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* * *
The left-wing nonprofit — which has more recently come under fire for labeling legitimate conservative organizations as “hate groups” — is one of the more than 100 nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and government agencies in YouTube’s “Trusted Flaggers” program, a source with knowledge of the arrangement told TheDC.
The SPLC and other program members help police YouTube for extremist content, ranging from so-called hate speech to terrorist recruiting videos.
All of the groups in the program have confidentiality agreements, a spokesperson for Google, YouTube’s parent company, previously told TheDC. A handful of YouTube’s “Trusted Flaggers,” including the Anti-Defamation League and No Hate Speech — a European organization focused on combatting intolerance — have gone public with their participation in the program. The vast majority of the groups in the program have remained hidden behind their confidentiality agreements.
The Tor Project – a private nonprofit known as the “NSA-proof” gateway to the “dark web,” turns out to be almost “100% funded by the US government” according to documents obtained by investigative journalist and author Yasha Levine.
The Tor browser, launched in 2001, utilizes so-called “onion routing” technology developed by the US Navy in 1998 to provide anonymity over computer networks.
In a recent blog post, Levine details how he was able to obtain roughly 2,500 pages of correspondence via FOIA requests while performing research for a book. The documents include strategy, contract, budgets and status updates between the Tor project and its primary source of funding; a CIA spinoff known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which “oversees America’s foreign broadcasting operations like Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe.”
By following the money, I discovered that Tor was not a grassroots. I was able to show that despite its indie radical cred and claims to help its users protect themselves from government surveillance online, Tor was almost 100% funded by three U.S. National Security agencies: the Navy, the State Department and the BBG. Following the money revealed that Tor was not a grassroots outfit, but a military contractor with its own government contractor number. In other words: it was a privatized extension of the very same government that it claimed to be fighting.
Hey, did I mention that YouTube is involved in all-out warfare against independent news sources? Oh, I have? Multiple times? Well, here it is again. If you only get my info from ThemTube, please do check out the ThemTube alternatives out there.
CLICK HERE to access The Corbett Report’s own video archive
CLICK HERE to access The Corbett Report’s RSS feeds
CLICK HERE to go to The Corbett Report’s BitChute channel
CLICK HERE to go to The Corbett Report’s DTube channel
CLICK HERE to go to The Corbett Report’s Minds.com channel
H/t reader Squodgy:
“Masters of chosen information.”
* * *
Return? What return? The STASI has been quietly absorbed into the German government after the Fall of the Wall on Nov 9, 1989 (9/11… just a coincidence).
“The old German police state is back.“
It never left, but only got upgraded… incrementally.
Germany’s new censorship law, which has introduced state censorship on social media platforms, came into effect on October 1, 2017. The new law requires social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to censor their users on behalf of the German state. Social media companies are obliged to delete or block any online “criminal offenses” such as libel, slander, defamation or incitement, within 24 hours of receipt of a user complaint — regardless of whether the content is accurate or not. Social media companies are permitted seven days for more complicated cases. If they fail to do so, the German government can fine them up to 50 million euros for failing to comply with the law.
The new censorship law, however, was not fully enforced until January 1, 2018, in order to give the social media platforms time to prepare for their new role as the privatized thought police of the German state. Social media platforms now have the power to shape the form of current political and cultural discourse by deciding who will speak and what they will say.
By Dr. Mercola
Google, by far one of the greatest monopolies that ever existed, poses a unique threat to anyone concerned about health, supplements, food and your ability to obtain truthful information about these and other issues. And, while not the sole threat to privacy, Google is definitely one of the greatest. Over time, Google has positioned itself in such a way that it’s become deeply embedded and involved in your day-to-day life.
It’s important to realize that Google catches every single thing you do online if you’re using a Google-based feature, and that the data is being used to build powerful personality profiles. As previously reported by Gawker:1
“Every word of every email sent through Gmail and every click made on a Chrome browser is watched by the company. ‘We don’t need you to type at all,’ [Google co-founder Eric] Schmidt once said. ‘We know where you are. We know where you’ve been. We can more or less know what you’re thinking about.’”
How these profiles — with capabilities akin to mindreading — are ultimately put to use is anyone’s guess. The main purpose of this data collection is said to be for marketing purposes, allowing companies to target users with a known interest in certain activities or products. This is bad enough, but the profiles could just as easily be used for more nefarious and liberty-infringing purposes, and we’re already seeing some evidence that this is taking place.
A former Twitter engineer intimated that the social media giant acts on requests from foreign governments to ban users, reveals undercover footage from Project Veritas released Wednesday as part of a series of covert stings on the company revealing atrocious abuses of privacy by Twitter employees.
Carefully choosing his words, former Twitter engineer Conrado Mirando conveys to an undercover Project Veritas journalist that the company works with countries such as China and Iran to censor users upon request.
In one segment of the video, the undercover journalist asks “Does the Chinese government or anybody, like, do you think they call Twitter and be, like, ‘You need to ban anyone that’s on Twitter that’s from China’?”
Miranda pauses, smiles, and coyly says “I cannot disclose that information.”
“All your illegitimate wives and, like, all the girls you’ve been f*cking around with, they’re are on my server now… I’m going to send it to your wife, she’s going use it in your divorce.”
* * *
A second member of a three-man team who created a secure system for whistleblowers to submit information to news outlets has committed suicide at the age of 36, reports the Freedom of the Press Foundation. Software engineer James Dolan took his own life nearly five years to the day after the death of “SecureDrop” co-creator and Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz.
* * *
🆘‼😂💦 #Germany: #Merkel's Justice Minister #HeikoMaas (SPD) and responsible for the censorship law #NetzDG tweeted in 2014: "Meeting with Turkish Minister of Justice: Blocking of Twitter & Facebook is not our understanding of freedom of expression." Haha! Exactly my humor! pic.twitter.com/TETZIp7AOn
— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) January 7, 2018
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domain: news


text:
Early history and foundation[ edit ] Aerial panorama of Geelong facing the bay. What Clients Say A fitness facility that cares about your health and wellbeing, urges you to do more and helps you challenge your own barriers to improve your fitness levels and achieve your personal goals. In , he switched to Geelong, which he represented until , and served as Victorian Premier in , —, and — By , Geelong had displaced Ballarat as Victoria's second-largest city. They reached the northern edge of Corio Bay — the area of Port Phillip that Geelong now fronts — on 16 December ,  and it was at this time they reported that the Aboriginals called the area Corayo, the bay being called Djillong. When this proved unsuccessful, he bought the Advertiser and made himself editor of the now-merged papers. The Eastern Beach foreshore beautification and pool was completed in after almost 10 years of work. He soon hung up his GI and replaced it with CrossFit shoes and a barbell. Its a very friendly and fun place to work out.
Adrian and the rest of the staff as well as the other members are very welcoming and supportive. His easy going approach, ability to teach in a calm manner and attention to detail with exercise techniques has people coming from all over Geelong to take part in his group exercise classes. By , Geelong had displaced Ballarat as Victoria's second-largest city. Tuckey to investigate alternate sites. Aaron brings a wealth of CrossFit knowledge and experience from years of coaching plus local and interstate competitions. Electric trams began operation in , travelling from the city centre to the suburbs until their demise in The area of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula was originally occupied by the Wathaurong Indigenous Australian tribe. The Eastern Beach foreshore beautification and pool was completed in after almost 10 years of work. The banks of the Barwon River burst in , inundating nearby Belmont Common. Gold was discovered in nearby Ballarat in , causing the Geelong population to grow to 23, people by the mids. In , the clipper Lightning caught fire at the Yarra Street pier and was cast adrift in Corio Bay to burn before finally sunk by artillery fire. Aaron prides himself on helping the everyday girl or guy be the best version of themselves and looks forward to helping you. He soon hung up his GI and replaced it with CrossFit shoes and a barbell. During this time, Murray explored the Geelong area and, whilst on the far side of the bay, claimed the entire area for Britain. What Clients Say A fitness facility that cares about your health and wellbeing, urges you to do more and helps you challenge your own barriers to improve your fitness levels and achieve your personal goals. He was looking for a strength and conditioning program to complement his vigorous martial arts training. The Geelong Hospital was opened in , and construction on the Geelong Town Hall commenced in Being naturally drawn to helping others achieve their best, Aaron decided to take his passion for CrossFit to the next level and utilise its amazing potential to help others as a coach. Shari is an experienced runner and triathlete. So what are you waiting for? After coming off his motorbike on the trails in and rupturing his ACL, CrossFit was the perfect rehabilitation. A number of industries became established in Geelong, including Victoria's first woollen mill at South Geelong in They were embedded in the stone in such a way that he believed that they had been there for — years, possibly dropped by Portuguese explorers. Every class she takes is full of energy with each participant driven to push that little bit harder each time. Gold rush[ edit ] View of Geelong. Industrial growth continued with a second cement works operating at Waurn Ponds by  and the Alcoa Point Henry aluminium smelter constructed in Its a very friendly and fun place to work out.
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Geelong FL RD10 Grovedale vs St Albans 2nd Half
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domain: geography


