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We’ve been introduced to a lot of the DC Extended Universe’s interpretations of DC characters, and we have confirmation that there are plans for several more, but DC has been publishing comics since 1934, and it has a lot of characters. Knowing that there are plans for Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing movies in the works, I started thinking about characters specifically tied to Gotham and the Bats. Here are some of the ones I want to see most of all in a future Batman related movie.
1. Cassandra Cain (Batgirl/Black Bat)
I’m a huge fan of the Bat family. When the still from Batman v Superman where Bruce looks at the case containing Jason’s Robin suit, with the Joker’s writing still covering it, first came out, my heart broke into a million pieces. When I first heard that Nightwing will get his own movie, I completely freaked out and spent the next few days alternating between joy that my favourite character is going to get his own solo and terror over how if it’s not good, I’ll cry for years to come. So, naturally, I want Bruce’s daughter to join the party as well.
Cass is the most skilled fighter in DC. That’s completely canon. No non-meta can beat her because she knows what everyone’s going to do before they do it, and she’s in peak physical fitness. She was trained from birth to be an assassin. She’s also incredibly compassionate, unable to effectively express herself, and oftentimes, very conflicted. She’d be a beautifully human edition to the cast of characters – hers would be a story of self discovery, of family and kindness and growing past abuse and a poor upbringing.
My ideal scenario would be Cass as Batgirl in the upcoming Batgirl solo, as I mentioned here, potentially with a brief character introduction in the Batman solo. However, as I strongly doubt that Cass will be introduced so soon and the Batgirl movie will probably be centred around Barbara, I’m instead hoping for her to show up in a future Batfamily team up movie.
2. Katherine Kane (Batwoman)
Kate Kane, the soldier kicked out of the military for refusing to lie about her relationship with another woman, fits very well with the already established characters in the DCEU because of her strong sense of ethics. The DCEU is all about hope, love, and justice in dark times. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell may have been repealed, but it’s far from a distant memory, and Kate will almost certainly be about Bruce’s age in the DCEU, meaning she would have absolutely been affected by military prohibitions on same sex relationships. Her going on to fight crime and protect civilians after her poor treatment at the hands of the military for her sexuality would be a beautiful parallel to Clark still fighting for humanity after being rejected and ostracized for what he is.
Kate is one of the members of the Batfamily that’s most often forgotten. She’s still well known, of course, especially as DC’s most high profile LGBT character, but since she mostly does her own thing, it’s easy for her to slip under the radar when compared to the core members of the Gotham heroes – Batman, Robin, Batgirl. That’s a shame, because Kate is an excellent character. She’s not my favourite member of the Batfamily, but she’s a solid character that would continue to present themes that have been present in the DCEU from the beginning, and by being a Jewish lesbian hero, would contribute to building a more diverse cast.
3. Artemis Crock (Artemis/Tigress)
While Artemis does exist in the comics, Young Justice remade her as a new character bearing almost no resemblance to her original incarnation, one that’s a much more fully realized character and extremely interesting to watch. I think the Young Justice version deserves to shine in live action.
She’s not a meta-human. She’s the daughter of two supervillains, one of whom is retired and paralyzed. She’s an archer that’s also highly skilled in hand to hand combat. She started off on her own, without a partner or a mentor. Her own hero, no one’s sidekick or protege. And she did that without the money that most non-meta heroes have. Batman, Green Arrow, the Ted Kord Blue Beetle – they all have the advantage of billions of dollars to help them out. Artemis didn’t. She had a bow, great aim, and determination.
She’s the type of character that would fit in very well with the DCEU’s brand of realism if handled properly. Affleck’s Bruce can handle himself in this universe, whereas Bale’s Bruce would be completely outclassed. The focus that these movies so far have had is on the political, philosophical, religious impact of people with superpowers making themselves known to the world. It’s a realistic take on what the world with these heroes would be like. Having Artemis in there would be fascinating, because, like Bruce, she’s also a human – in a world with Superman and Wonder Woman, she’s breakable. Being an archer makes so much sense for a human with no powers in this world – she can fight at a distance, which would be much more effective than hand to hand with people that have super strength. Her constant awareness of all of this would make for some great internal conflict.
The season one episode Homefront of Young Justice explored a lot of Artemis’s insecurities as one of the only two regular humans on a team of people with superpowers and as the last person to join. In this episode, she demonstrated just why she belongs, and how good she is at what she does. It would be great to have that in live action – a further demonstration of why it’s not superpowers or money that makes the hero, but tenacity and a desire to make the world a better place. And it’s more than just wanting to help people – being a hero is who she is, what she does. She loves it. After leaving the team to go to college, she came back the instant Dick asked for her help.
Having Artemis around would also further develop Gotham as a city, as well as the heroes protecting it, because while she’s another of the many characters that call it home, she isn’t a bat. She doesn’t wear the symbol or work regularly with Batman. She doesn’t come from money. She doesn’t have powers. She’s something else – an average Gothamite that wants to protect people and not follow in her family’s footsteps. Through her, the audience could gain a greater understanding of what Gotham is, what it’s really like to live there, and why the heroes that do are so dedicated to protecting it.
Her relationship with Dick was one of the more interesting dynamics in Young Justice. They were both nonpowered humans on a team of metas. They were both from Gotham. Their parental figures had both started training them from a young age – Bruce training Dick to be a hero and Lawrence training Artemis to be a criminal. They have a lot of similarities, as well as vastly different ways of thinking, and a deep level of trust. It would be fascinating to see her appear, perhaps not in a Batman movie, but in a Nightwing one.
4. Edward Nygma (The Riddler)
I’m a little hesitant on this one, because I sincerely love the Gotham incarnation of the character, and it’ll be hard to imagine someone else in the role at the same time. Having the TV version is probably enough for me right now. But the Riddler is a great character, and I’m so tired of just seeing the Joker in all Batman media when there are so many Batman villains that I find much more interesting.
Gotham, has, in a lot of ways, spoiled me for Batman related media. It’s over the top and ridiculous and the timeline is kind of weird, but it’s so much fun to watch, none of it matters. It’s black comedy at its finest, while also managing to pull off the emotional scenes well. Best of all, it has incredible casting. Its version of Bruce is one of my top two live-action Bruces and top three if we include animation. It took the Riddler and made him absolutely terrifying.
Nygma has so much flair. He’s very, very smart, which is both his strength and his weakness. He’s Lex with even more flamboyance. He’s an entertaining character to watch, and he hasn’t been overused. The Riddler would be a wonderful villain to use to show off Bruce’s detective skills.
5. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
Batman is a flawed, broken, traumatized character. I’d love to see a Batman movie take advantage of that by being a psychological drama. And what better villain to use for that than the one that’s weaponized fear even more than Batman himself has?
One of the most important things about Bruce in my view is that he’s a father. In this universe, he doesn’t have his entire family yet, but he has at least two sons, one of whom died violently and the other of whom he’s estranged with. He has a lot to be afraid of. A movie centred around fear and Bruce’s love for his children would be very different from any Batman movie we’ve seen before, and it would fit in perfectly with the more human, genre defying movies we’ve gotten so far. It would be an interesting lead in to movies about other members of the Batfamily in that it would show off just who the people are for whom Bruce is so afraid.
Bruce absolutely has not conquered his fear. He’s just learned to use it. And his biggest fears? They aren’t bad things happening to him. They’re bad things happening to other people that he can’t do anything to stop. Jason’s murder. Barbara’s paralysis. The deaths in Metropolis. That’s why he was so fixated on killing Clark in Batman v Superman. A movie completely revolving around all of these fears would be terrifying and heartbreaking to watch. It’d be fantastic.
6. Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze)
Bruce is a hugely compassionate character. We saw that in Batman v Superman – the man took a helicopter to Metropolis as soon as he heard what was happening, then ran straight into a disaster zone to rescue people. He hauled a fallen beam off his employee. He comforted a little girl that had just lost her mother. He took the time when rescuing Martha to reassure her and tell her he was a friend of her son’s. He paid for Clark’s funeral. Batman: The Animated Series is one of my favourite interpretations of Bruce in an adaptation, along with DCEU Bruce and Gotham Bruce, and it did did a great job with humanizing Bruce and giving its villains depth. It was the start of Victor Fries as the tragic villain he’s been in all media ever since, and I’d love to see that in the DCEU.
He’s an excellent character to have as part of the Batman mythos, because while he’s a villain that’s done indisputably terrible things and should be in prison, he’s also someone that it’s very easy to sympathize with – he just wants his wife back, and his love for her was the motivating factor for his crimes. He’s one of the most sympathetic members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery.
The villains that Batman has interacted with so far haven’t been hugely sympathetic. Lex certainly wasn’t. Nuanced and complex, yes, but not redeemable or sympathetic. Deadshot and Harley may have had some redeeming qualities, and they – Deadshot, especially – were somewhat sympathetic, but they were definitely not as tragic characters as Mr. Freeze. I’d love to see more of Bruce’s compassion in a movie where he’s the main character, and I think Mr. Freeze would be the best of his villains to demonstrate that trait.
Harley and the Joker don’t deserve Bruce’s sympathy. A major trend in fandom is to woobify Harley as just a victim! And yes, the Joker is abusive, her relationship is very unhealthy, and she needs treatment. But that’s an explanation, not a justification. So she has moments of conscience. Doesn’t change the fact she’s still a murderer. In this universe, she was an accomplice to Jason’s murder. Bruce doesn’t owe her a thing, least of all his sympathy. He’s just a man – he can understand mental illness, but he doesn’t have to forgive her for murdering his son in cold blood. But Mr. Freeze? He’s a villain, too, one that Bruce will fight against to protect the innocent, but his crimes were born of desperation, not any kind of malice. Bruce would find it much easier to sympathize with him, because it’s not personal there. He can understand that anger, and that desperation to protect a loved one.
Of course I’m excited to see Nightwing as I discussed in this post. And once I get past my apprehension about the way Barbara will be handled, I’m excited to see Batgirl, too. I’m certainly excited to see more Batman. But Gotham City is more than just Batman and his children, and I’m incredibly ready to see the world expanding with new characters, each of which could provide more insight into Bruce as well as being fantastic characters in their own right.


