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Report: Drake & Björk Appear on Unreleased Version of Kanye West's 'Wolves'
Kanye West’s “Wolves” continues to evolve. Originally, the song featured Sia and Vic Mensa, though The Life of Pablo version only includes Frank Ocean. Now, it seems there’s another iteration featuring Drake and Björk.
Cashmere Cat, the song’s co-producer reportedly spilled the beans on this collaboration via Snapchat. Then, a fan on KanyeToThe published screenshots of the supposed evidence on the forum (via Complex).
Drake has already made contributions to Pablo. The 6 God is credited as a songwriter on two cuts, “30 Hours” and “Facts.” He also reportedly helped Yeezy with “Father Stretch My Hands.” He came by to assist with “no strings,” a grateful Mr. West said last month.
This could also be a sign of things to come. Yeezus said that he’s planning to drop “new shit together” with Drake and Future “soon.”
West is also gearing up for the release of Turbo Grafx 16 this summer. He has already been in the studio with Kid Cudi working on the Pablo follow-up.

domain: celebrity


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President Donald Trump would win a 2020 presidential election contest against Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, according to a new poll.
The Morning Consult/Politico survey gave the Republican a 42 percent to 36 percent lead over Warren, the New York Daily News reported.
However, Trump would not defeat a generic Democrat -- 43 percent of respondents supported an unnamed Democratic candidate, with only 35 percent saying they would back Trump.
"Most presidents experience a honeymoon period in their first few months. It looks like Trump's is ending," Morning Consult Chief Research Officer Kyle Dropp told the Daily News.
The Trump administration has come under pressure in recent days as media reports and Democratic politicians have alleged he has ties to Russia.
On Feb. 14, Warren demanded an immediate inquiry by Congress into the President's alleged Russian connections. "A real, bipartisan, transparent inquiry into Russia" was necessary, she wrote on Twitter, according to The Hill.
"Our national security is at stake," she added.
She also raised questions about how much the White House knew about former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's communications with Russia. Flynn was forced to resign Feb. 13 after it emerged he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the content of a telephone call with the Russian ambassador in December.
Trump hit back against his critics at a press conference Feb. 16.
"Unfortunately, much of the media in Washington D.C., along with New York, Los Angeles, in particular, speaks not for the people, but for the special interests and for those profiting off a very, very obviously broken system," Trump said, according to The Huffington Post.
He denied suggestions that his administration was in crisis, saying instead that he had inherited problems from former President Barack Obama. His administration "is running like a fine tuned machine," he added.
Dropp is not so sure.
"The slate of bad news for the administration is catching up to him, although it's important to note that his approval rating remains sky high among people who voted for him in November," he told the Daily News.

domain: news


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With fantastic curtains and drapery each room acquires its glamour factor. In minimalist homes, inviting curtains and drapery bring a welcoming feel-good factor while luxurious ones produce “the Wow Effect”. The stylish roller blind systems are really cool.
Roman blinds, Cloud shades or Pleated Blinds when made from the finest materials are frequently a good alternative to a curtain.
In our own workshop the curtains and drapery are made to measure. In this way and with a cross-cutting system I am able to ensure that the curtains and drapery are delivered with the exact length requested. Those curtains where the accent is on lightness and fineness are then provided with a blind hem stitch. Moreover, there is no visible seam and the curtains are able to fall in a light and airy manner.
When the curtain material so requires, we wash the material before working on it in order to prevent subsequent shrinking.
The professional mounting of the curtain rods or track systems with the appropriate curtain designs frame your windows in a special way. Indeed, to plan the curtains and drapery in your home and to customise them to your requirements is an art in itself. It is important to me that our work – and the results of our work – precisely correspond to your wishes. The briefing concerning the correct product care takes place orally and also in writing. This is to ensure that your satisfaction with the window treatment is long-lasting.

domain: design


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[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]
"GO FOR GARY"
07/03/2014 (09:30PM - 10:00PM) (Thursday) : DATING IN 2014 - EVA AMURRI MARTINO "CALIFORNICATION" GUEST STARS - Danny (Chris D'Elia) and Justin (Brent Morin) compete for a girl's attention and the outcome is shocking. Meanwhile, the guys check their "Lulu" scores and Burski (Rick Glassman) uses the app in his favor. Bianca Kajlich, Ron Funches, and David Fynn also star.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: renewed through the 2015-16 season (the show's third) on 5/8/15
DESCRIPTION: (from NBC's press release, December 2014) Also moving from summer to midseason is the hit comedy "Undateable," from executive producers Bill Lawrence, Adam Sztykiel and Jeff Ingold. "Undateable" - about a group of friends who are close to finding a relationship but just need a little help - will begin its second season on Tuesday, March 17 at 9 p.m. following "The Voice." "Undateable" was tied for the highest-rated summer comedy on the Big 4 networks in the past seven years and was the most-watched NBC summer comedy in 10 years. The series stars Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, Bianca Kajlich and Bridgit Mendler.

domain: entertainment


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An Iranian court has ruled that the United States government and a number of individuals and entities should pay nearly $50 billion in compensation for their roles in the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport more than three years ago.
The 55th Branch of the Legal Court of International Relations of Tehran Justice Department on Wednesday issued the ruling against a total of 42 defendants.
The court noted that it issued the verdict after diligently reviewing the case seeking financial, moral and punitive damages linked to the assassination, and following three public hearings.
The Tehran-based court also highlighted that the decision was taken after a thorough examination following the complaints of 3,318 Iranian citizens.
The US government, former President Donald Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, the US Department of Defense, the National Security Agency (NSA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Reserve System as well as weapons companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon were among the people and entities found responsible for General Soleimani's assassination.
The courted ordered the defendants to pay a total of $49.77 billion in damages to claimants in the case.
They were condemned to pay $16.59 billion in damages to make up for the moral and monetary losses brought about by the assassination.
Additionally, the defendants were ordered to pay double the damages, totaling $33.18 billion, in order to deter future violations and ensure accountability for their actions.
Apart from financial penalties, the court ordered the defendants to publish an official apology to the plaintiffs.
The ruling, which was issued in absentia, allows for an appeal within a period of two months.
Lieutenant General Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), and their companions were assassinated in a US drone strike authorized by then-president Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.
Both commanders were highly revered across the Middle East because of their key role in fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
On January 8, 2020, the IRGC targeted the US-run Ain al-Asad base in Iraq’s western province of Anbar with a wave of missile attacks in retaliation for the assassination of Lt. Gen. Soleimani.
According to the Pentagon, more than 100 American forces suffered “traumatic brain injuries” during the counterstrike on the base.
Iran has described the missile attack on Ain al-Assad as a “first slap.”
Two days after the attack, Iraqi lawmakers approved a bill that required the government to end the presence of all foreign military forces led by the US in the country.
Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

domain: politics


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Play knowledge games with Timixi timelines in the classroom. The learning process is still in progress here but, fortunately, students don't sense it at all. Children can have a good time and don't have to rewrite texts to their exercise books, or stare at a mobile phone or computer display.
In Timixi, you can find a lot of sample timelines as well as a free tool to create your own. Those who have already tried teaching or learning with timelines, know about knowledge quizzes, automatically compiled from timeline data.
An innovation in the system is a feature to simply create playing cards for a board game. They are based on a set of events on given timeline. The game can take various forms - in the Downloads section, some game rules are ready for inspiration, but you will certainly have your own ideas.
The introduction to the game is the making of playing cards. Select a suitable timeline from the menu or prepare a timeline with your own set of events. To make the social game interesting, choose timelines with plenty of recorded moments. For a Timixi board game, there should be tens of events on the source timeline. - On the selected timeline page, just use the Board Game button to generate the playing cards.
Then, you can distribute printed source sheets among pupils in the classroom and instruct them how to make the cards out of them. There are two types of board games: with paired cards (double-sided - two pieces of each card are glued together, date on one side, event name on the other) or solo cards (one-sided - date and title are separately on different cards; you can leave the back side blank or use the supplied pattern).
Composing a timeline is one version of the game - we need paired cards. During the game, players try to place their cards in a timeline chronologically. The game can be arranged around a family table or at school desk. You can play it outside as well - players with cards represent individual events and together make a "human timeline". No other equipment than playing cards is needed (download the timixiLINE game rules).
Pick a pair is another variant of the game with timeline. Solo cards are used for playing similar way to the memory game you may know as Pairz or Concentration game. Thus, each event is represented on one card by a date, on another by a name. During the game, players reveal cards and look for paired cards with the date and name corresponding to the same event. The game will practice not only an awareness of the events of the topic, but also visual memory (download the TIMIXESO game rules).
If you choose your theme well (and put together enough events), the board game will be more personal and interesting. The topic may come from your classroom - interesting events during the school year: sightseeing tours, sporting events, musical performances, excursions, debates with interesting people. Children can then play “their” board game with friends on a school trip, scout bivouac, or sports camp.
Photo designed by FreepikPublished: 02/01/2019