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Sacred Space: Stories from a Life in Medicine
Clif Cleaveland, MD
Hardcover: 210 pages
American College of Physicians
(click below for the very best currently available price for this item)
At a time when physicians face a rapidly changing practice environment, Dr. Clif Cleaveland reminds us that listening to the patient's stories is still the very essence of medical care.
Dr. Cleaveland has spent a lifetime listening to patients, and in Sacred Space he shares some of their stories, and what he has learned. Sacred Space is a moving, thoughtful, and unforgettable look at what it takes to be a doctor and a patient.
"So well written that the book is difficult to put down, the short vignettes bring the reader from laughter to tears in the space of a few pages."—Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Clif Cleaveland, M.D., MACP and former president of the ACP, has described over 30 events in his medical career, mostly dealing with patient care.
This author has also written the acclaimed book: Healers & Heroes: Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times.
"His touch is consistently light, and many of the stories leave much unsaid; Cleaveland has a deep respect for the sacred space of his patients. These stories from the life of a man who is a dedicated, sensitive physician have much to say about what excellent care means to patients, but equally they have much to say to physicians about the unique rewards of caring for the patient. These are messages for all of us." Jerome Lowenstein, M.D., Massachusetts Medical Society, The New England Journal of Medicine
The publisher, the American College of Physicians (ACP), is the nation's largest medical specialty society. Its mission is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine. ACP membership includes about 115,000 members, including medical students. Members are physicians in general internal medicine and related subspecialties, including cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, endocrinology, hematology, rheumatology, neurology, pulmonary disease, oncology, infectious diseases, allergy and immunology, and geriatrics.
(information above from the publisher)
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domain: medical


WASHINGTON | A newly released Government Accountability Office study says the Department of Veterans Affairs awarded bonuses to most of the doctors and dentists serving at its medical centers, despite lacking reasonable assurances that the added pay was linked to performance.
In 2011, about 80 percent of the Veterans Health Administration's nearly 22,500 providers received about $150 million in performance pay.
Every medical provider who was eligible for performance pay at four medical centers the GAO visited received bonuses, including five who had actions taken against them related to their clinical performance, the GAO said.
The report says that VA policy does not specify in writing that the purpose of the bonuses is to improve health care and has not reviewed the goals set by medical centers.
"This is irrefutable proof of what we've known for quite some time: That in many cases, VA's performance pay and bonus system has absolutely nothing to do with performance," said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, who has been critical of bonuses paid by the department.
Miller called on VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki to conduct "a top-to-bottom review of VA's performance appraisal system."
In its reply to the GAO report, the VA concurred with most of the findings and recommendations.
The department said it will coordinate with the Veterans Health Administration to develop a policy change that will "clearly articulate the purpose of performance pay, which is to ensure and improve the quality of care through the achievement of specific goals and objectives," according to the GAO report.


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Often in our society, we are defined by our individual achievements and accomplishments, schools we attend, work and career hierarchy, prestige, and monetary achievement. These things, however, can be unstable throughout life. What people around us recognize is often the things we base our self worth on.
Basing self-worth exclusively on such accompaniment can diminish our value, as it marginalizes the worth of those activities that have no monetary value, those we do outside of our work, activities that allow us to improve and grow, entertain others or those activities that allow us to contribute to communities and social groups.
Individualism is important in defining our unique, intimate character but we are part of the interdependent social web. Is it really a weakness that you need someone else's help? Is a child weak for wanting his/her parent's support?
We essentially owe our own development to the care and tenderness of others. Perhaps, owe gratitude to our families, teachers, coaches, psychologist, religious leaders and the entire economic-social system of a community for the effort they have contributed that leads to personal success in our lives.
No one can really survive on their own. People in a group can accomplish more than the sum of its' individuals. We cannot simply look to our own strengths in order to flourish. We need to allow others to help us, therefore we need to accept that we become dependent on their talents, knowledge, love or strength.

domain: psychology


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So you want to learn to cook, do you? That’s great because I really really really love making food happen!
You want to cook, but let’s face it: you have no clue what you’re doing. No worries. I’m going to start a series of posts that will give you the basics on cooking (it’s really not that hard once you start doing it more often). In line with these posts, I’ll blog on some of my favorite things to make (um, avocado spicy egg salad anyone?) that is almost always super easy to make once you get the basics down.
I started making food in middle school (or maybe even before that). I burnt a bunch of pans (my mom is shaking her head somewhere) and ate disgusting questionable looking meals with mysterious smells so that no food was wasted. I still have some serious downfalls when I try to navigate Pinterest and get way ahead of myself, but for the most part my instincts have been sharpened over the years and so can yours.
So, the basics… first and foremost, onions & garlic.
Most of the things I make have a base of browned onions and sometimes garlic. They provide the perfect flavor to just about anything and take the dish to a whole new level. They also make your home smell ah-mazing.
With that said, browning onions takes some practice… so let’s get started.
Use a knife that is nice and sharp. If you use something dull, it’ll be very hard to slice the onions nice and thin.
- after peeling the onion, cut it in half and slice each half to make half moons, nice and thin.
- the rest of the photos, the onions are sliced even further… I normally use the half moons, but I was making something that needed the onions to be very small.
- pour a nice amount of olive oil (or grapeseed oil or canola oil or whatever… just oil) on a pan and turn up the heat.
- wait until the pan is very hot before placing all the onions on (to test if the oil is nice and hot, toss in a few slices of onion… if it sizzles, it’s ready)
- use a large pan, if your onions are all on top of each other and not evenly spread out, they will not cook evenly.
- do not walk away
- you want to keep the heat high, but make sure the onions are not burning… the onions should not go from this white color straight to black… no bueno. turn the heat down a bit if that is happening.
- give the onions a minute or so before stirring it every so often to make sure they’re browning evenly
- keep stirring every other minute or so… turning the heat down as necessary, but keeping it hot.
- add oil if need be — if the heat isn’t VERY hot, but the onions are still burning (turning black) you need more oil
- do not leave to go to the bathroom or watch tv or whatever… if your heat is at the right setting, your onions will burn.
They should look like this… nice and dark brown (not black)
Now, for the garlic.
I normally make things in the same skillet, so I’ll toss the garlic in when the onions are about 40 seconds from being finished, but I did them separately here.
A few things:
- slice them up thinly
- make sure the oil is hot before tossing them on the skillet
- You want medium heat – garlic is sensitive and will burn easily (which ruins it)
- once you toss the garlic into the sizzle, they’ll be done within 30 seconds… make sure they don’t burn by stirring, turning the heat down, and taking them off the skillet as soon as you see them getting golden
WAM BAM! There ya go, easy peasy.
Make this the base of anything, I’ll be posting some recipes shortly to give you an idea.
Feel free to post questions in the comment section.
2 thoughts on “So You Want to Learn to Cook: The Basics, Onions & Garlic”
Great Post. Onions and Garlic are my EVERYTHING! Sometimes I wait until the end to add my garlic, just to give a dish some extra kick.
Thanks! Adding garlic at the end is also a favorite of mine 🙂

domain: food


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My two nephews attend Zavala and I am very pleased with the education that they are receiving. My family has attended Zavala for over 40 years. They are a recognized school now and I since the new principal Mr. Fox has been there I have noticed my nephews succedd in their schoolwork. They are very happy now and are learning a lot since there is a lot less bullying going on. I was not sure if I was going to send my kids there, but now I am sure.
The Zavala faculty treats one another like family. The teachers are very friendly and at most grades work collaboratively with each another. The principal is an advocate for children and treats teachers with respect. The neighborhood is tough and some of the children have consistent behavior problems that are not always met with tough consequences. The parent involvement is on a sharp decline and the school has been so focused on raising TAKS scores that this problem has been put on the back burner. TAKS scores can be very misleading when evaluating schools. Zavala is an acceptable school according to TAKS results, but when you dig a little deeper you will find dedicated and loving teachers that get through to the majority of the children. I think overall Zavala is a very good school.