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Lorain residents in Ward 6 will get a new representative on City Council starting next year.
Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr. will not seek re-election to the seat, but on May 7, Democratic voters will pick between two political newcomers.
The candidates are Rey Carrion, who worked in Lorain’s former Community Development Department for a number of years, and Javier Espitia who learned about the community as a translator for El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc. The winner will become the presumptive winner of the seat because there is no Republican contender in the November general election.
The ward encompasses the eastern area of South Lorain. It includes the steel mills, Oakwood Park and a stretch of Grove Avenue, which is state Route 57.
Lorain City Council members serve two-year terms. Council members’ salary is $12,332.88 a year, according to the Lorain City Auditor’s Office.
As a Council member, Carrion said listening to the constituents would be paramount. He would focus on three specific areas to change: economic development, education and accountability in city services.
For economic development, “there needs to be a concerted effort in the areas of business retention and expansion, attraction of new business and visitors, and entrepreneurship and small business development.”
“These are essentially the three legs of economic development,” he said. “Workforce development supports all three legs. People are the economy and we must foster people-based economic development.”
For years, South Lorain “has been the poster child of disinvestment and poverty,” Carrion said.
The city should work to capitalize on programs relating to the federal classifications of Ohio Opportunity Zone and a food desert, Carrion said.
“There also needs to be an aggressive plan to eradicate blighted structures from the city’s main gateways,” he said. “The Grove Avenue and East 28th Street gateways attract over ten thousand motorists daily. These two main arteries have a symbiotic relationship to the city’s downtown waterfront district.”
Drawing more visitors to Pearl Avenue will be a key initiative, Carrion said, and council must continue a focus on Oakwood Park.
Carrion said he wants to work to return local control of Lorain City Schools.
Among city services, areas of concern for many South Lorain residents include high water bills, poor snow removal practices, removal of strategic traffic lights, and lack of timely clean-up within the district, Carrion said.
“My goal is to work closely with the administration and other elected officials to not only provide accurate and timely information to our constituents but to also search for alternative ways to reduce the burden to the working-class taxpayer,” he said.
Carrion said his heart is in Lorain, a tight-knit community that is incredibly proud and resilient, but that also feels neglected.
“A recently performed Lorain comprehensive plan barely mentions the South Lorain district. That is a concern,” he said. “We all deserve a much better community than what we presently have.”
Espitia said he has three goals for the ward.
The first is to clean up neglected properties. He said he would like to work with the city's building department to uphold Lorain's building ordinances and streamline the process for knocking down buildings that pose a public safety risk.
Council also must find funding, either through the Community Development Block Grant Program or through the general fund for home repairs for low-income residents who want to do the right thing but may lack the means to do so.
The city also must develop the site of the former Southview High School, Espitia said. He would advocate for Lorain City Schools to gift the land to the city and rezone and develope the property with the aim of attracting investment in our community.
Council also should consult the community on the future of Oakwood Park. Espitia said he would directly consult the community by knocking on doors, making calls and having conversations together as to what direction we will take our park in the future.
“Like too many families in South Lorain, I've endured the disastrous consequences when a giant corporate institution puts profits above people,” Espitia said. “During the 2009 financial crisis, my dad lost his job working construction. We fell behind on the mortgage and tried repeatedly to get some relief from Bank of America.
“Over the course of over a year, they gave us the runaround and our home was foreclosed on, the same home my dad had built from the ground up with his own two hands,” he said.
Working in South Lorain, Espitia said he knocked on thousands of doors and registered hundreds of voters with the goal of preventing Donald Trump from becoming president.
“As a first generation American who learned English as a second language, I am now living the American dream and see it as my duty and obligation make sure future generations of Americans have even better opportunities than I did,” Espitia said. “I've worked for members of congress, a secretary of state, a president, and now I want to work for South Lorain.”

domain: sociology


Lincoln School to Unveil New Campus
The LincolnSchool, a private preschool and K-12 facility now located in Moravia, northeast of San José, is packing up today as it begins a move to its new campus in the nearby suburb of Santo Domingo de Heredia.
Luisana Pacheco, the school’s coordinator for admissions and development, said the school decided to create a new campus so students can have the best learning experience possible.
“The idea isn’t to grow, but to give better opportunities and facilities to the students we have,” Pacheco told The Tico Times, adding that those 1,220 students have been given a week off as the school’s furniture and materials are moved from the old campus, Lincoln’s home for 53 years, to the Heredia campus a few kilometers away.
The facility is located in Santo Domingo’s Barrio El Socorro.
Classes will begin at the new campus March 19; an April 18 reception for President Oscar Arias and other dignitaries, as well as a school-wide festival April 28 for staff members, students and families, will officially inaugurate the new facility.
The campus, which Pacheco called “possibly the best facilities in all of Central America,” includes two libraries; a preschool building specially designed for Lincoln’s smallest students; an International Football Federation (FIFA)-regulation soccer field; two gymnasiums; and elementary and secondary buildings with science labs, music and art rooms, among other features.
For more information on the school and campus, visit www.lincoln.ed.cr.
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Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest differences.
That’s the philosophy of Las Vegas trade show organizers as they refine show merchandising, technological tools, footprints and locales. The goal is to improve the experience for retail buyers as they attempt to navigate and maximize the use of their time at the 10 expos under Advanstar Global LLC’s umbrella — MAGIC, WWDMAGIC, Project, Pool, FN Platform, Sourcing and ENK among them — and numerous others, including Agenda, Capsule, Liberty, CurveNV and Business Journal Inc.’s AccessoriesTheShow, MRket and Stitch that take over wide swaths of the city’s meeting and convention space in February.
At MAGIC Market Week, the moniker Advanstar gives to its collection of Las Vegas trade shows running from Feb. 17 to 20, Tom Florio, chief executive officer of Advanstar’s fashion group, said, “We are now pretty much at capacity across all of our shows at Mandalay Bay and the Las Vegas Convention Center. In August, we went over the 1 million square foot mark. We don’t plan on pushing that out any more, we just plan on selecting the best brands. The good news for the retailers is that the shows are literally being more curated.”
White, which features better to bridge women’s apparel and accessory brands, special occasion, activewear, outerwear and French designers in an area named Heart of Pret, is heading to the North Hall at WWDMAGIC after a stint in the South Hall. At Sourcing, the focus will be on Made in the USA with a strong emphasis on Los Angeles, the nation’s largest clothing manufacturing hub.
When it has asked buyers about their objectives for MAGIC Market Week, Florio said Advanstar has found they reply that they want to connect with brands with which they have been doing business, be introduced to new brands and travel through the shows as seamlessly as possible. To help with all three, Advanstar has clarified signage to identify products by classification and lead people from show to show, is sending out planners to some 25,000 buyers that break down the shows, and has populated Shop the Floor, its digital platform, with more brands.
Discussing Shop the Floor, Florio said, “Exhibitors have access to it as part of their booth price. Therefore, the selling season continues way beyond the show. If there is someone who wants to buy an allotment now and reorder later, they can do that with us.” He acknowledged, though, that the fashion industry is relatively slow to embrace digital tools such as Shop the Floor, adding. “It is still going to take time before it becomes common practice.”
A little more than a year into his tenure at Project, president Tommy Fazio is instituting changes to the trade show he believes will make it easier for buyers to scout trends and pinpoint the right brands, whether established or emerging, for their stores.
“I’ve assessed the layout of the shows and, starting in February, Project is going to be laid out to meet the retailers’ needs. We have really curated these lifestyle destinations to support the retailers’ buying habits,” he said. “When you have so many brands under one roof and [buyers] have three days to shop them, you want to help them out.”
Last season, Project introduced SurfProject, which is devoted to surf lifestyle merchandise, and is bringing that back with a contemporary spin. In addition, Project will unveil 10 of Tomorrow to spotlight upstart brands that are leading trends, and a tailoring initiative titled Tailoring@Project because Fazio has detected a growing interest in the contemporary tailored men’s wear segment. Also at Project is Indigo, a premium denim selection that Fazio described as “curated in a way that people can shop it by price point or by look and whether it is men’s or women’s or both.”
Overall at MAGIC Market Week, Florio said the number of buyers signing up to participate is “tracking almost identical to last year. Seventy percent of the retailers that come to our shows have gone to the shows the prior year. They might buy differently [due to the uneven economy], but they are going to go. MAGIC Market Week has become one of the largest, if not the largest, fashion week in the world. You can see over 7,000 brands. We don’t expect there to be a drop in attendance.”
Modern Assembly, an alliance struck earlier this year between the trade shows Agenda, AccessoriesTheShow, Capsule, Liberty, MRket and Stitch, is returning Feb. 17 to 19 at the Sands Expo Convention Center.
“The state of retailing is still a challenged one and I think retailers are looking for the place where they can see the greatest number of resources in the shortest amount of time. Modern Assembly was a home run last season. We saw double-digit increases in attendance,” said Britton Jones, president and ceo of Business Journals. “While each show maintains its own identity and presence in the Sands space, I think you are going to see even tighter integration with the producers working together.”
Stitch, which is seeing its square footage increase by 40 percent, and AccessoriesTheShow are relocating to Hall A and B from Hall C and D at Sands Expo.
“There is more space and it was perfect timing for us because we never could have accommodated this much growth without the new halls,” said Jones, who pointed to international exhibitors as contributors to the growth.
Roni Rabl and The Isabella Co. are among the exhibitors presenting European collections at Stitch. Outerwear is a growth driver at Stitch, too.
“We launched a luxury outerwear at Stitch section last February and everyone who did it last February is coming back, and some with larger spaces and great new lines,” said Jones. “It is a really great blending of true luxury outerwear collections with better sportswear collections.”
Outerwear brands that are new to Stitch include Flash Geo and Blue Duck Shearling. Business Journals is drawing attention to nascent brands with Designer Lab at AccessoriesTheShow and Vanguards Gallery at MRket.
“We started Vanguard Gallery in New York, and we brought it over to Vegas. It is growing incredibly,” said Sharon Enright, vice president of the trade show division at Business Journals. “It’s proving to be a great resource for buyers. When we talk about growth, an important aspect of growth in the market is newness. It is very important to us to have newness in all of our markets because it is so important for buyers to discover.”
The Off Price Show sets up shop in the Sands Expo, as well, but will do so a tad differently from Feb. 16 to 19. It’s cash-and-carry section, which is projected to have up to 100 booths, up from 50 previously, will be relocated to the Casanova and Marco Polo ballrooms at the lower level to provide space to expand the show in Hall G. Footwear will be situated in a new Footwear Pavilion near the OP Bistro Express. Off Price has grown from 10 vendors when it started to more than 500.
“Our total attendance was a little over 11,000 last year and we’re hoping for between 11,000 and 12,000; that’s always the goal,” said Off Price’s marketing and publishing manager Todd Fabos.
The location of CurveNV is moving slightly. The lingerie and swimwear trade show, which is from Feb. 17 to 18, will be held at a new site within The Venetian Las Vegas at the Bellini and Titian ballrooms on the main floor of the hotel.
“Attendance has shown to be steady and…we look forward to maintaining this pace and boosting new business opportunities,” said Laurie Delpino, marketing and buyers manager for Curve.
Women’s Wear in Nevada is sticking to the venue and dates that have worked well for it. The show will be at the Rio Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from Feb. 17 to 20. Roland Timney, the manager of WWIN, said, “We are a completely sold out show with about 850 booths.…We’ll expect somewhere around 3,000 stores.”


