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Racks of machines at a server farm mining Bitcoins and Ether in Guizhou, China, last June.Zooming in a little closer to our current candles within this trend,.
Ether cryptocurrency hits all-time high and $2.5 billion
The prices of both Bitcoin and Ether are established on private exchanges, where people can sell the tokens they own at the going market price.Gatecoin is a bitcoin and ethereum token exchange based in. ether (Ethereum) and.Even during recent pullbacks, though, the value of Ether has generally continued to gain on Bitcoin in relative terms.Ether ETN was designed to provide shareholders with exposure to the daily change in the price of Ether,.However if A wanted to form a contract with B depending on the future price of Ether,.Long-term Ether Price Prediction ( in the optimistic view ). it hard to belive that Ethereum will not be the most important blockchain but ether, the currency,.
Litecoin price calculator, convert between Litecoin and USD, EUR and more fiat currencies with realtime prices.Buy ethereum with bitcoin (buy ethers) on buy-ether.com. Ether (ETH) is a tradeable private asset.Ether is a necessary. and the currency—and we see ourselves not as a competing currency but as complementary within. source for the price of.Why a price drop for cryptocurrency like ether and bitcoin might be healthy.The fact that there are fewer real-world uses for Ethereum has many market experts expecting a crash similar to the ones that have followed previous run-ups in the price of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies.The rise of Bitcoin has left some of the Altcoins trading at lower prices than previous averages.The value of the digital currency Ethereum has dropped dramatically amid an apparent huge attack targeting an organisation with huge holdings of the.Ethereum was launched in the middle of 2015 by a 21-year-old college dropout, Vitalik Buterin, who was born in Russia and raised in Canada.
Ether can be used as a currency in this system, but Ether are also necessary to pay for the network power needed to process the.The founders of Ethereum state that Ether is not a currency as much.Official Ethereum price today and real time. be a matter of one or two days provided that the current rally. investors buying and holding Ether,.Convert amounts to or from USD and other currencies with this simple Bitcoin calculator.
The price of bitcoin rival Ethereum (Ether) is soaring
DAO hacked, Ethereum crashing in value - Business InsiderDespite these gains, Bitcoin is on the verge of losing its position as the dominant virtual currency.Bitcoin price calculator, convert between Bitcoin and USD, EUR and more fiat currencies with realtime prices.
This email list provides content for those interested in Ethereum and cryptoassets more broadly.The network of computers hooked into Ethereum can be harnessed to do computational work, essentially making it possible to run computer programs on the network, or what are referred to as decentralized applications, or Dapps.
Bitcoin is no longer the most promising digital currencyAs fears of a Bitcoin split continue to pass, investors are jumping back into the digital currency with renewed vigour.It has also been tainted by its association with online drug sales and hackers demanding ransom.Ether is the internal currency of the Ethereum platform and price has been advancing strongly recently.Both are hosted and maintained by the computers of volunteers around the world, who are rewarded for their participation with the new digital tokens that are released onto the network each day.We could be looking at a 30% drop below current support to 100%.NYTimes.com no longer supports Internet Explorer 9 or earlier.
Disclaimer: content on this site should not be used when making investment decisions.What used to be euphoria has fizzled into despair as the price of Ethereum.
Bitcoin Price - BTC Bitcoin value converter
The Search for a Stable Cryptocurrency - Ethereum Blog
Ether Price Continues Downward Momentum as Cryptocurrency Markets Turn Bearish.Price Analysis. has created a great deal of user interest in investing in the digital currency.Ethereum is an open-source, public, blockchain-based distributed computing platform featuring smart contract (scripting) functionality.Ether price calculator, convert between Ether and USD, EUR and more fiat currencies with realtime prices.The Most Hyped Digital Currency Since Bitcoin Has Officially. currency expert, told us in. at a known price now, with the rate set at 2,000 ether to.
NYTimes: Move Over, Bitcoin. Ether Is the Digital Currency
Ethereum Launches Ether - Business Insider
Official Ethereum Price in Real Time | EthereumPrice.today
He now lists his residence, jokingly, as Cathay Pacific Airlines because of his travel schedule.
Bitcoin Exchange Rate — Bitcoin Live Converter — PreevGas Price is how much Gas costs in terms of another currency or token like Ether.Despite a recent slump in price, ether volume. and as a result it has undergone less testing than its older digital currency.
Cryptocurrencies are open source and anyone with an internet connection is capable of creating a fork.Ethereum (Ether) Price updated in real-time every minute 5 exchanges 6 ETH currency pairs No advertising.Bitcoin Spike: Ethereum Price Prediction for 2018 Re-Evaluating Ethereum Price Predictions. more on a platform than a currency.
Ether: How It WorksThe Ether he holds has made him a millionaire many times over, but he has generally avoided commenting on the price increase in Ether.Could someone tell me how many Ether coins we will have in 2020, 2035, and 2050 and their projected corresponding prices.
Ether – Coin Currency News
If you would like to donate towards the server upkeep, or fancy tipping for whatever reason, you can use either of the addresses below.Will we invest in and transact with Ether differently than we.Digital currency investor and partner at Union Square Ventures Fred.


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Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
As the book opens, Paul is believed to be dead, a martyr last seen nine years earlier. The political and religious empire he had created is prospering under his sister, Alia, who is acting as regent until Paul's twin children come of age. With indications of decadence already appearing, a mysterious Preacher is speaking out against the failings of this empire, and there are those who believe that this Preacher may be Paul.
One of the reasons that this book is stronger than the second book is the return of Lady Jessica, absent since the end of the first book. With her daughter Alia seeming possessed by the spirit of Baron Harkonnen (one of the great villains of sci-fi), Jessica becomes entangled in plots that could be fatal to her and her grandchildren. The twins themselves, intellectually far older than their physical ages and gifted with inherited talents, are hardly helpless in all this intriguing.
As Children of Dune begins, it is nine years since the Emperor Paul Muad'dib walked into the desert, blind. The ecological transformation of Dune continues apace and some of the Fremen are even living without stillsuits in the less arid climate. Fremen have started to move out of the Sietches and into the villages and cities. Millions of Fremen, thanks to the Jihad, have experience of life off planet or out of the desert, opening their minds to new possibilities yet also causing them to forget the old ways. It is a time of great social change and economic growth on the new capital planet of the Imperium, as more and more pilgrims arrive each day to experience the planet of Muad'dib and Alia.
The members of the Imperial high council — Alia, Duncan Idaho, Princess Irulan (who, since the death of Paul, has taken the role of caregiver to the Atreides children) and Stilgar — meet and lament the fact that they have lost the initiative in the political arena. Paul Atreides had been powerless to control the Jihad and had left only the shadow of his religious mantle. Now Alia and her council are even less capable of controlling it. They are finding themselves tightening their grip on politics and ritual, yet losing more control. The two young children of Paul, Leto II and Ghanima, are not normal nine year old children. Like Alia, they were forced into consciousness before birth and thus possess Other Memory, access to the lives and memories of all their ancestors. The children are very troubled because they have come to the conclusion that Alia has succumbed to what the Bene Gesserit call "abomination" — possession by one of her ancestors — and fear that a similar fate awaits them. They (and Alia) also realize that the quickening terraforming of Dune will kill all the sandtrout and thus bring to an end the Giant Worms, and inevitably to the spice itself.
Leto has an additional fear as well: he has started to have dreams which he is coming to believe are prophetic, like his father had when he was a similar age. He fears being locked into an early prescient vision as he suspects happened to his father before him. He also has the added pressure that Alia is pushing him to enter into an overdose-induced spice trance in order to unlock the door to prophetic visions. She feels the need for such visions in order to rule the empire, yet struggles to achieve them at all for herself.
Things have reached a heightened note of tension because Lady Jessica is coming to Arrakis to visit her grandchildren from her self-imposed retreat on Caladan. Alia fears this because she has indeed become possessed by the persona of her grandfather, the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, and is sure that her mother will notice despite Alia's erroneous belief that no one has yet recognised the change in her. The Baron is leading her far away from the Atreides way of doing things: she has taken a lover behind Duncan's back, a priest called Javid.
Out in the desert, a new religious figure has arisen among the Fremen, who preaches against the injustices of the religious government and the changes among the Fremen. He is called 'The Preacher', and some even believe he is actually Paul Atreides.
Meanwhile, on Salusa Secundus, fallen House Corrino is plotting again for power. Princess Wensicia, younger sister of Irulan, rules in the name of her son Farad'n. She has plans for her son to become Emperor and has hatched a plot to assassinate the twins.

