CIOs need wake up call about security practices
VAR_Staffing / VAR Staffing
As technology becomes an increasingly important part of the businesses world, the need also grows for a sound security strategy. IT Prinicpals have a number of things to consider when laying out and implementing security policies. Having reliable resources that can handle the ever-evolving landscape can be the difference. These strategies, however, need to be constantly tweaked, updated and audited to remain effective – something not many companies are doing.
A survey from CSO Magazine and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) looked at global security and found some surprising numbers. Of the 9,600-plus businesses and technology execs surveyed, 43 percent considered themselves to be security frontrunners, have implemented sound strategies and are executing them effectively.
Mark Lobel, the principal with PwC, said something must be wrong if that is how organizations see themselves. PwC then took the responses of the survey and started filtering them by a number of factors, including whether IT security reported to senior leadership, if policies had been reviewed in the last year and if the company had suffered a breach. After finishing the analysis, the number of frontrunners dropped to 13 percent.
Complacency and good fortune are a few of the factors Lobel cites as why CIOs believe they have a better strategy than they actually do. If nothing bad has happened to your company, it can be easy to consider that your setup is working. Businesses are also spending money on preventative security measures like firewalls but there is more to a well rounded system than that.
"It's good to see the investment in technologies," said Lobel. "However, the data shows they're not making investments in the processes necessary to make sure security policies are in place so [technology] works in sync to defend the enterprise."
IT Principals are spending money on security solutions but they need the impactful talent and policies to ensure employees follow through and offer the flexibility to answer the breadth of IT challenges.


Apache Cassandra is one of the most popular NoSQL databases http://db-engines.com/en/ranking. It is used by many big companies as Facebook, Netflix and many others. Initially the project was initiated by Facebook. In combination with Google BigTable and Amazon DynamoDB, they developed Cassandra. Actually, Cassandra is developed and maintained by the Apache foundation for the community version and by DataStax for the enterprise and commercial versions.
Cassandra has a master-less architecture. A cluster is represented as a ring. It’s a peer-to-peer cluster, with no single point of failure.
The Cassandra key features are:
- Tunable consistency level
- No Single Point of Failure
- High Available
- Multi data center
Any server node can accept write or read queries from clients. Every server is equal.
Cassandra uses the Gossip protocol for internode communication within the cluster. The Gossip protocol allows the exchanges of information between cluster nodes, such as the status. Each cluster node sends its status every second to three other nodes in the ring. A gossip message contain a version and in case of a conflict the older version is overwritten.
A Partitioned Row Store
Because C* is a NoSQL database, and in the “NoSQL world” no strict standards are defined, there is a lot of misunderstanding around the Cassandra data model. Currently, C* is defined as a column-store oriented DBMS, but there is a big confusion on this definition.
To define, the Cassandra data model you have to decompose it. The picture below will help you to understand the data objects composition.
The Cassandra data model is organized into rows of multiple columns/values pairs. Each row is uniquely identifiable by a key, the Row Key. Rows group columns and super columns. A column is the most basic unit of the data model. All columns are sorted by column key name, and all row key are sorted by row keys.
Each row key, is stored into tables or column-family and both are encapsulated into Keyspaces. Below is a representation of the complete Cassandra data model.
Finally, Apache C* can be defined as a Partitioned row store database.
How data is distributed
Cassandra uses a partitioner (internal component) to distribute data across cluster nodes. A partitioner determines where each piece of data has to be stored. The partitioning process is completely automatic and transparent.
Basically the partitioner is a hash function, computes a token for each partition key (Partition Key = Row Key). Depending on the partitioning strategy, each node of the cluster is responsible of a token. Below a picture for the partitioning process.
Three partitioning strategies are available:
Cassandra can store multiple copies of data on multiple nodes in order to ensure high availability and fault tolerance. Two important concepts are used for C* replication.
Replication strategy: determines in which node data is placed
Replication factor: determines the number of nodes where data is placed. A replication factor of 1 means that the data is replicated one time in one node.
The client connects to any node in the ring. This node became the coordinator, then the coordinator determines where the data must be stored. Finally, the data is replicated from one node to another in the sense of a clock hand.
A quick overview of Cassandra main concepts has been done in this post in order to understand more precisely how Apache Cassandra works. Of course Cassandra concepts are more complex and will be described in future blog posts.


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So as it stands it’s one-nil to The Sea, or to the English Channel to be precise, but I’m ready to even the score. Three years ago I tried to swim from England to France but my attempt was unsuccessful and I was pulled out after twelve and a half hours suffering from Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema (SIPE).
I aimed to do my longest training swim around five weeks before my Channel window opened. Not all prospective Channel swimmers do an 8 or 10-hour swim but if you can pull one off it’s a great confidence booster.
I’ve swum to Bat’s Head before but always from Durdle Door so it was nice to get a new angle on it. Only a month to go before my Channel window opens and I decided it was time for an 8-hour duration swim.
After you’ve decided you want to swim the Channel you need to find a pilot, train like mad, find a crew, train some more and then do some more training.
Just 94 days to go before my Channel swim so time for the first swim of the season from Fisherman’s Walk Zig Zag to Boscombe Pier and back, around 3.8km.

domain: hobby


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The Morning File: Aging of the world is something to live for
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If you feel badly about growing older, you're not alone -- the whole world is increasingly stooped over, shuffling its feet and asking you to turn up the television volume.
New population projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau Wednesday indicate that by the year 2050, most of the world (Africa being the main exception) will have more people over age 65 than under age 15, due to increased longevity and reduced fertility.
Normally, throughout history right up to today, young people have ruled, always pestering their elders with requests for more chocolate milk and fewer baths. (Why can't someone invent some form of chocolate milk with hygienic cleansing power that comes out of the bathtub faucet?)
Europe is the only continent where old people already dominate the young in numbers. This is why you see so much stuff still sitting around there from centuries ago -- the old fogies just can't let go of the cathedrals and castles they grew up with to make way for nice, new, energy-efficient condominiums.
In the U.S., presently, 13.5 percent of the population is 65-plus, while 20 percent is 14 or younger. By 2050, it will be 20.5 percent in the oldest group and 19.1 percent among the youngest.
Whether that trend is cause for concern or joy is subject to debate. It comes down to whether you're one of those people who sees the bedpan as half empty or half full.
If you're more pessimistic, you're worried about the financial solvency of Social Security and Medicare, workforce shortages, caregiving obligations for adult children, rampant dementia, a lack of geriatricians and personal aides and -- most importantly -- how long it takes to get through the supermarket express line if multiple gray-haired women are in front of you.
If you're an eternal optimist, like your Morning File author, you're just grateful to anticipate age 92 in 2050, with a nice canister of ready-to-inhale oxygen at your side and relief that fewer young'uns will be around to roll their eyes when you tell stories about the three rivers that once had water here, before the great global warming of the '20s.
We also look forward to our nonagenarian years because of the low stress involved. A study recently released by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that as you pass through each decade, your level of stress decreases. You gradually learn to relax and focus on the positive aspects of living. Relatively insignificant hardships that one can't control -- the Pirates' current inability to execute a sacrifice bunt, for example -- become less aggravating.
Yes, it's possible we could end up among the 16 million Americans that the Alzheimer's Association estimates will have dementia by 2050, which is about triple the number who have it now. In our early 90s, there's at least a 50-50 chance we'll have Alzheimer's. But we'll be content to let our caregivers fret when we put our clothes on backward or pour ketchup on our ice cream -- we'll be merrily stress-free.
One of the nice things about the future of aging is how many peers we'll be able to share it with. It used to be that anyone in his 90s was a freak of nature.
By 2050, there will probably be clothing lines, restaurants and cable TV music channels dedicated specifically to that age group's tastes, as well as some sort of super-senior discount at the Jimmy Buffett concerts they're still hosting at whatever the giant amphitheater in Burgettstown is called by then -- presumably with even worse traffic problems than it has now.
And we'll subscribe to glossy aging magazines showcasing everyone from octogenarians on up on the cover, similar to how AARP's publication now highlights hardly wrinkled Hollywood stars in their 50s to combat aging stereotypes. We can't wait to see what Raquel Welch looks like in a bikini in 2050 in a photo shoot for our planned new digital mag, Centenarian, at age 110.
Some people don't like the idea of growing old, which is their prerogative, just as it's their right to look all weirdly waxy in trying to defy it. But like Maurice Chevalier said, this aging process isn't really so bad when you consider the alternatives.
We're looking forward to it over the next four decades or so, just so long as there's someone young and available in 2050 to change the oxygen canister. That person probably isn't born yet, but let's hope someone gets working on it soon.
First Published June 28, 2012 12:00 am

domain: news


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The prevalence of interrupted sleep during menopause:
Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in menopausal women. According to a recent study, up to half of women in menopause experience this symptom.
Interrupted sleep generally refers to any condition in which the normal sleep pattern is disrupted. Despite not being as dangerous as other menopause symptoms, interrupted sleep can disrupt rest cycles and interfere with daily routine. The increased stress from low-quality sleep can also make menopause symptoms worse overall.
In addition to insomnia, problems that can lead to interrupted sleep during menopause include:
- Sleep apnea
- Restless legs syndrome
- Night sweats
These sleep issues can cause one to awake in the middle of the night, upsetting sleep cycles and potentially making it hard to fall asleep again.
What Causes Interrupted Sleep?
The causes of interrupted sleep as a menopause symptom can be divided into two distinct categories: psychological and physical. The methods for treating each cause are listed below:
Psychological causes involve overwork or general day-to-day stress and worry. Anxiety - another potential symptom of menopause - can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, which in turn hampers a regular sleep schedule.
In order to treat sleep problems with a psychological root, relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga may help. These practices induce tranquility and help put the mind at ease before bed. For severe cases of anxiety, a physician or counselor can provide guidance.
The physiological reasons for interrupted sleep as a menopause symptom are directly linked to an imbalance of hormone levels in the body. During menopause, as a woman's menstrual cycle draws to a close, estrogen levels shift drastically. Estrogen is a hormone that regulates the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin, which are related to sleep patterns. Therefore, changes in estrogen levels can negatively impact sleep regulation.
In order to treat hormone imbalance and sleep problems, many women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which introduces artificial hormones into the body, but I have linked of increase risk of cancer. Women have also been known to use alternative treatment methods, such as phytoestrogenic or hormone-regulating herbal supplements.
Although around half of middle-aged women experience interrupted sleep as a menopause symptom, they need not suffer. Click on the following link to learn more about menopausal sleep problems and greater detail on how to alleviate them.
- Breus, Michael. "Menopause and Sleep". MedicineNet.
- Love, Susan M.D. Menopause and Hormone Book. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.
- Walsleben, Joyce M.D. "Ask the sleep expert: menopause and insomnia". National Sleep Foundation.
- "Your Guide to Healthy Sleep". National Institute of Health, April 2006.

