by Susan London
In September 2016, recognizing the need to adequately prepare for explosive population growth, the Town of Rolesville made the first steps toward professional economic development efforts when it signed a 9-month, $58,500 contract with Jennifer Mizelle of The Town Builders Consulting Group, LLC.
Mizelle’s responsibilities include establishing the framework for an economic development program and acting as the Town’s economic developer until the position is transitioned to a full-time employee in the spring of 2017.
“I’ve been asking for it for several years,” said Mayor Frank Eagles who, along with Town Manager Bryan Hicks, had previously been trying to handle the job along with their other day-to-day duties.
“We felt we needed to have someone with expertise and experience to recruit stores and businesses that people were asking for.” He added that with the opening of the bypass in July of 2015, everyone felt that having an economic development person was particularly timely.
Over the last several years Rolesville has found itself in the spotlight as it has seen a 550% increase in residential growth from 2000 when there were 989 residents, to 2016 where that number has grown to approximately 6,500. Along with this huge increase comes the need for retail and other commercial business to provide services and tax revenue to the growing population.
Mizelle, who spent 20 years with the Town of Holly Springs, first as Community Development Director from 1996 to 1998 and then as Economic Development Director from 1998 until her retirement in 2016, crossed paths with Mayor Eagles and Bryan Hicks during their exploration of economic development with other Wake County professionals. Her expertise was a good fit.
“The Rolesville situation couldn’t have been at a better time for me and I think for them,” said Mizelle. “It’s really fun to be here – there’s so much opportunity.”
She sees many similarities between Rolesville and Holly Springs in regard to population and the ratio of commercial to residential tax revenues.
In 1998, Holly Springs also had about 6,500 residents and with an approximately 90% residential tax base component and 10% commercial. Currently, Rolesville has a similar population with a residential tax base component of about 87% and commercial tax base component of 13%. Ideally, that ratio should be closer to 70% residential and 30% commercial, according to Mizelle.
The first several months of the contract have been spent working in the discovery phase, as Mizelle has familiarized herself with Rolesville’s business climate, traffic counts, and mass transportation offerings. She has been meeting business owners and leaders in the community, and determining what the Town has to offer in regard to land and commercial space.
Over the coming months, she will be expanding the marketing materials currently in place and overseeing the design of the economic development website.
The new website will be linked to the Town site, will provide relevant demographic data, and will tie in with Xceligent, a real estate database that offers a comprehensive listing of all land and commercial space currently available in the town.
Mizelle believes there are retailers taking a look at the town based on the demographics, growth and accolades it has been receiving lately.
As the end of Mizelle’s contract approaches in May, 2017, she will be initiating a transition plan to a permanent Economic Development professional, and identifying an additional scope of services that will be required of the position.
Mayor Eagles said he would like to initially focus on attracting restaurants and small businesses to town and Mizelle said, “ideally we would like to see some more retail and commercial businesses that are in the planning stages to locate here … certainly we would like to see more non-residential development.”
Although one can’t really control when that happens, Mizelle has told the Town leaders that they need to be positioned to be ready for that.
Categories: In the Forest


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Top 5 Biggest Earning Athletes in 2022
Today’s athletes sign endorsements and sponsorships for companies, often with a desire to maintain their glamour and status in the sports world.
The highest earning athletes are paid for appearances, memorabilia and licensing fees plus cash returns from businesses they operate. They also make a sizable amount of money from equity stakes they’ve sold.
1. LeBron James
The King of Basketball isn’t just the most famous athlete in the world – he’s also a very generous philanthropist. He has given away millions of dollars to charities including Boys and Girls Clubs, Children’s Defense Fund and OneXOne, among others. He has also created the LeBron James Family Foundation which has opened an elementary school, a housing complex and a retail plaza/community center in Akron, Ohio.
James earned $1 billion in 2022, according to Forbes, making him the second-highest paid player in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan. This is despite his hefty salary of $44.5 million per season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Besides his on-court earnings, which include base salaries and bonuses, James also makes money from endorsements, licensing fees and other business endeavors. He earns $55 million annually from this source of income alone.
On Wednesday, ESPN reported that James and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul have agreed on a two-year contract extension with the Lakers that will make him the highest-paid player in NBA history. The extension, which will pay him an average annual salary of $97.1 million, includes a player option for 2024-25.
This will push his guaranteed earnings to $532 million, placing him above Durant on the list of biggest earning athletes in NBA history. This is the third time James has topped the league’s all-time earnings list, and it puts him firmly in the running for the coveted “GOAT” title.
Whether or not he plays on the court, James’s off-court earnings will continue to rise as his popularity grows. He’s got a lucrative deal with Nike and he has a large portfolio of investments, including stakes in Beats by Dre, Beachbody and the SpringHill Company. He has also starred in movies like Space Jam and is an active philanthropist.
2. Neymar Jr.
Neymar is a Brazilian professional soccer player who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil National Team. He is considered to be one of the most talented football players in the world, and he has been a household name since he was a child.
He was born on February 5th, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He started playing street and indoor soccer at a young age, and soon, he began to earn global recognition. He joined the youth ranks of Portuguese club Santos at age 11, and he made his debut for the team in 2009.
His talent was quickly recognized by the Brazilian football community, and he quickly developed a style of play that mixed quick speed with dribbling and shooting. His dribbling and vision skills, along with his ability to create chances and feints, helped him become a star at a young age.
A technical leader, a dribbling genius and a unpredictable detonator, Neymar is one of the most talented footballers in the world. He has scored more than 100 goals for three different clubs, and has been a major force in winning multiple championships.
The Brazilian dribbling wizard has been an integral part of Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign in Europe, and is a key player in the Brazil national team. He also captained the national team to its first gold medal win in the 2016 Olympic Games, scoring a game-winning penalty kick.
He is regarded as one of the world’s most talented and popular players. He has won several awards, including South American Footballer of the Year, Brazilian Footballer of the Year and Ligue 1 Player of the Year. He is considered to be a genuine superstar and is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA, is one of the highest paid athletes in the world. He recently signed a supermax contract extension that will make him the highest-paid player in NBA history. In addition to his earnings from playing basketball, he also earns a lot of money through endorsements and personal sponsors.
As an example, the 27-year-old Greek Freak has a huge endorsement deal with Nike. He has an exclusive shoe deal with the company, as well as a number of other partnerships. He has also been endorsed by Hulu, Tissot, Kronos Foods, and T-Mobile.
Another huge source of income is his film deal with Disney. The Greek Freak is slated to have a movie about his life, called “Rise,” released in June 2022.
In addition to his NBA career, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a charitable foundation that helps kids who need assistance with their sports. He and his brothers established the AntetokounBros Academy to help a number of young children get into basketball.
He also donates money to a Chicago-based NGO that offers after-school education. He also makes regular contributions to the NBA’s COVID pandemic fund.
The Greek Freak has also a strong social media presence. He regularly posts photos and videos of himself, and his fans often comment on them. He also has a Twitter account that receives hundreds of thousands of hits a day.
He is currently ranked sixth on the list of highest-paid athletes in the NBA with total earnings of $335 million, behind LeBron James. This includes a $228,200,420 guaranteed minimum salary and an average annual salary of $45,640,084. Other recent contracts that have made it into the list include Russel Westbrook’s supermax extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 and Steph Curry’s $201 million contract extension with the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
4. Naomi Osaka
As one of the most popular and successful athletes in the world, Naomi Osaka has amassed a staggering amount of money. Her earnings include prize money, endorsements, investments and smart business ventures.
Osaka has already won four Grand Slams, and she has a lot more to look forward to as her career progresses. She is currently ranked number 2 in the world and will be competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she hopes to win her first singles title.
Despite her success on the court, Osaka has also become known for her activism and social justice initiatives. She has shown her support for Black Lives Matter and recently wore masks that featured the names of African American victims of police shootings during her matches at the US Open.
Her lucrative endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Yonex, Nissan, All Nippon Airways and Tag Heuer make up a sizable chunk of her income. She also has deals with Mastercard, FTX and Workday — all of which feature on her outfits during competitions.
In addition to her sponsorships, Osaka is a cofounder of skincare brand Kinlo and talent agency Evolve as well as production company Hana Kuma. She’s also an investor in a variety of companies, including Hyperice, Morinaga & Company, Airbnb and GoDaddy.
Osaka’s popularity among Gen Z fans has helped her earn a massive amount of money. She has been able to afford to live a luxury lifestyle, complete with high-end real estate and designer clothes.
She’s also a fan of tech, so she’s invested in a number of startups, including Klutch, SpringHill and Hyperice. She’s even teamed up with Hyperice to promote their Core meditation device, which she uses to help her improve her mental health.
5. Kevin Durant
Durant is one of the biggest names in the NBA and his net worth in 2022 is estimated to be $200 million. He is currently one of the highest paid players in the NBA and has many lucrative endorsement deals which help him earn millions of dollars each year.
He is also a savvy businessman and co-CEO of a company called Thirty Five Ventures which has made more than 40 early-stage investments. Some of these investments have reportedly resulted in a high valuation, including Coinbase and WHOOP.
His earnings are set to continue growing, as he will start a four-year, $196 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets in the next season. He has a huge endorsement deal with Nike and is also an investor in many sports-related companies.
When he plays, Durant is one of the best players in the game and he has won numerous awards throughout his career. He has earned five MVPs and four scoring titles, along with two Finals MVPs.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, he will make $42 million this season from his contract with the Brooklyn Nets and a similar amount from off-court investments. He has a 10-year contract with Nike worth $300 million and has endorsement deals with brands like Gatorade, Sprite, Google, Alaska air group and 2K Sports.
In addition, he has been investing in several tech companies like Postmates and Robinhood through his investment firm Thirty Five Ventures. He is also a philanthropist and donates a large amount of money to various charities each year.
Durant is a talented player who is known for his two-point shooting skills. He is able to shoot over or off the dribble, fade away and even get past over two defenders at an amazing rate. He is also an excellent passer and has a knack for creating great looks for his teammates, which help them score points. He has also been a strong teammate and has helped his team win multiple championships.