domain: literature


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Cadillac, Mich. Thursday, February 21, 2019
New Location Would Be Third in Michigan, Powering Up to 100 Homes
Consumers Energy announced today that it plans to develop its third solar power plant in Cadillac, building on its Triple Bottom Line commitment to people, the planet and Michigan’s prosperity.
“Consumers Energy is taking a stand for our planet with our Clean Energy Plan that includes over 40 percent of our energy coming from renewable sources,” said Brian Rich, Consumers Energy’s senior vice president for customer experience. “We are excited to pursue a project that should be good for a community we serve and Michigan’s clean energy future.”
The Cadillac City Council this week approved an agreement to allow Consumers Energy to place solar panels on the Mitchell-Bentley property, a currently vacant site with a manufacturing history that dates to the late 1800s.
The solar power plant, which still needs regulatory approvals, would generate half a megawatt of electricity, enough to power as many as 100 homes at a time. It could be operating before the summer of 2020.
Consumers Energy currently operates two solar projects in Michigan, at Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University. Together, those two locations generate enough power to serve over 800 homes at a time.
The Cadillac location would join the two sites in the company’s Solar Gardens community solar program. Customers who enroll in Solar Gardens pay as little as $10 a month to support solar projects and receive bill credits based on electricity that’s generated. Learn more at ConsumersEnergy.com/solargardens.
“This is a wonderful example of a collaboration between the public and private sectors, all for the good of our community,” said Marcus Peccia, Cadillac city manager. “We have an opportunity to clean up a blighted brownfield site, and residents will be able to connect to a renewable energy source right here in our backyard.”
Consumers Energy last year announced its Clean Energy Plan, which focuses on developing new sources of renewable energy in Michigan. The energy provider plans to stop using coal to generate electricity and reduce its carbon emissions by 90 percent.
Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
# # #
Media Contacts: Brian Wheeler, 517-788-2394, or Roger Morgenstern, 616-530-4364
This news release contains "forward-looking statements." The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Consumers Energy's results to differ materially. All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors detailed from time to time in Consumers Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

domain: economics


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Search for New Home Communities in San Ramon near Oakland-Alameda, California with NewHomeSource, the expert in San Ramon new home communities .
There's over 584 new construction floor plans in San Ramon, CA! Explore what some of the top builders in the nation have to offer.
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Gale Ranch is a gorgeous master planned community in San Ramon CA. Build your new home in Gale Ranch today with Toll BrothersÂ®. View photos, floor .
The modern city of San Ramon is the third largest in Contra Costa County, and while the progressive zone keeps urban advances in mind provides an overall .
Search for the new construction San Ramon, CA homes for sale on realtor.comÂ®. Here. Lexington at Gale Ranch Mariposa Elite, San Ramon, CA 94582.
Gale Ranch is a new community of eight neighborhoods with award-winning schools,. With panoramic views of the San Ramon Valley and homes nestled into .
New Homes In San Ramon Ca
49 sec read

domain: geography


UPDATE 06/16/2023: Al Pacino, 82, has revealed the name and gender of his fourth child.
In a statement to The Daily Mail, Pacino wrote, “I am confirming that Al Pacino and Noor Alfallah have welcomed a son, named Roman Pacino.”
Roman is Pacino’s second son. He has two daughters: 33-year-old, Julie Marie, and 22-year-old Olivia. Anton, also 22, is twins with Olivia.
At the time of the pregnancy announcement, Pacino said, “It’s very special. It always has been. I’ve got many kids. But this is really special coming at this time.”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: “Scarface” star Al Pacino announced that he and 29-year-old girlfriend Noor Alfallah are expecting their first child together. The announcement was confirmed via Pacino’s rep after TMZ first broke the news.
At the age of 83, Pacino will become a father to his fourth child soon as it’s reported that his girlfriend is almost at the end of her third trimester.
The news comes after Pacino’s long-term friend Robert De Niro also announced that he’d welcomed his seventh baby into his family.
Pacino currently is the father to 33-year-old Julie Marie whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Jan Tarrant, and a pair of 22-year-old twins Ashton and Olivia with ex-girlfriend Beverly D-Angelo.
Alfallah and Pacino’s relationship first came into the public eye after they were spotted together at the Felix Restaurant in Venice, California. Alfallah has been connected to many of Hollywood’s favorite silver foxes and rockstars as she’s previously linked to Mick Jagger and Clint Eastwood in her past.
Pacino publicly spoke about fatherhood in 2014 in an interview with The New Yorker where he spoke about his desire to not be like his own father who walked out on his family was Pacino was two. Pacino is devoted to being there for his children, saying that, when he and his children are not together it is “upsetting to me and them.”
“Having children has helped a lot. I consciously knew that I didn’t want to be like my dad. I wanted to be there. I have three children. I’m responsible to them. I’m a part of their life,” he said


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Sauropod: podcasting the 21st century sarah mccartan is eating for two - herself, and the baby who will eventually help her stick tom in a home - and she needs snack ideas worth digging into four of the country's finest snackers have been assembled to compete for the snackmaster crown, in what could possibly be called a pressure-cooker of a . The 21st century school librarian essay literature as well as digital media and new literacy practices engages meaningful learning it allows students’ a variety of modes for them to “read” through the new ethos that occurs within and through technology. In a guest post for ojb first published on his blog, broadcaster joe norman explores the uk market for podcasting over the past few weeks i've found myself questioning whether — in the uk in particular — it is possible to make money from podcasting. Programs & podcasts npr music rihanna is the 21st century's most influential our list of the 200 greatest songs by women + offers a soundtrack to a new century this series of essays . Women are the fabric of 21st century pop our new canon is a celebration of the women and non-binary musicians shaping the sound of this century, and an attempt to interrupt the history-making .
Audacity for creating podcast for pc users podcasting using audacity ideas for podcasting in the classroom standards for the 21st-century learner (2008). Siddhartha in the 21st century an essay entitled siddhartha comes to america umass amherst journalism podcasting blog. Produced by the poynter institute and mediashift, “truth and trust in the 21st century,” will expand on the essays in the new book, “the new ethics of journalism,” edited by poynter senior faculty kelly mcbride and tom rosenstiel, executive director of the american press institute.
Essay on reviewing english in the 21st century - reviewing english in the 21st century edited by wayne sawyer & eva gold designed for teachers of english, reviewing english in the 21st century provides an overview of changes in english teaching in australia over the last six decades, and the theories behind such changes. Here we are to talk about technology and the role it plays in 21st century education technology is by far the most popular topic concerning 21st century learning and education and many of the videos on youtube are about just that although some of these videos cover other ideas, technology still . This shows that privacy in the 21 st century is negative because people from anywhere can find our photos, statuses and anything about you through social media and the internet if stacy snyder hadn’t posted her drunken pirate photo on myspace no one would have known and she would have graduated and became a teacher.
For this essay, topics must be related to (or based upon) readings from the work in the 21st century posted on blackboard you will research and analyze materials to establish and explain connections, observations, and conflicts between sources. Store international essays on mediation: dealing with disputes in the 21st century essays on mediation: dealing with disputes in the 21st century edited by ian macduff. Free essay: the influence of media on society in the 21st century is undeniable of all the types of media, music and books stand out as two of the main. New and forthcoming titles from the 21st century essays series. Professional development (pd) sessions are a solution to help educators all over the globe by meeting them where their current skills and expertise reside, and helping to carry them toward the next generation: 21st-century learning.
That’s the 21st century difference shelley wright is a teacher/education blogger living in moose jaw, saskatchewan in canada she teaches high school english, science and technology. The partnership advocates for the integration of 21st century skills into k-12 of a story and records it as a podcast students proposal and writes an essay . 21st century learning facilitate a discuss / complete a comprehension exercise / have students write an essay as a if you are new to podcasts, you . Women in the 21st century society is constantly changing, sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse, and different country’s society’s change at different paces, and some don’t change at all.
21st century essay - get started with essay writing and compose finest dissertation ever experienced scholars working in the service will fulfil your assignment within the deadline professional writers, quality services, instant delivery and other advantages can be found in our writing service. Collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity are the 4 cs of a 21st-century learner, according to the partnership for 21st century learning given that technology use continues to expand in schools, it’s worthwhile to think of how that technology can function in assignments . Podcasts schedules michael's essay — why radio remains a vital force in the 21st century the sunday edition michael's essay — why radio remains a vital force in the 21st century . Below is an essay on youth of 21st century from anti essays, your source for research papers, essays, and term paper examples there are many issues that the youth of the 21st century face, one of these issues is the image that we receive and the elderly people’s perceptions of us.

domain: library


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Ruth Lilly Professor of Poetry 2001 - 2006
Kevin Young is an American poet and teacher of poetry. He graduated with an A.B. in English and American Literature from Harvard College in 1992, and was a Stegner Fellow of Poetry at Stanford University from 1992–1994. After earning his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Brown University, Young worked at the University of Georgia, and then, from 2001-2005, as the Ruth Lilly Professor of Poetry at Indiana University. Young then moved to Emory University where he is the Atticus Haygood Professor of English and Creative Writing, as well as the curator of the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, where they house a large collection of first and rare editions of English poetry. Having been heavily influenced by poets like Langston Hughes, John Berryman, Emily Dickinson and the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Young is the author of several collections of poetry. His authored collections include Most Way Home: Poems published in 1995, To Repel Ghosts: Five Sides in B Minor published in 2001, Jelly Roll: A Blues published in 2003, Black Maria: Poems Produced and Directed by published in 2005, For the Confederate Dead published in 2007, Dear Darkness: Poems published in 2008, Ardency: A Chronicle of the Amistad Rebels published in 2011, and The Grey Album: Music, Shadows, Lies published in 2012. He also published an anthology, The Art of Losing: Poems of Grief and Healing, in 2010. Young has edited six collections poetry including, Blues Poems (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets) published in 2003, John Berryman: Selected Poems published in 2004, Jazz Poems (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets) published in 2006, Giant Steps: The New Generation of African American Writers, and a companion, Jazz Poems. He has also served as guest editor for an issue of Ploughshares Magazine in 2007, and has written on art and artists for museums in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. Young was named a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow in 2003, as well as an NEA Literature Fellow in Poetry, and the United States Artists James Baldwin Fellow in 2009. Young’s book Most Way Home was selected for the National Poetry Series, and was awarded the John C. Zacharis First Book Prize from Ploughshares magazine in 1995. His second book of poems, To Repel Ghosts, based on the works of the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, was a finalist for the James McLaughlin Prize from the Academy of American Poets in 2001. In 2003, Young’s book Jelly Roll was a finalist for The National Book Award and The Los Angeles Times’ Book Award Young, and was awarded the Paterson Poetry Prize. His poem Black Cat Blues was included in The Best American Poetry of 2005. Young’s collection, For the Confederate Dead, was the recipient of the Quill Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize for Sustained Literary Achievement in 2007. It was also featured in The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, and on National Public Radio. His 2008 collection, Dear Darkness, won the Southern Independent Bookseller’s Award in poetry, was featured on NPR, and in The New Yorker as one of the as one of the best books of the year. Young’s anthology, The Art of Losing, was a poetry bestseller in 2010, and he won the Graywolf Nonfiction Prize for his 2012 collection, The Grey Album. His poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review, Ploughshares Magazine, The Kenyon Review, Callaloo, and many other journals and anthologies.


