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AIDED by radio and seismic waves, scientists have discovered more than 70 lakes that lie buried under thousands of feet of ice in this glacial continent. Of these, the largest lake is a body of seemingly fresh water 140 miles long and 30 miles wide, located next to Russia's Vostok research base in East Antarctica. Though the existence of the subglacial Lake Vostok has been known for two decades, scientists gauged its large dimensions and its potential importance to science has come to light only recently. Scientists hope to find 'fossil' microbes, bacteria and viruses which have remained the same over as much as a million years. But they have yet to figure out how to study these organisms without polluting the lake. Last year, an international group of scientists meeting in London had stressed on the need to prepare an environmental impact assessment of the project. One of the ways could be to conduct experiments in a smaller lake.
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My puppy can't stand other people and other dogs outside.
by Tonje Bjerkum
Hey, I have a 10 week old Shih Tzu puppy. She has bonded well with me and my family, including the house cat. But when she is outside to go for walks, or to go pee-pee, if another dog or person comes by she freaks out. She starts crying, barking and it seems like she's in pain.
I don't know what to do. I'm confused by the whole matter. I know i should socialize her but i don't know where to start, under the circumstances Please help.
Your pup is showing a fairly normal, though a bit extreme, fear reaction to new people, places and dogs. Many pups are this way, especially if they've not been 'out and about' much.
You're absolutely right that you need to socialize her, and given her behavior, this is even more important now. However, you will need to start slowly, and move forward in small steps, trying not to stress her out too much.
Obviously she is very anxious, so start with a small step every day, and don't move onto the next one until she's doing okay with the first step. For example, you can take her to the park and sit on a bench with her on your lap (she'll feel safe there), let her look around and watch what is going on but don't force her to interact with others. If people approach to pet her and she get's frantic, just explain that she's very shy and you're working on it. People will understand. Take a lot of treats with you and reward her when she's calm and not barking, whining etc.
Once she's done this for a few days (or a week, or however long it takes her to feel okay with it), try letting people who want to pet her give her a treat instead. When she accepts it without fussing and crying etc., you give her another one as a 'bonus'! Again, let her do this for as long as it takes for her to be comfortable with it. Then try moving on to having her sit on the bench ground by your feet, and go through the whole thing again. Once she's okay with that, move to another location with different scenery, people, noises and so on and start again.
With socialization it's all down to the repetition and consistency, the more people and places and dogs that she meets (in a positive way), the less scared she will become. Don't feel that you need to rush things but do make sure that you move forward, even if it's a tiny bit at a time. Socialization should last her whole life so there's plenty of time :o)
I'd recommend that you read my pages on socialization, starting with my Socialize Your Puppy page. It has lots of tips and advice and links to other pages and articles that will help you.
Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

domain: pet


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With the release of Darth Plagueis, author James Luceno shared some great insights about the writing of the novel in an extended interview with Eric Geller, including input from George Lucas and Howard Roffman and his collaboration with Dave Filoni to work out details involving Darth Maul. You can read part one at TFN and part two at Suvudu. Also worth a listen is Luceno’s podcast interview with the ForceCast’s Jedi Journals from mid-December.
Looking ahead to this summer’s convention season, a well-deserved congratulations to Aaron Allston for being selected as the Author Guest of Honor at the Origins Game Fair (May 30-June 3 in Columbus, Ohio). Check out Aaron’s blog for a description of the long list of events in which he’ll be participating, including what is sure to be a fantastic panel about writing for Star Wars with co-panelists Tim Zahn and Mike Stackpole. Just yesterday, in fact, Tim confirmed on Facebook that he’ll be attending Celebration VI. With any luck, maybe we’ll get a similar panel there.
Read the first chapter from Allston’s X-Wing: Mercy Kill. Brilliant! A perfect first chapter. You’ll get a look at it after Apocalypse.
In other Star Wars author news, a big thank you to Paul Kemp for agreeing to do an interview with blog contributor Linda. Look for it to be posted soon, once it’s finalized and cleared through approvals.
Update: Star Wars Books Facebook page posted their first mini-excerpt from Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse.
This Friday, the 13th, marks the return of the Mandalorian Death Watch commandos to The Clone Wars in a storyline featuring Ahsoka Tano and Lux Bonteri. The episode is directed by Dave Filoni, and includes returning guest voice Jon Favreau as Pre Vizsla and a new character voiced by Katee Sackhoff, best known for playing Starbuck on Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica. As usual, 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Cartoon Network.
Tricia Barr's novel, Wynde, won the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Award Gold Medal for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Ebook. She was also part of Silence in the Library's successful all-female creator science fiction and fantasy anthology Athena's Daughters, which is available now. For excerpts and tales of her adventures in creating a fictional universe, hop over to TriciaBarr.com.
Latest posts by Fangirl (see all)
- Words of Wisdom From The Mandalorian Directors - May 8, 2020
- Hyperspace Theories: The Clone Wars Season 7 – Ahsoka and the Martez Sisters - April 30, 2020
- Get Ready for Star Wars Book Club – GIVEAWAY! - April 27, 2020

domain: hobby


On August 4, the Indian Government approved the purchase of 12 aluminum fishing vessels from China’s Shenzhen Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd.
for the total purchase price of Rs 5,500 crore ($967.1 million).
The vessels will be assembled in the state of Tamil Nadu and will be manufactured at the Shenzhen shipyard.
The new aluminum fishing vessel, which is being built in Tamil Nadu, is a prototype for a new generation of aluminum fishing ships.
The government has set aside Rs 2,000 crore to finance the project.
The aluminum fishing ship will be the first of the new generation.
It is expected to have a maximum speed of 35 knots and a maximum cruising speed of 15 knots.
The Indian Navy has been planning the purchase for several years.
It would have been the second Chinese aluminum fishing craft.


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Even parents are cautious now as their children go to schools
With primary school students having returned to schools earlier this week, primary schools in Trashigang are ensuring that students are safe from Covid-19 by emphasizing and following the guidelines and protocols of the health ministry.
The principal of Kanglung Primary School in Trashigang, Sangay Dorji said the protocols are well placed for the safety of the students in the school and everyone in the school is following the guidelines from the health ministry.
“The returning date to school was postponed and as per the directives from the ministry the mid-term break has been shortened. Earlier the school used to have two weeks of mid-term break and now it has been minimized to one week,” he said, adding that even the annual examination has been scheduled in December which earlier used to be in November.
He said the school has around 57 new students in PP level this year, a bit fewer than last year’s 61 students in PP level.
“The programs in the school are done in the open space and the school is trying to reduce gatherings inside the school campus,” Sangay Dorji said.
“The students along with teachers are made to wash their hands before entering the classroom and other guidelines as per the health ministry have been put in place in the school,” he added.
The Principal of Rongthung Primary School, Neten Tshering said the school has developed a simple SoP to manage outbreak of the pandemic and ensure that children are well protected.
“We have a school Covid focal person to advocate to children about basic Covid protocols such as proper wearing of face masks, frequent hand washing and maintaining physical distance,” he said, adding that the school has managed washing stations at strategic locations in the school.
Further, Neten Tshering said the school has placed SoP to tackle problems related to Covid this year.
“Even there is a social forum where the school along with parents are having discussion and interaction every day,” he added.
There are nine students in PP level this year and the school had 13 new children last year.
The Principal of Changmey Primary School, Jigme Tenzin said the school is seeing fewer admission in PP level, which he feels is because of the decreasing number of children in the village.
According to him, there are around 19 new students at the Changmey ECCD center and only six new PP level students in Changmey School.
“Being in a remote area, in recent years, parents had a tough time sending their children fully fed to school. Now that the school is providing two meals, once in the morning and the other in the afternoon, these have helped the parents to send their children to the school,” he added.
Meanwhile, even parents are cautious now as their children go to schools.
A parent, Dorji Norbu, said is pleased to see his son go to his school and always brief him about safety protocols before he leaves for the school.
“I am happy that even teachers are trying their best in the school for the safety of the students,” he added.
Sonam Tashi from Trashigang

