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“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) I’ll admit, there have been a few times when I’ve felt like I’ve lost my soul to ministry. In one particular season, I forgot who I was for a while. My identity became so entangled in my role; I forgot that first and foremost, I am a child of God. I got so wrapped up in doing ministry and my desire to be successful that I neglected my own personal relationship with the Lord. My relationship with Jesus was an afterthought or at best, just a series of activities to check off my to do list. My relationship with Jesus was all about doing things for Him, not about being with Him. And to be honest I wasn’t being transformed into His image. I was not spiritually healthy. But God, in His kindness, helped me begin to see the importance of caring for my soul.
Over the last 5 years or so, I’ve begun a journey to tend to my soul. This journey has led me to incredible life-giving moments and experiences with God, but also to some very low times of recognizing my own patterns of sinfulness. However, I am incredibly thankful that God has given me eyes to see myself at the soul level. And He’s also given me a passion to help other leaders care for their own souls.
I don’t think any of us set out to lose our souls, but sometimes before we know what’s happening, we’ve lost our way. Perhaps we start thinking that our ministry for God can replace our relationship with God. Or maybe we start to think that spending time in ministry somehow “counts” for spending our own time with Jesus. And some of us might think we can continue to be effective in ministry even though we have no margin in our lives.
We have an enemy who would like our souls to wither away. He will do anything to distract us from our relationship with Jesus. He might even use our ministries to pull us away from the Lord. He would love nothing more than to infect the Church with unhealthy leaders. But the Church is too important to let our leaders lose their souls. And I believe the Church is in danger if we, as leaders, don’t start to recognize the slow fade of our souls, our signs of burnout, and learn to live within healthy limits.
I’ve just recently begun to notice some of these signs in myself. I now know when I start to get easily irritated with people it’s a signal to me that I need to tend to my relationship with Jesus. And when I start to over-react or start taking things way too personally, it’s a signal to me that I’m getting too tired and I need to tend to my soul. I’m also learning more about fatigue. I think while we’re here on earth, we probably will always have some level of fatigue. Ministry is hard work, and it can wear us out. But there is a difference between being tired and finding ourselves in a deep soul fatigue. This soul fatigue is what leads to burnout. It’s a kind of tired that doesn’t go away after a few nights of extra sleep or after a week’s vacation. It’s the kind of tired that affects your relationships and your ministry. For the sake of the kingdom, it needs to be addressed before you burn out.
Whatever your signs or signals are, it’s important to notice them. It’s also important to give our souls a regular check-up. A few years ago, I read a quote from Dr. Robert Mulholland and since reading it I’ve used this as my soul check-up. In his book, Invitation to a Journey, he says, “If you want a good litmus test of your spiritual growth, simply examine the nature and quality of your relationships with others. Are you more loving, more compassionate, more patient, more understanding, more caring, more giving, more forgiving than you were a year ago? If you cannot answer these kinds of questions in the affirmative, and especially, if others cannot answer them in the affirmative about you, then you need to examine carefully the nature of your spiritual life and growth.”
What might your signs or signals be? If you can’t identify them now, I invite you to spend some time asking God to open your eyes to see what they might be.
What if you do notice some of these signs in yourself? What if you discover that your soul is unhealthy? Where do you start? I believe we start with caring for our own souls. You may be thinking that sounds selfish, but it is anything but selfish. We cannot care or minister to others if we’re not healthy or if we lose our souls.
Two and a half years ago, I began a two-year experience where I took time to deeply and intentionally care for my soul. I traveled to Chicago for quarterly, three-day retreats. During this life-changing experience, I learned how to create sustainable, spiritual rhythms or practices in my life that fed my soul and deepened my relationship with God. Here are just a few things I’ve learned on my journey into soul care.
Begin with Desire
You may be thinking, “What does desire have to do with soul care?” It has everything to do with it! Our deepest longings and desires fuel what we do in our everyday lives. If we have a strong enough desire for something, our actions and behaviors will begin to follow. If we have a deep desire to be with and experience God, then we will do what we can to be with and experience God.
I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to think about my desires. I grew up thinking that desires were bad. I think this was because most of the time desire was talked about it was referring to sexual desire. What I’m talking about here are your desires regarding God. What are your desires when it comes to your relationship with God? When you think about your relationship with Jesus, what do you most want?
On one of the first retreats I attended, we took time to think about our deepest longing and desires. I remember our speaker, Ruth Haley Barton, talking about God as our ultimate, orienting reality. I immediately knew that was one of my deepest and strongest desires. That desire became my new starting point and it’s the desire I come back to regularly. I want to build my life and activities around practices that will help move me toward that desire. One of the best ways I’ve been able to keep my desires in front of me is with my Rule of Life.
Rule of Life
Don’t let the word “rule” throw you off. A Rule of Life is simply a list of intentions you would like to live by. It includes regular patterns, behaviors, and practices that we can submit ourselves to in order to intentionally bring us into deeper relationship with God, so He can transform us. It is not meant to be something legalistic, but it’s meant to keep us on track with our intentions. As leaders, it’s vital to create healthy rhythms of work and rest. My Rule of Life reminds me of those rhythms. A few things I include in my rule of life are reading scripture, keeping a Sabbath, silence and solitude, and quarterly days of retreat. These practices have been most meaningful to me, so I’ll unpack them a little for you. But remember, we are all created uniquely and differently, so some of these may work for you and some of them may not. I encourage you to take time to discern what practices would be most helpful to you.
God gave Sabbath to the Israelites for a reason; He knew they needed a day to stop working to just be with Him. He has given it to us as well, and it’s a gift! We desperately need a day to stop striving, to stop working, to stop worrying … a day to trust God enough to hold everything while we stop … a day to truly rest in God’s presence. Instead of filling this day with more work, more stress, more anxiety, what if we thought about Sabbath as a day to be with God while we do what we love and what fills us with joy?
Solitude and Silence
Silence gets us away from all the noise; solitude is a way to withdraw from the people around us. We are constantly inundated with noise, information, and technology. All of these things can be good, but too much is a distraction from God and is not healthy for our souls. I wonder sometimes how we hear God at all with all the noise and distractions around us! I’ll admit when I first started practicing this, it was really hard for me to quiet my mind. I started with small amounts of silence (like five minutes). I built up from there and now enjoy spending longer amounts of time in quiet with God. What would it look like for you to practice a few minutes of silence a few times a week?
It’s good for our souls to get away from the fast, regular pace of life, to get out of our normal routines to spend longer periods of time alone with God. For all you extroverts out there don’t start to panic! These days of retreat don’t have to be scary! When I first started practicing this, I didn’t think I could make it an entire day. But I did. And now, I long for these days away with God. What would it look like for you to try one day of retreat in the next few months?
Reading Scripture Meditatively
Studying Scripture is so important. We need to know what the Bible says so we can do what it says. But that can’t be the only way we engage Scripture. What if we read it slowly and thoughtfully, pondering it like a love letter from God, so that it sinks down from our heads into our hearts? If reading Scripture does not have some formational effect on our lives, then we might be reading it the wrong way. What would it look like for you to read the Bible this way, rather than rushing through it just to gain information?
These are just a few ways I care for my soul; there are so many other ways that might be meaningful for you. What’s important is that you take time to notice the condition of your soul and talk to God about what rhythms would be healthy for you. Don’t put this off. Take time to do it now so you can lead from a healthy place, so you can sustain ministry for the long haul, and so you won’t lose your soul in the midst of ministry.


I know most of you will be thinking "Uhh, not another social network to keep track of" but hold out – Although the New Myspace is fairly basic in what it can do at the moment, it still boasts some impressive user interfaces (UI) and has a few feature which make it stand out and differentiate its self from the crowd.
It was a few months ago when Myspace released an incentive to get people on-board to show their interest for the new site. They gave you a video of what the new site would bring, and left you with a box to drop your email in to get a personal invitation. If you gave them your email address, all you had to do was to sit around twiddling your thumbs waiting for that invitation to arrive in your inbox.
Well, now is the time that they've opened the flood gates to the public and started shipping out the invites. They're only letting a limited amount of people in at the moment, but I've been lucky enough to be included in this small selection. They have generously given each new user 8 personal invitations to share with your family and friends, so you might get a nice surprise in your inbox soon.
On first looks of the new social platform I got that "wow" feeling. It has been incredibly creative with its new horizontal scrolling pages and has set the standard for having no vertical content. All the content that would normally be vertically scrollable is laid out flat and to the right – even scrolling with your mouse slides the page to the left, albeit the scrolling is a little slow and trying to grab the scroll bar just above the music player at the bottom can be problematic at times, but these are all things that user testing will iron out.
Myspace's focus has been music for a while now, and as expected one of their biggest features on the new site is a devoted music player located at the bottom of each page. They've managed to get the site to continually play your selected song/mix/playlist/radio station despite letting you navigate around the site simultaneously - a huge achievement as without this, it'd be nothing more than watching a music video on your Facebook/Twitter feed via YouTube.
Even though at first thought you may have thought it's "just another social site", realistically you just need to spend some time using it to realise that it's not only a new, creative and easy to use social platform, but mainly that it creates opportunities for music artists, and not only established artists, but primarily unsigned artists. At this time of writing the Myspace statistics show that there are now 14.2 million artists residing on Myspace. 47k of those are Major artists, 85k are independent artists, and a huge 14 million are unsigned – meaning that the chances of there being quality music on there are pretty high, just don't ask me to sieve through it all!
All-in-all my experience with the new Myspace has been good. It's probably never going to reach the popularity of the likes of Facebook, but I'd place a wager on it being the leader in music social media within the next few years.


