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A synopsis of some of Canada’s most historic libraries has been crafted and published on behalf of the beloved son, brother, student, and scholar
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2021 / It is in loving memory of Remi Gosal that a new article showcasing some of Canada’s oldest and most renowned libraries has been published with an online news aggregator that advertises itself as suitable ‘for mature and educated minds only.’ The article, which is entitled The Historical Libraries Remi Gosal Cherished, was written by journalist Ronald Rivera and debuted on June 22, 2021.
At the article’s outset, a brief description of Remi Gosal is given, providing context to the piece by linking its subject matter to the essence of the dearly departed. “Remi Gosal was a lover of culture. He was fascinated with foreign languages such as French, German, Spanish, and Latin. By reading Shakespeare at a young age, Remi Gosal remained interested in the arts and literature.”
Some of the libraries highlighted in the article include the Osler Library of the History of Medicine, the Jewish Public Library, the Grande Bibliotheque, Redpath Hall, Saint-Sulpice Library, the McLennan Library Building, Atwater Library, the Fraser-Hickson Institute, and Westmount Public Library, all of which are located in and around the Montreal metropolitan area. A paragraph detailing the legacy and impact of these libraries-as well as some fun facts-is attached to each of the entries.
Those desiring to read the article in its entirety can find it located here, while those interested in learning more about the life and experiences of Remi Gosal are encouraged to visit the official website constructed by his family to celebrate his memory.
About Remi Gosal:
Remi Gosal was a student, scholar, and highly enthusiastic individual. Valuing education, Remi took a keen interest in art, drama, philosophy, literature, and history, understanding the crucial role that these subjects play in nurturing the soul and enlightening humanity. With a passion for life and an incredible presence, he remains a constant source of inspiration to all those that knew him.
Family of Remi Gosal
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE: Family of Remi Gosal
View source version on accesswire.com:

domain: library


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Question : Do prices fluctuate more for this route than others?
Answer : Ranging from $498 to $588, prices for BUR to ROC change much less than most routes in the United States. The further out you book a route, the more likely you are to save.
Question : Which airline is offering the cheapest flight from BUR to ROC?
Answer : United Airlines is offering the best deal at $498. Better snatch it up quickly because prices range all the way up to $588 over the next three months.
Question : How many days should you spend in Rochester?
Answer : The average time spent in Rochester by travelers from Burbank is four days.

domain: travel


A suspected terrorist stabbed two people outside the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem on Monday before being shot by a police officer.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service said paramedics treated two men in their mid-20s who were moderately wounded, then took them to Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The hospital said the two were in stable condition and had suffered stab wounds to their upper bodies.
A Border Police officer shot and “neutralized” the suspect, who was being treated after being checked by a sapper, according to a police statement, which did not specify his condition.
The incident followed an attempted attack in the West Bank earlier Monday, in which a Palestinian man tried to stab two IDF soldiers at a hitchhiking station, but was shot before he could inflict harm, according to the military. The attacker was shot in the hand and transported to Shaare Zedek in moderate to serious condition.
Tensions have been running high across the West Bank over the past week following the dramatic escape of six Palestinian prisoners from the high-security Gilboa Prison last Monday. Four of the six prisoners were recaptured by police over the weekend, but two remain at large, and security officials believe they may be hiding out in the West Bank and receiving assistance from Palestinians there.
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) September 13, 2021
Heavy gunfire was heard in the Jenin region in the northern West Bank on Sunday, as Israeli security forces reportedly came under fire during the manhunt for the remaining two escaped prisoners.
Overnight Sunday, terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired two rockets at Israel, which were intercepted by the Gaza Strip, marking a third consecutive night of rocket fire from Gaza.
Separately, on Friday afternoon, an assailant was shot as he attempted to stab police officers in Jerusalem’s Old City, and later died of his wounds, police and hospital officials said. The attempted stabbing occurred at the Old City’s Council (Majlis) Gate, on the northern side of the western Temple Mount wall, police said. Video of the incident showed the assailant repeatedly trying to stab a police officer, who backed away and opened fire.


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Graduate student Ben Knurr and Fellow Mathias Weber have added new insight into a catalytic reaction based on a single gold atom with an extra electron that transfers this electron into carbon dioxide molecules (CO2). This reaction could be an important first step future industrial processes converting waste CO2 back into chemical fuels. As such, it could play a key role in a future carbon-neutral fuel cycle.
What the Weber group did was use vibrational spectroscopy to probe the effect of solvent CO2 molecules as they came in contact with a gold-CO2 complex (AuCO2-). This complex is the first step in a catalytic reaction of gold and CO2 that adds back chemical energy to a CO2 molecule.
Before the researchers even did the experiment, they knew that if solvent molecules of CO2 attach themselves to the CO2 end of the AuCO2- complex, they would enhance the chances of the CO2 acquiring an extra electron, freeing itself from the gold atom, and completing the first step of the conversion reaction. The newly formed and highly reactive (i.e., activated) CO2- ions could then be used in a series of additional steps to make recycled liquid fuels.
Knurr and Weber found that the first eight solvent molecules of CO2 preferentially attached themselves around the CO2 end of the AuCO2- complex. As the number of solvent molecules increased from 1 to 8, the activation of the complex-bound CO2 also intensified, enabling it to grab more and more of the needed electron. The activation reaction was most favored when all eight solvent molecules were in place around the complex.
But, adding even one more solvent molecule around the complex diminished the chances of activation. The reason was that there was no longer any room around the complex-bound CO2 for more solvent. Additional solvent molecules ended up around the gold atom, where they pulled the extra electron nearer the gold atom, diminishing the chances for activation of the bound CO2.
This work clearly shows how solvation can both enhance and diminish the effects of a catalyst like gold. It promises to inform the design and engineering of industrial systems aimed at creating carbon-neutral fuel cycles. — Julie Phillips

domain: design


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Last December, on a cold rainy day—like only this city can deliver—I was making my way to a PR meeting for Beauty Counter. The reason why I stepped out ? I was really excited because Beauty Counter is on a mission to make makeup and skincare that is safe. Natural makeup is such a unicorn, that I’m wondering what would actually have stopped me? Continue reading
It’s a cliché, but you meet the right people at the right time, and sometimes in the most unceremonious ways. I met Andy through Cesar, my main photographer/partner in crime. She hired us to make some new head shots.
It turned out to be one of the most inspirational meetings of last year! Continue reading
It’s been a year already! A BIG year of Making Up The Magic, of creating visual dialogues while exploring the faces of women and the meaning of beauty, beyond the trends. And to celebrate, I’m going beyond the surface. Continue reading

domain: artistic


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The peaceful elections last month after the coup that removed President Robert Mugabe from power injected optimism into a nation that has been economically isolated. Prosperity, though, remains elusive for now, our video shows.
Zimbabwe’s recent elections were meant to usher in a new era after decades of oppressive rule. But has anything truly changed? We met Vincent, an ambitious college graduate who is desperate to leave. “Things are not working here.”

