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Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman’s coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to find herself hospitalized and facing a dual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder; Terese Marie Mailhot is given a notebook and begins to write her way out of trauma. The triumphant result is Heart Berries, a memorial for Mailhot’s mother, a social worker and activist who had a thing for prisoners; a story of reconciliation with her father―an abusive drunk and a brilliant artist―who was murdered under mysterious circumstances; and an elegy on how difficult it is to love someone while dragging the long shadows of shame. Mailhot trusts the reader to understand that memory isn’t exact, but melded to imagination, pain, and what we can bring ourselves to accept. Her unique and at times unsettling voice graphically illustrates her mental state. As she writes, she discovers her own true voice, seizes control of her story, and, in so doing, reestablishes her connection to her family, to her people, and to her place in the world.
“Observation is a skill. Observation isn’t easy, and the right eyes can make me feel like a deer, while the wrong ones make me feel like a monster.”
This might sound odd, but I love literary fiction, psychological thrillers, and memoirs all for the same reason: they are thought-provoking. I love books that make you think.
HEART BERRIES, a memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot, is one such book. It’s painfully honest and shows a very authentic perspective of the human condition. It’s no coincidence that Emma Watson chose it for her Our Shared Shelf March selection, which I one hundred percent agree with.
“In white culture, forgiveness is synonymous with letting go. In my culture, I believe we carry pain until we can reconcile with it through ceremony. Pain is not framed like a problem with a solution. I don’t even know that white people see transcendence the way we do. I’m not sure that their dichotomies apply to me.”
Mailhot is a Native woman, who checks herself into a psychiatric hospital as a last resort. She struggles with loss, insatiability, abandonment, past abuse, desperation, and mental illness. Her writing style is poetic, lyrical, and at times stream of consciousness. It’s written in short impressionistic essays so it took a few pages for me to get into a rhythm, but at some point you find you’re almost finished with the book and wonder where the time went.
I was swept up in Mailhot’s introspective, descriptive language and when it ended I wanted to learn more. It is really difficult for me to put into words how I feel about this book so I’ll sum it up like this: it’s beautiful, unapologetic, emotive, insightful, picturesque, and unveiled.
“Sometimes I know part of me is still a ghost, walking next to my mother, looking for something to make an offering to, holding her hand. Either this feeling means that part of me is dead, or that she’s alive, somewhere inside of me.”
My rating is 5 / 5 outstanding stars!
Click here to purchase on Amazon.

domain: library


Originally Posted by glockamole
Can a USP .40 be converted to 9mm with just a barrel and magazine swap?
no. a complete 9mm slide, barrel, and mags would be needed. look on hkpro and gunbroker, they do come up from time to time. if you want to shoot 9mm it would be best to just get a 9mm usp.