domain: sociology


text:
is a disease characterized by continued misuse of drugs even when faced with drug-related job, legal, health, or family difficulties. Problems associated with drug abuse must have existed a minimum of 12 months to meet the diagnosis.
refers to long-term, compulsive drug use, perhaps with attempts to stop but repeatedly returning to drugs. Drug dependence also means that your body has begun to require the drug in higher doses to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Drug abuse and drug dependence are not terms that should be used to describe people who are taking appropriate dosages of prescribed drugs (pain medication, for example) and who have become physically dependent on them. Diagnosis of both drug abuse and drug dependence requires the presence of specific behavioral symptoms.
Some of the most commonly abused substances include:
that are used improperly or without a prescription, such as:
Drugs for treating
The cause of drug abuse and dependence is unknown, although there are a variety of theories. One theory holds that there may be a genetic component that predisposes a person toward using and abusing drugs. Another theory is that drug abuse is a learned behavior and that people begin to use drugs by copying the behavior of those around them. Medical professionals have not been able to target a specific cause.
Brain chemicals may alter the user's perception of the drug's effects. Long-term drug use changes brain function and may reinforce the desire to keep using drugs regardless of the consequences.
Chemical Release in Brain
Drugs stimulate unnecessary chemical release in the brain. Used long-term drugs may actually change brain function.
Denial that a drug problem exists is common. Drug abuse can occur without physical dependence.
To definitively diagnose drug abuse, the symptoms must have lasted for at least 12 months.
Repeated work, school, or home problems due to drug use
Continued use of drugs even though it means risking physical safety
Recurring trouble with the law related to drug use, including impaired driving
Continuing to use drugs despite drug-related problems in personal relationships
Drug abuse often progresses to drug dependence. Symptoms of drug dependence include at least three of the following:
Craving for the substance
Inability to stop or limit drug use
Tolerance, taking greater amounts to feel the same effect
Withdrawal symptoms that occur when the drug is stopped
Significant amounts of time trying to acquire drugs and recover from their effects
Giving up activities to use drugs or recover from the effects
Drug use continues even when it causes or worsens health and/or psychological problems
The doctor will ask about:
How often you use drugs
Which drugs you use
What amount and if you have increased the amount to receive the same desired effect
Emotional problems that may have occurred while using drugs
Problems with a job, your family, or the law
Tests may include:
Blood and urine tests to check for the presence of drugs
There is no cure for drug abuse or drug dependence.
There are three main treatment goals:
To help patients stop using drugs
To decrease the toxic effects of the drugs being used and to aid in symptoms of drug withdrawal (“detoxification”)
To prevent relapse
Successful treatment depends on the drug user's recognition of the problem and desire to change. Recovery takes a long time and is not an easy process. Patients may need multiple courses of treatment.
Drugs may help alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. In some cases, medication may be ordered to prevent relapse. People addicted to heroin may be given
to help taper them off. Methadone may also be given on a long-term basis to improve the chance of staying in treatment. Methadone is a narcotic that blocks cravings as well as the pleasurable effects of heroin and other opiates.
Other drugs that are used in treatment are:
(eg, ReVia, which blocks the effect of opiates)
(eg, Subutex, which is similar to methadone)
raises awareness of underlying issues and lifestyles that promote drug use. It works to improve coping and problem-solving skills and to develop other ways of dealing with stress or pain. Through counseling, a person can learn how to handle situations associated with drug use and replace drug-using activities with other activities that are more meaningful . Family support is encouraged.
There are numerous organizations or
dedicated to helping people to stop using drugs. Two examples are Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. These are 12-step programs and members of these organizations meet regularly to talk about their drug-related troubles. They provide a network of support for each other.
Drug education programs may be helpful. Suggested strategies to lower the risk of drug abuse or dependence include:
Learn about risks related to drug use.
Do not spend time with people who are using illegal drugs.
Learn ways to handle peer pressure.
Seek counseling for anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care
provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the
advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to
starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a


Legislative Advocacy Clinic
About the Legislative Advocacy Clinic
Students in the Legislative Advocacy Clinic (LAC) are trained in legislative and public policy advocacy. They learn about the legislative process, drafting, commentary, advocacy, building a legislative agenda, working with coalitions, and ethics. Students work with nonprofit organizations advocating in the state legislature to develop and move legislation as well as respond to proposed legislation.


HUNGER NEWS CATEGORIES :
Wangari Maathai, Nobel winner, laid to rest in Kenyaby BBC News
Mrs Maathai, whose Green Belt Movement planted an estimated 45 million trees in Kenya, died last month of cancer.
Thousands of mourners lined the route of the procession to the funeral in Uhuru National Park in Nairobi.
World Hunger News
For the past 40 years, since its founding in 1976, the mission of World Hunger Education Service is to undertake programs, including Hunger Notes, that
- Educate the general public and target groups about the extent and causes of hunger and malnutrition in the United States and the world
- Advance comprehension which integrates ethical, religious, social, economic, political, and scientific perspectives on the world food problem
- Facilitate communication and networking among those who are working for solutions
- Promote individual and collective commitments to sustainable hunger solutions.


Boston’s Allston-Brighton neighborhood has experienced rapid growth in new residential, commercial, and institutional development. While this development adds vibrancy and economic opportunity to the neighborhood, it also raises questions about how the existing multimodal transportation system will accommodate existing and planned development.
Kittelson partnered with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) to lead a community-based planning process to develop a menu of recommendations to improve safety, access, and mobility for all modes and provide quality-of-life benefits for the Allston-Brighton neighborhood.
Redefining Travel in Growing Boston Neighborhoods
The study recommended specific, actionable improvements to the transportation network to alleviate bottlenecks and increase safety and mobility for all modes. It focuses on key opportunities to provide non-auto travel options, especially leveraging bus transit, to facilitate growth within a constrained urban context.


text:
This excellent sheela stands just above the late medieval entrance in the south wall. There are traces of incised ribs on the sheela's right hand side. Her hands appear to meet just above the vulva. Local tradition believes it represents the first abbess and founder of the monastery Inline Bait. Ballyvourney in Cork is another church where a sheela is thought to represent the local saint associated with the church.Just inside the doorway is a carving from the romanesque period.
My Response: When Regina Madonna Oliver and I did research for our book, Praying with Celtic Holy Women in Ireland, we discovered sheela-na-gigs on the ancient monastic ruins of St. Gobnait's Shrine in Ballyvourney, County Cork, on the side wall of the Rock of Cashel, in Killinaboy Church in County Clare under tomb at entrance of St. Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare, * you have to bend over to see it as it is on the bottom of tomb at entry way and the most surprising find * on an ancient stone on a farm house building in the midlands.
I believe the sheela is a sacred symbol of the Ancient Mother, Birther of Life. As we inquired about the sheela na gigs in Ireland we discovered two views - 1) ancient fertility symbol and 2)Mother Church through whose womb new Christians are birthed through baptism. However our guide in Cashel had never "seen" the sheela on the side wall there and this sheela was not mentioned by either or guide or was not in tour material of the Castle. Interesting! Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https://arcwp.org, firstname.lastname@example.org
Some say the explicit medieval carvings were fertility symbols; others that the figures were meant to ward off evil. Now a group of Irish feminists are bringing them back – as a reminder of women’s struggles.
..."The carvings are found on medieval churches, castles and even gateposts in Ireland, the UK and much of mainland Europe. They seem to have their origins in the 11th century; the oldest discovered in the British Isles so far dates back to the 12th century, the youngest to the 16th. Yet their beginnings are an enigma. Early theories from art historians claimed they were grotesque hag figures to warn against the sins of lust – a way of keeping the minds of churchgoers and monks pure. Others suggest they are a talisman against evil: the act of women flashing their genitals has been believed to scare off demons as far back as the ancient Greeks. More recently, researchers have leaned towards the idea that the sheela is a pre-Christian folk goddess and her exaggerated vulva a sign of life-giving powers and fertility. Even her name is an enigma – although one theory is that “sheela” could mean an old woman or crone, and “gig” was slang for genitals.
Freitag travelled widely through England and Ireland and found that “they were obviously figures that had nothing to do with the church originally. They were found predominantly in rural areas, and we have quite a lot of documents showing that people there guarded these sheelas with their lives against the priests, in particular here in Ireland, who were trying to destroy them – and did destroy them. There are various decrees from bishops saying they should be hacked off walls.”
When Freitag visited communities where sheelas were present, “fertility was always the first word that came up”. One of the women she spoke to told her that, at lambing time, farmers still present a ewe to the sheela in the hope that it would lead to a fertile spring. They are rural phenomena, because those people “relied on life-giving powers”.
The notion of sympathetic magic – that you can touch an object and receive its power – is key to understanding the sheelas, Freitag believes. “In medieval times, there was such a high maternal mortality rate that you wanted a big vulva to ensure the child came out as quickly as possible, because a long, protracted birth could well mean the death of the child and the mother.”
Medieval childbirth aids “were about making the vulva flabby and big – such as putting butter in the vagina to help the baby slide out quicker,” she says. So it makes sense that the sheelas would act as a talisman to aid childbirth.
Ireland has by far the highest concentration of sheela na gigs, with more than 100 of them, as documented by enthusiast Jack Roberts and his Sheela Na Gig project. But they have also been found as far and wide as England, Wales, Scotland, Italy, France, Spain and Norway..."

