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SEOUL — North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles off its west coast on Saturday morning, and hours later two American B-1B supersonic strategic bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula in the first deployment of its kind since 2017.
North Korea has launched as many as 85 missiles this year, more than in any previous year, including 23 fired on Wednesday alone. It not only tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile under development, but also fired a flurry of short-range missiles to counter the United States and South Korea as the allies stepped up joint military drills.
One such drill, code-named Vigilant Storm, which involved about 240 warplanes from both allies, ended on Saturday after a six-day run. The drill was scheduled to end on Friday, but was extended a day after North Korea launched an ICBM on Thursday.
The four short-range ballistic missiles on Saturday flew 81 miles, according to the South Korean military.
North Korea has typically protested joint military drills by the United States and South Korea, accusing them of preparing to invade, and cited them as a reason that it was building its nuclear arsenal.
But this year, its reaction has been more aggressive.
It has fired a burst of missiles during such joint military drills by the allies, launching them from across North Korea. By sending them from many different locations, even from an underwater silo, the North sought to demonstrate that it could thwart the allies’ missile defense system, military experts said.
Although the North Korean air force is chronically short of fuel and spare parts, it also sent up as many as 150 planes in an exercise last month, according to state-run North Korean news media. Three times since early last month, North Korean military aircraft have flown close enough to the border with South Korea for the South to scramble its own fighter jets.
North Korea has also fired hundreds of artillery shells and rockets into buffer zones north of the inter-Korean maritime borders that the two Koreas created when their leaders met in 2018. Both sides had agreed, as a tension-reducing step, not to fire rockets and artillery there.
North Korea may have gained a sense of empowerment from its growing nuclear arsenal, becoming increasingly daring in its military provocations, analysts said.
For their part, South Korea and the United States demonstrated their own combined air power superiority this past week, with warplanes conducting a record 1,600 sorties during the Vigilant Storm exercise.
On Saturday, two nuclear-capable B-1B Lancer bombers, taking off from Guam, the U.S. territory in the West Pacific, flew over South Korea, flanked by four South Korean F-35A fighter jets and four American F-16 jets, according to the South Korean military. The United States last deployed B-1B bombers over South Korea in 2017, when North Korea conducted its last nuclear test, as well as test-firing its first ICBMs.
The North Koreans are particularly sensitive about long-range American bombers over South Korea, after U.S. aerial bombings leveled their country to ashes during the Korean War in the 1950s.
Sending the B-1Bs, which had been scheduled in advance of North Korea’s Saturday morning missile launch, was part of Washington’s commitment to its so-called extended deterrence, including deployment of nuclear-capable military forces, to help defend South Korea against the North’s growing nuclear and missile threat.
Jitters over the North Korean nuclear arsenal have been rising in South Korea since North Korea adopted a more aggressive nuclear doctrine, openly declaring that it would use nuclear weapons if threatened. It has also conducted military exercises that it said involved the mock launching of nuclear missiles at South Korea.
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, views expanding his nuclear and missile force as essential to ensuring his regime’s security, increasing his leverage in future arms control talks with Washington and tipping the balance of military power between North and South Korea in the North’s favor, according to analysts.
When Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III met his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jong-sup, in Washington this past week, he warned that “any nuclear attack” by the North would “result in the end of the Kim regime,” according to a joint statement.
But North Korea vowed to respond to the “hostile” United States and South Korea “with the toughest counteraction,” according to a statement from its Foreign Ministry late Friday.
The war in Ukraine and tensions between Washington and Beijing have made Russia and China less cooperative when it comes to the United Nations Security Council imposing additional sanctions on the North. Both China and Russia are veto-wielding members of the council. That may embolden North Korea to test more missiles, South Korean officials said.
The post North Korea Launches More Missiles, and U.S. Bombers Fly Over the South appeared first on New York Times.


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TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Investing During an Inflation
Are you afraid to look at your investment statements? The S&P 500 was recently down almost 20%, while the US aggregate bond market index was down by about 8%, its worst quarter for bonds in 42 years. This is rather unusual, as stocks and bonds tend to behave the opposite of each other. However, there are times when an event causes downward pressure to both, which has been the case this year. While there are other factors impacting the markets, the main culprit has been inflation. In this article, we will look at some asset classes that could be used during periods of high inflation.
In March and April, inflation exceeded 8%, reaching a 40-year high. As a direct result, the Federal Reserve has begun the process of raising interest rates in an attempt to bring inflation down to its targeted rate of 2-3%. This economic environment of inflation and rising interest rates has adverse effects on both the stock and bond markets. As the Fed raises interest rates, the value of bonds falls. Inflation and rising interest rates put pressure on corporate earnings, so stock prices fall, too. For the typical 60/40 (60% stocks and 40% bonds) portfolio, there have been few places to hide, as the 60/40 portfolio has delivered one of its worst starts since World War II. So, what are some techniques to limit investment downside during a rising interest rate environment?
Six Investment Asset Classes
There are six investment asset classes that tend to be more resilient during an inflationary / rising interest rate environment. These are:
- Short-Term Bonds: The longer the term of a bond, the more sensitive it is to interest rate changes. Thus, bond investors should reduce their exposure to long-term bonds.
- High-Yield Bonds: These bonds are typically less sensitive to rising interest rates. However, high-yield bonds have lower credit quality, carry greater investment risk, and often behave similarly to stock investments.
- Floating Rate Bonds: These bonds have interest rates that fluctuate along with the interest rate environment (much like a Home Equity Line of Credit). Thus, these bond values are not as interest-rate sensitive. However, like high-yield bonds, floating-rate bonds typically invest in lower-quality credit and carry greater investment risk.
- Short-Selling Treasury Bonds: Short-selling Treasury bonds means investors sell Treasury bonds they don’t even own because they believe that bond prices will fall. This is considered speculative, extremely risky, and is typically used only by very experienced institutional investors.
- Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS): TIPS are government bonds that can help protect investors from inflation, as the value of TIPS will increase with inflation.
- Commodities: Commodities are goods used in commerce such as gold, oil, copper, lumber, etc., and these typically have a positive correlation with inflation. Thus, as inflation goes up, commodity prices typically rise in value. However, this asset class is typically very volatile and considered to be a risky investment.
Investing During Inflation
In conclusion, we all know the start of 2022 hasn’t been kind to investors and we understand that investing in an inflationary environment can be tricky. Simply put, there is no crystal ball that will tell you the market’s direction, but we believe these asset classes can help investors weather this inflationary storm.

