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Activist and alleged Anonymous hacker Martin Gottesfeld who has been accused of orchestrating an attack on the Boston Children’s Hospital pleaded “not guilty” to charges of conspiracy and intent to cause damage to protected computers.
After he was arraigned, Gottesfeld, who has been on a hunger strike for a month, rose from his chair and fainted in the courtroom.
Gottesfeld, 32, is a human rights advocate and Senior Systems Engineer who was born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts. He is being prosecuted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) by Carmen Ortiz’s office. The same people who caused the death of Internet reddit founder pioneer and activist Aaron Swartz.
If convicted,Gottesfeld could face up to twenty-five years in prison and $380,000 in restitution to the tormentors of Justina Pelletier, the patient he was initially fighting to protect. His attorneys are mounting a vigorous defense on his behalf, and need your help.
The CFAA has been cited by digital rights group EFF as being overly broad and so that, “Creative prosecutors have taken advantage of this confusion to bring criminal charges that aren’t really about hacking a computer, but instead target other behavior prosecutors dislike… Compounding this problem is the CFAA’s disproportionately harsh penalty scheme. Even first-time offenses for accessing a protected computer without sufficient “authorization” can be punishable by up to five years in prison each (ten years for repeat offenses), plus fines. Violations of other parts of the CFAA are punishable by up to ten years, 20 years, and even life in prison.” The ACLU agrees and filed suit that it violates everyone’s first amendment rights.
“Marty has dedicated years of his life to fighting for the human rights of institutionalized children. He would often spend 8 hours at his job, come home, and spend another 8 hours campaigning against child abuse. He never profited from his activism,” according to a statement on FreeMartyG.org.
The statement goes on to say:
“In 2013, Marty began a campaign against troubled teen industry institution Logan River Academy. Dozens of survivors left heartwrenching petition comments and some created videos.
Marty’s story first hit main stream media after he and his wife experienced trouble with their boat and were rescued by a Disney Cruise Ship. Since the FBI left out Justina’s name and her suffering from its complaint against him, many outlets merely printed that he allegedly ‘cyber-attacked’ a hospital.
Marty’s family and friends have launched the #FreeMartyG campaign to set the record straight and call on the public to show their support for him.”
Justina Pelletier was tortured by the Boston Children’s Hospital and denied treatment for her mitochondrial disease and her medication, according to former BCH employees. Gottesfeld came to her aide in the form of cyber attacks on the hospitals website for awareness of the case.
Gottesfeld has said he will continue his hunger strike until the presidential candidates pledge to protect institutionalized children from abuse. He also said that he wants overzealous federal prosecutors to halt “political prosecutions” of people accused of crimes he considers harmless.
Gottesfeld also argues that he did not harm patients or expose any private information, so he did not break the CFAA and commit a crime.
Who is Justina Pelletier? That question is answered again by the statement on FreeMartyG.org:
“Justina Pelletier was 14 years old when she arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital E.R. with her mother. Both she and her older sister had been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a condition that is often genetic and runs in families. However, doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital felt her symptoms had psychological causes, and just 4 days after meeting her, wanted to stop successful mitochondrial disease treatments prescribed since 2011.
Fearful for her life, Justina’s parents refused to consent to such a radical departure from her well established treatment plan. They tried to discharge their daughter and bring her to previously scheduled appointments with her mitochondrial disease team.
What followed was any family’s nightmare. Unwilling to take “no” for an answer, Boston Children’s Hospital urged state officials to take custody of Justina and enforce their new treatment plan. This kind of thing happens more often than you might think. In fact, Boston Children’s Hospital even has a name for it. They call it a “parentectomy” (see the Wray and T. cases, as well as this open letter from a former federal prosecutor.)
Pelletier’s abuse did not end at the Boston Children’s Hospital. It expanded to a DCF facility in Framingham, Massachusetts when she was transferred to a troubled teen industry facility, Wayside Youth and Family. Her contact with her family was severely limited, it was only after she took to smuggling notes hidden in her art projects describing her suffering that her family figured out.
Jennifer Pelletier describes her little sister’s abuse in the video below, she goes on to say how a worker at DCF harassed her sister in the shower:
“It’s disgusting to harm a human being it’s in humane and these actions that they’ve done to my sister what they’ve been harming her for almost 15 months now all of them should be held accountable and they should almost be treated the same way that my sister has been treated to see how hurtful it’s been they should be all plucked out of their lives and told that people don’t believe in them and have them doubt their own. I don’t get how anybody can treat somebody so in humane this needs to end now and Justina needs to be home before May 24th on her 16th birthday and this needs to end now.”
The case gained international attention and even congress’s attention when the hashtag “#FreeJustina” trended on Twitter. Jim Lyons spoke out on the floor of the House expressing his disdain for the case and presenting an amendment. Jim went on to say that Justina’s parents didn’t neglect their daughter and were innocent. He went on to say that “what we have here is the Department of Children and Family interfering with constitutionally protected parental rights to make medical decisions on behalf of their children.”
Justina Pelletier was eventually allowed to return home. She still hasn’t recovered from the torture though. She and her family have sued Boston Children’s Hospital and four of its doctors for gross negligence and civil rights violations. When the lawsuit was filed, Justina was quoted saying, “It was awful. Just imagine being a psych ward without needing to be in a psych ward.”
Now it’s time to bring Marty Gottesfeld home. He fought for Justina Pelletier and others in the troubled teen industry of private “treatment” centers for years, including fighting to expose Logan River if you can consider donating to my good friends at @FreeAnons to help Marty’s defense fund. Marty has written a book called “Parentectomy” if you wish to read that book and further your knowledge about the troubled teen industry of private treatment centers you can do purchase it on Amazon and support him or here for free in pdf format. You can also listen to Marty answer several questions about his case, his treatment in prison, his hunger strike and his actions in the YouTube playlist below.
It shouldn’t be a crime to expose institutional child abuse even a congressional hearing has acknowledged the abuse below in which parents and survivors testified about the abuse that goes on in these privatized centers. Even the U.S. Government Accountability Office investigated the industry in 2007 and again in 2008 finding these centers abusive. Urge your representatives to pass legislation to curb the worst abuses and demand that places that have multiple notable claims of abuse are investigated and in severe cases shutdown.
MAIL MARTY A LETTER LET HIM KNOW HE’S NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT!
Marty Gottesfeld, Inmate #12982104
Donald D. Wyatt Detention Facility
950 High St.
Central Falls, RI 02863


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What are the risks of setting up a PayPal account in Palestine?
by Eugene Brennan18 hours ago
Usually I do until the exchange rate is favourable.
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Can I use my brothers PayPal account to setup my Hub Pages earning program?
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Can I change the email address for my Paypal account?I had another email id when I made my Paypal and HP account. As my adsense approval got delayed, I registered on HP with another email id. Now I have the same ...
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How do I get paid the money that I have earned? I associated a paypal account.
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Ski lifts – Maximum confort minimum waiting
Les 3 Vallées have always been at the forefront in terms of ski lifts, some of them were even invented in Les 3 Vallées, like the FUNITEL in Val Thorens, technology exported today around the world.
The equation is very simple, more efficient ski lifts = less waiting and more skiing! In Les 3 Vallées, on a 7-hour day on the slopes, there are only 2 hours of queues, compared to 3 or 4 hours in the competing stations.
➡ After major construction works, the Cime Caron cable car in Val Thorens will be up and running in November to link this legendary peak. Underneath the lift, two Gazex avalanche control systems ensure the area is secure and open for skiers as fast as possible.
➡ The Saint Martin 1 gondola lifts have been replaced so customers can walk straight onto the new, high cabins. As a result, the capacity has jumped from 1,800 to 2,400 people transported per hour!
➡ At the foot of the pistes in Courchevel Le Praz, a new gondola lift with ten seats has just been opened. This lift reaches the centre of Courchevel 1850 in less than six minutes. A new multiservice building is opening this winter in Courchevel Le Praz at the arrivals area of of the FIS Alpine World Ski championships 2023. The Alpinium offers 500 parking spaces across two floors, a multimedia library with a games room and art rooms, and the new gondola lift station. A 0.6-mile blue piste has been opened for the new four-star hotel L’Ecrin Blanc opposite the Aquamotion centre in Courchevel Moriond, along with the four-person Grandes Combes chairlift leading to Courchevel 1850.
➡ Expect a bright, open space, a friendly welcome, and hostesses who know the ski area by heart in Méribel Mottaret, where the fully renovated sales and advice office offers the most enjoyable purchasing experience!