domain: news


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EXPLORE THE DATA ECOSYSTEM
KNMI advises on and warns society to reduce risks in the field of weather, climate and seismology and to limit damage and injuries. With high-quality knowledge and technology plus an extensive observation network, KNMI offers products and services that contribute to the safety, accessibility, sustainability and prosperity of the Netherlands.
As a scientific institute KNMI participates in the international research community and contributes, for example, to the process and reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
KNMI is constantly optimizing its measuring network and refining its weather and climate models, which run on KNMI's supercomputer. These model calculations form the basis of the weather forecasts and climate scenarios that KNMI produces for the Netherlands. KNMI offers unique products that can be used by air traffic controllers, policy advisors and other professionals to take the necessary decisions to guarantee safety and sustainability in the Netherlands, now and in the future. The climate scenarios, for example, show how the climate of the Netherlands evolves in the coming decades for a wide range of atmospheric variables.
KNMI is also involved in research on the seismology of the Netherlands and its overseas regions and plays a leading role in international efforts on remote sensing by satellites.

domain: geography


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Murdered Trenton man broke into suspect’s car before being killed: Prosecutors
One hour before he was killed in a gun battle on the hardscrabble streets of Trenton, Elvin Kimble and another person burglarized the vehicle of a man who is charged in his murder, prosecutors said.
When 40-year-old Jermaine Johnson, of Ewing, gave chase, Kimble fired in his direction, Assistant Prosecutor Tim Ward said.
This was the story provided to investigators by someone who was apparently with Kimble in the hours before his death.
Ward described the individual as a witness and would not say whether it was the person who helped Kimble burglarize Johnson’s van. Ward also refused to say if the
individual has been charged.
Prosecutors revealed at a bail hearing Tuesday that Johnson, angered over the break-in and being shot at, recruited individuals, including 33-year-old Gary Spears
of Trenton, to help him retaliate against Kimble.
A gun battle ensued near the intersection of Rusling and Chestnut, and Kimble was struck in the back. Prosecutors believe Spears fired the fatal shot.
Kimble retreated to Division Street, where he collapsed behind a van — his tragic final resting spot.
Police had been called Nov. 24. to the scene on a report of gunfire shortly after 12:30 a.m. and discovered numerous spent shell casings but no sign of Kimble — a
critical misstep that sealed the 19-year-old’s fate.
Kimble, wearing a ski mask and with a gun still in his hand, was found by police slumped over near a van on the 700 block of Division Street around 6:15 a.m.
Ward said Spears was captured by surveillance footage standing next to Johnson and firing toward Kimble.
Edward Heyburn, Johnson’s attorney, said there is no evidence on the tape his client opened fire, suggesting he was “caught up in the crossfire.”
Prosecutors did not accuse Johnson of firing at Kimble. But like his codefendant, he is charged with weapons offenses.
“He wasn’t involved in a shootout,” Heyburn said. “He just happened to be present.”
Each suspect was ordered held on $1 million bail following hearings before Superior Court Judge Timothy Lydon, in part because of their past scrapes with the law.
Heyburn conceded his client has a “troubled past,” but said he has “paid his debts to society” following stints in prison on convictions for drugs, guns, witness tampering and theft.
Spears, the accused triggerman, also has numerous drug convictions and was on probation for a contempt conviction at the time of Kimble’s murder, prosecutors said.
Spears’ attorney, Laura Yaede, questioned the quality and accuracy of surveillance footage prosecutors said captured her client opening fire on Kimble.
Ward said his office has another dagger for evidence: The defendant acknowledged shooting at Kimble and pointed himself out on film.
The tape, Ward said, “is clear enough that Mr. Spears identified himself.”

domain: law


Sailfish uses default settings that should make most simulations run at a reasonable speed on modern GPUs. There are however several tunable parameters that can be used to increase the performance of specific simulations. Finding the optimal values of these parameters requires some experimentation on a case-by-case basis. The guide below suggests some useful strategies. In all following subsections we will assume that the CUDA backend is used.
This is the simplest optimization you should apply when trying to increase the speed of a simulation. Every lattice Boltzmann node in Sailfish is processed in a separate GPU thread. These threads are grouped into 1-dimensional blocks, which allows them to exchange data. The default block size is 64. You can adjust this to a higher value using the --block_size=N command line option. Values that are multiplies of 32 should be the most effective due to the architecture of the GPU hardware.
As a rough guideline, use lower block sizes for more complex models and higher block sizes for simpler ones (e.g. 128 for single fluid, but 64 for binary fluids). The more complex the LB model used, the more registers the generated GPU code will require. You can check the number of registers used by adding --cuda-kernel-stats to your command line options. The simulation will then output something similar to:
CollideAndPropagate: l:0 s:3072 r:30 occ:(1.000000 tb:4 w:32 l:regs) LBMUpdateTracerParticles: l:0 s:0 r:17 occ:(0.250000 tb:8 w:8 l:device) SetInitialConditions: l:0 s:0 r:19 occ:(1.000000 tb:4 w:32 l:warps)
Each line presents, in order: name of the CUDA kernel, number of bytes of local memory, number of bytes of shared memory, number of registers, occupancy, thread blocks per multiprocessor, warps per multiprocessor, name of the factor limiting occupancy. A large number of registers will limit the occupancy, which will usually result in a lower performance of the kernel. An occupancy of 0.5 or higher is best. You only need to optimize the occupancy of the kernels that are executed the most often (e.g. CollideAndPropagate in the example above is important because it is executed for every time step. SetInitialConditions on the other hand is irrelevant, as it is only used to initialize the simulation).
In order to increase the occupancy, you can force the CUDA compiler to use a lower number of registers in the GPU code. This can be done via the --cuda-nvcc-opts=--maxrregcount=X which will cause the compiler to limit the number of registers to X. If you use a low value of X, some of the variables in the kernel will be moved from registers to local memory (register spilling). Local memory is much slower than the registers however, so the net effect can be a performance degradation despite the higher occupancy. Experimentation is advised.
CUDA code can use a faster, but less precise version of several common mathematical functions (e.g. transcendental functions such as sine, cosine, square root or the exponential function). These so-called intrinsic functions will be used if the fast math mode is turned on, which can be done using the --cuda-nvcc-opts=--use_fast_math command line option. This might slightly increase the speed of some of the more complex LB models. If you decide to apply this optimization, watch out for degraded precision (always run regression tests of our simulation) and increased register usage.
If you care about the CPU time used for running Sailfish simulations, use --cuda-sched-yield and --cuda-minimize-cpu-usage to improve the default settings at a slight performance cost. The first option makes the CUDA threads yield to other ones when waiting for GPU, which can improve performance of CPU code in high load situations. The second option instructs CUDA to use blocking synchronization. This will decrease performance of the GPU simulation by increasing latency of host synchronization operations. The CPU usage decrease will be larger for bigger simulation domains and more complex models – the longer a step of the simulation takes, the lower the CPU usage.
Fermi devices are based on a new GPU architecture and can benefit from additional optimizations. The general guidelines presented above still apply.
By default, Sailfish uses a lower precision version of the division operator and square root function (same as in CUDA devices of compute capability 1.3 and lower). This helps with register usage and can be turned off by the --cuda-fermi-highprec option.
Fermi devices have more multiprocessors than GPUs of the previous generation. The multiprocessors can also handle more threads, and have better scheduling capabilities (which makes it possible for the GPU to execute several different kernels simultaneously).
To fully take advantage of the available computational power, a larger block size will usually be necessary (typically twice as large as for devices of the previous generation, but make sure to check occupancy and register usage as well).
The usage of L1 cache is often detrimental to performance of the simulation, especially in double precision. Use --cuda-disable-l1 to disable the usage of L1 for caching global memory accesses.
The ECC functionality available in Tesla-class cards can decrease performance by 10-30% compared to memory without error correction. If you don’t need the functionality and are sure that your hardware is stable, you can disable ECC using the nvidia-smi tool. Note that this requires root access and a machine reboot, and as such might not be possible in a shared computing environment.