domain: economics


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Judging Our Future: Supreme Women Move Up
by Sonia Pressman Fuentes
In my lifetime, this country has seen dramatic changes with regard to women on the U.S. Supreme Court bench. In a speech I gave 40 years ago on the participation of American women in professional and political life, I said, “No woman sits on the [U.S.] Supreme Court bench.”
Seven years after that speech, in late 1977, a play opened at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on its way to Broadway; it was later turned into a movie. It was called First Monday in October, and its plot turned on the appointment of a woman to the Supreme Court. The notion was regarded as inherently comic, and it was played for laughs. At that time, a woman named Sandra Day O’Connor was sitting as an appellate judge in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan selected Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court. She was later joined by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was named by President Bill Clinton and took her seat in 1993. Justice O’Connor retired in 2006.
In May 2009, President Barack Obama named Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court bench. She took her seat later that year, becoming the first Latina on the bench.
A year after nominating Justice Sotomayor, President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, and, after Senate confirmation, she was seated in August 2010.
The U.S. Supreme Court first assembled to organize itself on February 2, 1790, in New York City, then the nation’s capital. In 1792, the justices heard and decided their first case.
Since Elena Kagan took her seat on the Supreme Court on October 4, 2010, for the first time in this country’s history, three of our nine Supreme Court justices have been women. Justice Kagan is the fourth woman on the bench out of the 112 justices we have had so far.
So women have gone from zero percent representation during the Court’s first 191 years to 33 percent in the past 30 years.
We also have statistics on the percentage of women judges at lower federal court and state court levels. According to a spring 2010 report by the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society within the Graduate School of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, State University of New York, women accounted for 22 percent of all federal judgeships, including 28 percent of the active judges in U.S. circuit courts.
On the state level, the same study found that 26 percent of all state judgeships were held by women.
According to Equal Representation in Government and Democracy, as of July 12, 2009, 31 percent of the total number of justices on all of the states’ highest courts combined were women. In fact, in 21 states the numbers of men and women on the highest courts were about equal.
An amazing statistic is that 20 of our state supreme courts—38 percent—were headed by female chief justices in 2010. (There are 52 state supreme courts because Texas and Oklahoma have two supreme courts each, one for criminal appeals and one for civil cases.)
It’s interesting to look at information on women on the supreme courts of other countries. Unfortunately, we don’t have comprehensive information, but the International Association of Women Judges has advised me that a number of countries are ahead of the U.S. with regard to women on their supreme courts.
Currently, the chief justices of Israel, Canada, Ghana, Rwanda and Sierra Leone are women, and Brazil and Panama have had women as their chief justices in the past.
We don’t know how long Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will remain on the Court. She’ll be 78 years old this coming March and is currently our oldest Supreme Court justice. In 1999, she had surgery for colon cancer and in 2009 she had surgery for pancreatic cancer.
On the other hand, in April 2009, she told law students at a symposium at Ohio State University that she wanted to match the tenure of Justice Louis Brandeis, who served for more than two decades and retired at the age of 82. In an August 3, 2010, talk with the Associated Press, she said she was looking forward to being one of three women on the high court for the foreseeable future and had no plans to retire anytime soon.
She is, of course, a feminist icon who spent a considerable portion of her career as an advocate for women’s rights. In 2009, Forbes magazine named her one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.
The words of an anonymous African American slave preacher that Dr. Martin Luther King quoted on more than one occasion are equally true with regard to American women judges: “Lord, we ain’t what we want to be; we ain’t what we ought to be; we ain’t what we gonna be, but, thank God, we ain’t what we was.”
December 21, 2010
Sonia Pressman Fuentes, who lives in Sarasota, Florida, is a feminist activist, writer and public speaker. She was a founder of NOW and the first woman attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). She is the author of a memoir, "Eat First—You Don't Know What They'll Give You, The Adventures of an Immigrant Family and Their Feminist Daughter." Read more at her website.
Also see Women's Liberation: Looking Back, Looking Forward by Carol Hanisch in this edition of On The Issues Magazine.
See Feminist Thoughts by the Editors in this edition of On The Issues Magazine.
Join the conversation. Leave a comment.
All comments will be reviewed before being published. This is a space for thoughtful and critical commentary; any personal attacks, abusive or offensive language, off-topic comments or comments that may be harmful to the conversation or to readers will not be published. *All fields required.*


Not all muscle cars had giant V-8s and mimicked straight-line drag racers. Some identified with modest-engine racers built to compete on twisting road courses. The 1970 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda was one of these.
Of course, the production AAR 'Cuda couldn't be mechanically identical to its Trans-Am racing namesake. But unlike the Mustang Boss 302 and Camaro Z28, which also were built to homologate track cars, it didn't even try to mimic the pavement-hugging posture of its competition cousin. What Plymouth built was a street rod.
The AAR 'Cuda took its title from Dan Gurney's All-American Racers, the team that campaigned Barracudas in the Sports Car Club of America's popular competition series. Like the similar racing Dodge Challenger T/As, track AARs ran full-race 440-bhp 305-cid four-barrel V-8s and were lowered
and modified for all-out twisty-course combat.
And like production Challenger T/As built to qualify the cars for racing, street AARs used a 290-bhp 340-cid with three two-barrel Holley carbs on an Edelbrock aluminum manifold. Buyers could choose a four-speed or TorqueFlite, with a Sure-Grip axle and standard 3.55:1 or optional 3.91:1 gears. The engine breathed through a functional hood scoop.
The AAR's interior was basic 'Cuda, but its exterior certainly was not. From a matte-black fiberglass hood, through body-side strobe stripes and tri-colored AAR shield, to the standard black ducktail spoiler, this was an exotic fish. Special shocks and recambered rear springs raised the tail 1 3/4 inches over regular 'Cuda specs, allowing clearance for exhausts pipes that exited in front of the rear wheelwell (after routing through the standard muffler beneath the trunk). It also permitted use of G60xl5 tires in back and E60xl5s in front.
With its raked stance, oversized rear rubber, side-exit exhausts, and loud graphics, an AAR was better suited to a Saturday night at Burger King than a Sunday afternoon at Lime Rock. With a 56-percent front weight bias, handling was plagued by understeer, prompting Car and Driver to suggest "it might have been better to put the fat tires on the front wheels." But the AAR 'Cuda was strong in a straight line, and an eyeful anywhere. Just like a good street rod.
Return to Classic Muscle Cars Library.


It’s already been a big year for ’90s comic book superstar Rob Liefeld. 2012 is the 20th anniversary of Liefeld joining with some of the industry's top creators and forming Image Comics in 1992. Additionally Image has revamped Liefeld’s creator-owned imprint, Extreme, with new writers and artists and the results have been surprisingly good. The hits just keep on coming for the notorious artist as Variety reports that Bloodstrike, his 1994 series, is coming to the big screen. Expect big guns, impossible anatomies, a superfluity of pouches and a lack of feet.
News is that Adi Shankar’s 1984 Private Defense Contractors will be handling production duties. Shankar previously produced The Grey and is currently an executive producer on the upcoming Lone Survivor and Dredd 3D. This thing is really probably going to happen.
Bloodstrike is both the name of a character and a covert super-powered black ops team run by the government in Liefeld’s 1994 series of the same name. The catch is that this squad is already dead, brought back to life by the power of vampire blood. Extreme is the word of the day here and with the right director this could go from a bad idea to a really great guilty pleasure.


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Joint distribution of stock Indices: Methodological aspects of construction and selection of copula models
copula, stock indices, empirical Bayes, semiparametric approach, Metropolis algorithm
The paper discusses the practical aspects of modeling joint distribution of pairs of national stock indices via copula functions. Parameters of marginal distributions and the association parameter describing the dependence structure are estimated using empirical Bayes method numerically implemented with the help of random walk Metropolis algorithm. A comparison of parametric and semiparametric approaches to copula model construction is performed. The problem of selection of a class of pair copula functions approximating such empirical characteristics of stock indices dependence as Kendall’s concordance, joint empirical cumulative distribution function, and tail behavior.

domain: literature


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Sugar Baby Watermelon
60 -90 days to harvest from transplant
An early season variety growing nice small 6-10lb fruits, rich in sugary flavor! Perfect size for the refrigerator. Firm, fine-grained and super sweet. Easy to grow
1. Watermelon is high in lycopene
2. Egypt recorded the first watermelon harvest occurred around 5,000 years ago
3. Watermelon's scientific name is Citrullus lanatus of the botanical family Curcurbitaceae
4. This scientific name is derived from both Greek and Latin roots
5. Citrullus comes from a Greek word “citrus” which is a reference to the fruit
6. lanatus is Latin, and has the meaning of being wooly, referring to the small hairs on the stems and leaves of the plant
7. The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles
8. A watermelon contains approimately 93% water
Planting Depth - 1/2"
Seed Spacing - 5"
Days to Germinate - 7-15
Hill Spacing - 6'
Days to Maturity -87 days
Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds Heirloom firm red juicy & OH so sweet! Small 6-10

