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Hello Again,
A couple of months back, I wrote a review for an excellent Spanish-English shocker called WHO CAN KILL A CHILD?, which you can read here if you wish to refresh your memory. I've since discovered, that a remake has come to fruition, and I managed to purchase a copy a day or two back, and I will now give you my verdict.
COME OUT AND PLAY (2011, Makinov) is a low-budget, but not wholly ineffective Hollywood remake. If you have seen the original work, then you will have seen this version. If you haven't, then this isn't actually too shabby.
Two tourists, this time Americans, Frank (Ebon-Moss Bachrach) and Beth (Vinessa Shaw) go to the island of Punta Hueca, and discover a very strange and deserted town. (It was actually filmed on the island of Holbox, in Mexico.) Once they investigate, they realise there are no adults around. However, the situation soon worsens, when they witness a young girl brutally slay an elderly gentleman. It isn't long before they realise that the children are definitely not all wholesome and good.
Where this film succeeds, is being a relatively effective remake. Most remakes are absolutely diabolical pieces of trash, that no discerning member of the public should be forced to endure. Here, however, we do have a film that isn't actually that awful. It's no masterpiece, but it's at least competent enough to be watchable. Running just a little shorter than the original, at 84 minutes, the film is a near-copy of the superior original. On its own, the film has some enjoyably twisted moments, and there are a couple of scenes where you see the kids do what they do, and they will shock you. Moreso, when in this version of the film, the kids are between 6-10 years old. (In the original, they were between 8-12.)
Another major difference, is that in the remake, the film is in 2.35:1 Cinemascope. Whilst the 'Scope ratio is competent, it doesn't really add a huge amount to the film's supernatural and twisted tone. Aside from a few above-land shots, and occasional panoramic vista's, the camera tends to stay in a very safe position, throughout the film's duration. Just occasionally, as per the image on the right, does the 'Scope ratio add a minor sinister twist to proceedings. The original's 1.85:1 ratio, gave the film a claustrophobic intensity sadly missing from its remake, and this is a film that needs you to feel enclosed and pervasive. Without that feeling of entrapment, the horror the film unleashes, doesn't quite gel.
Sadly, what lets it down, is that the film doesn't attempt to improve on
the original, in any way, shape or form. It drops the original's brutal
political opening coda, and starts the film with Frank and Beth on the
island already, being tourists. It also never explains why they are on
the island. Whilst not an essential plot point, if you don't know why
they are there, it does feel a tad pedestrian. This is why the original
works better. It honed its script, and justified why the couple do what
they do. Here, this could be just any other average horror flick, about
possessed kids, which it really shouldn't be.
As per the original, there's a mix of English and Spanish audio, with occasional English Subs, but bizarrely not all of the Spanish dialogue is subtitled. The latter part of the film, featuring Frank and Beth meeting-up with an old woman and her children, is left untranslated, which frustrated me a great deal. The violence is also amped-up, though not in an especially nasty manner. Just occasional elements here-and-there, and - I have to admit - they were pretty good. But more gore does not always mean a better film. Strangely, the violence being only occasional, has given the film a dual-certificate status. In the UK, it's an 18, having been rated as such for "strong bloody gore and violence", whereas in Ireland, it's merely a 15. To be fair, the film does straddle the 15/18 divide. It's a very strong 15, but a very tame 18, and as such, I can only assume the BBFC wanted to cover their behinds, because the violence is often children committing atrocities against adults, and in a detailed enough manner, that could be of interest to younger teens. The same could be argued for the original, though I felt the violence was less problematic in that one, and it was certainly less graphic, relying less on gore, and more on subliminal suggestion.
There are a couple of major differences in the plots, but I won't spoil them for you. They're interesting, but not especially clever or original enough on their own, but at least Makinov - whoever he/she actually is - has attempted to not create a completely carbonised copy, which we should all be grateful for.
The only real complaint, from me, is once the film ends: the director includes an annoying on-screen statement, that reads: "To the martyrs of Stalingrad"! The history buffs amongst you will know that the Battle Of Stalingrad took place during World War II, as the Nazi's attempted to fight over Stalingrad with the Russians. A very bloody battle ensued, for almost half-a-year, before the Nazi's finally surrendered, but not before some 850,000 people were injured, captured or killed.
Quite how this relates to a low-budgeted horror movie, about kids killing adults, I'm not entirely sure. It feels a tad cliched to link fictional violence to real-life violence, so I have to assume that the director themselves had some personal link to relatives who fought in the real-life battle. It's still odd, irrespective of this.
I recommend this film, albeit with some hesitation. It's flawed. The acting is reasonable, but not amazing, and it does have an air of "remake city" about it, that it can't quite shake off. Bachrach, is more famously known from the world of TV, in shows like GIRLS and DAMAGES, whilst Shaw who plays his wife/fiancee is best known for her role in defunct TV show VEGAS. They're competent, but there's little emotional resonance between the couple, other than when the proverbial shit is hitting the fan. You don't feel like they actually love each other, thus their relationship comes across as stilted and hackneyed. Very much a case of going-through-the-motions. (I actually felt more convinced by most of the child actors, than any of the adults!)
If you have seen the original, then this is only an acceptable remake. If you haven't, then the remake is solid enough to be enjoyable, but fails to compare to the original, because it's decided to take the easy option rather than risk attempting to challenge the audience and go for the throat. What makes the original so great, is that it doesn't try and sugarcoat the issues it raises: namely that children are often the worst victims of war, caused by adult problems. The fact it has the infamous opening coda, which graphically portrayed the victims, added a real edge to the film, that is sorely missing from this US remake.
Not awful, not fantastic, but certainly by no means the worst remake I've seen.
I'll be back again soon, with another review or article to tickle your intellectual tastebuds. Until then, be seeing you!


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Grammar Is a Sweet, Gentle Song (Hardcover)
George Braziller, 9780807615317, 120pp.
Publication Date: May 17, 2004
List Price: 19.95*
* Individual store prices may vary.
At the heart of its message is an impassioned plea for the magic and power of words. Jeanne, the tough-minded ten-year-old narrator, and Thomas, fourteen, are traveling to America on an ocean liner to visit their mother when a violent storm sinks their ship and tosses them up on an island. They are unhurt, but the shock of the experience leaves them without the ability to speak. Taken into the care of Monsieur Henri, an elderly islander, Jeanne and Thomas discover that the island is unlike any place they've ever been. There is the Word Market, where Monsieur Henri visits the Poets' and Song-Writers' Corner to see if they have any rhymes for sweet and mom. At town hall, pairs of words are married by the mayor. And Jeanne sneaks off to the Vocabulary of Love Shop, where a woman whose husband has left her wants to buy "a word that will make him understand how hurt I am, a mighty word that will make him ashamed." A celebration of language in all its forms, Grammar Is a Sweet, Gentle Song will delight confirmed word-lovers and inspire the uninitiated with the pleasures of the spoken and written word.
Not Currently Available for Direct Purchase

subset: commoncrawl


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P-51 Mustang Automatic Bottisham Edition
P-51 Mustang
MOVEMENT: Automatic - 3 hands with date
CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel
CASE DIAMETER (mm) : 43
CASE THICKNESS (mm) : 13
CASE SHAPE: Round
CASE COLOR: Stainless Steel
DIAL: Sandwich construction dial with Swiss luminous and applied indexes
BAND: Genuine leather strap with an extra nylon and canvas strap
BAND COLOR: Black
BUCKLE: Strap Buckle
BAND WIDTH (mm) : 22
WATCH WEIGHT (g) : 120
WARRANTY: 2 Years International
A 43 mm case features a curved crown guard with detailing that references the engine exhaust of the aircraft. The case has fine brush finishing on the bezel with articulated lugs that flow fluidly into the bulbous yet streamlined case shape. A slightly convexed scratch resistant sapphire lens tops the bezel, creating an altogether aerodynamic profile in shape and form.
The dial takes its cues from the cockpit and outer insignia of the Mustang. A multi-layered dial offers up cutaway arabic markers at the 3, 6, 9 and 0 hours with baton markers in-between. The effect is a clearly marked, no-nonsense dial layout that speaks to immediate legibility.
Each hour and minute marker, along with the sword shaped hands, are generously lathered with high grade Swiss lume for low light visibility and clarity.
The genuine leather strap that hugs the wrist is custom designed and offers subtly stitched details to continue the overall aesthetic harmony of the watch.
For even greater versatility, each watch comes with an additional nylon and canvas, Velcro-release cuff-like strap. This option provides a snug, ever more comfortable and durable fit, ensuring that the P-51 Mustang Automatic Bottisham Edition is no mere souvenir but a truly robust piece of aviation inspired watchmaking.
Each watch is uniquely numbered as part of a limited edition of 1490 pieces.


text:
LabSmith's timing and synchronization products employ logic-based signal routing, real-world feedback and unique timing modes to help you precisely synchronize even the most complex test setups.
Eight high-voltage channels with programmable sequencing, innovative voltage supply, voltage sensing, current supply, current sensing to integrate your entire experiment.
A research-grade, inverted fluorescence video microscope with a synchronously pulsed illuminator and powerful video analysis software for microfluidics and microbiology.
Complete system for micro- and nano-fluidics experimentation, from controlling fluid flow and electric fields to reliably capturing and imaging transient phenomena.


text:
|Question 1: It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ________, as practiced by many societies.
|Question 2: By the end of the 20th century, the ________, the diffusion of city customs and the loss of prestige of military service changed the relevance of quintos parties.
|Question 3: The coming of age in ________, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Poland Republic of Poland is celebrated at either 18 or 21.
|Question 4: For a young woman, Quinceañera, Los Quince or La Fiesta de Quince (Fifteenth Birthday or The Party of the Fifteenth Birthday) is a ________ signifying that she has reached the age of adulthood.
|Question 5: Coming of age is a young person's transition from ________ to adulthood.
|Question 6: Children are not required to perform any obligatory acts of ________ prior to reaching the age of puberty, although they should be encouraged to begin praying at the age of seven.
|Question 7: Latter-day Saints believe that the resurrected Jesus Christ revealed to ________ that children are accountable at the age of 8 and should be baptized at that age.
|Question 8: ________ perform an occasion called Manjal Neerattu Vizha, to celebrate their daughter attaining adulthood.
|Question 9: The girls will be made to wear the traditional dress ________, and they are showered with turmeric water, during the occasion.
|Question 10: Jewish girls however, come of age at twelve in a celebration known as ________.


