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The King's Magic Drum
The leopard was the only one who escaped, as directly he saw the Egbo men arrive he knew that things were likely to be unpleasant, so he gave a big spring and jumped right out of the compound.
When the tortoise was satisfied with the beating the people had received he crept to the door and opened it. The people then ran away, and when the tortoise gave a certain tap on the drum all the Egbo men vanished. The people who had been beaten were so angry, and made so much palaver with the tortoise, that he made up his mind to return the drum to the king the next day. So in the morning the tortoise went to the king and brought the drum with him. He told the king that he was not satisfied with the drum, and wished to exchange it for something else; he did not mind so much what the king gave him so long as he got full value for the drum, and he was quite willing to accept a certain number of slaves, or a few farms, or their equivalent in cloth or rods.
The king, however, refused to do this; but as he was rather sorry for the tortoise, he said he would present him with a magic foo-foo tree, which would provide the tortoise and his family with food, provided he kept a certain condition. This the tortoise gladly consented to do. Now this foo-foo tree only bore fruit once a year, but every day it dropped foo-foo and soup on the ground. And the condition was, that the owner should gather sufficient food for the day, once, and not return again for more. The tortoise, when he had thanked the king for his generosity, went home to his wife and told her to bring her calabashes to the tree. She did so, and they gathered plenty of foo-foo and soup quite sufficient for the whole family for that day, and went back to their house very happy.
That night they all feasted and enjoyed themselves. But one of the sons, who was very greedy, thought to himself—
"I wonder where my father gets all this good food from? I must ask him."
So in the morning he said to his father—
"Tell me where do you get all this foo-foo and soup from?


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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shane Bieber dominated a good White Sox lineup Tuesday with nine scoreless innings in a 2-0 Cleveland win. Meanwhile, Jake Bauers and Ben Gamel combined to go 0-for-7 with six strikeouts against Lucas Giolito. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga discuss the latest developments with the Indians in Chicago on Wednesday’s podcast..
Having trouble seeing the audio player on mobile? Click here.
Other topics covered on Wednesday’s show include:
- Can we expect to see this level of consistency from Bieber all season?
- How much longer will Gamel and Bauers stay in the lineup?
- How will Francona find more at-bats for Amed Rosario?
Want our podcast delivered directly to your phone? We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here.
New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.
More Indians coverage


28 August 2013
The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Greg Bourne as acting chair of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency board.
ARENA commences on 1 July 2012 as a key component of the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future package, consolidating $3.2 billion in funding for renewable energy innovation.
Minister Ferguson has also appointed Dr Brian Spalding to the ARENA board, in addition to the ex-officio appointment of Mr Drew Clarke, Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET).
“ARENA’s independent board will have a mix of skills in renewable energy technology, business investment, commercialisation and corporate governance,” Minister Ferguson said.
“Mr Bourne and Dr Spalding’s experience and drive will ensure ARENA gets off to a good start and maintains momentum in Australia’s renewable energy sector.
“The board will play a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of innovative Australian renewable energy technology.”
Mr Bourne brings to the board an extensive background in renewable energy development and project commercialisation, including as a former director of Carnegie Wave Energy and chief executive officer of the World Wildlife Fund Australia from 2004 to 2010.
Dr Spalding is a current Australian Energy Market Commissioner with more than 30 years’ experience in power system operations, as well as providing continuity from the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy board.
Minister Ferguson is currently considering the four remaining ARENA board appointments and will make further announcements in due course.


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Creamy, rich, and indulgent, this pancetta pink sauce is quick, and easy yet delivers on bold flavor. With thick pieces of rendered salty and savory pancetta, garlic, shallots, tomatoes and heavy cream this dish might just become your new go-to pasta sauce.
WHAT IS A PINK SAUCE?
Also referred to as a blush sauce, or rose sauce, a pink sauce is named after its color. Although…. it’s not pink, a pink sauce can vary from a dark orange to a light blush. It is simply a tomato sauce with added heavy cream, béchamel, or alfredo giving it its lighter color. It’s a little tangy from the tomatoes but super rich and creamy, and best part not labor intensive If you have ever had penne a la vodka then you have had a pink sauce. Consider this a a la no vodka or vodka-less sauce. If you are looking for a vodka sauce and stumbled upon this post check out my Spicy Rigatoni (aka Carbone dupe) recipe.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR PANCETTA PINK SAUCE
Pasta– Players choice. This sauce is on the thick side, although can easily be thinned out with additional pasta water. A heartier shape with a hole such as rigatoni or pepe rigate are great shapes to use. Make sure to reserve some pasta water at the end.
Pancetta– I recommend pancetta over bacon. While bacon and pancetta are very similar, bacon is smoked while pancetta is not. Also, we are looking for small cubes to give this sauce a meatier texture not flat pieces. Pre-cubed pancetta can be found with the fresh cheeses and meats at most supermarkets.
Garlic– Fresh only!
Shallot– Sweeter and milder than an onion.
Tomato Paste – The secret to unlocking the most out of your tomato paste is to toast it. It is an added step that takes about 5-7 minutes but it is worth it. Trust me.
Crushed Tomatoes – Get really good crushed tomatoes to make this dish even better.
Parmesan– Freshly grated.
Heavy Cream– Half and half is a good substitute if you don’t have heavy cream.
HOW TO MAKE PANCETTA PINK SAUCE
This sauce is ridiculously easy to put together, however below are step by step instructions that go a little bit beyond the recipe card provided.
Render the Pancetta – Cook the pancetta in a pot over low-medium heat, stirring every minute or so to allow for even cooking. This will take approximately 6-8 minutes. Don’t be alarmed if it gets a little smoky, just make sure you are cooking it on low heat. To reduce the smoke, lower the temp or/and add a drizzle of olive oil to the pan before searing. Completely optional, but I find that it helps. Once rendered and crispy remove half the pancetta and put on the side for later.
Add the Aromatics – Lower the heat further and add the garlic and shallot. Cook until soft and fragrant, you don’t want them to brown, so if they start to you are cooking it on too high of a heat.
Toast the Tomato Paste – Add the tomato paste and cook it until it deepens in color. This will take approximately 7-10 minutes. Trust me it is worth the additional time.
Add Tomatoes + Simmer – I like to use crushed tomatoes vs tomato sauce for this recipe. It gives it a chunkier texture. Tip of advice? Choose really good crushed tomatoes. They should taste as if you crushed the tomatoes with no weird metallic after taste. You should want to take another spoonful.
Turn off + Add Finishers– I like to add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to the sauce after I remove it from the heat. Both of them don’t need cook time, and the parm will melt without direct heat. When you are ready to add pasta throw in a few tbsp of pasta water to thin it out (with flavor) and drop your pasta in. Toss and serve topped with the reserved pancetta.
Not in the mood for pasta? This cause can also be used with pillow, chewy gnocchi.
Looking to reheat? If you haven’t dropped in the pasta, reheat on the stove. If you have added pasta, this is one of the few times I am going to say it actually tastes even better at room temperature. Yet if you prefer hot pasta pop it in the microwave, just careful not to nuk it too much.
Cook pasta as per instructions in salty water. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, drain and place on the side.
Cook the pancetta in a pot over low-medium heat, stirring every minute or so to allow for even cooking. Cook until brown and crispy, approx 6-8 minutes. Remove half the pancetta and place on the side for later.
Lower the heat and add garlic, shallot, optional chili flakes and approx 1/4 tsp of salt. Cook until soft and fragrant, but not brown 3-5 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook it until it deepens in color. This will take approximately 7-10 minutes.
Add the crushed tomatoes, mix to combine and cover. Simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes. Mixing midway through.
Remove from the heat add the Parmesan and heavy cream. Mix to combine, salt if needed. When ready to add pasta add a few tbsp of pasta water first to loosen up the sauce. Add the pasta and top with a sprinkle of the reserved pancetta.

domain: food


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A huge deadline is looming for almost three million Aussies saddled with student debt, who have just six days before they are slugged with a big payment increase.
From June 1, the indexation rate applied to HECS–HELP loans will jump to 3.9 per cent, the highest rate in a decade.
Last year, the rate was just 0.6 per cent.
The average HELP debt is $23,685 based on Australian Tax Office 2020-21 data, suggesting the average debt will jump by about $923 on June 1.
Financial adviser at Sydney’s Golden Eggs, Max Phelps, advised those with student debt to get in before the deadline and pay it down or off, if they could.
But he added that young people should view the debt in the context of their other goals.
“If paying off a student loan suddenly means you don’t have a deposit for a house, and you need to buy a house, then obviously it’s a bad idea to do it,” Mr Phelps said.
“And if you’ve got a personal loan that’s accruing at 10 per cent interest, or a credit card debt at 20 per cent, then obviously you shouldn’t be paying it off.
“There’s no point taking money off a 20 per cent credit card in order to save a 3.9 per cent growth in HECS.
“We don’t want people getting into other debt so they can pay their HECS.”
However, for those with spare cash or who could draw from a mortgage offset account with an interest rate significantly lower than 3.9 per cent, “this is the week to pay it off”.
Mr Phelps said those who had paid off their student loan often were viewed more favourably by home loan providers.
“Often as soon they’ve paid off their HECS, their serviceability jumps, which means they can buy the property they wanted to buy and didn’t have to wait another six months to save up for it or wait for a pay rise,” he said.
“It can actually increase borrowing capacity by longer having the HECS debt.
“But it’s either do it this week or just carry on as normal until this time next year.”
There were 2.9 million people with an outstanding HELP debt in 2020–21, with outstanding HELP debt rising to just over $68.7 billion, up from $66.4 billion in 2019–20, according to the ATO.
Mr Phelps predicted that with global inflation on the rise, the HECS indexation rate would be in line for possibly an even greater rise next year.
While student loans don’t attract interest, the debt is indexed annually according to the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation.
Inflation is currently running at 5.1 per cent annually and wages are not keeping pace.
Wages rose by a lower than expected 0.7 per cent from January to March, and 2.4 per cent over the past year, Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealed this month.
Students can start repaying their HELP debt through their taxes, once they earn above $47,014.
They are able to make voluntary repayments at any time, in addition to the compulsory repayments.

