The “Star of Life” is a powerful symbol associated with EMTs and our EMT Assisted Opening Pocket Knife was designed and built to uphold it. It has a keenly sharp 3 3/4” partially serrated, stainless steel blade, which has a non-reflective black finish and thru-holes. The drop point blade can be quickly and easily deployed with a smooth, assisted opening mechanism, using the flipper. Paying tribute to these Hometown Heroes, the black aluminum handle features an orange aluminum accent, which bears the EMT’s shield, and the handle also features an integrated seatbelt cutter and glass breaker. The EMT Star Of Life Assisted Opening Pocket Knife has a sturdy aluminum pocket clip, so it can easily be clipped to your gear or pocket and go wherever you’re needed!


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A new sun rises on Shanghvi's profit strategy
Dilip Shanghvi, the chairman and managing director of Sun Pharmaceuticals, has little in common with Yogi Berra.
MUMBAI: Dilip Shanghvi, the chairman and managing director of Sun Pharmaceuticals, has little in common with Yogi Berra. He probably doesn’t know enough about this famous American baseball star who played for New York Yankees alongside the legendary Joe DiMaggio, and was famous for his quirky quotes and punishing home runs.
But Mr Shanghvi would perhaps find himself nodding sympathetically at one of the quotes of this maverick Yankee—”This feels like deja vu all over again.” It aptly describes the position that Shanghvi and his Mumbai-based firm find themselves in.
Over the past few weeks, Sun Pharma has been struggling to gain control of Taro Pharmaceuticals, in a battle that is eerily reminiscent of a similar episode many years ago. In 1997, Shanghvi engineered the purchase of a stake in Detroit-based Caraco Pharma in one of India Inc’s major moves in the North American continent.
At a time when many Indian pharma companies had not even thought of America as a major market, Sun bought a partial stake in the company. But the story quickly turned sour. The US Food and Drug Administration withdrew registration for Caraco’s plant and the firm suffered big losses.
Sun, which agreed to supply products to Caraco in return for additional shares in the company, then had a run-in with some major shareholders and independent board members, who opposed the Indian company’s contract. What was once considered a pioneering move quickly descended into a battle of attrition. Sun was forced to pay a high price to gain full control.
The Taro move has not become as messy as that of Caraco. But it has one major common ingredient. Disgruntled but powerful minority shareholders willing to play the waiting game in order to secure their interests.
On Monday, the shareholders of Taro will vote on Sun’s acquisition proposal in Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel. A few hours after the start of Taro’s meet, the board of Sun Pharmaceuticals will meet in Mumbai to consider and discuss the first quarter results. Mr Shanghvi will chair the meet which will be attended by his trusted lieutenants, Sudhir Valia, Sailesh Prasad and independent non-executive directors Keki Mistry and Ashwin Dani.
Mr Shanghvi has already hatched a plan to thwart the ambitions of the minority shareholders. Sun is considering using the option to buy an additional 14% stake held by the promoters of Taro Pharma, in addition to the 18% stake it bought earlier in order to gain complete control.
Taro Pharma’s promoters, who own this 14% stake, have a contractual obligation to sell their shares to Sun Pharma if the latter wishes to exercise this option. Since promoters shares, referred as founders shares, carry a 33% voting right, this would immediately give Sun Pharma an effective 51% stake.
“We will improve the company’s cost structure, the productivity of its R&D, the efficiency of sourcing and manufacturing and the company’s product mix,” Mr Shanghvi told ET, confident of his deal going through. He has enough reasons to feel that way. Sun Pharma’s rapid growth and its success in the domestic and global markets is in many ways a reflection of his thinking approach and planning.
Cut back to 1982, Calcutta. As a young C&F agent for the pharma industry, Shanghvi was growing restless. Business was good, even in those days of licence raj and stifling price controls. But the young agent was bored. His job involved trading, buying drugs in bulk from the pharma companies and selling it to the pharma retailers. Cushy job but no major excitement.
“I wasn’t built to be a trader,” Mr Shanghvi says. He moved out to set up his own firm, Sun Pharmaceuticals. As a commerce graduate from a Calcutta college, his knowledge of the industry was limited but that did not stop him. He started reading, gathering information from every publication and book in the world. He read every research paper, news report about developments in the pharma industry. His wife, a pharmacist, was a great source of help.
In those days, the domestic pharma industry was a frightening place for a young entrepreneur. Fragmented, beset by low margins and stifled by severe price controls. Company executives spent more time in the corridors of power in Delhi, lobbying with bureaucrats than in trying to understand the market. Corruption was rampant and profits poor. Multinationals were in an even worse shape.
Dilip Shanghvi, who surveyed this scenario, quickly made up his mind about what he had to do. He decided that in order to survive and grow, he will have to focus his entire energies on making more money than others. Some promoters have a weakness for topline growth; others for market cap. They would spend their entire energies on boasting about their sprint in sales or their huge valuations. Mr Shanghvi had no such illusions. He realised that profit growth was the only way to succeed in this business.
But achieving high profit is also not easy, especially in a market where government control is all pervasive. The only way to do this is through niche marketing. Sun Pharma set out to identify categories, segments where competition is limited, where brand or product loyalty is high and where margins are higher. Mr Shanghvi personally sifted through the list before selecting gynaecology, cardiovascular and psychiatry. Today, Sun Pharma is not just a successful pharma company but also the one with the highest margins.
At 37% of net sales, Dr. Reddy’s Lab’s operating margin in 2006-07 comes closest to Sun’s 44%. Cipla is at about third of that, and Ranbaxy’s is even lower. Ranbaxy, Cipla and Dr Reddy’s are often mentioned in the same breath as pioneers of India’s pharma revolution and while they deserve the accolades, Sun Pharma’s performance has been equally praiseworthy.
For the four years ended March 2007, Sun grew its sales by a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.23%, higher than Ranbaxy. Cipla and Dr Reddy’s growth rates were marginally higher. Sun’s net profit has grown by 22.14% compared with a rise of 21.63% for Cipla and a drop of 9.13% for Ranbaxy. Sun’s market cap has vaulted more than eight times during this period, making it the country’s most valuable pharma company.
“He is shrewd, smart and loves the business with a passion,” says Jacob Mathew, head of MAPE Advisory Group, a boutique investment banking firm and brokerage firm.
In acquisitions, a very similar philosophy has been played out. Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy’s are often perceived to be aggressive in buyouts. Sun has also been active though it has managed to maintain a low profile. In the past 10 years, it has bought out several domestic and overseas companies. But the purchases have also been carefully calibrated and designed to secure the maximum possible at the lowest possible price.
“We wait for the right buy at the right price,” says Mr Shanghvi, who has likened his strategy to his colleagues to that of a `bottom-hunting fish’. For instance, the Taro Pharma acquisition is only about 1.5 times sales compared with the Betapharm purchase where Dr Reddy paid three times sales and the Terapia buyout where Ranbaxy paid more than four times sales. “We go in for complex products which are difficult to make and where competition is limited,” Mr Shanghvi says.
Sun’s purchase of a Hungarian plant from Valient is illustrates this strategy as it is one of the few in the world to make controlled substances. Able Labs, whose assets were bought by Sun some years ago, makes drugs to treat urinary tract infections and narcotic-based painkillers.
“Sun Pharma is the Rolls Royce of Indian pharma industry. Mr Shanghvi is absolutely focused on profit and growth. He knows his onions and the clarity of mind is amazing. He is not the guy who will waste his time with small things,” says Rajeev Gupta, managing director, Carlyle, the US buyout specialist.
Mr Shanghvi has been variously described as focused, sharp and a no-nonsense kind of a guy. In meetings, he fixed his listeners with a steady, intent gaze. His answers, delivered softly, reveal the working of his mind, while his questions are probing and pointed. The listeners, industrialists to bankers to bureaucrats, usually come away impressed.
His approach and style of functioning has also been criticised. For instance, it is said that he is a control freak, involves himself in everything whether it is product selection or marketing. A leading south-based drug maker described Mr Shanghvi as a banyan tree. Nothing grows under him, he is believed to have said.
To some extent, the criticism is true. Decisions in Sun Pharma are taken by Mr Shanghvi and a team of two senior directors, brother-in-law, Sudhir V Valia, and Sailesh T Desai. Other independent directors are also involved but the core decision making is done by this trio. “I cannot decide on things if I don’t understand how it works,” he defends himself.
Mr Shanghvi is not known to be a social animal. “I don’t known if people like me are ever satisfied,” he says with the air of a man who lives and breathes his work every day. He has seldom been spotted in parties preferring to spend his time at work or meeting people related to his job. Though intensely low profile, he can some times display sound public relations skills such as asking industry veteran Dr Anji Reddy to give some advice to his young son.
Despite his hectic schedule, there is one routine he does not miss. Getting out on Sunday mornings for a bite of tasty masala dosa in one of the south Indian restaurants in Dadar-Matunga area of Mumbai. This is perhaps one low-priced acquisition that will not get Mr Shanghvi into any trouble.

domain: economics


Defenseman reassigned from Rockford to the Indy Fuel
Rockford, Ill. - The American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs announced on Wednesday that they have reassigned defenseman Kirill Gotovets (KAH-rihl GOH-tuh-vehts) to the Indy Fuel of the ECHL.
Gotovets, 23, has registered a goal and assist in nine games for the IceHogs this season. The rookie d-man tallied his first career AHL goal in his IceHogs debut on Feb. 20, 2015 against Lake Erie.
In 38 games with the Fuel this season, Gotovets shows six goals and five assists. The four-year product of Cornell University was drafted in the seventh round (No. 183 overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
A native of Minsk, Belarus, Gotovets has appeared in one AHL game prior to this season, playing with the Milwaukee Admirals following the conclusion of his career at Cornell last spring. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound rearguard accrued three goals and 16 assists in 112 games with the Big Red.
Next Home Game: Friday, April 3 vs. Grand Rapid Griffins: Face-off is at 7 p.m. It’s Golf Rockford Night at the BMO as the first 1,500 fans into the building will receive an IceHogs “Jeff Cap” thanks to Bud Light. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. for fans 21 and older to enjoy another Blue Flame Lounge Pre-Game Party with live music courtesy of Dan Phelps.