Friday, August 21, 2009
No New Corporations Sole in Nevada
In Senate Bill No. 55, the 2009 Nevada Legislature amended the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) governing the incorporation of corporations sole. A corporation sole may be formed in Nevada "for acquiring, holding or disposing of church or religious society property, for the benefit of religion, for works of charity, and for public worship," pursuant to NRS Chapter 84. As of July 1, 2009, new corporations sole may only be formed in Nevada if they are a subsidiary of an existing corporation sole. After July 1, 2011, no new corporations sole may be formed in Nevada. Senate Bill No. 55 does not change the status of existing corporations sole.


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Decreasing testosterone levels is a normal phenomenon in men as they age.We developed the home testosterone test to help men accurately understand their own testosterone level compared to normal ranges.How to get tested for total testosterone levels. and blood test results explained.
Know the risk factors of testosterone decline, as well as methods that can help improve your testosterone levels naturally, like hormone replacement therapy.The testosterone test or a free testosterone or bioavailable testosterone test is used to detect low testosterone or high testosterone levels in the blood.
Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you
A testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood.
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid.
Free Testosterone levels with AS? | MESO-Rx ForumThis test summary includes information about free, bioavailable, and total testosterone testing.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be useful for men with proven symptoms and signs of low testosterone.The doctor may want to perform the test in the morning, when testosterone levels usually are highest.Total Testosterone and General Interpretation of Testosterone Abnormalities: Males: Decreased testosterone levels indicate partial or complete hypogonadism.
How to Measure Your Testosterone Level (Blood Work and TRT)Symptoms of low-T include infertility, weight gain, low sex drive, and.Learn more about normal testosterone levels in men to find where you stand.
Testosterone Test | myVMCWelcome to our reviews of the How to Check Testosterone Levels (also known as womensplussizeloungeweargowns).
Testosterone Total Test , Testosterone Levels
Take this WebMD assessment to find out how low testosterone may be affecting your life.Testosterone levels may fluctuate throughout the day, but variations are most important only in men younger than 45.Needing to shave less frequently is one symptom that your testosterone levels may be low.Testosterone levels by age: As men age, testosterone declines.Testosterone treatment is controversial for men and even more so for women.
Blood levels of this hormone start to sag in early adulthood, and then creep lower.
Checking Your Testosterone Level with Saliva TestingWhat You Need to Know About Hormone Testing: Which Test to Get and Why. Those symptoms are not consistent with high estrogen or testosterone levels.Many doctors and researchers agree that saliva levels of the hormone cortisol accurately reflect blood levels of the substance.Although long-term outcome data are not available, prescriptions for testosterone are.Optimal testosterone levels are required by the human body to maintain bone density, lean muscle mass, sex drive, energy, mental stability and overall sense of well.Having Your Testosterone Levels Checked is as Simple as Getting a Blood Test.
Your doctor may order a testosterone level test if they suspect you.There are natural testosterone tests you can do to measure your current levels of testosterone.
Learn more about: testing procedure, how to prepare for the test, what does the test results mean.
When testosterone is too low - AndroGel
Is Your Testosterone Level "Normal?" - TheBody.comTestosterone therapy — Explore the potential benefits and risks of increasing your testosterone level.
At Home Testosterone Test | EverlyWell - EverlyWell
About four years ago, I had test levels checked out of curiosity.Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays an important role in the health of both men and women.High or low testosterone levels in men can cause symptoms and signs of weight gain, osteoporosis, decline in sexual desire, and a decline in physical energy and stamina.

domain: biology


Welcome to the third and final part of our blog series on the Benefits of AWS Lambda for Serverless Computing. In the first two parts of the series, we covered the basics of AWS Lambda, including how it can save you money and reduce operational overhead, provide scalability, and the advantages of using AWS Lambda in an event-driven architecture and integrating it with other AWS services. In this final part of the series, we will explore some additional benefits of AWS Lambda, including developer productivity, improved security, and more.
Increased developer productivity
AWS Lambda can significantly increase the productivity of your development teams by allowing them to focus on writing business logic instead of managing infrastructure. With AWS Lambda, developers can write code that runs only when triggered by specific events without worrying about the underlying infrastructure required to run their code. This means they can spend more time developing features and less time on tasks such as configuring servers, managing databases, and handling scaling. As a result, your teams can deliver new features and applications more quickly, with a faster time-to-market, and with less maintenance overhead.
Here are a few examples of how AWS Lambda can increase developer productivity:
Event-Driven Data Processing
Instead of writing complex code to manage event processing and data pipelines, developers can use AWS Lambda to easily and quickly process data streams from various sources, such as Amazon S3 or Amazon Kinesis. This allows developers to focus on building the actual data processing logic without worrying about the underlying infrastructure and event management.
Real-time Data Processing
By using AWS Lambda to process real-time data, developers can create applications that respond to events as they happen. For example, an IoT application that triggers actions based on sensor readings can be built using AWS Lambda, allowing developers to focus on building the application logic and not the infrastructure.
Web Application Backends
AWS Lambda can be used to build scalable web application backends that are resilient to sudden traffic spikes. Developers can write serverless functions that handle specific tasks, such as authentication or database queries, without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
Overall, AWS Lambda can help development teams increase their productivity by allowing them to focus on building the core functionality of their applications without having to manage the infrastructure required to run that code.
AWS Lambda provides a more secure computing environment than traditional server-based computing by limiting the attack surface and minimizing the risk of server-based vulnerabilities. With server-based computing, you have to worry about the security of the underlying infrastructure, including the operating system, the network, and the physical hardware. In contrast, with AWS Lambda, you can focus on securing your application code and data rather than the infrastructure it runs on.
One way that AWS Lambda enhances security is through its automatic isolation of functions. Each function runs in its own container, isolated from other functions running on the same server. This isolation means that if one function is compromised, it cannot affect other functions running on the same server. Additionally, AWS Lambda automatically applies security patches to the underlying infrastructure, freeing up developers to focus on other tasks.
Another way that AWS Lambda improves security is through its integration with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). With IAM, you can define granular permissions for each function, limiting the actions it can perform and the resources it can access. This fine-grained control helps reduce the risk of privilege escalation attacks, where an attacker gains access to resources they should not have.
Finally, AWS Lambda provides enhanced security through its ability to integrate with other AWS security services, such as Amazon CloudWatch Logs, AWS CloudTrail, and Amazon GuardDuty. These services provide additional layers of monitoring, auditing, and threat detection to help protect your application from attacks.
Overall, AWS Lambda's focus on secure computing and automatic security patching can help developers focus on building great applications rather than worrying about infrastructure security.
Use cases for AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda is a powerful tool that can be used to build a wide range of serverless applications, from simple back-end services to complex, event-driven architectures. With its ability to scale automatically and handle server management, Lambda has become a go-to choice for developers looking to streamline their development process and reduce costs. In this part of our blog series, we'll explore some real-world use cases for AWS Lambda and demonstrate how it can help businesses across different industries solve their unique challenges.
- Image processing: AWS Lambda can be used to automatically resize, compress, or convert image formats when new images are uploaded to a serverless application.
- Chatbots: AWS Lambda can be used to build chatbots that can automatically respond to user queries, retrieve information from a database or API, and even perform actions such as placing an order.
- Event logging and analytics: AWS Lambda can be used to process and analyze log data in real time, allowing you to identify and respond to issues faster.
- Data processing: AWS Lambda can be used to process and transform large amounts of data, such as aggregating data from multiple sources or cleaning and formatting data before storing it in a database.
- Internet of Things (IoT) applications: AWS Lambda can be used to process and analyze data from IoT devices, such as monitoring temperature and humidity levels or tracking location data.
- Machine learning: AWS Lambda can be used to trigger and process machine learning models, allowing you to build predictive analytics applications that can detect patterns and make recommendations.
- Real-time data processing: AWS Lambda can be used to process and analyze data in real time, such as detecting fraud in financial transactions or monitoring social media for brand mentions.
- Serverless web applications: AWS Lambda can be used to build serverless web applications that can scale automatically based on demand without the need for manual server management.
In this three-part blog series, we have explored the many benefits of AWS Lambda for serverless computing. We started with an introduction to AWS Lambda, followed by a discussion of how it can help you save money, automatically scale up or down, and reduce operational overhead. We then delved into event-driven architecture, integrations with other AWS services, and reduced time-to-market. Finally, we discussed how AWS Lambda could increase developer productivity and provide improved security.
Throughout the series, we provided real-world examples and use cases to illustrate the benefits of AWS Lambda and how it can be applied in various scenarios. We hope this series has given you a better understanding of the capabilities of AWS Lambda and how it can be leveraged in your own projects.
As we continue to explore AWS Lambda, we will also examine some of the potential pitfalls and failures that can occur with this technology. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog on this topic.
Thank you for reading!


