XGIMI Horizon 1080p FHD Projector 4K Supported Movie Projector, 2200 ANSI Lumens, Harman Kardon Speakers, Android TV 10.0, Auto Focus, Auto Keystone Correction, Auto Object Avoidance, WiFi Bluetooth
3 In Stock Sold Out 3
About this item
- HORIZON brings you the cristal clear 1080P image quality, up to a gigantic screen size of 300. With resolution up to 1920x1080P, you can take game night to the next level, or have an ultra HD date with your favorite movie. No more choosing portability and screen size or picture quality; HORIZON has all the bases covered.
- HORIZONs super bright projection technology outshines the competition; that means no more bother choosing a different room or screen angle during daytime or in bright environments. HORIZON is the brightest projector in its class by nearly 30%, putting out a stellar 2200 ANSI Lumens. HORIZON will consistently deliver high colors and super sharp images, even in bright environments.
- Setup in Seconds: Say goodbye to tedious projector installations. Horizon is ready to go right out of the box. What's more, it supports auto focus and equipped with automated keystone correction technology, allowing it to automatically align the picture horizontally and vertically and adapt to your chosen screen size in no time. Horizon can also avoid objects in the way of its projection.
- Powerful Room-Filling Sound: Cinematic surround sound is a must for any home theater. Luckily Horizon has 2X8W built-in Harman Kardon full-range speakers and DTS Studio Sound technology, providing you the theater-like sound you need for your movie nights.
|Manufacturer||XGIMI, XGiMi Limited unit 03E, 15/F commercial Carnival building, 18 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong|
|Product Dimensions||20.84 x 21.84 x 13.62 cm; 2.9 Kilograms|
|Item model number||Horizon|
|Hardware Interface||USB, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 5, 802.11 ac/b/g/n|
|Response Time||2 Milliseconds|
|Compatible Devices||Iphone, Android phones, laptops, bluetooth speakers, sound bars|
|Mounting Hardware||PROJECTOR ADAPTOR REMOTE CABLE WARRANTY/INFORMATION BOOK|
|Number of items||1|
|Image brightness||2200 ANSI Lm|
|Image contrast ratio||16:9|
|Screen Resolution||1920 x 1080|
|Resolution||1920x 1080 Pixels|
|Noise Level||30 dB|
|Voltage||200 Volts (AC)|
|Wireless Type||5.8 GHz Radio Frequency, 802.11a/b/g/n, 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency|
|Refresh Rate||60 Hz|
|Mounting Type||Floor Mount|
|Includes Rechargeable Battery||No|
|Country of Origin||China|
|Item Weight||2 kg 900 g|
|Packer||Aytexcel Pvt Ltd 12A Highland Society, 3/318 Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050.|
|Importer||Aytexcel Pvt Ltd 12A Highland Society, 3/318 Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050.|
|Item Dimensions LxWxH||20.8 x 21.8 x 13.6 Centimeters|
|Net Quantity||1 Piece|


text:
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domain: entertainment


text:
A roof’s slope is one of the most important considerations of choosing a new roof. While steep roofs may cost more than their gently-sloped counterparts, they have certain advantages that you should put into consideration. Licensed roofing contractor Creative Construction Group lists the advantages of having a steep roof.
Relatively Low Maintenance — All roofs require maintenance, of course, but steep roofs doesn’t require as much as other types of roofing. Leaves and debris fall straight to the edge instead of in the middle of the roofing plane. There’s also less chances of standing water forming in the middle. This helps make roof cleaning easier, as you will only need to focus on the roof edges and the gutters.
Boost In Curb Appeal — Steep roofs are great for showing off your beautiful roof, which makes it ideal for Colonial, Cape Cod, or similar home styles, where the roofing plane is facing the curb. Thick and textured roofing materials like laminate shingles look best on steep roofs, especially during the day when sunlight emphasizes raised details. To make sure your roof stays beautiful, hire a contractor whose roof installation services includes a thorough maintenance process.
More Roofing Options — Certain roofing materials are not compatible with low-slope roofs, but this is not a problem with steep roofs. In fact, it’s compatible with a wider selection of roofing materials, including most types of asphalt shingles, slate and tile.
Better Attic Ventilation — A properly-ventilated attic is less likely to develop problems caused by trapped heat and moisture in the attic, such as ice dams, damaged insulation and structural issues caused by excessive moisture. Heat tends to rise, therefore a steep roof with ridge vents funnel hot and moist air more efficiently. Cool and fresh air is then supplied through the soffits. Even if you use your attic for storage, there will be more than enough space to ensure efficient air circulation.
Creative Construction Group is your leading provider of roofing services, including assistance with insurance roof claims. Give us a call at

domain: design


text:
From CNN, where you can read more on the story:
Eccentric basketball star Dennis Rodman’s bizarre outburst about an American citizen jailed in North Korea has drawn widespread criticism, including from the prisoner’s family.
In an exclusive interview from Pyongyang on Tuesday, he reacted angrily to a question from Chris Cuomo of CNN’s “New Day” about whether he was planning to ask North Korean leaders about Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen who was sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp by North Korea last year on accusations that he intended to topple the government through religious activities.
Bae’s sister, Terri Chung, told “Anderson Cooper 360” that Rodman’s comments were shocking and outrageous.
Bae, a married father of three, has suffered a series of health problems during his detention and has been transferred from the labor camp to a hospital.
His mother, Myunghee Bae, who visited in October, told CNN that her son was a devout Christian who had not understood the system in North Korea.
North Korea is officially an atheist state and has said Bae’s offenses included planning a “Jericho operation” to bring down its government through religious activities. The regime accused Bae of urging people to carry out “hostile acts” against the state.
Chung said Tuesday she was upset because Rodman didn’t use his relationship with Kim to help gain her brother’s release from the hospital.
“He was in a position to do some good and to help advocate for Kenneth,” she said. “He refused to do so. But then instead he has chosen to hurl these outrageous accusations against Kenneth. He clearly doesn’t know anything about Kenneth, about his case. And so we were appalled by that.”
She said her brother was in North Korea legally, working as a tour operator, when he was arrested in November 2012. She said she hoped one of the former basketball players would take a chance to ask for amnesty for him.
“This isn’t some game. This is about a person’s life,” she said.
The family on Wednesday released a statement — with the title “Dennis Rodman: No Diplomacy, No Kindness or Decency for Kenneth Bae” — that repeated calls for Bae’s release.

domain: sociology


text:
Vinh Long Real Estate Joint Stock Company: NOTICE OF AUCTION
1) Issuer: Vinh Long Real Estate Joint Stock Company
2) Head office: 91-93 Pham Thai Buong street, ward 4, Vinh Long city.
3) The charter capital: VND26,535,500,000
4) Volume for auction: 193,777 shares
5) Stock type: common stock
6) Par value: VND100,000/share
7) Beginning price: VND227,000 / share
8) Auction organizer: Hochiminh Stock Exchange
9) Conditions to participate in the auction: the investors said in the auction regulation on the lot of shares owned by Vinh Long Real Estate Joint Stock Company promulgated by the Hochiminh Stock Exchange.
10) Time for registration and deposit: from March 13, 2019 to 04:00pm March 25, 2019
11) Time for submitting registration forms: no later than 4:00pm March 28, 2019
12) Auction date: 09:00am March 29, 2019
13) Auction venue: Hochiminh Stock Exchange 16 Vo Van Kiet, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, HCMC
14) Time for settlement: from 08:00am March 30, 2019 to 04:00pm, April 08, 2019
15) Time to refund deposit to unsuccessful bidder: from 08:00am April 01, 2019 to April 03, 2019.