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The Hampton University Department of Computer Science will host the 7th Annual 2012 STARS Alliance Celebration on August 11-13 at the Embassy Suites Hampton Roads – Hotel, Spa & Convention Center in Hampton, Va.
The celebration is an annual conference for faculty and students in the Students & Technology in Academia, Research & Service (STARS) Alliance. The mission of the alliance is to increase participation of women, under-represented minorities, and persons with disabilities in computing disciplines through multi-faceted interventions. The alliance focuses on students in middle school through graduate school, encouraging students to find careers in computing.
The conference will focus on best practices among STARS Alliance colleagues and within the industry while introducing fresh ideas to participants. STARS Alliance recruiting, retaining and engagement efforts are emphasized on building a more diverse computing workforce for the future.
“We are excited to host the conference in Hampton this year,” stated Dr. Jean Muhammad, chair of the HU Department of Computer Science and vice general chair of the conference. “The conference is a great opportunity to continue to expose our students to the various aspects of the computing world and encourage more engagement in the industry.”
The conference will hold breakout sessions that cover a number of topics including programming on Android phones, web development, college prep, game maker and a special session on women in IT and much more.
There are currently 31 schools involved in the STARS alliance including HU. The conference is expecting more than 350 faculty and students this year.
For additional information or to register for the STARS Celebration visit http://www.starsalliance.org/celebration.

domain: news


Solid solubility and magnetism upon Mn incorporation in bulk Cr2AlC and Cr2GaC MAX phases
2014 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Herein we report on the bulk synthesis of (Cr1-xMnx)2AlC and (Cr1-yMny)2GaC MAX phases. Scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy performed locally on MAX phase grains revealed x and y to be 0.06 (3 at.%) and 0.3 (15 at.%), respectively. The introduction of Mn into the structure did not result in appreciable changes in the c-lattice constants. Vibrating sample magnetometry measurements suggest that bulk (Cr0.7Mn0.3)2GaC may be magnetic.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IdentifiersURN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-104828OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-104828DiVA: diva2:699487


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Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Deadpool 2. If you haven’t seen the movie and don’t want surprises ruined, please leave this page immediately. If you have seen it, or don’t care about spoilers, proceed ahead. Thank you for your cooperation!
Deadpool 2 delivered in a way that almost all sequels can only dream of. Not only were they able to capture all of the humor, violence, and heart of the first film, they were also able to add more depth to their lead and supporting cast of characters. They did this not only in size, adding Domino, Cable, Yukio, and Firefist to his squad, they also added more dimensions to the characters we met during the first film.
While Wade Wilson is an incredibly complex anti-hero, regardless of what he attempts to make us believe, his buddy Colossus is a pretty straightforward hero. The perception that we had coming into this film was the straight-laced character went about his hero business one way and one way only, with honor and integrity. While that may be true, his opponent in Deadpool 2 forced his hand in terms of his personal rules of engagement. When you’re up against someone or something as brutally savage as Juggernaut, you better be ready for anything.
Editors Note: We finally feel comfortable discussing Juggernaut now that 20th Century Fox has released official photos of him!
The CG battle between Colossus and Juggernaut was most certainly one of the highlights of the film. Two enormous characters with raw strength going head to head like they did was a comicbook fan’s dream, but in this dream, it seemed as if Colossus was in over his head. Dan Glass, the film’s production VFX supervisor explained that Colossus being overmatched was actually the key to get him to go where we never expected him to go. Per IndieWire, “He grabs the fence post and stabs him in the eye and the groin,” added Glass. “He gets down to Deadpool’s level.”
By the end of the film it looks like while Deadpool’s X-Men buddies are still trying to make a hero out of the Merc with a Mouth, he’s actually rubbing off on them as well. The X-Force film is looking more and more promising by the day. Also, how about a Deadpool 3?

domain: entertainment


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If your really in the mix of Philadelphia, then you know about TrapStreet. One of the faces of the movement is TrapStreet Moe. This week he released a new record called “Lean on me” which was produced by Dougie. Checkout the dope record below and be on the lookout for more music and videos from TrapStreet and TrapStreet Moe!!
© 2017, RickDange. All rights reserved.

domain: artistic


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- this page: ALT currencies -any, complimentary, eco, energy, ideal, next currencies
- see also on gg
- ALT currencies local
- ALT currencies – eco- green- sustainable- degrowh- democratised- ideal- MONEY, demurrage
- ALT currencies -commercial –digital -blockchain -crypto, bitcoin , internet -big tech, -metaverse, web3
- Digital Money News – CBDC, sovereign digital currencies, monetary politics archive
- monetary fiscal US/UK
- monetary fiscal EU
- monetary reform
- monetary reform B Lietaer M Kennedy
- post 4/2021 Digital Corrections – Will Crypto Save Capitalism, and the FED?
- post 5/2021 CBDC Govecoins : Does The Economist unveil the endogenous engine of capitalism?
- see also
> Economic Sociology, New Media, Internet Studies, Digital Media, Economic Anthropology, New Media Art, Crowdsourcing, Mobile Money, Bitcoin
Contributors: Irwan Abdalloh, Franco “Bifo” Berardi, Robert van Boeschoten, Finn Brunton, Paolo Cirio, Jim Costanzo, Primavera De Filippi, Eduard de Jong, Irina Enache, Andrea Fumagalli, David Golumbia, Max Haiven, Keith Hart, Samer Hassan, Ralph Heidenreich, Stefan Heidenreich, Geert Lovink, Bill Maurer, Rachel O’Dwyer, Pekka Piironen, Lena Rethel, Renée Ridgway, Andrew Ross, Stephanie Rothenberg, Douglas Rushkoff, Saskia Sassen, Inge Ejbye Sørensen, Lana Swartz, Erin B. Taylor, Tiziana Terranova, Nathaniel Tkacz, Pablo Velasco González, Akseli Virtanen and Beat Weber.
The MoneyLab Reader brings developments in crowdfunding, currency design, technologies of payment, and other economic experiments into dialogue. The authors of this volume discuss the implications of the current architecture of global finance, its impact on ever-growing income disparity, and question money and finance as such. It is not always clear, for instance, whether genuine alternatives are unfolding or if we are simply witnessing the creative extension of neoliberalism. At stake is the full spectrum of technologies of economic (re)distribution.
ALT currencies trust, finance
maroonmacro.substack.com 23-4-2022 Consensus Mechanisms in Traditional Finance and Decentralized Finance – Maroon Macro
In Issue #36 of Monetary Mechanics, I introduced the idea that blockchain-based finance (i.e. decentralized finance a.k.a. DeFi) is a fundamental improvement in the accounting of economic transactions that facilitates the expression of a whole series of novel financial functions. This expansion in financial functions will undoubtedly be commensurate with the historic explosions in the volume and variety of economic activity that are associated with the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the post-WWII economic boom.
In this issue of Monetary Mechanics, I am going to focus on the common problems that both traditional finance and decentralized finance try to solve, as well as the different methods that each financial system uses to try to solve these common problems, in order to further flesh out the aforementioned idea. On the surface, it seems that the two financial systems have their own unique concerns, challenges, and jargons. At heart, however, the two financial systems actually attempt to solve the same problem – establishing and maintaining trust in economic systems. …”…
theperfectcurrency.org – The Perfect Currency website is dedicated to the creation of a currency standard which will provide both a stable base for commercial transactions and a monetary system which will fully illuminate the process of human and environmental real wealth creation.
Most people, no matter what their background, find the subject of monetary systems somewhat intimidating. Certainly there are huge complexities and nebulous concepts in this field of discussion
fair-coin.org/de EINE ÖKOLOGISCHE WÄHRUNG FÜR EINE FAIRE WIRTSCHAFT
Unsere Mission : Eine Währung zu schaffen, die stabil, global und unbestechlich ist. Unser Ziel ist die Schaffung eines innovativen glokalen Wirtschaftssystems von unten nach oben zugunsten eines alternativen und postkapitalistischen Modells, das den Weg für einen kollektiven Wandel hin zu einem Leben auf der Grundlage gemeinsamer Werte ebnet. FairCoin ist unser Tauschmittel. Sein Wert wird von der Gemeinschaft bestimmt und er wird nie abgewertet. Der laufende Neubewertungsprozess von FairCoin trägt dazu bei, den Wohlstand innerhalb der Gemeinschaft mit Hilfe der Währung zu verteilen. Zusammenarbeit, Ethik, Solidarität und Transparenz sind Schlüsselfaktoren, damit wir ein wirklich gerechtes System für alle schaffen können. Die Entwicklung und der Einsatz leistungsfähiger vernetzter digitaler Werkzeuge (global) und regionaler Netzwerke (lokal) sind entscheidend für unseren Erfolg.
terra.money 2001 Terra is a programmable money for the internet that is easier to spend, and more attractive to hold. Available on all leading blockchains. The concept was proposed by Bernard A. Lietaer in 2001, based on a similar proposal from the 1930s.
- TERRA RESEARCH Medium: https://medium.com/terra-money/resear…
- Agora: https://agora.terra.money
- White Paper: https://terra.money/Terra_White_paper…
- COMMUNITY Twitter: https://twitter.com/terra_money
- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/seZ9BUa
- Telegram: https://t.me/TerraLunaChat
- Telegram Announcements: https://t.me/terra_announcements
- RESOURCES Website: https://terra.money
- Docs: https://docs.terra.money
- Terra Station: https://station.terra.money
- Hiring: https://terra.breezy.hr
academia.edu 2012 The promiscuous history of market efficiency: the development of early emissions trading systems by Richard Lane
To investigate the ‘promiscuous history’ of the efficiency of emissions trading markets, I draw from Actor Network Theory and specifically the work of Bruno Latour, highlighting how the commonly made claim to efficiency was constructed as a ‘fact’. I trace the processes, beginning in the early 1970s, that constructed first the inefficiency of command-and-control regulation through the distinction between the means and the ends of regulation, and the conversion of the specific 1970 Clean Air Act regulations into the archetypal form of command-and-control. Alongside this, the efficiency of emissions trading was constructed through the provision of empirical, modeling evidence and the re-construction of the Environmental Protection Agency’s early Emissions Trading System as an ‘ad hoc’ implementation of ‘pure’ economic theory. In this way specific regulatory forms were translated into a seemingly universal economic narrative, and emissions trading was stabilised as a regulatory technology applicable to multiple environmental pollutants. Keywords: emissions trading; CAA; environmental economics; Actor Network Theory
monneta.org/ Welche Probleme birgt unser Geldsystem? Geld ist eine der genialsten Erfindungen der Menschheit. Doch zugleich verursacht das heutige Geldsystem schwere Probleme – Das Geldsystem ist von Menschen gemacht. Es ist nicht alternativlos sondern kann reformiert werden. Wie – dazu gibt es viele Ideen
monneta.org/en/ What problems are hidden in our current monetary system? What solutions are proposed to make money serve us all?
newmoneyhub.com New Money Hub is a think tank focusing on monetary theory and stable economic systems. Our research is supporting the development of sikoba, a decentralised money platform that is based on peer-to-peer IOUs and credit conversion.
“Using mutual credit systems that are not backed by money, but by IOUs of particpants who trust each other, the need for an external money supply is limited to a minimum. Every peer-to-peer credit relationship is governed by a contract with specific conditions, fee structure and repayment rules. Using credit conversion, payments between participants who do not trust each other become possible. The system will automatically take care of optimal payment paths, netting and clearing. We will support fiat money via gateways, cryptocurrencies as well as many use cases such as inter-company credit networks. Our goal is to provide a platform for operating any monetary system one can think of, together with the tools allowing all of these different systems to interact.”
Please visit the www.sikoba.com website for more details.
= We are developing the Credit Conversion Theory of Money, which is an extension of the Credit Theory of Money as originally proposed by Alfred Mitchell Innes.
= We wish to reposition Economics as a branch of moral philosophy. In our view the most important unresolved question of economics is that of stable economic systems and we are working on an approach which we tentatively call civilised economic systems.
= Finally, we have an interest in crypto-finance technology, especially as far as the development of systems that are both distributed and secure.

