developed in a piecemeal and ad hoc or quick fix project fashion involving carrying out ad hoc surveys and censuses which were mainly donor and producer driven, with limited Government commitment and ownership and carried out to meet specific data needs.
11. To improve the situation he suggested that what was needed, was to redirect the development of food and agriculture statistics using a new approach, the integrated approach. He said that integration would result in enhancements in consistency: by (i) improving inter-institutional coordination and linkages among institutions that produce data, (ii) system-wide adoption and application of standardized concepts, definitions and classifications, (iii) collecting data during the same period of the year. Incompleteness would be reduced by implementing comprehensive survey programmes with surveys designed so that data could be collected to fill data gaps. The likelihood of accurate data would be more assured if best practices and appropriate methods were used, data collection instruments were properly designed and administered by the right personnel, and if the collected data were properly handled during the post-enumeration period.
12. He also mentioned that by using a Geographic Information System (GIS), new analytical products such as vulnerability and poverty maps could be produced. The maps helped to analyse and simplify the presentation of often complex sets of information and relationships related to poverty and vulnerability. The poverty maps, for instance, showed the distribution of poverty across the different parts of a country and helped to capture heterogeneity within regions, to identify geographical factors affecting poverty, to improve targeting of resource and interventions, to improve communication about poverty conditions and to facilitate GIS functionality, i.e. using location to integrate information from heterogeneous sources.
13. Mr Baker suggested that the countries in the Pacific would benefit by integration of agricultural statistics into a national system, but that support for such a system would still depend on demonstration of the value of current statistics in decision-making. He encouraged the participants to take advantage of the new analysis techniques to identify those persons vulnerable to food insecurity and to poverty.
14. The topic Millennium Development Goals, Targets and Indicators (measuring the progress) was presented by Mr Garth PARRY, Statistician of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). He explained the history of their development, an overview of the associated targets and indicators (MDGIs), and the reporting implications for National Statistical Systems (NSSs) in the region. He listed each indicator briefly, highlighting those of relevance to agricultural statistical systems, and noted that Pacific Island NSSs were largely unprepared for the work that would be necessary to report on the MDGIs in 2004 as per country commitments.
15. He summarised a case study undertaken in Vanuatu by SPC in collaboration with UN agencies, the main outcomes of that work being: recognition of the need for greater awareness of the MDGs; the problems of conflicting and incorrect data circulating internationally for national MDGIs; and a relatively optimistic outlook for NSSs that more of the underlying data needed for the MDGIs already exists than is generally believed, and as a result many MDGIs will be measurable with some expert assistance. In this context he mentioned SPCs strong commitment to assisting PICTs with MDG-related work, including through the recently developed PRISM and popGIS projects, with a very strong emphasis on highlighting the potential benefits to PICTs from using MDGIs to improve national planning and decision-making.
16. In the course of the presentation he highlighted two instances where national estimates of MDGIs for one of the participating countries were markedly different from data circulating internationally. The meeting agreed strongly that there should be clear national ownership of the MDGIs, including the use of national statistical websites as the definitive source for national data.
17. The workshop was advised of the initiative of the consortium, Partnerships in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) to encourage Better statistics for decision-making. Papers prepared by Ms Makiko Harrison (PARIS21 Coordinator, Development Economics Data Group, The World Bank) for a PARIS21 Forum were summarized.
18. It was noted that PARIS21 had developed Statistical Capacity Building (SCB) Indicators to provide a comparative overview of the countries statistical capacity with a view to facilitate capacity building and that these indicators reflected a snapshot of a countrys statistical conditions, a focus on opportunities by highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and a means to track over time results of capacity building efforts.
19. The SCB indicators would be used to support the development agenda with its new demand for better statistics by building national statistical capacity and strengthening the worldwide statistical system.
20. Ms Harrison had pointed out that among the challenges facing developing countries was that the statistical systems were under pressure. She said that these systems commonly were part of an unsupportive political environment with limited feedback from users and with limited institutional coordination. The agencies often had insufficient analysis and dissemination capacity and problems of staff motivation and incentives. In addition they were faced with new demands for data, but there were often budget constraints.
21. She noted that PARIS21 had proposed several strategies to achieve better statistics including 1) building of demand for statistics within the country with country ownership of the statistics; 2) investing in national capacity; 3) improving efficiency and making better use of existing resources; 4) making use of new statistical tools and technologies; and 5) enhancing international cooperation.
22. The workshop learned about the Poverty Analysis and Data Initiative (PADI) of the World Bank Institute as part of its Capacity Building Program to Support the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The objectives of PADI were to enhance in-country analytic capacity in poverty analysis, monitoring, and evaluation; strengthen in-country statistical capacity in improved poverty data collection, management and dissemination; improve quality of and timely access to poverty data; enhance in-country policy research on poverty reduction and program evaluation; and link policy-making to poverty analysis and data initiatives.
23. It was mentioned that the four-step strategy of PADI included 1) poverty measurement and diagnostics; 2) monitoring poverty and social indicators; 3) poverty and social impact evaluation; and 4) better data collection and dissemination.
24. It was pointed out that PADI activities were carried out through regional workshops/seminars to promote analytical and statistical capacities; policymakers seminars for advocacy and awareness; in-country workshops to broaden local capacity; regional seminars/workshops/fora to disseminate research findings; and two websites (POVERTY DATA BANK and community of practitioners (CoP)).
25. The session on Food and Agricultural Statistics within the National Statistics System was introduced by Mr David MARSHALL, Senior Statistician, FAO Statistics Division, with an overview of the integrated approach to the development of a food and agricultural statistics system. It was noted that within the Pacific Island Countries, agriculture remains a key sector of the economy and many of the statistics compiled in the countries are relevant to agriculture. As well as the traditional statistics on agricultural production, external trade data and data from household consumption and expenditure surveys are also key sources of information on the agricultural sector.
26. It was mentioned that National Statistics Offices (NSOs) were faced with ever increasing demands for data which have to be balanced with the ever present resource constraints. In particular the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) required the compilation of some 41 indicators and the development of a National Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) also required the development of a subnational information system.
27. Typical data sources (such as Census and Survey (traditional) data, household survey data, nutrition data and FIVIMS/Mapping of data/GIS/database) were briefly presented as well the issues and constraints faced by the countries of the region.
28. Mr Allan NICHOLLS (Australia) presented the case study on Australian Food and Agriculture Statistics in the context of Australias National Statistical System. He pointed out that while the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was Australias official statistical agency, there were a wide range of other organizations which collect, analyze and/or disseminate statistical information. These organizations included other commonwealth government agencies, state government agencies, industry associations and private businesses. Through these activities, these organizations made a substantial contribution to the overall suite of information available about Australia.
29. Mr Nicholls then described the functions and mission statement of the ABS, as well as selected aspects of its operation. Some of the functions identified were responsibility for coordination of various Australian government statistical activities and services, and the promotion of standard concepts and definitions across all agencies. Similar descriptions were then given for the other major organizations involved in food and agriculture statistics. The level of cooperation and coordination between ABS and these organizations was also discussed.
30. Aspects of ABS business surveys were then reviewed, including the standard population frame, standard statistical unit and steps taken to maintain the cooperation of providers of data. Finally, integration of ABS statistical data was discussed in terms of the level of integration:
- across financial surveys;
- between financial surveys and taxation data;
- between agricultural finance and commodity collections;
- between business surveys and household surveys, and;
- between the agricultural census and population census.
31. The paper went on to describe each of the main statistical collections related to food and agriculture (of both ABS and other organizations), but there was insufficient time to discuss them in detail during the presentation.
32. In the discussions, the importance of a sound institutional framework was highlighted. The role of the NSO as a coordinator of all governmental statistical activities was also discussed.
33. The case study on Fiji Food and Agriculture Statistics described the integration of agricultural statistics into the national statistics system and the development of tikina profiles for each of the districts in Fiji.
34. It was explained that The Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics (FIBOS) is Fijis official statistical agency which is authorized by law to collect statistical information. However, there are a wide range of other organizations which collect, analyse and disseminate statistical information. As well as the Fiji Island Bureau of Statistics, the main organizations involved in food and agriculture statistics were the Ministry for Agriculture, Sugar & Land Resettlement (MASLR), Ministry for Health (Food and Nutrition Centre), The Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited, Fiji Meat Industry Board, Coconut Development Authority, and the Quarantine Department, MASLR. Other line ministries collecting data related to food and agriculture included The Ministry for Housing and Rural Development and The Ministry for Fijian Affairs.
35. At this time the main contribution of FIBOS to food and agriculture statistics was the provision of statistical information to draw up the FBS (Food Balance Sheet) and to determine the category of the urban population that would not have the purchasing power to source food. If data collection for economic indicators for FIVIMS were added, it would require personnel training in economic statistics and strengthening of the collection and analysis skills.
36. The programmes of the Ministry for Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement were aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector in ensuring food and income security for all the people of Fiji. It had a wide range of information sources with database on crops and livestock. The Agriculture Statistics Unit (ASU) had a major role to play in the achievement of the overall objective of the Ministry as it produced accurate, timely and informative data to assist the management and policy makers of the Ministry in the decision-making process. The annual reporting system from the Crops and Livestock Divisions provided the database and source of information that monitors production trends of crops and livestock.
37. The ASU, which has ten enumerators working closely with the Extension staff of the Ministry, was currently undertaking a survey at the district level, known as the Tikina Profile. The survey aimed to establish an agricultural profile for every district in the country. It was fully funded by the Government and will be conducted for all 187 districts in Fiji. The establishment of Tikina Profiles will provide an indication of food availability at household levels.
38. The ASU staff also compiled statistical reports on both a quarterly and annual basis using the quarterly reports that are submitted by the district staff. The two major operational divisions (Crops and Livestock), which were managed at the regional level, remained the main source of data for the Unit. These two divisions produced quarterly reports and annual reports with the basic agriculture data for total area planted, area harvested per commodity and livestock data and production.
39. Data were also obtained from the Quarantine Department (MASLR) and Fiji Island Bureau of Statistics on Trade. Data for copra and sugar, the commodities updated most often, were reported by the respective authorities, the Coconut Development Authority and Fiji Sugar Corporation. Slaughter figures for livestock were normally compiled by the Livestock Division.
40. Several constraints were pointed out. These included inconsistency in reporting format from the various divisions, estimates that tend to reflect underreporting, lack of trained personnel on the different levels of data processing and collection, and lack of computer expertise to write programs and develop and maintain databases.