Back (L-R): Lynette Bellwood, Anna Cheung, Steve Green and Mel Watson
Front (L-R): Chris Chatburn and Beverley-Anne Lawton
Our senior management team is:
- Chris Chatburn, Chief Executive/Registrar
- Anna Cheung, Acting Senior Manager, Corporate Services and Governance
- Mel Watson, Senior Manager, Early Childhood Regulatory Operations
- Beverley-Anne Lawton, Senior Manager, Compliance and Investigations
- Steve Green, Manager, Regulatory Policy and Strategy
- Lynette Bellwood, Senior Advisor, Schools Regulation
The Corporate Services and Governance unit provides support to our Board, the Education Standards Board and its staff through efficiently running the corporate and governance aspects of the business, facilitating continuous improvement and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. This unit has responsibilities for the strategic and operational financial management, human resource management, payroll, procurement and contract management, workplace health safety, information technology and communication services, records management services, as well as the overall governance and other broader corporate services responsibilities.
The Early Childhood Services Regulatory Operations unit has responsibilities for the education, approval, monitoring and quality assessment and rating of all South Australian education, care and early childhood services—both regulated under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and those regulated under state-based legislation. This includes primary responsibility for the services in scope of the NQF, in accordance with the National Law and in relation to the National Quality Standard (NQS). The responsibilities for approval and monitoring also apply to those services identified in the Act as ‘residual’ early childhood services (in-home care, occasional care, rural and mobile care and some family day-care), although these services are not assessed and rated against the NQS.
The Compliance and Investigations unit has responsibilities for the investigation of complaint and incident notifications as required under the National Law. The unit manages the non-compliance of education and care services and, where necessary, takes compliance action, issues prohibition notices and applies sanctions, as required. This unit also manages the cancellations of services and providers and maintains the public register.
The Regulatory Policy and Strategy unit has responsibilities for developing operational policies on how Education Standards Board administers the National Law and state legislation. It also is responsible for the development and oversight of the regulatory action framework, risk identification and mitigation strategies.
The Schools Regulation unit has responsibilities for the registration and review of all schools (government and non-government), maintenance of the Schools Register, and is the Designated State Authority for recommending schools for registration on CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students), renewal of registration and ongoing monitoring of schools’ compliance under the national Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.


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The Remnant: From the Ashes – Swamps of Corsus DLC introduces a brand-new way to play Remnant: From the Ashes – Survival Mode! The goal is simple; how long can you survive in one life? Survival Mode streamlines progression and puts the emphasis on player skill, build creativity, and smart decision-making. Knowledge of Remnant’s brutal bosses is a must, but balancing time and exploration are also critical for survival.
In Survival Mode, players start with nothing but a Repeater Pistol, a few consumables, and a handful of scrap. They are then thrust into a completely randomized and endless experience that only ends upon death.
In the main room of Remnant’s dimensional Labyrinth, is a corrupted World Stone that will seem familiar – but now shines with an eerie glow. Players will also see several obelisk vendors, which sell random items to help them on their journey. Players can choose to spend their starting scrap to purchase any available gear or consumables – or save it for the next time they come across the vendor with the hopes that more desirable and impactful choices will become available.
Upon activating the Corrupted World Stone, players are whisked away to one of Remnant’s diverse worlds, at random. Players journey through the biome while searching for the entrance to the biome’s dungeon and then fight their way through that dungeon to battle the biome’s boss. Along the way, they gain EXP from kills to increase their player level, which automatically increases their damage, health, and stamina. Players must explore for resources, loot (guns, armor, trinkets, mods), and even stackable modifiers (Survivor Traits) which alter many gameplay elements and can stack to impressive levels.
However, this journey is not as simple as it sounds. Along the way, players will be fighting against the clock… a clock which gradually increases the difficulty… a clock which cannot be stopped. The longer players take to explore and get stronger, the harder the game becomes. As they defeat bosses, the clock is advanced, and the game becomes harder still! It is a true test of time… a true test of survival!
After defeating a boss, players head back to the Labyrinth with more resources. They can visit the vendors to see what new wares are available. Wise players will try to find synergies between looted and purchased items to give them the greatest chance at surviving. Once the purchase phase is done, players again travel through the corrupted World Stone to face another random biome.
Remnant: From the Ashes – Swamps of Corsus DLC is available now on the Microsoft Store for Xbox One. A bundle containing Remnant: From the Ashes and the Swamps of Corsus DLC is also available. Xbox Game Pass members can play the base game Remnant: From the Ashes with their subscription on Xbox One.
Swamps of Corsus
Perfect World Entertainment Inc.
Remnant: From the Ashes – Swamps of Corsus requires ownership of Remnant: From the Ashes to play.
Begin your journey across the dangerous and corrupted worlds of Remnant: From the Ashes with a new mode and expanded map content in Swamps of Corsus.
New Mode – Survival: Fight for your life in this new rogue-like game mode! Start off your adventure with nothing but a pistol, some scrap and the skin on your back. Travel randomly through corrupted World Stones to different biomes, scrap-up gear, fight insanely-difficult bosses and test your endurance on how long you can resist The Root’s influence.
The Iskal Rise – The swamps of Corsus swarm with new content! Discover a new zone in Adventure Mode, fight new bosses, experience new stories, participate in new events, find new quests, and more.
Lock & Load – Pick up new items, new armor and skins, new weapons, new mods and new traits.
Armor Skins – By defeating bosses in Survival Mode, or the Hard and Nightmare difficulties in Campaign and Adventure Mode, earn Glowing Shards which you can use to purchase alternate armor skins for every piece of armor available in the game.

domain: game


The process of files being corrupted owing to some hardware or software failure is known as data corruption and this is among the main problems which Internet hosting companies face as the larger a hard drive is and the more information is placed on it, the much more likely it is for data to be corrupted. You can find a couple of fail-safes, yet often the data is corrupted silently, so neither the file system, nor the admins see anything. As a result, a corrupted file will be handled as a standard one and if the HDD is part of a RAID, the file will be copied on all other drives. Theoretically, this is done for redundancy, but in practice the damage will get even worse. When a given file gets damaged, it will be partly or completely unreadable, so a text file will no longer be readable, an image file will show a random combination of colors in case it opens at all and an archive shall be impossible to unpack, so you risk sacrificing your site content. Although the most popular server file systems have various checks, they are likely to fail to identify a problem early enough or require a vast time period in order to check all files and the web server will not be operational for the time being.
No Data Corruption & Data Integrity in Shared Web Hosting
If you host your websites in a shared web hosting
account from our firm, you will not have to worry about your data ever getting damaged. We can guarantee that since our cloud hosting platform works with the advanced ZFS file system. The aforementioned is the only file system that works with checksums, or unique digital fingerprints, for each and every file. Any kind of information that you upload will be kept in a RAID i.e. simultaneously on a number of SSD drives. All the file systems synchronize the files between the separate drives with this type of a setup, but there is no real guarantee that a file will not be corrupted. This could happen during the writing process on any drive and after that a bad copy may be copied on the rest of the drives. What makes the difference on our platform is the fact that ZFS examines the checksums of all files on all of the drives live and in the event that a corrupted file is located, it is substituted with a good copy with the correct checksum from another drive. In this way, your info will stay unharmed no matter what, even if a whole drive fails.
No Data Corruption & Data Integrity in Semi-dedicated Servers
In case you purchase one of our semi-dedicated server
packages, you won't have to worry about silent file corruption since we use ZFS - an advanced file system which keeps track of all files in real time. Every time you upload a file to your hosting account, ZFS will assign a unique digital fingerprint to it - the so-called checksum. The file will be synchronized between several SSD drives for redundancy, so if one drive fails, the other ones will take over. ZFS compares the checksum of all the copies on the different drives and if it detects a corrupted copy, it replaces it with a healthy one from another drive. This is done right away, so there will be no threat for any part of your content at any time. In contrast, other file systems perform checks only after a system failure, but since they don't use anything similar to the checksums that ZFS uses, they will not detect silently corrupted files, so a bad copy could be replicated on the other drives as well and you may lose important information. Since this is not the case with ZFS, we guarantee the integrity of every single file you upload no matter what.


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What's the best way to give someone a raise? A $1,000 boost in salary, or an immediate $2,000 bonus?
Does coaching managers make them better? What's the best way to encourage employees to contribute to an IRA? How long should the line be at the cafeteria, and why? How much maternity leave is enough? What is the best way to maximize an employee's happiness?
And why is Google regularly ranked as the best place to work?
The answer: Because it pursues scientific answers to all of these questions.
In a piece entitled "The Happiness Machine" at Slate, Farhad Manjoo gets a good look inside Google to see how it works its magic with employees and their managers. He interviews the head of Google's People Operations, or POPS, a part of the...