text:
Extremely volatile and unstable work industry.
Pros: Good compensation
Cons: Unstable industry with a hiring/layoff revolving door
On the outside, the company seems secure and upwardly moving with opportunities to grow professionally. I was part of the massive hiring wave of 2012 and 2013. Well over 300 new employees were hired in a short amount of time and received intensive training. It was a continuously changing environment where information was not often shared and employees had to rely on the rumor mill about company changes which contributed to unsure job security. Testing and training were ongoing and advancement was offered as the company changed directions. In the mortgage industry, flux is expected. This company like many others does not see its employees as an asset but as numbers on a ledger, and a way to manage their budget. In 2013 the majority of the new hires of the previous year were laid off in several waves including a large number of long time employees in excess of 10+ years tenure. When the refinance market slowed down, the anticipated need for employees was not realized and the lay offs began. Even with new ownership, the company does not seem to have changed its outlook as far as employees are concerned. As recently as a few months ago, the company was hiring however the main building on Gate Parkway is up for sub-lease. The lease is up in 2016 and they are planning on downsizing again. This information is readily available but Im sure the company is not forthcoming with that information either. When considering this company for employment, I would not recommend assuming a long term opportunity.

domain: finance


text:
25% off your booklet. Learn more.
“My Summer” photo competition. Take part now and you could win some great prizes.
Configure your photo product:
Your picture is printed on a UV-resistant wood panel coated with scratch-proof plastic.
There are mounting holes milled into the back of the wall display for immediate mounting.

domain: hobby


text:
Los Angeles isn't for the faint of heart. It pulses and flexes its sprawling physique around you like a Burmese Python. Occasionally terrifying, perpetually aggravating and constantly ringing in your ears with its symphony of indecipherable noise, it will test your mettle the moment you cross its borders. But Los Angeles, as flawed as it may be, also has a rhythm and heartbeat that's as exhilarating and vivid as few other places on earth.
It's filled with angels and devils from every conceivable walk of life. From Venice Beach to Olvera Street, Malibu to Griffith Park, it can put a bounce in your step and allow you to dream, perhaps only for a moment or two but dream all the same, as its varied landscapes remind you you're alive. Every inch of the city looks like a painting, the impressionism of downtown, minimalism of the westside and surrealism of the beach sparking your imagination like a fever dream. That's why they make movies in La La Land. It's a place of wonder and escape.
As lovely and infuriating, invigorating and maddening as Los Angeles can be, however, like most things in life, too much can be corrosive to your soul. Those beach-side fever dreams will always melt into LA's noirish nighttime shadows and, sadly, the longer you're there, the briefer those dreams will be. So enjoy them while you can but always be grateful when the Hollywood sign is in your rearview mirror.

domain: literature


text: In the Middle Ages, while protecting a princess who had been chased out of the eastern provinces, the 36 vassals crossed the mountains and arrived at the Shonai Plain. There, they found peace, put down roots, and the town was born. Hundreds of years have passed since then, while the town has flourished as a lucrative region in the northern part of Japan. The brewers of the 36 Guardians sake are native to Shonai. Their straightforward temperament exudes patience and humbleness in a spiritual climate known to the region. Our sake possesses an undiscovered calm and boldness, inherited from the Middle Ages.

domain: geography


text:
The item is a creative & practical XXL-sized U-shaped key holder which is made of hard ABS plastic and magnet material. It can be mounted on the wall with the help of screws or double-sided adhesive tape, and adopts magnetic tips to ensure your keys held in a prominent place with maximum visibility. It is really a wonderful household gadget for choice.
EXTRA Large Magnetic Key Holder
Attach Magnet in the Wall with Screw or Sticker
Hold the Keys with Magnet
Dimensions: 11 cm (4.33 inches) wide x 13 cm (5.12 inches) tall x 3 cm (1.18 inches) deep.
Colors: Blue, Green, Yellow, Red
100% brand new and high quality XXL magnetic key holder.
U-shaped appearance design, very unique and attractive.
Strong magnetic tips on each end of the key holder, to conveniently attach to your metal keychain and keys.
Wall-mountable design: can be mounted on the wall with the help of two screws, or one U-shaped double-sided adhesive tape.
Simple and creative design, light weight and easy to use.

domain: design


text:
According to Free Party MP Artur Talvik, the key issue in the upcoming local elections will be the confrontation between independent local politics and party politics even if party affiliation is not important at the local level.
"Members of the Free Party will be running on the lists of electoral alliances as members of their communities; we will not put up party lists this year," Talvik said in a press release.
In his words, parties ward off electoral alliances and cause ideological wars instead of local debates. "Party affiliation does not matter at the local level," he said. "What matters is the will and skill to develop one's town or municipality based on its specific features. Half a year ahead of local elections, the Center Party and Reform Party are pushing for major confrontations that kill off local issues and render the election campaign devoid of content."
Free Party extended board member Kaul Nurm said that the party had begun renewing its program and that the democracy-strengthening plan discussed at Saturday's meeting of the extended board was a part of it.
"The Free Party wants Estonian citizens to be able to influence in a real way the activity and decisions of those in power," Nurm remarked. "Increasing discontent could otherwise grow into physical protest."
Among other things, the party's democracy-strengthening plan foresees curbing party politicization and reinforcing the fight against corruption as well as opening up political competition and increasing the role of the popular initiative, the extended board member highlighted.
The final version of the democracy program will be submitted for endorsement to the party's general meeting in April.
The extended board of the Free Party convened in Järva County's Türi-Alliku on Saturday in order to discuss issues with democracy as well as local life in light of the local elections to take place this October.
Editor: Aili Vahtla

domain: politics


text:
A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation
|Available Formats||You Pay||You Save|
Is it possible to be an ex gay?
Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse present social science research on homosexuality designed to answer the questions:
- Can those who receive religiously-informed psychotherapy experience a change in their sexual orientation?
- Are such programs harmful to participants?
The results show that outcomes for this kind of religiously-informed psychotherapy are similar to outcomes of therapy for other psychological problems. Such programs do not appear to be harmful on average to individuals.
This research will be of interest to all those who want to know the latest research on sexual orientation change and the effects of religiously-informeded programs on those who utilize them.
Related Information & Resources
Listen to an interview with Dr. Stanton L. Jones on The Drew Marshall Show.
Download Appendix 1: Description of Research Methods (PDF).
Download Appendix 2: Questionnaire (PDF).
Download Appendix 3: Klein Sexual Orientation Grid and Sell Assessment of Sexual Orientation (PDF).
Download Appendix 4: Discussion of Psychophysiological Measurement of Sexual Orientation (PDF).
Download Appendix 5: Yarhouse Sexual Orientation Thermometers (PDF).
Read questions and answers with the authors (PDF).