domain: biology


text:
The Danger Lurks on Every Crossroad
Evil fey waiting for easy prey to drown in the depths of a lake. Gnolls collecting toll on the only road between two villages. Guardian of Tree Spirit looking for vengeance. Something lurks on every corner, ready to pounce on unsuspecting heroes.
This encounter pack contains 10 carefully designed encounters, with monster tactics, leads, hooks, and new monsters, items, and spells to spice up your game. Easy to use and drop into any adventure–to fill up blanks on the map, make long journey more interesting or kickstart another adventure. Dangerous roads await, so beware!
Along with PDF, you get high-resolution maps for your favorite VTT - so you can bring those encounters to life!
An encounter set for use with either 5th or 3.5 edition of the world’s most popular roleplaying games. Designed for characters of levels 1-10.
Automatic activation: During checkout, you can provide an optional email for your Foundry VTT account. If you do we will try to automatically activate your product on that Foundry VTT account.
After purchasing the Foundry VTT version, you should receive an email with a Premium Content key. If you did not receive your Foundry VTT key after purchasing, check the Spam folder. If it is not there, contact us on https://discord.dragonshorn.info

domain: game


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The organisers of the new BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair have today announced a collaboration with Hillier Nurseries.
The Spring Fair, taking place in the grounds of Beaulieu in Hampshire from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 May 2021, will feature the all-new Hillier Experience, where visitors will discover a trio of Hillier inspiration, advice and retail as part of their day out.
The Hillier Experience
The Hillier Experience has been designed by the award-winning in-house team at Hillier. Visitors will be able to walk around the stunning feature, which will be overflowing with spring garden ideas and planting combinations. There will also be the opportunity to speak to experts from Hillier who will be on hand to share one-to-one advice.
The retail area of the Experience will allow inspiration to become reality, with a selection of plants grown by Hillier on their Hampshire nurseries available to purchase.
Two stunning new plants
The Fair organisers are delighted that Hillier plan to launch two stunning new plants at the Spring fair. This will give visitors an incredible opportunity to see and buy the very latest additions to the market.
Chris Francis, Wholesale and Retail Director of Hillier, said “We are excited to be headline partner of the new BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair in Beaulieu.
"Hillier is a Hampshire-based company, with several Garden Centres located in the county along with our nurseries, so it is a perfect location. BBC Gardeners’ World Live has a great reputation for bringing inspiration to the home gardener, which is part of the Hillier ethos too.“
Horticultural Director of BBC Gardeners’ World Fair, Bob Sweet, said, “The Hillier name is synonymous with quality horticulture, and the Hillier Experience positions their expertise at the heart of the Fair, with a great appeal to the dedicated gardener.”
The Spring Fair will also present high-quality nurseries with displays and plants for sale, an inspirational collection of Beautiful Borders, gardening exhibitors, the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Editors’ What To Do Now Stage, a BBC Good Food Market and bandstand hosted by Chris Bavin of BBC2s Britain in Bloom.
As gardening becomes increasingly popular and positively contributes to our wellbeing in this uncertain climate, the new outdoor BBC Gardeners’ World Fair, which runs in addition to the flagship BBC Gardeners’ World Live, offers up a chance for more gardeners to experience the Gardeners’ World brand coming to life.
Amplifying the value of this great day out, tickets to the Spring Fair include access to the stunning Beaulieu grounds and gardens.
Find out more at BBCGardenersWorldFair.com


We can ooh and aah about Samsung's top phones, which currently lead our list of the best smartphones in the world right now, but not everyone wants to spend big on a flagship. Luckily, the company has just updated its lower-end options.
The Galaxy A (2016) line updates the Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5, and Galaxy A3 devices with updated design and various new perks, depending on model. All three were introduced about a year ago, although this summer's absurdly thin Galaxy A8 doesn't get an update this time around.
All three of the new Galaxy A phones look a fair bit like the Galaxy S6, although they're lower-specced than Samsung's flagships. Both the 5.5in A7 (up top) and 5.2in A5 (below) have 1080p displays, a 1.6Ghz octa-core processor, and newly added optical image stabilisation for the 13-megapixel back cameras, among other features.
Both also ship with 16GB storage, but have a leg up on Samsung's recent flagships: microSD support for cards up to 128GB. The A7 edges out its smaller sibling on RAM, though, 3GB to 2GB. Th devices also both offer fast charging, with a 3,300mAh battery on the A7 and 2,900mAh on the smaller A5.
Unfortunately, all three ship with Android 5.1 Lollipop, and there's no assurance in today's announcement that the devices will eventually be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. That's disappointing, but if you're buying a mid-range handset, we suppose the expectations are looser.
The Samsung A7 will be available for ₹33,400 while the A5 can be yours for ₹29,400. Both the models are available in gold, black and white.


Amid heightened tension, the much publicised ‘Save Andhra Pradesh’ public meeting organised by the APNGOs against bifurcation of the State began at the Lal Bahadur Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Thousands of employees from all the 13 districts of Seemandhra region descended on the stadium since Saturday morning. The police frisked each and every employee before they were allowed into the venue of the meeting.
However, traffic was not affected as most of the vehicles were allowed to the gate of the assembly.
On the Basheerbagh-Police Control room road, a heavy contingent of police kept strict vigil outside the gate of Nizam College hostel. The students climbed hostel buildings, raised slogans in support of an integrated State.
The scene was different on the Osmania University campus, where the students clashed with police, armed with sticks. The police resorted to teargas shells to disperse agitating students. The meeting at LB Stadium, which was packed, began around 2 pm. Since APSRT withdrew all services, thousands of participants walked up to the stadium from railway stations.
Meanwhile, 10 Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) MLAs sat in protest on assembly premises, alleging a raw deal to Telangana supporters who wanted to express their dissatisfaction over granting permission to the meeting of the AP NGOs demanding integrated state. The police rounded up a large number of Telangana supporters.
Soon, members of the advocates of T-JAC joined the pro-Telangana protesters. They were picked up by the police after a while.
Addressing the meeting, APNGO's president Ashok Babu said Saturday’s meeting was just the beginning and would not end till the State was kept united. The decision taken by the Congress party has landed it in a situation that it could neither go forward or backward. "We have organised this meeting only to highlight the opposition to bifurcation," he said and added that if the decision was not reversed, APNGOs would organise Millenieum March at Parade Grounds. "This is not a warning but only to voice our concern," he added.
He felt that the move to bifurcate the state would bring serious loss to all the three regions of the state - Coastal, Rayalaseema and Telangana. Students, employees of the APSRTC and staff of the various government departments would also be facing severe hardships due to the bifurcation.
Mr. Babu maintained that the government employees who were on strike for a united State were unperturbed by reports of salary cuts.
The APNGO forum leader expressed his happiness at the heavy turnout of employees to the massive event, unmindful of the scorching heat. "The political parties were elected to power to rule the people and not to divide them," Mr. Babu said.