domain: sociology


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When I first wrote An Intriguing Proposal, I had written it as a oneshot . . . I left it open just in case I ever got more inspiration to continue it, later. Now, I've decided to make this a TWOSHOT. Since reviewers have been asking me to write more, I assume everyone wants to know what the baby will look like, the name, etc . . .(To be honest, I've been thinking about it as well).
So, thank you all that have read, reviewed/commented, and faved this story. You all get your wish and I hope you enjoy the conclusion to this fic.
SUMMARY: When two people decide to have a child, it is usually as a sign of their love. But on the Heylin side, it's a little bit more complicated than that . . .
WARNING: Male pregnancy(impossible, but still entertaining), yaoi/slash/shounen-ai(whatever you choose to call it, it's still guys doing other guys), adult situations and language.
DISCLAIMER: Once again, I own no part of Xiaolin Showdown. All parts belong to Christy Hui and the people of Kids WB/Cartoon Network.
An Intriguing Proposal - Part 2 by NINJA-RENKA
It's been a few months since we left our favorite Heylin couple. . .
At the moment, Jack Spicer is sitting in the main area of Chase's evil lair, the teen tired from the day's activities. Since he was stuck inside the dragon's home until he gave birth, the genius had to find creative ways to entertain himself. Especially since the ancient warlord had been vehement in forbidding the evil teen to go anywhere near a laboratory or any kind of robotic invention. So, without his normal hobbies to fill his day, the young villain had to amuse himself whenever the immortal wasn't around. Unfortunately, the task had become increasing difficult in the last few weeks . . . one could only count and name the various feline warriors so many times before it became boring and just plain sad.
Desperate for something to do, Jack had shifted his attention to baby-oriented tasks. The previous weeks had been spent online ordering various baby supplies, he had even found the My Baby Rocks website, an online store that exclusively made punk rock baby clothing. This particular day, the expecting teen had spent most of the afternoon re-organizing the bedroom and in the baby's nursery cleaning. The normally-messy youth was obviously well into the nesting stage of his pregnancy which was a strong indication that he was going to give birth soon.
However, as a result of his efforts, swollen ankles are submerged in the cool water of one of the crystal clear pools that decorate the foyer. As the evil genius soothes his aching feet, he pensively stares up at the ceiling in silent thought. The gentle, trickling sound of the nearby waterfalls create a relaxing melody that echoes off the rock walls of the dragon's lair. Jungle cats recline nearby and keep an eye on their master's pregnant mate. Yet, despite this tranquil environment, an annoyed expression appears on the pale face . . .
Most likely due to the fact that he was nearing the end of the tenth month of his pregnancy.
"You shouldn't sit so close to the edge of that pool, Jack. In your condition, I doubt you would be able to swim very well if you were to fall in."
Hearing the familiar resonating voice, Jack turns around to see the Heylin lord standing behind him. Chase's amber eyes are trained on the teen and a concerned look is etched into his dark features. His arms are crossed over his armored chest, but not in his usual intimidating manner. At the warrior's sudden appearance, the various felines strewn about rise to attention.
"I'm fine, Chase. Besides, isn't that why your cats are always watching me and making sure I don't get hurt when you're not around?" -jokes the evil teen.
"They are only obeying the orders I gave them to protect you. However, if you are truly bothered by their presence, they can leave."
Hearing their master speak in their direction, the lounging felines ears twitch in response.
"I didn't mean it like that, I don't really mind having the cats around." -replies Jack with a smirk.
Seeming satisfied with the teenager's response, the dragon lord makes a gesture to his warriors who resume their lounging. Looking up at the tall warrior, Jack starts to anxiously chew his lower lip.
"Chase, can I ask you something?"
"How long am I going to be carrying this baby? It's been like ten months already."
"There is no set time frame as different creatures have different gestation periods." -begins the immortal. "Human children normally gestate for approximately nine months, while dragon young can gestate for up to eighteen months depending on the species. I suppose anytime between then would be reasonable."
"WHAT?! You never said that I might be carrying this baby for a year and a half!"
"Jack, calm down." -states the immortal, already anticipating the teen's upcoming anger.
"Calm down? That's easy for you to say, Chase! You're not the one carrying a dragon baby inside of your body - which by the way, wasn't made to carry babies in the first place!"
Realizing that he had just yelled at the Heylin master, the goth blushes with embarrassment and turns back around to stare at his feet in the cool water. After taking a few breaths, Jack begins to calm himself down and rests a hand on his large, swollen stomach. Feeling the baby move, his anger begins to subside as the soon-to-be "mother" is reminded of the growing child dependent on him.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I really hate not knowing what's going on with my own body. If I was a girl, I could just read some books, search the web, or even go to an obstetrician; but since I'm a guy I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I have all these questions and no way to get any real answers."
Allowing Jack to vent out his concerns and frustrations, the Heylin master takes a seat next to his lover. An understanding look crosses his sharp features as he realizes that the young scientist obviously doesn't like being ignorant of a situation - especially when the situation involved himself. Filing away that tidbit into the back of his mind, the immortal wraps his arm around the teen's trembling shoulders. As he feels the man's reassuring touch, Jack leans into him and rests his head on the warlord's chest. The close proximity allows Chase to inhale the subtle scent of his mate as he attempts to soothe the uneasy youth.
"Since you successfully became pregnant with our child, I've been doing extensive research into pregnancies similar to yours. Though I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, I'll do my best to answer whatever questions you may have."
The ancient warrior's statement causes red eyes to widen slightly with shock. Jack was impressed that Chase had not only anticipated this response, but had also prepared for the onslaught of questions currently forming in his mind. Taking the time to organize his thoughts, the evil genius settles himself comfortably against the man next to him.
"Will the baby have a tail?"
Surprised by the odd(yet valid) question, an amused smile crosses the dragon's features.
"The child will show signs of draconic abilities as it grows and develops. However, I wouldn't expect him to physically turn into a dragon until he experiences the surge of hormones during puberty. Though only time will tell if our child will even be able to transform into a dragon at all."
"Oh, I was kinda looking forward to having a baby with a cute, dragon tail." -comments Jack, earning a surprised look form the man next to him before moving on to the next question. "When the baby's born, what do I feed him?"
"The baby should be fine with the formulas modern humans use."
"For some reason, I don't think Similac* is going to be enough for a dragon baby. . . I'll just have to fortify it with some extra protein and vitamins or something."
As Jack ponders aloud to himself, Chase can't help but think how much of a doting "mother" the teen was turning out to be. The child wasn't even born yet, and he was already applying his intellect to properly take care of it's needs. Mentally congratulating himself on his choice of mate, the elder villain looks down when he notices an apprehensive look on the young face.
"Um, how will I know when it's time to give birth?" -asks the evil youth.
"When it is time for you to deliver, you will feel some discomfort in your abdomen, very similar to the cramping of muscles. It is an indicator that the child is separating from it's "womb" and preparing to be born."
"Oh, so it's still going to hurt?" -the teen asks in a hesitant voice.
"Unfortunately, yes. Although it will not be as painful as a natural birth since I will be removing the child through transference. Once the child has fully separated itself from you, the removal process should only take a few moments. I have already accumulated the necessary materials and everything is ready for whenever you give birth."
Seemingly satisfied with the answers to his questions, Jack pulls his feet out of the cool water. He then moves his body so that his head rests comfortably in Chase's lap. Closing his eyes with a sigh, the young genius combs his mind for any other concerns to share with the warlord. Pleased by the familiarity the youth showed around him, the dragon runs a gloved hand through his mate's soft hair while the other hand rests on their growing child.
In the last stage of his pregnancy, the teen's belly had grown to the point that he could no longer fit into his normal, black clothing. As a result, he simply spent his days wearing loose sweat-pants and oversized t-shirts. Despite the fact that they covered most of his lover's pale body, Chase had to admit that Jack still managed to look adorable in the baggy clothing. After a while of the intimate and comfortable silence, questioning crimson eyes open and look up into amber ones.
"Chase, what happens if I go into labor and you're not here?"
"That won't happen, I'll be here."- responds the elder nonchalantly.
"You say that, but what if like twelve, super-powered Shen Gong Wu all go active at the same time?"
Smirking at the question, Chase looks down into his mate's large, doubting eyes. As he searches the cerise pools, a glimmer of uncertainty and slight fear catch the immortal's attention.
"Jack, I'll be here."
It is the middle of the night, when Chase is awakened out of sleep by violent thrashing and groaning. Sitting up with alarm, he sees Jack holding onto his swollen stomach, curled into himself in the fetal position. Sweat trickles down his face, causing crimson hair to stick to the pale forehead. His eyelids are scrunched shut as his thin body is assaulted with waves of pain. Realizing what it meant, the warlord quickly picks up his mate and transports him to his study.
Located in the inner sanctum of his lair, Chase Young's study is surrounded by various magical barriers. The extreme precautions are necessary so that his vast collection of spells and dark magic remain from prying eyes. Even in all the time he's stayed in the ancient warrior's home, Jack has never seen it. Flickering flames illuminate the ancient books and scrolls that contain the spells, rituals, and histories of lost civilizations. These priceless manuscripts lie open on every available surface in disheveled piles as if they had been intensely studied. Normally the warlord kept his private room immaculate, but in the last few months he had forgone his usual standards in preparation for this night. All the tables have been pushed to the edges of the room to make space for a large alchemic circle decorating the floor. Ancient runes intertwine around the room and surround a large basin standing alone in the middle of the room.
Upon their arrival, Jack is carefully lowered into a basin that is filled with warm water. Infused in the liquid are the extracts of various herbs and plants that give off an odd yet refreshing scent, like fresh peppermint, to ease the pain of the birthing process. Stretching the pale youth, Chase leans him back so that almost his entire body is submerged. Only his upper torso, arms, and head remain above the water. As the refreshing scent permeates his senses and the pain subsides, the teen begins to feel the change in environment. Scarlet eyes slowly open.
"Ch-chase, what's going on?" - asks Jack in a hoarse voice.
"You started going into labor in your sleep."
"So, that explains the excruciating pain . . . but, why am I in a bathtub?"
"In order to perform the transference spell, I require the use of basic alchemy. The infused water will act as a lubricant and ease in the ritual when the baby is removed from your body."
The calmness in Chase's voice begins to relax the adolescent, though the meaning of his words make him a bit apprehensive. He begins self-consciously drumming his pale fingers on the sides of the basin. Evidently, the reality of the situation is starting to hit the evil teen as his mind processes what is about to happen to him.
"Are you alright?" -asks the dragon while he gathers the spell.
"Yeah . . . well, I'm a little scared, . . . but that's normal, I've never delivered a baby before." - responds Jack with a small, but nervous chuckle.
The warlord immediately turns his attention back to his pregnant mate when his ears pick up the genuine fear hidden beneath the young voice. As Jack sits anxiously in the soothing water, Chase uses his hand to cup a cheek and turns the pale face towards him. Gold eyes lock onto ruby ones and trap them in their gaze.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, but-"
"Then that's all you have to do. Trust me, Jack. . . you and our child will be fine."
With those words, Chase captures the youth's soft lips in a promising kiss. The affectionate action wordlessly affirms the elder's words and soothes away whatever fear the teen had. Lost in the emotion behind the kiss, Jack barely notices as a gloved hand rests on top of their child and the magically-infused water around him begins to glow . . .
TWO MONTHS LATER
Chase Young is asleep in his bed. Long, dark hair is splayed over the white sheets as he lays comfortably on his side. When a particularly annoying beam of sunlight hits his face, the dragon grumbles and covers his face. Rolling over, he notices the absence of his pregnant mate.
Well, his formerly pregnant mate.
Two months ago, Jack Spicer had successfully given birth-