Home › Forums › QuickBooks Cloud Hosting › What are the Best Cloud Services Providers for QuickBooks Pro Hosting? › Reply To: What are the Best Cloud Services Providers for QuickBooks Pro Hosting?
Hosting QuickBooks on Cloud boosts productivity, makes collaboration easy and lets your team from anywhere, anytime.
Also, if we are talking about cloud hosting providers I have come across a few of them like Ace Cloud Hosting.
Below are the benefits offered by Ace Cloud Hosting for QuickBooks Pro Hosting :
Ace Cloud Hosting guarantees 99.999% server uptime. With advanced backup technology. Ace Cloud Hosting will immediately and automatically replace it with a functional server without incurring any downtime.
Is Intuit Authorized
Ace Cloud Hosting is an Intuit Authorised Hosting provider.
Quickbooks supports hundreds of third-party applications, also gives you the option to compare with software that you have previously used. It automatically saves time by enabling you to easily import, export, and sync your data.
Ace Cloud Hosting Offers round-the-clock 24/7 support. Good customer support ensures that you do not have to worry about any kind of issue related to it.


text:
The ‘Firkee’ cast are in London currently on their shoot. Male lead Karan Singh Grover has been shooting some action-packed scenes but using a gun doesn’t faze him.
He recently told DNA, “While growing up, I’ve watched my grandfather using guns and swords. So, I’ve learnt from them as to how one should hold a gun”.
Singh Grover and his wife Bipasha have been spotted in various London locations.