domain: economics


The air-conditioned monorail zips from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa, linking many of the city’s sightseeing areas. There can be waits of up to 15 minutes between services and it gets packed during morning and early evening rush hours.
As well as buses, Rapid KL runs the Light Rail Transit system. There are three lines: the Ampang line from Ampang to Sentul Timur; the Sri Petaling line from Sentul Timur to Putra Heights; and the Kelana Jaya line from Gombak to Putra Heights. The network is integrated with the MRT and monorail lines but because all were constructed by different companies at different times, you may have to follow a series of walkways, stairs and elevators, or walk several blocks down the street to make connections.
Buy single-journey tokens or MyRapid cards from the cashier or electronic ticket machines. An electronic control system checks tickets/tokens as you enter and exit via turnstiles (you tap the token on the way in and insert it in the gate on the way out).
There are three main KTM Komuter lines: Tanjung Malim to Pelabuhan Klang, Batu Caves to Gemas and KL Sentral to Terminal Skypark (for Subang Airport). Trains run every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours but there can be intervals of up to 45 minutes between trains at off-peak times.
Construction is ongoing for KL's MRT system. This rail-based public-transport network aims to ease the road-traffic congestion that plagues the Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley region.
The Sungai Buloh–Kajang line is operational, while construction is ongoing for the Sungai Buloh–Serdang–Putrajaya (SSP Line) – phase one of this line to Kampung Batu is scheduled to open by July 2021, with phase two to Putrajaya to be completed a year later.


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This variant is currently sold out
Our cute little Christmas REINDEERS are the perfect way to express the sentiments of the Season.
Each one is handcrafted from timber & hand painted.
Available individually in small or large size:
- Medium approx. 25cm tall x 14cm long
- Large approx. 34cm tall x 18cm long

domain: design


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Four games, three blowouts and another Warde heartbreaker. Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, but I know I have.
Let’s look back at week nine.
The Good News: Prep scored 22 points in the second half? No one got hurt? I’m drawing at straws here.
The Bad News: Where do we begin? Quarterback Tom Brewster’s first quarter suspension? The 21 straight points in the first quarter that included a pick-6? Three different ND running backs running for scores that AREN’T the Green Knights’ top runner, Amihr Bess?
Twitter Opinion (140 characters or less): Prep’s true colors shining through. Been outscored 153-32 in its four losses.
Up Next: vs. West Haven on Thanksgiving, 10:30 a.m.
The Good News: Given where Fairfield Warde expected to be at this point of the season, there is nothing good to put in this space. I’m sure coach Duncan DellaVolpe would agree.
The Bad News: Frustration is settling in for the Mustangs. Now they’re blaming the officials.
Twitter Opinion: Warde isn’t as good as we all thought on Sept. 1.
Up Next: at rival Fairfield Ludlowe on Thanksgiving, 10 a.m.
The Good News: The Falcons scored 14 points and only allowed 30 against a team that has just one loss and is looking toward the Class LL playoffs.
The Bad News: 0-9 is still 0-9.
Twitter Opinion: We’ll see if the Falcons have the guts to beat Warde on Thanksgiving. Guts may not be enough, though.
Up Next: The Falcons will host Warde in their Thanksgiving rivalry at 10 a.m.
The Good News: How bout that ND scored more points than it dressed players on Saturday?
The Bad News: Oxford scored four touchdowns in the time ND ran four offensive plays.
Twitter Opinion: One last chance for @LancersNDcoach to get win No. 1 in his first year. Here’s hoping it happens.
Up Next: ND will try to finish 1-9 with a game against Immaculate on Thanksgiving at McCarty Stadium.
Where I’ll be this week
Well, there’s only one team left in the state playoffs in Fairfield, so I’ll be following Fairfield Prep boys soccer until the Jesuits are ousted.
That means today at Newtown, perhaps Wednesday at Pomperaug and TBA Saturday. Tune in to Twitter for updates of those games.
Look for a podcast coming Friday morning too. Have a great week.
Pat Pickens is the sports editor of the Fairfield Citizen, a Hearst Connecticut Newspaper organization. Follow him on Twitter here.

domain: sports


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More Clemson Tigers News
Georgia Tech 75, Clemson 73
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
- Guard Marcus Georges-Hunt made a pair of free throws with three seconds left to help Georgia Tech complete a 75-73, come-from-behind win over Clemson on Tuesday in Atlanta....
North Carolina State 77, Clemson 74
Saturday, February 20, 2016
- Forward Abdul-Malik Abu provided 17 points and 16 rebounds as North Carolina State overcame a rough outing by the Atlantic Coast Conference scoring leader to defeat Clemson...
Clemson 66, Georgia Tech 52
Saturday, February 13, 2016
- GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Junior forward Jaron Blossomgame scored 17 points to pass the 1,000-point mark for his career as Clemson held off Georgia Tech 66-52 on Saturday in an A...
Clemson lands 2017 guard
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
- Clemson landed a quality commitment on Tuesday as Class of 2017 guard A.J. Oliver committed to the Tigers. The son of Clemson womens head coach Audra Smith, Oliver is regar...
Clemson announces Austin Ajukwa will transfer
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
- Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell announced Tuesday that junior wing man Austin Ajukwa plans to transfer. The timing couldn't have been worse for the Tigers, who are l...
Clemson lands junior college 7-footer in 2015 class
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
- Clemson added an impact junior college big man on Tuesday as Chipola Junior College big man Legend Robertin pledged to the Tigers.Robertins commitment was first reported by...
Clemson's Ibrahim Djambo to transfer to Hofstra
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
- Former Three Rivers (Mo.) Community College standout Ibrahim Djambo is leaving the Clemson Tigers after just one season in pursuit of more playing time in the Colonial Athl...
2015 - 2015 Atlantic Coast Standings
2015 Clemson Tigers Schedule (Last 10)

domain: news


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In recent years, Central America has increased its economic and political stability. By and large, there has been positive, albeit modest, economic growth and improvements in socio-economic outcomes. Though one in every two women of working age is still not participating economically, their contribution to overall income generation rose significantly of late, despite the region’s slow overall growth trends. In fact, for the first time, women in Central America earn more than men. A new study analyzes the evolution of these trends in the region and reviews a number of programs in Central America and Latin America (some GAP financed) that may have facilitated gender equality. Three broad lessons emerge.
First, policies aiming to improve the returns of female labor by reducing labor market constraints and enhancing skills have shown promise, particularly among the poor. These include training schemes, many of which combine skills training with job placement services that facilitate women’s entry into the labor force. Similarly, the availability of childcare services has enabled young mothers to work more by reducing time constraints at home. Micro-finance schemes have also helped female entrepreneurs by alleviating credit constraints and offering training programs in business management.
Second, policies that have changed intra-household resource allocations by putting money in the hands of women have facilitated investments in human capital accumulation, potentially inducing changes in social and behavioral norms and preferences, while promoting gender equality. The role of female migration in search of better work opportunities also appears to have had a significant impact on intra-household resource allocation and social norms.
Third, many of the programs which targeted poor women directly or indirectly helped improve communication among female beneficiaries, leaders and community members. The small but growing body of evidence shows that such interactions can promote knowledge exchange and induce important changes in behavior and attitudes, which can, in turn, translate into better economic and development outcomes. In fact, the evidence from GAP financed pilots suggests that changes in aspirations can play a major role in improving women’s decision-making, investment and income generation potential.
Despite these advances, existing program coverage, limited fiscal space and modest economic growth in Central America constrain additional advances. A deeper understanding of the links between empowerment and economic development is urgently needed.