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Last year, the formation of a government failed because of personal differences, but now the social democratic PSOE under Pedro Sánchez and the left-wing populist Podemos under Pablo Iglesias are finally coming together in a joint government. Is this more than an alliance of convenience?
There is a coalition agreement between the two partners outlining the intended focus of their political work — but it’s by no means comparable with the detailed coalition agreements in Germany, for example.
Spurred on by the PSOE's good results in the April elections, Sánchez had initially hoped for an even better result in the November elections — but in vain. He remained dependent on Podemos. Moreover, like Podemos, the understanding of the majority in the PSOE was clear: neither personal animosities nor tactical games about the number and competence of ministries — the PSOE had lost three mandates compared to April and Podemos had lost seven. Hence the quick agreement after the second new elections in November accompanied by the symbolic hugs between the two leaders.
Moreover, the alternatives were limited: the conservative PP rejected an election. The right-wing liberal Ciudadanos, the big election loser, was no longer an option as a partner because of its dramatic losses. Finally, they interpreted the strong result of the right-wing populist VOX as a warning. VOX entered the Spanish parliament for the first time with 15 per cent of the vote, making it one of the strongest parliamentary representations of right-wing populists in Europe!
The PSOE and Podemos do not have their own majority in parliament and this is the first coalition government in recent history. How stable is this government then anyway?
We have to remain sceptical whether the decision to form Spain’s first coalition government since the 1930s can become a progressive alliance that will shape the country for years to come. Both parties only managed to obtain 155 of the necessary 176 mandates for a majority. It remains a government on call and above all dependent on the Basque and Catalan regional parties. The latter already let the head of government down last year in the votes on the national budget, which was then the prelude to new elections.
They cannot expect support from the other parties. After the election disaster and the resignation of its leader, the right-wing liberal Ciudadanos is first of all preoccupied with itself and looking for a new course. The conservative PP will look for every possibility to bring down this — in their eyes — Frankenstein government.
Sánchez was elected with the votes of Catalonia's largest separatist party, ERC. What concessions did Sánchez have to make in return?
In a memorandum of understanding with the ERC, Sánchez agreed to a dialogue on the “political conflict” between Madrid and Barcelona. The ERC already interprets this as the beginning of negotiations on an independence referendum. However, the prime minister has always been clear that while it’s possible to talk about more autonomy, it has to be within the framework of the Spanish constitution and Catalonia’s remaining with Spain. The talks are due to start in two weeks’ time and conflicts are inevitable.
But a solution to the Catalonia question would be a true blessing. It hangs like a dark cloud over Spanish politics and society. It divides the parties and ensures that often the really important issues of the future — such as pensions, digitalisation, climate — cannot be addressed.
The question is how to solve this issue that divides the country into Catalan independence supporters — like the ERC —, supporters of federal solutions — like the PSOE and large parts of Podemos — and centrist hardliners — PP and VOX. The latter would prefer to return to the strong central state and put the Catalan troublemakers under external administration once again. I see no alternative to Sánchez’s course of dialogue and small steps forward.
What are the concrete reforms that the government is planning?
The socio-political flagship project is to reverse the conservative reform of the labour laws from 2012. That’s why the two trade union confederations, the UGT and the CCOO, have been vehemently supporting a coalition government. They hope that they will once again have better opportunities for organising and collective bargaining. This, however, requires a parliamentary majority and successful agreements between the social partners. The outcome is therefore highly uncertain.
Pedro Sánchez represents a confident Spain within the EU. What foreign policy can be expected from this left-wing government alliance?
The new government will remain not only a government on call, but also a government of domestic policy. Yes, there’s a new European political self-confidence and the will to engage with Europe again after a decade of deadlock. The new EU High Commissioner Josep Borrell and the new leader of the S&D Group Iraxte García Perez express this new Spanish attitude.
Foreign policy is more likely to be driven by long-term considerations. The government will become involved where Spanish interests are directly affected, such as in a common European migration policy or relations with North African and Latin American countries.
This interview was conducted by Claudia Detsch.

domain: sociology


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Ouster, Inc., a leading provider of high-resolution lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles, robotics, security, and mapping announced a partnership with Chinese robotics leader iDriverplus for autonomous cleaning and sanitation robots[…]Read more
Auto giant General Motors (GM), the main shareholder in autonomous car company Cruise, confirmed Friday that the business will cut 160 jobs, or eight percent, of its workforce. “It was[…]Read more
Presenting: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Management for Autonomous Driving
Racelogic VBox speaking and presenting
Rolls Royce plc: Head of Emerghing Technologies Speaking
Applus+ IDIADA Exhibiting and Speaking
Wayve.ai Exhibiting and Speaking
Datron Technology Exhibiting and Speaking
Are you ready to capitalise on the booming multi-billion pound Autonomous Vehicle sector?
Are you connected to the supply chain of tomorrow?
The Autonomous Vehicles Expo UK 2020 is focused on bringing together pioneers, innovators, OEMs, industry heads and academics to accelerate the disruptive shift to autonomy
Are you maximising your exposure to this multi transportational sector industry?

domain: news


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Alexandria, VA — Today, Convergence announced a slate of new hires, including Tyler Q. Houlton as Vice President of Public Affairs, as the firm continues to expand and ramps up for the 2022 election cycle.
“Convergence is thrilled to expand our team with very talented people like Tyler,” said Partner Rob Simms. “Tyler is an experienced communicator with nearly two decades of public affairs and issue advocacy experience navigating the most difficult media environments and shaping and defending public policy at every level of government. Tyler is a great addition to our growing team.”
“With Republicans in a strong position to take back both the House and Senate in 2022, it is vital to capitalize on the Democrats’ policy failures and our candidates’ successes through creative fundraising campaigns and eye-opening ads,” said Partner Mike Shields. “The new additions to the Convergence team will increase our mobilized efforts to cut through the noise and tell our clients’ personal stories to win tough races.”
Previously, Houlton served in multiple senior level roles at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including Deputy Chief of Staff, Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, and Press Secretary. He also served as a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs at the U.S. State Department, Chief of Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, and was a spokesman and policy advisor at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Convergence is also excited to announce the additions of Will Flores as a Client Strategy Director, Austin Fiala as a Client Strategy Manager, Matt Heitmann as a Junior Graphic Designer and Wesley Meadowcroft as a Client Strategy Analyst.
Convergence is also proud to announce the promotions of the following individuals who have brought a strategic approach and innovative outlook to every project:
⇒ Vice President of Operations – Hunter Mullis
⇒ Client Strategy Director – Cassie Hammond
⇒ Director of Production Operations – Jamie Vosseller
⇒ Producer – Tanner Williams
⇒ Communications Strategist – Madeline Mills
⇒ Client Strategy Manager – AnnaKatherine Deiana
⇒ Digital Marketing Manager – Madi Puzey


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Pottery fires spirit, embraces soul
HE may be small but the kiln god sits atop the oven working his magical powers protecting his treasures inside as pieces of clay transform into beautiful pieces of art.
The Hervey Bay Potters have created pots, figurines and plaques for more than 10 years and president Maureen Coleman said the members did it for the love of it.
“We are all here for the same reason; creating something beautiful is very absorbing.
“Making pottery is good for the soul,” she said.
The earliest known ceramic objects are Gravettian figurines such as the Venus of Dolni Vestonice, a statuette of a nude female figure dated 29,000 to 25,000 BCE, and pottery vessels excavated from the Yuchanyan Cave in southern China, dating from 16,000 BCE.
Club member Fay Thomson has been enjoying hand building and wheelwork at the club for 10 years and loves it so much she doesn't want to leave it.
“When my husband wants to go away I want to stay here so I don't miss out.
“I have so much pottery around my house and on the veranda, but it's great to see it,” she said.
Pottery brings out the best in people and Sue Bartlem tries her hand at anything, and everything with most of her wares going into her mother's garden.
The pottery club's members all agree that the friendship and passion they share make it a relaxing time.
If you would like to learn the art of pottery, contact 4125 3268

domain: artistic


text:
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Thrivent creates financial strategies that help Christians be wise with money and live generously. For more than a century, they have helped their member-owners show God’s love to others by being good stewards of the gifts they’ve been given.
Thrivent Financial has consistently earned high ratings from independent insurance ratings analysts, and their capital position is among the strongest in the industry. This means they have the money to keep their promises.
Let us know if you are interested in learning more and adding this carrier to your portfolio!