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Visiting San Diego with kids? You’ll head to the world famous zoo in Balboa Park. But then what? Whether you’ve got a day, a weekend or longer, there are so many fun things to do in and around San Diego. Here are a local’s top 40, from the ocean beaches to the area theme parks and downtown too to help you plan your itinerary.
Downtown San Diego
Downtown San Diego offers families a bustling and vibrant city experience with many activities just within walking distance. Find interactive fun for kids at the New Children’s Museum, a three-story building that houses hands-on exhibits and installations for young children.
Gaslamp Quarter is an upbeat and walkable area for dining and boutique shopping. For meals, kids love both The Old Spaghetti Factory and Sugar Factory.
Seaport Village is a 14-acre venue of outdoor shopping and dining. For little ones, the historic 1895 carousel is a highlight of this bayside locale.
Nearby, the Embarcadero Marina Park North offers a flat walking/biking path and grassy areas to play or fly a kite.
The Maritime Museum, Star of India and USS Midway museum are located along N. Embarcadero. With upper elementary aged kids, plan to spend the most time at the Midway, with 60+ exhibits onboard this retired aircraft carrier.
The Little Italy Mercato Farmer’s Market operates each Saturday from 8 a.m to 2 p.m. and every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This outdoor collection of local farmers offers fresh fruits, veggies and more.
Love pizza? Stop in at one of the many Italian restaurants to capture the true flavors of this vibrant downtown destination. The casual Filippi’s Pizza Grotto is our family favorite.
Waterfront Park offers expansive grassy lawns, a large playground and spray fountains – all free of charge!
SheBuysTravel Tip: The best way to get around downtown San Diego is via the San Diego Transit Trolley. The trolley stops at many locations throughout the downtown area and beyond.
Families will enjoy the upscale elegance of a visit to Coronado Island. The Flagship Cruise is the ideal transport to get from downtown to Coronado. This ferry boat offers both indoor and outdoor seating and guests may bring a bike aboard. Riders will be deposited at the Coronado Ferry Landing just north of the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Take a walk or bike cruise along the Bayshore Bikeway. Coronado Tidelands Park is a small sandy beach area about a mile away, with a kids’ playground and restrooms.
For an awesome view of the Coronado Bay Bridge, play at Glorietta Bay in Coronado. There’s a small beach area with bathrooms and a play structure.
Guests of the famous Hotel Del Coronado can reserve a bonfire pit on the sand for a sunset s’mores roast they won’t soon forget!
Explore Balboa Park
Balboa Park, which spans 1200 acres, is one of the best spots to find free family fun in San Diego. The park offers performing arts, museums, trails, gardens, dining, shopping and tours. There is so much to see and do. Check their website for their seasonal offerings as well!
The San Diego Zoo is a Southern California must-do! See all the animals from koalas to okapi, as well as the vast aviaries and gardens throughout this beautiful zoo. Purchase discount San Diego Zoo tickets through Get Away Today.
Two amusement park rides are located near the zoo entrance, within Balboa Park. The 1910 Balboa Park Carousel is a classic that kids love. The Balboa Park Miniature Railroad runs a four-minute loop across a half mile of garden setting.
Families love the many museums throughout Balboa Park. Check out the Fleet Science Center, Model Railroad Museum and San Diego Natural History Museum – favorites of locals and tourists alike.
Read More: 21 Free Things for Families in Balboa Park
Discover What’s New in Old Town San Diego
Old Town is an open-air historical location, with buildings dating back to the 1800s. Includes free-entry museums and outdoor areas for kids to explore. Start at the Robinson-Rose House for visitor information. The Hilton Garden Inn is located in the heart of Old Town and walkable to the trolley station.
Mexican food is a must while in SoCal. No better place to grab tacos and a margarita than in Old Town. Consider Casa Guadalajara, which offers an extensive menu, patio dining and live mariachi music.
Considered the “Most Haunted House in America,” a tour of the Whaley House is ideal for older tweens and teens.
The Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma offers families a great view from the southernmost tip of San Diego. When the tide is out, get up close to marine life at one of the best tide pools in San Diego.
The old US Navy Training Station has been given new life as Liberty Station. This shopping and dining locale also features a waterfront park and movie theater.
Visit Shoreline Park, a mile-long promenade that stretches along the bay side located in Shelter Island. Enjoy the beautiful San Diego skyline views and public fishing pier. Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn hosts summer concerts at their sprawling island-themed hotel.
With two miles of boardwalk, sand, surf and lots of free parking, Mission Beach is one of the best beaches for families with kids. For kids who prefer tamer waves, Mission Bay is ideal. Plenty of grassy areas for a picnic, up-close parking and restrooms.
Belmont Park is a small amusement park located beachfront and features the Giant Dipper roller coaster and other midway rides and games. Grab a monster ice cream cone at Sweet Shoppe!
Get an unparalleled view of Mission Bay aboard the Bahia Belle night cruise boat. The Bahia Resort Hotel has an excellent location between Mission Beach and SeaWorld.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Parking at Mission Beach is free. To get a premium spot in the closest lot, plan to arrive early.
The Jewel of San Diego – La Jolla
Often considered one of the best beaches in San Diego, La Jolla offers families grassy areas for picnics and sunset watching, sandy beaches, hiking trails and shallow water for snorkeling. Not to mention the picturesque 300-foot sea cliffs!
The “Children’s Pool” has been taken over by seals, so it’s not available for swimming. But families can walk the jetty and spy sunbathing seals on the sand. Consider renting equipment, like snorkeling gear or a kayak, to explore La Jolla coves.
For those looking for the educational side of marine life, explore the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. Aquarium exhibits and an outdoor touch pool get kids close to the creatures.
More Ways to Explore Marine Life
SeaWorld San Diego
For kids looking to learn more about ocean life, SeaWorld San Diego offers hands-on entertainment. Plenty of all-day fun including theme park rides, live shows and touch pools. Purchase your discounted SeaWorld San Diego tickets from our travel partner Get Away Today.
Whale watching expeditions in San Diego gives travelers a peek at gray whale migration, dolphins, humpback and the occasional blue whale.
Sealife Aquarium, at the LEGOLAND California resort, is a whimsical way to experience undersea creatures. Best for very young kids and as an addition to this theme park location.
This coastal city has a lot to offer including miles of gorgeous beaches and a variety of both casual and upscale dining options. A favorite place to stay in Carlsbad is the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, with a private guest entrance to the LEGOLAND theme park.
Kids will love the unique theming of LEGOLAND California, an amusement park that revolves around all things LEGO! This theme park includes the newly opened LEGO Movie World, based on the popular film series.
Book extra days at LEGOLAND California through our travel partner Get Away Today to see and do it all, including the excellent LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND water park.
Capture those Instagram-worthy shots in the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. This seasonal event returns each spring and includes nearly 50 acres of blooming flower gardens and specific days with kids’ activities.
Read More: Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego
More Outdoor Fun for Kids in San Diego
Looking for more outdoor things to do with kids in San Diego? Hit one of the many San Diego beach locations along the Pacific Ocean as an ideal way to experience San Diego’s vast ocean life.
Outdoor lovers will appreciate the 8 miles of hiking trails in the Torrey Pines State natural reserve. Take in the amazing views including the gray whale migrations in the Pacific Ocean below.
Spot all the wild animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. If visiting during the summer, be sure to prepare for the extreme heat. Our travel partner Get Away Today offers discounted tickets for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Julian, a quaint area in the mountains of San Diego, is a country respite from the bustling city. Kids will enjoy exploring the village shops and candy store or mining for gold. The best time for a visit to Julian is during the fall in San Diego for apple pie season.
Farm animals, exhibits, fair food and rides. The county fair is a summertime classic! Kids love all the activities happening at the San Diego County Fair, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Aquatic Water Park, located in Chula Vista, offers family water slides, wave pools and a lazy river for all ages. Consider renting a cabana for the day to escape from the sun!
Take in a major league Padres baseball game at the beautiful Petco Park, located in downtown.
Read More: San Diego Downtown Itinerary for Families


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|S. Scott Bullock|
S. Scott Bullock
|Born|| Stuart Scott Bullock|
May 7, 1956
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
|Occupation||Actor, Voice Actor|
|There is more information available on this subject at S. Scott Bullock on the English-language Wikipedia.|
Stuart Scott Bullock (born May 7, 1956) best known as S. Scott Bullock, is an American voice actor, known for his voice work in several TV series. He voiced Flappy Bob, Poseidon, Dionysus, Professor Olaf Gunderson and many other minor characters in the series and Wishology!.

domain: entertainment


Yes, Virginia, there really was a band called Christmas, and they were damn good. A co-ed trio from Cambridge, MA, Christmas' quirky but compelling post-punk/indie-pop, assumedly made minor ripples left of the dial, but little elsewhere. According to a highly informative band bio found here, this was their debut release, featuring the Mission of Burma-inflected "Wilhelm Reich." It would later be followed by their first album, In Excelsior Day-Glo in '86. Christmas signed to IRS Records for their next album, the often wondrously melodic Ultraprophets of Thee Psykick Revolution, which saw the light of day in 1989 to little fanfare. A third album, Vortex was posthumously issued in '93 on Matador Records. Perhaps Christmas' true claim to fame was that it served as a launching pad for an eventual reformation as wry, cocktail revivalists Combustible Edison in the early 90s. I apologize in advance for the vinyl noise.
A. The Invisible Girl
B. Wilhelm Reich


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For The Record
For Thursday Night Sessions in September, DJ Sean Patrick will be hosting "For the Record" the entire month.
Sean has handpicked four amazing and uniquely different DJs to play all vinyl and each week will feature a different genre of music.
DJs include DJ Day, DJ AA, Valida, and C. Love.
Tropical Vibes from Around the World
C.Love currently lives in the California Mojave Desert, splitting her time between music production, collecting vinyl, and exploring the desert. DJing for over 10 years internationally as well as locally, she brings a wide array of styles and genres to the turntables.
Playing clubs and festivals in Marrakesh, Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Brussels, LA, SF, Baja, and beyond she brings all of her experience to the decks every time. Fascinated by global sounds, C.Love is sure to take listeners and dancers on a sonic journey.
No current or upcoming events.

domain: artistic


App Tamer focuses your computing power and extends battery life
App Tamer tames applications that are chewing up excessive CPU time and battery life on your Mac. Some apps, especially web browsers and Adobe applications, continue running tasks or animations even when they're sitting idle in the background. App Tamer automatically pauses them instead, focusing your CPU on what's frontmost and extending battery life if you're working on a laptop.
AutoStop makes it easy
While some utilities will let you manually stop processes, App Tamer is unique with its "AutoStop" feature. This will stop an application when you switch away from it, and then automatically restart it when you click back to it or select it from the Dock. It's convenient enough that you can use it all the time.
A few clicks is all it takes
App Tamer includes a useful and clear user interface for managing running applications, showing the average percentage of your processor(s) used by each one. Just click the AutoStop checkbox next to an application to minimize its CPU and power consumption.
App Tamer comes pre-configured to automatically stop Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome after they've been in the background for more than 15 seconds.