domain: history


The Aqua Master Tools interchangeable EC, CF, PPM electrode connects easily with the connector. In most conductivity meters, the electrode cannot be replaced because it usually does not break if you take good care of it. However, aging, limescale deposits, leakage in the electrode or cable breakage due to plastic that has become hard can lead to defects in the electrode. That is why the electrode in our measuring device is very interchangeable.
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The Supreme Court has granted time for the petitioners to file objections over two reports submitted by the Attorney General regarding the composition of the present Cabinet.
A fundamental rights petition has been filed challenging the appointment of the current Cabinet of Ministers, which according to the petitioner, is in violation of provisions of the Constitution.
The petition filed by Secretary of the Professionals’ National Front Kapila Renuka Perera, was considered before a three-member bench comprising justices Murdhu Fernando, Yasantha Kodagoda, and Shiran Gunathilaka yesterday.
During the consideration of the petition, Additional Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva representing the Cabinet said she filed two reports pertaining to the composition of the current Cabinet of Ministers.
Attorney Dharshana Weraduwage, representing the petitioner, then requested the bench to grant his faction time to file objections regarding the reports.
Accordingly, the bench considered the request and granted the petitioner an opportunity to file objections before the 11th of February.
82 respondents including the Attorney General, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers, all State Ministers, and the Secretary to the President have been named in the petition.
The petitioner pointed out that the appointment of the incumbent Cabinet of Ministers is in violation of the Articles of the Constitution.
According to the petition, two Cabinet Ministers and four State Ministers have been appointed in excess of the number allowed through Constitutional provisions.
Accordingly, the petitioner is seeking an order against the Cabinet and its functions.

domain: law


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The Department of State will significantly increase the number of countries on its “Do Not Travel” advisory list to include 130 nations even as more people become vaccinated and Covid rates drop. That move would mean 80 percent of all nations would now be on the list.
The Biden administration asserts it’s because of Covid, even while Americans continue to get vaccinated.
The list had already featured 34 countries flagged under the “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory, including countries like Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Chad, Kosovo, Kenya, Haiti, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Boosting the number to 80 percent of all nations would imply expanding the list to include roughly 130 countries.
The Biden administration has raised eyebrows by listing China, where the virus originated, as Level 1, or “low risk.”
Some have criticized Biden for ignoring science by including Israel on the list. The country is currently the most vaccinated nation in the world with 8.6 million of its 9 million citizens having received at least one vaccination. It far outpaces all other western nations, including the U.S.
Israel is planning to begin accepting tourists again in the next six weeks.
That apparently doesn’t matter to the State Department which will keep Israel on the list and add more. “This update will result in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80% of countries worldwide,” the department said in a statement.
The State Department said that the new advisory “reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system to rely more on (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s) existing epidemiological assessments,” rather than a reassessment of current health situations in some countries, drawing criticism for overreach.
Covid restriction in Europe had already prevented most Americans from traveling there. Washington has barred nearly all non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in most of Europe, Israel, China, Brazil, Iran, and South Africa.
The White House has given no timeline for when it might ease the restrictions.
Asked for comment on the State Department announcement, Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. carriers, said “the U.S. airline industry has been a strong advocate for the development of a risk-based, data-driven roadmap for restoring international travel.”
The group added that it continues “to urge the federal government to transparently establish the criteria—including clear metrics, benchmarks, and a timeline—for reopening international markets.”
CDC did not immediately comment.
Earlier this month the CDC discouraged people who fully vaccinated against Covid from traveling in the U.S., sparking pushback from civil liberty groups.
–Metro Voice and wire services


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While crude oil prices have declined 27 percent since Oct. 1, natural gas prices broke through the $4 barrier this week for the first time in four years.
On the crude oil side, worldwide demand has declined while supplies have increased.
Crude oil production in the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Russia reached some of their highest levels in history last month, offsetting supply losses from Iran and Venezuela.
Saudi Arabia announced that it would cut exports by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December, and it is working with OPEC+, which is the new organization that includes some non-OPEC members such as Russia, to cut about 1 million bpd of production.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) said this week OPEC production for 2018 and 2019 will be revised up by 60,000 bpd to 39.1 million bpd.
U.S. oil production also increased to 11.4 million bpd.
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories increased for the sixth consecutive week from Sept. 21 through Oct. 26, and pushed the U.S. inventories higher than their five-year (2013-17) average. U.S. crude oil inventories are forecast to increase from 421 million barrels in 2018 to 472 million barrels in 2019, putting more downward pressure on domestic oil prices, according to EIA.
EIA also expects global inventories as reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to surpass their five-year average and climb to near the top of the five-year range in 2019.
EIA forecasts the Brent crude oil price will average $72 per barrel in 2019, which is $3 per barrel lower than previously forecasted, and forecasts the WTI crude oil price to average $65 per barrel in 2019, which is $5 lower than previously forecasted. The lower price forecasts are partly the result of higher than expected crude oil production, contributing to global crude oil inventory growth and put downward pressure on crude oil prices.
Slowing demand growth in China and other countries, the decline in the stock market, and the rising value of the dollar are some of the factors that have decreased future demand predictions.
The U.S. average regular gasoline retail price decreased about 7 cents from last week to $2.686 per gallon on Nov. 5, up about 20 cents from the same time last year.
The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased nearly 2 cents from last week to $3.34 per gallon on Nov. 5, 46 cents higher than a year ago.
Natural gas futures settled at $4.837 million British thermal units, reaching its best level since December 2014 at $4.063 on New York Mercantile Exchange futures trading. Natural gas prices have increased 23 percent this month because of tight supplies and cold weather.
EIA says inventories are the lowest since November 2003.
Alex Mills is the former President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. The opinions expressed are solely of the author.
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.


By Wayne Cantrell, Siemens Industry
I once had a machine manufacturer tell me that his customers purchased his machines when their budget allowed it. This resulted in several standalone machines in their factory. Each of the standalone machines had its own start/stop switch and human-machine interface (HMI) station. During startup, shutdown and production, the factory operators had to physically go to each machine to interact with it.
As a result, the manufacturer asked for a solution to integrate the operation of the machines so a single start/stop could be issued to all machines simultaneously and the operating status of all machines could be viewed from a single HMI. There was also a requirement that customers not have to modify the logic program of each machine. The setup for the coordinated execution had to be accomplished via setup screens on HMIs.
The problem was solved using a TCP/IP solution. From this exercise, Siemens coined the term “modular machine control” with this definition: “Modular machine control is coordinated control functionality by two or more autonomous machines via means of data communications or hardwired data signals.”
The concept of modular machine control has been used in the industry for several years. Specific products have been developed for high-speed communication between modular components of assembly lines. The concept is applicable to industries such as automotive, food and beverage, corrugated material management machines, oil and gas, marine vessel systems and others.
When planning for modular machine control, a few basic implementation concepts should be considered:
• Define the requirements of the control functionality:
- Define the safety requirements;
- Determine the level of coordination between machines;
- Decide which machine will be the coordinator of the control functionality;
- Determine the performance requirements for the communications between machines;
- Define, or select if it already exists, the format of the data that will be exchanged between the machines;
- Review and determine the best communication method for each machine, keeping in mind the performance and data format requirements;
• Implement the solution from the requirements definition.
• Perform proper testing of the implementation, including a thorough factory acceptance test.
• Deploy the tested solution.
When defining the safety requirement, the goal is to ensure that all machines are capable of being transitioned to a safe operating mode or safe position at any time. Consider the functionality for an emergency stop (e-stop). All machines will most likely have a local e-stop. However, is there a need for a global e-stop to stop all machines at once? How should the system react if data communications are lost? If one machine stops, how should the upstream or downstream machines react? What is the reaction time of each machine? Is the operation of the machines so critical that redundant communication paths are needed? Is it possible that the environment, such as EMI or RFI, will affect the communications? The answers to these questions will help determine the best method of communicating between machines.
Coordination of machines can take one of two forms – simple or complex. Simple coordination consists of basic data transfers, such as:
• Transferring a single start or stop command to all machines;
• Exchanging interlock information, such as, machine one is running; machine two can now start;
• Transferring operational information like set point parameters to other machines.
Complex coordination is required for more sophisticated control functionality, such as synchronized operation of machines where data must be exchanged continuously at higher frequencies. Examples are coordinating operating speeds or increasing the coolant output of one machine based on the operating temperature of a second machine.
When defining performance requirements, decide how much data and how fast the data must be exchanged between machines. The execution time of the control program in each machine plays a big role in exchanging data. If the control programs are slow, the data exchange method needs to be one that will have the data “waiting” for the next control logic cycle. A slow data exchange method combined with a slow logic program results in poor control performance. Reviewing the performance of each machine will help decide the best communication method.
When choosing the communication method between machines, a few basic concepts should be considered:
• Do the machines communicate the same protocol? If not, do commercial hardware or software gateways exist that will meet the communication requirements?
• Does the equipment, such as a PLC or PC, functionality meet the data exchange performance requirements?
• Does the environment support the communication options? For example, is there interference that could affect wireless communications?
• If redundancy is required, does the chosen protocol or communications media support it? How fast is the switchover to the backup data path?
The answers to these questions will help narrow the communication choices.
Machine controllers consist of at least two components – an input/output subsystem used for connecting to sensors and control devices, and the logic program controller execution subsystem. Additionally, an HMI or SCADA system may be connected to the controller.
Beyond that, an enterprise system, such as a production control or inventory management system, may be connected either locally or from a remote location. Any of these systems can perform the data exchange between machines.
Some offer more flexibility for data exchanges, and others perform faster data exchanges. Figure 1 shows a typical comparison.
The I/O subsystem of the controller typically has the highest data exchange performance, normally a few milliseconds (the control logic scan must also be considered). Data exchange using the I/O subsystem involves either hardwiring between input and output modules or using I/O couplers. The I/O bus itself may be used for other types of data transfers, but the data exchange is normally acyclic to the I/O data transfers and thus slower.
The advantages of data exchange via the I/O subsystem are:
• Typically, several I/O cycles occur for each scan cycle of the control program so it offers the best performance;
• I/O updates are typically synchronized with the execution of the control program so the control program will have the latest data for each logic scan;
• I/O coupler technology has been developed to operate as I/O so the data exchange occurs the same as with racks of I/O;
• The data throughput of I/O couplers is typically less than one millisecond;
• The status of the data exchange can be obtained via the control logic program;
• Data integrity and security is managed by the I/O protocol, such as PROFIBUS or PROFINET.
The disadvantages of using the I/O subsystem for data exchange are:
• For optimal performance, the controllers for each machine need to use the same I/O protocol;
• Gateways may exist to exchange data between different I/O protocols, but the performance of the gateways may be slow;
• I/O protocols typically support limited amounts of data that can be exchanged in order to maximize performance (for example, PROFIBUS supports 244 bytes in/out);
• If coupler technology is used, a coupler is required between each two machines;
• If a hard-wired solution is used, installation costs could be an issue.
The typical usage for I/O data exchange is for high-speed machine synchronization.
A second option for machine-machine communications is at the logic controller itself. This is sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer communications. This method is typically the second-best performing solution because the data transfers are in sync with the logic program by using handshake signals provided by the controller communication functions.
However, it may take several logic program scans to exchange large amounts of data. Some controller protocols can exchange as much as 64KB of data. An average application, however, will exchange data in 1-2 seconds. Data integrity and security are normally not a concern because the protocols are designed with this in mind and because only the controllers are involved in the data transfers.
An added advantage to this solution is that industrial controllers simultaneously support several industrial protocols. Depending on the CPU being used, a single controller can communicate with dozens of other controllers.
The controller communication method has some drawbacks. As mentioned earlier, the transfer of large amounts of data can take several controller logic scans at each controller, which slows the data exchange. Another factor is that, for existing systems, the program may need to be modified to enable communications. When communicating between machines that have controllers from different vendors, the controllers may not support the same protocols. Typical uses for controller communications are synchronization of lower-speed machines, machine interlocks, distribution of machine commands and data concentration.
The next level in a control system hierarchy is the supervisory level, which usually consists of PC-based HMI, SCADA, OPC or custom-application systems. These systems can also be used for data exchange. The advantages of the supervisory systems are that they are very flexible because they support several machine controller protocols and offer high volumes of data exchange functionality (such as OPC DX). The data exchange can also be accomplished via HMI/SCADA scripting or via custom code (VB or C).
The disadvantages to data exchange at the supervisory level are performance – because in addition to the machine controller logic scans, the supervisory systems have their own cycle times, such as communication drivers, DX cycles, scripting cycles, custom code loops, etc, which decrease throughput times; PC data security and viruses; maintenance issues for scripting and custom code; PC reliability; and possibly having to add PC hardware to support specific protocols. Data exchange times at the supervisory level typically range from 1 second to several seconds. The typical uses for supervisory system data exchange are simple machine coordination, data exchange for lower-speed machines and transferring operational information.
The highest level in the control system tier is enterprise systems, which are rarely used for machine data exchanges. The typical usages for these systems are for production management or inventory updates. Commercial software or custom code may be used at this level. The advantages and disadvantages of data exchange at the enterprise level are essentially the same as at the supervisory level, except they may be even slower due to the fact that they are segmented on different networks and may even be located offsite.
Choosing the best data exchange solution depends on many factors. First, the requirements must be met. The programs of existing systems may not have been developed for machine-machine data exchange and may need to be modified, or the data exchange may need to be done at the supervisory level because it offers more flexibility. Future machines should consider machine-machine communications and conform to industry standards.
A hybrid system may be the best solution for modular machine control. A hybrid system consists of:
• An industrial PC to mitigate standard PC reliability issues;
• A real-time OS to guarantee performance;
• A deterministic controller program running at the real-time OS level to provide the I/O and controller data exchange functionality and can act as the coordinator;
• A non-real-time OS that can support data exchange functionality, enterprise functionality, HMI/SCADA functionality and custom code;
• Has an internal communication path between the non-real-time and real-time functions.
Figure 2 shows the structure of a hybrid system.
Industry organizations, such as IADC, can provide huge benefits for industries that need modular machine control. They can define standards for each machine type. The standards should encompass data formats for machine commands, operating status, setup information and production data. Data security and performance standards should also be defined for the machine-machine communications. Finally, the standards should be enforced.
One thing that could reap huge rewards for the industry would be a machine certification program where adherence to the standards is certified by the industry organization. This ensures that all machine types will be interoperable. This methodology is used to certify the operation of PROFINET and PROFIBUS devices, which seldom have interoperability issues once they have been certified.
This article is based on a presentation at the IADC Advanced Rig Technology Conference & Exhibition, 18 August 2010, Houston, Texas.
Wayne Cantrell is principal system engineer for Siemens Industry.