domain: news


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Jam-upnovel Versatile Mage update – Chapter 2046 – The Legend of the Gift large committee reading-p1
Novel–Versatile Mage–Versatile Mage
Chapter 2046 – The Legend of the Gift injure knit
“I consider there’s a problem along with your method,” Mo Fan eventually concluded.
Translated by XephiZ
“This tiny point that ate our deposit… is really a Totem Monster?” Even Ai Jiangtu, who normally preserved a very upright confront, was donning a rich concept for the moment.
“It’s not, I did so the contrast twice,” Lingling rejected instantly.
Beside the family table, Mo Supporter, Mu Ningxue, Zhao Manyan, Jiang Shaoxu, Nanyu, Ai Jiangtu, Guan Yu, Lingling, and Jiang Shaoxu were actually looking at one another exactly like the direction they reacted on the very first day after b.you.mping into one another. That they had not a clue what you should say.
Were definitely the Heavens wanting to be fair through providing her an unique lineage, but a totally reverse head? Her learning ability and adulthood were actually easily towards the end with the whole world, let alone one of many species on Tianshan Mountain / hill!
“This little element that consumed our deposit… can be described as Totem Monster?” Even Ai Jiangtu, who normally held a really directly encounter, was dressed in a rich term for after.
Shao Zheng’s terms had everyone by delight, especially Mo Enthusiast and Mu Ningxue.
“Huh? Where did you discover that from?” Shao Zheng inquired curiously.
“Are you sure it’s her?” Mo Fanatic inquired.
In other words, the little cub had not been the Tianshan Scar White-colored Tiger’s child. It had been actually the Tianshan Scar tissue White Tiger’s elderly, based on their lineage!
Edited by Aelryinth
She already proved it. The pattern over the little cub’s brow bore a similarity of one hundred percent in lieu of twenty-five percent!
Had been the Heavens looking to be fair by providing her an unique lineage, but a completely contrary head? Her knowledge and adulthood were actually easily at the bottom of your entire world, let alone among the types on Tianshan Hill!
The Family and its Members
Section 2046: The Icon from the Treat
Exactly what the h.e.l.l was completely wrong on this society?
“As fun like a child? Dialing her a child is already overestimating her learning ability!”
Regardless of becoming a patient of misfortunes, she had granted men and women a real well-gotten icon rather than coldness. However anyone like her was being treated as a heretic and was becoming purged by a number of powerful Mages…
Someone around Lingling’s age group on Tianshan Mountain…
“Not entirely. There is indeed a type nature on Tianshan Mountain, but she’s a individual. The folks whom she served only described her since the Sacred Tiger of Tianshan Hill to shield her. Consequently, all of those other folks she assisted without exhibiting herself would a.s.sume it was actually the Sacred Tiger of Tianshan Hill.”
Shao Zheng a.s.sumed Lingling was displaying her new furry friend, though it was should be a bit cub instead. How do he even… forget it, the small cub possessed already dirtied her your hair because of the marinated beef.
Just what h.e.l.l was improper with this environment?
Mo Enthusiast rubbed his temple. His brain started to injured.
“The Totem Beast of Tianshan Mountain is really as fun as a kid,” Jiang Shaoxu look at verdict.
The Century Handbook of Writing
Bowls of marinated beef ended up emptied over the untidy dining table. The little cub acquired become a little piglet, truly embarra.s.sing the tiger species. She was still shoving on the meat regardless of whether her abdomen was about to explode. Most amusingly, she even hid the rest of the meat in openings she dug and ran away like a pet dog, almost like she was hesitant which the others would get her value.
Quite simply, the small cub had not been the Tianshan Scar Bright white Tiger’s baby. It had been actually the Tianshan Scar tissue Whitened Tiger’s older person, determined by their lineage!
Shao Zheng’s thoughts needed anyone by big surprise, primarily Mo Lover and Mu Ningxue.
“This minimal point that consumed our deposit… is truly a Totem Monster?” Even Ai Jiangtu, who normally preserved an extremely direct encounter, was sporting a wealthy phrase for when.
It had been a lot more acceptable should the Tianshan Scar tissue Whitened Tiger was the Totem Monster. Why must this brainless little cub function as the actual Totem Monster? Other Totem Beasts acquired experienced hards.h.i.+ps with humankind. It needed several decades of believe in and protection for those Totem Beasts and people to arrive alongside one another, however the small cub was jammed to these people like periodontal since their primary face. He had never witnessed this kind of foolhardy Totem Beast just before!
“Weren’t the one inquiring me to compare and contrast the style on her brow along with the Totem Closes? I was carrying it out to confirm my speculation too, but…” Lingling was still suddenly lost in believed.
“A man or woman?” Every person exchanged glances with each other.
the diving pool analysis
Interpreted by XephiZ
Mo Admirer rubbed his temple. His go begun to injured.

domain: literature


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Wondering about the latest bathroom design trends for 2021? This year, there are a lot of styles and pieces to choose from, including sumptuous spa tubs, innovative light fixtures and gorgeous wall graphics. Many of this year's biggest trends veer away from the traditional and lean toward the creative and bold. There is something out there for everyone, and treating your bathroom to a refresh could not only make it more inviting but could increase your home’s value, too. Ready to learn more about bathroom remodel ideas for 2021? Here are some of our favorites.
1. Make a Statement With a Chandelier
That’s right — chandeliers are a major trend in bathroom design right now. In traditional bathrooms, you could go for an elegant piece in brass, a crystal chandelier or a fixture that fits with the classic theme. Other bathroom designs let you get a bit more eclectic. Whatever your style, choose a chandelier that stands out, draws the eye and adds a bit of romance to the room.
2. Updated Subway Tile
White, rectangular subway tile has been popular for a long time — and with good reason, since it gives bathrooms a clean, bright look. Today, however, that trend is finally starting to shift. What’s replacing it? Colorful subway tile — especially deep, dreamy blues. The smooth finish still gives your bathroom a clean, fresh look, but the color allows you to infuse the room with more personality. Another variation on this trend is subway tile that comes in shapes other than rectangular. In other words, you can find ceramic tiles with the same glossy finish as subway tiles, but they come instead as squares, hexagons or another shape. These tiles say “modern” without losing the timeless feel of subway tiles.
3. Graphic Statement Walls
Wallpaper is coming back in a big way — and there are several ways to use it. The first is more formal, to give your bathroom a polished and posh look. You can find wallpaper with geometric or stripe patterns and luxurious colors to line the walls and create an elegant space. The other big way in which wallpaper is trending is as a statement wall. Choose one wall to feature a bold floral print, a jungle pattern or a seascape. It doesn’t even have to be the entire wall. Do half tiled and half wallpapered on your statement wall if you think a fully papered wall might look too heavy.
4. Create an Indoor-Outdoor Connection
This is a bathroom design trend that is getting bigger and bigger as time goes by — and there are lots of ways to create an indoor-outdoor connection. The first and most obvious is to redesign your bathroom with big windows or sliding doors to let in the light and the view. However, this may not be for everyone — especially for privacy-loving people or for homes situated in view of the neighbors. Other ways to make that indoor-outdoor connection include shower windows or windows with blinds so you can let in more light and color. Skylights can help, too, if natural sunlight is your goal. Last of all, if you can’t build a connection to the outside, try bringing the outdoors inside with potted plants and bits of greenery to make your bathroom feel a little more outdoorsy and serene.
5. Classic Patterns — With a Twist
Classic patterns such as checkerboard tiles and Greek keys are still stylish, but the latest bathroom trends for 2021 are calling for these themes with a twist. For instance, checkerboards might be made more intricate with mosaics that create color blocks. Greek key designs could be placed just haphazardly enough to give them that shabby-chic look that makes the walls or shower more interesting. Spice things up with color or design your own take on the pattern! Let your personality shine.
6. Include Natural Elements in Your Design
This trend is another way to bring more nature into your bathroom. Add some natural earth tones and features with a stone bathtub or shower, or go classic with a marble countertop. Natural wood is another great way to go — look for burled vanities, bamboo, or other beautiful wood grains and shades. Natural elements can also be included in the decor. A bowl of pretty stones, a stool shaped like a stump — anything that includes that fresh-from-nature look can help create a spa-like, tranquil atmosphere.
7. Tubs Take Center Stage
Tubs are starting to stand in the limelight as luxurious bathroom focal points. To get this look, you’ll need a brag-worthy tub. Look for stone tubs, beautiful marble tubs, tubs with unusual shapes, standalone tubs or a retro, claw-foot tub. Be sure to plan plumbing carefully with this trend. For instance, if you’re installing a claw-foot tub, you may want to leave plumbing exposed and beautify it with brass. Roman tubs or tubs in modern styles may call for cleverly hidden fixtures.
8. Fantastical Shower Heads
The days of the traditional shower head are long gone. Nowadays, people are looking to liven things up with luxury — and where shower heads are concerned, that can mean a lot of things. Consider a rainfall shower head if you enjoy that dancing-in-the-rain feeling. Shower jets can give you a 360-degree clean. Standing spouts, removable sprayers, shower heads with ambient lighting or speakers — the sky is the limit, so choose something that you love to look at and use.
9. Increase Ambiance With Mood Lighting
One of the biggest trends this year is creative bathroom lighting — and that goes well beyond the previously mentioned chandeliers. People are loving the look of mirrors with backlighting or rim lighting. Another great way to enhance the mood is to install under-cabinet lighting. This draws the eye to your vanity, creating a beautiful focal point and a perfectly moody atmosphere. Create lighted alcoves, install floor lights or come up with another creative idea to make your bathroom stand out.
10. Add Richness With Color
As for color trends in 2021, bathrooms are starting to veer away from whites and neutral palettes (which are still popular, even if waning a tad). Today, it’s all about rich earthy and jewel tones. This means bold, forest-inspired greens, deep blues, turquoise, terra cotta and more. Use these bold shades to create a warm, comforting atmosphere or a fresh, nature-inspired look.
11. Look for Unusual Metal Finishes
Recently, we’ve seen a rise in finishes other than brushed nickel for faucets, shower heads and other essential bathroom hardware. First it was brass, then gold and rose gold. Matte black fixtures have started to trend, and now you can even find some fixtures with gorgeous copper finishes. There are no rules here apart from the idea that whatever metal you choose, match them throughout. In other words, if you go with brass, then make sure your sink faucet, shower plumbing, drawer pulls and towel racks are all the same shade. These are some of the hottest bathroom 2021 trends out there — but there are lots more to look at, too. The main thing for this year is to make sure that whatever you do, make it creative and make it your own. In the market for modern bathroom products to complete your design? Be sure to shop the selection at Modern Bathroom!
Shop Our Products

domain: artistic


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‹ Secret of the Time Tablets • Merry Christmas from Batgirl and Supergirl (2015) ›
September 3, 2015 in comics | Permalink
Thought about giving Batgirl a win just this once, but, well, she doesn’t currently have her own prime time TV show. Sorry Babs!
As always, original artwork for this is available HERE.
Tags: batgirl, supergirl
Heads-up. https://t.co/SshYDocxjy https://t.co/frqw7Mw1Kd 2 weeks ago
Hex bump. in reply to mikemaihack 2 weeks ago
Wanted to paint something this morning, and for no real reason settled on Scarlet Witch. https://t.co/jGPG2PKcyH 2 weeks ago
follow me on twitter!