And Chase Young, Evil Dragon Warlord, was now a father.
The new title he now had was still quite a lot to digest, despite the fact that it was one of his favorites.
As the Heylin warlord wonders where the teen went, his missing mate walks into their bedroom carrying a small infant in his arms. Jack is practically glowing as he stares down at his baby daughter. Seeing that Chase is now awake, his smile grows.
"Oh, you're up. I just went to get Jae Lan."
Golden eyes soften at the statement as the thin body walks over to their shared bed. In the time after the birth of their daughter, Jack's body had recovered well from the strain of carrying a child. Thanks to a special diet and the exercise regimen the genius developed, the lean body was well on its way back to normal. The only lingering signs of his pregnancy were a few fading stretch marks. Not that Chase really minded them, if anything they simply reaffirmed that Jack was his.
As his young mate sits down on the bed, the dragon lord observes his newborn daughter. Jae Lan Young had been born weighing a healthy 8 lbs and 3 oz. She has Chase's dark green-tinted hair but Jack's fair complexion. The baby's eyes are large and shaped like the teen's but her irises are the same liquid gold of her sire. At the moment, the infant is wearing a pale green, short-sleeved onesie with a cartoon dragon on it. It had been a gift from the Xiaolin monks after they had learned of Jack's pregnancy.
Their reactions had definitely been the funniest of all. . .
After not seeing the evil teen genius make an appearance for a few months, the monks had asked Chase of Jack's disappearance after a particularly difficult showdown. The victorious warlord had been in a good mood and consequently decided to answer their questions without his usual ambiguity. Then again, the Xiaolin monks and Jack Spicer always had a strange relationship so their concern towards the albino's welfare actually seemed to be genuine.
"Spicer is at my home. In his condition, it is best to keep him out of the danger of showdowns."
"What condition? Is Jack Spicer okay?" - asks Omi as his eyes begin to get watery.
"I am sure that he appreciates you concern Omi, but there is no need for alarm. Although, if you must know . . ."
Before saying the next part, a grin appears on the villain's face as he anticipates the monks reaction to the news.
"Jack is pregnant with my child."
At first there is absolute silence as all four teenagers stare at the dragon lord, as if waiting for the punch line to a really good joke. One by one they figure out that the man before them is completely serious and four sets of eyes widen simultaneously. It takes all the warlord's control not to laugh out loud at the comical sight.
"Jack Spicer's having a baby?!" -exclaims Clay, as he tries to figure out the physical feat of that.
"Jack Spicer's having YOUR BABY?!" -Raimundo amends, as he realizes that the two villains are in some sort of homosexual relationship with one another.
"I thought only girls had babies." -Omi wonders aloud, the short monk making a mental note to ask Master Fung about the subject later.
"Normally, that is the case . . . " - comments Kimiko, in a daze.
"I'm not going to attempt the impossible and try to explain the vast intricacies involved in the creation of our child." -states the former monk. "All you monks need to know is that if any of you do anything to harm Jack or my child it will be the last thing you ever do."
With that parting threat, Chase turns away and disappears in a flash of dark magic. For the second time that day, the Xiaolin warriors have all been rendered speechless with varying looks of shock and confusion on their faces.
"I had no idea those two had that kind of relationship . . ." - wonders the Japanese girl, the first to break the silence. "But I guess it makes sense. They're both evil villains and Jack's been practically obsessed with Chase from day one . . . Hmmm, I've seen stranger couples."
As she continues her ponderings, all three males look at the lone female like she had Shen Gong Wu pouring out of her ears. Realizing that they are watching her, Kimiko rolls her blue eyes with a knowing smile . . .
Chase is brought out of his thoughts as Jack sits on the bed Indian style and places the baby in the middle of his legs. Jae Lan was a very intelligent child, no doubt a quality from her "mother", so her bright eyes were always looking around her surroundings. At the moment, she watches intently as her sire leans in to kiss Jack before moving to kiss the little girl on her head.
"You're such a big softie around her, Chase." - observes the evil genius with a teasing smirk on his face.
"Am I not allowed to be?"
"I just think that it's interesting that Jae Lan, a mere baby, can bring out this side of Chase Young."
"Well, she is my daughter."
Surprised by the dragon's blunt statement, Jack's eyes widen as the warlord picks up the small infant. Lifting her up high, Jae giggles and the innocent sound causes a small smile to cross the immortal's face. As he lies back down on the bed, he sets his first born on his own chest. The little girl entertains herself by playing with her sire's long strands of dark hair, wrapping them around her small hands. Watching the impossibly cute father-daughter bonding moment, the teen is reminded of something.
"Chase, you really are something." -states Jack with a knowing smile.
"Well, being pregnant with Jae Lan and living here with you and your cats for 10 months, gave me a lot of time to think. Especially whenever you went out to fight with the monks in showdowns or whatever. After I while, I started to think about your proposal and our arrangement. And as strange as the whole thing was, there was always one part of your request that never made sense no matter how much I thought about it."
"And what part would that be?" - asks the elder, his attention still on his daughter as he affectionately pets her head.
Leaning down, Jack places his hands on Chase's face and locks his lips onto the Heylin's in a kiss. It is filled with so much raw passion that the dragon lies there in shock, his mouth only responding in instinct to the oral assault. The warrior's eyes drift shut as the teen's tongue lovingly strokes and tastes his mouth. Parting for air, Jack pulls away with a smile, his ruby eyes dancing with mischief as Chase looks up at him with widened gold orbs.
Getting over his shock, the dragon lord waits for his mate to continue.
"Every time we had sex, you never acted like it was a requirement. If anything, you wanted me as much as I wanted you and you were always really attentive to me. Even after I had Jae, you still treat me really well and we even sleep in the same bed . . . I kinda feel like I'm your wife."
"You are more observant than you let others believe, Jack Spicer."
"I like to think so."
"I treat you as my mate because, ever since you agreed to bear my children, that is what you are."
As he informs Jack of his new role, the immortal stares into the teen's large cerise eyes as he runs his fingers over a pale cheek. Leaning into the soft touches, a smile crosses the adolescent's face.
"You could have just told me that. Did you think I was going to flip out or something when I discovered that you tricked me into being with you and having your child?"
The dragon lord says nothing as he simply fixes his mate with a hard glare. Watching her father, Jae also stares up at the redheaded teen doing a fairly good job of imitating Chase's expression. The two sets of intense golden orbs fixated on him cause the young genius to cave in.
"Okay, when I figured out something was up I was kinda annoyed you were hiding it from me. And maybe, some of those mood swings I had weren't entirely accidental, but you know how I feel about you. I'm just happy knowing that you return at least some of my feelings. Though, I admit that it's flattering to know that I have power over you."
At that statement, Chase cocks an eyebrow in interest. Meanwhile, Jae manages to crawls off of her sire when one of the feline warriors, a cheetah, silently makes it's way into the room. As the new addition to the lair, all the cats treated and watched over the child as if she was one of their own. Once she reaches the feline, it calmly sits there and allows the infant to play with it's ears as her parents continue their discussion.
"Don't let it go to your head, Spicer. You don't have that much power over me."
As Chase focuses back on his daughter, Jack narrows his eyes. He reaches his hand over and runs it teasingly up a well-muscled and blanket-covered thigh. Realizing where the hand was headed, the Heylin's eyes widen at Jack's bold actions. Upon reaching the dragon's growing arousal, he slowly runs his fingers and palm over the hardening flesh. The thin bed sheets covering the warlord do nothing to dull his young lover's expert touches. When a low, rumbling growl reaches the redhead's ears, he sighs wistfully to gain the elder's attention.
"You know, it's a good thing that I have absolutely no power over you, Chase . . . Because if I did, I could only imagine, the pure torture it would be having to wait until after Jae goes to sleep tonight to continue this. . . Oh well."
With a dark smile that doesn't look quite right on the evil genius, he removes his hand. Chase groans remorsefully at the sudden loss of contact. Picking up their daughter, Jack gets out of the bed and proceeds towards the doorway. With the baby balanced on his narrow hip, the teen stops a few feet away from the door.
"After you get yourself together, feel free to join us for breakfast . . ." -teases Jack, before turning his attention to the infant in his arms. "Say bye-bye to silly daddy, Jae!"
Cooing happily at her "mother", Jae Lan smiles while looking at her father, her small hand flailing in his direction.
"You're such a smart little girl!" -compliments the proud teen. Smirking, Jack looks over to the irate man currently stuck in bed due to his ministrations. "Don't be rude. Aren't you going to wave back to your daughter, Chase?"
With a quick seething glare aimed at the thin albino, the Heylin master sits up and waves at his little girl who happily giggles at the attention. Jae Lan was only two months old and she already had the evil warlord practically wrapped around her little finger.
"You play dirty, Spicer."
"You say that like you don't like it." -replies Jack, completely aware that underhandedness was a turn-on for the evil man.
"I hope that you are aware that I fully intend on making you pay for this." -hisses the dragon lord, referring to his current state of unrelieved arousal.
Catching the unintentional innuendo of his lover's threatening words, the teen's lips curl into a teasing smile. Scarlet eyes rove over the man's well-toned and muscled body as his mind imagines all of the various tantalizing things that the warlord can do with it. The imagery alone almost makes Jack reconsider his plans.
"Now, I have something to look forward to when we're alone tonight."
Noticing the lingering gaze on him, Chase raises an eyebrow at the statement and stares back at the younger villain. With a knowing smile, Jack turns and exits the bedroom to feed the hungry baby in his arms. Sensing that he would be safer out of the room, the cheetah quickly rises and starts to follow the albino to the dining room.
After he watches his family and feline servant leave, the warlord runs a hand through his dark hair, untangling it from his sleep. A frustrated grumble leaves his throat as he takes a deep breath to quell his arousal.
Today is going to be a very long day . . .
As the thought crosses the evil master's mind, a dark grin slowly begins to appear on his face.
Though, Jack will be in for an even longer night.
This was a lot of fun to write. You've probably noticed that I made Jack a little more assertive in this chapter(I personally like him better that way since it was kind of annoying what the writers did to him in season 3). Besides, I figure that hanging out with Chase for about a year would have some effect on the teen.
And yes, Chase sleeps nude. Why? Because I felt like it.
Okay, so what did you all think?
I was trying to address all the things you wanted to know about the baby and establish the tone of Chase and Jack's new relationship.
BTW, This sequel was brought to you by my insomnia . . . if it wasn't for that, I would never have the time to write any fan fiction. (It's also to blame for whatever mistakes may be in this story)
A few notes:
(1) Jae Lan - "Jae" - doesn't really mean anything, it's just a creative way to include a part of JACK into her name. "Lan" means orchid, a flower that means beauty and refinement, in Chinese. By combining both names into Jae Lan, I figured it would be a good representation of both of her parents.
(2) The reason why Jae Lan looks more like Chase is because Jack is an albino, a recessive gene, and has red hair, also a recessive gene. Therefore, Chase's hair and eye color would most likely dominate the gene pool. Not to mention that in the first months of life, babies tend to look like their father. That way the male can recognize his offspring and lower the chances of abandonment.(Another tidbit from the show, Bones)
(3) The reason why their kid is a girl is . . . well, because I just think it would be funny to see the two of them raise a girl. The teen years should be fun, I can just imagine how insanely over-protective Chase would be when Jae Lan starts dating.
*Even though I refer to the baby before it's born as "he", the infant is in fact 100% female. It is just grammatically correct to use him when the sex of a person is not known. Using "it" as a pronoun for a person is technically wrong as "it" refers to an inanimate object(Just clearing this up).
P.S. Since I'm starting to work on the CHACK fan comic/doujinshi ("How To Care For Your Lizard", the cover should be done soon.) I've decided to take a little break from writing any new CHACK fanficiton. Now, I am by NO MEANS quitting CHACK, I don't think I could even if I tried. I just want to have a fresh take on CHACK as I work on the comic.
However, I will in my free time be writing some stuff for one of my other fandoms: Danny Fenton(18)/Vlad Masters from Danny Phantom. (I like the dynamics of their relationship) Feel free to read those when they come out.
(If you're new to the pairing, I recommend reading anything by Noroi or Shizuka no Taisho)