domain: psychology


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An activist investor attempting to execute a turnaround at Kohl’s Corp. now has its sights set on another retailer.
Today, Genesco Inc. confirmed that Legion Partners Asset Management LLC has informed it of its intention to nominate a controlling slate of seven individuals for election to its board of directors.
According to the company, its board, as well as the nominating and governance committee, will review the proposed nominees and present the recommendation in its definitive proxy materials, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed to all shareholders eligible to vote at its upcoming annual shareholder meeting. (The date of the meeting has yet to be announced.)
This morning, Legion — which owns about 5.6% of outstanding common shares of GCO — issued a letter to shareholders, writing that the decision to seek boardroom change comes as Genesco has “failed to build on the momentum we helped establish, and the company is now on a concerning, downward trajectory that could result in the permanent impairment of value.”
The firm nominated Marjorie Bowen, who previously served as an independent director of Genesco; Thomas Kibarian, former CEO at home decor company At Home Group Inc.; Margenett Moore-Roberts, chief inclusion and diversity officer at global marketing collective IPG DXTRA; Dawn Robertson, who has worked at Old Navy and Macy’s, among other retailers; Nike veteran Patricia Ross; capital markets executive Georgina Russell; and former Burlington Stores Inc. EVP and CMO Hobart Sichel.
In response, the Nashville, Tenn.-based chain issued a statement that it “disagree[d] with many of Legion’s assertions and are surprised that they are seeking to replace a majority of Genesco’s eight-member board after not responding to our repeated requests for their input and ideas or sharing their proposed candidates in advance.”
It added, “We value all feedback from shareholders and will continue to seek to have a constructive dialogue with Legion like we would with any shareholder … Genesco’s board and recently appointed management team are committed to acting in the best interests of all shareholders and executing on our plans to drive meaningful growth and shareholder value creation.”
For the fourth quarter, reported last month, Genesco posted a profit and sales beat: It logged adjusted earnings of $2.76 per share, compared with the prior year period’s adjusted earnings of $3.09 per share. Market watchers had predicted earnings of $1.96 per share. Revenues dropped 6% to $637 million but were also better than forecasts of $617.55 million.
Less than two months ago, Legion and three other investors — Macellum Advisors GP LLC, Ancora Holdings Inc. and 4010 Capital LLC — announced that it had nominated nine directors in an attempt to take control of Kohl’s board. It revised its proxy statement in mid-March to nominate just five individuals. Early this month, Kohl’s urged shareholders to vote for the reelection of current members of its board at its annual meeting scheduled on May 12.

domain: economics


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Model and outdoor enthusiast Brittney Glaze joins the cast of “Destination Whitetail,” for its new season, premiering July 2 at 8:30 PM ET/PT on the Sportsman Channel. Glaze discusses moving from the glamorous world of modeling to the outdoor hunt. Originally aired on the Sportsman Channel 7/02/14.
The show host talks about her new role on the Sportsman Channel program.
December 19th, 2014Steve Chapman: Targeting ‘Assault Weapons’ Again
The journalist contends that the Newtown families’ lawsuit ignores the fact that the vast majority of AR-15s are used responsibly.
View the latest Cam & Co shows.
Have a Second Amendment or firearm-related question? Ask Cam!
April 29th, 2013Upcoming Guests
Check out our upcoming lineup of guests on Cam & Co.


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Color me a slacker blogger today. This is one of those romantic songs that the cynic in me spits upon. However, the romantic, prose writing girl in me has caged the cynical beast for the time being.
The first time I heard this was long before I watched "Moulin Rouge." It raised the little hairs on the back of my neck; tingles radiated through my spine.

domain: artistic


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Deloitte Legal advised Magenta Telekom, while Lumsden and Partners advised the City of Vienna on the deal.
As reported in CEE Legal Mater and in others online publications Magenta Telekom signed a structuring cooperation with the City of Vienna regarding broadband coverage.
Magenta Telekom invested a total of around €1 billion in Austria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
The Deloitte Legal team was led by Partner Maximilian Weiler (Picture) and included Partners Stefan Zischka and Sascha Jung, Counsel Johannes Lutterotti and Associate Gerald Hendler.
The Lumsden and Partners team included Managing Partner Robin Lumsden and Partners Irina Tot and Dimitar Anadoliyski.
Involved fees earner: Gerald Hendler – Deloitte Tax & Legal; Sascha Jung – Deloitte Tax & Legal; Johannes Lutterotti – Deloitte Tax & Legal; Maximilian Weiler – Deloitte Tax & Legal; Stefan Zischka – Deloitte Tax & Legal; Dimitar Anadoliyski – Lumsden and Partners; Robin Lumsden – Lumsden and Partners; Irina Tot – Lumsden and Partners;


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Update, Aug. 22: This has been updated with new information after Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations related to the payment to Stormy Daniels.
In a series of early morning tweets on May 3, President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time that he reimbursed his personal attorney for the $130,000 payment that was made to porn star Stormy Daniels.
On Aug. 21, Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal attorney, pleaded guilty to two campaign finance law violations, and admitted in open court that he paid $130,000 in hush money to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, to silence her during the 2016 presidential election “at the direction of” Trump. In his guilty plea, Cohen also admitted he received $420,000 from the Trump Organization to reimburse him for the payment, plus expenses and a bonus.
Under federal law, individuals such as Cohen cannot make a contribution that exceeds $2,700 per election and corporations, such as the Trump Organization, cannot make campaign contributions.
Here, we lay out answers to questions about the payment, and what we know, and don’t know, at this point.
How much was paid?
This is not in dispute: Daniels was paid $130,000 in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement that barred her from talking about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.
Who made the payment?
On Oct. 17, 2016, three weeks before the Nov. 8 election, Cohen incorporated Essential Consultants LLC in Delaware. In February, Cohen released a statement to the New York Times, acknowledging that he authorized the payment.
When was the payment made to Daniels?
On CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, held up a receipt from a bank in San Francisco showing that on Oct. 27, 2016, Essential Consultants made a $130,000 payment to Daniels’ attorney at the time.
Did Trump reimburse Cohen?
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a member of the president’s legal team, told Fox News on May 2 that Trump used his personal funds — not campaign funds or corporate funds — to reimburse Cohen. (Corporations, by federal law, are prohibited from making contributions to candidate committees.)
The next day, Trump said for the first time that he had reimbursed Cohen for the payment to Daniels.
The criminal information describing Cohen’s conduct and the plea agreement he reached with prosecutors said that he was reimbursed by the Trump Organization. It says that “the Company” reimbursed Cohen from the trust account created when Trump became president. “The Company accounted for these payments as legal expenses,” the criminal information said.
Cohen told the House oversight committee in testimony on Feb. 27, 2019, that Trump “personally signed from his personal bank account” a check for $35,000. That check is dated Aug. 1, 2017. Other checks came from the trust account were signed by two other company executives, Donald Trump Jr., and Allen Weisselberg, Cohen told the House committee.
When and how did the Trump Organization reimburse Cohen?
According to the plea agreement, Cohen sought reimbursement in January 2017 from the Trump Organization and started receiving $35,000 in monthly payments in February. Over the course of 12 months, Cohen received $420,000 to cover the costs of the $130,000 payment and $50,000 for “tech services,” plus other expenses and fees, and a $60,000 bonus.
The payments were described by the Trump Organization as “pursuant to the retainer agreement” for legal work in 2017. But the Justice Department said, “In truth and in fact, there was no such retainer agreement, and the monthly invoices COHEN submitted were not in connection with any legal services he had provided in 2017.”
That is contrary to how Giuliani and Trump described the monthly payments to Cohen.
Giuliani told the Washington Post in a story published May 3 that Trump — not the Trump Organization — reimbursed Cohen, but he wasn’t clear on exactly when the payments started or ended. “The repayments took place over a period of time, probably in 2017, probably all paid back by the end of 2017,” he said.
Asked how many payments it took to reimburse Cohen, Giuliani told the Washington Post that Cohen received $35,000 in monthly installments as part of a legal retainer, beginning in January or February. He also said the total amount Trump owed Cohen was $250,000 — including the $130,000 payment to Daniels.
The timing of the payments is also important because Trump did not list a debt to Cohen on his 2017 personal public financial disclosure report, which he filed on June 14, 2017. (More on that later.)
Did Cohen mislead the public when he said he wasn’t reimbursed?
Yes. In his February statement to the New York Times, Cohen stated that, “Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly.”
On May 3, Trump said in a tweet that “Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA.”
Cohen’s plea agreement makes clear that he was reimbursed and it was from his employer, “the Company,” which was the Trump Organization.
When did Trump learn about the payment to Daniels?
In pleading guilty, Cohen said he made the payment “at the direction of” a candidate for federal office, which would be Trump. So Trump knew about the payment in October 2016, according to Cohen. “Mr. Trump directed me to use my own personal funds from a home equity line of credit to avoid any money being traced back to him that could negatively impact his campaign,” Cohen testified before the House oversight committee.
Did Trump mislead the public when he said on April 5 that he did not know about the payment to Daniels?
It would appear so. Aboard Air Force One, the president said on April 5 that he didn’t know about the payment to Daniels.
Question, April 5: Mr. President, did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?
Trump: No. No. What else?
Question: Then why did Michael Cohen make those if there was no truth to her allegations?
Trump: Well, you’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. And you’ll have to ask Michael Cohen.
Question: Do you know where he got the money to make that payment?
Trump: No, I don’t know. No.
Question: Did you ever set up a fund of money that he could draw from?
The president did not answer the question of whether he set up a fund of money that Cohen could draw on.
@realDonaldTrump, May 3: Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are…..
..very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,……
…despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.
The timing of the reimbursement payments is important because Trump and/or his campaign may have violated campaign finance laws by accepting an illegal campaign contribution.
Did the Trump campaign or Cohen violate campaign finance laws?
Cohen pleaded guilty to two election law violations.
Federal law states that a personal loan or “anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office is a contribution.” (Bank loans and lines of credit are treated differently under the law than individual loans or gifts.)
A loan from an individual is considered a campaign contribution — subject to the limits of individual donations to candidate committees. That limit was $2,700 per election in 2016, meaning that Cohen exceeded the limit by more than $127,000.
“A loan that exceeds the contribution limitations of 52 U.S.C. 30116 and 11 CFR part 110 shall be unlawful whether or not it is repaid,” according to the Federal Election Commission.
Trump and Giuliani have said the Trump campaign did not violate any campaign finance laws because Trump’s personal funds — not campaign or corporate funds — were used to reimburse Cohen.
In a May 3 tweet, Trump said the payment to Daniels had “nothing to do with the campaign.”
In the May 2 Fox News interview, Giuliani said, “It’s not campaign money. No campaign finance violation.” He also told the Washington Post that Trump was “really wise” to use his personal funds.
“Was the president really wise to take it out of personal funds rather than from campaign funds? Thank God he did, [or else] he’d get a campaign finance violation they’d try to drum up into a felony or something,” Giuliani said.
Giuliani is wrong, according to Larry Noble, a former general counsel at the FEC, who is now senior director and general counsel at the Campaign Legal Center. Noble told us that Cohen and Trump could have committed a campaign finance violation, regardless of how Trump reimbursed Cohen.
What matters is Cohen’s intent when he paid Daniels and whether Trump or someone in his campaign knew about the payment, Noble told us in a phone interview.
“If Michael Cohen really did this on his own and was not an agent to the campaign in any way and wasn’t motivated by the election — then it is not a violation of the law,” Noble told us. “As soon as the campaign knows about it, then it is an [illegal] in-kind contribution. The question here is, when did the campaign know about it and did Trump know about it?”
We now know, however, that Cohen pleaded guilty to a campaign violation and, in doing so, said the payment was “for the purpose of influencing the election.” He also implicated the president in the crime.
Noble told us campaign violations could lead to either civil fines or a criminal referral to the Department of Justice.
The fines vary from $5,701 to $66,666 and could be tripled if the FEC determines that the violations were knowing and willful, Noble said.
Did Trump have to disclose the payment as a liability on his personal financial disclosure statement?
Trump and Giuliani say the payment to Daniels was not campaign-related. Even if it was not, a complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges it may be considered a personal loan to Trump that should have been reported in a public financial disclosure report filed by the president in June 2017. Since it was not, tweeted Norm Eisen, CREW board chairman, the nondisclosure could run afoul of federal laws on knowingly filing false or fraudulent statements with the federal government.
Filing a false report can result in a fine of up to $50,000, and knowingly and willfully filing a false report can result in a jail sentence of no more than one year and/or a fine of $50,000.
Update, May 16, 2018: Trump filed his 2017 public financial disclosure report on May 15. The president reported that he fully reimbursed Cohen in 2017, without providing any dates or exact amount. He described the amount as being in the range of $100,001 to $250,000. Trump’s disclosure form says Cohen’s expenses were being disclosed “in the interest of transparency,” even though they were “not required to be disclosed as ‘reportable liabilities.'” However, the Office of Government Ethics disagreed with that statement. A notation in the report says, “OGE has concluded that the information related to the payment made by Mr. Cohen is required to be reported and that the information provided meets the disclosure requirement for a reportable liability.”
Update, Feb. 27, 2019: We updated this story to include information Cohen provided on Feb. 27, 2019, to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