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Skip to content. |
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24/7 Reference help
Text 970-497-2131 and enter TOV as the first three characters of the text, then type your question.
or chat below
—Jackie Collins best selling author
Swishy and other fishy tales
We’ll explore some colorful stories set in the ocean this week.

domain: library


there is no real standard of measurement. its really what the maker determines and labels. if a barrel maker has pretty good barrels and then sells match grade it generally means the barrel rifling and bore diameter crowning etc are more uniform.
just because a barrel has been air gauged doesnt mean they arent tossing em all in the same bin regardless of results...
match grade can often be a marketing term rather than a useful designation the buyer can use. i would be more willing to believe a match grade air gauged barrel from the colt custom shop is a better barrel than the standard one than i would be willing to believe it of taurus as an example.
an air gauge pushes a measuring device down a bore to determine uniformity of rifling
"Gun control: The theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her panty hose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet wound." — L. Neil Smith
The problem with being stupid is you cannot simply decide to stop doing dumb things...
"I crapped my pants to avoid the draft!!" -Ted Nugent


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The Washington County Local Management Board earned a $674,447 grant from the Governor’s Office of Children to fund five initiatives aimed at strengthening and improving the lives of youth and families residing within the county.
The grant will fund:
- The Family Center, a multi-generational program targeting youth and young adults not attending school due to pregnancy or becoming a teen parent;
- The School Based Mental Health Program, which places a licensed mental health clinician in every public secondary school and select elementary schools;
- Intervention & Case Management for Children of Incarcerated Parents;
- Disconnected Youth Career Readiness Program Enhancements, which funds programs for youth ages 16-24 who neither work nor attend school; and
- a human services consultant to collect and analyze community data for use in developing new programming impacting disconnected youth.
Arlene Lee, executive director of the Governor’s Office for Children, said:
Maryland’s Local Management Boards are the boots on the ground in our communities and we value their unique role in developing local approaches to addressing needs for children, youth and families. It is truly wonderful that these grants will support so many promising programs.
View Washington County’s press release here.

domain: sociology


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- Dual Active Isomer Formula of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
- Ideal 1:1 ratio of cis-9, trans-11 to trans-10, cis-12 isomers
- Ultra Premium Quality
MAX CLA™ contains ultra premium conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and a unique isomer or special type of omega-6 (linoleic acid) fatty acid and, as the name implies, the double bonds of the linoleic acid are conjugated. Conjugated linoleic acid is naturally found in beef, and dairy product like milk, eggs, butter, yogurt, and many cheeses. Additionally, modern processing methods of meats and dairy have reduced the levels of CLA in these foods and due to low fat diets people eat fewer CLA rich foods. Supplementation is the only effective way to achieve healthy CLA levels and works best when combined with a sensible diet and regular exercise program.
Softgel consists of gelatin, glycerin, water.
As a dietary supplement take two softgels three times per day.
Disclaimers & Warnings
KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE AWAY FROM MOISTURE, SUNLIGHT AND EXCESS HEAT. ALWAYS KEEP TIGHTLY SEALED.
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

domain: health


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The American Nurses Association (ANA) has teamed up with the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Network of Immunization Nurses and Associates and the Immunization Action Coalition to produce an exciting series of netconferences- for nurses, by nurses.
This series of online seminars will feature presentations by CDC nurses and other experts, and show case nurses importance in immunization practice.
Schedule of Topics:
April 25 (2 pm ET) – Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel – Educated Decisions Caring Choices
May 2 (2 pm ET) – *Special National Nurses Week netconference* - Reducing Vaccine Administration Errors
Get the log-in instructions and more on at ANAimmunize.org.
Come and learn why nurses are critical to immunization!

domain: medical


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We are a contemporary Japanese restaurant that served traditional sushi as well as modern fusion cuisines with Southwestern, Korean, and other flavors around the world.
Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Address: 2200 W. Higgins Rd. Suite #201
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
Copyright ©2015 Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.

domain: food


text:
Grow old together love card. Anniversary card.Tense and Urgent
Grow old together love card. Anniversary card.
"So this was the plan. To grow old together."
"Yep. This was the plan."
A little bit sweet, a little bit funny. This card would make a great anniversary card to your long time beloved.
Printed on 100% recycled card stock, this card is based on an illustration done in gouache and ink.
Size: 5 x 5. Comes with your choice of envelope colour- red, yellow, or off-white.
Packed with care, it ships in a rigid mailer.
Thanks for visiting.

domain: design


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Calculate how much money you can make from Google Adsense using the Adsense calculator tool. To use the tool input the following information
- Page Impressions
- Click Through Rate (CTR) in %
- Cost Per Click
Once you have entered the following information the Adsense calculator tool we offer will provide you with estimate earning from the Google advertisements you display at your website.

domain: economics


Claire Harrison writes
A suggestion for today…..Try using music to support the wellbeing and moods of everyone at home.
Music has a profound impact on how we feel. We are exposed to music or sound most of the day and often do not even notice it – in TV programmes, on the radio, people talking (tone/volume).
With several people in the house together all day every day it is no doubt going to get tense at times. Use music as a way of shifting or lifting the atmosphere.
Try listening to a playlist that will keep everyone relaxed. If you have Spotify, Youtube or Amazon Music you can type in ‘Relaxing morning music’ and lots of options will pop up. Put it on a low level as a background sound.
Alternatively. music with a strong beat and uplifting lyrics to boost the mood. One of my favourites at the moment is the ‘Mood Booster’ playlist on Spotify.


On September 16, tofubeats will release his new album, “POSITIVE.” The limited edition of the album will come with a DVD which features music videos for songs that he has released over the course of his career. One of the songs from his indie era that never had a music video, “Asa ga Kuru Made Owaru Koto no nai Dance wo”, now has one. tofubeats released it on YouTube today. The clip features video footage of Tokyo which showcases the vibrancy of the city. Check it out after the jump!


The US Marine Corps has received two new CH-53K King Stallion heavy duty helicopters.
The aircraft was manufactured by Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin, and was delivered to the Marine Corps in the last quarter of 2022.
“Sikorsky employees use advanced technologies to produce the CH-53K helicopter, which enhances the capabilities and survivability of the US Marine Corps,” said Bill Falk, director of the Sikorsky CH-53K program. “With the CH-53K’s transformative technologies, more is possible for the Marine Corps and our allies to deter threats in the changing battlefield landscape.”
– AD – CONTINUE READING BELOW –
The CH‑53K’s heavy lift capabilities exceed all other US Department of Defense rotary wing platforms and is the only heavy lift helicopter that will remain in production through 2032 and beyond.
The CH-53K is an intelligent aircraft developed according to the standards of the 21st century, which brings improved safety and survivability to the fighter. The CH-53K helicopter will provide decades of worldwide heavy lift and multi-mission service to the Marine Corps, Joint Forces and our allies.
The full-authority digital fly-by-wire flight control system (FCS) is one of the many impressive features that set the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter apart from any other heavy-lift aircraft. “Full authority” means that the FCS provides all aircraft movement – not just supplementing the pilot for stability.
The new heavy-lift helicopter can carry three times the weight of its predecessor at a whopping 27,000 pounds. With that kind of lift capacity, the CH-53K can carry up to four Humvees more than 100 miles.


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Please help me with my ongoing mission (founded 2006) to keep Jazz from becoming invisible.
Contributions of any amount are helpful: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-mission-of-jazz-video-guy
Monthly subscriptions for as low as $1 are also helpful: https://www.patreon.com/bretprimack
Get the Music: https://amzn.to/2RoNxF5
Get the Movie: https://amzn.to/2Q6KPDU
Get the Book: https://amzn.to/2yGpdb3
Learn from Jaco: https://amzn.to/2Jqg9uR
Kurosawa’s Rashomon told the story of murder from three perspecatives. Jaco’s composition, Three Views of a Secret, is about something from difference views. Featuring Toots Thielmanns on harmonica and Jaco on piano.
John Francis Anthony “Jaco” Pastorius III (/ˈdʒɑːkoʊ pæsˈtɔːriəs/, December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz bass guitarist who was a member of Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. He worked with Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, and recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader. His bass playing employed funk, lyrical solos, bass chords, and innovative harmonics. He was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988, one of only seven bassists so honored (and the only electric bass guitarist).
Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian-American jazz musician. He was known for his harmonica playing, as well as his guitar, whistling skills, and composing. According to jazz historian Ted Gioia, his most important contribution was in “championing the humble harmonica”, which Thielemans made into a “legitimate voice in jazz”. He eventually became the “preeminent” jazz harmonica player.
His first professional performances were with Benny Goodman’s band when they toured Europe in 1949 and 1950. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1951, becoming a citizen in 1957. From 1953 to 1959 he played with George Shearing, and then led his own groups on tours in the U.S. and Europe. In 1961 he recorded and performed live one of his own compositions, “Bluesette”, which featured him playing guitar and whistling. In the 1970s and 1980s, he continued touring and recording, appearing with musicians such as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Werner, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Elis Regina and Paquito D’Rivera.
Among the film soundtracks that Thielemans recorded are The Pawnbroker (1964), Midnight Cowboy (1969), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Sugarland Express (1974) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). His harmonica theme song for the popular Sesame Street TV show was heard for 40 years. He often performed and recorded with Quincy Jones, who once called him “one of the greatest musicians of our time.” In 2009 he was designated a Jazz Master by The National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor for a jazz musician in the United States.