domain: economics


text:
Chelsea add AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca to their list of potential transfer targets
- Carlos Bacca sealed a move to Italian giants AC Milan from Sevilla last July
- But the Colombia striker, 29, has emerged as a transfer target for Chelsea
- Bacca won back-to-back Europa League titles with former club Sevilla
- The 29-year-old has scored eight goals in 19 Serie A games for AC Milan
- See more of the latest transfer news from around the world
Chelsea have added AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca to their list of potential targets as the Premier League champions look to strengthen their attacking ranks.
The 29-year-old Bacca has scored eight goals in 19 Serie A games for AC Milan so far after joining the club from Sevilla last summer.
Bacca won back-to-back Europa League titles with the Spanish club before sealing his move to the San Siro in July, with the club triggering his £21m buyout clause.
Chelsea have added AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca to list of potential targets in a bid to strengthen their ranks
The 29-year-old Bacca has scored eight goals in 19 Serie A games for AC Milan so far after joining from Sevilla
But AC Milan have struggled this season and currently sit eighth in the Serie A table, 12 points behind leaders Napoli.
And Premier League champions Chelsea are monitoring the striker as they bid to bolster their squad ahead of their push up the Premier League table.
The Blues, who sacked Jose Mourinho in December and replaced him with Guus Hiddink on an interim basis, currently have Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao as striking options.
Meanwhile Arsenal are interested in Chelsea defender Ola Aina, whose contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season.
With the 19-year-old defender's future up in the air, the Gunners have stepped in and could persuade Aina to make the switch across London.
Bacca won back-to-back Europa League titles with the Spanish club before sealing his move to the San Siro
Arsenal are interested in Chelsea defender Ola Aina (centre), whose contract expires at the end of the season
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- Semi-nude fan invades the pitch during Sutton's clash with Arsenal
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- Dashcam captures moment cyclist is knocked down by car in West Sussex
- Man City 5-3 Monaco: Pep Guardiola post match press conference

domain: news


text:
Young creative entrepreneur creative writing competition, dickens 2012 on april 19 dickens 2012 and tagged british council india, creative writing. Creative writing contests india essay on newspaper in urdu qualitative research methodology paper. Young writers have promoted poetry and creative writing within schools and poetry competitions for the past 19 years. We announce creative writing competition 2012 india-short story writing competition write short story to win upto inr10,000 (us$200) participate for free. Creative writing competition 2012 india is a short story writing competition based on creative story writing from given situation mar 21, 2017.
Indiafrica essay writing contest the competition is open to students between the ages of 18-28 years in india and africa contest 2012 creative wings. Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators. Short story and other creative writing contests and competitions with big cash prizes like the ones below can provide a real step up for writers writing competitions. There are nearly three dozen free contests in july creative writing contests in india they cover the full range of topics, styles and genres, from short stories, to.
What are some recognized short story writing competitions in write india contest:times of india we are hosting a writing competition from october 1st to. 31 free writing contests: legitimate competitions with the diana woods memorial award in creative non can i join this writing contests i live in india.
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There is a creative writing competition 2012 in india” is a short story writing competition based on creative story writing from given situation it is done by your. A list of international and local creative writing competitions, contests, and awards opportunities for experienced and aspiring writers to get published.

domain: literature


text:
This is one of that pretty older fox's pups that was born last year or the year before. I'm not sure if this is a female or a male. It's just started coming down and sometimes will come at the same time as the older one.
The older female. I call her # 1 because she was the first one to come around.

domain: pet


text:
Explicit erotica at its hottest is just a click away. With rough sex, group sex, and more, the scenarios are steamy as hell and the sexy heroines have boundary-pushing adventures. Download this collection now and enjoy the sexy fun!
Warning: This audiobook contains very explicit descriptions of sexual activity and includes rough sex, group sex, first anal sex, reluctant sex, and more. Only mature adults who won't find that offensive should listen to this collection.
1. "Given to the Group" by Regina Ransom
Regina Ransom brings an ill-fated heroine to life in this erotic story about a surprise gangbang that finds Georgie reluctantly pleasing five men at once. From the first unexpected thrust into her mouth to the endless supply of semen she's made to swallow, she ends up making sure all are satisfied. When, in a daze, she thinks about the orgasms that course through her in the process, the rough and reluctant gangbang she unknowingly encouraged might not be so bad after all.
2. "The Stranger in the Alley: A Very Rough Public Sex Erotica Story" by Sarah Blitz
Samuel's complete domination over Elizabeth is becoming more and more apparent, and she finds herself in a pub picking up a stranger for sex just so she can relate the experience to Samuel later. Lloyd has darkness within him, though, and this won't be sweet and gentle. Instead, the stranger makes Elizabeth a surrogate for all that's gone wrong in his relationships, and that means very, very rough sex in every one of Elizabeth's holes!
3. "I'm a MILF? An Erotic Tale of Gangbang Confusion" by Erika Cole

domain: library


With the efforts of Bhupesh Baghel, lakhs of produce have now got the status of agriculture and they have confirmed this by announcing this. That is why everyone says that if CM is like Bhupesh Baghel. An order has been issued by the state government to benefit the lakh productive farmers and farmer groups as per the rules on short-term agricultural loans and loans as per the interest subsidy. The order issued in this regard by the Joint Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Development and Farmers Welfare and Biotechnology, has stated that farmers or farmers groups for the production and primary processing of lac crops on crops such as safflower, palash, plum, etc. Corresponding short term agricultural loan will be provided at the prescribed debt scale. They will also be given interest subsidy on short-term agricultural credit as per rules. It is noteworthy that there are immense possibilities of cultivation of lac in Chhattisgarh state. Lacs have traditionally been cultivated in safflower, palash and plum trees by the farmers here.


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Tesla (1981) offers an enlightening and intimate account of the life and accomplishments of one of history’s most thought-provoking and innovative inventors. These blinks chart the career of Nikola Tesla from his early battles with Thomas Edison to the controversial debate over the invention of radio communication.
Margaret Cheney numbers among the preeminent biographers of Nikola Tesla. Her works also include Tesla: Master of Lightning, co-written with Robert Uth, and a biography of jazz singer Mabel Mercer entitled Midnight at Mabel’s.
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text:
Todos os dias nós oferecemos aplicativos e jogos para Android licenciados GRATUITAMENTE que, caso contrário, você teria que comprar.
This giveaway offer has been expired. Health Insurance Glossary is now available on the regular basis.
Like other forms of insurance, is a form of collectivism by means of which people collectively pool their risk, in this case the risk of incurring medical expenses.
Health Insurance Glossary provides you a comprehensive list of health insurance related terminologies and its short description/meaning which helps you in understanding it in better way.
In our today's hectic and busy life Insurance is very important as there is lot of risk associated with all activities we do for our survival. Health Insurance is a insurance against loss due to ill health.
Space-O Infoweb, Inc
2.0.1 and up

domain: medical


text:
ROSELAND, NJ -- (Marketwired) -- 07/10/13 -- Private sector employment increased in all nine U.S. Census Bureau Divisions during the month of June 2013, according to the monthly ADP Regional Employment Report(SM), which is produced by ADP®, a leading provider of global human capital management solutions, in collaboration with Moody's Analytics, Inc. The ADP Regional Employment Report measures monthly changes in regional nonfarm private employment on a seasonally adjusted basis.
"All nine U.S. Census Bureau Divisions recorded private sector job growth in June, with the South Atlantic, Pacific and West South Central generating the most new jobs for the second consecutive month," said Ahu Yildirmaz, senior director of the ADP Research Institute®. "All 29 individual U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, tracked by the ADP Regional Employment Report, also recorded gains of varying degrees in June, with the largest job increases occurring in California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois. In fact, these six states accounted for more than half of all new private sector jobs for the month of June."
On July 3, 2013, the ADP National Employment Report® reported total U.S. private sector employment increased by a total of 188,000 jobs from May to June.
June 2013 Report Highlights
Click here to access the ADP Regional Employment Report Infograph
Changes in Regional U.S. Nonfarm Private Employment: *
•By U.S. Census Bureau Division
•New England 7,000 •Pacific 33,000 •Middle Atlantic 22,000 •East North Central 25,000 •West North Central 11,000 •Mountain 16,000 •South Atlantic 36,000 •East South Central 10,000 •West South Central 29,000
•Total Employment: 188,000
To obtain regional and state-specific results on the ADP Regional Employment Report, which includes job growth by sector, select industries and establishment size**, please visit www.ADPemploymentreport.com.
•By 29 U.S. States Tracked, plus the District of Columbia
•Alabama 3,380 •Arizona 5,210 •California 31,040 •Colorado 4,400 •Connecticut 1,540 •Florida 12,910 •Georgia 4,880 •Idaho 1,300 •Illinois 8,500 •Indiana 6,560 •Kentucky 3,220 •Maryland 2,160 •Massachusetts 3,550 •Michigan 4,370 •Minnesota 2,540 •Nevada 3,070 •New Jersey 2,890 •New York 10,000 •North Carolina 2,750 •Ohio 4,760 •Oregon 2,430 •Pennsylvania 9,370 •South Carolina 3,420 •Tennessee 3,690 •Texas 23,420 •Utah 2,450 •Virginia 5,730 •Washington 6,190 •Washington D.C. 720 •Wisconsin 980
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Valair NMU70263-06 Ceramic/Kevlar Upgrade Clutch (Clutch Only)
1994-1997 Ford 7.3L Powerstroke 5-Speed (500HP & 1000 Ft-Lbs.)
Ceramic/Kevlar 500HP & 1000 Ft-Lbs.
Utilizing two different buttons on the clutch disc these clutches are aimed at the moderate performance trucks. Driving manners are very good for everyday driving and towing. Take-off is relatively smooth and offer more slip and forgiveness than the ceramic/ceramic clutches. While the holding power for the Kevlar faced clutch is higher than the organic/organic faced clutches, the main advantage is less wear on the flywheel and longer life. Ideally suited to trucks with moderate performance power modifications. This is not a dual disc clutch, the display picture above is showing both sides of the disc.
- 13" x 1.25" Stock Organic Replacement
- Ceramic / Kevlar Buttons (Both sides of disc shown)
- HD Spring Hub
- Rated @ 500HP / 1000 ft lbs Torque
- 3400# Pressure Plate
- Requires V2140 Flywheel (sold separately)
Application Note: The
Clutch Only kits including the clutch disc and pressure plate are
intended for use only on trucks that already have a solid flywheel
conversion using the V2140 Flywheel.
Warning: As with any aftermarket product, these clutches can change the drivability of a truck depending on the type of clutch installed. In addition, they will make some noises that the stock clutch did not make. Neither of these reasons will be a justifiable warranty claim.
Customer Reviews - Include your order number for a chance to win a $100 GiftCard