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Cheese and Onion Enchiladas
Serves: 6 Preheat Oven Temp: 350
12 corn tortillas
1 18 oz. can Las Palmas enchilada sauce
1 lb. grated cheese, Monterrey Jack and cheddar, or Colby jack
Optional: (use as desired)
1 cup chopped onion
1 small can of diced green chili’s
toppings as desired: lettuce, green onions, olives,
sour cream, tomatoes, olives, etc.
1 Warm the tortillas by microwaving or steaming so they are soft enough to roll without cracking.
2 Pour some of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
3 Spoon some of the enchilada sauce onto both sides of a tortilla so it is covered with sauce.
4 Put about 1/3 cup of the shredded cheese down the center of the tortilla.
5 Sprinkle some of the diced onion and green chili’s on top of the cheese.
6 Roll the enchilada and place it in the baking dish with the folded seam side down.
7 Repeat this for each of the additional tortillas.
8 Once the baking dish is full of rolled tortillas, pour the remaining enchilada sauce into the dish so that all of the tortillas are covered. Don’t be afraid of having too much sauce, a lot of it will absorb while cooking.
9 Top with additional shredded cheese and bake for 25 minutes.
10 After cooking, serve with green onions, olives, salsa, lettuce, sour cream, etc. as desired.

domain: food


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Kiss & Cry
A romantic drama based on the story of Carley Allison, a promising 18 year old figure skater and singer who made medical history in her fight against a rare 1 in 3.5 billion type of sarcoma.
Feature Film - Toronto (Sept. 2015 - August 2016)
Born To Be Blue
A re-imagining of jazz legend Chet Baker’s musical comeback in the late ’60s.
Feature Film – Toronto, ON (Sept. 2014 – Nov 2014)
PORCH STORIES interweaves three different stories on three porches in a changing neighborhood one day in summer. Emma is about to get married when a man from her past shows up on her porch, throwing her planned out life into confusion. Across the street, an elderly Portuguese couple argue about…
Feature Film - Toronto, ON (May 2013 – April 2014)
Daydream Believers: The Monkees' Story
The story of the Pre-Fab Four and their fight to be taken seriously as musicians.
TV Movie (February 2000 – April 2000)

domain: entertainment


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It’s currently ten to one in the morning and I can’t sleep. Not that I’m not tired, I’m absolutely exhausted, in every sense of the word, but my ten year old baby is in pain and couldn’t sleep so I Continue reading Equinox, Families & Balance… Almost!
Research is key to being successful in anything. Natural born skill can be a plus but it means nothing without the knowledge to back it up. Knowing your lunar cycles, simple mechanisms of magick, and correspondences can greatly help you. Continue reading Starting the path…
I never met a magical practitioner worth a damn who spent 90% of their time talking about how great they were; why they were favored by the gods or ancestors; or how their initiations/traditions were the only pure or true Continue reading Advice to those new on the paths
I read a good book this year. It was written by Witchdoctor Utu titled “Conjuring Harriet “Mama Moses” Tubman and the Spirits of the Underground Railroad” , with a foreword by Baba Ted Jauw. Because of the heated controversy, and Continue reading My words on “Conjuring Harriet “Mama Moses” Tubman and the Spirits of the Underground Railroad” by Witchdoctor Utu
Edain McCoy (1957-2019) Pagan author, Witch, Brigid priestess, and shining guideposts for many a witch’s spiritual journey passed away today succumbing to influenza. She leave us with a legacy of a lifetime of works. One can measure the progression of Continue reading Edain McCoy makes her way home through the veil