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Rocks Off is in the process of collecting stories about legendary Rock 101 KLOL morning team Stevens & Pruett as a tribute to Mark Stevens, who passed away Tuesday morning from complications of Alzheimer's disease at age 76. We're especially interested in hearing from the duo's colleagues at KLOL, but would love anyone whose lives were touched by the "Radio Gods" (who were pretty touched themselves) to share, so please email us at email@example.com.
Earlier this afternoon, Rocks Off spoke with Jake Ray, who grew up listening to Stevens & Pruett in Lake Jackson and produced the morning show for several years until the duo was fired in 2000. Ray's on-air name was "Tito," he explained, because Pruett thought there should be a "Mexican houseboy" in the cast.
During the course of our conversation, Jake mentioned that Stevens & Pruett ran afoul of the Federal Communications Commission a few times. Shocking, we know, from the pair widely credited with inventing (or perfecting) shock-jock radio. At Ray's suggestion, we poked around online for a bit and found a Policy Statement the FCC issued in 2001. Read the whole thing here; it's not bad for government work.
Sure enough, right there with famous shock jocks like Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge, Stevens & Pruett - who enjoyed doing stuff like having an intern fake an orgasm on the air - were cited twice, more than likely driving KLOL's parent company the Rusk Corporation bonkers in the process. Rocks Off thought our readers might enjoy a combination civics lesson/late-afternoon sex chat.
The duo's name first appears in Section III, "Indecency Determinations," Subsection B, "Case Comparisons." The case in question:
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The doctor was talking about size. The man complained earlier that he was so large that it was ruining his marriages. Big is good if the guy knows how to use it. She is so big she could handle anything. Some of these guys, a very few of them, a handful are like... two hands full.
Twelve inches, about the size of a beer can in diameter. So, now could you handle something like that? It's actually ruined marriages. A big organ for a big cathedral. Somebody big is just going to have to find somebody that's big.
Ruling: Indecent - "[W]hile [the licensee] may have substituted innuendo and double entendre for more directly explicit sexual reference and descriptions in some instances, unmistakable sexual references remain that render the sexual meaning of the innuendo inescapable."
And here they are again a little later, in a subsection titled "Presented in a Pandering or Titillating Manner or for Shock Value":
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Sex survey lines are open. Today's question, it's a strange question and we hope we have a lot of strange answers. What makes your hiney parts tingle? When my husband gets down there and goes (lips noise)... I love oral sex... Well, my boyfriend tried to put Hershey kisses inside of me and tried to lick it out and it took forever for him to do it.
Ruling: Indecent - "Explicit description in a program that focused on sexual activities in a lewd, vulgar, pandering and titillating manner."
Curious, Rocks Off asked Ray, who now produces Drumline star/America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon's radio show for New York City's 92.3 FM, how much of Stevens & Pruett's routine on-air discourse he thought they could get away with today.
"Legally, 50 percent," he said. "But since it's all corporate now and it's all fuckin' boring, ten. Almost nothing. I don't think anybody would take the risks that that show was."


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The following is a sponsored post.
The advent of cost-comparison websites on the Internet has made all of our lives easier over the years. In the travel niche, airfare comparison sites are amongst my favorite tools to use when planning a new adventure.
Along those same lines, if you're planning a trip which requires a car rental, you may want to begin by using the search engine at RentACarNow.com. Instead of conducting the same car searches over and over again on individual rental sites, such as Hertz and Enterprise, you can enter your city, airport, or zip code for pickup, along with the dates and times, just once.
I took the search engine for a test spin by looking at the cost of a Miami car rental from August 18-22, 2010. The results brought up 249 different options, across 6 well known rental companies. Users have the ability to sort their options using a variety of criteria, including: vendor, price, distance, car type, luggage, and passengers. Each listing includes the vendor, vehicle model, price per day (and total price per time frame), and some basic information about the vehicle.
To reserve a car, click the green "Rent It!" button and you'll go to a short form requesting basic information, such as your name, address, and telephone number. You will also have the chance to purchase rental insurance.
Like other cost-comparing websites, RentACarNow.com acts as a gateway to funnel reservations to the rental car companies, so they are not involved in the actual rental process itself. Right now, all of the major American markets are covered, including (but not limited to) Orlando car rental and Fort Lauderdale car rental in Florida, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, DC.
Two small things I'd like to see included in the site include an "about us" page that includes a little more detail about the people behind the business, and a page with advice and tips for renters.
While I can't recall the last time I rented a car in the USA, as most of my travel is international, I do know that when that time comes, I'll be looking at sites such as RentACarNow.com in advance to try and flush out the best deals before my plane hits the tarmac.
Planning a trip? The Go Backpacking team uses and recommends:
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
Last Updated on