What is iTero?
iTero is a revolutionary new technique, which is used to create dental impressions. iTero technology uses digital 3D images of the patient’s mouth, rather than dental trays and putty and can be used to create a range of different dental devices. The technology ensures that impressions are extremely accurate and eliminates the need for re-appointment. iTero technology is set to revolutionize the way dentists create dental impressions. The new technique will reduce time in the dentist’s chair, improve accuracy, reduce mess and eliminate the need for further appointments.
iTero enables Dr.Love to take a digital scan of implant and or teeth and bite, make any necessary adjustments in real-time, and then transmit the file via a wireless Internet connection to the laboratory for further processing. The physical model is then sent to the cosmetic dental lab of your restorative Doctor’s choice where a highly precise restoration is created. With significant benefits such as increased patient satisfaction, improved clinical outcomes, and enhanced office efficiencies, iTero helps enhance the quality of our work and the restorative Doctors.
How does iTero work?
iTero technology has been developed by Cadent, and uses a digital scanner to generate perfect replica images of the mouth. The images and measurements can then be used by dental technicians to create and manufacture dental devices, which will fit the mouth perfectly and increase the efficacy of the treatment.


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Printed Color Guard Flag 563080
Always made in the USA, Band Shoppe’s True Color Digitally Printed color guard flags are printed with the latest technology to ensure fantastic color saturation and sharp images using water-based, eco-friendly European ink. This cutting-edge process locks in color, making them completely machine washable.
Band Shoppe Printed Show Flag 563080 | Printed Color Guard Flags
As Shown: Photorealistic illustration of Bronze and Gold Clock Gears
Size: Measures approx. 36″ x 54″
Shape: Arc Shape
Band Shoppe is proud to offer True Color Digital Silks. Vivid colors and clean, sharp detail created with the latest printing technology. True Color Digital Silks utilize a process that creates equally bright colors on both sides of the fabric. A special finish locks in the color, making them completely washable. Brighter and less transparent than other brands of printed flags. True Color Digital Silks are sure to add stunning brilliance to any performance.
Made from 100% genuine poly china silk, Band Shoppe digital silks are printed using the best water-based, eco-friendly, European inks. Our processes use renewable resources and are by-product free. Whether straight from the catalog or a completely original design, Band Shoppe is proud of every flag we sew!
- Band Shoppe flags printed on White Poly China Silk
- Brilliant color on both sides of flag
- Strong double-layered headers
- Reinforced stress points
- Clear monofilament thread used for strongest seams
- Interlock double needle seams
- Header measures 3″ wide
- Attaches to pole with a soft, loop-side of a hook & loop fastener sewn into the top and bottom of header pocket
- Completely machine washable
- Customization available at additional charge


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Before we dive into the FITT principle and its application, it’s essential to understand diabetes and the unique challenges it presents. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) resulting from one of two primary factors:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Typically diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This results in a lifelong dependence on insulin injections or an insulin pump.
- Type 2 Diabetes: This form of diabetes is more common and often associated with lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, and obesity. In Type 2 diabetes, the body either becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Regardless of the type, diabetes poses significant health risks, including heart disease, kidney problems, and nerve damage. Effective diabetes management encompasses various components, with exercise being a cornerstone.
The Role of Exercise in Diabetes Management
Physical activity offers a wide array of benefits for individuals with diabetes, including:
- Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Exercise helps the body use insulin more effectively, facilitating better blood sugar control.
- Blood Sugar Regulation: Regular exercise can lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of hyperglycemia.
- **Weight Management

domain: biology


Centre will stop funding states for implementing the ambitious e-gov initiative. That will hurt the weaker states and affect its flagship Digital India campaign too
Pratap Vikram Singh | April 11, 2015
The budget 2015-16 has excluded from the list of centre-sponsored schemes eight programmes, including the national e-governance plan (NeGP), being overseen by the department of electronics and information technology (DeitY).
The withdrawal of funding support for the NeGP, UPA government’s flagship initiative for e-governance with a total proposed allocation of Rs 46,000 crore, is likely to widen the gap between the better performing and lagging states in e-governance. While it is not logical for the centre to continue funding to the states for an indefinite period, it will make e-governance messier, given the lack of technical capacity within the government machinery at the state level.
States will now spend from their own pockets to keep core infrastructure projects under the plan running. It may also stir up the issue of standardisation and interoperability among states and union territories (UTs), as the centre will have little say in state IT projects. Lack of interoperability will hamper the electronic sharing of information among states, adversely impacting the vision for a Digital India.
The centre’s withdrawal of funding comes close on the heels of the report of the 14th finance commission, which provided for devolution of 44 percent of gross tax revenue to states, up from 32 percent.
Going by the government’s logic, since the states will have more money in their kitty, they should themselves plan the fate of these programmes and not the central government.
Jaijit Bhattacharya, partner, infrastructure and government services, KPMG, said this is the right time to delegate ownership to states, as they have matured in e-governance over the years. He, however, conceded that issues such as standardisation – a set of common software protocols which helps in the seamless sharing of information between different computer systems – will be completely ignored.
“It took 12 years for DeitY to set over 40 standards for software used in the government. It is still not a priority. With the advent of Internet of Things and the delinking of funding support, the situation will only worsen,” Bhattacharya said.
Tanmoy Chakrabarti, vice-president, government industry solutions unit, TCS, said the delinking would cut red tape and lengthier file movements, and process of approvals. But, he added, the wedge between the progressive and laggard states will only grow.
Arindam Guha, senior director, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (India), said given the lack of capacity in some states in contract and project management, the centre should continue to help them with empanelment of efficient vendors and standard RFP templates which would help them in choosing the right technology partner.
An industry expert said the government must not leave execution of Digital India and other e-governance initiatives to the communications and IT ministry. “We have seen the case of NeGP. Since Digital India spans across several line ministries and departments, the prime minister’s office (PMO) must form an inter-ministerial group for its effective implementation.”
The NeGP, approved in 2006, is a mega plan to provide electronic delivery of information and services. It has two major components: one is infrastructure, which includes state data centres (SDC), state wide area network (SWAN), state service delivery gateway (SSDG), and rural service delivery outlets called common services centres (CSCs). The other relates to service delivery across 31 departments or say mission mode projects (MMPs). Recently, DeitY added 13 new MMPs.
Some of the projects were covered under the central sector scheme and centre-sponsored schemes. The central sector schemes are those which come exclusively under the centre’s domain. Normally the centre provides complete funding for sector projects. The sponsored schemes are meant by and large for state subjects or the subjects falling in the concurrent list. The centre partially funds the project. Here the centre transfers its share of funding to the state’s treasury, unlike in the sector scheme where it is directly given to the implementing agency.
After nine years of continuous financial support from the centre, states will now have to fund infrastructure projects on its own. When the NeGP was approved these core projects – SDC, SWAN, CSCs, and SSDG – were completely sponsored by DeitY. In 2013, the government converted these schemes into centrally sponsored ones. Now the states are on their own.
In the case of MMPs, the final call on funding will continue to be taken by the respective central ministries. In most likelihood, said a DeitY official, the central ministries and departments are going to reduce their financial support for MMPs falling under the concurrent and state lists. All of these MMPs have been included in the next phase of NeGP, called e-Kranti. The new government, however, is yet to approve the next phase.
According to DeitY secretary RS Sharma, “The central sector schemes in e-governance, including national service delivery gateway, would continue to be funded by the centre.”
It is interesting to note that while digital infrastructure is operational in many states, there are still about 10 to 12 states and UTs that have lagged in execution. SDC and SSDG are operational only in 23 of the 36 states and UTs (see box).
E-district was another major project covered under the centrally sponsored scheme and it may also be handed over to the states for implementation. It aims to eliminate human interface in the delivery of certificates and licences. This project is operational in only 312 out of the 640 districts. The project was expected to be completed in all districts by the end of 2016.
Sharma said funds for the MMPs covered under the next phase of NeGP will come from the respective department of the central or state governments. So will be the funding pattern under Digital India, the umbrella
programme that may include the next phase of NeGP. The DeitY secretary said , “The central ministries and departments and state governments would have the overall responsibility for implementation of various MMPs and other projects under Digital India.
Everything you need to know about NeGP
States/UTs where SDC is still not operational
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Delhi and Chandigarh (these two have taken help of NIC for data centre)
States/UTs where SSDG is still not operational
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Daman and Diu
India is determined to “set an example” for the rest of the word in the post-pandemic economic revival, prime minister Narendra Modi has said, underling the need to become self-reliant. “There is also a widespread debate on how the economies of various countries, including
Close to 48 lakh migrant labourers have been able to reach home from the cities they were working in, as the Indian Railways have run a total of 3,543 “Sharmik Special” trains from May 1. Following the home ministry order regarding the movement by special trains of migrant worker
Before the novel coronavirus hit it, Mumbai about 10-12 lakh labourers from elsewhere had made it their home. The figure for the state of Maharashtra was another 18-20 lakh. As the pandemic spread and the Maximum City emerged as the worst-hit place in India, all economic activities came to an end, and with
For the rest of the world, it is not easy to understand China when it comes to politics or economics. Under pressure from the international community, it has accepted to open the country for a “comprehensive” probe into the origin of the deadly coronavirus. But it is not clear whether the Asian
Even as humanitarian support is pouring in to help distressed migrants amid Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown, civil society organizations and NGOs are working for sanitation of community toilets which have become breeding source of virus infection. Every community toilet has 20 seats. Each
India, completing about two months of lockdown to protect against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, has made good use of the time to improve health infrastructure, the government has said. Countering media reports “about some decisions of the government regarding the lockdown implem