domain: news


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Nestlé India plans collaboration to help manage diabetes
Nestlé India has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC) to develop nutrition initiatives aimed at helping to manage diabetes.
The collaboration – which focuses on increasing consumers’ awareness and knowledge of their diets – will see Nestlé work with N-DOC to understand the impact of local diets and changing lifestyles on the increasing incidence of the disease in India.
Gary Tickle, Regional Business Head of Nestlé Nutrition, South Asia, said: “The Nestlé Nutrition Institute promotes science for better nutrition and N- DOC conducts culturally specific, basic and applied research in the areas of diabetes, obesity, and cholesterol disorders with the help of physicians and scientists. We see this as the beginning of a strong partnership.”
To kick off the announcement last week, a conference was organised by the Nestlé Nutrition Institute and N-DOC on ‘Nutrition Empowerment for Prevention and Management of Diabetes’ in Delhi. The conference was chaired by Professor Anoop Misra, Chairman of N-DOC, and Director and Head of the Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at the Fortis Group of Hospitals. Research presented suggested that lifestyle measures, physical exercise and good nutrition can all play a major role in managing, and in some cases even helping to prevent the disease.
Clinical nutrition with scientifically-formulated diets can help to provide balanced nutrition to people with diabetes while also delaying its possible long-term complications.
In many countries, including India, Nestlé HealthCare Nutrition already offers a range of nutritional solutions designed to help diabetic patients more effectively manage their disease and minimise its common side effects. Managing diabetes means keeping blood glucose levels in the target range, controlling blood lipids, managing weight as per guidelines and monitoring blood pressure to reduce the risk of complications.
Nestlé’s products formulated to assist in the dietary management of diabetes include Resource Diabetic, a complete, high-fibre diet with a flexible caloric density for oral supplementation or enteral feeding of patients with hyperglycaemia; Novasource Diabet, a complete balanced nutritional formula; and Boost Glucose Control, formulated with a unique balance of protein, fat and slow-digesting carbohydrates.


Schools use access control systems to improve security and streamline operations. They can offer a huge amount of functionality in addition to keeping pupils and staff safe. Some Schools Use Access Control Systems ONLY as a door entry point… missing out on management, data and additional security features. Here is an outline of some of the ways in which these systems can be used:
Schools Use Access Control to Enhance Security
Access control systems can help to ensure that only authorized individuals are able to enter the school building or certain areas within the school. This can help to prevent unauthorised access and improve the safety of students, staff, and visitors. In addition, many access control systems include features that allow administrators to monitor who is entering and exiting the building, when they are doing so, and which areas of the school they are accessing. This can help to increase accountability and deter potential wrongdoers.
Does your School Use Access Control to Manage Attendance?
By using access control systems to monitor when students and staff enter and exit the building, schools can better manage attendance and reduce the risk of truancy. This can also help to ensure that students are arriving on time and not missing classes.
Access control systems can be integrated with other school systems, such as student databases and timetabling software, to streamline operations. For example, students could be automatically granted access to certain areas of the school based on their timetable.
In addition, access control systems can be integrated with CCTV systems including ANPR cameras for staff and visitor carparks. Fire alarm systems can also be linked to Access Control systems for ensure complete safety solutions.
Simplifying Visitor Management
Schools can use access control systems to manage visitors, such as contractors or parents, by issuing temporary access cards or codes. This can help to ensure that visitors are authorised to be on school grounds and are only able to access the areas they need to.
By implementing access control systems, UK schools can improve security, attendance management, and overall operations.
To discuss improving upgrading your existing access control system to provide a greater level of functionality for your school, contact our team directly. We offer a free initial site survey and as experts in school fire and security solutions, we plan work to suit your school schedule with work carried out by designers, installers and maintenance team with DBS checks. Contact us today on 01535 661197 email firstname.lastname@example.org or book online.


Pakistan is now on the brink of bankruptcy. It is reported that they are going to declare bankruptcy, like Sri Lanka, in the near future.
However, despite facing a severe economic crisis, it is known that Pakistan has given priority to holding elections on time.
Accordingly, foreign media have revealed that arrangements are currently being made to hold an emergency local government election in Pakistan.
The current Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif says that his government will not work to postpone the elections under any circumstances.