Chicago’s chief technology officer has vision of Digital Second City
SANDRA GUY email@example.com May 27, 2011 9:40PM
John Tolva | Sun-Times files
Updated: November 4, 2011 2:48PM
John Tolva, Chicago’s new tech guru, wants Chicago to become known as the Digital Second City.
“Forget thinking about computers or even websites. We want to think of the city itself as a platform for interaction — as a computing platform,” said Tolva, 38, the city’s new chief technology officer and a fourth-generation Chicagoan who previously worked as IBM’s director of citizenship and technology.
In the short run, a digital Chicago could enable people to receive city services faster, see how efficiently a government agency is working or receive wirelessly and in real time a variety of transit options for running an errand.
In the long term, Tolva wants to leverage “open data” to create new markets, businesses and on-the-fly networking opportunities.
“There are makers, builders and developers who see the city as a new domain, as a new problem set,” he said. “How might we become as digitally literate a place as we are architecturally literate?”
Tolva also wants to build on Chicago’s “Digital Excellence” plan, which focuses on providing high-speed computer access, local online content and affordable computer software, hardware, education and awareness to underserved neighborhoods.
One effort will map the city’s available broadband and fiber-optics capacity in order to fill in the gaps.
“You cannot manage something that you’re not measuring,” Tolva said. “The city has been publishing data for quite some time. We’re about to put that into overdrive.”
Tolva is the latest public official to talk about leveraging “open data,” or what has become known as Gov 2.0.
Leon Rockingham, the mayor of suburban North Chicago, hopes to use data on MetroPulseChicago.org to see how his community’s progress compares with its neighbors and ultimately, to develop a vacant brownfield site next to the Great Lakes Naval Station.
The city plans to develop the 40-acre site, called Sheridan Crossing, into a destination, with a hotel, restaurants and retail stores that would serve as an entertainment stopover for sailors and their families.
“The Naval Station graduates 500 to 1,000 recruits each Friday, and we hope to serve as a place where they and their families can stay and be entertained,” Rockingham said.
Governments are developing new software tools so they, researchers and the public can more quickly find and use data on anything from the local air quality to the community’s unemployment rate.
Rich Schultz, an associate professor of geography and geosciences at Elmhurst College, said today’s easy access to online data has led people to want instant gratification — including quick responses from government.
“If a street light is out, people running around with iPhones, BlackBerries and other mobile devices can report it immediately. The bar gets raised,” said Schultz, who coordinates Elmhurst College’s certificate program for the Geographic Information System (GIS), which ties data into visualization systems. “It’s all about mobile computing, location-based data and getting good-quality data.”
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, or CMAP, partnered with the Chicago Community Trust to create MetroPulseChicago.org, which lets people see data as a map, a chart, a table or other visual element to quickly assess a situation.
“Until now, it has been difficult to quantify,” said Greg Sanders, CMAP’s information architect. “The data are worthless if no one understands what they are looking at. The visualization tool lets people quickly get a handle on the data.”
Two Chicago Web-development firms — Pathfinder Development and Great Arc Technologies — helped set up the system that aggregated 20,000 data tables.
The system relies on software developed by Information Builders, a New York-based business intelligence company that employs 40 at its Downers Grove office. The software brings the data together quickly.
Chicago’s Tolva says historic institutions and innovations — of which Chicago boasts plenty — form the perfect basis for innovation.
“We turned from wheat to pigs to commodities to the futures market, and that gave rise to a nationwide rail network,” he said. “We should look at what has made us great in the past and try to translate that to tech startups.”


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and Lynn Munsinger
have collaborated on many funny and popular books for children, including the stories starring Tacky the Penguin and Wodney Wat, as well as the new Laugh-Along series. Helen Lester is a full-time writer who makes her home in New York. Lynn Munsinger has lived in Vermont and Connecticut, devoting her time to freelance illustration. http://www.helenlester.com/
Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger have been together through thick and thin since first publishing The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken
in 1983. They have collaborated on the hilarious Tacky the Penguin series and many other wildly funny and popular titles, including the award-winning Hooway for Wodney Wat
. Helen Lester is a full-time writer who makes her home in New York, and Lynn Munsinger is a full-time illustrator living in Vermont.
LYNN MUNSINGER has illustrated more than ninety books for children. She graduated from Tufts University in Boston and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, where she majored in illustration. She lives in Connecticut and Vermont.

domain: literature


Tis the season! Tori Spelling dresses her four children in matching outfits as they visit Santa's grotto
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with a trip to see Santa?
So that's exactly what Tori Spelling and her brood did on Wednesday.
The former Beverly Hills 90210 star and her husband Dean McDermott dressed their four young children in festive outfits before heading off to The Grove in Los Angeles.
Festive family fun: Tori Spelling and her family were at the The Grove in West Hollywood on Thursday to see Santa Claus and to do some last minute Christmas shoppingTori Spelling and her family visit Santa Claus and spend time shopping together at The Grove Featuring: Tori Spelling, Stella McDermott Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 20 Dec 2012 Credit: Owen Beiny/WENN.com
Cute as a button: Five-year-old Liam and four-year-old Stella look like Christmas elves
Liam may have been going for a festive One Direction look as he looked quite the fledgling boy bander in his black skinny jeans, a white shirt, red jumper and matching bow-tie.
The blonde youngster even had the customary blazer, loafers and floppy-hair going on.
His sister Stella looked equally as seasonal in a pretty gold skirt with a red sequinned sash and cosy Flapper-style red coat.
She topped it off with a cute black bow in her fair hair.
The whole clan: Spelling was out with her husband Dean McDermott and her four young children
Babies Finn, four months, and Hattie, one, were bundled up in red snuggley onesies and Tori's nod to the Christmas season was a sequin-lapelled blazer and jazzy gold belt.
The 39-year-old also wore a patterned maxi dress and besides bright red lips, seemed to be make-up free.
The group were seen laughing and smiling throughout their jaunt and seemed to be in high spirits.
Spelling has also recently been reminiscing about her days on the original hit show that follows the lives of a group of young and wealthy Beverly Hills socialites.
Doting dad: McDermott takes charge and pushes their latest two additions to the family while his actress wife does a spot of shopping
She told the website Zap2it: 'I'll meet 13-year-olds who say, "We love "90210!" And I'll say, "The new one?"
'And they'll be like, "No. The one you're in!"'
'They'll watch repeats on SoapNet, and I think it's great those still appeal to them.
'It may be a different generation, but the messages are still there and clear. It's something I'm really proud of.'
Dressed to impress: The former Beverly Hills 90210 clad her brood in festive jolly outfits for the outing
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CONDON – The Elks National Hoop Shoot will return to Condon and area youth between the ages of 8 and 13 are encouraged to participate.
The Elks Hoop Shoot will be held in Condon on Wednesday, December 29th at 11am in the Condon High School. Members of the Condon Elks Lodge #1869 will host the event.
Boys and girls will be divided into three age groups: ages 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13 and will shoot a total of 25 free-throws and tiebreakers if necessary. The winners will advance to the Elks District Hoop Shoot in Pendleton on January 9, 2022.
The Elks National Hoop Shoot starts with local contests and advances through district, state, and regionals. The finals will bring regional winners together for the National Finals in Chicago on Saturday, April 30, 2022.
Six National Champions will have their names on a digital display at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Elks Hoop Shoot is free, and the Elks will cover travel costs through each level of the competition.
The Condon Elks Lodge is excited to bring the Elks Hoop Shoot back to Condon and looks forward to seeing the kids compete!


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1. Strawberry Shortcake with a White Chocolate Finish
Wimbledon is here and strawberries are at their best. So make the most of them with this awesome strawberry and white chocolate shortcake.
2. Easy Strawberry Shortcakes
Fluffy biscuits, sweet, syrupy strawberries, and perfectly whipped cream: These are the elements of an idyllic strawberry shortcake. And in this episode of The Easiest Way, Amy Wisniewski of the CHOW Test Kitchen shares her simple technique for achieving strawberry-shortcake perfection using our Classic Strawberry Shortcake recipe.
3. Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait
Looking for a unique dessert that's bursting with bright flavors? Try this creamy, delicious recipe that pairs fresh rhubarb and sweet strawberries with homemade whipped cream. Is it a parfait?...is it a sundae? You decide!
4. How To Make Coconut Blueberry Strawberry Sundae
This colorful, patriotic recipe that is creamy coconut ice cream smothered in blueberry sauce and fresh strawberries. Try it out this 4th of July!
5. Berry Crisp Recipe
Simple berry crisp recipe with blackberries, rasberries and strawberries - but you can use whatever berries you like!
6. Pavlova Recipe
Pavlova is a meringue cake that has a light and delicate crisp crust and a soft sweet marshmallow center. This lovely dessert is typically served with softly whipped cream and fresh fruit.

domain: food


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March 6, 2020: Data indicates that individuals who have compromised immune systems and health are more likely to have severe and fatal outcomes from COVID-19. Let’s find ways to improve your immune response in your body against all infections.
Articles and ResourcesFrom Dr. romie
November 27, 2019: How can we adopt a Thanksgiving-related attitude of gratitude when conflict is in the rearview mirror?
A Masterclass in Level One Listening – Interview with Oscar Trimboli on the “Deep Listening” Podcast
Dr. Romie Mushtaq, M.D., ABIHM, is a neurologist whose expertise in Western medicine and Eastern wisdom helps people resolve stress-based illnesses, achieve peak performance, and

domain: health


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CHERYL Cole has a secret rap track that her manager Will.i.am is keeping under lock and key.
The former X Factor judge, at No1 with Call My Name, said she recorded an entire song in the rap style but it didn’t make it on to her new album A Million Lights.
But Cheryl told Muzu.tv: “Will.i.am still has the song, so if you want to hear it you need to ask him.”
She joked: “I think I inspire him. I think you’ll find on his next record I inspire him with my rap masterpiece.”
Cheryl also revealed that Katherine Kelly, who used to play Becky McDonald in Coronation Street came to see her at a gig.
She gushed: “I met Becky from Corrie. It was mutual love. I think I called her Becky which is so cheesy. Her real name is Katherine.”

domain: artistic


So I was having issues feeding some filaments (flex / carbon fill) either wouldn’t feed at all with Flex and carbon filaments needed more clamping pressure. Retraction also caused filament grinding. After disassembly of the Extruder to examine it could see it really only has a set clamping pressure as the idle wheel is fixed in place.
So initially tried a part of thingiverse which worked reasonably well… but then went whole hog and made this with a BMG clone extruder, custom clamp and tried to use the UPBOX heater element components but it wouldn’t feed reliably as filament was too hot and soft going into the UPBOX heater throat. (this is why the BMG was cut across the bottom to try and use the original parts). Change the heater block completley but re-used the upbox parts in the end and now it works great. Note the UPBOX uses PTC thermistors (resistance increase with temp)… i tried common aftermarket thermistor but the are NTC type and it read 320 degrees at ambient LOL!.
Theres a few things you need to do like reverse the stepper motor direction (can be done easily by swapping two wires at connector end to head PCB), scale the flow up significantly as the BMG has a ratio of 3:1. chane fans around a bit. But it works a treat and if people are interested can put up more info. Ideally you need to use the CURA mod ive done (files are on this forum and allow CURA to generate fully compatible GCODE for the UP which can be transferred using UP Studio) as its the only way to alter flow etc significantly since there is no access to the firmware.