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“live free or die!”
The Gen. John Stark House is a historic house museum at 2000 Elm Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. The house, a single-story Cape style farmhouse, was built in 1736 by Archibald Stark. Stark's son John, a hero of the American Revolutionary War, lived in this house from 1736 to 1765; it is where he brought his new bride Molly, and where two of their children were born. Originally located on Canal Street, the house remained in the Stark family until 1821. It was acquired by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in 1835, and used for worker housing. In 1937 the company donated the building to the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which restored the property and adapted it for use as a meeting site. It was moved to its present site, which is also on the original 800-acre (320 ha) Stark farm, in 1968. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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domain: history


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On a Saturday night in Saskatoon, a few ticks past 8 p.m., firefighter Ryan Dilks forged a crucial partnership with firefighter Jeff Cornwall.
Cornwall, legs pumping fast, chased down a ball flung by Dilks. He completed the frantic pursuit by scoring a breakaway goal, and the two Saskatchewan Rush defenders — who both missed all of last season while launching firefighting careers — celebrated heartily.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“At the start of the year when I first came back, I was a little bit heavy,” Cornwall said after his Rush improved to 4-2 with a 9-7 win over the visiting Colorado Mammoth. “I’m lucky, because I dropped a little bit of baggage; lost a few pounds. I feel a lot more ready for the cardio aspect of the game, and now it’s just getting comfortable. I’m definitely making mistakes out there, but my teammates are bailing me out, and I’m starting to (come) into my own again.”
The fast-running Cornwall, whose breakaway goal with 12 seconds on the clock clinched a National Lacrosse League title for the Rush in 2016, has joined with Dilks to reignite the Saskatchewan defence.


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Whatever their perceived problems, Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh produced useful scores to power Kings XI Punjab to a competitive 181-5 in a home against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
But their embarrassingly bad catching towards the end of the game allowed Kevin Pietersen to sneak Bangalore home in the final over.
Their seventh loss in eight matches would mean Sangakkara's side is all but out of the title race.
Pietersen, playing his second game in the tournament, struck 66 (44b, 7x4, 1x6) to anchor the chase after Bangalore had stalled in the middle part of the chase. They needed 105 from the final 10 overs. Virat Kohli added 76 in less nine overs to set the stage up for an exciting finish.
Robin Uthappa smashed Brett Lee for two sixes and a four in the 17th over that produced 25 runs in all, swinging the game in Bangalore's favour.
In the end it became a cakewalk, with Pietersen smashing the winning boundary through extra cover with five balls remaining.


Model No.: NWDMP-30
Shanghai Newwall Machinery provide turnkey dry mortar project since 2003, we not only manufacture
whole machines including automation, but also install the machine on site and provide formulation.
The machine productivity is 5-80T/h. During 13 years, we have finished over 300 projects at home and
abroad. We have special technology about the rotary sand dryer and round firebrick burning furnace.
The mix plant consists of the following parts:
1.Wet Sand Drying System: Triple-cylinder dryer to reduce the sand water content to ≤0.5%;
2. Raw Materials Storage System: store all kind of raw materials ;
3. Lifting & Conveying System: Bucket Elevator, Belt Conveyor, Screw Conveyor, Crane;
4. Weighing System: depending on different formulas, weighing in proportion accurately;
5. Mixing System: with 60~180s blending, materials are mixed evenly;
6.Bagging System: end products are packed by 20/50/sack, or delivered by tank truck directly;
7.Dust Collection System: collect dust from drying system, weighing system, mixing system, packing
system, protect the working and living environment.
8.Control System: Semi-auto/Full-auto Control, convenient for operation and management.
The product can be produced by our plant:
Masonry mortar for brick
Masonry mortar for AAC block
Plastering mortar for brick
Plastering mortar for AAC block
Thermal insulation mortar
Advantages and service:
1. over 13 years experience focusing on Dry Mortar Production Line;
2. Over 300 projects experience, each project is customized
3. Over 100 workers and 20 engineers
4. Total 5000m2 production workshop
5. Provide turnkey project for dry mortar, include plant design, machine manufacturing and installation,
trial production and formulation
6. Manufacturing all machinery by ourselves including the automation, the quality is under control
7. Export experience and professional abroad installation team.
8. Warranty: 12 months since the installation is finished.
1. what type of dry mortar you want to produce?
2. what raw materials you will use?
3. will you get these raw materials in bulk or by bag?
4. how many ton per hour you want to produce?
5. which structure type you will use? Series type or tower type?
6. if need dryer, which type of fuel you will use?
7. your workshop layout?
8. geological conditions, snow load and wind load?
Contact us if you need more details on Dry Mortar Mixer. We are ready to answer your questions on packaging, logistics, certification or any other aspects about Construction Machinery、Dry Mortar Mixing Plant. If these products fail to match your need, please contact us and we would like to provide relevant information.
Product Categories : Dry Mortar Batch Plant
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This article discusses the types, properties, and uses of continuous-fiber-reinforced composites, including glass, carbon, aramid, boron, continuous silicon carbide, and aluminum oxide fiber composites. While polyester and vinyl ester resins are the most used matrix materials for commercial applications, epoxy resins, bismaleimide resins, polyimide resins, and thermoplastic resins are used for aerospace applications. The article addresses design considerations as well as product forms and fabrication processes.
The design and analysis of aerospace and industrial composite components and assemblies requires a detailed knowledge of materials properties, which, in turn, depend on the manufacturing, machining, and assembly methods used. This article, through several tables and graphs, provides the mechanical properties, physical properties, and service characteristics of representative composite fiber-resin combinations, including thermoplastic matrix composites such as thermoplastic polyester resins, thermoplastic polyamide resins, and thermoplastic polysulfone resins, and thermoset matrix composites such as thermoset polyester resins, thermoset phenolic resins, thermoset epoxy resins, thermoset polyimide resins, and thermoset bismaleimide resins.


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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Not the best of this series,
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Atonement of Blood (Sister Fidelma Mysteries Book 24) (Kindle Edition)
Not sure if long series are a good thing. However, Fidelma was somewhat less irritating in this book, but for fans of the series still worth having.

domain: entertainment


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Play Online games at Arcadegamescorner.com
We at Arcade Games Corner aim to provide the best and excellent Free Online Games to our guest, visitors and online gamers. All our games are properly selected and filtered before publishing to our site to give our players an enjoyable experience while playing games on Arcade Games Corner. Arcade Games Corner doing our best to deliver the best and good games to our visitors and players. With a thousand of free online games for kids, mmorpg games, free online games for girls, rpg online games, funny flash online games, cartoon games, action online games, and more flash free online games to browse and play on Arcade Games Corner. Play Online Games in Arcade Games Corner is totally free. Come visit our site to enjoy playing all our Free Online Games, Flash Online Games, Infinity 3D online games. Play Free Online games on different game genre, such as Action Online Games, Adventure Games, Puzzle games, car racing & driving games, war games, and a lot more to browse for your Online games prefer to play.
Merge 13 is a super fun and addictive logic puzzle game, featuring relaxing gameplay and nice colorful graphics. Your goal is to connect board pieces with the same number, so they merge into the next number, which in turn can be connected with other numbers on the board. The more numbers you connect at the same time, the higher your score is and the more coins you earn. Spend coins on powerful boosters and get even better results. Your ultimate goal is to reach the number 13! Need a break from your daily activities? Sit back, relax and play Merge 13 now for free!
Language: deutsch, english, français, italiano, Nederlands, polski, português, Русский язык, español, Türkçe, 日本語
Rating: 4 out of 5
Touch and Catch
It's time to harvest the fruits on your farm! Of course you could climb into the apple tree and pick the apples from there, but that would be exhausting and even dangerous. Or you could relax a bit at the ground level and dexterously catch the windfalls. How hard can it be? Once the apples begin to fall down, you will quickly realize, how wrong you were. You have to be fast and precise or the apples will fall to the ground and the mellow fruitfulness will be as lost, as your game. Touch and Catch features classic arcade gameplay and the retro charme of 8 bit graphics, play now for free and see how many fruits can catch!
It's not long since Sudoku has taken over the world of puzzle games in a lightning. Now it is time to take the experience to the next level and tease your brain with this free, entertaining online game! Sudoku Blitz adds all the fun and the challenge of an arcade game to the classic puzzle and brain teasing elements that made Sudoku an instant worldwide success. In two challenging game modes you place the falling pieces on the board following to the normal Sudoku rules, get bonuses for extra hard placements and try to fill the whole Sudoku board!
Skill, Board Games
Ready for some fast-paced arcade action? Press play and test your reflexes in Bubble Shot, the classic bubble shooting game! Load your bubble cannon and find out if you are still as fast as lightning or already as slow as a hundred years old! The game starts with easy challenges: Only a few colorful bubbles will be thrown into the sky. Click and hold to aim, release to shoot the bubbles from the sky before they disappear again. Mind the ballistic trajectory and flight time of your projectiles, though! Complete levels to earn coins and buy power-ups that will help you to pass the more and more tricky challenges. I doubt that you will ever see level 30! Take on the challenge and prove that you have the nerves and the skill to beat this fantastic free online game!
Skill, Action Games, Puzzle Games