domain: food


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Energy 28 Nutri Packs
Energy 28 Nutri Packs 15pk box
- 24 Organic superfruits, veggies, sprouts and fruits.
- Golden Chlorella™ Omega, A complete nutrient-dense green food
- Organic Maca
- Bioenergy RIBOSE™
Golden Chlorella™ Omega is an ultra-pure microalgae, sustainably grown in the USA without chemicals. It is a complete nutrient-dense green food: 1,000 mg contains 500 mg of heart-healthy omega 3-6-9 and 200 mg of fiber, along with naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids and micronutrients.
Suggested Use: Shake before opening. As a dietary supplement, take one packet per day. Use Energy28 right from the pack or add to a water bottle, juice or a smoothie. May be taken more than
once per day when you need a natural energy boost.
Serving Size: 1 packet (1 fl oz / 29 ml)
Amount per Serving
Total Carbohydrates 4 g
Sugars 3 g
Golden Chlorella™ Omega 1,000 mg
Organic Maca Root Powder 525 mg
D-Ribose 500 mg
Rhodiola rosea extract 250 mg
Organic Natural Vitality Superfruit,
Veggie and Fruit Antioxidant Blend 200 mg
Organic superfruits: Noni, açaí, goji, pomegranate Organic veggies / sprouts: Alfalfa, broccoli, broccoli sprouts, carrot, daikon radish, kale, onion sprouts, peas, pumpkin, spinach, tomato Organic fruits: Apple, aronia berry, banana, blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, sweet cherry, tart cherry
Other ingredients: purified water, vegetable-source glycerin, organic agave nectar, citric acid, natural colors, malic acid, natural flavors, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (to preserve freshness), organic stevia extract, guar gum, xanthan gum.
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NOTE: Every Firgun product is unique. We only have one unit of each product. Once sold, it will not be back in stock.
Light pink chikankari hand embroidered kurta dupatta set with intricate all-over mukaish work. The lucknowi kurta, crafted in superior quality viscose georgette, features distinctive and intricate chikankari stitches of bakhiya, phanda and keel kangan.
The kurta has extensive chikankari jaal all over front and sprinkled chikankari floral bootis all over back. It comes with a matching chiffon dupatta highlighted with mukaish work.
Book this gorgeous piece for an upcoming wedding!
Colour - Light Pink
Fabric - Top - Viscose Georgette | Dupatta - Chiffon
Length - Top - 2.75 metre | Dupatta - 2.25 metre
Embroidery - Bakhiya, Phanda, Keel Kangan
Ornamentation - Mukaish
Thread - Pink Cotton
Time to complete - 4 months 12 days
Disclaimer - This product is hand embroidered and may have slight dissimilarities that are a natural outcome of the human involvement in the process. These minor variations of Stitches/Motifs add to its charm and ensure you have a unique product.
|Fabric||Top - Viscose Georgette | Dupatta - Chiffon|

domain: design


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Приобретайте UKVinyl издание альбома Situation Version / Keep Tracking Boy Friday / Our Band на Discogs. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from Boy Friday at the Discogs Marketplace. Boy Friday / Our Band - Situation Version / Keep Tracking (7"), J-Dan. Discover amazing music and directly support the artists who make it. Organize your group on BAND! It's the perfect group communication app, with features like the Community Board, Shared Calendar, Polls, To-Do Lists. Pet Shop Boys have sold more than million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo in UK music history in the edition of The. Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards). 08 Johnny Osbourne - Little Sound Boy. feat. Therefore it wouldn't be fair to put music in one box. digital release [markus records] tracks rygin king – keep up. Sell your music on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, Tidal, & Deezer! Get your music in + stores and keep all of your rights & revenue. Free sign up. Universal Production Music music catalog crafted for video and media use. Search music tracks, create playlists, music to license for your projects or. Keep Your Beat: Receive An Automatic Alert If Your Watch Detects A High Or A Low Heart Rate. Level Up Your Downtime: The Built-In Sleep Tracker Offers Valuable.
- Vivaldi Concerti Per Oboe Archi E Continuo F VII N 2 E N 5 Concerti Per Fagotto Archi E Continuo F V

domain: artistic


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|Virpi ja Antti Häkkinen
- Koivurannantie 85
- 51670 Nykälä
- +358 400 518266 Antti
- +358 500 518266 Virpi
Welcome to Koivurannan Lomamökit!
Koivurannan lomamökit is located in the countryside, in Haukivuori, in South-Savo, in the Lakeland Finland. We offer five well-equipped cottages; the great places to enjoy the peace of Finnish nature and beautiful views of Kyyvesi-lake. There are excellent possibilities to collect berries or mushrooms in nearby forests. Kyyvesi-lake is excellent for fishing; there are a lot of pike and zanders. In the winter there are ski track, a sledding hill and a barbeque hut. Cottages are on the shores of the lake, and there are a lakeside sauna and a rowing boat in every cottage. Our cottages are individual, so check out more about cottages by clicking photos.
Welcome to relax and enjoy beautiful nature of the Finnish Lakeland !
information and bookings by email

domain: travel


I am looking for a programmer to program some scripts to bypass captchas (Create the image database / characters) for the sites I list (such as digg)
Will be looking at long term work however this project will be to bypass the captacha image on [url removed, login to view]
Please only respond if you have worked with making similar scripts before.
- NO CHECK PMB MESSAGES
- Include your exact price for the script