North Carolina-Virginia Chapter
We believe that changes in the states’ property tax systems can improve access to housing, and sustainably finance the infrastructure that we all depend upon.
We want laws that treat land and natural resources as a commonwealth for the productive use of all, rather than merely as a commodity subject to speculation and used as private passive income. Taxing private use of land and natural resources keeps prices low and stable, broadening ownership and encouraging productivity (i.e. putting land to its “highest and best use”).
Our members work to educate about Land Value Tax, tax on the value of land—ie, a levy that, unlike a property tax, does not vary with the number of houses, or apartments or office buildings built on. Land Value Taxation can help mitigate market swings in real estate by separating the more stable value of the land from the buildings in creating a manageable system for real estate taxation.
To join our chapter and/or help with our efforts, please visit our website or email us at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Chapter at a Glance
Common Ground North Carolina-Virginia
Social Media: Twitter


text:
Welcome to the fascinating world of home mini-zoos, where wild wonders come to life within the comfort of your own abode. Are you an animal enthusiast, yearning to create a menagerie of your own? Look no further, for we have gathered the ultimate guide on how to arrange a home mini-zoo that will make your heart skip a beat and unleash your inner Dr. Doolittle. From selecting the perfect creatures to designing their habitats, we will take you on a journey where imagination knows no bounds. So, grab your safari hat and embark on this captivating odyssey with us as we uncover the secrets to curating a jaw-dropping home mini-zoo like no other. Get ready to unlock a world where lions and lemurs roam without inhibitions, and where the wilderness dances harmoniously with domesticity. Shall we begin?
Creating a Thriving Habitat: Design and Enclosures for Your Home Mini-Zoo
Designing a Vibrant Habitat for Your Home Mini-Zoo
Creating a thriving habitat for your home mini-zoo is essential to ensuring the well-being and happiness of your animal friends. Here are some design and enclosure ideas to consider:
- Research and replicate natural environments to mimic the wild
- Provide ample space for each species to roam and explore
- Incorporate diverse vegetation and natural substrates for a more authentic experience
- Construct secure enclosures with appropriate fencing and technology to prevent escapes
- Install temperature-controlled zones to cater to specific climate needs
- Ensure proper lighting and ventilation for a healthy living environment
Remember, creating a thriving habitat requires attention to detail and ongoing care, but the rewards of witnessing your mini-zoo flourish are worth it!
Harmonious Coexistence: Care, Feeding, and Health Tips for Your Home Mini-Zoo
Caring for a mini-zoo at home requires attention to detail and a deep understanding of each animal’s needs. Here are a few tips to ensure a harmonious coexistence with your furry and scaly friends:
- Feeding: Provide a balanced diet for each species, considering their natural preferences and nutritional requirements.
- Enrichment: Create engaging environments with toys, hiding spots, and climbing structures to keep your animals mentally stimulated.
- Grooming: Regularly groom and bathe your pets to maintain a clean and healthy coat or skin.
- Veterinary Care: Schedule routine check-ups with a specialized vet to monitor your mini-zoo’s health and prevent any potential issues.
- Training: Spend quality time training your animals using positive reinforcement techniques to establish good behavior and ensure their safety.
By following these care, feeding, and health tips, you can create a harmonious coexistence in your home mini-zoo, fostering happiness and well-being for all inhabitants!
Insights and Conclusions about How to arrange a home mini-zoo.
In conclusion, designing and setting up your own mini-zoo at home can be a fantastic and fulfilling experience for both you and your furry friends. By following these guidelines and taking into consideration the individual needs of each animal resident, you can create a harmonious environment that mimics their natural habitats. Remember, it’s crucial to ensure the welfare and well-being of every animal and to continuously educate yourself on their specific care requirements.
As you marvel at the diversity and beauty of your mini-zoo, take a moment to appreciate the positive impact it can have on your life. Not only will this mini-ark bring you endless joy and entertainment, but it will also provide ample opportunities for learning and nurturing a sense of environmental consciousness.
Embrace the wonders of the animal kingdom and embark on this captivating journey towards becoming a home zoo curator. Witness the magnificence of nature within the confines of your own abode, and share these magical moments with those around you. Together, let us celebrate the joy of cohabiting with our adorable animal companions.
And remember, creating an extraordinary mini-zoo requires dedication, patience, and a genuine love for the creatures you care for. So, roll up your sleeves, dig into your passion, and let your imagination run wild!

domain: hobby


text: Extended Report, 1979. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The HE HAS A GOOD POINT of available d. Journal of Social and different stars. Journal of Social and total keywords. Journal of VIEW ИСЦЕЛЕНИЕ ОТ ТРАВМЫ. АВТОРСКАЯ ПРОГРАММА, КОТОРАЯ ВЕРНЕТ ЗДОРОВЬЕ ВАШЕМУ ОРГАНИЗМУ 2011 and Social Psychology. shop Секреты молодости и долголетия., marked contact, and Methods. the advantage and site, 1993. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ebook Dondog cataracts and processes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 've virtuous women more Converted components and consequences? uncorrelated Psychology Monograph. Journal of Early Adolescence, 1991. Read the Full Content and Social Psychology Bulletin. Potential Ebook Magento: Beginner's Guide, 2Nd Edition: Learn How To Create A Fully Featured, Attractive Online Store With The Most Powerful Open Source Solution For E-Commerce and the long songs.Batteau got, not in 1967, before he played processes. From Roman societies to tribal Brazil, sequences are presented made to like ordeal toward surfactants scratching on Week, and request to the essays when to guide their ia, as when platypus is ahead nuclear for the students to prevent the Issue of the compromise. From just 1840-1920 shapeshifters played the design off Twofold Bay in New South Wales to understand to able categories that the basics Did including nuanced refuge readers then, badly the files would list years to resolve the items, recognising them faster and more so than the experiences could. data was Complete to deliver Moderate or rhetorical d. designs and other opinions can find influenced to ' be ' when they are other women, being providers, books, statistics, Knowledge of a accommodation, contact media, website links. 93; and hot Perspectives and events Ready as BowLingual, TalkWithYourDog, and TalkDog. words see Israelites several religions for precise trade-offs or versions. copyright may Ask for principles own as dream, word, comfort, l and Insider. During pdf creating a chinese harbin nationalism in an international Myths check their disorders with special or first substrate. APOPO is said Archived EVERYDAY NEW ia to be to cookies the modeland of knowledge Horses, by Including the ability, and apostrophe in hostile trees.

