text:
Comp update: Raiders are giving former 49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo a three-year, $67.5 million deal, including $34 million guaranteed, per source.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023
With the QB market exploding, Garoppolo’s new contract in Las Vegas is a fairly inexpensive way for HC Josh McDaniels and the coaching staff to try and stay competitive while also looking to the future at the position.
The Raiders own the 7th pick in the NFL Draft and quietly have a good amount of draft capital overall, even after the Davante Adams trade last year. Vegas currently has four picks in the top-100 to go along with eight more Day 3 selections, providing tons of flexibility to add depth and move up and down the board via trade.
Garoppolo’s addition likely takes Las Vegas out of the running for one of the top incoming rookies QBs as well – allowing the team to focus on building up the offensive line or secondary at 7 overall.
Garoppolo’s fantasy football impact on the Raiders in 2023
For as disappointing their season was overall last year, their offense did not struggle to put up points most weeks. In fact, Las Vegas scored a TD or FG on 42.4% of their possessions – ranking fifth-best in the NFL and ahead of playoff teams like the Bengals, Cowboys, and 49ers (T-6th, 41.5%).
While there is likely way more behind the scenes that we do not know about when it comes to Carr’s downfall and ultimate departure, one thing is for sure: the offense wasn’t bad last year.
It was the defense – yet again – that let them down. Maxx Crosby is only one man. Last year, the Raiders were bottom-6 in points allowed, time of possession allowed, and turnovers forced per possession, as their defense could seemingly never get off of the field.
While running the ball effectively doesn’t win you many games when your biggest rival has Patrick Mahomes, the main reason this offense was so effective last season was because of Josh Jacobs' ascension and McDaniels’ scheme.
Jacobs became just the 10th running back since 2010 to rush for over 1,600 yards last season as the Raiders built the core of their offense around the ground game. Vegas opened up the season pass-heavy, throwing the ball at a 5.5% clip over expectation in Weeks 1-5. However, after their bye in Week 6, the Raiders leaned slightly run-heavy (-0.7% pass rate below expectation) as Jacobs took over.
Given their time together in New England and the fact that Garoppolo is used to a run-heavy, play-action-based offense in San Francisco – this marriage makes a ton of sense.
When the Raiders do throw in 2023, Garoppolo will pepper Adams, Waller, and the newly added Jakobi Meyers with a ton of catchable, accurate passes.
After a sluggish start taking over for the injured Trey Lance, Garoppolo ended up 17th in catchable throws (82.3%) last season, which was well ahead of the 26th-ranked Carr (80.1%).
Garoppolo was more accurate than Carr in 2021 as well. Jimmy G was third in accurate throws two years ago – at 84.9% – while Carr was 11th (82.9%) per Fantasy Points Data.
Over the last two years, Garoppolo has supported two top-30 fantasy receivers and a top-6 tight end in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle.
In fact, Deebo had drastic negative fantasy football splits when Garoppolo was not under center. Over the last two years, Samuel has averaged 17.8 fantasy points per game with Garoppolo at QB vs. 12.8 FPG when he did not start.
Aiyuk also has slight negative splits – 12.1 FPG with Garoppolo vs. 11.6 FPG without.
I’m going to bet that Davante Adams’ catch rate is going to be a lot higher in 2023 than it was last year. Adams caught only 55.6% of his passes from Carr last season as the duo spent their time together hitting some big plays, but also missing on quite a few open looks. Adams’ catch rate from 2016-21 in Green Bay was 68.2%.
Meanwhile, Jakobi Meyers’ addition throws a wrench into Hunter Renfrow’s outlook. Last year, Renfrow dealt with a concussion early in the season and then sustained a hip/oblique injury that ultimately landed him on injured reserve. Meyers will mesh well as the slot man in this offense that he already knows well.
Now that Darren Waller is a Giant and Mack Hollins and Foster Moreau are free agents, the Raiders have 225 total targets – 97 of which were to the tight ends – available for the taking. That’s a whopping 40.5% target share. There is a ton available for Meyers and Renfrow to be fantasy viable while Adams is a lock for his usual 150+ targets.
I’ll end up pretty high on Meyers in PPR formats, but probably a bit lower on Underdog’s 0.5 PPR system. 90 receptions is not out of the question if he remains in the slot full-time. Meyers ran 69% of his routes from the slot last season in New England.


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text:
Time management refers to a set of guidelines, skills, techniques, tools as well as systems to help clients utilize the time effectively. Period management is important in the life of people since it enables them to deal with the time effectively and ensure the very best out of it. That people store or save the perfect time to use it subsequently, the best that you can do with it truly is utilize it within an effective approach.
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domain: design


if you havent started following the lotus f1 teams blog you should really get on it. theyve got a facebook page they post stuff up from all the time, some really sick insight.
Originally Posted by http://www.lotusf1team.com/SEPANG; AN ABRASIVE ADVERSARY – TRACK GUIDE
Round 2 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to Malaysia, where the changeable weather, rough track surface, and undulating bends create quite a challenge for the drivers and engineers. Lotus F1 Team takes a look at the challenges of the Sepang International Circuit.
The track surface is very abrasive, particularly in comparison to Albert Park last week which is very smooth. High speed stability is an essential requirement of the tyres here due to the circuit layout, which contains some long straights and quick direction changes.
Good engine tractability is required through turns 1 and 2, the second of which leads to a high speed section so making a good exit here is vital. For turn 3, strong stability from the tyres is required through this high speed corner to aid driver confidence before heavy braking for turn 4.
The high speed turns 5 and 6 require stiff suspension. The car can be run lower and stiffer than at other tracks as there are no high kerbs in which is beneficial from this perspective. Turn 7 can prove punishing for the tyres, as the drivers must turn whilst braking for the corner.
Heavy braking after a long straight is required into the final corner, turn 15. This is followed by another long straight, providing a good overtaking opportunity. A variety of lines are taken through here.
The KERS is more effective during qualifying in Sepang due to the location of the start-finish line, as you get two bites of the cherry with the KERS usage on the out lap. While there is heavy braking for turn 1, the brakes will have cooled along the straight and so should not overheat making this is a good overtaking location.
Downforce levels are very similar to the levels required in Melbourne, however the threat of understeer is not as prevalent as at Albert Park so we can run with slightly less front wing.
In terms of suspension setup, Sepang requires a good all round car. There are high speed straights, very high speed changes of direction in turns 5 and 6, and also some reasonable traction events including the double hairpin at turns 1 and 2 which are very low speed and very tight. There are no high kerbs at this track so the car can be run with a low ride height giving better overall downforce.
There are four heavy braking zones into turn 1, turn 4, turn 14 and turn 15. High temperatures are not such a threat as they might otherwise be here due to the long straights between the braking zones which help to cool the brakes.
Pirelli’s soft and hard compound tyres will be used in Malaysia, meaning a greater gap between compounds than in Albert Park where soft and medium were used. The track is very demanding on tyres due to its aggressive surface, heavy braking areas, long straights and wide variety of speeds and corners.
Malaysia sits towards the upper end of the ‘power tracks’ with 60% of the lap spent at full throttle, but the main challenge is preparing the engine’s cooling systems to cope with the intense heat and humidity. Ambient temperatures can reach over 40°C, so engine cooling becomes crucial. The RS27’s cooling system is refined using dynos back at Viry-Châtillon, where climatic conditions can be recreated including running with 100% humidity and 40°C heat.


text:
Ara Sapporo Ladies Chain Detail Shoe20975-BLA-4
Extremely soft and supple leather was used for these comfortable ara loafers. The decorative clasp over the instep provides that certain something. Thanks to the HighSoft technology, tired and tense feet are a thing of the past because the combination of soft upper material and a comfortable insole guarantees the highest level of comfort. The bamboo-based textile lining ensures a pleasant foot climate. It optimally absorbs moisture and keeps your feet nice and warm and dry. Another advantage is the removable insole which can be exchanged for your own insoles if necessary. An elastic band is incorporated under the flap which ensures a good fit. Thanks to the comfortable H-width the feet have enough space.
Product Code: 12-32495-11


text:
Jennifer L. Barretto was recently appointed as Undersecretary of Administration for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She has been Director of Health Care Policy and Administration at CDCR since 2020, and also served as Deputy Director of Facility Support for the Division of Adult Institutions (DAI) from 2019 to 2020, and as assistant deputy director from 2017 to 2019.
Prior to that, Barretto was Chief Deputy Administrator of the Contract Beds Unit from 2016 to 2017 and Acting Warden and Chief Deputy Warden of California Health Care Facility, Stockton from 2015 to 2016. She has held multiple positions at California State Prison, Sacramento, including Associate Warden and Correctional Administrator from 2014 to 2015 and 2008 to 2010. She was Associate Director of Human Resources at headquarters from 2012 to 2014 and Correctional Administrator in the High Security Mission of DAI from 2010 to 2012.