text:
WASHINGTON — Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) decried the “rot” now permeating the Senate and “sick and demented” culture in a lengthy statement declaring he would ultimately vote for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Rubio was never viewed as a potential “no” vote on Kavanaugh, but told PJM after the hearing with Kavanaugh and accuser Christine Blasey Ford on Thursday that he wouldn’t “have anything else to say about it until I see the end of the hearing – the testimony from both sides.”
“Anyone who comes forward claiming to be a victim of sexual harassment, abuse or assault should be taken seriously and have their claims heard. This is especially true when those they accuse are in a position of power or influence,” he began today’s statement. “For both the accuser and the accused, allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and assault can have a devastating impact on their reputation, career and life. Which is why, to the extent possible, an accuser’s wish to not be identified should be accommodated. And why evidence of wrongdoing should be clearly established before someone is branded an abuser.”
In the case of the Kavanaugh accusations, he charged that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle made up their minds before hearing from Ford or Kavanaugh and that “senators and their staff, journalists and partisans have disgraced themselves by ignoring and violating every one of these norms in the matter before us.”
“Watching a nominee for the Supreme Court be grilled by a U.S. Senator about what he wrote in his high school yearbook is something we might expect to see in a satirical comedy, not a real life hearing of the Judiciary Committee,” Rubio continued. “The embarrassing behavior of so many of my Senate colleagues makes it hard to blame reporters, commentators and partisans for treating yesterday’s hearing as if it was a theatrical performance.”
“We have lost the capacity to view Dr. Ford as a fellow human being” and “the capacity to view Judge Kavanaugh as a son, husband and father, whose parents, wife and young children have had to endure watching him labeled a deviant and even a rapist,” he added, calling the proceedings “a modern political equivalent of the Roman circus – where the crowd is entertained by the spectacle of watching human beings destroy one another or get devoured by wild animals.”
Rubio declared that the “entire ordeal is indicative of something that goes beyond the nomination before us — it has revealed how our culture has become increasingly sick and demented, unmoored from the values upon which this great nation was founded and which have allowed our society to flourish.”
“Compassion is now viewed as a weakness. Restraint is now viewed as cowardice. Humility is now viewed as shameful. And being deliberate is now viewed as spineless,” he said. “Instead, ruthlessness is viewed as strength. Impulsiveness is viewed as courage. Arrogance is viewed as evidence of greatness. And being reactionary is viewed as decisiveness.”
“The virtues at the core of our Judeo-Christian heritage have become character flaws. And the character flaws the ancient prophets warned against, and Christ challenged us to overcome, have become virtues.”
The senator added that the “ramifications of the rot we have witnessed will be felt far beyond the question before us now.”
“How many victims will now choose to remain silent? And who in their right mind would ever offer themselves up for public service if all that is required to have your reputation permanently destroyed is uncorroborated claims which are then spread far and wide?” Rubio asked. “Under a sworn oath, Dr. Ford has offered testimony that was unequivocal, compelling and heartbreaking. Under a sworn oath, Judge Kavanaugh offered a denial that was equally unequivocal, compelling and heartbreaking.”
Rubio said he felt that “voting against Judge Kavanaugh would no longer be simply a rejection of his nomination, but an endorsement of the serious allegations against him.”
“I will not vote against the nomination of someone who I am otherwise inclined to support and in the process add credence to charges which have already done permanent damage to his reputation, on the basis of allegations for which there is no independent corroboration and which are at odds with everything else we have heard about his character,” he said, adding that “this will be recorded as a dark moment in the Senate’s history.”
Rubio does not sit on the Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to take a vote on the Kavanaugh nomination at 1:30 p.m. EST. The Senate is expected to take up the nomination Saturday.

domain: law


text:
Post # 1
Is it true that it’s usually the grooms family that pays for dinner?
How much do most people pay for a rehearsal dinner? I was just sent a menu by one of the places that I’m interested in. They have room for 40 people, and the food will run about $800. They didn’t say anything about drinks, but considering it’s at a brewhouse, I’m assuming that people will want to drink. What can I expect that to add to the bill?
Post # 3
My FI’s parents are paying for the dinner. We found a place that let’s us order off of the menu & so we’re guessing it’ll be about $20-$25 per person, & there’s about 20 people there. & we’re not making FI’s parents pay for the drinks, if people want to drink, they’re footing the bill for that…just because people may drink as much as they can & I don’t want people to take advantage of that!
Post # 4
I guess traditionally the grooms parents pay for the Rehearsal Dinner. For us, my Future In-Laws are paying for the majority of the wedding so my dad and his wife are paying for and hosting the rehearsal dinner. They are planning to spend around $2500 and thats for food and alcohol and room rental for up to 150 people. I think ours is on the high side though – depending on what kind of food you do and how many people it can be a LOT less!
Post # 5
MR. KM’s parents are paying for the rehearsal for us. I think that’s the tradition.
Post # 6
I had never heard of the groom’s parents NOT paying for the Rehearsal Dinner…. until I got engaged and found out my Future In-Laws are not haha. So, we’ll be paying for it. We’re going to keep it to JUST: wedding party, immediate family, and those who flew to be here though, so I”m hoping to keep the total bill around 750-1000.
Post # 7
Traditionally, yes, the groom’s parents pay for the Rehearsal Dinner. We had 33 people at ours and ours was about that price, too. My Mother-In-Law was paying and we let people know that tea and soda and water were included with their meal. If they wanted a drink (most wanted a beer or a martini of some sort), they just went up to the bar and got one. We just sorta spread the word that liquor wasn’t included. I’ve been to a few RDs where drinks weren’t included or only one drink was included, like a glass of wine. Then after that you’re on your own.
You could pick up a few pitchers of beer if it’s in your budget, too.
Post # 8
I think it depends on your situation. Traditionally speaking, it’s the Groom’s parents responsibility to pay for the Rehearsal Dinner, but traditionally it’s also the Bride’s parents responsibility to pay for the wedding. Nowadays, it doesn’t always happen like that.
Fiance are paying for our own wedding, and we are also paying for the Rehearsal Dinner. I didn’t feel comfortable asking his parents to pay for the Rehearsal Dinner when my parents aren’t paying for the wedding. Since we are on a limited budget, we are limiting the Rehearsal Dinner to bridal party and immediate family only. We found a restaurant close by that has a private room that can accomodate our party, and the entrees are like $20ish per person.
Post # 9
My Mother-In-Law paid the caterers bill (about $1500) and we paid for all the alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages. It was not at a restaurant but at the house that we were renting for the week.
Post # 10
His parents are paying but I think only X-dollars. His dad works for Kodak and is turning 55 in June so he will be laidoff (in true, horrible Kodak form) just before our wedding. So we are preparing to pay for some as well if it’s much over $300.
Post # 11
My Future In-Laws are paying. They’re relatively poor so Fiance said he’d pay, but Future In-Laws didn’t want him to. Our wedding is on Sunday so our rehearsal dinner is Saturday night. Restaurants here require a $1000 minimum bill (before tax and tip) to reserve a room, so that’s what we’re paying. If Future In-Laws lived here they would host it at their house and the cost would be half that since our caterer would change <$500 or Future Mother-In-Law would cook everything. We are paying for all the alcohol since that still won’t get our bill to $1000. If your friends / family are big drinkers alcohol can really add up though.
Post # 12
traditionally fi’s parents pay, but now a days people don’t always do it like that. my sil’s family couldn’t afford to pay for the wedding or rd, so my parent’s paid. sometimes if family’s can’t pay the bride and groom will.
my fi’s parents are paying, and because we chose to have lots of people and oot guests rather than just bridal party, we’re having it at their house and bringing in trays from sams so it wont be expensive.
Post # 13
My Future In-Laws are paying for the Rehearsal Dinner, they will choose the place, so whetever they decide to spend is up to them. It will be at a restaurant.
For the OP’s question- I would assume the cost would be very similar to paying for a regular restaurant dinner and drinks for X number of people. $800 for 40 people’s food is only $20 a person, doesn’t sound too high if it’s good food. Drinks for 40 people could probably add another $800 if you have some drinkers in the crowd (assuming everyone has 3 drinks on average and the drinks are 6-7 dollars per). You could re-calculate based on what drinks cost in your area and how much you think your Rehearsal Dinner guests will drink.
Post # 14
We are paying for our rehearsal dinner, it should end up costing us about 1200 for food and drink.
Post # 15
My FIL’s are not extremely well health-wise or financially. We are paying for the rehearsal dinner and inviting everyone who will be in town at that point because so many of our guests are coming form afar. However, we are doing a BBQ at the vineyard’s lake house which for ~40-50 people will be around $500. Wegman’s is wonderful!
Post # 16
Thanks guys! This is very helpful. I think I’ll see about letting them pay for food, and then if anyone wants drinks, let us do that.