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An optical method for generating a reference signal for an incremental displacement measurement system is proposed. We achieved this zero reference signal by comparing two speckle patterns arriving from two symmetric diffusers, which are used as natural random codes that are identical only when the reading head is located equidistantly between the diffusers. The comparison of the speckles is obtained either by interference, as in a Michelson interferometer, or by intensity correlations.
© 2003 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
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Our world is becoming more and more digitalized. Our homes can talk to us, we can look inside of our refrigerators to see what we need without ever opening the door. We can control the lights in our house when we are across the state. Needless to say, technology is in every part of our lives, so it should be no surprise that even our currency is becoming digitalized.
How is that, you ask? With cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, which is cultivated through Ethereum mining.
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AMD GPUs
Nvidia GPUs
Ethereum mining is a process that requires a lot of computer power and work. To mine, you are participating in a cryptocurrency network that is driven by a group of your peers. The miner (you) will be rewarded for solving complicated math problems. While you aren't actually doing the math for these problems, your computer uses mining applications to solve them.
The simplest answer is that it is profitable. If you do it correctly, you can earn a lot more money by selling the mined ether (ETH) than what you spend on electricity. It should be said that ethereum mining profitability really depends on how much money you are willing to spend on upgrading or building a computer that is designed specifically for ethereum mining.
If you intend on trying your hand at ethereum mining, it's important that you have at least 30GB of free space on your hard drive for blockchain and other essential software.
To start mining you will want to follow these steps:
Sounds simple, right? You can make things a little simpler on yourself by directing your GPU toward a ethereum mining pool because you have better chances of earning Ether in a regular, more predictable way.
If you're interested in mining for ethereum, you need to have a good machine to do it. Ideally, you'll want to build your rig to be as future proof as possible, so that your rig isn't going to become obsolete in a few years. Your GPU has to have enough RAM to cache it, so it's a good idea to use 8GB cards.
To build it, you will need:
Now that you have all your components together, all that's left is to put it together and install the operating system and your software.
Before you decide that you'd like to start mining for ethereum, you first need to decide if it is going to be profitable for you. At first glance, it's going to be incredibly easy, but you should know that mining is going to be a lot like trading stocks.
The value of cryptocurrency is going to fluctuate, your hardware may break down, and a bunch of other things could happen. So, it's a good idea to think of how much profit you can expect with a certain time frame. The advantage of mining is that the prices of your Ethereum is going to be more stable and then at the end of the day, you're still going to have your mining rig. If you choose the components correctly, it isn't going to lose much of its value.
Before you can calculate you will be making, you need to calculate your hashrate and payout. To do that, you need to figure out the hashrate of your GPUs, which you can do with Google. You can also use a site like CryptoCompare to determine what the best GPU is for the money.
Once you've chosen your GPU that provides a reasonable hashrate within your budget, you can then go to CoinWarz to see what your expected payout will be.
After you've done all that, you will want to calculate the cost of your electricity. Look at the card and see how many watts of power they require and how much money you will be spending to pay. To do that, convert the watts to kilowatts and then multiply them together. So, for example, if you're using a GPU that uses 150W and it costs $0.10 per KW/h. You will do 0.15 x 0.1 = $0.015 per hour to run the rig, which equates to $0.36 per day.
Now that you've figured out how much you are going to make and how much you are going to be spending, you can then see how long it will take for your mining to pay off and decide if it is worth it to you or not.
If you find that it is worth it to mine, then we've got a few great GPU options worth consideration.
Forget graphic cards that aren't going to live up to next generation games. This card is capable of turning even the most demanding games into an incredible cinematic experience that is fluid, crisp, and breath-taking. This graphics card features FreeSync, which works at the speed of your game for great responsiveness and unparalleled smoothness. If you're looking to improve your Ethereum mining equipment while staying on budget, this is a great option, as it is priced under $120
Notable features of the XFX Radeon RX 460 2GB Passively Cooled Graphics Card include:
When looking at what people had to say about the XFX Radeon RX 460 2GB Passively Cooled Graphics Card they had great things to say. People were impressed by how well it is capable of rendering next generation games without any lagging. Customers felt that with this card, they can play demanding games on the highest settings and they would run beautifully every time.
With every good there will be some complaints, as customers found that the drivers in the card had a tendency to stop working. Some have also said that when they were playing games with this card installed, the screen would start to flicker and even cause the system to freeze only after 10 minutes of gameplay.
If you're a hardcore gamer or if you want to find the best card for mining ethereum, perhaps you'll find that this particular card is worth the look. This card features DirectCU II technology, which transports heat away from the GPU, allowing it to outperform reference designs, giving you up to 30% cooler gaming performance. The patented wing-blade desin delivers maximum air flow, thus creating 105% greater static pressure over the heat sink while operating 3 times quieter than reference cards.
Notable features of the ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 570 O4G AMD Graphics Card include:
When looking at what people had to say about the ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 570 O4G AMD Graphics Card they had great things to say. People loved how quiet the card was, without losing any speed. Some have said that they were impressed by the improvements AMD have made with their open source drivers and this is exceptional, as it plays HD games like a champ.
We were pleasantly surprised by the fact that there weren't any complaints registered about this card. It would appear that people really enjoyed this card and how it performed.
For an enhanced gaming or mining experience, this ASUS graphics card features MaxContact technology which features copper heat spreader that is in contact with the GPU is an industry-first cooling technology, allowing for twice as much contact with GPU for increased thermal transfer.
The 2.5-slot width allows 40% more heat sink surface area, giving you a dramatically cooler and quieter performance. The FanConnect II features 4-pin hybrid-control headers that you can connect to PWM and DC system fans for top notch system cooling.
Notable features of the ASUS ROG Strix 580 08G AMD Graphics Card include:
When looking at what people had to say about the ASUS ROG Strix 580 08G AMD Graphics Card they had great things to say. Customers like that the this graphics card has excellent cooling and headroom for overclocking. Folks like that there are two additional 4-pin fan headers, saving you from having to use splitters for extra fan chassis.
With every good there will be some complaints, as customers found that the product was the price. Because there is such a high demand for top rated graphics card so they can upgrade their PCs for ethereum mining, these cards are going to be scarce or very high priced.
For the best GPU for mining ethereum, perhaps the Sapphire Radeon NITRO+ Rx 480 8GB Graphics Card should be your next graphics card. You can experience the revolutionary FinFET 14 nm technology within the Sapphire Nitro+ without worrying about consuming a lot of energy, it overheating, or it being too noisy. With this card, you can expect terrific performance per watt results because the numerous custom AMD enhancements this card features, all of which have been applied to a tiny Polaris chip.
Notable features of the Sapphire Radeon NITRO+ Rx 480 8GB Graphics Card include:
When looking at what people had to say about the Sapphire Radeon NITRO+ Rx 480 8GB Graphics Card they had great things to say. Customers found that the card has good clock speed and excellent cooling. They like that the logo on the side has color change LED which you can customize. When people upgraded to this from previous models, they were impressed that the unit stayed right around 75 degrees at 1365 mhz and 2250 memory.
With every good there will be some complaints, as customers found that the product was that their card stopped working only after using it for a month. A few people have said that their card created a lot of buzzing, which was quite annoying. People have also mentioned that the fan was defective on their units, causing the card to overheat pretty quickly.
If you're looking to improve your ethereum mining rigs without spending a small fortune before you ever make it, then this powerful card may be something to consider. This graphics card supports DirectX12 and the high bandwidth GDDR5 technology provides you with a fast, energy efficient, and smooth experience. With this card, you're going to have 13% cooler GPU MOSFETs and 15% cooler memory, plus it's going to run much quieter than previous generations of the GeForce card, thanks to the PrecisionX OC technology. .
Notable features of the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Gaming Card include:
When looking at what people had to say about the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Gaming Card they had great things to say. People liked that when they upgraded their old cards to this one, they were able to see a difference right away. People like that their computers run much smoother and silently, which is perfect while ethereum mining. The unit also features 8GB of VRAM, making it a solid performing card until you want to upgrade your graphics card again.
With every good there will be some complaints, as customers found that the product was that their card made a blue screen only after using it a handful of times. Some have also said that the card would either produce small grey lines on the screen in some areas, or it would turn the screen completely black, much to their frustration.
Ethereum mining can be incredibly lucrative, if you have the proper hardware to do it. You can't just use the same computer that you use for everyday activities like watching YouTube or sending emails. You need a computer with a high powered graphics card because mining for ether is very time consuming (on your ethereum mining hardware) and on your electric bill.
Out of these five products, we wish we could say that they are all great candidates. While they are great graphics cards, not all of them are readily available, which is a huge disappointment. The Sapphire and ASUS 570 cards are currently unavailable on most online vendors, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck.
If you want to improve your rig specifically for ethereum mining, you can do it fairly inexpensively. The Radeon RX460 graphics card is an excellent choice, and it is less than $120. It can give you a smooth gaming experience without breaking the bank. Be mindful that because it only has 2GB of DDR5 memory, you may have to upgrade your card later down the line.


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Where To Go Looking For A Well-Written History Essay Example
History has been and continues to be a subject that is delivered in a manner that is seen as boring to many students and for this reason they have to work extra hard to pass the course. Apart from containing many seemingly irrelevant topics and principles, the actual course structure and school based assessments that is involved with it is usually time consuming and frustrating. In order to overcome this hurdle one must understand just how to tackle this subject and its assignments in a manner that requires the least time and focus.
The list below will contain several of these outlets or areas that may host well-written history essay examples for review and assimilation. Try to adapt these helpful hints into your every revision exercise in order to get the most out of this article. The internet has many forms and fashions of data mirroring the accuracy of the academic syllabus but sadly, they are not all certified so be careful when doing online research. Be sure to know the basics of the essay before engaging in its construction.
- Check any of the various online universities.
- Find out if your school maintains an academic archive and review it.
- Spend sufficient time researching your work in a library.
- Access the freelance industry for relevant solutions.
- Gather extensive pertinent textbooks and supplemental media publications.
By looking into these online services you are also familiarizing yourself with a very common interface which is found throughout the school and work life. First browse their free catalogs before purchasing any of their premium services because you may not be able to navigate the interface.
There are many schools that maintain an academic archive and it is a great idea to access them because it is located in a convenient spot. A prefect may be required to accompany you while you search through the material so be wary of this.
Although libraries are losing their popularity to the academic services that the internet facilitates it still is a great place to study certain troublesome topics from class. Some students bring their study group to the library to maximize the studious environment there.
The heavy competition plaguing the freelance society keeps the prices fairly low and average so look into this if you got the proper funding.
Reading through the material found in books can provide you with valuable information concerning your burdensome coursework. These books can be found in libraries or bookstores so look into this.


text: On date Wednesday 2009-05-13 23:54:20 +0100, M?ns Rullg?rd encoded: > Stefano Sabatini <stefano.sabatini-lala at poste.it> writes: [...] > > So we're back to square one, and I'm in short of ideas, so there is no > > safe method to match case-insensitively a string in C? > > Use the standard functions and let people who set funny locales get > what they deserve. Here it is. Regards. -- FFmpeg = Fast and Fierce Most Power Enlightening Gem -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: parse-color-ci.patch Type: text/x-diff Size: 1609 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/attachments/20090514/6abd1a08/attachment.patch> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: parse-color-random.patch Type: text/x-diff Size: 1415 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/attachments/20090514/6abd1a08/attachment-0001.patch>


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Posted 09-19-2012
Where do employees go when they want to report workplace misconduct such as harassment, stealing, or substance abuse? The company hotline? Human Resources? The government? No—most will go directly to their supervisor.
Sixty percent of the Fortune 500 employees surveyed in June 2012 by the Ethics Resource Center (ERC) said they would report misconduct to their supervisor first. About one in five (21%) would go to higher management and eleven percent would call a hotline. Just one percent would go first to an outside agency. Even when supervisors are not the first place an employee chooses to report, they are often a secondary source. In fact, only fourteen percent of employees fail to discuss their concerns with their supervisor at one point or another.
According to The National Business Ethics Survey of Fortune 500 Employees: An Investigation into the State of Ethics at America's Most Powerful Companies, the most common forms of misconduct at such firms include:
- Conducting personal business on company time
- Abusive behavior
- Lying to employees
- Health/safety violations
- Discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Internet abuse
- Company resource abuse
The ERC report notes that the best way for companies to reduce their risk and avoid outside involvement in workplace issues is to respond effectively to employees' initial complaints and fix any problems identified. However, more than a quarter of the survey respondents said that as far as they know, there was no investigation into their report of misconduct.
Doubt that the company will take action is by far the most common reason employees choose not to report what they've observed, according to ERC. This is dangerous for employers, since nearly three-quarters (71%) of employee reports have merit. "If companies want to know about misconduct … they have to be diligent about responding to every report they receive," the report continued. That means that supervisors and managers—your first responders to misconduct reports—must be trained on how to handle whistleblowing and employee complaints.
What this means to you:
The ERC report makes a number of recommendations for improving ethical performance, including: "Implement separate training components for distinct groups of employees – especially supervisors and middle managers who set the tone for their direct reports."
Information here is correct at the time it is posted. Case decisions cited here may be reversed. Please do not rely on this information without consulting an attorney first.