domain: game


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Human rights group Karapatan on Tuesday denounced the Aquino administration for failing to solve the murders of 94 victims of extrajudicial killings by alleged paramilitary groups backed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as of Nov. 30, 2015.
“The regime’s monstrosity, that even children are not spared, speaks of the evil tactics of the counterinsurgency program of BS Aquino, Oplan Bayanihan. The attempt to pit the people in the community against each other ‘through winning the hearts and minds’ is simply sugar-coating its ‘divide and rule’ tactic. In truth, the AFP provides arms to those who can be used against its perceived enemies,” Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said in a statement.
Palabay dared the Aquino administration and security forces to enforce the arrest warrants against brothers Bobby and Loloy Tejero and Margarito Layno, suspects in the kilings of lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur, who were all members of the Magahat-Bagani group, accused of fronting for the 36th Infantry Battalion/4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
“We call on the Aquino regime to enforce the warrant of arrest against the members of the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary groups involved in the September 1 massacre of Alcadev executive director Emerito Samarca and lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo,” Palabay said. “It has been three months since the massacre yet, these AFP-backed paramilitary members and the AFP units responsible for the massacre remain scot-free and continue to sow terror in the lumad communities,” Palabay said.
Palabay said that atrocities against indigenous peoples still pervade with the latest victim being a lumad activist Mankombite Mariano, who was shot then hacked last Oct. 27 by the De la Mance paramilitary group in Bukidnon.
Mariano, 48, of the Talaandig tribe in the town of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, was on his way to pick some durian fruit along with 16 others, 12 of them are children. Mariano was hit in the left chest and left hip when the Dela Mance group fired at them.
Mariano’s grandson Ryan Olimbayan, 10, was hit in the left leg but was able to run away and hide. However, he saw how Manlumakad Bocalas of the Dela Mance group approached and hacked his grandfather in the head, left shoulder, and left thigh. Olimbayan survived the attack.
Palabay also reiterated the group’s call to disband all paramilitary groups and punish the perpetrators of human rights violations among its rank.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker lauded the military for doing “extremely well in winning the hearts and minds of tne people as shown by a Gallup poll.
Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Trenas was referrint to the survey of US-based polling firm Gallup highlighting the people’s rising confidence towards the AFP, from a mere 72 percent when President Aquino assumed office in 2010 to 82-85 percent confidence rating in 2015.
“As a result of internal and external threats, Philippines President Benigno Aquino III embarked on a military modernization effort shortly after taking office in 2010. This effort, along with military and government involvement in reconstruction after massive typhoons in the early 2010s, likely helped spur higher confidence in the military among the Filipino public,” stated the Gallup survey report entitled “Filipinos Give China’s Leadership Low Approval.”
The Gallup report which centered on how Filipinos feel toward the leadership of China and that of the United States was based on face-to-face interviews with 1,001 adults in the Philippines, aged 15 and older, conducted May 2015.
Trenas, vice chair of the House committee on good government, said that this Gallup report indicates that more and more Filipinos are beginning to appreciate the government’s effort to modernize the AFP with the acquisition of new military assets that will definitely boost the military’s capability not only in securing the country’s borders but also in conducting internal security operations.With Maricel Cruz


This is a .30-06 Springfield standard barrel from a 1952 Winchester Model 70 rifle.
Bluing - 85%. The bluing has some worn spots and blotches, particularly around a lightly rusted/pitted spot near the muzzle.
Metal - This barrel is in good condition. There is the noted rusted/freckled spot near the muzzle. The rest of the metal is in very good condition.
Bore - 9/10 - The bore shows almost no wear and only a few very light pits. Borescope verified.
We use the NRA Modern Gun Condition Standards Grading System for grading part conditions. You can read about it HERE


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People over age 65 continue to show up at the polls far more than any other age group. In the 2016 presidential election, for example, 71 percent of Americans over 65 voted. That amounts to over 33 million votes. A majority of older voters view heading to the polls on election day as a life-long civic duty. But as concerns mount over in-person voting in a pandemic in the presidential election on November 3, many older adults are likely to vote by absentee ballot, some for the first time.
Most states are making absentee balloting the norm this election year. Eight states, plus Washington, D.C., will mail ballots to 38 million voters, according to The New York Times. Absentee voting is allowed in another 34 states, affecting 120 million voters. In the remaining eight states, comprised of 50 million voters, an excuse is required for absentee voting. In total, at least three quarters of American voters will be eligible to receive a ballot in the mail for the 2020 general election.
The combination of millions of seniors voting absentee, the logistical challenges faced by states attempting to accommodate the tidal wave of absentee ballots, and the undercutting of the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail on time creates a perfect storm for con artists to target older Americans in schemes to steal their identities and money.
It doesn’t take much imagination to conjure up a few scenarios:
- A fake but official-looking government-issued envelope arrives in the mail, claiming to be an absentee ballot request and instructing the individual to complete a form requiring their Social Security number, date of birth, and even their bank account number. The instructions say a $10 administrative fee will be drawn to cover costs due to the pandemic. Even if a bank account number isn’t requested, the swindler has the means to open credit cards and other accounts in the person’s name, among other crimes.
- Individuals receive a phone call allegedly from the county election office, or the Republican or Democratic Party, claiming to offer assistance to expedite one’s absentee ballot to ensure it arrives before election day. All that is required is your Social Security number and bank account number so that they can be paid a mere $5 service fee.
- The above scenarios may even provide an official-looking ballot for the individual to complete as part of the special service being provided, so the voter may erroneously believe she has voted.
To prevent these and other similar scenarios, it’s important to warn and educate older voters about the absentee balloting process. While the process varies according to jurisdiction, there are a few “do’s and don’t’s” that need to be broadcast through every means possible.
- DON’T complete an absentee ballot request or an absentee ballot without confirming that it is legitimate. Call your local election board or confirm its mailing instructions on the election board’s web page.
- DON’T trust any offer to expedite the processing of an absentee ballot for a fee. There should never be fees associated with voting.
- DON’T trust any phone solicitation to assist or process your absentee ballot.
- DO call your local election board if you need assistance with absentee balloting.
- DO report any suspicious mail or solicitations regarding absentee balloting to your local election office.
- DO be sure to exercise your right to vote. Your vote makes a difference.
Here are a few resources if you need help:
- To confirm the legitimacy of the absentee ballot mailed to you or to report suspected wrongdoing, contact your local election office or your local Secretary of State Office election division. Find yours through the National Association of Secretaries of State at www.nass.org.
- If you have questions about your state’s voting requirements, you can also go to USA.gov at https://www.usa.gov/election-office to find your state or local election website.
- To report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission, go to IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-ID-THEFT. You also can report this type of government imposter scam at ftc.gov/complaint.
 U.S. Census Bureau, Voting in America: A Look at the 2016 Presidential Election, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2017/05/voting_in_america.html

domain: law


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Interesting Facts about Belize
Belize Interesting Facts
Belize, officially Belize, is a country in North America. Here are some interesting facts about Belize:
- The flag of Belize was adopted on 21 September 1981, the day Belize became independent. It consists of the Coat of Arms on a blue field with red stripes at the top and bottom.
- Belize is a tiny country in Central America that has a lot of interesting traditions and stories from the past.
- Almost all Belizeans can read and most of them can speak three languages: English, Spanish, and Creole.
- Out of all the countries in Central America, Belize ranks third in terms of per capita income.
- Belize is filled with 450 islands called cayes.
- Belize has very few people living in each square kilometer, only 15 people. This is the lowest compared to other countries in Central America.
- Belmopan is the capital of Belize and its name comes from the union of two words: “Belize” and “Mopan”.
- Belize has a special place called Cockscomb Basin Wildlife sanctuary where Jaguars can safely live. It's the only place like this in the whole world.
- Belize has very loud monkeys called Black Howler Monkeys. They are one of the loudest animals in the world, ranking in the top 10.
- Around 1 million tourists visit Belize annually.
- There are more than 400 different kinds of fish that live in the waters of Belize.
- It is bad luck in Belize to swim in the ocean or rivers on Good Friday.
- It is impolite to greet Belizeans by name.
- The currency of Belize is Belize dollar.
- The rainforest contains over 500 species of orchid.
- Mayan temple is the tallest building in Belize.
- Second largest barrier reef takes place in Belize.
- There are no skyscrapers in Belize.
- Belize once was part of the United Kingdom.
- The keel-billed toucan is the national bird of Belize.

domain: travel


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Looks like Drake is done with Moscato and ordering something a little stronger from the bar. The Canadian-rapper is coming out with his own American Whiskey called Virginia Black.
Virginia Black whiskey comes via a partnership between Drake and spirits maker Brent Hocking, the man who created DeLeon Tequila and later sold it to Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2014.
Drake first shared images of the Virginia Black bottle on his Instagram in March.
Click over for more.
The post Drake Debuts New Liquor Brand, Virginia Black Whiskey appeared first on Hip-Hop Wired.
Source: Hip Hop Wired