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The Creamy Dream of Sadhir AkeemThey’ve got us sailin through the clouds and America is proud
Engines roarin loud, drownin out the world o’ sound
Crowdin round the plaid couch, watch impossibilities found
This is when we found out, innovation is never bound
We’re all king and queen clowns wearin round, jeweled crowns
Plowin at the ground until the Earth’s no longer round
Take a look round the town you founded, see the dirt’s no longer brown
And we’re wearin sad frowns and wearin gowns from mad cows
Make a bout for a loud row, yellin out sour nouns
Take the flower like it’s ours and build a house for the powers
Make cowards out to be stout, oust the worms in their bowels
Neath the towel where world grew proud of its power there’s a rope unwound
Now beneath the sweat of your brow, the only word renown is a pronoun
And we’re makin cowards out to be stout, oust the worms in their bowels
The WayfareI trod broad hill littered with skyward trees
Beyond which lied the roiling, raging sea
There was naught that I could not see
For in my heart a wayfarer did sleep
Until upon the day the night did creep
Where stars had glittered in their depths so deep
And a lust for the world awoke in him
So he fared the world and sailed on its brim
Flew under the light, be that bright or dim
And I was he, and we gazed upon the stars
We saw the endless ocean high and far
In all the world our way could not be barred
That was until I woke from my slumber
Yet I knew that when I felt a shudder
Like great waves my sheets did pull me under
The Winking HeavensNever forget that which follows the sun's depart
For they follow as well your sleep and the beat of your heart
Like glistening eyes may follow you and keep you sound
They make your night living as day and ensure the earth is round
Take them with you wherever it is you may go
For they will always bring company when all lights seem low
Let them make your wishes true and real as the moon
Such a wish may bring the world to behold its salvation soon
Yet never forget what importance forever lies in day
For always may you remember that our sun is a star against dismay
A Good Night's Sleep A Good Night's Sleep
Jack finally laid the pencil down. An entire night's worth of sketching, and nothing to show for it. Dozens of lines and characters lay sprawled across the sheet of paper, dancing either impassively or violently. They all trailed off into different sheets, most of which were piled into the bin. The metal bin was full, balls of sheets bouncing off the top of its pile, and the floor littered with the rest of the trashed sketches. The desk careened to one side, near to subside. It was a wonder that it had not collapsed yet, and even though it seemed clear a new desk should be bought, Jack refused. Procrastination was his best friend, something which he depended entirely. That showed when it came to his art. As of late, very few finished pieces could be seen in his portfolio. Otherwise, works-in-progress lied about the room in constant slumber.
The Lily both Dying and LivingWhat makest thee dream?
Art thy worlds not spawned of them?
What hast been wrought of thy realms,
Whilst thou art beset?
Whilst thou rot in thy watery grave,
Hell bringest thy harrowing
Or is it not this that thou hast dreamt of?
Is it that thy heaven shinest upon thy face,
Bringest light for thy dreaming shrine?
Nay, not one be so
Aye, for both be so indeed
For thy dream makest thee bleed
Yet makest thy tourniquet
And bringest a lily both dying and living
Alas! Thy hellish realms come
And those of rapture blighted,
For thou art overcome by thy fears
Lo! Pay not heed of these
For what wroughtest these is but a sojourn
Lo! Thou may sodden these realms with heaven and awe
And thou may wake from thy slumber
Yet dismay not of what dream comest on the morrow
Out from the Gray EveningWhile morning pushed me drearily into noon, I passed the smallest window of my house several times before finally stopping to observe what lied beyond it. I had done this from time to time for weeks, perhaps too often: standing before the smallest window, staring into the same spot though the slouching tree-limbs; the very spot that caught my eye each time, the spot that had no concrete form or obvious potency. There was no reason why I would have to gaze into it, whatever it had been. I knew no other feeling it gave me but curiousness, be that good or bad. And with each day passing, my curiosity grew. It had begun to form an itch that eventually sprouted a tumor. I ached.
Yet I couldn't know what I ached for. Was it to know what it was that stared back at me? Or to know what intentions that would ensue these encounters?
Still I waited. Perhaps I could have been building up to something, an apex of my dull life, something to give the least form of livelihood for which I long yearned. D
You Belong to MeWarning! This is not necessarily a love poem.
I can take you over the rainbow
Unearthly holy labyrinth
Where my heart's an open blaze
But my sanity is absent
Flagrant scent which you emit
Such lovely, gracious musk
Forever love you, I do
Forever possess you, I must
For you, my passion is rendered
Let this be a night to remember
Sing to me, you are mine truly
And give yourself to me
Beneath sky, it's you and I
Watching the stars of night
But I feel you slip from my side
And slowly out of sight
But how, my love, could you do this?
I thought I had given you bliss
I'll seek you out, take you with me
To a place you cannot leave
* * *
Arrived at your bed, slipping into your sheets
Singing in your ear, "You belong to me."
I hold you closely just let you see
That the one for you, only I shall be
Plead to me, plead to me, just to let you breathe
And you scream and you scream, falling in too deep
There is no mercy now, you've already left me
But never again will I let that be
* * *
Mental Disorder Discrimination"You said you've got depression?
No you don't, you attention seeker.
You're just an average teenager with the perfect life
Desperately looking for sympathy."
Stop crying, you coward.
You're just a childish "scaredy-cat".
Blaming your problems on a mental disorder
That doesn't even exist."
"So you're schizophrenic?
Grow the hell up, and stop acting like a child
You're too old for imaginary friends
You callow, juvenile, little twit."
But if we're attention seekers,
Why do we try so hard to hide our feelings from the world?
Why do we isolate ourselves in our rooms,
Desperately hiding the cuts on our wrists
Trying our best to live a normal life?
And if we're simply "scaredy-cats",
Why is our fear so vividly intense?
Unlike simple fear, our anxiety will stick with us forever
A severe long-lasting feeling of powerful panic.
A feeling from which we'll never be free.
Suddenly we're childish for having a mental disorder?
Schizophrenia is not something we can control.
to me you are perfect
I do not know the reasons
for all those scars burning
against your bright skin
you've been soaking
a pain reminiscing from past
we both cannot recollect
yet you are so beautiful..
when night gets darker
and I am the one...
who's hungered to undress
the spirit of you
slowly revealing the layers
coming off from shadows
disguised in desires
craving to be fulfilled
I will caress every corner
of your silhouette
until I figure the true shape
of your heart
I will rub those blisters
softly until every nerve
of you gushes into a river
and you moan into a life
I had promised you
years ago when we began
to breathe into each other
for all the truths
I must swallow
and lessons I must learn
you are the one
I am destined to discover
what it means
to love in perfection
PainParalized by the suffering
A shiver down my spine
Images of my past haunt me
No one can save me from this hell
i can't keep walking on these dry-rot bonesoh, i am not a poet;
like the ink scratches
of plath, i am
specter boy: decay,
dispose, & disappoint
because this is the way
that writers wane -
(this hangman head is no
survivor story, & gods
do not burn out
you talk like a travestyoh, mercury boy, you can't
write your way out of this
body or out of this mind;
you can pray like it's high-fashion,
insist you're only burning yourself out
(but tell me - do you feel like a god yet?)
if only for murky mirrors &
silver cicadas caught
in your ribcage, you've
got a knack for decaying
poem for borderlinesif i could concentrate over
seven hundred thousand eyes
at the roof to the numbers stepping
from the nicities & rows
to go back
to the shattered surface
& the ripples beating over the hang
halfway between shallow
biting lips. maybe--
she couldn't have known
that it takes a whole three minutes
for the lungs to
well, maybe she
who, oh well
the white; the haze--
the booming over
the spume and spray
me get out of my head
just pull up the shutters
my tongue the weight to talk
but that's all we'll ever be:
a match burning itself out for
under the backspray of someone else's wheels
The Parlour IncidentOne day in July, I believe it was, I found myself sitting with several acquaintances in Christopher's parlour. It was one of those deliciously lazy afternoons which only the summer in her full glory can bring. The room had a wan, listless light to it, relaxing the other guests and myself as we languidly chatted over tea and crumpets. The air was also sluggishly heavy, dulling the senses to a slowly-blended calm engendered by the heat of St. Othniel's southerly climate.
At length, after much stimulating conversation, Christopher stood, producing a book of sheet music.
"What do you all say to a bit of music?" he asked.
"Certainly," I answered.
"Oh yes, please do darling!" Tabitha exclaimed, "he's quite the maestro."
Christopher laughed, shaking his head.
"Now, now love, I'd not go that far."
He strode over to the piano as the other guests urged him on. Ida entered the room bearing a merrily steaming teapot and more crumpets.
"More tea sirs?" she inquired, shooting sideways glances at her
Keep in Touch!
Lilyas has dedicated herself to making our community a brighter place with her vibrant artwork and infectious enthusiasm for interacting with others in our community. It has certainly paid off, as many deviants flock to her page on a daily basis to let her know how much of an inspiration she is. We absolutely agree, and couldn't let all that hard work go without recognition, so it's with great pride that we bestow the Deviousness Award for March 2014, to ... Read More

domain: literature


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Mighty Mint 32 oz. Plant Protection Peppermint Spray
Mighty Mint Plant Protection is an effective spray made with natural oils to control a broad variety of common plant pests including spider mites, insects, and fungal diseases. Plant Protection can be used on flowers, trees, shrubs, houseplants, vegetables, hydroponics, hemp, and more. Trusted by professional crop growers and home gardeners for food and non-food plants. Directions for Use: Shake well before use. Gently mist leaves on both sides until fully covered. For active pests, apply at the first sign of insect/mite/fungal activity. Reapply as needed every 7-days to 10-days. For preventative control, apply every 2-weeks to 3-weeks.
- Complete protection from spider mites, insects, and fungal disease
- Safe around plants, people, and pets
- Effective premium ingredients - plant based
- For garden, indoor plants, and crops
- US-farmed peppermint oil

domain: agronomy


For those who know the Can-Am brand, BRP makes its debut in the utility side-by-side segment by injecting some of the Can-Am DNA into the Defender model. The Can-Am Defender vehicle was designed and engineered from the ground up, to establish new standards in terms of torque and power, as well as versatility to cater to all types of outdoor activities. BRP leveraged its proven Rotax engine technology to create a work-focused version of the durable V-Twin Rotax engines, specially calibrated to offer the best torque of the industry: the new Rotax 50-hp HD8 or 72-hp HD10 engines.
The capable Defender provides exceptional performance with control and delivers to the operator the confidence to go almost anywhere. Each Defender features a Can-Am-exclusive TTA-HD rear suspension providing optimal comfort and drivability as well as long durability. The TTA-HD is borrowed from unique and proven Can-Am TTA rear suspension, but redesigned to handle heavier loads. The Defender is laden with unmatched terrain competencies with its versatile 4-mode traction system, three selectable engine operating modes, superb tight turning radius and available, specific-tuned Dynamic Power Steering (DPS) for enhanced maneuverability and comfortable suspension with 10 inches (25.4 cm) of travel.


“Breathable, lightweight and super warm” is how the Expedtion Dry Jacket and Pants could be summed up in a few words. Jacket and pants do not have to be combined, of course, but in cold air and water conditions it definitely makes sense – not to mention the cool look. As with all our other technical clothing products, Climacore technology ensures a pleasant body climate.
Further features are the particularly stretchy material that was tailor-made for Starboard and allows a body-hugging cut with very great freedom of movement. The leg and arm cuffs are variably adjustable with Velcro fasteners and equipped with reflective details. Latex cuffs on the arms of the “Dry Jacket” and the legs of the “Dry Pants” ensure waterproofness.


In the heart of the entertainment world, there is a shining gem that has caught the attention of both casual vacationers and avid gamblers alike: Baji Casino. This casino isn’t just about playing a few hands of poker or tossing a dice. It’s about the experience; it’s about the allure of the lights, the luxury, and the potential for colossal gains. Let’s delve into what makes Baji Casino stand out in an industry bursting at the seams with competitors.
1. The Games
Every casino has games, but Baji Casino brings a unique blend of the traditional and the modern to its floor. Whether you are a fan of classic table games like blackjack, roulette, and craps, or prefer the buzzing world of slot machines, Baji has it all.
What sets Baji apart is the innovation it injects into its offerings. Regular themed nights, where game rules are slightly twisted, create a refreshing gaming experience. For the tech-savvy, there’s a section dedicated to virtual reality-based gaming. Don a headset and enter a world where gambling takes on a whole new dimension, quite literally!
2. The Glamour
Step into Baji Casino and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a classic Hollywood movie set. The interiors are a rich blend of art deco-inspired designs and modern opulence. Golden chandeliers hang from the ceiling, while plush red carpets welcome guests into a world of luxury.
To add to its glamour, Baji hosts a series of star-studded events throughout the year. From international music icons performing on its stages to A-list Hollywood stars dropping by for a game or two, it’s not unusual to rub shoulders with celebrities at Baji.
3. The Gains
Naturally, a significant part of the allure of any casino is the potential for gains. And Baji Casino does not disappoint. With some of the highest payout percentages in the industry, the odds of walking away with more than you came in with are favorable. Progressive jackpots, in particular, have created millionaires overnight.
But it’s not just about the money. Baji Casino has a renowned loyalty program, where regular players are treated to a series of perks including complimentary stays at their adjoining luxury hotel, gourmet meals at their world-class restaurants, and tickets to the hottest shows in town.
4. Beyond The Casino Floor
The allure of Baji doesn’t end at the casino floor. It’s an entire entertainment complex. The Baji Resort boasts a spa that offers treatments designed to rejuvenate tired minds and bodies – a perfect respite after a long night at the gaming tables. Gourmet dining options cater to every palate, from authentic Asian cuisine to Mediterranean delights.
For those looking for entertainment, Baji’s theater hosts a rotating roster of international shows. Broadway-style musicals, death-defying acrobatic performances, and soul-stirring concerts; there’s always something to keep guests entertained.
5. Responsible Gaming
In an age where responsible gaming is becoming increasingly important, Baji Casino leads by example. They’ve incorporated a series of measures to ensure guests gamble within their means and have a memorable experience without regrets. From trained staff who can identify problem gambling behaviors to self-exclusion programs, the well-being of its patrons is paramount to Baji.
Baji Casino is more than just a place to gamble. It’s an experience, a spectacle, and a destination. It marries the best of gaming, entertainment, and luxury into a single, mesmerizing package. Whether you’re there for the games, the glamour, or the gains, Baji Casino promises an unforgettable experience. And that, in essence, is the true allure of this extraordinary establishment.


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Middle Eastern Tabouleh Salad
This Middle Eastern salad is so pretty and summery, and if you have mint in the garden that is growing as wild as a jungle – as mine does – it's a wonderful way to use some of it!
The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch how to skin and de-seed tomatoes in our video. Press here to play.
This recipe is from Delia's Summer Collection. Serves 6-8 as a side salad
Start off by measuring the cracked wheat into a bowl.
Cover it with plenty of cold water and leave for approximately 20 minutes or until the grains soften and lose their crunchiness (which means, of course, you'll have to bite a few to find out how they're going). Then have ready a large sieve or colander lined with a clean tea cloth. When the cracked wheat has softened, pour the contents of the bowl into the sieve, drain and squeeze hard to extract as much water as possible. Shake the wheat into a deep bowl and stir in the parsley and spring onions followed by the lemon juice and 1½ teaspoons of salt to combine thoroughly. Then (if you have time) chill it in the fridge for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, skin the tomatoes.Pour boiling water over them and leave for 1 minute, then slip off the skins, protecting your hands with a cloth if you need to. Halve the tomatoes and squeeze out the seeds before chopping the flesh quite small and adding to the bowl containing the wheat. Next, add the mint, cucumber and olive oil to the salad and mix to combine everything. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Serve piled straight on a plate lined with some crisp lettuce leaves.

domain: food


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There are a lot of things wrong with that sentence! So get involved, already. In the following example, the participant talks about the first time she had anal sex, with a man that she met on the Internet for the purpose of having sex: Women had unprotected anal intercourse with a wide variety of partners, ranging from friends to casual partners, short-term and long-term boyfriends, husbands, strangers met on the Internet, and fathers of their children. On the other hand, those participants who had used a condom during anal intercourse listed the following reasons for doing so:
Thus, it is not universally pleasurable.
Women who have anal sex: Pleasure or pressure? Implications for HIV prevention
The following participant describes having anal sex, while using substances, with the man who would later become her husband: How can you call yourself a bottom and yet your booty is always funky? Also you get to goof up in there. Implications for formulation and promotion of a rectal microbicide. From my own experiences I believe when a person is in an aroused or blissful state of mind, what may ordinarily appear repulsive can become pleasurable during such a state. You know, because of anal still being a bit of a taboo.

domain: psychology


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7. Trick out your weight-loss plan with technology. For weight loss motivation, look no further than your pocket. Many smartphones have built-in pedometers that will measure the number of steps you take each day, Ziltzer says. Aim to log 10,000 steps a day. You can also find free apps and websites that will help you track the foods you eat and calculate your daily calorie intake.
It should come as no surprise that the more strength training you do, the more muscle mass you'll acquire — a good thing, considering all the metabolism-boosting benefits of muscle mass. Here's the catch: While muscles take up less room than fat, they weigh more than fat by volume. In other words, when you amp up your workouts, you might notice your pants fitting better without any change in your weight. It's why you'll feel much better if you step away from the scale and toward the mirror, where you'll really see your efforts paying off. 💪
Açai berry powder is high in anthrocyanin- a natural pigment providing powerful antioxidants. Açai provides an array of minerals that help to keep your body healthy and gives you high levels of sustainable energy. This extra energy will enable you to get out and exercise more, therefore extra calories will be burned and eventually the fat will come off your tummy!
What should you eat after working out? Exercise is beneficial for overall health. To get the most effective exercise, it is necessary to have good nutrition. There is a range of things to eat right after a workout that will help in specific fitness goals. It is also essential to eat to recover energy levels. Learn more about what to eat after a workout. Read now
At breakfast, go ahead and drink orange juice. But throughout the rest of the day, focus on water instead of juice or soda. The average American consumes an extra 245 calories a day from soft drinks. That’s nearly 90,000 calories a year—or 25 pounds! And research shows that despite the calories, sugary drinks don’t trigger a sense of fullness the way that food does.
You can eat twice as much pasta salad loaded with veggies like broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes for the same calories as a pasta salad sporting just mayonnaise. Same goes for stir-fries, omelets, and other veggie-friendly dishes. If you eat a 1:1 ratio of grains to veggies, the high-fiber veggies will help satisfy your hunger before you overeat the grains. Bonus: Fiber is highly beneficial for preventing constipation, which can make you look bloated.
A little garlic in your meals could mean a lot less weight around your middle. The results of a Korean study found that mice given a high-fat diet supplemented with garlic lost significantly more weight and abdominal fat than those who just ate fatty foods. Even better, they also improved their liver health, making it easier to stay healthy and burn off that excess fat in the long term. For more flavorful ways to make your food more enjoyable, turn to the 20 Spicy Recipes That Fire Up Your Metabolism and watch those pounds melt away.
You might think passing on lunch will save calories and trim your middle, but you're actually trending toward the opposite. Going long periods of time without eating can send your body into starvation mode, meaning it starts storing everything you've already eaten as fat since it doesn't know when you're going to feed it again. And guess where that chub piles on first? Yup. Your midsection. Experts say having a small meal or snack every three hours will keep your body fueled and in prime calorie-torching mode all day.
If you want to shrink your gut, get enough protein in your diet. In this case, about 25 percent of calories. Why? For starters, protein makes you feel full and helps you build muscle (which increases metabolism, thereby making it easier to lose weight). Just as important, high-protein diets have been shown to be the best way of attacking belly fat. In one study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, Danish researchers put 65 people on either a 12 percent protein diet or a 25 percent protein diet. The low-protein dieters lost an average of 11 pounds, which isn't bad. But the high-protein subjects lost an average of 20 pounds--including twice as much abdominal fat as the low-protein group.
If you get enough protein and fat, your total calorie intake should take care of itself. Because you feel full, you won't binge on a can of Pringles and blow your calorie count for the day. The remaining 45 percent of calories in our plan comes from carbohydrates — enough to give your palate a full range of tastes and your body a combination of fast- and slow-burning fuel.
While it’s often assumed that bread is off-limits when you’re trying to lose belly fat, the right bread may actually expedite the process. Switching to sprouted bread can help out carb-lovers eager to get their fix without going up a belt size, thanks to the inulin content of sprouted grains. The results of a study published in Nutrition & Metabolism reveal that found that pre-diabetic study subjects whose diets were supplemented with inulin shaved off more belly fat and total weight than those whose meal plans didn’t pack this healthy prebiotic fiber.


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Published on Oct 3, 2019
André Rieu is celebrating a landmark birthday and is inviting cinema audiences all over the world to his party!
70 YEARS YOUNG is curated by the Maestro himself – André has personally selected concert highlights from his wonderful career to create the ultimate André Rieu concert experience for his fans to enjoy.

domain: artistic


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Kilian Eng was asked by director Ayoub Qanir to help create/illustrate concept work for his mind-bending action feature film Koyakatsi.
Synopsis: A malignant computer worm has been discovered, initially spreading through personal computer software then gradually subverting high priority industrial systems. This never-before-seen malware is carrying a programmable logic controller infecting critical locations and strategic global military sections. Subsequently, different variants of the virus have targeted over seven nuclear power-plants in China, United States and Russia shutting down their isotope reactors. The virus has also penetrated top international intelligence organizations corrupting their mainframes and databases.
Early research and diagnostics of the viral threat have shown no traces of origin. World leaders having declared full military alert, have deployed top secret intelligence forces to track down the source of this unique danger. With most world government organizations in chaos, a group leader from JASON--a top secret, independent team of scientists--Ralph Cole has emerged with a possible lead that he kept confidential. Ralph secretly requested one man, his son Kyle Cole--A retired Navy Seals’ Special Intelligence Forces to further investigate the threat.
To see more of Kilian Eng's work click here.
Huge congratulations to Morten Morland and Ben Jennings for their achievements at the Political Cartoon Awards on Tuesday 29th November. Morten was awarded Political Cartoonist of the Year 2016, and Ben...3 days ago
Tobias Hall flexes his hand-lettering muscles in his collaboration with Wagamama for their latest campaign ‘Feed Your Good’. Tobias was commissioned by J Walter Thompson to create these energetic, free-hand...6 days ago
Arn0 has joined forces again with adam&eveDDB for John Lewis' 2016 festive campaign, illustrating the full cast of mischievous bouncing creatures in his cuter-than-cute, hyperrealistic style. These...10 days ago
Sam Chivers worked with The Guardian to produce a stunning series of animated illustrations to accompany the article ‘What will the airport of the future look like?' Sam’s work naturally veers towards...1 month ago

domain: news


Chelsea have been advised to seal the transfer of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero this summer as Ian Wright expresses his disbelief that Pep Guardiola is allowing him to leave.
Aguero is set to become a free agent this summer as his Man City contract expires, and one imagines there’ll be a host of top clubs vying for his signature.
Aguero transfer odds have already been doing the rounds and some big names are in there, including Chelsea at just 4/1, though Barcelona seem to be the current favourites.
Wright believes Aguero could be an ideal signing for Chelsea, however, and also seems to have warned Guardiola about letting the legendary Argentine leave the Etihad Stadium.
City fans will certainly not be happy if Aguero ends up leaving for a rival like Chelsea and continuing the superb scoring record he’s had during his time in the Premier League.
Wright, speaking on his podcast, said: “I think that decision has come from Pep Guardiola, Pep Guardiola doesn’t want him there anymore.
“I heard his [Guardiola’s] interview [after the Crystal Palace win], ‘What a goal, what an action, what a player, what a man, I’m incredibly delighted he’s back’, none of that makes sense to me. The fact we now know he’s leaving, it doesn’t make sense.
“He was so sharp against Crystal Palace. How a player of that calibre, as good as he is, is not starting against PSG [in the Champions League semi-final first leg] when you saw the chances they created where they didn’t have a No.9, you saw the way he took his chance against Palace, you’re thinking, you need a half-chance taker.
“We’re talking about going into the next phase for Pep to go into that place where he should be [winning the Champions League], where he’s gone with Barcelona but he needs to do it with another team.
“You’re going into that situation without arguably one of the greatest strikers. It doesn’t make sense that he’s leaving.
“Can I throw something out there? He should go to Chelsea.
“When you look at Edinson Cavani [at Manchester United] and the pace of the guys behind him, you look at Luis Suarez at Atleti, the pace and everything they’ve got around him.
“Can you imagine Aguero up top for Chelsea with Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, all those guys, [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, [Christian] Pulisic around him, that’s 25 goals.
“Me, if I’m Chelsea and I can get him for free, I’m going in.
“I’ve fabricated this all in my head that he’s vexed with Pep [Guardiola] and it’s the kind of thing where he’ll say, ‘Yes, I’m going to go to Chelsea’.”
“It worried me. I didn’t have as many leaders as I thought” – Which pre-match song made Roy Keane question his players? Click here to find out!


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1 Samuel 6:1–7:1 (ESV)
The Ark Returned to Israel
6 The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.” 3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.” 4 And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed? 7 Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. 8 And take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way 9 and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence.”
10 The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 12 And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. 13 Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron.
17 These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron, 18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
19 And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. 20 Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.”
Psalm 27 (ESV)
The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
27 Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Acts 26:12–32 (ESV)
Paul Tells of His Conversion
12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
In his synodical sermon, which he wrote, not in 1512 as the Weimar Edition assumes, but in 1516 for the Provost of Leitzkau, he energetically declares that the work of pastors is the study and the preaching of Scripture. Here we read: “Therefore in this honorable meeting you may resolve many things and order everything well, but if you do not insist that it is commanded for priests, as the teachers of the people, to do away with all unauthentic legendary matter and to concentrate only on the holy Gospel and the holy exponents of the holy Gospel, to proclaim with a sacred reverence the Word of truth to the people and omit at last all speculations of men, or add them only in moderation, setting forth their difference, and thus faithfully labor for the birth from God—I say, if you will not devote yourselves to this with increasing zeal, then I say to you in all frankness everything else will be as nothing. For that is the chief thing that matters, that is the essence of a genuine reformation, that is the very soul of all piety. (15)
–Johann Michael Reu, Luther on the Scriptures
This daily Bible reading guide, Reading the Word of God, was conceived and prepared as a result of the ongoing discussions between representatives of three church bodies: Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The following individuals have represented their church bodies and approved this introduction and the reading guide: LCC: President Robert Bugbee; NALC: Bishop John Bradosky, Revs. Mark Chavez, James Nestingen, and David Wendel; LCMS: Revs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, John Pless, and Larry Vogel.


text:
In one of the many messages that landed her in trouble, Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba revealed that she had never slept with staff members or knocked on their doors with kickback envelopes from trip per diems.
“So obviously I am not scheduled for any trips or getting it easy on any services that I need fromthese offices. A quick point to note: Parliament staff are shuttling between KICC corridors for lack of office space but Clerk Nyegenye and his team of whoever is running and impersonating me in that Red Cross building would rather lock that room, put a sign of my name arid pretend that they did not hear a thing about the matter I raised,” she wrote on the Senate Business WhatsApp page.
Orwoba added: “Owing to the fact that I am now aware of the rot in that system, and that -no intention of trading sexual favors or paying kickbacks as an honourable member of this Parliament. I rest this case.”
Favoritism and discrimination, corruption, and kickbacks
“Just don’t ask me why I am, the way I am. Know that, in your space in Parliament things don’t operate as they do in my space as a vocal, fearless nominated female senator,” Orwoba concluded.
But the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Committee did not take her rants lightly as it charged her of, among others, making allegations that there were instances of the pursuit of sexual favours in Parliament, favoritism and discrimination, corruption, and kickbacks for the legislative agenda.
In one of her rants, Orwoba states: “ I have been to the clerk’s office several times @Nyegenye €0S have been to your office concerning this matter. In fact, I have intentionally stopped to come to your office because I just sense,bad-intent. What was so special about the other senator that I was with who ended up on the reimbursement? What was so bad about my request similar to hers was that the Parliament staff were given instructions to forcefully allocate me an office ‘in absentia and run it. Anyway, I wrote the letter, you can dispense it as you wish. At this point, I will focus on fighting for women and girls outside of Bunge. Bunge can continue cutting my feet and frustrating me for being me. I am waiting for the assessment about my complaint on parliamentary staff running an office under my name and the head of the sergeant at arms dismissing me and my complaint. I am also waiting to hear from the clerk on the same.”
Orwoba did not appear before the committee to defend her claims.
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It subsequently resolved that she be suspended from the House for the remainder of the Second Session of the 13th Parliament, which ends in February next year.
During the suspension, she will be denied access to the precincts of Parliament as defined in section 3 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act 2017 and Standing Order 2 of the Senate Standing Orders and would also not use or have the enjoyment of any specified facility provided to MPs for the remainder of the Second Session of the 13th Parliament.
On resumption of Senate sitting for the Third Session, Orwoba, while at the bar will be required to apologize to the Senate, fellow Senators, the Clerk of the Senate, and the secretariat of Parliament before being admitted to the Senate, pursuant to section 17(3)(c) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017.

domain: law


text:
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text:
Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) and bullous lichen planus (BLP) are rare dermatoses, which are characterised by blisters and lichenoid lesions. Their clinical presentation is heterogenous, displaying overlapping features or mimicking other dermatological diseases. Therefore, diagnosis can often be challenging, requiring a thorough dermatological examination along with distinctive histological and immunopathological characteristics. Lichenoid degeneration of the basal epidermis exposes various antigens of the dermal-epidermal junction in LPP, resulting in the breakdown of immune tolerance, hence, the production of autoantibodies against type XVII collagen. Conversely, no pathogenic autoantibodies are detected in BLP. However, some cases of mucosal lichen planus might display immunopathological features suggestive of autoimmune blistering diseases. Therefore, a better understanding of the pathophysiology of these two distinct dermatoses is imperative. The aim of this review was to provide a summary of the current knowledge on the clinical hallmarks, diagnosis and available therapeutic options in LPP and BLP.
Keywords: BP180; BP230; bullous; lichen planus; lichen planus pemphigoides.
© 2022 Australasian College of Dermatologists.

domain: health


text:
Hello listeners! This episode marks our long-awaited book-club discussion of the current Kingkiller series: Name of the Wind, Wise Man’s Fear, and Slow Regard of Silent Things. Brandon and Billy are joined by Pat and Data to have an eloquent, educated, and enlightened discourse about the books and the concepts within. We talk about our love and admiration for the prose, explain our theories about the future of the series and its mysteries, and gleefully reminisce about one of our favourite fantasy stories. It’s a long one, but damn it’s good content. We hope you enjoy!
Tune in next time for Poet and Rekon! No idea what we’re going to talk about, but it’ll probably be funny.
Thanks for listening.


text:
Exploit The “Excursionist” United Airlines Loophole for Free Segments: Part 4 – 5 Crazy Ways to Use the Excursionist Perk for Big Travel
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I’ve asked Million Mile Secrets contributor Jake to show y’all more advanced ways to get Big Travel from the United Airlines Excursionist Perk!Jake: United Airlines recently changed their MileagePlus program, including some of their award flight booking rules. For some folks, booking award flights has become trickier and even more expensive.
But for others, via Travel is Free, United Airlines’ new policies will provide great value.
This is due to a new rule under the United Airlines award program called Excursionist Perk. The Excursionist Perk is a free one-way flight you can book in addition to a round-trip or multi-city itinerary.
In this 4-part series, I’m teaching you how to use the Excursionist Perk to get Big Travel with Small Money!
Exploit the “Excursionist” United Airlines Loophole for Free Segments: Series Index
- Part 1: Introduction
- Part 2: How to Use United.com to Book Award Flights
- Part 3: Using the Excursionist Perk to Extend Your Vacation
- Part 4: 5 Crazy Ways to Use the Excursionist Perk for Big Travel
In Part 3, I showed you practical tips for using the United Airlines’ Excursionist Perk to extend your vacation or save miles. In this post, I’ll outline 5 ways to use the free one-way flight to get huge savings!
Some of these itineraries may not fit into your travel plans. But if you can make them work, you can stretch your United Airlines miles to get Big Travel for a great price!
1. Start in Hawaii for a Free Domestic US Flight
Remember, the rules for the United Airlines Excursionist free one-way flight state that travel must originate and conclude in the same region. This means that finding a region with cheap flights can make the Excursionist Perk’s free flight even more valuable!
For example, consider the following itinerary departing from Honolulu:
- Honolulu to Maui (6,000 United Airlines miles in coach)
- Los Angeles to Newark (Free one-way flight!)
- Maui to Honolulu (6,000 United Airlines miles in coach)
So your total cost would be 12,000 United Airlines miles for 3 flights. And you would get the one-way flight from Los Angeles to Newark for free, saving you 12,500 United Airlines miles. That’s over 50% off the normal booking price!Note: Even if you don’t use your final flight from Maui to Honolulu, this booking strategy still saves you miles! If you only booked the flights from Honolulu to Maui and Los Angeles to Newark, your total would be 18,500 United Airlines miles.
2. Start in Hawaii for a Free One-Way Flight in Any Region
For most folks, using a free one-way flight within the Continental US will be the most practical. But based on the above strategy, you could use a Hawaii booking to get a free one-way flight within any region in the world! Remember, these are subject to United Airlines’ region definitions.
The key to this strategy is that United Airlines only charges 6,000 miles for one-way coach flights within Hawaii. And since you can use your free one-way flight in conjunction with any other 2 flights, it makes sense to book the cheapest 2 flights you can find. Then, you can use your free one-way flight on a much more expensive flight, while only paying for 2 very cheap flights!Note: United Airlines does not actually fly within Hawaii. All intra-Hawaii flights booked with United Airlines miles will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines.
For example, you could save 20,000 United Airlines miles by using your free one-way flight within the “Middle East” region.
Or, save 17,500 United Airlines miles by using your free one-way flight within the “South Asia” region.
Remember that the free one-way Excursionist Perk flight can be booked up to 1 year in advance, but must be in between the dates of your 1st and 2nd booked flights. So if you are planning to travel to Hawaii anyway, try to make use of this awesome perk!Note: You can NOT “throw away” both of your intra-Hawaii flights in order to get a free one-way flight for only 12,000 United Airlines miles total. This is because United Airlines will cancel the remainder of your itinerary if you fail to board the first flight. So you can “throw away” your final flight, but you must take your first flight in order to get the free one-way with the Excursionist Perk.
3. Cheap Business Class Flights Throughout Asia and Oceania
You could also use the United Airlines Excursionist Perk in conjunction with longer flights. For example, the following itinerary from Australia to Asia would cost only 47,500 United Airlines miles.
Your routing could look like:
- Sydney to Hong Kong (30,000 United Airlines miles in Business Class)
- Hong Kong to Bali, Indonesia (Free one-way flight in Business Class)
- Auckland to Melbourne (17,500 United Airlines miles in coach)
You can book the free one-way flight in Business Class because the one-way flight preceding it is in Business Class. Or, your free one-way flight could be in coach, because it is a lower class of service.
But remember that your free one-way flight must be within a single “award region.” So you can book your free one-way flight between Hong Kong and Bali because both cities are within United Airlines’ “South Asia” region.
But you can NOT book your free one-way between Hong Kong and Shanghai, because Shanghai is part of United Airlines’ “North Asia” region. So be sure to reference United Airlines’ region chart before trying to book your free one-way flight.
This would also give you the chance to fly Thai Airways Business Class on a few different airplanes, such as the 747, 777, and A380! In total, you would get ~20 hours in Business Class for less than 50,000 United Airlines miles!
4. Free One-Way Flights Within Africa
United Airlines divides Africa into the 2 “regions” of Northern Africa and Central & Southern Africa. But Central & Southern Africa covers some very far distances!
So you could add on a free flight between Johannesburg and the Seychelles, or between Cape Town and Nairobi, Kenya. This could be especially useful for folks traveling to Europe or the Middle East who want to explore Africa as well.
Your itinerary could be:
- Dublin to Istanbul (15,000 United Airlines miles one-way in coach)
- Johannesburg to Mauritius (Free one-way flight!)
- Istanbul to Athens (15,000 United Airlines miles one-way in coach)
Or, folks might consider booking this award in conjunction with a cheap round-trip fare from Europe or the Middle East.
5. Explore the Caribbean and Latin America on One Itinerary
For folks based in the continental US, some of the above options require lots of travel. More practically, you could use the free one-way flight with the United Airlines Excursionist Perk to visit additional cities in Central America and the Caribbean.
For example, you could book the following itinerary:
- Aruba to San Juan, Puerto Rico (10,000 United Airlines miles in coach)
- San Jose, Costa Rica to Panama City (Free one-way flight!)
- Belize City to Nassau, Bahamas (10,000 United Airlines miles in coach)
This itinerary would save you 10,000 United Airlines miles when booked in coach. You can also stop in each destination for as long as you want, up to one year. But remember that you would need to make other plans to travel to Aruba, from San Juan to San Jose, from Panama City to Belize City, and home from Nassau!
For a family who wants to see a few different cities in the Caribbean, this strategy could be a great way to save miles! This could be especially valuable in conjunction with the Southwest Companion Pass. Because Southwest offers non-stop flights to Aruba, Belize City, Nassau, San Juan, and San Jose!
By using the free one-way flight in creative ways, you can save tons of miles with the United Airlines Excursionist perk. For many folks, the basic strategy of booking 2 one-way flights within Hawaii with a free one-way in another region can lead to big savings!
And using the Excursionist Perk in Business or First Class can lead to even more savings! But remember that your free one-way flight can not be in a class of service higher than the flight preceding it.
Most importantly, remember that your free one-way flight must be within a single United Airlines award region. So use your free flight in an expensive region if you want to get the best value!
Though incredibly valuable, the free one-way flight with the United Airlines Excursionist perk can be very confusing! Leave any questions or comments below and I’ll try to help with the answers.
Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

domain: travel


text:
Traveling can be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. It can be a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. This article can introduce you to the joys of traveling. Travel can be a hobby and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places.
If you are a woman traveling abroad, always make sure that your purse is properly closed or zipped. If it is possible, use a bag that is not easily opened, or one that has a complicated clasp. In foreign countries, many pick-pocketers target unsuspecting tourists that are not careful with their bags. Things can be plucked from your purse in a matter of seconds. Secure your bag to keep your personal items safe.
If you are a woman traveling overnight on business, be sure that the blouses and underthings you wear and bring can be washed in the sink and hung up or blow-dried. Missed luggage and/or connections can mean you arrive at a hotel late at night, with only the clothes on your back to wear the next day. Lightweight, wrinkle-free polyester or microfiber blouses and tops can be washed and hung up, and will be dry in the morning, as will all your lingerie.
Be sure to confirm your reservation at the establishment you will be lodging in. Hotels are well within their right to give your room to someone else if you do not confirm your reservation. A quick phone call can ensure that you don’t find yourself without a place to stay, when you arrive.
To have a less stressful trip and over all more enjoyable travel, it is important to plan ahead. By planning ahead, one can reduce their chances of forgetting something that is needed. Also, if something comes up, there is enough time to handle it as opposed to having to rush at the last minute.
Pack some plastic zipper bags. You know you need them to get your liquids and toiletries through security, but extras can always come in handy. You may need a few extra for snacks on the road, as a garbage bag, or as an ice pack in an emergency. Most of all, they come in handy when you are packing to return home and have a soaking wet swimsuit to put in your bag.
Hit the gym before you board your flight. Long flights are taxing on your body and nerves. Sitting in the same position for long periods of time can cause leg and back cramps. You will be more relaxed during your flight and can help avoid body aches by stretching before your flight.
If vacationing in an area you’ve never visited before, try to find a local to give you some information about the area. Major tourist attractions are always well marked and you’ll have no problem finding them, but learning about some local favorites can make your trip much more memorable and personalized.
As was noted at the beginning of the article, traveling can be a great way to meet new people and to experience other cultures. By following the article’s advice and becoming a traveler, you can open up a whole new world. New friends are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of.


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Unlike in Online RL where agents need to interact with real environment, Offline RL works similar to a typical machine learning workflow. Given a dataset, Offline RL processes data extracting state, action, reward, and terminal columns to optimize the policy Q. By wrapping up offline RL into the AutoMLPipeline workflow, it becomes trivial to search for the optimal preprocessing elements and their combinations to improve Offline RL optimal policy using symbolic workflow manipulation. As part of AutoMLPipeline workflow, it becomes trivial to search which preprocessing elements and their combinations provide the best policy Q by cross-validation where the dataset is split into training and testing several times to get the average accumulated discounted rewards (return) of a given policy Q. This talk will demonstrate how to setup the Offline RL pipeline to preprocess the dataset and learn the optimal policy Q and incorporate some parallel search strategy to get the optimal workflow.


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domain: hobby


Anna Carlsson (PhD/MSc/Med), Director
Anna Carlsson holds a PhD in Machine and vehicle systems and a MSc in Engineering physics. She combines her position as Director of Revere with her role as Project manager at Chalmers Industriteknik.
Anna defended her dissertation in 2012 with the title “Addressing Female Whiplash Injury Protection - A Step Towards 50th Percentile Female Rear Impact Occupant Models”. Together with Folksam's Research Department, she has ongoing projects focusing on whiplash-related injuries and protection systems. She is a member of the Swedish Transport Administration's collaboration groups for Safe mobility for pedestrians and cyclists . Furthermore, Anna participates in collaborations on safe mobility for the elderly and people using mobility aids. Anna also has a background within the vehicle safety industry as a crash test engineer.
Christian Berger (MSc, PhD), Research Engineer
Christian is Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Gothenburg, and received his Ph.D. degree from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, in 2010. He coordinated the research project for the vehicle "Caroline", which successfully participated in the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge. He also co-led Chalmers Truck Team during the 2016 Grand Cooperative Driving Challenge (GCDC) and is one of the two leading architects behind Revere’s software platform OpenDLV. His research expertise is on distributed real time software, microservices for embedded systems and cyber-physical systems, and continuous integration/deployment/experimentation for embedded systems.
Ola Benderius (MSc, PhD), Research Engineer
Ola is Associate Professor of Autonomous Mobile Systems at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. His research focus is mainly on biologically inspired AI for autonomous vehicles, both inspired by human driving and deep neural functions connected to self-motion and machine operation. He did in 2014 find the solution to a 70-year old mystery connected to human control and the so-called remnant within control theory, by using inspiration from biological studies. In 2015 he joined Revere where he is currently leading research connected to autonomous driving, computer vision, software engineering in cyberphysical systems, and next generation HMI for both road and marine vehicles. Ola is also is one of the two leading architects behind Revere’s software platform OpenDLV.
Mikael von Redlich, Administrative officer
Mikael is office manager at SAFER, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers. He has a background in the hospitality industry and worked many years at various high-end restaurants and hotels in Gothenburg. Mikael has also studied Political Science at Gothenburg University and Event Management. He supports Revere part-time with administrative tasks, scheduling, social media and other practical issues at the lab.


Iím a critic. I have been since I was an early teenager. Iíve always sought to articulate and understand why I do or do not enjoy certain works of art and entertainment. I donít believe that critics simply exist to eviscerate popular things (they donít) and I am offended by my friendsí and familyís insistence that I am too critical (Iím not). I simply seek to evaluate, like all critics and thoughtful consumers, and articulate my appreciation and disillusion with art. Criticism and reverence go hand in hand, as they both require you to articulate your opinion. Without criticism, we would be a homogenized hive of empty thoughts. People who dislike critics donít get that.
But some criticism is not valid.
Yes, another meta-criticism article about criticism. Iím just as disappointed in myself for writing it as you are. But I want to articulate my thoughts here, in an adequate manner, or else Iíll just go nuts on Twitter forevermore. And Twitter is less ďcriticismĒ and more of an ďasshole factoryĒ as Jeff Gerstmann so adequately put it.
Part of good criticism is judging a product on its own merits and I saw a lot of contradictions in that theory earlier in the year when BioShock Infinite dropped. It was critical darling for about 24 hours before people who discovered that it wasnít the great Messiah that would bring mainstream respect to the medium of video games. Instead of appreciating it as a fantastic game, or intelligently critiquing it as some did, some people neglected to judge it as it is and judged it based on other factors.
Polygonís Chris Plante, a fine writer (and I donít mean that as a way to protect my own ass, I mean it) penned this editorial.http://www.polygon.com/2013/4/2/4174344/opinion-why-my-wife-wont-play-bioshock-infinite
In it, he says that Infinteís violence limits its audience because the game has nothing to say about violence, and the blood is a distraction. Now, I disagree with that assessment because BioShock games are about extremism in all cases, like ideology, technology, of human ambition, of human suffering, and violence. But thatís not what bugged me over the past few months. Itís that his wife canít play BioShock Infinite because she doesnít like the violence.
Were you expecting a BioShock game, made by people famous for making violent games about people with extreme ideologies that clash with the established order, to not be violent? As I write this, I know I am being subjective. This is an arguable point. But this sounds like he wanted Infinite to be a game that had no violence, or at least very little violence, within it. And then it defied his expectations.
There are people who havenít seen Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator, Drive, The Godfather and GoodFellas because of the violence within those films. And like those movies, Infinite says something about violence, how it is inextricably linked with our ambitions and ideals, and yet it gets shoved under the microscope? Plante writes:
ďLevine has been outspoken about his ambition to please both the meat head and the brainiac since the release of the original BioShock. But what about my wife? What about the people who can stomach only so much aggressive violence and unchecked cruelty? Defenders of the game's violence have compared BioShock Infinite to Christopher Nolan's Batman movies, which melded together the cerebral indie aesthetic and the mind-numbing blockbuster spectacle. But every comic lover knows the difference between Booker DeWitt and Batman. Batman doesn't kill people.Ē
Batmanís not a Pinkerton agent who sold his daughter (spoilers, yo) to pay off his massive gambling debts. Batmanís not a perpetrator of one of worst massacres in American history, who feels guilty about what he did every day. Booker Dewitt is not a man who witnessed murder at a young age and decided to use his thirst for vengeance as a force for good. Booker Dewitt is not a man who refuses to kill because he believes he is better than that.
Batman and Booker Dewitt are completely different characters. The Dark Knight and BioShock Infinite are not similar works of art. And this is not criticism. Plante, Hamilton, and like-minded others expected the game to be something it never had any intention of being: a white knight that would plow through the mainstreamís prejudice about gaming. Heís not the only one who placed an unreasonable hope upon Irrational Gamesí shoulders.
In this article,http://kotaku.com/bioshock-infinite-is-insanely-ridiculously-violent-it-470524003
, Kirk Hamilton of Kotaku writes, ďBioShock Infinite is in many ways so, so close to being That Game, the one we can show to our non-gamer friends and say "See? Look at this! It is so awesome! Check out the story! It's like LOST! How neat is this?" But it's not That Game, because it's so hilariously, egregiously violent that a large number of people will never give it a chance.Ē
This isnít criticism; this an unfulfilled wish born out of some kind of insecurity about the hobby. And that insecurity is not unique to Hamilton or Plante; I know I feel it still. And itís something that we all have to shrug off because there is nothing shameful about liking this medium. But weíre still begging for acceptance and I guess that this is another manifestation of that longing. Itís just unfortunate that it has manifested this way.
Itís also a lack of understanding that some people just donít like games. Instead of lamenting that a person who doesnít like video games and isnít good at them canít immerse themselves in Columbia like we can, maybe you can just acknowledge the fact that video games clearly arenít for them. That they donít like them. That they never have and probably never will. Just like I will never enjoy hair metal. I donít begrudge hair metal for being what it is because I canít enjoy it; that judgment is reserved for the KKK.
ďI want to look for games that I can show my sister,Ē Hamilton writes. Why? I donít show my friends video game soundtracks because they donít care and they donít show me System of a Down albums for the same reason. Some people donít like what we like. Why are we still begging for our non-gaming relatives to accept us?
Why are we asking that BioShock Infinite, or for that matter any game, to be ďthat game?Ē It took decades for film to earn respect as a true, challenging art form, but it didnít happen all at once when Citizen Kane hit theaters. It was a succession of dominoes that took decades to fall.
Weíre also asking that this game not be a game, or be a different game than what it is. Part of gaming is the skill component, yet Iím seeing longtime gamers and critics, who understand this better than most, lament that this gameís skill curve acts as a barrier to the heart-wrenching story for non-gamers. But, thatís part of a game. To ask that it has no skill component is to disregard what the medium is at its core. A criticism of that aspect would describe how that skill component is wonky, uneven and so on. No one laments what a film is, they criticize how it is. Why is this logic applying to games?
That is where Planteís and Hamiltonís evaluations fail to me. They are not criticizing Infinite based on what it is, but what they wanted it to be. And if thatís not the actual case, their writing sure as hell makes it seem like that.
BioShock Infinite is extremely violent. And some people donít like that. Thatís ok. Itís part of the gameís message. Why do we hold that fact against it? Why should the game appeal to those who probably never would have given a shit anyway? Why ask for it to be nonviolent, something it never had any intention of being? Youíre just asking for games to be more homogenized than they already are.
There are valid criticisms to lie at the gameís feet: the gun play does occasionally feel like filler, the part with the ghost is the dumbest thing in a great game. Describing those flaws and why Infinite sometimes doesn't work is criticism. This (http://kotaku.com/the-problem-with-bioshock-infinites-combat-468530143
, is criticism. I donít even agree with most of it, but I have to say Hamilton (yup, same dude) makes some valid, if disagreeable points.
But complaining that a shooter is a shooter is literally like lamenting the fact that a war film has explosions in it, or that platformers have jumping, or that 1940s noir has fedoras. Itís the difference between evaluating how a shooter could be better and evaluating what else it could have been.
Why canít a ďthoughtful storyĒ and ďlovely worldĒ have violence within it? What were you expecting, exactly? Did you want it to completely adhere to your preconceived notions of what ďlovelinessĒ was? Did you not want it to show you something different? Do you not think that a possible reason the game is so violent is to contrast the shiny veneer of the secretly homicidal religious bourgeois that rule the city?
I think this is why I like the game so much; itís one thing to challenge everyday consumers, but itís another thing entirely to challenge the people who made writing about games and playing them their livelihoods. Itís challenging critics and our criticism.
I would be remiss if I ended this rant with a big ďfuck you, deal with it,Ē so Iíll end with this instead: criticize me. Critique my writing and evaluate my opinions. Tell me why you think Iím wrong or right, unclear, sharp, out of line, or on the money. But criticize what I wrote. Not the Word doc I wrote it on.
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