domain: finance


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1 tube (10 oz.) refrigerated pizza dough
1 C. sauerkraut (well-drained)
1 T. Thousand Island salad dressing
4 slices of corned beef - halved
4 slices of swiss cheese - halved
Roll dough into a 12” by 9” rectangle. Cut into 8 3” x 4 1/2” rectangles. Combine sauerkraut and salad dressing. Place a slice of beef on each rectangle. Top with about 2 Tbs. Of the sauerkraut mixture and a slice of cheese. Roll up. Place with seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 - 14 minutes or until golden.

domain: food


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Kennedy feels right at home on Daytona track
January 13, 2014, Holly Cain, NASCAR.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ben Kennedy has endured Florida's blazing summer heat parking cars in the Daytona International Speedway grass lots and spent hours after a race picking up trash in the massive grandstands.
As mother Lesa France Kennedy helped run the family business across the street, a school-age Ben interacted with NASCAR fans while working the pit crew exhibit at the former Daytona USA attraction. And he's been trackside one way or another for every Daytona 500 since he was born in December 1991.
On Monday, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.'s great grandson turned his first "official" laps on his family's beloved Daytona 2.5-mile high-banks -- even posting the fastest lap (182.168 mph) of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' opening Preseason Thunder test session that morning.
"This is actually my first time driving around here in a race car," a smiling Kennedy said during a lunch break Monday. "I've been around here riding in a DP (sports car prototype) and in a pace car. But to actually be able to drive around here in an actual (NASCAR) race car is something really cool."
Kennedy posted the second fastest time (190.925 mph) in the afternoon session behind Turner Scott Motorsports teammate Jeb Burton.
After winning twice last year in NASCAR's K&N Pro Series East, the 22-year-old Kennedy will make his sixth national series start and Daytona debut in the Feb. 21 Truck Series opener driving the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Scott Motorsports.
It will be the first time a member of the France family -- Kennedy's mother is International Speedway Corporation's CEO -- has competed in a NASCAR national series race at Daytona.
"It was cool doing all the different things," Kennedy said, recalling in detail all the jobs his mother insisted he try. "It was kinda neat figuring out where I'm strong at or where I don't want to get involved too much. I still remember I made a sign for the flag stand in the decal shop one year … stuff like that got me really excited.
"I sort of know the background stuff and I think it has helped me understand the sport better."
In addition to a full season campaigning for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the Truck Series, Kennedy is preparing to graduate with a degree in sports management from the University of Florida in May.
And Kennedy is still expanding his skill set, currently spending his last semester as a Gator with an internship in the NBC Sports communications office in Stamford, Conn., where he is maintaining a 9-to-5 existence working out of a cubicle, assembling news clippings and preparing to help out behind the scenes with NBC's Winter Olympics coverage. He just found out this week that a break in his Truck Series racing schedule will afford him the opportunity to walk in his graduation ceremony.
Despite his pedigree, Kennedy seemingly operates under the radar, putting on no airs. Sure, he has the luxury of a few family friends -- Carl Edwards and Bill Elliott, for example -- to call on for driving advice. But other than a group of photographers snapping his photo and a steady line of reporters waiting for interviews at his team's hauler Monday, Kennedy comes across as just "one of the guys."
"Man, Ben is a great guy," said Burton, the son of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton. "He's really cool, down to earth. I look forward to working with him. He's going to be really good this year I feel like. He's learning a lot every week, and the races he ran last year has just built him for this year. He's going to be a good teammate for Turner Scott Motorsports."
And that's high praise as far as Kennedy is concerned.
"Racing's in my blood right now and I want to do the most I can," Kennedy said. "To learn as much as I can and try to make a career out of it, take all the steps I can and do it in the right manner and see if something comes out of it.
"I'm born and raised in Daytona. Most of my life I've never lived farther than a 10-15 minute drive from the race track. Daytona is my home track. To actually be able to race here after being around the track after so many years and doing so many things … to see it all come along, and now have this opportunity to race here, it's awesome."

domain: sports


Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler told his supporters over the weekend via email that his is innocent and has no plans to resign. Read More in FOX News. Read More in Red Pill NOWlej.
About The Author
January 30, 2024
Scandal in Poland: Consulates Were Selling Temporary Work Visas to Immigrants – Investigation Could Hurt Conservative Government’s Chances in October Vote
September 18, 2023


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Blind Faith Productions sat down with our very own film-making guru Denis Theriault for a little Q & A about his journey in theatre and film so far. Theriault plays Henry, the 17-year-old, free-spirited musician in our upcoming production of Next To Normal at The Fredericton Playhouse Aug. 28-Sept. 1.
BFP: What was the first show you were ever involved in?
THERIAULT: I think it was a variety show at The Blackbox Theatre, directed by the always fantastic Leigh Rivenbark. It starred Measha Brueggergosman, Tania Breen and Tony LePage, among others.
BFP: Do you prefer acting for film or for the theatre?
THERIAULT: Definitely film. They’re two completely different beasts, but with film, I like the subtlety and reality of it. Theatre is much bigger and, well…theatrical! This show might change my mind though!
BFP: What has been your favorite role to play so far?
THERIAULT: Radley Weil in Gia Milani’s film All the Wrong Reasons. It’s the juiciest and most extensive role I’ve ever played. The fact that she entrusted this great character to me was an honor.
BFP: What role would you love to play that you haven’t yet?
THERIAULT: I’d love to get the chance to play a real person. An historical figure even. I’d love to dig right in, research them, and interview people who knew them–all to create a more rounded and realistic portrayal. I think that would be an interesting challenge.
BFP: What is the scariest part of an audition?
THERIAULT: Letting your inhibitions go. The moment you can do that, and not care if you make a fool of yourself, you’re set!
BFP: What show could you do for years?
THERIAULT: Next to Normal!!!
BFP: What are you auditioning for next?
THERIAULT: I just auditioned for Beethoven 5 actually (yes, THAT Beethoven) and also an upcoming CBC kids show.
BFP: What is the strangest thing a role required you to do?
THERIAULT: I’ve had to snort “pixie sticks” sugar in order to emulate drug use. That was an interesting one.
BFP: Have you ever forgotten your lines, or a prop, or choreography during a performance? What happened?
THERIAULT: Totally. I remember once, during a rehearsal for a TNB production of Chicago, the stage went quiet. I said out loud (and I was also mic’d) “Ok, who the heck forgot their line?”
It was me. I had forgotten. Totally embarrassing.
BFP: What is something embarrassing or unexpected that happened to you on stage?
THERIAULT: During a production of TNB’s “Big” I ran out on stage, looked out into the audience and quickly glimpsed a friend of mine’s face. In that moment, I totally forgot at what point in the show we were. I totally blanked out and froze like a deer in headlights!
Next to Normal runs from Thursday August 29 to Sunday September 1, with a special preview performance on Wednesday, August 28. All performances are at 7:30pm and take place in The Fredericton Playhouse Studio Space.
For tickets, contact The Fredericton Playhouse box office in person, by phone at 506-458-8344 or online at www.theplayhouse.ca.


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Donkey Kong Country Returns was a great comeback for the big ape, reintroducing lots of classic elements from the original SNES games while also introducing more new elements to the series than all the New Super Mario Bros. games combined did for the Mario franchise. It positioned DK as the "hardcore" Nintendo character. It was the game you played if you wanted a challenge. After the great success of DKCR on the Wii, and later on the 3DS, it's no surprise that Nintendo and Retro Studios would be eager to return to DK's country once again. The result is Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze for the Wii U.
As a sequel, Tropical Freeze is the real deal. Not simply content to present more of the same, Tropical Freeze takes everything up a notch from its predecessor. New graphics, new villains, new locations, new characters. Veteran composer Dave Wise returns to the series with a brilliant new soundtrack that is far less reliant on remixes than the last game. Even tiny details, like Donkey Kong's various grunts and yells he makes, are all new and not just recycled from previous games. Every facet of the game has been updated or improved in some way and it goes a long way toward making Tropical Freeze feel like a brand new experience, and not just more of the same. In an era when Nintendo sequels often feel nearly indistinguishable from their forerunners, it's great to see a sequel go all out to actually get players excited about coming back to the world of Donkey Kong Country again.
The basic gameplay remains largely the same as Returns. DK still controls as well as ever, with his requisite collection of moves in tact. He can still run, jump, roll, cling onto vines and grass, carry and throw items, and pound the ground. Also back is the control scheme as the 3DS version of the game, which means it's buttons all the way again if you hated having to waggle to roll. Also gone this time around is the bizarre blowing mechanic from the last game. In its place is a new pulling mechanic that allows DK to grab onto handles in the ground and pull them out. The results of pulling out one of these handles can be as simple as causing a banana to pop out of the ground or as complex as making an entire set-piece fall into place. It's a good replacement for blowing that makes a lot more sense than stopping to have DK blow on dandelions every few feet.
Just like before, DK has a real sense of weight to him that makes him very satisfying to control. You really do feel like you're controlling a powerful beast as you make DK lumber around the levels and cause the screen the shake when he pounds on things. The downside to this sense of weight is, of course, that DK is heavy and drops like a rock into pits if you miss your jumps. To help combat that, DK can find barrels to toss that cause a buddy to jump on his back for a little assistance and some extra health. This time around, DK even has his choice of three unique sidekicks. Diddy Kong returns, working exactly as he did in the last game, with a jetpack that provides a little extra hang time and distance in the air. Dixie Kong is similar to Diddy, but her helicopter hair allows DK to gain a little extra height as well as distance after jumping, similar to Yoshi's famous flutter jump. Finally, Cranky Kong joins the fray as well. Cranky doesn't bestow DK with any extra airtime, but he can pogo bounce with his cane, Scrooge McDuck style, to get a little extra jump height and traverse on hazardous surfaces.
Tropical Freeze largely allows the player to choose which sidekick Kong they want to use at any given time, which is nice. Buddy barrels are also distributed a bit more liberally around the game than they were in Returns, which means it's a little bit easier to get your partner back if you git hit a couple times and lose them. For the most part, the levels are never designed to favor one Kong over any other, but when there is a particular character the game intends for you to use, it does a pretty good job of providing clues without just sticking a "Cranky" sign on the ground, or whatever. That said, if you're the sort who has to collect all the secrets in each level, it can be a little aggravating to find a secret area that is inaccessible because you don't have the right sidekick with you.
It's also worth noting that Diddy Kong is rendered almost worthless by the inclusion of Dixie, as her added jump height pretty much renders Diddy's horizontal boost obsolete. There's never a good reason to use Diddy over Dixie, so you'll probably never use him again after the first level forces you to. Two-player co-op mode returns, as expected, with player one using DK and the second player controlling one of the three other Kongs. Just like the last game, however, the level of precision required to navigate the difficult level design means that Tropical Freeze is best experienced alone.
The level design of Tropical Freeze should feel pretty familiar to players familiar with Returns. Once again there is a strong emphasis on each level having some sort of distinct set-piece to call its own, ensuring that every single level throughout the game is unique and memorable. The usual set of K-O-N-G letters and puzzle pieces remain strewn about for thorough players to collect. That being said, the level design this time around doesn't feel quite as inspired as it did before. It could simply be a matter of familiarity. Returns constantly surprised players with dynamic levels that changed or crumbled as you played through them. Tropical Freeze ups the ante on that front, with a lot of levels changing dramatically as you progress through them, often resulting in very little solid ground to stand on. That said, the wow-factor isn't quite as high since you go in expecting such spectacles this time. Additionally, the sense of flow and precision of Returns doesn't feel quite as present and perfected in Tropical Freeze.
It's a minor complaint, though, as Tropical Freeze is still a lot of fun to play. It may not be quite as impressive as before, but the amount of variety on display here is still pretty staggering. No two levels feel quite the same. Mine cart levels and rocket barrel levels are also used much more sparingly, addressing one of my biggest problems with the last game. Swimming returns for Tropical Freeze, after being ditched for Returns. It's about as fun as swimming ever is in a 2D platformer. Which is to say, not that fun. But it's not too aggravating either, and the swimming levels are invariably accompanied by beautiful music. Boss battles are also noticeably more involved than the last game, too. They teeter on the edge of being frustrating, as they all feature multiple phases that must be replayed if you die late in the fight. However, all the bosses are inventive and memorable, and they are just fun enough to be worth the moments of irritation that come with them.
The level of difficulty has definitely not been toned down for Tropical Freeze, but the oft-criticized Super Guide does not return to patronize players with it's white-flag-waving pig. Instead, a lot of the difficulty-softening items from DCKR3D's "New Mode" return, giving players numerous ways to make getting through levels and beating bosses a little easier. Players can take barrels with them into levels to ensure they've got the partner they want. They can also give themselves an extra heart of health, use a balloon item to save themselves from falling into a pit, and more. This is a welcome change because, while the ability to make the game a little more forgiving is possible by stocking up on items in the shop, it's entirely up to the player to decide if they want to do so. The game doesn't hold your hand at all. Tropical Freeze is as easy or as difficult if you want to make it.
From a visual standpoint, Tropical Freeze is a wonder to behold. The level of visual detail has been cranked way up over Returns, which was already no slouch in the graphics department. Levels are lush, detailed, and lively, with multiple layers of background details and all sorts of little touches here and there to add visual interest. The world themes are pretty diverse in Tropical Freeze. There's still the requisite jungle and cavern type levels, but there are also levels based on locations like Sweden and the African savanna. Each world is unique and beautiful. It also must be said that, as Nintendo was keen to point out, DK does have actual fur in this game and it really is quite impressive. It's not just a static texture or anything like that. It actually moves and reacts to what DK is doing. It's a small thing, but its testament to the level of polish Retro Studios has bestowed on Tropical Freeze. Visually, it's pretty much flawless. This is the best looking game available for the Wii U right now.


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Still basking in the glory of giving us Nobody, the biggest song of 2020, DJ Neptune is back again with another hit song, Music “Messiah“
This time, the ageless DJ is teaming up with the incredible genius, Wande Coal on this amazing sound.
Messiahby DJ Neptune Ft. Wande Coal
What do you think about this song?
We want to hear from you all.
Drop your comments
RECOMMENDED SONGS FOR YOU 👇Fireboy DML Ft. Asake – Bandana P-Square – Find Somebody BNXN (Buju) Ft. Wande Coal – Kenkele Adekunle Gold – 5 Star Iyanya Ft. Davido x Kizz Daniel – Like Magixx – Shaye Barry Jhay – Time Zone Korede Bello – Bella M.I Abaga – The Guy Bad Boy Timz – Iz Going Click here to see more hot songs
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EFCC has revealed why Buhari’s Former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq reportedly shunned their invite.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, did not shun its invitation, as reported by a section of the media.
This Nigeria news platform understands that the EFCC is investigating a significant financial scandal, allegedly involving a N37.1 billion fraud during her tenure, reportedly linked to a contractor named James Okwete.
Despite being scheduled to report at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, at 10:00 am on January 3, 2024, Umar-Farouq did not show up, leaving the investigators waiting for over eight hours. There was no official communication from her or her representatives explaining the absence.
The EFCC had written Umar Farouq to appear for questioning in furtherance of the ongoing probe.
“Hajia Sadiya didn’t show up at our office today for interrogation. In fact, she kept interrogators waiting for hours. Meanwhile, our operatives may arrest her this week and bring her in for questioning if she fails to show up tomorrow,” an official of the EFCC told The PUNCH.
But in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, explained that the former minister sent a letter that she couldn’t honour the invitation because she was indisposed due to health challenges.
He said: ”It is true that she didn’t show up, but she sent a letter pleading for more time, explaining that she had some health challenges.
”She didn’t shun the EFCC invitation. She actually gave reasons why she couldn’t meet up
”Her lawyer was also at the commission to brief the anti-graft agency of why she couldn’t come or honour the invitation.”
Oyewale said the commission had considered her plea and expected that she would honour the invitation without further delay, adding that there might not be any reason for her arrest as she had done the needful through her lawyer.
He also explained that the N37.1 billion being branded might not be a correct figure for the money misappropriated by the ministry.
”On the figure that is being branded, I cannot categorically confirm the figure because it is an ongoing thing, We are still tracing all the transactions here and there. It may be more than that.
”We can’t publish a figure now until we finish the tracking, and it may be more than what is being brandished now,” he said.


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Louer une Voiture à Rhodes Atlantica Imperial Resort & Spa (LIVRAISON GRATUITE)
LOUER UNE VOITURE À KOLYMBIA
he Atlantica Imperial Resort is in a wonderful out-of-the-way spot. Better still, Kolymbia's sand and shingle beach is on the doorstep providing you with breathtaking views over the bay.It’s a the perfect location to start from and explore the island, Rent a car on line from Rhorent in the Atlantica Imperial resort and you will be starting your trips wright from the center of the island 25 kilometers from Rhodes town and exactly the same distance from the magnificent village of Lindos
We provide free parking for all our customers!!!
Période d’ Activités: De 01/01 À 31/12

domain: geography


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Durbin: Congress Can't Continue To Look The Other Way As For-Profit College Industry Exploits Students, Fleeces Taxpayers
Senator critical of ECMC; Says new owner of defunct Corinthian Colleges is already failing to live up to promises
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that Congress can’t continue to look the other way when it comes to abuses by the for-profit colleges that - in some cases - take in more than 90% of their revenue from the federal government yet account for these startling lopsided statistics.
- Educate 10% of students;
- Receive 20% of all federal aid to education; yet are
- Responsible for 44% of all student loan defaults.
“How can we continue to give these outrageous, scandalous subsidies to these worthless companies? It’s time for us to do something about this. Shame on us for making speeches about reducing the deficit and helping struggling students while we ignore the obvious. The for-profit college industry needs to be thoroughly investigated and carefully monitored,” said Durbin.
“Take ECMC - the new owner of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. - which told me they would eliminate practices of the for-profit college industry like requiring binding, mandatory arbitration for students – a promise they have already failed to live up to in the fine print of their enrollment contract. It’s clear now that ECMC has missed an opportunity to do the right thing and help regain the trust of students scarred by their Corinthian experience. In their deal with the Department of Education, ECMC has ensured that students who are wronged have to challenge the school alone and cannot make their case in front of a jury of their peers.”
Video of Durbin’s floor statement will be available shortly here.
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Charles Udoh reacts to Youth and Constituted authorities, donates sewing machine to radio caller
Youths in the state have been urged to uphold the age-old moral values of Akwa Ibom people by showing respect to constituted authorities and the elderly in the society.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Charles Udoh, gave the charge today in Uyo while interacting with callers on a Radio Programme, “Akwa Ibom Rising”, a Live phone-in programme on Inspiration 105.9 FM.
Charles Udoh frowned at the situation where youths go online to abuse the Governor who is the number one father of the state, reiterating that, insulting the Governor or the office of the Governor is against biblical injunction and traditional laws of the land which go with repercussion.
He said Governor Udom Emmanuel has been celebrated within and outside Nigeria and even globally for his commitment to sustainable development of the state and wonders why few youths and indigenes in vantage position should erode our values and debase morals by maligning the Governor and insulting his person and office.
Udoh advised the youths to fashion out a meaningful future for themselves by getting themselves prepared for the future demands of cottage industries operating in the state by getting the right professional training and skills that will position them for the different value chain opportunities in all those companies in such areas as distributorship, supply and media services, among others.
He warned them not to allow pittance from unscrupulous members of the society in high places to block their chances of benefitting from the d ividends of good governance of Governor Udom Emmanuel adding that all the industries in the state are real and in operation.
“Do not allow people to deceive you. These industries you hear are real. You can see, touch and feel them. If you doubt, come to my office let me take you there. I will make sure the visit is beamed on television”, Charles Udoh emphasized.
On criticism, the Information Boss said the present government is not against criticism but is open to constructive criticisms that will contribute to the development of the state stating that the desire to attract contributions from the people necessitated the opening-up of the Udomcares Citizen Centre for views, suggestions and feedback from the people.
Expressing that, the Citizen Centre is opened Monday to Friday within the hours of 9am to 4pm, Udoh said sms and whatsapp messages only are received at the Centre and gave the number and email of the Udomcares Citizen Centre as 09076173782 and email@example.com respectively.
And in a spontaneous reaction to one of the callers, Ofonime who requested for assistance, the Commissioner offered a Sewing machine to him to assist his daughter start up a sewing business in Calabar.
It would be recalled that, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Charles Udoh had few weeks ago donated a sewing machine to a caller while on Planet FM and also donated towards the burial expenses of a bereaved caller. The donation to Ofonime is one of the numerous donations the Information Boss has recently been undertaking while on different sensitization and public awareness radio programmes.


Drones Hey, Top Guns: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. Nov. 28, 2012 Share Read Later Navy photo / Northrop Grumman / Alan RadeckiWho cares if the Chinese just landed for the first time on an aircraft carrier. On Monday, an unmanned aircraft landed (ok, so it wasn’t actually flying) on the flight deck of the USS Harry S Truman at Maryland’s Patuxent River naval station. The Navy plans handling tests with the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System that could lead to unmanned aircraft on carrier decks.


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i left my heart in phoenix (just a tiny little piece)...
Phoenix, Arizona, the roof of over 1 million citizens making it the 6th biggest city in the Unites States of America, the home of the Grand Canyon National Park and one the top copper producers in the US. But what I thought would be an adventure in the desert by being surrounded by thousands of cactuses, instead, became an urban trek on the search for the finest street art of the Roosevelt Row.
The Roosevelt Row (also known as the "RoRo") is one of the most prominent and creative areas of Phoenix. Although the neighbourhood has been around for over more than a centennial, it was not until the late 90s that it started to become the modern Row of today. Artists saw a huge potential in this part of the town of Phoenix and took over the older homes and crack houses and transformed them into studios since the rents were extremely low. Nowadays, the RoRo is flourishing with vintage clothing shops and bookshops, boutiques, some vegan/vegetarian restaurants and some beautiful and touching artwork.
The colours play an important role in most of the street art of the area. Most of it is vibrant and offers quite a rich palette, which compensates and fills in for colourless natural Arizonian landscape, due to the dryness of the city all year round. There is also a strong presence of Mexican imageries dispersed throughout the Row such as skulls (chicanos), religious themes and even mariachis.
What struck me the most was the essence of every work that I was able to look and contemplate in awe. Each and everyone of the street art was flowing together just like if they were all made to fit together no matter how contrasting they were. The inconstancy created constancy and the commitment to find the equation was rather irrelevant. The Row has picked my curiosity and has stolen my heart. The only thing that I regret is to not have stayed longer.
Matt Parsons, 28, photographer (though all the snapshots above were taken by an iphone) and compulsive traveler, lives in Toronto, Canada


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The Best ways to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim in 4 Hours or Less:
Grand Canyon has a variety of weather patterns that move around it. Generally speaking, the North Rim elevations go from over 8,000 feet to 7,000 feet above sea level. This creates weather that is cooler and enjoys more precipitation. The South Rim elevations go from 6,000 to 7,000 feet and although cool at night, can warm up dramatically during the day. Grand Canyon West is in the 4,000 elevation range and enjoys quite moderate and warm temperatures. Grand Canyon East is in the 4,000 elevation range and enjoys quite moderate and warm temperatures, as well.
Visiting Grand Canyon’s West Canyon The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located at Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Tribal lands. Click here for the Grand Canyon Skywalk price, tickets and address. Temperatures in the summer are warmer than at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon West Tour Center Grand Canyon West – Prices and Tickets General Admission Starting at $39 This admits one Adult or Child for the Day to the Hualapai Nation and Grand Canyon West for the Day The Skywalk Add
Grand Canyon West and Skywalk Ticket Prices You can Book Online at GrandCanyonWest.com: General Admission is Only $39 Skywalk is Only $20 Meal Ticket starting at $19 Zip Line CLOSED for 2020, Reserve Now for 2021 (open seasonally from March
Navajo Bridge is actually located on Navajo Tribal Lands at the northeast portion of the Grand Canyon that we generally recognize as the East Rim. The Colorado River, flowing through Marble Canyon, flows under Navajo Bridge. Marble Canyon is considered by many to
Attractions | Hiking | Camping | Whitewater Rafting | Water Sports ATTRACTIONS Little Colorado River Tribal Park – Located at the junction of Highway 89 and Highway 64 in Cameron, Arizona and on the path to the Grand Canyon, stop and see the Little Colorado River Tribal
Description of Arizona’s Monsoon Season Generally when people speak of monsoons it brings a mental image of the horrendous torrential rains that plague Southeastern Asia. In Arizona we speak of monsoon rains when we have thunderstorms that produce two or
Attractions | Ranger Programs | Hiking | Biking | Camping | River Running | Mule Trips ATTRACTIONS Grand Canyon North Rim Scenic Drive – The remote quiet beauty of the North Rim can be appreciated on the Scenic drive. Along the route, there are pull-outs and viewpoints to


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Vredestein Quatrac Pro 235/60-17 Tire
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A Fairly Odd Summer The gang heads to Hawaii for vacation, but Timmy ends up putting the whole Fairy World in danger. Now, he must defeat Crocker and Foop in a magical adventure that may change his future forever. The newest "Fairly Odd" movie has just premiered. Click in the title to know more.
Cast & Crew
Mark Chang is the Prince of Yugopotamia and a close friend of Timmy Turner. After his planned marriage to the homicidal alien Princess Mandie drove him from his homeworld, Mark Chang became a resident of Dimmsdale. In order to blend in with the human populace, Mark Chang uses a special device called a Fake-i-fier which allows him to take on the form of a human boy, or sometimes monsters and objects when the device malfunctions. Like all Yugopotamians, Mark Chang hates things that humans love such as candy, hugs, and kisses, and loves garbage, manure, and considers Vicky the Babysitter's evil attitude appealing. Vicky has seen Mark in his alien form before, but she thinks he is a foreign exchange student from Europe who is wearing a costume for a comic convention. Recently, Mark returned to his planet and married Mandie, but it turned out to be a ruse and she merely wanted power over his planet. After Mandie was defeated, Mark decided to remain on Earth, his spaceship poorly (yet effectively) hidden in the Dimmsdale Junkyard. See the full article by clicking here.
Nickelodeon has scheduled lots of new episodes of "The
Fairly OddParents" this Summer. There'll be four weeks of
new episodes, leading up to the premiere of the all new live-action
movie "A Fairly Odd Summer".
Here's a full list of every episode coming this Summer:


Do you need to replace or improve your current shower head but you’re unsure which shower system will best suit your needs? This is a predicament that every buyer finds themselves in when they are about to make a critical decision.
These three shower head manufacturers are well-known for producing high-quality, dependable, and long-lasting products that, in general, tick all of the must-have boxes in a shower system.
However, you may require overall advice to determine which shower model is best in terms of value for money, water profile, and functionality.
So, in this detailed post, we conducted an in-depth review of the three shower systems with a head-to-head comparison, highlighting the important features that distinguish them.
This will enable our valued readers to make an informed decision that will not only improve their showering experience but also acquire a shower system that will last a long time.
We did detailed reviews of each shower system after the comparison table and verdict.
But here’s a head-to-head comparison of important elements that set them apart in terms of flow rate, pricing, shower components, measurements, material, and installation methods.
First here is a summary of our findings.
We all desire a refreshing and stimulating showering experience after a good night’s sleep, which is critical because an amazing showering experience sets the tone for the rest of the day.
So, which company makes a superior shower system that not only has modern features but also provides good value for money?
We believe that the Delta Chrome T17293 shower system is the best and outperformed the three shower systems analyzed in this post, based on some of the most important criteria that must be present in a shower system.
- Both of the three shower heads include a hand shower and a fixed shower head, but the delta shower shower system includes a two-in-one shower that provides a more complete showering experience by combining a fixed shower head and a handheld shower head with a 69″ hose length for greater flexibility when showering.
- The delta outperforms the rest of the water temperature balancing, which monitors the water temperature flowing from the shower head and prevents rapid changes in water temperature from cold to hot or hot to cold by regulating the safe temperature of +/-3 degrees F (+/-1.6 degrees C).
- The three shower systems have a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute, which is standard water usage, but the delta and kohler are fully certified by watersense because of their ability to decrease water waste when bathing.
- Both shower system systems are made of solid metal and have a gleaming chrome finish that is resistant to corrosion and withstands frequent usage, making them long-lasting.
In terms of value for money, both of the three shower systems are the best because they all provide an amazing showering experience.
However, we believe the delta shower head is the best of the three because it offers more value in terms of multiple features and the price tag as it is the cheapest of the three and comes with amazing features that outperform the rest.
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Delta Chrome T17293 – 17 Series Dual-Function Shower System
Our top selection shower system comes from the Delta Faucet company, a well-known established manufacturer of high-quality, elegant, and long-lasting kitchen and bathroom accessories.
Furthermore, the hand and shower head provides incredible constant streams of shower water with the appropriate volume and warmth to relax fatigued and tight muscles.
The water streams are strong enough to rinse the soap and shampoo from your entire body and hair within seconds.
This Delta shower has a waterSense label that saves up to 20% every time you shower and a water temperature regulator that prevents unexpected changes of cold and hot water when bathing. This will ensure you do not suffer from a sudden shock produced by a change in water temperature.
- Brand: Delta Faucet.
- Flow Rate: 2 Gallons Per Minute.
- Installation Process: Wall Mounted.
- Included Components: Shower head, Hand shower, hose, Shower trim Kit.
- Finish: Chrome.
Reasons to Buy
- Dual-function shower system that produces a consistent and forceful spray of water.
- Regulates the temperature of Hot, warm, and cold water precisely.
- Rust-proof shower system that is long-lasting.
- Touch-clean spray holes help to avoid limescale buildup.
Reason Not to Buy
- A plumber may be required for shower system installation.
Kohler – K-76472-CP Artifact Shower System
If you want an all-in-one shower system with a hand shower, an adjustable shower head, and a 60-inch flexible metal hose, then Kohler K-72774 is the best value shower system you can get.
This shower system employs 21st-century katalyst air-induction technology, which allows water and air to mix equally, producing a mixture of powerful shower streams with a flow of water even when the pipes have low water pressure.
Moreover, the hand and shower head face have been geometrically spaced with nozzles that deliver powerful water streams even when one is experiencing low water pressure.
These streams are more concentrated on a wide coverage with large water droplets that cover the entire body, this not only speeds up the washing of the body and hair, but it also reduces waste from overspraying.
The limescale buildup that tends to block the nozzles is a common problem with shower heads.The kohler incorporates a masterclean spray face that always prevents hard water residue buildup and also makes easy cleaning of the head face with just a wet cloth.
- Brand: Kohler.
- Flow rate: 2.0 GPM.
- Shower system Material: Metal.
- Measurements: 5 x 6 x 25.38 inches.
Reasons to Buy
- The slidebar brackets allow for easy adjustment of the shower head height.
- The shower streams for the hand and shower head are concentrated and forceful thanks to the katalyst air-induction technology, which evenly mixes the water and air.
- The flow rate of both the hand and shower head is 2.0 GPM.
Reason Not Buy
Signature Hardware (927745) 6 Body Sprays Shower System
The ever-shiny Signature Hardware 927745 shower systems are made of brass and premium finishing that not only lasts longer due to its structure but also resists corrosion, which is a common problem with shower heads.
This shower system includes a rain shower head, hand shower holder, body sprays, hand shower, diverter, and valve trim.These are vital showering accessories that improve the spa-like experience every time you enter the bathroom.
The thermostatic technology included in this shower system prevents water scalding, which occurs when shower water undergoes a drastic fluctuation in temperature, which can inflict light burns on the skin.
The thermostatic valve allows the user to change the temperature of the shower water and guarantees that it remains constant.
The signature hardware shower system features a user-friendly interface and well-designed knobs, each of which serves a specific purpose.The upper and lower knobs are used to switch between 6 body spray showering functions, while the center knob is used to adjust the water temperature.
- Brand: Signature Hardware.
- Handle placement: Right Side.
- Measurements: 33.9 x 18.2 x 5.2 inches.
Reasons to Buy
- Complete shower system that comprises rainfall shower head, body spray and hand shower.
- The shower system comes with a lifetime warranty and readily available expert customer service.
Reason not to Buy
Investing in a shower system is one of the best things you can do if you want to elevate your regular bathing to a more spa-like experience. With shower system technology always changing and a plethora of options on the market to select from, finding the ideal shower system can be difficult.
So choosing a shower system that will provide greater value in terms of shower experience, includes high-end functionality, and value for money are some of the major factors that should always be considered.
The shower models we analyzed above have not only all of the required components to improve and change the amount of time you spend in the bathroom, but also creative features that will make showering more fun and last longer.
The Delta Chrome T17293 is our favorite because of the versatile showering experience it provides, which is achieved by the in2ition 2-in-1 Dual shower system, these functions include a full body spray, a rapid massage spray, and flood rinsing to revitalize tired muscles.
The price of this shower system corresponds to the features it has, which include 6 spray settings, including massaging spray, full-body spray, full spray with massage, and pause, as well as a pressure monitor balanced valve, which will always ensure consistent shower water temperature while showering.
How does a Delta shower valve work?
Delta shower valves function effectively by connecting cold and hot water. The shower valve is precisely installed in the wall where the pipes for cold and hot water are located, allowing hot and cold water to pass through and be properly mixed before sprouting out from the fixed or handheld shower head.
The shower valve allows hot and cold water to be mixed to a moderate temperature while also preventing shower water scalding, making showering more enjoyable.
How do you clean a Kohler shower head?
A deep clean is one of the best and safest ways to clean a kohler shower head since it removes all of the hard water stains and grimes that tend to block the shower head nozzles.
This will not only remove all of the dirt, grime, and stains, but it will also make the shower head last longer by keeping it from clogging frequently, while also boosting the shower water pressure flow and allowing the shower head to perform at its best efficiency.
The following are some of the best and most effective techniques to clean a shower head, with step-by-step instructions that will allow anyone with no particular skills to clean a shower head to its finest and restore the fresh spark in your shower head.
1. Using a plastic Bag
One of the most efficient ways to remove rust, limescale buildup, soap scum, and bacteria from the shower head is to use a plastic bag, water, and vinegar solution. The reason vinegar is used is because it contains acidic characteristics that can remove any mineral deposits that tend to stick to the shower head.
To begin, obtain a plastic bag that will completely fit your shower head, allowing the shower head to be properly submerged in the solution. Then fill the plastic bag with water, half a bag is better, and add 2/3 of white distilled vinegar.
Then immerse the handheld shower head or fixed shower head, and secure the plastic bag with a rubber band on the shower arm to ensure the water does not seep from the knot.
Allow the shower head to soak in the solution overnight to allow the vinegar’s properties to work effectively in loosening up the dirt and grime on the shower head.
Then, remove the plastic bag and drain the solution, wipe clean the shower head with a wet towel, and turn on the shower so that all of the minerals that have been loosen inside the shower head are flushed out with shower water.
2. Wash with Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is particularly effective in removing limescale and grime buildup; also, lemon juice contains antibacterial and high acidity capabilities that not only clean all types of surfaces but also leave a gently natural fresh aroma.
Lemon juice can be used to clean shower heads. A combination of lemon juice and salt can be used to wipe clean the shower head surface, and for a deep clean, submerge the shower head in a solution of lemon and salt to efficiently remove mineral buildup in the shower head nozzles and inlet pipes.
3. Clean with Baking Soda
This is another readily available solution with soft abrasive qualities that remove dirt, lime scale, and grime accumulation in a shower head. Make a paste of warm water and baking soda, then apply it with a toothbrush to areas with mineral deposits and stains. Allow the mixture to loosen the dirt before rinsing with warm water.
Rub baking soda carefully on each shower head nozzle and between the shower head face to eliminate all hard water stains that tend to collect inside the nozzles and the surface of the shower head.


1. Shovels & Rope- O Be Joyful
Cari Anne Hearst and Michael Trent completely blindsided me with this one. I cannot stop listening to this record. The songs have such a big sound, which is completely mind blowing when you realize it’s just the two of them. They’re like The White Stripes of the South.
2. Sarah Jaffe- The Body Wins
This is the Denton native’s second record, and it’s a total departure from what she’s done in the past. Less folk with more hard beats. The arrangements she and producer John Congleton put together are haunting and beautiful.
3. Santigold- Master Of My Make Believe
If you ever get a chance to see Santigold perform live, say YES! She puts on a great party, complete with dancers and props. It took her five years to release her sophomore record, but it was totally worth the wait.
4. alt-J- An Awesome Wave
This is weird when you first listen to it, but don’t let it scare you. I recently played it for my dad, and it took him about two songs to get over the shock and confusion of what he was hearing. I like them so much I hauled my butt down to Zilker Park at 11am on Sunday of ACL Fest to catch their show.
5. Dana Falconberry- Leelanau
Dana Falconberry is so lovely. I’m thrilled she’s decided to make Austin her home. If you get a chance, go see her play a secret show.
6. Bahamas- Barchords
I had never heard of Bahamas before he came to play in Studio 1A. ‘He’ is Afie Jurvanen from Canada. I’ve probably played this record in my apartment more times this year than any other.
7. Electric Guest- Mondo
Matt Reilly turned me onto this record. It’s pure dance pop. Produced by Danger Mouse.
8. Nick Nack- State Machine
Nick Nack is a local electronic music producer. I met him when we profiled him on The Loop. State Machine is such a surprising album. The samples he uses are so interesting, and his scratching skills are unbelievable.
9. Nick Waterhouse- Time’s All Gone
I love new things that sound old. This record so soulful, it makes me want to drink an old fashioned and put my hair in a beehive. Out of L.A.
10. Cat Power- Sun
Say what you will about Chan (pronounced Shaun) Marshall, but you will not sway me. I think she’s brilliant. This is her first record of new material in 6 years! I was a little nervous about it, but the material is undeniably great. This might be her best release yet.


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"A Rose for Miss Emily" by William Faulkner is set in the post-Civil War South and features one primary character, Miss Emily Grierson. Despite the fact that the war is over, Miss Emily is an old-world southern belle. She has been trained well by her father that people of gentility, and especially ladies, are never to deal with anything unpleasant. Not surprisingly, this becomes a source of conflict for everyone in this story--everyone except Miss Emily, that is.
Her father's requirements for Miss Emily's suitors were so stringent that no one was ever deemed good enough to marry her. Once her father dies, Miss Emily is so struck with grief, and perhaps something else, that she refuses to let the authorities take her father for several days after his death.
All of this leaves Miss Emily a very lonely woman, so when she finds Homer Barron, the townspeople are glad for her, at first, despite Homer Barron's occupation. He is what is known as a carpetbagger.
After the war, the South obviously had to be rebuilt, and companies came in droves from the North to take advantage of the work opportunities. These people became known as carpetbaggers and were scorned by southerners for taking advantage of their weakened economic condition. Despite that, these workers were essential in rebuilding the war-torn South.
Miss Emily's town hires a company to rebuild its sidewalks, and Homer Barron's company gets the job. He is the foreman of the company, and his job is to oversee the project. Of course he is a Yankee, which immediately makes him a suspicious character. He is also
a big, dark, ready man, with a big voice and eyes lighter than his face. The little boys would follow in groups to hear him cuss the riggers, and the riggers singing in time to the rise and fall of picks. Pretty soon he knew everybody in town. Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer Barron would be in the center of the group.
Clearly Homer Barron is an affable man, and soon he and Miss Emily are spotted around town on Sunday afternoons, riding in a hired buggy.
Soon, though, the talk changes, and the gossip claims that she is a "fallen woman." Everyone not only pities her but is morally outraged at what seems to be her illicit affair with Homer Barron--a Yankee carpetbagger. It is a disgraceful situation, but Miss Emily still earns their pity because Homer Barron has proclaimed that he is not a "marrying man."
One day Miss Emily buys some arsenic and everyone assumes she is going to commit suicide. No one stops her. Soon she also buys a toilet set (comb, brush, mirror) with H.B. engraved on them, as well as a set of clothing, including a nightshirt. Everyone assumes the couple is getting married, but no one sees Homer Barron again.
Once Miss Emily dies, people enter her house. All we know for sure is that...
Homer Barron is dead and his body has been kept in an upstairs bedroom of Miss Emily's house. His body, dressed in a nightshirt, has decomposed into the bed. Nearby is the clothing and toilet set Miss Emily bought for him.
Though the bed is covered with dust now, it is evident to the townspeople who have come to gawk that at one time Homer Barron had lain on his side, as if engaged in a lover's embrace. Even more disturbing to them is what they found on the other side of the bed. The pillow contained a long, silver hair, and it is evident that Miss Emily had lain in her dead lover's embrace, at least for some time.
She poisoned him so he would not leave her.


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“We recognized it will take all of us coming together to fully address addiction in our community,” Jewish Family & Career Services CEO Rick Aranson said Monday, Aug. 28, at the open house for the Berman Center, which is opening in early September. “We have documented our intent to work together and established a formal cross-referral agreement to provide the continuum of care necessary to fight this epidemic.”
The three legs of the recovery triangle are the Berman Center, an intensive outpatient center in Dunwoody; Derech Homes, a Jewish transitional or sober living facility; and the array of services provided by JF&CS and its HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse) program as a step-down referral base for people after or in conjunction with intensive treatment.
Alyza Berman, a therapist and Temple Sinai member, is opening the Berman Center as part of the Jewish answer to the opioid addiction crisis that is killing tens of thousands of Americans per year.
The center connects the network of services and resources available to those suffering from addiction and their families. Berman coined the phrase “Atlanta’s Jewish Recovery Triangle.”


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The wife and I went up to Choctaw last night. Really was not as crowded as I thought it would be, considering it was a holiday and all. I have seen it busier on evenings when their is a popular concert. We arrived there about 5:00 p.m. I tried playing Mr Money Bags slots and Hot Red Ruby slots, but man I was having a tough night. Down $260 and not even one red screen spin after an hour of play! Never have I had it so bad.
So, I decided that this was not my night and that I was done. I went to find my wife and watch her play. She was down about 4300 herself when I found her playing a Secrets of the Forest slots game. As soon as I got there, she won some free spins and from there things went really well for her. I can never win anything on that machine. But, last night my lovely wife won $600 playing it.
After she cashed out she decided she wanted to play a Wizard of Oz game and we started walking over toward the buffet (where it used to be – but not anymore) past the high limit area. On a whim, I stepped inside and went to play the Elvis King of Coin slot machine next to the entrance to the mens bathroom. This is a $2 machine and one of my friend Hal’s favorites. I put $20 into it and immediately started getting red screen after red screen. I had seen this happen to Hal before, but never has it happened to me. Within just a couple of minutes, I was up to $880. I played it down to $800 and then cashed out.
I had about $100 beyond the $800 ticket in my pocket and tried some more Red Hot Rubies slots, but they just were not hitting for me. I did win another $50 on a Lucky Duck slot machine. At the end of the evening, I walked out $442 ahead. I talked to Hal. Looks like we will be going back to Choctaw sometime later this week.

domain: hobby


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As the author of four books on growing your own, I must admit to being biased towards growing vegetables and fruit. There are four main reasons for growing your own vegetables:
- You can save money growing vegetables
- You can grow without chemicals
- Home grown vegetables taste better
- You get some healthy exercise outdoors while you do it!
Save Money By Growing Your Own Vegetables
Just like any hobby, you can spend a fortune on tools and gadgets to help you grow and you won’t save much money that way. For tools, you can get by with a basic set of hand tools as I covered in Garden Hand Tools but a few other things will help you get more from whatever space you have.
A greenhouse is immensely useful and extends the growing season, allowing you to get started earlier and keep things going longer. Seed trays, propagators, cloches and pots can all add to the cost of setting up. However, buy frugally and recycle things like disposable vending machine cups into pots and your costs fall to pennies.
An average packet of carrot seeds from a good supplier may set you back as little as a pound for 300 seeds. OK, not all of those will germinate and some will be damaged by slugs and bugs but 150 carrots for £1.00 is a pretty good deal by any score. Especially 150 organic carrots.
Grow Vegetables Organically Without Chemicals
We’ve become more aware of the chemicals that go into our food and the possible ill-health effects of this. Who knows what the cocktail of pesticide residues is doing to us long term. There was a time when people didn’t believe cigarettes caused cancer.
When you grow your own you are in control of what goes onto and into your food. You don’t even need to be totally organic, you might think it appropriate to use chemical fertilisers but not pesticides.
Buying organic vegetables and food is often beyond the budget of many people, especially when times are tough. You carrots will cost the same to you whichever way you grow.
Home grown vegetables taste better than anything in the shops
Don’t forget, really fresh, unforced vegetables and fruit has another benefit over shop bought – the taste. There are two reasons. First your home grown is fresher and not forced with excess nitrogen. Second, you can grow varieties that have been developed for their taste rather than shelf life, resistance to transport damage and suitability for mechanical harvesting.
Healthy Eating & Exercise
When you grow your own you do have to do some work. Digging and hoeing are good aerobic exercise and far more fun than running on the spot in some expensive gym.
Because your home grown vegetables will taste better, you’ll eat more of those and less of the unhealthy snacks. If a raw carrot makes you shudder, then try a raw young Early Nantes ( a variety of carrot) – you’ll not believe it’s the same vegetable.
Where to Grow Your Vegetables
One reason people give for not growing is that they have nowhere to grow. You will be amazed by how much you can grow in a very small space though. There is no law that your front garden must be just decorative. You can grow a lot of vegetables in the flower border, leaving the lawn to the kids.
You could get an allotment or even a garden share to provide more space for growing your own.Don’t forget container growing on a patio – not just salads but almost anything can be grown in containers – see the articles list below
Articles on Frugal Growing Your Own Fruit and Vegetables
- Month by Month
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in January
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in February
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in March
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in April
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in May
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in June
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in July
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in August
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in September
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in October
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in November
- Vegetable & Fruit Growing in December
- Why Grow Your Own Vegetables & Fruit
- Vegetable Fruit and Herb Growing on the Patio in Containers
- Small Space Vegetable Growing
- Greenhouses – Frugal Buying Guide to a Greenhouse