domain: game


By Hannah Betts
This week brought fresh evidence for the latest miracle cure in the quest for weight loss, slowing ageing, and securing a longer life - namely, fasting, or lurching from feast to famine, caveman-style.
The test subjects were aged between 48 and 52 (oh, god, my age) and just a little overweight (oh, god, my situation). Long story short: they ate what they wanted for 12 hours at a time, then fasted for 36, shedding just over 3 kilograms within a month. According to findings from the University of Graz, Austria, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, other advantages included reduced inflammation, better blood sugar control, improved heart health, boosted brain function, world peace and the like.
Can I be the only person emitting a weary sigh? I realise that guides to the 5:2, 6:1, 16:8 and what have you are selling like hot cakes. Moreover, whatever the claims to evolutionary biology, I understand the logic that – because our society is engaged in a perpetual binge – a penitential period feels called for. And I also know many individuals for whom fasting has become the way, the truth, the life. However, surely the answer to our disordered eating is not more disordered eating? I have come across enough men and women who have suffered from bulimia to feel profound unease advocating some variation on the theme.
Besides, can't normality be achieved by eating (fairly) normally, as it was before we started stuffing ourselves with massive portions of calorie-clogged fake food? As some of the articles generated by the Graz study conceded, benefits were similar to those seen in dieters who do the traditional thing of reducing calories. It's just that people find fasting simpler - and doubtless more modish and attention-grabbing, given that a dramatic quick fix is always going to be more appealing than the tedium of good sense; boom and bust more thrilling than bullishly buggering on.
I write this as someone on their first ever – not diet, because diets are a self-defeating, misogynistic trap – there must be some sophisticated French word for it? In prosaic Anglo-Saxon terms, I'm "vaguely watching what I eat", after a period of illness, ghastly drugs and comfort greed. So I'm vaguely upping the vegetables, vaguely keeping a food diary, and vaguely cutting back by a daily amount of kilojoules so marginal I don't even register it.
I have no patience whatsoever, but don't hugely object to this way of doing things. It's boring, but not hard, and one doesn't have to engage with diet inanity. I haven't even engaged in matters particularly religiously – there's been a weekend of doughnuts and chips, meals out, and industrial quantities of butter, peanut butter and toast. But, then, I was eating like a complete loon before so it's a relief to feel human again rather than like some great gaping maw.
Novice – and, indeed – mere toe-dipper that I am, for the first time in my life I understand the rhythm of the regime. Viz the daily drama and sense of purpose, the small victories and crushing setbacks, lofty highs and leaden lows. Plus the fact that one increasingly yearns to bury one's face in a planet-sized pizza, it being a pernicious lie that nothing tastes as good as thin feels. And, then – when you come to the end of this heightened period – you're still you, with all your you-problems and your you-life. No great metaphysical change has taken place, it's just you, a bit lighter, which isn't that great, so why not have a burger and a tub of ice cream washed down with Coke? And off we go again.
My mother spent her entire adult life attending WeightWatchers. She once stumbled upon decades of record books, charting her progress down and up; each time less far down, then still further up. She only stopped dieting when she was struck by terminal cancer, which may or may not have been affected by her weight issues. She immediately lost half her body weight. Six months later, she was dead. Yo-yo dieting, whether across years or alternate days, is not a life; it's a state of shame and terror, in which food is the fetishised enemy.
I refuse to exist like this, hence the slight cutting back, which I realise will have to be a life option rather than some transitory transformation. As Dr Doug Lisle argues in The Pleasure Trap, too much of our food is engineered to be obscenely, hedonically calorie-laden in a way that nature would find abhorrent - nature manifesting said abhorrence in the size of our rear ends. In this context it doesn't get much more complicated than food activist Michael Pollan's axiom: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."
I was recently forced to spend an hour doing nothing but gazing. Very few passersby were "normal", the vast majority "a bit big", myself included. Or, at least, when I say "very few", so very few that they stood out and one wondered what they could be doing. The most likely answer was nothing: they're the ones eating normally, it's the rest of us who are the boom and bust freaks.
The Telegraph, London


The partnership agreement, which has been concluded for several years, is a premiere in the decade-long cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and Dürr. It includes a declaration of intent to jointly plan and implement the renewal of painting technology in the German plants. The first project is the new construction of a sustainable paint shop in Sindelfingen. Planning for this has already begun, and Dürr is expected to receive the supply order from Mercedes-Benz next year. On this basis, orders for further paint shops may follow.
Within the framework of the partnership, it is planned to reduce energy consumption per painted car body to less than 400 kilowatt hours. This represents an absolute record level and corresponds to less than half the current consumption. Dürr software applications for energy management and exceptionally energy-efficient technologies, for example for the economical and intelligent operation of paint booths and car body ovens, are to contribute to the reduction. In addition, painting will be possible without fossil fuels in the future. Instead, energy needs are to be met by green electricity. This will enable CO2-free operation and is an important step toward decarbonizing automotive production.
Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, CEO of Dürr AG: “Optimizing energy consumption in the painting process is the key prerequisite for being able to build cars in a climate-neutral way. That is why the development of energy-efficient and climate-neutral technologies is at the top of our innovation agenda. The strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz is an important lighthouse project in Germany as an industrial location: Together, we are implementing climate-friendly production processes on a large scale and are thus also playing a pioneering role internationally.”
Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain Management: “By 2039, we intend to cover the energy needs of our global production network of Mercedes-Benz entirely with renewable energies. Together with Dürr, we will take decisive steps in this direction in the coming years and take painting to a whole new level in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency.”


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Are Alternative Investments Right for You?
With alternative investments, it’s critical to sort through the complexity.
Have A Question About This Topic?
Don't let procrastination keep you from pursuing your financial dreams and goals.
This calculator can help determine whether it makes sense to refinance your mortgage.
The item most homeowners forget on their home improvement project checklist is insurance.


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Juza is a reggae deejay inna Reggae, Dub,Dancehall...
Member of Critical Sound
Born in 1991, lives in Miranda de Ebro (Burgos).
With Edgar Selektah form "Critical Sound". Edgar also accompanies in live shows.
Has made dubplates for soundsystems all over Spain and international (Mexico, Chile, Czech Republic, Serbia, etc ...)
At this moment, he was published some albums: "Con la verdad por delante" (2008), "Dancehall Tunes vol 1" (2009), "Mi Esencia" (2009), "Sonido Critico" with O.S.K (2010), "Singles" is a compilation of unreleased tracks (2011) “Promo 3 Tunes” (2011) and "Inna Di Area" (2012)
All albums are available for free download.
He has shared the stage with a lot of people of his city and with outsiders such as Dingoe Starr/Chronic Sound (Burgos), Jah Bantu (Madrid), Little Pepe (Malaga) ,Novato & Mad Muasel (Blilbao), Swan FyahBwoy (Madrid), Falsalarma (Bcn), Supa Bassie (VLC), Zuri (Malaga), Barbass Sound, o Daddy Freddy (JAM/UK), Ijahman Levi (JAM), Almighty Dread (Jam/Uk)...
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According to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York between the Kazakh government and the UN regarding the deployment of a peacekeeping contingent to the UN Disengagement Observer Force mission.
This will be the first time in the history of Kazakhstan when the UN has given the country a mandate to carry out an independent peacekeeping mission. Earlier, Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov reported that 139 servicemen will be sent to the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria. They will maintain a ceasefire between the warring parties in accordance with the mandate of the UN mission.
In order to fulfill the UN mission with professionalism, peacekeepers from Kazakhstan have undergone a thorough selection and training process in accordance with all the requirements and standards of the UN. The training lasted six months, and took place at the center for peacekeeping operations under the Kazakh Ministry of Defense.
“The instructor staff of the centers of peacekeeping operations, demining and military medicine participated in the training of the servicemen. To improve practical skills and interoperability with officers of the contingent’s headquarters, classes were held on military decision-making at the operational-tactical level,” the Defense Ministry reported.
Kazakhstan’s peacekeepers were taught English, rules of engagement, and international and humanitarian law. They also trained in how to protect the peacekeeping base, organize roadblocks, patrols, disarm explosive devices, and provide assistance and evacuation. Based on the results of the training, experts said Kazakhstan’s peacekeeping contingent showed a high level of training and motivation.
Kazakhstan has painstakingly equipped the peacekeepers in accordance with UN standards. They have been provided with modern weapons and military equipment. The contingent has armored wheeled vehicles with combat modules, KamAZs, high cross-country vehicles and engineering equipment — as well as all the necessary lifesaving equipment. Also, one of the vehicles has been converted for evacuation of the wounded. It’s equipped with an oxygen machine, defibrillator, medicines and other medical equipment.
The Kazakh ministry’s specialized department says that during the peacekeeping mission the servicemen will be paid three times their monthly allowance, with an additional $1,448 from the UN budget. Moreover, after completion of service to the mission, they can count on treatment at a health resort and an extra 14 days added to their basic annual leave.
Peacekeepers from Kazakhstan will include individual servicemen as military observers as well as staff officers. Members of specialized units are also in demand; they include infantry, medical, reconnaissance and engineering.
Over the past 16 years, more than 600 Kazakh servicemen have participated in seven UN peacekeeping missions spread across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Currently, 19 peacekeepers from Kazakhstan are serving in UN contingents in Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Western Sahara and the Central African Republic.