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TORRINGTON – As plans move forward for a new high school and middle school, Torrington police are concerned that the area won’t be able to handle the traffic the new facility is expected to bring.
Getting in and out of Torrington High School gets easily congested because the school’s main access road for vehicle traffic is Major Besse Drive off Winthrop Street.
Because seventh- and eighth-graders will be part of the new Torrington Middle/High School, the building committee proposed widening Major Besse Drive to help offset increased traffic. Residents approved the $159 million project last November.
City police, however, have expressed concerns about that plan, citing the proximity to Amherst Street, about three-tenths of a mile from Major Besse Drive across Winthrop Street. Oliver Wolcott Technical High School is located on Amherst Street.
Mario Longobucco, building committee co-chairman, said he and project officials learned in a May meeting with Police Chief William Baldwin that police are concerned about vehicle traffic volume at the proposed intersection of Major Besse Drive and Winthrop and Amherst streets.
“That was news to us at that meeting, and I think others were surprised by that final position,” said Kemp Morhardt, principal architect for SLAM Collaborative. “We will have to redevelop this portion of the park.”
The building committee decided earlier this spring to base the grade 7-12 school’s footprint in the existing parking lot, bringing the school closer to Elise Besse Park and Route 8. The city has given the building committee permission to move the skate park from Elise Besse Park to help accommodate traffic.
Morhardt said he and other project officials from SLAM, a Glastonbury-based architectural firm working with the building committee, will conduct an in-depth traffic study on widening Major Besse Drive and present it at the next building committee meeting.
Longobucco said he believes it would be efficient to make Amherst Street and its adjacent road, Dartmouth Street, one way to funnel vehicle traffic to and from the school. Building committee member Gary Eucalitto said that idea would likely double or triple vehicle traffic on those streets.
“I have (received) appeals on many projects,” Eucalitto said. “All you need is one person to file something to stop the project, and that’s the last thing we need.”
Under the current site plan, some parking spaces and a parent drop-off area will be extended across the school property line onto Elise Besse Park property, Morhardt said. The new school is required to have at least 455 parking spaces.
Amy Samuelson, an associate principal at SLAM, said police also were against a proposal for there to be a park-only parking lot on Elise Besse Park property adjacent to a parking lot for the school without a road to cross.
“It is a challenge to get all the parking necessary and all the athletic fields and the school,” Sameulson said. “We do need every bit of that.”
The building committee has saved $8.7 million since the referendum, Longobucco said. Taxpayers now face a $65.2 million cost, while the state reimbursement has increased to $93.7 million.
Construction of the building is scheduled to commence in May 2022 and finish before the start of the 2024-25 school year.


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Ameriprise Financial advisors in Marshall are taking part in the company’s nationwide volunteer effort the help feed hungry families and individuals in partnership with Feeding America on Friday, J
Area Minnesota students were among the 3,740 North Dakota State University students to be placed on the spring 2019 dean’s list.
Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, announced that Emily Buysse of Minneota has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2018-19 academic year.
The Rubber Ducky Races were held on Thursday night as a fundraiser for Boxelder Bug Days.
The winners were:
First Place: $200 Sharon Claeys
Second Place:: $100 Jim DeCock
Minnesota West Community & Technical College is proud to announce that the Medical Coding Specialist Diploma program has been approved by the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program (PC
As a resource for people in many Midwestern communities struck by flooding, wet conditions, and a volatile ag environment, Avera Health has created the Farm and Rural Stress Hotline.
Construction is officially underway on a new psychiatric hospital in Willmar that will provide specialized treatment to children and teens from across Minnesota who have severe mental illness and b
Poor planting conditions this spring are forcing some farmers to make decisions on prevented planting.
Lincoln County Corn and Soybean Growers recently presented scholarship awards to four Minneota seniors.


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Hi there! I'm Jamie, the mastermind of all things LilyBaby.
Here are some fun facts about me:
I pull sewing all-nighters to get my Etsy orders done while my family sleeps.
The "dessert-in-a-jar" craze is my latest love.
I am excited to be the event coordinator for my MOPS group this year!
I like to share about all my latest Etsy purchases on my blog, and believe that if I can introduce just one new person to Etsy I've made the world a better place.
I have an entire handmade wedding planned in my head--just waitin' on that ring!
I have two laugh-til-I-cry hilarious little boys. Mason and Avery. Also known as Nunny and 'Licious.
My long-time boyfriend and I are complete opposites and I LOVE it!
I graduated from massage school in 2009 and haven't given a single massage since.
I live in the beautiful state of Washington. I complain about the rain, but secretly love how green and beautiful everything is because of it.
I'm most creative in the middle of the night.

domain: artistic


When you're Sammy Sosa you can't take a day off, no matter how tired you get. But one of the perks about being Sammy Sosa is you don't get tired.
"I'm only 30 years old," Sosa said. "You know the day when I'm going to be tired? The day that I'm retired. And right now I don't have that on my mind."
So rule out fatigue as the reason Sosa hasn't homered in his last five games and just enjoy the Cubs' 9-0 whitewash of Pittsburgh on Friday. Sosa went 1 for 4 with a double and came within a few feet of placing a third-inning fly ball into the left-field basket.
The ball was hit off the end of the bat against a strong wind that knocked what would have been Sosa's 62nd home run into the glove of Pittsburgh left-fielder Al Martin, who caught the ball on the warning track.
"Man, I haven't had much luck lately," Sosa said.
The Cubs have beaten the Pirates nine in a row at Wrigley Field over the last two seasons, though Sosa hasn't homered in those games.
"Last year our only losing month was (June) when Sammy set the home-run record," Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said. "It's a great weapon but it doesn't always compute to winning."
No, that's the role of good pitching, and the Cubs received another fine effort from one of their rookies in the wake of Micah Bowie's victory on Thursday.
Kyle Farnsworth (5-9) allowed three singles in seven innings and struck out a career-high seven before leaving after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist.
Roosevelt Brown had four RBIs, including a bases-loaded triple, and Shane Andrews knocked in a run in each of his first three trips to the plate, the first two after Pittsburgh intentionally walked Mark Grace to get to him.
Chad Meyers and Lance Johnson also had three hits as the Cubs matched their biggest margin of victory this season. It gave the Cubs their ninth straight victory over the Pirates at Wrigley Field and their first three-game winning streak since July 20-22.
"I know we haven't been playing the way we're supposed to be playing, but for the last three games we've been playing great," Sosa said. "I feel great because winning is everything."
Since returning from Class AAA Iowa on Aug. 27, Farnsworth has gone 3-2 with a 2.63 earned-run average. He first was called up in late April and won two of his first three starts before going winless in his next 10 and going back to Iowa.
He went back and forth again before returning last month and has pitched as well as any Cubs starter has for an extended period all season.
"Like a lot of young pitchers when they come to the big leagues, sometimes they have to take a step backward," Riggleman said. "But if they go down and handle it the way they should like he did, when the opportunity to come back to the big leagues arises they seem to do better the second time."
Farnsworth had just turned 23 when he came up and had only 22 starts at Iowa under his belt.
"I don't know if I was ready (to get called up) or not," Farnsworth said. "I was just throwing the ball around the plate and getting hit. It's one of those things you have to just take your lumps, struggle and learn. Which I have."
Sosa, meanwhile, will try his best in the final two home games of the season to tie the Wrigley Field record of 35 homers he set last season.
That is, if he isn't too tired.