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MONTREAL – With our children back in classrooms across the country, school and health officials are making an urgent effort to vaccinate appropriate teens against COVID-19.
While there is certainly a lot to celebrate about what health officials have achieved over the past year, we have lost sight of some of the other school vaccination programs for hepatitis B, meningitis, and human papillomavirus or HPV caused by the pandemic.
In some regions, the abrupt end of vaccination programs in schools has drastically reduced uptake.
For example, in Alberta, fewer than 10 percent of eligible 12-year-old girls received their second dose of HPV vaccine in 2020, compared with more than 65 percent in 2019.
October 3-8, Canada is hosting its fifth annual HPV Prevention Week, an awareness and education initiative that encourages everyone to take action to stop the spread of HPV and related cancers.
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is responsible for almost all cervical cancer, but it can also lead to anal cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer, penile cancer, mouth and throat cancer, and genital warts.
It is estimated that up to three in four sexually active Canadians will develop HPV at some point in their life.
Efforts to help children catch up on missed school vaccinations such as HPV have been largely regional, sporadic, and ineffective. We anticipate that already overburdened public health authorities will struggle to generate significant profits.
In many cases, catch-up clinics are held in communities rather than schools, making parents responsible for making sure their child is up to date on their vaccinations.
In-school programs in all provinces and territories are the best and most effective way to ensure that HPV vaccination is readily available to every eligible child.
More should be done at the provincial, territorial and local levels to ensure that children who missed their first or second dose of the HPV vaccine are not left behind. This means providing the public health service with the resources to offer in-school catch-up clinics and to ensure that HPV vaccination is offered in schools during the 2021-2022 school year.
Parents can also help keep their child up to date with all routine vaccinations by contacting their local public health facility or health care provider, including a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
In 2020, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer launched the Cervical Cancer Eradication Plan of Action in Canada with the goal of eradicating cervical cancer by 2040.
The World Health Organization has set itself the goal of eliminating cervical cancer worldwide within the next century. Increasing vaccination in school HPV vaccination programs is a top priority to achieve this goal, and the lack of full cohorts puts it at risk.
“Canada has an ambitious but achievable goal. Vaccinating children against HPV today could help prevent more than 5,000 cervical cancer cases by 2040, ”said Dr. Craig Earle, vice president, fight cancer, at the partnership.
“Increasing vaccination rates is one of the best things we can do to ensure the next generation of Canadians are free from cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.”
Ending the COVID-19 pandemic should remain an urgent public health priority for Canadians. However, we must not beware of other serious health threats.
Eliminating cervical cancer in our lifetime is within Canada’s reach, and we cannot risk that.
Dr. Vivien Brown is Chair and Co-Founder of HPV Prevention Week in Canada and former President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC).
Dr. Jennifer Blake is CEO of the Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC).


Yes. In general, routers can and do fail. The primary cause of failure for consumer grade equipment is heat stress. Most consumer grade hardware runs far too hot and have respectively poor air cirulation compared to their ventilation needs.
How long do WIFI routers last?
In general, experts recommend upgrading your router at least every five years. Make that every two to three years if you use lots of smart home gadgets, or if you make a regular habit of buying the latest laptops, phones and other primary Wi-Fi devices.
How do you know when a router goes bad?
The most common problems are Internet traffic slowdowns, longer download times, frequent disconnects and poor signal strength in various locations around your home or business. You may also notice that certain router functions simply stop working.
How often should you replace your wireless router?
Generally, we recommend you upgrade to a new router every three to four years. That accounts for how often people typically upgrade devices like smartphones (every two years) and computers (every three to four years).
Do WIFI routers wear out?
Routers wear out from heat stress. The heat that comes from the router working to connect all of your many devices can damage wires and components inside. … The smaller the vents, the easier it is for the router to clog up and overheat.
Can a router be too old?
If your router is more than four or five years old, you should definitely think about replacing it. … A router that old may not support 802.11n, the most widespread Wi-Fi technology. Indeed, if your router tops out at 802.11g, you’re definitely not getting the speed and range you could be.
What is the most reliable WiFi router?
- TP-Link Archer AX11000. The best wireless router for most people.
- Netgear Nighthawk XR700. The best premium wireless router.
- Asus RT-AC86U.
- Linksys MR8300.
- TP-Link Archer AX90 (AX6600)
- Asus GT-AX11000 ROG Rapture.
- D-Link DIR‑3060 EXO AC3000.
- Netgear Nighthawk XR300.
Do routers get slower over time?
Conclusion. As you may now understand, routers slow down over time as the technology used become outdated, and the hardware becomes degraded. A software update would usually upgrade the security and functionality of your device. But if it’s been years since you replaced your router, now might be the best time to do so.
Is my router dying?
Your router may be dying if it drops the connections randomly but consistently. … If you are using a wireless connection, try moving the wireless device closer to the router to see if the connection is dropping due to interference. If the connection still drops, the router may be faulty.
Why does my router keep dropping internet?
You may sometimes find your router keeps dropping internet because of its frequent disconnection. The issue is usually caused by one of the three things – the old driver for your wireless card, outdated firmware version on your router (basically the driver for the router) or settings on your router.
Can you just replace your router?
Plain and simply; you can replace your ISP provided router with your own one. … You might want to look into getting a router that supports dual bands, or one that supports the new wireless standards. It all depends entirely on what you want your router to do for you.
How do I replace my router with a new one?
- Check Your Internet Connection.
- Place the Router.
- Connect to Power.
- Connect to Your Internet Source.
- Access the Router’s Web Interface.
- Connect Wired Devices.
- Connect Your PC or Device to Wi-Fi.
Will a new router improve my Internet speed?
A new router can speed up your Wi-Fi. What a new router can’t do is increase the speed of your internet plan. For example, if you have a 100 Mbps internet plan, even the fanciest router on the market can’t make your internet speeds go over 100 Mbps.
Should I restart router daily?
The truth is that there are no recommended intervals to reset your router. Most companies recommend rebooting your router at least every couple of months. If you’re ever wondering whether or not you could benefit from a router reboot, just go ahead and do it.
What can I do with old Wi-Fi router?
- Build a Wireless Repeater.
- Guest Wi-Fi Connection.
- Cheap Internet Radio Streamer.
- Use the Router as a Cheap Network Switch.
- Turn Your Old Router Into a Wireless Bridge.
- Convert Your Router Into a NAS Drive.
- Use an Old Router as a Web Server.
How much should I spend on a router?
It’s a much better deal to spend about $100 to $200 for a modem and router than to pay $10 per month for the rest of your life to rent a junky piece of hardware. And keep in mind that most broadband modems of the same standard offer the same performance.


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In a swift move to address the recent incidents of inappropriate activity in Collegetown, the Student Assembly met yesterday and resolved to cooperate with the Ithaca Common Council and the Cornell administration to work toward improvements in off-campus housing.
The S.A. passed a resolution to explore possible funding options for the creation of a comprehensive online off-campus database of housing records. Common Council member Michael Taylor ’05 (D-4th Ward) noted in particular that such a database could include the records of the building unit and complaints against the landlord in question, and that such records numbered in the “tens of thousands” but are currently kept in storage.
Unfortunately, Taylor pointed out, the city is severely under budget, citing its struggle to pay Cornell students’ work-studies, and in its current state, unable to take on such a project. Increased S.A. involvement could offset the cost necessary to pay for the creation of such a database.
Another proposal was to move the office of off-campus housing to better serve the students. The office is currently located in the Robert Purcell Community Center, where, for the majority of students, it is difficult to access.
Tim Lim ’06, executive vice president of S.A., said that “the office of off-campus housing is probably one-tenth the size of [Memorial Hall], and one-tenth the size of [the S.A.’s budget]. It could be a pragmatic decision to move the office off-campus and increase its budget.”
This resolution regarding off-campus housing, co-sponsored by Josh Bronstein ’05, vice president of finance, and Jackie Koppell ’05, senior student elected trustee, passed with no opposition.
Lim said, “With the passing of this resolution, we’ve finally taken a proactive role in the issue of off-campus housing. We are more able to give the resources they need to deal with this problem.”
Bronstein encouraged open dialogue about the issue throughout the meeting, acknowledging that it was a “controversial issue,” but that S.A. involvement was unprecedented. “This could be a fruitful use of S.A. money,” Bronstein said.
Common Council member Gayraud Townsend ’05 (D-4th Ward) noted that several years ago the S.A. had an off-campus life committee, as a sub-committee of its current ResLife committee, which worked on housing initiatives in the off-campus area. He suggested that the ResLife committee could be divided into two committees, one working primarily on off-campus housing and the other on on-campus.
“Collegetown looks raggedy, even though it is the gateway to the University,” Taylor said. “Our work here could contribute to improving its appearance as well.”
The S.A. meeting also dealt briefly with rumors that Napster was currently being funded by the assembly. The Napster service is currently being funded by an “unrestricted gift to Cornell University,” according to Michelle Fernandes ’06, vice president of public relations.
The S.A. emphasized that the budget for Napster next year would be made available later in the year. It will be determined by the Napster committee, which is open to feedback from students.
Later in the discussion of Napster, Bronstein said, “The administration may chip in for Napster [next year]. There is some talk that CIT may also help cover the financial cost.”
Additionally, in response to growing concerns about duplicate student organizations on campus, the S.A. brought a resolution to the table proposing the suspension of the financing procedures for those particular groups.
Lim said, “These are groups that have the same executive boards and the same mission statements as previously existing organizations on campus.”
The resolution was passed and it was decided that the Student Assembly Finance Commission would recommend and deal with cases of duplication.
Archived article by Julie Geng