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The CEO and co-founder of hedge fund Avenue Capital Group Marc Lasry harbors one remorse over his Bitcoin funding.
In a brand new interview with CNBC, Lasry who’s worth roughly $1.8 billion says that he must have bought extra Bitcoin when it was buying and selling decrease.
“I feel the likelihood as an increasing number of folks preserve utilizing Bitcoin, it’s going to maintain shifting up. But, yeah, it’s occurred slightly bit faster than I assumed it could. I ought to have purchased much more. That’s my mistake.”
When Bitcoin was buying and selling under the $8,000 degree three years in the past, Lasry predicted that it might hit $40,000. The hedge funder explains that his prediction was predicated on institutional traders coming into the area and driving up Bitcoin’s value.
“…as soon as a market is created, it’s there. That to me was the rationale why I assumed it was attention-grabbing on Bitcoin. And I assumed that as quickly as you had institutional traders coming in, the worth would transfer up.”
Lasry provides that he’s at present clueless as to the place Bitcoin’s value is headed, including that it’s anybody’s guess as as to if BTC heads larger or decrease off present costs. At the time of writing, the flagship cryptocurrency is buying and selling slightly above $37,000.
“I feel right now, I truthfully don’t know the place it’s going to go. But you’ve bought that market, it’s there. I could make an argument it might go to $100, $100,000. I might make an argument it might go to $20,000.”
In addition to buying Bitcoin individually, Lasry additionally invested in cryptocurrency funding agency BlockTower Capital earlier this yr impartial of his hedge fund.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl will not be funding recommendation. Investors ought to do their due diligence earlier than making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital property. Please be suggested that your transfers and trades are at your individual danger, and any loses you might incur are your duty. The Daily Hodl doesn’t suggest the shopping for or promoting of any cryptocurrencies or digital property, neither is The Daily Hodl an funding advisor. Please observe that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate internet marketing.
Featured Image: Shutterstock/vfhnb12


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Mutant Pop Records was an independent record label founded in Corvallis, Oregon in 1995. After ceasing the release of new material in 2002, the label made a brief comeback attempt in 2008 before terminating operations at the end of that year.
|Mutant Pop Records|
|Genre||Pop punk, punk rock|
|Country of origin||United States|
A label for collectorsEdit
Mutant Pop Records was a single person operation, a so-called "shoestore label", begun in April 1995. Signing all his releases T. Chandler, Timbo Davenport 'set out to create a collectible series, featuring a uniform design, drawing inspiration from labels of the 70s,' while issuing limited runs of colored vinyl. The label had an estimated 100 releases including vinyl EPs, full-length CDs, and several waves of a short-run CD-R mail-order series.


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Twitter this week falsely said Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, while still vice president, did not pressure Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor.
Twitter placed a section on the top of its “What’s happening” section about the topic after an explosive story alleged Biden’s son Hunter Biden arranged for a meeting between Biden and an executive at Burisma Holdings, a company Hunter Biden worked for while his father was still in office.
Twitter and Facebook censored the story, which relied on documents on a hard drive from a computer dropped at a repair shop in Delaware last year, drawing flak from a wide range of people, including Twitter’s own CEO.
Twitter then elevated an old Washington Post story that falsely reported that Joe Biden while vice president played no role in pressuring top Ukrainian officials to fire Viktor Shokin, the country’s top prosecutor.
“A series of emails obtained by the New York Post were published on Wednesday in a story alleging that Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, introduced his father to a top executive at Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, and that Biden pushed for the firing of a prosecutor investigating Burisma,” Twitter wrote. “However, according to The Washington Post, then-Vice President Biden played no role in pressuring Ukraine officials into firing the prosecutor, who also was not investigating the energy firm.”
Biden himself admitted to pressuring Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in 2015.
The leverage was a $1 billion loan guarantee that Ukraine wanted from the United States.
“They were walking out to a press conference,” Biden told a crowd in Washington in 2018. “I said, nah, I’m not going to—or, we’re not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You’re not the president. The president said—I said, call him. I said, I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars. I said, you’re not getting the billion. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money.”
“Well, son of a [expletive]. He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time,” he added.
Twitter didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Biden has defended his actions, saying Shokin was corrupt.
Shokin has said that he was investigating Burisma and that was the reason he was ousted.
Shokin said last year that Poroshenko later went to him and said that Joe Biden cited the probe into Burisma as the reason the Obama administration wouldn’t release $1 billion in aid to Ukraine.
“Because of Biden. Everyone knew what was going on. Poroshenko told me directly that I had to step down as prosecutor general because of Joe Biden,” Shokin added.

domain: politics


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A conflict is brewing between Richard Cordray, left, and Donald Trump over the future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Photos: ALM/Shutterstock.com)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau faced a new test after a major appeals court ruling struck down the Obama agency’s power scheme. A dispute about an exploding coffee machine revealed tension over the scope of product-safety fines. And a top U.S. Justice Department lawyer offered an apology to prosecutors after some choice words about lack of oversight in some U.S. attorney offices.
Here’s a roundup of some of the top regulatory and compliance stories of 2016.
Four weeks before Election Day, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s structure as vesting too much power in the hands of the director without insufficient oversight from the White House. The decision, which said the president must have the power to fire the CFPB director at will, not just for cause, was a significant blow to the consumer agency.
As Donald Trump prepares to take office, a showdown between the White House and Cordray is taking shape. The CFPB is fighting the D.C. Circuit’s ruling—and Cordray’s term doesn’t expire until 2018.
As lawyers jockeyed for the lucrative job of overseeing Herbalife Ltd.’s compliance with a $200 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, top firms gave a rare glimpse into their billing rates and revealed their strategies for winning coveted independent-auditor contracts.
Among some of the highest hourly rates reported in the FTC filings: The $1,250 per-hour tab for former U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, senior counsel to the New York office of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman.
The head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division, in unscripted remarks in Washington, acknowledged that some U.S. attorney offices lack the depth and oversight to properly determine whether to bring charges.
Some cases, Leslie Caldwell said in remarks at a Federalist Society event, just shouldn’t be filed. “There are districts where oversight is not what it should be, the experience level is not what it should be,” Caldwell said.
She later apologized for the remarks. Caldwell said in a letter to prosecutors: “I love the Department of Justice and deeply respect our values, the work we do, and the way we do it, both in the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and at Main Justice. That by my own remarks I suggested otherwise pains me deeply. I made a mistake, and I am sorry.”
President-elect Donald Trump’s rhetoric turned U.S. manufacturing into a flashpoint in this year’s presidential race. That rhetoric, in turn, brought scrutiny of his own manufacturing: News reports noted that certain items in his clothing line are made in China and other countries and that even his campaign hats, although stitched in Los Angeles, may include imported fabric.
Disputes over “Made in the USA” are not new, but records show the Federal Trade Commission in recent years stepped up enforcement of misleading “Made in the USA” claims.
From 2011 to 2012, Mr. Coffee faced what some call a “messy brew” problem: The brewing chamber on one of its single-serve machines was occasionally popping open and spraying hot water and coffee grounds at customers. The company received reports of burn injuries but, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, was too late reporting the problem to federal regulators.
So it paid the price, reaching a $4.5 million settlement that revealed a growing divide at the consumer agency over what basis exists for fining companies a certain dollar amount—and whether some penalties are too high.
A judge wanted federal regulators and the law firm Venable to conduct internal investigations into how secret details from a court document became available on a legal research website, revealing the identity of a company that fought for months to remain anonymous in a suit against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But the court itself ultimately owned up to the error. Here’s how it all happened.
When the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s new whistleblower protections took effect in 2011, lawyers in the white-collar defense bar wondered about a potential workaround: Using separation agreements to require a departing employee to waive the right to any award.
The thinking went that such contract language, while not expressly standing between a tipster and the SEC, would take away the carrot for contacting a federal agency. But it was unclear how securities regulators would receive that contract language.
The SEC removed any suspense in August, reaching a $265,000 settlement with an Atlanta-based building-products distributor charged with unlawfully requiring outgoing employees to waive their right to any whistleblower bounty.
When she adopted the antitrust case over Anthem Inc.’s proposed $54 billion acquisition of Cigna Corp., the first order of business for U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington was setting a starting date for the trial. She was immediately struck by the “bizarre situation” of accommodating a deal that Cigna appeared to no longer desire.
That was only the beginning of her astonishment with two merger partners who haven’t been getting along. Jackson is expected to issue a ruling soon on the merger.
Nearly seven years to the day after he was fired, a former federal prosecutor in Cleveland reached a settlement in January with the U.S. Justice Department in which he will receive full back pay, an additional $805,000 and an assignment as a work-from-home pardon attorney through May 2017.
The former prosecutor, identified as “John Doe” in court papers, was fired in January 2009 after the Justice Department determined he was no longer eligible for a security clearance. In the years leading up to his firing, the prosecutor said he had raised concerns about the department’s conduct and faced escalating retaliation.


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Trading Symbol: JSP (TSX-V)
CALGARY, Feb. 28 /CNW/ - Jasper Mining Corporation (the
"Company")(TSXV:JSP) is pleased to announce that it has completed a
non-brokered private placement, as announced on February 10, 2011, and
accordingly has issued 3,188,000 units of the Company at a price of
$0.25 per unit; for gross proceeds to the Company of $797,000. Each
unit will consist of 1 common share and ½ common share purchase
warrant. The warrants are at an exercise price of $0.35 and expire
February 16, 2013.
The private placement has resulted in the issuance of 3,188,000 common
shares, and 1,594,000 share
purchase warrants. There were 30 subscribers to the private placement.
A finders fee of 6% has been paid to Macquarie Private Wealth Ltd.
($12,720), Anacort Capital Inc. ($27,600) and National Bank Financial
($7,500) and the Company has granted finder's fee options equal to 6%
of the total number of units subscribed for to Macquarie Private Wealth
Ltd. (50,880 options), Anacort Capital Inc. (110,400 options) and NBCN
Inc. ($30,000 options), at an exercise price of $0.35 with a term of 18
All of the securities issued pursuant to this private placement are
subject to a four month hold period.
This News Release is being issued in accordance with TSX Venture
Exchange procedure which requires a News Release be made that discloses
the material details of the private placement.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Jasper Mining Corporation
For further information:
Gordon F. Dixon, Q.C., President, Jasper Mining Corporation, Telephone: (403) 297-9483, Fax: (403) 266-1487, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org


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Sound Savings will be held in the beautifully renovated
Harry Ransom Humanities Research
Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The HRHRC
is located on the northwest corner of Guadalupe ("The Drag")
and 21st streets and within walking distance of a wide variety of
restaurants and shops.
Austin is hot in the summer! Please wear cool, light-colored clothing
and comfortable shoes.
July 8-26, 2003
Austin Chamber Music Festival, "One Muse, Many Voices"
Convention and Visitor Bureaucity maps, transit information,
and links to more information about Austin