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big groups of friends, action films, sugary popcorn, creamy drinks, the scent of sweet caramel, the colour navy blue, play fighting, sleeping really late, taking risks, the company of best friends, the cutest expressions.
peaceful train rides, repeating songs, dark captivating eyes, silky hair, the taste of newly opened soda, smiling at strangers, daydreaming, grey scale with bright colours, high fiving friends.
the feel of fresh paper, the taste and scent of dark chocolate, sarcastic replies, expressive eyes, bright emotions, gentle touches, kisses on the hand, warm scarves, fingerless gloves.
soft sweaters, the scent of coffee, smooth clean hair, pale skin, vanilla, pattens in the stars, beautiful silence, holding hands, gorgeous eyes, cuddling, golden light, evening time, a good book, the colours brown and red.
warm sunlight, the feel of sand on your feet, the colours yellow and blue, cloudless skies, shining smiles, loose ponytails, freedom, ice cream on a hot day, playing childish games with friends.
prolonged eye contact, comforting whispers, soft cheek kisses, quiet music, late night talking, warm blankets, the scent of a new book, shy smiles, rain against a window, steely grey sky, heavy rain clouds, blue jeans.
cups of steaming tea, fluffy hair, sweet licorice, big heavy hoodies, sci-fi novels and series, silly faces, dark lighting, the colour silver, messy beds, sleeping through alarms, the scent of s fresh morning.
little inside jokes, hugs with friends, kisses on the neck, hues of green, dew-sprinkled grass, playful nudges, cheesy selfies, carving into trees, the scent of a forest.
the flicker of street lights at night, the gentle hum of cars in the distance, long and warm laughter, shorts and loose clothing, the cool midnight air, adrenaline rushes, short giggles, linking arms.
the scent of fresh fruit, neon colours, bright sunrises, singing slow songs, tracing patterns out of clouds, sweet ice popsicles, fuzzy socks, accidental hand touches, a glass of refreshing fruit juice.
clean pillows, hair in buns, a sip of fresh water on a warm day, amazing friendships, first crushes, the scent of coconut, showering in the morning, modern design.
running with the wind on your face, perfect grins, seashells, drawing on rocks with chalk, painting in to wet sand, bright hair, soft sea foam, pastel colours, little secret gifts, surprise tickles.
AJHDJF FF jesus thank you for pointing that out i cannot believe i did that. i was using the same colour palette for marauders, golden & silver trios’ uniforms and was working on autopilot to get these done today and i just didnt even stop to think oh MAN
Request: Can you write a one-shot with peter maximoff where they’re basically rivals and don’t really like each other and it ends up with them getting into a really awkward position(like locked in a cupboard or something) and they make up or something (Also can the reader have Cheshire cat like powers?)
Powers: Invisibly/Teleporting (No flying that’s just to much and no shape shifting)
A/n: I don’t know if my username inspired you or what but this’ll be fun to write.
Later A/n: THIS TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE BUT IM HAPPY I STAYED UP UNTIL LIKE 3:00 TO WRITE THIS SO PLEASE LIKE IT I’M GOING TO REGRET THIS TOMORROW
After drawing Alucard last night, I realized that there was one other character that I draw crazy eyelashes for, and that was Kakyoin, though I tend to overdo it as a style choice. Alucard’s will always win though, because his are actually like that, I’m not exaggerating them.
SO, uh, here, enjoy this crossover no one asked for lol
Summary- The reader is a teen actress on the show, she’s hanging out in the makeup trailer with Misha when he alerts her of some weird tweets.
Characters- Jared x platonic!reader, Jensen x platonic!reader, misha x platonic!reader.
Warnings- mild language, mentions of family problems.
A/N- I’VE FINALLY UPLOADED A FIC! it’s been a while but I’ve been busy revising for my exams so that’s a good reason;) anyways, I hope you enjoy this! It was really fun to write and made me chuckle.
You were lounging in one of the makeup chairs, Misha was sat on your left getting his hair done whilst you were stuffing your face with gummy bears.
You had been on the show for almost two years, you were introduced as Sam’s daughter halfway through season eleven, you had just turned fourteen when you started filming and being so young meant the cast -past and present- were extremely protective over you and that’s something that never changed, and honestly you were grateful! You never really had the greatest relationship with your parents so it was nice to have a group of people who cared about you the way your parents didn’t
Jared took the roll of your father in real life as well, you just had that instant connection when you met, you both had similar interests and similar characteristics, you even looked alike: hazel eyes that seem to change colour, dimples, same length hair. He acted more like a father than your biological dad, lets just say you don’t have the ideal family life, you’d much rather go to Texas with Jared and Jensen than go home (which most of the time you do), whenever you visited you’d always help Gen and Danneel with the kids, they were grateful and loved having you around.
The cast knew how much your parents would nag at you, they knew how down you’d get about the things they’d say, today was one of those days. You had argued with both of your parents, quite heavily, Jared walked into your trailer when he heard you almost shouting. He comforted you and listened whilst your ranted and cried about the argument, he held you whilst you sobbed, he hated seeing you so upset, it tore him apart, to him you were his daughter, he couldn’t handle seeing his daughter so torn up.
Your head snapped up towards Misha who started laughing, a lot, “what’re you laughing at?” You asked, he turned his phone towards you, reaching out you took it from his grip “maybe you should go and find your phone” he laughed. Furrowing your eyebrows you scrolled through your twitter, your eyes widened at some of the tweets before your narrowed them and let out an audible groan “damn it, Jared” you grumbled, you quickly replied back to one of the tweets before handing the phone back to Misha and jumping down from the chair, “good luck!” Misha called as you stepped out of the trailer, “i’m gonna need it” you mumbled making him laugh again.
You stepped into the motel set that you would be using for that day, the crew were getting ready to film, you saw Jared and Jensen leaning against one of the tables, Jared was still typing away on your phone, stepping forward you gained their attention, “give me my phone, Jared” you demanded holding your hand out, “give me five minutes” he replied turning his head back towards your phone, rolling your eyes you crossed your arms, “no, Jared give it back” you said, he sighed and passed it towards you, however when your reached out to grab it his hand shot in the air, “jump for it” he chuckled, you gave him a bitch face, “I am not jumping for my phone” you answered placing your hands on your hips.
You saw that his phone was on the table behind him, quickly, you leapt forward and grabbed it before holding it behind your back. He chuckled, “you don’t know my password, i’m not bothered”, you smirked and typed in his passcode before showing him the unlocked screen, “really? Your birthday? C’mon Jared, be original” you said, he went to reply but the director cut him off.
The director called for everyone to get into their places, you sat on the bed with your back against the headboard, you knew the camera’s wouldn’t be on you, it was just Jared and Jensen’s coverage. The director yelled “action!”, as the guys were doing their dialogue you started to tweet from Jared’s phone silently giggling to yourself, “Just ate some spicy ass Buffalo Wings, never again. My ass is going to hurt for weeks” you looked up and watched the scene for a bit before tweeting again. “Oh god, the smell! it’s everywhere!“ Misha who was trying to focus on the scene caught sight of you giggling, he pulled out his phone and went onto Jared’s twitter, his face immediately went red from trying to hold in the laughter, you started typing again, “SHOULD IT BURN THIS MUCH?!” you hit send, Misha looked back down towards his phone and closed his eyes and took in a deep breath as if trying to compose himself, you started typing again “I just burnt a hole through my underwear… shit… quite literally” that was the last straw for Misha, he immediately burst out laughing shortly followed by you, doubling over you were face down on the bed with tears streaming down your face, “what’re you guys laughing at?” Jared asked, “ch-check your twitter” Misha wheezed out, he furrowed his eyebrows and unlocked your phone, his eyes widened, Jensen took your phone from his hand, he started reading the numerous tweets out loud whilst simultaneously laughing, hard. Soon enough everyone in the room was howling of laughter.
You sat up, still laughing hysterically, wiping away the tears that were cascading happily down your face you took a deep breath, trying to calm down, “y/n, you little shit” Jared laughed causing you to start laughing again, grabbing his phone from your hand, he deleted the tweets and pocketed his phone. “Hey, you started it, I finished it” you giggled, “can I have my phone back now?” You asked, he shook his head before throwing it towards you, you caught it and tucked it in your pocket.
“Okay everyone, take a ten minute break to cool off, god knows we need it” the director laughed, you stood up and walked towards the boys, “where did you come up with those tweets?” Jensen asked, you shrugged your shoulders, “honestly I have no idea” you laughed, whilst Misha and Jensen were talking Jared swung an arm over your shoulders, “you feeling better?” He asked, you nodded your head, “yeah, still feel a bit bummed about earlier but better nonetheless” you smiled, he squeezed you, “good” he replied, “I’m still gonna get you back from tweeting on my phone, you know that right?” He asked, you rolled your eyes and chuckled “yeah, even though what I did was completely fair” you said, he sighed “yeah yeah, whatever you say” he said playfully.
Let me know if you wanna be added to the ‘Forever Tags’ list, just drop me an ask<3
A good way to think of sexuality is like eye colour. There’s a lot of different eye colours, and no one has the exact same ones. No one can really control what colour their eyes will be, and even if you wear coloured contacts to appear a different colour, you’re still the same inside. Would you ever look at a person with hazel eyes and ask them “You can be brown eyed or green eyed, pick one!” No, because that’s fucking ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as insulting someone for having a certain eye colour, or saying people with a certain colour can’t get married. If this is something we can’t choose, why are we being punished for it?
Imagine Isak standing with Even outside in snowy weather, their noses running and slightly red. Even has a bit of snow on his hands and boops Isak’s nose softly with his index finger, making him giggle as a snowflake runs to the tip and continues its course downwards to Isak’s lips. Isak laughs and huffs quietly, his teeth clattering and his arms hugging his own stomach. “Are you cold, baby?” Even asks him. “Me? Nope!” Isak exclaims with a bright smile, his words betrayed by the trembling in his voice. Even laughs heartily. He removes his gloves, takes Isak’s hands and puts the gloves on them instead. Ignoring Isak’s feeble protestations (accompanied by a shy smile and cheeks too red even for this cold weather), Even then takes off the fluffy beanie sitting on his head and puts it on Isak’s, the soft wool engulfing Isak’s curls and falling over his ears. The red colour makes the gold of the stray locks stand out, and for a moment it almost looks to Even as though there’s a soft halo cradling Isak’s head. Isak is beaming at Even, his eyes a deeper blue than the sky behind him, and Even takes his boyfriend’s gloved hands in his own naked ones. “You’re an angel,” he murmurs, so softly Isak might just have missed it. But Isak’s smile reaches his eyes, making something dance and sparkle in their depth, and Even feels him squeeze his hands. “I love you too,” Even hears him say silently in the comfortable quiet settling over them.

domain: artistic


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Not many people may know, but right now the EU has around 5,000 women and men working for 16 crisis management missions and operations deployed on three continents – soon to become 17 with the new civilian mission to be launched in the Central African Republic. They are the beating heart of the EU’s common security and defence policy and often the face of the EU in crisis-zones around the world.
The CSDP Annual Report provides an overview of how EU CSDP Operations & Missions delivered on three priorities - stabilising our region, contributing to the resilience of partner countries and enhancing our responsiveness in all phases of the conflict cycle.
On 17 December 2018, the European Council amended and extended the mandate of the European Union Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) from 1 January 2019 until 30 June 2020 to actively support the Libyan authorities in contributing to efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks involved notably in smuggling migrants, human trafficking and terrorism.
Today, the Council adopted a decision mandating the EU integrated border management assistance mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) to actively support the Libyan authorities in contributing to efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks involved in smuggling migrants, human trafficking and terrorism. The mission was previously mandated to plan for a future EU civilian mission while engaging with the Libyan authorities.
Humans in conflict areas suffer from lawlessness and violence. The EU engages responsibly and supports struggling partner countries through a mix of diplomatic, development and security measures. 2,000 women and men work in the ten civilian Missions to increase human security in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. On 28 May 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on strengthening civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

domain: news


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The party's publicity secretary Tony Pua (left) warned that if neither can show that a DAP candidate, in particular, had at a ceramah uttered a racial slur against the Melanau minority, the party will contemplate taking legal action over the matter.
"Barisan Nasional, having lost the confidence of the public, particularly in the urban centres, are now using government agencies such as the Election Commission to incite racial hatred against the DAP in order to protect their own selfish political interest," sniped Pua, who is also Petaling Jaya Utara parliamentarian, in a statement.
He was referring to a column in Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia in which Wan Ahmad was quoted as having accused DAP or running a racist campaign in the recently-concluded Sarawak election.
Wan Ahmad, was reported as having cited Rais' claim that DAP's Pending candidate, Violet Yong, had told a 'closed-door' ceramah that "dah cukup masa orang Melanau jadi menteri besar" (we have had enough of a Melanau being the chief minister).
Pua described the accusations by Wan Ahmad as being "all desperate lies" from people "who has not only failed to ensure free and fair elections in Sarawak but are now trying to justify to its political masters why EC failed to curb the people's will to vote for Pakatan Rakyat in the urban centres."
Wan Ahmad (right) had also reportedly claimed during his rounds to inspect preparations for the state polls, he had found that most of DAP's Chinese-language banners contained elements of racism and were incendiary in nature.
There were 'too many' of such posters and banners, the commissioner reportedly claimed, that the EC and police were unable to take any action.
"It would not wrong to say that there were racially-tinged campaigns throughout the big towns in Sarawak, especially those by DAP," Wan Ahmad was quoted as saying.
Lambasting the accusations, Pua challenged the EC to come up with proof that the DAP had put up banners that incite to racial hatred and anger.
"Throughout the entire campaign, we have ensure that practically all our campaign materials contains at least two languages, whether in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese or Iban.
"Our campaign theme has been thoroughly focussed on fighting corruption, cronyism and abuse of power and never on a particular race," said Pua.
He also expressed certainty that if the EC with its legions of officers and their ready cameras had proof of serious transgressions, they should show such evidence "instead of spreading malicious lies."
If there were any party which had resorted to racial slurs during the election campaign and polling, it was BN and its component party SUPP, in particular.
"Nearly all SUPP banners were only in the Chinese language, and they threatened the Chinese community that if the latter failed to support SUPP, the government will ignore their needs in the future.
"Why didn't EC reprimand or take action against the SUPP?" asked Pua.
"In addition, the DAP has never held any "closed door" ceramahs in Sarawak.
Demanding a public apology from Wan Ahmad and Rais (left), Pua said Wan Ahmad in particular, should resign not only for "failing to ensure a level playing field for elections in Sarawak" but for having become "the cat's paw for BN to defame and denigrate Pakatan Rakyat component parties."

