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The Smith machine may be one of the most reviled pieces of equipment in the gym — but if you’re a Smith machine troll, you may want to reconsider your position. There is a place for it in your strength-building regimen. The Smith machine is not just a thousand dollar coat rack (as it’s sometimes referred to). This piece of equipment allows for you to attempt heavy lifts without a spotter and keeps the barbell on a guided path — which is a disadvantage for some lifts but a plus for others.
Additionally, since most people discredit the Smith machine — named for its inventor, Rudy Smith— it’s more likely to be open than other areas, like the squat rack. Here, we’ll detail some of the best moves to do with the Smith machine and how to execute them properly.
Best Smith Machine Exercises
- Kaz Press
- Smith Machine Back Squat
- Smith Machine Split Squat
- Behind-the-Back Shrug
- Smith Machine Incline Bench Press
- Smith Machine Bent Over Row
- Inverted Row
- Smith Machine Seated Shoulder Press
- Smith Machine Hip Thrust
- Smith Machine Romanian Deadlift
- Smith Machine One-Arm Negative Bench Press
- Smith Machine Single-Leg Deadlift
- Smith Machine Reverse Lunge
- Smith Machine Front Squat
- Smith Machine Calf Raise
You can argue with us, but you can’t argue with three-time World’s Strongest Man Bill “Kaz” Kazmaier. Kaz dominated the Strongman scene in the 1980s and at one time held the bench press world record at 661 pounds. Of course, bench pressing involves triceps strength — which he was able to build using a Smith machine exercise.
The Kaz press is a hybrid between a close-grip bench press and a tricep extension. By using the Smith machine, rather than free weights, you’re removing the instability factor and allowing for heavier weight to be used. This, in turn, helps develop the muscles needed to build up your bench press.
Benefits of the Kaz Press
- Builds tricep and chest strength for stronger bench presses.
- The Smith machine’s stability allows for heavy weight to be used.
- This variation is generally easier on the elbow joint than free weight extensions.
How to Do the Kaz Press
Lie faceup on a bench under the barbell. Keeping your elbows close to your body, grab the bar at shoulder-width or a closer grip if desired. Unrack the bar at full extension and start the bar above your clavicles with arms extended — lower the bar toward your chest by bending at the elbows and allowing some movement at the shoulders. Stop about three inches off your chest, push back to the starting position.
This is a controversial take, as many lifters and strength coaches heavily advise against doing squats outside of a more traditional squat rack. They reason that the machine’s fixed vertical path doesn’t allow for variability in movement, resulting in injury.
They’re not entirely wrong. That said, when done with proper form, a Smith machine squat can result in serious gains. A 2010 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found free weight and Smith machine squats resulted in most muscles worked by the move, except for the gastrocnemius (calf muscle), biceps femoris (the back part of the thigh), and vastus medialis (the inner part of the quadriceps), which all responded better to free weights. (1)
The Smith machine squat is performed similar to a free weight one, except that your feet should be slightly in front of the barbell instead of directly underneath the bar. Additionally, ensure your knees don’t travel too far past your toe line — while this is OK to some extent, taking it to the extreme has been proven to be detrimental to your joint health. (3)
Benefits of the Smith Machine Back Squat
- You can load the machine up with more weight and move that weight with more overall stability.
- Works all leg muscles, along with your core, and this fact is backed by science.
- The squat result in more testosterone production than any other move.
How to Do the Smith Machine Back Squat
Stand at a shoulder-width stance with the bar across your shoulders and traps. Unlock the bar by lifting it up and forward. Bracing your core and keeping your head forward and spine in a neutral position, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold for a one count before coming back up.
Like the squat, doing split squats with a Smith machine will ensure you have more stability during the movement. That stability allows you to lengthen your stride, which in turn allows for greater hip flexion and greater stretch of the gluteus maximus. Furthermore, it allows for greater training of your weaker leg to address muscle imbalances.
To create even more muscle extension, elevate your front or back foot on a block or bench. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research in 2017, however, did note that doing this move with a Smith machine does result in decreased muscle activation in the body’s frontal plane. (4)
Benefits of the Smith Split Squat
- Addresses muscle imbalance and joint stability.
- Easier on the back than back squats.
- Strengthens all leg muscles — your hamstrings, quads, and glutes.
How to Do the Smith Machine Split Squat
Place your stronger foot on a bench or block, and place your other foot about two feet ahead of you. With the bar on your back and traps, unlock the bar from the machine. Facing forward and keeping your spine neutral, descend until your back knee reaches the floor. Now, drive yourself back up.
This trap isolation move is great when done from the front, but when you grab the bar from behind you in a Smith machine, you’re able to move further away from the bar and move it up higher. This results in greater isolation of the traps, especially the middle of the traps responsible for shoulder stabilization.
Benefits of the Behind-the-Back Shrug
- Isolates the trap muscle more effectively than other shrug variations.
- It prevents your shoulders from rounding during the lift.
How to Do the Behind-the-Back Shrug
Place the bar at glute level and stand facing away from it. Grasp the bar slightly wider than shoulder-width with an overhand grip. Shrug the bar upwards and hold it for a one count before returning to the starting position.
Sensing a theme here? Instead of worrying about the bar dropping on top of your face or chest during an incline bench, all you have to do in a Smith machine is pop it back into the guides once you find yourself struggling.
The same study that found the Smith machine superior for building up a one-rep max on the squat found the opposite for bench pressing. A separate one, also in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, noted free weights and machine benches resulted in similar muscle activation for all chest muscles except for the medial deltoid (the muscle that gives your shoulder its rounded look), which responded better to free weights. (5) The point is, use this variation more for muscle-building than to gain strength.
If your upper chest is your focus, though, the Smith machine incline press allows for heavier weights to be used without fear of injury. Similar to when using free weights, be sure not to bend your wrist on the ascent.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Incline Bench Press
- Hits the upper pecs and shoulders.
- Smith machine allows for heavier weight without concern of dropping it.
- Great lift for improving other pressing movements.
How to Do the Smith Machine Incline Bench Press
Set a bench at a 45-degree angle. Using a closed grip, grab the bar slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Raise the bar, unlock it, and lower it down to your chest while keeping your forearms vertical and making sure your elbows don’t flare out. Once the bar is at the chest, raise back up
This move is a must for anyone looking to develop their back muscles, and with the Smith machine, you can go heavier than if you were using a barbell.
Doing it on a Smith machine takes your stabilizing muscles out of the equation due to the bar’s fixed path, which means your lats, rhomboids, and traps are better targeted than if you were doing it with a barbell.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Bent Over Row
- Isolates lats, rhomboids, and traps by taking stabilizing muscles out of the equation.
- This is a great move for strength and to build muscle mass.
- Helps improve posture.
How to Do the Smith Machine Bent Over Row
Lower the bar all the way down. Grab the bar with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and with an overhand grip. Keeping your back straight, bend slightly at the knees and pull the weight up to your body. Slowly lower it to your knees and repeat.
While this is technically a bodyweight movement, what makes it so great for the Smith machine is that you can adjust the bar to your preferred height. You can technically do this in a power rack, too, but it’s just plain easier with the Smith machine.
Plus, nobody wants to be the person who’s doing these in the squat rack with a line of angry gym-goers behind them.
Benefits of the Inverted Row
- Builds up the back, arms, and grip strength all at once.
- Reduce strain on the lower back as you’re in a horizontal rowing position.
- This is a great precursor exercise to the pull-up, making it a great move for beginners.
How to Do the Inverted Row
Set an empty bar around waist height. Lie on the floor face-up, and grab with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Bracing your core, pull yourself up until your chest reaches the bar. Slowly lower yourself back down.
The Smith machine seated shoulder press targets your anterior and medial deltoids. It will strengthen your posterior deltoids, too, as they help stabilize the weight in the proper position overhead. Since you’ll be sitting, you’re focusing solely on your upper body to move the weight.
The fixed bar path and the ability to change your range of motion makes the Smith machine seated overhead press potentially easier to learn. This is a solid variation if your shoulders disagree with regular overhead pressing.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Seated Shoulder Press
- All three deltoid muscles are involved in this exercise, which is rare for pressing movements.
- This is a variation where you can vary the range of motion to attack weak points in your overhead press.
- A stronger overhead press will assist your bench press, because both recruit the same muscles from different angles.
How to Do the Smith Machine Seated Shoulder Press
Set up the weight bench with the back support behind the bar. The bar needs enough room to pass in front of your face. Set the bar higher than your shoulders while seated. Sit down. Grip the bar using an overhand grip with your preferred grip width. Unlatch the bar. Press straight up until lockout. Slowly lower to the starting position. Reset and repeat.
The hip thrust will build both strength and mass in your glutes — and, to a lesser extent, your hamstrings. And if a Smith machine is more accessible to you than a freestanding barbell, you can perform your hip thrusts there.
The setup in the Smith machine is a little easier. Because you’re taking stabilization largely out of the equation, you can potentially go a lot heavier here. Targeting your glutes with extra weight can improve your deadlift lockout and squat strength, just like the regular barbell hip thrust.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Hip Thrust
- The hip thrust builds more glute mass, strength, and power than just about any hip extension exercise.
- This version is less technical and easier to perform than other hip thrust variations.
- Improved glute strength leads to better stabilization of your core, pelvis, and lower back.
How to Do the Smith Machine Hip Thrust
Set up a bench behind the bar. Attach a pad for comfort. Put your upper back on the bench with the bar over your hip crease. Place your feet more than hip-width apart. Grip the bar using an overhand grip. Unlatch the bar by extending your hips. Fold at your hips to lower the bar toward the ground. When your glutes are near the floor, forcefully push the bar up to starting position. Squeeze your glutes. Reset and repeat.
The Smith machine Romanian deadlift is performed just like the barbell variation. You’ll lower the bar to about mid-shin level and then come back up. This keeps constant tension on the glutes and hamstrings, making it a more targeted option to strengthen those areas than the standard deadlift.
The Smith machine Romanian deadlift will help you load up heavier than your standard RDL. But, you’ll still be less heavy than a regular barbell deadlift, so you’ll be able to add lower body training volume pretty safely.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Romanian Deadlift
- This variation promotes hypertrophy of the lower back, glutes, and hamstrings due to the constant tension on your muscles.
- The Smith machine RDL will help improve the upper back and lockout strength for conventional deadlifts.
- You can load a bit heavier than you can with conventional Romanian deadlifts, which means you can increase your hypertrophy potential.
How to Do the Smith Machine Romanian Deadlift
Set the Smith machine bar at mid-shin level. Stand tall with your feet hip-distance apart. Hinge down and grip the bar with an overhand grip. Unlatch the bar. With your chest up and shoulders down, brace your core. Drive through your legs. Use your hamstrings and glutes to pull you back to a standing position. Reset and repeat.
The eccentric portion of a lift refers to the part when the muscle is lengthening rather than contracting. That’s the upward portion of a triceps extension and the downward portion of a biceps curl and squat. In the eccentric phase of a lift, you’re typically stronger than you are when you’re contracting your muscle.
Because of this, you’ll often need a spotter when training heavy eccentrics, or negatives. But the Smith machine one-arm negative bench press can take away the need for a spotter. You lower the bar with one hand, and you lift with two. This will overload the chest and triceps and will help you iron out imbalances between sides.
Benefits of the Smith Machine One-Arm Negative Bench Press
- The unilateral nature of this move helps reduce imbalances between sides.
- This move has a direct carry over effect for improving your barbell bench press.
- By performing this chest and triceps-strengthening move in a Smith machine, you’ll be reducing the need for a spotter.
How to Do the Smith Machine One-Arm Negative Bench Press
Set up as you would for your Smith press bench press. Grip the bar with both hands. Press up and unlatch the bar. Take one hand off when you reach lockout. With one arm, slowly lower the bar to your chest. Place the other hand back on the bar. Press up until lockout. Reset and repeat on the other arm.
Along with the pistol squat, the single-leg RDL is difficult to perform well — but the benefits are many. You’ll improve your single-leg balance and reduce muscle imbalances. Both of these can help lead to fewer injuries.
You’ll also increase muscular hypertrophy and glute and hamstring endurance. The Smith machine single-leg deadlift increases the bar’s stability because of the straight bar path. This will reduce the complexity and make this difficult exercise easier to perform.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Single Leg Deadlift
- The single-leg RDL uncovers asymmetries between sides, which you can correct using this exercise.
- Since you can use heavier loads here, you can increase your hypertrophy potential and endurance of your glutes and hamstrings.
- The increased stability of the Smith machine makes the single-leg RDL easier to do.
How to do the Smith Machine Single Leg Deadlift
Stand just behind the low bar. Hinge down and grip it with both hands. Unlatch the bar. Lift one leg off the ground and bend your back knee. Using your glutes and hamstrings, hinge forward until you’re standing up straight. Slowly lower down. Repeat for reps. Re-latch and switch sides.
Because you’re stepping back, the reverse lunge involves your hips. Because of this, you’ll put less stress on your knees than other lunge variations. As with most unilateral variations, the reverse lunge helps to decrease muscle imbalances and increase injury resilience.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Reverse Lunge
- This version allows you to load up more to build unilateral strength and muscle while improving single-leg balance.
- Using a Smith machine to step back into your lunge helps you go easier on the lower back and knees.
- You can customize this move to either focus on the quads (with a smaller step back) or glutes and hamstrings (take a larger step back).
How to Do the Smith Machine Reverse Lunge
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Duck under the bar. Secure it on your upper back. Unlatch the bar. Take either a small or large step back with your left foot. Lower your hips until your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Your right knee should be over your ankle. Keep your chest up and shoulders down. Push through your right foot and return to the starting position. You can either alternate sides or do all reps on one side before switching.
Regular barbell front squats are a great exercise for your quads, upper back, and core. But your upper back and core are usually the limiting factor — not your legs. The Smith machine front squat has an advantage because it helps ensure that your legs are the limiting factor.
That’s because your upper back and core are not working as hard to keep the bar in place. This is great if your goal is more mass on your legs.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Front Squat
- The Smith machine version of this lift limits the upper back and core involvement, which allows you to focus more on your quads.
- This variation is easier to set up and perform than the regular barbell version, which means you can go heavier.
- You’ll be able to target your quads for hypertrophy with this move.
How to Do the Smith Machine Front Squat
Set up the bar at upper chest height. Get underneath the bar in the front rack position. Take your preferred front squat grip. Unlatch the bar. Slowly lower down to your preferred squat depth. Push up through your heels to the starting position. Reset and repeat for reps.
To strengthen and build your calves, you need exercises that provide a stretch at the bottom position. This provides a larger range of motion and the ability to add heavy loads. The Smith machine calf raise fits that bill.
Benefits of the Smith Machine Calf Raise
- The Smith machine increases your stability, which allows you to load more weight for increased muscle and strength.
- This version is easier and more comfortable than the barbell and machine version.
- Because of the higher degree of stability in this variation, you can safely increase your range of motion.
How to Do the Smith Machine Calf Raise
Stand on a stable raised surface. Set up the bar at shoulder height. Secure the bar on your upper back. Put the balls of your feet on the edge of the platform. Grip the bar with both hands using an overhand grip. Push up to unlatch the bar. Lower the bar until your feet are close to the ground. Push up through your toes, pausing at the top. Slowly lower down. Repeat for reps.
Benefits of the Smith Machine
The biggest knock on the Smith machine is its fixed plane of motion not being “functional.” And while most activities of daily living — and most compound lifts — don’t come with a fixed, pre-stabilized path, the Smith machine has some big advantages to offer. Some lifters see this machine as cheating, but its biggest con can be seen as its biggest strength.
The Smith machine’s fixed motion gives you the ability to load more weight — without needing a spotter. And when you can lift more safely on your own, you’re likely to be on the path to greater gains.
Great For Hypertrophy
The Smith machine’s fixed range of motion allows you to target a muscle more directly by taking stabilization out of the equation. For example, whenever you bench press, the bar needs to be set, with your feet and back firmly planted on the bench.
While you should still maintain proper form while benching on the Smith machine, you don’t need to worry about dropping a loaded barbell on your face. Plus, because you don’t have to work as hard to stabilize the weight, you can lift more on the Smith machine. This means that you can overload the target muscle with more weight than you can typically lift — leading to greater muscle growth.
Reduced Injury Risk
The fixed plane of motion of a Smith machine not only means you can lift more weight. It also means that you can perform exercises with consistent form. Especially for beginners, this can help reduce the risk of injury. Because of this, the Smith machine is a great way for a beginner to get used to barbell training.
To use a Smith machine, you’ll turn the barbell towards you to unhook it. Perform your lift, then rotate the bar back to re-hook it. While pretty much everything in training comes with a bit of risk, using a Smith machine’s built-in protections and safety hooks is still a lot safer than trying to bench press a one-rep max with no spotter.
How to Program Smith Machine Exercises
The Smith machine is probably not the best tool to use for absolute strength. While you can go heavier on many exercises due to the increased machine stability, you typically want to build absolute strength while recruiting as many muscles as possible. That includes your stabilizers, which means you may want to use a barbell instead.
But when it’s time to bring up a lagging body part — which can ultimately serve the purpose of building absolute strength — definitely tap in the Smith machine. Because you don’t need to stabilize as much due to the fixed bar path, isolating the working muscle can lead to some serious gains.
Whether you’re going for strength or hypertrophy, you’re likely best served using the Smith machine for accessory exercises. It’s definitely possible to program a microcycle consisting of mostly Smith machine lifts (see the sample workout below). But you can also integrate them into your regular programming. Incorporate Smith machine moves after your big strength exercise for the day. Try programming three to five sets at anywhere from eight to 15 reps to develop lagging muscles and add much-needed volume to your session.
How to Warm Up for Smith Machine Exercises
It is important to warm up with mobility and core work to get your muscles and joints ready for action. If you’re planning on going heavy with your Smith machine moves, it’s also important to add in ram-up sets as an extended warm-up after your mobility work. This way, your body will acclimate to the demands of heavier weights.
Ramp-up sets will grease the groove and help you determine your working weight for the day by how easy or hard a certain weight feels. They will also prep your body for heavy weights and give you extra volume at little cost.
Here’s an example of a ramp-up sets for Smith machine back squats:
- 10 reps with an empty barbell
- Eight reps with 105 pounds
- Six reps with 125 pounds
- Five reps with 155pounds
- Four rep with 175 pounds
This type of ramp-up set works well for most Smith machine exercises.
Sample Smith Machine Workout
Now that you have some moves in your arsenal, here’s a quick Smith machine workout for you to try the next time you see one open. This is a full-body workout, so you’ll be able to hit every muscle group quickly in one session. If you don’t want your entire workout to revolve around the Smith machine, you can sub in one of these Smith machine moves for its free weight counterpart.
- Back Squat: 3 x 12
- Split Squat: 3 x 10 per side
- Kaz Press: 4 x 6
- Incline Press: 3 x 8
- Behind-the-Back Shrug: 4 x 10
- Bent Over Row: 3 x 10
- Inverted Row: 3 x failure
While you may not want to build your entire program around Smith machine lifts, there’s no reason to knock them as a whole. Smith machine exercises can help target your weak points, isolate both big and small muscles for growth, and help beginners learn movement integrity. Plus, Smith machines are a much more accessible alternative for many lifters, perhaps especially in a crowded gym. So what are you waiting for? Get (Smith) lifting.
- Schwanbeck, Shane; Chilibeck, Philip D; Binsted, Gordon A Comparison of Free Weight Squat to Smith Machine Squat Using Electromyography, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: December 2009 – Volume 23 – Issue 9 – p 2588-2591 doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b1b181
- Schick, Evan E; Coburn, Jared W; Brown, Lee E; Judelson, Daniel A; Khamoui, Andy V; Tran, Tai T; Uribe, Brandon P A Comparison of Muscle Activation Between a Smith Machine and Free Weight Bench Press, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: March 2010 – Volume 24 – Issue 3 – p 779-784 doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cc2237
- Fry AC, Smith JC, Schilling BK. Effect of knee position on hip and knee torques during the barbell squat. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):629-33. doi: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)017<0629:eokpoh>2.0.co;2. PMID: 14636100.
- McCurdy, Kevin PhD Technique, Variation, and Progression of the Rear-Foot-Elevated Split Squat, Strength and Conditioning Journal: December 2017 – Volume 39 – Issue 6 – p 93-97 doi: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000319
- Schick EE, Coburn JW, Brown LE, Judelson DA, Khamoui AV, Tran TT, Uribe BP. A comparison of muscle activation between a Smith machine and free weight bench press. J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Mar;24(3):779-84. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cc2237. Erratum in: J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Jan;25(1):286. PMID: 20093960.
Featured Image: MDV Edwards / Shutterstock
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domain: health