domain: news


text:
By Nirmala Carvalho / Crux Now
MUMBAI, India – Rightwing Hindu nationalists in India harassed a group of children as they were on their way to a Catholic school event on Monday.
The incident happened in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, which has seen a spate of anti-Christian activity over the past few years.
A vehicle was carrying a group of Tribal children to a program being organized at Saint Pius School in Khandwa, a city of around 200,000 people.
According to eyewitnesses, the Hindu nationalists belonging to Vishwa Hindu Parishad, (VHP) stopped the vehicle, alleging the children were being taken to the school for religious conversion.
The VHP is aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) an umbrella Hindu nationalist organization that is also affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling party at both the national level and in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The VHP said the program at the school was being conducted without permission, and called the police to the area.
The priest in charge of the event said only Catholic children had been invited, and efforts to seek permission from the authorities were unsuccessful.
Police said they are investigating the incident.
Madhya Pradesh is over 90 percent Hindu, and Christians just make up 0.3 percent of the population, compared to 2.3 percent in the nation as a whole. The state passed a Religious Freedom Bill last year, which despite its name is an “anti-conversion” law aimed at keeping Hindus from joining other religions.
Under the provisions of the new law, a “forced” religious conversion could lead to a one-to-five-year jail term and a minimum fine of around $350. If the person converted was a minor, the jail term and fine could be doubled.
This story was originally published in cruxnow.com . Read the full story here


text:
Hidden FDR Train Station in New York
As Hudson Valley residents and Americans, we're all familiar with the 32nd President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
President Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park and took office in 1933. If you live or grew up in and around the Hudson Valley, chances are you've taken a field trip or adventure over to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum. The presidential history is strong here in the Valley and there was even a movie filmed in and around the area featuring Billy Murray as FDR.
Most of FDR's history is common knowledge to us "upstate" folk. However, BuzzFeed just released an amazing FDR based secret that no one knew of for over 70 years. BuzzFeed news was given access to Grand Central Station in New York City to help promote a new show called Secrets of America's Favorite Places. The staff was then shown FDR's personal train station that is located deep under Grand Central.
Lots and lots of secrets. Of course FDR was hiding the fact that he had polio from the world and while trying to hide that secret had another secret train station. The video is eye opening but kind of eerie as well.
Did you know about FDR's secret train station? What other secret locations are there hiding in New York?

domain: geography


text: This study analyzes the absolute stability in static fuzzy logic control systems with certain and uncertain parameters. For certain static fuzzy control systems, the absolute stability can be analyzed with Popov criterion. The uncertain parameters for absolute stability analysis include the reference input, actuator gain and interval linear plant. The parametric robust Popov criterion based on Lur'e systems is applied to stability analysis respect to uncertain parameters. In our work, the parametric robust Popov criterion is applied to analyze absolute stability in static fuzzy logic control systems first time. This study can provide a valuable reference in designing fuzzy control systems. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to verify the analytical results.


text:
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text:
Star Trek: Lower Decks has reached something of a milestone.
It no longer goes to ridiculous lengths to force its comedy. Instead, the laughs on Star Trek: Lower Decks are, well, organic.
They come from what we know of the characters, and what we understand about them.
With the show’s fourth episode, ‘Moist Vessel,’ the relationship between Captain Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and Ensign Mariner (Tawny Newsome) takes center stage.
And for the first time since the premiere, mother and daughter have the bridge.
After Mariner embarrasses Freeman in front of a visiting captain, Freeman becomes more determined than ever to get Mariner off her ship.
But the conventional things aren’t working. Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) assigns her to every crummy detail on the Cerritos in hopes of getting her to quit.
Even holodeck waste extraction. Which we’re led to believe is – well, if you know what the holodeck is? And how you would use one? You know what we’re led to believe it is.
But what brings Mariner to the breaking point isn’t the crappiest jobs on the ship. As we’ve come to expect from Star Trek: Lower Decks, Mariner finds a way to have fun with the worst details. So Freeman condemns Mariner to the worst possible fate. She promotes Mariner to lieutenant and makes her a senior officer.
Naturally, Boimler (Jack Quaid) gets pretty jealous. But the ensuing weekly crisis helps strengthen the relationship between Mariner and Freeman.
There’s a B-story about Tendi (Noel Wells) ruining a crewman’s spiritual awakening that doesn’t really go anywhere. It just provides a diversion during the Cerritos’s newest crisis – a substance that instantly terraforms inorganic matter.
The script for ‘Moist Vessel’ isn’t one of the fastest-moving Star Trek: Lower Decks scripts to date. But it is probably the most thoughtful. And heartfelt.
Ann Kim’s script alleviates all the concerns I had from the closing moments of the Lower Deck premiere. Even though I saw it coming a mile away, the revelation of Mariner as Freeman’s daughter didn’t exactly inspire me.
Now, as someone who grew weary of the Red Angel on Discovery and then the – well, the Doctor Octopus arms and androids and Borg and Romulans on Picard? The idea of the slacker being the captain’s daughter was a simple, refreshing change of pace. At least as pertains to season-long story threads. But what I worried would be an overbearing shadow across the whole season has barely been a blip on the radar.
Star Trek: Lower Decks has been smart about playing the Mariner/Freeman relationship how they need to and when they need to. Nothing has been forced, allowing the comedy in ‘Moist Vessel’ to be pretty organic. Ironic, considering the terraforming theme.
It’s a script that serves Boimler well enough. He gets one little moment of deciding to try the “reverse psychology” approach for himself. And, as mentioned, the Tendi subplot doesn’t really go anywhere.
But that’s fine, because our A-story is pretty top-notch in ‘Moist Vessel.’ In fact, Mariner getting dragged from one senior officer function to another was pretty great.
Red alert. Tawny Newsome toned it down a notch for this week’s Star Trek: Lower Decks.
It had more to do with the subject matter of the episode. Going through the rigors of a senior officer, Mariner didn’t have as many jokes for Newsome to step on. But I felt like she handled the material she did have well.
The star again is Lewis as Captain Freeman. This is much more of a Mariner episode as opposed to last week’s Freeman-centric campaign. But Freeman is the conduit to the comedy in ‘Moist Vessel.’ And Lewis handles it very well.
And while her story isn’t particularly important or interesting to the episode, Wells brings some new dimensions to Tendi. One of my earlier criticisms of Star Trek: Lower Decks was that Tendi wasn’t playing a more pivotal role.
After all, the new girl tends to be the protagonist in most shows. And Tendi just seems to kind of be there. But with ‘Moist Vessel,’ Star Trek: Lower Decks took advantage of Wells’s talents. She remained saccharin sweet but showed some depth. In other words, Tendi gets mad when you don’t acknowledge her positively for being saccharin sweet.
It’s a neat character trait. Although not one they can take advantage of very often. But it gives Tendi more range, and Wells plays it strong.
I can’t imagine I have a ton of support on the subject. But I still hold that Star Trek: Lower Decks is the best of this New Trek, CBS All Access era.
It has the most human characters. The most relatable situations. And far tighter script work – from a plot perspective – than of any of its contemporary sister shows.
The writing improves every week. As does the acting.
As long as Star Trek: Lower Decks can maintain this streak and remain this organically-funny? There’s no reason it can’t continue boldy going.
New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks stream every Thursday on CBS All Access.
All images courtesy of startrek.com.
'Star Trek: Lower Decks' - Moist Vessel
- Tawny Newsome toned it down this week
- The relationship between Mariner and Freeman was handled really well
- An interesting and funny script
- None of the humor seemed forced
- The Tendi subplot wasn't particularly interesting