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You know your sweet baby can save the day with one well placed smile. A natural superhero! Now you can have them dress the part and prepare them for a future of good deeds with this fun, DIY Superhero Bib Pattern! Welcome back for another round of Handmade Gifts For Boys. Jess, of If Only They Would Nap and I strive to bring you crafty, … [Read more...]
Stars and Stripes Backpack
It may just be the living overseas for years with little to no Independence Day jubilation but it's quickly become one of my favorite holidays. We've loved every minute of our State Side tour and being surrounded by other Americans on this most festive of days. What's not to love about a day of parades, BBQ's, and fireworks. The Fourth of July … [Read more...]
Free Fleece Samurai Hat Pattern
If you've been reading here for a while you know, with three boys in the house, a lot of my sewing tends to revolve around the characters they love and the games they like to play. Whether it's pirates, dinosaurs, or superheroes, there's always some type of dress up piece being requested. Hat's are the easiest costume piece to make and tend to get … [Read more...]
Get Er Done Overalls (Free Pattern)
Quilt Market, that wonderful event that brings fabric designers, fabric companies and seamstress who love fabric together is coming up soon, and I had the wonderful opportunity to sew some items for the Michael Miller booth from my friend Hayley's Color Me fabric line. This is the second set of designs for this black and white fabric that can be … [Read more...]
Hooded Dragon Vest (Free Pattern)
I'm so excited to share this free dragon vest pattern with you all today! Being the littlest brother, this guy is often regulated to the villain category, and more often than not, I find him chasing his knightly brothers. When the lovely folks at Lillestoff asked me to choose some fabric and create a project highlighting their fabrics, this … [Read more...]
Knit Fringe Dress
I'm so excited to be back for the third season of Melly Sews, 30 Days of Sundresses series! I tend to need a push to get myself to complete projects for myself. In year's past I've added this Strapless Date Night Dress and a Watercolor Maxi Dress. This year, I'm sharing a tutorial and free pattern for a Knit Fringe Dress. If you've noticed, … [Read more...]


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Pals tell Life & Style magazine the couple went on two dates over the weekend - and there are early signs the stars are loved up.
One eyewitness at the recent The Hangover Part II premiere after-party says, "Olivia was Bradley's date. He was always taking her hand or putting his hand on her lower back, it was really sweet. He took care of her all night.
"They were definitely together... (and) they left together. They seemed really comfortable with each other."
Both stars have been romantically linked to fellow celebrities in recent months - Wilde, who split from her husband last month (Apr11), has been tied to Justin Timberlake, while Cooper recently split from girlfriend Renee Zellweger.


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Should've been there?
Martin writes, "In fairness, you probably had to be in attendance at the Centurion Club in St Albans to get a proper impression of it, but the European Tour's GolfSixes is definitely the blueprint for a much-needed short form of the game."
Alas I wasn't there and as one of the sceptics Martin has taken to task I will just have to trust a fellow Scot's opinion, which will perhaps encourage more enthusiasm.
First and foremost
Martin writes, "First and foremost, it proved that golf matches can be meaningful over just six holes and the fact this particular event involved a) a team element and b) was played under a Greensomes format merely added to those short and sharp encounters creating an excitement that is sometimes lacking at a 72-hole individual stroke-play tournament."
Forcing fun and just give me the facts
The use Vernon Kay, Denise Van Outen and Kevin Pietersen to generate on-course enthusiasm for the event was a dubious decision and according to Martin Dempster, "there did seem to be an element of almost trying to force people into enjoying it rather than letting them see for themselves that this was indeed an exciting new chapter for the game"
And if this is a, "new chapter for the game," which will and increase the number of people who will turn up to watch; what do the facts tell us?
Martin writes, "Yes, it would have been better if the total crowd over the two days had been more than 9,000, especially at a venue so close to London."
And yet over at Sky Sports we're told, "The event was very well received by large crowds at the Hemel Hempstead venue, with all of the 32 players from 16 nations full of praise for the tournament and its concept."
Link to Martin Dempster and Sky Sports
Quote of the Day
"A crowd of approximately 5,000 bought into all the innovation and razzmatazz of GolfSixes"
– The Telegraph


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Illustrations from a 16th-century manuscript detailing the phenomenon of Nuremberg's Schembart Carnival, (literally "bearded-mask" carnival). Beginning in 1449, the event was popular throughout the 15th century but was ended in 1539 due to the complaints of an influential preacher named Osiander who objected to his effigy being paraded on a float, depicting him playing backgammon surrounded by fools and devils. According to legend, the carnival had its roots in a dance (a "Zämertanz") which the butchers of Nuremberg were given permission to hold by the Emperor as a reward for their loyalty amid a trade guild rebellion. Over the years the event took on a more subversive tone, evolving to let others take part with elaborate costumes displayed and large ships on runners, known as "Hells", which were paraded through the streets. After its end, many richly illustrated manuscripts (known as "Schembartbücher") were made detailing the carnival's 90-year existence.
We are unsure what the flaming "artichokes" are all about, if any one has a clue do let us know in the comments!
*UPDATE* solved – according to Christies: "They brandished lances and bunches of leaves – known as Lebensrute — that concealed fireworks."
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Epoxy repair at Ding King
All damaged area completely removed prior to re-glassing reinforcements.
Canoe repair
Canoe and Surfski repair with quality matching finishes.
Damage removal on epoxy board.
2 story 6000 square foot of repair facility with separate sanding-, laminating, and shaping bays, molding room, spray booth, CNC milling, foam prep station retail and office.
Crack in Surfboard repair
All workers were appropriate 3M respirators
Large diameter exhaust fans and a dust particle extraction shroud connected to a Eurovac cyclone vacuum minimize worker's dust exposure.


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5 Mart 1924 akşamı Sirkeci Garı'ndan kalkan trenin yolcuları dönüşü olmayan uzun bir yola çıkıyordu. 3 Mart 1924'te alınan sürgün kararıyla hanedan üyeleri, 600 yıl hükmettikleri topraklardan çıkarılıyorlardı. 1903 yılında doğup imparatorluğun acılı günlerine şahitlik eden Şehzade Ali Vâsıb Efendi de yolcular arasındaydı.
V. Murad'ın torunu Ali Vâsıb Efendi, hem 1924'e kadar Osmanlı topraklarında gördüklerini hem de sürgün sonrasında Macaristan, Fransa ve Mısır'da yaşadığı ve tanık olduğu şeyleri hatıratında topladı. Ali Vâsıb Efendi'nin hatıratının önemi, kendisinin, saltanat dönemi ve sonrası sürgün hatıralarını yazan tek şehzade olmasıdır. 1983'te vefat ettiğinde, Osmanlı devletinin son senelerini memlekette yetişkin olarak geçirmiş hiçbir şehzade hayatta kalmamıştı. Hanedan üyelerine dair ayrıntılı bilgiler veren kitap tarih yazımına ciddi bir katkı sunuyor.
H.I.H. Prince Ali Vâsıb was born in the Çırağan Palace, on the shores of the Bosphorus in İstanbul, in 1903. His memoirs deal with the life and times of the Ottoman Imperial family during the last years of the Ottoman Sultanate. During his years in İstanbul, he was in the presence of the last three Sultans and witnessed the First World War, the abolition of the Sultanate on 1st November 1922 and that of the Caliphate on 3rd March 1924, at which time he was exiled along with the rest of the Imperial family. His exile first took him to Hungary, then 10 years in the South of France, before eventually settling in Egypt. He was finally allowed to return to his homeland in 1974, after half a century in exile. Ali Vâsıb Efendi is the only Ottoman Imperial Prince to have written his memoirs, and they give a unique insight into the people and politics of his day.
In addition, the book contains family trees and statistics relating to the period from Sultan Mahmud II (beginning of the 19th century) up to the present day.
• H.I.H. Prince Ali Vâsıb, the great-grandson of Sultan Murad V, was at various times in the presence of the last four Ottoman Sultans as well as the last Caliph.
• He personally knew the leading figures of the time – such as Enver Pasha.
• He was a witness to key events in Ottoman history during the last days of the Empire.
• He lived through the occupation of İstanbul by the Allies – the Ottoman court'smost difficult period– and then the exile of the Ottoman Dynasty in 1924.
• From 1925 to 1935 he lived on the Côte d'Azur, where manymembers of deposed European royal families had congregated
• Later on, whilst living in Egypt, he experienced a second traumawith the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy.