Chelsea v Liverpool - Premier League
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
© 2018 Chelsea FC
Club Soccer, Feedrouted Europe, Soccer, Sport, Yellow Card
Chelsea v Liverpool - Premier League - Stamford Bridge
Chelsea's David Luiz during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 16, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Scott Heavey/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Maximum 45 images during a match. No video emulation or promotion as 'live'. No use in games, competitions, merchandise, betting or single club/player services. No use with unofficial audio, video, data, fixtures or club/league logos.
© PA Archive/PA Images
Chelsea FC Victory Parade
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: John Terry (L) and Frank Lampard of Chelsea pose with the Premier League trophyduring the Chelsea Football Club Victory Parade on May 16, 2010 in London, England.
© Chelsea FC/Press Association Images


text:
Content of the article: "How the Sims 4 has removed all Sims personality (and why the Sims 2 had so much)"
Warning: this has been a procrastination rant which accidentally became a bit of an essay – sorry!
Tl;dr: They took Wants, the Attraction System and one-sided relationships out of the Sims 4 and I believe those are the primary things that have prevented Sims 4 Sims from having any meaningful personality.
I've recently been trying to work out why even though my Sims 4 Sims all have different traits and I try to play them differently, they generally feel incredibly similar. My generations seem to all play out the same – grow up, get married, have kids, reach the height of their career, die. This was nothing like my Sims 2 and 3 games, which would often have random deaths, affairs, chaotic career decisions, and generally tons of drama. I think the main thing that has changed between Sims 3 and Sims 4, and has massively hurt the game, is the removal of Wants.
Sure, you have Whims – but the default for Whims is to be turned off and I think that's because the Sims team knew how bland they are. You barely notice them unless you remember to regularly check what they are. It almost feels like they were so confident in the Emotions system driving the plot that they decided Wants were no longer needed. I don't think this has been the case, however.
Wants were absolutely key to any kind of organic drama in previous Sims games. Having your married Sim suddenly want to cheat on their spouse; having your teenage Sim decide that they want their first kiss with a certain person; or having your Sim very randomly decide that they wanted to become enemies with their sibling. All of these things very naturally drove the plot forward and honestly, not having them in the Sims 4 has really killed any drama that doesn't feel forced. If you want drama in your Sims 4 game you now have to just… do it. Taking a happily married Sim and making them cheat with some random person, despite them having no inclination to feels very random and almost unkind. One of the best parts of causing drama was that your Sims would want that drama to happen, and so when it went wrong it felt like they deserved it.
Another thing is the lack of any attraction system. This means that absolutely any Sim could get with any other Sim (provided they are the right age and aren't a relative), and it's entirely your own choice, based on you arbitrarily deciding you like the look of a random NPC. Your Sim isn't ever going to have a greater inclination to one Sim than another. Once again, it's entirely for the player.
And one last thing that is perhaps more to my personal taste, but I miss relationships having the chance to be one-sided. It feels like the Sims 2, which didn't link the relationship between two Sims, was much more realistic, and led to incredibly organic drama such as rejected proposals, one-sided crushes, and a lot more.
It feels like a lot of good things that lent a lot of personality and charm to Sims has been taken out of the game and replaced with each Sim having three incredibly bland traits which barely impact the game at all. And I think that's a shame because it makes playing for any time longer than a couple of (real-life) days a bit of a chore. Whenever I play, usually it's to try out the new features added – have a Sim become a doctor, or a celebrity, or something – but each generation might as well be the exact same Sims as the one before it for all their traits do to affect their personalities, and I find that to be the thing that keeps me from really enjoying playing with my Sims in the Sims 4 more than anything else.
- EA: “Make your own story!”
- Maybe a hot take, but I think requiring friends for career promotions was essential to game balance, and we lost a lot by losing it.
- I don’t want to give up on the Sims series
© Post "How the Sims 4 has removed all Sims personality (and why the Sims 2 had so much)" for game The Sims.
Top 7 NEW Games of June 2020
Quite a few exciting games are releasing for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo in June. Here's what to keep an eye on.
Top 10 NEW Open World Games of 2020
Video games with open worlds continue to roll out in 2020 on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and beyond. Here are some to look forward to!
Top 10 Best New Upcoming Games 2020-2021
The best selection of games which will be released in 2020 and 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Google Stadia and PC - and you can watch in amazing UHD 4K and 60FPS with latest updates about all of the games in this list!


text:
Neither Cognitive, Nor Consistency – A Comment on Cognitive Consistency Theory in Social Psychology: A Paradigm Reconsidered, by Kruglanski, et al.
32 Pages Posted: 3 Jan 2019
Date Written: November 22, 2018
In their article Cognitive Consistency Theory in Social Psychology: A Paradigm Reconsidered, Arie Kruglanski and colleagues effectively call for the retirement of the family of theories known as cognitive consistency theories, a move they characterize as a paradigm shift. We have deep reservations about the basic endeavor that underlies the target article. Seeking to supplant the CC paradigm with a model of affective reaction seems doomed to fail because affective arousal is inconsequential to the core essence and purpose of the family of CC theories. We are also unconvinced by the target article’s empirical critique. The manner in which the authors frame the CC paradigm seems to set it up for failure. The authors conceive of consistency in mechanical and narrow terms of information updating, they posit that any informational inconsistency should universally trigger a negative affective reaction, and imply that the arousal should overwhelm any other contemporaneous psychological state. We are also unimpressed by the Expectancy-Value Model proposed by the target article. The model’s linear and uni-directional flow robs it of the capability of capturing the bi-directional reasoning that lies at the core of structural dynamics, and which affords the ability to reconstruct the representation and restore the state of equilibrium. We also wonder about the novelty of the model in light of extant research on appraisal models of emotion, self-verification approaches, Subjective Expected Utility Theory, and even models of animal emotion. The authors of the target article would have us jettison the rich and impactful CCT in favor of a reductionist theory of affective reactions to good and bad news.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

domain: psychology


Good News for All Americans...
Topshop are going to the US for a third time, creating a flagship store.
"UK highstreet giants Topshop and Topman are set to launch their third American flagship in March 2012 in Las Vegas.
The store is said to be on a single level with 20,000 ft of retail space. It will also boast a 180 ft front bringing together four currents stores to develop the existing Fashion Show Mall.
Topshop and Topman will house the key trends for the seasons in their stores, showcasing the styles that are taking hold not only in Britain but the wider world."
taken from : http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/lifestyle-fashion/stylenews/Topshop+to+launch+third+US+flagship+store-12427.html
Also rumours of John Galliano for Topshop.