domain: entertainment


text:
Review by Hirorock
"Skeptic of the hype? A Fair review of Grand Theft Auto IV."
*Possible Spoilers Ahead* I have tried my best to not reveal plot-important information, but in the case you want to avoid even as little much as story clues you may just want to skip my story paragraph or not read at all.
Grand Theft Auto IV, without a doubt, needs little introduction. It is the first next-gen outing of the series, continuing the legacy of GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. However, unlike some franchises which have gone to next-gen, GTA IV goes the extra mile by changing just about everything but still remaining familiar. The result is a game which is immensely playable and fun, becoming more and more rewarding as your time investment grows. Yes, there were absolutely times where I became pissed at the game after an unfair death due to a mistake in the games design - yet even at the times where I was having the least amount of fun, I was not tempted to put down the controller. I can't speak highly enough of the gameplay in this respect: it is everything and more of it's previous chapters.
Of equal high mention is that of the story. Niko's trek through Liberty City begins slowly, and the sheer depth of Liberty and all the new things you learn to do make everything feel far too deep to get a grasp on. It isn't long before this melts away, and you know the important characters from the bit part players. There's the protagonist Niko Bellic, his good-for-nothing cousin Roman, the always cool Little Jacob, and one of the best antagonists in recent memory, Dimitri Rascalov. By the end of the game, I was surprised by just how invested I was in Niko and the life he had scraped together for himself in Liberty. Emotions ran so high in the incredible climax: I shot bullets into the air realizing me killing "a special someone" would do nothing for me (ala Point Break), I unloaded shell after shell into the corpse of a certain bastard aboard a ship, ending with a tension releasing grenade, and I eagerly sought revenge like a madman on the one who took away Niko's one way out. Grand Theft Auto IV's ending is surprisingly deep, and is set up to mean the most to you as the player, crafted out of your own choices. It's not as weighted as you may think, its really only the final 3 missions that change depending on a single choice, but it's still effective. High marks all around.
The sound isn't as memorable as other open-world games I have played, but a large amount of work is still apparent even if you're not paying attention. I found myself most often listening to the Jazz and Russian radio stations, which did an excellent job of setting the tone as an immigrant finding my way in a huge, exciting city. However, at the end of the day it didn't stick with me as much as I wish it did. Towards the end of the game I found myself turning off the radio stations just because it was always the same thing repeating.
Graphically, I am very mixed. I understood that GTA IV couldn't look like other next-gen games, being set in a large, complex city. I also am not one to judge a game on graphics, it's really a minimal part of what makes a game great. That being said, most of the texture work of the people on the street is really embarrassing, and only stood out because everything else at least looked good. It really looked at home in the San Andreas, which I can only let go because of how the city looks. Liberty City is absolutely beautiful. I found myself looking forward to things in the game, like during the night thinking to myself 'I cannot wait for the sunrise'. I was on a boat heading to a mission marker when I noticed the silouette of the city in front of the beautiful pink-shaded sky. I stopped the boat, took out Niko's camera-phone and snapped a shot. All of this brings to my last point: Immersion.
Immersion is why I got in to gaming. Immersion is why I find more enjoyment in the story of a game than a good book, and it is this immersion that people who view games as toys don't understand. That said, Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the most immersive games I've ever played, and when it grabbed me, it grabbed me hard. The GTA series has always had big cities, but not since the Liberty City of GTA III was I interested in seeing what was over that next hill. Even the fast travelling system (mostly by Taxi) has the necessary whistling for the cab, getting in, choosing your place in a clever cab-menu, and getting out of the cab at your desired location. Other games have tried and failed at having a huge in-game world and making it exciting all the way through, but GTA IV has finally done it. Even if all the other aspects of the game were bad, I still wouldn't be able to ignore this aspect.
GTA IV isn't the end-all, be-all game that so many critics have been claiming it is. Seeing the 10/10 repetitions from big reviewers raised a large red flag for me, and should at least raise some suspicion from you as well. GTA IV isn't perfect. Most of it's aspects have already been perfected by other games, but succeeds by being the ultimate jack-of-all-trades. It sets a new standard in storytelling and immersion, and remains at a respectable "great" in all others.
(Also, while I didn't even touch on the multiplayer, since most multiplayer doesn't interest me, I will say that I did for a while play GTA IV online. It was fun, especially doing some crazy things in the city with a group of friends, but became boring after a bit. Then again, I just don't like much multiplayer outside of co-op, so take that for what you will.)
+ Beautiful city and lighting work
- Ridiculous textures on some NPCs
+ New Shooting system brings a slower Resident Evil 4 pace - it is WELCOME! [Having just played the PSP GTA: LCS right before this, it was never fresher in my brain how bad the combat needed this]
- The car physics, while deep, become a bit of a chore when each mission sends you all the way across the city. I took a taxi everywhere after about 50% of the game, because it was just boring when each gunfight was punctuated by a 7 - 15 minute drive.
- Also, why do I have to hold X to jog, and nothing to walk? Can't it be the other way around? Please?
+ Radio is well done and adds to the immersion
- Also becomes boring after a while
+ I'm impressed. I like most stories, but its far and few between that a story can get me so invested in it's characters. Bravo and thank you, Rockstar. [Come back to me Karen!]
- If I had to nitpick, I'd say Roman's side is often just touch and go, only appearing later in the game when he has something new to report. For the only family Niko has, he's not a very big sharer, which is incongruous considering how much of a loudmouth he is.
** Special Mention: IMMERSION! Totally my thing, and you know if it's yours too. **
Grand Theft Auto IV
26.5 / 30 = 88%
Rounding up to meet the Gamefaqs scale, that's 9/10. I believe it earned it.
All the above said represents my view along on the game, as every review is completely subjective. That said, I have a lot of video game experience and have tried to be as unbiased as possible, and to not buy into the hype surrounding GTA IV (and there is a daaaamn lot of hype). Thank you for reading!
Reviewer's Rating: 4.5 - Outstanding
Originally Posted: 09/09/08
Game Release: Grand Theft Auto IV (US, 04/29/08)
Got Your Own Opinion?
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domain: game


Trade Lib'n Network Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
25 October 2006
Trade Liberalisation Network Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
“NZTLN has now completed five years of advocating for more trade, as the best route to higher living standards for all New Zealanders” said its Chair Philip Lewin today.
Mr Lewin was speaking at the Network’s Annual General Meeting and fifth birthday celebration in Wellington.
The TLN was established in October 2001, as a business organisation aimed at encouraging broad public understanding and support for trade. Funded by New Zealand’s leading export interests, TLN works with other like-minded individuals and organisations sharing similar goals.
“Over the past five years we’ve produced website material, publications, speeches, “trade burst” sessions all around the country, and many media stories – all designed to point out the value of more trade to our country” continued Mr Lewin.
“TLN’s key objective has been to promote and safeguard an open trade policy, to be pursued by New Zealand Governments”.
“We’ve been non-partisan but nevertheless political in this work”’ Mr Lewin added.
“TLN has positively influenced the public climate of ideas around trade policy - both via lobbying of key decision makers and opinion-formers, and by maintaining a clear public and media profile”.
Philip Lewin concluded: “we are currently looking closely at possible new configurations among the New Zealand exporting community, for getting and keeping the trade message out there”.
“In handing over the TLN Chair today to my successor Stephen Jacobi, I am confident that this work will soon come to fruition, and that the TLN ethos will develop into even greater things!”


text:
l u c e m
july is an unplanned war, sweltering
in the vicious sun, broken and
yet unbreakable. glass, un-
shattered and repaired,
all at once.
h a p p e n i n g s
the poet is currently preparing for a release of her
yellow wallpaper inspired chapbook. look
for the release party in late august
through the spiral bookcase.
the poet went to the ocean for her recent
birthday, and as a result has not been
involved in anything much, lately,
but has a few upcoming,
m o n t h l y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s
i am too much steeped in upsetting current events this month.
writing and creating have been difficult, and i am wary of
setting myself back on my current projects, and yet
cannot stop worrying that i am not "doing enough", either
for myself or my community. and yet, and yet. in the
words of a very wise and very dear friend:
"immediacy is often the tool of the oppressor."
this month, i'm holding myself accountable by unlearning
more of the "internet activism" mentality and connecting
with my local community, including the local philly abortion fund
which i've linked further down in this email. i'm also striving
to educate myself not just via what i consume through
media but by listening to those around me that have been
doing this far longer than i have, by educating myself
by reading, which gives me time to process and thinking
critically about what i'm ingesting, and just generally
focusing on long-term work and foundational
skills and goals rather than panicking and jumping into
(often ill-advised and unhelpful) action.
that said, hopefully i never give up on art and writing for too long.
in any state of the world, this is what sustains me, and i know
many of you feel that way too. here's what i'm working on
i'm currently (still) querying:
a full-length poetry manuscript and a lesbian desert-gothic novella
i'm currently submitting:
a 6,000 word short story about mermaids and the end of the world
i'm currently creating:
the final design for the yellow wallpaper chap
what do your creative endeavors look like in july?
email me and let me know what you're
creating this month!
f r o m t h e p o e t ' s d e s k
profiled eye angel-elegant
crouched in the shadows;
and revenant howl."
- m. r.
l i t e r a t u r e
your person doesn't belong to you by isabel sobral campos
a strange and completely unique
poetry chapbook following, loosely,
joan of arc as both woman and ghost.
there is no way to describe the
beautiful and speculative form
in this work without simply
suggesting you read it
nothing left but mud by jennifer r donohue
a tale of the end of the world, sweltering summer
heat, and blue horseshoe crabs. not a
new title, but the combination of
summer and having it recently stocked in
spiral brings it back to mind! a short story
from sword & kettle press
dark night golden dawn by allison carr waechter
new contemporary fantasy romance! the elite are
gods, the balance of magic is upset, and our lead
sorcière is recovering from a nasty breakup.
watch the rich and powerful pair off as
the city gets deadlier by the day.
features lesbian sorcière moms that run
a rare book trade -- what could be
more perfect for me?
fruiting bodies by kathryn harlan
gorgeous new release that debuted at the
beginning of pride month. a collection of
odd and unsettling short stories that
deftly unpack a world on the verge of
collapse, following queer women through
timeless echoes of myth and folklore.
ranges from gothic to fantastic to
uncanny, and the timing feels
very, very apt.
faithful and virtuous night by louise glück
at once a poetry collection and a dreamlike
portal that transports the reader into
varying realities, this is a single story
in mutable parts, conveyed in
exquisite language. one of my
favorites that i've recently revisited.
after the yellow wallpaper by monica robinson
for coffin bell journal
a shameless self promotion of a haunting short story
that debuted recently! if you want a sneak peak
at what the entirety of the yellow wallpaper
chap will look like, look no further!
m u s i c
rather than songs this month, i'd like to
recommend some of my
beware the autumn people by heather
(it is not autumn but it is in my heart)
90's lesbian by drewmaine
(trust me on this one)
peeling the yellow wallpaper by yours truly
(a peek into the world of the
c o m m u n i t y
abortion liberation fund of pa
"Abortion Liberation Fund of PA
protects and expands access to
abortion for individuals experiencing poverty
in Southeastern Pennsylvania through
direct service and community organizing.
We provide emergency financial
assistance to those who have made the decision
to terminate a pregnancy but are prevented
from using their insurance and
cannot afford an abortion. We also
organize supporters, clients, and
the general public to
eradicate all barriers to abortion."
support them here!
find support here
c r e a t o r s
mama's boy cafe
local laid back cafe in the heart
of manayunk, a favorite of the
booksellers at the spiral
bookcase both for its
proximity and for the
friendliness of the
lavender syrup here is
if you like seeing this in your inbox, consider donating to my ko-fi or paypal to keep it running!
you can follow my own poetic endeavors at mrobinsonwrites.com