domain: sociology


Matsuyama heads to Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina for the PGA Championship.
The Poland community came out late Sunday night to welcome home the Junior League World Series champions.
The Covelli Centre is looking to fill part-time positions, such as ushers, security guards and bartenders.
Central Square — which includes Market and W. Federal streets — will be closed for three weeks for repaving.
Patients who give blood or platelets with the Red Cross now through August 31 will be emailed a $5 Target gift card.
State officials are warning Ohioans to beware of a scam involving unclaimed funds.
Police said Thomas also had warrants for his arrest.
The crash happened at the corner of Caroline Street and Ford Avenue.
A woman reported that she honked to pass a vehicle blocking a roadway, and that vehicle followed her onto I-90.
Pence said Sunday’s story in The New York Times “is disgraceful and offensive to me, my family, and our entire team.”
Browns coach Hue Jackson announced the selection of Osweiler over Cody Kessler and rookie DeShone Kizer.
Ernie Clement extending his hit streak to 18 games Sunday, which set the mark for longest in the New York-Penn League this season.
Horujko will receive a city proclamation declaring August 15 as Alan Horujko Day in Fairfield.
Kellyanne Conway said the White House will cooperate with Mueller’s investigation of Russia and Trump presidential campaign.
Officials said Sunday that FBI and U.S. Marshals are also assisting in the search for 32-year-old Branden Lee Powell.
The twins have been competing for the past six years.
A 10-year-old who reeled in a giant carp says he knew it was a record contender before he ever got it ashore.
Drugs and gang activity were factors in a residential shooting that killed three people and injured two others on Montana’s Crow Indian Rese…
Twelve dock workers and a firefighter sustained minor to mild injuries after a container ship leaked a hazardous material in the Port of Lon…
A jogger called in a house fire in Salem Sunday afternoon. No one was injured.


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Drew carey dating Peer to peer sex cams
Make sure to follow IMDb on Facebook and send your questions here.
Things eventually start to go south when The Disciplinarian stops working out in favor of getting drunk, so much so that he misses important public appearances.
The newspaper also added that people who claim to be close to the couple are “convinced” an engagement is inevitable. Fans were simultaneously mourning and celebrating the news. Many other fans were crushed because they hoped to marry him...
“So many people would flip but if the couple at some point announced they were engaged I’d be happy,” tweeted one fan. On Tuesday, Drew Carey’s rep said “no comment” when asked whether the 58-year-old actor was tying the knot.


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Britta Depping Rafie, originally from Canada, has been living in Beirut with her family for twenty years.
A graduate in Interior Design, Britta also holds a degree in languages and literature. She does, however, pursue a course intended for the creation of textiles. She has worked in several textile houses in Canada and Europe as a designer and decorator, and ended up managing a furniture manufacturing and fabric import business.
Sensitive and very intuitive, Britta has always cultivated a great passion for painting. Aïda Cherfan Fine Art hosted her first exhibition in Beirut: It's All About You, in June 2019.


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Batman: Arkham Knight guide
Our guide to Rocksteady's final Batman game.
Batman: Arkham Knight Riddle solutions
How to track down and solve every Riddle.
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A group for people eagerly awaiting the release of this fromRealtime Worlds 20625 Members
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Total War Rome II


Sunny Leone made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt’s Jism 2. Along with this, she has also featured in the movies, Ragini MS 2, Jackpot, Ek Paheli Leela, and more. Sunny Leone married Daniel Webber in the year 2011. Daniel Webber is a musician by profession and the duo has three children. Sunny Leone and Daniel Webber adopted a girl child from Latur. Later the duo announced the birth of her twins Asher and Noah through surrogacy.
Winter is all about Christmas however it also includes the festival Hanukkah celebrated by Jews. Bollywood actor Sunny Leone celebrated the first day of Hanukkah with her kids. Taking to Instagram, Sunny Leone shared a series of pictures of decorated candle holders with two candled on a single holder. Each candelabra signifies her kids – the twins Noah and Asher and daughter Nisha.
The first picture featured a colourful train while the second was of a boat. The next picture was of a beautiful kitchen. Hanukkah is called the festival of lights. This year it began on December 22 and will continue till December 30. People celebrate this festival by lighting candles for 8 days.
Sunny Leone will be next seen in Veermadevi. It’s an upcoming Indian Tamil-language historical period drama and war film. The film is helmed by Vadivudiyan. The movie marks Sunny Leone’s Tamil debut opposite Navdeep. The movie also stars Srinath and Nassar in supporting roles.
Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.


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Baby boy's nursery is all ready! And baby boy finally has a name...
Colton Brooks Mattern
I honestly did not think I would like decorating a boy's room. I love girly decor and had so much fun with the girls' nurseries and then their shared room with all the pinks and girly fabrics and pretty accessories. But then Colton's room came together and I absolutely love it.
I really didn't have to do a lot. The only things we changed out from Lainey's room were the crib bedding, the mobile, and the wall decor. My favorite thing in the room are the signs hanging above his crib. My friend (and former roomie) Casey made them. They turned out exactly how I wanted and I love them. I sent her a picture of what I wanted and she whipped them up from scratch! She is so talented. You can check out her website for her other creations. And she does custom orders so if you need anything, she is your girl.

domain: design


Sadly, the Ford Crown Victoria was discontinued some time ago, and we’re starting to see the last Crown Victoria Police Interceptors still in duty begin to thin out in retirement. It’s truly the end of an era and a sad reality in our SUV and crossover-crazed world. But what if Ford was still cranking out Crown Victoria Police Interceptor models for law enforcement across the country? Well, it might look a little something like these renderings from artist Oscar V.
Interestingly, the renderings aren’t based on a Crown Victoria at all, but rather a last-gen Ford Taurus. From there, Oscar added on all the typical Police Interceptor goodies, including some steelie-style wheels, a push bar, and blue and red lighting all around. Instead of blacking out all of the chrome, however, some of it remains.
For fun’s sake, there’s also a rendering of the car both as an undercover model and as a not-so-undercover example. The latter has Oscar’s avatar on the front doors, along with a script reading “to protect and serve against negative comments” on the rear doors. Considering the constant criticism folks provide to people like Oscar on the web, it’s a funny, not-so-subtle jab at that kind of negativity. We’re also guessing the “NCP” written on the car stands for “Negative Comment Police.”
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In either guise, these modern-day Crown Victoria Police Interceptor renderings are undoubtedly cool to see, yet obviously a total fantasy. It doesn’t seem like Ford will ever bring back its big, comfy sedan, but who knows? Stranger things have happened in the past, and trends tend to come and go. So perhaps one day, people will get sick of crossovers and SUVs and demand the return of the good-old-fashioned American sedan.


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on 17 November 2017
What can I say, another amazing book by Leanne! Sophie and arry are on a turmoil of a journey, with them both learning along the way. So much emotion in this book, and new characters too! A must read! Having withdrawals already! I don’t know how she manages to complete another can’t put me down book in such a short period of time! My favourite author hits the spot again!


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Simplified Management and Cutting Costs Overview
IGEL and Lenovo have partnered to provide our customers with streamlined endpoint management solutions, reducing complexity and costs. By combining IGEL's industry-leading software with Lenovo's efficient endpoint devices, we offer a centralized and simplified approach to security updates and configurations. Our joint solution empowers IT administrators to manage devices efficiently, deploy updates quickly, and scale seamlessly.
Questions to ask:
- Are you currently facing challenges in managing and maintaining your endpoint devices efficiently?
- Have you explored solutions that can help streamline your IT operations and reduce the complexity of managing your endpoints?
- Are you looking for ways to optimize your IT budget and cut costs without compromising on security and performance?
Organizations strive to do more with less, simplify management, and cut costs where possible. IT teams struggle with complex endpoint management, increasing operational expenses, and the need for efficient resource allocation. That's where IGEL comes in. With our innovative software solutions, we empower businesses to streamline endpoint management, reduce IT complexity, and optimize costs. Our secure and flexible platform enables centralized control, automated updates, and seamless integration, enhancing productivity and significant cost savings.
I wanted to set up some time to talk about our integration with IGEL OS offering our customers a comprehensive solution for simplified management and cost optimization.
With IGEL's industry-leading software and Lenovo's efficient endpoint devices, we can help streamline IT operations, reduce complexity, and enhance productivity. Our integrated solution enables centralized control, automated updates, and seamless integration with ecosystem partners, resulting in significant cost savings for your organization.
I would love to discuss how IGEL and Lenovo can help address your specific needs and challenges. Can we schedule a call to explore further?
Looking forward to connecting with you soon.