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It is such a pleasure to extend a hearty Kyrosmagica Welcome to my good friend, author, blogger, Hugh W. Roberts.
Hugh W. Robert’s debut short story book Glimpses has just been launched in time for Christmas. Isn’t that just too wonderful for words? You can see from Hugh’s face that he is speechless. But, I’ll be coaxing him with lots and lots of questions and Hugh will be spilling the beans on what it’s like to hold a copy of your very first book.
Hugh, unfold those arms…. and proudly take a copy in your hands.
Here it is in all its loveliness, isn’t that cover just so eye-catching? Excuse the pun. But it really is. I do so love a pretty book cover.
Glimpses – Synopsis
After publishing some of his short stories on his blog, Hugh W. Roberts, who suffers from dyslexia, received numerous requests to publish his short stories in a book.
Here, at last, are 28 short stories that will take your mind on a rollercoaster of a ride into worlds that conceal unexpected twists and turns.
‘Glimpses’ allows the reader a peek into the lives of everyday people who are about to have life lead them on an unpredicted path. From a mysterious deadly iPad app, to a hole in the fence that is not all it seems, to a strange lipstick that appears to have a life of its own, you will encounter terror, laughter, sadness, shock and many other emotions on journeys which promise a thrilling and gripping climax.
If you are a lover of shows such as ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’, then you’re in for a real treat with this first collection of short stories from Hugh.
Dare you take a glimpse into the lives of these unsuspecting characters?
Author Question time….
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Who is author, (isn’t that exciting!) Hugh W Roberts?
I’m a 50 something dyslexic man who recently moved back to my homeland, Wales. I live with my civil partner, John, (we’ve been together for 23 years and became civil partners in 2006) and our Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Toby. We now live in Swansea, but during my life I have lived in various parts of the UK, including London where I lived for 27 years. I’m retired and spend most of my time writing. I also enjoy photography, walking, cycling, food, watching TV, and the odd glass or two of red wine.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: How did you feel when you held your book Glimpses for the first time?
It was an amazing feeling. Unfortunately, I was the only one in the house when it arrived, but I could not stop myself from opening the package and seeing my book. Seeing your name on the front cover of the book you’ve worked so hard on is one of the best experiences of my life. From the title of an ABBA song, ‘I had a dream,’ as a young child I had a dream to write a book. Being dyslexic stopped me, but when I discovered the world of blogging in 2014, my dream opened a new door.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: I love your book cover art, Hugh, what made you choose this particular design?
George, my book cover designer, was introduced to me by Geoff Le Pard. I had all sorts of crazy ideas of what I wanted on the cover, but George came up with the idea of a bookcase and an eye which completely captured the idea of the title of the book. I loved it, and all the ideas I had were shot down. I’ve had fantastic comments about the cover. I only hope that the book can carry on and get the same praise.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Tell me all about the writing process that culminated in Glimpses.
It started back in April 2014 when I published my first short story on my blog. The story, ‘Last Train to Aldwych’, is the first story in the book. It got some amazing comments and I was asked to write some more. Gradually, I built up over 30 more, but it wasn’t until my short story ‘The Truth App, went viral that the idea of putting all the stories into a book came to me. Yes, people had asked me if I was going to publish the stories in a book, but I honestly thought people were just being polite. How wrong I was.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: I believe there are 28 stories in various genres, what made you write such an eclectic mix?
Like my blog, I wanted the stories to be a variety of genres. Most of them show the dark side of my writing, but that doesn’t mean to say I had to stick to writing horror or supernatural stories.
I weaved my trademark ‘unexpected ending’s into drama, comedy and fantasy and people loved them. I’ve always believed that variety is the spice of life, so I’m hoping the book will appeal to lots of people and not just those who stick to a certain genre.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Are you a plotter or a pantser? What style suits you best and why?
Without a doubt, I’m a panster. Sometimes, I know what the ending of a story is going to be and I then go about writing it from the end to the start. However, most of the stories I have written start with an idea and I’ve no idea where the story is going to take me. For example, ‘The Truth App’, was meant to be a short story of around 1,200 words, but I ended up writing another nine parts which I published on a weekly basis because readers had such a big appetite for it. During those nine weeks, I had no idea where the story was going until it finally concluded in part 10.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Has blogging influenced your writing style?
Yes. If it wasn’t for blogging then I would have never written any of the short stories in Glimpses, let alone all those posts over on my blog. I owe blogging a lot and will be forever grateful for the turn in direction it offered me.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: I’d love to find out more about some of the stories included. Do you have a favourite snippet you could share?
That’s a tough question, Marje. A favourite? Well, as it’s you, here’s a snippet from a story I wrote as part of a writing challenge I participated in. The challenge was a photo of a big old wooden chest and participants were asked to write a piece of fiction or poem about it. I called the story ‘Gloria’s Chest.’ I wonder if you can guess where the story is going?
Let me take you on a journey to a magical place. This is a place where many come. Some even make a return visit. It’s a beautiful location and a place where you will receive the friendliest of welcomes.
Meet Gloria. Isn’t she beautiful? Look at those deep blue eyes and her lovely long, white dress. It’s made from paper. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s the softest paper you’ll ever find.
What’s that? Oh, I thought you’d ask about that. The gem stone that hangs from the chain around Gloria’s neck is the Swarthmore stone. It’s believed to have been unearthed in the year 1568, in the Furness area of the county of Cumbria, in north west England. Everybody that comes here asks about it.
Let’s follow Gloria. She has something very important she wants to show you. While we walk please feel free to admire the surroundings and take in the relaxing atmosphere. I promise you that you’ll never see such a beautiful place as the one you are in right now.
Is Gloria a ghost? No, I can assure you she’s not. She’s exactly the same as you and me. I know it looks as if she’s floating, but she’s real. Can you hear the beautiful singing? It’s Gloria who is singing. It’s one of her favourite Beatles songs. She’s happy today that you’ve come to visit her.
Here we are at our final destination. Everything you see here is just as real as what you’ve already seen. I know that old chest looks out of place, but it’s what Gloria wants to show you. Please step forward and stand next to her and she’ll open the lid.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Hugh, that’s such an extraordinarily enticing snippet and your photos are so amusing! But, it’s time for another question…
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Which character from your stories are you most proud of and why?
I love all of them, but if I had to pick one then it would be ‘Rusty Balls’ from my story ‘Rusty’. Rusty is not who you think she is and was created from another writing challenge I participated in. I can’t remember what the prompt was but it may have been to write about something that was not all it seemed to be. I don’t think anyone could dislike Rusty (the person). When you read the story, you may feel very sorry for her, but Rusty is a determined lady and she’ll do all she can to carry on being the star of the show. People love her because she makes them laugh and forget about the parts of everyday life that we all often find ourselves in and wish we could be away from. I’ve been asked to bring Rusty back into some more stories. It’s something I’m working on.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Rusty sounds fantastic, can’t wait to read about her…
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Like all writers you must have met the odd brick wall of frustration from time to time. How did you deal with it?
I get up and go for a walk. I’ll go and watch TV, or read. What I don’t do is get all frustrated and angry about it. It happens to all writers but, for me, getting angry and shouting and screaming about it is negative and I’m a firm believer than negativity leads to even more negativity. It’s probably easy for me to say because I’ve always been a positive person, but I find taking a break away from writing usually helps oil the creativity clogs and, before I know it, they’re turning again.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Promotion – Harrods have named their Christmas bear after you. What an honour wouldn’t you agree?
Well, I’d love to think this year’s Harrods Christmas Bear was named after me but, truth be known, I rather think somebody in their marketing department probably has a son, nephew, dad, uncle, or granddad named Hugh. When I first heard, he was called Hugh, I thought the person telling me was having a joke, but then my partner got the bear for me and, sure enough, his tag says ‘Hugh’. Yes, quite an honour, especially as it’s happened the same year that I have published my first book.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: Tell me about inspiration, perhaps certain authors or individuals have inspired you, do tell.
I’ve already mentioned writing challenges and most do inspire me to write. In fact, I also believe they can help when it comes to overcoming writer’s block. I love looking at photographs because I can often see a story hidden within them. If I had to choose an author who inspired me then it would be Armistead Mauplin who wrote the ‘Tales of the City’ series. Rod Serling, creator of ‘The Twilight Zone’ is also somebody who inspires my writing and whom I admire.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: I hear that you are a big fan of Christmas, the Harrods’s bear, told me! Was it your intention to publish during the festive season?
Yes, big time. I’ve always enjoyed the festive season. December is my favourite month and I was determined to publish my first book during it.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: As a dyslexic writer what would you say to fellow dyslexic creatives considering publishing a book?
Don’t allow dyslexia to stop you from writing and publishing a book. I allowed it to stop me from writing for far too long. There are many reasons why I did that, but there is so much support and encouragement out there for people with dyslexia to write Anybody with the condition should never be afraid in showing off their writing. Once you do it, not only will you amaze yourself, but you’ll be an encouragement to other dyslexic writers and will help them in pursuing their dreams of becoming a writer.
Marje @ Kyrosmagica: What advice would you give to bloggers contemplating joining in the next Bloggers Bash?
Don’t be afraid in coming to the event. It’s great making friends online, but nothing beats meeting fellow bloggers for the first time and giving them a hug. I think we should have the bloggers bash at least twice a year, but don’t tell the other committee members that!
Great answers Hugh, and I agree so much with your last two comments, don’t let anything stop you writing and we definitely should make the Bloggers Bash, a biannual event.
To celebrate the launch of Glimpses Hugh is offering six wonderful Amazon gift prizes. Follow the link here to find out more : Hughs Views and News Competition
Please do support Hugh and buy a copy of his book, and if you could share a review even better…
Universal buying link for Glimpses: http://hyperurl.co/42ou22
Marje, this is a terrific interview! 😀 The rapport between you and Hugh sparkles, interesting, witty and great insights to the man himself. I will have to get this if nothing else to find out about the mysterious deadly iPad app! The story premises mentioned have me intrigued, the cover is superb (my media savvy son just spotted it as I was reading this and he loved it too!). Loved learning more about you, Hugh, your zest for life, writing, creating comes across in all your answers. Congratulations on your first book and hope the celebrations are still on-going!😀
Thank you so much Annika. Really appreciate your lovely comments, especially as this is only the second author interview I’ve done! Hugh is a delight – such a supportive and friendly man, who goes the extra mile to help others. 🙂
Hi, Annika. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I’m so pleased that the mention of some of the stories has tempted you to buy the book. I just hope ‘The Truth App’ doesn’t stop you using apps or gain a fear of blogging. I’ll feedback to my cover designer that your media savvy son loved the cover. The cover has been a big hit and certainly attracted a lot of people, at the recent book fair I was part of, over to my table.
I feel like I’ve been celebrating for weeks (I think I have) and my feet haven’t touched the ground since the launch of the book. But I’m enjoying every second of it.
That’s so wonderful Hugh… Keep on enjoying every moment you deserve it. 🙂
Great interview, Marje and Hugh. I like learning more about this colorful, social, creative character – Hugh. It is pretty amazing holding your book in your hands from the first time. 🙂 Happy Writing!
Thank you Diana. Yes indeed he certainly is. Can’t wait to join him in 2017! Happy writing to you too!
It is, Diana. That feeling is one of the best I’ve experienced. Thank you for reading the interview. Marje was a terrific interviewer. I could have done with her at all those job interviews I had when I never got the job.
Ha ha. It’s all fun, and what a lovely community we have here 🙂
Ha ha!! I’d have offered you the job Hugh no doubt about it!
Ah Marie, ah Hugh. So lovely to see you two sweeties together. I can just see you giggling over the teddy bear. Nice to hear you both chatting away. It is a great book!!
Yes that teddy bear had us in fits of giggles, Geoff. Hugh really has got his social media marketing off to a fantastic start.
I learned it all from people on here, Marje. I’ll be delighted to share with you some marketing tips when it comes to your book launch. 😀
Thanks Hugh, that’s good to know. Yes, there are fine examples everywhere. Colleen is doing some amazing pre-launch activities. 🙂
Thanks, Geoff. Yes, this was certainly a fun interview. Marje is the perfect hostess.
Aww thanks Hugh.:)
Thanks so much for interviewing little old me, Marje. I loved the questions and I loved that you mentioned that bear.
I look forward to returning the favour when you launch your new book in 2017.
Thank you Hugh. You were such a pleasure to have on my author spotlight. Thanks for the offer for my book launch next year. Merry Christmas. Marje xx
Merry Christmas to you, Marje. Looking forward to your blog party on Sunday. ☃
Thanks Hugh… Hope I’m better by then … have come down with a chest infection luckily it’s a virtual party, and I have written the post up in advance. So all’s good, though I might need a hot toddy or two…
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well, Marje. Take things easy over the next few days. Lots of Christmas movies on the TV 🎅 At least you’ve got the post ready to go. I wish you a speedy recovery.
Thanks Hugh. My hubbies looking after me so will be as right as rain soon. xx
A great review!! Hope you sell loads of books Hugh.
Thanks so much, Darlene. I’ve got off to a great start, Now I just need to keep those cash tills ringing. 😀
What a wonderful interview Marje. I enjoyed the questions that you asked Hugh as they really gave us a ‘Glimpse’ into how he creates his stories. (By the way Hugh, Rusty is one of my favourite characters from your book too)!
Thank you Judy. So glad you enjoyed the interview and found it illuminating. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I remember how much you liked Rusty. She certainly deserves a comeback. I don’t think I can give her a horrible ending, though. Can I? 😱
Now then Hugh. Don’t mess with Rusty Balls, as you don’t know what the consequences might be!!🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Terrific interview of one of my favorite people. Thank you, Marje and Hugh.
Thank you John. And yes Hugh is one of mine too. 🙂
Cheers, John. I’m a big fan of you and you your wonderful humour as well. Keep on writing.
Wonderful interview with a fantastic person! I think Hugh is one of the nicest bloggers I have had the honor to meet and call a friend! Love you, Hugh! Wish you all the best with your book! Hugs xo
Yes I couldn’t agree more, Hugh is such a lovely chap. 🙂
That’s so nice, Janice. Thank you so much. I hope we can meet up in person one day. And the very best of luck with all your books as well.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! 🎊Thank you
Marje and Hugh, this was a FANTASTIC interview! I love reading about Hugh and his writing. Hugh has dived right into the author promotions within a day of publishing, unbelievable. I’m seeing Hugh everywhere, lol. And Friday he’ll be starring on my blog too! I can’t wait to dive into my ‘special’ copy!!!! And Hugh, I am curious about one thing…..that picture of you reading your own book was made before the paperback was printed wasn’t it? How could that be? Nice wizardry my friend!! 🙂 xoxo
Hi Debby. I know isn’t he Mr. Author promotions extraordinaire? As for that wizardry well I never… Looking forward to popping round your blog on Friday. 🙂
Thanks Marje. I’m still following your blog but haven’t got notifications in awhile, WP is playing gremlins again. 🙁
Grrr! I’ve just adjusted settings again! 🙂
Ah, that was the proof copy I ordered from CreateSpace, Debby. They recommended, as a first-time author, to order a copy so I could see what the actual book would look like. I’m so glad I did because I picked up a few small mistakes such as spaces after full stops, etc. So I cheated a little, but so glad I did 😀
I feel like I’ve been all over blogging land, but I wanted to give Glimpses the good start it deserves and I’ve enjoyed every moment and visit. I’ve decided to take a blogging break from early next week until just after Christmas. I think I’ll be sleeping a lot and probably dreaming about marketing the book more.😱 😀
Thanks so much, Debby. Looking forward very much to being over at your place tomorrow.
Ah, I thought it may have been a proof copy! So glad you did get the proof. You’re such a professional, you slid right into your authorly position Hugh with great finesse. You deserve a break. I know I sure as heck need one. I’m hanging in though. Been writing blog posts and preparing interviews to round off January. My plan is to take off the month of February and throroughly enjoy a well needed a holiday. <3
Enjoy your break Debby, and Hugh too. 🙂
A long way to go til then Marje, but thanks. 🙂
So great to read more about your creative processes, Hugh! Fun interview! Thanks Marje!!
Thank you Terri, glad you enjoyed the interview. Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers, Terri. It was great to reveal them all to Marje. She made me feel very welcome, especially as I get so nervous doing interviews.
1. Rusty is awesome, I am inclined to think she might be my fave too!
2. TWICE A YEAR HUGH?????? TWICE?????????? outraegous :p
LOL !! Twice a year sounds good!!!
I know. Did I really say twice a year, Boss? 😀
Amazing interview, Marje. I absolutely loved the questions and the answers from the author. Loved his expressions with the book, too. All the best to Hugh and his “Glimpses”… 🙂
Thank you so much Maniparna, appreciate your lovely comment. 🙂
Thank you so much, Maniparna. Marje was the perfect hostess and I loved being questioned by her. 😀 Plus, she mentioned the Teddy Bear named after me as well. Well, maybe not named after me but it was an honoured to have Harrods give their Christmas bear the same name as me.
Definitely an honour and joy to have such an adorable namesake… 🙂
Hi Marje, Hi Hugh, what a wonderful interview! Talking about the BB (twice a year…yay…and I hope we’re having dancing next time, we asked for that, right Marje?!) has made me miss you both! What fun we had and more to come! You’ve asked great questions here Marje. Hugh, I remember Rusty Balls from your blog, can’t wait to read more in Glimpses! Your cover is really enticing, and I love your expressions in your photos too, priceless! I think a lot of people will be doing the same when they read your book! Have a great weekend both, and also a very Happy Christmas and New Year…see you in 2017! 🙂 xxxx
Ah, such lovely comments Sherri, I’m overwhelmed by commenters saying it was a wonderful interview! Yes dancing would be fun, and twice a year even better!!! Poor Sacha she’ll have kittens if she reads this. Great weekend to you Sherri, pop over tomorrow – I’m having a share your links bloggers party – hope to see you then. happy Weekend, and A Merry Christmas and New Year. See you in 2017!!! xxx
Thanks so much, Sherri. There’s been a lot of talk about the book cover. If I’d had my way, the cover would have been very different, so thank goodness my cover designer did not listen to me 😁
Rusty Balls was a big hit and seems a firm favourite with many of you. I’ll have to bring her back for book 2.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, Sherri. I’ll be looking forward to your own book launch in 2017 🌟