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A CANDLELIT vigil will be held on Nagasaki Day on Tuesday August 9, from 8.30pm-9pm in Seaford Peace Garden, Crouch Gardens.
Local people will commemorate the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who died as a result of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki in Japan on August 9, 1945.
It is being organised by Seaford Quaker Meeting.
Everyone is welcome to attend the vigil and is encouraged to bring a candle in a jam jar.
Seaford Quaker Meeting spokesperson Jenny Wistreich said: “We should never forget the horror and destructive potential of nuclear weapons, and work towards getting rid of all nuclear weapons as set out in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“We should certainly not be replacing Trident at a cost of £100 billion.”

domain: sociology


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Vintage Rolex stainless steel Oyster Perpetual Date wrist watch, circa 1957. This unisex watch by Rolex Watch Co features a rare red date wheel, the original patinated eggshell dial, 26 jewel perpetual movement, and dauphine hands. This Rolex watch is in excellent condition and still has the factory rating. Cal #1030, Movement #482918, Case Ref #6534, Case #247277
This watch comes with a full 18 month warranty from the date of purchase.
42mm H (lug tip to lug tip) by 34mm W (excluding crown); 19mm lug width
In 1905, 24 year-old Hans Wilsdorf was searching for watches that were precise and reliable. Read more
Domestic Delivery: $45.00
International Shipping Quote
For international shipping please fill out form below for a quote

domain: history


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My reading list for August includes a new mystery in 1920s India, a popular psychology book, a real Victorian diary, a look at the mob in Arkansas and a classic Japanese murder mystery.
As Mallory O’Meara uncovers in her book, there are worlds of fascinating stories behind the Black Lagoon costume. It was designed by Milicent Patrick, and following a triumphant publicity tour with her creation, she disappeared from the film world.
This is a difficult book to describe. There’s an avalanche, a slobbery dog, maybe a ghost, maybe an alien, maybe a spy, probably some mafia, and definitely a world weary cop. Also, it’s really funny and a good mystery.
Somewhere in the frozen North, it doesn’t matter where, really, Henna is trying to forget that her parents and twin sister disappeared in a boating accident. Where she lives, it’s always cold and always snowing. She writes encyclopedia entries and takes long snowshoe walks with her dog, Rembrandt.
It seems like a quarantine would be the perfect time to read, and read lots. It’s counterintuitive but I think I’m reading less, and certainly not more now. Working from home, household responsibilities, stress, worry, and insomnia make it hard to concentrate on a book for me. Still, I’m doing my best to look forward to new releases and upcoming titles.

domain: hobby


“Mr. Henry Asante, a representative of the Ghana Football Association, has confirmed that Southampton centre defender Mohammed Salisu has committed to play for the Black Stars.” Owuraku Ampofo claims that
In 2021, Ghana was unable to advance to the next stage of the Afcon tournament.
On December 18, 2021, Africa Info 247 tweeted, “Earlier in his career, when FIFA almost permanently banned him from playing football, the Ghana Football Association ignored his requests for help.”
According to news outlets across the country, Salisu indicated interest in playing for the senior team in March 2021.
Salisu declined a call-up to the Black Stars for Afcon2021, preferring to play for Southampton instead. It’s fascinating to see Mohammed Salisu evolve into one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
Several footage of him on the field have gone viral, and that is all you need to see. Mohammed Salisu is the first player in the Premier League’s 2021/22 season to make 50 interceptions or more.
The Ghana Football Association is also accused of mistreating Mohammed Salisu while he was in severe need of help. They turned down all of his appeals for help in saving his life.
According to FIFA, his situation was so dire that he was on the verge of being permanently barred from playing football.


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New research shows that Loggerhead turtles only produce their first eggs at 45 years of age. Even after such a long time, they will return from far across the oceans to the very same beach they were born half a century before to lay their eggs. How do they know? Proverbs 30:24 gives the answer.
July 30 – August 1 2010 we joined friends from Bergen and London (a Norwegian) to go hiking with them in Jotunheimen National Park, in the middle the highest mountain region in Northern Europe. We pulled of the main road and onto a dirt road that took us to the end of the road at Leirvassbu, from were we carriered all our gear to a beautiful valley among glaciers and lakes.
On my online portfolio there is an album of some of the best pictures from the trip.
kjhkjhkj kjh kjh kjh kjlh jh