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Every Friday, Rob Brooks, a UMC pastor and director of Ashe Outreach, and a group of volunteers fill bags with food for 320 students in Ashe County Schools.
“Our program feeds 320 kids per week,” Brooks said. “Every weekend, each kid will take home an average of 10 pounds of food.”
Ashe Outreach’s School Kids Backpack Program provides a select group of local children and their families with a combination of nutritious, “family friendly” and “kid friendly” foods, foods that kids can eat without the assistance of an adult.
“A smart mom or dad will combine the rice with peas, carrots and mixed vegetables for a medley or casserole,” Brooks said. “With macaroni, shelf stable milk, cereal, instant oatmeal and breakfast bars, kids and kid’s families are being fed.”
Students are selected from Blue Ridge, Mountain View and Westwood Elementary schools and Ashe County Middle School. They’re selected by school staff according to those most in need.
“Our first backpack was in 2005,” Brooks said. “We were a pilot program in conjunction with the Second Harvest Food Bank of NC.”
“We started at Blue Ridge (elementary) with 50 (backpacks),” Brooks said. “Today, we focus on the three elementary schools and the middle school.”
Brooks said the focus is on the lower grades because those students represent the age demographic that is considered to be the most developmentally “in need” of good nutrition.
“We do this because child development is most critical at the younger age,” Brooks said. “We’re about feeding the children and the mind.”
“We believe most most kids we’re sending food home to have a family, so we include family staples, that way folks have a better chance of cooking a meal and have a chance to sit down together as a family,” Brooks said.
The backpack program is year-round. Backpacks go home with students on Fridays during the school year and summer months.
In addition to the School Kids Backpack Program, Ashe Outreach has several other programs aimed at feeding local families struggling with food insecurity.
“Over 35,000 lbs. of food is administered through five programs: Mobile Meals delivers 70 meals daily with another 25 fed onsite, Food Pantry serves over 1,000 individuals monthly and Saturday Community Meal serves 30 to 50 folks weekly,” Brooks said. “Out Grow Hunger is an educational program to foster local agri-economic development as a growing initiative to provide fresh produce into our food supply chain while teaching people to grow their own food.”
Ashe Outreach also hosts fish fry fundraisers, the first Friday of every month from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., at the Riverview Community Center, 11719 NC 88, in Creston.
For more information about Ashe Outreach and their services, contact Brooks at (336) 977-1377 or visit them on the web at www.asheoutreach.org.
Alan Bulluck can be reached at (336) 846-7164 or on Twitter @albulluck.


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Surrounded by so much natural beauty: the Ardennes, Eifel and High Fen. This house is situated at an altitude of 500 meters and makes an ideal base for hiking and cycling. Hiking and cycling maps are in the home for you. The property is located just a short distance from the Frankental, where you’ll find numerous signposted cycling and hiking routes. For long distance cyclists there is the "Velo Tour High Venn-Eifel", a network of 850 km that promises delightful cycling on rural roads with little traffic.
If you prefer to work hard there is the regional Mountain Bike Network with 18 trails and a total length of 420 km – sure to be a challenge! You can choose from various levels of difficulty: easy, moderate or strenuous. The network has many features including short courses, strenuous sporting routes, a large loop in the Eastern Cantons (approximately 190 km), as well as a downhill ride from the highest point in the Fens to the valley of the Warche (from 690 to 300 meters in altitude) .
Do you like horse riding? 5 km from the house you have the possibility to take riding lessons.
In winter, when snow covers the ground, you can go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing around Holzheim. There are opportunities for alpine skiing with slopes near Hellenthal / Weiser Stein (610-690 m) and Schwarzer Mann (699 m). Cross-country skiing can also be done in Manderfeld at an altitude of 560 meters on trails of 4, 7 and 10 km, mostly through open fields. You can also ski in Losheimergraben at an altitude of 670 meters will trails extending for 4, 8 and 15 km, but mostly through the woods. You can experience great tobogganing fun in Manderfeld or Schwarzer Mann. And finally, it is not something you do every day: snowshoeing through snowy fields accompanied by a guide (upon request).
Because of the high altitude of this region, rivers such as the Warche, Amblève and Our originate here. Canoes can be rented at the beautiful lakes of Robertville and Butgenbach which are ideal places to enjoy swimming and a variety of other water sports: great for kids!
But there's more to see and do in the (wide) environment. Take a look at the bustling towns of Malmedy and St. Vith, visit the waterfalls of Coo or the caves of Remouchamps. Near the German border you'll find the zoo of Hellenthal, Vulkamar swimming paradise and picturesque towns like Monschau and Kronenburg, with its ancient castle ruins. Slightly further away lie the cities of Aachen and Cologne, Phantasialand theme park, the lakes and peaks of the volcanic Eifel, the ancient Roman city of Trier on the Moselle, and Luxembourg.