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Cooks Mesa is a wide ledge/small plateau that rises several hundred vertical feet on the north side of Route 24 just outside the western boundaries of Utah’s Capitol Reef national Park. On the north side of Cooks Mesa, cliffs rise another several hundred feet to a higher and bigger plateau known as Meeks Mesa. A beaten path starts on Route 24 and goes to Cooks Mesa where after 1.5 miles, it reaches a steep boulder filled gully that can be climbed to reach the top of Meeks Mesa.
I did not see any signs for where this hike starts. From the intersections of Route 24 and 12 in eastern Torrey, Utah, drive 3.3 miles east on Route 24 and turn onto a dirt road on the north side of the road. This dirt road sits at a turn at the “northernmost part of Route 24 in that area”. I saw many people camping on that dirt road.
The roundtrip hike described here is 5 miles long going from 6500 ft to 7600 ft.
The start of the beaten path is at an unsigned spot as noted on the map above. The path climbs a colorful dirt slope to reach the top of Cooks Mesa.
Views of Route 24 and Boulder Mountain (which is a big plateau and not a mountain) to the south.
Colorful canyons below Cooks Mesa.
Cliffs of Meeks Mesa rising above Cooks Mesa.
Petrified wood and other interesting rock on Cooks Mesa.
Other views from Cooks Mesa.
You will then reach the steep gully that can lead you to the top of Meeks Mesa. I did not see any signs but a beaten path left the main path and went up a dirt slope toward the gully.
Follow cairns among the boulders up the gully.
Near the top of the gully.
Views from the top of Meeks Mesa.