domain: geography


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Dick raised an eyebrow as another masked villain stumbled into the room. They were panting, slightly hunched over, and took exactly 13 seconds to calm themselves enough to speak. He would have chuckled in a better circumstance.
There was a war raging around Gotham, Bruce was out of action, and Damian had traded his own freedom –his life – so that the Court of Owls couldn’t get their murderous hands on their true Gray Son.
This was not a better circumstance.
Dick’s heart was screaming and swelling at the same time with a mixture of pain from Damian’s sacrifice and the full realization of Damian’s love for him. It was just another painful reminder of how much he had taken the loveable brat for granted.
And he’d failed him again.
He would change it. He would make a new deal – save his little brother.
He had to.
After all, that was exactly what Robin was about: Family. And he protected his family.
Now, Damian was trumping him.
The Owl’s voice caught his attention again, and he saw March raise an eyebrow also. “Yes?”
“The boy,” the man huffed in response, leaning against the wall. “He’s gone off-book.”
“Get me eyes on him.” March snapped, scowl deepening as he turned back to stare at Dick. His eyes narrowed. “Although, I have no doubt that he will have stayed true to our original plan. He wouldn’t risk your life, after all.”
Dick wanted to break his nose.
The giant screen in front of them buzzed to life and suddenly the picture came to life. Dick could see Duke Thomas, red jacket and all, toe to toe with his smallest brother. Damian’s white mask was so different from the green one that Dick was so accustomed too, and it looked ugly on him, because he knew what that 12-year-old was supposed to be wearing. He knew what he was supposed to be doing, what he should have done.
Damian rammed his elbow into Duke’s back, but the dark-skinned teen somehow still managed to bark out, “You want to ignore your responsibilities. The people who follow you. Who were inspired by you. Just like your dad did.”
“Shut up!” Damian shouted, and his voice was strained, and it hurt. He kicked Duke to the ground, and his hands turned into fists.
“I understand man, I do. Honestly.” Duke spat, and Dick suddenly wanted to punch him too. “It’s the right thing to do. Be like him. Be alone. Suffer alone.”
Dick watched as the former Robin cracked his fist against his enemy’s jaw. “SHUT UP!”
Duke wiped his busted lip and the blood that was running down his chin. “I see it. It’s what anyone would do. Hell, it’s what I’d do. Make that same sacrifice. Give up on my family. But here’s the-,”
Dick wanted to stuff a sock down this kid’s throat. Damian was not some self-obsessed, arrogant child who was doomed to follow in Bruce’s footsteps for the rest of his-
“You think that’s what this is?” the younger boy breathed, anger radiating from his shaking voice. “That I’m giving up on my family? You complete idiot! I’m saving my family!”
Duke seemed finally at a loss for words, and so was Dick.
Damian took a half step forwards, and when he spoke, he could hear the tears in his tone. “I’m saving him.” the 12-year-old snarled. “I’m saving Grayson!”
Dick’s breath hitched, and he felt his heart crack.
“You think I wanted this? That I want my brothers to think that I’ve finally become what they always thought I was? You’re more stupid than I thought.” Damian scoffed and shook his head, straightening. Dick winced, because that familiar scoff, that angry little huff that he had come to adore, was so out of reach. So far gone.
“I’m doing this because if I didn’t, then they would have taken him! They would have taken Grayson, and they would have changed him.”
Damian stopped, and his head lowered, and his next words were cracked, flooded with emotions he no doubt hated. “They-they would have twisted him, turned him, broken him until he was no longer him. So yes, I gave up, but not on my family.”
Of course he hadn’t. Damian would never. Not after everything that he’d done to save them, not just now, but every time before. Every time he’d put his life on the line for the others, for Bruce and Jay and Tim and him.
“I gave myself up, because the thought of Dick Grayson – the over-caring idiot – would hurt someone, kill someone, intentionally, that hurt too much. The man that saved me more time and time again, who stuck with me through everything, who-,”
His voice stopped, and he turned away from Duke. “I did this because I would rather have the Owls make me break all my morals, my ideals, than have the man who loved me more than anyone else break his.”
And Dick’s heart shattered.
No. No, no, no! This wasn’t how it was supposed to be!
Damian never should have had to make that decision. He never should have had to feel like he had to make that decision. He never should have been able to even think about making that decision!
That wasn’t his job!
Damian was the youngest of them, the smallest, the one that all of them should have been protecting. He had broken away from his entire upbringing, challenged everything he knew, and turned away from all his mother had taught him, and now he was willing to break everything that Bruce had taught him – that Dick had taught him – so that he could save Dick.
He was a child, one who had fought countless times to prove himself, to keep the love that was supposed to be free, to prove that he was good enough to be Robin, good enough to be the son of Batman, good enough to be Damian Wayne.
The child who fought countless times to prove he was worth loving.
He had been fighting, when all the while, they were supposed to be fighting for him.
Dick’s head dropped, unable to shield the tears any longer. Oh, Damian.
But at his brother’s voice, his gaze rose again, and though his vision was cloudy, he stared at Damian. Dick swallowed the painful lump in this throat.
“So the next time that you accuse me of abandoning my family, of wanting to suffer alone, use your brain and think.” Damian snapped hoarsely. “I do this because I love my family, and I don’t want them to suffer.”
Then the 12-year-old turned and took 2 steps forward, towards the exit, and halted. His hands slowly pulled out his green domino mask, the one that Dick had seen him wear so many times. The one that Dick had watched him put on before patrol. The one that he died in. The one that he wore every time he went out to save lives.
The one that he protected him in.
Damian let it slip from his fingers. It fell to the ground, barely making a thud, and then his chin lifted, and Dick heard him sniffle.
And his heart fractured.
“If-if you see the others, tell them I’m sorry.” Damian managed, and Dick knew he was trying. Trying to be confident, trying to be strong, trying to be brave. Trying to save everyone he could. Just like always. “But Robin never gives up on his own.”
“All about suffering, huh?” Duke whispered, but the white masked boy did not reply. His only visible reaction was a small stiffening of his back, before he sprinted off into the darkness and out of sight. Duke watched him go, forlorn expression only worsening as he stood and muttered, “Poor kid.”
And Dick’s heart broke.
He turned away, unable to look at the screen anymore. Anger and agony coursed through him like 2 rivers fighting for dominance over his choices. He wanted to rip Lincoln March apart limb from limb, dismantle everything he had ever built and destroy the Parliament of Owls once and for all; he wanted to run, to fly, to scour the earth until he found Damian, and then he wanted to hug him, hold him, love him, and tell him just how much, and never let him go.
Dick wanted to burn the Court to the ground.
But he wanted to save his little brother more.
Damian was worth more than any deal, any amount of money, any prize that could be won, and it only took Dick 3 years, Damian’s death, and now another one of his brother’s sacrifices to realize that. He wasn’t evil, he wasn’t selfish, he wasn’t some bratty, arrogant monster. He was a brilliant, kind kid, and underneath that rough exterior beat the heart of a true hero.
Damian deserved more than anything Dick could ever give him, but Dick was sure as hell going to give him this.
“Well, well, well.” Lincoln murmured with a smirk. “This is turning out to be more interesting than I had anticipated. The choice is yours, Richard.”
Fine, he’d choose.
He chose Damian.
He chose Nightwing.
He chose family.
That’s what Robin was all about.
Dick smirked. Don’t worry, Lil’ D. Your Big Brother’s coming for you, and he won’t let you down this time.
On this day in history 1963 America witnessed one of its most spiteful moments of discrimination. A story of two clever Negroes from Alabama and a staunch conservative determined to keep his promise.
The story begins 11 years earlier when in 1954, Alabama was ordered to desegregate its education system by the supreme court. Hundreds applied in the following years but the university worked with the police to find even the slightest disqualifying quantities but when this failed, the university resorted to intimidating applicants. All black applicants were denied with the exception of Katherine Lucy in 1956. Who was later kicked out of the school due to violent attacks and riots on campus.
Nearly a decade later, two black students successfully enrolled. Vivian Malone Jones and James hood. A court order from a district judge ordered they be admitted.
Previously that year in January. Alabama elected George Wallace as its 45th governor of Alabama. This conservative democrat would pledge at his inaugural address
The two students pre registered at Birmingham courthouse were they selected their courses. The students then arrived at the university to pay their fees. Only to find Governor Wallace stood in the doorway of foster auditorium. Refusing to move. Deputy attorney general Nicholas katzenbach told him to step aside. But was interrupted by Wallace, who gave a speech on states rights. In which he described the enrollment of the two students as“Unwelcome and unwarranted” and the “oppression of the rights, privileges and sovereignty of this state by officers of the federal government.
Katzenbach called president John F Kennedy who had issued executive order 1111. Authorizing the federalization of the Alabama national guard. 4 hours later Guard general Henry graham arrived with 100 Alabama guard and demanded Wallace to step aside saying
“Sir, it is my sad duty to ask you to step aside under the orders of the President of the United States.” Wallace stepped aside. Hood and Malone were escorted into the auditorium were they completed their registration to the cheers of pro integration whites.
Malone would receive her bachelor of arts in business management with a B+ average becoming the first black person to graduate from the University of Alabama. She died of a stroke aged 63 in 2005.
George Wallace would propel to national fame and would run for president in 1968 carrying five states with 9 million votes. He survived an assassination attempt in 1972 and remained wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. He renounced his racist views and apologized to African Americans. He died in 1998.
James hood left the university after only two months but returned 30 years later in 1995 were he completed his doctorate in interdisciplinary studies. He attended Wallace’s funeral in 1998 imploring others to forgive Wallace as he had. James died in 2013.
They have died but the racial divide in America lives on today.

domain: literature


text:
State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald was pleased to host a virtual chat with Iowans that had recently received their ‘treasure’ through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. The participants shared how they discovered their unclaimed property and their positive experience with the program. “I find it very rewarding to return money through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt,” Fitzgerald said. “The owners were reunited with their lost funds through different resources. From seeing publications in local newspapers to social media posts, we are continuously searching for Iowans to reunite them with their treasures.”
Created by Fitzgerald, the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program returns unclaimed property to the rightful owner or their heirs. “We know many are struggling out there because of the coronavirus pandemic,” Fitzgerald said. “We have increased our efforts to find individuals, churches, organizations and businesses with lost property and have had tremendous success in reuniting lost treasures. I encourage everyone to search our list at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov. Search for family members and your local organizations and businesses.” You may watch the virtual chat here: https://youtu.be/c8YKRnMEqQE
Unclaimed property refers to property or accounts within financial institutions or companies in which there typically has been no activity for several years and the business cannot locate the owner. In Iowa, the assets are safeguarded in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include forgotten savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, unpaid life insurance benefits, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents. Over $420 million is waiting to be claimed in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. The program has returned over $291 million in unclaimed property since Fitzgerald created it in 1983.

domain: economics


text:
The UK’s top law-enforcement agencies have warned that companies could face increased cybercrime and fraud as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) is reporting a surge in fraud, primarily driven by cybercrime, and cautioned that criminals were seeking to exploit the crisis to target businesses, investors and their customers.
According to the NECC there were 396 reports of Covid-19 specific fraud in March, and such incidents represented one in 20 of all frauds logged with the Action Fraud reporting centre in March.
The rise of home-working is believed to particularly represent a threat to businesses vulnerable to attacks, fuelling a sharp rise in such incidents in recent weeks. The director of the NECC, Graeme Biggar, said criminals were “adjusting and jumping on the Covid-19 bandwagon ”.
In particular, the NECC noted that scammers might be mimicking company suppliers and attempting to change payment destinations for bank transfers from company accounts. Amidst a surge in emergency lending, criminals imitating creditors were also cited as a key risk for misdirected funds.
The NECC cites cybercrime as a major enabler of fraud, primarily through illegal data breaches, phishing and malware – the organisation estimates that at least 54% of all fraud now takes place online.
This week, the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Money Pensions Service also warned consumers to be aware of growing coronavirus scams, such as bogus text messages claiming to come from government departments or banks.
The National Crime Agency, one of the key members of the NECC, released their strategic assessment this week, which showed that incidents of fraud had increased 9% in the year ending September 2019. With the ongoing threat of Covid-19, the view of enforcement agencies is that this number could increase yet further in 2020.
Businesses should be on high alert for such issues, whilst seeking to ensure that their data security and wider corporate crime compliance provisions are in the strongest possible shape in the coming weeks and months.