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Blankfein: Goldman Sachs a ‘Socially Important Casino’
May 1, 2010
(ChattahBox)—Beleaguered Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein, is out making the media rounds to defend his mega trading firm from charges of defrauding investors, after a contentious senate panel hearing. During the hearing, Blankfein, along with a group of present and former Goldman employees, including the “Fabulous Fab” Tourre, put on a sneering display of arrogance and indifference to the role they played in the economic meltdown. Blankfein, an avid proponent of naked unregulated capitalism, who once referred to Wall Street banking as, “doing God’s work,” appeared on “The Charlie Rose Show” Friday night to offer up more tin-eared defenses of his firm. Responding to criticisms of Wall Street trading, comparing it to a Las Vegas casino gambling with tax payers’ money, he said “it’s a very socially important casino.” Oh, really?
Goldman Sachs is under siege from the SEC for its role in trading junk prime mortgage instruments that were created to fail. Goldman traders sold the “shi**y deals” to investors without disclosing that the firm also planned to bet against the deals. Investors in the deals lost billions. The Justice Department is also investigating the subprime mortgage deals for possible criminal charges.
Soon after the SEC’s civil suit for fraud was filed, a pranoid Blankfein phoned investors, complaining that the lawsuit against Goldman would “hurt America.” And he charged that the government is out “to kill” Goldman Sachs.
Blankfein denied any wrongdoing, insisting Goldman’s market making of exotic instruments out of thin air, performs a valuable service to society. “You could call it a casino, but if it is, it’s a very socially important casino,” said Blankfein to Rose.
Blankfein was also asked to address the controversial, internal employee Goldman emails released by the senate panel, which referred to the subprime mortage instruments, as “shitty deals,” and “junk” with Fabulous Fab” boasting that he sold the junk deals to a few “widows and orphans.” Blankfein admitted that the emails were “callous” but denied that they represented the corporate culture at Goldman.
“There were some e-mails where some people were projecting I would say, at best indifference, and at worst a callousness,” said Blankfein. And he added “it’s inexcusable if 10 people think that way or thought that way.”
Blankfein, the Messiah of capitalism, also acknowledged he has problems communicating his saintly work to the public. Goldman Sachs must improve communication with the public, Blankfein said. “That’s a huge challenge, I would just say it’s my deficiency,” he said.
“We can’t exist in the current state that we’re in and we understand that,” he said. “So we have a lot of work to do.”
Yes, you certainly do Mr. Blankfein.
Photo Credit:REUTERS/Jason Reed


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With the pandemic and related economic downturn, many Americans, experts report, are experiencing higher than normal levels of stress, anxiety and worry about the future. And these stresses, without doubt, are affecting employers and employees at home and in the workplace.
Consider, for example, a mom of two young children who is called to return to her worksite without having needed child care or in-class school in place. If her supervisors aren’t able to accommodate her needs, she may be asked to accept reduced work hours or possibly be let go due to constrained business markets.
Or consider an employee who lives alone and works remotely since last March and is struggling to remain energetic, productive and well-integrated with the team.
The fact is there are many new life-changing factors at work now that are neither easy to deal with nor to resolve on a short-term basis. One key consequence of this era’s uncertainties, to be sure, is an increase in mental health issues and problems.
Even before this current period of instability, many Americans already suffered various levels of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety and related behavioral and emotional disorders. According to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, one out of every five U.S. adults (or roughly 44.7 million people) have experienced mental illness, while 71% of adults had at least one regular symptom of stress, such as headaches or having feelings of being overwhelmed or anxious.
It may not be an overreach to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health to some degree. All told, there are some steps employers and their managers can take to help their employees be resilient, maintain productivity and, most importantly, maintain a healthy balance in their work and personal lives. Here are a few steps to consider:
Focus on making authentic connections with co-workers. It may be time to reconsider holding the “forced fun” virtual activities that often leave some people still feeling unconnected with their colleagues.
Managers, instead, can consider proactively creating digital spaces, such as small-group virtual chat programs via video conferencing apps, to help work friendships grow. This step can go a long way to help ward off feelings of loneliness and its negative effects on mental health.
Expand access to mental health services: Consider offering employees paid time off, health insurance benefits or flexible schedules to enable them to access mental health care when they need it. With uncertain work schedules and sometimes a lack of specific health benefits coverage, accessing and benefiting from needed mental health services are difficult for many employees.
Utilize Employee Assistance Programs: EAPs can help employees in need with real-time mental health, grief or trauma counseling. The effects of dealing with the many aspects of the pandemic period suggest an increased need for programs and support in workplaces and in our communities to address mental health issues.
Make reasonable accommodations when possible: In the event an employee informs their manager that they may be suffering from anxiety, depression or another mental health condition, this person can request an accommodation be made for their unique needs. In this case, managers should work closely with this employee to know what benefits they may be entitled to under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Give employees more time each day to decompress: Encourage your employees – either working in the office, out in the field or at their home office – to step away from their work for periods throughout the day. Let them know they should go outside for a walk or for fresh air to ease up on their stress before resuming work.
Executives and managers can be proactive in encouraging their teams to take these breaks so they stay engaged and productive for the rest of the day.
“People bring the most to work when they feel connected to the mission and the people around them,” writes Kathleen Schulz with the consulting firm, Gallagher, in a recent report, “Returning to the Workplace in a New Reality.”
“A company that fosters social connections as a strategic priority and values the positive emotions around compassion, joy and caring is more likely to experience greater productivity and engagement, while protecting against illness, loneliness and burnout,” she adds.
Ultimately, as a strategic priority, this is an important time for employers to consider new ways to help their employees optimize their mental and physical health.
Kelly A. Mitchell is principal of impactHR, LLC, a woman-owned business that provides human resources and business solutions for companies and organizations.