Sunday night’s Treme debut found a companion in Monday morning’s Times-Picayune: “HBO’s Treme Explained.” The New Orleans paper will offer a weekly encyclopedic post explaining culture and geography from each episode of the show—drilling down into everything from the “second line” to the Crescent City Connection and the all-too-real damage Katrina inflicted on the city. It’s an interesting case of a newspaper providing nonfiction context for what’s likely to become a cultural touchstone.
Reference works that straddle the line between journalism and literature have been around at least since The Devil’s Dictionary. Compiled a century ago by Ambrose Bierce (editor-in-chief of the magazine Wasp), that dictionary provided a satirical take on the standard Webster’s and included definitions such as:
“POLITICIAN, n. An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive.”
But the value of these kinds of reference tools is not limited to satire or providing real-world information linked to the fiction of Treme. Last week, print journal n+1 reposted “Toward an Index of the 9/11 Commission Report,” which it had originally published in September 2004. Following up on an idea from writer Caleb Crain, a dozen people tried their hand at starting an index for the 585-page report.
Their work ends up showing the possibilities of “index as story.” Staffers pull out page references to 9/11 players like Attorney General John Ashcroft and would-be hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui (whose code name, apparently, was “Sally”). They even make an attempt toward the journalistic imperative of “follow the money” (see “dollars”). Out of the massive report, they extract the kind of details that would be used in a traditional narrative piece, if it were broken down to phrases and described in a voice not unlike Bierce’s. It was, editor Keith Gessen wrote to tell me, a call for political accountability before the 2004 elections. It reminds me in some ways of the “rating system” developed by the St. Petersburg Times’ Politifact.
Here’s the first part of the entry for Ashcroft:
— acknowledges “steep learning curve” on taking his job, 209
— receives warnings about al Qaeda, 255, 258
— doesn’t want to hear about threats anymore, 265
— assumes FBI is doing fine, 265
— takes no action, 265
— seeks new, explicit authorities for killing, 512
— bad relationship with acting FBI director Thomas Pickard, 536
— complains to Pickard that “nothing ever happens,” 536
— 9/10/01: quashes FBI request for increased counterterrorism funding, 210
We asked the person who inspired the n+1 index, New Yorker contributor and author Caleb Crain, to comment on his idea. Crain says that the report initially lacked an index because it had been rushed into print, so he found himself having to take notes as he read in order to see if the report contradicted Bush administration statements about 9/11. Recalling that Spy Magazine once compiled an index to The Andy Warhol Diaries as a special supplement, Crain mentioned the idea to Editor Keith Gessen at n+1, who expanded Crain’s modest post intro into a larger piece.
“When I’m writing a big narrative journalistic piece, I always have to go through a phase of indexing my notes before I can actually start writing,” Crain says. “For every piece, I have this large document in my computer that’s basically just a big index.” The story, he explains, rises out of that index. “I print it out and then I annotate it further as I’m working. Often part of it is chronological, then there are topical indexes. So once I decide, ‘Okay, I’m going to tell the story this way,’ I can just sort of look at my index and go from there to notes.”
With digital opportunities to cross-reference and draw on existing pools of data, I was intrigued by a story skeleton sitting at some midpoint between a massive pile of research and a traditional, polished narrative. While the n+1 piece and Crain’s post on his own blog benefit from the sly tone of the excerpter’s voice, some other reference tools are so effective it’s hard to imagine them being improved by expansion. (See the index of last words from prisoners put to death in Texas, which has been written about many times but still feels most powerful to me in its original form.) Yet projects like the Times-Picayune’s blog encyclopedia and the n+1 9/11 index can themselves evolve into another kind of storytelling, one generated by an outside source but telling a new tale through meaningful reorganization and interpretation.


text:
Syrian Govt and opposition representatives to start negotiations before year’s end
New elections to be held in Syria within 18 months
VIENNA: Parties to the Syria talks in Vienna have agreed on a UN-mediated ceasefire in Syria, negotiations between the government and the opposition to take place by the end of the year and elections to be held in 18 months after a six-month transition period, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry told reporters.
As the talks concluded, Kerry held a joint press conference in the Austrian capital with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
Seventeen countries, the UN, the EU and Arab League participated in the meeting in Vienna initiated by the U.S. and Russia with the aim of finding a political solution to the Syrian civil war, which rages on in its fifth year.
We have agreed with Syrian regime and Syrian opposition representatives to kick off a meeting under the supervision of UN, Kerry said, adding: We support a transition period within 6 months led by Syrians.
We have also come to a mutual agreement to conduct a fair election in 18 months, he said. This political process should be followed by a ceasefire, which will help us to identify terrorists. ISIL and Al-Nusra are definitely considered as terrorists.
Issuing a common statement following the meeting, the Vienna group — dubbed International Syria Support Group (ISSG) — “agreed to support and work to implement a nationwide ceasefire in Syria to come into effect as soon as the representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition have begun initial steps towards the transition under UN auspices on the basis of the Geneva Communique.
The ceasefire would not apply to offensive or defensive actions against ISIL or Nusra or any other group the ISSG agrees to deem terrorist, the statement said.
The statement added that the participants expect to meet in a month in order to review progress towards implementation of a ceasefire and the beginning of the political process.
Speaking to the reporters after the meeting in Vienna, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the Syrian opposition agreed to immediately start the negotiations with the government of Bashar al-Assad.
In a tweet after the talks ended, the EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini said: Process has started, EU will do its part in support of UN to implement the decisions taken. She added that the next meeting is going to be held in Paris.
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text:
Chancellor Merkel and France’s President Macron agree: in the future, the EU should not get less, but rather more powers. For that, concessions were necessary – “in an orderly procedure”.
In particular, the French President Emmanuel Macron should like this statement: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has campaigned for the transfer of national sovereignties to the European Union. “Nation-states must today – should today, I say – be ready to give sovereignty,” said the outgoing CDU chair on Wednesday at an event organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation on “Parliamentarism between globalisation and national sovereignty” in Berlin.
“But of course in an orderly procedure,” Merkel curtailed. The states must always be responsible for such contracts, first the respective national parliament would have to make the decision.
Merkel had previously warned against nationalism in the Bundestag in view of the controversial UN migration pact. “Either you are one of those who believe they can solve everything on their own and only have to think about themselves. That is nationalism in its purest form. This is not patriotism. Because patriotism is, if you include others in the German interests and win-win situations are accepted.”
French President Emmanuel Macron has demanded more Europe on Sunday at a guest speech in the Bundestag and also a stronger handover of national sovereignty. Every country must share decision-making power, and decide together with other states on its foreign policy, its immigration and development policy, he said.
Article translated from Welt.de


text:
Another October snow has closed down roads on Glacier National Park’s east side.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is now closed at the 1.5 mile gate at St. Mary; the Two Medicine and Many Glacier roads have also closed.
Last night (Tuesday) the Camas Road was gated as well, but it has since reopened.
The Sun Road on the west side remains open to Avalanche Creek.
This is the second early fall storm to hit the region. A storm at the end of September dropped as much as 52 inches in Babb. That snow had greatly melted and roads on the east side of the Park were plowed and reopened.
This storm wasn’t as potent, but it did drop about a half-foot of snow on the east side according to early reports, and several inches in West Glacier as well. Columbia Falls saw about an inch.
The earlier storm didn’t drop any snow in West Glacier. This snow shouldn’t last long — temperatures should be in the upper-to mid-50s by the weekend.