domain: artistic


text:
the perfect blend for golden milk.
Turmeric is a powerful anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and disease fighter. The downfall of turmeric is that it's not easily absorbed in the body. The addition of black pepper and fat (i.e. coconut oil, coconut milk, ghee) increases the bioavailability of the turmeric and include health benefits of their own. Ginger, licorice, and fennel add to the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties in this glorious blend. Make it with coconut milk or mix with coconut oil for a smooth warm latte'.
Ingredients: *turmeric, *cinnamon, *cardamom, *cloves, *fennel, *ginger root, *licorice root, *black pepper.
Brewing Instructions: Serve hot
For hot tea: Use 1 rounded teaspoon of loose tea for each 8 oz. of freshly boiled water or steep in coconut or almond milk for 5 - 10 minutes. Sweeten as desired.
Chai Turmeric Latte: Heat 1 can full fat coconut milk over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon Chai Turmeric blend. Stir until hot and thoroughly combined. Add honey to taste. Top with additional cinnamon.
*You may also blend mixture on high speed in blender to make extra foamy.

domain: food


text:
Why Does My Dog?
Why Does My Dog Eat Rocks?
Your dog may be craving attention or he may be acting out of boredom, frustration, or anxiety, and munching on rocks may be a way that he knows you’ll notice him. It is also possible that he may have an underlying medical issue including:
- Nutritional deficiency
- Intestinal tract disorder
While eating rocks is a fairly common behavior in dogs, it is neither healthy nor safe. Biting or chewing rocks can damage your dog’s teeth and gums, and ingesting them can cause choking, intestinal blockages, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your dog continues to eat rocks, despite your efforts to control his habit, he may require a trip to the vet to rule out any serious medical conditions.
Why Does My Dog Vomit Yellow Foam?
Your dog is probably hungry and you might need to feed him smaller meals throughout the day. Vomiting yellow foam is a common sign of an empty stomach in dogs. The fluid gets its yellow color from bile, which serves to help digest food and remove waste from the body. When excess bile builds up in your dog’s stomach, it can become irritated and cause him to vomit a yellowish-green watery foam.
Why Does My Dog Chase His Tail?
- He may have fleas. Dogs with flea infestations typically bite or chew the area at the base of their tail.
- It is possible that his anal glands (sacs) are irritated. Anal glands are actually small pouches under your dog’s skin, near his anus. They secrete an unpleasant-smelling, fatty substance when your dog passes stool and can become impacted or infected.
- He may be bored, and his tail serves as a mobile form of entertainment.
- He may have been confined too long in a crate or cage.
- He could have Canine Compulsive Disorder. Not unlike Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, found in humans, CCD occurs when a dog displays one or more compulsive and repetitive behaviors, over and over again, to the point where it interferes with its normal life and functioning.
- It could just be in his genes. Heredity can play a role in tail chasing, and certain breeds such as german shepherds, Australian cattle dogs, bull terriers, and Doberman pinschers show a greater propensity for the behavior.
Why Does My Dog Have Cloudy Eyes?
While your dog ages, you may notice that his pupils take on a cloudy, grayish-blue appearance. Nuclear sclerosis, also known as lenticular sclerosis, is the most common cause of cloudy eyes in dogs over the age of six. It is a regular change experienced by dogs as they age and is characterized by a hardening and clouding over of the lens. It is painless, comes on gradually and affects both eyes equally so your dog should be able to adjust to any minor changes in his vision over time.
Other causes of hazy blue eyes can be more serious and require veterinary attention including:
- Cataracts - clouding of the eye’s lense
- Glaucoma - increased pressure in the eye due to fluid buildup
- Corneal dystrophy - an inherited disorder which causes the abnormal deposit of substances on the cornea
- Anterior Uveitis - inflammation in the iris and front of the eye
Why Does My Dog Roll in Poop?
While repulsive to humans, rolling in poop is actually a natural and very common behavior in dogs. Dog behaviorists theorize that they may do this because:
- His wild instincts guide him to mask his scent so that he can better sneak up on his prey.
- He doesn’t like the smell of the perfumes in his shampoo.
- He may be trying to tell his “pack members” where he’s been and what he’s been up to.
Why Does My Dog Rip Apart His Squeaky Toy?
Dogs enjoy playing with (and gutting) squeaky toys because it satisfies their natural hunting instincts. When a dog captures small animals in the wild, they vigorously shake them in order to kill them - and, small animals will make squeaking noises as they are being shaken. While savage to us, the primal hunter inside of your dog may like this sound. Dogs enjoy ripping apart and shaking their stuffed toys because it gives them a satisfaction similar to that of hunting and killing their prey. Many dogs will simply remove the squeaker before discarding the toy, while others enjoy “gutting” the entire thing and leaving the stuffing lying around on the floor.
Why Does My Dog Have Pink Fur on His Face and Body?
Many breeds of white or light-haired dogs appear to be crying pink tears, have a brownish-stained beard, or reddish paws. Additionally, they may also have other such stains on their muzzle, or other parts of their body where their saliva comes into contact with their fur. Your dog’s tears and saliva contain porphyrins, organic compounds that make up many parts of his body, and these porphyrins can stain lighter-colored fur shades of pink, red, or brown.
A visit to your veterinarian may be warranted if your dog exhibits persistent or recurrent reddish spots on his knees, feet, hips as a result of continual biting or chewing.
Why Does My Dog Hump Things?
Mounting, thrusting, and humping are all normal behaviors exhibited by most dogs, both males and females alike. While this conduct can be sexual in nature, there are several reasons why your dog may try to mount you, another dog, his bed, the air, or a guest in your house.
- It’s a reaction to stress or excitement. Many dogs resort to humping as a response to anxiety or new experiences such as meeting an unfamiliar person or dog, loud noises, or other overstimulating circumstances.
- He’s trying to be playful. Some sexual behaviors such as mounting are considered normal play behaviors in dogs. Some canines, however, are not socialized well and can easily become overstimulated, trying to mount other dogs in playful situations.
- He’s communicating dominance. Some dogs will often hump people and each other in an effort to assert their dominance or establish social status.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Feet?
- He’s acknowledging you as his master. This common submissive behavior can be your dog’s way of ensuring his place in the family by recognizing the social order of your home.
- You taste like food. Or perhaps you stepped in some. Regardless, the taste of salty sweat can prove to be irresistible to some dogs.
- He might be stressed. Licking in general, specifically feet (yours or his), can be a form of self-soothing behavior.
- He’s doing it for attention. Dogs lick their people as a sign of affection, and he may just be exhibiting signs of endearment or vying for your attention.
- He’s reading your unspoken messages. Dogs have extremely sensitive scent receptors in their mouths that they use to gather information about their environment. It is possible that your dog is tasting your sweat in an attempt to “taste” your mood. Both our sweat and sebaceous glands (near the hair follicle) secrete a complex cocktail of salts and waste products that can help dogs understand our temperament or simply where we’ve been that day.
Why Does My Dog Follow Me Around?
He’s your biggest fan so he’s stalking you - or at least it may feel like it. Your dog lies on your feet, follows you to the bathroom, watches every move that you make. From the very beginning of their lives dogs instinctively follow their littermates around in search of food and adventure. Dogs are pack animals by nature, and even as adults they are hard-wired to stick with the members of their community, particularly the alphas who provide them with food, shelter, and affection. Whether you find it annoying or endearing to have a furry companion constantly underfoot, rest assured knowing that this is a sign of your dog’s loyalty and camaraderie.
Why Does My Dog Wink At Me?
He’s probably mimicking you. Research suggests that dogs automatically imitate humans1, even when it isn’t in their best interest to do so. This is the first evidence that dogs both voluntarily and spontaneously emulate people’s body language and behaviors.
Why Does My Dog Paw At Me?
He’s trying to get your attention. This is one of the most common ways that dogs are known for requesting the attention of their owners. When your dog paws at you, he is trying to direct your focus onto him. An occasional tap from your pup’s paw should not lead to any issues, however, if he learns that pawing at you will grant him what he demands - your attention - then you may have the beginnings of a behavioral problem on your hands.
Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?
While it is an undoubtedly disgusting behavior according to human standards, poop eating (coprophagia) is a fairly common behavior in the canine world. There are multiple possibilities why your dog may engage in such a seemingly revolting practice, but poop eating can be an indicator of certain health problems as well as environmental or emotional stressors and behavioral triggers.
He may have a medical issue such as:
- Malabsorption problems
- Malnourishment or nutrient deficiencies (typically vitamin B)
- Conditions that cause an increased appetite, including diabetes, Cushings, and thyroid problems
- Certain medications such as steroids
- Digestive enzyme deficiency
He may also be experiencing anxiety or behavioral triggers due to:
- Confinement or restricted space
- Stress from housetraining - dogs often try to eliminate “evidence” of accidents
- Seeking attention from you
- Inappropriate food associations - if they are fed too close to where they are expected to go to the bathroom
- Puppies may smell it on their mother’s breath (from cleaning) and learn that they should copy that behavior
It may also be helpful to know that poop-eating is most common in2:
- Homes with multiple dogs
- Female dogs (least common in unneutered males)
- Overindulgent dogs known to steal food and overeat
- Circumstances where fresh poop (1-2 days old) is available
- Situations where another animal’s feces are available rather than their own
Why Does My Dog Scoot on the Carpet?
His backside probably itches for one of several reasons:
- Anal gland (sac) irritation
- Rectal prolapse - portion of the large intestine protrudes through the anus
- Feces stuck in his fur - perhaps he needs a trim
Why Does My Dog Fake His Yawns?
Dog yawns can indicate more than just boredom. In fact, dogs use yawning as calming gesture to communicate several things:
- They’ve had enough - time at a training session, waiting for you to move alone if you stop on their walk
- He’s nervous - anticipation, perhaps, at the vet’s office
- He’s sleepy - sometimes a yawn is just a yawn
Why Does My Dog Spin in Circles Before Pooping?
A recent study, published in 2013, found that dogs prefer to eliminate with their body axis aligned with the Earth’s magnetic field3. The researchers discovered that dogs prefer the North-South axis and will spin in a circle until they align their bodies accordingly. While the study did show a definite preference for the North-South axis, and a clear avoidance of the East-West axis, researchers were unable to understand the reason why dogs use the Earth’s magnetic fields to determine where to eliminate.
However, in a more recent study that was published in 2016, researchers in Germany learned more about this special sense known as magnetoreception. They have found evidence that magnetoreception is also linked to the visual systems of dogs and other mammalian species—meaning that dogs (and certain other mammals) might actually have the capability of seeing these fields, not just sensing them for the purpose of relieving themselves.
The German researchers discovered a light-sensitive molecule called cryptochrome 14 in the eyes of dogs as well as in other mammals. They examined 90 different species of mammals and determined that cryptochrome 1 was present in the blue-sensitive cones of the eyes of dog-like carnivores such as dogs and wolves, bears, badgers, foxes, and even in some primates.
Cryptochrome 1 bears a striking resemblance to the cryptochrome 1a molecule which is present in migratory birds and gives them the ability to recognize magnetic fields. The research team concluded that the presence and location of the cryptochrome 1 molecule within the dogs’ retinas may provide them with the ability to recognize magnetic fields in much the same way.
Why Does My Dog Walk in a Circle Before Lying Down?
The most likely explanation for “hound winding” can be found buried deep inside of your dog’s undomesticated ancestors. Dogs don’t have soft pillows, beds, and blankets in the wild, thus they must make a bed for themselves in grass, leaves, etc. This simple act of walking in a circle before settling is how a dog would trample and flatten the ground to make a suitable “nest” for himself to sleep in.
Why Does My Dog Have Whiskers?
Whiskers (vibrissae) are more than just adorable features on your dog’s face - they actually help your dog navigate his way through his environment. They help him receive information about the outside world. Dogs explore their world with their snout, following their noses everywhere - into dark places and small spaces. The follicles at the base of each whisker are packed full of nerves that send sensory information to his brain. Dogs use their sensitive whiskers to sense vibrations in air currents and can use them to gather information about the speed, size, and even shape of a particular object.
According to Veterinary Research Communications, dogs use their whiskers for many different tactile tasks5 including finding food, hunting, dispersing pheromones. They also use them to communicate facial expressions, and maintaining head positions while swimming.
Why Does My Dog Have a Wet Nose?
- “The better to smell you with, my dear” - a dog’s nose discharges a thin layer of mucus that helps absorb scents (odor molecules). A dog can then lick his noses and draw the molecules onto the roof of his mouth where sensitive olfactory (sniffing) glands process the scent before sending it to his brain for interpretation.
- It helps keep him cool and regulate his body temperature. Dogs are covered in fur and they are unable to sweat through their skin like humans do, so their bodies are equipped to “sweat” through their noses and the pads of their paws.
Check out this facinating Ted-Ed video that describes exactly how your dog's super sniffer works:
Why Does My Dog Howl?
It all begins with their primal ancestry, but there are several reasons why dogs howl:
- He’s responding to an environmental trigger such as a siren, which sounds strikingly like a dog’s howl, or a musical instrument
- He’s alerting you to his location - dogs in the wild send out these vocal beacons to help members of their pack find their way back
- He might be hurt - just as people cry, dogs may howl when they are in pain or distress
- He wants you to know that he found something. Perhaps he treed a squirrel or is on the trail of a rabbit and wants to alert others of his position
- He is stressed or wants attention
- He is defending his territory and enforcing his physical boundaries
Why Does My Dog Snort Uncontrollably?
It comes out of nowhere - one minute your dog appears fine, the next he starts honking, snorting, and coughing, seemingly gasping for air. You have just witnessed your dog having an episode of reverse sneezing, also known as the pharyngeal gag reflex. These episodes are referred to as reverse sneezes because they are characterized by the dog inhaling air into his nostrils whereas regular sneezes involve blowing air out.
These attacks have a sudden onset and are often accompanied by loud, forceful inhalations and an outstretched neck. They can be caused by an irritation of the soft palate which then triggers the reflexive spasm of snorts. The spasm causes the airway to narrow and temporarily makes it more difficult for the dog to breathe in air.
Here is an example of a dog experiencing an episode of reverse sneezes:
Factors that may trigger reverse sneezing:
- Allergies, including postnasal drip
- Throat irritation from pulling on a leash
- Irritating household chemicals
- Eating and drinking
- Viral infections
- Respiratory mites
- Foreign object stuck in the throat
While understandably alarming to humans, these episodes are typically harmless dogs. They usually last from a few seconds up to a minute and may be shortened by closing your dog’s nostrils or massaging his throat.
While reverse sneezes in most dogs is not a sign of a problem, it may be a sign of respiratory problems in brachycephalic breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, or King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. These dogs have a short, wide skull and appear to have a flat face and snout and may suffer from an elongated soft palate.
You should always check with your vet if you suspect your dog is experiencing breathing problems or respiratory distress of any kind.
Why Does My Dog Always Pant?
Panting refers to the shallow, rapid, slobbery, tongue-drooping breaths that dogs use to cool themselves off. Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans do, therefore they regulate their body temperature by panting. Similar to sweating in people, saliva evaporates off of dogs’ tongues and from inside of the mouth allowing them to reduce their temperature. The rapid breaths also allow for better circulation of oxygen throughout the body.
Dogs breathe at an average rate of 30-40 breaths (inhalations and exhalations) per minute while resting and can achieve up to 300-400 breaths while panting. Normal panting occurs when dogs are hot from exercise or warmer temperatures. However, there are other reasons for excessive panting:
- Overheating or heatstroke - higher body temperatures lead to heavier panting and dogs may show symptoms such as a body temperature of 109ºF or more, excessive thirst, dark red tongue or gums, and an elevated pulse and heart rate
- Pain or discomfort associated with physical ailments
- Anxiety, stress, or fear - referred to as “behavioral panting” and often linked to stressful or unfamiliar events and circumstances. Also present with other signs of anxiety such as pacing, whining, trembling, or yawning
- Heart or lung disease - a diseased heart or congested lungs cannot efficiently deliver oxygen to the body. Therefore dogs will pant to increase respirations and compensate for the lack of oxygen in his tissues
- Anemia - an abnormally small volume of red blood cells and insufficient hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying, red pigment that gives color to red blood cells) to carry oxygen throughout the body, thus leading to oxygen deprivation. Anemic dogs also tend to show signs of weakness, loss of appetite, pale gums, low energy, and mental confusion
- Cushing’s Disease - an illness where the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol
- Laryngeal paralysis - a condition in which the muscles and cartilage that open and close the larynx function abnormally causing restricted airflow, difficulty breathing, as well as raspy panting
Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?
The last time you checked, your furry friend did not resemble some type of livestock!! So why, then, is he grazing in the yard like a cow?
First, rest assured that it is not uncommon for dogs to eat grass. The term pica is used to describe behavior that involves eating things that are not food, however, this particular type of pica has been seen in all types of dogs, both wild and domesticated, and does not indicate any evidence of a problem. In fact, dogs can eat grass for a variety of reasons, most of which are completely normal.
- Upset stomach - Many pet parents assume that their dog is eating grass to induce vomiting, but evidence suggests that more than 90% of dogs who eat grass are not unwell, to begin with, and less than 25% of the dogs that eat grass throw up. It is possible, however, that dogs eat grass because of gastric upset, as research shows that grass-eating does tend to facilitate vomiting6 in dogs who are already showing signs of illness.
- Hunger - one particular study shows that dogs see grass as a food source7 and are more likely to eat grass when they have an empty stomach rather than after they have eaten their regular meals.
- Purging intestinal worms - research conducted on wild wolf droppings finds evidence of grass in 11 to 47% of the stool samples studied, indicating that eating grass could help purge parasites from the animal’s intestines. As the grass passes through the intestinal tract, the fibrous matter causes intestinal contractions and wraps around the worms or nematodes which may be infecting the dog.7
- It tastes delicious - while there is no evidence to support this claim when all other factors are considered and ruled out as possible reasons for your dog’s lawn-munching, it is possible that he could just like the way that it tastes.
Another common belief is that dogs eat grass because of nutritional deficiencies, however, no evidence has been found to support this claim. In fact, grass eating is just as common in dogs who have their diets supplemented with plant matter as those who are fed a carnivorous diet.
While most experts agree that eating grass isn’t harmful to dogs, keep in mind that that certain lawn pesticides and herbicides can be toxic to your pup. It is important to keep a watchful eye on your dog while he is munching on the grass, and always make sure that the plant life that he is eating is non-toxic and chemical-free.
Take a look at this SciShow episode explaining grass-eating behaviors in dogs:
1 Range, F., Huber, L., & Heyes, C. (2011). Automatic imitation in dogs. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 278(1703), 211-217.
Retrieved from http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/07/26/rspb.2010.1142
2 Boze, B. G. (2010). Correlates of coprophagy in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as assessed by owner reports. Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior, 4(1).
Retrieved from http://ww.jamesoheare.com/vol4no1boze.pdf
3 Hart, V., Nováková, P., Malkemper, E. P., Begall, S., Hanzal, V., Ježek, M., ... & Červený, J. (2013). Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth’s magnetic field. Frontiers in Zoology, 10(1),1.
Retrieved from http://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-9994-10-80
4 Nießner, C., Denzau, S., Malkemper, E. P., Gross, J. C., Burda, H., Winklhofer, M., & Peichl, L. (2016). Cryptochrome 1 in retinal cone photoreceptors suggests a novel functional role in mammals. Scientific reports, 6.
Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/articles/srep21848
5 Ahl, A. S. (1986). The role of vibrissae in behavior: a status review. Veterinary research communications, 10(1), 245-268. Chicago.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3526705
6 Sueda, K. L. C., Hart, B. L., & Cliff, K. D. (2008). Characterisation of plant eating in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 111(1), 120-132.
Retrieved from http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(07)00182-7/abstract
7 Bjone, S. J., Brown, W. Y., & Price, I. R. (2007). Grass eating patterns in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris. Recent Adv Nutr Aust, 15, 45-49.
Retrieved from http://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf
|Home Products Short Description||No|
We offer a 60 day, no questions asked, return policy on our products. We can offer this because we have a less than a 1% rate of return. Need to return an order? You can do so by logging into your account and clicking on the return link.

domain: pet


text:
One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
A monetary unit of the Czech Republic, equal to one hundredth of a koruna.
- ‘The crown eased only around 10 halers on the news (0.3 percent).’
- ‘National Bank of Slovakia issues the banknotes in the nominal value of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 and coins in the nominal value of 1, 2, 5, 10 Slovak crowns and 50 halers.’
From Czech haléř, from Middle High German haller, from Schwäbisch Hall, a town in Germany where coins were minted.
In this article we explore how to impress employers with a spot-on CV.

domain: finance


The Chamber of Commerce is carpet bombing San Francisco with an aggressive ad campaign that is supposed to “arouse curiosity” among voters when considering the election this November.
The three-week campaign asks three simple questions:
Voters can find the answers to these questions at a newly launched website.
“The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce thinks it’s important for voters to know how the Board of Supervisors is voting when it comes to the key issues impacting our economy and the future of our city,” Chamber President and CEO Steve Falk said. “The goal of this campaign is to get San Francisco voters thinking — and talking — about these issues well in advance of the November general election.”


text:
Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:28:19 GMT — With production starting in a year at the new Lundin mine in northern Marquette County, many Marquette residents are concerned about the increase in truck traffic through the city. For Facebook Friday, we take a look at other U.P. cities and how they're managing truck traffic. Escanaba is one city that has its truck traffic well under control. In 1999, they introduced truck routes. Semi trucks can weigh up to 40 tons with a full trailer, and logging trucks over 70 tons. Escanaba's city ordinance on truck traffic prohibits anything heavier than 13 tons from deviating from the truck routes, which are designed to accommodate heavier traffic. Roads pay the price when these large vehicles drive through. "It will damage the roads. It's not as bad as people are making it out to be. In heavier areas, if there is a lot of truck traffic in that particular area, it can damage the roads, especially if making turns," said Scott Chartier of A.M. Express in Escanaba. Chartier is a former truck driver. Road maintenance is the main motivator for the city's truck routes, but not everyone is a fan. On Facebook, Perry Chapman says, "Truck routes make life harder for most drivers and add miles which means more fuel being used. Most of the time, truck routes are useless." But in Escanaba, officials say the truck routes are better for the city. "We don't have any issue with the flow of heavy trucks, trucks and trailers, tractor trailers through the City of Escanaba...It's proven to be effective and it's not something I've had to deal with, so it must be successful," said Kenneth Vanderlinden, Escanaba Director of Public Safety, who has held his post for three years. Truck drivers say that Escanaba is easier to navigate than most other cities because of multiple lanes and flatter terrain, and that truck routes are universally beneficial. "Anything they can do to make it easier to get the truck in and out of there makes everybody's life a lot better," Chartier said. Outside of road maintenance, many on Facebook also expressed concerns over the noise issues that come with truck traffic if the routes are near residential areas.
WLUC, Upper Michigan’s News Source provides news, sports, and weather coverage for Marquette, Michigan and nearby communities including Escanaba, Iron Mountain, Houghton, and many others throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.


I'm switching my drop bars for a flat one. I'm new to working on bikes, so this will be my first real project, but I've tried to research it the best I can. I'd just like to make sure I've got everything right before I order it.
The bike is a 1984 Trek 610.
The bar that's going on is a flat 25.4 aluminum bar. I'm assuming my current stem clamp is 26.0, so the first thing I'm getting is this shim.
Then for the brake levers, I'm getting these. My current brakes are Modolo Speedy calipers. These levers will work, correct?
And these cables. I think I read some other posts saying these cable kits aren't good. Is that true? If so, would it be a big difference? Because it looks like buying the cables, housing, lube and ends and crimps and stuff separately would put me over my budget.
Will all of this be compatible? Anything else I've forgotten or need to know? I don't have cable cutters, but I do have a wire saw and dikes and files, I hope those will do okay. I have read the articles on cable routing and length.
Thanks for any help.


Can an HP ProCurve switch be configured to work with a Cisco switch? Say a for example 3750 or 6506. By work I mean, be able to use VLANs create on Cisco side to work on HP side. Also, for a Cisco trunk to work with on an HP switch.
Software/Hardware used: Cisco 3750 & 6505, and HP Procurve switch


text:
Mr D. just poured me a cup of coffee. We are up beyond early. It’s 3:58am as I begin.
The shelfie image (above) is from 2013. The floral scene, featured by Gardenista, calls for “
off on the wall” fun.
“Let’s all just play florist today and leave our computers home!”
What threw me back to 2013, was this post , and it’s image from The Everygirl on Instagram. It had me swooning and once again thinking of . . . the always a whim of mine . . . owning and styling a flower and gift shop. The post, timed perfectly . . . the day before my paper flower making class at Paper Delights.
I had the most wonderful time at the class.
[“#1 ” . . . it threw me back to high school . . . with my girlfriends . . . when we would gather after school to make hundreds of paper flowers for our special school dances and teas. ]
Alicia served desert, and a beverage of choice. The experience was creative, colorful and so inspiring for me. (Well worth the twenty-mile drive to and from after a full day at the clinic.)
There will be so many more . . .
. . . as I plan many “Let’s play flower shop and leave the computer alone days on 34!”
3:58am on a Saturday?
(Perhaps I am playing “farm girl” too!)
It’s the words!
They couldn’t wait to be cultivated.
Now on those nights when I’m awake a 3 something…I’ll know to write a witty blog post or make some pretty flowers. 🙂


The Japanese component giant, Shimano, announced the launch of its new Tiagra 4700 groupset today.
Not surprisingly, the groupset gets the usual Shimano trickle-down effect, capitalizing on many of the same features and technology of the 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace groupsets.
Perhaps, the most obvious feature of the new 4700, is the addition of a four-arm crankset, which was first adopted by Shimano’s flagship Dura-Ace 9000. Moreover, the crankset comes in a standard 110mm BCD, which can accommodate either 52/36 or 50/34 chainrings. That means no more switching cranksets when the riding conditions warrant a change in gearing.
In addition, the new Tiagra 4700 receives upgraded STI shifters, along with the option of using Shimano’s rapid fire-style flat bar shifters and companion brake levers, for those who might want to use a straight-bar setup.
The 4700 has also been fitted with a new rear derailleur, that’s compatible with cassettes up to 34t, thus providing riders with a wider choice ad of gears for the most demanding climbs. Furthermore, Shimano has also revised the cable angle, which they say provides more precise shifting, and longer-lasting cable life.
The new Tiagra wouldn’t be complete unless it received some improvements in the braking department as well. According to Shimano, the 4700 has received improved braking much in the way the latest versions of 105 and Ultegra have – with a claimed 30 per cent more braking power and better modulation than it’s predecessor.
Lastly, enthusiasts will be pleased to see that the 4700 got the full internal cable routing treatment as well, giving it the sleek, modern look of its more expensive counterparts.
The new groupset is slated to become available in June.
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When did you last sit down with your coworkers and boss to talk about police brutality, slavery, redlining, the Voting Rights Act, or the case for reparations?
Perhaps it’s been awhile — or not at all — but organizational leaders should convene these talks. And in their absence, upward pressure from employees, clients, or customers, can also ignite the process.
“Many people don’t know how to talk about race or racism at work,” said Enrica Ruggs, an assistant professor of management at the University of Memphis, during a recent MIT Sloan Management Review webinar on conversations about race. Ruggs is also director of the PSI Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion.
Majority group members, often white, don’t want to say something that will paint them as racist. Minority group members don’t want to sound like complainers, or make declarations that are interpreted as a consensus opinion for their entire race. Emotions can run hot.
“For me, talking about injustices of the past and present is emotional,” Ruggs said. “That’s okay.”
She and Derek Avery, the C.T. Bauer Chair of Inclusive Leadership at the University of Houston, explored how to discuss the complex and urgent issues of race while in the workplace. And though they spoke explicitly about Black-white race relations, the ideas can apply when considering other groups that experience discrimination.
“The conversations are challenging because the stakes are high,” Ruggs said.
In anticipation of this intensity, a few ground rules must be in place to ensure conversations both respect individuals’ expectations and stretch beyond platitudes:
- Calibrate the scope of the conversation to the context. Is this an introductory gloss or a deep dive?
- Determine who takes part in the conversation, whether attendance is mandatory or voluntary, and what questions will be asked.
- Encourage follow-up questions rather than jumping on first impressions. Make it a standard practice for participants to pause before responding.
Though these conversations remain open to all viewpoints, they also demand a willingness to listen. It is easy, Ruggs said, to call somebody a racist, but refrain from that kind of reflexive response. At the same time, if an avowed racist commandeers the moment to describe the inferiority of other races, end the discussion.
Bring in professional facilitators if getting started feels too daunting, however, companies should ultimately demonstrate a genuine commitment to these issues by moving capacity in-house. And remember, Ruggs said: “One conversation won’t end racism. Let your employees know that you realize this.”
The BRAVE Framework
Along with these suggestions, Ruggs and Avery offered the BRAVE mnemonic to inform a few basic principles of the conversation. (The five suggestions below target organizational conversations; a slightly adapted version, also outlined in the webinar, supports one-on-one conversations.)
Build the intention, focus, and safety needed to have honest conversations about race.
In surveys, almost 50% of Black human resources employees say they don’t feel safe sharing their thoughts on race-related issues. The result? Don’t let a planned conversation derail into a general discussion on diversity and inclusion without touching on concerns specific to race.
Companies must create a feeling of psychological safety in which employees can talk freely — a feeling that has been shown to improve team effectiveness.
Respect the sensitivity of the topic while challenging people to go beyond the superficial. Employees need to respect other people’s boundaries.
“However, and here’s the rub, we must be able to disagree within the confines of what we consider respectfulness,” Avery said. “We cannot be so intent on not offending one another that we restrict our conversations to the discussion of superficial topics.”
Acknowledge the uncomfortable realities of the past and the present.
Thinking about slavery and lynching can be uncomfortable. Many present realities are also uncomfortable, from images of a police officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck to suggestions that individuals and institutions uphold systems of power and oppression that perpetuate racism.
“But we have to face these truths to make progress,” Ruggs said.
Validate the experiences of your racially marginalized employees.
Productive conversation requires acknowledging the reality of discrimination.
Avery recognized the legal complexity of this step — when talking about workplace prejudice, questions of liability might not be far from managers’ minds — but if one dismisses from the outset the possibility that race plays a role in lived experience, then there is no room to learn about these disparate lived experiences.
Emphasize how your company is prioritizing goals and metrics around racial equity. Conversations should lead somewhere: Emphasize specific goals and their measurement, even if that progress will take time. BRAVE conversations, Ruggs said, should include explicit steps for moving toward racial equity.
Avery said that talking about race will not — and should not — be easy. Decades of social learning and acculturation must be unwired and reconceived, and that is a lengthy process.
“These conversations are necessarily hard,” he said. “The underlying current of racial injustice is swift, and escaping it will require work.”


Provides lowest total cost of ownership for wet-location facilities utility lighting
MINNEAPOLIS, January 28, 2014
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring consumable products for Electrical Contractors, today announced the introduction of the ProSeries LED Utility Light Fixture is an energy efficient "wet-location", sustainable and cost-effective alternative lighting solution for indoor environments where ingress protection from dust and moisture is highly desirable. Making the announcement, EPCO President Jack Schuster said, "The LED light engine provides more than 50,000 hours of lumen output compared to 8,000 hours for compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and 1,000 hours for an incandescent lamp. The longevity and sustainability of the LED light engine provides huge energy savings, eliminates service maintenance and the ongoing replacement costs of incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps for building owners. In addition, rebates from the building owner's local electric utility make the total ownership cost of the ProSeries LED Utility Light Fixture the lowest."


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A Tall carved wooden dance mask with female effigy as top finial, embellished with various grass, seed, old glass beads and shell regalia and painted with organic pigments , apparent sweating surface suggests ritual use over many years. Dogon masks surmounted by female figures are called satimbe, commemorating a mythological woman who first discovered and wore a mask. The mask measures 37 x 11 inches. This mask does not include a display stand. Provenance: Ex Stuart Warkow 1996, NYC.
fair, weathered, one ear reattached with old nail.


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Hay-on-Wye Town, Brecon Beacons
This sweet and stylish barn sits less than a mile outside ‘Book Town’. Explore the literary haunts of Hay-on-Wye and get inspired with a walk through the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon Beacons
This sweet, traditional cottage sits in an enviable spot right next to a canal. Inside, explore characterful period rooms and outside, venture into the peaks of the Brecon Beacons for a family hike or a gentle stroll around the Talybont Reservoir.
Brecon, Brecon Beacons
This stunning cottage is ideal for a group of friends wanting to celebrate in style. Relax in elegant living rooms, garden and hot tub, before exploring the trails of the Brecon Beacons.
Let with us

domain: travel


Actress Anushka Sharma, who is busy shooting for the biopic of cricketer Jhulan Goswami, 'Chakda Xpress', has been continuously training for the same, and she shared a mirror selfie from a gym.
In the snap, Anushka was seen sporting a yellow neon-crop top and black tights as she flaunted her biceps.
"Mehnat karri aur show off nahin kiya toh kya mehnat karri", she captioned her Instagram Story.
To note, Anushka had taken a break from her professional life after she welcomed her first child, her daughter Vamika. She was last seen in Anand L Rai's directorial 'Zero' alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif.
Now, she makes a comeback with 'Chakda Xpress', which will be out on Netflix. (ANI)


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This illustration was for Advanced Photoshop Magazine who asked me to do a tutorial for their magazine. I'm not that happy with the image, mainly because I had to document each step as I went along. I don't work in a straight forward step by step way, I experiment a lot as I'm going along, seeing if different colours or techniques will work in certain areas. Having to document each step made me feel too confined and wasn't a comfortable way of working. Oh well.
The issue with this tutorial in will be out soon I think, I will post information of it in my journal when I know.


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Liz Cheney spoke in a mostly empty House of Representatives on Tuesday night, after many of her fellow Republicans had spent the day saying it was time to move on from Trump’s insurrection and trashing of America’s tradition of peaceful transfers of power.
Liz Cheney isn’t an unAmerican like Donald Trump.
“Today we face a threat America has never seen before. A former President who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol, in an effort to steal the election, has resumed his aggressive effort to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him.”
“He risks inciting further violence. Millions of Americans have been misled by the former President. They have heard only his words, not the truth.”
“I am a conservative Republican, and the most conservative of conservative principles is reverence for the rule of law. The election is over. That is the rule of law. That is our constitutional process. Those who refuse to accept the rulings of our courts are at war with the Constitution.”

domain: sociology


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Rutherglen was once a distinctive town - and still trades on its burgh status - but the Rutherglen constituency is now mostly made up of vast, anonymous-looking council estates south east of the city centre.
The name Rutherglen is said to come from Gaelic for "reddish glen" after the red clay found here. At its northern border it blends into Glasgow’s suburbs and the vast Castlemilk housing scheme.
Rutherglen itself has always striven to maintain some autonomy since it was absorbed by Glasgow in the 1970s. It is the oldest burgh in Scotland - 500 years older than Glasgow, in fact - and is proud enough of its history to have its own museum. This seat includes not only Rutherglen itself but also the town of Cambuslang, and the housing scheme at Fernhill.
Steel and pottery have been major industries in this seat, but both have been in decline over the last 30 years.

domain: history


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Several people have been writing about John Cochrane’s post on Federal Reserve independence, but few have mentioned what is actually making Cochrane mad. Why does Cochrane feel something has gone terribly wrong? Here’s a quick scan:
Led by the White House, the state Attorneys General announced their “settlement” with banks….There are also costs. This money comes from somewhere…To say nothing of the blatant unfairness, and moral hazard…or the larger moral hazard of using the threat of prosecution for procedural errors to force anyone to cough up money towards unrelated policy goals…
Heavens, what a scandal…Documents not properly notarized! Notice it does not even “allege” that anyone was actually kicked out of a house who was paying their mortgage.
I once got into a disagreement with someone over whether or not libertarians care about fraud. I alleged they didn’t, and their real concerns would always run downhill, usually towards debtors. They have no language for fraud other than a reactionary posture that going after fraud unfairly benefits those on the other end, who have gotten what they deserved.
Look at Cochrane’s post – the robosigning and subsequent scandals are viewed as nothing of significance. Not only are these acts against the law, but not breaking these laws are essential to the whole securitization chain. Following the proper legal steps in creating and executing these financial instruments is necessary for the whole thing to work. From REMIC to trust to property law to bankruptcy remoteness to everything else, unless you are actually following these steps you are causing huge problems for the securitization later on. The same goes for foreclosures. Like all property, they are legal creations. And for a particularly complex piece of property like a security composed of many home mortgages, following the law is essential.
Allowing financial firms to get away with not following the laws we created to handle securitization, property and foreclosure would, in any sensible sense of the phrase, cause “moral hazard.” But the only moral hazard Cochrane is concerned about is ones that might benefit mortgage debtors, who need to be constantly disciplined. Two sets of rules – one for the 1%, one for everyone else.
Your claims are not actually responsive to Cochrane. You claim: “Following the proper legal step in creating and executing these financial instruments is necessary for the whole thing to work.” Well, is that true? Is securitization failing because of procedural irregularities? That is an empirical, not a deductive, question. As best I can see, the answer is “no.” Technological changes often stress existing forms in the law, and the law is not generally so brittle that it cannot adapt. (This is a point that those on the left generally celebrate rather than lament.)
In addition, even supposing that all the irregularities have caused big problems, who has been hurt by those problems? You don’t seem to actually be saying that it was the homeowners. Certainly, the MBS-holders aren’t benefiting from the settlement–or am I missing that somehow? Cochrane’s point is that the threat of hugely expensive litigation is being used to subsidize a group of people who weren’t actually harmed by the misconduct. Do you actually think that’s not true?
Should people being foreclosed on have the people foreclosing on them be forced to follow the law? Yes.
The law surrounding New York trust law and REMIC is pretty brittle by design. Also there’s plenty of empirical work showing that lack of well-kept documentation leads to botched numbers and more than a decade of angry bankruptcy judges. Also what sheenyglass said.
That said you aren’t responding to my claim: does fraud matter? And is there moral hazard in letting banks robosign?
Your answer still completely neglects the question of “who was actually harmed, and will they be helped by the settlement?” I can understand why you ignore this, because the answer is not good for your position.
Putting that aside, I can be responsive to you: “does fraud matter? And is there moral hazard in letting banks robosign?” Yes, sure, generically speaking fraud is bad. Rule of law is good, and a scrupulously formal version of the rule of law is a useful social asset in very many contexts. Is there moral hazard in letting banks robosign? I’m not so sure–what really created the moral hazard was a bunch of people willing to buy up mortgages without meaningfully scrutinizing them. If someone is going to buy garbage from the banks, it isn’t really so surprising that they found increasingly efficient ways of churning out garbage. Post-crisis, the willingness to treat offal like gold has ebbed, and the incentive to robosign has correspondingly diminished, because now if banks manufacture garbage, they are far more likely to end up holding the bag.
So… Does the fraud matter in this case, and matter in a way that is constructively addressed through this settlement? Well, it seems to me that the people who would have the strongest case that the fraud actually cost them money–the purchasers of robo-signed mortgages–aren’t the ones clamoring to punish the banks. And they certainly aren’t the ones being helped by the settlement. If you want to think of it as a sort of punitive damages for bad behavior, being distributed to normal joes who got caught up in the housing crisis, well, OK, but that runs into exactly the problems that Cochrane indicated.
Who has been hurt?
Jason Grodensky: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-wrongful-foreclosure-0922-20100921,0,36776.story
Angela Ianelli: http://theweek.com/article/index/201027/_Bank_repossesses_wrong_home_
Denroy Bell: http://www.wftv.com/news/15523844/detail.html
Gerald Thitchener: http://www.oginski-law.com/news/vegas-jury-awards-couple-34-million-for-mistaken-foreclosure-20051003.cfm
These cases came from just a quick google search – each one a case where a homeowner was either making their payments or did not even *have* a mortgage with the bank in question – but because the banks had not followed the procedures, they assumed they had a right to foreclose.
This isn’t even counting the hundreds (potentially thousands) of illegal foreclosures on active-duty servicemembers.
But these are not apt examples at all. Wrongful foreclosure creates a very clear and effective cause of action for the homeowner–in your last link, to the tune of $3.4 million! If our legal system was indifferent to that kind of behavior, that would indeed be very troubling, but there is no sign that it is. I suppose if you could show that this sort blundering never happened in the past, in the golden days of proper notarization, and you wanted to argue that the settlement will have a prophylactic effect, that could make some sense, but without further evidence both of those claims strike me as rather flimsy.
Meanwhile, you clearly like to be like Mike, inasmuch as you completely neglect the question of whether the kinds of people who were really hurt by the sloppy documentation practices are actually the ones helped by the settlement.
“Post-crisis, the willingness to treat offal like gold has ebbed, and the incentive to robosign has correspondingly diminished…”
Robo-signing is not in granting the mortgage. Robo-signing is a term used to describe when a bank employee signs an affidavit to a judge saying that he or she has carefully reviewed the documents that show that a borrower indeed has been delinquent in a loan and that the loan is owned or serviced by the bank and that the bank has a right to foreclose.
It turns out many of the bank employees were signing these affidavits (that are sworn statements to judges) without reviewing any of the required documents. Further, it appears that they were hired for this purpose. Lastly, there are several allegations that documents have been fabricated.
This is really big: enforcement of property rights is usually one of the few functions that libertarians say is important for government to do (along with defense and police.) Is Cochrane really saying that isn’t important either?
“Is securitization failing because of procedural irregularities? That is an empirical, not a deductive, question. ”
Whether the law is actually being enforced is empirical, but whether a valid perfected security interest has been 1) taken in a property and 2) conveyed is a legal (deductive) question. A failure take these steps in the transfer are not “procedural irregularities.” Rather, they fundamental failures of the transaction itself. There are clear rules for both of these steps not just to protect debtors/homeowners, but to protect subsequent holders of negotiable instruments (who need to be certain their are no other claims to payments on the note), subsequent secured creditors (who need to be aware of priority liens in order to make informed lending decisions) and subsequent purchasers of the property (who need to be able to rely on the county title records in order to be certain that the grantor has valid title to convey).
“Is securitization failing because of procedural irregularities? That is an empirical, not a deductive, question. ”I think the question here is really, “Are people able to buy pieces of paper which say they are secured by property liens and promise to pay a certain amount of money, and then receive the money the pieces of paper promised?” And the answer to that seems to be “Yes.” If $6 trillion of MBS have been issued since 2009 the investors must not be seeing a problem arising from the lack of proper legal procedures. Granted, the law is being violated and various governments are not getting a lot of money they are entitled to, but we haven’t worried about rule of law in this country for at least 15 years now. So I think the question really being asked is
Strangely enough, the investors will end up paying more in this whitewash of a settlement than the perpetrators. And if the states pursue suits outside of the bounds of the settlement, the investors will probably take another hit.
Another term for procedural regularities is ‘due process’, or if you prefer, the ‘rule of law’.
If you care too much about self enrichment, rather than too little, at least your heart’s in the right place.
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“Is there moral hazard in letting banks robosign? ”
J*s*s f*ing Ch*st – robosigning is fraud. They ain’t doing it just for kicks; they’re doing it to defraud somebody.

domain: law