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I’m doing this right now
Archive for the ‘Nutritional counseling’ Category
never have had a nutritionist outside of a treatment center but i know it would be a really big help. having one when I am in treatment helps me stay on track with my meal plan and helps me see food in a different way and hopefully gain a healthy relationship with food.
My dietitian encourages me to try new foods and helps me see that I won\’t just gain a ton of weight from eating all of my meals and snacks.
First attempts were not helpful because they were not tailored to my brain chemistry and actually made me sicker advising foods that were detrimental to me. Since receiving specialized advice with brain chemistry consideration, it has been miraculous.
This was a vital part of my treatment. The psychoeducation I received about dieting and body weight was crucial to me changing my thoughts about my eating disorder.
Along with that my treatment center had patients eat 2 meals and a snack there daily while in partial hospitalization program. We had strict meal plans with calories set based on our recovery plan and the expectation of getting that set amount of calories in daily. We did meal plans on a computerized system which assisted in retraining my mind as to what consisted of a meal because we had to make sure to plan an entree for each meal and a combination of food to add up to our set calories. I learned that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie no matter what form. A pound of broccoli does the same thing in your body as a pound of chocolate. [Editorial comment: That is, calorically speaking!] Of course you would be eating a lot more volume of broccoli to get a pound and it won’t be as enjoyable but it does no different in your body then that chocolate bar.
Without the help of a nutritionist to make a meal plan and to add further increases when needed I do not believe I would have ever got on the road to recovery. Having somebody else tell me what to eat and when and to explain the science behind starvation and the need for calories helped me a lot. Also my nutritionsist enabled me to work through unrational and destructive thoughts regarding my weight and diet myths.
Had OP nutrition consult 5 years ago briefly. And one consult about 2 weeks ago for body comps., but other than that, just usual in-patient stuff. I think my nursing background makes me not so clueless about the chemistry and physiology. I can look at a label in the store and easily determine the value of a food by glancing at the ratio of carb:fiber:protein:fat. My ED psychiatrist and therapist get more out of the IDEA that there is a nutritionist on the team than I do. So 2 weeks ago I had the body comps done to give the drs some numbers they wanted. Happy happy.
No, I do not currently have health insurance and it is not a priority for me.
Not helpful at all. I met with a nutritional counselor a couple of times during my years of treatment before recovery, and I found it only helped to add more rules to the foods that I “shouldn’t eat”. I think that unfortunately, those in the Health Care field, except those who specialize in eating disorders, really know very little about what an eating disorder is really about. It’s NOT about food!!!
it would have been good to work with a nutritionist one on one instead of through a therapist. My therapist spoke directly with the nutritionist and I only had secondary contact. I was given supervision for one meal each day for a total of three days. I felt this was vastly inadequate but unfortunately it was all that was available. I wish that I could have gone to a residential facility where support during and after meals would have been given

domain: medical


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Where To Start with and More
2 weeks ago aebi Comments Off on Where To Start with and More
Food preparation With an Instantaneous Rice Packet
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domain: food


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Here is what I cranked out:
Tuesday: 40 minutes, 13.5 miles. 20.22 MPH. Did a few fartlek style intervals where I would essentially pretend that I was being chased by a cougar. Stupid cougars…. No I don’t want another mojito and I DON’T like music by The Eagles! Jeesh.
Wednesday: 10 minutes on the bike, 15 minutes on the elliptical. The stupid bike was set on the “Hulk-a-maniac” hill setting and it wouldn’t budge. So, I couldn’t take it for any longer than 10 minutes.
Thursday: 45 minutes, 14 miles. 18.65 MPH.
I decided to switch to a morning routine this week for the first time in nearly 6 months. I had originally switched to nights to try to keep my body on one time zone (PHX to ATL). But with Arizona giving the middle finger to Benjamin Franklin and refusing to do daylight savings, there is now no need since it is only 2 hours difference.
The hotel that I am at here in San Diego is MUCH nicer than the hotel that I stay at in Atlanta - but for some reason the SD hotel is $10/night cheaper. Go figure. I’ve included an actual picture of the pool area. But, the great thing about a nicer hotel is that it has a MUCH nicer gym. All of the machines had TVs built in and…..wait for it…..they had a mini fridge full of slightly damp, eucalyptus scented towels. Let me tell you, if you have never had one of these – do it. Amazing! It was sort of like those old Sierra Mist commercials where the guy was sticking ice down his pants on a cool day. Glorious.
"The man" has been blocking blogs and everything fun at work and someone has been downloading lots of Paris Hilton at the hotel to clog up the internet there. I'll get caught up with all of my blog friends soon!


Liberals should learn from this display that there is no point in catering to today’s hard-line conservatives. The individual mandate was a conservative idea that President Obama adopted to preserve the private market in health insurance rather than move toward a government-financed, single-payer system. What he got back from conservatives was not gratitude but charges of socialism — for adopting their own proposal.
The irony is that if the court’s conservatives overthrow the mandate, they will hasten the arrival of a more government-heavy system. Justice Anthony Kennedy even hinted that it might be more “honest” if government simply used “the tax power to raise revenue and to just have a national health service, single-payer.” Remember those words.


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A second teen was charged with murder in the February shooting death of a 19-year-old man in Brooklyn Park, according to Anne Arundel County Police.
Devin Twigg, 18, of Nottingham in Baltimore County, faces murder charges in the shooting of Devin Freeman, who was found dead behind a Brooklyn Park funeral home on Feb. 27. Twigg is charged with first- and second-degree murder and assault, as well as armed robbery and various firearms offenses, police said.
Another suspect in the February shooting, Jaden Crowner, also 18, of Baltimore, was arrested in March on murder charges in connection with the homicide. Crowner was also charged last week in the shooting death of Walters Mpang Halle Elangwe, 29, a Landover man who was killed in Annapolis in 2020.
Anne Arundel and Maryland State Police investigators arrested Twigg in Baltimore County in March on an ammunition charge when they found a bullet among his personal items in his Nottingham home, according to court records. They had searched his home in relation to the Brooklyn Park homicide investigation, charging papers say.
He was charged in Baltimore County District Court and stayed in jail there until his charge was shelved last week. Then, he was transferred to Montgomery County on a violation of probation charge related to the arrest on the ammunition charge, court records say.
Twigg also faces a violation of probation charge in Howard County related to the March Baltimore County arrest.
His murder case in Anne Arundel was not available in court records on Wednesday, when Anne Arundel Police announced he was facing murder charges.
In charging papers filed against Crowner in March, police said he had met with Freeman after arranging to sell him marijuana over a social media platform. Crowner, who lived near the funeral home, was seen on surveillance footage meeting with Freeman at a nearby 7-Eleven before walking toward the funeral home, where “a struggle ensued,” the charging papers say. The footage showed Freeman falling to the ground, police wrote.
At the time, police did not mention a second suspect. Twigg was identified during an ongoing investigation of the case.
Both of the teens are being held without bail.


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Thursday October 25, 2017
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Join us every Sunday for our musical brunch featuring Cuban and Latin music performed live by Richard Padron and Michele Palmieri. Brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.; music from noon until 3 p.m.