domain: geography


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Do you recall the first time you received feedback? Perhaps it was when you were in school and your teacher mentioned the subjects you needed to put in more hard work. Or maybe it was while playing your favorite sport or learning a new skill and your guide rebuked you for not getting it right. Professionally, feedback sessions would probably have been held during appraisal conversations, right? At a personal level, feedback is given and received between friends, family members and loved ones. Whether given directly or indirectly, feedback is an ubiquitous part of our lives. There is no escape from it!
Irrespective of the situation and/or occasion, feedback has always had this negative connotation to it. This is felt not just by the recipient but also by the feedback provider. It is as though both are caught in the same trap from which there is little escape. And that is because very few feedback sessions are about strengths and what is working well.
The other aspect is the timing of the feedback. People seldom provide feedback there and then. How many of us fill out feedback forms that are circulated post a session/conference? We tend to linger over them or quickly tick the responses skimming through the comments and suggestions column. But there is actually a rationale behind asking for immediate feedback – the mind is fresh with the learning and the listening. Any feedback given immediately tends to be authentic and resonate with what the receiver actually felt.
Research shows that feedback when given constructively and immediately, has the potential to be a game changer and lead to better relationships and outcomes. When you focus on discussions that touch upon what went right and the strengths, it energizes the whole environment.
When comparing the feelings associated between negative and positive feedback, it is not hard to acknowledge that negative feedback can at times translate into ‘unforgettable experiences’ that can erode one’s confidence and self-esteem, leaving behind long and deep scars.
Specific and nonjudgmental feedback has been found to be very effective to bring about transformation both, at the personal as well as professional level. Feedback targeted around behavior patterns that can be changed are also found to result in positive outcomes. This calls for the receiver to be very fine tuned with her/his own reactions/emotions to a situation that warrants feedback. Often, negative feedback from the giver is a mirror to her/his own feelings of anger or resentment towards the situation or person.
For a coach, giving feedback is integral to the process of coaching. Clients are often vulnerable in front of their coaches. After all, they have opened up on an area that is troubling them, and they are seeking solutions through coaching. A sensitive coach is mindful of this environment and focuses on giving feedback that is specific and that which is in control of the recipient. In short, positive feedback that touches upon what is right and emphasizing areas that the client can improve on.
As in any profession or personal life or in a coach-coachee relationship, feedback works best when both the receiver and giver work in true partnership spirit and are comfortable with the conversation.
Take a pause and recall that last feedback. What really bothered you then? Was it the tone of the giver? Or the words? Or the situation? Or did you have a problem with the giver? The environment can play tricks on the human mind and create illusions. It is critical we learn to dissect feedback and look at it with fresh eyes of a learner for improvement.
Effective feedback calls for an increased level of self-awareness on how to give/receive feedback and identify the path ahead. Getting defensive or overreacting or even arguing, provides no answers. What really works is when feedback is seen as an opportunity to learn something new.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

domain: psychology


Sunday 22nd October
One of the lesser lights, but still she shines brightly. A veteran really of the Americana music scene. She was born in 1953 and released her first in ’79, when she was already 26. Sporadic releases through the eighties and nineties brought her little success, but she seemed to be making a living out of music somehow. She wrote a song “Passionate Kisses” which was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and went on to be a massive hit. This song seemed to open the doors for her, both creatively and commercially. In 1996 she released what is probably her masterpiece “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road”.
She managed to fuse rock and blues and country in a unique way. Every song is a joy, including one called ‘Joy’. She has an edgy almost raspy voice, full of East Texas drawl which somehow suits her songs perfectly. In some ways she is similar to Tom Petty – that hint of sarcasm, or world weariness. You cannot imagine her smiling as she sings. I have never seen her live, and only a few photo’s too. Most of her songs are about broken hearts or love affairs gone wrong. In fact one album is called ‘World Gone Wrong’.
I only have three albums of hers, and ‘Car Wheels’ is by far the best, though they are all listenable. Try listening to ‘Lake Charles’ or ‘Concrete and Barbed Wire’ on youtube.


text:
Convicted drug dealer from Dorchester now also convicted gun runner
A federal jury on Friday convicted Shayne Parker, 41, of interstate transportation of firearms and being a felon in possession of 50 rounds of ammunition, the US Attorney's office reports.
Parker would use drugs - which he carried in plastic bags under his scrotum - to pay addicts to go into gun stores in New Hampshire in 2014 to buy guns, which he and an accomplice would then transport to Boston, prosecutors say.
Parker faces sentencing June 10 for his new convictions of interstate transportation of firearms and being a felon in possession of 50 rounds of ammunition.
Parker had to hire straw purchasers for the guns because he was barred himself from buying guns because of a 1998 conviction for selling cocaine and a 2005 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon.
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Have these guns been used in the Boston gangland shootings?
If so, will he be charged as an accessory to any murders?
The most disgusting part?
The idea that someone would use those drugs that he stored "down there". GAG!
You'll eat cheese aged in a
You'll eat cheese aged in a basement but you won't try any Gooch Hooch? Your loss, I guess.
I am so glad that this
I am so glad that this alleged scumbag is off the streets for now. The ready availability of illegal firearms that have flooded this city is to identify and prosecute these "straw" buyers. The next line of defense in slowing gun violence will require staunching the easy flow of lethal weapons from out of state.
Pretty sure the drugs he sold
Pretty sure the drugs he sold came from out of state as well. We need strict federal laws banning their sale, that will stop them.
Scrotum drugs. No thanks.
I'll say this ....
It took balls to stash drugs where he did.

domain: news


Dobro legend Tut Taylor was born on November 20, 1923. At an early age, he taught himself to play the Dobro using a flatpick, a unusual technique that he still uses to this day. In addition to appearing on some of the best bluegrass and old-time albums of all time (including John Hartford’s Aereo-Plain), Taylor has been a luthier, a vintage guitar dealer (Neil Young bought his prized “Hank Williams” Martin D-28 from Taylor), a sign maker and music historian. Decades before it was popular, Taylor was also home taping some of his heroes concerts for posterity on primitive recording equipment.
For the Fretboard Journal #21, Orville Johnson (himself no slouch in the Dobro department) flew to North Carolina to interview Taylor. To accompany the piece, we produced this short film about the living music legend.
Filmed by Randall Hill in 2010 exclusively for the FJ.