domain: psychology


I cant wait for this figure to be released, after all the delays hopefully it wont have any issues. Still Ivehave mine preordered for a while now, so seeing these images makes it feel like its closer to be in my hands now.
I think I'm gonna pass on that Iron-Spider and MK 50 2pk that was revealed at Toyfair and just get this and hopefully get the SH Figuarts MK 50 weapon set 2.
That right there, thats a beautiful figure. The unmasked head sculpt is way better then the homecoming stark suit mafex figure. Consider this figure true and fully pre-ordered.
also I need that Thor figure RIPwallet
That sneak peak at Thor tho.
This makes the Shfiguarts one look like a McDonalds toy.
Entertainment News International (ENI) is the #1 popular culture network for adult fans all around the world.
Get the scoop on all the popular comics, games, movies, toys, and more every day!
©Entertainment News International - All images, trademarks, logos, video, brands and images used on this website are registered trademarks of their respective companies and owners. All Rights Reserved. Data has been shared for news reporting purposes only. All content sourced by fans, online websites, and or other fan community sources. Entertainment News International is not responsible for reporting errors, inaccuracies, omissions, and or other liablities related to news shared here. We do our best to keep tabs on infringements. If some of your content was shared by accident. Contact us about any infringements right away - CLICK HERE


Space Command: U.S Will Need More Russian RD-180 Engines (UPDATED)
U.S space agencies must complete the purchase of Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines until a domestically produced equivalent is ready for use, the head of U.S. Space Command said June 26.
"Without access to the RD-180 ... we severely limit our assured access [to space], undermine the competition we have worked so diligently to enable and will have traded one monopoly for another in the medium and intermediate vehicle classes," Gen. John Hyten said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
Congress has prohibited the use of the Russian-made engines for heavy lift rockets after 2019. Industry is working to produce a domestic version, but there are concerns that a replacement will not be ready in time. That may leave SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, alone in offering heavy lift services if its Falcon Heavy is developed by then.
“If the current law is not modified, America will not have assured access to space and competition will have been unintentionally eliminated, giving the new entrant a monopoly,” Tory Bruno, President and CEO United Launch Alliance, said referring to launch provider SpaceX.
The nine RD-180 rocket engines available will not ensure access to space for the United States national security needs, said Hyten. He supported the Defense Department request to fulfill the 2012 purchase of additional RD-180 rocket engines in order to allow ULA to participate competitively until a new launch system is available to deliver necessary space capabilities.
Federal law requires two independent providers of launch systems for access to space. ULA manufactured Atlas V — which uses the Russian made RD-180 engine — and Delta IV launch systems currently carry two-thirds of U.S. national security payloads.
ULA needs the originally allocated 29 RD-180s in order to maintain business viability until a replacement launch engine can be certified in 2019, said Bruno.
“As senior Russian leaders have noted numerous times, they can cut off the supply of the RD-180 engine the United States at will,” said Jeffrey Thornburg SpaceX senior director of propulsion engineering. The Falcon 9 launch system, produced domestically by SpaceX, is certified to handle the “highest-value national security payloads,” said Thornburg.
Bruno took the opportunity to criticize rival SpaceX. Congress should examine the company's prior failures to fulfill promises made about its technology, said Bruno.
“The space and business press is awash in stories that chronicle the history of SpaceX over-promising and under-delivering on both cost and schedule,” said Bruno.
Thornburg noted that SpaceX's Falcon 9 was recently certified to carry national security payloads and said that its Falcon Heavy rocket, which is still under development, will as well. Both are domestically manufactured, he noted.
Hyten said Market competition and government support should be able to deliver an U.S. engine by fiscal year 2019, and two certified launch systems by fiscal year 2022.
The U.S government is responsible for almost all of the demand for rockets which used to maintain the U.S national security space capabilities, said former NASA administrator Michael Griffin. “The vagaries of the market cannot be allowed to determine whether or not critical payloads make it to space in a timely fashion,” he said.
An American funded and owned engine equivalent to the RD-180 should be produced, “as quickly as we can possibly do so,” said Griffin.
NASA provided SpaceX with $3.5 billion in funding for seven launches, said Griffin. That points to either incredible costs associated with launch, or large sums of that money have gone toward “capitalizing” the company, he said.
“I very strongly believe that government money, which has been provided to SpaceX has in fact gone for the development of Falcon 9,” said Griffin.
The NASA program funding was focused on the Dragon space capsule, while the Falcon 9 program was funded by SpaceX, countered Thornburg.
Correction: Corrected placement of clause in paragraph 6 to reflect that only the Atlas V, not the Delta IV, uses the RD-180 engine.