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Family Services of Western PA Outpatient
Family Services of Western PA Outpatient is based in New Kensington, Pennsylvania - 15068. Family Services of Western PA Outpatient can be reached at 724-335-9883.
Family Services of Western PA Outpatient accepts Cash or Self-Payment, Medicaid for Drug Rehab, Medicare, Private Health Insurance, Military Insurance in Drug Rehab for these services: Individual Alcohol Counseling, Family Therapy, Group Counseling, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy. The environment that they provide these services in are: Outpatient Rehabilitation.
All of these programs are provided for the following types of care: Mental Health Treatment. Family Services of Western PA Outpatient also offers various special programs such as: Court-Ordered Outpatient Addiction Rehab.
We can help you find the right treatment facility that best fits your overall needs and financial requirements.

domain: health


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The Never-Ending End of History and the Recurrence of the Last Man
|Francis Fukuyama in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia|
ecently I had a chance to attend an open lecture of the world renowned political theoretician, Francis Fukuyama, who, as a member of a delegation from Stanford University, gave a number of public lectures in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on the topic of the future of democracy in the 21st century.
Being a citizen of a pro-Western democratic country like Georgia, it was not a surprise to discover that his public lectures were hosted by the country’s Neo-Liberal think-tanks such as Ilia and Free Universities, which promote influential thinkers and activists, who used to back the former ruling National Movement Party’s neoliberal reforms, and which oppose the current Georgian Dream coalition government. Given the fact that the majority of the Georgian, pro-Western intellectual elite support National Movement’s value system, the visit of Fukuyama presented an opportunity for this camp to reaffirm their political influence and once again prove to the Georgian public, which is largely hostile toward them, that their worldview retains credibility and competitiveness.
The lecture itself was dedicated to explaining the role of democracy and reforms in developing nations, and the socio-political challenges posed by such changes. Mr. Fukuyama started his speech by unfolding his understanding of a proper bureaucracy for a system of democratic governance. He cited Max Weber’s famous dictum on the importance of meritocracy in a healthy social system as opposed to the nepotism symptomatic of undeveloped states.
He gave examples of how, with the help of this meritocratic approach, the US achieved its current level of functionalism, gradually transforming itself from a partisan, favour-trading style of government, prevalent in the 19th and early 20th century political culture, into a more merit based system.
He also emphasized the importance of the rule of law, and especially the necessity of balancing power in the democratic state system. He stressed that there is no real alternative to the democratic system in a tone familiar to readers of his Magnus Opus, providing such truistic arguments as the universal validity of human rights and the good of economic prosperity as concomitants of his views. He pointed out that autocracies have no future, and said that even successful semi-autocratic states, such as Singapore, China, and Russia, would inevitably fall prey to democratic development.
Throughout the speech, it was remarkable how little his views on the historical development of global social organization had changed. When he argues that democracy, despite suffering “temporary” setbacks, will become increasingly prevalent in the long term, he has in mind the European Union as a model of what he thinks the world will look like at the end of history. The EU’s attempt to transcend sovereignty and traditional power politics by establishing a transnational rule of law approximates to his “post-historical” picture of the world.
The imperative of social organization, based on the rule of law, was a central theme of another key-note speaker at the event, Erik G. Jensen, a professor of law at Stanford Law School. However, instead of simply affirming and glorifying the rule of law in all cases, he pointed out that the blind adoption of standard rule of law models for non-Western states en route to democratic development often fails, as shown by the ongoing emergence of failed democracies.
He argued that the adoption of universal standards does not work where such laws oppose local customs, a view that aligns with F.S.C Northrop’s principle of living law, which distinguishes between the positive and living laws of communities. According to Northrop, “positive law” is that body of law enacted by the government and enforced by the administrative apparatus, while “living law” refers to the way people in every community are brought up to do bunch of things in particular ways that has nothing to do with the positive law. This involves a rich mixture of established procedure, custom, habit, mutual expectation, assumption, common language, family ties, folklore, public observances, rituals, religion, and so forth, all woven into complex patterns that pass from generation to generation.
These do not come into existence by a process of rational consideration and they cannot be changed by any individual, and if they change at all it is only slowly. He argued that the attachment of human beings to their living law was always deeper, stronger, and more emotionally felt than their allegiance to the positive law. If the positive law comes into conflict with the living law the result will be serious social disruption and upheaval. If we analyze general outcomes of democratic interventions on a global scale, it is not difficult to find numerous practical demonstrations of the validity of Northrop’s theory.
|Collage by Josep Renau Berenguer|
It was very symptomatic that at the event the leading Neo-Liberal masterminds recognized the apparent contradiction, which happens during forceful imposition of Western values in non-Western societies. Even though it is not openly recognized by the proponents of Neo-Liberalism, this obvious scepticism regarding the hegemony of the democratic system among the movement’s intellectuals suggests that we have truly entered the decadent phase of Neo-Liberal global dominance.
The existing postmodern crisis currently prevalent in the EU – a direct outcome of the triumph of Neo-Liberalism – is revealed in the shortcomings of the very same institutions of the EU praised by Neo-Liberal thinkers. These institutions serve to undermine the sovereignty and cultural identity of member states through their gradual amalgamation into a Kojèvean type of multicultural meta-state, uprooting the fundamental cultural paradigms of the individual actors and driving towards abstract normative principles of Western universalism.
Democracy vs Archaism
Georgia’s experience of such socio-cultural experiments is revealing, clearly showing the setbacks of neoliberal ideology, the most obvious being the clear dichotomy between an imported liberal, secular value system, supported by the governing elite and a whole cohort of liberal-leaning NGOs, and a traditionalism, shared by the majority of citizens and backed by the Georgian orthodox church.
The former government’s ideology was fully formed by Neo-Liberal and Libertarian values, implanted by organisations like the George Soros Foundation, US institutions, and the Neocon godfathers of the new-born Georgian political elite, who were educated and financially supported in the run-up to the Rose Revolution, which brought them to power. This elite, once they managed to seize power, started to implement their plan of building a “new, open society,” excluding all existing traditional value-systems that conflicted with the liberal worldview. These were officially denounced as archaic, pre-modern relicts. Inevitably tensions ensued.
Although this was a society that had passed through an era of Soviet, left-wing universalist values, it had managed to maintain its national cultural identity more or less intact. The reforms soon ran into trouble and opposition, resulting in the subsequent electoral defeat of the National Movement and their radical ideology, despite a massive effort by Western funded non-governmental and educational institutions to support them. Having gained refugee status, this cohort of former government functionaries and intellectuals has moved to the social underground and has begun to attack the new political regime, denouncing the Georgian Dream coalition for its supposedly pro-Russian stance.
The ruling Georgian Dream coalition does not try to defend its position on intellectual grounds. Its political agenda is essentially a pragmatic softening of the harsh policies of its predecessor. So, rather than relying on positive support, its mandate is merely based on high public ratings which stem from the negative feelings created by the former government.
This indecisive and essentially neutral position by the present government enables the opposition to survive, despite legal prosecution of its key members. It even allows them to prepare ideological counter attacks, which play on the failures of the current government and take advantage of events.
One of such example was a pro-gay/ anti-homophobic rally held in Tbilisi last year. This was attacked by thousands of protesters opposed to homosexualism, who were allowed by police to break through a cordon so that they could violently pursue the LGBT activists. The rally was organized by the Georgian LGBT-rights organization, which, of course, exists on Western funding and is an important platform for a typical part of the liberal agenda.
After the violence, the opposition and their intellectual supporters were able to blame the acting government for it passivity and inability to protect human rights, with the criticism being amplified by international organizations and Western diplomats. The government seemed caught between a formal recognition of liberal democratic doctrine, prompted by a desire to encourage investment and economic development, and a populist bias towards tradition. This ambivalence in policy making is prevalent in Georgian politics, and the future of this hybrid type of democracy, which persists in a state of constant juxtaposition, seems volatile and unstable.
|Mass protests lead by Georgian Orthodox Church against LGBT rally, Tbilisi, Georgia 2013|
What conclusion can be drawn from this trajectory of democratic development that we are witnessing nowadays? Does the worldview which posits Neoliberalism as the final harbor for mankind’s social organization maintain any validity? Proponents of liberal hegemony will still argue in its favour and cite numerous historical examples to back up their claim. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence of the obvious failure of this system, making such a thesis less than bulletproof.
Will the crisis deepen, leading to the triumph of its dialectical opponent, namely the ideology based on right-wing, conservative values? Or will we be faced by a society with left-wing social organization and a right-wing value system, something akin to Alain de Benoist’s ideal? Other options on the table might include a Duginian type of Eurasian Imperium, with centralized authoritarian rule and a folkish, pre-modern, poly-religious society, and an archeofuturism of the type proposed by Guillaume Faye that marries archaic values with a technocratic vision of the future. Or perhaps history will manage to maintain its trust in the credence of classical liberalism, perhaps transformed into a radical form of libertarian socialism of the kind that Noam Chomsky talks about.
It is too early to say. However, the signs that are coming from global political developments clearly point to the fact that, for the time being, there is no readiness on the side of the dominant Western powers to question the foundational tenets of liberal democracy, and, on the basis of critical re-evaluation, undertake a radical transformation of the system’s entropic state.
It seems that we are in the process of witnessing the never-ending end of history and the eternal recurrence of the last, Neo-Liberal man. Will this surreal nightmare actually be realized by the Zeitgeist, or will it be overcome by a yet-to-be-realised novel ideology that will synthesize past political experiences into a more coherent and advanced formation? The ultimate rhetorical riddles are waiting for their resolution on the crossroads of history.
Reproductions of Nonexistent Paintings by Vladimir Rankovic: The Wanderer Above the Sea of Mist
“He gave examples of how, with the help of this meritocratic approach, the US achieved its current level of functionalism, gradually transforming itself from a partisan, favour-trading style of government, prevalent in the 19th and early 20th century political culture, into a more merit based system.”
Rarely ever read such nonsense. Meritocracy my arse, US gevernment is essentially a bunch of mafia clans.
Who are the “most meritocratic” “Phillantropes” of today? People like Bill Gates and Al Gore. Or mass-murderers like our nobel peace prize winner.
Who decides about “merit”? The rich and powerful and their media minions.
This is an old hoax, even featured on the so-called “Illuminati” homepage since years: xxxxxx
Thanks but no thanks.
Could not agree more. Our new ‘meritocracy’ is really an aristocracy that dare not speak its name. The vague, ill-defined, oh-so-subjective concept of merit has simply replaced the God of the old protestant work ethic. It’s a ruse.
In all Western cultures, merit means adherence to Jewish culrtural values.
Thank you for wasting my time,
Your second sentence doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I’m not sure you understood the purpose of what the author wrote. He was describing Fukuyama’s approach. The entire article is premised on deconstructing that and the author winds up disagreeing.
Someone at the lecture should have asked Fukuyama about MSM lies about MH17, 9/11 . . . and why this construction of false history is necessary. Of course, it is often difficult to confront the fakers.
This does not seem new at all to me. All over the West, beginning even before the French Revolution, conservatives have been like this. They win when liberalism oversteps, and they govern by reigning in liberalism’s excesses. However, they fail fundamentally to question the moral superiority of liberalism. Their role is merely to slow down the inevitable movement liberalward so as to minimize the social disruption it causes.
The populist bias toward tradition will be killed by Hollywood in due time as long as the government permits “free speech,” that vile doctrine that the Enemy’s propaganda has a right to exist.