domain: literature


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text:
ebook ∣ The Nancy Drew Files
By Carolyn Keene
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Newspaper publisher Frazier Carlton comes to Nancy with a delicate problem. He wants her to investigate his daughter Brenda's new boyfriend. The trouble is, Brenda is Nancy's arch rival, and as soon as Nancy starts investigating Mike McKeever, Brenda suspects Nancy of being interested in him. Could things get worse? Yes! It seems Mike has a very shadowy past and one of his girlfriends never made it home...How can Nancy get Brenda to listen to her, before she ends up as another one of Mike's statistics?


text:
The NFL is immediately implementing a sweeping domestic violence initiative that calls for a six-game suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban from the league for a second offense.
The measures, announced in a letter from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to all team owners, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, are due in part to widespread criticism Goodell received for his handling of discipline for Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. The two-game suspension for Rice left many with the impression that the NFL did not understand domestic violence or take it seriously as a crime. Goodell acknowledged as much in the letter.
"At times, however, and despite our best efforts, we fall short of our goals," Goodell wrote. "We clearly did so in response to a recent incident of domestic violence. ... My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values.
"I didn't get it right."
The letter states that the six-game suspension for a first offense could be increased in some cases.
"Among the circumstances that would merit a more severe penalty would be a prior incident before joining the NFL, or violence involving a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child," the letter read. "A second offense will result in banishment from the NFL."
Players would be able to apply for reinstatement. The letter states that the policy applies to all NFL personnel, not just players.
In February, Rice was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault after knocking out his girlfriend in an elevator in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Surveillance video showed Rice dragging then-girlfriend Janay Palmer, who appeared unconscious, out of the elevator. Unreleased video showed Rice striking Palmer in the elevator.
In July, Goodell announced that Rice would be suspended for the first two games of the regular season. There was deep and sustained criticism from fans and groups who work with victims of domestic violence. The number of games was less than the suspension given for most other infractions, such as substance abuse, steroid use or DUI offenses. The penalty for those items is determined by the collective bargaining agreement hammered out with the players' union in 2011.
Domestic violence infractions, however, fall under the personal conduct policy, which meant that Goodell alone was able to determine the severity of any fine or suspension. The fact that the Ravens held a press conference with Rice in May and had Janay sitting next to him on the dais also seemed to imply she shared responsibility -- whether or not that was the intention.
The fact that Goodell reportedly allowed Janay Rice into the hearing to plead for leniency in front of her husband's employers struck many as inappropriate.
"Having done this work for many years, often a victim will say she doesn't want the abuser punished," said Judy Kluger, a former New York City judge and current executive director of Sanctuary for Families, after the decision was announced. "That shouldn't deter what an independent organization decides to do."

domain: news


text:
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, two significant developments have captured the global spotlight: the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the emergence of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). While these innovations promise efficiency and progress, they also bring forth a set of challenges and dangers that need careful navigation.
The Rise of AI: Opportunities and Risks:
AI technology, with its unparalleled ability to analyze data, automate processes, and enhance decision-making, has become integral to various sectors. However, this widespread adoption comes with inherent risks:
- Privacy Concerns: AI systems often rely on vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy violations and data security.
- Algorithmic Bias and Inequality: AI algorithms can perpetuate and even amplify existing biases, leading to unequal impacts across different social groups.
- Job Displacement: Automation through AI could lead to significant shifts in the job market, potentially resulting in unemployment in certain sectors.
- Autonomy and Accountability: As AI systems become more autonomous, determining accountability for decisions made by AI poses a complex challenge.
The Shift to CBDCs: Implications and Concerns:
Central Bank Digital Currencies represent a monumental shift in the financial landscape. As digital versions of national fiat currencies, CBDCs offer potential benefits like increased transaction efficiency and reduced costs. However, they also come with significant implications:
- Financial Privacy: CBDCs could lead to unprecedented levels of financial surveillance, allowing governments to track citizens’ transactions closely.
- Cybersecurity Risks: The digital nature of CBDCs makes them susceptible to cyberattacks and technical glitches, which could have far-reaching consequences.
- Economic Control and Power: CBDCs centralize monetary control, potentially leading to concerns over government overreach and the erosion of financial autonomy.
- Impact on Traditional Banking: The introduction of CBDCs could disrupt the traditional banking system, affecting everything from deposits to loans.
The advent of AI and CBDCs represents a double-edged sword. While they offer significant advancements and efficiencies, they also bring about challenges that need to be addressed with robust policies, ethical considerations, and technological safeguards. As society stands on the brink of these monumental shifts, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits against the potential dangers, ensuring that progress does not come at the cost of fundamental rights and securities.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the potential risks associated with the increasing use of AI and the introduction of CBDCs. It aims to foster a balanced understanding of these technologies, encouraging a cautious yet optimistic approach to their adoption and regulation.

domain: finance


The name Howard Jones may not be familiar to younger readers of this blog, except for my article about a certain DJ Hojo Hits a while ago, and for older readers probably brings back memories of bad eighties haircuts, a mime artist called Jed and synth pop. But for Breaking More Waves, the music of Howard Jones has probably had more influence on my life than any other. Whereas those with so called musical credibility may claim that Dylan, The Beatles, Jeff Buckley or Nirvana influenced their lives, I am happy to announce that I really don’t care about credibility and am happy to stand alone on this one. Yes, the man who sang in his first ever hit the line “Throw off those mental chains,” probably made me do exactly that. Jones has made me think more about my philosophy to life than any other artist. From his lyrics of “Challenging preconceived ideas,” to “Thoughts and actions, words you've spoken write the scripts of life and open up the possibilities,” his themes of change through positive action, and that of taking risks and taking responsibility for my own individual world to influence the world at large struck a deep chord. “Changes in the heart of just one, will affect entire nations,” Jones sang, and this ripple turning to a wave effect is something that I have absolute belief in. Jones is not just a singer but a mini philosopher, albeit one with spiky blonde hair and a lot of keyboards.
So from those early hits of the eighties Jones has continued to write and record to the present day, releasing albums on his own independent label dtox records. He also still plays numerous acoustic and electric shows.
Now, after twenty five years in the music industry, Jones has decided to celebrate, and has put on a special 25th anniversary concert at the ultra modern, superbly functional Indigo 02 in the Millenium Dome, London.
The gig clocks in at around two and a half hours with over twenty five songs in two sets. And it starts with this video....
Then Jones takes to the stage at the piano, accompanied by Robin Boult on acoustic guitar, with a pitch perfect string section being added as the show continues. The sound is excellent throughout, every word Jones sings having clarity; one of the advantages of a state of the art purpose built music venue. Jones shows his conviction to keep moving forward by playing several new songs including Ordinary Heroes which celebrates ordinary people doing incredible things in their everyday lives and Straight Ahead, a song which lyrically talks about having hope even through bad times. The second half, after a short interval, is fully electric with Howard blasting out the hits such as What Is Love, Pearl In The Shell, New Song and Things Can Only Get Better on his synth, joined by a plethora of musicians including backing vocalists, live drums, bass, brass and guitars not too mention a crowd who are happy to revel and dance in a nostalgic trip back to the songs of their youth.
A variety of special guests are also introduced; Nick Heyward from Haircut 100 joins Jones after just 2 songs and announces him as “The Neil Diamond of synth pop,” before playing his hit Fantastic Day with him and later there is a huge round of applause as a now very bald Nik Kershaw arrives on stage to perform Wouldn’t It Be Good. For hardcore Jones fans probably the biggest and most appreciated surprise is when Duncan Sheik appears to play, the first time they have ever performed live together in the UK. Here is Duncan on guitar and Howard on piano for the ballad Someone You Need.
At 53 years of age, Howard Jones’ singing voice is actually better now than it was 25 years ago, stronger and more resonant; and of course he is an incredibly accomplished keyboard player. But despite the spiky blonde hair, catchy synth pop songs and elements of nostalgia to the gig, what comes across most is that through his relaxed persona and friendly way that he interacts with the crowd and his band, Howard Jones is genuinely one of the nice guys.