Energizer plans to launch a new type of standard battery in the summer of 2010, based on technology invented some 35 years ago. The Energizer Zinc Air, a primary (non-rechargeable) battery solution, uses oxygen from the air as an energy source to generate power. The new batteries provide longer run time, come in a smaller form factor, and are expected to open up a much bigger market for the company.
While other types of primary battery contain two dissimilar materials (anode and cathode), zinc air batteries contain only one; the size of a standard battery of the same volume is therefore significantly reduced. The batteries have a thickness of only 5mm, as compared with the 8mm thickness of the smallest alkaline battery (AAAA), and are available in a new prismatic (rectangular) form factor (see Fig).
The zinc air battery is designed with air access holes that are sealed with a tab, which the consumer removes in order to start using the battery. A major disadvantage, however, is that when the active material is exposed to the environment, the battery’s ability to deliver in the high current range begins to deteriorate. The typical run time of previous-generation zinc air batteries, therefore, was only about one to three months.
Over the last few years, R&D engineers at Energizer have improved the zinc air technology, and have been able to extend the run times of both alkaline and lithium-ion batteries of similar volumes by as much as three times. "What we have done is, we have figured out how to control the airflow, giving the battery just enough air to support the application, and nothing more," said Jon Eager, director, OEM Marketing, OEM Strategic Alliance Team, Energizer.
But since zinc air batteries use oxygen to generate energy, the environment in which an electronic device is used can also impact the performance of the batteries. For example, when the batteries are used to power a device in a lower temperature environment, the ability to deliver energy may decrease. Designers need therefore to consider the kind of environment a device will be used in, and the way in which the device will be used.
Also, when the batteries are physically exposed to the environment, they might pick up water from humid air, or might dry out due to low humidity. A key area with OEM device designs, therefore, has been the addition of air management to the device to control air access to the battery, so that maximum possible runtime can be achieved.
Eager said so far about 30 OEMs have expressed an interest in the zinc air battery, and the company has design teams working with six of the OEMs to help them design batteries for their devices. These OEMs are making a variety of low-power consumer products, such as wireless keyboards, Bluetooth headsets, remote controls, Flash audio players, penlights, etc. Some of these products are expected to be available on the market in the summer of 2010.
Meanwhile, Energizer also plans to launch new-generation zinc air batteries through major retailers in the summer of 2010, so that consumers can buy products confident in the knowledge that they will be able buy replacement batteries easily. The first model will be the 1.5V PP355 (AAAA volume) battery, which will be available in a new 5mm-thick prismatic package, measuring 32.2 x 14.7 x 4.0mm. The company plans to introduce smaller and larger sizes at a later stage, and eventually to offer an entire family of different-sized products. The retail price of zinc air batteries is expected to be about the same as that of the special lithium batteries.


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OK, I am a huge Takashi Miike fan, but I am the first person to tell you he is not for everyone.
That said, if you have a good stomach for graphic violence, some of it sexual in nature, and you like over the top, bizarre homage films, I highly recommend Sukiyaki Western Django.. This film is Takashi Miike’s homage to the spaghetti western, in particular the film Django, directed by Sergio Corbucci, which is considered the most violent and over the top of the spaghetti westerns. I’m not entirely sure I’ve seen it, but I may have. From the description though, it almost sounds like Takashi Miike toned down the sexual violence of the original. Which is kind of troubling, given we’re talking about the guy who directed the Masters of Horror: Imprint, a paean to lovingly photographed sexual violence, judged too graphic and disturbing to air on Showtime, although it’s been released on DVD and is available on Netflix. I’m almost afraid to watch the original Django now, honestly.
The film starts with an almost Noh or Kabuki-like scene, wherein Quentin Tarantino narrates the history of the Genpei War, on which the film is loosely based, as well as being influenced by the War of the Roses, Django, Yojimbo, and the films of Sergio Leone (The Man with No Name Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars / For a Few Dollars More / The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly) [Blu-ray]). He pops up as narrator again later. The film features a Man with No Name, and two rival Japanese clans in a Nevada mining town. He comes into town and offers his services to help find the town’s “legendary treasure” to the highest bidder. A bidding war ensues, but before he can choose, an older woman comes to take him away for tea and a meal. She tells him the story of the town, and of her grandson. His father, her son, had been a member of the “red” Heike clan and he married a girl from the “white” Genji clan. Her son Akira* is killed, and his mother nearly raped by other members of the Heike clan, and she seeks refuge with her own clan, where she is raped and kept as a prostitute.
The Man with No Name agrees to help her get her revenge, and he incites a war between the clans, culminating in a town clearing shoot out with the Man with No Name and the grandmother, a famous gunfighter in her own right, on one side, and then the other two clans, all facing off. Say what you will, but about Takashi Miike, but the man can frame a shot like no one I’ve ever seen. Yoshitsune’s final charge at the Man with No Name is elegant, just amazing.
I reiterate, that this movie is not for people who are uncomfortable with graphic violence. Remember, this is the man who directed Ichi the Killer . While it has less sexualized violence than many of Takashi Miike’s other films, it still has some. He’s also a big fan of comedic violence, and I have to say, the actor who played the Sheriff, Teruyuki Kagawa, is an incredible physical comedian. There’s buckets of blood, some stunning, if not even remotely historically accurate, costumes. The dialogue is all delivered in English, in some cases with nigh incomprehensible Japanese accents. There are little in jokes scattered throughout the film, concerning spaghetti westerns, Yojimbo, Django, Shakespeare and Japanese culture. I’m pretty sure I didn’t catch all of them.
The end of this film will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever seen a spaghetti western. But it’s filmed so beautifully. Takashi Miike has a way of making even the ugliest violence beautiful on the screen.
Remember we’ve got the GGR Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook page.
*The explanation for his name will crack you up.


Reply To: What type of gun do you shoot? Home › Forums › Tell us what you think! › What type of gun do you shoot? › Reply To: What type of gun do you shoot? February 4, 2015 at 12:27 pm #1253 stitchinggritsParticipant Very fancy! A K-80 with Super Scroll engraving is on my wish list. My primary gun is a Beretta Silver Pigeon III but I also shoot a few different subguagues in NSCA tourneys.


Flipkart, the e-commerce giant under Walmart’s ownership, has ventured into a new fashion territory by introducing an exclusive fashion platform named ‘SPOYL.’
Tailored specifically for the Gen Z demographic, this portal offers a range of clothing, shoes, and accessories that resonate with the distinct style preferences of this generation.
Unveiling SPOYL: A Fashion Hub for Gen Z:
Flipkart’s latest endeavor, SPOYL, has been unveiled as a dedicated fashion destination catering exclusively to Generation Z, often referred to as Gen Zee.
Gen Z comprises individuals born during the mid to late 1990s, excluding those born after 2010.
The platform is set to offer more than 40,000 products, encompassing a variety of Western-style attire, footwear, and accessories.
Understanding Generation Z:
Gen Z, synonymous with Generation Z, represents a tech-savvy cohort born after 1995, embodying a distinctive approach to fashion and lifestyle.
Flipkart’s decision to establish a dedicated portal for Gen Z is rooted in two key factors: the demographic’s propensity for frequent online shopping and their inclination towards unique, individualistic fashion choices.
A McKinsey report highlighted Gen Z’s preference for fashion that sets them apart, as opposed to adhering to established trends.
Catering to Gen Z’s Dynamic Fashion Quotient:
Approximately 25 percent of Flipkart’s fashion category customers fall within the Gen Z demographic.
Renowned as the “Internet First Generation,” they exhibit a proclivity for online shopping. Sandeep Karwa, Vice President at Flipkart, emphasized SPOYL’s mission to comprehend and address the evolving needs of Gen Z.
This generation is characterized by its tendency to challenge conventions and break away from societal norms, championing individualistic expressions.
Empowering Personal Style Through SPOYL:
Sandeep Karwa underscored SPOYL’s role in democratizing style and fashion, asserting that every individual has the right to express their unique flair.
The platform seeks to empower Gen Z to embrace style without being restricted by societal opinions, in line with their distinctive perspectives on fashion and self-expression.
Flipkart’s Dominance in the Fashion Arena:
Flipkart has solidified its presence in the online fashion sector, commanding approximately 27 percent of the market share.
Competitor Myntra holds a 22 percent stake, while Amazon and Meesho follow with around 15 percent.
Other players in the market, including Ajio and Nykaa Fashion, share the remainder of the market.