domain: sociology


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One of the most popular South Korean exchanges, Bithumb has been reportedly hacked a few hours ago as announced by the Bithumb official Twitter page. The tweet clearly stated that around $30 million worth tokens have been stolen. But, the post went missing after few minutes. They immediately announced a suspension of all deposits and withdrawals to ensure security and any further damage or loss.
Their initial post stated:
“We checked that some of cryptocurrencies valued about $30,000,000 was stolen. Those stolen cryptocurrencies will be covered from Bithumb and all of assets are being transferring to cold wallet.”
Their latest post after the theft came into light, mentioned that they are halting all transactions as a matter of increased safety issues for which they are changing their wallet system. While it is quite evident and the speculations reveal that the exchange has been victim to a robbery which incurred a loss of almost $30 million to this Seoul-based exchange.
Once back in time, it was the world’s biggest crypto exchange platform which has now been temporarily shut as the thieves just got away with $30 million worth of unrevealed cryptocurrencies from the exchange, leaving no clue behind. No specific details have been released or stated about the entire event as to when it occurred, how or who did it but the exchange officially froze all deposits at 00:52 UTC.
They have been continuously warning and updating the users though not in detail, that they are working on securing the user funds and get out of this smoothly. They have announced that they will restart the services only after ensuring security and will notify the users of the same when re-instated. They immediately started transferring all the digital assets held by them to their cold wallets as a prevention to further damages.
South Korea has witnessed a lot of such suspicious activities and thefts and Bithumb has been the latest victim of what possibly is suspected as a hack. Considering the other hacks and similar robberies witnessed in the crypto sphere, this is possibly a smaller theft. The exchange has ensured all the users of refund or a cover for the loss thus not affecting any of their clients. The only inconvenience currently will be the temporary pause of all the functionalities. Their latest update expressed an urgency where they addressed their valuable customers as they requested them not to deposit any funds into their Bithumb wallets for the time being and until further notice.
This was the speculation running around the space early morning and to put an end to all the confusion, Bithumb put up an official press release which clearly stated while confirming that some cipher money of around 35 billion KRW worth cryptocurrencies were stolen from late night to early morning today, May 20th. They further stated, “Please be assured that all of your lost passwords will be covered by our company and we will inform that all of your assets are being held and moved to a secure cold wallet.”
However, until users have enough money deposit and withdrawal services, cryptographic transaction services and other services involving mobility of assets will be temporarily stopped.
Prior to this, they had released a post of an emergency declaration for suspension of password money deposit services which announced that due to an increased number of security threat attempts, they are in the process of changing the crypt wallet system. Currently the world’s 6th largest exchange, Bithumb is surely having a tough mid-week as they also requested the customers to stop payments until they are notified of the deposit at the Vittim password exchange address. Payments cannot be processed until the deposit system is completed. despite all the chaos and blames imposed on the exchange by the users and the market speculators, they have been handling it pretty well as of now and look forward to a speedy and safe recovery.


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Latest Cancer News
By Kelli Miller
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
Still, more and more evidence suggests that all cancers have a signature, or even a scent, that can be detected early. Now, researchers worldwide are testing simpler methods to spot the subtle signs of:
Some tests are already available.
"During the past couple of decades, scientists have learned a great deal about the cellular and molecular changes that distinguish cancers from normal tissues," says Ted Gansler, MD. He's the director of medical content at the American Cancer Society. "Most professionals who follow the field of cancer screening and diagnosis are excited about the implication of this … in eventually reducing cancer deaths."
Here are a few cancer detection methods that experts say are worth watching.
Breath Tests for Cancer
Your breath can reveal many clues about your health, and not simply whether you brushed recently. The air that you breathe out has hundreds of different chemicals, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Many studies have shown that exhaled breath from people with lung and breast cancers has a distinctly different panel of "odors" or VOCs compared to the breath of people without such cancers.
Decades ago, there were a few word-of-mouth reports about dogs sniffing out cancer in their owners. Since then, "a growing number of scientific studies support the accuracy of dogs in detecting chemicals released by cancers," Gansler says. Those include colon, breast, bladder, ovary, prostate, and lung cancer, among others.
Today, clinical trials are underway to find out if breath sensors and artificial noses based on dog-sniffing research can accurately detect certain lung cancers.
Peter Mazzone, MD, MPH, is director of the lung cancer program at Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute. He has studied breath and urine tests for lung cancer with encouraging results. "Our results have shown around 85% accuracy in distinguishing those with cancer in high-risk patients," he says.
The tests are fairly simple and pose no risk, according to Mazzone. You just breathe out, and sensors in the equipment pick up your unique "breath print." The odors in the breath sample are captured by the system and change colors when exposed to specific chemicals.
"Easy detection is the key," says Hossein Borghaei, DO. He's the chief of thoracic medical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where a lung cancer breath test clinical trial is being done. "Exhaled breath collection is cheap and can be applied to a wide population relatively quickly and at low cost."
Study co-author J. David Beatty, MD, says it's possible that checking for VOCs in women without obvious symptoms "will help find breast cancer earlier and result in improved outcomes from treatments." But he cautions that it's too early to consider such testing as a replacement for mammograms. Beatty is the medical director of the clinical and bioinformatics program at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle.
Saliva Tests for Cancer
Breath odor aside, the mouth itself has long been considered a gateway to a person's health. Bacteria inside the mouth not only trigger cavities and gum disease -- they may also reveal certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer, which often goes undetected until it has progressed.
A simple swab of saliva might help better diagnose early pancreatic cancer. Research presented at the American Society of Microbiology annual conference in spring 2014 found people with pancreatic cancer have different types of bacteria in their saliva compared to those without cancer or those with different pancreatic diseases.
Michael Bouvet, MD, FACS, is co-director of the GI cancer unit at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center. He's been involved in clinical trials of a saliva test for pancreatic cancer, and he hopes the research will lead to an easier way to track people at risk for pancreatic cancer.
"We're getting some results that look very promising," he says. "Our preliminary data has found that the saliva of patients with pancreatic cancer has lower levels of certain bacteria and higher levels of other ones."
Clinical trials have also been done or are underway to find out if saliva tests could be used to diagnose or detect someone's risk of oral cancer.
Blood, Stool Tests for Cancer
All cancers shed DNA into the bloodstream. Many different blood tests, or "liquid biopsies," are being developed to spot these genetic pieces, as well as proteins, tumor fragments, and other biomarkers, specifically linked to cancer.
"Much of the basic cancer research of the past few decades has focused on identifying the DNA, RNA, and protein changes that distinguish cancer cells from normal cells," Gansler says. "Technology has allowed scientists to detect these changes in samples of blood, urine, and feces."
Recent studies have found that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was successfully detected in people with early-stage:
Some biomarker blood tests for cancer are already available.
Red blood cells and DNA changes related to colorectal cancer also shed into the GI tract as stool passes out of the body. Now, an easy-to-use test is available to detect these abnormal signs long before colorectal cancer changes show up in the bloodstream.
In August 2014, the FDA approved Cologuard, the first fecal DNA test. Current screening recommendations do not include the use of Cologuard, but experts say it expands the options available for colorectal cancer detection.
As technology improves and scientists learn more about the makeup of cancer, screening tests will continue to evolve to detect earlier and smaller cancers, even pre-cancers -- some that may never become life-threatening.
"It is important to develop methods that accurately predict which of these early cancers are genuinely serious, and which patients can safely avoid side effects of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy," Gansler says.
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©2014 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.


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This is a Blog for those interested in following hard after His heart. Those willing to strive to live a moment by moment life as we go through the transformation process with Him. It is not an easy life but the Father expects each of us to become an offering for His pleasure. So, if this is you, then let’s journey together hand in hand. I am humbled that you have chosen to walk with me. Thanks!
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03 April, 2016
Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — Mark 4:1-20
Study 8 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 4:1-20
1.What does this parable teach concerning
(a) the reasons why even the teaching of Jesus failed to produce fruit in the
lives of many of the hearers; (b) the method by which the kingdom comes in this
present age; (c) the criteria by which true success is measured in gospel
2.‘He who has ears to hear, let
him hear’. Is the Word of God finding entrance into my heart (verse 15)? Is it
taking deep root (verses 16, 17)? Am I allowing some other crop to mature in my
heart (verses 18, 19)? What measure of fruit is being produced in my life (verse
20)? Cf. Heb. 3:7, 8.
1.A new method in Jesus’s
teaching begins here. The first parable
is itself an indication of the purpose of teaching by parables. See verse 13. Such a method brings hearers
under judgment, and finds out the truly responsive. The real cause of blindness
to the truth is unwillingness to repent and to be forgiven. Those who, as disciples, are responsive are
given fuller understanding. See verse
2.Verse 11. ‘The secret’ or ‘mystery’
(AV and RV); this is not something which cannot be understood. Rather it is something specialty disclosed by
divine revelation to those who are ready to understand it. ‘The secret of the
kingdom of God’s is the content of the gospel of Christ. Cf. Eph. 3:4; 6:19.