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A/N: Thank you for reading, reviewing and following this story, enjoy and have a happy new year :)
Disclaimer: I don't own the Lord of the Rings
After she'd arrived at the nearest town to Rivendell she stopped to get some rest at an inn and upon leaving she was ambushed by a band of Orcs
"Ello my pretty" one rasped at her "Just give us the Ring and you can go"
"I don't have it Orc" she said and whipped out her sword slicing his head off and everyone stared as the head fell to the ground in slow motion
"You'll pay for that one" A rather disfigured one rasped and made to attack her but she killed it easily and the one's after that before carrying on in her journey
She passed many villages with people staring at her but they made way for her to pass and once she'd reached the Forest in front of Rivendell she was ambushed and whacked over the head causing her to fall unconscious
When she finally came round her head felt like it had been whacked several times with a sledge hammer and she felt a cold damp cloth being wiped across her forehead and a woman singing in Elvish
"Greetings, I am Arwen, how are you feeling?"
Nienna turned to look at her and saw a beautiful young woman with long, flowing, dark brown, wavy hair. Her deep blue eyes felt like they were piercing Nienna's soul, as if searching for something.
"Uh hi, I'm Nienna, I'm fine thank you but where am I?"
"Rivendell, in the house of my father, Lord Elrond"
"How did I get here?"
"You were brought here by a Ranger by the name of Aragorn"
"I see, when can I thank him?"
"Today, there is a counsel being held regarding the Ring held by my father who wishes you to attend, will you?"
"Yes, I guess I can"
Arwen smiled again, her eyes twinkling "Wonderful, my father has had some things made for you and do put on a circlet too" Arwen stood up to leave before saying "Lady Galadriel sends her regards, meet me downstairs when you are done"
With that she left giving some privacy for Nienna to bathe and change
Nienna slowly got out of bed and walked to the bathroom and filled the tub up with hot water and some oils that smelled exotic before stripping out of the nightgown which she found herself in
She scrubbed all the dirt off of herself before beginning to wash her hair with more exotic smelling oils
Once she was done she felt fresher and dried herself and wrapped herself with a towel before going back into her room and picking out a beautiful dress from the wardrobe
It was a floor-length gown of midnight blue that had a clingy bodice that had beads and crystals scattered over it while the sleeves where tight before flowing out at the wrists where they reached her knees and the skirt felt like it was made of silk rustled as she slipped on a pair of matching ballet flats and a intricate circlet made of silver that had stones matching the color of the dress after she combed out her hair and let it loose so it fell a few inches below her elbows
She slipped two of her daggers in each sleeve just in case before leaving and walking down the corridor where she bumped into Arwen
"Sorry Lady Arwen" she apologised
"No need to apologise, it is I who should be apologizing Lady Nienna and please, call me Arwen"
"Only if you call me Nienna"
"Deal, come I'll take you to the council" Arwen lead Nienna through the Labyrinth like place outside to a garden where people were seated and on the way Arwen told her who everyone was and what they looked like and once they'd arrived Arwen had apologized saying that she needed to tend to something
As soon as Elrond and Erestor took their seat, the meeting began.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old." He started. Then he looked towards Nienna. "Lady Nienna" he said while dipping his head in acknowledgement Nienna then dipped her head towards Elrond in return.
Elrond then continued his opening speech. "You've been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." He then ended his opening speech by looking at Frodo and gestured towards the pedestal in the centre of the meeting place. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
Frodo looked at Gandalf briefly before he stood up and put the Ring on the said dais. After he put the Ring there, Nienna could see that Frodo's expression was a little bit relieved. Murmurs then started to erupt. Nienna had heard before about the Ring's malice from Gandalf. Now, for the first time, Nienna saw its effect on people. Some people grew anxious, and some other just glare at the Ring with a flash of desire in their eyes. But she could see that some remained strong
But then Boromir said, "It is a gift. It is a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" He then stood up and started to speech, "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe." He said the last sentence while pointing his fingers towards the attendants of the Council to give more impression. At last, he looked around and confidently asked, "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him."
His request was cut short when another voice spoke up. "You cannot wield it," it said. It was Aragorn's. As he said that, Boromir turned his head, and then his whole body, to look at Aragorn. Aragorn quickly continued, "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" sneered Boromir
Legolas stood up in Aragorn's defence It seemed that he had known Aragorn for a quite long time. "This is no mere Ranger," he said. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
Boromir looked at Aragorn disbelievingly and said, "Aragorn. This is Isildur's heir?" Nienna's eyes widened. Aragorn has royal blood? It appears that everyone here is of great importance and lineage. I won't be surprised if the blond elf suddenly claims he is a king or prince in his land.Nienna thought.
When Nienna was back to reality, Legolas was already seated back on his place and Boromir was looking at him while saying, "Gondor has no king." He then shifted his gaze to Aragorn while he walked to his seat while saying, "Gondor needs no king." Nienna was a little bit relieved when she realized that what she missed when she was spacing she hadn't missed any vital bit of information
Then Gandalf decided to bring the discussion back on track. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it."
Gandalf's affirmation of Aragorn's statement prompted Elrond, as the moderator of the discussion, to move to the next topic of discussion. "You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." He seemed pleased that the discussion went as he planned.
"So how do we destroy it?" Nienna spoke up for the first time and felt eyes on her, she could see Boromir's sneer as he was about to say something about women but didn't get the chance as Elrond had spoken
"The Ring cannot be destroyed by any craft that we here possess," Elrond said, drawing the attention back to him to keep the Council's eyes off of Nienna. "The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came," he said to the whole Council. He then looked around before continuing, "One of you must do this."
His sentence was met with dead silence. The air was tense. The silence then was broken by Boromir's next words. "One does not simply walk into Mordor," he said. He then started to explain to the whole Council while he remained seated. "Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye...," he made a circle with his left hand's thumb and forefinger to emphasize his meaning, "...is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland riddled with fire, and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."
Nienna couldn't believe this man. Her list of "Boromir's Negative Points" was growing long. First, he is sexist. Next, he is insensitive and idiot. Now, he is a pessimist. She then replied to Boromir rather sharply, "Haven't you ever heard of the word stealth?" Everyone's attention was then dragged to herself. She then continued, "If you went there with ten thousand men, you will fail, there is no doubt. He would see us and crush instantly. But if you went through his back door quietly and alone or in a small group, he might not notice it." By this time, she could see some of the Elves nodded their agreement on her statement, and Legolas smiled widely at her.
But her satisfaction was cut short when Boromir snapped at her, "Please, young lady. This is time for us men to speak, not for an innocent lady who has never left her home before." Nienna snorted and glared at Boromir.
"Never left my home? If only you can imagine how many Orcs, Goblins and Uruk-Hai I have killed, thank you very much" she said, meaning to cut the debate
But Boromir, being insensitive again, continued to insult her. "Oh, I'm sure I can, milady." He said while he started to stand up, but before he did, Aragorn barked at him. "That's enough. This lady did have a point. Stealth is the thing we need." It appeared that his bitterness towards Aragorn still existed, for he snapped back at Aragorn, "I do not care what you think of this matter, Ranger. I stand by what I said. This is folly." Nienna then added stubbornness to her list of "Boromir's Negative Points".
Legolas then stood up; it appeared that he couldn't contain his anger any more He seemed to see that Boromir's attitude was categorized as disrespect towards Lord Elrond, Aragorn, and the whole Council. "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" His statement was countered by Gimli the Dwarf, who snapped at him, "And I suppose you think you are the one to do it!"
Boromir, didn't want to be left behind by the others, stood up and expressed his opinion immediately after Gimli. "And if we fail what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" His question was definitely ignored by the Dwarfs, who were focusing themselves to counter the Elves.
Gimli then continued, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"
And naturally, after that, chaos erupted. Elves stood up to defend their insulted dignity, Dwarfs stood up upon seeing the Elves' murderous looks, and Boromir joined the chaos to defend his opinion, and so on. Among the loud chatter of argumentations, Nienna could still hear Gimli exclaimed, "Never trust an Elf!" Wow. He does have the insolence to insult an Elf in Elves' territory. Nienna thought to herself.
The only people remain seated now was Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, Elrond, Erestor, and Nienna herself.
"Why must they always argue?" she asked Gandalf after sighing and rolling her eyes
"They argue because they, like you young one, have a thirst to prove themselves and protect their homes by whatever means they can get"
Gandalf was the next to shake his head before saying out loud, "Do you not understand? While you bicker amongst yourself, Sauron's power grows!" He then stood up and joined the argument. "None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"
Nienna shook her head. "And they fight. How typical of males." She said to herself, and sighed, waiting for the brawl to stop.
Then she heard a soft voice from her right. "I will take it!" it said. Nienna turned her head to see Frodo stood up and walked a few steps. His soft voice was drowned in the middle of the loud arguments. I will take it!" This time, the people heard him and stopped arguing. "I will take the Ring to Mordor!" He said with determination in his voice. But whatever courage that he had a few moments before was gone instantly as he realized that everyone was now looking at him. "Though... I do not know the way," Frodo added shakily after that.
Gandalf then said while walking towards Frodo, "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." He then stood behind Frodo. Aragorn then also rose from his chair and said, "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." He then walked and knelt in front of Frodo and continued to say, "You have my sword." Frodo then looked at Aragorn with a great gratitude and smile to him and Gandalf.
Gandalf's and Aragorn's declaration triggered everybody's willingness to help Frodo. "And you have my bow." said Legolas with a sincere smile on his face while he also walked to stand behind Frodo.
"And my axe!" Not long after Gimli took his place next to Legolas, their expression turned a little sour. Nienna smiled and almost giggled but stopped herself and spoke up bravely
"And you have my intelligence"
"A woman cannot fight! A woman does not know anything of war! you will be a burden to us!" Boromir roared and Aragorn once again barked
"Boromir calm yourself! Have some respect for the woman; do you now know who she is?"
"No care to enlighten me?"
"I will" Gandalf said standing up bringing Nienna up with him "This gentlemen is Nienna Amandil, last daughter of Elrond. She has been encased in ice for many years now but has returned"
This caused many gasps of disbelief amongst the Council and even from Nienna herself "Father?" she whispered but was unable to look at him
Gandalf's eyes twinkled as he smiled down at her "Indeed"
Nienna sat back down trying to draw attention away from herself
"Lady Nienna, will you please tell us how you can assist" Aragorn said kindly, showing her respect
Nienna smiled gratefully at him before saying
"I can use daggers and bows and I'm alright with using a sword. I can heal people very well even without herbs; I have overheard battle strategies of Orcs, I know where most Orc bases and camps are and where most of their alliances are so I know what to expect"
"How would you know this?"
"I over hear them, they are very loud and can't keep secrets well them Orcs, they always pass my tomb, constantly bickering and arguing on the alliances that have been made"
"I believe you will be a very valuable member on this journey, just one question, how do you heal?"
Nienna smiled, her eyes sparkling because she had a chance to impress them on the quest
"You will see in due time, you will see"
They nodded and Elrond spoke for the first time in a while
"Onto further matters, what did you see during your time whilst encased in ice?"
"I saw Lady Galadriel, I spoke with her a lot too, I also saw this vast shadowy realm full of spirits that are bound to this Earth because of un-kept promises and this huge tower with an eye made of Fire on it which was constantly looking for something"
"The eye of Sauron" Gandalf said thoughtfully "No doubt he thought you had the Ring"
"Ridiculous" she heard Boromir mutter loudly and that's when her rage surfaced
Without warning she whipped out a dagger from her sleeve and threw it at Boromir where it impaled itself on the pillar which he was currently leaning on, about an inch away from his neck
This caused Legolas to smirk and Aragorn to blink in surprise like the others; no one had seen a dagger thrown that fast with dead accuracy
"Understand that the only reason that you aren't impaled to the pillar with your head cut off is that I have respect for Lord Elrond and speak ill of women or me again and I will make sure that the dagger does not miss you and remember, I never miss my target" She threatened and upon turning to Elrond she saw a proud glint in his eyes "Please forgive me my Lord, I did not mean to damage your pillar"
"You are forgiven, no harm done..." Elrond was going to conclude the meeting when a voice came from the bushes, "Hey!" Then Sam came out from the bushes and exclaimed, "Mr Frodo is not going anywhere without me."
Most attendants were surprised by Sam's sudden appearance, except for Gandalf, Nienna, and Aragorn. Lord Elrond seemed a little surprised, although he was also amused. "No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not"
Then another voice came from some columns around the meeting place. "Wait! We're coming too!" it said, followed by the figures of Merry and Pippin running towards the meeting place. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us," said Merry while he and Pippin stood beside Frodo and Sam.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence for this sort of... mission," Pippin said. He then looked unsure before he corrected, "Quest. Thing." Then a reply came from Merry, "Well, that rules you out, Pip." Pippin then glared at Merry.
"Ten companions," he mused. "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
The grand moment was then shattered when Pippin said, "Great! Where are we going?" And then, everyone in the room glared at him disbelievingly.
A/N: I'd like to thank each and everyone one of you who read, reviewed and followed this story, I didn't think that it would be that popular :)
Anyway please review this chapter but no flames please and have a very happy new year ^-^