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domain: biology


text:
Denise Knowles, a sex and relationship therapist with the charity Relate, says patients often say to her: “There are so many options, I don’t know where to start.” Thirty years ago, Knowles was mostly approached with physical problems: erectile dysfunction, painful intercourse, issues with ejaculation. Now she describes the scope of her work as “bio-psycho-social”. That is to say, everything has got a lot more complicated.
“I think it has gone from being very much: ‘This is the problem; this is how we resolve it,’ to: ‘How do we approach sex? What does it mean to you? How does it fit into the relationship, and how have you got to this place?’” She laughs. “Then we can start to deal with it.”
When Dan Savage started out as a sex advice columnist, he used to regularly get asked: “Where is my local swingers’ club?” Now every swingers’ club has a website, he says. There has been one other big change in his inbox since 1991, when his advice column, Savage Love, first appeared in the Seattle newspaper the Stranger: the near-disappearance of the question: “Is this normal?” It used to make every other letter. “I think it’s got through to people that, when it comes to human sexuality, variance is the norm.”
It is true, as Savage says, that there is greater recognition that what might once have been thought of as archetypal sex – within a heterosexual marriage, probably in the missionary position – “is actually the minority of sex that goes on”. But even that awareness has brought with it concerns.
“People compare themselves with what their friends, media and society say or seem to expect, even if it is untrue or unrealistic,” says the Guardian’s sex advice therapist, Pamela Stephenson Connolly. There has never before been more varied discussions of not just sex, but everything that goes with it: gender, identity, relationships, love. Yet this has not necessarily translated into less shame – or even more open communication.
For many, says Knowles, the result is a kind of paralysis. “There are all sorts of small doubts creeping into people’s minds about what it is to be sexual, and even how.” Throw in expectations warped by pornography and social media, and distractions from phones, and sex therapists say their books have never been fuller and their clients never younger. “Every psychosexual therapist I speak to has a full waiting list,” says Kate Moyle, a therapist in London whose clients are mostly in their 20s and 30s.
The increase in young men seeking help with erectile dysfunction (ED) is especially remarkable. “I’ve never seen so many young people walking through the door with real concerns about their ability to orgasm,” says Caroline Lovett, who has worked in sexual health support for 35 years, primarily as a nurse.
Whereas ED was once associated with health problems in older men, it is now far more common as a psychological issue in younger ones. “What we’re finding is a generation of men who find it much easier to have a sexual relationship with their device than a person,” says Lovett. Like other therapists I spoke to, she says the prevalence of pornography is at least partly to blame.
A 2016 Relate study found that just over half of its counsellors reported seeing an increasing number of clients where pornography was causing a problem in their relationship. Almost a quarter said the same of clients with sexual problems such as ED.
The sex therapist Nicola Buchanan decided to specialise in sex addiction in response to the number of men coming to her with ED and other issues relating to online stimulus. She says the shift from masturbatory fantasy to sexual reality has “always been a transition that people have had to go through – but these days it’s just such a jump”.
For young women, Lovett sees the impact of pornography in their expectation that they orgasm “in about 10 seconds flat”, body image insecurity and even dysmorphia, and a preoccupation with their partner’s pleasure. Many told her that they had felt pressured to have anal sex. Other therapists reported an increase in women with vaginismus, where involuntary muscle contraction prevents penetration, which they linked to anxiety.
In her 2010 review on the sexualisation of young people, the psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos found that “girls and boys were under pressure to emulate polarised gender stereotypes”, with the impact particularly profound on young women.
Dating apps have created the impression of limitless choice, leading some people to overestimate their attractiveness, says Papadopoulos. “You wouldn’t walk into a club and go: ‘I have a chance with everybody here,’ but with these apps you do, or you think you do.”
Since apps went mainstream, Stephenson Connolly says she has received questions that show people “expect to be able to bypass courtship behaviour”, which may stymie their chances of finding a connection.
Cate Mackenzie, a dating coach and sex therapist with 20 years’ experience, says there is increasing recognition of “sexual privilege”: the difference between people who “can just meet people”, and those who, for a range of reasons, might reach their 30s or 40s never having had sex. She teaches clients how to flirt and relax into a conversation.
But that is a struggle even within relationships. Most sex is over within 10 or 20 minutes, says Moyle, but even that is proving too much for fractured attention spans: “You have to switch off to turn on – and we never switch off.” Many therapists say their work begins by barring technology from the bedroom and enforcing shared bedtimes – “Really, what I’d consider fairly sensible things,” says Buchanan.
“If the first thing you stroke in the morning is a device, that’s probably quite telling,” says Lovett, adding that she has seen an increase in affairs facilitated – and discovered – through technology. A surprising number of her patients admit to digitally (and illegally) tracking their partner without their knowledge.
Buchanan says she sees young people who have never managed to have relationships at all: “I think maybe the lifestyle we live isn’t conducive to couple relationships.”
Savage is a longtime sceptic of monogamous relationships, particularly as a path to long-term sex. “People expect of their partner what they used to get from many people – their support, best friend, therapist, sex partner. A relationship can’t bear the strain of all those responsibilities.” Based on his mailbag, Savage says there has been “cross-pollination between gay and straight lands” over the past 30 years, resulting in a more pragmatic, user-friendly approach to sex. He points to the embrace of casual relationships and safe sex for pleasure, and the trend towards settling down only after “sampling the platter”. Fewer people are in relationships they don’t want to be in, he says.
In the US, divorce in adults aged 50-plus has doubled since the 1990s; for over-60s in the UK, it has increased by roughly 70% since 1991. Back then, says Stephenson Connolly, ageism about sex was more common, while today she receives letters from people in their 80s and 90s. “People generally have higher expectations now that they should enjoy sex well into old age – a terrific advancement.”
The arrival of pharmacological solutions has played a part, though she still receives many requests for help from women responding to hormonal changes. “But rather than giving up, they are expecting solutions and relief – another positive change.”
For all the talk of lifting stigmas, therapists say uniformly that, for many people – even the majority – sex remains a taboo. Moyle points out that society is still predominantly heteronormative and kinks are not openly discussed. “We’re in this really weird paradox where everybody looks like they are having sex and is talking about sex, but the realistic, normal conversations are not happening.”
Even at the individual level, Lovett says conversations today are no more frank or open than they were in the mid-1980s. Buchanan finds there are more barriers than there were 15 years ago. “A bit of me is still surprised by people’s ignorance around their own bodies and their partner’s,” says Knowles. More pragmatic, robust sexual education is sorely needed.
People’s readiness to seek qualified advice, though, is a positive step. “I believe generally there is an increased awareness regarding the work of sex therapists and the possibility to receive help,” says Stephenson Connolly. Fully booked sex therapists could indicate a societal crisis over sex – or the desire to get to grips with it. People pursuing sex therapy are investing in their health and happiness, and that of their future partners, says Moyle: “It’s really positive that people are recognising it before they get stuck.” Lovett says therapists tend to be approached about problems on average seven years after they originated: “If I see somebody early on, it’s a blessing.”


text:
Like adults, childrens screen time has gone up over the years, and rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids between ages 8 and 12 spend between four and six hours using or watching screens per day, and teens spend up to nine hours, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This is dramatically more than the one hour of daily screen time pediatricians recommend for children ages two and five.Blue light, or high-energy visible light, is produced by the sun but also by our screens, which has left experts concerned over how exposure to blue light through devices is affecting our health. Blue light exposure has been previously linked to disruptions in the circadian rhythm and peoples sleep cycles, according to Harvard Medical School.
In a study of rats, higher levels of blue light exposure was associated with an earlier onset of puberty for females, according to new research presented Friday at the 60th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting. The study also noted the exposure was associated with lower levels of melatonin, higher levels of some reproductive hormones, and changes in the physical makeup of the ovaries.
In the study, different groups of rats were exposed to a normal light amount, six hours of blue light and 12 hours of blue light per day. The rats exposed to the longest duration of blue light experienced puberty the earliest. The rats exposed to blue light also had reduced levels of melatonin, which is the hormone that affects sleep, and the rats exposed to blue light for the longest had cell damage and inflammation in their ovaries. Melatonin levels are the greatest during pre-puberty compared to during puberty, which which is an inhibitory factor in the onset of puberty, Dr. Aylin Kilinç Uurlu, the studys author, tells Fortune.
Blue light is the light that suppresses melatonin levels the most, Uurlu says. Exposure to blue light decreases melatonin levels and causes early onset of puberty [in rats] by decreasing its inhibitory effect at the onset of puberty.
During the pandemic, physicians reported more girls having early puberty, according to The Washington Post, and the reasons why are still largely unknown. A study carried out in Turkey found that the number of girls diagnosed with early puberty due to unknown reasons more than doubled in the first year of the pandemic compared to the previous three years. Early onset of puberty has been linked to higher levels of mental health issues, including depression and social anxiety, according to the American Psychological Association.
While the results in rats cannot be generalized for children, she says, that the hormonal mechanism, including the ovulation process in, before and after puberty, is the same in rats and humans.
The findings may lead to blue light being categorized as a risk factor for early onset of puberty, Uurlu says, according to the press alert.
The study, at its core, shows that blue light exposure and its association to early onset puberty needs to be examined more thoroughly.
In the coming years, as the place of mobile electronic devices in our lives will increase gradually, blue light exposure in childhood will also increase, says Uurlu. We think that the use of mobile devices, known as the inevitable blue light source, should be prevented in the childhood age group, especially in the evening hours, and we should limit the usage times.