text:
Stunning ARTHUR PRICE UNUSED Art Deco Grecian Stainless Steel Cutlery Set Cased
Magnificent Expensive Unused Gift still wrapped. Stunning Arthur Price Art Deco Cutlery Set.
High Quality Sheffield Stainless Steel Made in Sheffield England - not chinese. All UNUSED still in original packing. High quality set made in Sheffield England circa 1990s. Arthur Price is not the same quality as this - nowadays it's made differently in Asia.
This is a superb set cutlery. This item is in the category "Home, Furniture & DIY\Cookware, Dining & Bar\Cutlery\Cutlery Sets & Canteens". The seller is "verytoptable" and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped worldwide.
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London: A two-year-old Indian-origin boy died after choking on a grape while sitting and watching television at his home in Leicester, a court has heard.
Jenil Sharma was eating his favourite fruit in the lounge of the family home in Wand Street, Belgrave, Leicester, on February 24, when the tragedy happened.
The boy, who was the only child of Mayur Sharma and wife Kruti, was pronounced dead at Leicester Royal Infirmary after efforts to revive him failed.
The heartbroken couple were at Leicester Town Hall for their son`s inquest yesterday, following the proceedings with the help of a Gujarati interpreter, the Leicester Mercury reported.
Detective Constable Joseph Masarella, of Leicestershire police, gave Kruti`s account of what happened.
He said it was routine for police to be involved following the unexpected death of a child, but stressed there were "no suspicious circumstances, whatsoever" in Jenil`s death.
"Jenil had been eating grapes from a bowl in the living room and watching TV with his seven-year-old cousin, while Mrs Sharma was in the kitchen preparing food. She heard him make a strange sound and went to the door, where his cousin said a grape had stuck in Jenil`s throat," Masarella told the court.
"Mrs Sharma tried to reach it but was unable to. She put the boy over her lap and gently slapped his back to dislodge the grape but was unsuccessful. From there, she ran to get help from neighbours and passers-by, but none were able to," he said.
Jenil`s cousin telephoned relatives, who contacted the ambulance service at 5.45pm (local time). An ambulance arrived 10 minutes later, the inquest heard.
Paramedics quickly removed the grape using a specialist tool but, by then, Jenil had stopped breathing and gone into cardiac arrest. Efforts to resuscitate the youngster continued en-route to hospital.
Dr Samantha Jones, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Leicester Royal Infirmary, said the ambulance arrived at 6.07 pm, where her emergency team was waiting.
"Jenil was very pale and there was a blueness to his skin, which suggested oxygen was not getting to where it needed to," she said.
Resuscitation efforts continued for more than 20 minutes, but she then took the decision continued efforts were "futile" and it was stopped at 6.29 pm, she said.
A report prepared by Dr Jones stated Jenil`s death was due to cardio-respiratory arrest.


A dizzying succession of major world events is bombarding a president who insists on controlling his own time, emotions and political message.
With Japan’s nuclear crisis teetering on the verge of catastrophe, withLibya and Bahrain in violent turmoil, and with financial markets crashing in response, President Barack Obama has been adamantly sticking to his own political and policy playbook.
That has meant muscling past the red-siren headlines to hammer away at the jobs-and-education message that will be the centerpiece of his 2012 campaign, the kind of discipline that is a hallmark of his new senior adviser, David Plouffe.
And it also meant refusing to scrap a five-day trip to Latin America on Friday that will take him to sun-dappled Rio de Janeiro, among other places, rather than staying home to focus on the increasingly disastrous international news confronting his crisis-weary White House. (See: Amid crises Obama still plans to fly)
“The president is taking this trip because he is committed to growing the economy [and] rebalancing our national security posture,” White House press secretary Jay Carney shot back on Tuesday when an incredulous reporter asked if he would consider delaying the five-day swing through Brazil, Chile and El Salvador. (See: Obama plans 3 pressers on Latin America trip)
“He remains confident he can fully execute his job when he is on the road.”
But Obama’s critics have a different take. They say he’s exhibiting a failure of leadership on a whole range of matters, symbolic and substantive, ranging from his lukewarm support for a Libyan no-fly zone to his willingness to let others, especially Republicans, take the lead on entitlement reform.
A compendium of clips sent to reporters by the Republican National Committee on Tuesday was headlined: “Hiding from Reality: Obama’s noticeable lack of leadership illustrates a president looking out for himself above all others.”
And Obama may have given opponents another talking point by following through, despite the alarming news from overseas, on a promise to appear in a nine-minute ESPN segment to share his NCAA basketball tournament picks. (Video: Obama completes his NCAA bracket)
“Most people when it comes to Obama, you know what they’re anticipating? His NCAA brackets,” Rush Limbaugh fumed on his syndicated radio show Tuesday. “Every year at this time people wonder what the president’s brackets are going to be, who he’s gonna pick?
“We got the world on fire. We got Libya and the Middle East on fire and the guy’s out playing golf,” he added, referring to the round Obama played Saturday. (See: White House responds to bracket gripes)
Republicans say one compelling reason for Obama to stay home, is to work on an elusive long-term budget deal – with a confrontation looming on April 8 when the just-completed three-week stopgap funding measure expires.
“How can @BarackObama say he is leading when puts his NCAA bracket over the budget & other pressing issues?” new Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus tweeted Tuesday
All of this dovetails with a larger GOP argument against Obama that was underscored by a Washington Post/NBC poll released Tuesday that showed Americans giving Republicans higher scores on leadership than him by a margin of 46 to 39 percent.


text:
Flag of Vietnam
Product name: Flag of Vietnam
Brand: Kim Flags - Vietnamese Flags producer
100% Vietnam Origin
100% Polyester fabric
Ready to export
1. Flag of Vietnam 's detail
Flag of Vietnam from Kim flag - Vietnam flag maker, flag producer is made from 100% Polyester fabric. The ratio of size is 2x3 which mean flag of Vietnam could be 0.6x0.9m, 0.7x1.05m or 1x1.5m.
2. Flag of Vietnam 's history
Vietnamese flag colours have often been various designs of red and bright yellow. According to the 1992 constitution: "The National Flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is rectangular in shape, its width is equal to two thirds of its length, in the middle of fresh red background is a bright five-pointed golden star".
Flag of Vietnam first appeared in the southern uprising (Nam Kỳ Khởi nghĩa) of 23 November 1940, against French rule in southern Vietnam. A series of articles by Sơn Tùng on the origin of the flag were published in the state media in 1981. Sơn Tùng stated that the flag was designed by Nguyễn Hữu Tiến, a leader of the uprising who was arrested by the French in advance of the failed uprising and executed 28 August 1941. Tiến, who was born in the northern village of Lũng Xuyên, was unknown to the Vietnamese public before Tùng's research was published. According to a poem Tiến wrote, the red background came to represent the blood of the people, whilst the yellow foreground came to represent "the colour of our people’s skin" which was written during times of oppression from Japanese rule. The five points of the star represents intellectuals, peasants, workers, traders and soldiers.
However, yellow and red has always been historically common in Vietnamese flags. Yellow/Gold is a traditional color of Vietnam for more than 2,000 years.
However, in April 2001, Vietnam's Ministry of Culture reported that there was no documentation to support the claim that Tiến designed the flag. In 2005, Lê Minh Đức, an official of Tiền Giang province, suggested that the flag of Vietnam was designed by another cadre, Lê Quang Sô, a native of Mỹ Tho Province in the Mekong delta. Đức's theory is based on statements by Sô's son as well as Sô's 1968 memoir. According to Đức, yellow was chosen to represent Vietnam while the red background was inspired by the flag of the Communist Party and represents revolution. Sô experimented with stars in various positions and sizes before choosing a large star in the center for aesthetic reasons. In April 1940, the flag was approved by Phan Văn Khỏe, the Communist party chief of Mỹ Tho. It was subsequently approved by the national party in July. As of 2006, the state media has not commented on Đức's version of events.
Flag of Vietnam was displayed at a conference on 19 May 1941, at which the Viet Minh was founded. The Viet Minh proclaimed it a "national flag" on 17 August 1945, at a meeting held in the village of Tân Trào in the North. When the Japanese surrendered at the end of World War II, the Viet Minh entered Hanoi and proclaimed the "Democratic Republic of Vietnam" on 2 September. On 5 September, DRV President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree adopting the Vietminh flag French troops returned in October and restored colonial rule in the South. The National Assembly voted unanimously to adopt the flag on 2 March 1946. Following the Geneva Accord between Viet Minh and France in 1954, the DRV became the government of North Vietnam.
On 30 November 1955, the flag's design was modified slightly to make the star smaller and its rays straighter. This followed a similar modification of the flag of the Soviet Union. The flag was adopted in the South after the end of the Vietnam war, and North and South were unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 2 July 1976. The flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (the Viet Minh-controlled areas in Northern and Southern Vietnam and later just North Vietnam) in the period of 1945-1955 was similar to the current flag of Vietnam but with the points of the star set at a more obtuse angle.
Despite its historical connotations, nowadays, the red background (or red field) on the Vietnamese flag is commonly a symbol of bloodshed, struggle, and the success of revolution, inspired by communist symbolism. The yellow star centred on the red field symbolizes one of five classes of society —entrepreneurs, farmers, workers, intellectuals and soldiers representing each point of the star. Flag of Vietnam may also be flown with the 'Hammer and Sickle' symbol in Vietnam.

