text:
Fiction Writing DefinitionNotion Writing Definition
Belles Lettres is the compilation of non-factic fiction..... Fictitious writing is often created as a narrative that entertains or conveys an author's point of views. This can lead to a brief storyline, a novel, a novel, a script or a play, which are all kinds (if not the only ones) of fictitious writingstyle.
Various kinds of writer practise fiction writing, among them fiction writer, playwright, short novelist, playwright and screenwriter. It is storyline fiction, which is pushed by the action, as distinct from fiction, which concentrates more on the subject and the temper. Fiction, or pop fiction, is designed to reach a large public, and it is selling primarily because it is becoming more commercialized.
One example is the Twilight range, which can do more than Herman Melville's Moby Dick, because the "Twilight" stories are about popular cultural features - romanticism and veterans. Fiction is a fictitious work with merits, i.e. works that provide comments or policy critique or concentrate on the aspects of the constitution of man.
Mostly, fiction in literature is compared with fiction in favour of populace, commerce or genres. Several have described the differences between them in relation to the analysis of the real (literary) and not to the escape from the real (popular). There is controversy among some scientists and writers about the contrasts between these two fiction classes described the nature of their work: the development of character:
"It' s like a cord dangling from the sky and you draw on the cord, and the next thing you know, a pullover is knitting out of nothing and you have a personality made of whole fabric. "Characterisation is one of the five aspects of fiction, together with story, settings, theme and writing styles.
It is a part of the history and is usually a personality, but can be any individual, personality or creature whose life comes from a fictitious work or perform. Point of view character: the characters who look at the history. It may or may not be the protagonist of the plot.
Minimal Character: A player who is interacting with the protagonists. You' re helping the whole thing. Activity, or styline, is the representation and order of the occurrences and acts of a history. Most of the campaign should come before the highpoint. Attitude is the place and your history.
It is often a place of reality, but it can also be a fictional town or a land within our own space; another Planet; or an alternative space that may or may not have resemblances to our own Univers. Occasionally, the settings are called milieus in order to incorporate a contexts (such as society) beyond the immediate environment of history.
It' essentially where and when the history happens. The topic is what the writer is trying to tell the readers. It is often called the" morale of history". "Some fiction contains sophisticated topics such as morals or the value of living, while others have no or a very flat one.
Styles include the variety of decisions that authors make when writing a novel, whether they are conscious or unconscious. Not only the big screen, but also the narrative's perspective and choosing the storyteller, but also decisions about tactics such as language, phrasing, punctuation, use of words, length and texture of sentences and paragraphs, sound, use of images, chapters, title and so on.
Over the course of a story's development, these decisions merge into the author's own distinctive sound. With or without consciousness, the artist makes many decisions for each fiction play that make up the author's own work. There are many elements of styles, but they cover point of views, narrative options, fiction writing modes, persons and tenses, gremmar, punctuation, use of words, sentence length and texture, length and texture of paragraphs, sound, images, uses of chapters, and selections of titles.
He is the storyteller. You can also use the storyteller as the protagonist. Suspending unbelief is the transient acceptation of narrative items as credible, no matter how unplausible they may appear in reality. The writer of Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut has given his readership eight ideas on how to make a success out of his Bagombo Snuff Box series.
In this case it' CS 101: Use the times of a complete stranger so that he or she doesn't have the feeling that it has been used up. Allocate at least one person to the player to cheer for. All characters should want something, even if it's just a drink of it.
Each movement must do one of two things - revealing the nature or advancing the plot. When you open a door and sleep with the whole wide open sky, your history will become a kind of case of pneumonia. The reader should have such a full comprehension of what is going on, where and why, that they can end the narrative themselves, should roaches devour the last pages.
For writing p. 153-, -154. For more information : The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel S. 51. This is the complete manual of novel writing, p. 324. "Literal fiction vs. genre fiction." Check out Wiktionary, the free online glossary.


text:
KATHMANDU, April 26 | The Ministry of Health and Population has confirmed two more COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
According to the assistant spokesperson for the ministry, Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari, two males from Bijgrunj, Parsa have tested positive for this virus. Both of them are 50 years old.
They are undergoing treatment at an isolation ward in the hospital. “They are normal,” Adhikari added.
With this, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 have reached 51 in Nepal. Twelve of them have recovered. No death has been reported so far.

domain: medical


text:
- Late Major Mahama's wife, Barbara Mahama, has turned a year older on Saturday, September 26, 2020
- In celebration of her birthday, Barbara has released some beautiful photos on social media
- The photos show her looking dazzling in colourful outfits
Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana
Barbara Mahama, the wife of the late Major Maxwell Mahama, has popped up with new beautiful photos on social media.
The new photos were shared on Saturday, September 26, 2020, by Barbara Mahama as she celebrated her birthday.
In the first and second of the photos which were three in number, Barbara rocked a pink-coloured dress with a beautiful bag to match.
READ ALSO: McBrown, Jackie Appiah gift 'car' to Lebene and Osafo Nkansah's daughter at her naming ceremony
The third photo had Barbara wearing a yellow dress with a matching pair of earrings. In all the photos, Mrs Mahama wore a beautiful pair of sunglasses.
Sharing the photo, Barbara revealed that their children have been asking her about their daddy but notwithstanding, she was grateful to God for adding another year.
"Just because these pictures remind me of #fierce #peace #sunshine #beautyforashes and many more as I’ve been asked the two most difficult questions this year “how did our daddy die” and “who killed our daddy”. Dear God, I’ve come to say I’m grateful again for another year of your goodness. @signaturefashionhousegh #libra #happybirthdaytome #goodnessandmercy."
READ ALSO: Kwame Sefa Kayi speaks amid viral reports of him resigning from Peace FM over Fadda Dickson's letter to NDC
Barbara shared another photo on her Instagram stories which had her sitting behind two birthday cakes with her name written on them.
Barbara’s late husband, Captain Major Mahama was brutally lynched to death by residents of Denkyira Obuasi now New Obuasi, on suspicion that he was an armed robber on May 29, 2017.
Mahama's death caused a lot of pain for Ghanaians who sympathised with his young wife and two children.
It has been three years since that time and it looks like Barbara and her children have been coping well under the circumstances.
As earlier reported by YEN.com.gh, Barbara recently shared an emotional tribute to mourn her late husband.
The widow of Captain Major Maxwell Mahama shared the heartbreaking message to mark three years since his brutal murder
Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?
Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page

domain: news


text:
PODCAST: Join Jenna Orkin, Maria Nockin, John Daleiden, Gerald Fenech, Julian Jacobson, Patrick Maxwell, Giuseppe Pennisi and Mike Wheeler for a fascinating fifty-minute audio only programme.
RECENT: Defining Our Field - what is 'classical music' to us, why are we involved and what can we learn from our differences? Read John Dante Prevedini's essay, watch the panel discussion and make your own comments.
Gilbert Amy, the French conductor and composer, was born on 29 August 1936. He studied with Messiaen and Boulez, and was at first a rigid serialist, relaxing into a more personal style later on.
All material © 1998-2021 Classical Music Daily, various authors and photographers.
All rights of the original copyright holders are reserved, and are credited where known.
Formerly known as Music & Vision – The world's first daily classical music magazine
Founding Editor: Basil Ramsey (1929-2018); Editor: Keith Bramich

domain: library


text:
Bibliografie van de Literaire Tijdschriften in Vlaanderen en Nederland
Online bibliography of the most important literary journals in Flanders and the Netherlands. Find poems, prose, essays, reviews, interviews, art and play texts using simple or advanced searches. Journals are present in one or more libraries throughout the language area and are of literary quality. For researchers of Dutch and Flemish literature.

domain: literature


text:
Do you want to become a master of the ballroom dance floor? Whether you are looking to learn a few steps of waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep, jive, or any other ballroom dance, there are some great YouTube channels to get you started. Keep reading to discover the best YouTube channels to learn ballroom dance from the comfort of your home.
DJ ICE Dancesport Music
DJ ICE Dancesport Music is a YouTube channel dedicated to ballroom dancing and waltz dance. The channel provides ballroom and standard music for dancers, featuring DJ ICE's unique ballroom mixes, Latin music and the best ballroom music available. Perfect for both competition and practice, this channel has everything a ballroom dancer needs to stay on top of the latest dancesport music.
Fairytale Dances YouTube channel is dedicated to providing tutorials on beautiful dance routines related to quinceanera, sweet 16, and waltz dances. With content ranging from vals de quinceanera to quinceanera surprise dances to quince dances, the channel makes it easy to learn these traditional and fairytale dances. So get out on the dance floor and learn those moves!
The X Dance YouTube channel offers an extensive collection of instructional videos for a variety of country and western styles. Popular offerings include waltz dancing, two step, country two step, country swing, and west coast swing. Both competitive and social dancer will find instructional videos that teach and demonstrate the mechanics of each dance style. Fans of the channel will appreciate the focus on technique, energy, and expression. Professional dancers, newcomers, and experienced dancers alike can further their skills with the resources offered.
Social Dance Online
The Social Dance Online YouTube channel is an excellent resource for all levels of dancers looking to learn or improve their waltz, ballroom, country, two step, east coast swing, hustle, cha cha and west coast swing dancing skills. It features a series of step-by-step lessons and tutorials, from beginner basics through to more complex routines, which will teach you how to ballroom dance like a pro.
Egils Smagris' YouTube channel provides high quality video tutorials on ballroom dancing, teaching viewers how to master the basic steps and routines of the Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot. With clear instructions and detailed explanations on how to perfect popular dance steps, viewers can confidently dance their way to the next ballroom event.
Jtballroom is a YouTube channel dedicated to giving viewers step-by-step guidance on popular ballroom dances such as the waltz, viennese waltz, tango and more. The channel guides viewers from the basics of each dance to more advanced moves, making it easy for anyone to learn to dance in their own home. Whether you're a beginner looking for basic waltz steps or an experienced dancer looking to master their technique, Jtballroom has something to offer. The channel offers helpful how-to videos, instructional clips and insightful advice on the art and sport of dancesport.
Ballroom Mastery TV - Vaughan Liddicoat
Ballroom Mastery TV - Vaughan Liddicoat is a YouTube channel devoted to all things ballroom dancing, providing online tutorials to help viewers become experts at waltz, cha cha, Latin American, and other forms of ballroom dancing. In addition to comprehensive lessons and step-by-step instructions, the channel also features inspiring talks, lectures, and interviews to elevate your ballroom dancing skills to new heights. With Ballroom Mastery TV, learning the art of danicing has never been easier!
Passion4dancing is a YouTube channel that offers lessons and instruction in a range of partner dances, including the waltz, cha cha, and ballroom dancing. Through the channel, viewers can learn to dance with comprehensive tutorials and online dance lessons, teaching them how to properly execute each step and master the moves. From discovering new and effective ways to practice to improving their technique, Passion4dancing teaches everything one needs to know about ballroom dancing.
Andy Wong's YouTube channel is a top-notch resource for all types of ballroom dancing. With an international style, he covers a wide range of different dances, from Waltz to Cha Cha to Rumba and Samba. He also covers Standard and Latin routines for those looking to refine their technique. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced dancer, Andy Wong's channel has something for you.
How to Master the Waltz Dance Step-by-Step
The waltz is a beautiful dance style that has its origins in the Austrian and Bavarian courts of the 16th century. Today, it is a popular style of dance all over the world, often as part of social events like weddings and proms. If you’re looking to dress up your next event with the grace and poise of a waltz, here’s how to learn the steps so you can become a master of the waltz in no time.
- The first step in mastering the waltz is to learn the basic moves of the dance. Start by familiarizing yourself with the three steps that form the basis of the dance: the step forward, the step back and the close. It’s also important to understand the rise and fall of the waltz, which is the gentle up and down motion of the dance as it moves forward. Once you have the basics down, start practicing the waltz in slow motion with your partner, making sure to have a solid hold on them and that you both stay in perfect time.
- Now that you have the basic moves of the waltz down, start adding in some of the more intricate steps. Once you’ve mastered the basics add in the turn, the pivot and the promenade. These steps are all integral parts of the waltz, and can make the dance look truly mesmerizing when done correctly. Once you’ve learned all of these steps, practice them until you’re a pro.
With enough practice and patience, anyone can master the waltz dance step-by-step!
Waltz Dance's Effect on Popular Dance Styles
Waltz is a popular and romantic dance style that has been around for centuries, but it has had a huge influence on popular dance styles today. From ballroom to contemporary and hip hop, many of the steps used today are deeply rooted in the moves and techniques used in waltz dancing. We will explore the influence that waltz has had on modern dance styles.
- The waltz is unique in its combination of short-long-short step patterns. This laid the foundation for many of the modern popular dances of today, such as line dancing, salsa, foxtrot and quickstep. During the 20th century, American swing dance forms incorporated a few waltz steps into their energetic moves, creating a unique and fun style.
- In the last few decades, waltz has inspired a renewed interest in social dancing. The romantic quality of the waltz is a perfect fit for weddings and other special occasions, while couples dancing to hip hop or R&B have often added some of the smooth flowing moves of the waltz into their routines. In this way, the influence of waltz continues to be felt on the dance floor.
Whatever style you decide to try out, you can be sure that the waltz has had a major impact on it.
The Health Benefits of Waltz Dancing
When it comes to physical activity, there are countless options. One often overlooked option is waltz dancing. Waltz dancing is a classic partner dance with roots in the 18th century. Learning to waltz can provide many physical, mental, and social benefits!
- Physically, waltz dancing is great for toning and strengthening your body. Its combination of gliding across the floor and small jumps provide a great aerobic exercise, while also improving balance and coordination. Participants also experience improved posture, flexibility, and muscle strength. Cardiovascular health is also improved by Waltz dancing, leading to a potential decrease in high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Mentally, Waltz dancing gives your mind something to focus on. The dance itself is a great outlet for stress, anxiety, and depression as it helps to clear your mind while providing you with an enjoyable shared activity with your partner. As you learn new moves, you’ll stay mentally active and use your reasoning skills. When Waltzing with friends, it creates a great opportunity to socialize and make connections. Being part of a group also helps improving social skills and reduces isolation.
It’s time to reap the rewards of Waltz dancing! It’s easy to learn, social to do, and great for your health. Try it out and experience greater physical, mental, and social benefits!

domain: artistic


I did the bernie
A bernie with a dirty birdy
The ‘Dirty Bird’ was a dance popularized by football player, Jamal Anderson, during the Atlanta Falcons late 90’s Super Bowl run. Due to the popularity of the football team, the Dirty Bird became a well known dance in the south. NoCanDo does this along with his Bernie.
Improve the quality of Bernie Lyrics by leaving a suggestion at the bottom of the page


text:
Monday - Thursday 12-2.30pm/6pm-9pm
Friday - Saturday 12-2.30pm/6pm-9:30pm
Sunday 12 - 5:00pm
- Disabled Access
About Harpurs of Melbourne
Harpur's of Melbourne is situated in the heart of Melbourne in South Derbyshire close to East Midlands, Donington Park and the M1, M6, M42 network. The warm welcome from our staff will ensure your experience will be one to remember. If you are looking for accommodation our rooms are modern, warm with a decor that will make your stay feel like a special occasion. See rooms for further details.
Beautiful restaurant pub wonderful staff and tasty food but the new menu is too small / restricted choice and to pricey for a mid week tea for us now
Disappointed to find that the restaurant wasn't open, only the bar area. Ambience is different and the acoustics quite brittle. Also disappointed that pie of the day was already unavailable at 7:30 in the evening. The meal we did have was good, both the bavette steak and the burger, but the menu is a bit limited.
Food was really good. I had roast beef and all the trimmings which was very nice, muscles to start which were really well cooked. We arrived early had a pint before sitting down they had run out of peroni which I really wanted but it had gone so decided to have a pint of pravha which was very disappointing, so disappointing that I decided to leave it as it tasted bad. We did have a bottle of wine, delicious and help eased the previous drinks
Our first visit although we have been to The Dragon many times. We had the seafood sharer to start which was lovely and then salad and tagine. Very filling! Lovely wine and friendly service. We shall return.
Sophie’s Martini is best start to weekend. Bread is best around. Hake a treat. Fish n chips ... batter the bizness. Thank you.
Very disappointed with changes in menu; restaurant now only seems to serve unremarkable bar food. Pity.
Excellent in every respect! The food was outstanding (Catch of the day) and service exemplary.
Very tasty food, Harpurs Burger was great. Jerk Chicken very good too.
reason for poor response to SERVICE is not a reflection on our serving staff upstairs BUT when we arrived in the bar reserved for diners the whole bar was covered in dirty glasses Also we ordered a bottle of wine downstairs and asked for it to be added to the bill BUT it was not until we pointed out the error which most people would not have done !!!!
We came to eat early evening on the Sunday of the festival weekend. It had obviously been very busy and the staff were visibly tired. But they were friendly, smiley, obliging and we had a lovely time. Delicious food and excellent service. My husband runs a service business and he said he would happily employ all your staff!! Fab!
Good food, good choices. Went with friends from Southampton, they said. We wish there were more places like this where we are.
Very helpful staff and excellent service
We really enjoyed our lunch with you and will definitely come again.
I wanted this to be an amazing experience and loved the menu before arriving, we arrived quite early which we didnt plan but did happen, we were not made to feel like valued customers at all, i could hear discussions from the waiting on staff, and the woman who looked in charge was not impressed at all by us being early, from that moment on the experience was ruined, i tried to explain that we didnt mind having a drink and waiting for a table to become free but we were treated like a problem from that moment,
Excellent all round, we return time and time again as we know that we will receive a great service as well as great food and drink
Another great Sunday lunch at Harper’s. Food and service as good as ever!
Friendly, good service and a very good meal
Staff were very attentive,food was lovely.
Very good venue for family dinner. Good food, good value, excellent staff. Thankyou !
We throughly enjoyed our brunch with you and look forward to visiting you again soon
The food was very good when it arrived but we had a long wait, about 50minutes from ordering. Very pleasant staff.
The perfect Sunday Lunch. Best roast beef we’ve had for a long time! Friendly efficient service. We will return.
Amazing Sunday roast.. and the sticky toffee pud was delicious!

domain: food


text:
As promised my blog this week is a Christmas themed one about the Norwegian king Magnús Barelegs who spent Christmas 1102 in Munster at the court of the high-king of Ireland Muirchertach O'Brien.
Magnús berfœttr (Magnús Barefoot or Barelegs) was a famous king of Norway around the year 1100 AD. Known for leading aggressive expeditions into the Scottish islands and the Irish Sea he got his nickname because of his fondness for the Irish and Irish culture. As the saga of the Kings of Norway 'Heimskringla' put it: 'when King Magnús returned from his expedition to the west he and many of his men for the most part had the manners and wore the clothes which were customary in the British Islands [Ireland and the Hebrides are intended here]. They went barelegged in the street and had short kirtles and outer garments. Then people called him Magnús Barefoot or Barelegs'.
Magnús was by all accounts an imposing figure. Said to be very tall, he wore a red garment over his coat of mail 'with a lion sewed on front and back with yellow silk'. His shield was also painted red 'on which a lion was embossed in gold', and his sword that had a hilt 'carved of walrus-tooth' and a haft 'wound with gold' had the name 'Legbiter'. As king, Magnús' philosophy was that the Norwegians should wish for a monarch 'for glorious deeds ... not for a long life'. He was well liked by his men 'and in his days there was good peace within the land'. The ordinary people however, considered him 'stern' and believed that they had 'much labour and expense from his expeditions abroad'.
It is indeed for his western expeditions that Magnús Barelegs is best known. He conquered the jarldom of Orkney and the islands of the Hebrides, the monastery of Iona and the Isle of Man. In the year 1098 Magnús led his fleet to the island of Anglesey in north Wales where he killed the Anglo-Norman baron Hugh earl of Shrewsbury in a battle on the beach. According to the Heimskringla Magnús saw the Anglo-Norman earl 'clad in mail from head to foot' riding his horse through the surf. The Norwegian king asked one of his men to join him in firing arrows at the mail clad knight. One arrow struck the earl's visor 'and was deflected to the side'. The other unbelievably went through the viewing slot in the earl's helmet and 'hit the earl's eye and penetrated his head; and that shot was attributed to the king'. On the way home Magnús signed a treaty with the king of Scotland whereby 'King Magnús was to have possession of all the islands west of Scotland separated from the mainland by water so that a ship with fixed rudder could pass between them'. Magnús famously then put one over on the Scots by standing on one of his ships with his hand on the rudder as his men dragged the boat over the short neck of land that joined the Mull of Kintyre to the rest of Scotland!
At this time in Ireland, Muirchertach O'Brien, the great-grandson of Brian Boru was high-king of the island. Muirchertach was a very successful high-king but he could not conquer the north of Ireland from Donal McLoughlin the capable king of Aileach. On his first expedition to the west Magnús of Norway established contact with King Muirchertach and they arranged a marriage alliance, with Magnús' young son Sigurd marrying Muirchertach's young daughter Bjathmynja, who were then put ruling over the Orkneys. When Magnús returned to the Irish Sea in 1102 he 'harried' widely in Ireland and seized 'Dublin and the Shire of Dublin'. Muirchertach O'Brien however, was a wily ruler and he established a good relationship with Magnús of Norway. As a result an invitation to spend Christmas as the court of the high-king at Kincora in Munster was extended to and accepted by the Norwegian king. Heimskringla states that 'King Magnús dwelt in [Munster] with King Myrjartak, putting his men to the defence of the land he had won'. There must have been great Christmas festivities that year at the court of the high-king.
Although the Norwegians regarded the Irish as 'treacherous', Magnús and Muirchertach had a good relationship. According to the Icelandic sagas Muirchertach 'kept all the promises he made to King Magnús'. When the 1103 campaigning season began Muirchertach led a large army north in an attempt to conquer Tyrone. King Magnús 'outfitted his ships' in order to assist his friend the Irish high-king, and sailed north having 'stationed his men in Dublin to guard it'. The northern expedition did not go well for O'Brien however. After an inconclusive stand-off at Armagh, Muirchertach led part of his army further north to raid east of Lough Neagh. Donal McLoughlin took this opportunity to attack the Munster camp on 5 August 1103. In a famous victory McLoughlin defeated the Leinster princes and some men from Munster and Dublin who had been left to guard O'Brien's camp. McLoughlin even captured the high-kings 'royal tent' and standard.
After this disaster that had befallen the high-king's camp, Magnús Barelegs decided to return to Norway. However, he needed provisions for his fleet. As a result he asked his friend Muirchertach to provide the necessary supplies. Honourable in his dealings right to the end, Muirchertach O'Brien sent a supply train of horses to the Norwegian king. Although the dust cloud thrown up by the pack-horses initially frightened the Norwegians, it was O'Brien's men who arrived 'with a great amount of provisions'.
There then occurred something that neither king had foreseen. The Ulaid, the inhabitants of the lands east of Lough Neagh and the River Bann, although allies of Muirchertach O'Brien had a deep hatred of the Vikings. As a result they laid a carefully prepared ambush for Magnús and his men as they made their way back to their ships with their supplies. As the Norwegians crossed over a path through some bogs and a forest, Ulaid warriors 'rushed out upon them from every corner of the woods'. Although King Magnús made every effort to rally his men, some fled and the King was left surrounded by the Ulstermen. Magnús was first wounded by an Irish spear that passed 'through both his thighs above the knee'. He was later killed by an Ulster warrior who gave him a blow of an axe to the neck.
This therefore was the unlucky fate of one of the last Norwegians kings to play an active role in the Irish Sea area. The adventures of Magnús Barelegs in the west are not often remembered today, but he did have a substantial impact on events in Scotland, Wales and Ireland during the five years that he had an interest in the Irish Sea region. It is a pity that there are not substantial accounts of the Christmas festivities when he was at the court of the high-king in December 1102. My next blog will be about the McLoughlin family mentioned here as the adversaries of the O'Brien high-king.
Finally I would like to wish a happy Christmas and new year to my friend the lovely and hard-working Sinéad.

domain: history


text:
China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng Monday pledged to further efforts to contribute to the deepening of the country's reforms in a comprehensive manner.
Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the pledge in a report delivered at the opening meeting of the Second Session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee that opened in Beijing Monday.
"We will perform all our functions in a spirit of reform and innovation throughout the course of our work, ... and strive to play a bigger role in the development of the cause of the Party and country," Yu said in his report.
In regards to future work of the CPPCC, Yu said the political advisory body must uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), while adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
It should also make sound, reasonable and feasible suggestions, foster the spirit of reform and innovation, and perform its functions for the benefit of the people, Yu said in his first report on the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee.
The top political advisor said the year 2014 is the first year for implementing the CPC Central Committee's decision to comprehensively deepen reform, and is crucial for completing the 12th Five-Year Plan.
The CPPCC will conduct thorough investigations and studies on key reform areas -- including the fiscal and tax system, the judicial system and the Internet management system -- to provide reference materials for the Party and government in their decision making, Yu said.
It will also conduct democratic oversight on how well major reform measures and tasks have been carried out, and put forward candid suggestions and comments thereon, he said.
Further efforts will be made to promote sustained, healthy economic development in addition to social harmony and stability, Yu said.
The CPPCC will strengthen ties with ethnic minorities and religious groups to promote development, unity and harmony in ethnic regions, he said.
In his report, Yu also said the CPPCC should fully play its role as an important channel for consultative democracy, adding that unity and democracy are the "very essence" of the CPPCC.
"We must always focus on unity, constantly strengthen it, and strive to expand it," he said, "... we should give full expression to democracy, encourage members to make criticisms and comments, promote discussion and exchanges of everyone's views, and thereby constantly increase consensus and strengthen unity."
Yu said the CPPCC will build more and better platforms to expand the forms of democracy, increase the frequency of consultation, and get CPPCC committee members to speak willingly and feel free to speak the truth.
He said the CPPCC should have members from Hong Kong and Macao play an active role and improve exchanges between the mainland and the two regions. Exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait should also be expanded, he said.
He also called on the CPPCC to play a more active role in foreign contacts and public diplomacy.
The annual session of CPPCC National Committee is scheduled to conclude on March 12. About 2,200 members of the CPPCC National Committee from different sectors across the country will discuss major issues concerning the country's development during the session.
Recalling the work of the 12th CPPCC National Committee over the past year, Yu said the political advisory body had "got off to an excellent start."
According to Han Qide, vice chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, a total of 5,884 proposals had been submitted by the CPPCC National Committee members over the past year, and 5,396 of them had been handled as of Feb. 20.
Yu said the CPPCC National Committee had performed its functions of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs.
It also played its role in coordinating relations, pooling strength, making suggestions and proposals to the central leadership, and serving the overall interests of the country, he said.
Achievements were made in serving reform and development, developing consultative democracy as well as in improving its own style of work, Yu said.
Top CPC and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli attended the opening meeting.
A silent tribute was observed for victims of a terrorist attack at a train station in southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, during which knife-wielding assailants from Xinjiang killed 29 civilians and injured another 143 late Saturday.
Founded in 1949, the CPPCC consists of elite figures of the Chinese society who are willing to serve the think tank for the government and for the country's legislative and judicial organs.
As an open forum where the ruling CPC, non-Communist parties and people without party affiliation discuss state affairs freely and on an equal footing, the CPPCC has been the manifestation of China's socialist democracy.


text:
The neo-classical city gate Brandenburg Gate is situated on the outskirts of the town, at the end of the grand boulevard Unter der Linden. In 1987 the gate made history, when Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, stood at the height of the gate for the Wall and cried: "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!".
Addres: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin

domain: politics


text:
This sprinkler's flexible "noodle" tubes easily adjust and adapt to send water exactly where needed. Helping you control and customize the spray, the rotary sprinkler head's unique bendable tubes can be easily re-bent and readjusted as your garden grows or landscape changes. Adjusting to any shape or pattern, the sprinkler is perfect for watering flowerbeds, side yards, lawns and vegetable gardens, and since you control the spray, you won't end up wasting water by sprinkling your driveway, patio or fence. Each rotary nozzle tube adjusts independently for unlimited watering options, and the sprinkler's rotating base spins a full 360°. This handy Rotating Sprinkler includes a stake for easy ground insertion, and works as a standard garden hose attachment. Plastic. Measures approx. 3 3/4" H x 3 1/2" dia. with 5 1/4" L stake.
Flexible "noodle" tubes easily adjust to send water exactly where needed
Perfect for watering flowerbeds, side yards, lawns and vegetable gardens
Reduces wasting water by directing spray away from your driveway, patio or fence
Sprinkler's rotating base spins a full 360°
Includes a ground stake and works as a standard garden hose attachment
3 3/4" high x 3 1/2" dia. plastic attachment with 5 1/4" long stake
Get a grip on your outdoor faucet and
save water, too! Easy Turn Outdoor Faucet Grip quickly and easily attaches to any lattice-type round or oval outdoor faucet handle to transform a small, hard-to-turn grip into a firm, oversize grip. ...

domain: agronomy


Tioga County Sports Report
ENDICOTT — U-E plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Owego, 6-5, in STAC action here Wednesday.
The Tigers’ Dom Guccia singled and Ryan Harlost followed with a double, and both runners scored on errors.
U-E broke a scoreless deadlock in the fourth, scoring twice on a groundout and error, then Jude Abbadessa stole home in the fifth to make it 3-0.
Owego rallied to tie the score in the top of the sixth. Walks to Jack Symons and Kyle Koprevich, followed by stolen bases, put the duo in scoring position, and Karson Tofte delivered a two-run single to left field. Tofte would tie the score on an error by Harlost.
Harlost made up for the miscue in the bottom of the inning, reaching on an error and scoring on a base hit to put U-E up, 4-3.
Jason Kithcart tied the score in the seventh, smacking a double and scoring on a bunt single by Symons.
In the eighth, Owego would grab a 6-5 edge after Ryan Johnson singled an scored on a Dan Scholfield single.
The Indians (3-3) outhit U-E, 12-6, but committed five errors.
Kithcart went 3-for-5 to lead Owego at the dish while Johnson and Nate Bennett both went 2-for-4. Scholfield, Symons, Koprevich, Tofte and Nick Prokop added one hit apiece.
Donald Baron went seven innings for the Indians, giving up for runs (one earned) run on four hits. Joe Higgins suffered the loss, giving up two runs (one earned).
Owego hosts Johnson City at 4:30 p.m. today.
Print Friendly Version


text:
Couldn't sleep last night so I made three cards for the third challenge of The Big Challenge over at Crafts by Carolyn forum. It had to be three men's cards so I started off with the fishing card using my favourite set of stamps from Rubbadubbadoo. I seem to be having a bit of a thing for my Adirondacks at the minute so the background is Stonewashed, Lettuce and Denim rubbed on with cotton wool. The birds have been stamped in Moonlight White Brilliance and then on the circles I added accents with a white gel pen.......another current favourite.
For the motorbike card I used a spotty background stamp and a paisley background stamp both Stamp n'Stor by Sunday International. The spotty one is coloured with Red Pepper and Cranberry Adirondack and the paisley has been chalked with black chalk around the edges.
The motorike is by Clarity Stamps and has been stamped in Stazon and then coloured over with the Red Pepper and Cranberry ink. The chain has been secured with brads.
For the VW card I first coloured some pieces of card using Ancient Page in Palm Leaf, Redwood and Light Brown and then stamped in Onyx Black Versafine.
The stamp is Anita's.
I do love doing these challenges and wish I had the time to do all the ones posted every week.
Off to see what the next challenge on the list is and see if I can squeeze a bit of time to do it. I should really be sorting out cards for workshops but you never know......some of what I do could be workshop cards if I use the right stamps.
Catch you later

domain: design


text:
WaterFurnace International Inc. announced the acquisition of a 5 percent ownership position in GI Endurant, LLC. As per the agreement, WaterFurnace will also supply equipment to GI Endurant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
GI Endurant was born from the acquisition of Chicago-based Endurant Energy, LLC by UK-based Geothermal International Ltd. GI Endurant's core business was built around sustainable distributed energy and power generation assets. It focuses on Combined Heat and Power projects that provide clean and reliable electricity, thermal energy and back-up power, as well as ground source heat pump projects.
Click here to receive FREE breaking news email alerts for WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. and others in your portfolio
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: email@example.com

domain: economics


text:
Match-making: People in general, however, gay men specifically be accessible to relationship some other races/ethnicities. I think discover an excellent quantity of research support this up. I think element of this is due to the availability of homosexual intercourse. You are able to give it a try that have various people. As the a good Latino, I’ve simply had gender with white girls mainly as the my experiences be a little more limited. But I’ve had gender having white guys, Latino men, Asian boys, and Black colored people.
Yet not, the male is far more concerned about muscles shapes. Gay males often time more races nonetheless they can look having a lot more comparable body brands because they possess a far more exact section from research. I act as discover but I understand I really do to help you a degree find a person who have on their own lean/nicely toned as i put the really works myself.
In my opinion ladies gravitate significantly more toward the racial circles otherwise light people. But not, I think he’s so much more flexible of unflattering regulators.
twenty-two. Bisexual woman right here. The people I have old thought it is ‘sexy,’ just like the girls You will find old take a look troubled that i harbor one attraction so you can people.
“Bisexual woman here. The guys We have dated think it’s ‘sensuous,’ once the girls I’ve old see bothered that we harbor people appeal in order to boys. One another responses is actually annoying and also make myself feel like my sex isn’t really getting taken seriously.”
Are a lady base is simply sort of a given when you look at the het matchmaking, but being fucked inside my exact same-gender relationships always makes me personally be a great deal more insecure.”
24. In my experience, new gay society might have been much more unaware on the bisexual someone.
“I’m an effective 38-year-dated bisexual. I have old both men and women for quite some time. This is exactly a short dysfunction away from my personal event.
Females, in my experience, check zobacz witrynД™ a man not simply for what he is, but commonly lay a lot more manage exactly what he’s. It appears to be common getting a woman to want in order to adjust something regarding the a guy. Clothes, occupations, nearest and dearest. I don’t imply which in order to sound bitter or jaded. I believe women are conditioned as extremely selective as the relationship pools are often in their like as far as amounts. Barring a genuine deep partnership, women can be typically gonna prevent males who want excessively really works, maybe not as opposed to a home otherwise car that doesn’t validate the newest financial support which will make one thing practical.
Matchmaking people, to me, is quite some other. People generally work at sex. I am aware, deep wisdom here. Even if you have nothing in keeping apart from getting horny, gay people usually nevertheless at the very least remain interested in sex most of the time. It is, of course, only a few homosexual boys. Those found really shopping for a partner has reached a disastrous drawback. Monogamy is perhaps all however, nonexistent certainly gay boys. Actually operating relationships is short-term. Most web sites and you may apps are full of partners that enough time due to the fact sick of screwing a comparable people. Some partners department out and you can screw someone else to the permission of its companion. I’d become more lured to trust the functionality out of an unbarred matchmaking if i hadn’t seen too many people split on account of complications from this type of plan.
Regardless, being bisexual try immensely difficult. Upright someone wouldn’t always accept you no matter how tolerant it was advised to-be. I’m told by of numerous throughout the homosexual society that most bisexual the male is simply inside assertion or uncomfortable towards idea of developing. If you ask me, the newest gay community has been far more ignorant into the bisexual some one. We keep my affiliation to help you myself socially. You will find unearthed that being bisexual was bad in many cases than becoming a gay.”

domain: psychology


text:
Feb. 4, 2012 | Two of the state’s most powerful labor unions this week backed Abel Guillen for the hotly-contested 18th assembly district.
The back-to-back endorsements from the California Nurses Association and California Teachers Association has put renewed focus on the Peralta Community College trustee after also reporting positive fundraising totals during the last quarter of last year.
The backing of two of the most aggressive labor groups in California is a definite shot in the arm for Guillen’s campaign. In addition to campaign mailers and materials, each union has a large and willing army of members ready to hit the streets for desired candidates and causes.
Guillen reported over $107,000 in cash on hand putting him between $25,000 behind Alameda Vice Mayor Rob Bonta and trailing AC Transit Boardmember Joel Young by $64,000. One East Bay political consultant told The Citizen, Guillen’s endorsements put him at nearly equal financial footing with his opponents for the time being.
The California Nurses Association’s (CNA) strength has been evident in the Bay Area over the past few years in repeated labor battles against Sutter Health on both sides of the Bay. In some ways, the continuing story at San Leandro Hospital regarding its possible closing by Sutter, has been facilitated by the group to the degree that many believe the facility would have been shuttered two years ago without their assistance.
“Yeah, they don’t play around,” said Guillen of CNA’s ability to drum up support for issues.
While the nod from CNA was somewhat a surprise since it is Bonta who has a background with hospital issues as a former board member of the Alameda Healthcare District, the endorsement from the California Teachers Association (CTA) dovetails more closely with Guillen’s work at the local community college district. Guillen has held the elected seat since 2006.
“As our public schools face greater challenges, we need leaders in the legislature who are proven problem solvers, can bring people together, and are committed to strengthening our schools,” said Dean Vogel, president of CTA.
The California Federation of Teachers also endorsed Guillen Jan. 30.
Another possible politician being bought. Impossible for him to serve the people when he has big union controlling the strings. If elected, hold him to his word! (which wont be done, just thought I'd try)
June election will have less voters … doesn't it make sense to have such an important decision in the November election which coincides with the Presidential election (i.e. higher turnout).
You're right! That's why he was the only Trustee who wanted the Peralta Parcel tax on the November ballot instead of June– because he didn't want to ask the voters for money and a promotion at the same time. Then he wouldn't have to shy away from questions about the district's financial health or his purported accomplishments.
I agree, he's been a very thoughtful leader in the community and as an elected official. I have the utmost confidence he'll make the right decisions in the State Legislature, just like he's shown on the Peralta Board. Abel has the leadership and experiences we need in Sacramento. He has never shied away from tough decisions and has the backbone to advocate for our issues.
Abel Guillen believes education is the foundation and that responsible teachers and parents are both critical for our childrens success as adults. He is even-keeled and will always be a fair and focused on the good of the whole community.
Guess this means the CTA will have another “rubber stamp” legislator. So much for real education reform or the ability of districts to unload under-performing teachers.
The march for more charter schools will continue unless real change is created.
Heck, even some groups of teachers are starting their own charter schools.
Look at the decline in enrollment in Oakland.
From 55,000 down to about 36,000 now.


text:
Streaming has been a big part of speedrunning. Whether to prove the validity of a run, or just provide and receive speedrunning help from others. If you are looking to get into speedrunning but don’t have a stream, you’ve come to the right place.
Making Your Own Speedrunning Stream
There are a couple things which may discourage people from streaming all together, but some of them may not be entirely valid. These reasons can include things like:
- “Who would even watch me?”
- “Streaming to nobody doesn’t help me at all.”
- “Why bother?”
Points number one and two are pretty much the same thing, and for that I have to say that you’re looking at it in the wrong light. Worst case scenario, you have a categorized catalog filled with all of your runs so you can look over them and improve upon them. Best case scenario, you meet some people you can either teach or learn from.
So if you’re trying to start a stream, you are going to need to be able to record your gameplay. Experienced streamers typically know that there are two main programs which people use. OBS (Open Studio Broadcaster) and XSplit. Both have their pros and cons.
OBS is an extremely customizable experience. with open-sourced plugins and a quick start option which optimizes settings to your computer specs. There are references on their website to a wiki absolutely filled with resources to help you get better at using OBS. These involve things like using audio filters, chroma-keying for your green (or blue) screen, and other, more advanced, options.
XSplit is a more streamlined experience which holds your hand a little more than OBS does. It’s also a more official looking user interface which offers a premium and a free version.
Comparing and contrasting XSplit and OBS
It should be mentioned that the free version comes with an XSplit watermark, whereas OBS is completely free with no catch. Both provide access to a list of basic plugins to help you out. XSplit offers an option to import your scenes from OBS, so you can try both if you want, and see which is better for yourself.
If you’re trying to get into livestreaming, some people would say you are hamstringing (or crippling) yourself if you start with XSplit over OBS. The OBS plugins, clean and simple user interface, and shift/alt/ctrl shortcuts are just that good. However, if the ease of use, especially in the setup stage, is calling you from XSplit, you should absolutely go ahead and give it a try!
So you have a livestream now, but what about timers?
Timers are important to have on your stream for obvious reasons. The number one recommended app for keeping time is LiveSplit. LiveSplit is the number one program for recording splits and it is used by many popular Twitch personalities to keep track of their pace in real time. LiveSplit is unbelievably easy to set up, because you don’t have to download any plugins to either OBS or XSplit to get it working. You simply target the window using window capture in your scene and it just works. By the way, LiveSplit also supports global hotkeys so you can be confident that you are getting accurate times while tabbed into other windows. A quick start guide for a layout showed in the example is as simple as:
First, opening the app after downloading LiveSplit from LiveSplit.com. Second, right-click the timer and go to “Edit Splits”. Third, after adjusting your own LiveSplit timer and adding as many segments as you need with “Insert Below” click “OK”. Then, right-click on the timer one more time. Go to “Edit Layout…”, and using the plus (+) button at the top left, create your own timer which works for your stream. I recommend Timer, Splits, and Detailed Timer to get started. And as one last bonus tip, in the “Edit Layout…” options, click the “Layout Settings” button in the bottom left. Go to “Splits” and uncheck “Fill with Blank Space if Not Enough Splits”. This will give your timer a much sleeker and compact look.
If you do not have a standard Windows PC, or just want to explore other timer options, please check out our comprehensive article about timers here: The Best Speedrun Timer — Which Timer to Use For Speedrunning?
Capture Cards To Display Your Gameplay
If you are looking to play on a video game console rather than PC, you can use a “capture card”. These are also sometimes referred to as a “capture device”.
For video games that came out before HDMI was popularized, the GVUSB2 is awesome. It is high-quality but lightweight and incredibly easy to set up.
For modern gaming on consoles like Playstation 5 or Nintendo Switch, Elgato HD60s. There are other options available, but my experience with the Elgato HD60s has been fairly positive. Using it, you won’t have much lag between what you see on the game and what OBS captures. The quality is also really good! As a bonus, I’ve found it to be very durable.
So you finally have a foundation for your livestream setup. If you also want to cross-post your best runs to Youtube or other video sharing platforms, you will greatly benefit from displaying your chat. People love seeing reactions to the wacky stuff that can (and will) happen during a live stream. This can be done through the OBS Streamlabs website, or on XSplit, simply adding “IRC Chat Viewer” which can be found under “Add Source” then “Twitch Widgets”. On OBS, it is simple as well. Log into your streamlabs page, click Widgets, and select whichever box you would like. Then afterwards, customize your chat, copy the link, and then create a Browser Source in OBS. Paste in the link, and you’re done! If you want, you can send a test message in your own chat, just to see if everything is working properly.
So now, you finally have everything you need to broadcast your experiences on whichever streaming site you want. Goodluck with both your streams, and your speedruns.
Don’t forget to check out our other articles and videos if you need help with anything else!
I’m a video editor that just really enjoys making thing look good. I’ve been doing this for a while now and i’d like to think I’m pretty good at it!
Contact me on Discord at: Skibuster#9593

domain: hobby


Proceedings PaperDigital Blurred-Mask Subtraction Enhancement Of Radiologic Images
|Format||Member Price||Non-Member Price|
Blurred-mask subtraction enhancement is useful for improving the contrast and visibility of small objects within radiologic images. The process improves visibility by equalizing large area densities and by enhancing the borders of objects within the image. This form of enhancement is applied to radiologic images in the clinical setting by using a hybrid video/ digital image processing system.


text:
The economic outlook
Address by Governor Svein Gjedrem to invited foreign embassy representatives, Norges Bank 18 March 2004.
The address is based on the assessments presented at Norges Bank's press conference following the Executive Board's monetary policy meeting on 11 March and on previous speeches. Please note that the text below may differ slightly from the actual presentation.
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to attend this event, which provides me with an opportunity to present Norges Bank's view of the economic outlook.
Growth in the Norwegian economy is rising. Unemployment has stabilised. An economic turnaround has occurred, with a soft landing after a long period of high cost inflation. Monetary policy has contributed to stabilising output and employment - but inflation is low.
The interest rate level is in line with the level among our trading partners. Short-term interest rates in other countries have been unusually low over the past 2½ years, and there is little prospect of a sharp increase in the near term even if the world economy is expanding.
Activity in the Norwegian economy is expected to pick up in the coming years. The past and ongoing rationalisation in the business sector may enable enterprises to increase production considerably in the short term without strong employment growth. This suggests that there is room for somewhat stronger growth in the economy without pressures on real resources emerging.
The low inflation environment we have witnessed in Norway lately reflects global phenomena and trends. Globalisation, new technology and increased trade among countries are key forces affecting the Norwegian economy, in addition to exchange rate developments.
A global financial market
Cross-border capital flows have increased considerably in recent decades. Bond markets have moved more in tandem, particularly since the mid-1990s. This also applies to equity markets. Investors are increasingly spreading their investments across countries. They are diversifying risk, and seeking high returns. In parallel, governments, banks and companies are issuing more debt externally.
Currency trading has increased markedly since the 1980s. This trend was reversed when the number of currencies was reduced due to the introduction of the euro. Large trading volumes enhance market liquidity. The growth in currency trading reflects an increase in portfolio investment, higher foreign direct investment and growth in world trade.
The forward exchange and options market have expanded in recent years. A deeper market reduces transaction costs, and it is easier to find counterparties. This has provided companies with greater scope for hedging against foreign exchange risk. The use of instruments that reduce the risk associated with a floating krone is also increasing in Norway.
A considerably larger portion of credit in other countries is now channelled via the bond market. Less risk is being accumulated in banking systems. The development of new markets and instruments, for example credit derivatives, has also led to a broader risk spread than earlier.
The improved diversification of risk is probably one of the reasons that world financial markets have coped with the stock market decline and the accounting scandals with limited damage to the wider economy. This is probably one reason why the downturn following the stock market decline in 2000 was considerably less pronounced than during earlier downturns.
The new instruments spread risk, but do not eliminate it. Financial markets have become highly complex. This alone entails an operational risk, which is a challenge to participants and the supervisory authorities.
Increased trade promotes growth and lays a basis for prosperity. A number of Asian countries have experienced strong, export- led growth - Japan from the 1950s and several countries in Southeast Asia from the 1960s.
In recent years, China has become an important player in international trade, and is now probably the world's fourth largest trade nation. The Asian economies and the rest of the world have become more integrated.
Technological advances and a sharp fall in prices in the IT and telecommunications sectors have exposed a number of services that were previously sheltered from competition from low- cost countries.
EU enlargement this spring, with ten new members, is also influencing the division of labour in Europe.
Implications for the Norwegian economy
Intensified competition from Japanese and Korean shipyards had serious implications for Norwegian shipbuilding in the 1970s and 1980s. However, Japan has also become an important market for Norwegian products. From the considerable deficits of earlier years, trade in traditional goods with Japan has moved into near balance.
Strong growth in Asia is probably one of the prominent factors contributing to high oil prices in spite of low growth in the OECD area in recent years. China accounted for close to 50 per cent of growth in world oil consumption in 2002 and 2003. Trade in Asia has stimulated Norwegian shipping.
The Chinese economy could continue to expand at a brisk pace for a longer period, which would open a large market that can also be entered by Norwegian enterprises. Norwegian exports to China have increased, but are still limited. Over several years, enterprises in Central European countries have been a source of competition for Norwegian jobs. Integration is also opening new markets and providing new sources of income for Norwegian enterprises. At the same time, tender requirements and the freedom of establishment have increased the competition facing Norwegian industries that were previously sheltered.
A steadily larger share of Norway's consumer goods imports come from China and Central European countries. Growth in imports from China was provided with an additional impetus after China became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2001. Imports from Eastern Europe have also continued to grow.
There are many economic agents in Norway that are benefiting from globalisation. Consumers are enjoying lower prices for goods and services. Input prices have fallen and companies can sell their products in new markets. But there are also costs. Norwegian businesses and jobs may lose in the competition.
The challenge lies in moving idle resources to new business activities. This requires adaptability and a sound cost policy.
The Norwegian economy is unique in being both a fully developed economy and a major oil exporter. Norway is the world's third largest oil exporter. In the future, we will become an increasingly important exporter of natural gas.
The petroleum sector accounts for 44 per cent of exports and 17 per cent of GDP.
The present value of remaining petroleum reserves has been estimated at close to NOK 2 000 billion (present rate of net cash flow). The bulk of Norway's petroleum wealth will be extracted over a period of 40 years, from 1990 to 2030.
We are now in a phase where petroleum wealth is being converted from natural resources under the seabed to financial assets abroad.
The Government Petroleum Fund was established in 1990 with a view to promoting an even distribution of wealth across generations. The intention behind the Petroleum Fund is that the cash flow from petroleum production should be channeled to the Fund and invested abroad. By doing so, changes in oil prices have little effect on the mainland economy.
This chart illustrates how petroleum activity is separated from the mainland economy.
Oil companies' revenues are in foreign currency. The government net cash flow from taxes and direct ownership in oil companies is transferred directly to the Petroleum Fund. The return on the Petroleum Fund investments also adds to the capital.
Of the total capital accumulated last year, NOK 59 billion was spent over the fiscal budget.
The Petroleum Fund invests only in foreign markets.
The Fund serves as a buffer against shocks. Changes in petroleum revenues are absorbed in the Fund - not in the domestic economy.
The Petroleum Fund is owned by the government. At the end of 2003, the market value of the Petroleum Fund's assets was NOK 845 billion as indicated by the dark blue bars.
The Ministry of Finance has defined a clear mandate for Norges Bank's management of the Petroleum Fund. Norges Bank shall seek to achieve an excess return in relation to a benchmark portfolio. The return on the Petroleum Fund was 0.59 percentage point higher than the return on the benchmark portfolio in 2003. This is the sixth consecutive year with an excess return.
The return on the Government Petroleum Fund was 12.6 per cent in 2003. This is the Fund's highest return ever. The solid result is due to a high rate of return on equity investments, at 22.8 per cent. The return on the fixed-income portfolio was 5.3 per cent.
Since 1997, the average annual real return after management costs has been 3.7 per cent, measured in a common currency.
The Ministry of Finance has set a benchmark index for the Petroleum Fund. It has two functions. First, it expresses in a precise manner the strategy chosen by the Ministry. Second, it is a basis for comparison for the active management of the Fund. The benchmark index is a global securities portfolio, specified down to percentage holdings of individual securities.
The equity allocation is probably the most important decision in the composition of the benchmark index. The Petroleum Fund bases its choice on the fact that equities yield a higher expected rate of return than fixed-income investments.
Equities account for 40 per cent of the Petroleum Fund's strategic benchmark portfolio, and fixed-income instruments account for 60 per cent. In 2003, the equity portion of the benchmark consisting of securities listed in Europe was 50 per cent and the remaining 50 per cent in the Americas, Asia and Oceania.
The Petroleum Fund's average ownership in listed companies has increased. At end-2003, the average ownership interest in European companies, where the share is highest, was close to 0.5 per cent.
Macroeconomic policy in Norway rests on two pillars;
- The Storting issued formal guidelines to limit over time the annual use of petroleum revenues to the expected real return on the Fund - estimated at 4 per cent annually. That means that the government will not spend the capital itself - but only the return. In that way, the capital is saved for future generations.
- Monetary policy is aimed at ensuring low and stable inflation.
The operational target of monetary policy as defined by the Government is inflation of close to 2.5 per cent over time. It is just as important to avoid an inflation rate that is too low as it is to avoid an inflation rate that is too high.
The inflation target provides economic agents with an anchor for their decisions concerning saving, investment, budgets and wages. The inflation target also provides a framework for monetary policy's contribution to stabilising output and employment.
The economy grows thanks to increases in the supply of labour and capital and technological progress. Average growth over time is referred to as trend growth. Owing to shocks to the economy, actual growth fluctuates around trend growth. The chart shows actual mainland GDP growth and trend GDP growth.
Normally, Norges Bank sets the interest rate with a view to achieving inflation of 2½ per cent two years ahead. A two-year horizon is applied because it takes approximately two years for an interest rate change to have a full impact.
A flexible exchange rate
Norway is a small open economy with a floating exchange rate.
The Norwegian krone does not stand out as particularly volatile. On the contrary, in countries like Sweden, the UK, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the exchange rate fluctuates just as much - or more - than the Norwegian krone.
There is a cost involved for businesses in hedging against fluctuations in the krone. A krone that is stable - but too strong - also entails costs in the form of low activity. Similarly, a krone that is stable - but weak - is a source of high inflation.
Petroleum revenues generally provide substantial, but uneven currency inflows into Norway. The currency flows might have resulted in a strong krone and wide variations in the exchange rate. This tendency is countered when the annual use of petroleum revenues over the central government budget is predictable and independent of annual revenue inflows, and the remainder is invested abroad. The capital outflow through the Petroleum Fund contributes to both curbing the appreciation of the krone and maintaining its stability.
Norges Bank has not defined an exchange rate target. Nevertheless, developments in the krone are of considerable importance to interest-rate setting because exchange rate developments have an impact on inflation and output.
Although the krone may fluctuate in the short term, it will generally stabilise over time. When inflation has been higher in Norway than among our trading partners for a longer period, the krone has generally depreciated. When inflation in Norway is expected to be broadly in line with that of other countries, the exchange rate will normally also return to its long-term average following periods when the krone has been particularly strong or particularly weak. This provides a basis for stable exchange rate expectations.
Economic developments and prospects
As I mentioned in the introduction, the current picture is a broad-based economic recovery with low inflation.
Expectations of a global recovery have boosted stock markets over the last year. The Norwegian stock market index, OBX, has increased more than US, German and Japanese stock market indexes.
Oil prices and other commodity prices are also high.
Normally, higher growth expectations are accompanied by higher interest rate expectations. This has not been the case lately. On the contrary, market expectations have fallen. The red line shows that in October last year, the market expected that the economic recovery would lead to higher interest rates. The green and yellow line shows the fall in expectations, and that the market now expects interest rates to remain low for a period ahead.
The reason behind the change in expectations is the absence of inflationary pressures. In Norway, inflation is low. In February, annual core inflation fell to minus 0.1 per cent.
It is particularly prices for imported consumer goods - the yellow line in the chart - that have fallen sharply. But prices for goods and services produced in Norway have also declined. Increased competition and productivity growth have probably contributed to low inflation.
Higher productivity growth is a global trend and in particular in the US the phenomenon has been the subject of lively debate. The current economic recovery has in fact been labelled the "jobless recovery", an indication that companies can increase production without new recruitment.
A change in trade patterns and external economic conditions have resulted in an unexpectedly sharp fall in import prices, even when measured in terms of what Norwegian importers pay in foreign currency.
Consumer price inflation in Norway declined sharply through 2003 due to cheaper import as the exchange rate strengthened. In addition, prices for imported goods have fallen measured in foreign currency as shown in the next chart. Chart 18. Price indicator for imported consumer goods. Foreign currency. Index
Again, this is a sign of the global trends I have mentioned earlier.
The change in trade patterns has made a considerable contribution to the sharp decline in prices for clothing and audiovisual equipment. Rapid technological advances have also pushed down prices for audiovisual equipment.
In Norway, competition has probably increased in the retail industry and other service sectors in recent years. Initially, stronger competition affects companies' profit margins. But enterprises will respond by reducing their costs. This will occur in part in the individual enterprise, but subcontractors will also be required to reduce their prices and enhance efficiency. Therefore, increased competition usually triggers higher productivity growth in the economy. Low inflation may therefore be matched by growth in productivity.
The prospect of low inflation, (due to a cyclical downturn last winter, low pay increases last year, fiscal discipline and an unexpected decline in inflation), has resulted in a considerable easing of monetary policy. The key interest rate has been reduced by 5¼ percentage points and is now approximately the same as among our trading partners. The krone has depreciated over the past year, and is in line with the average for the 1990s.
Monetary policy is expansionary. This is reflected in low after- tax real interest rates as shown in the chart. The low interest rate level has reduced household net interest expenses. This has increased household purchasing power considerably.
Household demand will probably be the most important driving force in the Norwegian economy in the period ahead. Private consumption has a considerable impact on overall demand and activity and accounts for 60 per cent of mainland GDP.
Low inflation and reduced interest expenses will support strong growth in household real income. Even with a moderate wage settlement, real income growth may reach about 5%. In addition, improved labour market conditions will strengthen job security and lead to expectations of higher income growth.
Against the background of high real income growth, improved job security and expectations of continued low interest rates ahead, household consumption is expected to exhibit strong growth. Growth in private consumption is projected at 5¼% between 2003 and 2004. Given this path, consumption will grow at a pace that is broadly in line with real income, with little change in the saving ratio.
After falling last year, house prices edged up in autumn. At the end of 2003, house price inflation was high. There are prospects that house prices may show a fairly sharp rise between 2003 and 2004.
Buoyant activity in the housing market and high house prices are contributing to strong growth in credit to households. The household debt burden has shown a considerable increase and is expected to rise further in the period ahead. A high debt burden means that an increase in interest rates to a more normal level may have a relatively pronounced impact on household income and hence consumption growth.
The difference in growth in credit to households and non- financial enterprises is a good illustration of Norway's dual economy. Over the past few years, credit growth has been far higher for households than for enterprises. The level of household credit growth has remained high recently. An important reason is the sharp rise in house prices in recent years.
Low investment demand is reflected in credit to non-financial enterprises, which has declined to a very low level. Developments in prices for commercial property compared with house prices also indicate that the situation is better for households.
Developments in mainland enterprises have been characterised by low output growth, falling investment and declining profitability in many industries. In order to boost returns on invested capital, enterprises have taken steps to reduce costs, primarily by reducing their workforce or relocating parts of their production abroad.
By way of conclusion, I would like to present a summary of the economic outlook for the Norwegian economy.
Growth in the Norwegian economy is projected to pick up this year, primarily fuelled by higher private consumption.
There are signs of high productivity growth, which means that companies can produce more with the same workforce. The high cost level in Norway and strong competition will probably induce many industries to continue reducing costs and rationalising. Against this background, the output potential of the Norwegian economy is assumed to increase more than normal in 2004. As demand edges up, enterprises' profitability will improve. At the same time, they may meet capacity constraints. Investment is therefore expected to pick up gradually and become a more important driving force behind the upturn. Mainland GDP growth is projected to pick up markedly this year and remain relatively high in 2005 and 2006.
Thank you for your attention.

domain: finance


text:
Yanking of Art Spurs Protests
Backed by civil libertarians, an artist is at odds with Los Angeles city officials over their decision last month to remove his exhibit from the Watts Towers Art Center out of fear that it could provoke violence.
The exhibit of 14 paintings--which depict Los Angeles police and gang members in same-sex dancing poses, along with recorded sound and poetry--was taken down Sept. 20, three days after it opened as part of events leading up to the reopening celebration for the Watts Towers.
Art center Director Mark Greenfield said he commissioned the paintings from Santa Monica artist Alex Donis, an instructor at the small art center adjoining the famed towers. But when it came time to display them to the public, he feared they would cause a violent demonstration.
“My concern was that if there was a protest, we might have had to call out the police,” leading to a larger disturbance, Greenfield said.
He recognized that the decision compromised the artist’s 1st Amendment rights, Greenfield said. But “this exhibit was akin to yelling ‘Fire’ in a crowded theater,” he said, in a reference to former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ statement on the limits of free speech.
But in a letter Wednesday, leaders of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the First Amendment Project and 120 others assailed the decision.
The letter urges officials to “live up to the requirements of the 1st Amendment and take a stand for artistic expression by reinstalling the show as soon as possible.”
The decision to pull the exhibit was made by Margie Johnson Reese, general manager of the city’s Cultural Affairs Department. “I am the guardian of the public’s trust,” she said. “And I had to hear the historic concerns of the community saying the artist’s fine work was not a reflection of that community’s story.”
Reese suggested that the work should instead appear at a private gallery outside Watts.
The Los Angeles city councilwoman who represents the area, Janice Hahn, said she supports Reese’s decision.
“In light of the concerns of residents and community leaders in Watts, which were received by my staff, and of the direct threats of vandalism and/or violence that were received by the cultural center staff, this exhibit presented a possible threat,” Hahn said.
City officials said complaints came from a wide range of residents, including gang members and police officers.
Among others, city officials said, objections were voiced by the Watts Community Action Council, led by senior activist Lillian Mobley, and supported by civic leaders Sterling Barnes and Oscar Madrigal.
None could be reached to confirm their objections.
Donis, however, said he believes the fact that he is both gay and a Latino may have fueled the antipathy against his work. He said he was told by city cultural affairs officials and Greenfield that various members of the community “didn’t want a gay, Latino artist exhibiting, and they didn’t know of my long association with the Watts Towers.”
Donis said that when Greenfield commissioned his work, “he knew it would have a gay theme,” although, he said, “my work isn’t totally of a gay nature but gets at violence.”
He said Greenfield came to his studio to view the exhibit six months ago as it took shape and saw his first drawings and drafts.
Greenfield, however, said Donis did not show him the most provocative paintings, some of which are sexually suggestive.
In any case, the civil libertarians said, the reasons given for removing the exhibit are not satisfactory.
“The 1st Amendment exists precisely for situations like this, where strongly held opinions and vigorous debate are liable to occur,” said Heather Carrigan, director of public policy at the ACLU.
“We don’t want to live in a society where we’re told you can’t say that, you can’t think that or you can’t depict that, or there will be violence,” she said.
“If the government is going to make decisions ahead of time about what art will be seen or what discussion can take place, then you’re seeing the erosion of a freedom we all hold dear,” she said.
Svetlana Mintcheva, arts and advocacy project coordinator for the National Coalition Against Censorship, said she recognized “there are tensions in the Watts community; there are tensions in every community.
“Some members of the community did not like the show,” she acknowledged. “They were angered by the show. They speculated that it might cause angry responses, but I don’t believe there was any direct threat [of violence].”
One thing everyone on all sides of the dispute agreed on: The controversy means the works in the exhibit will command a far higher price when they are put on sale.
The artworks can be viewed on the artist’s Web site: https://www.alexdonis.com.
It's a date
Get our L.A. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

domain: sociology


text:
The question put to me by a friend was essentially – what can she do to ask her daughter’s primary school coach to be less harsh and loud?
The primary school softball team had started holiday training in preparation for next year. She observed that the coach tends to yell at the kids when they make mistakes, as a result they tend to be very tentative when they play. Her daughter tends to “freeze out” especially when it’s her turn to bat.
She has since spoken to the teacher-in-charge but the coach’s behavior has not changed. Quitting the team wasn’t an option either – her daughter is keen to stick with her friends and compete next year.
So what are her option? Here’s what I suggested…
- She’s got to instill in her daughter that it’s okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of the learning process and you will not improve if you do not make mistakes.
- She has to stop worrying about the coach and what the coach will do if she made some mistakes or screws up her batting. Get her to be aware and understand that it is a big distraction that causes undue pressure.
- Help her to identify the performance cues that she could re-focus on, and perceive her coach’s shouting as an opportunity to practice how to refocus.
Not sure if that will work out for her though….will wait and see…
Meanwhile, I reckon this whole episode is a good reminder for us coaches to be more conscious about our temperament and how it would affect the athletes adversely!


text:
LOS GATOS (CBS SF) – Fire crews rescued a child who got hurt falling off a rope swing into Lexington Reservoir shortly before noon Tuesday, according to officials with the Santa Clara County Fire Department.
Just before 11:30 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to the southeast shore of the reservoir to rescue the child, fire officials said. A second child at the scene told fire crews that the child in distress had fallen from the rope swing to the shallow edge of the reservoir shore.READ MORE: Splash Brothers Curry, Thompson Lead Warriors Past Pistons, 102-86
Cal Fire crews also assisted at the scene, and sent a helicopter to locate the patient from the air. Other fire crews gained access to the shore in the 18000 block of Alma Bridge Road, fire officials said.
READ MORE: Friends, Loved Ones Remember Michelle Go, Killed In NY Subway Attack At San Francisco Chinatown Vigil
After reaching the child, fire crews treated them for major injuries, transported them by helicopter to a Cal Fire station and then via ambulance to a hospital.
The second child was also taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, fire officials said. Neither child was identified.
Fire officials said residents should swim and play safely at waterways and reservoirs, which are popular recreation areas during the summer months.MORE NEWS: UPDATE: Feds Launch Website Distributing Free At-Home COVID Testing Kits; Here's How To Get Your Free Tests
© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Dual-tab beer can targets the perfect pour
Beer from a can just ain't the same as beer from a tap, and a lot of it's about the foam. The Japanese take their beer foam pretty seriously, it would seem, and a design team reckons it's worked out how to deliver the perfect pour using an extra tab.
In the team's estimation, a proper head is an essential barrier between the beer and the ambient air, locking in aroma, flavor and carbonation. I don't know about all that, but I do know that Guinness, with its vaunted floating Widget technology, is one of the only canned beers I've been truly impressed by.
The widget, though, is all about nitrogenation of the beer for that creamy lip-smear of a head you expect on a stout. Lagers are different, and lagers are the name of the game in Japan. Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, they're all rolling out pale lagers as their biggest sellers.
The design team had a goal in mind: the 7:3 "golden" ratio of beer to foam. They investigated bubble formation, finding that some bubbles are created when the beer is first opened, and others happen due to friction between the liquid and the can during pouring. They noted that more bubbles were generated when you pour with a lid that's only narrowly opened.
And so they deigned a beer can with two numbered tabs to pull when you open it. The first tab cracks the opening just a little, so you can pour a nice, foamy first half of your beer. Then, wait til the bubbles settle a bit, crack the second tab to open it right up, and top up the rest of your beer.
The greatest thing about this invention, of course, is that you don't need to buy one to try the idea out. Just get a regular can, crack it open just a smidgin, and pretend you've got a fancy twin-tab can while laughing all the way to the bank. Check out the idea in the video below.


text:
Hagia Sophia and the Bosphorus Istanbul, Turkey November 21, 2015
Category: Landscape, Uncategorized Tagged: church, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, landscape, Photography, Timothy S. Allen, Turkey
Fantastic Photograph Ive always wanted to go to Istanbul looks amazing
Thank you, Mike. It seems to be. We are here a couple of more days and then to Izmir, Turkey for almost 3 weeks.
Have a wonderful trip look forward to seeing your Photographs 📷
Mike thank you. I too look forward to taking a few decent photos.
Thank you Victor. The blue light period is one of my favorite times to photograph.
Wonderful capture. Mind if I am jealous?
Thank you Jim. I’m very lucky to be married to an artist who has been successful in taking artist residency all over the world. This is a Senior Fulbright project
A striking photo, Tim. Yes, lucky you, being married to Jane who has residencies worldwide. And, lucky her, to have you along documenting her accomplishments as well as the world at large so beautifully.
Jan thank you for such kind words. I shared your statement with Jane. She said you are such a nice person. I agree
Tim that is gorgeous! We are planning a trip to Istanbul for the spring, so I am enjoying these Istanbul photos that you have posted. Keep them coming!
Thank you Gerald. That is wonderful that you’re planning a trip to Istanbul. I would recommend the Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel. http://www.goldenhornhotel.com
We’ve enjoyed staying and plan on being back here when we return from Izmir.
Thanks Tim, I will check it out.
Have a good day, Josee
You’re welcome Josee
The picture from Istanbul is fabulous!!
Thank you so much.
This is exceptional. Some of my favorite photography is during Blue hour, or as I like to call it Blue 20 minutes. Well Done!!
John thank you. It is also a period of great photographic possibility.
Pingback: Istanbul yang menawan – Masjid Jami Darussalam RW 015
Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:
You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change )
You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change )
You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change )
You are commenting using your Google+ account. ( Log Out / Change )
Connecting to %s
Notify me of new comments via email.
Notify me of new posts via email.
Blog at WordPress.com.


Nickelback will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its quintessential RIAA Diamond-certified #1 album, All the Right Reasons with a newly remastered and expanded version. This release will kick off with a rare and remastered acoustic version of their #1 hit single “Photograph,” which is available NOW with the album pre-order. Click HERE!
ALL THE RIGHT REASONS: 15th ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION will be available as a two-CD set on October 2 and will also be available digitally on all streaming platforms. The collection features a newly remastered version of the original 2005 album, a selection of B-sides and a 2006 live concert recording.
Nickelback’s third consecutive #1 album, All the Right Reasons topped the charts in the band’s native Canada, the U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia and New Zealand. To date, it has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide and has been certified diamond by the RIAA. The record produced seven singles, including five Top 20 hits: “Photograph,” “Savin’ Me,” “Far Away,” “Rockstar” and “If Everyone Cared.”
“We are so proud of the fact that this album connected with people the way it has,” says guitarist Ryan Peake. "As an Artist, you can only ever hope for something like that to happen.”
The album was remastered for this new anniversary edition, along with a selection of B-sides that includes a cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” and acoustic versions of the chart-topping singles “Photograph,” “Too Bad” and “Someday.” The collection also features a live recording of Nickelback’s August 8, 2006 performance in Sturgis, SD during the annual Sturgis Bike Rally. The 12-song performance was originally released on DVD as Live at Sturgis 2006. Pre-order HERE.


text:
And the Government's Hot-Air Response
The footage of this morning’s eruption of Mount Shindake, on tiny Kuchinoerabu Island in Japan’s far southwest, is awesome and terrifying and fascinating – and probably very bad for the local tourism industry. In case you missed it, the article accompanying the footage is prettyterrifying in its own way.
Below are a few excerpts in quotation marks.
The keen insights in italics are mine.
“More than 100 people have been ordered to evacuate after a volcano erupted on the tiny southern Japanese island of Kuchinoerabu on Friday morning.”Ordered to evacuate. Huge volcanic eruption on a tiny island and the authorities think they need to tell people to get the hell out of Dodge? This is what a government selfie looks like.
“Spectacular TV footage captured the moment Mount Shindake exploded, sending columns of thick, black smoke high into the air.”Guys, the smoke in that ‘spectacular’ footage is medium gray. At best.
“Japan’s meteorological agency raised the alert level to five – the highest on its scale…”A massive eruption ranks a five. Wow. Tricky algorithm there.
“The agency said no injuries or damage had been reported following the eruption…”I know, right? People just don’t think to give the meteorological agency a call when they’re running like hell for their lives.
“The agency added that pyroclastic flows, dense currents of rock fragments and hot gases from the volcano had reached the island’s north-west shore.”Fancy language to make people forget these people giving their important little evacuation orders are hiding under their desks at agency headquarters in Tokyo.
Mount Shindake is on Kuchinoerabu island, located in the middle of the strange round circle there in the bottom center..
“In Tokyo, the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, set up an emergency response team…”All the natural disaster shit that goes on in this country and they don’t have an emergency response team already set up?
“and dispatched a self-defence forces to the island.”Nice grammar. And spelling. Can’t wait to see how these guys defend against the pyroclastic flows, the flying rocks and the hot gases. “Stop it! Stop it! Please, cut it out!...”
“Abe said he had instructed local authorities to do “everything possible” to ensure the islanders’ safety.”Another government selfie. Thanks for the tip Shinzo.
All right let’s skip to the end and put this report out of its misery.
“Authorities in Japan, which is dotted with active volcanoes, are taking a more cautious approach following criticism that they had failed to warn hikers of increased volcanic activity before the Ontake tragedy last September.”
Waving their verbal selfie stick around while they put together their emergency response team. A few words come to mind here. None of them is ‘cautious’.
Note: I live in Japan and am all too familiar with natural disasters. The eruption of Shindake merits serious attention – but since I have not received the Prime Minister’s advice to be “as concerned as possible” I’ll simply wish those self-defense forces good luck against their fight against their pyroclastic enemy.

domain: geography


text:
A clear distinction exists between junketing and productive networking. While the latter offers dividends to the people, the former gulps revenue from the treasury. The former was the case of Imolites and her commonwealth during the shortlived PDP-led administration of Emeka Ihedioha, with no notable achievement recorded from his tourist visits across the world.
A chronicle of the tourism visitations of Emeka Ihedioha during his illegal occupation of Douglass House revealed a cumulative of over 650,000 nautical miles of unproductive international travels at the expense of public funds. No single Direct Foreign Investment was attracted by Emeka Ihedioha, not even local / indigenous investment!
In April 2019, prior to his swearing in, Emeka traveled as a Governor-elect to London. The next month, May 2019, Emeka traveled to Germany and Russia by June 2019 for Birthday parties; France same June of 2019. As if that wasn’t enough to satisfy his desire, Emeka traveled to the United States in September 2019 and Turkey in November of 2019. Later again in December 2019 to the United States. All these, just within the short-lived period.
In fact, he showed up at the premises of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), uninvited, and having been denied access, waited outside for photo ops with the participants!
Quite unlike the ousted one, His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma went on a productive visit to Abuja which has yielded result in the area of approval of funds for the control of three ecological sites in the state, approval of N1b Tetfund project by the President for Imo State Polytechnic, among others.
There are levels in the approach to governance and networking, for the good of the people. Gov. Uzodimma has the understanding and he’s approaching it appropriately with positive results for Imolites. It’s quite obvious that the opposition is jittery over their steady loss of popularity, confidence and trust from the people and therefore seeking recovery with spread of fallacy.
His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma is poised to reposition Imo State to her pride of place as the Eastern Heartland and the Land of HOPE.
Ezeafurukwe Paul Ihunanya


One of the good guys in the history of UNT football assistants (not to mention one of the more successful) was in the news yesterday.
Freddie Kitchens, who was an assistant at UNT during the bowl years from 2001-03 had major heart surgery.
It sounds like he will be OK, but one always worries about people after major surgery like that.
Kitchens was a really good recruiter during his time at UNT and was part of a powerhouse staff that included Darrell Dickey (four bowl games, four conference titles), Eric Russell (Washington State assistant head coach), Spencer Leftwhich (Pitt, Tulsa, Arizona, UTEP assistant), Kenny Evans (former National Assistant Coach of the Year by the Football Foundation, head coach Northeastern State) and Ramon Flanigan (now the head coach at Lincoln).
Kitchen was UNT’s running backs coach and coached national rushing champion Patrick Cobbs and another Hall of Famer in Kevin Galbreth. He was also on the staff for UNT’s New Orleans Bowl win over Cincinnati.
Kitchens has been coaching in the NFL for some time now.
And in other news, the story of Christian Beard’s recruitment has gotten pretty weird.
I mentioned him on the blog yesterday because UNT had offered him a scholarship before he decided to commit to SMU, the program UNT fans loathe.
I won’t go into the full story, because I don’t know for sure what the full story is, but somehow there was a question about whether SMU would take Beard or not after he committed. He ended up backing out and is back on the market. He would be a good get for UNT.


text:
We are looking for a freelancer illustrator to draw 16-24 illustrations for a Chinese story books aimed at pre-school kids aged 4 to 6 years old.
The books would be used in digital form in classes and also made into e-books.
We are prepared to pay $20 per picture.
Ideally our freelancer would have experience with character design and children's illustrations. Styles we like include Super Why and Dora the Explorer.
76 freelancers are bidding on average $528 for this job
Hello, i really like your project, i made a lot of similar projects before, and i would like to work with you on this one. You can check my experience and samples of my work on PM. Thanks!
Hello, I am a cartoonist and I have worked before on children apps and books :) I fully understand that you need it as an ebook and will provide my work in vector format. Please visit my galleries: [url removed, login to view] Daha fazlası
Hi, I`m very interested in your project and i would appreciate if you can check your PM for sample and info about my bid. Thank you and have a nice day!
Hi, Im an experienced children's book illustrator. I specialize in creating adorable and cute characters for the books I illustrate. Please check your inbox for samples of my previous works. Thanks!


KITCHENER, Ontario—One of the downsides of developing a state-of-the-art 3D printing platform that can make customizable rubber parts is that, well, you're still making rubber parts.
So, Andrew Finkle asked himself the existential question made famous by the movie "Frozen:" "Do you want to build a snowman?"
"I do a lot of development and testing and I get bored of making just a gasket," said Finkle, the co-founder and chief technology officer of Structur3D, a Kitchener-based additive manufacturing company. "I try to think outside the box and ask, 'What are some interesting ideas?' "
That's why, if you scroll through Structur3D's online photos from its new Inj3ctor platform, you'll see a variety of gaskets, bellows, orthotics and … Disney's famous snowman, Olaf. In silicone form.
"That Olaf, I actually embedded an LED (light) in it with a battery, so you can actually click the Olaf through the silicone and it'll light up," he said.
Finkle isn't necessarily a "Frozen" fan—"I'm sure I will be someday," he said, chuckling—but, like Elsa, he does believe in using his powers to create new cool things out of challenging materials.