domain: law


text:
Nothing says 'April school holidays' quite like a family camping adventure and while many options are now off the cards (no 'non-essential' interstate travel as of March 22, for example), there's little to say you can't still enjoy a tented adventure, albeit within carefully defined limits.
If the Government's new recommendations on abandoning all interstate travel plans hasn't put you off the idea of booking a campsite in another state, consider this: borders have begun closing. Tasmania was the first state to shut its borders and Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island are set to follow.
Many popular campgrounds around Australia such as the Gumma Reserve Camping Ground in Macksville, Queensland and Mornington Peninsula Shire Foreshore Camping in Victoria have already shut their gates due to COVID-19 with many more campgrounds predicted to follow in the coming weeks.
In line with new social distancing regulations, holiday parks, campgrounds with shared facilities and those where tents and cabins are placed within close proximity of one another should be avoided as should any grounds where it is commonplace for families to mix and play together.
Finally, some good news: there are plenty of remote and isolated campgrounds out there for those willing to travel that extra mile (or extra hundred, as the case may be). Download the WikiCamps app and use its exceptional filter to only search for sites which are in line with what you're looking for (ridiculously remote, pet-friendly, near a waterway etc).
Each state's National Parks website has a comprehensive listing of campgrounds which remain open and this is one of the better places to start researching a spot that works with the New World Order. In New South Wales, for example, Dangars Gorge campground in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park near Armidale, and the main campground in Mungo National Park, near Pooncarie.
For those who are looking for something adventurous and consider day after day of hardcore trekking a 'fun' way to have a holiday, there are plenty of trails still open – all of which provide countless possibilities for tent-pitching. Consider Victoria's the Grampians: 30+ hiking and walking tracks complete with remote campsites such as Borough Huts and Boreang campgrounds, and Hinchinbrook Island, Queensland's extensive woodlands, wetlands and sandy beaches – again with plenty of remote spots to camp overnight. Over in Coorong National Park, South Australia, a stay at Southern Ocean Beach Campground is possible for those who hire a 4WD to drive the 130km stretch of saltwater lagoons. In these remote parts, it's entirely possible to enjoy your holiday without seeing another soul. Just don't forget to bring your own supplies, from food and water to games and entertainment options.
And if camping just isn't camping unless there is a mattress and fine goose down quilt involved, there is always Glampinghub.com. Simply enter your desired destination and the type of accommodation you require (the site has everything from safari tents to tiny houses) and book a luxurious 'camping lite' stay.
The same safety rules and regulations apply, even in the most remote campgrounds. Continue to wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser when you're unable to access soap. Travel and do any shopping during quiet periods of the day (for example, first thing in the morning or late at night) to avoid crowds and practice social distancing when in the company of others such as when you're queuing up to pay for petrol.
If you become ill during your camp trip, contact the National Coronavirus Helpline (open 24/7) on 1800 020 080 or call your GP for advice.


MS11-NG2 Mid-Sized Inspection System
$7,833.00 – $8,060.00
Suitable for 3″- 6″ lines. This one-piece inspection system is durable and delivers exceptional image clarity. Color, self-leveling 1½″ dia. camera head has 512Hz transmitter built-in. Record to internal drive, removable USB drive, or transmit wirelessly to mobile devices. Push rod can be replaced in your shop.
Ships standard with 200′ of push rod – or choose 150′.
The MS11-NG2 Mid-Sized Inspection System gives you big performance from one grab-and-go package. It is suitable for 3″ to 6″ lines, but an optional MS11+ Combo Kit will let it inspect 1½” to 2″ lines.
Like most of our inspection systems, this camera has 2 on-board USB ports and an internal 64GB drive. Record to either location, or both at the same time. A router is included to stream images and recordings to your mobile device using our MyTana Viewer App, available for Android or iOS .
A daylight readable monitor is integrated on the frame, right next to the control panel. It displays exceptionally clear imagery and a digital footage counter.
The lightweight yet rugged frame (powder-coated aluminum) and durable push-rod have been factory and field tested to make sure the MS11-NG2 System holds up in harsh operating environments. It weighs just 45 lbs with 200ft of push rod. The push-rod can be replaced in your shop, order replacement sections here.
The camera can be powered with either household electric current or on-board battery. Recharge the battery by plugging in to standard wall outlet.
Partner with our MT 512+ Locator to add locating capabilities using the system’s built in 512Hz transmitter. This MS11-NG2 Mid-Sized Inspection System is one of our best selling cameras.
Note: Our NG Inspection Systems are not backward compatible with the MY30 and earlier “classic” analog based cameras.
- Powder-coated aluminum
- 45 lbs (with 200’ push rod)
- Push Rod – 3/8″ dia., field replaceable, durable, smooth low-friction coat reduces catching
- Dimensions 13″W × 20”L × 21”H
- 1½” dia. – suitable for 3″ to 6″ lines
- Stainless steel, flexible neck
- Screw-on/off connection to push rod
- Color, self-leveling
- 512Hz transmitter/sonde built in
- Adjustable LED lights (adjust on control box)
- 3 sizes of ice balls to guide, center and protect
- 5.25” × 4” (6.5” diagonal) – daylight readable monitor
- Digital footage counter displayed
- File management menu
- Title and text overlays on screen and recording – customizable w/USB keyboard (not included)
- Stainless-steel buttons for power, sonde transmission, footage counter reset
- Rheostat control for camera head LEDs
- Water resistant membrane protection on video control buttons
- 64GB internal memory drive
- Dual USB ports
The MS11-NG2 ships with:
- 3 sizes protective “Ice Balls”- built-in, field replaceable translucent, polycarbonate light ring covers
- Power cord
- USB removable drive
- Router for WiFi recording


text:
Just wondering how it's possible to actually sleep better with this as I always thought that increased dopamine would make you more alert and less tiered. I mean dopamine is a stimulant is it not?
dopamine is a "feel good hormone," and is normally released when you feel pleasure, or are happy.
a lot of stimulants also act on dopamine and raise it to a level much higher then what is natural, by altering the way that your dopamine receptors act. basically you end up with an unregulated dopamine dump thing going on in your brain to some degree. Methamphetamine and cocaine will do this.
It is widely known that nicotine is a stimulant, and that it triggers dopamine release. this correlation may be what causes the misconception that dopamine itself is a stimulant, when it is not.
Dopamine release just helps you exist in a more pleasent mood, which is relaxing in itself, and thus promoting sleep.
for me USP'shelped me sleep, while Uniques L-Dopoa hindered my sleep and gave me anxiety.

domain: chemistry


text:
Indian Railways steps up the game – prepares to reach greater heights! The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) – headquartered in Maligaon, Guwahati in the state of Assam, is constructing the tallest railway girder bridge of the world, in Manipur at 141 metres surpassing the existing record of 139 metre Mala-Rijeka viaduct, at Montenegro in Europe.
The bridge at Manipur is part of a new broad gauge line being constructed to connect the northeastern state with the rest of the country and the pillars have already been built. The NFR railway zone is responsible for rail operations in the entire Northeast and parts of West Bengal and Bihar.
NFR Senior Public Relations Officer, S K Ojah was quoted in a PTI report saying that the bridge is expected to surpass the existing record of the tallest girder bridge at 139 metre of Mala-Rijeka viaduct, Montenegro in Europe. Read More
Latest posts by Financial Express (see all)
- Indian Railways largest waiting hall opens at Patna Junction! From digital screens to local art, see features - September 16, 2019
- Indian Railways DFC project gathers momentum! First trial run of a heavy haul train with 103 wagons conducted - September 16, 2019
- Bizarre! Indian Railways Delhi helpline flooded with requests for delivery of pizza, burgers & mobile recharge - September 16, 2019


text:
Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information on Maalim Salman, a key leader of al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Deceased al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane chose Salman to lead al-Shabaab’s African foreign terrorist fighters. Also known as Maalim Salman Ali and Ameer Salman, Salman has been involved in Africa-based operations targeting tourists, entertainment establishments, and churches. Although focused mainly on operations outside Somalia, Salman is known to reside in Somalia, where he trains foreign fighters for dispatch elsewhere.
On September 24, 2014, the U.S. Department of State designated Salman as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended. As a result of this designation, among other consequences, all property and interests in property of Salman that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Salman. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the FTO al-Shabaab.
- Північна Корея
- Шкідлива кібер-діяльність
- Втручання у вибори