domain: economics


text:
5 Best Duck Breeds to Keep for Meat
Ducks are excellent for meat owing to their large size. Duck meat isn’t only high-quality white meat, but it is also an excellent source of protein and vital minerals. Ducks also grow pretty quickly compared to chickens.
These birds are ready for butchering within weeks. Some duck breeds, such as Muscovy and Rouen ducks are perfect for meat production.
1. Jumbo Pekin Ducks
Jumbo Pekin ducks are some of the fastest-growing duck breeds, making these ducks ideal for meat production. These ducks thrive well in both homesteads and backyards across the country.
Their large size makes the ducks great for meat production. Some Jumbo Pekin drakes can weigh up to 12 pounds, meaning they can give you plenty of meat after butchering. Jumbo Pekin hen ducks can also produce a considerable amount of meat as they weigh up to 9 pounds on average.
Besides boasting high meat production capabilities, Jumbo Pekin ducks also have tastier meat than other duck species. Their meat is tender and 100% fat-free, making the meat healthy. Their meat is also rich in protein, hence suitable for people who want protein-rich meat.
It is easy to keep Jumbo Pekin ducks for meat. These ducks are overly low-maintenance birds, and they can thrive well in virtually any environment. Unlike most duck species, they also don’t carry diseases since they are hardy. Their ability to grow pretty fast makes them the ideal duck species to keep for meat.
2. Rouen Ducks
Duck keepers keep these ducks both as pets and for meat production. Though Rouen ducks aren’t the best layers, they are heavyweight duck breeds, thus making these ducks an excellent duck species to keep for meat.
These ducks thrive well on small farms and homesteads. Although they don’t grow fast like most meat duck species, they boast flesh-tasting meat, which is excellent for roasting. Furthermore, they can be pretty large when they reach maturity.
These ducks can weigh between 9 and 12 pounds on average upon reaching maturity. Rouen ducks are ready for butchering at eight weeks old.
You can butcher your Rouen ducks as early as seven weeks if you provide these ducks with quality food to promote their growth. Butchering your Rouen ducks earlier will help you save those extra bucks on duck feed.
Furthermore, the meat will be lighter tasting and tender. Nonetheless, butchering your Rouen ducks when they are a few weeks old will hinder your ducks from growing to their maximum size.
3. Swedish Ducks
Swedish ducks originate from Sweden, as their name implies. These ducks are also prevalent in the Americas and the world over. Swedish ducks are excellent meat producers since they are heavyweight ducks capable of producing large quantities of meat. Swedish duck meat has an exceptionally great taste. The meat is suitable for both frying and roasting.
Furthermore, the meat is lean and doesn’t contain fat like meat from other exotic duck species. Swedish ducks also grow fast, and they are ready for butchering at around eight weeks. Besides being great meat producers, Swedish ducks are also wonderful layers. They are easy to keep since they like foraging outdoors since they are more of an outdoor duck species.
4. Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks are perhaps the best meat producers, given their large size. Duck meat from Muscovy ducks is probably some of the tastiest duck you will ever eat. It has a mild, pleasant flavor that goes along well with various cuisines.
Muscovy ducks’ meat has a milder and lighter flavor. The meat from Muscovy ducks is suitable for whole-roasting. Furthermore, the meat from these ducks has little to no fat content. The remarkable taste from Muscovy ducks’ meat makes the meat exceptional compared to other types of duck meats.
Muscovy ducks are also among the fastest-growing duck species. Most Muscovy drakes grow to over 12 pounds on average. These ducks are ready for butchering at around six weeks old. Furthermore, these ducks are excellent to keep for meat, whether indoors or outdoors.
These ducks are suitable for large farms and small homesteads since they can adapt to virtually any environment. Most importantly, Muscovy ducks are also highly disease-resistant, making these ducks an excellent duck species to keep in a harsh environment.
5. Aylesbury Ducks
Aylesbury ducks are also a popular duck meat species. Native to Europe, these ducks are also commonplace in North America. They aren’t layers since they lay between 35 and 125 eggs yearly, but more of meat producers. Their high bone-to-meat ratio makes these ducks fantastic meat producers.
They are also large duck species, with drakes weighing over ten pounds on average. Although some hens can grow much heavier, Aylesbury hens can weigh between 7 and 9 pounds. These ducks are ready for butchering at eight weeks old.
Their meat is exceptionally delicious. It is soft, lean, and has an authentic flavor you can’t get in meat from most duck species such as mallards.
Aylesbury duck meat is ideal for roasting and frying. The meat can be tastier if you add some species to it, although you don’t necessarily have to add species to it since it is naturally delicious. The other benefit of Aylesbury duck meat is that it is lean and has plenty of protein.
How to Raise Ducks for Meat?
People raise ducks for both eggs and meat. Most duck keepers raise ducks for meat since ducks can’t frequently lay like chickens. Keeping ducks for meat is relatively straightforward since ducks have fewer maintenance requirements than chickens. Read through these insights into how you can raise ducks for meat in your home.
– Pick the Best Breed
Not all duck breeds are suitable for meat. Some breeds are perfect for laying rather than producing meat. Since you can’t keep every duck breed for meat, it helps to know the best species to keep for meat. For instance, you can keep Jumbo Pekin ducks, Swedish ducks, or Rouen ducks if you consider keeping ducks for meat.
Aylesbury ducks and Muscovy ducks are also excellent meat producers. Simply put, keep overweight and large ducks, since these ducks will produce large quantities of meat.
While we might all see ducks as dirty and careless birds, since they usually roll in dirty areas, these birds deserve to live in a clean and dry environment. Keep your ducks in a dry, draft-free, and clean environment.
Ducks living in dirty shelters are susceptible to duck diseases such as Avian cholera, which kills ducks in their infancy and way before they are ready for butchering. The toxins in dirty shelters make your ducks’ health deteriorate, which ultimately slows down their growth.
Ducks also need bedding in their coops to keep them comfortable. Spread some sawdust or wood shaving in the duck coop to give your ducks comfortable bedding, mainly while keeping ducks indoors. Replace the bedding once it starts to show signs of wearing off.
Diet is vital for ducks species for meat. Your ducks won’t achieve desirable weight and size if they lack a proper diet to promote their growth. Duck species for meat require protein to develop muscle and accelerate their growth. They also need a moderate amount of carbohydrates to give them the energy to walk around.
Vitamins are crucial for ducks since they strengthen their immune system. Calcium-rich foods will help your ducks maintain strong bones. Ducks occasionally need supplements to accelerate their growth in readiness for butchering. Water is also crucial for ducks since it keeps them hydrated throughout.
– Butcher the Ducks at the Right Time
Your ducks should be ready for butchering within weeks if you provide them with food, water, and proper housing. Ideally, it would be best if you butchered your ducks after a couple of weeks. Most duck species are ready for butchering at around eight weeks.
Ducks are excellent meat producers. They produce high quantities of meat compared to chickens and other domestic poultry. Choose the best duck species for meat if you plan to keep ducks for meat.

domain: food


text:
Oh, that’s heartbreaking news, Font Lady. Please know that even people you have never met are keeping you in their thoughts and lifting you up in this terrible time.
WOW! I wish I had the skill to do that!
A lot of those vintage vacuums are still going strong, while the new ones are designed to fall apart after a couple of years. In the early 90s I bought a 1950s Kirby that never gave me a minute of trouble, aside from being incredibly heavy…sadly I got rid of it when I moved about ten years later, and bought a new (plastic) one for my new apartment, and then another, and another…all the new ones are broken by hair. Now I have a robot vacuum, but I bet whoever has my old Kirby is still using it!
This was so cleverly done. As a huge fan of the original run of this story, I wondered how Georgia would adapt it to fit the newspaper format, not just editing for length, but also to make the Sunday panels stand alone if people only get the Sunday paper. It must have been very difficult to pull off, and was done beautifully.
Oh, that’s so beautiful! Wow!!
Generally I agree that cats should be kept inside if possible. However, some of us have both indoor cats AND managed feral colonies (feral cats who are fixed, vaccinated (including against rabies), fed on schedule, etc). Such cats vary on the amount of human contact they will tolerate, and for some of them it’s extremely stressful to be brought inside.
The art is always beautiful in this comic, but every now and then it just strikes me HOW beautiful it is. The color, the level of detail, the expressions, all stunning. Look how effectively Georgia manages to convey the flickering light of a television set on The Woman’s face, with subtle highlights and shadows.
I have foil-wrapped, OTA rabbit ears atop my TV. I don’t know whether the foil helps, but I’ve always done it that way. Here in LA I get about 30-40 channels over-the-air, depending on the way the wind is blowing. ;)
These are good choices, but I’m thinking Elayne Boosler must not have discovered Breaking Cat News yet because it is everything.
This is genius.


AN ACT relating to governmental administration; extending the reversion dates of appropriations from the current biennium; making appropriations to the Office of Finance for costs associated with replacement of the Advantage Financial and Human Resources System with the Enterprise Resource Planning System; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
No votes to display
Enrolled and delivered to Governor. Approved by the Governor. Chapter 441.
Read third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly. In Assembly. To enrollment.
From committee: Do pass. Placed on Second Reading File. Read second time.
In Senate. Read first time. Referred to Committee on Finance. To committee.
Read third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 39, Nays: 1, Excused: 1, Vacant: 1.) To Senate.
From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.
Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 663.) To printer.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
From printer. To committee.
Read first time. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means. To printer.
|Bill Text Versions||Format|
|No related documents.|
Data on Open States is updated nightly from the official website of the Nevada Legislature.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.