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Private landlords deserve better protection from antisocial tenants whom they enter into tenancy agreements with, according to a leading industry expert.
Serious concerns have been raised about the danger of private landlords unknowingly taking on antisocial council housing tenants by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).
The organisation is concerned that many landlords may be unaware of a tenant's social housing behavioural history prior to signing a tenancy agreement.
Commenting on the findings, RLA chairman Alan Ward explained: "What landlords require is a reformed court system that enables a quicker, more effective response to tenants causing anti-social behaviour, without the current delays of up to eight months to regain possession."
The comments come in response to plans outlined in the localism bill that will make it easier for tough action to be taken against antisocial social housing tenants.
According to the RLA, private tenants have no way of checking tenant records or behaviour of council housing tenants prior to agreeing a tenancy.
Tenant referencing is always vital for landlords. Lawpack's Tenant Checking Service helps landlords to check tenants from just £16.95.
Published on: January 31, 2011


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Sales of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment Pulmicort (budesonide) in China continued to perform well for AstraZeneca ($AZN) as nebulizer centers expand.
That was the message from Luke Miels, executive vice president for Global Products and Portfolio Strategy, Global Medical Affairs, and Corporate Affairs, on the July 28 earnings call.
Miels noted that while the company's overall respiratory franchise gained 1% in the first half of the year, the figure shadowed emerging market performance.
"In the half year, Symbicort established itself as the number one medicine globally in the growing ICS/LABA class in volume terms," Miels told analysts, noting a weak point in the U.S. on pricing.
But outside of developed markets, the engine was humming, he said.
"In emerging markets, we maintained leadership where sales grew by 25%, with China growing by 33%. Pulmicort sales grew by 10% in total, largely driven by a 23% increase in emerging markets, and the business in China continues to expand with more nebulizer centers established in addition to the 8,000 or so centers already in place."
That effort to expand access through the centers will continue, Miels said.
"We believe this sales growth is sustainable with additional initiatives in the high nebulization, improved diagnostics, as well as treatment," he said, adding that another product--Duaklir (aclidinium - formoterol)--also won gains as part of the emerging LAMA/LABA class set of therapies expected to show sales of $1 billion in 2016.
Still, Miels and other executives on the call said competition remains fierce with firms such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis ($NVS) in the space. They also noted that attention is being paid to GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) in particular for a potential triple combo treatment by the end of next year--though any arrival in China may be years away.
High levels of air pollution in China's major cities make it a key market for COPD treatments, though Miels again noted for AstraZeneca it is one product in a lineup that jibes with medical needs in the country.
He said that China showed 11% growth so far this year, continuing double-digit sales gains in the country while many other major multinationals lag, though even AstraZeneca noted a slower pace of gains than last year.
"While growth in China moderated during the half, we are looking at growing faster than other multinational companies and the overall market, and looking forward we expect to maintain solid growth in China. For Brazil and Russia, Brazil and Russia grew at 13% and 12%, and these two countries along with the Middle East and Africa and most of Latin America all continued to outperform the market," Miels said.
"And encouragingly this growth was supported across all the main therapeutic areas. So respiratory sales were up 23%, Brilinta (ticagrelor) was up 106%, diabetes was up 44%, and finally legacy oncology was up 5%. As a reminder, the long-term target for emerging markets is mid to high single-digit percentage growth in sales."
AstraZeneca has bet big on China, with plans afoot to develop, manufacture and sell biologic drugs with partners.
Looking ahead in that regard, Sean Bohen, executive vice president for Global Medicines Development and chief medical officer, said the company expects to make the first regulatory submission, "a rolling submission," for Roxadustat (FG-4592) in China via partner FibroGen.
And in the oncology space, the company's first-in-class therapy Tagrisso (osimertinib), which was approved in Japan earlier this year.
- here's the release
AstraZeneca, already plagued by Crestor generics, posts street-beating Q2 on diabetes, new cancer meds
GSK sets its sights on triple-combo-land with bumped-up COPD app
Chi-Med gets $10M milestone payment from AZ in NSCLC PhII
AZ approval for Tagrisso in Japan a big change to NSCLC treatment options in Asia
AstraZeneca keeps double-digit China growth on track in Q1


Over the past week the Kony 2012 video has been blowing up Twitter and Facebook feeds like pointless photographs of friends you don’t really care about usually do (If you haven’t seen the video I put it at the bottom of this post). Anyway, the video is about Joseph Kony, a Ugandan guerrilla leader who has been slaughtering hundreds of Ugandans in his attempt to turn the country into a violent, oppressive theocracy. The Kony 2012 campaign is a noble cause, but before you get out your wallet, understand that the organization behind it is less than reputable.
From The Daily What:
The organization behind Kony 2012 — Invisible Children Inc. — is an extremely shady nonprofit that has been called ”misleading,” “naive,” and “dangerous” by a Yale political science professor, and has been accused by Foreign Affairs of “manipulat[ing] facts for strategic purposes.” They have also been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for refusing to provide information necessary to determine if IC meets the Bureau’s standards.
Additionally, IC has a low two-star rating in accountability from Charity Navigator because they won’t let their financials be independently audited. That’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s a very bad thing, and should make you immediately pause and reflect on where the money you’re sending them is going.
By IC’s own admission, only 31% of all the funds they receive go toward actually helping anyone [pdf]. The rest go to line the pockets of the three people in charge of the organization, to pay for their travel expenses (over $1 million in the last year alone) and to fund their filmmaking business (also over a million) — which is quite an effective way to make more money, as clearly illustrated by the fact that so many can’t seem to stop forwarding their well-engineered emotional blackmail to everyone they’ve ever known.
And as far as what they do with that money:
The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. These books each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.
Now to be sure, Joseph Kony is an evil, evil bastard, but Invisible Children’s method of helping to prop up a nearly equally bad Ugandan military isn’t the way to go about it, and almost none of your donation actually goes towards what the group claims.
Right now, the US government has already been intervening in Uganda and supposedly Kony has already been pushed out of Uganda, if he isn’t dead already.
The good thing is that IC’s 30 minute video is incredibly well done and does a fantastic job of tugging on the heartstrings and bringing worldwide attention to Joseph Kony and his campaign of terror. I personally however, just wouldn’t donate to them.
J.K. Rowling’s long-awaited website for all things Harry Potter will be open for business in early April.The Pottermore site was announced last year, with a scheduled launch in October. But a statement posted on the site this week says testing was extended after feedback from early users made it “clear that our original platform wouldn’t be suitable when millions more users came on to the site.”The site is supposed to offer e-book editions of the seven Potter novels, but Rowling spokesman Mark Hutchinson said Thursday that the sale date for e-books had not been confirmed.Rowling for years had resisted making her work available in digital form.
If you are one of the morons who thinks being gay is unnatural and spend your time complaining about how it’s ruining the world, well you’re an absolute idiot. Here are some other things that the Bible forbids so you should probably start campaigning against all of these too:
Leviticus 19:28 states:
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:27 states:
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Leviticus 19:31 reads:
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:16 states:
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD.
Leviticus 11:7-8 reads:
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Mark 10:11-12 states:
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Exodus 31:14-15 states:
“Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 states:
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Leviticus 10-11 states:
And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
And of course…
Deuteronomy 22:20-21 states:
But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you
If you happen to be in London at the end of this month, you’ll be able to tour the real model of Hogwarts used in all the Harry Potter films, yes real, not CGI. The model is housed at Leavesdon Studio and measures 50 feet across, with tiny LED lights in the windows and tiny owls perched at various places.
The three-hour tour will also take Harry Potter fans inside the Great Hall and Dumbledore’s office. Visitors will also be able to step onto cobbles of Diagon Alley, walking past the the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
Iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 broomstick and Hagrid’s motorcycle will be on display alongside life-sized models of some of the creatures from the films.
Other film sets included in the tour include the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
Even though things didn’t turn out as planned in Jurassic Park, it’s still a goal for the future to one day have zoos that are populated with cloned extinct animals and robots indistinguishable from real animals that are no longer living. It’s a big dream, but one day it will happen. And it will be perfectly safe, I promise. Every precaution will be taken.
Louisiana Tech’s Dr. Jeffrey Yule told the Symposium on the Future of Zoos that reviving extinct species, including wooly mammoths, dodo birds, passenger pigeons or the Tasmanian wolf, is a real possibility.
“The goal is not to bring them back merely to put them in a zoo, but to put them back in the wild,” he said.
Yule believes a species shouldn’t be a candidate for cloning unless its natural habitat still exists somewhere on earth. So, that rules out dinosaurs — but doesn’t preclude an elephant giving birth to a cloned mammoth.
As for the robots, which also came up at the conference, they’d be used to let people interact with safe versions of dangerous animals like tigers.