text:
L-R: Cam Rust, Jake Laderman, Hanny J, Stevie Williams, Jarrod Goon
Life is short and often unbearably so. Is it any wonder, then, that throughout the ages, humans have dreamed about living forever? Even when it feels like the world is falling apart—as it has for most people these past few years—there's still a yearning for immortality. That's something that Melbourne-based punks Clowns have channeled into their new record ENDLESS. The Australian band—now comprised of lead vocalist Stevie Williams, drummer Jake Laderman, guitarists Jarrod Goon and Cameron Rust, and bassist Hanny J—had released its predecessor, Nature/Nurture, in 2019. Not right before the pandemic ruined everything for everyone, but with only just enough time to finish their album cycle before the world took an unprecedented turn. The changing world profoundly affected the band, especially Williams, who was single and living alone during the lockdown and subject to a heavily enforced curfew between 9 pm and 5 am. Unsurprisingly, he struggled. But he also persevered, and now Clowns have emerged through the dark tunnel of the last few years, and turned them on their heads.
The result is an album whose central theme is immortality and whose songs represent a newfound sense of strength, empowerment, and overcoming adversity. That spirit of mental and physical renewal flows through the twelve tracks of ENDLESS as the notion of immortality manifests itself in various forms within them and which takes center stage right from the off. After the graceful, '80s metal-inspired intro of the title track, the first song, "FORMALDEHYDE," is a breathless rush of adrenaline and defiance. 'I used to think that I'd go out young and that I wouldn't live past twenty-five,' sings Williams over Tilbrook's scorching yelps, 'and now I'm pretty sure I'll never die ’cos I'm soaking in formaldehyde.' It's a surge of abrasive, visceral, and self-aware energy riddled with newly-found purpose and an unquenchable thirst for being alive and being in this band.
"We were thinking about writing new music," says Williams, "and then—bam!—pandemic. So in a weird way, it was almost a convenient time for it to happen for us. We were starting this new creative era right as the world was changing and flipping upside down in ways we couldn't imagine. We bought home recording gear and were doing the whole thing remote, which was definitely a big spanner in the works to what we usually do. It was very hard to adapt. Once we did a few demos, I realized the lyrics I was writing all seemed to have this running theme of immortality, and I wasn't sure why. Looking back, I think my attitude at the time was that the world was changing in these crazy directions, and I was determined to push through it all and not let the project die." That song is followed by the frazzled "SCARED TO DIE," which manages to capture the fraught nerves of Williams' experience of isolation while also paying homage to iconic bands like Motorhead, AC/DC, and Iron Maiden by infusing their elements into its frantic framework. "THANKS 4 NOTHING"—on which Hanny takes lead vocals—captures the restlessness and pent-up energy that came from being unable to leave the house (and also operates on a much more existential level).
At the same time, "BISEXUAL AWAKENING" tackles Williams' thoughts on his own sexual preferences through uncompromising, unashamedly provocative lyrics. "It delves into the pervasive nature of bisexuality," says Williams, "and sheds light on the presence of bisexual individuals in everyday life, even their orientation goes completely unnoticed. It emphasizes that bisexuals are like chameleons, adjusting to any situation, yet often feeling like they don't truly belong." Elsewhere, "I GOT A KNIFE 🔪🔪🔪," featuring Cecilia Boström from Swedish punks The Baboon Show, addresses the notion of self-defense with unfettered unrestraint, while "SARAH" was a song originally written and released in 2021 7", that has been reinvigorated, reimagined and recorded with a new energy. "SARAH" personifies the role of serotonin in the context of a toxic relationship. There's also "Z3r0s&0n3s" (pronounced 'zeros and ones'), which addresses the subject of immortality, but this time through AI technology and the potentially dystopian consequences that preserving human consciousness in machines might have. However, as primal and aggressive as these songs are, they offer plenty of incisive analysis about the human condition while pushing the boundaries of hardcore punk to the same extremes that Clowns have always done.
Just like the last three Clowns albums—2015's Bad Blood, 2017's Lucid Again, and the aforementioned Nature/Nurture—ENDLESS was recorded at Hot House Studios in Melbourne, though this time the album was mixed by Ocean Grove's Sam Bassal. The band worked with renowned producer, engineer, and songwriter Matt Squire (Underoath, Panic! At The Disco, Ariana Grande) on "THANKS 4 NOTHING" and "SARAH."
Like all Clowns albums before it, including 2013's debut I'm Not Right, this record ends with a wildly experimental track. This time, it's a song called "A WIDOW'S SON," which brashly flings open the saloon doors on the songwriting skill and prowess Clowns are capable of. Featuring the anonymous host of Australian true crime podcast Casefile (as well as the trumpet by Max Bobzin from German punks Feine Sahne Fischfilet), it retells one of Australian outlaw, gang leader, and convicted police-murderer Ned Kelly's adventures in the form of a spaghetti western movie soundtrack. "That also ties in with the overall theme of the record," says Williams, "because his legends, especially in Australia, are immortal. They never seem to die." It all makes for a thrilling, tense, and truly fascinating finale to a record that serves as a new beginning for Clowns. In more ways than one, Williams and the band have been reborn, and this is the invigorating and astonishing first stage of their next adventure. "It definitely feels like we're like walking through into a brand new chapter of the band," says Williams, "and having this new album is kind of symbolic of that, as is the artwork of this demon just rising from the ashes, playing the keytar, the cops trying to shoot him down but it's not working. But musically and creatively within the band, this feels more like we've written the record that we wanted to write."

domain: artistic


text:
Your typical American family where everything is normal. Or anything but.
Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Next to Normal focuses on what appears to be a typical American suburban family going about their everyday lives only to discover they’re coping with a crisis. Diana, the family’s matriarch, has been struggling with bipolar disorder for 16 years and things are only getting worse. Next to Normal provides an unfiltered look into the struggle of those dealing with mental illness while reminding us all at the end of the day, there will be light.

domain: psychology


- Foldable & Flexible: ABS plastic aerofoil and fuselage, convenient for flying indoors and outdoors - Modular Batteries: Ensure safety during usage and charging - WiFi FPV Real Time Transmission: You can watch a live video and snap wonderful photos with FPV function in your smart phone - 3D VR Mode: 3D VR headset is compatible with this drone, see the world in a special way - 720P HD Camera for Aerial Photography: Makes your photos more beautiful - Altitude Hold Function: Built-in barometer with altitude hold function providing stable flight - APP Control: Operate the HS160 RC Drone through an APP in your smart phone, new functions can be activated - Gravity Sensor Mode: The Gravity Sensor Mode enables the small quadcopter to automatically follow the direction you move your smartphone - One Key Start/Landing: Press button to make the drone's engine start or land steadily after the drone is paired with its controller - 4 Speed Modes: 4 speed modes from low to high, suitable for beginners, intermediates and experts - LED Light: Equipped with LED navigation lights and remote control indicator lights for night flights - Newest Package: Quick start for the drone is printed inside the box and all parts are packed a sole box, ideal gift for kids and adults.
HS160 Drone Portable & Foldable
Real Time FPV
Wifi APP Campatible Wifi Distance About 30M
120° Wide-Angle Shooting Range
60° Manual Adjusted Len
Altitude Hold Mode
More Clearly Pictures with Drone with Altitude Hold Mode
Portable & Foldable
Same Size As Your Cellphone
720P Full HD Camera
Support Taking Photo and Videos
Tap once to start recording, tap again to stop recording. The device can record the operator's voice while the camera is recording.
One Key Take off/Landing
Convince to control the drone
Compatible with 3D VR Glass
Support APP Control
Gravity Sensor Mode
The Gravity Sensor Mode enables the quadcopter to follow the direction you move your smartphone.
4 Speed Method One Key Switch
6.98KM/H：for beginners 13.48KM/H & 18KM/H：for intermediates 22.57KM/H：for experts
MODULAR and BONUS BATTERY


Simcenter FLOEFD Software
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SDA Software is more than a premier value added reseller of [Product]. We employ award winning engineers that use it every day as part of our professional consulting services. We have the capacity to provide advanced technical support and consulting services to our customers.
Our standard support is included when you purchase a product license or subscription (active maintenance). This covers the following:
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Advanced support is not included with active maintenance.


text:
Barça make last 8 in Copa del ReyJanuary 12, 2017
Barcelona secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey after last night beating Athletic Bilbao 3-1 for a 4-3 aggregate score.
Suarez scored his one hundredth goal for the Catalan club 35 minutes into the first half off a Neymar cross. That was enough to put Barça through after their 2-1 defeat last week. The Brazilian scored from the penalty spot at the start of the second half only to see Barcelona’s advantage neutralised a handful of minutes later with a header by Enric Saborit.
However Leo Messi prevented the game from going to extra time when he scored 12 minutes from full time and secured their place in the last eight.
1-0 Suárez (min 35)
2-0 Neymar (min 48)
2-1 Saborit (min 51)
3-1 Messi (min 78)

domain: sports


Originally Posted by willwren
How do you 95'* like being guniea pigs?
Sweet yet sad. We get all the options!!!!, even the ones that don't work very well.
Well, I got most of my tune-up done. I replaced the fuel filter with a Fram, replaced the air filter with a Fram, installed the NGK Iridium IX spark plugs, and installed the Taylor 8mm Spiro Pro wires. It all looks sweet and drives even sweter.
My rough idle is almost gone (still there a little when the car is first turned on wether hot or cold
), and the acceleration is smoother through all the gears. I also notice an increase in acceleration that I just love! I'm sure most of what I fell is just putting it back to where it should be running from after basic maintaince but there'* a little extra floating around too.
So far I recommend all the parts that I used for this but I will post again down the road so we can all see what the long term performance of these parts are, if your interested.


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LONDON — In the first comprehensive global study of sexual behavior, British researchers found that people aren't losing their virginity at ever younger ages, married people have the most sex, and there is no firm link between promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases.
The study was published Wednesday as part of a series on sexual and reproductive health by the British medical journal The Lancet. Professor Kaye Wellings of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicines and her colleagues analyzed data from 59 countries.
Experts say the study will be useful not only in dispelling popular myths about sexual behavior, but also in shaping policies that will help improve sexual health across the world.
Researchers looked at published studies on sexual behavior in the last decade. They also used data from national governments worldwide. Wellings noted that since the survey results were based on self-reporting, they could be susceptible to error.
Wellings said she was surprised by some of the survey's results.
"We did have some of our preconceptions dashed," she said, explaining they had expected to find the most promiscuous behavior in regions such as Africa with the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases. That was not the case, as multiple partners were more commonly reported in industrialized countries where the incidence of such diseases was relatively low.
The study also found that contrary to popular belief, sexual activity is not starting earlier. Nearly everywhere, men and women have their first sexual experiences in their late teens--from 15 to 19 years old--with generally younger ages for women than for men, especially in developing countries. That is no younger than 10 years ago.


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New Siberia: an uninhabited archipelago covered by ice
Discover the New Siberia, a polar landscape composed of uninhabited islands surrounded by a sea of ice cream in a polar environment very suggestive.
New Siberian Islands
The term of the New Siberian Islands, an archipelago indicates uninhabited and covered with ice for most of the year, located in the arctic ocean off the coast Jakuta, between the Laptev Sea to the west and the East Siberian Sea to the east.
The largest island is to Kotel’nyj, which has an area of nearly 12,000 km2, followed by the islands of De Long and Ljakhovskij. Yakov Sannikov was who first explored in the early 1800.
Kotel’nyj, which is part of the autonomous republic of Sacha-Yakutia in Russia and covers a total area of 23,165 km square, consists of three areas represented by the island of Kotel’nyj, from the Earth and from the island of Bunge Faddeyevsky Peninsula.
On the island of Kotel’nyj are 130 rivers over 10 km in length including the greater the Balyktach with its 205 km. The climate of this island is of polar type with very cold winters and short summers with average temperatures of no more than 2 degrees Celsius in July.
Precipitation is mostly snow. New Siberia is the easternmost island of the archipelago of the same name and is one of the largest in the world. Has a planar and reaches a few tens of meters as the altitude above sea level, the vegetation is predominantly made up of the tundra.


As COVID-19 cases have spiked in El Paso and other parts of the country, hospitals have borne the brunt of the crisis.
Throughout the pandemic, several groups of El Paso hospital workers have spoken out about worker safety concerns, including inadequate personal protective equipment and lack of access to COVID-19 tests for staff. El Paso members of the National Nurses Union and the Service Employees International Union have held multiple public protests demanding improved worker safety standards at local hospitals.
Although El Paso hospitals emphasize the efforts they have undertaken to promote and maintain the safety of their employees, some say they aren’t doing enough.
A technician who works at Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare wishes the hospital would do more to protect workers.
“We’ve literally doubled (in COVID-19 patients) in the last month. So floors are full. But I don’t get an N95 mask. I have my same N95 mask — I’ve had this one for two weeks now, and they’re only good for eight hours. The process they have is not good at all,” said the worker, who asked not to be identified for fear of repercussions.
Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare officials disputed the worker’s claim. “Employees caring for COVID-19 patients in our hospitals are provided with an N-95 mask for each shift they are working. If the mask becomes soiled or is compromised at any point during the employee’s shift, a new N-95 mask is provided for the duration of the shift that day,” the hospitals said in a statement.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in El Paso tripled, from 95 to 310, between June 23 and July 23.
In a statement, Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare said the hospitals have taken numerous steps to protect workers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since the onset of this pandemic, we’ve instituted several safety protocols to help protect our patients and staff. In March, we implemented universal masking throughout our hospitals, and we screen all patients, visitors and staff — including temperature checks — before they enter our facilities.” The statement also said, “We continue to follow the CDC’s and our local public health officials’ guidelines for preventing the spread of the coronavirus.”
Complaints over PPE, access to COVID-19 testing
Dr. Ogechika Alozie, chief medical officer of Del Sol Medical Center and an infectious disease specialist, said El Paso hospitals are prioritizing worker and patient safety.
“We have done all the things aligned with CDC guidance from the time that we realized COVID was going to be a concern, far before we ever had a case in El Paso. We all work collaboratively in the community, whether it’s Las Palmas del Sol, The Hospitals of Providence, University Medical Center; we all work together. The chief medical officers get on calls every other week, we’re all aligned with being safe.”
He said COVID-19 presents unique challenges for hospitals, and has necessitated that hospital leadership respond to changing standards and information from federal agencies.
“At any point in time, we as people can disagree about what a standard is, and the CDC has put out multiple standards and we’ve tried to adapt to that. I tell people all the time, it’s really easy in hindsight to pick at things,” Alozie said. “But in real time, we were doing the best we possibly could to protect our employees, understanding also that there are multiple trends of guidance coming from the CDC and the White House, and the (World Health Organization). But we always focus on ‘how do we keep our patients, how do we keep our staff as safe as possible?’ I think that’s really been the key.”
Elsa Caballero is the president of SEIU Texas, the union that represents many health care workers at HCA Healthcare, the corporation that owns Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare. In an interview with El Paso Matters, she emphasized that worker safety concerns are valid and should be taken seriously by hospital leadership.
“I have no reason not to believe the workers who are talking to us about the fears that they have. Especially when I go back to HCA and ask them what they’re doing and to provide us with information and they refuse to do so,” Caballero said. “There’s no reason for me not to believe the workers are clearly very scared about what’s happening in the hospital, and not having enough N95 masks or not having quality masks.”
Common complaints among staff members at multiple facilities throughout the city have focused on access to PPE and availability of staff testing for COVID-19.
A nurse who works with COVID-19 patients at The Hospitals of Providence said they have ongoing concerns about improper reuse of single-use personal protective equipment by hospital staff, like masks and gowns.
“We are reusing single use PPE, and of course there’s the increased risk of cross contaminating the lab, the medication room, the clean equipment room. There are a lot of safety issues, but the main problem is that they’re expecting us to reuse single use PPE,” said the nurse, who asked not to be named because of concerns of repercussions.
Some reuse of single-use personal protective equipment is compliant with CDC guidelines.
Monique Poessiger, a spokesperson for the Hospitals of Providence, said the hospitals follow “strict policies and protocols” for safety and health. “Employee health follows processes and procedures for testing and return to work as recommended by the El Paso Department of Public Health and CDC,” she said in a statement.
Standards and protocol for PPE, staff COVID testing, and response protocol to exposure vary from facility to facility, and have changed over time as the outbreak has spread throughout the community.
Ryan Mielke, spokesperson for University Medical Center, detailed the way UMC responds when there is a potential exposure incident, as of July 22.
“When an associate has a work exposure to COVID-19 related to contact with a positive patient or co-worker, the exposure is immediately evaluated by our occupational health and iInfection control departments. The evaluation takes into consideration factors such as whether or not the appropriate PPE was being worn at the time of the encounter, the length of the encounter, and social distancing. If the encounter is determined to be low risk, the associate is provided with a 14-day self-monitoring tool and occupational health conducts regular checks on the associate. If the encounter is deemed to be medium or high risk, the associate is placed off of work for isolation with the self-monitoring tool. For symptomatic associates, occupational health will place them off of work and schedule them for a telehealth visit with one of our clinic providers who can request a test, with results returned between 24-48 hours.”
No UMC hospital workers were interviewed for this story, nor has UMC been the site of public demonstrations related to hospital worker safety concerns.
Increase in health-care worker OSHA complaints
Some El Paso hospital workers have filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as part of ongoing efforts to demand heightened safety standards.
El Paso Matters obtained copies of two OSHA complaints, filed against Del Sol Medical Center and Las Palmas Medical Center. The complaints, both filed in May 2020, state that “Employees who deal with COVID-19 patients are not provided proper PPE such as face shields and N95 respirators.”
A representative from the El Paso OSHA office provided data that demonstrates a dramatic increase in OSHA complaints among medical facilities in El Paso. She said that the El Paso OSHA office has received 32 complaints between March 1 and June 30 from workers in the “health care and social assistance” category. During the same period in 2019, the El Paso office received one complaint from a worker in this category.
The El Paso OSHA office hasn’t issued any violation notices to medical facilities tied to COVID-19 hazards, the representative said.
Nationally, OSHA complaints have skyrocketed in response to the pandemic, with nearly 7000 federal complaints and over 17,000 state complaints as of July 20. Some national media have argued that OSHA has been “toothless” in its response to COVID-19 worker safety concerns, and a former senior OSHA official recently stated that OSHA has decided “not to enforce the law” in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that OSHA has “completely failed.”
The nurse at The Hospitals of Providence agreed with this assessment of OSHA, and said “OSHA and the CDC are useless right now, as far as I’m concerned.”
Both OSHA and the CDC have issued guidelines that weaken safety standards within the context of COVID-19, and a June Kaiser Health News investigation found that 35 health care workers died at medical facilities that OSHA had already received complaints about. As of June 21, none of those complaints had led to a citation.
Health-care workers say they struggle to access COVID-19 tests
Some workers have reported difficulty accessing COVID-19 tests at medical facilities, and expressed concerns about their own health. An environmental services worker at Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare who asked not to be identified because of concerns over repercussions, said they were refused a COVID test by a coworker after reporting COVID symptoms, including headache, nausea, and dizziness.
“(The person administering tests) said I look very good, it doesn’t seem like you have it. She said it’s better that I don’t give it to you because I’ll have to take you out of work.”
Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare officials disputed this worker’s account. “Like all hospitals in El Paso, we are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for additional testing and return to work policies. Employees do not work when they are symptomatic and awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Those who test positive for COVID-19 are unable to return to work for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms and at least 3 days following resolution of fever and improvement in respiratory symptoms,” the company said in a statement.
Alozie, the Del Sol medical director, emphasizes the importance of over-communicating when it comes to ensuring that workers feel safe and understand hospital safety guidelines.
“If somebody came in and told me they didn’t stay safe, we’d have a conversation. What’s their risk, patient type, what unit are you on. And I would explain to them the guidance and the policy. They may not agree with me. There are patients and persons across the country and the world that don’t always agree with their position or the experts. It doesn’t necessarily mean either of us are wrong. They have their feelings, I have the guidance and critical expertise to make that decision,” Alozie said.
The nurse from The Hospitals of Providence said that hospital workers are often referred to community testing sites if the worker would like to receive a COVID-19 test.
“The hospital does not test us. I know a couple of nurses that have actually been tested, and it’s not being done by the hospital. It’s only being done by MedPost or the city’s testing site,” the nurse said.
Excessive wait times and other problems have been reported at the city’s first-come, first-served and appointment-based drive-through testing sites. For essential workers like hospital staff who have long hours, spending their day off waiting in line to receive a COVID-19 test can be a burdensome task.
Hospitals of Providence spokesperson Poessiger didn’t respond to a question of whether employees are sent to community testing sites rather than being tested at their workplace. “All employees complete a COVID-19-related screening every day when they come to work and, along with physicians and vendors, have their temperature checked every time they enter or reenter our hospital. Employees should not report to work if they are symptomatic, have tested positive for COVID-19 or if they are being tested for COVID-19.”
The toll of COVID-19 on health-care workers
As of July 21, the CDC reports over 100,000 positive cases of COVID-19 among healthcare personnel in the United States. Of that, 549 deaths are reported, although the CDC website indicates that they only have information for the death status of 66.7 percent of the health-care personnel confirmed to have COVID-19.
The El Paso Department of Public Health reports that 321 health-care workers have tested positive for COVID-19 at health-care facilities as of July 17. Two El Paso health-care workers have died of COVID-19 infections. Health-care facilities include more than general purpose hospitals. The El Paso Psychiatric Center had a large COVID-19 outbreak in the spring and its numbers are included in the city’s “clusters report” for health-care facilities.
The health department doesn’t provide case numbers at specific facilities, a practice that was upheld in a divided City Council vote on Tuesday.
El Paso Matters requested information from Las Palmas del Sol Healthcare, Providence Memorial Hospital, and University Medical Center regarding the rate of COVID-19 positive cases among hospital staff. University Medical Center is the only facility that directly responded to this request and provided this information.
“While less than 2 percent of our employees have had positive test results since the beginning of the pandemic, we have no evidence that these associates were infected at the hospital but could have similarly been exposed due to community spread,” UMC’s Mielke said in a statement. “It is worth noting that we have aggressive and comprehensive testing protocols and screening, throughout our campus. We ensure all of our employees have all of the necessary PPE they need to do their job of protecting their patients, themselves and others.”
Mielke said UMC has about 3,000 employees, so 2 percent would represent about 60 people.
Alozie at Del Sol Medical Center emphasizes the importance of both historical and national context for the health care response to the pandemic. He said the public is seeing the science in real time, things that normally happen outside of public scrutiny.
“This is not a local conversation, this is a national conversation. Part of that national conversation is driven primarily by fear. At some point in time, all of us in health care have been afraid. We’re afraid for our own health, the health of our families, we’re afraid for the health of our friends. This is a global pandemic, a lifetime event,” Alozie said.
“I think it’s also important to realize that we have to be reasonable. There have been times when various parties have been concerned, potentially angry, upset about a direction that multiple health-care systems across the country have gone in. What we’ve forgotten is that human discourse is the key to setting any conversations. I over-communicate. I have hospital-wide calls, deliberate calls to nursing to radiology, to environmental services, to ask questions. I want people to realize that they can ask the question at any point in time. I think the frustrating thing is when those conversations don’t happen, or when people make a determined effort not to engage in the conversation.”
Cover photo: An El Paso nurse protested the lack of personal protective equipment on May 8. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)