domain: sociology


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The year 1616 was a momentous one for the reputation of the theatrical profession in England. In March, Francis Beaumont, not long turned 30, became the first playwright to be buried in Westminster Abbey. Hitherto, drama had been poetry’s disreputable sibling; now a man of the theatre was interred beside the esteemed poets Geoffrey Chaucer and Edmund Spenser.
The following month, William Shakespeare died in retirement in his native town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Had he still been in London, he would have been lain to rest beside Beaumont, but that was not possible to arrange at such a distance and his family wanted to keep his remains close to home.
Nevertheless, his achievement as a writer was honoured by a funeral monument that celebrated the “living art” of “all that he hath writ” and compared his genius to that of the greatest philosopher (Socrates) and the most admired poet (Virgil) the world had ever seen. The making of such high claims for a mere “play-maker”, a crowd-pleaser as opposed to a courtier, reveals the pride of the people of Stratford in their local boy made good.
Then, in November 1616, came the publication of a hefty book in elaborate Folio format: The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. As Ian Donaldson shows, the elaborately engraved title-page bears a striking formal resemblance to that of another Folio published the same year: The Workes of the most high and mighty Prince, James, King of Great Britain.
The king’s poet was effectively placing his works on the same level as those of the king himself. But the truly momentous thing about this presumptuous volume was its content: it included not only Jonson’s collected poems and his court masques (entertainments presented before the Royal family), but also nine plays that had been written for the public stage.
Until then, theatre scripts, including those of Shakespeare and Jonson, had only been published in cheap, throwaway paperback editions. By including in his collected works, not just his sternly classical tragedies but also such raucous comedies as The Fox (otherwise known as Volpone) and The Alchemist, Jonson was giving new dignity to the playwright’s art. He was much mocked for doing so, but his boldness paved the way for a subsequent project to which he also lent his considerable weight: the publication by fellow actors John Hemmings and William Condell of Shakespeare’s collected plays, also in grand Folio format. Without the example and assistance of Ben Jonson, half of Shakespeare’s plays would have been lost forever and others would only have survived in corrupt, inferior texts.
Jonson was a controversial figure, much given to quarrels. Through the pages of Donaldson’s authoritative and lucid biography, we see him getting into all sorts of scrapes: leaving Westminster School, where he studied under the learned William Camden, to be apprenticed to his stepfather, a bricklayer; running away to become a soldier in the Netherlands, where he fought in single combat; very nearly causing the entire theatre industry to be closed down by the authorities because of his satirical representation of politicians in his now lost play The Isle of Dogs; killing a fellow actor and being saved from the gallows by reciting the “neck-verse” that proved his literacy (he got away with a branding on his hand in red-hot iron); rising to become the leading supplier of song, dance, poetry and spectacle to the drama-loving king and queen, only to get into a huge row with his stage designer, Inigo Jones.
Inigo threw a hissy fit when he received mere second billing on the title-page of the masque Love’s Triumph (“The inventors: Ben Jonson, Inigo Jones”). Jonson responded in his comedy A Tale of a Tub by portraying Jones as the impossible-to-work-with “Vitruvius Hoop”. Jones duly slapped an injunction on the script and the Master of the Revels only allowed it to be published with “Vitru Hoop’s parte wholly struck out”.
Jonson rarely minced his words. Once he walked all the way from London to Scotland, apparently in order to fulfil a bet (Donaldson makes fascinating use of a recently discovered diary by a young man who travelled with him).
Having arrived north of the border, he stayed with the poet William Drummond at Hawthornden Castle, where he delivered himself of his literary opinions: that Shakespeare wrote too quickly and that John Donne deserved hanging for the obscurantism of his verse.
Yet he was also capable of the most exquisite tenderness and the most generous praise. His little elegy on his dead son “Here doth lie/Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry” is one of the most moving short poems in the language, while “To Penshurst”, his thank-you offering for a stay with his patron, Sir Robert Sidney, is among the greatest poems about hospitality ever written.
Jonson loved to tease Shakespeare, who acted in several of his plays, possibly playing the parts of Prospero in Every Man in his Humour and the Emperor Tiberius in Sejanus. They were friendly rivals, brought together by their background in trade (glover’s son, bricklayer’s stepson), their lack of a university degree and their shared career trajectory from actor to playwright.
Jonson outlived his “beloved” Will, as he called him, but he accurately predicted that his friend’s plays would be read across the globe in centuries to come. Ben’s own collected works are currently being re-edited by a team of scholars led by Ian Donaldson. Let us hope that this magnificent biography is a harbinger of a long overdue Jonson revival.
Oxford University Press, £25, 533pp
1 The Alchemist and Other Plays by Ben Jonson (Oxford World’s Classics)
2 The Complete Poems by Ben Jonson (Penguin Classics)
3 Rival Playwrights: Marlowe, Jonson, Shakespeare by James Shapiro (Columbia University Press)

domain: artistic


text:
Access to Freedom - Web 2.0 A Journey to Emancipation
This is a story of emancipation – Web 2.0. The world has been revolutionized by the trading of ideas that internet access has facilitated. From education to agriculture, there are no avenues left untouched and there is a reason why this is the case. The outreach provided by simple Web 2.0 technology has reached homes in urban and rural Bangladesh in ways that any other media never has. The traditional notion of women remaining in the domestic sphere, hidden behind closed doors is much harder to enforce today because of the connectivity internet and communication access has provided. Blogging, social networking, websites and videos all create discourse and bring the world inside the home. The home becomes part of the global platform.
The One Billion Rising campaign by the VDay movement promoted the participation of women in the force to end violence against women. The key message of the campaign was to urge women to take up space, to not remain silent and tell their stories to the world. This is exactly what Web 2.0 is doing! By bringing the personal story to the world, women are taking up space, they are making their voices heard and they are rising. Today, more women are joining the public sphere than ever before. As writers, businesswomen, teachers, students, doctors and advisers – the network is providing access to a support groups, global mentorship relationships and knowledge partners – resources which women have lacked in the past. These resources are essential in breaking the glass ceiling that hold women in.
Internet has allowed me to learn and grow. I am a reader and a writer. I observe perspectives and Web 2.0 has given me access to a world completely designed by perspectives. Popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have assisted me in organizing tournaments, events and running clubs. My blog has given me a window to be myself – without judgments, without expectations, without the bindings of the material world around me.
Web 2.0 gives one freedom. This freedom is powerful. It crosses national borders and domestic walls – it is what will give women the power to act, to resist, to speak, to be heard, to be their best. The global women’s empowerment movement needs to reach every home and give women and men the tools to build a gender sensitive society. Organizations and programs such as the Bangladesh Women Lawyer’s Association and Women in Public Service Project run by the Woodrow Wilson Institute give women from all backgrounds the access to legal aid, advocacy tools, policy solutions, support groups and most essentially a forum to share their stories in. These services are then reinforced by local and international offices that run shelter homes, provide legal support, organize training programs and help women learn their own potential. This is the future of the global movement. Web 2.0 is the solution.


We developed a diode-pumped high-average-power Nd:YAG green laser. By use of a monolithic diffusive reflector having three slits and a rod with low doping concentration, uniform distribution of excited Nd ions could be achieved. Uniform distribution in the rod reduced thermal birefringence. We employed a Z-shaped cavity to have a constant beam size at the frequency-doubling crystal independent of thermal lensing in the rod. The pulse width and green power dependence on the pump power were analyzed. A maximum green power of 101 W was obtained when the total pump power was 398 W. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was as high as 25.4%.
© 2004 Optical Society of America
(140.3480) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, diode-pumped
(140.3580) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, solid-state
(140.4780) Lasers and laser optics : Optical resonators
(190.2620) Nonlinear optics : Harmonic generation and mixing
Jonghoon Yi, Hee-Jong Moon, and Jongmin Lee, "Diode-Pumped 100-W Green Nd:YAG Rod Laser," Appl. Opt. 43, 3732-3737 (2004)


text:
This tutorial is based on the looks I've done on Clemence Poesy as they have been requested a lot. My colouring is totally different to hers obviously but these are the sorts of tones I've used on her...
I’ve had tons of requests asking me about the huge subject of blush - from where to apply it, to what shade to use to the best blusher brushes around. But rather than make one massive (and long!...
Most of the time my job is all about prettifying - a touch of blusher here and a slick of gloss there - but very often there are beauty emergencies to be dealt with. My canvases are the worlds top mod...
How To Make Thin or Uneven Lips Look Full & Fabulous - Without Surgery
Thin or uneven lips can be easily corrected with make-up, painful lip augmentation really isnt necessary... its just getting the technique right. Hard lines around the edge are definitely not the way to go!
See my blog post on nude pencils for all skin tones HERE.
Clinque - Chubby Stick Intense - Curviest Caramel 01
Essie - Nail Colour - Mink Muffs (698)
L'Oreal Infailliable Lip Liner - Always Toasted
Maybelline - Super Stay 14hr Lipstick - Stay With Me Coral
No7 - Precision Lips Pencil - Fire
Revlon - Matte Lipstick - Really Red


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Yahoo news: Tens of thousands march for gay rights in Taiwan
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Taipei on Saturday for Asia’s largest gay rights parade, with many urging parliament to push through a controversial bill recognizing same-sex marriage.
Supporters from Taiwan and abroad waved placards reading “equal marriage rights” and “support gay marriage” as they marched through the capital for the 12th annual Walk in Queers’ Shoes parade
Gay and lesbian groups in Taiwan, one of Asia’s more liberal societies, have been urging the government for years to legalize same-sex marriage. Parliament started reviewing a bill on the issue last year.
Participants revel through a street during a gay and lesbian parade in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. Thousands of gay and lesbian Taiwanese took to the streets showing Taiwan's acceptance of alternative lifestyles and activities from traditional ways of Chinese life.
Tianmo & Picnic06
Edited by Picnic06, 27 October 2014 - 08:51 AM.


Tim Dove - Pioneer
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I nearly succumbed to eating out, and I'm so glad I didn't.
Tired at the end of a long week, sometimes it's hard to remember that cooking can be therapeutic. The idea of being served and cleaned up after can be really appealing. But it's important to remember that you can make a special and memorable meal at home- it doesn't have to happen in someone else's kitchen.
I have been saving the Suite Pea Bundles for the right evening and the right dish. I decided on a simple preparation, using them as a side dish with protein- seared scallops for me, grilled chicken for NH.
My scallops are a wonderful find, a frozen bag of jumbo scallops from Trader Yo's.
I like to slice them in half and sear them in a VERY hot pan for maybe 2 minutes per side. This used to be special and rare in a restaurant and now I can have them anytime at home. NH grills his chicken with canola oil, garlic salt and pepper.
For the Suite Pea Bundles, I made half the frozen bag by boiling in water for about 5 minutes. Can you see the green color? Beautiful.
I rubbed our plates with a teeny bit of walnut oil and sprinkled some sweet white corn over the plates. Next the bundles (2/3 for NH, 1/3 for me), some more corn and then a shower of some lovely Parmiggiano Reggiano grated with a microplane.
The Suite Pea Bundles are delicious!!! What a wonderful recipe, I highly recommend this filling.
I have half the batch left in the freezer, what to do with them? I think I see a Miso soup with Dumplings in my future. . . .