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|05-20-2007 09:56 PM|
Yeah, Destin is awesome...but damn it's getting crowded. My wife and I went down and stayed at a friends condo over spring break (wife's a teacher).
Traffic was so bad between Ft. Walton and Destin one day that it took us 2 hours to get from the bridge to Destin Commons.
It's a little late now, but next time you head down that way you HAVE to drive over to Ft. Walton Beach for dinner one night. There is a restaurant called Staff's. It's a (relatively) little place back over the bridge away from the beach.
You've got to check it out next time you are down there.
Also, There is a restaurant at the Bayside Wharf. I forget the name of it, but they have the best steamed oysters in Destin and sweet potato fries that kick a$$.
Bayside is a gated community, but all you have to do is tell them you are going to the Wharf and they'll give you a day pass for free.
|05-20-2007 08:45 PM|
Yes, sat on the deck outside one evening.. Did AJ's and Harbour Dock as well....
|05-20-2007 08:01 PM|
did you eat at pompano joe's??
|05-20-2007 07:42 PM|
|bluvikng||Glad the weather was great for your vacation. Reality, is always less attractive.........|
|05-20-2007 07:40 PM|
|tiny terror||vacations are always too short, especially that last day...|
|05-20-2007 06:13 PM|
|Dare2BSquare||Twenty-five years ago when we started going to Panama City Beach every year for Memorial Day, Destin was just a little town that you went through between Pensacola and Panama City. What a difference now!!! I still prefer to vacation In Panama City because it is a little further away from the outlet mall. My wife would break me if she could have easy access to that everyday!!! We are far enough away at PCB that we usually only go over for one day to Destin.|
|05-20-2007 04:09 PM|
Destin....what a vacation!!
Just got back from vacation. Destin was great!! 10 days of perfect weather. Now back to the real world. I'm going through reality shock.

domain: geography


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The Chinese government has again announced more bearish statements on cryptocurrencies, reiterating its ban on the use of “virtual currencies” since 2017.
The total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies in the sector – important the combined price of all tokens in circulation – declined nearly 5% today after the Chinese government again made clear its negative stance towards digital assets.
“Recently, virtual currency trading advertising activities have increased, which has disturbed the economic and financial order, and led to illegal and criminal activities such as gambling, illegal fundraising, fraud, pyramid schemes and money laundering, ” the Chinese government said.
Although this is not the first time China has condemned cryptocurrencies, the prices of the vast majority of them fell anyway, only exacerbating recent global market fears caused by a possible collapse of Chinese real estate giant Evergrande.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin’s price has fallen around 4.2% on the day, with the cryptocurrency trading around $42,392.
Other top tokens such as Ethereum (-7.7%, $2,899), Cardano (-1.1%, $2.22), Binance Coin (-7.4%, $351), Ripple’s XRP (-6. 5%, $0.93), Solana (-7.3%, $138), Polkadot (-3.5%, $30), and Dogecoin (-6.6%, $0.2) are also falling .
Meanwhile, the “Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index,” a tool designed to measure the sentiments of the cryptocurrency community dependent on volatility, market momentum, social media posts, and other metrics, has remained in the “fear” zone over the past few days, compared to mostly “neutral” sentiments last week.
The post Bitcoin and Ethereum Fall as China Intensifies Crackdown on Cryptocurrencies appeared first on Explica .co.


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- TripBuzz found 33 things to do with kids in or near Buxton, North Carolina, including 25 fun activities for kids in nearby cities within 25 miles like Frisco, Avon, Ocracoke and Rodanthe.
- From Uncle Eddy's Frozen Custard & 18-Hole Mini Golf to Island Hide-A-Way Campground, the Buxton area offers 40 different types of family activities, including: Hiking Trails, Mini Golf, Camping Site and Surf Shop.
- A beach community in North Carolina, Buxton borders the Atlantic Ocean. This popular tourist destination provides for an array of water fun and sports. Along with traditional activities like swimming, kayaking and sunbathing, adventures like windsurfing, kiteboarding and horseback riding are also offered at the beach. For added travel convenience, Buxton is further equipped with many RV parks and campgrounds.
80% 127 votes
46860 NC Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920 MoreLess Info
Kids and adults love Uncle Eddy's Frozen Custard & 18-Hole Mini Golf in Buxton, North Carolina. This popular spot features a whimsical mini golf course and a huge menu of frozen treats that help players cool off after a hot game.
One of three lighthouses found in the national park of the National Seashore, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open seasonally (late April through Columbus Day) for visitors to enjoy and climb. Rising 257 steps from the ground to the balcony, narrow stairs have tight space for two-way traffic and equates to climbing…
Led by knowledgeable local tour guides, Hatteras Tours is a business that offers sightseeing and historical tours to its guests. The tour guide discusses the local history of the area and shows many scenic sights of the island.
Boots with excellent traction are essential for traversing the Buxton Woods Nature Trail in Buxton, North Carolina. The trail is very popular with bird watchers, who visit regularly to see more than 360 species that live in or pass through the Buxton Woods.
Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve is 1007 acre nature preserve with a diverse collection of fauna and flora. There are over 360 species of birds including peregrine falcons and bald eagles and mammals like grey foxes and river otters.
Golf and karting go hand in hand at Frisco Mini Golf & Go-Karts. This family-friendly establishment accepts new golfers until 10 PM and has clean, well maintained facilities. This destination is also an attractive choice for childrens' birthday parties.


|12:05 PM PT1:05 PM MT2:05 PM CT3:05 PM ET15:05 ET19:05 GMT3:05 12:05 PM MST2:05 PM EST2:35 PM VEN23:05 UAE2:05 PM CT, September 29, 2019
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Attendance: 31,805
Harper, Phillies find something to play for vs. Marlins
- Braun acknowledges retirement nearing
- Dodgers' Turner: Don't want fake banner
- Rockies sidestep Arenado situation
- Story, Rockies sign $27.5M, 2-year deal
- Dodgers' fan group to vent at Astros
The Philadelphia Phillies won't be throwing any parades down Broad Street following a season that fell short of expectations. There is, however, a carrot for the club to chase in Sunday's season finale against the visiting Miami Marlins.
The Phillies (81-80) can secure their first winning season since posting 102 victories in 2011 by completing a three-game series sweep of the cellar-dwelling Marlins (56-105).
Should it fall in the finale and finish .500, Philadelphia would settle for its first non-losing record since 2012 -- another 81-81 campaign.
Bryce Harper is finishing strong in his first season of a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies. The 2015 National League Most Valuable Player followed up his triple and double in Friday's 5-4 win in 15 innings by belting a three-run homer in a 9-3 victory Saturday.
"Gotta do it. Gotta go out there and win tomorrow," Harper told reporters after Saturday's game. "That's huge for us. It's not where we want to be, but winning seasons are good."
Harper's 35th homer served as his 72nd extra-base hit and propelled his RBI total to a career-best 114.
"Just trying to go up there and have good at-bats," the 26-year-old Harper said. "I want to go up there and do damage the best I can."
Harper is 4-for-9 with a double and two RBIs against right-hander Sandy Alcantara (5-14, 3.95 ERA), who will get the nod in the season finale looking to post what would be just his second win in his final 17 appearances.
Alcantara settled for a no-decision on Tuesday despite allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings against the New York Mets.
"Sandy was just Sandy (in that outing)," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters of the game the Mets ultimately won 5-4. "It's what you expect. It's such a good thing that you expect Sandy to go six, seven, eight innings every time he goes out there. These have been really good signs for him."
Alcantara owns a 2-1 record in three career appearances versus the Phillies after splitting a pair of decisions this season. The 24-year-old fared well in the last encounter, permitting one run over 7 2/3 innings in a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia on June 21.
Miami, which has won nine of 18 meetings against Philadelphia in 2019, last won the season set against the Phillies in 2008. Philadelphia won the World Series that year.
The Phillies elected against starting ace Aaron Nola in the season finale in favor of utilizing a bullpen game, with right-hander Blake Parker (3-2, 4.18) expected to get the nod to begin the contest.
Parker, who was one of seven relievers in Friday's 15-inning marathon, has turned in four straight scoreless relief outings spanning 4 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old has allowed one hit in two scoreless frames against Miami this season and has yet to record a decision in four career relief appearances versus the Marlins.
The bullpen should be relatively fresh as the Phillies answered Friday's game by relying on just right-handers Zach Eflin and Nick Pivetta on Saturday.
Philadelphia should keep a keen eye on former Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro, who was traded to Miami in February as part of the J.T. Realmuto deal. Alfaro is batting a robust .432 (19-for-44) against his former team this season.
Miguel Rojas, who is 5-for-10 in the series, will serve as player-manager on Sunday to continue a tradition started by Mattingly in Miami.
--Field Level Media
Updated September 29, 2019


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Whenever I take a Instax photo that I like, I then take a picture of it with my iPhone so I can post it on my blog. Then, if it needs, I’ll run it through the editing program on Instagram because it has a better photo editing program than I have on my computer.
I do love the soft quality of instant photos. It’s something I can’t get with my Iphone. They often have a lot more feeling to me. But they can also be difficult when it comes to details and lighting.