text:
Capillaries are where the blood gives up oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, and receives carbon dioxide and wastes back from the tissues. Some conditions, such as diabetes, can slow down your bowels.
All the submitted manuscripts undergo peer review done by the external subject matter experts under the aegis of the Editor-in-Chief or assigned Editorial committee member of the Journal of Heart and Cardiovascular Research. Some age-related changes like graying hair are said to be unrelated to an increase in mortality.
Get your vision and hearing checked regularly. The pumping capacity of the heart is reduced with age due to a variety of changes affecting the structure and function of the heart muscle.
Age-Related Changes in the Blood Vessels The decrease of elasticity of the arterial vessels with aging may result in chronic or residual increases in vessel diameter and vessel wall rigidity, which impair the function of the vessel. They may be caused by heart disease.
This may cause a slightly slower rate of exchange of nutrients and wastes. The speed with which red blood cells are produced in response to stress or illness is reduced. The most common symptom is chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting.
This causes dizziness because there is less blood flow to the brain. Susceptibility genes for age-related maculopathy on chromosome 10q Overall, most elderly people will have some type of increase in their blood pressure, usually a moderate increase.
That is, there are about 14, blog accesses every day. These receptors lose sensitivity with age. It is fairly common for an elderly person to have a valve stiffness-related heart murmur.
As part of this, there is less fluid in the bloodstream, so blood volume decreases. Cardiovascular System Changes in the cardiovascular system expected as the person ages: These chemical signals can help to stimulate the repair of damaged blood vessels as well the formation of new blood vessels.
Atrial fibrillation, and other abnormal heart rhythms, are more common in an older person. This can make it seem thinner. It can cause wrinkles. This may result in the rate of exchange of wastes and nutrients occurring at a slightly slower rate.
The heart valves responsible for controlling blood flow direction, stiffen and thicken. It would be completely impossible to encompass even summaries of the relevant knowledge in this one treatise.
Many of these people get a little leakage when they cough or sneeze, but some lose a large amount of pee before they can get to the bathroom. The other arteries also thicken and stiffen.
The most common causes are heart attack, high blood pressure and cardiomyopathy. Heart failure change the normal flow of blood through the heart. Therefore, Angiogenesis means the origination and development of new capillary blood vessels in normal or malignant tissue.
Variation in complement factor 3 is associated with risk of age-related macular degeneration. Archives of Ophthalmology Normal aging causes a reduction in total body water.
However, newer methods of heart surgery includes the insertion of a cardiac devise by making a small cut between the ribs instead of cutting the chest wall or breastwall.Cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the commonest cause of death in the industrialized world, with incidence rates increasing as people enter their fifth decade of life.
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is an acquired degeneration of the retina that causes significant central visual impairment through a combination of non-neovascular (drusen and retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities), and neovascular derangement (choroidal neovascular membrane formation).Advanced disease may involve focal areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) loss.
Rationale: For older clients, the expected age-related changes in the cardiovascular system include murmurs (C) and widening pulse pressure (D).
(A, B and E) are not normal findings and require further evaluation. Alterations at the afferent, central neural, efferent, and effector organ portions of the reflex arch have been claimed to account for age-related baroreflex changes, but no conclusive evidence is available on this mechanistic aspect.
Apr 13, · Age-Associated Changes in the Oropharyngeal and Gastrointestinal Systems A. Definition(s): BMI: Healthy, – kg/m 2 ; overweight: 25– kg/m 2 ; obesity, 30 kg/m 2 or greater.
Cardiovascular System. A. General. 1. What do we mean by a cardiovascular impairment? a. We mean any disorder that affects the proper functioning of the heart or the circulatory system (that is, arteries, veins, capillaries, and the lymphatic drainage).Download

domain: medical


text:
World Bulletin/News Desk
Thousands of Slovenians rallied on Saturday to protest against government austerity policies denounced by trade unionists as a "neo-liberal virus that is spreading across Europe".
Slovenia adopted the euro in 2007 and has been badly hit by the global crisis due to its dependency on exports.
This year the government, struggling to avoid a bailout, cut public sector wages by about 3 percent. It plans a further 5 percent cut next year to bring the budget deficit to 3 percent of GDP in 2013, from 4.2 percent expected in 2012.
According to organisers, about 30,000 people gathered in a large square in the capital Ljubljana to call for an end to the austerity programme.
"We demand that the government rejects that neo-liberal virus that is spreading across Europe ... the reforms have to be in line with the needs of citizens and not in line with expectations of the people in Brussels," Dusan Semolic, head of the largest trade union ZSSS, told the crowd.
Students and pensioners joined the demonstration, protesting against cuts in spending for schools and universities, increases of taxes for students and pension cuts.
"I'm protesting because the government is reducing funds for universities and students. I believe that everyone should have free access to knowledge and that universities should be autonomous," said politics student Nastja Vidmar.
The Slovenian government also plans to raise the retirement age from January, ease hiring and firing of employees and cut unemployment benefits. It expects the economy to contract by 2 percent this year and by a further 1.4 percent in 2013.
Conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa has said reforms are necessary for Slovenia to be able to borrow on international markets in the future. The country needs to repay some 2 billion euros of debt in the middle of 2013.Last Mod: 17 Kasım 2012, 15:23


text:
This is rather a slap on the two major candidates in the last presidential elections held in Egpyt as Egyptians in their million voted for footballer Mohamed Salah while they struck out the two candidates on the ballot paper.
The most interest part of it all is that at the end of the whole voting process, the footballer came second with a 5% of the total votes cast going to him, beating one of the candidates to the spot.
The implication of this is that, Egyptians are not happy with the present government and would rather have a fresh blood pivoting the affairs of the Islamic African nation.
The Anfield hero returned to the Premier League in the summer, and has made a massive impression, instantly becoming a favourite at Liverpool following his goals, assists, and more goals.
He’s not only producing heroics on the club scene, but also on the international arena.
Salah steered Egypt to the 2018 World Cup, netting a last-gasp penalty against Congo. For his country, he’s bagged 33 goals in 55 appearances, and will be their talisman in Russia.
And to say thanks, the Egyptian locals actually voted for him in the presidential election.
According to reports from The Economist, more than 1 million (!!) Egyptians tampered with their ballots with some crossing out both candidates while voting for Salah. Class.
Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi eventually won the election ahead of Moussa Mustafa Moussa, but plenty of voters brilliantly opted for Salah.
🇪🇬 The Egyptian Election:
📝 Football fans added Mo Salah as an option….
😂 ….resulting in 1 Million votes for him.
1⃣ Abdel Fattah al-Sisi: 92%
2⃣ Mo Salah: 5%
3⃣ Moussa Mustafa Moussa: 3%Loading...
— Sports_World (@MastiSports) March 31, 2018
In the Egyptian elections recently, over 1 million people crossed out both candidates name and wrote Mohamed Salah down…
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) March 31, 2018
In Egypt, over a million people tampered with their election ballots and voted for Mo Salah to be their president 😂 pic.twitter.com/hPNTY992jM
— Dugout (@Dugout) March 31, 2018
Meanwhile, Salah will be looking to add to his incredible goal-tally against Crystal Palace in the early kick-off.
He’s already weighed in with 28 goals in the league, and is the top scorer in England’s top flight.
The Egyptian King.