Tests still running, haven't noticed any failures yet but haven't been watching every one but so it is looking good.
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Adorable orange chipmunks hold green and brown acorns on black socks. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are very excited about these Cute Chipmunk Socks and you should be, too. Funny animal novelty socks for your fun feet. Approximately fits women's shoe 5-10.5.
31% Cotton, 48% Polyester, 19% Nylon, 2% Spandex


text:
Justin E. H. Smith at his own blog:
Two thoughts have long come unbidden to my mind whenever I hear people talking about doing their family trees, or, more recently, getting their DNA done. The first is of Bruce Willis’s character in Pulp Fiction, the boxer Butch Coolidge in the back of the taxi, who, when asked by his South American driver what his name means, replies, “I’m an American, baby, our names don’t mean shit.” The other is of Seneca, who wrote in his Moral Letters to Lucilius: “If there is any good in philosophy, it is this, — that it never looks into pedigrees. All men, if traced back to their original source, spring from the gods.”
To be an American is to bear a name with no historical resonance, or at least none worth looking into, to orient oneself in the world without regard for lineage. To be a philosopher is to know consciously what the American feels by instinct: that the reason lineages are not worth looking into is the same for all of us, namely, that we all derive from the same divine source.
But I am, or like to think of myself as, an American philosopher, and so of course I always scoffed when my late father –who did not share my sensibility, did not see being American in the same way– used to come home with all sorts of vital-statistics records from Utah and Arkansas, with genealogical scrolls stretching back to Olde England. I always got a vague whiff of prejudice moreover from those family-history buffs more extreme than my father ever was, displaying with pride their ancestors’ tartan patterns above the fireplace, or hanging up a coat-of-arms and explaining with pride why the stag is rampant as opposed to statant, say, or offering an embroidered pillow with some implausible sentiment about Irish or Polish or Swedish superiority. No, I always thought, to hell with all that. I come from nowhere. I come from no one but the gods.

domain: literature


This week in our roundup of miscellaneous product launches and announcements, we’ve got news from Asus, iBuypower, OCZ, and Origin PC.
- Back in full black… The Rampage III Black Edition. Say hello to the latest X58 offering in Asus’ Republic of Gamers series. This bad boy comes with "ThunderBolt LAN," a bundled headphone amp, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n Wi-Fi, USB 3.0, SATA 6Gbps, and a "powerful combination of analog and digital design elements for Ultimate VRM Performance." The board has already made its way to Newegg, where it’s priced at a hefty $589.99.
- iBuypower partners with Wal-Mart. This isn’t a typical release announcement, but it’s interesting nonetheless. iBuypower and Walmart have teamed up to offer "the retailer’s first custom configurator" for gaming PCs. The configurator, which can be accessed here, lets you set up a gaming PC by choosing between five enclosures, five processors (from both Intel and AMD), graphics cards ranging up to the Radeon HD 6870 and GeForce GTX 480, and a variety of other options. The base config, which has no monitor, will set you back $578.
- OCZ announces Vertex 3 Max IOPS SSDs. We’ve already told you all about the Vertex 3. Well, there’s now a new version of OCZ’s latest SandForce-based solid-state drive. Dubbed the Vertex 3 Max IOPS edition, this variant purportedly features "exceptional 4KB random write performance with up to 75,000 IOPS," making it a prime candidate for "applications that require high aggregate workloads and increased IO throughput." OCZ intends to offer the drive in 120GB and 240GB capacities, both of which will have three-year warranty coverage.
- Origin EON17-S laptops overclocked up to 4.5GHz with Turbo Boost available now. Extreme overclocking isn’t seen often in laptops, but Origin PC has bucked that trend with the EON17-S. The system can be configured with an overclocked, Sandy Bridge-based Core i7 Extreme processor that can purportedly hit up to 4.5GHz with Turbo Boost enabled. Graphics options include the GeForce GTX 485M and Radeon HD 6970M. The EON17-S also features a 17.3" display, four memory slots (for a total memory capacity of 32GB), USB 3.0 connectivity, and support for a TV tuner, Blu-ray, and built-in RAID. This is no ultraportable, though; Origin says the machine weighs in at 8.6 lbs and is about 1.7-1.8" thick.
The Walmart-iBuypower partnership might not excite die-hard enthusiasts, but I think it’s good news for PC gaming as a whole. If Walmart is promoting gaming PCs, more newcomers to the market are bound to consider jumping ship from consoles—or at least gaming on both.


text:
Football Federation Australia has postponed all grassroots soccer in Australia until mid-April due to the coronavirus pandemic although the A-League and W-League will continue.
All state and territory-based National Premier League competitions, FFA Cup, youth and MiniRoos soccer and futsal, will be halted as of Wednesday, including training.
On Monday FFA said these competitions would continue but only with essential people in attendance, who would adhere to measures aimed at stopping the spread of the virus. But on Tuesday afternoon, the FFA announced that to help stop the spread of the coronavirus in the community these conpetitions would be postponed. Soccer in Australia has 1.96 million participants across grassroots.
"Our decision today follows extensive discussions with all of Australia’s nine state and territory member federations, taking into consideration the latest feedback from all levels of the football community," FFA chief executive officer James Johnson said.
"We are also taking into consideration the ongoing response by both the broader international and Australian communities, which is evolving almost on an hourly basis now.
"We also recognise that there have been some recent material developments, which have changed the landscape significantly, including the decisions made by the Victorian and ACT governments to declare states of emergency late yesterday afternoon. Today, more schools, universities and also public sporting facilities have announced that they will be closing so we have had to respond quickly to this.
"As a game we need to be responsive and agile in how we deal with this situation, and we are working together around the clock to deal with this challenge. We will continue to assess our position regularly to ensure that it is reflective of the most accurate state of affairs and views of the game."
Melbourne Victory players remain at the beginning of a two-week quarantine while Wellington Phoenix players will endure the same conditions when they arrive in Australia this week, with the aim of playing their remaining A-League matches on Australian shores. They were given special permission from the government to do so.
The W-League grand final between Melbourne City and Sydney FC will take place this weekend behind closed doors.


text:
If anyone has learned anything from film sequels, it’s that if the first one sucked, chances are the second one will suck more.
Phillip J. Bartell and Q. Allan Brocka take this to a whole new level in their addition to this year’s Fairy Tales gay and lesbian film festival, Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds.
Proud of being “the first American gay sequel ever”–apart from a number of releases by companies with names like Banana Boy Video, etc.–the film follows the frolics of newly-single Kyle (Jim Verraros) as he tries to score with ripped nude artist model Troy (Marco Dapper) by pretending to be straight and joining an ex-gay support group. Meanwhile, Kyle’s ex-boyfriend, Marc (Brett Chuckerman) has his own plans for Troy, and pursues him as his out-gay self. Which one will seduce Troy first?
The first thought that comes to mind when watching the opening scene–of two dudes getting it on in a kind of bad porno-foreplay dialogueÂ–is a strange blend of open-mindedness, culture shock and mild dread, not so much because it’s two men having sex but that the movie actually starts out like a bad porno. The second thought is: “What the fuck?” as this turns out to be Gwen (Emily Brooke Hands) divulging her fantasy as a heterosexual woman to exclusively date and have sex with gay men.
This is a weird film. Not because it’s a gay one. Gay isn’t weird. In a post-Brokeback world of Ellen DeGeneres, Portia DeRossi, Rupert Everett, The L-Word and Queer as Folk, gay is almost more acceptable than being straight. Gay’s fine. What’s weird is a film with detrimental identity issues. On the one hand, Eating Out has the plot workings of a pretty standard mainstream comedy: the object of desire, a collection of peripheral ideas that are mildly funny in and of themselves (like the ex-gay support group called “Coming In”), a grand message to be learned, complete with a token black guy substitute embodied by a goth lesbian. The good guys and gals hook up and the bad ones get theirs. Even the lighting is similar to glossy teen comedy productions like American Pie and Van Wilder.
On the other hand, the film is way more explicit than even the “unrated” versions of its hetero counterparts, with several counts of full-frontal nudity. A person with less class might insert a joke about the climax of the movie, except that the writers already made it, as the ex-gay support group leader Jacob (Scott Vickaryous) climaxes all over his mom’s (Sarah Lilly) chest. It’s explicit–way more explicit than it’s quality warrants. Audiences looking for gay porn could probably find better offerings on the net and those looking for teen comedy are sure to be disappointed with the lack of laughs.
Therein lies the real problem with Eating Out 2. It’s not nearly funny enough to justify itself. At least Jason Biggs’ pie-fucking antics were balanced with some simple Eugene Levy humour. Plus, quality is what ultimately separates a mainstream film from porn. Look at Basic Instinct. Sharon stone flashes her va-jay-jay and the sex scenes are long and drawn out, but because there was some substance it got an Oscar nod. Eating Out, however, will be lucky if it gets relegated to the soft-core rack in Blockbuster.