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A dramatically wrong Eighth Circuit case on qualified immunity
Imagine that there is a law on the books criminalizing some behavior. It can be any law. Pick one. This law was enacted by the state legislature. It remains on the books. It has never been challenged. A local police officer arrests someone for violating that law.
If the law were potentially constitutionally problematic, we would expect the arrestee to challenge the statute and move for dismissal of the charges. Then one of two things might happen: the prosecutor might exercise discretion and drop any pending charges, or the prosecutor might continue with the charges and allow a judge to determine the constitutionality of the criminal statute.
Good so far?
Not so in the Eighth Circuit.
A basic misunderstanding of the doctrine of qualified immunity imperils the rule of law everywhere, inviting law enforcement officers to independently evaluate existing laws on the books and threaten them with lawsuits if they decide to enforce a law a court later finds unconstitutional.
Missouri had a flag-burning statute on the books (PDF). The statute had never been challenged. A police officer, acting on advice from another officer, obtained a warrant from a judge and arrested a man for burning a flag, a man who claimed he did so because "he hated the United States because it was the country's fault that he could not find a job." The prosecutor looked at the Supreme Court's decision in Texas v. Johnson and United States v. Eichman, decided to drop the charges.
Granted, Texas's statute bears similarities to Missouri's statute. But Texas v. Johnson certainly did not purport to settle the matter for all fifty states.
It has been of some amusement to legal academics, whose commentary reads something like, "Oh, those backwater Show-Me Staters near the boot heel. Don't they know the totality of the contours of First Amendment law?" But perhaps one could be forgiven for thinking that, as a matter of common sense, burning the flag is not protected by the Free Speech Clause. As of 1989, forty-eight states and the federal government had flag desecration statutes. Some still have them today. And some flag desecration (the kind that doesn't involve expressive conduct) may still be criminalized.
Alas, the First Amendment is not the stuff of common sense, and certainly not the stuff of popular opinion, but of law. And as a matter of law, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Free Speech Clause to protect the expressive conduct of burning the flag to make a political point.
Should it be known to a prosecutor, or a judge? Probably. To a law enforcement officer? There is the trickier part--but one the Eighth Circuit had no difficulty analyzing in a dramatic statement. The court informs law enforcement officers that they have an obligation to ignore a duly-enacted law, one that has never been formally challenged, based upon their independent conclusion that the law is unconstitutional under existing Supreme Court precedent.
The history of qualified immunity is not the cleanest. It traces back to the 1970s as the Court grappled with its existing precedent under a series of older cases that prohibited parties from suing states for monetary damages for constitutional violations. After the Kent State riots, the Court authorized suits against state officials in limited cases--that is, the officials' immunity from lawsuit was "qualified." As the Court explained, "[A] qualified immunity is available to officers of the executive branch of government, the variation being dependent upon the scope of discretion and responsibilities of the office and all the circumstances as they reasonably appeared at the time of the action on which liability is sought to be based. It is the existence of reasonable grounds for the belief formed at the time and in light of all the circumstances, coupled with good-faith belief, that affords a basis for qualified immunity of executive officers for acts performed in the course of official conduct."
These cases tend to be "excessive force" cases under the Fourth Amendment, for good reason: usually, they arise when a law enforcement official is arresting someone or processing someone in custody, and there arises a dispute as to whether the official acted within the permissible range of discretion of exceeded it unnecessarily. It arises when police officers search a home without a warrant and asks whether they were justified in doing so. And it arises in other contexts, including First Amendment or Due Process Claims.
But the law must also be "clearly established" for an officer to lose qualified immunity-that is, "'the contours of the right must be sufficiently clear that a reasonable official would understand that what he is doing violates that right. This is not to say that an official action is protected by qualified immunity unless the very action in question has previously been held unlawful, but it is to say that in the light of pre-existing law the unlawfulness must be apparent.'"
With that brief background, what of this case?
This case is not one in which the law enforcement officer is acting in his discretionary capacity--he is not making an employment decision, or using force to stop a fleeing suspect, or any of the other typical qualified immunity cases.
Instead, it is a case where there is a law, on the books, previously unchallenged in any judicial forum, and the law enforcement officer is enforcing that law.
The Eighth Circuit said that the law enforcement officer should not have enforced that law and could be sued for monetary damages for doing so.
Of course, isn't this a particularly egregious violation of "clearly established" precedent from the Supreme Court? Well, not exactly. Texas v. Johnson was a flag-burning case, yes, but it was an "as-applied" challenge--that is, flag burning statutes are not inherently (facially) unconstitutional, but only unconstitutional in limited circumstances. In that 1989 case, it was unconstitutional when it was applied solely to political speech.
In this case, for the officer at the time, were there other factors that might affect the analysis? That a neighbor call the police, suggesting a feud? That there was originally a litter ticket issues, suggesting a non-speech-oriented basis for the citation? We don't know. The parties concede that the citation ultimately issued was done so in violation of the First Amendment--but only after the prosecutor reviewed the charges and the relevant case law.
Instead, the Eighth Circuit would demand that the law enforcement officer make an ex ante decision about validity of a law and voluntarily refuse to enforce it--or face lawsuit.
The ramifications could be dramatic.
Imagine a state with a campaign finance law on its books that has aggregate contribution limits similar to those in McCutcheon v. FEC. May it enforce those laws? Or should local clerks independently abandon them, absent judicial review, for fear that complying with laws on the books may open them up to lawsuits?
The same scenario could hold true for a host of cases in the future--same-sex marriage statutes, death penalty statutes, and the like.
It might be the case that a court ducks by saying it was not "clearly established." But in a case like McCutcheon--which, even more so than Texas v. Johnson, was a facial challenge to a federal campaign finance law--it's hard to escape the applicability of precedent going forward.
In part, this is an overstatement of what the Supreme Court does. It handles the cases of individual litigants, perhaps disputing an individual statute. But to translate that quickly to a sweeping pronouncement of dozens of laws nationally implicating millions of Americans is not what it is doing. Stare decisis may suggest a future result; but that suggestion is not the kind of thing that ought to hold a law enforcement officer with the task of performing judicial review.
In closing, it might be that I hyperbolize slightly in this post, that I overuse adverbs, or that I'm the one, in fact, dramatically wrong. But given the unanimity of views laughing at the local Missouri law enforcement officials, I thought it would be valuable to highlight what I view as a very real problem with this qualified immunity analysis, and suggest that perhaps we don't want law enforcement officials to abandon their duty to enforce the law simply because the Supreme Court, in another case in another state in a similar situation, has spoken.


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Hiking to Lake of the Lone Indian in the Ansel Adams Wilderness
I've written before about the lakes to be found in the Ansel Adams Wilderness - the trailhead being about a three-hour drive from Oakhurst to Edison Lake in Fresno County.
On a trip late last summer, I was awakened from a low flying aircraft which was stocking the lake with small trout. I decided to look for firewood to start morning breakfast, and while searching for wood, my hiking partner decided to explore the stream above the fall. She returned about 30 minutes later and surprised me carrying a 14-inch trout which she caught by hand.
Now I asked myself - why did I carry all this fishing gear when my partner solved the fishing problem? She cornered the fish in one of the pools above the fall and reached down with her hands and snagged the trophy trout. My fishing gear never left my pack for the remainder of the day.
Later that morning, we followed the same stream to Ann Lake. This is a smaller lake with rock formations and trees lining its banks. I decided not to take my fishing gear, but replaced it with my camera and lenses. I'll let the professional do the fishing.
Later that afternoon, Olive Lake was our next destination. We hiked to the end of Peter Pande Lake and trekked north, climbed through a lightly snow-filled slot and then followed across a flat stone surface which led to this small lake. This is another mountain lake with very few trees along its shoreline, and is ideal for photography.
The following morning we departed for our next destination - Grassy Lake. I was told that there was a shortcut to our destination by departing from the trail and climbing to the next ridge. Once on the top, follow it east to find the easiest route to descend into the next canyon. There we found a game trail which will lead us back to the trail and Grassy Lake.
Once we arrived at the ridge top, the ridge forced us to boulder hop until locating a safe route down into the canyon. The game trail boosted a variety of game tracks including bear, coyote and deer, and the trail led us directly to our original trail and Grassy Lake.
Grassy Lake was surrounded on three sides with long green grass and bordered on the north side by trees. But looks can be deceiving, the tall grass made ideal cover for swarms of those pesty insects called mosquitoes. We decided to continue around the lake and follow the trail to higher ground. Since the next water source was Wilber May Lake, I figured that if we kept our same pace we should arrive before dark to set up our next campsite.
We arrived before dark and set up at a clearing next to the lake. After having my ego crushed by my partner catching a 14-inch trout by hand, this evening I'll use my fishing gear and attempt to catch a fish with my spinning rod. I was successful and we once again had trout for dinner.
The following morning we hiked over another 10,500 foot pass to the Lake of the Lone Indian. Descending to this wilderness lake along this remote trail reaffirms my memories that this is one of the most beautiful lakes in our mountains.
Gazing down at this picturesque lake are trees surrounding three sides with natural caves on the southern wall. At the north end is its run-off cascading down to the valley below. We set up our camp next to a huge 30-foot boulder which served as a wind break from the wind gusting over Silver Pass along the John Muir Trail. After setting up camp, we visited Papoose, Chief, Warrior and Squaw lakes.
Tomorrow morning will be our final day and we'll follow the John Muir Trail to Edison Lake and visit the last mountain lake on this adventure, called Silver Pass Lake located west of the John Muir Trail.
I'm looking forward to riding across the four-mile lake to the Edison Lake Vermilion. Next I'll hitch a ride to the trailhead and pick up my vehicle to start our drive back to civilization.


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The two leaflets of the plasma membrane bilayer of blood cells differ markedly in composition, with the choline phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (Sph), concentrated in the outer leaflet and the aminophospholipids, phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), concentrated in the inner leaflet (Figure 1). Our research is directed at elucidating how this asymmetric transbilayer distribution is established and maintained, and its physiologic function.
The asymmetric distribution of phospholiids is under the control of two opposing pathways. An aminophospholipid translocase maintains asymmetry by translocating only aminophospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet; an opposing Ca2+-induced pathway (scramblase) permits all the phospholipids to pass from either leaflet to the other, dissipating asymmetry (Figure 1). We have cloned the gene encoding the translocase and it identifies a previously unrecognized subfamily of P-type ATPases with multiple members. Representatives of this new subfamily are found in yeast, nematodes, mammals and plants, and recently, mutations in one of the genes in the subfamily have been identified as responsible for two forms of human inherited cholestasis, or inpaired bile flow. Current research is directed toward elucidating the functions of the other numerous members of the subfamily.
In lymphocytes and neutrophils undergoing apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the translocase in downregulated and the scramblase upregulated, exposing PS on the cell surface. This surface PS is recognized by macrophages, allowing them to phagocytose apoptotic cells before they can lyse and cause inflammation and tissue damage. Current research is directed toward identifying the receptor on macrophages which recognizes PS, other recognition signals displayed on the surface of apoptotic cells, and the receptors which recognize them.
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If you have been reading along on my blog, you know that I have been over the top excited about our upcoming Compassion trip to Mexico to visit this young man. Well, God has other plans…
This morning there was a message on my answering machine letting me know that the Compassion center that Eduardo attends is being closed and that we will no longer be able to sponsor Eduardo, and that I needed to call them back.
After wasting some time (stalling is more like it!), I finally made the call and learned that after many attempts, Compassion has had to pull out of this church because there has not been enough committed volunteers to implement the program. I feel sorry for the poor girl that I was on the phone with because I couldn't stop the tears. She went onto to explain that the church will continue to run a children's ministry program that Eduardo can attend. She also told me that Eduardo is a healthy and quiet boy, he just completed the first grade. Then she shared with me the best news that any sponsor would want to hear:
"He accepted Christ as his Savior"
Even though I am so disappointed that we will not be able to continue to sponsor Eduardo, it warms my heart to know that He knows my Savior, that he is my brother in Christ, that I will see him one day in heaven. Through our letters and support, and through the tireless work that so many volunteers gave at the Compassion center, Eduardo has learned about the hope he can have when he has a relationship with Jesus. God knew this would happen, it is not an accident or a mistake.
So where does this put us for our trip with Compassion to Mexico in January? Oh, we are still going!! At this point, there is a possibility that we might be able to sponsor a child from one of the centers we will be visiting on our trip. In any case, we will be sponsoring another child from Mexico, and God already knows who it is.
Will you join us in praying for this new child that we will be adding to our family? Thank you!