RK Mechanical Service Plumber in Denver, Colorado
Perform unsupervised plumbing and hydronic activities, effective customer communication, diagnoses and repair of all industrial and commercial systems; to include plumbing and hydronic piping, water heaters, boilers and pumps.
Perform planned maintenance tasks as prescribed.
Perform equipment start up with associated documentation.
Perform quality control inspections on RK Mechanical Service work.
Technical trouble shooting and diagnostics when needed.
Guide field staff in properly completing specialized forms required, and assist in providing paperwork to the necessary departments.
Carryout owner training as required.
Daily coordination with the Customer Services department.
Make a service related decision in a timely manner that is in the best interest of the company.
Follow up on callbacks and completion of jobs.
Call for inspection when asked or job requires, meet with inspectors, and make sure job passes all required inspections.
Assist in the training of RK Mechanical Service technicians.
Assist in pricing with Account Managers or Service Writer when required.
Develop lead referrals resulting from service activities for the Sales Department or Service Writer.
Guide field staff in the execution of any or all of the tasks listed above.
Any other reasonable task as requested.
Comply with all company policies and procedures.
All employees are accountable for safety and health and are empowered to stop work if an unsafe condition is present. Employees should immediately notify their supervisor so that the hazard may be corrected.
RK Mechanical employees and subcontractors are required to implement and maintain all safety and health systems practices including the training requirements of RK Mechanical Orientation, CPR/First Aid/AED / Blood-borne Pathogens, Hazard Identification and Reporting, and OSHA 10.
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Work outside, inside, and in dusty, noisy and hazardous areas.
Work in high places, tight places, confined spaces and/or other adverse locations.
Climb, balance, squat, kneel and crouch.
Work in all types of weather.
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Ability to lift and carry 51 to 75 lbs. occasionally, and/or 31 to 45 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 16 to 22 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
RK Mechanical, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law


text:
I love Fodors because all of you have the best tried and true information!
I am planning a trip to Peru in May. It will be myself and husband (active late 30's)...plus parents (active mid 60's), friends (active mid 60's) and sister and her husband (active late 30's).
We will have 12 days (but really 9 days minus travel time to and from LAX). We have booked our 4 day hike to MP. However we will have 2 days in Cusco prior to the hike to site see and acclimatize. Then we will have 3 days for a possible amazon/Puerto Maldonado excursion and one day in Lima before we leave late that night.
Day 1: Travel to Lima
Stay near airport--suggestions? I heard there was a Raddison that wasn't too expensive.
Day 2: Fly to Cusco in the morning
Tour: What do we want to see? Could we do Sacred Valley this day?
Where to stay? Where to eat?
Day 3: Cusco
Tour: What do we want to see? We will be doing a home stay program the night before our Inca Trail hike...so we don't have all day to site see.
Day 4-7: Inca Trail Hike/Machu Picchu/HP hike
Day 8-10: Amazon Adventure
Where would you stay? Some will want to be very active (kayak, zip line etc.) and some will not. All will want to see animals and would love to do piranha fishing.
Day 11: Travel back to Lima and explore city
Anything exciting to see?
Day 12: Fly back to LAX
Guides: We normally like to use private guides for both transportation and tours. I saw a posting about a guide named Percy. Any feedback on him for tours in Cusco?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Recent ActivityView all South America activity »
- 1 Questions Regarding Buenos Aires
- 2 Sao Paulo
- 3 Patagonia Trip Reports / El Chaltén
- 4 (Santiago/Valpo done)---Mendoza help please!
- 5 Changing money upon arrival in Buenos Aires
- 6 Salud !
- 7 Peru in Late February?
- 8 christmas in buenos aires
- 9 Cartagena
- 10 Peru domestic airline layover time
- 11 anyone stayed at Alta Piazza in Buenos Aries?
- 12 OAT trip to Columbia?
- 13 Best Bus Company to Iguazu Falls
- 14 ferry: Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento
- 15 Transportation from El Calafate to Puerto Natales
- 16 Pisco Dreams; Nine Days in the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Lima
- 17 Galapagos Island
- 18 Land Based Galapagos Was the Right Choice for Me.
- 19 Puno to Lima
- 20 Solmar Tours in Peru
- 21 opinions on itinerary flow
- 22 10-12 week Backpacking Trip in South America
- 23 If it's Tuesday, this must be...Nicaragua, the Peruvian Amazon, or Colombia
- 24 Leftover Argentine Pesos - where to sell?
- 25 Cusco Marriott or Andenes al Cielo