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Bonnie Raitt: 'I have no interest in retiring'
Bonnie Raitt's longevity as a blues musician is definitely something to talk about.
The singer and guitarist released her debut album in 1971 and since then she has prevailed, reaching uncharted heights with 1989's Nick of Time, which won four Grammys. Raitt released her 20th album, Dig in Deep, last year.
Raitt talks to Tom Power about her long and varied career, her inspirations, how she overcame grief and loss to create again, and how she intends to remain relevant.
"I love this, I don't want to give it up," says Raitt. "My dad did it until he was 86, look at B.B. [King], and Tony Bennett. I have no interest in retiring."
— Produced by Jean Kim


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As many as 10 companies, including Gemini Edibles Fats India, Defense supplier Data Patterns India Ltd, and Digital mapping company MapMyIndia, have received Markets Regulator Sebi's approval to raise funds through IPOs.
The companies that received the approval to float the initial public offerings IPOs are AGS Transact Technologies, Electronics Mart India, India 1 Payments, Healthium Medtech, VLCC Health Care, Metro Brands and Godavari Biorefineries.
These 10 companies, which submitted their preliminary IPO papers with Sebi between August and September, obtained observation letters from the regulator during November 22 -- 26, an update with the markets watchdog on Monday. The issuance of an observation letter implies that there is a go-ahead for the IPO, according to the Sebi parlance.
According to the draft papers, edible oil company Gemini Edibles Fats India is looking to raise Rs 2,500 crore through its IPO, which is an offer for sale OFS by the company's promoter and existing shareholders.
The IPO of Data Patterns India, which supplies electronic systems to defense and aerospace sector, has a fresh issue of Rs 300 crore and OFS of 60,70, 675 equity shares by promoters and individual selling shareholders.
According to market sources, the initial public offering IPO is expected to raise Rs 600 -- 700 crore.
The company intends to use net proceeds from the new issue to repay the debt, increase its working capital and expand its existing facilities for general corporate purposes as well as increase and expansion of its existing facilities.
The IPO of MapMyIndia, which powers Apple maps, is an offer for the sale of up to 75,47, 959 equity shares by existing shareholders and promoter.
MapMyIndia, also known as CE Info Systems, is backed by global wireless technology company Qualcomm and Japanese digital mapping company Zenrin. AGS Transact Technologies intends to raise 800 crore through its initial share-sale, which is purely an OFS of equity shares by the promoter and other selling shareholders.
Equity shares are being sold to the tune of 500 crore in consumer durables retail chain Electronics Mart India's IPO.
The company intends to use the net proceeds to fund its capital expenditure and incremental working capital requirements, debt payment, and general corporate purposes.
A new offering of equity shares worth 150 crore and an OFS of 10,305, 180 equity shares by promoters and investors is part of the initial share-sale of India 1 Payments Limited formerly known as BTI Payments. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to repay debt, funding capital expenditure requirements of the company, setting up ATMs in India and general corporate purposes.
The IPO of Healthium Medtech includes the issuance of equity shares worth Rs 390 crore and the sale of 3.91 crore equity shares by the promoter and existing shareholder.
The company's subsidiaries, Sironix, Clinisupplies, and Quality Needles, and Rs 58 crore will be used to acquire other strategic initiatives, as proceeds from the new issue will be used to repay debt.
The IPO of VLCC Health Care comprises issuance of equity shares worth Rs 300 crore and the sale of 89.22 lakh equity shares by the promoter and existing shareholders.
The shares raised through the new issuance of shares will be used to set up VLCC Wellness Clinics in India as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC region and VLCC Institutes in India.
In addition, proceeds would be used for refurbishment of certain existing VLCC Wellness Clinics in India and the GCC region. Funds will be used for brand development, investment in digital and information technology infrastructure, and payment of debt.
The IPO of Footwear retailer Metro Brands Ltd consists of issuance of equity shares worth Rs 250 crore and the sale of 21,900, 100 equity shares by selling shareholders.
The proceeds of the new issue will be used to spend on opening new stores of the company, under Metro Mochi Walkway and Crocs? Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, a company backed by the ace investor, is an Indian footwear retailer targeting the economy, mid and premium segments in the footwear market.
The IPO of Godavari Biorefineries consists of the issuance of equity shares worth Rs 370 crore and OFS of 65,58, 278 equity shares by promoters and investors.
Proceeds from the new issue will be used to pay debt, fund capital expenditure for sugarcane crushing expansion, support capital expenditure for the potash unit, and general corporate purposes.
The shares of these 10 companies will be listed on the BSE and NSE.


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Andy Taylor, the original guitarist of Duran Duran, has revealed that he had stage four cancer. The 61-year-old was forced to miss out on the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due to his ongoing treatment.
The event had been set to be a reunion for the group, with Taylor expressing his disappointment at missing the ceremony, admitting that he had bought a new guitar especially for the occasion.
This is everything you need to know.
What did Andy Taylor say?
Taylor opened up about his diagnosis in a letter which was read out by his former bandmates as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon read the letter, which said: “ Just over four years ago I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic prostate cancer. Many families have experienced the slow burn of this disease and of course we are no different; so I speak from the perspective of a family man but with profound humility to the band, the greatest fans a group could have and this exceptional accolade.”
Taylor explained in the letter that he is currently receiving expert treatment for his condition but revealed that there is no cure.
He said: “I have the Rodgers and Edwards of doctors and medical treatment that until very recently allowed me to just rock on. Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening, there is no cure.”
Rodgers and Edwards is a reference to Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, a group that regularly worked with Duran Duran throughout their career.
He continued: “Recently I was doing OK after some very sophisticated life-extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries.
“However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years.”
Taylor also said that he was very proud to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, adding: “I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.”
Who are Duran Duran?
Duran Duran are an English pop group that were formed in Birmingham back in 1978. The band enjoyed worldwide success and were best known for popular songs such as Hungry Like The Wolf, Ordinary World, Girls On Film, Save A Prayer and Rio.
The group remains active today, and most recently rose to prominence once again by performing at the Queen’s platinum Jubilee concert and the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony earlier this year.
Duran Duran were the first act to be inducted during the ceremony and took to the stage to perform their breakout 1981 hit Girls on Film.
The group celebrated their achievment by tweeting a quote from lead singer Simon Le Bon, which said: “Over 40 years I’ve been working, I’ve come to believe that the essence of our job is this: We get to make people feel better about themselves.”
Who else was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
A series of stars were added to the Hall of Fame during the ceremony, including Lionel Ritchie, Pat Benatar, Eminem, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Harry Belafonte, Judas Priest and Dolly Parton.


Governor Greg Abbott didn’t mince words when sharing his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
“I give it an ‘F’ for failure,” Abbott declared during an interview at the governor’s mansion on Friday. “The number-one issue in America is securing the border. It’s an issue on which Biden has failed, and he waited 40 minutes to even address it in Thursday’s speech,” the Texas Republican emphasized.
While recent polls indicate growing concerns among the American electorate regarding illegal immigration, Abbott has been vocal about this issue long before it gained widespread attention.
He’s been a persistent critic of the Biden administration for years, and his profile on the national stage has risen amid speculation that he’s positioning himself to be former President Donald Trump’s running mate or potentially his attorney general if Trump wins in November.
“My singular goal is to lead the great state of Texas,” Abbott asserted to NBC News when asked about his ambitions.
When questioned about a potential presidential run in 2028, Abbott opted to focus on his current role: “I am planning on running for re-election as governor in Texas,” he stated firmly. “I take one step at a time.”
Abbott’s next bid for re-election is slated for 2026.
Currently, Abbott is defending House Republicans’ decision, at Trump’s urging, to halt a bipartisan border security bill that President Biden referenced in his Thursday night address at the Capitol.
“If Joe Biden truly believes in compromise, he would collaborate with the House chamber,” Abbott argued.
Before assuming the governorship in 2014, Abbott served as Texas’s longest-tenured attorney general and also held a position as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court. A native of Wichita Falls, Abbott was raised in Duncanville, Texas. Shortly after law school, he was paralyzed by a falling tree while jogging.
Today, Abbott is widely credited with driving a wedge among Democrats over the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which has subsequently pushed some towards more conservative viewpoints. His initiative to transport migrants to major cities across the country gradually prompted Democratic mayors to distance themselves from Biden’s approach to the record influx of migrants.
Despite the White House labeling the busing program a “political stunt,” it has solidified Abbott’s support among the Republican base.
Just this week, Abbott and his attorney general, Ken Paxton, celebrated a significant victory in their home state: Several Republican candidates endorsed by them defeated numerous GOP members of the Texas House, perceived as a clear act of political retaliation.
These legislators had clashed with Abbott over his legislative priority of school vouchers and had attempted to impeach Paxton.
The message was unmistakable: Don’t cross the Texas governor.
At 66 years old, Abbott continues to pursue legal battles over matters such as buoys in the Rio Grande, razor wire in Eagle Pass, and a new law that would fundamentally change the dynamics between local and federal government regarding immigration enforcement. Though the law, originally set to take effect on Sunday, has been temporarily halted by the Supreme Court.
During the legal dispute over the statute, a judge who sided with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Justice Department stated that “surges in immigration do not constitute an ‘invasion.'”
Abbott dismissed this characterization, asserting, “These are not migrants crossing the border. These are people violating federal law by crossing the border.”