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Cameras for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
Atik Cameras has a long history of supplying cooled CCD cameras into OEM applications. We take pride in providing cost effective high performance products which can be readily modified to meet a specific need. This page describes a small selection of applications already successfully in production. Contact us for a quotation.
Gel Documentation / Chemiluminescence
Atik Cameras are have been integrated in thousands of Gel Doc imaging systems around the world. Our customers are a mix of well established global brands along with smaller companies serving local markets. All have benefited from the low read noise performance of our products allowing high quality images to be produced over the longest exposure times.
Neutron and X-ray Imaging with the 314L+
Neutron imaging requires very sensitive cameras and long exposures because the neutron source is weak. Artemis CCD monochrome cameras (fig.1) are among the most sensitive available and Peltier cooling enables the CCD to operate at the lowest noise performance. Similar cameras can be used for x-ray imaging simply by replacing the scintillator and window material, but neutron imaging (fig. 2) is much more sensitive to organic materials than x-ray imaging. Neutron scintillators such as LiF/ZnS are thin films that convert the neutrons into x-rays and charged particles, that are then converted to light by the ZnS component. For further information, contact NeutronOptics Grenoble.
Electroluminescence Inspection of PV Cells and Modules
Electroluminescence requires high sensitivity in the NIR region. The VS60 featuring Sony's ICX694 CCD has proven to be the ideal product for in-process fabrication, end of line and post module assembly stages. Thermoelectric cooling of the CCD sensor means that long exposures can be taken at full resolution without adding noise to the image. The images shown below were taken in complete darkness at 300ms, 600ms and 5s exposure settings.
Contact us for a full size copy.
16Bit Vs 8Bit depth in Electroluminescense
All Atik cameras produce images with 16 bit depth (65536 Grey levels Vs 256 Grey levels for an 8 bit camera). This can be a significant advantage when automatically differentiating cracks in PV cells from other contrasting features.


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You've gotten pretty far in a job discussion. You like them. They like you. And it's getting down to the nitty gritty. by Marci Alboher at Yahoo.
Then your prospective employer pops the question you've been dreading: "So what are you making now?" (or some variation like, "What were you making in your last position?") You freeze. You know that answering the question can only hurt you. It might peg you at a salary you feel you've outgrown or that you improperly negotiated. And you know that you're always supposed to let the other person name a price first in any negotiation.
So what do you do?
Avoid revealing your salary. Never reveal your prior salary, says Ramit Sethi, creator of the blog, IWillTeachYouToBeRich, and author of the recently published book of the same title. He is clear and unequivocal. "It's just none of their business," he told me. "You're focusing on a new job and if you reveal what you made previously, two things happen. First, you've laid out all your cards. Second, you're admitting that you are inexperienced in interviewing and negotiating." (That last bit was particularly painful for me to hear since I've made the mistake of revealing a prior salary and I'm in the business of advising people about how to manage their careers.)
Focus on your value. If the employer persists, Sethi suggests steering the conversation to the value you'll be bringing to the position. If you can focus, say, on the hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue you'll help the company generate, it becomes harder for them to focus on the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars you might be haggling over. If your position doesn't have a clear connection to the bottom line, Sethi says to emphasize how your job will allow your manager to do his or her job more effectively. In the end, it's all about how you're going to help the organization achieve its goals.
Discuss salary ranges. If you get the prior salary question, steer the negotation to why you should be at a certain number or range, says Carol Frohlinger, managing director of Negotiating Women and author of the book, "Her Place at the Table."
One instance where it's fine to reveal your salary is when you feel like your current salary is in a reasonable range and you are only seeking a slight bump--say around 10 percent--according to Susan Cain, president of The Negotiation Company. "If you're not there, which is often the case, then you'll want to deflect at least until they love you and don't want to lose you," says Cain. "At that point, you can say that you don't think your current employer would be comfortable with your disclosing what you earn." If you ultimately feel you have to disclose, Cain says you should just explain, in a non-defensive way, why you think it's low and why you should be in a higher range. She recommends saying something like: "I've had various training and experience and am now looking for a position that will reflect my acquired expertise."
Know your worth. When you do sit down to talk numbers, make sure that you do your homework so that you know what the range should be for the position. "It's not just what the job pays, but what does it pay in your geographic area, in a company of the size of the one you're looking at, in the same industry," says Frohlinger. "And also think about what there is other than salary, what other things people have gotten for a total compensation package."
Do your homework. In order to build a picture of what a job is worth, canvas your entire network, looking especially for people who have left a company you're talking to. In addition, check out sites that offer comparative salary details, like Vault, PayScale, Salary.com and Glassdoor. If you work as an independent contractor or freelancer, ask your peers what they charge. "Talk to at least five people," says Sethi, "since not everyone charges properly for their work and you might get a range of anywhere from $30-$200 an hour."
What if you reveal too much? So what if you've messed up and revealed more than you wanted to? The best way to recover, says Sethi, is to start collecting evidence of your success on the job and immediately plan for an opportunity to sit down with your manager about how you're doing. You'll have to let some time pass--Sethi suggests about six months--but it's important to let your manager know far in advance that you are preparing for a conversation that will include revisiting your compensation as part of it. In fact, Sethi says that by the time you have that conversation, your manager should fully know that you're seeking a raise since you will have been laying the groundwork and showing off your accomplishments along the way.


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Getting Great Results For His Clients
David S. Stellings represents businesses and individuals from around the world in complex litigation in federal and state courts. For the last twenty years, David has focused on consumer fraud, financial fraud, and breach of contract cases. He has recovered more than $12 billion dollars for his clients.
David is part of the leadership team in the Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" multidistrict litigation, in which plaintiffs allege that Volkswagen intentionally and systematically cheated its customers, lied to the government, and misled the public about the emissions of its diesel engine vehicles sold under the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brands. The Court granted final approval to a partial class settlement worth $10.03 billion in October 2016, and a second partial class settlement valued at between $1.2 billion and $4.1 billion in May 2017. The team was honored as finalists by the Consumer Attorneys of California for their prestigious Consumer Attorney of the Year award, and continues to prosecute claims under the Lanham Act on behalf of competitor dealerships that allege they lost sales as a result of Volkswagen's fraud.
David also is a member of leadership in the Takata exploding airbag nationwide class action. Plaintiffs in that case allege that more than 34 million class members were damaged when airbag manufacturer Takata and several major automobile manufacturers knowingly exposed them to the risk of being killed or injured by shrapnel from exploding airbags.
David also is on the leadership team in the multidistrict Checking Account Overdraft litigation. The lawsuits charge that banks changed the order of debit card transactions for the purpose of maximizing the number of times they could assess their customers overdraft fees. To date, the Court has approved more than $1 billion in settlements.
David is co-lead counsel in several cases pending in federal court in Virginia, in which plaintiffs allege that certain oil and natural gas companies improperly underpaid gas royalties to the owners of the gas. In one case, David recovered for his clients approximately 95% of the damages they suffered. He also brokered settlements on behalf of natural gas royalty owners in five other class actions outside Virginia. Those settlements — in which class members recovered between 70% and 100% of their damages, excluding interest — were valued at more than $160 million.
David played a leading role in the firm's consumer fraud and antitrust litigation on behalf of businesses and consumers in New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee against Microsoft Corporation. The landmark litigation charged Microsoft with having committed anticompetitive conduct, violations of state deceptive and unfair business practices statutes, and overcharging of businesses and consumers for Windows and other software. The settlements in the litigation totaled over $700 million. David also served on the leadership team that successfully pursued similar claims against Microsoft in Canada.


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For Sale €580,000 - Apartment, Residential
We are offering this beautiful and stunning apartment frontline on the sandy beaches of Malaga city, La Malagueta. Playa de la Malagueta, in Malaga, is located between el Puerto de Malaga and playa de La Caleta. It is an easy stroll from the historic city centre. The apartment offers airy and open plan living with large windows overlooking the beach. It boasts very spacious and sunny rooms. There is a combined hot & cold air-conditioning throughout the property. The apartment also comes with a private car park. It offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a separate laundry room which can be accessed from the kitchen. The property is on the first floor of the apartment building. A fantastic opportunity for families or as an investment. With amazing views of the sea and beach, this apartment is South facing.
4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Built 180m²


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Letting Farouk Be Farouk
Where does Democratic gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami stand on the issues?
Houston haircare mogul Farouk Shami made his first campaign stop in Austin on Wednesday and offered his take on a variety of issues facing Texas. We let the candidate speak for himself on the economy, environment and taxes in Texas.
In the audio component to this piece, Ben Philpott, who's reporting on the governor's race for KUT News and the Tribune, explores Shami's unpolished performance when it comes to explaining how he'd create the jobs he loves to talk about.
Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.


text: A bright cool and crisp pallet mixed with the rich grounding hues of wood, stone and iron…all designed to create a home that anyone could easily fall in love with. Working with the developers of this home, Sage House selected custom finishes throughout the home from marble tiles, glass backsplash, European French Oak Hardwoods, walnut cabinetry and designer lighting. Finishing touches included beautiful oversized furnishes and hand selected decor for this open concept living and dining room.


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SPREO.CO was founded by technology entrepreneurs Avi Sacajiu and Lior Meller. We started when the Innovation Department at Clalit, Israel's largest health system, identified indoor location software as a major need and challenge within their network of hospitals. Clalit approached SPREO CTO Lior Meller, who previously helped developed one of the first cellular Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in the world.
SPREO uses Bluetooth (BLE) beacon and WiFi signal fingerprinting, inertial sensor fusion, map constraints and other data inputs to provide a complete, integrated platform for step-by-step indoor navigation, location sharing, location based marketing and analytics. SPREO technology features a proprietary indoor location algorithm with low latency and high accuracy.


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SUD EN FETE Second Hand English Book Market
Languedoc Sun is organising an English book fair on Sunday, 30th May at the Camping du Mas de Mourgues from 11h-16h30.
Music and street theatre are just part of the day's entertainment. Food and drink on the spot.
A great family day out! Access map: www.masdemourgues.com - FREE entrance for visitors & buyers.
Sellers 5€ booking only with email@example.com Tel: 06 85 54 68 87 (contact before 24th May)
Thanks for forward to anyone who could be interested or anyone who could promote the event.
Laurence BOXALL
Directrice de la Publication
Tel : 06 85 54 68 87
Fax: 04 66 26 07 34
visit our new website email@example.com


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What's In Store
Ohio pizza chain Donatos looking for Charlotte-area franchisees
Ohio-based Donatos Pizza is looking to expand into the Charlotte area.
The fast casual chain already has one location in South Park and is looking for franchisees to open as many as 15 Charlotte area stores over the next few years.
"(Charlotte) is just a good market. It suffered a little bit during the downturn since banking is such a dominant way of life down there, and the whole country, including Charlotte, has come out of that. We just think there's a lot of good customers down there," John Houck, vice president of development for Donatos Pizza, told the Observer.
Houck said Donatos is popular in the Midwest, where it began, so it should appeal to the many transplants in Charlotte.
The restaurant, which offers delivery, has strombolis, sub sandwiches and salads on its menu in addition to its "edge-to-edge" pizza, Donatos' "trademark" that refers to toppings that go right to the edge of the pizza, Houck said. It was rated No. 1 pizza chain in Technomic's Top 150 Fast-Casual Chain Restaurant report last year.
Houck said the company is looking for local franchisees with restaurant experience. He said those should visit the company's franchise website.
"You're looking for someone who is local," Houck said. "You do better when you have somebody who knows the market – they know the people who live there, they know where they shop. That's always a big plus. From an operations standpoint, certainly you're looking for someone with restaurant experience."
Donatos Pizza was founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, by 19-year-old Jim Grote. It was acquired by McDonald's Corp. in 1999 but bought back by the Grote family in 2003.
Peralta: 704-358-5079;


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Meet the Coaches: Emily Baker
Hometown: Gray, Maine
Playing Experience: Southern Maine Premier Youth Club, Harvard JV Women's Team
Funniest Moment on the Field: Being put in goal after our keeper got one too many concussions. Consequently, it was also my scariest moment on the field.
Coaching Experience:Utithi Secondary School Girls' Coach, 2009
Favorite Movie: Drop Dead Gorgeous
Favorite Song:Ain't Wastin' Time No More by the Allman Brothers
Favorite Team: Chelsea
Winner of this year's World Cup: Spain
Hopes/Thoughts About Working in Africa: I hope to find new ways to inspire the girls I coach at the secondary school where I am a teacher.
Emily will be joining Coaches across Continents at the VAP program. VAP works in areas of Nairobi that have some of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infected and affected youth in Kenya's capital. Many of the youths come from 'families' living in extreme poverty who may have lost one or both parents to the disease.


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The long Easter weekend is celebrated in both the United States and Canada, producing much higher travel volumes at most border crossings between the countries. Easter is one of the 10 heaviest travel days in the U.S. Generally speaking, the delays entering the U.S. are longer than the delays entering Canada.
Your Traffic Avoidance Game Plan
- As a general rule, traffic is lighter in the mornings and tends to build throughout the day. As always, your best chance to avoid long border wait times is to arrive at the border before 7 am or after 8 pm. For example, the U.S. CBP has typically opened up all lanes at Peace arch starting at 6:oo am on Good Friday.
- If possible, use a smaller alternative border crossing rather than the major ports.
- Use NEXUS if everybody in the vehicle is a cardholder
- Always check out the current border wait times for the port you plan to use before hitting the road.
- Winter driving conditions can change rapidly so you will want to keep an eye on our road conditions page as you near trip time.
Special Customs Inspection Tips for Easter
Being prepared can make a big difference in how quickly you get through the border inspection.
- Do not try to bring any Kinder Surprise eggs into the United States. U.S. Customs considers these chocolate treats a dangerous choking threat because of the small plastic toy inside. In prior years, U.S. Customs has seized more than 60,000 Kinder Eggs from travelers' baggage and from international mail shipments.
- If you are carrying plants or flowers, be sure to declare them as plant material is specifically subject to inspection.
- Be prepared to detail any gifts you are bringing with you and, on your return, those you have have received. You may have to pay duty on gifts if they exceed your personal exemption. Bring gift receipts with you. Read through our pages on "Clearing Customs" and "How Much You Will Owe." We also have a Duty Calculator for Canadian residents.
- Do not wrap your gifts! The border inspection officer can make you unwrap them for inspection. One thing you can try is to leave one end open for inspection, but it is better to wrap gifts when you arrive at your destination.
- Prohibited Items – make sure you read through our material on prohibited items. During the holiday season border inspectors seizes higher quantities of foreign fruits, vegetables, meats and animal/plant products. Fresh fruits and vegetables grown outside of the U.S. or Canada are typically prohibited. However, even some Canadian and U.S. grown fruits and vegetables may not be allowed. For example, Mandarin or "Christmas" oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit and pomelo cannot be brought into the U.S. Failure to declare prohibited agriculture products or food items can result in fines up to $1,000 so be careful.
- As you approach the border, make sure you have a reasonably full tank of gas and that everybody has used a restroom recently in case you get stuck in a long backup.
Peak Easter Weekend Traffic Periods
Many Canadians have either 3 or 4 day holidays depending on which province they reside in. Many businesses are closed on Good Friday that is the start of the heavy traffic. Noon on Friday is the peak for many ports but traffic will be much heavier than usual throughout the entire weekend and on Monday.
Thousand Islands Bridge in New York has seen vehicles backed up to Highway 401. Travelers entering the U.S. have had to wait up to two hours Friday and Saturday because of heavy southbound traffic from Canada.
Lewiston-Queenston bridge – at times on Friday mornings and afternoons wait times into the U.S. have been up to 2 1/2 hours.
The Peace Bridge and Rainbow Bridge have seen wait times of up to 1 1/2 hours on Good Friday. There are fewer delay heading into Canada than into the U.S.
In the New York Niagara Area your best bet is generally to use the Whirlpool Bridge if all passengers have a NEXUS card. Second choice is usually the Rainbow bridge.
Major ports such as Peace Arch in Washington State have traditionally experienced peak wait times longer than 3 hours. The Peace Arch and the Blaine Pacific Truck Crossing are typically the busiest border crossings in Washington State. Consider using the Lynden / Aldergrove or Sumas / Abbotsford-Huntingdon ports. In past years, travelers waited more than three hours and 20 minutes at noon on Good Friday at Peace Arch. However, as wait times at the Peace Arch and Pacific crossings decreased during the day, they got longer at Lynden and Sumas. These smaller ports have fewer lanes. At 3pm, Peace Arch reported a 50-minute delay and the Pacific crossing wait was just under two hours. Lynden and Sumas crossings were both reporting waits of more than three hours.
Make sure you are prepared for your border crossing by reviewing ezbordercrossing.com pages on the border crossing experience, prohibited items, and required documentation. You should always check our page for the specific port you are going to use to see if there are any traffic alerts or updates on wait times.
Special Law Enforcement
Many border states step up law enforcement over long weekends such as these. Police in New York, Ontario, and Quebec usually coordinate an extensive traffic enforcement initiative called "Safety Without Borders" all around the U.S. / Canada border. They will be focusing on violations such as speeding, cell phone use, texting, impaired driving, and failure to wear safety restraints. Prior years have seen as much as 1,100 tickets issued during a single day. There will be special attention around the New York ports in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands, and Blackpool / Champlain. Commercial vehicles will also be subject to heightened inspection activity to ensure they are in proper working order.
Ferry Service on Easter
Ferry services also experience heavier traffic during the Easter holidays. Washington BC Ferries have traditionally been busy on Good Friday, with delays reported throughout the day. You should consider making advance reservations, or plan to show up about an hour before departure time. Foot passengers should be at the terminal about 40 minutes ahead of departure.
According to BC Ferries, the historically busiest sailings over the Easter long weekend are:
- Vancouver-Victoria: 7 a.m. to noon Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay on Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay on Monday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen on Monday.
- Vancouver-Nanaimo: 3:15 p.m. Duke Point-Tsawwassen on Monday.
- Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo: 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay on Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay on Monday.
- Horseshoe Bay-Sunshine Coast: 12:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. Langdale-Horseshoe Bay on Sunday, 10:20 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Langdale-Horseshoe Bay on Monday.


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I fell in love with this idea from {Bake at 350}. She says: "I tried it on my hands and arms. OH MY! My skin is now so silky smooth and I smell like gingerbread! I have been caressing my own hands and arms all afternoon..." If it's that good, it's worth a try!
Here's the Recipe:
1 cup C&H/Domino Light Brown Sugar
1 cup C&H/Domino Pure Cane Sugar
¾ cup almond oil (found in the "organic beauty" section)
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. nutmeg
1 16 oz. glass container with lid
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk all dry ingredients until thoroughly blended. Be sure to break up any lumps from the brown sugar or from the spices. Stir in the almond oil. Spoon into the glass container and secure with lid. Then, just include a little tag with these instructions:
"Scoop a teaspoon or two of the scrub on your hands and gently massage in circular motions onto your skin. Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before thoroughly rinsing. The scrub will tighten on your skin."
Wouldn't it make a great little gift? Just make one for yourself, too. :)
Merry Christmas!


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Tag: puppies
Flowing (Inktober2018-Day10)
Long doggo iz long.
Precious (Inktober2018-Day9)
in the end we're not animals, we have manners.
Star (Inktober2018-Day8)
Thank you! Thank you 'ery much!
Exhausted (Inktober2018-Day7)
Someone is not really into exercise.
Drooling (Inktober2018-Day6)
Pavlov's dog ain't got shit on these two.
Chicken (Inktober2018-Day5)
Caught a couple of furry fish.
Spell (Inktober2018-Day4)
Pizza is magical, pizza is truth, pizza is love. In pizza we crust.
Roasted (Inktober2018-Day3)
Tranquil (Inktober2018-Day2)
Can't wait for those lazy winter days.


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Feb 15, 2018
Chinese New Year Traditions
Chinese New Year
Enter the Future. Keep a Foot in the Past!
As we move forward into the new year, let's take the time to ensure that we don't cut our ties to the past, to traditions that have evolved over hundreds of years and that keep us stable no matter the heights we climb.
Many of us may not be Chinese, but that's no reason not to follow some of the most important Chinese New Year traditions this weekend, or at least embrace the core principles on which these traditions were constructed: Family, Change, Positivity, and New Beginnings.
What to Wear
Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is a time of change and new beginnings. New clothes are another sign of change, and are also believed to be auspicious. New clothes also add to the sense of festivity!
By and large, clothes are given as gifts from family members to be worn on New Year's Day. However, you can buy yourself new clothes too.
Red clothes are recommended for Chinese New Year. This is the colour that is most traditional, positive and auspicious. Stay away from black and white, however, as they are deemed unlucky and negative.
There were, however, no real requirements on style or material of clothing. In ancient China, people would follow the fashion trends of that time… something you can do today as well. There's no obligation to go with traditional Chinese clothing – though it can give a little flare to the occasion! If you are interested in traditional wear, go with Qipao (traditional dresses for women; may not be suitable for winter), Cheongsham or Hanfu (not as popular), or Tang Suits (for men or women).
What to Eat
As family is the basis of Chinese society, it is expected that all family members come home for Reunion dinner, or New Year's Eve dinner, resulting in China seeing the world's largest migration of people every year around Chinese New Year. If some members of the family cannot attend, for whatever reason, the family sets a place for them at the table and leaves the spot empty.
Egg rolls, or 'Spring' Rolls, are eaten on the first day of spring. Golden and glistening, spring rolls are a wish for prosperity. Spring rolls can be fried, steamed or baked. While the traditional filling is of pork and vegetables, there are also sweet red bean paste rolls, and even ice cream rolls!
As spring rolls are to the South, so Dumplings are to the North. Shaped like ancient Chinese silver and gold ingots, dumplings represent wealth. Traditionally, the entire family wraps dumplings together. A daughter-in-law is only considered part of the family after she does so too!
In other homes and regions, dumplings and Noodles are cooked together. Yet another dish to wish people prosperity! Every side that goes with noodles has its own symbolic meaning. Long noodles represent longevity, and shouldn't be cut or even chewed. This calls for a lot of slurping!
Chicken has great symbolic meanings in different parts of the country – full chicken signifying family, chicken representing reunion and rebirth, chicken soup a wish for peace in Hunan, chicken feet (phoenix claws) to grasp wealth, chicken wings helping you fly higher, bones meaning outstanding achievement, and eggs representing gold and silver.
As the Spring Festival marks the end of winter, the vegetables saved for the winter are consumed during this feast. A Vegetarian Stir-Fry is a typical traditional dish for the New Year. Each vegetable has its own symbolic meaning.
What to Do
Undertake your spring-cleaning well before the New Year and take a ritual bath, as you won't be able to do either on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day! Shop for clothes for your loved ones and kids. Decorate the home with lanterns, year paint, papercutting, door gods, upside down fu, dui lian, etc.
Shop for decorations, red envelopes, toys and trinkets at the many pop-up Chinese New Year's Markets. In Hong Kong and Macau, it is traditional to gift flowers like orchids, peonies and narcissus for the New Year, and street markets are therefore also teeming with flowers and potted plants!
Don't forget to be present for your family's Reunion Dinner on New Year's Eve! Complete the evening's celebrations by staying up till midnight and banishing evil with fireworks.
Visit your relatives for Bài Nián, the act of greeting and blessing, on New Year's Day. Start with the seniormost on the husband's side of the family, and carry gifts for each visit. Money is placed in 'red envelopes' as simple gifts of good luck and love from elders and married couples. Traditionally, the youngster performs three kowtows before receiving the gift.
In these high-tech times, digital red envelopes are the new trend via platforms like WeChat and Alipay. These digital envelopes can reach friends and family anywhere in the world, and multiple at the same time. This means that red envelopes can be sent out for any occasion, not just for the New Year. This cuts out the personal touch, making some complain that the tradition has become too materialistic and frivolous… but as long as people are coming together and keeping traditions alive, does the method in which they do so really matter?!
What Not to Do
There are certain taboos that go with the celebration. For instance, don't say anything negative. Don't fight or cry. Don't use sharp objects. Do not borrow money, or ask for your money back. Wait for others to get out of bed before wishing them for the New Year. Avoid certain gifts, like clocks, pears and apples. Avoid taking medicine. Don't sweep, clean, shower or throw out garbage on New Year's Day. If you're married, celebrate the day with the husband's family; visit the wife's family on the second day of the New Year.
The festival revolves around traditions of starting the year on a positive note, praying for health and wealth and surrounded by family. And really, can any of us ever ask for anything more? So let's all come together to celebrate Spring Festival this weekend. May the year to come be happy, healthy, prosperous and endlessly rewarding. Mozaic Club wishes you and your family a Very Happy Chinese New Year!


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"She is just so in love with herself."
"He really thinks his life is that interesting?"
Anyone who has ever started, or even thought about starting a blog has run into this sort of criticism. Whether it comes from haters and doubters, or from the voice of our inner critic, all budding bloggers struggle with the fear that the act of creating and sharing your point of view is an inherently narcissistic one.
Now, I cannot speak for everybody. I can only say how I have come to deal with this condemnation…
I don't write and share because I find myself interesting.
I write and share because I find the world interesting.
I don't view blogging as a selfish act, but rather, as a generous one.
Not generous because we share our own experience, wisdom, knowledge, or life
But generous because we simply pass on what God has graciously given to us, in the hopes that it might also be a blessing to others.
If neither of these help, perhaps think about it this way…
If God has been gracious enough to give us experience, wisdom, knowledge, joy, life, then wouldn't it be more selfish not to share it?
CLICK HERE to invite jon as a speaker


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In today's WSJ: "Faithless Electors: Now It's Up to Congress"
In today's Wall Street Journal, I have an opinion piece entitled, "Faithless Electors: Now It's Up to Congress." It begins:
The 538 members of the Electoral College convened Monday and cast a majority of their votes for Donald Trump for president and Mike Pence for vice president. When Congress convenes on Jan. 6 to count the votes, it will mostly be a formality. But its decision to count or exclude the votes of some "faithless electors" will set a precedent for future elections.
And it concludes:
These are challenging questions that cannot be answered by a judge or a court. Only Congress decides what to count. And while it won't change the outcome of this election, its decisions will affect how states handle faithless electors in the 2020 election and beyond.


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As legislators fumble about and point fingers over who is to blame for recent stalls to a $700 billion economic bailout plan, a stringent piracy bill recently passed through the House and Senate like fish in a barrel. The PRO-IP bill, endorsed by the music industry, Hollywood corporations, and manufacturers, now awaits the President's signature to become law. The 63-page bill (available here) would tighten the scrutiny on IP pirates. Under the Act, the civil courts are granted more latitude in seizing property. The new standard of seizure would be "any property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part" for copyright offenses. Additionally, the bill adds a Copyright Czar to the President's cabinet.
The responsibilities of the Copyright Czar include reporting "directly to the President and Congress regarding domestic international intellectual property enforcement programs." The czar would also be accountable for a nationwide strategy to reduce piracy.
Whether George Bush will sign the bill is simply conjecture. The President could veto the bill on a Constitutional basis, arguing that requiring a cabinet appointee violates the separation of powers claus. This is perhaps pretext to avoiding responsibility for a potential War on Piracy. One indication that the President may sign the bill was Congress' recent compromise to remove a section authorizing the Department of Justice to represent copyright owners in civil suits. Last week, the White House, the DOJ, and digital rights groups were lobbying for Congress to remove the section.
Nonetheless, the PRO-IP bill sits at the President's desk, and digital rights advocates remain agitated.
"The bill only adds more imbalance to a copyright law that favors large media companies," wrote Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, "At a time when the entire digital world is going to less restrictive distribution models, and when the courts are aghast at the outlandish damages being inflicted on consumers in copyright cases, this bill goes entirely in the wrong direction."