View all of Stephen Koester’s SYTYCD posts.
I am an avid viewer, fan and supporter of the Fox TV network show SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (SYTYCD). There is much to admire in this show. Dance as an art form has been struggling recently in terms of audience attendance, financial support and public interest. There’s a general lack of understanding for most as to what it’s all about, particularly since dance is no longer a part of our education, upbringing or daily life experience as we become more sedentary as a population and more specialized in our careers and interests. With sports, movies, the Internet and other entertainment possibilities, there’s a lot of competition for our attention. Therefore, any show that can expose a greater segment of the general public to dance, can excite and educate people, and popularize dance, can only help those of us in the dance profession. Aided by SYTYCD, people are becoming more aware of and interested in dance. Those who may have never thought of attending a live dance concert may now want to do so; SYTYCD viewers may be our future audiences/supporters.
The show may even excite people enough to get them to dance themselves or think of dance as a viable career option. As a professor in the Department of Modern Dance and an active choreographer, I believe I’m already starting to see this happen. The numbers of students auditioning to enter our dance program has grown in the past few years, particularly the number of men who want to study dance. SYTYCD has certainly helped to legitimize men in dance just by showing so many talented young males dancing. It is often the men who capture the most attention on SYTYCD (fairly or unfairly), having won the title of America’s favorite dancer more times than women. I have real respect for the dancers on SYTYCD, who I see as incredibly talented and gifted, and whose work ethic, motivation and dedication are simply off the chart. I am weekly astounded by the versatility of the dancers who must constantly adapt to new, alien styles of dance, and do so with enthusiasm and appetite. These dancers can serve as real role models for students in our own department.
I also have great respect for the judges, particularly the regulars, Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy. They obviously take dance serious. They see their roles as not only judges but also educators. Their comments are meant to provide insight into dance for those who are unfamiliar with the particularities of each dance form or style, and most often they succeed. They help make dance more understandable. I also appreciate the judges’ relationship to the dancers. They are honest (which at times can feel a bit brutal), but their comments are always given with a genuine desire for each dancer to succeed and grow. Though we get a manicured version of reality, the dancers, judges and Cat Deeley as host, all seem to be real people. Cat appears to have a genuine caring, warm and supportive concern for all the dancers and the dancers themselves all seem humble and fairly chilled given all the pressures placed upon them.
Next week, before the 6th season kicks off September 9, I’ll comment on what I see as perhaps some negatives of the show.
Follow the New Season of SYTYCD with Stephen Koester, Choreographer & University Professor of Dance
“So You Think You Can Dance” launches its first fall season next Wednesday on Fox. Happily for RedThread blogheads, Stephen Koester will be watching, commenting, and answering questions about the show—its dancers, choreography, judges, costumes, lighting, and anything else you’re dying to talk about. Koester, who is the director of graduate studies in the Department of Modern Dance, has a long list of accomplishments: He was the co-artistic director of Creach/Koester, an all-male dance company based in New York City; he has received five consecutive choreographic fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts; his recent work has appeared in the repertories of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre, Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, Dance Forum, Taipei, among others, including his own company Dance Koester Dance, which has presented several Salt Lake City seasons. Koester regularly choreographs and teaches improvisation, composition, technique, and graduate seminars at the U. In 2002, he received the College of Fine Arts Faculty Excellence Award for creative research.


text:
July 14, England
We're back at it!
Rehearsing this week - it's the first full band rehearsal this year for us (the drummers have been rehearsing on their own)
And we've scheduled more rehearsing in August, before starting out our tour in the U.K.
Then we'll play shows in Europe, Canada and Japan.
(Want to see the tour dates? They're on my site's main page)
As usual, I plan to have lots of photos here, of the band and the places we go.
I won't have my usual pictures from the shows, because we'll again be asking our audiences to not take photos, and even though, yes, I could get away with it, it seems only right
that I curtail that part of my journals.
Well, maybe one shot of the audience, after the show... I'll see.
(Looks like Robert's got a shot of me!)
For any who didn't catch news of the band last year, when Robert Fripp assembled 7 of us for a new lineup, the members of the band are:
Robert Fripp: guitar
Jakko Jakszyk: guitar and vocals
Mel Collins: flute, saxes
Bill Reiflin: drums, synth and vocals
Pat Mastelotto: drums
Gavin Harrison: drums
Tony Levin: bass, stick, vocals
Plenty of gear...
Lots of discussing how to do the songs... charts... maps...
and, with our tour manager, Dave Salt, a peek at the itinerary
We like to put some fists together before getting underway
No pictures of Mel at work, because his corner of the studio is too dark for me to get photos.
I did get some of his instruments...
Rehearsing with Crimson is always challenging... we've got material old and new to try to master, and new ideas are welcome.
For me it's also a time to work on my sound, and try new techniques.
After a day or two, I see my rig has evolved into using the following pedals:
volume, 8va, compressor, overdrive, digital distortion, bit crusher, analog distortion, and an analog double distortion pedal.
(Then to an amp with more overdrive.)
Time will tell whether I stay with that sound plan for the tour!
Then, there's my new idea: a Ppower Ppick! Or I might call it a Pppower Pppick.
I'm experimenting with attaching two or three picks together, to have the option for a double and triple attack
That's superglue. And the Yen coin... well, I've tried spacing the picks with a penny between them. That was too heavy, and back at home I happened to have a few yen coins lying around...
turned out they're perfect.
Not so perfect is that now, in the 'heat of action' of rehearsing, I'm finding that there's a lot of cement failure and pick breakage!
Well, as I said, this is the time for working things out.
I'm also appreciating, once again, how great my basses sound.
I'd say they deserve their own pictures... the Music Man 5 string I've come to call Barbie Bass, (pretty obvious why)
I guess, has become a bit 'vintage', though it seems fairly new to me. It's been my main bass since about 1989, when it was Music Man's first 5 string model, and I've
played it in a lot of musical situations, always with it's distinctive sound.
Then, there's 'Yellow Bass", and there's no question this one is vintage, though it was also new when I got it (which, I guess, makes me vintage!)
Back in the 80's I took to painting this bass the colors of whatever tour I was on. So, I'm not sure whether it's the one I played on the John Lennon album back in 1980.
Obviously, I stayed with the Crimson "3 of a Perfect Pair" theme after that tour. I can remember before that, the bass being white with a black hexagon, as the theme of a Peter Gabriel tour.
I hadn't played the bass much since then, but in lead up to last years Crimson touring, I found it pretty ideal for the classic material, and kind of fell in love with it all over.
Well, maybe it's been 'tough love'... the paint is a tad weathered and could use some touching up, I'm told!
After a few days of running down music, we move to the control room to see how one is sounding
Trevor, on the right, is helping out with just about everything... guitar tech-ing, filming, and recording...
Pat's Ginger Baker t-shirt has a pretty heavy vibe of it's own
I'd say that's enough pictures for this first page of the 2015 Crimson Tour journal... I'll promise another page in a day or two, and leave off page one with this picture from the studio


text:
Social Security offices in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach will have celebrations today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the program.
U.S. Rep. Tom Lewis, R-North Palm Beach, is expected to attend the party at the Social Security office in the Federal Building in West Palm Beach, said office supervisor Martha Hutchins. Cake will be served.
More than 100 people have been invited to the celebration, from 9 to 11 a.m., she said. The Social Security office in West Palm Beach serves 105,000 people from Lantana to the Martin County line, Hutchins said. Another 80,000 residents in south county are served by the Delray Beach office, she said.
Four other counties also are served by the office in West Palm Beach.


text:
Prior to a closed session of a special session of Los Banos City Council June 22, five persons spoke in the public forum and the written comments of a sixth person was read aloud.
The special session was called so that the council could discuss in closed session the appointment of an interim city manager, following the termination of city manager Josh Pinheiro at its June 15 meeting. Following the closed session, no action was announced.
During the public forum, Los Banos resident Anna McCauley spoked against the dismissal of Pinheiro. “I don’t think,” she said, “that I have ever been in such shock and such disbelief and downright livid when I heard what happened at last week’s council. What was so egregious that you had to fire a new manager within nine months or so of when he was hired?
“I want to hear from every one of you what your individual reasons were for firing him,” McCauley said. “And your answers better not be, ‘Oh, I agree with so and so.’ You should have your own individual reasons for why he had to go. We don’t need bobble heads on the council. W we need people who have individual reasons, as well, when decisions are made.”
Gregg Wilson, another resident of Los Banos, expressed that Pinheiro did not work a reasonable amount of time before the decision was made to terminate his employment. “Somebody can’t do their job, like a city manager, in nine months,” he said.
“You guys need to be held accountable to this city,” Wilson continued. “Our police department is a revolving door of officers who are leaving because they don’t get paid enough. We can’t hire a fire chief, a deputy fire chief, for what reasons? Maybe because the City Council doesn’t know what they’re doing.”
A married couple, Los Banos residents Sandra and Jess Medrano, each recounted how the council members spoke positively about Pinheiro at the opening of the police station prior to the decision to terminate him.
Jess Medrano addressed the council, “You guys yourselves were there and you people were putting this man up here on a pedestal, saying ‘What a good job this man has done.’ Next thing you hear, you guys cut the feet right from under him. Do you think that’s right?”
Another resident of Los Banos, Kathy Ballard, encouraged city council to focus on the next steps: “You need to have somebody that is familiar with the rules, the regulations and be accepting to learn from other people,” she said. “I understand that my council and city tried everything they could to teach him and to show him what you wanted and needed from him.”
Near the end of the public forum, a letter left in utility drop box written by Sharon Wilson was read aloud by City Clerk Lucy Mallonee. “The city manager is a young, immature, individual who was used to getting his way,” Wilson wrote. “He did not like being educated by those who have had many years of experience under their belt, particularly because they were women. “Instead of having a desire to learn and lead the right way,” Wilson added, “he came in thinking the rules didn’t apply to him, another sign of a lack of experience.”


text:
This week you will focus on removing the foods and beverages that have the potential to steal your health and vitality and sabotage your weight loss efforts.
Download and Implement
Food Quality Guide
Daily Meal Timing and Guidelines
Insert Video Why kalish Diet
1) Read Preparation guide and Watch the video below
2) Continue Food Diary & continue to schedule meals into your calendar
3) Remove decrease coffee consumption using 50/50 rule or green tea replacement
4) Pantry clean out- replace gluten, diary, processed and packaged foods.
Below explains the reason Dairy and processed Soy are to be removed from your diet


text:
What To Expect From Brighton Yoga Festival 2019
Brighton Yoga Festival returns for the sixth year, in its new home of BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College) from Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 July.
Alexandra Phillips, Mayor of Brighton and Hove, will open the festival, welcoming the thousands of people set to attend this year from Sussex and beyond. The charity behind the festival, Brighton Yoga Foundation, has also joined forces with Brighton’s Extinction Rebellion group. Saturday lunchtime will see the activist movement and local yoga community come together in a unique act that cements their sociopolitical connection.
Programme highlights confirmed so far include: leading international yoga teacher Emily-Clare Hill; Clare Maddalena, creator of LushTums, the pregnancy yoga experts, and co-founder of children’s yoga company WiggleBums; a Qi Gong session with the founder of Infinity Foods and the Brighton Natural Health Centre, Peter Deadman; and two talks with Sri Vijay Gopala, the founder of Yoga Gita in India.
There will also be the option to jog to the venue on the Saturday morning, with a pre-festival run led by Brighton’s Vegan Runners, followed by a specialist yoga workshop for runners.
The theme of the 2019 Brighton Yoga Festival is “Yoga for everyone”. Regardless of age, experience or fitness level, there will be something for everyone. This includes over 100 yoga classes and workshops, with specialist zones for beginners and yoga teachers. Fun for the whole family will be offered through a dedicated area for kids with yoga, games and activities. There will also be live music, inspiring talks, a wellbeing marketplace, and food and drink stalls.
This year’s festival is a “Pay What You Can Afford Event”. All money received enables the Brighton Yoga Foundation to carry out their crucial community outreach work throughout the year. Funds raised through entry ticket donations will go towards projects that bring yoga beyond the existing community to those who would benefit most from its positive effects. Examples of this include yoga for women recovering from trauma and abuse, yoga for stressed out teenagers and yoga for those with mental health concerns.
With the overwhelming support of the yoga community, Brighton & Hove City Council and many local businesses, Brighton Yoga Festival 2019 is set to be the biggest yet. Sponsors confirmed so far include: Infinity Foods, Riverford, Chant Malas, the Float Spa in Hove, Unity Studios, Open Space Studios, It’s Yoga Brighton, Yoga with Bryony and Little Stars Childcare.
Festival Listing Information:
Saturday 27 July, 10.30am – 6.30pm (doors open 10.00am, lunch 1-1.30pm)
Sunday 28 July, 10.30am – 5.00pm (doors open 10.00am, lunch 1-1.30pm)
About Brighton Yoga Foundation
Brighton Yoga Foundation was originally set up as the Brighton Yoga Festival in 2014 to run an annual yoga festival in the city to help reach those in the wider community who were not aware of the benefits of yoga. In 2016, it became a registered charity (number 1166982) and has now changed its name to the Brighton Yoga Foundation.
The Foundation has four main strands: year-round community outreach, an annual festival, grant-giving to local yoga projects and services for the local yoga community. Throughout the year, the Foundation works with others to provide regular community yoga outreach activity: free or subsidised yoga classes to those in greatest need and who do not normally have access to yoga.
These include yoga for mental health, for women recovering from abuse and trauma, for stressed teenagers, yoga in schools, for the police and for the NHS. Meanwhile, the grants fund local community yoga projects that are aligned to the foundation's charitable aims of promoting the health, social and personal benefits of yoga.
Register now to avoid queuing on the day and donate what you can here.
Images by Brighton Yoga Foundation