Who was that man, and what has he done with Mitt Romney? The Republican presidential nominee was more cheerful, more prepared, more specific, more informed and more energetic than President Obama tonight, resulting in a genuine rout. Romney seemed eager to answer every question, Obama looked peeved and sluggish. For every straw man argument the president raised, his challenger offered a lengthy and detailed rebuttal, in full command of the facts. Romney won virtually every single exchange throughout the night -- on jobs, on deficits, on energy, on Medicare, on health care, and especially on the role of government. Obama's...
this Fox/Rove smelling nasty trick scheme was actually turned down by the gangbankers...the Eviloutionists are getting scared...they haven't seen anything yet...as more and more of America's citizens stand up and say 'enough is enough' the Eviloutionists will crawl back into the cracks they crawled out of and try and regroup for another attack...in the lull, it's up to us to get legislation in place that puts traitors in prison, because that's exactly what these sub human greed based protozoa are...they'll never change, we have to starve them to death...just as they've been trying to do to us...whether it's ketchup packets, pizza, or handing over Social Security to Wall St.
- 10 yr old competitive shooter seeks to inspire others Jazz Shaw 27 mins ago
- John Kasich rips AP after reportedly denouncing Obamacare’s repeal Noah Rothman 1 hour ago
- Pew survey: “Consistent liberals” most likely to block others on social media for disagreeing with them politically Allahpundit 1 hour ago
- Hawaii Democrat backs travel ban, denounces politicization of the issue Noah Rothman 2 hours ago
- Subtle: Pro-Kay Hagan fliers warns GOP victory with lynching images Noah Rothman 3 hours ago
- Age of Enlightenment: NY university offering training for couples on how to break up Jazz Shaw 3 hours ago


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The world's largest congress on cardiovascular diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC Congress 2020 The Digital Experience) was held this year online from August 29 to September 1, 2020.
The Congress was attended by a record number of 116,000 healthcare professionals from 211 countries.
Scientific advisor of Webiomed project, Ph. D. in Medical Sciences Kuznetsova Tatiana presented a report on the topic: "Adapting neural network models to predict 10-year CVD development based on regional data calibration".
The report was devoted to the topic of predicting the individual risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and their complications using machine learning methods.
More about the report: https://esc365.escardio.org
Poster_ESC Congress 2020 pdf|3,5 МБ


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29 Nov. 2011
27 Nov. 2011
24 Nov. 2011
Today I'm thankful for ...
... this crazy gang. My classmates (three of them anyways)
... learning new things
... feeling better
... two gorgeous boys that slept till 7
And yes, for you Americans, this is the big thankful dag. It just happens to coincide with my little project :-).
First. Write your post, calling it Thankful Thursday and listing up a few things you are thankful for. Put a link in that post to my post today. Then get the link from your post and add it to the comments below.
If we're lucky, then we get a chain of posts expressing the things they love in life, all listed right here. (... and for those of you who are thankful, but don't have a blog, you can write it in the comments. Or you can add it to my Facebook page.)
23 Nov. 2011
22 Nov. 2011
21 Nov. 2011
20 Nov. 2011
19 Nov. 2011
17 Nov. 2011
16 Nov. 2011
”I wandered the streets not knowing what I was shooting. I just knew I had to be out there. Watching life. Because I was interested in the way, you know, people did things.” - Joel Meyerowitz
You can see more pictures from my attemt at being one of the pioneers of street photograpy in my flickr set. You can also see Meyorowitz live in the beautiful documentary "Everybody Street" by Cheryl Dunn.

domain: hobby


Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt agreed to a six-year, $100 million contract extension Monday, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The deal includes $51.8 million guaranteed, the most in NFL history for a defensive player. The new contract will pay Watt $16.6 million annually, also a record for a defensive player. The previous record belonged to defensive end Mario Williams, who signed a six-year, $96 million contract with the Buffalo Bills that included $50 million guaranteed.
The 11th-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the 25-year-old Watt had two years left on his original contract that was to pay him $1.9 million this year and $6.9 million in 2015.
The two sides had been negotiating a new deal for weeks, and Watt went public with his desire for an extension in training camp.
Watt was named All-Pro each of the last two seasons and was the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He is expected to sign the new deal on Tuesday with a press conference to follow.


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For the first year, breast milk or infant formula is the most important food for your baby. At about six months of age, your baby needs more nutrients so this is a good time to start trying solid foods.
On this website you can find out about:
- the signs your baby is ready to try solid foods
- best foods to start with and how to prepare them
- tips on making this special time easier
- how to make baby food at home
- the signs your baby is full and had enough to eat
- recipe ideas for the next steps.
The information has been checked by experts and follows Ministry of Health recommendations about infant feeding.

domain: food


1026th meeting – 14-15 May 2008
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) –
Nominations of ECRI members
(Resolution Res(2002)8, DG-HL(2008)4, GR-H(2008)CB6)
The Deputies took note of the names and curricula vitae of the persons designated by San Marino as member and deputy to the member of ECRI for a term of office of five years, starting on 12 June 2008, as they appear in document DG-HL(2008)4.


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Lisle, Illinois 60532
|Areas of Practice||1) Commercial Transactions|
|Most recent firm||Navistar International Corporation|
Paralegal / Legal Assistant
We are seeking an entry-level Paralegal to support a busy sole practitioner in his criminal defense firm. Responsibilities will include answering phones, scheduling appointments and court dates,...
Attorney / Lawyer - Belleville, IL - Family Law
Are you a legal professional with a passion for Family Law? Stange Law Firm has an opening for a dynamic, highly motivated attorney to join the team that provides strategic legal support and guidance ...
Paralegal Responsibilities : The candidate will conduct, summarize, and analyze complex research, including gathering facts, researching and analyzing applicable laws, regulations, and case laws, et...
|+ View more jobs|
A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal matters.
Benjamin P. Smith is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. He is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on high-stakes disputes in the biotechnology, medical device, and internet industries.

domain: law


Already heralded by some as the unlikely sound of Summer 2012, Theme Park celebrate their support slot for Bloc Party’s October tour by releasing this cool little track off their upcoming album.
We were hoping that this track had mood swings and giant tempo changes, so that we could call it “a roller-coaster of a song.” Because they’re called Theme Park, and you get roller coasters at theme parks. Yes.
It does none of that though, slinky and laid back the whole way through with some light blips that give the slightest hint of Super Nintendo in places. It clearly has the aim of becoming the anthem of “reflective” moments in lads holidays.
It will be released on August 18th. But if you have one internet then you can check it out here:


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First sunrise of summer of 2018 was a dud. The sun only hinted that it’s there. Thorndale Beach, Edgewater, Chicago June 21, 2018
North Ave. Beach groin, early morning, June 13, 2018
The Japanese Garden at The Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park, June 11, 2018
Early Tuesday morning, May 8, 2018
Devotee at the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) reenactment on Good Friday in the Pilsen Community.
Quinceañera pictorial, Cloud Gate, March 24, 2018
Eight-man scull with coxswain at the greening of the Chicago River, St. Patrick’s Day celebration, March 17, 2018
Sunrise, Lake Michigan in Hollywood Beach, Edgewater March 4, 2018
Performance at “Fire and Ice” by a Chicago Full Moon Jam member, Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon, February 24, 2018
A group of South Asians/Americans practicing a bhangra dance at the Bean, February 19, 2018. It made the gloomy day a little bit brighter I guess.


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After a protracted bit of pre-release teasing, the Unreal Tournament 2003 Demo is now available for your downloading pleasure offering a sampling of what to expect from the upcoming multiplayer first-person shooter from Digital Extremes and Epic Games. The file clocks in at 97.7 MB, and features four maps (two deathmatch, one CTF, and one Bombing Run), along with a single player model. Here's a local copy of the demo, which is available at many sites, all listed on the Unreal Tournament 2003 Downloads Page.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
News CGI copyright © 1999-2013 James "furn" Furness &
All rights reserved.
Chatbear v1.4.0/blue++: Page generated 22 May 2013, 02:18.

domain: entertainment


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Singer, actor and YouTuber Conor Maynard joined us live to talk about his debut album, “Contrast,” which secured a No. 1 in the U.K. charts and produced five U.K. top ten singles.
He also performed a one minute acoustic version for us of his current single that’s out now, “Dance With Somebody,” a reinterpretation of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
Conor will also be releasing a new single, “P.G.N.L.,” on April 22.
This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on April 5, 2022.