NORTH ADAMS — Festivals’ takeover of the 21st century’s live-music landscape has led to a bit of same-old, same-old in the lineup department. But artist-led festivals like Solid Sound, which had its sixth running at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art this weekend, have been bucking that trend, and it’s thrilling to behold for die-hards and casual listeners alike. Wilco’s reputation as a band with sterling musicians who know not just how to craft top-notch rock songs, but the best ways to make them both mind-bending and lyrically devastating, makes them ideal leaders of a three-day festival that navigates the space between “art” and “rock.”
Wilco — who had, until early in June, been on hiatus from live performance since 2017 — were the stars of the weekend, performing two sets on Joe’s Field and previewing new music in the galleries of Mass MoCA. But a few songs into their upbeat set on Friday night, they let others take the spotlight. In the weeks before the festival, the band opened an online contest where the winners would have the chance to perform Wilco songs, complete with full-band backing. The atmosphere was electric, with the crowd joining the rotating cast of singers and offering ovations after each performance; Courtney Barnett, who preceded Wilco’s set that evening with her acerbic rock, also got a shot. Saturday night’s set was more of a slow burn, with the band dropping in a couple of not-yet-released songs amid the spaced-out sonics of “War on War” and the existential longing of “Theologians.” Leader Jeff Tweedy did, however, invite the crowd to sing along before the smoldering “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.”
Solid Sound’s full lineup is one of the American festival circuit’s strongest this year, and the performances over the weekend bore out its promise. Guitarist Mdou Moctar’s distortion-shrouded take on Tuareg blues, Wand’s detail-rich psychedelia, and Ohmme’s harmony-heavy spikiness were particular highlights among the newer acts. Clipping, the California trio that combines hyperactive raps by Daveed Diggs (“Blindspotting,” “Hamilton”) with harsh bursts of electronics and sampling, offered a blistering late-night set that felt over in the blink of an eye. Natick-born troubadour Jonathan Richman, appearing with his longtime drummer Tommy Larkins, had been delayed by Sunday’s fast-moving thunderstorms, but that only made his crooning and dancing more joyous. (Only Richman can make a sing-along of “People are so disgusting” so jaunty.) The Feelies’ Saturday evening set had a gentle jitteriness about it that set the table nicely for Wilco. And the power pop all-stars The Minus 5, led by master of hooks Scott McCaughey, had a triumphant set under the hot Saturday sun, with McCaughey’s strong return to action following a 2017 stroke providing one of the weekend’s most potent feel-good moments.
Tweedy closed out the festival on Sunday, backed by a band that included his son, Spencer, on drums, and featured cameos from Ohmme members Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart, McCaughey, and other members of Wilco, among others. As the sun asserted itself and riffs fanned out over the crowd, he marveled at the community in front of him and shouted out World Pride Day before a sweet cover of Labi Siffre’s 1972 confection “It Must Be Love.” When the rain that had forced everyone inside earlier in the day made a brief comeback, the setlist was ready, with two songs — a cover of Neil Young’s “(When You’re On) The Losing End” and his solo track “Let’s Go Rain” — seemingly egging on the weather. But the storm passed quickly and left behind a rainbow, which allowed for an opportunity to marvel at serendipity before the collected finished with a cover of “Give Back the Key to My Heart,” a gem from the catalog of Tweedy’s pre-Wilco band Uncle Tupelo, and a rousing version of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released,” with the damp (in clothing, but not in spirit) crowd singing along. “Thanks for making this beautiful. Thanks for making this happen,” Tweedy said as the last chords rang out over the lawn.
Solid Sound Festival 2019
Wilco with Courtney Barnett, the Feelies, Jonathan Richman, and others
At MASS MoCA, North Adams, Friday through Sunday
Maura Johnston can be reached at email@example.com.