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Rising South China Sea Tensions and Concerns for Europe
China’s long-running territorial disputes regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea have become two of Asia’s biggest flashpoints. How to keep them from igniting into military conflict? This Clingendael Spectator series looks beyond the headlines of these flashpoints. In this second episode, Vera Kranenburg and Nick Bontenbal analyse the mutually exclusive claims in the South China Sea and explain why Europe should heed the escalating tensions.
On 5 August, the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of dangerously and illegally firing a water cannon at Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands within the South China Sea.1 Several countries including the United States, Japan, Australia, and Germany have criticised these Chinese actions.2
It was not until 22 August that the Philippines managed to successfully carry out this resupply operation. According to the Chinese coast guard, transporting construction materials to the disputed shoal is “illegal” but they “made temporary arrangements for Manila […] to deliver food and necessities on humanitarian grounds”.3 The Philippine coast guard dismissed this explanation, stating that Chinese vessels once again interfered with their mission.4
Events like these, including near-collisions and stand-offs, frequently take place in the South China Sea, illustrating that the region is an area of potential conflict. These incidents are a direct consequence of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brunei all have their own – often overlapping – territorial claims.
This seemingly regional dispute in Asia should concern Europe because of the highly strategic value of the South China Sea
Although the disputes in the South China Sea do not make headlines quite as often as a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait,5 the current situation – with a high frequency of incidents – is more volatile than it has been in a long time. China is increasing its military power and efforts to assert influence in the area, while the counterpressure from some of the sea’s surrounding countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines is also on the rise, along with increased involvement from the United States. This mounting pressure from multiple sides, combined with the presence of the US as a powerful external actor, further raises the risk of these disputes escalating into conflict.
This seemingly regional dispute in Asia should concern Europe because of the highly strategic value of the South China Sea. If a territorial dispute in the South China Sea were to escalate into open conflict, the impact on not only the surrounding nations, but also on the world economy would be enormous. Given that approximately 22 to 30 per cent of the entire global trade volume – including Asian-European trade – passes through the South China Sea, any disruption could have far-reaching implications.6 Recognising this, the European Council recently emphasised the strategic significance of the South China Sea “for regional and global prosperity and security”.7
Key to grasping the current dynamics in the South China Sea is understanding how Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines – the three Southeast Asian states with the largest overlapping claims with China – respond to the increase of Chinese military power and activities to claim sovereignty over the sea.
Territorial claims: a high-stakes issue
Based on what it calls “historic rights”,8 China claims a large area in the South China Sea, of which the demarcation line is known as the ‘nine-dash line’.9 This claim covers most of the South China Sea and overlaps with several territorial claims and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims of surrounding countries, both of which are based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
EEZs are areas where a nation holds the right to exploit natural resources. Consequently, conflicting territorial claims do not only have political implications, but can also have a significant economic impact. Due to the rich fishing grounds and deposits of other natural resources, such as gas and oil,10 the South China Sea is a critical area for the utilisation of EEZs, underlining the economic aspects of the dispute as a high-stakes issue.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that there is “no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’”.11 China’s response stated that the Court did not have the authority to rule on these matters.12
To limit tensions, China and ASEAN – the intergovernmental association of which all Southeast Asian claimant states are members – signed the (non-binding) Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, in which the signatories vowed to uphold peace in the area.13 Although this could potentially have been a step towards a peaceful solution of the disputes, there has been very limited progress towards a binding code of conduct ever since.
Despite the 2016 ruling by the PCA, China has employed a variety of tactics to pursue its interests in the South China Sea. Three main activities have been at the forefront of China’s actions in the area: land reclamation, coast guard or military patrols, and the presence of militias.
1. Land reclamation
Perhaps the most well-known way in which China has tried to reinforce its claim over the South China Sea is through building and enlarging the rocks, shoals, and low-tide elevations over which it has established control. Although the Chinese government officially denies the existence of such land reclamation projects,14 satellite images have shown that large-scale land reclamation operations have been taking place since 2013. The Chinese military has also significantly expanded its presence and infrastructure on these features, in order to increase its ability to effectively project its military power in the area.15
2. Coast guard or military patrols
In response to what it sees as intrusions by warships of other nations, China has frequently scrambled fighter jets to chase away warships of other countries from the claimed area in the South China Sea.16 One notable type of ‘intrusion’ is the presence of foreign navies in the sea, including the so-called Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) carried out by the US Navy.17 Besides this, the Chinese Coast Guard is frequently deployed to fend off what are considered trespassers on Chinese territory.
3. Chinese militias
In addition to the Chinese Coast Guard, Chinese militias (often under local government control) are also active in the area, mainly using converted fishing boats. The militia members, posing as fishermen and sometimes cooperating with them, are often involved in attacking or chasing away fishing boats, gas exploration vessels, or other nations’ navy ships.18
Responses by Southeast Asian states
How do other claimant states respond to these activities?
To a certain degree, Southeast Asian states with their own claims in the South China Sea all face the same dilemma. On the one hand, China is an extremely important economic actor on both a regional and global level. However, on the other hand, they perceive China as a potential military threat.
To a certain degree, Southeast Asian states with their own claims in the South China Sea all face the same dilemma
Due to China’s assertive behaviour in the South China Sea, many of the claimant states worry about an encroaching China and thus take measures to defend their interests. These measures range from diplomatic engagement and downplaying of tensions to direct confrontation. Several factors influence the approach these various claimant states adopt towards Chinese activities in the South China Sea.
The Malaysian government has made the calculation that maintaining a good relationship – which is mostly focused on economic cooperation – rather than directly responding to incidents in the South China Sea is in the country’s best interest. For this reason, the country has ordered its vessels to deal with Chinese incursions by observing them from a safe distance. Despite incursions, Chinese cyberattacks,19 and attempts to keep Malaysian state company Petronas from exploiting resources in the South China Sea.20
Although this approach limits Malaysia’s freedom to act in the area it claims as sovereign territory, it works well in terms of preventing escalation of the territorial dispute. The Malaysian ruling elite adopted this strategy because they do not perceive China as a significant threat, afraid it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Therefore, they avoid engaging in an “action-reaction spiral” and instead “make its relationship with Beijing indispensable”.21
In the Vietnamese relationship with China history plays a more important role compared to Malaysia’s.22 The 120 Vietnamese fishermen that have died over the last thirty years partly as a result of attacks by Chinese vessels are of importance here as well.23
Vietnam has therefore adopted a more forthright approach to Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Remarkable is how Vietnam – although not on the same scale as China – has also conducted island expansion operations, adding around 170 hectares of new land to the roughly 50 features it controls.24
Beyond territorial claims, there have also been confrontations between Chinese and Vietnamese actors. Numerous reported incidents involve Vietnamese fishermen being attacked or harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard,25 and stand-offs between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels in the Vietnamese EEZ frequently occur.26
In addition to physical altercations, Vietnam has also sought to address the situation diplomatically, with officials threatening to initiate an international legal procedure against China.27 However, these threats have not gone beyond mere rhetoric.
The frequent physical confrontations contribute to China-Vietnam relations being among the more volatile bilateral relationships in the South China Sea. Vietnam has also built and expanded a maritime militia of its own28 and enhanced its military capabilities,29 further increasing the chances of incidents and the risks that come with them.
The Philippines is adopting an increasingly direct approach in its dealings with China in the South China Sea. Since March 2023, the country has started publicising Chinese actions in the region by releasing videos of incidents involving the two states’ coast guard ships.30 In April, the Philippines took the next step in its new strategy by taking journalists onboard a ship that witnessed a near-collision between a Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard ship. This move led to Chinese criticism.31
In June, the Philippines took a step further in its new strategy by inviting tourists to the Spratly Islands it controls. With these tours the country aims to strengthen its territorial claim and to enable tourists to observe the behaviour of nearby Chinese ships.32
In the case of the Philippines, domestic political outlook matters a lot when it comes to its relationship with China and its alliance with the United States
In previous years, the Philippines already publicly protested Chinese actions, including voicing diplomatic protest when Chinese vessels were present in areas claimed by the Philippines. In 2021, the country already intensified patrols in the South China Sea “beyond anything seen in years”, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.33 In February 2023, the state’s coast guard chief said that it had again “stepped up its presence”, including deployment of vessels and conducting overflights.34
In the case of the Philippines, domestic political outlook matters a lot when it comes to its relationship with China and its alliance with the United States.35 Current Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a more outspoken stance on Chinese claims and actions in the South China than his predecessor.36 Marcos Jr.’s administration has also stepped up the country’s engagement with the US – and others, such as Australia and Japan – in the region.37
In April 2023, the Philippines announced that the US would gain access to four additional Philippine military bases.38
The US is eager to increase its influence in Asia as a way to counter its primary geopolitical rival, China, including by deepening cooperation with its allies in the region, like the Philippines.
The cost of neglecting the South China Sea disputes
Understanding the different approaches claimant states are taking towards China in the South China Sea is key to comprehend the current dynamics in the area. Yet, the question remains: why should Europe be concerned about a seemingly regional dispute?
Firstly, this potential flashpoint could profoundly affect the global economy, as more than 22 to 30 per cent of international trade passes through the region. The potential escalation of an incident in the South China Sea could impede European trade, as approximately 40 per cent of the EU’s foreign trade runs through this area.39 Thus, any conflict disrupting these flows would have a severe negative impact.
Secondly, driven by geopolitical motives, several European countries – such as the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy – have in recent years sent their own military vessels to the region and have committed to doing so more frequently in the coming years.40 This amplified European military presence in the South China Sea heightens the risk of European nations becoming – possibly unintentionally – directly involved in an escalation of the dispute.
Europe should (continue to) pay attention and prepare an apt response to a potential escalation in the region
Thirdly, as a major military power actively engaged in the region, the United States plays a crucial role in the geopolitical dynamics of the South China Sea. This is particularly crucial for Southeast Asian claimant nations, like the Philippines, aiming to counterbalance China’s activities in the area. The volatile situation in the South China Sea is also connected to the Taiwan Strait flashpoint, further amplifying the importance for the US.41 If the United States were to be directly involved in a conflict between, for example, the Philippines and China within the South China Sea, it would also reverberate across American security commitments in Europe. Moreover, the US might reach out to European allies for support, both economically and military, drawing them into the complex South China Sea dynamics.
In conclusion, recent months have underscored the volatility of the disputes in the South China Sea, with a high degree of activity and skirmishes. Europe should therefore (continue to) pay attention and prepare an apt response to a potential escalation in the region. When assessing risks in East and Southeast Asia that could have an impact on Europe, focusing solely on a potential conflict around Taiwan would overlook a key flashpoint, which, in many ways, is even more complex.
- 1‘Philippines accuses China of water cannon attack in Spratly Islands, The Guardian, 6 August 2023.
- 2Brad Lendon and Kathleen Magramo, 'International backlash grows after Chinese vessel fires water cannon on Philippine boats,’ CNN, 7 August 2023.
- 3Ella Cao and Liz Lee, ‘China firmly opposes Philippines transporting construction materials to grounded warship’, Reuters, 22 August 2023.
- 4‘China lying about allowing resupply mission to Ayungin: Coast Guard’, ABS-CBN News, 23 August 2023.
- 5Xiaoxue Martin, ‘Why the European Inconsistency on Taiwan is a Concern’, Clingendael Spectator, 23 May 2023.
- 6David Uren, ‘Southeast Asia will take a major economic hit if shipping is blocked in the South China Sea’, ASPI Strategist, 8 December 2020.
- 7European Council, ‘European Council conclusions on China’, 30 June 2023.
- 8Keyuan Zou, ‘Historic Rights in the South China Sea Arbitration Case: A Preliminary Reflection’, Asia-Pacific Journal of Ocean Law and Policy, December 2016.
- 9The ‘nine-dash line’ is named after the dashes drawn on the map to show the area would be Chinese. The line is dashed because it represents a maritime boundary (which is less fixed than a continental boundary). For more information on the development of the concept ‘nine-dash line’, see: Hannah Beech, ‘Just Where Exactly Did China Get the South China Sea Nine-Dash Line From?’, Time, 19 July 2016.
- 10Friso Dubbelboer, ‘UNCLOS under Pressure: Law of the Jungle or Law of the Sea?’, Clingendael Spectator, 28 July 2020.
- 11‘Press Release: The South China Sea Arbitration (the Republic of the Philippines v. the People’s Republic of China)’, Permanent Court of Arbitration, 12 July 2016.
- 12‘China challenges Arbitral Tribunal’s authority’, Xinhua, 14 July 2016.
- 13‘Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea’, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 14 May 2012.
- 14‘China says 'no such thing' as man-made islands in South China Sea’, Reuters, 30 March 2017.
- 15‘Chinese Power Projection Capabilites in the South China Sea’, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 20 March 2022.
- 16Helen Davidson, ‘US Navy rejects China claim that warship ‘illegally’ entered part of South China Sea’, The Guardian, 23 March 2023.
- 17‘7th Fleet Cruiser Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation in South China Sea’, US 7th Fleet Public Affairs, 28 November 2022.
- 18An example of this involvement was the case when Chinese fishermen militia were used to monitor ASEAN-India joint navy drills in May 2023. See: ‘South China Sea: Asean-India drills stalked by Chinese maritime militia, sources say’, South China Morning Post, 9 May 2023.
- 19Sribala Subramanian, ‘Phishing in the South China Sea’, The Diplomat, 3 April 2023.
- 20Amy Chew, ‘Malaysia’s energy needs face Chinese pushback in South China Sea’, Al Jazeera, 25 April 2023.
- 21Emirza Adi Syailendra, ‘Why don’t Malaysian Policymakers view China as a threat?’, The Diplomat, 24 February 2023.
- 22Think, for example, about the two-week invasion of Northern Vietnam by the Chinese military in 1979.
- 23‘Beaten and robbed: Vietnamese fisherman recounts China attacks’, The Straits Times, 5 October 2022.
- 24David Brunnstrom, ‘Vietnam in big push to expand South China Sea Outpost – U.S. Think Tank’, Reuters, 20 March 2022.
- 25‘Vietnam Fisherman Recounts Attacks China by China Coast Guard in South China Sea’, South China Morning Post, 14 October 2022.
- 26Sebastian Strangio, ‘Vietnamese, Chinese Vessels in Close South China Sea Encounter’, The Diplomat, 28 March 2023.
- 27Peter A. Dutton, ‘Vietnam Threatens China with Litigation over the South China Sea’, Lawfare, 27 July 2020.
- 28Khac Giang Nguyen, ‘The Vietnamese Maritime Militia: Myths and Realities’, RSIS, 21 July 2022.
- 29Arming Vietnam: Widened International-security Relations in Support of Military-capability Development, International Institute for Strategic Studies, 20 March 2023.
- 30In March 2023, the Philippines launched a new strategy in the South China Sea: publicising Chinese actions. In February 2023, an incident between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards occurred, in which the Chinese Coast Guard allegedly used a military-grade laser to temporarily blind a crew member aboard a Philippine ship. (See: Rebecca Ratcliffe, ‘Chinese ship accused of using ‘military-grade laser’ against Philippine vessel’, The Guardian, 13 February 2023.) The Philippine Coast Guard published a video of the laser-incident. (See: ‘Philippines launches strategy of publicising Chinese actions in South China Sea’, South China Morning Post, 8 March 2023.) In April, a near-collision between a Chinese and a Philippine vessel took place. (See: ‘Chinese, Philippine vessels near-crash’, AFP News Agency on Twitter, 28 April 2023.) A video of the event was published by journalists invited to be present on a Philippine ship nearby, signalling a next step in the Philippine strategy to publicly showcase Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
- 31The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson reiterated the Chinese claim over these islands and waters, qualifying the presence of journalists as a “premeditated provocation designed to deliberately create a friction, be blamed on China and hyped up in the media”. See: ‘Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, 28 April 2023.
- 32‘Eilandjepik in betwiste wateren, op 'vakantie' in de Zuid-Chinese zee’, NOS Nieuws, 3 July 2023.
- 33‘Out in Force: Philippine South China Sea are way up’, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 26 May 2021.
- 34‘Out in Force: Philippine South China Sea are way up’, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 26 May 2021.
- 35Richard Javad Heydarian, ‘Marcos Jr’s coalition ripping apart on US-China lines’, Asia Times, 4 July 2023.
- 36Former president Rodrigo Duterte made a pro-China pivot, viewed China as an economic opportunity, and used Chinese financing for his own domestic political gain. (See: Alvin Camba, ‘How Duterte Strong-Armed Chinese Dam-Builders But Weakened Philippine Institutions’, Carnegie Endowment, 15 July 2021.) Current president Marcos Jr. instead views the Philippines’ alliance with the US as the way to protect the country and wishes to challenge Beijing’s claims, therefore expanding the alliance and allowing US troops access to more Filipino bases.
- 37In the media, joint maritime patrols with the US, as well as potential joint patrols with Australia and Japan, received a lot of attention.
- 38Three are located on Luzon, in the north of the Philippines, near Taiwan, and one on Balabac, near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
- 39Sophie Boisseau du Rocher, the EU’s South China Sea Challenge, The Diplomat, 1 February 2021.
- 40In 2021, a Dutch frigate was part of a UK Carrier Strike Group that visited the region. In 2022, Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that the Netherlands aims to send a frigate every two years. Germany, for the first time in two decades, also sent a vessel to the region in 2021 and plans to deploy two warships in 2024. France’s contribution came in June 2023 to “support liberty of navigation”. Furthermore, the Italian Navy intends to send an aircraft carrier with its battle group to the South China Sea in 2023 or 2024.
- 41The recent access granted to the US to make use of Philippine bases highlights this, as these bases are strategically located near Taiwan and the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.