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Gatineau Park, Quebec is absolutely beautiful year-round. Come summer, Ottawa-Gatineau locals venture to Gatineau Park for day hikes on the trails, bike rides, and caving. Way up in the hills you will find everything from epic views to secluded beaches and old ruins. There’s something around every corner, and Gatineau Park trails for every level of hiker.
Growing up in Ottawa, I have spent many days in the Gatineau Park myself, and have hiked all of the Gatineau Park trails multiple times. One of the amazing things is that the park is only 15 minutes from the downtown. These trails are definitely the best hikes near Ottawa. Once you’re on a trail, you would never know how close the city is.
We’re still waiting to see what Gatineau Park access with look like in 2021!
Hiking in Gatineau Park
Tips for Hiking the Gatineau Park Trails
Hiking is more fun when you’re prepared! Here are a few things that you need to know about hiking the Gatineau Park Trails.
Just a few notes on protecting these beautiful areas, too. Gatineau Park has been welcoming visitors for decades, and the ecosystems have paid the price. If we want to keep enjoying this space, we have to protect it.
Gatineau Park Access in 2021
National Capital Commission has extended a pilot project that reserves Gatineau Parkway for active use during much of the week. The parkway is accessible via vehicles from 1:00 PM to sunset on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. The active use reservation is ideal for cyclists! I have indicated in this guide which trails are accessible during the active use reservation.
Every trail has it’s own parking lot. There is a fee for parking from June to early September, per vehicle. Bring friends, drive together, and split the cost!
One of the great things about Gatineau Park is that the trails are fantastic, but you’re not roughing it. There are outhouses near the entrance to every trail.
If you find yourself running low on water before or after a hike, the Visitor Centre at the entrance to Gatineau Park has a fountain where you can refill.
This is the phone number for the Gatineau Park emergency line, add it to your contacts before venturing out (Correct as of 2018: 613-239-5353).
Take away your trash
It hurts a little to even have to write this, but please take away your trash. On more than one occasion, I have found garbage strewn along the trails. If you take anything with a wrapper or made of plastic, take it with you!
Respect the dog-free trails.
Many of the trails in Gatineau Park do not permit dogs. This is to protect the unique and delicate ecosystems. There are trails that welcome dogs so choose one of those if you want to bring your furry friend!
What to Bring for a day in Gatineau Park
A few essentials are all you need to have a great day of hiking in Gatineau Park. Overall, the trails are moderate and don’t require a ton of preparation. This is all you need:
- Reusable water bottle: in the spirit of protecting not only Gatineau Park but also earth in general, bring a reusable water. Stainless steel water bottles like this one will also keep your water nice and cold all day.
- Snacks: pack some snacks! I love bringing trail mix and Cliff Bars along.
- Hiking shoes: Hiking shoes are necessary if you want to have a good time, because some of the trails have very uneven ground and a lot of steep ascents. Even the most challenging trails in Gatineau Park are moderate compared to hikes through the mountains, so you don’t need hiking boots. You just want a good shoe. Browse hiking shoes online: Women’s | Men’s
- Sun protection: I go all out on sun protection myself, with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The trails might seem shady, but you’ll get a lot of sun if you’re out for a few hours.
- Bug spray: don’t hold back on the bug spray! Given the combination of calm lakes and forest, there are a lot of bugs out in the summer.
Gatineau Park Trails
Distance: 2.5 km | Time: 45-60 minutes | Difficulty: Moderate | Accessible after 12 PM
Note: Parking at Pink Lake is not accessible when the Gatineau Parkway is reserved for active use. If you’re up for a big trek you could park at Gatineau Visitor Centre or Mackenzie King (enter via Kingsmere).
This is a fairly short and relatively easy hike, with a lot of stairs in some areas. It has plenty of beautiful lookouts, and panels along the way that tell you more about Pink Lake’s unique ecosystem.
Pink Lake is the most remarkable lake in the Gatineau Park, and one of my favourite Gatineau Park trails, because it’s sheltered location has allowed it to develop a rare ecosystem. The lake is named after the Pink family, who originally settled on the land in the 1800’s. But the lake is actually green!
Pink Lake is what’s referred to as a “meromictic” lake, meaning that the upper and lower layers of water don’t mix. It’s a fairly small lake with no water running in or out, so it stays still throughout the year. The green is the result of a form of algae that grows in the lake which, while beautiful, gradually takes over the oxygen around the lake. This process is supposed to take thousands of years, but of course we the humans have sped things up a little.
Efforts to rehabilitate Pink Lake’s ecosystem have included the planting of new trees, and the installation of platforms along the trails. This is to limit the damage caused by erosion from people walking. Please stay on the platforms wherever you find them along the trail.
There’s nothing but more trees if you venture off, I promise you. The good stuff is all along the well-marked trail anyways!
Distance: 7.9 km | Time: 3+ hours | Difficulty: Challenging | Parking Lot: 13
Note: Parking at Wolf Trail is accessible even when Gatineau Parkway is reserved for active use.
Many of the Gatineau Park trails are short and scenic, but Wolf trail is longer hike that will have your legs burning by the end. It’s still got all the great scenery you want, and the lookout part way through the loop is my favourite view in the park.Wolf trail takes about 3 hours, following a winding loop around some of the highest points in Gatineau Park.
On the way out, you will be walking uphill on well-marked trails. Take a snack break at the lookout. It’s well worth the hike for the view of the valley below.
The way back can be a little challenging, especially if there’s been recent rainfall. Coming back down, Wolf Trail is very steep – enough that you’re clambering more so than walking, and you have to watch your step. These steeper areas can build up little streams of water and get pretty slick if it’s been wet, so watch your step.
On the last stretch of the trail you hop your way across a small river, which can also run a little high after heavy rain. Pack extra socks or sandals to change in to at the end. You might get wet!
By the way, this is one of the few trails in the park that is dog-friendly. My dog Piper comes hiking on Wolf trail all the time!
Make a day of it by bringing a picnic lunch, and settle down at Meech Lake to relax after your hike (but leave your furry friend at home if you’re doing this, no dogs on the beach).
Carbide Wilson Ruins
Distance: 4.4 km | Time: 1 hour | Difficulty: Easy | Parking Lot 11
Note: Parking at Carbide Wilson Ruins is accessible even when Gatineau Parkway is reserved for active use.
The Carbide Wilson Ruins is technically more of a walk, but it is a really neat spot worth checking out. Combine it with another one of the Gatineau Park trails for a full day of hiking. The ruins are only a 2.5 km walk from the nearest parking lot, and it’s an easy and flat walk. The ruins themselves are a very popular spot, because it’s a great place to take pictures.
Many people bring their swimsuits up to Carbide Wilson in the summer. It’s a nice to spot to cool off and dip your toes in the water.
You’re probably wondering, how did there come to be ruins in the middle of nowhere?
Well, there’s a bit of a paranoid, mad-scientist story to place. Thomas “Carbide” Wilson was a scientist in the 1800s, who developed the process by which we create calcium carbide. He bought 40 acres near Meech Lake in the early 1900s, and built a secluded factory to hide his work. While the story has a bit of a creepy ring to it… he might have been on to something by hiding his work.
There is a path that continues on past the Carbide Wilson ruins. It’s also easy and flat, more of a walk than a hike. The path takes you along the edge of Meech lake and past some beautiful residential properties in the area.
Luskville Falls Trail
Distance: 4.6 km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: Challenging
Note: Parking at Luskville Falls is accessible even when Gatineau Parkway is reserved for active use. This trail is on the outside of the park.
Luskville falls, while still part of the Gatineau Park, is further away than the other trails. Every other trail in this post can be accessed off Promenade de la Gatineau, the main road that loops through the park. Luskville Falls is around the back of the park and is about a 45-minute drive from downtown Ottawa.
The trail isn’t long, but it goes straight up so it’s not an easy hike. The best time to hike the Luskville Falls trail is in the spring, when the waterfall is most powerful because of melted snow from the winter.
The Luskville Falls trail is often referred to as being a loop, but this information got my friends and I very lost the first time we did the hike. It’s a loop and an out and back. The trail takes you up alongside the waterfall, and once you’re at the top of the Falls you can carry on until you reach a tower at the top. This is the turn back point, the tower is not part of a loop. On your way back down, you will find that the trail branches off and you can go back down a different way than you got up.
Champlain Lookout and Champlain Trail
Distance: 1.3 km | Time: 45 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Accessible after 12 PM
Note: Champlain Lookout is not accessible when Gatineau Parkway is reserved for active use.
Champlain Lookout is one of the best vantage points in the Gatineau Park. People will drive up just to see the view, even if they’re not planning to hike. It can get a little crowded on nice days for this reason.
The Champlain trail begins at the lookout and winds around the top of the Eardley Escarpment. Much like Pink Lake Trail, there are panels along the way with information about the area about the plants and ecosystem.
The trail is fairly easy, because you’re staying at the top of escarpment without many ascents or descents. This is a great trail to combine with other hikes if you want a longer day, and Champlain Lookout is a beautiful picnic spot.
It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset!
Distance: 1.9 km | Time: 45-60 minutes | Difficulty: Challenging | Accessible after 12 PM
Note: King’s Trail is not accessible when Gatineau Parkway is reserved for active use.
King’s Trail is one of the most scenic Gatineau Park trails, and it’s loaded with great lookouts. On this 1.9 km trail, there are 9 Lookout points. In truth, some are more impressive than others, but it’s still a lot! Among the lookouts are views over a beautiful lake where you can often spot beaver lodges (or maybe the beavers themselves) and a couple of spectacular views of the Ottawa valley. This is a great trail for the fall because there are so many spots to see the colors.
It might be short, but King’s Trail is fairly challenging because you essentially ascend and to descend to every Lookout. There’s a lot of up and down in this trail, and not always on the easiest terrain.
The trail has quite a few sections of boardwalks and steep staircases, serving to both protect the environment and make the trails accessible. Other areas feature very rocky ascents, with tree roots jutting out across the trail. It can also be very muddy, especially in the lower areas of the trail. Make sure you wear shoes with good support for this trail.
Have any questions about hiking the Gatineau Park trails? Drop a comment below, and refer to the National Capital Commission website for more information about the park.


The St. Louis Blues (11-8-2, 24 pts) will take on two teams this weekend that currently reside in the bottoms of their respective divisions. On Friday, the Blues will host the Calgary Flames (2-8-1, 17) who have sunken to the depths of the Central Division.
The Flames have scored only 45 goals this season, good for second-worst in the Western Conference and third-worst in the NHL. Interestingly, they have only allowed 56 goals, which currently stands at two goals better than the league average.
If and when the Flames do score, it usually involves LW Curtis Glencross, who leads the team with 7 goals, or Alex Tanguay, who leads the team with 12 assists and 15 points. Despite sporting 8 losses on the season -- tied for fourth most in the NHL -- Miikka Kiprusoff actually has a decent .917 save percentage.
On Sunday, the Blues will head to Ohio to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (5-13-3, 13 pts). The Blue Jackets sport a league-worst 13 points and have scored only 48 goals compared to a whopping 72 allowed. Oddly, neither of those marks are league-worst, and as they showed the Detroit Red Wings earlier this year, they are a threat to surprise some teams.


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In recent times you frequently hear people, including Christians, and even amongst Catholics talk about religious liberty and the radical and secular idea of the separation of church and state. What many people fail to realize is that religious liberty and the separation of church and state as in the modern liberal sense has never been taught by the Church, but actually condemned by many Popes. It is true that Vatican II mentions religious liberty to some extent, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church, however the traditional Catholic teaching has always put a strong emphasize on the Social Kingship of Christ in both our private as well as our public lives.
What the Church does not teach
It is best that we start by showing what the Church does not teach regarding Church and society. First and foremost the first of “the modern errors that we see in the modern secular sense is an embracing of false ideas of religious liberty and the radical separation of Church and State (as opposed to recognizing them as two distinct spheres, the secular being informed by but not controlled by the religious)”.1
Blessed Pope Pius IX stated in his Syllabus of Errors that it is erroneous to think that “In the present day it is no longer expedient that the Catholic religion should be held as the only religion of the State, to the exclusion of all other forms of worship”.2
The Catholic Church has also never supported the idea of a theocracy, that is, that both ecclesiastical and secular authority are vested in the same individuals, so that a priestly class also holds the reins of government. Rather, the Church has always taught that the Church and the State are separate powers and each has its own legitimate sphere of influence, although, as Pope Leo XIII noted, “their subjects are the same, and not infrequently they deal with the same objects, though in different ways”.3
Another misconception is that the Church has before advocated forced conversion and using the state for that means. This is completely untrue as this would undermine the Catholic belief of free will and thus “the right of being immune to coercion, or rather the fact that the Church does not impose the Catholic Faith on anyone, but requires the freedom of the act of faith, does not arise from a presumed natural right to religious freedom or a presumed natural right to believe in any religion whatever, but it is founded on the fact that the Catholic Religion, the only true one, must be embraced in complete freedom without any constraints”.4Thus the Church has never taught that she nor the state can be used to coerce religious belief.
Lastly the Church has never declared Monarchy to be a perfect form of government. St. Robert Bellarmine states that although a monarchy has superiority and a lot of benefits, it is only true when monarchial power is wielded by an ideal monarch.
Monarchy theoretically and in the abstract, monarchy in the hands of God who combines in Himself all the qualifications of an ideal ruler, is indeed a perfect system of government; in the hands of imperfect man, however, it is exposed to many defects and abuses. A government tempered, therefore, by all three basic forms (i.e., monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy), a mixed government, is, on account of the corruption of human nature more useful that simple monarchy.5
What the Church does teach
Many Catholics believe that because the Church does not believe in forced conversions and thus in using the state as a means of doing that, and that at the same time because the Church doesn’t support a theocracy, therefore that the solution is for the State to be completely separated from the Church and should therefore treat all religions equally. To believe that because the State is forbidden to coerce belief, that it must declare itself completely separated from the Church and to treat all religions equally runs contrary to the Church’s teaching.
The Church throughout its history has always taught contrary to this radical belief of religious liberty and the separation of Church and State as we understand them in a liberal context.
The Church therefore teaches that the Church and the State are two distinct spheres, where the secular is informed but not controlled by the religious. This is not too different than what Jesus said in Matthew when asked about paying taxes to Caesar. He stated that Faith and the Church are distinct but not fully separated from civil authority.
Render therefore to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s: and to God, the things that are God’s. (Matthew 22:21)

domain: sociology


text:
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Graybar Q2 profit increases 79 percent
Graybar Electric Co. Inc. officials reported net income of $42.9 million in its second quarter ended June 30, up 79 percent from the same quarter a year earlier, mostly on increases in gross margin and gains from property sales.
The employee-owned company reported net sales of $1.38 billion, up less than 1 percent from the same quarter in 2011, according to the company’s quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
During the three months ended June 30, the company recorded net gains of $29.5 million on real property held for sale, Graybar said. The company did not include additional information on the property in its quarterly filing.
Clayton-based Graybar, led by President and CEO Kathleen Mazzarella, is a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the area’s largest privately held companies. Graybar Electric officials reported net income of $16.4 million on net sales of $1.28 billion in its first quarter. It distributes electrical, communications and data networking products, and offers related supply chain management and logistics services.
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Audience Development Director St. Louis Business Journal | Saint Louis, MO
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Executive Director Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) | Saint Louis, MO

domain: news


Environment One Corporation (E/One) is proud to announce that certification audits and assessments of its Sewer SystemsBusiness have been successfully completed and that the company has been awarded the prestigious ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification.
Audits and assessments executed by the international independent testing group INTERTEK yielded successful results and the recommendation for certification. "ISO certification is important to us and represents another step in growing our international leadership and competiveness," said E/One President Eric LaCoppola. “ISO 9001:2008 certification is the model for quality assurance and further exemplifies our focus on continuous improvement of processes and quality management."
ISO 9001:2008 is one of the most comprehensive quality management system standards covering all main processes within a company, ensuring that these processes are not only conducted under controlled conditions, but are also subject to continuous improvement. The certificate is only awarded to companies that can demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable requirements, placing customer satisfaction as a key component of those requirements.
Environment One Corporation is an operating company of Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE: PCP), a worldwide manufacturer of complex metal parts and industrial products. With corporate headquarters in New York and regional offices and distribution throughout the industrialized world, E/One is a manufacturer and provider of:
- Products and services for the disposal of residential sanitary waste.
- Utility Systems for the protection and performance optimization of electric utility assets.


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Primerica, Inc. (NYSE: PRI) recently today financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Total revenues were $363.0 million and net income was $45.2 million or $0.92 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2016.
Glenn Williams, Chief Executive Officer said, “We have begun 2016 with strong distribution growth. The size of our life insurance licensed sales force grew 10% which drove 19% growth in life insurance policies issued versus the first quarter a year ago.
Solid core performance across business segments coupled with recent share repurchases resulted in a 17% increase in diluted operating EPS and a 170 basis points increase in return on adjusted equity (ROAE) year-over-year.”
In the first quarter, operating revenues increased 6% to $363.7 million and net operating income increased 7% to $45.7 million from the prior year period. Operating results in the quarter reflect strong performance in the Term Life segment including a 13% increase in net premiums and 28% growth in the Term Life segment’s operating income before income taxes versus the year ago period.
Lower Investment and Savings Products (ISP) sales and lower average client asset values, largely driven by market volatility in the quarter, led to a 10% decline in ISP operating income before income taxes compared with the first quarter of 2015.
The average Canadian dollar value remained a modest headwind on a year-over-year basis leading to lower operating revenues of approximately $6 million and lower net operating income of approximately $1 million in the first quarter of 2016.
Solid earnings as well as ongoing share repurchases drove a 17% increase in diluted net operating earnings per share to $0.93 and ROAE expanded to 16.3% on an operating basis versus 14.6% in the first quarter of 2015.
Life Insurance Licensed Sales Force. Strong recruiting trends in recent quarters drove 10% growth in the life insurance licensed sales force year-over-year. First quarter recruiting of new representatives increased 19% and new life insurance licenses grew 29% from the year ago period. On a sequential quarter basis, recruiting increased while new life insurance licenses declined following seasonally lower recruiting levels in the fourth quarter.
Term Life Insurance. In the first quarter of 2016, term life insurance policies issued increased 19% driven by the larger life insurance licensed sales force and productivity that continued to be at the higher-end of the historical range. Term Life operating revenues increased 13% to $206.3 million reflecting 13% growth in net premiums compared to the first quarter of 2015.
Operating income before income taxes grew 28% to $46.1 million versus the year ago period. Persistency and incurred claims in the first quarter of 2016 were in line with historical levels. Insurance and operating expenses declined 4% year-over-year as higher growth-related expenses were more than offset by lower employee compensation-related expenses in the segment.
The lower employee compensation largely relates to changes in the management structure that occurred in April 2015 which reduced total company expenses and reallocated a portion of expenses from Term Life to the Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment.
Investment and Savings Products. Market volatility in the first quarter, as well as the year-over-year decline in the Canadian dollar value, led to 4% lower average client asset values of $46.65 billion and a 9% decline in sales to $1.38 billion compared with the prior year period.
ISP operating revenues of $125.0 million were 3% lower year-over-year as lower sales and average client asset values were partially offset by higher account-based revenue. The 10% decline in ISP segment operating income before income taxes to $31.7 million versus the first quarter of 2015 also reflects a shift in product mix, a $0.7 million increase in segregated fund DAC amortization and the decline in the Canadian dollar value versus the year ago quarter.
Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Operating revenues were $32.4 million, and operating losses before income taxes were $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2016. Insurance and other operating expenses increased largely due to annual employee merit increases as well as the reallocation of expenses between segments as noted above.
The segment’s net investment income was relatively flat year-over-year as lower yield on the invested asset portfolio was offset by a positive mark-to-market on the deposit asset backing an IPO related reinsurance agreement. During the quarter, a reduction in the annual fees on this IPO related reinsurance agreement from 3% to 0.5% was effected, leading to a decline in interest expense of $1.5 million year-over-year.
The invested asset portfolio saw price improvements with net unrealized gains increasing from $49.3 million at December 31, 2015 to $74.9 million at quarter-end largely due to decreasing interest rates and slightly tighter credit spreads during the period.
The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2016 of 35.7% was higher than the prior year rate of 35.0% due to a smaller portion of pre-tax income being derived in Canada as well as increases made in 2015 to the estimated amount of current Canadian earnings that may be repatriated to the U.S.
In the first quarter of 2016, Primerica repurchased $49.9 million, or 1.2 million shares of its common stock. Primerica Life Insurance Company’s statutory risk-based capital (RBC) ratio was estimated to be approximately 440% as of March 31, 2016.
About Primerica, Inc.
Primerica, Inc., headquartered in Duluth, GA, is a leading distributor of financial products to middle income households in North America. Primerica representatives educate their Main Street clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. In addition, Primerica provides an entrepreneurial full or part-time business opportunity for individuals seeking to earn income by distributing the company’s financial products. We insured approximately 5 million lives and have over 2 million client investment accounts at December 31, 2015. Primerica stock is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 2000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRI”.
Get more information, facts and figures about Primerica , click here for the Primerica overview.

domain: finance


Brief Description: Final stick grip wire connections at terminal bloc
I had run 3 wires previosly from behind panel area to the wire block for stick grip switches. These were for the index, left and right switches. Index is for the auto pilot engage. disingage. The right stick button is the ident button on transponder and the left is open or undecided still. This should be all the wiring necessary beneath the floor and I should be clear to install it again. Wont rivit down though until I complete all electrical function tests.
Ident button ring connector installed
Final connections made to the Control stick grip block


The Greater Hilltop Area Commission serves as a liaison to connect neighborhood groups, property owners, residents, developers and city officials. Hilltop residents, businesses and any other type of stakeholders are encouraged to attend our monthly meetings. The Greater Hilltop Area Commission meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM, Hilltop Library (511 S. Hague Ave). All meetings are open to the public!
The November meeting will be held on the second Tuesday due to Election Day.
Stay updated with the meeting schedule by visiting the Greater Hilltop Area Commission page: https://www.facebook.com/GreaterHilltopAreaCommission/.


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Carissa Gaughran is a singer, dancer and actor originally from Bridgewater, New Jersey. She had the opportunity to start training early on, as her family owns two dance studios. She has been a work-study at Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City for 6 years and has worked Professionally since the age of 18. Carissa sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line for two years as a Principle Vocalist. She has performed in regional theatre across the country. Carissa has a large social media presence with over 200,000+ followers on TikTok. She absolutely loves sharing her passion for Music and Theatre with everyone.
Carissa is a proud member of
ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION.
Carissa is signed with THE MINE AGENCY.


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Level: *** / Duration: 4,5 h / Distance: 8 km
Price: € 85
Tuesday and Friday 10:00
We start from the north side of Kukas fell by walking lowlands following the Äkäs river. After passing a swamp we find our way uphill through untouched snowy forest. Once reached the top we get rewarded by a breathtaking view of the fells arround. The highlight of this fell are the trees as one time sculptures. We’ll find a calm place in the wilderness to serve hot drinks and local lunch specialities.

domain: geography


Denim Care Guide
Some purists would advocate that raw indigo selvedge jeans should never be washed, but we feel many of you will want to freshen them up from time to time. Here are some tips on getting the most out of your denim.
Wash infrequently. The colour will last longer and the individual character will develop better with fewer washes.
Always turn your pair of jeans inside out to wash and dry. This will reduce streaking.
Use a liquid detergent and wash on a cool wash - cold or up to max 30°. A colder wash will preserve the colour for longer.
Pull the jeans back into shape whilst damp and dry naturally inside out, either on a line or a drying rack. Avoid tumble drying
If necessary, iron the jeans inside out on the reverse.
How Selvedge Denim Is Made?
Selvedge denim is widely considered the King of denims. Typically only a yard wide (approx. 91cm), the fabric is made on traditional old shuttle looms. The weft reverses back and forth sealing the edges, which usually have a distinctive red and white stripe. The process is more time consuming than modern looms, but produces a tighter woven, hard wearing fabric, which will mould to your shape and develop a unique character over the years.
The Selvedge is used for the outer leg seam, creating the characteristic shape of the jeans and a clean ready sealed finish on the inside of the leg– frequently rolled up to reveal the stripes.


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Learn the terms for playing slots - comprehensive Slots Glossary.
Chips are coins of different colors and different denominations used at casinos. As a player at the online casino, you will encounter virtual chips instead.
Coins Per Spin
This is the number of coins that can be played on a slot machine per bet.
The term is interchangeable with 'coin size'.
This records the money inserted into the slot machine and displays the number of credits remaining.
These are slot machine which pay out double the prize when the multiplier symbols appear in a winning combination.
The name may be misleading it is possible to win triple or quadruple on a double machine.
Some slot machines offer a double multiplier symbol which will double the size of your prize when it appears, hence the popularity of machines offering this feature. The doubler symbol is frequently referred to as a 'multiplier' and is displayed as '2x'.
Five Reel Slot
This is a slot machine with five reels rather than the traditional three reels. More reels means that it is harder to hit the jackpot but the jackpot will be bigger.
A slot machine with a fixed jackpot amount, unlike progressive jackpots, the prize of which constantly changes.
Slot machines in the United Kingdom are commonly referred to as 'fruit machines' based on the fact that many UK slot machines reel symbols are fruit.
A win on the slot machines is known as a 'hit'. It is well known that machines which offer a higher jackpot usually have a lower hit frequency.
A 'hot slot' is a slot machine which pays out more than its standard payout percentage as indicated on its chart.
Multi Line Slots
These are slot machines which award a prize on more than one payline. Traditionally, only the center horizontal line was the payline, however, on a multi line slot there may be diagonally or even vertical paylines.
A 'near miss' is the frustrating experience of playing on a slot machine and when the reels stop spinning, you see that you were one reel symbol away from winning the jackpot.
The term applied to slot machine players who choose to play only one coin per spin. This means that onesies slot players are often not in the running to win the jackpot as most slot machines require the player to make the maximum bet to qualify.
A straight or zig-zagged line on a slot machine where symbols must line up for a win. Slot machines usually have up to 9 paylines, though video slot machines may have many more.
The Australian term for a slot machine and typically has 5 reels.
This is a colloquial Australian term for a slot machine.
The biggest prize to be won on a slot machine for players who hit a specific combination as indicated on its pay out schedule.
By linking together machines, online casinos are able to form a large jackpot (the highest payoff), one that grows progressively with every game played. Progressive jackpots can be found for slot machines or video poker, typically, but also for other casino games, including poker, blackjack, roulette and others too. The constantly changing progressive jackpot meter is usually showcased on the front page of the casino.
Only players who wager the maximum credits qualify for the progressive jackpot and it is won only with the highest payoff combination, e.g. a royal flush in video poker. Once a player wins the jackpot, the jackpot resets to a preset minimum level and starts climbing all over again.
Progressive Slot machines are a popular feature, with the jackpot amounting by having a group of linked slot machines. Slots linked across online casinos must be operated by the same software, owned by the same machine maker, with jackpots really hitting sky-high sums of millions of dollars.
Random Number Generator (RNG)
The Random Number Generator (RNG) is the basic engine that powers Slots. Modern Slot machines are computerized, with the combinations determined randomly by the machine's software, without any human involvement. The RNG generates numbers at a high rate, and the timing of when the lever is pulled determines the outcome. An advanced RNG will be as random as possible, never repeating the number sequences.
Before computer-generated slot machines, reels were the cylindrical spinning discs which displayed the symbols on their outer rim. Nowadays, whether you win or lose is determined by a computer's random number generator and not these mechanical wheels.
Re-spin or Respin is a feature of some online slot games. The re-spin feature allows you to pick a certain reel to spin again after a play, in an attempt to line up symbols in a winning combination.
Featured at Microgaming slot games.
These slot machine jackpots are hit more frequently than primary jackpots and do not payout such large prizes.
Slots, or Slot machines, are gambling machines that operate by inserting coins into a narrow opening and pulling on a lever, or in online Slot machines simply pressing a button. Slot machines are simple to operate and little strategy can be applied.
When at the Slot machines, you are in the hands of luck. As such, Slot machines are arguably the simplest casino game available and one of the most popular ones too.
Straight slots, in direct contrast to progressive slot games, have a set amount as the first prize. Straight slots also go by the terms 'flat tops' and 'static slots'.
Symbols are the pictures and numbers that appear on the reels of slot machines and the objective is to stop the reels with a particular arrangement of symbols.
Video Slots are the most complex and advanced of the Slot machine variants, with as many as 40 paylines and video game quality visuals and audio.
A wild symbol can substitute for any other symbol to complete a winning combination and may also serve to multiply your winnings.
A wild symbol on a slot machine is a like a joker symbol in card games.

domain: game


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Ford plant closure symptomatic of capitalism's ills, writes World Socialist
Weeks after the last Ford vehicle build in Minnesota rolled off the Highland Park assembly line, the World Socialist Website writes that the plant's closure is symptomatic of the decline of American manufacturing.
The fact that one of the world's leading sources for left-wing news and analysis picked up the St. Paul plant closure story speaks to the significance of Ford ending its century-long manufacturing operation here in the Twin Cities.
The WSWS writes that Ford pursued the St. Paul plant closure because shifting Ranger production to lower-wage countries like Thailand and Brazil is cheaper than paying American workers $18 per-hour to make the trucks.
A five-year employee who didn't give his name is quoted at length in the piece. He says:
I see the plant closing as a disaster for our economy. Most of our people thought they would retire from Ford. Now this plant closes, and they've got to get a new job--if they can find a job. I saw people crying everywhere when that last truck came down the line.
The working class is going to keep plummeting downward if the major manufacturers continue to outsource to make themselves richer. Today, the United States hardly manufactures anything anymore. We survive on imports.
Look at Europe, now. What they are experiencing is what we've already gone through. They are headed in our direction.
Recent reports suggest that many of the 1,800 hourly workers who lose their jobs at the plant between 2006 and last month were unprepared for the plant's closure and remain out of work. On the other hand, 90 percent of the roughly 300 who finished a retraining program offered by the state's dislocated worker program are now gainfully employed just a month after the plant shut down.
Following in the Marxist tradition, the WSWS believes that to overcome capitalism's 'race to the bottom' tendencies, workers throughout the world must come together and articulate demands that overcome the nation-state system dividing them.
Otherwise, manufacturing work will continue to shift to low-wage countries, with the American economy more-and-more fueled by unproductive financial speculation and unsustainable short-term bubbles.
A mission statement on the WSWS's website reads:
The financial crisis enveloping the entire world economy poses sharply the need for the international unification of working people. Transnational production and global financial markets have changed the face of capitalism forever. In the past two decades the limited social safety nets in the advanced countries have been torn up, while workers have suffered wave after wave of layoffs and an erosion in their real income.
In the less developed countries, national development programs have been cast aside, while free trade zones and other cheap labor schemes have been established to facilitate the unrestrained exploitation of workers. To the extent that the old organizations of the working class-whether they called themselves communist, socialist, or labor-have remained wedded to the nation state, they have proven themselves incapable of responding to this assault on jobs, living standards and basic rights.
Left-wing or not, it's easy to see how the St. Paul Ford plant closure -- and the subsequent relocation of manufacturing work to low-wage countries -- fits into this narrative.
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The technology manufacturing company Harris Corporation has fought to keep the public from knowing about how its surveillance devices work—specifically, the controversial cell phone spying tools known as Stingrays—but The Intercept on Monday published about 200 pages of Harris Corp. instruction manuals detailing how to build and use them.
Harris has argued that releasing information about Stingrays could help criminals. But privacy activists and the general public say the devices threaten “civil liberties, communications infrastructure, and potentially national security,” especially as wireless capability extends more and more into our personal lives, The Intercept‘s Sam Biddle explains.
Click Here: camiseta seleccion argentina
Richard Tynan, a technologist with Privacy International, told Biddle that the latest version of the Stingray and similar devices can monitor up to four cell towers simultaneously, and certain add-ons allow it to spy on 2G, 3G, and 4G networks at the same time as well.
“As more of our infrastructure, homes, environment, and transportation are connected wirelessly to the internet, such technologies really do pose a massive risk to public safety and security,” Tynan said. “There really isn’t any place for innocent people to hide from a device such as this.”
Stingrays operate by simulating cell phone towers, which tricks nearby phones into connecting with them, allowing police and other law enforcement agencies to monitor incoming and outgoing calls and texts and other communications. They also have the capability to interfere with communications, which can be dangerous in cases of emergency calls. A recent complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said the Baltimore Police Department, which used Stingrays to monitor residents without a warrant, violated the law through racial discrimination and willfully interfered with cell phone calls.


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I’ve just finished reading The Symbol, the spectacular new book by Dappen, Losin, and Pérez-Mellado on the Ibiza wall Lizard, Podarcis pityusensis. We’ve already discussed in these pages the exploits of the first two authors, Ph.D.’s-turned-filmmakers who have already produced some exceptional science documentaries, most with a lizard focus. And we helped advertise their ultimately successful effort to crowd-source funding for their trip to the Pityusic Archipelago to produce the book. As a result, we saw the spectacular photos and videos they posted along the way, as the project was in progress. For all of these reasons, we had high expectations for the ensuing volume.
And now The Symbol has arrived, and our expectations have been vastly exceeded. In a word, the book is fabulous, or should we say “fabuloso, fabelhaft, favoloso” because the book is simultaneously written in English, Spanish, German and Italian? At first pass, what grabs attention are the photographs, which are amazing. Of course, with a resplendent species like Podarcis pityusensis to work with, the Day’s Edge team had good material with which to work, but they’ve made the most of it. The photos are lustrous, exquisite, sharp and beautifully framed.
But what was so unexpected is the fascinating evolutionary pageant put on by these lizards. We had no idea that they were so extraordinarily diverse, exhibiting dramatically different colors manifest over small geographic distances.
Check out the geographic distribution of the different color forms, 23 of which are recognized as distinct subspecies. Truly extraordinary.
The authors comprehensively review the natural history and evolutionary diversity of these lizards, explaining in a way that will be captivating to a general audience. Ibiza is a world-renowned tourist destination, and the Ibizans love their local lizards, so this book will no doubt be of great value to locals and tourists alike, and doubtless will educate a wide audience.
Yet, the book also holds value to the seasoned herpetologist. The discussion of the biology of this species is thorough and first-rate, and the photos capture in unusually vivid detail many important aspects of their ecology and behavior.
Anole biologists, the challenge has been thrown down. Dappen and colleagues have shown what a fabulous book looks like. Our lizards are equally enticing and photogenic–let’s see a book on a Caribbean anole!


text: We have had our dog for just about 7 weeks and I am so worn out! I am a dog person. I loved our old dog for her entire 10 years but this dog we adopted is so naughty! I just want to give up. She is 9 months old (now 10 months) and an owner surrender. She constantly nips at us and the children (ages 5 & 7), she jumps on us when we are walking by or have food. I'm talking all out run and lunge. She has jumped on our tables with all four feet like a goat. She cannot be left unattended for one minute! I'm working on getting her to walk better on a leash but that's not going well. We have a trainer who has come to our house to work with our family 2 times and we have already paid for and scheduled 4 more visits. I'm hoping that when school starts in two weeks we will have a stricter routine but I just don't like this dog. She's not mean, but she's not sweet. She can't just cuddle next to us. I'm at my wit's end. I feel like I cannot do this for another 10-15 years with her. I'd rehome her if my husband weren't such a saint. He isn't super fond of her either but says we can't give her away. My children are too little to be much help but my daughter tries. Please tell me that with work it gets better? I would never put her back in the shelter but isn't it possible that she just isn't the right one for our family? I'm so heartbroken that I feel this way towards her. I'm such an awful person, I know.

domain: pet


MWX203 is an active tripler designed and manufactured by GaAs pHEMT process. The tripler is driven by an input signal of +16dBm, and can realize the output signal of +13dBm power in the operating frequency band of 7587GHz. The excellent performance of this frequency active multiplier makes it widely used in point-to-point communication, imaging and measurement instrumentation applications.
Output Power：+13 dBm
Input Power：+ 16 dBm
1x，2x Isolation：> 45 dBc
Supply Current：+4 V@167 mA
Chip Size：2 x 0.85 x 0.05 mm
Functional Diagram( Typical bond：100x100，unit：um)
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SO(LIHULL Council is suspending parking enforcement in residential areas over the Christmas and New Year period.
Parking enforcement will be suspended from this Monday, December 20, until Monday, January 3.
However it says drivers should still continue to park considerately and safely and continue to comply with the Highway Code.
Relaxation applies to roads subject to single yellow line restrictions only. Parking enforcement will resume as normal from Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
Councillor Ken Hawkins, Solihull Council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “In taking this decision we want to support local people as they visit friends and relatives and enjoy Christmas together, in line with current Government Covid guidelines.
“Please park considerately and help everyone to have a safe and happy time over the festive period.”
For more information about the Council’s Parking and Enforcement service, visit www.solihull.gov.uk


Feel like home at this site, where you can easily get ringtones for free for your phone. Today we have a ringtone of “Lazy Afternoon” by Rebelution as well as 375 other ringtones by Rebelution. “Lazy Afternoon” is a real hit from the “Bright Side of Life” album that was composed by Rebelution at their major label together with other 13 tracks. You can listen to all 22 Rebelution – “Lazy Afternoon” ringtone variations available here and download it for free in a second. You can also take a glance at other 3 albums produced by Rebelution for all time. “Lazy Afternoon” is referred to Reggae, and we have a huge amount of Reggae collaborations absolutely for free. And finally, we have collected lyrics for this track and you can view it here as well. So feel free to browse, listen, download ringtones at Audiko.net. Make your phone sound cool!


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Hertz Car Rentals in Pasadena: What you need to know
Pasadena is just one of many neighborhoods in Los Angeles that are worth exploring, and, you'll wish for an automobile to check out everything there is to do around the area. Local buses, while inexpensive, drop you off far from where you wanted to go. Ride hailing can be convenient, but you may be surprised by which areas don't have service. Plus, if you plan to go all over Pasadena and the surrounding areas, the cost can add up.
If you want convenience for a good price, then you are in the right spot. CarRentals.com works with the finest businesses in the business. Hertz has over one hundred years of car rental experience and a fleet including many of the most well-known in the business, like Hyundai and Kia. With Hertz's renowned history and thousands of franchises worldwide, you'll be well taken care of. In fact, past customers have rated Hertz 4 out of 5 stars for overall satisfaction. They are known to exceed in staff friendliness, car cleanliness, and drop-off time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the best prices on a Pasadena Hertz car rental?
CarRentals.com always strives to get you the best deal. Nevertheless, to increase your savings when you travel to Pasadena you can do a few things:
- Compare all the deals available
- Book as far in advance as possible. You will usually save more and get the car of your choice
- Check the fuel and mileage policies. You don't want to be surprised with additional costs
- Decide the car you'll need for your vacation. Don't get more car than you need
A little knowledge can go a long way to more savings.
What documents do I need when I get my car rental in Pasadena?
Make sure to bring your driver's license and a credit card in your name.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Pasadena?
Hertz's minimum age to rent a car is 21. Take time to read through Hertz's policies, as there could be limitations if you are under 25 or for larger or higher category rentals in particular.
Is there a particular car I should rent for my trip?
That depends on how many people you are traveling with and what activities you want to do in Pasadena. If you are having a bit of trouble deciding, be sure to go over the table below. We've compared the most popular categories for you:
|Car Type||Best for||Category includes|
|Full Size SUV||To take on any kind of terrain and enjoy great views||Ford Edge, KIA Sorento, Jaguar F-Pace, or similar|
|Full Size||For trips where everyone needs room their suitcases||Infiniti Q50, Hyundai Sonata, or similar|
|Hybrid||Those looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle||Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, or similar|
Is insurance required when you rent a car in the United States?
When cruising through Pasadena or the rest of the United States, you'll need insurance. Hertz requires that you show proof of insurance before you pick up your car. Many countries require driver's insurance. You may be able to pay for interim insurance through Hertz. Additionally, as a U.S. citizen, you can also book Collision Damage Coverage with CarRentals.com at checkout.
Many major card issuers, like Visa and MasterCard, provide some insurance on your rental, however, there are usually restrictions. For example, you may not be covered if you book a luxury or larger vehicle. Make sure to check Hertz's policy before you decide.
Does Hertz require a deposit at the time of booking my rental car?
Hertz, like several other rental car agencies, requires a deposit upon reservation. The deposit can vary greatly based on the type of automobile. Furthermore, make sure you have enough on your credit card to cover the deposit.
What is the fuel policy on my Hertz car rental?
Hertz and most other suppliers give you a full tank policy. We suggest returning it topped off. To avoid any added expenses, find a filling station before you return the car to Hertz. Stations near or around airports or car rental places tend to have higher prices.
Why should I get unlimited miles in Pasadena?
The majority of suppliers will offer unlimited miles, but you want to make sure it's part of the bundle that you are purchasing. It's useful to know how much you want to drive so you can plan your trip in advance. Although most rental car suppliers offer unlimited mileage, if it isn't part of your package, those miles can pile up—and so can the extra cost. You may need unlimited miles if you are thinking of taking some road trips to see everything that Los Angeles has to offer, or even the U.S. of A.
What is there to do around Pasadena?
Once you've explored Pasadena, you'll be happy that you have your own set of wheels. You'll discover a lot of history in and around regions like Pasadena. There are 5 historical locations and sites in nearby Los Angeles. Want to get a taste of the local history? Then check out::
- Space Flight Operations Facility on in Los Angeles
- The Rose Bowl located at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Gamble House found at 4 Westmoreland Pl.
- Hale Solar Laboratory at 740 Holladay Rd. in Los Angeles
California is full of things to do for tourist and locals alike. You may just have to get into your rental car and find what is else is out there.
Reserve Your Ride Today!
With so much to do and see in Los Angeles, having access to your own ride lets you sightsee at your own pace. When you're ready to see more of the U.S. of A, you can leave when you like, without having to wait for the bus or hail a cab.
Heading out of town soon? Book your Hertz Pasadena rental car and take off to all the items on your itinerary. Reserve with CarRentals.com and hit the highway in Los Angeles, California.


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Hard-working organisers of the 16th annual Chipping Steam Fair have hailed it “another great success” with 10,000 visitors across its three days and more then 525 vehicles on display.
Spokesman Mary Harrison said the event’s Green Lane site was filled to capacity, the quality of entries was very high with excellent weather on Sunday and Monday and “something for everyone to enjoy.”
As well as crafts and stalls for all ages and tastes, the main focus was on the great variety of vehicles attracting major interest.
Forty steam engines of different sizes and makes vied for attention with more than 200 tractors, there were 150 classic and vintage cars, 95 commercial lorries and 40 military vehicles which reminded spectators that 2014 was the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One. This was also marked by a biplane aerobatics display team attending for the first time, plus another major showpiece – a Spitfire in D-Day colours and three aero engines, loaned by owner Bill Richards who runs the Spitfire and Aeroengine Society.
Supporters also enjoyed a beer tent, refreshment stalls, donkey rides, live music, Punch and Judy and fairground rides, and entertainment was provided by The Street Monkeys, a professional free running/parkour team from the North-West.
The amount raised for charity this year is still to be finalised.