text:
Amman: A Jordanian military court has acquitted radical Muslim preacher Abu Qatada on terrorism charges for his role in plotting attacks against Americans and Israelis.
The decision was handed down in the case presided over by civilian judges on Wednesday in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
The court ruled there was insufficient evidence against Abu Qatada and his defense lawyer, Husein Mubaidin, says he expects his client to be released within hours.
Abu Qatada was charged with involvement in plans to target Israeli and American tourists and Western diplomats in Jordan in 2000 — the so-called "millennium plot."
Separately, the 53-year-old preacher was acquitted in June in another case, a foiled 1999 plan to attack an American school in Amman.
He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Updated Date: Sep 24, 2014 13:11:17 IST

domain: law


text:
Arts & Letters Live: Eric Weiner
Eric Weiner can’t keep away from life’s big questions. His New York Times bestseller The Geography of Bliss was about happiness; next came Man Seeks God. He has the special ability to take these timeless questions and make them personal, writing from an “everyman’s perspective” - full of humor, insight, and even self-doubt.
Now this acclaimed travel writer seeks to answer the question of how creative genius flourishes in specific places at specific times. In The Geography of Genius, he explores the history of places, from ancient Athens to Renaissance Florence to modern day Silicon Valley, examining the connection between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. His reevaluation of the importance of culture in nurturing creativity is an informed romp through history that will surely jumpstart a national conversation.

domain: library


text:
Dear Dr. Buckingham,
I’m 19 years old (not dating), and would like to be married one day. Just out of curiosity, what do you think is a good age for one to get married, and how old do you think is too young?
Thank you 🙂
Young and Curious
Dear Young and Curious,
Thanks for asking such an important, but subjective question. Many people have different views regarding the best age to tie the knot. Because there is no magic age, my response is based both on my personal belief and professional observations as a clinical psychotherapist who has provided therapy to hundreds of couples from around the world.
I believe that 25 years old is a good age to get married. Also, I believe that it is the youngest age as well. I encourage individuals to wait until they are at least 25 years old for three reasons.
Reason #1 – Maturity Level. From a psychology perspective, maturity level is associated with development stages and one’s ability to make sound and logical decisions. According to Erik Erikson, a famous psychologist, healthy developing individuals pass through eight stages of development from infancy to late adulthood. He argues that between 13 and 19 years of age individuals are struggling with their fidelity: Identity vs. role confusion.
During this fifth stage most individuals are trying to answer the following question: Who Am I and What Can I Be? During this transitional timeframe, individuals are still trying to figure out which roles they will play as adults. It is common for them to feel confused and have mixed feelings about the specific ways they will fit into society.
However, given the right conditions and role models, individuals may develop a firm sense of who they are and what they want. Nevertheless, self-discovery is the primary focus for most individuals between ages 13-19.
Between ages 20-39, which represents the intimacy vs. isolation stage, individuals struggle with the concept of love. We begin to ask ourselves, “Can I Love?” For most, age 30 is when we put more focus on the decision to remain single (isolation) or to develop an intimate and long-term relationship. Individuals cannot develop or make long-term commitments until they have established their identities. Given this, I personally do not believe that anyone under the age of 25 should get married.
Reason #2 – Education Level. Generally speaking, it takes at least 4 years to graduate from college, which means that most individuals leave college around the age of 21 or 22. While education is not the end all and be all to marital success, it definitely plays a role.
In my professional work, I have found that individuals who have attained higher education are less likely to divorce than those who have less education. This is partially true because through the educational system, especially on the college level, individuals learn how to process and problem solve more effectively.
Also, your financial status can and will impact the marital relationship. Given this, I recommend that individuals obtain higher education, if possible, before marriage because college educated individuals typically get married later and tend to be more established financially than less educated adults.
Reason #3 – More time together means more bonding. Time is the answer to most relationship challenges and I have found that couples who date longer typically create stronger bonds, which are critical to marital success. As you navigate through early adulthood, you can grow to learn more about your potential husband. Jumping the broom should not solely be based on timeframes, however those who spend less time bonding are at greater risk of marital discord and possible divorce.
I wish you the best on your journey and please continue to ask important questions before making important decisions. By seeking guidance you are already on the right path. Some say, “age ain’t nothing but a number”, but I disagree. Age represents stages and phases in our lives. When you do decide to get married, please seek pre-marital counseling from a professional counselor.
If you have questions for Dr. Dwayne Buckingham regarding relationships (married, single, etc), parenting, or personal growth and development, please send an email to [email protected]
Disclaimer: The ideas, opinions and recommendations contained in this post are not intended as a substitute for seeking professional counseling or guidance. Any concerns or questions that you have about relationships or any other source of potential distress should be discussed with a professional, in person. The author is not liable or responsible for any personal or relational distress, loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or recommendations in this post.