domain: health


text:
« AnteriorContinuar »
Esopus auctor quam materiam reperit,
But the glory of this invention is really the poet Hesiod's; an invention which does not seem to be of any great importance, or extraordinary merit; and yet has been much esteemed and made use of by the greatest philosophers and ablest politicians. Plato tells us, that Socrates, a little before he died, turned some of Æsop's fables into verse: < and Plato himself earnestly recommends it to nurses to instruct their children in them betimes, in order to form their manners, and to inspire them early with the love of wisdom.
Fables could never have been so universally adopted by all nations, as we see they have, if there was not a vast fund of useful truths contained in them, and agreeably concealed under that plain and negligent disguise, in which their peculiar character consists. The Creator, certainly designing the prospect of nature for the instruction of mankind, endowed the brute part of it with various instincts, inclinations, and properties, to serve as so many pictures in miniature to man of the several duties incumbent upon him, and to point out to him the good or evil qualities he ought to acquire or avoid. Thus has he given us, for instance, a lively image of meekness and innocence in the lamb; of fidelity and friendship in the dog; and on the contrary, of violence, rapaciousness and cruelty in the wolf, the lion, and the tiger; and so of the other species of animals: and all this he has designed, not only as instruction, but as a secret reproof to man, if he should be indifferent about those qualities in himself, which he cannot forbear esteeming or detesting, even in the brutes themselves.
This is a dumb language, which all nations understand: it is a sentiment engraven in nature, which every man carries about him. Æsop was the first of all the profane writers, who laid hold of, and unfolded it, made happy applications of it, and attracted men's attention to this sort of simple and natural instruction, which is within the reach of all capacities, and equally adapted to persons, of all ages and conditions. He was the first that, in order to give body and substance to virtues, vices, duties, and maxims of society, did by an ingenious artifice and innocent fiction, invent the method of clothing them with graceful and familiar images, borrowed from nature, by giving language to brute beasts, and ascribing
a Illæ, quoque fabulæ, quæ, etiamsi originem non ab sopo acceperunt (nam videtur earum primus auctor Hesiodus), nomine tamed Æsopi maxime celebrantur, ducere animos solent, præcipue rusticorum et imperitorum : qui et simplicius quæ ficta sunt audiunt, et capti voluptate, facile iis quibus delec, tantur consentiunt. Quintil. 1. v. c. 12
Plat. in Phædr. p. 60.
c Lib. il. de Rep. p. 379.
sense and reason to plants and trees, and all sorts of inanimate creatures.
The fables of sop are void of all ornament; but abound with good sense, and are adapted to the capacity of children, for whom they were more particularly composed. Those of Phædrus are in a style somewhat more elevated and diffused, but at the same time have a simplicity and elegance that very much resemble the Attic spirit and style, in the plain way of writing, which was the hnest and most delicate kind of composition in use among the Grecians. Monsieur de la Fontaine, who was very sensible that the French tongue is not susceptible of the same elegant simplicity, has enlivened his fables with a sprightly and original turn of thought and expression peculiar to himself, which no other person has yet been able to imitate.
It is not easy to conceive, why a Seneca asserts as a fact, that the Romans to his time had never tried their pens in this kind of composition. Were the fables of Phædrus unknown to him?
Plutarch relates the manner of Æsop's death. He went to Delphos with a great quantity of gold and silver, to offer in the name of Croesus, a great sacrifice to Apollo, and to give each inhabitant ac considerable sum. A quarrel which arose between him and the people of Delphos, occasioned him, after the sacrifice, to send back the money to Croesus, and to inform him, that those for whom it was intended had rendered themselves unworthy of his bounty. The inhabitants of Delphos caused him to be condemed as guilty of sacrilege, and to be thrown down from the top of a rock. The god, offended by this action punished them with a plague and famine; so that, to put an end to those evils, they caused it to be signified in all the assemblies of Greece, that if any one for the honour of Æsop, would come and claim vengeance for his death, they would give him satisfaction. At the third generation a man from Samos presented himself, who had no other relation to Æsop than being descended from the persons who had bought that fabulist. The Delphians made this man satisfaction, and thereby delivered themselves from the pestilence and famine that distressed them.
The Athenians, those excellent judges of true glory, erected a noble statue to this learned and ingenious slave; to let all the people know, says e Phædrus, that the ways of
a Non audeo te usque eo producere ut fabellas quoque et Æsopeos logos, intentatum Romanis ingeniis opus. solita tibi venustate connectas. Senec. de Consol. ad Polyb. c. 27.
b De sera Numinis vindicta, p. 556, 557.
c Four mineæ, equal to 240 livres, or about 87. 10s. e Lib. ii.
d Herod. l. ii. c. 134.
honour were open indifferently to all mankind, and that it was not to birth, but merit, they paid so honourable a distinction.
Æsopo ingentem statuam posuere Attici,
PERSIANS AND GRECIANS.
This book contains the History of the Persians and Grecians, in the reigns of Darius I. and Xerxes I. during the space of 48 years, from the year of the world 3483 to the year 3531.
HISTORY OF DARIUS INTERMIXED WITH THAT OF THE GREEKS.
BEFORE Darius came to be king, a he was called Ochus.
At his accession he took the name of Darius, which, according to Herodotus, in the Persian language, signifies an Avenger, or a man that defeats the schemes of another; probably because he had punished and put an end to the insolence of the Magian impostor. He reigned 30 years.
Darius's Marriages. The Imposition of Tributes. The Insolence and Punishment of Intaphernes. The Death of Oretes. The Story of Demòcedes, a Physician. The Jews permitted to carry on the building of the Temple. The Generosity of Syloson rewarded.
Before Darius was elected king, he had married the daughter of Gobryas, whose name is not known. Artabarzanes, his eldest son by her, afterwards disputed the empire with Xerxes.
When Darius was seated in the throne, the better to secure himself therein, he married two of Cyrus's daughters, Atossa and Aristona. The former had been wife to Cambyses, her own brother, and afterwards to Smerdis the Magian, during the time he possessed the throne. Aristona
a Herod. I. vi. c 98. Val. Max. 1. ix. c. 2.
A. M. 3483. Ant. J. C. 521. Herod, 1, iii. c. 88.
was still a virgin when Darius married her; and, of all his wives, was the person he most loved. He likewise married Parmys, daughter of the true Smerdis, who was Cambyses's brother; as also Phedyma, daughter to Otanes, by whose management the imposture of the Magian was discovered. By these wives he had a great number of children of both sexes.
We have already seen, that the seven conspirators, who put the Magian to death, had agreed among themselves, that he whose horse, on a day appointed, first neighed, at the rising of the sun, should be declared king; and that Darius's horse, by an artifice of his groom, procured his master that honour. The king, desiring to transmit to future ages his gratitude for this signal and extraordinary service, caused an equestrian statue to be set up with this inscription: "Darius, the son of Hystaspes, acquired the kingdom of Persia by means of his horse," (whose name was inserted), "and of his groom Oebares." There is in this inscription, in which we see the king is not ashamed to own himself indebted to his horse and his groom for so transcendant a benefaction as the royal diadem, when it was his interest, one would think, to have it considered as the fruits of a superior merit; there is, I say, in this inscription, a simplicity and sincerity peculiar to the genius of those ancient times, and extremely remote from the pride and vanity of our own.
One of the first cares of Darius, when he was settled in the throne, was to regulate the state of the provinces, and to put his finances into good order. Before his time, Cyrus and Cambyses had contented themselves with receiving from the conquered nations such free gifts only as they voluntarily offered, and with requiring a certain number of troops when they had occasion for them. But Darius perceived, that it was impossible for him to preserve all the nations, subject to him, in peace and security, without keeping up regular forces, and without assigning them a certain pay; or to be able punctually to give them that pay, without laying taxes and impositions upon the people.
In order therefore to regulate the administration of his finances, he divided the whole empire into 20 districts or governments, each of which was annually to pay a certain sum to the satrap appointed for that purpose. The natural subjects, that is, the Persians, were exempt from all imposts. Herodotus has an exact enumeration of these provinces, which may very much contribute to give us a just idea of the extent of the Persian empire.
In Asia, it comprehended all that now belongs to the
Herod. l. iij. c. 88.
b Ibid. c, 89-97.


text:
Abstract Background: Haematological assessment is crucial for evaluating athletes healthy status. Professional athletes experience physiological modifications during competitions and over a season: the risk of sports anaemia is high. Few descriptions of haematological parameters behaviour during a 3-weeks cycling stage race have been published. Methods: We studied nine professional cyclists engaged in the 2011 Giro d'Italia stage race. Pre-analytical and analytical phases tightly followed academic and anti-doping authorities' recommendations. Haematological and iron metabolism parameters were measured days -1 (pre-race), 12 and 22 during the race. Results: Haemoglobin, red blood cells and haematocrit decreased during the race with a stabilisation in the second half, but final values were lower than baseline. Reticulocytes did not modify, whilst the immature reticulocyte fraction increased. No differences were found in red blood cells volume and corpuscular haemoglobin content, neither in iron metabolism markers. The acute phase proteins, haptoglobin and C-reactive protein, both increased over the race, while haemoglobin and haptoglobin were inversely related. Conclusions: These data are important for improving the knowledge of physiological modifications in haematological and iron metabolism parameters of professional athletes during highly demanding competitions. This is the first report, in the ambit of a stage race, in which the pre-analytical phase standardisation has been applied.
Haematological and iron metabolism parameters in professional cyclists during the Giro d’Italia 3-weeks stage race / R. Corsetti, G. Lombardi, P. Lanteri, A. Colombini, R. Graziani, G. Banfi. - In: CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE. - ISSN 1434-6621. - 50:5(2012 Jan), pp. 949-956.
|Titolo:||Haematological and iron metabolism parameters in professional cyclists during the Giro d’Italia 3-weeks stage race|
BANFI, GIUSEPPE (Ultimo)
|Settore Scientifico Disciplinare:||Settore BIO/12 - Biochimica Clinica e Biologia Molecolare Clinica|
|Data di pubblicazione:||gen-2012|
|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):||http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2011-0857|
|Appare nelle tipologie:||01 - Articolo su periodico|