domain: celebrity


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This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I receive a commission. Thanks!
Read my full disclosure policy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Living with Type 2 Diabetes – My Journey
Who Am I?
- I am a person living with Type 2 Diabetes
- I am not any sort of medical professional
- I am simply one person navigating life with this disease who loves to read, research, experiment and share
- I view life with Type 2 Diabetes as a challenge to be conquered one day and one choice at a time
My Personal Journey of Living with Type 2 Diabetes
My introduction to the world of being a type 2 diabetic was when I was informed of my diagnosis shortly before the holiday season in 2015. I now know that I was likely undiagnosed for 5 to 10 years prior.
At the time of diagnosis, my numbers were dangerously high. I had few recognizable symptoms. My immediate response was to ask the doctor what lifestyle changes I could make to manage the situation as much as possible with as little medication as possible. I am sure he was initially skeptical and somewhat hesitant to agree with my idea but agreed to give me two weeks to show him if I could make some progress toward controlling things.
During that two weeks, I made great progress toward understanding what my options were. I did not make enough progress to totally avoid medication at that time, but I was able to begin understanding how my body was or was not processing glucose
My instructions from the doctor at the time were to lower my carbs to less than 100 gm per day, to avoid all sugars, natural or added, especially in any liquid form, and to steer clear of all types of processed carbs. And to test my blood glucose levels once a day, alternating between fasting in the morning and before bedtime.
To most people, that would have seemed a dramatic difference, but to me, it wasn’t. I needed to knock off fruit juices and soda, but the rest of my diet wasn’t that far off. Other than an occasional meal out or special occasion, I wasn’t in the habit of consuming a lot of processed carbs. I was, however, a consumer of lots of homemade whole-grain bread, pasta, beans, and lots more that for a healthy person would be considered healthy. At one time, my children had even teased me about having a kitchen that was nothing like their friend’s kitchens because of all the Mason jars filled with things like beans and quinoa and brown rice. So it left me with the question, “how much can I change?”
Research, Experiment, and Research Some More
So I went home with my new diagnosis and the determination to learn everything I could as quickly as I could. I was determined to master living with type 2 diabetes as soon as possible but I wasn’t sure what that was going to look like. It did not take me long to discover that there was quite a bit of controversy surrounding the treatment, management, and control of type II diabetes.
I initially cut my carbohydrate consumption to under 100 gm per day, as recommended by the doctor. I did not find that too difficult to do by just eliminating soda and fruit juice. But as I was doing that, I had found the Diet Doctor website and I was reading information suggesting that a lower carbohydrate limit could be beneficial for managing type 2 diabetes. And I also discovered the concept of “eating to your meter”.
I worked through my two weeks of experimenting, keeping the doctor’s office informed of what my blood sugar levels were running. At the end of the two weeks, I had made significant progress, but not enough progress to avoid medication for the short term.
Beginning the Practice of “Eating to the Meter”
We scheduled a follow-up appointment for three months later. And in the meantime, I received nearly 300 test strips as a gift. Time to try out the “eating to the meter” method and learn what my body was reacting to!
At the three-month appointment, there had been a significant improvement in my glucose numbers and my A1C. The doctor commented, “I wish half of my patients would listen half this well and put in half this much effort”. He was very pleased with my progress and so was I.
At that same appointment, I asked the doctor if he had any problem with me cutting my carbs further. With what I had been reading, I planned to cut them down to about 50 to 70 gm per day. His only response was, “my only concern is whether you can maintain that level”. I told him the only way we would know is if I was to try it.
In the following three months, I worked on keeping my grams of carbs under 70. I continued to research. I continued to notice the discrepancies between the different recommendations for what patients with diabetes should or should not eat. And I continued to do what was working for me.
At the end of six months, my A1C was at a level considered acceptable. Considering I had started at twice that amount initially, this was significant progress. I had ultimately settled in at staying somewhere between 35 and 50 gm of carbohydrates a day and following a low-carb, high-fat diet ( which was further adjusted after a few years). Also, by the six-month point, my weight moved into an acceptable range.
Daily Living with Type 2 Diabetes
So now to bring things quickly up-to-date, after doing more experimenting, I have settled in at approximately 30-50 carbs a day, moderately high fat and higher protein. I exercise regularly. My A1C currently stays in the mid 5’s. All of my lab results are good with my A1C now hovering at the high end of normal.
I know that I have made a conscious decision to follow a path not largely supported by mainstream medicine, but a path supported by large bodies of anecdotal evidence and emerging science. I know that I have seen greater and greater support for this style of management since I first become familiar with it in 2015. And I know that I feel better following it.
So why am I here, and what does this website offer you? In all the research I’ve continued to do, I have become more and more aware of a growing group of individuals who are daring to challenge the status quo, are experimenting with themselves, and are having excellent outcomes.
The information presented here is just that, information. I and many others have taken a different path in taking charge of our health. We are challenging the traditional recommendations for type 2 diabetic care. We are seeing significant improvements with less (or no) medication and are feeling great!

domain: medical


text:
Two Fold Dress
Available Size: S
SUBSCRIBE TO RENT THIS PIECE
Choose the life-changing wardrobe that gives you access to 40,000+ styles, starting from $89/mth.
This Two Fold Dress by Keepsake is a midi dress featuring a double ruffle off the shoulder drape neckline. Look graceful in this dress and pair it with ankle strap heels and finish it off with a sleek low ponytail.
Size guide (cm)

domain: design


Even before its release, stories and rumours regarding the making of Cameron's obscenely expensive Titanic had become the stuff of
Hollywood legend - budget blow-outs, on-set tantrums and
unimaginable attention to detail. All for a story we've heard before - the sinking of a ship.Still, for a fleeting moment (three hours and fourteen minutes, to be exact) Cameron manages to resurrect this nautical monument of human engineering to give us a more intimate story.
The tale of Rose (Winslet) and Jack (DiCaprio) is a classic tragedy of forbidden love, told in flash-back and framed by a present-day 'treasure hunt' for the Titanic's watery remains. Whilst the framing device is clunky, the romantic tale works, mostly because of the genuine chemistry that seems to exist between the two leads. But the rest of the cast are mere cardboard cut-outs, Cameron depicting them via the familiar stereotypes - the self-interested and heartless upper classes versus the 'underlings,' who are lovable larrikins and pure in spirit.
This is not about characters, it is about symbols of humanity. It is also about very lavish special effects. In the end, stripped of all the hype, effects and money, Titanic is just another love story, though a good one.
The obvious irony is that spending so much money (over $250 million) on it merely serves to reinforce the sheer arrogance and self-indulgence of the many whom Cameron accuses in this film.The only difference is that, this Titanic has managed to keep its head above water. ---Paul Garcia


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1. Forbes Most Powerful People In The World: PM Modi 9th, Xi Jinping Tops
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been ranked ninth on Forbes' 2018 list of 'the world's most powerful people'. Chinese President Xi Jinping ranked first, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump at the second and third rank, respectively. The only other Indian to feature on the list is Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at 32. The PM Modi ranks ahead of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (who is at 13th spot).
Forbes- American Business Magazine, Founded in- 1917.
Headquarters- New York City, USA.
2. September 2019 Climate Summit to be Held in New York: UN Chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced to hold a climate summit in September 2019 in New York to review the commitments of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In March 2018, Guterres appointed former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as his Special Envoy for Climate Action who was tasked to support the United Nations (UN) in its climate strategy and in organising the 2019 summit.
3. The USA Withdraws From Iran Nuclear Deal
President Donald Trump announced US withdrawal from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with Iran. Mr Trump signed a fresh set of sanctions against Iran and warned countries against any cooperation with Tehran on its controversial nuclear weapons programme.
The historic nuclear deal was reached in Vienna in July 2015 between Iran and the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) along with Germany and the European Union.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are China, France, Russia, UnitedKingdom, and the United States of America.
4. Nikol Pashinyan Becomes Prime Minister of Armenia
Armenia’s parliament elected Nikol Pashinyan as a new prime minister in a 59-42 vote. His election comes after Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation as Prime minister of Armenia. Nikol Pashinyan is the leader of Civil Contract party. He is a former newspaper editor.
Armenia Capital- Yerevan, Currency- Armenian dram, President- Armen Sarkissian.
5. Carlos Alvarado Sworn in as Costa Rican President
Carlos Alvarado was sworn in as the new President of Costa Rica. Alvarado swept to victory against conservative Protestant singer Fabricio Alvarado Munoz. At 39, Alvarado is the country's youngest president in modern history.
Costa Rica Capital- San Jose, Currency- Costa Rican colon.
1. FB Appoints Product Exec Chris Daniels to Take Over WhatsApp
Facebook has announced that the company's Vice President of Product Chris Daniels will be taking over Whatsapp after Co-founder Jan Koum announced his departure, recently. In his new role, former Internet.org VP Daniels will report to Facebook's Chief Product Officer. Daniels has been working with Facebook for more than seven years and previously worked for Microsoft in product management.
2. Google Names Nitin Bawankule Head of India Cloud Business
Google had appointed Nitin Bawankule as the country head for its cloud business in India, as the search giant looks at taking a larger share of the booming demand for those services in the country. Bawankule has been with Google for six years and was previously head of sales for its e-commerce, retail and classifieds and education business.
3. Walmart Buys Flipkart in World's Largest e-Commerce Deal
US-based retail giant Walmart has confirmed that it will buy 77% stake in India's largest e-commerce startup Flipkart for $16 billion. The acquisition, which is the largest e-commerce deal in the world, will value the homegrown startup at a reported amount of $20.8 billion.