domain: history


text:
Maci, Catelynn, and Farrah Talk Leaving Teen Mom OG
With any reality show, there’s always slews of casting rumors after- and during- each season, and the Teen Mom franchise is no different.
International Business Times recently talked to Teen Mom OG stars Maci Bookout, Catelynn Lowell, and Farrah Abrhaam on when- if ever- they ever plan on leaving the show.Bookout dished that, “There’s not really a timeframe. I want to be a part of it as long as I feel like it is having a good impact on the audience and my family and things like that.”
Lowell added that, “Personally, I say as long as the show is educating people and still helping people and staying real and honestly, Tyler and I always said we would continue to do it. As soon as it starts going to be scripted or nobody’s just interested, then end it. But every day I get a message on social media about how I’ve helped somebody or inspired somebody to do something… that’s the only reason why we do it.”
As for Abraham, she shared that, “I definitely enjoy the experience and I think ‘Teen Mom’ has just been a running top show for Viacom, MTV, this network and if it is doing its job then it needs to stay.”
Based on this, it definitely sounds like these women won’t be departing the show anytime soon and, from the ratings, we expect the show will be on the air for quite some time to come.

domain: entertainment


Senior Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein had dinner with Iran's foreign minister amid rising tensions in the Gulf
- Former chair and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee Dianne Feinstein had dinner with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif a few weeks ago
- The meeting between the two comes as tensions continue to rise in the Gulf region
- The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in a war of words, as Trump says he hopes it does not come down to a war between the two nations
- The Pentagon is presenting a plan to the White House Thursday to send an additional 10,000 troops to the area
California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein had dinner with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, it was revealed Thursday morning, as tensions continue to rise in the Gulf region.
The Senator’s team told Politico Playbook that the dinner between the two, which occurred a few weeks ago when Zarif was in the U.S., was ‘arranged in consultation with the State Department.’
"The office was in touch with State in advance of the meeting to let them know it was happening and to get an update on U.S.-Iran activity,” Feinstein’s office said.
She was also seen in an elevator at the Capitol recently with Zarif’s contact information pulled up on her iPhone.
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein had dinner with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif when he was in the U.S. a few weeks ago
Feinstein's office said the dinner with the Iranian diplomat was ‘arranged in consultation with the State Department.’ But the department said it did not ask the Senator to hold a dinner with Zarif
An official with the Department of State, however, said they did ask Feinstein to have dinner with the Iranian diplomat.
Feinstein is the former chair and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and is currently in the minority as a Democratic member of the Senate.
Zarif is American-educated, and is the official who worked with former Secretary of State John Kerry on the divisive nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was withdrawing from in May 2018.
Trump called Iran the 'number one provocateur of terror in this country' as the war of words between the two nations continues.
'They've been very hostile. Truly been the number one provocateur of terror in this country and representing their country, but certainly our country has been very much involved because we're trying to help a lot of people out and I don't mind that at all,' the president told reporters on the South Lawn as he left for a campaign rally in Pennsylvania Monday.
Over the weekend, Trump issued a threat to the Islamic nation.
Feinstein was previously the chair and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but she is now in the minority of her chamber as a Senate Democrat
Tensions have been rising in the Gulf region, and the two nations have been engaging in a war of words. 'If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran,' Trump tweeted May 20
'If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!' Trump posted to Twitter May 20.
Zarif hit back, claiming Trump had been 'goaded' into 'genocidal taunts.'
‘'[Trump] hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. #EconomicTerrorism & genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran'. #NeverThreatenAnIranian. Try respect-it works!' Zarif tweeted.
Amid the rising tensions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers that the U.S. is seeking to deter Iran, not provoke the adversary.
'Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation,’ Shanahan told reporters.
U.S. officials say the Pentagon plans to send an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East to beef up defenses against potential Iranian threats in the region, and is presenting that plan to the White House on Thursday.
The officials said no final decision has been made yet, and it's not clear if the White House would approve sending all or just some of the requested forces.
Officials said the move is not in response to any new threat from Iran but is aimed at reinforcing security in the region.
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text:
Press review: Trump terrifies Western elites and Alibaba eyes partnership with SberbankPress Review January 18, 13:00
Kremlin knows nothing about Snowden’s intentionsRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 18, 12:50
Russian lawmaker: McCain confirms US recognizes Russia’s growing world roleRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 18, 12:42
Kremlin: Issue on Crimea status not matter of discussion for MoscowRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 18, 12:31
Russia views Austria’s OSCE chairmanship program as pragmaticRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 18, 12:16
New movie marks return of Russian cinema to India’s silver screens after 25-year hiatusSociety & Culture January 18, 12:09
Senator says Russia should not abide by ECHR ruling on adoption ban for USRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 18, 12:00
Stunning Miss Universe 2017 candidatesSociety & Culture January 18, 11:46
Chinese Foreign Ministry: Beijing ready to boost cooperation with MoscowWorld January 18, 11:11
DONETSK, eastern Ukraine, October 26 /TASS/. The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic introduced new standards of time calculation on October 26 and switched over to Moscow time.
The leaderships of both republics which used to live on Kiev time (which is one hour behind the Moscow time) have passed relevant resolutions this week.
Russia has switched over to“winter time for the first time over the past three years, moving clock hands an hour back.
In autumn 2011, Dmitry Medvedev, who was the president of Russia at that time, cancelled transition to winter time. The Russian parliament passed amendments to the law on calculation of time in Russia in the summer of 2014.
Russia has 11 times zones, of which the Moscow zone is the biggest. Russia’s two new regions - Crimea and Sevastopol-have been included in the Moscow time zone.
Five Russian regions are not going to switch over to winter time. They include the Udmurt Republic, the Samara region, the Kemerovo region, the Kamchatka territory and the Chukotka Autonomous District.
According to a public opinion poll carried out by the VTSIOM public opinion center, one third of the Russians are happy with the transfer to winter time; one third wants to transfer the time twice a year. The opinion poll showed that 19% of respondents, predominantly young people and residents of big cities, except for Moscow and St. Petersburg, preferred summer time because they have got used to wake up and go to bed on summer time.
Almost 48% of the polled believed a single time system should be introduced in all parts of Russia while 45% assumed that each region of Russia should choose the best suitable time option.


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August 2017. One of my favourite Xiamen experiences was this simple but ingenious nature trail in the southwest of the city. Railroad Culture Park stands as a towering testament to brilliant urban planning and creative reuse, with five kilometres of landscaped gardens set around a stretch of preserved rails. Popular with ramblers, dog walkers, joggers […]Read More
Category: Railroad Culture Park
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domain: geography


The all-round talent for temperature measurements with Pt 100 sensor over a range of - 200 to + 850 °C and the thermocouple (type J, K, L, N, R, S, T) to + 1760 °C with a resolution of 0,1 °C over the full measuring range. Ideal for quality assurance service and production.
The universally applicable process-controlled hand-held instruments, series P700, are ideal for measuring operations in which high accuracy counts or the possibility of online documentation is demanded.
- USB interface.
- Optional DE-Graph Windows Software for graphic and tabular documentation.
- High measuring accuracy.
- Integrated calibration function for simple compensationof sensor tolerances.
- Physical 1-point, 2-point or 3-point calibration function.
- Measuring channels are freely assignable.
- Recording max., min., hold and average values.
- Integrated sensor holder for one hand operation.
- Mains operation possible.
- Simultaneous display of two measured values.
- Differential temperature display.
|Inputs:||1-channel, Pt 100, thermocouple: type K, J, L, N, R, S, T|
|Measuring range:||Pt 100 - 200 to + 850 °C|
thermocouple acc. to DIN
|Accuracy:||Pt 100 ± 0.1 °C from - 100 to + 200 °C, 0.1 % remaining range|
thermocouple R, S ± 1.0 °C + 0.1 %
thermocouple K, J, L, N, T ± 0.3 °C from 0 to + 200 °C, ± 1.0 °C to 1000 °C, ± 1.5 °C remaining range
|Resolution:||0.1 °C whole range|
|Working temperature:||0 to + 40 °C|
|Dimensions (L x B x H):||200 x 93 x 44 mm|
|Power supply:||9 V battery|
|Batterie life:||approx. 20 h|


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Dioxide Materials' Contribution To The Hydrogen Economy
Hydrogen offers a viable solution to the world’s need for sustainable fuel for carbon-free transportation and also as a means for large-scale energy storage, especially when there is a need to balance excess renewable energy production. In order to expand our hydrogen fuel production, however, we need to develop improved alkaline water electrolyzers that are both more cost and energy efficient. There is an increased demand for new and improved water electrolyzer technology that does not require expensive metals such as platinum and iridium. And, there is a need to ensure that the water electrolyzers can turn off and on quickly in order to leverage the peaks and valleys associated with renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, during peak periods of the day.
A Hydrogen filling station in Reykjavík, Iceland photo by Jóhann Heiðar Árnason. Licensed under CCBY2.0
Dioxide Materials’ high conductivity anion exchange membranes will be used to lower the cost of systems being used to create renewable fuels and chemicals and systems for energy storage. Illustrated in figure 1 is a run where a simple alkaline water electrolyzer with base metal catalysts (NiCo/Ni) is run at a constant current of 1 A/cm². Notice that we obtain 1 A/cm² at between 1.88 and 1.92 V. By comparison, the best previous alkaline water electrolyzers with base metal catalysts ran at currents below 0.25 A/cm² at 2.1V. Leng et al.7 were able to demonstrate alkaline cells running at 0.9 A/cm² at 2 V, but only when they used precious metals: i.e. iridium oxide anodes and platinum cathodes. These results demonstrate the potential of our membranes to substantially lower the cost of water electrolyzers. Presently, the water electrolyzers used in hydrogen filling stations and energy storage devices use precious metal catalysts (e.g. platinum/iridium). The results in Figure 1 show that one can replace the platinum and iridium with nickel and cobalt and get similar performance. Nickel and cobalt are much less expensive than platinum.
Dioxide's Technology Advantages include:
- Water electrolyzers that do not need precious metals (no platinum or iridium)
- Long lifetimes
- Reduced cost
- Rapid turn on/off
Figure 1 The voltage needed to maintain 1 A/cm2 in an alkaline anion exchange membrane electrolyzer operating at 60 °C in 1 M KOH.