I just recently replaced my timer due the fact it would fill up with water ,spin but not agitate on any cycle. After installing the part this morning I tested it and and went through a normal wash cycle. When I tried again a few hours later it did the same thing as before it would fill up with water ,spin but not agitate. I am assuming since it does spin the belt is fine. At this point I don't know if I have something shorting it out or I have a bad switch lid which is magnetic or if I have a bad rely. Also I would I bypass the lid switch on this machine so that I can see if that is the case.
After the washing machine fills up it just sits there until I move it to where the cycle pumps out the water and then spins. If it is the transmission then why does pump out the water and then spins. Wouldn't the machine not do anything if the transmission is the problem?
I don't have the part number with me at this time. I do thank you for the response however I don't think it is the transmission. I have replaced the part twice. The first time I replaced the part it worked for about 3 months before it went bad. The second time I replaced the part it lasted 1 cycle. When you start the cycle it will fill up with water and then after that it will sit there until you move the cycle to the drain and spin cycle. When you do that the washing machine will drain and spin like it should do. It does on all 3 water levels on all wash cycles. The part I have replaced is the timer and like I said I done this twice. I am thinking that maybe I have a bad rely since everything plugs into it including timer. That is the only thing I can think of since I doubt it is the motor or transmission since the machine will spin.
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The other day while on Facebook, I received a friend request from someone called Onix Bikes. Intrigued by the name (especially as I had a cat named Onyx when I was a young child) and by the fact that I was received a friend request from a bike company, I thought I would check out who they are.
So surfing round on the company’s website and Facebook page, I found they had this to say about themselves:
Onix Bike components offer you high performance carbon cycling equipment with design features for the modern day cyclist. Whether its a full carbon frameset or just a carbon bottle cage Onix Bikes has everything you need in one place. Our products are manufactured to the highest quality to help you perform to your maximum potential!
Reading further, it turns out the company is run by a group of people but rather one guy – Craig Middleton. So over the past few weeks we’ve been exchanging a few emails where Craig has been telling me more about the company, as well as sending me some images to include in the post.
So Onix Bikes is a company that produces its own racing frames, handlebars, waterbottle cages and seat posts. All made from carbon. Added to this, the company only sells these goods through its online site. This means Craig has no hassle of running a retail outlet with all the associated overheads. Most impoirtantly for all us cycling consumers, as the products are only available through this online store there is no middleman to deal with. This means the prices are better (well, hopefully) than similar products on offer at most retail cycle stores.
Getting back to the race frames, there are two on offer – the Azzuro and the Aurious.
The top of the line in the Onix Bike offering, the Azzuro is aimed at being a stiff performance frameset. It comes standard with Campag groupset and wheels with a starting price of £1499.99.
According to the Onix Bikes website:
Onix Azzuro offers you a high performance full carbon frameset which has low weight values along with high stiffness,sleek looks and performance. Extra layers of Onix HP Carbon have been added to the high stress areas to improve overall stiffness. Modern shaped tubing for maximum performance, Onix Unsymmetrical Chainstay technology along with a thicker downtube and an oversize bottom bracket all for increased stiffness, drive and responsiveness while sprinting or climbing. We have managed to combine all these elements while still maintaining low weight values which helps the Azzuro perform to the highest standard. It also comes with the aero Onix Bladed fork which all makes for a high performance machine! The T1000 Onix HP Carbon Fibre material used to craft the Azzuros frame is more than just a high-grade 12K carbon fibre. It’s a blend engineered to give you the incredible ride quality that makes this bike so unique. Yes, it’s light and stiff. But it’s the way it performs and looks that really makes the Azzuro stand out!!
Let’s hope it does what it says on the tin!
The Onix Aurious offers the best of both worlds combining comfort but still maintaining high performance! These values help market the Aurious as the bike for long days in the saddle such taking on Sportives and Gran Fondo’s.
The standard Onix Aurious spec offers Campagnolo, Deda and Vittoria, with a starting price of £1249.99.
I’m hoping that in the next few weeks I may get a chance to ride one of these bikes and hopefully give you my thoughts on its performance. watch this space.


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Mar 09, 2014
WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The unprecedented crisis within the Gulf CooperationCouncil threatens U.S. military support to its Arab allies, a report said.
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Ford is in the automobile business, but the company keep discovering new ways to apply its technology outside of its vehicles. The latest innovation from the car maker is made for the bedroom. Ford repurporsed its driver-assist systems to design a bed that will keep partners on their side of the mattress through the night.
Here's how Ford's bed innovation works: The matress is equipped with pressure sensors that can determine if, at some point during the night, one person crosses over onto their partner's sleeping space. The bed then goes about correcting the encroachment by nudging the intruder back to their side. This is done with an integrated conveyor belt that slides the bed back to place the person back on their side.
The lane-keeping bed isn't something that will be commercially available -- and for good reason, because who would want to sleep on a conveyor belt? However, it does show off the company's car technology in a way that makes it easier to visualize. The same design that makes the bed work also is found in Ford vehicles and can nudge the steering will when it senses the driver has veered too far out of their lane.
While the experiment seems odd, Ford has done similar projects before. It built a noise-cancelling doghouse to show off the audio system in its Edge SUV and made a baby crib that simulates the experience of riding in the backseat of a car.


text:
Readers Pick This Year’s Best Outdoor Hubs
Although 2020 was not the year we thought it would be, it offered many of us the opportunity to slow down and fully explore the mountains, waterways, and parks in our Blue Ridge backyards.
With that in mind, we asked our readers to select the region’s best adventure hubs in our 10th annual Top Adventure Towns contest, which featured 100 towns across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast competing for the title of best outdoor burg. Week by week, readers narrowed down the choices to pick their top tiny town (population less than 3,000), small-town (population 3,001-16,000), mid-sized town (population 16,001-75,000), and large town (population 75,001+).
This year’s winners boast miles of nearby trails, summits, and serene waters, and hold communities passionately prioritizing access to the outdoors.
Top Tiny Town:
Floyd, Va.(pop. 428)
Tucked away in southwest Virginia, Floyd combines the authentic feel of a quaint country town with a vibrant cultural scene in the Blue Ridge Mountains. “I feel like Floyd is a hidden gem,” said Floyd local Brittany Bonner. “It’s known for bluegrass music, art, and wineries, but there really is so much to do here as far as the outdoors.” To share the area’s adventure opportunities, Bonner and her husband opened Buffalo Mountain Adventures, which offers caving and climbing trips and driving tours of the area. “A lot of people come to Floyd, and they know there are options, but there’s nobody to really guide them,” she said.
Daniel Sowers had a similar idea, but he focused on the Little River, his longtime favorite for floating and fishing. Sowers had a few extra boats, so at first he would invite friends to spend the day out on the water with him. After helping people find put-in spots and set up shuttles, he began to see a potential business opportunity opening up. “Back then, it wasn’t a river scene but it was starting to get bigger,” Sowers said.
With an increasing interest in the river from both locals and visitors, Sowers started On the Water in Floyd in 2008. Now, from fly fishing on nearby streams to cycling the rolling backroads, he’s seeing more visitors come to Floyd for the outdoor opportunities. “During the summer of the first year, we helped 100 people,” he said. “That was a big year. Now, we run 115 people a day [on a busy weekend].”
Fly through the trees at Buffalo Mountain Ziplines, one of the tallest and longest tree canopy tours in the area, and drive 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, including a stop at Mabry Mill. For hikers visiting the area, Bonner recommends Buffalo Mountain Natural Area and Rock Castle Gorge for panoramic views of southwest Virginia.
Helen, Ga. (pop. 524)
The Chattahoochee River runs right through Helen, Ga., providing endless opportunities for water play in the tiny mountain town. Raft, kayak, or tube sections of this scenic river, or ride Georgia’s first mountain coaster. Venture out farther to Unicoi State Park and the Chattahoochee National Forest for miles of mountain biking singletrack, hiking trails lined with waterfalls, and secluded spots for trout fishing. Anna Ruby Falls, a pair of towering, double waterfalls, are a must-see while you’re in the area.
Hot Springs, Va. (pop. 750)
When he moved to Hot Springs for his job at the Omni Homestead Resort, John Hess quickly fell in love with the natural beauty of the area. “There are many, many mapped trails around that are not highly traveled,” he said. “I love that remote feeling when you go out and you don’t hear any traffic. It seems that everywhere you turn, there’s a gorgeous view right around the corner.”
For hiking, Hess recommends the Cascade Gorge Trail for views of several waterfalls and unusual plant life. Mountain bikers should try Deer Lick Trail for stunning views of the valley and challenging terrain or Fore Mountain for a thrilling 45-minute ride downhill.
Top Small Town:
Bedford, Va. (pop. 6,597)
After traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway as a kid, Micah Pick decided he wanted to live in a small town in the Blue Ridge one day. As a college student in Virginia, he would explore the area looking for places to hike. “I drove through Bedford and I said, ‘wow, this place is perfect.’ So I bought a house in town and I’ve been here for eight years,” Pick said. From his front door, he can hike Sharp Top Mountain and be back home in two hours.
Pick’s three children are also hooked on the outdoor opportunities Bedford presents. “Every day of the summer and every Saturday during the school year they say to me, ‘Dad, what’s going to be our adventure today?’ This year, my seven year old hiked up Sharp Top for the first time. It was like a rite of passage, and she was so proud of herself,” Pick said.
Beyond the trails and prime location in the mountains, Bedford has become a top destination in Virginia for disc golf. In 2008, a local group approached the parks and recreation department about building a course at Falling Creek Park, which offered long, open fairways, whereas most courses in Virginia are largely wooded. “A lot of people [started] traveling to Bedford just to play this course because it was so different,” said Kenny Palmer, operations coordinator for the parks and recreation department. “It’s a cheap activity, so it’s something most people can get outside and do.” Since the opening of the first course, opportunities to play have multiplied. With the help of pro disc golfer Paul McBeth, who resides in Bedford, there are now four courses in the area with plans to build an additional championship level course in the coming months.
Bike the hand-built trails at Falling Creek Bike Park, including the dirt jumps, hike the Peaks of Otter off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and get on the water at Smith Mountain Lake. If you have a full day, Pick recommends the Terrapin Mountain hike for a challenging loop within Jefferson National Forest. When he’s with his kids, the Claytor Nature Center is a great stop to walk the trail system by streams, woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Brevard, N.C. (pop. 7,600)
Featuring more than 250 waterfalls, Brevard, N.C., and the surrounding county boasts the highest concentration of waterfalls on the East Coast, from ledge-style falls to tumbling cascades. Demacy Monte-Parker, a yoga teacher at Brevard Yoga Center and Namaste in Nature, leads a hike and yoga session to Hooker Falls in Dupont State Forest. “We get the world from a different perspective because most of the time when we’re outside we’re not laying on our back and looking up,” she said. “I love allowing yourself to tune into the sounds around you and grounding down to the earth.”
With all of the water in the area, there are countless opportunities to cast a line or paddle. If you prefer to stay on land, the granite plutons provide an abundance of slick rock singletrack mountain biking trails and challenging climbing routes.
Hendersonville, N.C. (pop. 15,166)
When Matt and Leslie Evans saw property for sale on the French Broad River, they decided it would be the perfect place to open a paddling outfitter in Hendersonville, N.C. At the time, it was a relatively unused section of the river in comparison to stretches near Asheville and Brevard. That began to turn around in 2016 when the Evanses opened Lazy Otter Outfitters and the state started putting in public boat ramps. “We went from having almost no easy river access to having wonderful river access with multiple points,” Matt Evans said. “Even on a busy day, you can feel like you have Henderson County’s stretch of the river all to yourself.” The proposed Ecusta Trail, a 19-mile rail trail, is an exciting recreation opportunity in the works to connect parks, communities, and Pisgah National Forest.
Top Medium Town:
Charlottesville, Va. (pop. 48,019)
Charlottesville’s location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge offers easy access to some of the region’s classic scenic gems. Just a half hour’s drive west you can reach the southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park and northern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway. But when Gabe and Sonya Silver decided to move back to Charlottesville, they wanted to help others tap into the adventure opportunities right in town. So six years ago, they opened Rivanna River Company, a paddling outfitter on the edge of the Rivanna River, right near downtown. “In terms of paddling, mountain biking, trail running, I don’t know that Charlottesville is on the top of everyone’s radar,” Gabe Silver said. “But all of that stuff is available in abundance around here.”
An ever-growing network of trails encircles the city with a mixture of paved greenways and hand-built singletrack. Multiple parks along the Rivanna offer a variety of places to put in and take out a canoe or kayak. “When you paddle out of town on the Rivanna, you can see bald eagle, catch smallmouth bass, and enjoy some rapids,” Silver said. “It’s all right here.”
In a college town known for its wineries, breweries, and history, the outdoor recreation possibilities are attracting a growing number of visitors and locals. “Interest in the river had been on the rise even before we started,” Silver said. “Having an outfitter in town really put the river on the map as something to do. This year with COVID and quarantine, the lid has come off it. We saw pretty much double the use of the river than ever before this year.”
Erin James and Seth Herman have noticed the increase, too. Since the couple opened High Tor Gear Exchange, they’ve worked with close to 1,500 consignors to resell outdoor apparel and gear. With two kids under the age of four, they said it’s a great town for outdoor families, noting a favorite activity is to pack a picnic and ride the Rivanna Trail to Darden Towe Park. “We could go somewhere different every weekend for a really long time,” James said. “It feels doable. There are a lot of ways to get outside that are within reach.”
Pick some apples and watch the sunset from Carter Mountain, ride the rooty network of singletrack at Walnut Creek Park, and explore the beautiful scenery around Ragged Mountain and Ivy Creek natural areas.
Woodstock, Ga. (pop. 32,234)
A chef and avid mountain biker, Justin Balmes has always been drawn to towns with a bustling food and outdoor scene. Woodstock provided the perfect blend of the two. “The green space of Woodstock is just gorgeous with phenomenal trails,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about them.” Blankets Creek and Rope Mill feature miles of fast, flowy singletrack for mountain bikers of all abilities. Balmes’ favorite trails in town are Van Michael, Turbine, and Raceway. You can also walk miles of paved greenway along Noonday Creek or paddle to the parks and creeks off Allatoona Lake.
Boone, N.C. (pop. 17,100)
Melissa Weddell moved to Boone for a job with Appalachian State University’s Recreation Management program. The past president of the Boone Area Cyclists said the eight miles of trail, four skills areas, and pump track at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park has become a go-to hangout spot for the community. “In the past 10 years, it’s changed our total dynamic,” Weddell said. “We’ve all worked together in the community to create different types of outdoor experiences based on comfort level.”
Other favorites include the rocky climbs, ladders, and challenging hiking terrain at Grandfather Mountain, plus some classic East Coast climbing at nearby Ship Rock. In the winter, locals head to nearby resorts like Appalachian Ski Mountain and Beech Mountain Resort to hit the High Country slopes.
Top Large Town:
Roanoke, Va. (pop. 96,000)
In the 24 years since starting as the Roanoke Valley Greenways coordinator, Liz Belcher has worked with a variety of government and nonprofit partners to build more than 30 miles of greenway across the valley. “What really makes Roanoke special in terms of being an adventure town is that no matter where you live, you can drive 15 minutes and get to a trail,” she said. “Or ride your bike for 15 minutes and get to a greenway. There are just so many close-to-home opportunities. We are really blessed with public lands.” The paved greenways link downtown and neighborhoods to popular recreation spots like Mill Mountain Park and Carvins Cove.
Although paved trails take a lot of time and money to implement, local residents have come to expect the greenways as everyday amenities. “It has just become part of their life,” Belcher said. “It’s like if you never lived without public libraries, you can’t imagine not having your library to go get books. People can no longer imagine not having the greenways. It has allowed the region to build a system that connects not just what the local government owns but the National Forest and Appalachian Trail.”
Having grown up in Roanoke, Holly Hart was shocked when she moved back in 2015 by the amount of recreation infrastructure development that had gone on during the few years she lived out west. “Roanoke is perfectly nestled in the valley of a chain of mountains, like it’s surrounding us with a hug,” she said. “We live in a beautiful valley and are fortunate enough to run into a mountain or a river most any direction you go.”
Hart and her husband own Blue Mountain Adventures, a public/private partnership with Explore Park to offer camping, shuttles, and gear for beginner and experienced adventurers. “[I] love where I live, which I guess is what has inspired me to be so committed to my small business project here,” Hart said. “It’s an opportunity to create, build, and be a part of something that I believe brings good to our community and promotes the outdoors for all.”
Float or paddle the James and Roanoke rivers, hike the Appalachian Trail to Virginia’s Triple Crown, and mountain bike at Carvins Cove.
Chattanooga, Tenn. (pop. 180,000)
From hiking and climbing to whitewater rafting and hang gliding, Chattanooga is surrounded by waterways and forests to explore. Choose from a variety of adventures on the Tennessee River, from standup paddleboarding through downtown to kayaking through the towering cliffs of the gorge. Pack in a full day at Lookout Mountain, including a trip to the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public, views of seven states, and one of the world’s steepest passenger railways. Fifteen minutes from downtown, Raccoon Mountain features 30 miles of intermediate and advanced singletrack filled with technical obstacles.
Asheville, N.C. (pop. 92,000)
In the mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville sits surrounded by outdoor recreation opportunities. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to a variety of overlooks and hikes, including Craggy Pinnacle and Mount Mitchell State Park. Take a trip on the French Broad River Paddle Trail past the Biltmore Estate, through town, and out to national forest land with several camping spots along the way. Run or bike the trails at Bent Creek Experimental Forest along flowing streams, laurel-rhododendron thickets, and hardwood forests.
Special thanks to River Expeditions for sponsoring the 2020 Top Adventure Towns contest. Please check local guidelines and regulations before making plans to get outside. Check locations to make sure access is open to the public. Remember to practice social distancing guidelines, wear a mask, and respect others’ health when outside.
Cover Photo: Hike Sharp Top for stunning views of Bedford, Va. Photo by Lee Sandstead

domain: geography