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On January 27, 2010, Russia's Federation Council (the upper house of its Parliament) voted to approve Protocol 14, which reformed the European Convention of Human Rights [PDF]. The reforms included changes designed to increase efficiency at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Concerns that the bill was politically motivated had delayed its passage. Russia was the last member of the Council of Europe to ratify the protocol.
Coat of arms of Russia
Learn more about European Court of Human Rights from the JURIST news archive.


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Telkom in pact with 8Share, introduces startup to Indonesia
By Digital News Asia November 18, 2013
- 8Share claims user base of over 490,000 in Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines
- Developed by Says.com before merger with Catcha Media to form Rev Asia
INDONESIA’S Telkom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Social Rewards Service, 8Share, via the Telkom Market Bridge programme, which plans to connect new products and services to Indonesian users via Telkom’s marketing channels.
8Share (www.8share.com/id) is a mobile app that lets users earn money by sharing content with friends. This content, called ‘Specials,’ ranges from the latest videos, movie trailers, contests and events to product offers by Indonesian brands that choose to promote their content via 8Share users.
8Share claims to have a base of over 490,000 users in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. It has worked on over 1,500 successful campaigns for 70 of the largest advertisers in the region including Nike, Coke, Nestle, Unilever, Samsung, and local telecommunication network providers.
To date, 8Share has paid over US$843,712 to its active users, it said in a statement. 8Share's international team is currently working from Telkom's Bandung Digital Valley.
“With the Telkom Market Bridge, we will introduce new and innovative services from both local and global entrepreneurs to all of Indonesia,” said Telkom (Telekomunikasi Indonesia) spokesperson Ery Punta.
8Share was developed by Malaysian-based startup Says.com before it was merged with select subsidiaries of the Catcha Media Group to form Rev Asia in October.
“Indonesians are known to be [amongst] the most actively connected social media users in the world,” said Says.com head of international markets Hun Yeoh, on why the three-year-old company is going into Indonesia.
The 8Share app has been adapted to the Indonesian market. Upon downloading the free app, users connect to their Facebook and Twitter accounts to enable them to share the latest 8Share ‘Specials’ on their social media networks.
Every unique visit received by the user to their shared Special will earn them Rp. 250, or up to Rp. 15.000 per ‘Special’. Users can cash out their earnings when they have collected a minimum amount of Rp. 150,000 in their account. Users will then receive their earnings via direct bank transfer from 8Share.
8Share is available for free download on the Apple app and Google Play stores too.
Catcha-Says merger to change digital advertising game
Newly-created Rev Asia gets RM1mil campaign with Heineken
Catcha and Says merger complete with birth of Rev Asia
For more technology news and the latest updates, follow @dnewsasia on Twitter or Like us on Facebook.


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With discussions between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation and the Romanian authorities having continued on Saturday in financial and energy fields, the Energy Minister, Andrei Gerea, only revealed the following: “Talks are going smoothly with the representatives of the International Fund, but this is all I can say for now.”
According to some official sources quoted by Agerpres, there were three important issues that needed to be discussed in the energy field, among which the liberalisation calendar of the gas market.
The IMF experts on Friday got together with the representatives of all ministries to discuss whether there should be a new agreement concluded between Romania and the international financial body or not.
A mission of the International Monetary Fund led by Andrea Schaechter arrived in Romania on January 27 for the third assessment of the ongoing precautionary agreement. the First two assessments of the current agreement were carried out last year.
According to the IMF resident representative in Romania and Bulgaria, Guillermo Tolosa, as saying before the IMF mission started, consultations were to be held on the Article IV and the third assessment of the precautionary stand-by agreement with Romania, as approved on September 27, 2013. “The members of the mission will discuss with the Romanian authorities about the recent evolutions of the Romanian economy and such shocks that could shake the financial markets.
The current stand-by agreement is the 10th concluded by Romania with the IMF in the past 23 years and the 3rd required by the IMF since the outbreak of the economic crisis in 2009.
The first agreement after December 1989 was concluded on April 11, 1991, according to the webpage of the international financial institution.


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It's time to add breezy, easy, Spring staples to your wardrobe. We have the top Spring must-haves to lighten up your closet.
Pretty in Pink Tweed Mini Bag
write a review
A fabulous mini bag in a beautiful light pink tweed with tiny flecks of colors. The border is frayed and trimmed with silver-tone chain and faux leather. The chain can be tucked in to wear as a clutch or wear it as a crossbody. Perfect for just your essentials. This bags looks like a bag from a famous French fashion house. Of course you know who that is.
H 4.5" x W 7.5" x D 2"
Strap drop 20"


By Ahmed Bux Jamali
Looking at the changing dynamics of the world politics, with the inception of various multilateral organizations jointly led by mighty regional and great powers, have almost changed the overall perception of international power politics these days. Subsequently, an event of one region is directly or indirectly affecting another region keeping in view the politics, economy and security paradigms.
Out of all those organizations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization is the one, which is rapidly moving towards the creation of the new glory of Multi-polarity in the world. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a regional international organization that was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan aiming at the coordination of mutual efforts to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism in Central Asia. With the passage of various result-orientated activities of member states, SCO started addressing economic matters by providing a platform to promote cooperation in energy, transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, science and technology, humanitarian efforts and many others aspect of life.
The recent inclusion of Pakistan and India at SCO 2015 summit at Ufa as full members have raised many questions in the minds of Western analysts. Of their opinion, it is viewed that US is no more a dominant player in South Asian politics as both Pakistan and India have joined the Eastern bloc, the bloc led by Russia militarily and China economically. This perhaps prove to be a daunting task for US to reestablish the already established influential role in this region. Simultaneously, US is observing deeply how things getting away from their hands systemically. Adding the statements of the Prime Minister of Pakistan at SCO 2015 summit at Ufa last year, “We must work together to mitigate differences, resolve outstanding disputes and create a favorable environment for the betterment of our peoples. This is how the true Shanghai Spirit will be fully realized.” Mr. Sharif termed inclusion of India and Pakistan into the ambit of the grouping as turning point in the history of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Furthermore, the intentions of Iran and Turkey to be enlisted as SCO full members will add more fuel to fire to Unipolar world order in the coming days. Soon after the Iranian nuclear talks with P5+1, Russia officially declared her full support to Iran, the practical application of which was recently observed at Syrian battleground by Russia-Iran Cooperation to Assad’s regime respectively. Speaking at a news conference in Lausanne on March 31, 2015, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that sanctions against Iran should be lifted “once the deal is reached,” which means immediately and not gradually. If that is the case, it seems that Iran could join the SCO in 2016.
On the other hand, Turkish PM Erdogan has once again emphasized that Turkey wants to join the SCO as full member, considering it as part of Turkey’s larger pivot to Asia. “Take us and we will say goodbye to the EU”, these words of PM Erdogan clearly illustrate their desires and adherence to be full member of SCO. Since the EU has not accepted Turkey, Turkey being a major NATO ally, is looking for new ways and channels for Strengthening the relationship with the SCO.
Recalling the annual SCO summit 2005 at Astana, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, vocally greeted the guests with remarkable words that had never before been used in any context of International Politics. He stated that “The leaders of the states sitting at this negotiation table are representatives of half of humanity.” Therefore, SCO members are indeed truly representative of the half of the population of the world, the decisions of which is of vital importance to reshape the world order.
According to Former Joint Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Leonid Ivashov statement, Contrary to Samuel Huntington’s hallmark that “Clash of civilizations is inevitable and countries will never tolerate other cultures.” This phenomenon has been significantly negated under the SCO framework that has not only harmonized interactions between civilizations but also proved to be platform with unique nature. The contours of an alliance of five non-Western civilizations Russian, Chinese, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist join under the umbrella of SCO.
By Summing up, the accession of India and Pakistan from South Asia and possibly Iran from Middle East and Turkey from Eurasia in the near future, will radically change the very nature of the SCO. The same goes for Belarus, a European nation with a somewhat peculiar political system, and Sri Lanka, which has become disillusioned with the West for pointlessly defending Tamil separatists. It will bring significant changes in outlook of SCO among the many multilateral institutions of the world. The organization would then count all the leading non-Western powers of Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and Asia-Pacific among its members which is a posing a number of challenges for western world and their supremacy.
I predict and would welcome an official visit by Russian President Putin to Pakistan at this time, to open a new chapter in South Asian political arena, ultimately bringing end to Western hegemonic designs and possibly and pragmatically open new avenues for the peaceful solution of Pakistan-India issues under the platform of SCO. If China and Russia can solve their century old border issue why not then Pakistan and India. Soon after SCO annual summit 2016 at Uzbekistan, the world will observe a new wave of Multipolar order unveiled by SCO leading towards the new horizons and glory of global politics.


Twitter, Facebook undecided on FG’s licensing order as losses rise
Written by MaryGift Sunday on June 14, 2021
As the suspension of Twitter gets into the second week, the Federal Government is yet to release conditions for the reversal of the indefinite suspension despite claiming to be in talks with the social media company.
While the Federal Government plans to enforce the licensing of over-the-top (OTT) players, it appears such a move is not a priority for players. The Guardian learned at the weekend that the players, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Koo, and Twitter might snub the Federal Government’s move, as they preface OTT operators in the meantime.
A senior official of Facebook, who spoke anonymously with newsmen at the weekend, said the social media platform is not responding to issues as regards licensing and registering of Facebook in Nigeria.
“If it is to respond to why we deleted President Buhari’s post, yes, we can respond to that, which we have been doing. Such posts negate the principles of Facebook. But whether we are coming to register formally here, we are not responding to that, at least for now,” the official said.
Last year, Facebook announced plans for an office in Nigeria, which was to be located in the commercial and tech hub of Lagos. But five years after the CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the same plans during his visit to the country, the tech giant has made no further move on it.
The office location is expected to be secured and become operational by the second half of 2021. During the said period, although not confirmed, the company might begin the recruitment of a team of engineers, sales, partnership, policy, communication experts and register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
As revealed by Facebook’s Head of New Product Experimentation, Ime Archibong, the attraction to Nigeria was borne out of the pool of tech talents within the country.
Despite the ongoing faceoff between Twitter and the Federal Government, the co-founder, and CEO of the platform, Jack Dorsey, on Saturday, tweeted the flag of the country in an apparent reference to the celebration of Democracy Day in Nigeria.
But some hours later, as June 12 protests topped the trends chat in Nigeria and across the world, Twitter CEO in another tweet said: “The people of Nigeria will lead bitcoin” despite Nigerian authorities clampdown on the trading of cryptocurrencies.
Dorsey’s take was a direct reaction to an oped written by NFL star, Russell Okung in Bitcoin Magazine. Okung, a Nigerian descendant and self-acclaimed Bitcoin proponent, advised Nigeria to focus on achieving “economic independence and financial sovereignty” by establishing a Bitcoin Standard. Nigeria is one of the largest cryptocurrency markets in the world, though the country’s Central Bank has prohibited financial institutions from trading in cryptocurrency.
This new move, many says, shows a Twitter company not ready to buckle to the demands of the Federal Government. Even the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who last week said that Twitter had approached the government for negotiation, at the weekend, however, described Twitter’s approach as “tepid”, noting that there has been no follow up from an initial message from Twitter received through a foreign mission that the social media company was open to negotiation.
The micro-blogging platform, which is currently accessible to Nigerians who have bypassed government restrictions through VPN, promised that it will continue to advocate free and open Internet everywhere as it continues to amplify the trend #KeepTweeting, #KeepitOn, and other hashtags in defiance of government’s ban.
Already, Twitter has commenced recruitment for talents for its office in Ghana, which is expected to equally serve the Nigerian market.
Notably, Facebook has been running its African operations from its South African headquarters, the first on the continent, for the past five years. Headed by Nunu Ntshingila-Njeke, the activities were planned with an initial focus on Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria.
According to a statement in 2020, operations from the planned Lagos office are anticipated to boost growth in sub-Saharan Africa. The team will be responsible for building African-focused products while contributing to the growth of the African tech ecosystem.
MEANWHILE, the cost of suspension of Twitter’s operations by the Federal Government continues to rise. About 10 days into the ban, the losses have hit at least N25 billion. While social media influencers who earn a living from monetized tweets and other social media posts have started counting their losses, brands running marketing campaigns are exploring options, as the hope of immediate lifting of the suspension dims.
The government had noted that the suspension was temporary but later said it would be indefinite. Both Twitter and the Federal Government, last week, said it would be indefinite.
According to NetBlocks, a watchdog organization that monitors cybersecurity and governance of the Internet, each hour of the suspension costs Nigeria $250,000 (N102.5 million), bringing the daily loss to N2.46 billion. It means the economy would have lost approximately N24.6 billion in the past 10 days.


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Taste test: I've never been a huge fan of Devil Dogs. That's not to say that I wouldn't eat one if given the opportunity, but they're just a bit on the dry side as snack cakes go. That's why this new product intrigued me: It appeared they took a standard Devil Dog (which consists of a creme filling between two dry-ish pieces of chocolate cake) and coated it in chocolate. And that's pretty much just what they did.
The addition of the coating made the mix of tastes and textures more like a Ring Ding, and I've always been a huge fan of those. I don't think it was quite the same cake as a Ring Ding, still less moist, but very good — and great with milk.
Shop: Buy snack cakes on Amazon #ad
Smell test: Good chocolate smell.
From the package: “8 Creme Filled Devils Food Cakes” ... “Individually Wrapped” ... “Freshness Guaranteed” ... “Since 1896”
Online store: Buy snack cakes on Amazon #ad
Company: McKee Foods
Categories for this snack:
This snack was discovered by Jeremy at Wegmans. Review published .


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A Few Best Men (2012)
Average Rating: 3.7/10
Reviews Counted: 36
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 30
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1
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User Ratings: 1,671
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Frivolous stuff, but there's a sour edge to the silliness, with far more gay panic colouring the jokes than you'd expect from the director of 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.'
From most vantage points, A Few Best Men seems like a real movie. It has a "story," "characters," & even scenes that superficially appear to contain "jokes," but many sketches are ultimately just that; sketches that stop short of offering moments of wit.
This Australian Hangover-style ensemble comedy strains so hard to be funny that it barely raises a smile
Director Elliott (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) tells this story with an odd combination of tourist-bureau style backdrops and full-on slapstick mayhem
When it eventually does let loose and go for some big gross out laughs - like feeding a sheep laxatives - it starts to work, but it's too little too late.
When embarrassment fails to be funny, it ends up as truly excruciating, and such is the case here.
This stomach-churningly dreadful film proves that our friends in the Southern Hemisphere can scrape corners of the barrel inaccessible to even the most fetid American imaginations.
No question this is dumb and derivative and the characters are generally obnoxious but it's raucous, energetic and enlivened by a game Olivia Newton-John ...
In a nutshell, it's just another foul-mouthed, British-flavoured wedding movie with a cast of uncouth young men trying to be as rude as possible.
A Few Best Men leaves logic standing at the altar as its two dimensional characters stumble from one faux pas to the next.
Director Stephan Elliott made The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert but here he doesn't seem to know his farce from his elbow.
There isn't one single laugh here for anyone who doesn't think that women are disgusting, men are morons, homosexuality is terrifying, and friendship is about cruelty and envy.
What must have seemed at some point in production to be charming and hilarious arrives on screen as neither of those things.
How can you resist a film in which Aussie national treasure Olivia Newton-John as the bride's mother lets her hair down for a raucous, cocaine-fuelled jag?
There are no real belly laughs and it lacks the sureness of touch and character of other Australian comedies.
Audience Reviews for A Few Best Men
Discuss A Few Best Men on our Movie forum!
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- Die Trauzeugen (DE)
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Seriously, after you watch this, just turn off your PC and go outside or something because nothing else will quite match up. It’s a Half-Life fan film (I know, I know, just hear me out) that recreates the introduction train-ride sequence to the original game. Sure there are dozens of fan-made Half-Life films, but this is one of the rare ones that just nails the atmosphere of the game.
It’s got the Black Mesa announcement voice-over, an actor that actually looks like Gordon Freeman, a glimpse of the G-Man and there’s even a nod to Portal 2 stuck in there so pay attention. I honestly cannot watch this without grinning ear-to-ear; it totally deserves two minutes of your time.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and buy Half-Life: Source off Steam. Be back in a bit.


Buy Ager’s Scepter Weapon Destiny 2 – Exotic & Catalyst
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20,99 € inc. VAT
- More information about the Boost
Buy your Ager’s Scepter weapons boost for Exotic or Catalyst quality
The weapon Ager’s Scepter was introduced in Destiny 2 with Season 15. Since then, this particular weapon has been in high demand. For this reason, you can buy a weapon boost for the exotic or catalyst Ager’s Scepter in Destiny 2 without having to quest forever. Because to get this weapon, you need to complete a very long and also elaborate series of quests.
The features of the Ager’s Scepter Trace Rifle
The Ager’s Scepter is a trace rifle that shoots beams of focused energy. Unlike other weapons, you need special ammunition. Among these trace rifles, the Ager’s Scepter is by far the best weapon. This is why this weapon is so popular. The range of 72 is also similar to Sniper Rifles. Another strength is the reload speed. The reload is very fast and ensures that you can shoot almost continuously. So, if you need a weapon for continuous fire, you should buy the Ager’s Scepter (Exotic and Catalyst) Boost for Destiny 2.
Other abilities and perks of the Ager’s Scepter
As mentioned before, the weapon is already very strong without perks and is well optimized to shoot enemies continuously. With further perk optimizations, you can stabilize the weapon even further. This also makes it much easier to achieve precise shots at a distance. For this purpose, the recoil can also be reduced. This also contributes positively to the precision. Especially the Catalyst version of the Ager’s Scepter is very powerful and can, for example, slow down and freeze enemies. So, if you want to buy the exotic or the Catalyst version of the Ager’s Scepter, CoinLooting offers exactly the right weapon boost for it.
If you are looking for another weapon or boosting for Destiny 2, you will find everything you need here.
- Your Guardian needs at least a Light Level of 1300.
- You must have unlocked the new Season Pass.
More information about the Boost
- The Ager’s Scepter Weapon Boost in Destiny 2 happens exclusively via account share.
- All items found during the boost can be kept.
- The duration of the boost is usually a few hours to a few days. Ask here again to keep more detailed information with us in live chat.
- By using VPN, our boosters can also have the IP address of your country.


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USPS slowing plant closing plans
The United States Postal Service is putting the brakes on plans to close 89 more mail processing plants and to shutter rural post offices.
Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman assured the Senate Homeland Security Committee Jan. 29 that the agency plans to close no more rural post offices.
He told the panel that the USPS had shut all the rural post offices it believed needed closing. He said the Postal Service would continue to limit service hours at some offices, but that it realized the need to have a presence in rural areas.
On Jan. 24, the Postal Service published a notice in the Federal Register that it was postponing a planned second wave of plant closings that would have saved the agency an estimated $1 billion a year.
The notice did not indicate when — or if — the USPS might revive the closing plans.
It did say that the decision also meant postponing additional changes in mail delivery standards that were supposed to be effective Feb. 1.
In Fayetteville, N.C., one of the cities scheduled to lose several hundred jobs in the second phase, the news was welcomed by the local president of the American Postal Workers Union.
Tony D. McKinnon Sr. said most of the city’s mail processing operations remain on the chopping block.
“It’s enormous that they decided not to do it at this point,” McKinnon told the Fayetteville Observer.
“By postponing this, it tells us they are starting to take a closer look at how service standards have deteriorated” as a result of the plan’s first phase, he said.
House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., attacked the plans to slow plant closings, saying that actions had been taken “to appease the avowed opponents of postal reform.
“Relying solely on rate increases will not save the Postal Service from insolvency,” Issa said in a statement.
“Many reformers believe the postal service needs to accelerate cost cutting efforts, not suspend them,” Issa added.
The Postal Service has said it completed consolidating processing at 140 locations in 2013, saving $1 billion in operating costs.
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Caphunters is the perfect online store for lovers of video games and streetwear fashion. In our caps section, you can find a wide variety of designs inspired by your favorite games, such as Kingdom Hearts.
Our Kingdom Hearts caps are the ideal complement for any fan of the saga. With original and high-quality designs, you can show off your love for Sora and his friends anytime, anywhere. In addition, our caps are adjustable and comfortable, so you can wear them for hours without discomfort. Don't miss the chance to add one of our Kingdom Hearts caps to your merch collection and let everyone know what your favorite game is. Shop now at Caphunters and bring the magic of Kingdom Hearts with you!


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Browse works by location, where the subject or artist has a connection with the area in and around St Ives.
It was the extension of the Great Western Railway to West Cornwall in 1877 which brought many artists to Cornwall. The St Ives Art Club was formally founded in 1890. The first foray into forming the club began in 1888 and meetings took place in Louis Grier’s studio. The first President was Adrian Stokes who was married to the artist Marianne Stokes. Other founding members include Sir John Arnesby Brown, Sir Leslie Stephen, Adrian Strokes and W Titcomb. In 1890 letters were sent to the community inviting them to membership. Mr and Mrs. Stanhope Forbes, the Newlyn artists, accepted and their names appear at the top of the page of the first meeting. Also active during this period was Julius Olsson who ran the Cornish School of Landscape, Figure and Sea Painting in the town, first with Louis Grier and subsequently with Algernon Talmage. St Ives is renowned for it's modernist painters, but the story of art in the town is so much deeper than the version offered by many commentators, who generally begin the story with the apocryphal "discovery" of Alfred Wallis by Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood! Of course, "the moderns" who included Peter Lanyon and Roger Hilton, played a pivotal role in the history of St Ives art but their development was a progression encouraged and championed by artists such as Robert Borlase Smart, Leonard Fuller and Marjorie Mostyn rather than the dawn of a new movement. The contemporary art scene in the town continues to thrive and includes artists such as Eric Ward, John Emanuel and Linda Weir.

domain: history


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Corus Entertainment has been given the greenlight to acquire a controlling interest in specialty TV channel Telelatino Network by Canada's broadcast regulator.
Germany's first travel sales satellite channel Via1, which had just started to get terrestrial exposure, has filed for insolvency.
Columbia TriStar Intl. Television has named Ross Hair VP of its international networks division.
MTV Networks Europe has announced it is setting up interactive TV applications in the U.K. and France for the upcoming MTV Europe Music Awards.
Stephen Chao has resigned his post as president of USA Cable after four years of supervising the USA Network, the Sci Fi Channel and three other 24-hour program services.
Conflict between police and the country's No. 1 commercial channel flared in Georgia on Tuesday after police raided the offices of Tbilisi's main commercial broadcaster, Rustavi-2.
U.K. telecommunications watchdog Oftel is probing the prices satcaster BSkyB charges broadcasters for carriage.
European TV group SBS Broadcasting has announced it will up its stakes in two Dutch production companies, Cameo Media Support and Track Television, in both cases from 49% to 100% at the beginning of…
The campaign to get news helicopters back where they belong -- off the pad and plying the skies above major hubs like Gotham and Los Angeles -- wages on, with TV journos appealing all the way to the…
Facing a soft ad market, CNBC and its sister network MSNBC are looking to cut costs.
A powerful Capitol Hill politico on Tuesday gave EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen some advice Tuesday: Come up with a national pricing system for rural areas before seeking approval to create what would be…


The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 and MT-09 SP stand out in the hyper-naked segment with their striking designs, rider-focused ergonomics, and high-performance capabilities.
The Yamaha MT-09, first introduced in the U.S. as the FZ-09 in 2013, has been a prominent figure in the hypernaked middleweight sportbike segment. Celebrating a decade since its launch, the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 and its more specialized sibling, the MT-09 SP, continue to raise the bar for performance, design, and technological innovation.
Yamaha’s 2024 models, the MT-09 and MT-09 SP, showcase a bold evolution in motorcycle design. They feature a compact and unified front appearance, thanks to a new bi-functional LED headlamp that complements the redesigned fuel tank and tail section. This design gives the bikes an aggressive, forward-leaning stance. The MT-09 SP further distinguishes itself with its exclusive color scheme and a polished aluminum swingarm, enhancing its premium look and feel.
Ergonomics and Features
The 2024 MT-09 series is designed with a focus on ergonomic comfort and rider engagement. Both models feature a lower handlebar position with two adjustable settings and redesigned footrests that are more rearward and adjustable. These changes, along with the lower fuel tank design, result in a more committed riding position and improved maneuverability. The slimmer two-part seat design enhances rider mobility and ease of ground reach. The inclusion of a new 5-inch full-color TFT display, offering multiple themes and smartphone connectivity via Yamaha’s Y-Connect app, adds to the overall user experience.
Additionally, there is a new USB Type-C socket located under the seat for powering electronic devices or heated riding gear. There’s a six-axis IMU that matches the base performance of the unit found on the R1 Superbike. This allows for rider aids such as traction, slide, front wheel lift, and a two-mode brake control. Each system can be adjusted or turned completely off. Four ride modes are available Sport, Street, Rain, and custom.
Engine, Suspension, and Performance
At the heart of the MT-09 and MT-09 SP is the 890cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline three-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder, boasting a bore and stroke of 78.0mm x 62.1mm and a compression ratio of 11.5:1. The engine’s fuel delivery is handled by fuel injection with Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle. Output should be around 117 hp and 69 lb-ft of torque. Both models feature a 6-speed transmission with a multi-plate assist slipper clutch and a chain final drive.
The suspension on the MT-09 features a 41mm KYB inverted fork, adjustable for preload, high/low-speed compression, and rebound, and a KYB mono-shock at the rear, adjustable for preload and rebound damping. The MT-09 SP upgrades this setup with premium 41mm KYB inverted forks and an Öhlins single shock, both offering superior adjustability and travel.
Braking on both models is robust, with the MT-09 featuring 4-piston calipers, a Brembo radial master cylinder, and dual 298mm discs at the front, and a 1-piston caliper with a 245mm disc at the rear, all equipped with ABS. The MT-09 SP boasts Brembo Stylema monoblock calipers, providing enhanced braking performance. Both models are equipped with a new quick-shifter with up-and-down capability
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 is available at an MSRP of $10,599, offering a compelling blend of features and performance. The MT-09 SP, with its advanced components and exclusive settings, is priced at $12,299 MSRP.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 and MT-09 SP stand out in the hyper-naked segment with their striking designs, rider-focused ergonomics, and high-performance capabilities. These bikes represent Yamaha’s ongoing commitment to building engaging bikes in the middleweight naked sportbike segment.


Do My Faux Plants Need A UV Spray?
So you have your faux plants either indoors or outside. The heat of the sun is beating down on them for the majority of the day. You may even notice some fading or possible damage from heat arise after a few months. The long-term effects of too much sun on fake plants are real. Homeowners, décor experts, and interior designers might naturally wonder whether a UV spray makes sense.
Why Your Faux Plants Need A UV Spray
Some cheaper artificial plants are prone to fading in sun. The UV rays bear down on artificial greenery and start to wear down the chemicals and/or materials. The brighter the color, the increased risk the sun poses.
Although premium artificial plants do not pose the same risk, if you leave a fake plant under a summer sun for extended periods, there is no telling what could happen to it, especially if it’s a brighter-colored plant.
A UV spray coats a plant in a protectant. It minimizes the risk of fading in a big, big way. The downside is that you’re spraying chemical on top of your plant. Furthermore, it could change appearances. For example, a bouquet of fake flowers that once appeared very natural could now appear less so and more plastic.
Is There An Alternative To UV Spray For Fake Plants?
If you are concerned about what impact UV spray could have on the look of your plants, the alternative is to buy higher-quality artificial greenery and/or to limit sun exposure.
Fake plants don’t need the sun to look great. They can be stored in a dark closet for years and come out looking absolutely fabulous, not that we’re saying to do that. That said, keeping greenery somewhere in indirect sunlight can help with the risk of fading.
Another strategy you can use to keep faux plants looking realistic is to rotate them in and out according to the season. When you leave them out year-round, they’re constantly being bombarded with sun. Remove them every quarter, switch them out, rotate them, or put them away in storage. It’s up to you. There are several ways you can do this, evidently.
Another good rule is to not buy artificial plants or flowers that are overly bright and colored. A deep, dark green is ok. Bright orange, red, or blue will fade and when it happens, the plant will not resemble its natural counterpart again.
UV spray isn’t wholly necessary but ultimately, if there is a concern and if you’re out of options, something like a UV spray can help. Premium faux plants may already be made UV-resistant materials. It is worth checking if it is. Then, you will be a lot more sure about whether your fake plants can stand up to day after day of sun.
For more information about faux plants and how to take care of artificial plants, visit Artiplanto.com. There you will find dozens of premium fake plants, flowers, and more, all handcrafted and made to be able to withstand the sun’s UV rays.


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Patrick Little, an open anti-Semite running as a Republican, finished 12th in California’s primary for U.S. Senate.
Little, who briefly placed on top of a poll of the little-known GOP field, had 53,632 votes, with more than 90% of precincts reporting.
Little, who has called for a government “free from Jews,” scored a surprising second place in one pre-election poll, behind incumbent Jewish Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
He was condemned by the California Republican Party and banned from their convention.
Feinstein won the top-two “jungle primary and will face fellow Democrat Kevin De Leon in November. James Bradley, the top Republican, got just 8% of the votes, meaning no GOP candidate will be on the ballot in the fall for the race.
Dave Goldiner is the Forward’s director of digital media. Dave is a veteran journalist who has spent two decades working at newspapers in the United States and Africa. A native New Yorker, Goldiner wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered some of the biggest stories of our time, including the attacks of September 11, along with thousands of stories of hope and heartbreak. He also studied and worked in Southern Africa and has written for publications in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He holds masters degrees in journalism and public administration from Columbia University. Dave can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org, or follow him on Twitter @davegoldiner
Neo-Nazi Republican Patrick Little Gets 1.2% In California Senate Primary


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Maple Story' started by Pomper, Apr 14, 2008.
Not played it and not sure if I want to but it seems to be popular?
It is fun if you like platform games with cuteish graphics. Think its more targeted towards Asian countries but still fun to me in the US.
Worst excuse for an MMO I have ever seen.
Kind of silly because it looks like a game for kids just looking at it but not. I tried it to see if my kids would like it but I play instead
Its a well made free game with 2d graphics but its kind of addictive.
The community is horrible and the graphics take get used to for a game like this. Cool tho.
Yea its good if you get tired of the same old same old 3d fantasy mess.
Its terrbile. If I wanted a video game lookalike I would play my PS2. Go play a real MMORPG.
Plays like a real MMO to me
Graphics or no graphics, MS fits the description of a MMO. All games do not have to be like WoW to be a "real MMO". I play because MS is a change of pace during periods I need a break from WoW.
I totally agree MS is a real MMO but I just dont think that it plays like a real MMO its different and I like that.
I like MS because its different too. Not many games like it.
Guess I will have to give it that. But that isnt saying much LOL.
You must really not like MapleStory.
How did u guess?
lol it was a wild guess
Look cool, going to give it a shot.
MS has its haters as can be seen from this thread but its an awesome game! The community is fun to me too. Only played WoW 10 days and i still think MS is better game.

domain: hobby


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