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Subtotal: $0.00 USD
This Hong Kong 20 Dollar banknote has enhanced security features. It has fluorescent designs with machine-readable bar codes, novel serial numbers, and a green-to-magenta windowed security thread with demetalized HK20 and a large HK made up of small letters. The obverse side of the note features the HSBC headquarters building, the bank logo as the registration device, a lion statue, a lions head, and a numeric 20 in SPARK. The reverse side features children with lanterns celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and the HSBC logo. A watermark image of a Bauhinia flower and electrotype 20 on pixelized design is also made visible under a UV light. The note measures 143 x 71.5 mm.

domain: design


According to a new market study by Newmark Knight Frank Devencore (NKF Devencore), the vacancy rate for all office classes in downtown Toronto continues to remain very tight. The most substantial delivery of new space was the EY Tower at 100 Adelaide Street West, a 905,000-square-foot building that is almost fully occupied. The 800,000-square-foot One York Street was also recently delivered and is almost fully leased.
“While the next development cycle is currently underway, there is only a limited amount of new office space coming to the market over the next 2-3 years,” said Allan Schaffer, President/Broker of Record of NKF Devencore’s downtown Toronto office. “Pending the completion of major new projects in 2020-2021, vacancy rates will likely decline further as demand for top-tier space continues to be driven by tenants in the financial, legal, media and tech sectors.”
Mr. Schaffer also commented on evolving tenancy options in the downtown Toronto office market.”One of the more interesting trends to emerge of late is the coworking model of office space occupancy, which provides the option of leasing shared space and has the advantages of flexible lease terms, lower up-front costs, and the ability to move into fully built-out space,” Mr. Schaffer said. “Until recently, this coworking model has been marketed to individuals or very small firms. However, one of the largest providers of shared space, WeWork, is now offering these advantages to organizations with 500+ employees.
“The model may prove appealing to larger companies that need temporary, project-based space. On the other hand, short-term leases can prove costly, particularly if a company is forced to make multiple moves down the road. Further, the model may not work for businesses that require a degree of confidentiality, as shared common spaces are not conducive to privacy,” Mr. Schaffer said.
While the vacancy rate remains low, the NKF Devencore market report also noted that tenants with leases that expire over the next two years should start investigating their options as soon as possible. There may be space available in some older Class A buildings that are being vacated by tenants moving into the new towers but landlords in downtown Toronto will maintain strong negotiating leverage over the next few years.


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Smartphones are gadgets we can’t imagine our lives without, but the more we use them, the bigger the chance they’ll get damaged. Well, iRing is a Smartphone Grip & Stand that makes your phone easier to operate and helps you keep it safe. The thinnest phones are becoming more and more popular, but they can get a bit tricky to handle. They don’t fit in the hand like thicker phones and are easier to drop. This smartphone holder helps you get a good grip of your phone and prevent breakage.
The iRing is here to prevent you from dropping your phone on the ground and to provide a better control while you’re using it or taking pictures. This convenient accessory’s made from premium material and it comes in many different colors so you can find the perfect one to suit the style of your phone. It looks luxurious and can also serve as a phone stand for watching movies or playing music or YouTube clips.
The iRing is one of the most practical smartphone accessory so far. It has an ergonomic safe grip and provides security and comfort so you can use your phone with confidence. Your phone will become a sort of an extension to your body. In addition to the grip, you’ll also get a Micro Hook Mount that allows you to safely attach the smartphone to any flat surface in your home, office, or even your car dashboard for easy viewing.
The main feature of the iRing lies in the strong and secure adhesive technology. Besides providing a secure positioning, it’s also reusable so you can easily wash off the dust with some water to restore the adhesiveness. It can also be applied and removed at any time and it won’t leave any residue. It can hold up to 15 lbs. so it’s also suitable for iPads and tablets. This accessory has a patented swivel hinge; it can rotate 360º and swivel 180º, and can be used as both horizontal and vertical kickstand.
Get it from Amazon here.


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Want to build a better Philadelphia? Expert says to design for ages 8 and 80 | Opinion
"If everything we do in our cities is great for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, then it will be great for all people."
Imagine if you could see the world through the eyes of its most vulnerable populations: children and seniors. That's how I'm seeing Philadelphia these days, after attending a workshop led by the 8 80 Cities initiative, which teaches that "if everything we do in our cities is great for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, then it will be great for all people."
As a recipient of the Emerging Cities Champion fellowship, I, along with 19 other grantees from across the United States, toured the city of Toronto to gain a new perspective on building better cities. After seeing the best and worst examples of "8 80" practice in Toronto, our tour guides asked us to put on our "8 80 goggles" and see what our own cities can to do.
Creating a vibrant and equitable city for people of all ages, of course, takes more than changes to the built environment; it also requires access to housing, education, healthy food, and medical care. But there are simple projects Philadelphia can undertake to become more accommodating.
Increasing seating and benches in our public space
For able-bodied folks, seating in our public space is not always a necessity. However, seniors and young children rely on public seating to make walking and transit accessible to them. For seniors, who are more likely than the general population to have mobility impairments, a bench can be the difference between access to a grocery store or staying at home. Philadelphia simply does not have enough places for people to sit. We need more benches (with backs) that provide comfortable seating throughout our city.
Make public transit cheaper for families
It is a challenge to get where you need to go if you have limited mobility or financial resources. Public transit is an important public service for both families with young members and for those who are aging. SEPTA allows seniors, age 65 or older, to ride free at all times on bus, subway, and trolley. However, SEPTA charges full fare for children over the age of 4. This is limiting to families who need to travel outside of their neighborhoods. For a parent with two children, a simple round-trip will cost $12. If Philadelphia wants to continue to provide equitable access to transit, they should eliminate the child fare for anyone under the age 12.
Improve access to rec centers
Part of building a livable society is to ensure that seniors and youth have the ability to engage with their neighbors, participate in their communities, and receive supportive services. One of the ways both someone who is 8 or 80 can do this is by having access to recreation centers, senior centers, or parks. As the city embarks on the Rebuild Philadelphia process, we need to make sure that neighborhoods of the city with large populations of aging adults and children have community centers that meet the needs of people of all ages.
Protect bike lanes
I bet you cannot picture an 8-year-old or an 80-year-old riding a bicycle in the streets of Philadelphia. That is not because people at those ages do not ride. In fact, in cities all over the world, they ride regularly and safely.
The reason you cannot picture that happening here is simply because not a single piece of bicycle infrastructure in Philadelphia was designed with kids or seniors in mind. If we want to see healthier generations who participate in active transportation, we must design our bike lanes for them. And even if they choose not to ride, protected bike lanes have been proven to make streets safer for all users and slow down traffic.
Enforce a citywide 20 mph speed limit
Seniors and children are disproportionately at risk of being killed or injured in traffic crashes. In 2017, approximately 27 percent of traffic fatalities in Philadelphia were seniors and children. Studies have found that at 20 mph the risk of death from being hit by a car was approximately 10 percent, at 30 mph that increases to 45 percent and at 40 mph it climbs to 95 percent.
The rates of death are even higher if you are older than 70. If Philadelphia is serious about ending traffic-related deaths, we need to not only protect students in school zones, but we need to protect seniors and children everywhere they may go in the city. By lowering the citywide speed limit to 20 mph and making a significant investment in road redesign to reflect this speed-limit change, we will have built our city and our streets with people of all ages in mind.
Dena Ferrara Driscoll is a family biking advocate. @bikemamadelphia.

domain: sociology


There’s nothing wrong with enjoying good entertainment.
With Netflix, video games, and mobile apps being so ubiquitous, you can binge-watch TV shows in the bathroom, on the highway, or flying in a plane. It’s easier than ever to indulge the itch.
We all joke about it. Commercials have even satirized “the show hole” (that moment your series ends and you have nothing else to watch). But it’s all representative of a real addiction to entertainment.
I used to play video games like it was a full-time job. From time to time, I still break out an old game like Zelda: A Link to the Past and grind out three or four hours of blissful worthlessness. It can be great. It can be fantastic. It can also make you feel like a balloon with a hole in it.
I love getting together with buddies and having “v-game” parties. It’s great to bond over competition and innocent fun. Entertainment itself is good and valid. God invented it. It’s great.
But it’s really easy to give it inordinate sway in our lives.
Sometimes it’s good to be really really bored. Sometimes, after you force yourself to be really really bored, you actually feel fantastic. For a while, I wondered why.
Why I love being really really bored
I’ve heard that constant stimulation by digital media has a similar impact on our brains as heroin abuse. It damages our ability to behave with self-control and to enjoy the boring things in life (which is basically everything that matters). It hurts our actual, real, physical brain. If that doesn’t creep you out, I don’t know what will.
Heroin addicts need more and more heroin each time to get the same high. Doesn’t take much of an imagination to wonder about entertainment.
To be fair, other studies show that small amounts of time devoted to video games like Call of Duty can increase our brain’s capabilities. When I first heard that, I ran with it—“AMEN BROTHER! OOH-RAH!” But the point is: entertainment-in-small-doses=good. Entertainment-as-life=bad.
Most of us have had our couches grafted into our thighs, and our smart-phones plugged into our wrists like an IV. If ever the world has looked like the Matrix, it’s now. Just go to any restaurant and count the number of people too absorbed in their phone to notice the color of paint on the walls.
After a while, you’ll start checking the corner for a man with sunglasses who may refer to you as, “Mr. Anderson.” Or a guy with a gap in his teeth offering you two different colored pills and making cryptic references to Alice in Wonderland.
A while back, when I was trying to figure out this whole writing thing and having an extremely difficult time convincing myself to grind out a few more words and finish the rough draft of Cain, I realized I had a problem. I felt I didn’t have any time in the day. But my mind told me that probably wasn’t true.
So I counted the hours I spent playing video games and watching movies/shows/etc. every day. It was an enormous amount of time.
I still felt like I couldn’t give any of it up. That creeped me out.
So I tried going off of video games. Cold turkey.
It sucked. I instantly became really really bored. My eyes darted around the room looking for ledges for my ninja-assassin to climb. My fingers twitched as if triggering the crosshairs of an AK-47 to raise on the blank screen in my living room.
I had no idea what to do with myself. Should I roll around on the ground? Should I eat some poptarts? What the heck did people even do before modern entertainment?
And then, after a while, everything calmed down. I was still really really bored. But the buzz in my mind died away and there was merciful quiet everywhere. Inside and out. I was really really bored and kind-of liked it. I could think for once. Time slowed to a snail’s pace, and I was able to take stock of who I was and who I wanted to be.
But most of all, I was able to pray. That, for me, was life changing.
So when I’m struggling with anxiety and stress, or whatever, I try to get really really bored. Because when I’m really really bored, I’m free to sit in the arms of my Savior. No distractions. Nothing between us. Just the comfort of his presence.
Call of Duty ain’t got nothin’ on that.


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First 4 Figures have today announced the launch of their Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary statue.
The Statue, modelled on the 30th Anniversary logo depicting modern Sonic leaping through a ring was teased via social media, with the official launch day being pinned as April the 5th, 2022. The statue will be revealed in full via stream (including YouTube) at 16:45 BST.
The only detail currently confirmed by First 4 Figures is that there will be both a standard and exclusive version of the statue available.
Following the launch stream, the statue will become available for pre-order, however the price of the premium item is yet to be confirmed.
In the meantime, fans can also enter a free competition for a chance to win a statue of their own.
More information as it comes!


Blessings in disguise?
Some 1.3 million new cars from the first-time car buyer scheme will be roving the streets in 2013.
People queue up at an excise office in Chachoengsao province on Dec 17 to exercise the right to a rebate under the first-time car buyer programme. The queue of eager car buyers reportedly began as early as 5am. SONTANAPORN INCHAN
Motorists buying the cars will receive a tax rebate of up to 100,000 baht, and the scheme, one of several populist policies of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, is projected to cost the government 90 billion baht.
It is aimed at stimulating the automobile industry and giving first-jobbers a chance to own a small or mid-sized car with an engine size of 1500cc or less.
With public transport in Thailand in such a poor and inconvenient state, owning a car is a big dream for just about all Thais, and the Yingluck Shinawatra administration is making their dreams come true.
Finance Ministry officials see this gift a big encouragement for people to work hard and earn more money to pay the instalment payments on their new cars.
On the ministry's side, it is good news because at least 1.2 million people will have to work harder to stay caught up with their higher bills, while the government will earn more revenue from the buoyant automobile industry.
But for residents in Bangkok and other big cities, adding 1.2 million cars to the streets could turn into an absolute nightmare.
The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning believes traffic gridlock in big cities will worsen and motorists will take longer to reach their destinations.
The office's own research shows the average speed for rush-hour traffic is 16.5 kilometres per hour inbound and 23.5 km/h outbound.
Imagine how much more time motorists will spend on their commute.
Critics have blamed the government for using taxpayers' money for unproductive goals and say the amount lost in tax rebates would be better used to build more public transport such as a high-speed railway.
Estimates are that 78 billion baht would probably be sufficient to build a high-speed train running from Bangkok-Rayong and would certainly be more than enough for the distance to Pattaya.


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This clock handbag is perfect for your Alice in Wonderland costume whether you're attending a party or going out on the town this Halloween! The long, gold strap and zipper closure will allow you to keep your personal belongings close and protected. The gold body has a printed clock face and memories from Alice's journey like the Mad Hatter's hat, a tea cup and a playing card. Great with any of our traditional or sexy Alice costumes!
- 100% polyester
- Top zipper closure
- Metallic gold braid shoulder strap
- Printed graphics
- Great for an Alice in Wonderland themed costume.


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"Richard Mather (1596-1669), clergyman, was born in Lowton, Winwick Parish, Lancashire, England, in 1596; son of Thomas and Marguerite Mather, and grandson of John Mather.
He received a liberal education and taught at Toxteth Park, near Liverpool, England, 1611-15, all the while studying for the ministry, and in 1815 he entered Brasenose College, Oxford. In 1620 he returned to Toxteth and was ordained by Bishop Morton of Chester. He was twice married, first, in 1624, to Katharine, daughter of Edmund Holt of Bury, and secondly, in 1656, to Sarah Story, widow of the Reverend John Cotton.
He ministered in Toxteth until 1633, when complaints were entered against him for non-conformity, and in August, 1633, he was suspended. By the intercession of friends his suspension was removed shortly after, but in 1634 it was again inflicted, and in May, 1635, he joined the company of pilgrims and embarked at Bristol for New England. He arrived at Boston in August, 1635.
He formed a new church at Dorchester, and was chosen its pastor in 1636. Upon the downfall of the hierarchy in England, he was solicited to return to his former job, but he refused. In 1639, he was chosen to answer the thirty-two questions propounded by the general court relating to church government. He was a member of the synod of 1648 and drew up the Cambridge platform of discipline, which was adopted.
During his residence in New England he was a member of every synod convened and was moderator of a synod at the time of his death. He was one of the three ministers selected to prepare a New England version of the Psalms (1646), and he is the author of Discourse on the Church Covenant (1639) and Treatise on Justification. He died in Dorchester, April 22, 1669, and was laid to rest there.
Richard Mather is father of Reverend Increase Mather, grandfather to Reverend Cotton Mather, and great-grandfather to Mather Byles.
— Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States, 1900 (edited)

domain: history


text:
Top picks for tamariki, recommended by Stephen Clothier
The Inkberg Enigma
Written by Jonathan King
Miro lives in his books; Sia is never without her camera. The day they meet, they uncover a secret.
Stephen says: “This gorgeous and engrossing comic features exactly the kind of kids who you used to go on neighbourhood adventures with when you were young.”
Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference
Written by Selena Tusitala Marsh
An inspirational graphic memoir of growing up Pasifika in New Zealand, written and illustrated by our fast-talking Poet Laureate, Selina Tusitala Marsh.
Stephen says: “This book is everything — by turns funny and poignant, strident and comforting, impetuous and patient.”
The History Speech
Written by Mark Sweet
It is 1960s provincial New Zealand, and a set of upper middle-class families enjoy the good life together. Adolescent Callum Gow’s father is a bully, his mother is having an affair, and there are secrets about abuse, suicide and the past.
Stephen says: “Callum’s voice and unique perspective kept us turning the pages with alacrity, and his tale of self-discovery is not one we think you should miss.”
Written by Michael Petherick
An exuberant multimedia novel for young readers and the young at heart.
Stephen says: This is a completely unique book with so much to discover — a whole diverse community, that really bursts off the pages.”


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Hoda Kotb is so excited to celebrate her baby girl Haley Joy’s first Halloween that she showed off her little one’s adorable costume ahead of the big night, People reports.
“I couldn’t wait!” Kotb captioned a photo of Haley donning a plush Jack-o’-lantern costume and a huge smile.
The “Today” host adopted Haley back in February, and her life hasn’t been the same since, saying, “There’s a line of demarcation: before Haley and after Haley. Every day after Haley is better than every single day before.”
Kotb is now navigating motherhood for the first time with some help from boyfriend and the man Hayley calls dad, Joel Schiffman. The proud mom has been active about sharing pictures and milestones with fans on social media.
“It’s one of those things where you think you’ve done it all, you think you’ve felt it all. But I just didn’t know that this kind of love existed,” Kotb said after welcoming Haley Joy into her life.
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At a meeting of the Waitaki District Council earlier this week, the council approved a recommendation to discuss a new organization to support economic growth in the district.
It hoped to achieve the ambitions and results identified in the Uplifting Waitaki: Hāpaitia te Waitaki Economic Development strategy adopted by the council last September. The council was seeking community feedback on the proposal.
The council discussed the creation of a new council-controlled organization as an Economic Development Agency (EDA).
The EDA would be responsible for implementing the strategy and working with others to support economic development that benefits the community. The new agency would include tourism management and promotion, meaning Tourism Waitaki Ltd would be dissolved.
Alex Parmley, CEO of Waitaki District Council, said the council has made significant investments in economic development and tourism for several years.
“While this has brought benefits, we believe the activity can deliver greater value to taxpayers and more measurable benefits to our community. We believe that an Economic Development Agency, with oversight of all major work programs, is the best means of achieving stronger engagement with stakeholders and partners and to increase the benefits of these activities for our communities and districts,” he said.
cr. Jim Hopkins said he didn’t want to bring it up, but he felt the report should be written in direct, clear language to engage people. As it was written at this point, only those with a tertiary education would understand it. The language had to be clearer and simpler.
Mayor Gary Kircher agreed, saying it would be good to use more direct language for the public documents.


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The NFL has yet another rule controversy on its hands. After the league doubled down on the roughing-the-passer penalty against Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews for sacking Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, we’re in familiar territory again.
Even though the new “body weight” rule further protects quarterbacks, Baltimore Ravens signal caller Joe Flacco empathizes with defenders.
“I definitely have feelings for those guys over there because not only are they penalizing people and affecting outcomes of games but they’re also taking paychecks away from people and they’re acting like it’s no big deal,” Flacco said to reporters on Wednesday. “It is a big deal. That’s a lot of money for anybody. So, there’s a lot of issues with it, I think.”
Flacco likely has the backing of his defensive teammates on this one. Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon was penalized and fined for his Week 1 hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Linebacker Terrell Suggs used quite a bit of hyperbole in his answer to the problem on Wednesday as well.
Flacco understands quarterbacks take big hits, just like the rest of the players on the field. But for him, it’s just part of the game.
“It’s a violent sport. It’s meant to be that way,” Flacco said.
It’s an impressive outlook considering how he fared against the Miami Dolphins last year. Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso hit Flacco directly in the head, sending the Baltimore quarterback out of the game with a concussion. It was perhaps the most well-known photo of last season for the guttural reaction it drew from fans.
Then again, Flacco has been one of a few quarterbacks to never really look for flags after a big hit. Staying true to his calm and cool demeanor, Flacco typically just gets up, brushes himself off and heads back to the huddle. Some of the other quarterbacks in this league haven’t been quite as tough.


the essential Tension is mounting between the European Union and Belarus after accusations of facilitating the illegal entry of migrants into European territory. Belarusian President Lukashenko retaliated with the threat of shutting down the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which carries Russian gas to Germany and Poland. Could this conflict lead to a gas shortage in Europe? La Dépêche answers you.
To read also: Migration crisis at the borders of the EU: Belarus affirms that it “will respond severely” to any attack
A response from the Belarusian president to the accusations of the European Union, when Brussels indicated that new sanctions were expected next week. A few thousand migrants wanting to go to Europe, mainly from the Middle East, are stranded in difficult conditions at the border between Belarus and Poland.
The European Union then accuses Minsk of orchestrating this migratory influx, notably by issuing visas, in revenge for Western sanctions imposed on the regime of Alexander Lukashenko last year after the brutal repression of opponents.
If the gas passes through Belarus, it remains of Russian origin. Russia accounts for the largest share of the EU’s annual natural gas imports, with 41% according to the edition 2021 of Eurostat key figures report in Europe.
“Russian gas deliveries will not be suspended”
The Kremlin assured AFP on Friday that “Russian gas deliveries to Europe would not be suspended, despite threats from Belarus to shut off the floodgates of a major gas pipeline passing through its soil in the event of European sanctions. “
Russia “is and will remain a country that fulfills all of its obligations to deliver gas to European consumers,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
In France, the leading gas supplier country is Norway, up to 36%, ahead of Russia up to 20%.
“Russian gas transit is relatively minor”
Nicolas Mazzucchi, researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research, told AFP that if Alexander Lukashenko executed his plan, “there is actually very little chance that anything will happen because the transit of Russian gas is relatively minor. “
To read also: Migrants at the Poland-Belarus border: emergency meeting at the UN Security Council
The energy specialist adds that “Russia sends annually between 150 and 200 billion cubic meters of gas to the European Union, and (Belarus) only represents 30 to 40 billions “. There would be possibilities to transfer transit to other pipelines, “that would not be very complicated” according to him.
The shortage does not have to worry the European Union, nor France. However, the conflict could spill over into gas prices. “Like all types of energy, it is sensitive to geopolitical effects,” Nicolas Mazzuchi analyzes, “uncertainty in the markets potentially increases prices, but the markets will also very quickly realize that there is no real risk on the market. supplies “. He therefore concludes that “prices will certainly go up but remain relatively contained” “.


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I love watching basketball, but I find watching college basketball hard and even harder following the teams. The problem I have is the players staying a year and then going off to the NBA. I find it difficult to follow organizations because the next year the entire team can change. The Kentucky Wildcats lost their entire starting lineup this year to the NBA draft.
From a personal stand point, I don’t follow a specific team in the NBA. I just watch the games. I follow player’s more than actual teams. I’m a big Steve Nash fan. Did that make me a Suns fan? Does that make me a Lakers fan now?
I watch the Final 4. I know the top players in college basketball, but other than that I can’t really have a discussion about the sport and teams themselves. Many people follow the organizations. Me, I’m more of a players guy.

domain: sports


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Mayo Clinic otolaryngologist Osarenoma U. Olomu, M.D., studies chronic sinusitis, with a particular focus on allergic fungal sinusitis and fungus ball (mycetoma) sinusitis. Dr. Olomu uses genomic and proteomic tools to study different types of fungal sinusitis and investigate why they affect people in different ways.
Additionally, Dr. Olomu is interested in socioeconomic and geographic factors in allergic fungal sinusitis. In the United States, the most harmful variations of allergic fungal sinusitis are mainly seen in urban environments in the South, while fungus ball sinusitis is more common in colder northern regions.
Fungus ball sinusitis infections tend to stay contained within the sinuses, causing fewer and less severe health problems than those caused by allergic fungal sinusitis. However, in warmer, damper southern environments, allergic fungal sinusitis often spreads beyond the sinuses. This can cause severe complications such as vision loss and brain abscesses. Additionally, infections are more likely to recur. Dr. Olomu's research is aimed at understanding why these differences occur in order to prevent infections that are more severe, more likely to recur, or both.
Dr. Olomu is studying the host and fungal factors involved in unique phenotypes of allergic fungal sinusitis. These factors include:
- The immune system, including allergies to fungi and differences or weaknesses in an individual's immune system that allow infections to progress
- Different types of fungi prevalent in northern versus southern climates
- Variations in how the same fungus may grow differently or affect people differently in different climates
Significance to patient care
Dr. Olomu's research is aimed at better understanding the biology of allergic fungal sinusitis in order to find therapies that prevent recurrence. He is studying how laboratory analyses can point to the causes of patients' infections and lead to potential treatments.
- Vice chair for education, Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, 2021-present
- Reviewer, Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base, 2020-present
- Reviewer, International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2015-present

domain: medical


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Abortion in Bangladesh is punishable by different jail terms and fines
Nawaz Farhin Antara
September 29, 2022
The right to abortion for women of all ages has emerged as a bold demand around the world at various times. In this situation, it became a matter of awakening when unmarried women also got the right to abortion in India.
India's Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a woman's right to abortion cannot be taken away considering her marital status. Unmarried women who become pregnant unintentionally will have the right to an abortion within 24 weeks.
A shortage of health workers to disseminate SRHR information is the root cause of the lack of awareness among adolescents
Nawaz Farhin Antara
September 26, 2022
Adolescents in rural areas of Bangladesh are still resorting to unsafe means to terminate unwanted pregnancies as they do not have sufficient access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) information, according to a recent report.
A shortage of health workers to disseminate SRHR information is the root cause of the lack of awareness among adolescents. Adolescent boys are particularly unaware as they find it difficult to speak to SRHR workers, who are predominantly women, it added.
By Tithi R.Sarker
28 Dec 2021
The Reproductive Health Services Training and Education Program (RHSTEP) was evolved through a gradual government process for providing services to the womenfolk in their menstruation related health needs. The main objectives of foundation of RHSTEP also include addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of both women and men, girls and boys.
In 1983 MRTSP (Menstrual Regulation Training and Services Program) was formed as a special project of the Government of Bangladesh to improve skills of service providers through training; establishing service points in public hospitals for Menstrual Regulation (MR) and its complications management.
The Daily Star in association with Team Associates and Marie Stopes Bangladesh organised an online discussion titled “World Population Day: Ensuring Choices and Rights” on July 8, 2021. Here we publish a summary of the discussion.
Wed Jul 28, 2021
Monjun Nahar, Lead, Advocacy and Communication, Marie Stopes Bangladesh
This year, the World Population Day focuses on comprehensive rights and choices on sexual and reproductive health. The theme itself refers to the global consensus that reproductive health rights are integral and indivisible parts of human rights. Particularly for women reproductive rights are deeply connected with their life and livelihood. The ability to take decisions about their sexual and reproductive health is a key indicator that women are in control of their own lives.
However, we are talking about rights and choices in a context where women have very little independence to take decision by herself. A woman's education, marriage, profession are mostly dependent on her family members.
Even in countries where abortion is legal, access to safe abortions remains challenging
By Bansari Kamdar
June 15, 2021
One in every four maternal deaths around the world happens in South Asia. Lack of access to safe and legal abortions and contraceptives is a leading reason for the region’s high maternal mortality rate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), less than half the abortions in South and Central Asia were safe.
In Bhutan, which has a 1.4 percent case fatality rate, one of the main reasons for maternal mortality is abortion complications. Section 146 of Bhutan’s Penal Code legalizes abortion only if it is to save the life of the woman, or if the pregnancy resulted from incest and rape or the mother is not of sound mental condition. Denied access to safe abortion, many Bhutanese women cross the border to neighboring India, where abortion, while legal on most grounds, remains dangerous.
Abortion drugs administered as early as 28 days after a woman’s last period can offer comfort in uncertainty to those who want it.
By Patrick Adams
Dec. 3, 2020
The pregnancy test is one of the most ubiquitous home health care products in America. What resembled a child’s chemistry set when it first arrived on the market in 1977 is now the widely available wand. Today, dozens of different devices promise to promptly deliver what any possibly-pregnant person is assumed to want: knowledge of her status.
Now a new study suggests that for all of the ease and convenience of the at-home test, a significant number of women would prefer not to know. Given the choice, they would opt instead to take two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to terminate a pregnancy. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the effects of progesterone, a hormone without which the lining of the uterus begins to break down, while the second drug, misoprostol, induces contractions of the uterus that expel its contents.
They have been shown arrested six months after the college student's death
November 13th, 2020
Police on Wednesday arrested four people including a clinic's director over the
death of a college student during unsafe abortion in Chittagong city.
Md Harunur Rashid, 60, director of Chawkbazar City Health Clinic, and three
female clinic staff were shown arrested six months after the college student's
death in a murder case filed by the girl's father, reports Bangla Tribune.
Experts hail allocation in family planning, but wary of planning
July 06, 2020
The budget allocation in health and family welfare has seen a steady increase in the past few years. This year, the amount increased by 13.66 percent, standing at Tk 29,247 crore.
Although the increased allocation appears to be a step in the right direction, family planning experts believe that the higher budgets are not being utilised in a planned manner.
Abortion – offence or a right?
Dr. Syeda Nasrin
May 30, 2020
Bangladesh does not recognise 'abortion' as a right rather considers the same as an offence under the garb of the term 'miscarriage'. Abortion indicates the intentional termination of pregnancy whereas miscarriage is the spontaneous or unplanned expulsion of a fetus from the womb. Keeping the distinction between 'abortion' and 'miscarriage' aside, this article discusses the legal landscape of Bangladesh regarding 'abortion' with a comparative analysis of USA, UK and India.
Section 312 of the Penal Code, 1860 provides that whoever voluntarily causes a pregnant woman to miscarry, shall, if such miscarriage be not caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the woman, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or both.
Keeping women's health essential despite Covid-19 shortages
Opinion by Anu Kumar
Thu May 7, 2020
(Video: Fear, panic as women navigate pregnancy during a pandemic, 02:59)
(CNN)The world is changing daily as a result of Covid-19. Like millions of people, I now have a virtual workday. I am fortunate -- I'm safe and comfortable at home with my family in North Carolina.
Although living socially distanced and not knowing when life will return to normal is a struggle, I am comforted by the knowledge of the frontline workers I work with around the world working to alleviate some of the harm being inflicted on those living in dense and underserved communities.


The rotorcraft industry is rapidly advancing, particularly with the development of new advanced concepts like the Future Vertical Lift program. As these new rotorcraft concepts emerge, the early design phase necessitates a careful consideration of control system design and handling qualities.
The goal of this thesis assignment is to develop a high-level control law architecture for future fast rotorcraft concepts. That’s right, you will be working on exciting projects during the early development phase of new fast helicopters! This is your opportunity to learn more about the initial design of advanced rotorcraft.
Your high-level control system will need to interact with the NLR fast rotorcraft performance models to be able to perform an initial handling quality assessment during the early design phase. The control strategy shall exploit the use of the redundant controls often found on these type of rotorcraft to boost performance. The work will include the following tasks:
- Get familiar with the NLR fast rotorcraft performance models defined in our rotorcraft modelling and simulation tools
- Make a trade-off of the different control strategies suitable for the fast rotorcraft concepts
Identify applicable handling quality assessment criteria (ex. based on ADS33) to consider during early design of these rotorcraft types
The following outcome of the assignment is expected:
- To broaden your knowledge about the exciting world of helicopters and understand the technology trends of future rotorcraft programs.
- The development of a high-level control system to virtually fly the NLR fast rotorcraft performance models.
- A technical report describing the motivation behind the control system strategy, including the use of redundant controls, the selection of handling quality assessment criteria, and a description of the control system scripts, including the interfaces with the NLR performance models.
- Our team is eager to learn from your experiences and understand how you envision the way forward.
From 6 to 9 months, starting from September 2023
What do we expect from you?
- Master student Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Control Engineering…
- Preferably background in flight control and simulation
- Experience with MATLAB Simulink for control system applications (or similar software)
- Experience with rotorcraft (helicopters, tiltrotors or drones) and simulation tools is a plus
- Assertive and self-motivated, able to be part of the project team and also proceed individually
What we offer
- Enthusiastic colleagues who are experts in their field
- A flexible working space
- An environment where you have the opportunity to develop your skills and learn new ones
- A challenging assignment in a high-tech, result orientated work environment
- A thesis assignment allowance
- An informal corporate culture where your opinion counts!
For more than 100 years, Royal NLR has been the ambitious knowledge organization with the will to keep innovating. From that motivation, we make the world of transportation safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. We are on the threshold of ground-breaking innovations. Plans and ideas get moving when they are well fed with the right energy. Over 700 passionate professionals work on research and innovation. From aircraft engineers to psychologists and from mathematicians to application experts.
Our colleagues would love to tell you what it’s like to work at NLR.
The Vertical Flight & Aeroacoustics Department, AVVA, is a young, market-oriented and growing department that invests in its own development and the development and acquisition of leading research and testing facilities, enhancing societal and market relevance. We identify, research, develop, deliver and disseminate high-quality knowledge, technology, simulation tools and services for the benefit of the aerospace industry. State-of-the-art testing facilities, such as the drone center, two aeroacoustic tunnels and advanced rotorcraft simulation tools, support us in achieving our results. In performing aerodynamic and aeroacoustic tests and developing measurement techniques, we work closely with the German Dutch Wind Tunnels DNW.
Want to know more about your future thesis assignment?
For more information about the assignment contact Laurent Declerck, 088-511 3373, firstname.lastname@example.org. In addition to our website, visit our NLRmedia channel on YouTube where you can get a good idea of the organization.
Is this something for you?
Great! We are looking forward to hearing from you! Send your motivation and CV to Laurent Declerck email@example.com and we will contact you as soon as possible!
Datum : 01/09/2023
Locatie : Amsterdam
Uren : 40
Opleidingsniveau : WO
Achtergrond : Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Control Engineering


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The Litmus Test
The sixth (after a long haitus) in my series of short summaries about the culture and politics of football.
The American poet and teacher June Jordan once remarked: "There are two issues of our time, really, that amount to a litmus test for morality: … One, is what you're prepared to do on behalf of the Palestinian people. And the other is what are you prepared to do on behalf of gay and lesbian people." Over the last few weeks, Israel, following Hamas’s attack on October 7th in which 1,200 Israelis were killed, in a fit of vengeance, killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, a large number of them children. Since then, it has also become clear that global public opinion - especially outside of Western elites and Western governments and their allied institutions - has shifted considerably. Too many people, especially the young, don't believe the propaganda anymore to tar any support or sympathy for Palestinians and to oppose Israeli apartheid and war crimes as antisemitism. The calls for a ceasefire have taken over the streets, stadiums, and on social media. But there is still work to do. The silence of the world's top non-Muslim and non-Arab players in calling or campaigning for a ceasefire or the end of occupation is, to say the least, disappointing. It reminds me of when Lilian Thuram asked why black footballers always have to lead anti-racism calls. And remember when this past summer, Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Bournemouth FC from England played a series of friendly matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Spain. The most principled footballer in the last few weeks has been Anwar El Ghazi of the Netherlands. After he was dismissed by FSV Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga for posting solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza (delegitimizing Palestinians feels like Germany’s perverse attempt to get some kind of absolution for the legacies of the Holocaust and the Nazis), El Ghazi posted on his social media platforms: "Stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone. The loss of my livelihood is nothing compared to the hell being unleashed on the innocent and vulnerable in Gaza. Stop the killing."
Two months ago, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who led a violent Bantustan regime and managed a proxy war for Apartheid South Africa's whites-only government, died of old age. Elements in the country's mainstream media quickly declared him a "statesman," like News24, the country's most popular news site. But those affected by his violence didn't. In 2010, South Africa hosted the World Cup. The men's national team captain was Aaron Mokoena, who was then playing for Portsmouth in the English Premier League. Mokoena was born in Boipatong, the site of a pre-election massacre in 1992. 46 people were murdered by armed gangs who swore allegiance to Inkatha, Buthelezi's party. It later emerged they were accompanied by white policemen who darkened their faces. Aaron Mokoena was 12 years old. When Buthelezi died, Mokoena told the same News24 that his community had to protect them against their attackers: "They [the community] took in a lot of Boipatong residents, especially young boys and girls, into that community hall to get better protection as the war was going ahead. My mom played a big part in my safety. As they [the IFP] were killing young boys, I had to wear my sister's dresses [as a] disguise. The rest is history."
Earlier this year, the Dutch governing coalition experienced a brief crisis. One of the potential prime minister candidates was Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius. She is the daughter of Kurdish refugees from Turkey, who is primarily a media creation and is also the most dangerous of the serious candidates to replace incumbent Mark Rutte. He managed to stay on, but we certainly won't hear the last of Yeşilgöz-Zegerius. She is another in a long line of Muslim, brown, or black rightwing politicians in the West who try to outdo their white colleagues with their offense and who get success for that reason. The only reason I mention her here is because she is an Ajax fan and the partner of Ajax Amsterdam director René Zegerius.
After the World Cup, with all the news of Spain's women's national team, who should have been reveling in their victory but instead had to fight their FA over basic decency and respect in their sport, I kept wondering about the various outcomes for the grievances of the women's teams of Nigeria, South Africa (for both pay and bonus disputes), and Zambia (sexual abuse by the manager). We now know the answer: Nothing.
Nigerian league shenanigans: In Nigeria, one club loaned a player to another, who sold the player.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Pepe Reyna story from the end of last season: Reyna (former Liverpool and Napoli goalkeeper), who is on the verge of retirement, played for Villareal in La Liga last season. In May 2023, in a match against Raya Vallecano, near the end of the season, Vallecano fans ironically chanted: "Pepe Reina is a communist." Reyna is known for his right-wing views. A COVID-19 denialist, he also once called the Spanish left-wing party Podemos "the worst thing that has happened to Spain in the last 40 years." Reyna played the victim and went to complain to the referee.
Rest in peace to Simon Hodnett, a world-class track and field coach.
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