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Dam Neck MWR Liberty is hosting a free gingerbread house decorating contest at The Oasis Liberty Center. Sailors and Marines can stop by anytime during normal operating hours until Wednesday, December 15. By filling out a survey and making a gingerbread house, you will be automatically be entered into the gingerbread house making contest. All supplies will be provided and the gingerbread house must be completed on site. Bring some friends for a fun gingerbread house competition. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 15 and will receive a prize!
For more information, please call 757-492-6806.
All MWR physical activities follow the latest HPCON status for practicing safe physical distancing and patron limitations.

domain: hobby


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Dear colleagues, dear members, dear friends
From 23-28th October 2017
will take place the Annual Congress of the West African Society of Pharmacology.
The West African Society of Pharmacology is an organization that brings together several researchers
(Doctors, Pharmacists, Scientists) from the ECOWAS area whose focus is on medicine or therapeutics.
During this 40th Congress, they will carry out enriching reflections on:
the optimal use of antihypertensive drugs and recent news on antihypertensive drugs
the optimal use of antidiabetic agents
how to prevent antibiotic resistance
the contribution of the traditional pharmacopoeia to therapeutics
the harmonization of pharmaceutical regulation in the ECOWAS area
The theme of this edition is:
"Addressing the Escalating Disease Conditions in the West Africa Sub-region: Diabetes, Hypertension and Drug-resistant Infections."
The sub-themes are
Therapeutic Challenges in Diabetes and Methods of Anti-diabetic Drug Evaluation.
Prospects for New Antihypertensive Drugs: Possible Breakthroughs from Ethnopharmacology.
Drug Resistance Predicament in Chemotherapy
Pharmacovigilance: Adverse Drug Reactions in Children and Elderly
Personalized Therapy as a New Trend in Disease Management
The Society is more than ever a place of exchange by mixing speakers from all walks of life
and encouraging the communications of the youngest, whatever their specialty of origin.

domain: medical


Despite the plethora of budget cuts and economic crises California has seen recently, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is optimistic about his final year in office.
During his State of the State Address on Jan. 6, he announced plans to reform areas such as employment, state budget and education.
Schwarzenegger began his speech with a metaphor about his family pets, a miniature pony and a pot-bellied pig; together they learned how to get into the stored food supply.
“It is the greatest example of teamwork, and I love it,” Schwarzenegger said. “It’s about teamwork. So one lesson to draw from the pig and the pony story is what we can accomplish when we work together.”
This story set the tone for the rest of Schwarzenegger’s generally hopeful speech. He cited the accomplishments of the legislature during the past year, including the passage of legislation targeting low-performing schools and the major water reform package.
Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg said he appreciated Schwarzenegger’s positive attitude.
“The governor’s tone was excellent,” Steinberg said at a press conference. “The governor loves California, and his dedication to our state shows and shines through.”
Although he praised the legislature’s progress, Schwarzenegger did not ignore the great deal of work left to be done.
“If I had to summarize in one word our focus for the coming year, it would be the word ‘priorities,'” he said. “We have to get them straight, and we have to keep them straight.”
For Schwarzenegger, one top priority is employment. He introduced four proposals to spur job growth:
– A $500 million jobs package
– A measure to streamline the permitting process of “green” construction jobs
– A proposal concerning homebuyer tax credits for the purchase of new or existing homes
– A proposal to exempt purchases of green-tech manufacturing equipment from sales tax.
Dean and Professor of Management at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management Steven Currall is in favor of these initiatives.
“I am particularly supportive of the Governor’s efforts to create new jobs in the area of ‘green’ technology,” said Currall in an e-mail interview. “It is vital that California cement its position as a global leader in industries relating to environmental sustainability and clean energy. Successful job creation programs will serve as a magnet to attract talent from around the world. As we build a first-rate talent pool, that will serve to further attract businesses to the state.”
The governor also proposed an overhaul of the state’s tax system and voiced his support of a plan created by the Tax Reform Commission.
“The basic problem is that our tax system does not reflect our economy,” Schwarzenegger said. “In 2009, California’s economic growth declined only by 2.8 percent but our tax revenues were down more than eight times that much.”
Currall also said California’s current tax system sets up a difficult economy.
“California must recognize that it is competing for businesses and jobs with states that have lighter regulatory burdens,” he said. “With respect to taxes, we must again be cognizant that we are competing against other states that may have less burdensome tax systems, such as Texas and some other states, which levy no personal income tax.”
California’s budget deficit is a well-known source of problems throughout the state. Schwarzenegger called the budget crisis “our Katrina.”
“We knew it was coming,” he said. “We have known it for years. And yet Sacramento would not reinforce its economic levees.”
The governor said additional budget cuts must be made to address California’s $19.9 billion budget deficit, although he stressed that these are painful decisions.
“It is forcing us to make a Sophie’s choice amongst our obligations. Which child do we cut? Is it the poor one or is it the sick one? Is it the uneducated one or is it the one with special needs? That is cruel,” he said.
However, despite his acknowledgement that further cuts are inevitable, Schwarzenegger vowed to protect education. He proposed a constitutional amendment that would prevent prisons from ever receiving a higher percentage of California’s money than education.
“What does it say about any state that focuses more on prison uniforms than on caps and gowns? It simply is not healthy,” he said.
Although many are appreciative of the governor’s protection of education, some believe that a constitutional amendment may be too drastic. Professor of Education and Director of the UC Davis Center for Applied Policy in Education Tom Timar is skeptical about the proposed amendment.
“It all sounds nice, but I don’t know how we’re going to be able to pull it off,” he said. “It’s going to take hard choices, leadership and real spine to effectively govern California in these times.”
Schwarzenegger also called for more federal funding for the state, citing that other states receive disproportionately more money than California.
The governor asserted that President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan would only put more of a financial burden on California and urged the legislature to vote against it. One opponent of this decision is Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass.
“I think that’s a premature call,” said Bass in a press conference. “I am so excited that on a national level we are on the verge of a historic piece of legislation that is going to expand healthcare to millions of people.”
The governor said California will have to make some difficult decisions in the coming year, but he remained optimistic.
“If I had hesitated in my career every time I made a move because it was too hard, I would still be yodeling in Austria,” he said.
SARAH HANSEL can be reached at email@example.com.


Great American Smokeout to Reduce Tobacco Waste
By Samantha Boden
Cal State San Marcos and San Diego State University are collaborating to promote tobacco-free living and the 47th annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 16.
The Great American Smokeout is held annually by the American Cancer Society on the third Thursday in November to encourage people to quit smoking. The Smokeout acts as a starting point for people’s journeys to give up smoking, encouraging them to make at least a single day tobacco-free.
In support of the day, both CSUSM and SDSU will share their projects about smoking waste at a community meeting from noon-1 p.m. in Markstein 101 on CSUSM's campus.
CSUSM will present a collaborative research project with UC Davis. The project, called the Tobacco, E-cigarette and Cannabis Waste Randomized Control Trial, is led by CSUSM psychology professor Kim Pulvers and UCD professors Elisa Tong and Susan Stewart.
Pulvers, Tong and Stewart will study CSUSM and UCD students’ perspectives of tobacco and vaping product waste. Students enrolled in the project will watch videos, take surveys and talk with researchers throughout a six-week intervention. These study visits will allow researchers to consider students’ views and behaviors about tobacco, nicotine and cannabis vape waste. CSUSM and UCD students interested in participating in the study can email firstname.lastname@example.org.
SDSU’s Center for Tobacco and the Environment will present its Tobacco Product Waste Reduction Project. For this project, the researchers collected almost 30,000 pieces of tobacco-related waste items, such as cigarette butts and vape cartridges, in just 60 census blocks around the county. They estimate that, throughout the eight largest cities in San Diego County, there are about 9 million pieces of tobacco trash.
“There’s really a lot out there,” said SDSU psychology professor Georg Matt, the principal investigator on the project. “Our goal is to figure out how to get tobacco product waste in neighborhoods, shopping malls, parks and beaches to zero.”
After the researchers finished collecting waste, they restarted the process beginning with the last block. They found that within two months, 96% of the original amount of waste had reaccumulated. Their next step in the project is to engage with the community to consider ways to limit waste. Click here to see the schedule of meetings and register.