domain: politics


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Strategic Outline Case for Wiltshire
26 July 2017 – Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s Governing Body yesterday approved a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) which identifies a preferred model and way forward for the future provision of community and primary care estate in Wiltshire.
The SOC, which was presented and approved at Wiltshire CCG’s Governing Body meeting held in public in Devizes on Tuesday 25 July, is the cumulation of a strategic overview of health care in one area of Wiltshire – Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge – which began in autumn 2016.
This initial stage of planning means the CCG is in the best position to secure capital investment for much needed updating of health buildings in Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. However, there are also priority areas for the rest of Wiltshire and the CCG will now set out a timetable for developing a more detailed clinical strategy and a Wiltshire-wide programme of capital and estates funding requirements.
Steve Perkins, Wiltshire CCG’s Chief Finance Officer said:
“Wiltshire CCG has a strategy founded on commissioning health services which are based in our communities rather than in acute hospitals. Keeping people well, supported and able to be live as independently at home is at the heart of all of our work. We know that flexible solutions will be the key to being able to support the health and wellbeing of our local population, in a way which is financially sustainable into the future.
“This means that we anticipate, and seek, an increase in the use of our community buildings – such as GP practices and larger primary care centres – so that we rely less on hospital facilities. Our approach aligns with the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) which has five priority areas, one of which is ‘Making best use of technology and our public estates’.
“To help us to understand the future estate and infrastructure requirements, in autumn 2016 we began a strategic overview of health care in one area of our county. This work has now been developed into a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) which identifies a preferred way forward for the future provision of community and primary care estate in Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge to support the sustainable delivery of community, secondary and primary care services. The cost implications of not making the much-required improvements to facilities in north west Wiltshire are significant, and national funding has been made available for primary care facilities in Trowbridge. The strategic planning helps to align clinical priorities with estates and infrastructure requirements”.
The SOC, which can be found here considers the healthcare needs of the Wiltshire population into the long term, based on what our GPs and clinicians require to support people to live well at home, and in consideration of the expected population growth in Wiltshire between now and 2026. By working with our partners and stakeholders to review and understand the current and future local service requirements, Wiltshire CCG has considered options for the way we deliver locally based healthcare services in the future.
The recommendation approved by the CCG Governing Body yesterday is for one community hospital (hub), one community ‘spoke’ and three urgent treatment centres, alongside development of primary care estate to increase much needed capacity for GP practices. Details and definitions for each of these facilities can be found in the SOC.
Linda Prosser, Interim Chief Officer of Wiltshire CCG said:
“The preferred way forward takes account of key national, regional and local drivers for change and was arrived at following detailed meetings with clinicians, GPs and other key stakeholders. The SOC is the first stage in the business planning process and therefore the size of accommodation and cost is only indicative at this stage. The SOC does not make an assumption about the location of the facilities, but we expect that for the north west patch of Wiltshire they will be located in the Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge area”.
The next stage will be for further development work to Outline and Full Business Cases and it is expected that locations will be identified through options appraisals at the Outline Business Case stage of the planning process, before proceeding to a full public engagement programme.


This work is not programming related, but if you or someone you know, is skilled in AutoCad, then this may be for you. I'm bringing up the Production Planning module for SAP which will require Autocad drawings for the process order. Our Glass Shop currently has about 1,500-2,000 8.5"x11" drawings (one for each part), that specify the dimensions of the apparatus to the glass blowers. I estimate it will take someone about 1 hour to complete each drawing. They need to be produced in Autocad 14 or later, use our titleblock, and conform to some basic standards. One of our draftsman started this project a couple years ago and didn't finish it. He entered about 300 drawings in CAD before he left the company, but that initial work should help you to complete this task. Many of the components are standard and peice together to form the final assembly. Many of these standard components have already been drawn. Each drawing is dimensioned and has maybe 20 or so parts, but there are often a lot of odd curves which will slow down the data entry process. In any case, conservatively one hour. These drawings must be entered into CAD by hand!! There are raster to vector conversion applications that exist in which paper based drawings such as these can be scanned to create a vector drawing (CAD). This process often leads to thousands of tiny line segments which are impossible to manipulate and maintain. If it turns out that this methodology is necessary, then all converted elements must be traced over and then deleted, but I prefer it is not used at all. The draftsman must practice good quality work as well. No disjointed line segments. The drawing must be neat and drawn to scale, representative of the original. The bidder will have about 1 month, maybe 2, to complete this task.
Complete and fully-functional electronic Autocad drawings. These drawings are confidential and proprietary. The bidder shall not reserve rights to them. They must be removed/destroyed from the bidder's system after project completion and transference to the owner.
MS Windows-based AutoCad 14 or later
## Deadline information
This alots a couple months for the work, however a couple weeks will be required to assemble the drawings and ship to the bidder.


Brookline Village is one of the major commercial and retail centers of the town of Brookline, Massachusetts. Located just north of Massachusetts Route 9 and west of the Muddy River, it is the historic center of the town and includes its major civic buildings, including town hall and the public library. The commercial spine of the village, extending along Washington Street from Route 9 to the library, is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Brookline Village Commercial District.
* Description and images provided by
CC-BY-SA 3.0 license


Indian Officials Reveal Presence of Terrorist Bases in Canada
Indian officials said on Tuesday that at least nine separatist organisations supporting terror groups currently have bases in Canada. The remarks came amid a brewing diplomatic crisis between the two countries over the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday linked Indian authorities to the July killing, prompting a furious rejoinder from New Delhi.
Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint.
Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
Updated: 20 Sep 2023, 12:03 AM IST


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Today we nipped over to Garelochhead which is about a 30 minute drive from Appletree Cottage to visit the Scottish National Rhododendron Show at the Gibson Hall in the village
Inside the beautifully restored Gibson Hall all manner and types of rhododendron flowers were on display waiting to be judged by experts
Outside the hall in glorious sunshine people were selling plants (mostly rhododendrons),
from makeshift stalls. The event although small appeared to be enormously popular.
A really nick trip across to Gareloch in the sunshine.


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This is a posable action figure from the figma series.
Older twin sister to Tsukasa, Kagami Hiiragi now joins Max Factory's "Lucky Star" lineup of super-poseable Figma action figures! Standing 13.5cm tall, Kagami is all dressed up in her winter school uniform and features a high level of articulation thanks to the ingenious Figma joints that allow her to be posed any number of ways! Her twin ponytails are articulated, too! She comes packed with accessories that include a pair of hands holding an opened "Comptiq" magazine, eight other optional hands, an interchangeable face, and a figure display base with stand.
Recreate the show's "Take it! Sailor Uniform" opening dance sequence with other "Lucky Star" Figma figures, linked below!Please note that figures such as this are mass produced and as a result some inconsistencies in finish and painting may occur; these are not considered manufacturer's defects. If you absolutely must have perfection, prepare to do some touch-up work on your own.


SSC SI Delhi Police, ASI in CISF exam 2018 marks released
New Delhi, Apr 27: The SSC SI Delhi Police, ASI in CISF exam 2018 marks have been released. The same is available on the official website.
The SSC had released the final results of the SSC SI and ASI exams on April 20 2021. The Staff Selection Commission declared the final result of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police, CAPFs and Assistant Sub Inspector in CISF Examination, 2018 on 20.04.2021. Now the Commission has decided to upload the detailed marks of selected and non-selected candidates in the said final result," reads an SSC notice. The SSC SI Delhi Police, ASI in CISF exam 2018 marks are available on https://ssc.nic.in/Portal/GetMarksStatus.


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Prototype tells the story of Alex Mercer - a man haunted by his past, fighting a secret war in New York City. As the action spirals out of control, a conspiracy tied to his origins threatens the future of mankind itself. Mercer’s amazing shapeshifting powers allow him to become an exact replica and steal the skills or powers of anyone who crosses his path.
Expanding the game audio experience to 7.1 allows gamers to add two speakers to the rear of their home theaters or living rooms, creating a 360-degree listening environment. When playing Prototype in Neural-THX Surround, sound elements will be placed in the front, side and behind the gamer, enabling them to react to audio cues all around them. The result is a more interactive and immersive game-play experience. A demonstration of the Neural-THX Surround 7.1 game experience will be available in the THX booth (South Hall: 20307) during CES 2008.
"Game developers and consumers alike are recognizing the importance of accurate surround sound to the overall game experience, and the move to 7.1 surround represents a natural evolution of game audio," said Dr. Mark Tuffy, games director at THX Ltd. "We are thrilled to partner with Sierra and Radical Entertainment to introduce Neural-THX Surround for games. The Prototype storyline and use of surround sound elements makes it the perfect fit for 7.1 game-play."
A recent survey of U.S. gamers by Nielsen NRG revealed that more than 48 percent of Xbox 360 and 54 percent of PS3 consoles are connected to multi-channel, home theater systems. In fact, more gaming consoles are now connected to multi-channel audio systems than television speakers, indicating that surround sound has grown in importance among the gaming community.
For AV receiver and loudspeaker manufacturers, Neural-THX Surround, offers a valuable new feature to attract and grow the next generation of home theater enthusiasts. Neural-THX Surround is being integrated in an estimated 70 percent of new audio-video receivers, from companies such as Sony, Pioneer, Yamaha, Onkyo, Integra, Denon, Marantz, Inkel and Sherwood. Neural-THX Surround AV receivers are being shipped in more than 25 countries worldwide.
PROTOTYPE debuts on the PS3, X box 360 and PC in summer 2008.
More articles about Prototype


How do you keep a project moving while keeping stakeholders happy? There is no silver bullet, unfortunately. But we’ve come up with a set of guidelines that can help you manage stakeholder priorities and mitigate conflict.
Whether you’re an established medical device company or a new player, every stakeholder faces numerous challenges to keep up with the pace of the market while delivering compliant products that ensure patient safety.
For innovative companies, ensuring that models serve all stakeholders is imperative to unlocking the benefits of modeling and justifying the initial investment.
We asked three leading requirements experts — with fingers firmly on the pulse of product development — for their predictions on the future of requirements.
The latest enhancement to Trace View — Trace View Filtering — allows product development teams to quickly filter through items and analyze data that is pertinent to their search criteria.
In a recent webinar about the common pitfalls of the Design History File (DHF), experts discussed what medical device manufacturers need to know about design compliance.
We are excited and humbled to announce that our employees helped Jama Software become one of the Top Workplaces in 2018.


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05/02/12 Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore David Long the Republican from Fort Wayne Monday announced his selection of Senator Randy Head the Republican from Logansport to serve as chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government. Head will take over the committee’s chairmanship duties from former Sen. Connie Lawson, who left the senate in March to become Indiana’s Secretary of State.
“I’m greatly honored by the opportunity serve in this new capacity,” Head said. “I have great respect for all of my colleagues on the committee and look forward to working with each of them in the days ahead.”
First elected to the Indiana Senate in 2008, Head has been a leader on legislation addressing local government reorganization and merger, accountability and ethics for public officials, local election law and various judicial and court administration issues.
“Secretary Lawson did an outstanding job and set a high bar, but I believe Randy is ready to take on more responsibility and fill her shoes,” Long said. “With an honorable background in serving Cass County and a record of excellence in his legal profession, he will be an asset to both the Senate and to the Local Government Committee.”
Head currently has his own private law practice in Logansport and has previously served as deputy prosecuting attorney in Cass County. He is a board member of the Cass County Community Foundation and a local Rotary Club member.
“The issues handled by the Local Government Committee don’t always get the most attention, but they often have a big impact on our local communities,” Head said. “I’m looking forward to tackling important issues in this new role and making a positive difference for Hoosiers in both the senate district I represent and across Indiana.”
Head’s chairmanship was effective beginning Monday.


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VP9 Tactical purchase to California for Law Enforcement Officer ?
Quote Originally Posted by Cmikul View Post
Selling my VP9 Tactical
It has the suppressor height sights.
Case does not match gun but does have backstraps.
Gun w 2 15rd mags $680
I have an extra standard barrel for another $100
So I made a deal to purchase the whole package from the seller Cmikul. I sent him the money and my FFL's info. He then tells me he can't sell it to me and it's illegal to do so because I am in California. I explained to him i am a LEO and we are allowed to purchase off roster guns and legally obtain hi cap mags. I have bought a few other off roster guns before that included hi cap mags. I also advised him to take out the threaded barrel from the gun / leave it in the box and drop in the standard barrel. I spoke to my FFL and he advised me this was ok. I can legally posses a threaded barrel as long as I don't install it in the gun. Am i missing something? Is it legal or illegal? I don't want to break any laws, but based upon my research I think I am right. below I have cited a link to cal guns and the California DOJ that supports my findings.
CA summary of threaded barrels and handguns:
Threaded barrel not installed (by itself) = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a bolt-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a lever-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a pump-action pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a revolver = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a single-shot pistol = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a semi-auto pistol with a fixed 10 round or less magazine = legal
Threaded barrel installed on a semi-auto pistol with detachable magazines = illegal [PC 30515(a)(4)(A)]


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Eve of the Exceptionals by Parker Sinclair is my first book by this author. It is a quick read, but on the other hand if you do not pay attention you may miss a lot of symbolisms in the book.
From the beginning of the story, Gem and Prince Ryzyn were special to one another. They just did not know it at the time. Gem was sent after the Heart of Cyan and she did not realize that is what she was supposed to get from the castle. Gem had her hands on it but to make her escape she left it behind with Prince Ryzyn. She knew that she would be seeing the Prince and the Heart of Cyan again.
This story takes you on a roller coaster ride. There are magical beasts, good magic and evil magic. There is a love story in the background between Gem and Prince Ryzyn. If you miss one line the story will not have the same meaning. Magical forces keep moving towards the Heart of Cyan but only one can master the power, and so they thought.
The phrase “Be Swift Be True” will have a new meaning after you finish this story. I cannot wait to read more by Parker Sinclair.


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Monday, November 16, 2009
Well, Steve, to get her to do anything, you may have to die
He may actually be the one who leaves first. And when he does, perhaps you’ll learn that your good looks, your false leverage, are not a free pass to just lay there. You’ll find that you have nothing meaningful to offer anyone. If your husband ever realizes that he deserves better, maybe then you will know that you have lost a man who loved you so much – one who woke up every day trying to give you the world in exchange for what little you gave him. You'll realize just how much he did for you. You will also find yourself ill prepared for life and destitute. Where is your appreciation? Where is the unconditional love and loyalty for your husband? Though inexperienced, a good man, none the less. But, what of you? What do you bring to the table? What are you contributing to your lives? He does everything for you so that you can just show up, oblivious to what it took to get you there. Every day, your one true weapon, your looks, deteriorates away and becomes more and more a dull, butter knife of its former self; soon you will have absolutely nothing. How dare you expect him to stick around when you do nothing to tend your relationship! How dare you expect him to stick around when all you do is talk shit and belittle him! Go ahead and leave, and see if you could find another man as good as him – not just good, but who is willing to put up with your shit. Your stubbornness and naivety will be your downfall. You’re a selfish, lazy, useless, and terrible person, and you’re a horrible mother who has no desire to learn how to be better. You are causing physical and emotional harm to you daughter and your marriage because of your irresponsibility. The fact that you don't care that you miss class, paid for by taxpayers, to sleep in 'til noon, while your neglected, infant daughter festers in her own filth speaks volumes of the person you are. I am utterly disgusted by you. Despite myself, I secretly wish for people like you to fail miserably, so that you’ll know.

domain: literature


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Be sure and check out Royal Guitar Strings for your string needs at royalguitarstrings.com


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Few Republicans have put a time frame on how long it could take to completely repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – but one just did.
Employers who could be subject to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate penalties should be very interested in the latest move by the IRS.
President Trump, along with other Republican lawmakers, have promised to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But it hasn’t happened yet. Here’s why, as well as a timeline for what’s to come.
Even under the Trump administration, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still a real, enforceable law. You already know this. But do all of your employees?
One of President Donald Trump’s first orders of business when he took office was issuing an executive order on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since then, much has been written about the order’s potential effect on the individual marketplace. Now, it’s time to address how it could impact employer plans.
If you believe Republicans on Capitol Hill, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) isn’t long for this world. Still, the Obama administration continues to clarify how businesses are supposed to comply with the law’s many provisions.
Employers may soon be able to use a key money-saving strategy that was recently taken away from them by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The federal government just added another box employers must check before terminating or taking a disciplinary action against an employee.
Employers got an early Christmas present when President Obama signed a budget bill that delayed the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s tax on high-value or “Cadillac” health plans.
A new bill to gut many major provisions of the ACA has passed the Senate, and even though there’s little chance the current version of the legislation will remain intact, some sections — particularly those centering on the law’s “Cadillac” tax — may actually survive.

domain: economics


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Actor G.W. Bailey will reign as Bacchus 2013 when the New Orleans Carnival krewe rolls on its Uptown route on February 10. Known for his roles in the “Police Academy” movies and the cable TV crime drama “The Closer,” Bailey was a natural choice, said Clark Brennan who chaired the selection committee.
“Bailey is a good friend of New Orleans and regular visitor to town and his charitable work made him a perfect fit for Bacchus,” Brennan said. “He has a long commitment to helping kids with cancer – and the krewe has always supported Children’s Hospital.”
Bailey is the executive director of The Sunshine Kids Foundation, a non-profit for young cancer patients. He became involved with the group about 15 years ago when a family member was diagnosed with leukemia.
“Several local Sunshine Kids and their families will lead this year’s Bacchus parade on a float,” Brennan said. “We’re hoping to make it the experience of a lifetime for them.”
In addition to his duties during the parade, Bailey will visit Children’s Hospital.
Bailey joins an illustrious list of past Bacchus monarchs, including such notables as quarterback Drew Brees; comedians Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason; and actors Will Ferrell, James Gandolfini, and Kirk Douglas. The krewe initiated the concept of celebrity monarchs when it tapped actor Danny Kaye to preside as the first Bacchus in 1969.


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Pictured: MF leader, Hon. Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi with stall holder at the fragrance street market.
Mrs S. Thakur-Rajbansi visited the Fragrance Street market this week and met stallholders.
“Business is picking up post Covid but stall holders are worried given the recent floods as many stalls are not fully operational.”, she said.
Mrs Rajbansi urged the community to support the local markets as these provide traditional vegetables and homemade spices that are not available in the mainstream supermarkets.


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A mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge for violent action, attempting to save a preadolescent prostitute in the process.
Producer Julia Phillips tells in her auto-biography that Cybill Shepherd had a hard time remembering her lines during the coffee-and-pie scene with Robert De Niro. She writes that De Niro in particular was getting fed up with her and that Phillips and editor Marcia Lucas laughed over all the unusable footage they had to work with in the editing room. Read the rest of this entry »
George Will writes: Russia’s ongoing dismemberment of Ukraine and the Islamic State’s erasing of Middle Eastern borders have distracted attention from the harassment of U.S. Navy aircraft by Chinese fighter jets over the South China Sea. Beijing calls this sea, and the Yellow and East China seas, the “near seas,” meaning China’s seas. The episodes involving aircraft are relevant to one of Admiral Jonathan Greenert’s multiplying preoccupations — CUES, meaning Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.
“Cascading dangers are compelling Americans to think afresh about something they prefer not to think about at all — foreign policy.”
This is designed to prevent incendiary accidents, a topic of special interest during this month’s centennial commemorations of the beginning of a war that, ignited by miscalculations, ruined the 20th century. Greenert, chief of naval operations, has carrier-based aircraft flying from the Persian Gulf to targets in Iraq. He is, however, always thinking about the far side of the largest ocean.
One hundred years ago, the principal challenge of world diplomacy, which failed spectacularly, was to peacefully integrate a rising, restless power — Germany — into the international system. Today’s comparable challenge is China. Greenert, who knows well his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Wu Shengli, radiates a serene patience about China. Read the rest of this entry »
The Islamic State runs a self-sustaining economy across territory it controls in Syria and Iraq, pirating oil while exacting tribute from a population of at least eight million, Arab and Western officials said, making it one of the world’s richest terror groups and an unprecedented threat.
“Can you prevent ISIS from taking assets? Not really, because they’re sitting on a lot of assets already.”
That illicit economy presents a new picture of Islamic State’s financial underpinnings. The group was once thought to depend on funding from Arab Gulf donors and donations from the broader Muslim world. Now, Islamic State—the former branch of al Qaeda that has swallowed parts of Iraq and Syria—is a largely self-financed organization.
Money from outside donors “pales in comparison to their self-funding through criminal and terrorist activities,” a U.S. State Department official said, adding that those activities generate millions of dollars a month.
“So you must disrupt the network of trade. But if you disrupt trade in commodities like food, for example, then you risk starving thousands of civilians.”
For Western and Arab nations that are striving to stop Islamic State, the group’s local funding sources pose a conundrum: A clampdown on economic activity that helps fund the group, counterterrorism officials and experts said, could cause a humanitarian crisis in the already stressed areas it controls. Read the rest of this entry »
Grits with that Scone? If Britain were a U.S. State, it Would be the Second-Poorest, Behind Alabama and before MississippiPosted: August 27, 2014
The ranking, determined by Fraser Nelson, an editor of The Spectator magazine, was made by dividing the gross domestic product of each state by its population, and it took into account purchasing power parity for cost of living. Several other European countries were also included in the ranking.
“No one beats up America better than Americans.”
Ranking by GDP per capita instead of just GDP means that states with mega-economies such as California, which has the top GDP in the United States (its GDP is also larger than most countries’), was knocked down to 14th place among the states when divided by its more than 38 million residents. Alaska comes in first, with a GDP of more than $59 billion divided by a population of 735,000. Read the rest of this entry »
MILLIONS of TOMATOES Senselessly MURDERED in Streets of Spain at Tomatina Festival: Can Anyone Stop the Madness?Posted: August 27, 2014
MailOnline‘s Emily Payne reports: The streets of an eastern Spanish town were awash with red pulp today, as thousands of people pelted each other with tomatoes during Tomatina, world’s most famous food fight.
“The horror…the horror…”
At the annual fiesta in Bunol, trucks dumped 125 tons of ripe tomatoes for some 22,000 participants – many from abroad – to hurl at the hour-long morning festivities.
Every year, the fiesta begins at around 10am with what’s known as the palo jabon, in which brave revellers attempt to climb a greased pole to reach a ham, which has been placed at the top.
Then a loud signal begins the onslaught of tomato madness. Tons and tons of especially grown tomatoes are thrown into the town’s main plaza, where they’re crushed, so as not to cause injury.
The fight lasts an hour and covers the whole town square with red pulp. A large scale cleaning operation involving fire truck hoses ensues. Read the rest of this entry »
The Chicago Tribune reports: Global fashion chain Zara pulled from sale on Wednesday a striped children’s top decorated with a large six-pointed star after it was likened to uniforms worn by Jewish concentration camp inmates during the reign of Nazi Germany.
The shirt, bearing horizontal blue and white stripes, was on sale online in three European countries but not in Israel, a spokeswoman
said. The resemblance was unintentional and the design had been inspired by sheriff’s stars from classic Western films, she said.
Within hours of the t-shirt being put up for sale, some newspapers had picked up on its resemblance to concentration camp uniforms and messages were posted on Twitter criticizing the design.
“The shirt bears a large six-pointed star on the upper-left section, in the exact place where Nazis forced Jews to wear the Star of David,” wrote Israeli newspaper Haaretz, calling the garment “hauntingly reminiscent of a darker era”.
@n_rothschild We honestly apologize, it was inspired by the sheriff’s stars from the Classic Western films and is no longer in our stores
— ZARA (@ZARA) August 27, 2014
On its website, Haaretz displayed a photograph of part of a uniform worn by prisoners at Auschwitz, showing a jacket with vertical green and white stripes and a yellow star below the left shoulder bearing the word “Jude”, the German word for Jew. Read the rest of this entry »
Dark Media: The Islamic State’s Online Branding Efforts Show that they’re Waging a War Beyond the Grounds of Iraq and SyriaPosted: August 27, 2014
The Islamic State’s online branding efforts show that they’re waging a war beyond the grounds of Iraq and Syria: http://t.co/XdM9AxuzYw
— WSJ Live (@WSJLive) August 27, 2014
“It really surprised me as to how mechanically complex a sax was and it did make me wonder as to whether the mechanisms could be simplified.”
– Olaf Diegel
While attending Euromold 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany, last December with a band playing 3D-printed instruments, Olaf Diegel was set a challenge by the head of 3D Systems, Avi Reichental. The Professor of product development at Lund University, Sweden was given the task of creating a 3D-printed working saxophone. The first ODD prototype was revealed last week in a short demonstration video, which you can see here.
For the latest addition to the 3D-printed band, Diegel used a traditional alto sax as a design template to match the various key spacings and mechanisms. He worked in SolidWorks CAD software to produce the STL files needed for printing the nylon blower on a selective laser sintering (SLS) printer. The process took around 6 months due to a move from New Zealand to Sweden and other projects that demanded his attention, and the working prototype is made up of 41 components, not including springs and screws. Read the rest of this entry »
Kate Martin reports: The Tacoma Police Department apparently has bought — and quietly used for six years — controversial surveillance equipment that can sweep up records of every cellphone call, text message and data transfer up to a half a mile away.
You don’t have to be a criminal to be caught in this snare. You just have to be near one and use a cellphone.
“They are essentially searching the homes of innocent Americans to find one phone used by one person.”
Known as Stingray, the device — small enough to be carried in a car — tricks cellphones into thinking it’s a cell tower and draws in their information.
“It’s like they’re kicking down the doors of 50 homes and searching 50 homes because they don’t know where the bad guy is.”
– Christopher Soghoian, principal technologist with the American Civil Liberties Union
News that the city was using the surveillance equipment surprised City Council members, who approved an update for a device last year, and prosecutors, defense attorneys and even judges, who in court deal with evidence gathered using the surveillance equipment. Read the rest of this entry »
They smiled too! pic.twitter.com/YUN6w5aObM
— Historical Pics (@HistoricalPics) August 27, 2014
George Will: The IRS is Cuckoo Bananas Off the Rails Criminally Insane and It Is Now Thoroughly CorruptedPosted: August 26, 2014
“The IRS is the most intrusive and potentially punitive institution of the federal government and it is a law-enforcement institution and it is off the rails and it is now thoroughly corrupted.”
– George Will
From The Corner:
On Tuesday’s Special Report, George Will reacted to the revelation that the IRS destroyed Lois Lerner’s BlackBerry without searching it, after a congressional investigation into her conduct had begun.
Will said he could hardly wait for IRS lawyers to show up in court and tell the judge it would be too onerous to stop obstructing justice in this case. Read the rest of this entry »
— Financial Times (@FT) August 27, 2014
Andy Tully writes: Oil and gas are at the heart of the Russian economy and are largely responsible for keeping Moscow’s government budget in balance. But the recent decline in the price of oil from the North Sea and Texas has now spread to Urals crude, giving President Vladimir Putin one more economic headache.
The price of Urals crude fell just below $100 per barrel on Aug. 18, an 18-month low. On Aug. 19, it dropped to less than $97 per barrel. These declines coincided with similar drops in the price of Brent crude from the North Sea and U.S. oil.
The reasons are fairly easy to recognize. First, the United States has been on a drilling tear, extracting oil at record levels to increase its supply at a time when demand is waning. Second, though more tentative, is that conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East are so far not interfering with oil production in these regions.
This oil production boom raises problems for Moscow. Two-thirds of Russia’s exports are oil and gas, accounting for fully half of the central government’s revenues. That means that so far this year, every dollar drop in the price of Russian oil means a cut of about $1.4 billion in revenues. Read the rest of this entry »
The unsinkable Representative Charles B. Rangel appeared on C-SPAN over the weekend. Why unsinkable? Well, in 2010 the House of Representatives censured the New York Democrat by a vote of 333 to 79 (when the body was still majority-Democratic) for violating 11 ethics rules and “bringing discredit to the House.” The New York Times called it a “staggering fall” for the senior Democrat. But fall/shmall, he’s since been reelected and will retire at his leisure.
While chatting with Brian Lamb, Rangel dropped a few falsehoods as casually as cigar ash. This isn’t to pick on Rangel; he’s just illustrative. His assertion — that the Republican and Democratic parties “changed sides” in the 1960s on civil rights, with white racists leaving the Democratic party to join the Republicans — has become conventional wisdom. It’s utterly false and should be rebutted at every opportunity.
It’s true that a Democratic president, Lyndon Johnson, shepherded the 1964 Civil Rights Act to passage. But who voted for it? Eighty percent of Republicans in the House voted aye, as against 61 percent of Democrats. In the Senate, 82 percent of Republicans favored the law, but only 69 percent of Democrats. Among the Democrats voting nay were Albert Gore Sr., Robert Byrd, and J. William Fulbright. Read the rest of this entry »
Originally posted on TIME:
There are a whole lot of things that won’t be happening anytime soon. Pigs flying, for instance; that won’t happen. All of the raindrops becoming lemon drops and gumdrops; that won’t happen either. And despite what you have been reading practically everywhere today, no, China won’t be deploying a submarine capable of moving at 6,100 mph (9,800 k/h) and covering the distance from Shanghai to San Francisco in 100 minutes—at least not in anything remotely like the near future.
Let’s begin with the source of the story: engineer Li Fengchen, of the Harbin Institute of Technology, the project’s lead researcher. Mr. Li is surely an impeccably honest man and a very good engineer, but the Chinese government has not always covered itself in glory when it comes to candor and there’s no reason to believe they’d start with a program as sensitive as this.
“The idea that any Chinese research…
View original 431 more words