domain: travel


text:
I came across an interesting book, the type I love to discover. It is The Kondratiev Cycle: A Generational Interpretation by Michael Alexander (the Kindle version is available for a very low price). I’ve only read portions of it so far, but it looks promising.
I’m not an economics kind of guy. I am, however, a big fan of theories and data involving cycles and trends, generational shifts and social change. The author brings all that together with some focus on Strauss and Howe’s Fourth Turning generational theory, one of my all time favorite theories with great explanatory power.
Alexander wrote an earlier book about stock cycles. I’m completely unfamiliar with it. The above book is his second book. In his third book, he wrote about cycles in American politics. The politics one is inspired by Arthur Schlesinger’s theory that there is a cycle switching back and forth between conservatism and liberalism every 15 years. I haven’t read the third one either, but I will eventually.
The following are, in order, his website, an article by him and two articles about his ideas:

domain: library


CHULA VISTA -- With a dramatic extra-inning home run, the Eastlake Little League team from this San Diego suburb defeated Westport, Conn., on Wednesday night to win a spot in Saturday's U.S. championship game of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
At the Eastlake Tavern & Bowl here, where hundreds of fans gathered to watch the game on 28 large-screen televisions, the result was explosive with cheering when Grant Holman homered in the ninth inning to lift Eastlake over Westport, 6-3.
Fans wore gold-and-green T-shirts distributed after the team won the regional tourney and the trip to the World Series. Some wore buttons with the team's slogan, "Find A Way."
"We're on the map now," said Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox. "It's good to escape San Diego's shadow every now and then."
Down 3-1 in the sixth inning, the final regulation inning in Little League games, the Eastlake team tied the score and sent the game into extra innings. Then Holman's homer in the top of the ninth gave Eastlake the edge.
If Chula Vista was joyous, Tijuana experienced sadness. The Tijuana team lost to Japan, 5-2. But Tijuana could yet reach the international championship if it can beat Panama on Thursday.
The winners of the American and international championships will play Sunday, with the possibility of an Eastlake vs. Tijuana world championship game.
Eastlake's appearance in the U.S. championship game will mark the second time that a team from Chula Vista has played for the top American spot. In 2009 a different Chula Vista league won the world championship, earning a trip to the White House.
Youth sports, sociologists have noted, is part of the DNA of suburban life. And nowhere is that more evident than Chula Vista.
Eastlake Little League has 560 players, in major, minor and T-ball leagues, and a league for 6-year-olds. The league owns its own fields, five on two sites, and enjoys corporate support. Parents are organized.
The league draws from a well-groomed area of planned communities with upscale housing and large shopping centers. Built in stages over three decades, Eastlake has attracted families whose breadwinners work in San Diego, retired military families and immigrant families from Mexico, among others.
When the Eastlake All-Star team of 12-year-olds won the regionals, fans swapped the Eastlake blue T-shirts for the gold-and-green ones to signify that the team had won the West.
"As much as I want us to win it all, we're just so proud of getting this shirt," said Denise Stephens, an accountant and past president of the league.
Kathy Hernandez, a dental assistant married to a retired Navy Seabee, was at the tavern to cheer Eastlake even though her son plays in a different league.
"You have to love these boys," she said. "They've earned it."


text:
Peoples Statistics Update Form
Dong, Southern of China
Pashtun, Southern of Afghanistan
Banjar of Indonesia
Brahmin Kanaujia of India
Dhobi (Muslim traditions) of Pakistan
Hajam of Pakistan
Ahar of India
Sayyid of India
Afghan, Tajik of Afghanistan
Pingdi of China
How many people groups in Afghanistan have a complete Bible in their primary language but are unreached? Answer ...
Unreached Peoples Fact
There are 1,387 primarily Christian groups in the 10/40 Window, the largest being the Yoruba of the Nigeria (34,360,000). More Mission Facts ...
|Direct link: http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/statform.php?rog3=MX&peo3=14259|


This is an extension to the post on Microsoft Ending Support for XP
Initial Impressions: No ( Please leave comments if you do not agree or have any opposite thoughts, I couldn’t think of any, yet.)
Is Microsoft’s policy justifiable in:
Looking from a societal point of view, it is justifiable in various ways like business needs, staying in the game on par with competitors and creating jobs . This supports innovation on a global scale too. But we should also consider the saying ‘ The cost of the medicine should not be more than the disease itself’. By innovating, making older devices obsolete on the go means it is affecting negatively. Any organisation should take a more balanced approach without compromise to the existing consumer base and the coming generations. This is a hard choice to make as all manufacturers or product companies have to agree and adhere to…
View original post 140 more words
I’m Gavin Andresen, Chief Scientist at the Bitcoin Foundation. Ask me anything!
So what do you want to know?
I’m 47 years old and live and work in Amherst, Massachusetts with my wife, two kids and assorted pets.
I was born in Melbourne, Australia as “Gavin Bell” but moved to the US when I was five years old. I grew up in Seattle Washington, Anchorage Alaska and the Santa Ynez Valley, California.
After graduating from Princeton University (Computer Science), I worked at Silicon Graphics Computer Systems for eight years, creating 3D graphics software (Open Inventor and VRML).
My wife and I moved to Madison, Wisconsin after she got her PhD from Stanford. There I wrote a book and co-founded a startup that failed. We moved to Amherst in 1998, where I worked on an Internet Walkie-Talkie), online games for blind and sighted people, tools for Prosper lenders, a…
View original post 207 more words


text:
Blinking my eyes twice or thrice, i raise my hand to rub my glabella. And ask to Zu'er in confused tone "err… so there's a real God in this world?"
I look up to the right and saw the destruction that the dragon caused by decimated few skyscrapers building. Ashes in the air and blacked ground filled the area with more and more of fires, burning fiercely in there.
"Yes! Big brother smart!" said Zu'er as she raises her hand and cover her mouth from the giggling she made. She pointed her index finger to the burned place again and say "Now look at those again."
When I turn my head to where the area again and dropped my jaw as low as it can be. The fires and ashes all gone and now, new looking buildings that give out impression of not even scratches on them appeared. Denying me of those what I call logic.
Rubbing my eyes for a dozen times, the scenery my eyes give me is still same. New looking buildings, no destruction, no ashes, and less brain cells I got.
"B-but… how?" I shouted in surprise as my finger pointing to where the buildings is and turn my head to Zu'er, whom now have her body become transparent each seconds pass by.
"Ohh.. My time is done now, big brother. Remember, let go off what your imagination can hold and let it loose. You will need it in this place." She said as her body become transparent to the point she's gone right before my eyes.
Blinking like an idiot, a sudden rush of mild headache assault me as I take in what just happened. Why you say those words in the end... It's like you are one of those guide character that teach the MC how to use magic or something…
And then, as if a bulb rising above my head, I suddenly thought the most important thing I should have noticed, as I'm a full fledged otaku.
Am I…. The main character? Come to save this world from certain destruction or the evil God? That…. Make everything so much sense!
There's no way I can become a hero with my pathetic stature! I'm definitely not a hero material!
Sighing again, I recall of what Zu'er said. The Randomland is not only a place for the town, it's the name of the world, the name of every countries, and every cities.
….Either the God sure lack creativity in name or just the people sucks at it.
And then, a real great idea this time come to me. Zu'er said anything or everything can happen by any chances In this place, and everyone who live here had been used to the most random stuff that can happen in their daily life…
Basically… What if… I find a really cute girl in street and claiming to be her boyfriend, even though I wasn't. Sure I'll just be thought as a weirdo by her. But everyone in here is weirdos! So of course she won't notice the whole chunk of missing big logic in my claim and maybe will say yes!
Awesome idea! Cheers for me! Now my dreams of holding hands with cute girl and kissing her would come true! This place is the best!
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Looking around in street, I walk and walk for a while to search my pre- *Cough**Cough* my future girlfriend!
And there she's!
On the sidewalk, a girl with a black hair and twintails hairstyle in it is walking, while reading a small book in her hand. She smiled gently and even chuckle a bit when she read the small book in her hand, as if everything around her was ignored just to focusing in her small book.
Cute smile! Gentle looking impression! Loving a book! Perfect!
Coming up in front of her, I wave my hand and pretend to be as natural as possible "Hey~ it's been a while, my girlfriend~"
Sweating cold sweats in my back as I hope this is really not a dumb idea and I'm not that idiot, I wait for her reply as she stunned from my sudden appearanc
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Failsafe Deploy/Manage Modules
NeuroKernel applications can have failsafe system registrations. If one fails, system tries to run it from the other registered locations. It is also possible to deploy kernel to multiple nodes in a network, so that if one system falls, the other can be used to run distributed modules over the entire system. It is even possible to run of the modules from a ground base so that not all interfaces set to be deployed to the remote system.
Especially, in aerospace or defense applications, fail-safety is very important. Quick recovery from a failure is vital. Instead of developing error prone embedded interface systems, NeuroKernel offers an easier, high quality and fast recovering system that starts up in milliseconds. All that is needed from the embedded system to run a stable web server. NeuroKernel launches a desktop quality workstation in a snap. It is also not needed to deploy all the modules necessary to the embedded system which would have very limited resources. An application that plugs in other modules from different servers would be deployed and run as one advanced application to the end user. There is no hassle to update firmware for these remote modules. Embedded system can utilize serverless APIs via NeuroKernel's IPC mechanism securely inside web browser instead going through multiple API gateways from inside the embedded software.