domain: literature


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The StandDesk was produced by millennials, is marketed directly at millennials, and also has actually been gobbled up by millennials in outstanding volumes. While it carries a ten-year guarantee (the lengthiest of any Chinese-made base), in this case it’s not necessarily a dependable indication of the expected valuable life of the training columns. For the price, the StandDesk is a terrific lower-cost option to the UpLift, Jarvis and also various other Chinese-made desks. In spite of its security issues this is a far much better item than the Autonomous SmartDesk or IKEA Bekant could ever before intend to be, and also a good value generally. It’s the mid-priced offering in the wide category of Chinese-made workdesks that is winning over customers from both its cheaper and also costlier peers.
StandDesk Building, Setup, and Gadgets
Developing the desk is rather direct if you adhere to the thorough guidelines. Every one of the screws, screws, washing machines, and also spring washers been available in different bags that are noted with their destination: tabletop, structure, and also spares. There’s an included hex tool for securing every one of the bolts right into the structure, or, pop in a hex little bit into your power device– simply beware not to over-tighten.
Every one of the parts have an excellent quality finish to them with rounded corners to prevent cut hands. Below is a shot of all the screws that are secured to the leg assembly– it’s not going anywhere!
The foot setting up likewise consists of height-adjustable rotation equipments to maintain the front-to-back movement of the desk, which was extremely practical for the carpeted office floor. I’m likewise making use of a floor mat to secure the rug from chair wheel damage at resting height, as well as push the chair when I’m transitioning to standing elevation.
The deluxe controller deserved the investment. The switches are all variable pressure programmed, suggesting the backwards and forwards arrows will certainly readjust the height by 1/10th of an inch with a solitary press, or continuously adjust the height by around 0.7 inches per 2nd if you hold the button for 2 seconds. The memory buttons are similar in layout: press to recall the elevation setting, or hold the button down for 5 seconds to store a brand-new elevation value. I’m making use of switch 1 for my sitting placement and also button 4 for my standing position, which provides me 2 and 3 for anything I could need in the future.
Utilizing my Standdesk
I have actually been using the brand-new workdesk for a few weeks and also have made a note of my first perceptions:
The motors are quiet yet can be heard in the next area over. It takes possibly 25 seconds for the desk to totally shift from sitting to standing based on my presets.
I utilize an Ergotron side-by-side check arm (especially this LX design), creating the desk to obtain a little rough when I change my weight versus the key-board. In hindsight, I need to have bought the bar upgrade for my desk after establishing the weight of my screens. If you prepare to do a dual monitor setup, obtain the bar.
Because gravity compresses the discs in a human spinal column, I need to raise the desk higher in the morning as well as reduced it at night.
An anti-fatigue floor covering is definitely important for long period of time standing. I acquired an Octagonal floor covering from SmartCells, making use of rubber “cells” that are visualized below.
Regardless of any kind of issues I might have had with the handset or the cookie-cutter layout, pretty much every one of those problems washed away when I really came down to utilizing this thing.
I really did not believe it was even possible, the StandDesk in some way manages to be even much more stable than the Jarvis, both at resting and standing elevations. The majority of days I like to run my Jarvis at max elevation while pressed against my wall surface; not necessarily since it’s that shaky, but even if I want as much security as I can get.
The StandDesk one ups the gambit also better, confirming to be just as steady on its own at standing height as the Jarvis is with wall support. This is all without the company’s bar addition, which they declare includes even more stability when purchased as a part of the plan deal.When it involves weight resistance, the StandDesk shares yet much more stats with the Jarvis, being rated for up to 350 lbs of weight ability.
I have actually been using the desk for concerning three weeks currently for day-to-day job (and also complying with standing desk ideal techniques), whether it’s typing out evaluations similar to this one from our desktop computer or a laptop computer every so often. The desk stands up well against non-coastered drinks, as well as the finish on top of the desk still feels equally as smooth as well as slick as the day I opened it in spite of days of perspiring wrists wresting on it and also several wipe downs with a dustcloth.
I never ever intentionally try to damage any desks as well hard, during some lighter examinations (tossing a set of keys onto it from a distance, for instance), it still held up without as well numerous visible signs of damages.
When I gauged the noise result of the workdesk while it climbed from a sitting setting to standing as well as back again, it was by much the quietest we have actually tested. I can hardly get it to make greater than concerning 9.5 dB of sound, so if your largest concern is the whirr of your motor, this is absolutely the one for you.
Currently, normally I do not include much about the customer service assistance of any kind of given company, just since I feel that in general if a product functions the way its intended to, I shouldn’t ever before have a reason to call them to begin with. And also while I desire I might say that was the case during my experience with StandDesk, I merely can not finish this evaluation without pointing out the many, relatively unlimited problems I encountered trying to get my desk created.
For starters, the desk I was sent out didn’t have any kind of memory mobile phone included originally, which indicated I had no other way of in fact managing the up/down function on the desk itself. I called StandDesk regarding this problem, that got back to me around a day later on with an apology and also a pledge that a new one would certainly be shipped soon.
Standdesk testimonial handset
The source of all our issues …
Regarding four days later a phone showed up in the mail. The phone at first turned on, however it had not been long before I discovered that none of the programmable switches worked, nor did the down switch, but for some factor the “memory” button dealt with the down feature just great. I called the company once again, and they apologized for the mixup and said they would certainly have a new panel and also control box out to me within the week.
Over two weeks later on my brand-new panel as well as control box got here. As soon as I mounted them both the desk ultimately started functioning the way it was supposed to, but not after practically a month of waiting as well as back and forth with a business that could not keep in mind to ship a core part of their product inside the same box from the outset.
Things to Consider
Despite its bankable features, this stand workdesk likewise has its own drawbacks. Because no particular stand workdesk might capture all of the attributes that you may need, you might think about these in your decision-making.
Absence of a Bar as standard
Not having a stabilizing bar is certainly not a deal-breaker, especially taking into consideration some of our other preferred workdesks such as the Completely Jarvis additionally do not have one. Actually, this workdesk does have one if you want, yet it is a paid add-on (much more on this later too).
The crossbar is seen by some as a hindrance, making it more difficult to place your legs conveniently below the desk. Others, on the other hand, discover that they provide added security, usually essential when desks are totally prolonged.
We have not check out any kind of issues of the stability of this desk, so we don’t believe its something to truly be worried regarding, although if you really desired a desk with a bar after that we advise you take a look at the Varidesk ProDesk 60 Electric.
StandDesk does offer a different add-on crossbar that you can add to the workdesk on your own, just for an extra $49.95.
The security of a standing desk is one of the most important facets of these desks. Without a stable workdesk you’ll locate it difficult to concentrate, which could lead to you ending up being less thinking about using the desk at standing height. To get the best return on your financial investment, you’ll intend to more than happy when making use of the desk.
Due To The Fact That the StandDesk Simple is the initial desk that I have tested with an optional cross support, I will certainly break down my security tests right into 2 sections. Both examinations will certainly include the common front to back shaking test as well as a left to best wobble. The very first will be without the cross assistance as well as the second will certainly be with it. Just to note, StandDesk.co claims that the enhancement of the cross assistance can increase stability by up to 15%. I have no suggestion exactly how they thought of that number.
Without Cross Assistance
Left to Right: The wobble test was a various scenario. StandDesk Simple was the 2nd workdesk that I evaluated that wobbled at the bottom with weight on the desktop. The first was the IKEA Bekant. By the time it reached 36″ the rocking movement was bad. Beyond this point it would impact your job.
With Cross Support
Front to Back: Adding the cross support does not impact the rocking activity. The StandDesk Simple started to experienced a shaking activity at 36″. By 41″ the rocking movement misbehaved.
Entrusted to Right: Including the cross support to the StandDesk enhanced the wobble movement for lower elevations. With the cross assistance the wobble movement didn’t begin till you got to 35″. By 39″ the wobble motion came to be poor.
Keep in mind: It’s extremely crucial with adjustable standing desks to fully tighten all equipment. If there is hardware that is not totally tight, the motion experienced when extended to standing height will certainly be exaggerated. This is especially real with a desk frame that consists of 32 screws, there are much a lot of factors at which the desk has a possibility to move.
Like all the Chinese bases we have actually checked in our labs, we have to narrow our suggestion on the StandDesk Pro to much shorter customers with narrower desktops, as the stability simply isn’t there for a large mass boosted high off the ground. American-made desks will be much better matched to these applications, and also for a relatively obvious reason. Essentially all American-made bases are made in US factories that are had by Swedish, Danish or German business that developed this industry, and their ordinary people are a great deal taller than the typical Oriental consumer, so they started making longer-stroke training legs a very long time back. And they have even more robot automation, laser-cutting devices, and also large experience making standing workdesk bases, needless to say.
But if you’re not as well tall, don’t have an extreme amount of heavy equipment on your desktop, and do not need as well wide of a desk, the StandDesk Pro will certainly provide you great value.
All that might transform with Yu’s guaranteed StandDesk Pro 2.0 style that he expects to release sometime in the future. Originally we were informed we ‘d see it by June 2018. More than a year later it has yet to materialize, as well as Yu states he’s had problem getting the item top quality he requires out of a number of Chinese factories he’s attempted working with. The new style is apparently going to be much easier to construct as well as have a heftier bar design, to name a few improvements. He states the brand-new base will certainly be used in both a “T-Leg” as well as “C-Leg” arrangement, minimizing our worry about side-load stressing on the training columns.
If this new base ever before comes to market we’ll upgrade you below. We’re not holding our breath any type of longer as the most current news on the business is that Yu shut the little Los Angeles workplace and has actually transferred it to join with all its various other employees in southeast Asia.
In the meantime, a new $399 standing desk with impressive efficiency has actually been present with the new joint endeavor in between US-based iMovR as well as China-based Eureka, the i1 electrical standing desk. While restricted in dimension and also shade choices, it has actually taken the mantle away from StandDesk’s long-ago standing as the most effective standing desk under $400.