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thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. this was fantastic, just what i have come to expect from this author and look forward to carrying in my book store.
Empire of Song - Li Chong is an expert arms instructor, a Master of Arms for the Imperial Army.
When she is condemned for a crime she didn't commit, she joins the bandits of Liangshan, the outlaws.
Drawing inspirations from a Chinese classic novel 'Water Margin', this is a story which antiheroic bandits rise up against a tyrannical government. In a civilization rotten to its core, the sworn sisters push the boundaries of society. Strict moralities don't fold well into the narrative as the characters are on the edge of discovery, which trust, loyalty and friendship are tested. They are likable and gray, whose interactions ranged from hilarious to infuriating.
Huang crafts a well-defined plot line that gets seasoned towards the end, infused with a refreshing exploration of the intersections of misogyny, politics, corruption and power. One recognizes the exhilarating moments of Wuxia, which the essence of martial marts and alchemy looms over the entirety of the novel. This is the kind of details that pleases lovers of Chinese culture - what I love most about this book and it feels utterly satisfying.
I appreciate the author's ability to dive into the haojie's (hero) mind and the conflict between law and justice is cinematic. With passionate writing, the cacophony of violence, sabotage, revenge and sacrifice feels like watching a Chinese drama. Typical of Wuxia, with frenetic pacing and slow in the middle to build the tension, the action-packed storyline rushes for a neat ending. If I had any issue with this book is that I had expected more depth to the characters, allowing one to be better emotionally invested in them.
Crossing between epic fantasy and Wuxia, THE WATER OUTLAWS is a queer and feminist retelling of a classic of martial arts literature. Equally devastating and powerful, this book is very enjoyable.
Everything about this book drew me in. The cover is incredible and the synopsis made me want to read this book immediately. This book delivers in every aspect. Lin Chong is such a fascinating character and I was immediately drawn into this story. I love political intrigue, outlaws, and tough women, This had it all. You need to read this! STAT!
I've been on a wuxia-inspired reading journey lately, between Parker-Chan's Radiant Emperor duology and now The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang and I'm really enjoying going in a slightly different direction with my Fantasy and Historical Fiction reading. Even though I lived in China for four years, I'm still a novice when it comes to the country's history and legends, so I can't wait to learn even more. Thanks to Tordotcom and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As some of you may know, I'm a Medievalist and work with medieval texts in Old Norse and Old English, mostly. But I'm also fascinated with texts written outside of Europe during the time we "traditionally" call the Middle Ages. The period 500 - 1500 (roughly) is a kind of demarcated period for Europe, but this time span is nothing special in Chinese history. Chinese culture goes back 4000 years and it has a completely different way of deciding where one period starts and ends. Usually this is linked to the various imperial dynasties, I think. I bring all of this up, because The Water Outlaws is a genderbent retelling of a Chinese vernacular text, Water Margin, which is dated either to the late 13th century or the early 16th. Water Margin tells the tale of a group of 108 outlaws, led by Song Jiang, who resist the empire from their hideout in Liangshan (the Liang Mountain) in the early 11th century. It's a fascinating tale and is considered one of the foremost early vernacular Chinese texts and I'm now very curious to read it. Not just because I'm interested in roughly medieval texts, but also because I'm curious to see the extent to which S.L. Huang adapted and changed the story, aside from the gender of the bandits.
Lin Chong is the Arms Instructor of the Imperial Guard, a position she achieved by working hard, obeying the rules, and accepting some of the limitations placed upon her as a woman. She doesn't complain, she is good at her job, and she is loyal to the Emperor. But despite her hard work, her male superior rips it all away in an instant over his own idiocy. Now Lin is marked as a criminal and injured, cast adrift. But she has friends, one of whom brings her to the mountain hideout of the Liangshan Bandits. The Bandits are a ragtag group of thieves and criminals who have managed to strike an odd balance between pillaging the countryside and considering themselves loyal to the Emperor. Lin has no real choice but to join them, yet she remains torn in her loyalties and her own morals. These are criminals; some of them are even cannibals! But they're also the first real home she's found and Lin will have to decide how far she's willing to go to defend them once the Empire's attention focuses in on them. While Lin is the technical protagonist of The Water Outlaws in my eyes, we also get the perspective of various other characters, such as her friend Lu Junyi, who is both socialite and seditionist but finds herself drawn into Imperial business; Lu Da, the Flower Monk who brings Lin to Liangshan; and more. I loved the differences between these characters and how it also came forward in some of the writing. Lu Da is very much a "punch first, think of some questions later" type and I adored her. Lu Junyi is a very conflicted character and I was fascinated by her. Her high birth and wealth has given her a certain kind of safety which she uses to dabble in seditionist literature, but once she's put to the test it proves harder to truly rebel.
S.L. Huang starts The Water Outlaws with a content warning, which is fair. The Bandits are a riotous bunch, some of whom were falsely sentenced, but many of whom are also hardened criminals. The violence of their exploits are at once explicit and yet, as Huang also states in their warning, it is not what the novel is about. The Water Outlaws strikes a rather nuanced balance, in my eyes, between dramatic actions scenes in which everything goes and countless die horribly and scenes of family, connection, and character development. Much like Lin, the reader has to decide for themselves whether these Bandits are righteous or criminal, but I found myself becoming very fond of them very quickly. I loved the chapters taking place in Liangshan but was a little less fond of Lu Junyi's storyline in the Imperial city of Bianliang (now Kaifeng), although it is a very interesting and crucial part of the story. I just adored the Bandits, what can I say. The push and pull between these two storylines, however, worked really well and I think the pacing throughout was really well done. There is also a mythical element to the story, of potential gods and divine powers which worked very well and brought an extra layer of urgency to the whole endeavour. I personally can't wait to read more by S.L. Huang in the future!
The Water Outlaws is a majorly entertaining and satisfying romp in history which hits the balance between action, character development, and myth just right.
Everyone needs to stop what they're doing and go read The Water Outlaws right now! I don't understand how just one book managed to tick all the boxes for me. Nothing makes me happier than reading stories about people who are forced outside of their day-to-day lives to be crafted into bad asses who stand up for what they believe in and fight like hell to make life better for themselves and others. It doesn't hurt that it was non-stop action, cover-to-cover either!
I really enjoyed this fiercely and unapologetic feminist book! I didn't realize initially was a retelling, but that makes me like it even more because I love a retelling and especially a feminist take.
This really is a powerhouse of a book! I love the vivid writing and it feels super cinematic, especially the fight scenes. It's action packed! I absolutely loved the friendships and found family. Also, give me any story fighting for justice against a fiercely patriarchal system and I'm in! The story really does suck you in.
There were a few things that weren't necessarily cons for me, but were distracting. First, some of the pacing didn't always hit for me. I would have preferred more consistent pacing. I did get a bit confused at times with the names and nicknames. Thankfully there's a character list at the beginning, but it was a little bothersome to go back and forth. Lastly, I wasn't expecting cannibalism. That's completely on me, I skipped the content warnings. So don't be like me and read the authors note and content warnings before diving in!
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend!
The Water Outlaws is a wuxia fantasy novel inspired by the classic Chinese novel Water Margin. The story follows Lin Chong, a skilled arms instructor who is framed for a crime she did not commit and forced to flee into the wilderness. She eventually joins the Water Outlaws, a band of bandits who are fighting against the corrupt and oppressive Imperial government.
The Water Outlaws is a powerful and timely story about the fight for justice and equality. Huang's characters are complex and well-developed, and the plot is full of twists and turns. The novel also explores themes of gender, sexuality, and violence in a thoughtful and nuanced way.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about The Water Outlaws is the way that Huang subverts traditional wuxia tropes. In many wuxia stories, the protagonist is a male warrior who is skilled in martial arts and fights for justice. In The Water Outlaws, the protagonist is a female warrior who is also a skilled strategist and leader. Huang also challenges traditional gender roles by creating a world where women are just as capable as men in fighting, leading, and making decisions.
Another thing that I appreciated about The Water Outlaws is the way that Huang explores the themes of gender and sexuality. The novel features a diverse cast of characters, including queer and transgender characters. Huang does not shy away from difficult topics, such as sexual assault and violence against women. However, she does so in a way that is respectful and thought-provoking.
Overall, I highly recommend The Water Outlaws to anyone who enjoys wuxia fantasy, strong female characters, and thought-provoking stories. It is a powerful and timely novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Here are some additional thoughts on the book:
The writing is strong and evocative. Huang does a great job of bringing the world of The Water Outlaws to life.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. I found myself rooting for Lin Chong and the other Water Outlaws.
The plot is exciting and suspenseful. I couldn't put the book down!
The themes of the book are important and timely. The Water Outlaws is a story about fighting for justice, equality, and freedom.
If you're looking for a great wuxia fantasy novel with a strong female protagonist, then I highly recommend The Water Outlaws. It's a book that you won't soon forget.
The Water Outlaws is a revolutionary feminist wuxia tale inspired by Water Margin, a novel written in Mandarin (the publication date of which is unknown, but which is certainly pre-1524). It follows Lin Chong, an instructor who works training soldiers for the Emperor, whose carefully constructed life of respectability is torn apart by a violently misogynist commanding officer. Fleeing, she finds herself amongst the Bandits of Liangshan, a crew of mostly women who consider themselves fighters for justice for the oppressed.
*I loved this novel.* Huang has so skillfully blended the conventions of wuxia, political intrigue, epic fight scenes, and complex & well developed magical systems that I wish I could go back a little bit in time so that I wasn’t finished reading yet. The plot drew me in and kept me interested, and the characters - in all their moral ambiguity - stole my heart. I so hope that Huang returns to Liangshan for a future novel.
*Content warnings:* sexual assault (on page), violence, murder, death, gore, injury detail, grief, misogyny, sexism, cannibalism (on page), torture (on page)
*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for this review*.
Okayyyy, I was in my political fantasy phase and this book was pretty good! This book is more action focused and there TW associated with this book so please do research before proceeding! I will say the pacing of this book is on the slower side and it does take some time to get into the book, but once the pacing becomes faster, the book hooks you in FAST! When reading this, the writing style was great and it's so well written that I was just immersed into it!
Thank you Netgalley and Tordotcom, for this e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang was utterly mind-blowing and I cannot stop recommending this book now I've completed it. I do understand it may not be a story for everyone, but it had all the elements of what makes a powerful novel that will linger long after the final pages. The characters are strong and fierce in their friendships and their convictions. They are flawed but they are determined to survive and for those around them to survive as well.
This story is inspired by Water Margin which according to the author is a Chinese tale which has been around generations longer than Robin Hood. However, since the English speaking world has had little exposure to Water Margin, the best comparison I can offer is Robin Hood and his Merry Men meets King Leonidas and his Spartans at the Hot Gates. There is blood and there is carnage because these women fight for what they love. They do not pull their punches and there are some fairly graphic scenes. I applaud the author for not toning it down as one might expect with a book led wholly by a cast of females, gender-fluid individuals, and gender-bending bandits. I cannot wait for our podcast episode to be released for this book on August 22nd on the podcast Books are Magical so more people can hear all about what we think about this phenomenal novel.
"The Water Outlaws" by S.L. Huang draws inspiration from magic martial arts (wuxia), bringing to life the fierce and ruthless band known as the Water Outlaws as they challenge the norms of Imperial society and the oppressive patriarchy that governs it.
A civilian expert arms instructor who teaches the military, Lin Chong's carefully constructed life is torn apart by a vengeful and petty man. When she is unwilling to allow him to assault her, he frames her for a crime she did not commit and ruins her life. Branded as a criminal, she joins the Bandits of Liangshan—a group of misfits and criminals committed to justice for the oppressed and marginalized. Huang crafts a tale of empowerment, as these women and queer characters seize control of their destiny and fight against a corrupt society. Lin Chong's journey from a rule-following arms instructor to a revolutionary is a testament to the power of women reclaiming their agency.
The novel is action-packed and immersed in a world of violence and corruption. Huang's storytelling captures the struggles and triumphs of those fighting for justice against insurmountable odds. It delivers a powerful exploration of defiance, camaraderie, and the fight against a deeply ingrained patriarchy. While the violence against women within the story may be difficult for some readers, the book's unflinching portrayal of its themes adds poignancy to its narrative.
Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for the eARC. This is an honest review.
TW: Cannibalism, violence, torture, murder, beating, mention of sexual assault without details
S.L. Huang’s latest novel, The Water Outlaws, garnered excitement from its announcement: it’s a retelling of the famous Chinese novel, The Water Margin (also translated into English as Outlaws of the Marsh or All Men are Brothers), with more women and genderqueer characters taking leading roles in the narrative. The Water Margin was originally written in the mid-14th century, attributed to Shi Nai’an, and tells the stories of a group of outlaws, fighting against a corrupt dynasty, who are originally pardoned to fight on behalf of the Emperor against an external threat. Huang takes that framework and focuses it into a tight narrative that really requires no knowledge of the aforementioned classic. It stands wonderfully, magically, on its own, with strong, complex characters and villains readers will love to hate.
[full review on Paste]
A feminist book that will excite you with non-stop action. I loved how all of the different characters are brought together to form this band of legends that come from all different walks of life. This story made me feel that, as a woman, anything is possible if I am brave enough to make it reality. This book is an absolute masterpiece built on the foundations of a traditional story. I felt like I was getting revenge on everyone who has wronged me vicariously through the characters in this tale. I absolutely loved every second. I highly recommend The Water Outlaws..
This book was amazing! The world building and magic along with fighting and weapons. This kept you on the edge of your seat. The pacing was so good. I loved the ending!! Chefs kiss. One of the best fantasy I've read this year, it's right under Fourth Wing.
I just reviewed The Water Outlaws by S. L. Huang. #TheWaterOutlaws #NetGalley
Gritty and thought-provoking, The Water Outlaws is a fantasy full of epic fights, magical artifacts, and heart-pounding heists carried out by strong, strategizing, gender-bending bandits.
Lin Chong is a respected master arms instructor. Her disciplined rule-following ways have yielded a quiet comfortable life that Lin Chong is content with, until an ugly incident leaves her wrongfully accused of treason by Grand Marshal Gao Qui, a close friend of the emperor. Stripped of her rank, banished from her home and branded a criminal, Lin Chong prepares to spend the rest of her days in custody, but then she is rescued by a group of rogue heroes known as the Liangshan Bandits. This infamous cohort consists of spirited rebels who believe in shaping a better empire by targeting those who would bring harm to the poor and needy. With the help of these radical warriors, Lin Chong learns to re-evaluate what is right and wrong and fights to make those who are wrongfully in positions of power pay for their tyrannical acts.
Gritty and thought-provoking, The Water Outlaws is a fantasy full of epic fights, magical artifacts, and heart-pounding heists carried out by strong, strategizing, gender-bending bandits. The cast of characters that make up the Liangshan bandits are the heart and soul of the novel. From calculating scholars to big-hearted himbos, Huang shines by making a group of morally grey characters easy to love.
Genre: fantasy, wuxia
Lin Chong serves in the Imperial Army as a master arms instructor, content to do her job and stay in line. An incident in the monastery condemns her, and when she escapes, she’s recruited by the Bandits of Liangshan, a group of women and queer identifying people who imagine a better world than what they are given: a place for progressive thinking.
Funny, reflective, adventurous and full of bravery. SL Huang said the goal was for an over-the-top cinematic wuxia drama, and Water Outlaws delivers. Huang takes a classic Chinese novel called Water Margin, and creates their own adventure. You don’t need to know the original story to have fun with this, though, as Huang breathes in life for the contemporary reader who may have little to no knowledge of Chinese literature. The wuxia adventure and magical elements make this a bright and fun fantasy. Yes, there are politics, religions, and war, but Huang blows them out of proportion to dramatic effect.
The audiobook is narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, who also narrated He Who Drowned the World, which I read in the same week. I was nervous about confusing storylines with the same narrator, but I shouldn’t have worried - the narrative choices and voices felt entirely different from the darker, grittier fantasy. I particularly enjoyed her narration of the Flower Monk, Lu Da, embodying the “eclectic patchwork of the human condition all by herself” as Huang describes.
The Water Outlaws is long, nearly 20 hours on audiobook, but a worthwhile and fun listen, with deep messaging on embracing your own identity and smashing the patriarchy, all while blowing things up.
Happy Book Birthday to The Water Outlaws!
This was a book of mixed emotions. I think the premise is great with quote unquote found family band of outlaws, politics, and the patriarchy. The action sequences were epic. The government corruption and the science experiments were by far my favorite part. Huang is a talented writer. The multiple POVs were very strong, each containing their own narrative voice. But herein lies where it starts to fall apart for me; there are sososo many characters and I unfortunately couldn't connect and love any of them. The pace was also excruciatingly slow in the beginning I very nearly dnfed the book. The action does pick up and yet the plot feeling aimless never quite goes away. This being a retelling really hurt this book that had a lot of potential to be great. I was hoping for this to be more of a reimagining rather than full retelling. To me, for historical retelling to shine in a fiction sense it needs to be willing to deviate from the original to create something new. The Water Outlaws felt stuck to the history in a lot of ways. If I wanted a retelling of historical value I would read a nonfiction.
Thank you to Tor for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed so much of this! I loved the focus on corrupt government and a group of female and/or queer outlaws who are determined to fundamentally change their world. The entire book is so well-written, especially the action scenes and the depictions of female rage.
The only things I struggled with are the fantasy elements and the desire to know more about the characters. The alchemy aspects went straight over my head (this is probably just a me problem) and I struggled to pay attention to them. I also wanted to know even more about the characters! All of them are so interesting with such unique and powerful backstories and sometimes it felt a bit surface level. It left me wanting more from them.
Overall, this is a solid book full of great characters and a great retelling of the Liangshan outlaws.
CW: sexual assault, violence, cannibalism
The Water Outlaws follows Lin Chong, an expert arms instructor who trains soldiers for her Empire. Lin Chong is a rule-follower, unlike some of her closest companions. That all changes when a powerful man makes a move on her and she rejects his advances. In his humiliation, he accuses her of attempted murder and tears her life away from her.
Ling Chong is sent away and goes on the run from the Imperial Marshall, but she is saved by a former student and recruited by the Bandits of Liangshan. These bandits are outlaws living in the mountains, and their goal is to stand up for outsiders, but they have their own agenda.
This book is fast-paced and has an interesting cast of characters, though I wish we had a little more time to learn more about the characters and their motivations. I am not familiar with the work this is based on, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment. I recommend this for someone who wants fantasy with less Western influences.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the e-ARC at the same time as listening to the audiobook. It made the experience so much more immersive and engaging! Plus Emily Woo Zeller is one of my all-time favorite narrators, and as always, she did a phenomenal job.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Tordotcom, and Dreamscape Media for providing an e-ARC and digital audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Good martial arts adventure! I also really enjoyed Burning Roses by this author so if for any reason you think this one may not quite be for you you should go read that novella. It’s more a fairy tale than the action driven story here so if one doesn’t suit you the other should. This one’s great for keeping you turning the pages to make sure things are going to be okay!