domain: travel


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Anjelina Jolie was born in 1975 in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of noted film actor Jon Voight. In 1999 she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Girl Interrupted”. Among her other films are “Lara Craft, Tomb Raider” and “Mr & Mrs Smith”. She is married to actor Brad Pitt.
From Hollywood wild child to Academy Award winner to U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a series of metamorphoses over the course of her much-storied life and career. Both strikingly beautiful and exceedingly talented, Jolie – who was the daughter of Jon Voight – earned her first acclaim in the television movie “Gia” (HBO, 1998). She quickly developed a reputation for her outrageous off-camera antics, leading to a tabloid fascination that blossomed with her high-profile marriage to Billy Bob Thornton. After winning the Oscar for “Girl, Interrupted” (1999) and starring in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001), Jolie transformed herself into a celebrity humanitarian, traveling to war-torn parts of the world like Cambodia and Darfur. Around that time, she adopted an orphaned child from Cambodia, setting a precedent for other high-profile adoptions from Ethiopia and Vietnam. All throughout, Jolie continued to star in a wide variety of films like “The Good Shepherd” (2006), “A Mighty Heart” (2007), “Changeling” (2008), “Wanted” (2008) and “Salt” (2010). Despite critical debacles like “The Tourist” (2010), Jolie maintained her status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable actresses.
The daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina Jolie (Voight) was born on Jun. 4, 1975 in Los Angeles. Like her older brother by two years, director James Haven (Voight), Jolie seemed destined for a career in the arts. At the age of 11, she began studying at the famed Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in New York City. Even before commencing her formal training, Jolie made her screen debut as a tyke in a bit part in the Hal Ashby-directed comedy “Lookin’ to Get Out” (1982). While reviewers savaged the movie – which was co-scripted and co-produced by her father – its littlest thespian fortunately emerged unscathed. The experience briefly turned young Angelina off of show business – she even briefly considered going into funeral directing for a time – but because it was in her blood, she eventually bounced back.
With two extremely photogenic parents, it came as no surprise that Jolie inherited gorgeous good looks, with her most striking being her lush lips which made her a standout from all other young girls. Her comeliness allowed her to segue back into show business, first as a professional model, and later, as an actress in music videos. In addition to appearing in five student films directed by her older brother, Jolie became a member of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Theatre Company, where she honed her craft alongside such veteran players as Holly Hunter, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. Jolie made her return to the screen playing a heroic human/machine hybrid in the above-average direct-to-video sci-fi actioner, “Cyborg II: Glass Shadows” (1993), but the entry went virtually unnoticed by critics. Luckily, her flashy role as Kate (a.k.a. ‘Acid Burn’) in the cyber-thriller “Hackers” (1995) garnered her more attention and better notices. Paired with rising young British actor Jonny Lee Miller, Jolie played a teen computer whiz battling an evil genius. “Hackers” fizzled at the box office, but the romantic leads sizzled – both onscreen and off. Jolie and Miller’s chemistry eventually culminated in their wedding in 1996. Though the two would divorce just three years later, Jolie and Miller would remain close friends even after their break-up.
More film work readily followed for Jolie, initially in small-scale character-driven indies. In an indifferently received adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ novel “Foxfire” (1996), Jolie played a mysterious outsider named Legs Sadovsky – described in Variety as “sort of a female James Dean” – who helps some other teenaged girls stand up for their rights. In Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna’s romantic comedy-drama “Love Is All There Is” (1996), Jolie displayed a humorous and innocent light as half of a pair of star-crossed lovers divided by their families’ feud. That same year, the actress appeared in the high-minded suspense drama “Without Evidence,” playing a drug-addicted teen, and “Mojave Moon,” opposite Danny Aiello. Next came “Playing God” (1997), in which Jolie capably essayed a woman torn between her gangster boyfriend (Timothy Hutton) and a discredited doctor (David Duchovny) in his employ. While the films remained largely unseen by most moviegoers, Jolie received strong notices for each of these projects.
Unlike many feature stars, Jolie showed no compunction about working on the small screen. Case in point: during the late 1990s, the actress appeared in a handful of exceptional made-for-TV productions that effectively allowed her to strut her stuff on her own terms. In 1997, Jolie received top notices for her co-starring turn alongside Annabeth Gish and Dana Delaney as Texas pioneers in the 1997 CBS historical miniseries, “True Women.” Jolie then brought a fiery passion to her portrayal of Cornelia Wallace, the politician’s first wife, in the biographical miniseries “George Wallace” (TNT, 1997). But it was her dazzling turn as another real-life figure – the late supermodel Gia Carangi – that catapulted Jolie into the public consciousness. Jolie’s brave, sensitive performance as the drug-addicted, AIDS-stricken title character in HBO’s excellent biopic “Gia” (1998) brought the beauty widespread critical acclaim. For her efforts, Jolie was twice Emmy-nominated in the supporting category for “George Wallace,” which she lost to co-star Mare Winningham, and in the leading category for “Gia,” which she ended up losing to Ellen Barkin. Fortunately, Jolie received more-than-adequate consolation for her Emmy losses by picking up two back-to-back Golden Globe Awards for both performances.
After this spate of acclaimed television appearances, Jolie found her way back into in films, landing roles that similarly showcased her acting strengths. In 1998, Jolie received special notice for her work in the comedy-drama “Playing By Heart” (1998), as Joan, an outgoing club kid smitten with the sullen Keenan (Ryan Phillippe). Vivid and engaging, Jolie easily held her own among an ensemble cast featuring such luminaries as Gena Rowlands and Sean Connery. The following year, the actress joined John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton in Mike Newell’s Big Apple-set comedy about air traffic controllers, “Pushing Tin” (1999). Jolie later got her feet wet in the increasingly crowded crime-drama pond playing a tough rookie cop assisting a quadriplegic detective (Denzel Washington) in “The Bone Collector” (1999), a flawed, but well-acted serial killer thriller directed by Philip Noyce. Jolie finally rounded out the year by landing the much sought after co-starring role of the disturbed Lisa Rowe in “Girl, Interrupted.” Based on author Susanna Kaysen’s best-selling memoir of her own two-year stay in a psychiatric hospital, Jolie’s showy turn as the sociopathic inmate netted Jolie a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
The actress continued portraying tough young women on the big screen. In the flashy but unfulfilling car heist thriller “Gone in 60 Seconds” (2000), Jolie crackled in scenes even opposite notorious scene-stealing star, Nicolas Cage. Jolie’s next project was as the flesh-and-blood embodiment of the titular adventuress in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001). Based on the wildly popular “Tomb Raider” video game franchise, Lara Croft launched an Indiana Jones-style adventure series which failed to impress critics, but racked up a healthy box office take. The film also marked Jolie’s first adult collaboration with her father, Jon Voight, who played her character’s father in the film.
Back on the career front, Jolie seemed a bit unfocused in her next two features. Starring opposite Antonio Banderas in the dismal noir-wannabe “Original Sin” (2001), Jolie came off less than committed, despite some steamy erotic sequences. Her follow-up, the dramatic vehicle “Life or Something Like It” (2002), in which she played a superficial, platinum blonde newscaster forced to examine her existence more closely, also died quickly. J
The actress returned to familiar territory for her comeback screen vehicle, the sequel “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” (2003), a lackluster follow-up to a lackluster first outing. Reflecting their off-screen internecine tensions, Voight, did not reprise his role in this second follow-up. “Cradle of Life” was followed by a turn in the too-righteous political/romantic drama “Beyond Borders” (2003). After this came a dangerous foray into Ashley Judd territory with a starring role in the routine thriller “Taking Lives” (2004), in which Jolie played an FBI profiler caught up in dangerous and erotic intrigue. Signing up for another purely commercial vehicle, the actress adopted another rich accent as she cheekily played the eye patch-sporting Captain Frankie Cook, the leader of an all-female amphibious attack squadron, in the retro action-adventure “Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow” (2004). Cast opposite Jude Law and fellow Oscar winner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jolie joined the CGI-laden action-adventure battling giant robots in an Art Deco environment. Jolie then lent her voice to the finny femme fatale, Lola, in DreamWorks’ CGI-animated underwater underworld opus “A Shark’s Tale” (2004). Finally, Jolie closed out the year with a bizarrely seductive turn as Alexander’s mother, Olympias, who raises her son to believe in his impressive destiny, in Oliver Stone’s historical epic, “Alexander the Great,” which bombed at the box office.
Jolie’s profile as both a movie star and public figure rose to even more epic proportions when she co-starred with the equally lovely actor Brad Pitt in the Doug Liman-helmed actionfest “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005). In it, the actors played a bored married couple who are actually rival assassins, each hired to kill the other.
Taking a page from the playbook of the late Audrey Hepburn, Jolie began using her celebrity status to bring attention to such humanitarian causes as the plight of violence-torn nations – something she began doing around the time she made “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.” As their relationship gradually emerged in the public eye, Pitt began to accompany Jolie on her missions of mercy to third world nations and grow ever more attached to her son, Maddox. Away from the screen, Jolie expressed a dedication and commitment to increasing awareness and aid to counties devastated by internal and external conflicts, disease and third world conditions. In 2001, after the actress made several trips to the war-torn nations of Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Pakistan, Jolie had been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It was during one of these trips that in 2005, she adopted an infant daughter from an Ethiopian orphanage whom she named Zahara. Later that year, surprising the world at large, Pitt petitioned to adopt the two children as his own. A year later, on May 27, 2006, Jolie and Pitt welcomed their biological firstborn child into the world, daughter Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. Clearly serious about starting a family, in March 2007, Jolie and Pitt made headlines once again by adopting a fourth child, a three-year-old boy from Vietnam whom they named Pax. And no one was surprised when the couple gave birth to twins Vivienne and Knox in 2008.
Returning to the big screen later that summer, Jolie next starred as Marianne Pearl, the wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, in the gripping drama “A Mighty Heart” (2007). Though Jolie’s casting initially sparked a furor of controversy among minority groups, as Marianne Pearl was of Afro-Cuban/Dutch ancestry, much of the complaints dissipated upon the film’s release. Hailed by many as quite possibly the boldest performance of her career, Jolie’s portrayal of Marianne Pearl was rooted in dignity and reflected a tragic truthfulness free of exploitative sentimentality. Unfortunately, the serious film was released during the summer box office season, rendering it lost amidst all the big-budget special effect movies. Also that year, Jolie became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, then received the International Rescue Committee’s annual Freedom Award for her contributions to the cause of refugees and human freedom.
Back on the big screen, Jolie starred in the high-action comic book thriller, “Wanted” (2008), playing a supersensory assassin who mentors an office-bound wimp (James McAvoy), turning him into a highly skilled member of a centuries-old order of hit men. Following a leading voice role as Tigress in the blockbuster animated family comedy, “Kung Fu Panda” (2008), Jolie returned to Oscar-caliber form with “Changeling” (2008), a period thriller inspired by true events directed by Clint Eastwood. Jolie played a distressed mother taking on the Los Angeles Police Department in 1928 when her son mysteriously reappears after having gone missing. Sure that the boy is not her son and in search of answers, she fights a corrupt bureaucracy that tries to publicly declare her unfit and delusional. Jolie’s strong performance earned her nominations at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for Best Actress.
Jolie returned to blockbuster prominence as the star of “Salt” (2010), a fast-paced spy thriller in which she played a dedicated CIA agent forced to go on the run after she is accused of being a Russian mole. A box-office hit during a busy summer, “Salt” was notable for being originally written for a male lead. She next starred in another espionage thriller, “The Tourist” (2010), playing a mysterious British woman who pulls an unwitting American (Johnny Depp) vacationing in Italy into a whirlwind of intrigue and danger. Though attractively filmed, “The Tourist” was blasted by most critics for its slow plot and lack of chemistry between the leads. Regardless, the movie earned unexpected Golden Globe nominations for both Jolie and Depp. After once again voicing Tigress in “Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011), she made her directorial debut with “In the Land of Blood and Honey” (2011), a love story between a Serbian soldier (Gora Kostic) and a Bosnian prisoner (Zana Marjanovic) that played out against the backdrop of the Bosnian War. Also in 2011, Jolie was recognized for her decade of service as the U.N.’s Goodwill Ambassador, while the following year she and Pitt announced their official engagement in April.


MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. The Kremlin will react to initiatives proposed by Ukraine regarding its implementation of the Minsk Agreements rather than plans to discuss guarantees of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday.
When asked to comment on Moscow’s reaction to Kiev’s plans to include the issue of international discussion of the Budapest Memorandum guarantees in the nationwide poll, Peskov noted that "the Kremlin is ready to react to Ukraine’s initiatives on implementation of the Minsk Agreements."
"This is what we believe is highly needed by the Ukrainian people," he explained, refusing to give any other comments on this topic.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said Friday that the nationwide poll, which will be conducted in Ukraine on the same day as local elections, October 25, will include a question on international-level discussion of the Budapest Memorandum that was signed in 1994 and guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for abandoning nuclear arms.


Bragg Gaming Group’s B2B gaming solutions provider Oryx Gaming has launched a new data analytics platform that forms the foundation for the Oryx player engagement platform, which is yet to be launched.
The data analytics platform can be used either as a module integrated into account management systems for third-party players, or as an addition to the Oryx igaming platform.
The platform allows data from internal as well as third-party systems to be collected and analysed in real-time, enabling operators to gain a better understanding of their customers and effectively segment, target and engage them by triggering behaviour and preferences based activities.
Real-time data is collected and processed from the Oryx igaming platform, Oryx hub, and Oryx sportsbook, as well as from transactional third party systems, management systems, content providers, service providers, products, and websites.
The platform comes with an analytical sandbox tool which allows operators to dive deeply into the data and create advanced player segmentation, loyalty schemes and recommendations, all powered by machine learning algorithms.
The Oryx player engagement platform which the company is set to launch aims to offer a number of features, such as focused promotions, multi-channel campaign management, as well as real-time event management, a direct player engagement system.
Matevz Mazij, managing director of Oryx Gaming, commented: “Having a scalable data analytics platform which governs highly granular data is the cornerstone for an enhanced gameplay experience.
“The Oryx data analytics platform takes gaming operations to the next level as it enables a deep understanding of players and allows operators to engage them in real-time and maximise the player value.”