domain: design


text:
Mapanica Workshop: Using Mapillary for Urban Cycling
This post is a translation of Selene Yang's original post in Spanish. Selene is a social communications major from Nicaragua doing research in communication, urban mobility, public spaces and policies. She recently joined OpenStreetMap and her work is focused on community building from a gender perspective and inclusion of women in OpenStreetMap.
In February, Mapanica—the OpenStreetMap community in Nicaragua—organized a workshop at the Co-Labora co-working space. The focus was on tools that could be used by urban cyclists in Managua to empower them to map their surroundings and contribute to make the best map in the world.
Among other activities at the workshop, we discussed the importance of photo mapping for updating OpenStreetMap with better precision, adding information such as places of interest, the quality of the streets, and many other things that are important to outline on a map.
Many of the people that participated in the workshop were cyclists but not necessarily mappers. So the workshop introduced the basic tools for mapping, the different perspectives to identify public spaces, and how the different spaces and access to public roads give way to everyday mobility in a city, shaping the way citizens move and interact in their daily routines.
Joyful urban cyclists at the Mapanica workshop
The workshop was also an opportunity to showcase different projects like Repubikla from Mexico—a tool that helps visualize space through cartography, built in an open and collaborative way. For instance, you can pinpoint incidents such a robbery and run-overs, or the best routes for cyclists. Also, the community has recently started to use the hashtag #CrucesNegros (Black Crossings) to recognize dangerous crossroads for cyclists (and pedestrians). The Repubikla initiative has gotten support from Mapillary to help them gather 360° street-level geo-located photography.
All set for capturing some street-level photos
After we had gone through the different tools, we also gave the group some tips about what to do and not to do while photo mapping. We divided the group of participants; some stayed to learn how to use the Field Papers methodology and the rest of the group went out to the streets of Managua to get their first experience using Mapillary.
Here are some of the traces the group captured while photo mapping the streets of Managua. The route was spontaneous around the Colonia Centroamérica where the workshop took place.
Even though the photo mapping activity was not the whole focus of the workshop, the participants found the Mapillary application to be a good way to map and help OpenStreetMap and to create an excuse to go outside.
I would like to say thanks to all the participants at the event and Mapillary for the bike mounts which enable bikers to better map the streets of Managua.


A man in his forties has died after being hit by a lorry on the M5 motorway near Tewkesbury.The collision caused major hold-ups on the motorway because police closed two lanes for several hours.
Gloucestershire Police are appealing for information about how the pedestrian came to be on the motorway.The man was pronounced dead at the scene.Police are appealing for witnesses.
More top news
A man is in hospital after a camping gas cylinder exploded in his van in Bristol, ripping it apart.
A hedgehog found in a fire engine building in Weston-super Mare is heading back after spending the winter at a wildlife rescue centre
Showers fizzling out generally across the South West and cloud breaking up to allow sunny spells, a calmer day and warmer temperatures.


Simultaneous charging: Powerful station supports charge up to 3 Playstation 4 Dualshock 4 controllers simultaneously
Unique skin and design: Stylish black and red surface, light-weight design charging station with Blue LED light for PS4 Controllers - nice Light Effects in the dark
High quality: Rubberized feet ensure a non-slip and secure stand, matte surface reduces the susceptibility to scratches and marks
Magnificent design: Perfectly fit for PS4 controllers awesome ps4 accessories, dirtproof when not using them
Description: Have you ever been vexed when you were in the mood playing with your ps4 while your controllers' battery was exhausted? You don't have to worry about pausing your gaming to charge a controller-the DualShock 4 Charging Station for PlayStation 4 helps you game longer!
Easy to use: it is quite easy to use. All you need to do is simply put your controller on the base just like "dropping" the controller onto the charging dock.
Tripple Controller Charging Port: with slots for up to 3 DualShock 4 controllers, you can always leave a spare controller on the charger in case of running out of electricity.
Fashionable appearance: black and red color and matte surface reveal your elegance and delicacy.
1 x PS4 Charging Station
1 x USB cable


2022-23 Wildcat Athletics Recap
The 2022-23 year was a fantastic and exciting year for Wildcat Athletics! The year saw the Wildcats compete in postseason tournaments in 10 sports, make appearances in two championship games, and earn the right to host four postseason tournaments, including the Wildcats’ first-ever Softball Championship Tournament, the Men’s Soccer West Division Tournament, the Women’s Basketball West Division Tournament, and the Men’s Lacrosse Semifinals. The Wildcats brought golf back to campus for the first time since 2011, debuting a golf team that finished sixth at the NAC Championships.
During the 2022-23 academic year, 150 SUNY Poly student-athletes earned awards or honors. The list of honors included 40 All-Conference Awards, 64 All-Academic Team honors, 22 Chi Alpha Sigma Honors, one NAC Player of the Year, one NAC Defensive Player of the Year, and one NAC Senior Scholar-Athlete. One Wildcat, Wakeley Banker, was honored with the most prestigious award given to a SUNY student; the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Wildcat student-athletes were chosen as NAC Players of the Week 21 times, and one player, Carter Romansky, earned an All-Region nod.
This season saw a pair of long-standing career records broken. Molly Burdick finished her illustrious career at SUNY Poly with not only her fourth career appearance in a Conference Championship Game but also broke the career points record (1,924) and the career rebounds record (1,103). Burdick, a three-sport athlete at SUNY Poly, also became the seventh player in program history to surpass 100 points for the women’s lacrosse team. She finished her lacrosse career with 125 points.
At the annual Wildcat Athletics Banquet, each team honored their best student-athletes with a Blue & Gold Award and a Most Outstanding Player Award. Joseph Killian and Trinity Critelli won the Scholar-Athlete Awards for the highest GPA amongst student-athletes. Abus Mohamed-Ali won the Play of the Year, and Molly Burdick won the Performance of the Year. Wakeley Banker and Molly Burdick won the Wildcat Male and Female Athlete of the Year Awards after completing their careers as two of the best performers at SUNY Poly. The Wildcats also honored the graduating seniors and Chi Alpha Sigma recipients at the banquet.
This season was another solid, hard-fought, competitive season for Coach Peterson Jerome and the Wildcat men’s soccer team. The team finished their regular season with an 11-5-3 record and a 7-0-2 record in NAC play. Their success in the regular season earned them the right to host the West Division side of the NAC Championship Tournament. The postseason berth was Poly’s eighth in the last 10 seasons. The Wildcat’s run ended in the West Division Championship game with a 1-0 loss to the SUNY Delhi Broncos.
The Wildcats were well-represented in the NAC post-season awards. Five players earned All-Conference honors. Wakeley Banker was the Defensive Player of the Year, the Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a First Team selection, and the Wildcats’ representative on the Sportsmanship Team. Abus Mohamed-Ali was the NAC Player of the Year and a First Team selection. Edward Greene and Matthew McCord were Second Team selections. Kevin Ryan wrapped up the Wildcats’ awards with a Third Team selection.
Wakeley Banker not only wrapped up his career with honors on the field but also with one of the highest honors off the field. Banker was named a SUNY Chancellor’s Award winner for Student Excellence. He was one of two SUNY Poly students to earn the honor this year and he is the second SUNY Poly student-athlete in as many years to earn the most prestigious student award in the SUNY system.
The SUNY Poly women’s soccer team had a solid season in 2022. First-year Head Coach Jeff Hallenbeck and the Wildcats went 7-4-4 in the regular season with a 4-2-3 record in conference play to earn the #2 seed in the West Division. In the postseason tournament, the Wildcats lost a close 2-1 game to Cazenovia in the first round to end their season.
The Wildcats were well represented in the NAC post-season awards with five players earning individual honors. Quinlan Gowett earned First Team All-Conference honors. Hanah Shipley and Katelynn Truax were voted to the All-Conference Second Team, Kaitlin Daley was a Third Team selection, and Montana Wolf was the Wildcat’s representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
The SUNY Poly men’s cross-country team enjoyed a regular season in which they won the Wildcat Short Course Invitational and finished in second place at three invitationals (SUNY Canton Invitational, Wildcat Classic Invitational, Cazenovia Homecoming Invitational), and in third place at one invitational (Steven A. Ward Invitational). Joseph Killian paced the Wildcats for most of the season, being a consistent scorer and having multiple high-placing finishes. After Killian, Spencer Daley, De’Von McClendon, and Aidan Brown also enjoyed success, consistently scoring for the Wildcats and helping the team secure high-placing finishes.
In the North Atlantic Conference Championships, the Wildcats finished in 6th place, with Joseph Killian finishing in the top 20 at 28:37.9. In addition to the NAC Championships, the Wildcats also sent seven runners (Joseph Killian, Spencer Daley, Aidan Brown, Caleb McDermott, De’Von McClendon, Noah Breedy, Jack Mohat) to the NCAA Regional Championship hosted by the University of Rochester.
In addition to a strong season, Joseph Killian was also the Wildcats’ representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The SUNY Poly women’s cross-country team competed in nine races during the 2022 season, highlighted by a second-place finish in the Wildcat Classic Invitational in which the team finished with a score of 60 points. The second-place finish was the highest finish since the 2018 season. In the second-place finish, Lauren Phetteplace finished with a time of 27:71.1 and Ruchika Kilaparty finished with a time of 29:48.3. Phetteplace and Kilaparty would finish in the top two slots in each race for the Wildcats, followed by Roselea Claeys who saw impressive improvements with her times as the season progressed.
In the postseason, the Wildcats finished in 7th place in the North Atlantic Conference Championships, with a team score of 170. Five Wildcats (Lauren Phetteplace, Ruchika Kilaparty, Rosalea Claeys, Lauriana Beras-Burgos, Jennifer Walike) ran in the race, with Phetteplace leading the way with a time of 26:44.6 and recording a top-20 finish. The Wildcats also sent four runners to the NCAA Regionals hosted by the University of Rochester.
After pacing the Wildcats with a strong senior season, Lauren Phetteplace was selected to the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
The SUNY Poly women’s volleyball team showed improvement over the course of the 2022 season, being competitive in NAC play and fighting in matches until the end of the season. The Wildcats did not qualify for postseason play, but look to keep their end-of-the-year momentum rolling into the 2023 campaign.
Emma Draper was named to the NAC All-Conference Third Team for her solid play all year after being the best statistical player for the Wildcats this season. Draper led the Wildcats with 165 kills, a team-high .185 hitting percentage, and 31 service aces. In addition to that, she also had 34 blocks and 107 digs. Sabrina Trimblett was the Wildcats’ representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
In the first season of varsity mixed golf competition, the Wildcats competed in eight events in the fall. The team had a solid regular season, culminating in a sixth-place finish out of 11 teams at the NAC Championship Tournament at Waterville Country Club. The Wildcats saved their best for last, recording their best team score (330) of the season on day two of the Championship Tournament. Three players also shot their best rounds of the season at the NAC Tournament. Isaac Falk, James Lynch, and Eric Perricelli each shot a season-best 78 in their last round of the season. The return to varsity golf competition was much anticipated after the program was halted in 2011. Coach Brian Noggle and the Wildcats will look to build on their successes from the 2022 season next year.
The SUNY Poly women’s basketball team once again enjoyed a successful season, finishing above .500 on the season (15-13) and going an impressive 11-3 in North Atlantic Conference play. The Wildcats earned the #2 seed in the NAC Tournament, hosting two home playoff games against NVU-Johnson and SUNY Cobleskill. The Wildcats defeated NVU-Johnson 64-50 before beating SUNY Cobleskill 51-45 in an electric back-and-forth game in front of a packed crowd. The Wildcats would lose in the NAC Championship to Maine Maritime, who represented the NAC in the NCAA tournament, 71-55. Molly Burdick and Lyrik Jackson were selected to the All-Tournament team for their outstanding postseason play.
Three Wildcats were also selected for NAC awards. Molly Burdick was selected to the NAC All-Conference First Team. Lyrik Jackson was selected to the NAC All-Conference Second Team. Allison Osborn-Smith was the Wildcats’ representative on the Sportsmanship Team.
To wrap up Molly Burdick’s exceptional career, she became the SUNY Poly women’s basketball all-time leader in points and rebounds.
The SUNY Poly men’s basketball team had a solid season in 2022-23. The Wildcats went 13-13 overall with an 8-6 record in NAC play. They had some great wins late in the season, especially down the stretch when they beat #1 SUNY Delhi 73-68 at home and avenged an early season loss to Cazenovia with an 82-70 win on senior day to wrap up their regular season schedule. Their strong regular season finish gave them the #3 seed in the West Division side of the bracket. Their first-round matchup with #2 Cobleskill, unfortunately, ended with a 70-55 loss to the Fighting Tigers, who would ultimately fall to the NAC Champions, SUNY Delhi.
Senior Jesse O’Dell had a fantastic senior season, culminating in a NAC First Team All-Conference selection after leading the Wildcats in both points and rebounds. Jarrett Wilbur was the Wildcats’ representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
Jesse O’Dell wrapped up his career by becoming the 9th member of the 1,000-point club at SUNY Poly. He ended his career at SUNY Poly in the top five all-time in scoring (5th), rebounding (3rd), and blocks (4th).
The 2023 men’s volleyball season was solid for the Wildcats despite tough circumstances. The team rallied behind two former players, Max Szuba and Garrett Hassard who stepped in to coach the team. The team went 9-15 overall in the regular season, but their 4-4 record in NECC play was enough to give them a playoff berth. The ‘Cats lost a hard-fought match in the first round to Potsdam to end their season.
Nathan Farnham and Jacob Wicher earned All-Conference honors. Nathan’s performance in the regular season led him to a spot on the NECC All-Conference Second Team. He had 697 assists 25 aces, and a team-high 151 digs as the Wildcats setter. Wicher was the Wildcats representative on the Sportsmanship Team.
The SUNY Poly men’s baseball team had a 2023 season with ups and downs. After a slow start, the Wildcats strung together a few wins in their Florida trip to come back with a 4-7 record. While conference play also had a slow start, the Wildcats went 5-5 over their last ten conference games to finish in 3rd place in the West Division of the conference, which also ended the Wildcats’ season on a three-game winning streak. With the wins at the end of the season, the 2023 Wildcats won their most games since the 2016 baseball campaign, finishing with 13. The Wildcats missed the NAC playoffs and hope to build on their momentum going into next season.
The Wildcats placed two players on the West Division All-Conference Team, and one on the All-Sportsmanship team. Freshman pitcher Jack Montanye finished the season with a team-high 5 wins on the mound, while also leading the team in strikeouts with 45 while pitching just over 40 innings. His 4.69 ERA was good enough to rank seventh in the NAC, and he finished third in the NAC in strikeouts. Sophomore Don Vento was again selected to the All-Conference team, hitting .356 in NAC play and having a .431 on-base percentage. Don scored the most runs on the team in NAC play, 14, and also led the team with eight stolen bases in NAC play. Zackary Morrison was the Wildcats’ representative on the All-Sportsmanship team.
The SUNY Poly softball team had one of the best seasons in the history of the program. The Wildcats opened their season with five wins in Myrtle Beach followed by a 10-game winning streak that stretched into mid-April. The ‘Cats swept Utica, Wells, Cobleskill, Canton, and Delhi in the regular season. Their only loss in NAC play was to Cazenovia in a series that they won 2-1 to clinch the #1 seed in the NAC West Division. The #1 seed gave the Wildcats the right to host their first-ever Conference Championship Tournament. In the Tournament, the Wildcats lost their first-round game to Thomas but bounced back with a 12-2 win over Presque Isle on Day 2. In their last game of the season, the Wildcats lost a barn-burner to Cazenovia who took a lead in the bottom of the sixth to earn a spot in the NAC Championship Game.
Five Wildcats earned spots on the NAC All-Conference Teams. Trinity Critelli and Kimberly Birmingham were First-Team selections. Seniors Gabriella Ellixson and Maddelyn Hoehn wrapped up their collegiate careers with Second Team honors. Joy Stevens was the Wildcats’ representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
Wildcat pitcher Trinity Critelli had a historic season on the mound for the Wildcats. She broke her own single-season strikeout record with 189. She was second in all of Division III with 11.3 strikeouts per seven innings. She also set the single-season wins record at SUNY Poly with a 16-4 record. She also threw three no-hitters this season, all in NAC play.
The Wildcat women’s lacrosse team took a step in the right direction in 2023. The team went 3-11, adding two wins to last season’s total. Two of the team’s wins were in NAC play. They had a 15-12 win over Farmington and a 21-5 win over NVU-Lyndon.
Molly Burdick wrapped up her career with a spot on the NAC’s All-Conference First Team after leading the Wildcats with 64 points on 53 goals and 11 assists. Kaitlin Kopcza earned a spot on the NAC Second Team after a solid first season with the Wildcats. She had 52 points on 43 goals and nine assists. Bridget Mooney was the Wildcats’ representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
The SUNY Poly men’s lacrosse team had a great 2023 campaign. The team got off to a solid 4-2 start in March with a pair of NAC wins. They stayed hot in April, winning six more games, including five more conference games. The Wildcats ended their regular season with a 7-1 record in NAC play, earning the #2 seed in the tournament and the right to host the NAC Semi-final at Wildcat Field. Poly lost that semifinal game 9-6 to the SUNY Delhi Broncos.
Seven Wildcats earned All-Conference honors at the end of the season. Lyle Beeman, Luke Taylor, and Ryan Sparacino were First Team Selections. Andrew Maycock, Steven Sullivan, and Joseph VanZandt were Second Team selections. Michael Baker was the Wildcats’ representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.


text:
Possible Barack Obama Running Mate Tim Kaine Not Pro-Life, Backs Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
July 29, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The talk around the water coolers these days concerns who Barack Obama and John McCain will pick as their running mates. Leading pundits say Virginia governor Tim Kaine is high on Obama’s list and some say he can help Obama overcome his extreme pro-abortion views.
A Tuesday Washington Post report indicates Kaine has had "very serious" conversations with Obama about joining the Democratic ticket and "ranks very, very high on the short list" according to sources close to the process.
Kaine virtues include the fact that he’s not a Beltway politician and won a gubernatorial race in a state where Republicans have dominated the presidential landscape recently.
Some observers have suggested that Kaine is pro-life on abortion and could take away votes from Senator McCain, who strongly opposes abortion. But that’s just not the case.
Kaine claims a personal, religious opposition to abortion, but nonetheless supports legal abortions. That’s not different from Democrats in presidential elections past like Mario Cuomo — who made famous the "personally opposed but" statement that has rankled pro-life advocates.
Kaine told the Washington Post, during his 2001 campaign for Lt. Governor, that he "opposes efforts to restrict abortions" and that he "opposes efforts to require a parent’s consent before a minor gets an abortion."
Then, facing more intense scrutiny in his 2005 gubernatorial bid, Kaine changed positions and said he favors abortion limits.
However, his flip-flop didn’t catch leading pro-life advocates off guard.
"When Timothy Kaine was running for Lt. Governor, he supported abortion," former National Right to Life political director Carol Tobias told LifeNews.com in 2005. "Four years later, after seeing pro-abortion Democrats continue to lose election after election, Mr. Kaine now sings a different tune."
Tobias says she doesn’t believe Kaine’s supposed change of position is real.
Kaine only became Virginia’s governor because pro-abortion state Sen. Russell Potts, a Republican running because he disagreed with pro-life Republican nominee Jerry Kilgore on abortion, siphoned off enough votes to let him win.
Kilgore also noticed Kaine’s true pro-abortion colors and called his attempt to moderate his pro-abortion stance disingenuous.
"It is a classic example of Tim Kaine recognizing the audience and delivering the message that the audience wants to hear," Tim Murtaugh, Kilgore’s press secretary said [in 2005].
"One the one hand he [runs] . . . down his supposed list of pro-life credentials and on the other he gathers with liberal Democrats at a fundraiser and uses all code words of the pro-abortion crowd," Murtaugh said.
Recognizing Kaine as the more pro-abortion of the candidates in the race, the directorof NARAL’s Virginia affiliate said, "Between these two men, we see more hope … in Kaine’s candidacy, and we are eager and willing to work with him on these important issues should he be elected."
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