domain: library


As we covered earlier today, Roku’s biggest “cherry on the cake” update for these falls days of 2017 has been the new and highly compact streaming media 4K HDR stick that the company has unveiled. The device, known as the Roku Streaming Stick+, starts shipping as of October 8th and will feature the same full HDR10 + 4K UHD support as some of Roku’s premium 4K set-top media boxes, just with many less peripherals for connectivity. It will basically be a 4K Roku TV box lite in stick form.
However, while being the coolest new revelation from Roku, the Streaming Stick+ is just one of a number of cool new consumer-friendly updates from this growing company. Others include some major hardware and software improvements to existing products along with some excellent price reductions for some of them.
Starting off with Roku’s streaming media sticks, we already covered the new 4K HDR device here in case you’d like more details on it. As for the company’s low cost older stick streamers, they’re also getting their own cool updates. The 1080p Roku Streaming stick that currently costs $49.99 for this year’s model now gets a processor update for what will be 50% better performance according to Roku. Its remote control is also getting some useful voice functionality of the same kind as that found in the remotes for Roku’s premium set-top boxes. Power and volume controls for controlling these settings on a TV are also being included in the new Roku 1080p sticks.
As for Roku’s small full set-top boxes, called respectively by rising order of price and features the Roku Express and Roku Express Plus, they too will be receiving processor updates with something like the same 50% performance boost being promised. These little boxes will stay at the same prices, though the Roku Express will no offers a new $39.99 version (as opposed to its normal $29.99 price tag) that can connect to composite ports in older televisions.
Then we come down to the Roku Ultra, which is the company’s flagship premiere set-top 4K HDR-capable streaming media box. It won’t be getting any major hardware updates but its price tag is now sitting at an excellent $99. This is $30 less than what this device cost last year and a solid $80 less than the price of the new 4K-capable Apple TV. The Roku Ultra doesn’t offer the same Dolby Vision HDR support as the Apple TV now does but it still comes jam packed with thousands of media apps and what is arguably a larger selection of ultra HD content apps than its Apple rival. That’s a fairly good deal for a streamer that costs nearly half the price less than the Apple TV rival. Roku Ultra’s remote even comes with a “Find my Remote” feature and private listening integration via headphones.
Finally, as for the Roku TV platform itself, it too will be getting some interface updates and additional content offerings on top of its already enormous load of streaming media options which amount to a total of 5000 different content channels and some 500,000 different pieces of content (most of them in HD though). On the other hand, Unlike Apple TV with its now 4K-capable iTunes, Roku doesn’t have its own native content platform for either 4K UHD or HD entertainment. It instead depends on all those third party apps and especially on key content sources like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Go and others.
The single biggest Roku TV smart system updates for the 2017 version of the platform are those which have to do with over-the-air-TV. The new OS 8 version in the devices covered above will now offer search integration for both its own diverse streaming content versions of programming and their over-the-air TV versions if they’re available to your own television. The new Roku Smart TV update is free and will be coming to all Roku TV-enabled devices (including some awesome Roku 4K HDR TVs) for this year or last year throughout October and November.
These new Roku developments are almost certainly coming at least in part due to the increasingly heated competitive atmosphere of new developments and products for 4K ultra HD set-top boxes. First we have Amazon and its release of a new Fire TV dongle that offers 4K at 60fps with high dynamic range support in a more compact and affordable package than has ever been the case previously from an Amazon product. Then there’s Apple with its new Apple TV 4K set-top box which, while pricey, offers some of the best UHD content playback specs we’ve yet seen from any streaming box by any manufacturer on the market. In other words, while Roku’s existing 2017 roster of set-top and streaming media products has been excellent, the company still has its hands full with increasingly robust competitor offerings.
Story by 4k.com


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We’ll cope with Stewart loss, says Barrett
NSW assistant coach Trent Barrett says NSW have the depth to cope with the loss of Glenn Stewart for next month’s State of Origin decider.
Stewart was diagnosed with a partial tear to the medial ligament in his left knee late on Tuesday evening that will sideline him for between three and four weeks – ruling him out of selection for the July 4 encounter at Suncorp Stadium.
Barrett said earlier that the 2011 Clive Churchill Medal winner would be given up until the eve of the game to prove his fitness with the early prognosis claiming it may only be a strain.
But the club confirmed on Tuesday night that Stewart would miss up to a month.
Barrett admitted earlier that the 2011 Clive Churchill Medal winner’s unavailability would be a huge blow as the Blues look to win a first series since 2005.
“We’ll be okay but he’d be a huge loss. He’s a very important part of our side,” Barrett said.
Melbourne’s Ryan Hoffman and St George Illawarra’s Beau Scott would be candidates to replace Stewart, as is his Manly teammate Tony Williams who is recovering from a back injury sustained in Origin I.
“Ryan’s there and there’s also Beau Scott who has been there and done a terrific job for us before and T-Rex may be fit,” Barrett said.
“We’ve got some options.”
NSW back-rower Luke Lewis admits the injury to Stewart is a body blow for the Blues.
“We’ve got a great bunch of blokes and everyone gets on well and it wouldn’t be the same without him.”
“He’s played a lot of footy and played in a lot of big games and has been a vital part of the NSW team.”© AAP 2013

domain: sports


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The Holidays are such a fun and festive time to celebrate a new baby! Below are over 15 cute and clever ideas for throwing a Christmas baby shower.
Printable Merry Christmas, Santa, Tree wall art print. Click on picture to access.
img source unknown
This clever Christmas party favor idea is so perfect! Who wouldn't want cute socks and pretty polish?
Bundle up with ribbon or twine, add a favor tag, and you're all set! Can also be given as baby shower prizes to game winners.
I made up some printable "For Your Mistle Toes" Favor Tags Or Prize Tags - just print, cut and add to fuzzy socks! So cute! And perfect for any holiday, winter gathering!
Whip up some yummy and easy apple pies using mini pie tins and refrigerator pie crust!
Tie with a cute, rustic ribbon and wooden fork. Guests will love them - and they make the perfect winter-themed baby shower favors!
A favor that will get eaten and won't get thrown away!
Printable Christmas Bundle for Kids: Letter to Santa + 100 Coloring and Maze Activity Pages
Make this Christmas truly magical for your little ones with our delightful Printable Christmas Bundle!
This enchanting package includes a heartwarming Letter to Santa that sparks the imagination and adds a touch of whimsy to the holiday season.
As your children express their wishes and dreams in their letters, they'll be cultivating the joy and wonder that make Christmas unforgettable.
But the fun doesn't stop there! Our bundle also boasts 100 Coloring and Maze Activity Pages that promise hours of entertainment. From festive scenes to engaging mazes, these activities not only provide entertainment but also enhance cognitive skills, making learning a joyous part of the holiday festivities.
The Letter to Santa invites kids to articulate their Christmas wishes, fostering a sense of wonder and connection with the magic of the season.
Creative Learning Fun: The 100 Coloring and Maze Activity Pages are not only entertaining but also educational, promoting creativity, fine motor skills, and problem-solving, making this bundle a delightful and enriching Christmas gift for children of all ages. Download, print, and watch as the joy of the holidays comes to life in the hands of your little ones!
What a perfectly festive favor for a winter-themed baby shower!
Simply scoop some powdered hot chocolate into mason jars, top with marshmallows, and tie a mini bottle of Bailey's to each jar.
So cute and delicious!
A Winter Themed or Christmas Baby Shower is our favorite kind of shower to plan! It is a little easier to prepare for since your home is usually already decorated for the season!
There are so many cute possibilities! Here are a few to get you on your way to a beautiful winter wonderland baby shower!
So grab your ornaments, pine trees, wrapping paper, garland and lights ... and let's get planning!
Kate Aspen is a company that designs adorable party favors and gifts for all different occasions. We love it all and just had to share this amazing hot cocoa bar with you.
All of their cute stuff can now be found on Amazon - yay! You're on your way to the cutest Christmas Baby Shower ever!
If you are planning to set-up a hot chocolate bar at your next party, here are some yummy things to include:
To print this list - right click on the image and save to your computer. open and print.
The rustic look of this hot chocolate bar is so pretty! We love the round tree slab used and the shabby chic table - so cute!
You are busy hosting the baby shower and don't have time to make dozens of cups of hot chocolate.
Prepare a large batch the night before in the crockpot to save yourself tons of time!
To print this recipe - right click on the image and save to your computer. open and print.
We made this for you! Add to the table of the hot chocolate bar.
Simply click on the picture to open and print this 8x10" PDF file. Trim and place in an 8x10" frame and you're good to go!
I made these printable cookie swap tags for you too! Click on pic to print them out.
Tuck them into the baby shower invitations before you send them off and ask guests to jot down their favorite Christmas cookie recipe!
These don't have to be used for just a baby shower - use for a cookie exchange party too! Or deliver cookies to the neighbors and include the yummy recipe!
Set up a hot chocolate bar. Have a pot of hot chocolate ready, along with:

domain: artistic


Google teased a Pixel Tablet at I/O 2022, but didn’t reveal much besides a few renders and a vaguely positive description. It didn’t say whether it will support stylus input, but apparently it will – a Google tablet was certified by the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI). But there is no mistaking it, Google has only one tablet in the works – the Pixel Tablet. Official render of the Google Pixel TabletAs far as we can tell, no tablets support an USI stylus. It’s not clear which version of the USI standard will be used by the Google tablet, however.
Source: The Nation May 30, 2022 16:20 UTC


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Wonder Woman Convention Exclusive Flies to San Diego in her Invisible Jet!
A worldwide icon for over 75 years, Wonder Woman has captured our attention as a comic book staple, a prominent cartoon figure, a live-action television star, and this year she finally receives her very own live-action feature film. With each phase, Wonder Woman connects with fans of all shapes, sizes, ages, and genders – many holding dear the version of Diana that they first encountered. But this year, Bif Bang Pow! gives fans a limited-edition collectible that celebrates the many Amazon Princess looks we’ve come to love throughout the years with a Wonder Woman Evolution Pin Mate Wooden Figure Set with Invisible Jet – debuting at San Diego Comic-Con.
A limited edition created just for the convention, each 2-inch retro-style Pin Mate wooden figure is individually numbered within the DC Comics Pin Mate series and is highly detailed with bright beautiful colors all the way around the figure. Four wooden Pin Mate figures along with the Wonder Woman Invisible Jet are included in the set, and each figure shows the progression of Wonder Woman through the eras of her memorable legacy. Golden Age Wonder Woman (#36), Silver Age Wonder Woman (#19), New 52 Wonder Woman (#37), and Rebirth Wonder Woman (#52) all fit inside the Invisible Jet.
Help celebrate the incredible, groundbreaking years of this important and revolutionary character by being one of the lucky people who own this limited production of 1,200 figure sets – each uniquely numbered with the production run number on a holographic sticker. It is sure to be the envy of everyone you know, and did I mention it’s a limited edition? You need this set!
The first opportunity for fans to grab this limited-edition item will be at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20, 2017 in the Entertainment Earth booth (#2343)!
Not attending San Diego Comic-Con 2017? *Pre-order the Wonder Woman Pin Mate Set at Entertainment Earth now! This item will first be sold during San Diego Comic-Con 2017 at Entertainment Earth Booth #2343. If supplies remain after the show, pre-orders will be filled and shipped to you then – in August 2017.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.


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Hi, I'm Rebecca Vassarotti.
I am running in the seat of Kurrajong because I am passionate about our local community and want to ensure that we work together to build a great future for Canberra.
To do this, we need to work together to protect the things we love about Canberra while ensuring that we continue to evolve as a modern and sustainable city.
I am a born and bred Canberran, who has lived in Kurrajong for over 20 years. I have lived, worked and been part of the local community throughout this time. I love our beautiful bush environment and the people of Canberra who are generous and caring.
And while Canberra is a great place to live, we have more to do. That’s why for the last two decades I have worked and volunteered with community-based organisations on issues including gender equity, homelessness and affordable housing, gambling reform, drug and alcohol services and health issues including dementia and hepatitis.
I am running in the seat of Kurrajong because I know the decisions we make locally matter – they will shape our city for the next century, will determine how liveable this city remains in a changing climate and will determine how we continue to ensure we are a progressive and caring community.
I believe we need to work together to identify the solutions that best meet our aspirations as a progressive, equal and compassionate community.
I know we can make a difference. While we are small, Canberra can show the country and the world how to create a sustainable, connected and generous city.

domain: sociology


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A central review of a representative paraffin tumor block confirmed the histologic diagnosis. On the day of ablation, preablation radionuclide scanning with 80 MBq technetium-99m pertechnetate given was performed to assess remnant size intravenously, and the results were subsequently reviewed centrally. The use of technetium-99m, instead of iodine-131 or iodine-123, prevents spectacular ; imaging later was performed 20 moments.15 Also, thyrotropin was measured in the group undergoing thyroid hormone withdrawal to check on that the particular level exceeded an empirical 30 mU per liter, a prespecified cutoff value that was necessary for ablation .We are also in negotiations with many countries in European countries to conduct an identical trial. The marketplace potential in the EU is usually sustained than in the U.S. By up to 50 percent in patient people size by some estimates. The FDA has given ACT clearance to proceed with a Phase II trial, which is expected to begin in the first fifty % of 2011. The open-enrollment trial will target patients who are not qualified to receive angioplasty or coronary artery bypass medical procedures and have a poor quality of life regardless of the help of a pacemaker or defibrillator gadget.
A father’s like contributes more to a child’s development A father’s love contributes as much – and sometimes more – to a child’s development as does a mother’s love.


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Proud dentists in Vancouver for over 20 years. When you're ready to experience the difference Downtown Dental can make in your overall health and well-being, give us a call or request an appointment online today.
We are pleased to announce that we are now open for regular treatment. Please call or email us if you require an appointment.
With that in mind, we wanted to let you know that we have put proper protocols in place and have access to personal protective equipment for all our staff to serve you in a safe and healthy environment.
As healthcare professionals, dental offices are some of the most prepared to keep patients safe as we re-open – as we already follow strict infection control procedures in our regular practice.


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The Capital Region’s commercial real estate market in the past five years has shifted from a system dominated by a few big brokers to a diverse pool of smaller offices and team players. As post-recession business gains steam, that market is being eyed for its unplowed territory.
New firms are on the scene, offices are expanding and contracting, former heavyweights are getting knocked down, and growing pains have resulted in a long list of personnel changes with more to come.
The recent bankruptcy filing and acquisition of Grubb & Ellis Co., one of the nation’s largest brokerage houses, is the latest in a series of dramatic local shake-ups. In February, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, citing as causes the “2007-2009 meltdown of the financial markets” and a “slower-than-projected recovery of the real estate markets,” and was acquired by BGC Partners Inc.
Dennis Vollman, president of The Vollman Co. in Sacramento, says Grubb & Ellis got into trouble by taking on too much debt and not generating enough income. The acquisition spells the end for many of Grubb & Ellis’ Sacramento-area brokers, but it also creates space for Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank to expand into the property management sector.
New York-based BGC, which owns Newmark Knight Frank, would purchase most of Grubb & Ellis’ assets, including its Sacramento and Roseville offices, which employ about 40 people.
“The Grubb & Ellis acquisition will have significant impact on the local market,” says John Frisch, senior vice president and regional managing director for Cornish & Carey. “That’s 30 agents that have to find jobs. The property management division will continue to work for the new buyer, but agents are not included in that purchase. Everyone in town has been talking to the top-producing Grubb & Ellis agents. It’s created a recruiting frenzy for producers.”
The first big move occurred in early March — a team of Grubb & Ellis office specialists including top producers Tom Walcott, Kenneth Johnson, Jason Rutherford, Kris Reilly and Scott Bennett was picked up by Colliers International, a boon for the firm that’s seen at least three teams of brokers jump ship from local offices in recent months.
In the past decade, the Capital Region’s commercial real estate business was led by a few large houses — CB Richard Ellis Inc., typically in the No. 1 position, followed by Grubb & Ellis, Cornish & Carey and Colliers International. An exodus from Colliers, along with CB Richard Ellis’ loss of rising stars to other houses, produced major personnel remixes. In addition, some of the most significant changes in recent years have been the result of expansions at Voit Real Estate Services, Jones Lang LaSalle and Cushman & Wakefield Inc.
“Cushman & Wakefield entered the market with a small presence but expanded that considerably, mostly at the expense of Colliers,” Frisch says. “Cushman & Wakefield got a large office group from Colliers, and Jones Lang LaSalle recruited a large industrial (team) from Colliers, some of the highest producers.”
Colliers’ lucrative industrial team of Mark Demetre, Bill Niethammer, Matt Lofrano, Sean Merold and Mike Zimmerman moved to Jones Lang LaSalle in January 2011. A week later, Cushman & Wakefield nabbed Colliers’ office group of Ron Thomas, Kevin Partington, Bruce Hohenhaus, Chris Schwarze, Mark Tabak and Sean Mullen.
“Everyone in town has been talking to the top-producing Grubb & Ellis agents. It’s created a recruiting frenzy for producers.”
John Frisch, senior vice president and regional managing director, Cornish & Carey
In March 2011, Colliers’ eight-member retail team led by Jason Gallelli switched to Voit’s Sacramento office. The former Colliers group represented more than 50 Northern California shopping centers with 25 national retailers.
Randy Dixon, Colliers’ managing director, says the departures were part of a nationwide restructuring of Colliers’ business model. Nationally, Colliers has seen a 50 percent rollover as the firm switches from an individualized system to a team approach.
“There’s currently a re-branding of Colliers, and the structure
of the company has completely changed from a bunch of independent
affiliates to a competitive brand,” he says. “I’m liking what I
have right now. Having those big teams leave has opened up some
space for us to build our model.”
Some of the shifts can be attributed to the financial slump, and others point to a more organic transformation of the local corporate culture, Dixon says.
“The brokers in this market are a little behind the major markets nationally,” he says. “There’s more volatility in bigger cities, while Sacramento has historically been marked by a real loyalty to firms. Now, brokers are focused on moving to the best deal structure they can get, what the house has to offer and what’s negotiated.”
Dixon says the Capital Region’s commercial real estate market is maturing, and incoming national and global firms seek to launch with seasoned, local teams. “That starts to dilute the traditional houses,” Dixon says. “In order to start up offices, these firms are generally making investments, and that’s attractive to some. They take the first opportunity to move over.”
The movement of bigger-city players into the marketplace has also affected the financial structure of the industry. Many East Coast offices pay agents a 50-50 split on deals, but West Coast houses can pay as much as an 80-20 split to brokers, Frisch says. His office pays 60 percent to 70 percent to its agents.
“East Coast companies are becoming stronger out here, and the commission structure is different,” he says. “They give lower commission to agents. That’s going to be interesting. Brokers take it very personal when you mess with their payoff percentage because you’re taking money out of their commission check.”
That “East Coast mentality” could be taking hold in the previously staid Sacramento region, and the economic downturn means brokers are jockeying in a skinnier marketplace. Adding property management and other divisions to company offerings is widening the playing field for some houses, but volatility in the market will, for some, lead to slimmer, sleeker offices.
“There will be a cleansing of low-producing brokers,” Dixon says. “Mediocre brokers used to be able to join just about anywhere and hang on, but our economy won’t support it.”
This year could provide some of the first expansions in bank lending since 2008. So is the market back up to speed? No. But banks are slowly and smartly increasing their appetites for commercial lending, and the Capital Region will see its share of transactions.
With the real estate market in the tank, many investors are thinking twice about real estate investment trusts, or REITs. And that suits Jim Johnson just fine.


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Highway 965 and Scales Bend Road
Comment: Is there a link to the plans for Highway 965 improvements, specifically what Scales Bend Road and Highway 965 will look like when completed?
The current work, widening Highway 965 from Penn Street to Community Drive and from Zeller Drive to Fairview Lane, is a smaller part (“Phase 2A”) of larger planned improvements to Highway 965 (“Phase 2”). The Pheasant Lane extension, completed in September, was necessary to allow reasonable traffic detours during the Highway 965 Phase 2 construction next year.
We don’t yet have completed designs for Highway 965 Phase 2, but will before it goes out to bid, which is expected to happen this fall. Phase 2 work will flatten Highway 965’s banking where it meets Scales Bend Road, add turn lanes and traffic signals at the Highway 965 and Scales Bend Road intersection, and widen the highway from Scales Bend Road to Penn Street.
An overview of the project can be downloaded as a 4-page PDF.