text: (On Cable TV, June 2019) As a political junkie, I’m a natural audience for the kind of political docufiction such as The Front Runner—which joins the slew of HBO political movies, and similar titles such as Shock and Awe. But let’s be careful—The Front Runner is a dissection of the Gary Hart adultery scandal of 1988 without much of a political axe to grind, except for looking at the inner workings of a campaign in crisis mode, as a sympathetic candidate is ultimately brought down by an affair. The good news is that the film can boast of an impressive cast (an older Hugh Jackman, and fine character work by Vera Farmiga and J. K. Simmons), a competent director (Jason Reitman, keeping the mayhem moving at an understandable pace) and some good production values taking us back to 1988. There are a few good moments despite the story being chronologically rearranged for impact and a few crucial details (such as Hart’s comeback campaign a few months later) being left unmentioned. But The Front Runner does have issues. In having to follow facts, it does run out of narrative steam in its last act as the candidate can’t quite grasp the trouble he’s in, and all that’s left after the mid-movie confrontations and investigative work are the recriminations and the throwing of the towel. Perhaps more problematic is the film’s thematic development—considering that much of the last act is a back-and-forth between a sympathetic candidate and a combative media, it’s a natural occasion to examine questions of ethics, monogamy, or whether personal issues affect leadership. Alas, that’s when the film turns ambivalent, neither arguing forcefully for a position nor making points that would be relevant to a contemporary audience. (Considering a current administration that’s so stained with overlapping scandals that none of them seem to stick, there would have been a golden opportunity here to make relevant parallels.) The Front Runner ends up feeling non-committed, muddled, anticlimactic. As a political junkie, I still like it… but there was a better movie here trying to get out—even if it does get some recognition for not straying too far away from the facts.


text:
The new home of
This Cottage is brought to you by:
Lakeside, seaside, countryside, hillside…wherever you can picture your perfect cottage, you’ll find it with Welcome Cottages!
In the heart of Combe Martin, with surfing beaches nearby, Watermouth Castle and Theme Park and Exmoor Zoological Gardens are within easy reach.
1 mile from the coast
Good touring base
In the heart of Combe Martin, North Devon, with its spectacular scenery and superb surfing beaches at Croyde and Woolacombe, this semi-detached barn conversion is well presented and equipped. It is an excellent holiday home to enjoy the many family attractions in this area and come back to, to relax on decked area in the courtyard with a glass of wine and the board games provided. There is fishing and pony trekking, exploring the dramatic north coast and Exmoor with its wonderful scenery and walking. A golf course can be found 4 miles from the property. Also the popular family attractions of Watermouth Castle and Theme Park, Exmoor Zoological Gardens and the Dinosaur and Wildlife Park are within easy reach. Shop 0.25 miles, pub with food 200 yards.
Ground floor: Living/dining room. Kitchen. Separate toilet. First floor: 3 bedrooms: 2 double (one 6ft), 1 twin. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Woodburner in living room (no fuel provided). Gas central heating, gas, electricity, bed linen and towels included. Cot. High chair. DVD and small library. Stereo/CD. Gas hob. Electric oven. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Dishwasher. Fridge/freezer. Patio and furniture. Garage (1 car) and parking (1 car), both 70 yards. No smoking.
Content to be added.
cottages.com is a trading name of Wyndham Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Spring Mill, Stoney Bank Road, Earby, Lancashire,BB94 0AA, UK
Company Registration Number 00965389. VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77
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domain: geography


text:
Once they have chosen their mystery box, we'll offer themthe chance to trade their mystery prize for our casino bonus deal. Or they can take a risk, keep thebox, and see if it reveals a better prize!This enthralling game is sure to captivate your players withthe promise of action-packed excitement! The game is a win-win situation, as simply by playing they willreceive a prize.
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domain: entertainment


New research from the US appears to back the suggestion that obesity may be triggered by a virus infection: it found that children had a higher chance of developing obesity if they had been exposed to a particular type of adenovirus.
The study was the work of researchers from the University of California (UC), San Diego School of Medicine and appears in the 20 September early online issue of the journal Pediatrics, Medical News Today reports.
Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine studied children age 8 to 18 for the presence of the AD36 virus that is currently linked to obesity.
Adenovirus exposure is common in children. According to the CDC the virus commonly causes respiratory infection but can also cause gastroenteritis, bladder and eye infection and rash-type illness.
The scientists found that children with the virus antibody weighed an average of 50 pounds more than children testing negative for adenovirus 36. Children with active infection weighed 35 pounds more than those who tested negative.
"This amount of extra weight is a major concern at any age, but is especially so for a child," said Jeffrey B. Schwimmer, MD, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at UC San Diego, who is also director of Weight and Wellness at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, eMaxHealth reports.
Former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should flee Ukraine.


text:
Dhanno has pasted on her cupboard doors –
6 posters of Drake Bell,
4 of Hillary Duff,
3 of Avril Lavigne,
1 of Ranbir Kapoor,
1 of a bulldog in a blue denim jacket,
1 of a poodle in a pink jacket,
1 photo-shopped picture of her with Drake Bell,
A school group photo of me in Std VIII A, in St. Anne’s School, Pune, 1977,
A school group photo of her in Std. VIII A, in Bumm-Bumm-Bhole-Land, 2007.
So that I don’t feel left out, Teja found me this. It was flying around on his studio floor.


text:
Where do the dragonfire legion fall in the series? I have to say I have really enjoyed this series over the years and it has stood up to the test of rereading over the years many many times. Thank you so much for your wonderful imagination it is very much appreciated.
Hi Melanie – Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed Dragonfire over the years. I’m planning to wrap up the original series (with Thorolf’s book and then Sloane’s book) in 2014. Then I had other dragon adventures planned. 🙂
The Dragon Legion Collection is Dragonfire #9. You can see the whole series listed in order, right here:
How is Pyr pronounced? Peer, pire (like tire) or purr? Figuring this out is driving me mad! Lol
Hi Tay –
I say “peer” like pyramid. Pyre is said like pire – and means a fire for burning remains, probably because of the e on the end making the y sound like a long i. 🙂
Thank you! That’s how I kept saying it, but kept wondering if I was wrong. lol I appreciate the clarification! 🙂 LOVE every book!
I love you Dragon fire series I have read the first five so fall thank you for the dragon shifters it is so good
I would love to get your news letter plzzz tyvm
Hi Mechelle – you can subscribe to my newsletter at this link:
Have loved reading your Dragonfire series but have come to a complete halt at Book 4 Winter Kiss as I cannot find it anywhere to purchase as an epub for my ereader. It says Kobo has it but cannot find it anywhere…Not sure how Onedrive works but you need a library card as such but I don’t live in the States..any suggestions as I would like to finish the entire series and hate leaving out books
Hi Kelly –
Actually, books 2 – 8 are no longer available in digital because the rights have reverted to me. Once the rights for Kiss of Fire revert to me, I’ll be republishing the first eight books in new editions. There’s no telling how long that will take. If you don’t want to wait, you might be able to find mass market copies still, as the publisher has the right to sell their remaining print stock.
Thanks for reading my books!
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Loop Energy will provide fuel cell technology to a leading bus manufacturer in China as part of a new $15m deal to support the Nanjing municipal government’s objective of replacing its fleet with hydrogen buses.
Nanjing municipal government wants to replace its existing 7,000-unit battery-electric bus fleet with an improved battery-hydrogen hybrid alternative that offers all-season, long-range and higher passenger-capacity operation.
The multiple-unit range extender order, which represents the start of a long-term commercial agreement over a three-year period, follows the receipt of product certification for Loop’s 50kW Fuel Cell Range Extender Module series from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), a national independent testing and certification organisation for vehicular products in China.
“This agreement marks an important milestone for Loop as it signifies a ramp-up of commercial activity, but it is also a testament to the growing market recognition of Loop product’s performance and cost advantages,” said Ben Nyland, President and CEO of Loop Energy.
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The Ballistic Shield is an weapon in Underhell. It's used by the PMCs to defend against small shockwaves and higher caliber rounds, including MP7 and G36K Rounds. The shield only has a very narrow port near the top for vision, therefore limiting the user's field of view.
Unlike the Riot Shield, the Ballistic Shield is made of metal and does not break. Despite the shield being quite big, the feet of its user are still exposed to enemy fire.
Being made of sheet metal, it is quite heavy, therefore limiting the mobility of its user.
- PMC Soldiers
- The plexiglass viewport cannot be broken.


Classic recycle bins made of stainless steel
This CIMON SST modern recycling bins line are made of top quality materials, such as stainless steel or powder coated metal.
CIMON SST was designed for the modern and stylish areas that needed a touch or “magic”. What makes them different? Their aesthetics which it’s based on simple solid design without any unnecessary details.
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Margot Robbie was the epitome of sophisticated glamour at a London charity fashion ball with proceeds benefitting One For The Boys male cancer foundation.
Meanwhile, Margot will not have a lot of time to relax with a number of new films in the works.
First up she is next going to be working alongside True Blood hunk Alexander Skarsgard in a new 3D Tarzan movie.
Tarzan is due for a summer 2016 release and will follow Tarzan as he’s forced to return to the urban sprawl of London after being raised in the jungle as an orphan.
She will be playing Jane Porter and the role will require her to be blonde again, so her new red locks may just be a transition for the darker brown colour she has had recently.
She also replaced Kristen Stewart in comedy Focus alongside Will Smith, which will be released later this year.

domain: celebrity


text:
When menopause sets in, many women find that they are forced to battle a warmth that starts in the head and neck regions and slowly spreads to encompass their entire body. If you have experienced this uncomfortable feeling, you know exactly how bothersome hot flashes can be.
One hot flash research study shows that at least 75% of women going through menopause will experience hot flashes, so finding ways to curb these uncomfortable attacks is important. Read More»
There are many different types of eating plans and diets around that promise to help you lose weight, even if every other diet you have tried hasn’t worked. One such diet you might want to consider is called the HCG diet. This diet uses drops of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is a hormone usually produced by women during pregnancy. The diet originated when it was discovered that HCG can help curb the appetite and burn excess body fat. Read More»
If you have an elderly parent that is dealing with the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, you will want to help them cope with the changes they are starting to endure. When the process is first beginning, your parent will want to continue living as they have been while doing activities that they enjoy. It is important to allow them to keep their independence until symptoms worsen so their quality of life is not compromised too early in the disease. Read More»
Lasers are taking the world of dentistry by storm. With new treatments being developed and perfected every day, lasers may soon become a big part of dentistry due to their quick and almost painless approach. Below are three ways laser treatments can be used to treat your child’s dental problems.
The Release of Tongue Ties
Tongue ties can have a significant impact on a young child’s nutritional intake, as well as their speech development. Read More»
Dental floss is dental floss, right? If you’ve been relying on the samples that your dentist sends home with you after a cleaning and thus have not gone shopping for dental floss in years, you might be surprised by how many options there are in the tooth care aisle. There are different flavors, non-waxed and waxed options, a fancy variety known as “comfort floss” and even those little pick-floss things. Which one do you pick? Read More»

domain: medical


text:
In an effort to combat what he claims is a $700 million budget shortfall, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) has proposed a series of tax increases designed to generate $541 million in new tax revenue. These eight tax increases include a rise in the sales tax for automobiles, a tax on car rentals, and an excise tax on tobacco products.
The proposal also includes the removal of credits for certain businesses such as financial institutions and insurance companies, ending the municipal exemption for the public utilities license tax, and a new corporate income tax provision requiring combined income reporting for corporations doing business in other states. All of these tax hikes are a reversal of Bentley’s pledge to not raise taxes. The tobacco tax rental car tax increases are especially problematic.
Cigarette taxes, like all sin taxes, are an unreliable revenue source and encourage smuggling and other illegal actions. Bentley’s proposal would increase the state’s cigarette tax by 82.5 cents per pack, which he estimates would generate $205 million, but tobacco taxes rarely bring in the revenues their proponents promise. Instead, sin taxes prop up government spending while relying on a narrow and shrinking tax base, thus creating greater revenue gaps taxpayers must fill with additional tax increases.
Tobacco taxes are highly regressive, burdening those who can least afford to pay while diverting spending from other products and services. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34 percent of Alabama adults who earn less than $15,000 per year are smokers, whereas only 13.6 percent of adults who earn $50,000 or more smoke.
The tax increase will likely drive Alabama consumers to purchase tobacco products in neighboring states. Currently, Alabama’s tobacco taxes are on par with its neighbors’, but after the increase, the tax would be between 50 cents and $1 higher than those in its surrounding states.
Bentley’s tax plan would increase the rental-car tax from 1.5 percent to 4 percent. Tourism taxes such as those on car rentals have advantages for politicians because they supposedly tax out-of-state visitors who cannot vote against them. Rental car taxes, however, don’t affect tourists alone. According to Auto Rental News magazine, more than half of rental car consumers are local, not tourists. This local consumer base includes people waiting for auto repairs or engaging in short-distance household moves.
According to the Cost of Government Center, taxes account for roughly 38 percent of the average cost of renting a car. Car rental levies usually consist of two separate taxes: the conventional state or local sales taxes imposed on most goods and services, plus the newer state and local excise taxes imposed specifically on car rentals. When the cost of renting a car increases, however, tourists are unable to spend their money elsewhere, hurting lodging, food, and entertainment industries.
Sin taxes and tourism taxes distort markets, reduce economic competitiveness, and encourage unsustainable increases in government spending while placing an excessive burden on lower-income taxpayers. Instead of creating and increasing discriminatory taxes, states should focus on tax reform that lowers rates, puts dollars back into the pockets of taxpayers, and encourages government efficiency by creating reasonable limits on spending.
The following documents examine sin and tourism taxes from multiple perspectives.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley Unveils Details About $541 Million Tax Increase
Mike Cason of AL.com examines Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) tax increase proposal, the various levies it will introduce, and the reaction from legislators.
Ten Principles of State Fiscal Policy
The Heartland Institute provides policymakers and civic and business leaders a highly condensed, easy-to-read guide to state fiscal policy principles. The principles range from “Above all else: Keep taxes low” to “Protect state employees from politics.”
Rich States, Poor States
The sixth edition of this publication from the American Legislative Exchange Council and authors Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Jonathan Williams offers both individual-state and comparative accounts of the negative effects of income taxes.
Alabama Governor Unveils $541 Million Tax Hike
Will Upton of Americans for Tax Reform criticizes Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) tax hike and argues it is not the way Alabama should tackle its budget problems: “The fact is, between 2000 and 2009, state spending in Alabama has exceeded the rate of inflation and population growth by just over $20 billion. There is room for spending restraint. A long term plan to reduce the state’s out-of-control spending would go a long way to solve the current budget mess and ensure predictable and sound budgets in the future.”
Sin Taxes: Size, Growth, and Creation of the Sindustry
Adam Hoffer of the Mercatus Center explores three criticisms of sin taxes. First, the taxation of selected goods as a source of general budget revenue contradicts the standard Pigouvian social-welfare argument. Second, the economic burden of sin taxes falls disproportionately on low-income households. Third, the expanding number of goods being taxed in this way results in unproductive preventive and defensive lobbying by affected industries.
Richard Williams and Katelyn Christ examine several myths about sin taxes in this Mercatus Center paper. “Recently, however, the arguments for imposing new excise taxes and increasing existing ones have reemerged across party lines and have spawned several myths about the efficacy of sin taxation.”
Taken for a Ride: Economic Effects of Car Rental Taxes
William G. Gale and Kim Rueben analyze several aspects of the economics of car rental excise taxes, considering the following questions: Why is the use of car rental taxes increasing? Are actual and proposed car rental excise taxes economically sound means of collecting public monies? Does the taxation of the customers of one industry place an unfair and disproportionate burden on too few members of society to fund a “public” project? What are the effects of car rental excise taxes on local consumers and businesses?
Research & Commentary: The Damaging Effects of Tourism Taxes
Heartland Institute Government Relations Director John Nothdurft examines tourism-related taxes and their negative effects on tourism and a city’s economy. “Instead of kicking an industry while it is down, states and localities should focus on reining in their budgets by eliminating subsidized development schemes such as sports stadiums and convention centers,” Nothdurft writes. “In order to promote tourism as part of a strong state or local economy and have a stable budget, it is vital to create a non-distorting tax code with low rates and a broad base, coupled with spending reforms.”
Effects of Discriminatory Excise Taxes on Car Rentals
This study by the Brattle Group found car rental taxes fall disproportionately on minority households, raise auto insurance costs, and reduce purchases of cars by rental companies. A 10 percent increase in taxes relative to the base rental rate reduces rental demand and purchases of new cars by rental car companies by approximately 12 percent.
Nothing in this Research & Commentary is intended to influence the passage of legislation, and it does not necessarily represent the views of The Heartland Institute. For further information on this subject, visit Budget & Tax News at http://news.heartland.org/fiscal, The Heartland Institute’s website at http://heartland.org, and PolicyBot, Heartland’s free online research database at www.policybot.org.
The Heartland Institute can send an expert to your state to testify or brief your caucus; host an event in your state; or send you further information on a topic. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance! If you have any questions or comments, contact Logan Pike, Heartland’s government relations manager, at [email protected] or 312/377-4000.