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When does genius begin?
Mozart began composing music at the age of four, but what about the genesis of Vincent van Gogh's brilliance? Vincent decided relatively late--in 1880 at the age of 27--to devote his life to being an artist. But this is not to say that he hadn't been interested in painting and drawing long before then.
Although serious studies of Vincent van Gogh's early works didn't appear until at least 1955, it's clear that an exploration of these drawings yields some striking insights into the very first origins of Van Gogh's career as an artist. The works listed below haven't been given official catalogue numbers in either the De la Faille or Hulsker catalogues raisonnés, but rather they are listed as part of a separate classification called "Juvenilia" -- Vincent's earliest works.
In addition, between the De la Faille or Hulsker catalogues raisonnés there are some overlaps and conflicts. Hulsker categorizes Coal Shoveler (1879) as a Juvenilia work, whereas De la Faille includes it in the main catalogue under number F 827.
The categorization will continue to evolve as ongoing research offers new insights into Vincent's works. For now, I include the accepted De la Faille listings as a basis for an examination of the Van Gogh Juvenilia works.
|Note: The juvenilia works are also displayed in a thumbnail version.|
|XXVII||View of Royal Road, Ramsgate||Ramsgate: 31 May 1876||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|V||Goat Herd, The||Zundert: 9 October 1862||Private collection|
|VIII||Corinthian Capital||Zundert: 22 August 1863||Otterlo, Kröller-Müller Museum|
|XI||Surroundings of Croy Castle Near Aarle (?), The||Zundert: 1863?||Amsterdam, Mrs. E. Rijnders-Rehbock|
|XII||Barn and Farmhouse||Zundert: 8 February 1864||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XIIa||Two Sketches of a Man Leaning on His Spade||Tilburg: 1867||Zundert: The Community of Zundert|
|XIII||Country Lane||The Hague: early 1873||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XIV||Lange Vijverberg, The Hague||The Hague: Autumn, 1872-Spring, 1873||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XV||Ditch||The Hague: Autumn, 1872-Spring, 1873||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XVI||Canal||The Hague: Autumn, 1872-Spring, 1873||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XVII||Old Woman Asleep (after Rops)||The Hague-London: Circa 1873||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|--||Assorted drawings from sketchbooks||1873-74||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XVIII||Church of Helvoirt||Helvoirt: June-October, 1874||New York, Mrs. and Mrs. Howard Cullman|
|XIX||View of Helvoirt||Helvoirt: July, 1874||Location unknown|
|XX||Ville d'Avray: L'Etang au Batelier||London: April, 1875||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXI||Vicarage and Church at Etten||Etten: April, 1876||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXII||Vicarage at Etten||Etten: April, 1876||Location unknown|
|XXIII||Sketch of Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament||Paris: 24 July 1875||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXV||Austin Friars Church, London||England: July, 1873 - May, 1875||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXVI||View of Royal Road, Ramsgate||Ramsgate: April-May, 1876||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXVII||View of Royal Road, Ramsgate||Ramsgate: May, 1876||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXVIII||Churches at Petersham and Turnham Green||Isleworth: November, 1876||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXIX||Mills in the Neighbourhood of Dordrecht||Dordrecht: April, 1877||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXX||Cave of Machpelah, The||Amsterdam: May, 1877||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXXI||'Au Charbonnage' Café, The||Laeken: November, 1878||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
|XXXII||La Maison Magros||Cuesmes: 1879||Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art|
|XXXIII||La Maison de Zandmennik||Cuesmes: 1879||Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art|
|--||Winter, In Life As Well (after Jozef Israëls)||Amsterdam: c. 1877||Private collection|
Additional juvenilia work from Jan Hulsker's 1996 catalogue raisonné
|Juv. 10||Miners in the Snow at Dawn (sketch in letter 134)||Cuesmes: 20 August 1880||Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum|
Return to main Van Gogh Gallery page


CHESTER Bennington, the lead singer of rock band Linkin Park, has reportedly taken his own life.
TMZ reports the 41-year-old was found dead by a housekeeper in the bedroom of his Los Angeles home just before 9am local time (11pm AEST).
Bennington was married to Talinda Ann Bentley and had three children with her and another three children from a previous relationship.
Bennington had been open about his battles with drugs and alcohol.
He has said in the past that he considered suicide because he had been abused as a child by an older male.
His death was confirmed by fellow Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda this morning, who said a full official statement from the band was on its way.
The band were about to embark on an extensive North American tour, with the first concerts scheduled to take place on July 27 in Massachusetts.
TMZ reports that Bennington had plans with his bandmates in the morning after his death, with one bandmate arriving at his house to find police already there. He had made plans to drive Bennington to a photo shoot.
Bennington was close friends with Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. Today would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday.


SEPTA has added a 10:30 p.m. return train from Chester Transportation Center specifically to accommodate Philadelphia Union fans.
The additional train addresses the gap between the 9:57 p.m. train and the 11:52 p.m. train on the Wilmington/Newark train line schedule.
The Philadelphia Union provides free shuttles for fans that pick up at the Chester Transportation Center (1.8 miles from the stadium) and drop off along Front Street, one block north of Talen Energy Stadium. The team also provides ticketed buses from two locations in the city to games through its U-Ride program.
Do you take public transportation to games? Tell us about your experience in the comments.


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Rising star، Amina Khalil posted a new Selfie Photo through her official account on “Instagram”.
Amina captioned the photo as saying “Good Morning “.
The photo gained the admiration of her fans across social networks.
Amina latest series was “Grand Hotel” and it has achieved a great success.
Noteworthy، Amina Khalil was born in Cairo on the 26th of October 1988. Her uncle is the famous Jazz musician Yehya Khalil.
She studied acting at the American University In Cairo، after which she continued her post studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute، USA.
Her talent led her to play several dramatic roles in Taraf Tallet، Sharbat Loze، Nekdeb Law Olna Mabenhebesh، Saheb El Saada (2014) & Wallei El Ahd، in addition to her exceptional roles in cinema where she starred in Khetta Badeela، Asham (2012) & Sukkar Mor، with a critically acclaimed performance that drew attention to her talent & landed her the lead role in the movie Khanet El Yak.


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Tesla CEO Elon Musk is among the most popular and controversial business leaders. He has a big army of supporters, while other people simply hate him. Why do so many people hate Musk?
The rapid increase in Musk’s Twitter followers, which currently stand at 68 million, is a testimony to his popularity. To put that in perspective, his Twitter follower count crossed the 30 million mark in the fourth quarter of 2019. Jeff Bezos only has 3.4 million Twitter followers, while President Joe Biden has 31.9 million Twitter followers. Musk was also named as the TIME person of the year in 2021.
Most billionaires are hated, not just Elon Musk.
First, given the glaring wealth disparity across the world, there's a general tendency to hate billionaires. The fact that the taxes that Musk has paid over the last several years, barring 2021 where he sold a bunch of Tesla stocks, only makes more people hate him. Apart from general hate towards billionaires among a section of the population, there are several other reasons why Musk is hated.
Musk has a strong opinion and he expresses it freely.
Musk has an opinion on multiple topics and being an avid Twitter user, he frequently shares them, even though they might not be correct. For example, Musk was one of many people who underestimated the deadliness of the COVID-19 pandemic. He cajoled authorities to get the Fremont plant opened in 2020 amid surging COVID-19 infections.
He has also made some comments that could have been avoided. The most recent example is his tweet directed at Bernie Sanders. In another controversy in 2019, he called British caver Vernon Unsworth a “pedo guy.” Later, Musk said that the phrase is common in South Africa where he grew up. Eventually, Musk won the defamation lawsuit filed by Unsworth.
Elon Musk’s employee policies are also under a scanner.
Despite Musk being a self-proclaimed socialist, Tesla doesn't have an employee union. A leaked email in November showed Musk threatening employees who don’t follow his instructions. From sexual harassment to race discrimination, Tesla’s employee policies have been under a scanner.
Other people hate Musk for some of his projects, especially on colonizing Mars. Neuralink is one of Musk's polarizing projects and many people have been critical of him over the brain chips. Many are also critical of his space travel company. Even Bezos faced a lot of hate when he flew to space. Many people question the need for space travel at a time when the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why do some investors hate Musk?
If you're a Tesla short-seller, you might be among Musk haters considering the massive losses that bears have incurred over the last two years. Many investors think that Musk has used hype and yet-to-be-launched products to pump up Tesla’s valuation.
There's indeed some merit here since the company’s robotaxi project, which Musk himself thinks accounts for a big chunk of its valuations, is way behind schedule.
Some crypto investors hate Musk for his tweets.
Musk triggered the mayhem in several cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Dogecoin in 2021. He has had shifting opinions about them and his tweets have led to massive volatility in crypto prices. Those who lost money due to Musk’s tweets have a reason to hate him.
Another criticism of Musk has been that he doesn't get punished enough. Whether it was the infamous “taking Tesla private” tweet or the frequent tweets that impact the price action of different assets, the general belief is that like fellow billionaires, Musk gets away easily.
Some people see a maverick in Musk, while others see him as over-smart.
While Musk fans see most of his actions as signs of him being too smart, many others see him as over-smart. The most recent incident involved Musk offloading Tesla shares, which he did after the “affirmation” from his Twitter followers. However, the filings show that the transactions were pre-planned. Musk would have had to sell shares to exercise the stock options anyway.
If Musk took Twitter polls seriously, Tesla would have long started accepting Dogecoin as payment for its cars. However, Musk is a smart businessman and he knows what havoc the volatile meme currency can play with Tesla’s profitability. Musk’s smartness could be another reason why many people hate him so much.
Musk's brilliance can't be denied and despite many people betting against him, Tesla has survived and thrived. For Musk and other business leaders, the quote “Love Me, hate me, but you can't ignore me” definitely applies.


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RETURNING TO THEIR ROOTS: While making Revival, THIRD DAY returned to their deep musical roots by deciding to record at the legendary Fame Studios located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Announced exclusively on Billboard.com yesterday, to create an album at Fame Studios, which has birthed recordings from such icons as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and more since it opened in the 1950's, has been a dream of THIRD DAY's for more than 20 years.
"It's one of those 'if these walls could talk' kind of things," drummer David Carr shares. "With all of the incredible hits, the sounds the melodies that have been created in [that] space, some of that you hope that it rubs off a little bit."The fruition is the 13 songs found on Revival, a deeply Gospel-oriented album with "a blend of now, yesterday and today," Mac Powell shares. "It's like an old-school Gospel record in that kind of way."
Partnering again with their long-time producer, mentor and friend Monroe Jones (1999's Time, 2000's Offerings: A Worship Album, 2001's Come Together), THIRD DAY also joined with members of their touring band in the studio. The entire recording process was a true collaboration, with no set agenda or charts and everyone just bringing in ideas. "We'd just get together and start playing, and it just worked," explains Mark Lee.Carr continues, "It's been a really fun experience to just explore these new spaces for us musically, sonically. You know you're on to something when it just seems to catch fire on its own and become a thing that's bigger than you." "We started out in high school and we were these young kids excited about our faith and about using music to share our faith," Lee concludes. "Here we are all these years later and I still feel that, I still feel that He's got something to say through us." It's a REVIVAL, indeed. Click below to view a video of the making of Revival: