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End Citizen United, a political action committee was founded with the aim of bringing reforms to the US campaign finance system. Since the Supreme Court decision in 2010, some corporations and billionaire spend massive amounts of money to buy elections. There is a lack of transparency and accountability; however, End Citizen United which was founded and is funded by grassroots donors, are ready to fight the kinds of Koch Brothers so that there will be no more corruption in the electoral system.
End Citizen United work to overturn Citizen United and end dark unlimited money by raising the issue of money in politics, so it becomes a national priority, electing reforms candidates and using grassroots to show political power on the issue.
Democrats are leading in fighting the Citizen United, and the committee thinks they will make great leaders on OpenSecrets.org. In the 2016 election, the End Citizen United gave their full support to the Democrats; the Republicans, on the other hand, were standing with the Supreme Court with the decision that caused the US a corruption-free election.
End Citizen United planned to raise at least twenty-five million dollars to support Democratic candidates on Facebook; they formed an expenditure arm to support the candidates financially through polling, television ads, and direct mailing. By August 2015, End Citizen United had three hundred and twenty-five thousands of supporters, and the number was expected to go up because of their partnership with Ready for Hillary which had over four million supporters.
End Citizen United endorsed many Democratic candidates; in August 2015 alone former Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado and Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin were among the fifteen candidates signed. The Communication Director Richard Carbo said that End Citizen United is not like any other PAC because they are focusing on supporting candidates who are in support of the reforms and want to fight against Citizen United and those shady organizations on actblue.com.
John Wonderlich, a director at Sunlight Foundation, said that the battle of constitution amendment is a hard one for those who are advocating for it, especially since America has not had another amendment since the one done in 1992. Rick Hasen, an expert in campaign finance regulation, thought it would be easier to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice instead depending on the candidates that would be chosen. However, Hasen said having End Citizen United keep the public aware of what is happening in the political world and keep the Supreme Court and Politicians on toes.
End Citizen United hopes to make the campaign finance reforms even in local level; they want a constitution amendment so they can be able to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court ruling. They know if the decision is reversed the US will always have a transparent election that will not be influenced by the people who just want to balance political power to their favor.


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Jenny Earle, Director of Prison Reform Trust's Reducing Women's Imprisonment programme, joined Countess Sara Bathurst, the former High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour to talk about the Women's Institute opening up a branch in HMP Eastwood Park, and how this can provide a support network for the women to help reintegrate back into their community on release.
The WI branch currently has 35 members and is called 'Lady B's Butterflies' in honour of the Countess being one of the founders. Listen to the interview again by clicking here.
Website by BaigentDigital

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July 1, 2017 marks the twentieth anniversary of the 1997 return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty. It is a good occasion to review the past twenty years and to explore win-win avenues for both Hong Kong and the Mainland in the coming thirty years.
In years leading to the handover, Hong Kong people, having observed what had transpired next door, were understandably apprehensive about life under Beijing's rule. About a million emigrated before the handover. They were soon proved wrong, and many streamed back, just like the many foreigners who headed to Hong Kong to advance their careers.
The key institutional arrangement to account for this happy situation is "One Country, Two Systems." This has been helped by the rapid growth of the Chinese economy.
However, the journey has its bumps. The biggest bump led to the Umbrella Movement and inspired the emergence of fringe elements fighting for the unrealistic goal of Hong Kong independence.
Before and After 1997
The pending return of Hong Kong to China began to permeate public consciousness in the early 1980s. It evoked anxiety in a good section of the population who did not like what had happened in the Mainland. Many planned to emigrate. This trend increased significantly in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Incident in 1989.
Geoffrey Somers, a former chief information officer of the Hong Kong government, reminds us that before the handover, the overseas media were predicting that tanks of the People's Liberation Army would be patrolling the streets of downtown Hong Kong.
This being the background, it was no surprise that many chose to vote with their feet. It was estimated that from 1984 to 1997, nearly one million persons emigrated. The result was a brain drain and a loss of capital.
Soon after Hong Kong's return to the Motherland in July 1, 1997, East Asia experienced the Asian Financial Crisis. It was an occasion skillfully used by Beijing to demonstrate its firm commitment to the prosperity of Hong Kong. Mainland tourists arrived in large number to boost the depressed economy. With the solid backing of China's massive economy, Hong Kong fended off the attacks of currency speculators. When the buffeting gales of the financial crisis finally died down, it even made money from the miscalculations of the speculators.
And no PLA tanks appeared on the streets. Life was like before, and business as usual. Reality has proved the scaremongers flat wrong.
In the following years after the transfer of sovereignty, many who had emigrated out of fear returned to Hong Kong, some with foreign citizenship, to work and to enjoy their favorite tea time with tim sum.
What has gone right? First, the ways Beijing and London handled the issue of Hong Kong from 1949 till mid-1997 were exemplary. Mutual benefits and pragmatism, rather than commitment to ideological purity, informed decision-making on both sides. The case provides useful lessons for students of statecraft and diplomacy.
Second, the main credit must be given to the idea of "One Country, Two Systems" — a political innovation pretty unique to Chinese political life. With political ingenuity, this idea draws insights from the historical experiences when China was ruled by non-Han minorities. These periods witnessed the co-existence of dual sets of high officials in the imperial court — that from the ruling minority and that from the Han majority.
One Country, Two Systems
The idea behind the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" may be seen as a high-level approach to kill two birds with one stone. The first goal was to have a 50-year transitional period for the people of Hong Kong to gradually adjust to its new status as a special administrative region. The idea was mooted in the early 1980s when the Chinese economy was rather backward, and Hong Kong was seen as a crucial conduit for capital, technology, know-how, and markets much needed by the Mainland. Prosperity, predictability, and stability are the key words. In other words, don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
The second goal was to provide a framework to resolve the Taiwan question. This is an issue of geopolitical, national, and strategic consequence. If post-1997 Hong Kong can be skillfully managed so that the people are content and enjoy prosperity during the next 50 years, it would be a powerful and cogent case to dissuade Taiwan from harboring the unrealistic dream of political independence.
There might be even a third, though unarticulated, goal. A prosperous and stable Hong Kong would promote a positive image of China among the global community. A direct and close-up experience of dealing with a global metropolis with international taste and culture offers Beijing invaluable concrete experiences in introducing and promoting its cherished cultural achievements to the global audience.
As a whole, the 1997-2014 period was a period of tolerance, pragmatism, moderation, and common sense. The annual mass gathering held to mark the June 4 Tiananmen incident, for example, has always proceeded without trouble. Even the Falun Gong, outlawed on the mainland, are allowed to operate in Hong Kong, albeit with some restrictions. The protest in 2012 against national education was resolved quite amicably.
Unfortunately, this was to change in 2014. It was a year when a movement for greater democracy morphed into a massive street demonstration, known the world over as the "Umbrella Movement".
It Could Have Been Better
In August 2014, Beijing passed a reform framework for Hong Kong. It stipulated that only two or three candidates who were committee-vetted and approved by Beijing could contest for the post of chief executive of Hong Kong.
The point on Beijing's approval is simply not acceptable to most people in Hong Kong. It is normal in a democratic election that candidates for public office must be vetted to check their criminal records, their financial conditions, and other sensible criteria. Once a candidate has gone through the process successfully, he or she is a qualified candidate and needs no further approval from a higher authority.
The Hong Kong people showed their disapproval by holding a demonstration, as they had done on several occasions in the past. Many expected the good tradition of tolerance and moderation to be displayed again. That is why they were taken aback by the sight of a peaceful, festive movement degenerating into street clashes between protesters and police, with some ugly scenes.
From the perspective of Beijing, the most bitter fruit of the event was the election into the Legislative Council of eight members who are products of the Umbrella movement.
The Hong Kong police, well known for their professionalism and efficiency, resorted to violence to suppress the protest. Several public TV outlets broadcast police officers kicking and punching a handcuffed social worker and activist as he lay on the ground.
What was China doing? Beijing and its mouthpieces denounced the protests, labeling them illegal and issued stern warnings.
The whole episode was a truly negative-sum game in three ways:
One: Hong Kong has become a deeply divided society. The episode generated a social basis for political extremism calling for political independence. From the perspective of Beijing, the most bitter fruit of the event was the election into the Legislative Council of eight members who are products of the Umbrella movement. They are either openly advocating political independence or are anti-Beijing.
Two: The then-chief executive was seen to be incompetent, inflexible, and unimaginative, or simply trying his best to please Beijing, perhaps with counter-productive results. Hong Kong's image of moderation and pragmatism has been dented and it will take a long time and Herculean efforts to repair it.
Three: The event drove angst into the hearts and souls of numerous Taiwanese who saw this as a vivid statement of the true character of the Communist Party of China. The protest movement in September 2014 came just two months ahead of local elections in Taiwan. It was an important factor in swaying voters in Taiwan to dump Kuomintang candidates. The KMT's disastrous defeat demoralized the party and created a favorable political environment for the Democratic Progressive Party in the general election in January 2016. Taiwan now has a DPP president and vice president, and the party enjoys a majority in the Legislative Yuan. This political configuration is not something that Beijing had hoped for or wanted to see.
The whole episode suggests a strange lack of political confidence on the part of the Beijing leadership in charge of Hong Kong. Consider the period when Beijing was dealing with Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong. Before his appointment in Hong Kong, Mr. Patten had been a former British cabinet minister and a former chairman of the British Conservative Party. He was certainly a seasoned politician with tons of gravitas. And let us not forget, the man enjoyed the backing of Downing Street. If Beijing could do business with him, it could certainly deal with a Hong Kong leader elected locally, most likely without the wealth of Mr. Patten's experience. Moreover, Beijing could call on the help of the Hong Kong business community should the elected chief executive turned out to be Don Quixotesque.
The way Beijing handled the situation remains a puzzle and the real answer can be revealed only after the archive of classified documents of the CPC around the year 2014 is opened for research.
Looking Ahead
Before Deng Xiaoping introduced economic reform in 1978, Hong Kong was the only truly international port available to China in its dealings with the outside world. The entrepôt trade fueled the growth of the city's financial sector and other auxiliary services. Even during the chaotic days of the Cultural Revolution, the city could carry on its usual business of money making.
After the historic decision of 1978, Hong Kong became the conduit for inflows of investment, technology, and business contacts, including adventurous business people among the overseas Chinese. This great oriental metropolis took on the additional role seamlessly, and was bountifully rewarded for it. It was soon to enjoy the sobriquet as one of the four little dragons, bestowing on it the enviable reputation of being an economic miracle and a darling of the World Bank.
History endows the city with a special geo-economic position, allowing it to offer special services to China's economic development and thereby enjoying Beijing's favors.
An important milestone in Hong Kong's evolution was when China became a member of the World Trade Organization in December 2001. Although Hong Kong still serves as a channel to deal with the outside world, this role now shared by other major Chinese cities which are gradually upgrading themselves to be more like Hong Kong. As other Chinese cities become more integrated into the global economy, Hong Kong needs to reinvent itself in order to enjoy prosperity by continuing to be relevant to China.
Meanwhile the economies of the Mainland and Hong Kong are facing intensifying competition from other economies in the region and around the world. Herein lies the rationale for strengthening their competitive capacity through closer economic integration.
It takes the form of free trade of goods since January 2006 to free trade of services in June 2016, to the Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and mainland-Hong Kong bond connect in the near future. Hong Kong should leverage on its position as the big boy in the offshore yuan trade and its closer integration into the Chinese economy to expand mainland-oriented financing services and yuan-denominated clearing services.
There is a piece of good news for Hong Kong's economic future. To face off global competition from regional entities like clusters around New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo, Beijing wants to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong should seize this golden opportunity and join the project as a major player.
But the value of Hong Kong to China is not limited to its economic role. For decades, this tiny dot on the map has shone brightly as a cultural center with its own brand of vibrancy, creativity, hardworking habits, and can-do spirit. For many years, it made movies in Mandarin, Teochew, and Hokkien — tongues that were not spoken by the majority of the locals. It was almost like Hollywood making movies spoken in Greek, German, and French.
Looking ahead, the future of Hong Kong lies in weaning itself off political extremism and making itself relevant to China. Meanwhile Beijing has much to gain in appreciating the city's special position to woo Taiwan and to project its cultural influence to the wider world.
Central to the bright future is strict adherence to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems." It enhances the moral authority of Beijing and curbs political extremism in Hong Kong. Mainland China, being the big player in the equation, would do well to show magnanimity and to continue the wisdom and long-term vision demonstrated by the late Deng Xiaoping.
1 Comments To This Article
David Chester1
How much does the land tenure system in Hong Kong benefit its residents? I understand that all the land is leased out and none is privately owned.
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A new documentary revealed that the French Revolution was not without blemish. It is something that the history books would rather gloss over.
"The Hidden Rebellion" is a documentary by filmmaker Daniel Rabourdin that will richly uncover the battle that aled to the murder of 50,000 civilians after the Vendéans were defeated by the military. This included the murder of women, nuns and the destruction of religious freedom.
Vendee was a peaceful community of farmer and Catholics. They welcomed the French Revolution initially, but the reforms were not what they expected. The revolution put the countries at stake and its freedoms. In fact, it was mayhem and the Vendéans revolted against the tyranny of higher taxes, refused to wage wars beyond their borders and wanted to protect religious freedom.
Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/idolchatter/2017/01/documentary-unearths-facts-french-revolution.html


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Over the weekend, we had a couple of blockbuster games in terms of talent, and we saw the best and worst from a competitive standpoint. In the game between the Thunder and Rockets, we saw a great come from behind victory. In the game between Philly and the Lakers, we saw almost no intensity and a huge scoreline, but was a boring affair. In addition to those topics, we also cover:
- The continuation of the Anthony Davis situation in New Orleans
- The NBA getting crushed in the ratings to a new semi-pro football league
- How good is Paul George right now? Is he the best 2-way player in the league?
- And was Bill Russell worthy of winning finals MVP in 1969?
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'The HotSeat' asks our departmental experts important questions on key topics in politics and government. Watch the latest episodes here for discussion and analysis on news and current affairs.
'The HotSeat' is also available as a podcast – listen and download via iTunes and SoundCloud.
Use #LSEHotSeat to join the debate on Twitter.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers discusses the 2018 Local Elections
What did the 2018 Local Elections tell us about the current landscape of British Politics? Professor Tony Travers gives us his analysis.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on Party Conference Season 2017
What's the point of party conferences? Professor Tony Travers gives us his analysis of the 2017 party conference season.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on the results of the 2017 UK General Election
We ask Professor Tony Travers how we ended up with a hung Parliament, the implications for the Conservatives and Labour, what it means for Brexit and how long it could be before the next General Election.
HOTSEAT: Thomas Leeper on Trump's Inauguration & the Start of His Presidency
Thomas Leeper discusses Donald Trump's inauguration and what it tells us about the policy and approach we can expect from his presidency.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on 2016, An Eventful Year In Politics
Professor Tony Travers discusses the key political events of 2016, an unprecedented year in politics which saw the UK vote for Brexit and Donald Trump elected US President.
HOTSEAT: Alexandra Cirone on Post-Truth Politics
What is 'Post-Truth'? Alexandra Cirone discusses the latest political buzzword and what it really means for politics in 2016 and beyond.
HOTSEAT: Brian Klaas on the 2016 US Presidential Election & Implications of a Trump Presidency
As the world continues to digest the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential Election, Brian Klaas discusses the result and what we might expect from a Donald Trump Presidency.
HOTSEAT: Simon Hix on the EU Referendum Result & the Implications of Brexit
As the political fallout from the EU Referendum continues to grip the UK, Simon Hix discusses the implications of the result and what Brexit might mean for Britain and Europe.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on Local Elections, London's New Mayor & the EU Referendum
Tony Travers discusses the implications of the Local Election results, Sadiq Khan's victory in the London Mayoral Election and the shape of the UK's political landscape as the EU Referendum approaches.
HOTSEAT: Simon Hix on the EU Referendum
As the EU Referendum takes centre stage following the 5 May Elections, Simon Hix discusses the key factors and possible outcomes of this 'once in a generation' vote on 23 June.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on May 2016 UK Election Results
On the morning after voters went to the polls across the UK, Martin Rogers speaks to Tony Travers to discuss the picture emerging from the 5 May Election results.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on UK Elections 2016
Professor Tony Travers analyses the range of UK Elections 2016; from Local, Sub-National, Mayoral and Police & Crime Commissioner Elections in May, to the EU Referendum on 23 June.
HOTSEAT: Kate Alexander Shaw on Budget 2016
Kate Alexander Shaw gives her verdict Chancellor George Osborne's Budget 2016.
HOTSEAT: Jill Stuart on METI & Space Politics
Dr Jill Stuart, Editor-in-chief of Space Policy and Trustee of METI International, discusses METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and the political implications of space mining and commercial space travel.
HOTSEAT: Simon Hix on Britain, Europe & the EU Referendum
Following the announcement of the UK's EU Referendum, Professor Simon Hix discusses the relationship between Britain and Europe, and the potential outcomes and implications of the referendum vote on 23 June 2016.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on the Oldham By-election
Thursday's Oldham West and Royton by-election was the first electoral test of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership, which came under even further scrutiny in the wake of events surrounding this week's parliamentary vote on Syria.
HOTSEAT: Kate Alexander Shaw on the Autumn Statement 2015
Since presenting his Budget in July, George Osborne has faced significant challenges to some of his spending policies, particularly the widespread opposition to his plans to cut tax credits. Kate Alexander Shaw gives her verdict on the latest proposals announced in his Autumn Statement and their political and practical implications.
HOTSEAT: Tony Travers on party conference season and the London mayoral race
In the wake of May's general election, the 2015 party conference season has seen the Conservatives consolidate their plans for the next five years of majority rule whilst opposition parties set out their stall to mount a challenge in the 2020 contest.
HOTSEAT: Jonathan Hopkin on Catalonia
On the 27 September voters went to the polls in the 2015 Catalonian Parliamentary Election. We sat down with Dr Jonathan Hopkin to discuss the results and the implications for those in the region seeking independence from Spain.
HOTSEAT: Martin Lodge on the VW emissions 'scandal'
In September VW admitted to using software which enabled some of their vehicles to cheat US emissions tests. We sat down with Professor Martin Lodge to discuss the situation and its implications in Europe and beyond.


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Two people who have watched the grime scene has explode in the last decade are radio DJs Sarah-Jane Crawford and Yinka Bokinni.
From Dizzee Rascal's hit album Boy In Da Corner back in the day to the likes of Stormzy winning GQ awards, the genre has changed hugely and has had a huge impact on the urban music scene, with radio DJs often the people ones who see it happening first.
And while the musicians behind the music are the ones who affect the change, its the DJs who help feed the need for this style, they see what's coming, what's gone before, they give the listeners what they want and help underground genres to become more mainstream.
'I can't wait for the day that Skepta & Stormzy being nominated for Brit Awards is commonplace,' Capital XTRA DJ Yinka exclusively told Metro.co.uk.
'The current scene is in a really strong place,' Radio 1 Xtra DJ Sarah-Jane Crawford also told Metro.co.uk. 'The UK and the US artist collaboration climate couldn't be stronger with the likes of Drake working with UK rappers like Giggs who recorded unbelievable verses for his More Life album, and Stefflon Don teaming up with French Montana.'
Sarah-Jane credits the explosion of Afro pop / grime to the influx of talented artists like J Hus, Hardy Caprio, Yxng Bane, Lotto Boyz, Kojo Funds, Not3s and Youngen.
It's an ever changing world, once dominated by the likes of Dizzee and Wiley, now topped by the likes of Giggs and J Hus. Once these grime artists were getting every gig shut down by the police, and now they're topping bills at the UK's biggest festivals with fans in the likes of Kanye West and Drake trying to take the style global.
And with so much evolution it's difficult to still lump the music under one umbrella term.
'To call it black music is often inaccurate and sounds discriminatory to some,' Sarah-Jane lamented. 'And the term "urban" music itself ends up morphing into so many different categories.'
Yinka added: 'For me personally, I think it is such an outdated term, like how do you even define what Urban is anymore? Is Urban strictly underground? Is it still Urban if it's in the charts? Or played on commercial radio? If we are honest the term 'Urban' is too often used as a synonym for black and I think that needs to change.'
She pointed out the term 'urban' covers a multitude of genres, it's anything from RnB, Trap, Drill, Jazz, Grime, Soul, Hip Hop or Funk and so many others. But either way, both consider it to be outdated.
Things are still evolving, the scene is constantly moving, and these guys have been at the forefront of watching it change.
'I have seen a change in the way we consume music,' Yinka said. 'I am part of the generation who listened to Grime on my Walkman phone on the back of the bus after school but now there are so many ways for new artists to get their stuff out there with social media & streaming sites.'
Sarah-Jane concurred: 'To say I've seen it change would be an understatement. When I started off at 1xtra nearly 10 years ago we'd just seen a wave of indie artists killing it a couple of years prior from Arctic Monkeys to The Enemy.
'Things were quiet on the urban front because of a lot of the raves being shut down by the police and their 696 form.
'When I joined 1xtra I enjoyed watching UK artists hit the mainstream like Chipmunk, Tinchy, Taio Cruz, Tinie and the return of Roll Deep. The sound was less "threatening" to the ears of the suits, I guess but at least it got our artists out there.'
But now, stronger, more 'authentic' artists are breaking through, with unashamedly honest and unapologetic sounds.
'I've been thrilled to see urban artists have the confidence to smash the UK in the face with a truly authentic sound,' Sarah-Jane said, noting the return of originals like Boy Better Know, and a South London surge from the likes of Giggs, Krept and Konan and Stormzy.
Yinka has seen first hand how the 696 form affected the grime scene – when gigs were being shut down left right and centre by authorities who didn't understand them.
'I've been booked for gigs and then been told when I get there that I can't play certain music or even more annoyingly whilst I'm playing been asked to 'lighten it up' and this isn't because the ravers weren't enjoying and it sickens me,' she revealed.
'I don't think it is up to artists to call for other artists to work with the police, I think it is the police's job to work with the artists because this isn't a fad and it isn't going away any time soon.'
So who should be on our radars? Hardy Caprio for one, Sarah Jane tells us. 'He's young, has a sick flow, and just seems to be being himself.
For Yinka it's Yxng Bane, Mo Stack, Big Zuu, JSTJCK.
'I mean I list all of these guys for the same reason, pretty soon you won't be able to ignore the,' she said.
Giggs is arguably at the top of his game. Sarah-Jane added: 'His word play, flow and the passion and real ness he brings to his music. #Wamp2Dem is just brilliant.'
Now is the time for urban acts to break through, the 1Xtra DJ thinks: 'Urban music and unsigned indie artists have everything they need to go viral and reach a career tipping point if the product is good enough.
'People are consuming authenticity by the boat load so I personally think that you no longer have to be contrived and fit into what the record label want from you to be a successful artist, neither do you have to water anything down.'
'YouTube and Twitter have made it easier for artists to create their own buzz,' Yinka said.
These two women are at the head of this game, getting the records before they hit the airwaves. So how do they spot a potential hit in such an ever changing music style?
'For me, I road test music in my car, it's my favourite thing to do,' Sarah-Jane says. 'Obviously a great hook will always be a winner but if a track it's beautifully vocaled and has a brilliant top line like Mabel McVey on Finders Keepers or has a rapper with an addictive flow or a sick beat, then you know it's going to go far.'
Yinka has a similar approach: 'It's tricky, so many different things define a chooon (not to be confused with the similarly pronounced 'tune').
'Initially it's the beat, a good beat can mask a number of sins. Then the hook and after a few listens we come to the verses. That's when you truly know if it's a chooon.'
'Giggs and Donaeo's Linguo is a great example of that.'
Sarah-Jane Crawford is is releasing an App called 'Viappi' which will locate the nearest place to eat vegan which also includes a host of vegan recipes.
MORE: Lisa Maffia reveals a movie about So Solid Crew is in the works
MORE: Grime will never break America even though Drake and Kanye West love it


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Last Tuesday I posted about the drug/sex orgy inside Vatican facilities that was busted by local police. This occurred in the apartment of Msgr Capozzi, who was so high on cocaine that he had to taken to a local hospital for detoxification.
LifeSiteNews has summarized key facts about this debacle, while Toronto Catholic Witness broaches more considerations, including the obvious cover-up. Capozzi's boss, Cardinal Coccopalmerio, said that Catholic leaders "must emphasize the positive realities that are present in homosexual relationships". Bear in mind that this man is head of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legal Texts. Did the Cardinal just give us a glimpse of the kind of "interpretations" that will spew forth from his council? When he made his remarks, did he know of Capozzi's gay escapades? I suspect the answer to both of those questions is "yes".
Speaking of "emphasizing positive realities", several US parishes are in fact coddling sodomite sin. Church Militant advises us of a California parish that is celebrating its sodomite parish council member in their bulletin. Just one hour's drive from me is a moral cesspool that used to be Catholic parish; I refer to St. Matthew's in Baltimore (on Loch Raven Boulevard). I've written enough about that, but will most likely have more to report.
We will need to both pray and act. One cannot truly happen without the other.
Czesława Kwoka
4 hours ago


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Lords of the gourd compete for Punkin Chunkin honors
With teams using more than 100 unique apparatuses to launch globular projectiles a half-mile or more, the 27th annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin event is our pick as November's Weird Festival of the Month.
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Travel by: December 27, 2009
The deal
The acclaimed Greenbrier luxury resort has a reputation for great deals and entertainment. Stretching across 6,500 lush acres in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, The Greenbrier offers a diversity of programs and children's activities, indoor and outdoor pools, and a rich history which dates back to 1778.
Now, Greenbrier announces yet another venture, which is sure to delight old and prospective patrons alike: The brand-new 3,700-square-foot Monte Carlo-style Tavern Casino — and a terrific bargain to match.
This fall, in celebration of the grand opening of the Tavern Casino, The Greenbrier is introducing The New Players' Package. From now until December 27 2009, rooms are only $99/night —quite a steal considering rates run at $275/night for a Standard Room. With the New Players' package, guests receive VIP access to the new casino, which features 44 slots, Blackjack, Roulette, and Three-Card Poker.
All of this, and more, is in a guests-only setting. Gamers will also receive $150 in Match Play coupons. These coupons are good for even-money bets on table games, and are considered the most valuable coupons offered in any casino; Match Play allows the player an advantage against the casino on bets. Slideshow: Beyond Vegas
Other resort amenities include over 50 activities ranging from whitewater rafting, golf, fly-fishing, falconry, off-road driving, and horseback riding, to wine-tasting, art colony tours, spa treatments, movie nights, and carriage rides — so go ahead, choose your own adventure.
The dollars
Rates are based on double occupancy. Taxes and fees are additional.
The catch
Packages not valid during holidays.
ShermansTravel is a guide to top travel deals and destinations. Sign up for Sherman's Top 25 e-newsletter which features the best editor-screened deals from hundreds of travel providers and is delivered to over 4 million subscribers, free, each week. ShermansTravel also publishes trip ideas and travel features to inspire, guide, and go.


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See section Fashion Careers on this blog.
|Designing clothing is only one of many careers in fashion.
One thing I´ve observed about the fashion industry is that there are really no "rules" to getting in. Obviously going to fashion school is one place to start and will offer opportunities for getting a foot in. Marketing and social sciences such as sociology, anthropology and psychology are excellent base courses and are actually required courses in the serious design schools. A basic grasp of Euclidean and of projective geometry is of great assistance for transferring design ideas into clothing through patternmaking. You can also get some insight into the fashion industry from reality shows like "Project Runway," "Running In Heels," "America´s Next Top Model". "The Devil Wears Prada" is a must-see movie as is Isaac Mizrahi's 1995 movie "Unzipped." In fact, a look into Mr. Mizrahi's career over the past 20 years or so is something to be admired. Not because he chooses to pander to an often cruel and supercilious industry but because he chooses to "take it or leave it" and does so with such dignity.
|Backstage at a fashion runway show.
Here are some tips:
- Before deciding on any school, fashion or otherwise, make sure it is accredited by an agency recognized by U.S. Department of Education (ED). Also do a search on the internet for how to avoid post-secondary school scams, university scams and online school scams. There are a LOT of scams, especially now that the internet has made it so easy. Just because a school claims to be accredited means absolutely nothing unless the accrediting agency is recognized by ED. If the school is in a country other than the U.S.A. do your research. There must be similar agencies to the ED there as well.
- Try to work at a clothing store, a big department store is best. Entry level jobs are usually as a sales attendant. The pay is low, perhaps commission-based; and the hours can be grueling. You may also have to deal with demanding, sometimes downright rude, customers. (Remain professional, this is a taste of what is to come in a "dog-eat-dog" industry). But this is a great job for someone who wants to see a bit of everything. Fashion merchandising, marketing, publicity, trends. If you are able to stick it out you might eventually get promoted to managerial or buyer´s position.
- Check out websites of various designers and fashion magazines, many have an "Apply for Internship" link. Requirements to be accepted into an internship program vary but most ask that you either have a college degree or be currently enrolled in a college or university.
- Many clothing or department stores hire extra sales help before Thanksgiving on temporary contracts to work through the high sales season. Nice way to try it out and see if you would eventually be interested in long term work.
- No matter what job in fashion you end up in, knowing the basics of patternmaking, sewing, knitting, crochet, weaving, how textiles are produced and all those other "crafty" things will make you better at your job. To write a fashion column for example, you should know what goes into making a garment. Then you will know how "good" or "bad" it truly is.
- Take a few classes in sewing or fashion design at a local community center or college before diving head first into a big investment. If you are still in high school this is the perfect way to see if it is just a passing interest or if you will be in for the long haul. People are sometimes disillusioned when they enroll in an expensive fashion school and then realize it is a lot different than they thought it would be.
- See more information on Clothing Design, Fashion School and Fashion Careers for links and resources about the fashion industry.
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Exclusive Designer fashions at 80% off retail.
Fashion Model Fitting Clothes by Professional Designer Woman; istockphoto.com/CandyBoxPhoto
Fashion Model Fitting Clothes by Professional Designer Woman; istockphoto.com/CandyBoxPhoto
Model Taking a Break; istockphoto.com/Dr Bubbles


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Last update 25.5.2018
You can visit our website without revealing any personal data. However, we need certain personal information if you wish to purchase certain products or receive our newsletter.. Personal data means any information capable of identifying an individual. It does not include anonymized data.
We may process the following categories of personal data about you:
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Customer Data that includes data relating to any purchases of goods such as your name, title, billing address, home address, email address, phone number, contact details, purchase details and payment details. We process this data to supply the products you have purchased, to keep records of such transactions. Our lawful ground for this processing is the performance of a contract between you and us and/or taking steps at your request to enter into such a contract.
User Data that includes data about how you use our website together with any data that you post for publication on our website. We process this data to operate our website and ensure relevant content is provided to you, to ensure the security of our website, to maintain back-ups of our website and/or databases and to enable publication and administration of our website. Our lawful ground for this processing is our legitimate interests which in this case are to enable us to properly administer our website and our business.
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We may use Customer Data, User Data and Technical Data to deliver relevant website content and advertisements to you (including Facebook adverts or other display advertisements) and to measure or understand the effectiveness of the advertising we serve you. Our lawful ground for this processing is legitimate interests which is to grow our business. We may also use such data to send other marketing communications to you. Our lawful ground for this processing is our legitimate interests (namely to grow our business).
Recruitment Data which may include your CV or resume, online profile, written application, responses to questions, interview notes and information passed to us from former employers, in addition to any Communication Data listed above. We use this to assess job applications. Our lawful ground for this processing is legitimate interests, which in this case are to find the very best candidates to work for us.
We do not collect any sensitive data about you. Sensitive data refers to data such as your race or ethnicity, religious or philosophical beliefs, political opinions, information about your health and genetic and biometric data. We do not collect any information about criminal convictions and offenses.
Where we are required to collect personal data by law, or under the terms of the contract between us and you do not provide us with that data when requested, we may not be able to perform the contract (for example, to provide products to you). If you don't provide us with the requested data, we may have to cancel a product you have ordered but if we do, we will notify you at the time.
We will only use your personal data for a purpose it was collected for or a reasonably compatible purpose if necessary. For more information on this please email us at email@example.com. In case we need to use your details for an unrelated new purpose we will update this privacy policy.
We may process your personal data without your knowledge or consent where this is required or permitted by law.
We may collect data about you by you providing the data directly to us (for example by filling in forms on our site or by sending us emails). We may automatically collect certain data from you as you use our website by using cookies and similar technologies.
We may receive data from third parties such as analytics providers such as Google, advertising networks such as Facebook, such as search information providers such as Google, providers of technical, payment and delivery services, such as data brokers or aggregators.
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Our lawful ground of processing your personal data to send you marketing communications is our legitimate interests.
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, we may send you marketing communications from us if:
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If you have questions or suggestions about this privacy policy, or your own personal information, please contact us by email, at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Sorcerer Supreme - Women's Tee Shirt
Brand: Good Evening Moonshine
Product Code: 1603750249
Availability: In stock
The master of the mystic arts, Dr. Strange.
This magical tee is crafted from 100% Jersey knit cotton with a 5.3 oz fabric weight, pre-shrunk, with near-capped sleeves, mid-scoop neck with ½ rib double needle collar, and a missy contoured silhouette with side seam. Printed in the United States using photo quality direct-to-garment printing.
Available in white or light grey heather.
All prints and shirts are made to order and take 2-5 business days to process. Shipping in the United States is free and takes 2-5 business days to arrive. Orders with multiple items may have multiple shipments to ensure everything arrives as quickly as possible. Shipping to Canada is available for $5 and takes 5-10 business days. Shipping to Australia costs $10 and takes 10-20 business days.
© Good Evening Moonshine 2018


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We saw a brief outage at our NYC datacenter. The outage was related to a routing issue with our provider and has been resolved. The event was noticed around 10:20 AM PST and was resolved around 10:45 AM PST. All customers hosted in NYC were effected.
Please note this was not related to the recent announcement regarding the move to the Boston datacenter.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the issue.


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The "Dimensioning" frame serves to design and verify the reinforcement of wall cross section - the cross section subjected to dimensioning is selected in the combo list.
- Wall stem verification
- Construction joint verification - depth of construction joint from construction top edge is specified
- Wall jump verification
The frame appearance is adjusted based on the selected verification methodology.
- Verification according to the factor of safety, or the theory of limit states - the last column in the table allows for inputting the design coefficients, which multiply the calculated forces. These forces are displayed on the desktop and are updated for every change of data and setting in the frame.
- Analysis according to EN 1997 - the last column in the table allows for specifying whether the load acting on a structure is considered as secondary one. This is explained in more detail in section "Load combinations".
- Analysis according to LRFD - in this case the last column is not displayed.
Calculation of forces and their action on the analyzed cross section is described here. The wall stem and construction joint are always loaded by the pressure at rest.
The procedure to derive distribution of internal forces in individual cross sections is described in the theoretical part of the help.
Dimensioning of the reinforced concrete is performed according to the standard set in the "Materials and standards" tab.
Several computations for various cross sections can be carried out. Various design coefficients of individual forces can also be specified. The resulting forces are displayed on the desktop and are updated with an arbitrary change in data or setting specified in the frame. The "In detail" button opens the dialog window that contains detailed listing of the dimensioning results.
Visualization of results can be adjusted in the frame "Drawing Settings".
Frame "Dimensioning"


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In terms of hiding items in a SharePoint list, it is very hard to do unless you write custom code, or web parts.
Given the property way to assign permission items, it is easier for you to hide it after specific time. Either workflow or event handler will do that fine.
A permission web part called SharePoint Column View Permission offers two features which can do that.
Register Hereor login if you are already a member


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BREAKING:Accident Involving Semis Causes Heavy Traffic Heading to Vegas
UPDATE: @ 7:50 PM- All lanes of traffic will be temporarily shut down in an attempt to pull a trailer from one of the semis.
An airship has now been requested. The landing zone will be on the 15 freeway northbound of the incident. First responders are still continuing to extricate the patient.
NIPTON:(VVNG.com)- At 6:29 P.M., on Thursday, April 16, 2015 a traffic collision involving two semis and a vehicle was reported on the northbound 15 freeway south of Bailey Road near the California/Nevada border.
Per CHP incident logs, a vehicle is reportedly under one of the semis leaving one person trapped and requiring extrication.
One of the involved semis lost a load of pipes causing them to scatter across all lanes of traffic.
CalTrans has been requested for a "long-term" closure of the #2 and #3 lanes in order to clear the pipes and semis from the freeway. Traffic is reported to be backed up for many miles.
One patient is listed as having moderate injuries. At this time and the cause of the collision is under investigation.
More information will be updated as it becomes available.


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Search Engine Optimisation Services
SEO is short for Search Engine Optimisation. What is Search Engine Optimisation you ask? It is a methodology of strategies, techniques and tactics used to increase the amount of visitors to a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) — including Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines. SEO helps to ensure that a site is accessible to a search engine and improves the chances that the site will be found by potential clients.
It is common practice for Internet users to not click through pages and pages of search results, so where a site ranks in a search is essential for directing more traffic toward the site, this is where SEO comes in. The higher a website naturally ranks in organic results of a search, the greater the chance that that site will be visited by a user. SEO is typically a set of "white hat" best practices that webmasters and Web content producers follow to help them achieve a better ranking in search engine results.
Search Engine Optimisation is therefore extremely important for any company trying to attract more business through their website. Right Click Media are based in Johannesburg South Africa, we offer professional Search Engine Optimisation services and are capable of running SEO for any website, effectively bringing them up the ranks in Google and increasing web traffic.
Below are some of the standard SEO steps we take to achieve this:
Keyword research
As part of our SEO, We perform industry specific keyword research to ensure we are using relevant keywords when optimising websites for search engines. We compile a refined list of keywords that will be suited to the products or services that the website offers. We then use these keywords strategically when performing 'On Page' Optimisation.
On page
During this SEO step we strategically implement keywords throughout a page or set of pages on the website. This makes these pages relevant to searches that contain these keywords. In this way the search engine is able to find the site more readily.
Site submission to all major search engines
This is the process of submitting websites to various search engines, including Google, Bing and Yahoo. This benefits the site's ranking by assuring that web pages are accessible to people searching for the site. Once a site is listed it becomes far more discoverable.
Directory submissions
This process involves submitting your website to various online business directories. This allows for various links that lead back to your website, effectively increasing traffic. We submit to Hotfrog and Cylex, amongst others.
Article Writing and Submissions
Content is one of the best ways to attract a potential client to your website. Articles act as a great introducer to products and services, and hyperlinking related articles directly to your site is a sure way to increase web traffic. We offer an article writing and submitting service where our team of copywriters draft articles, submit them to various platforms (such as articlesbase.com) and hyperlink relative keywords directly to your site.
Google+ is Google's social network. It is a resourceful platform for businesses as map placements, promotional images and categories can lead potential client to one's business. It is also a great platform for posting out relevant content and for driving traffic to websites. Furthermore, Google will regard a website that has an active Google+ page associated with it as more relevant than one that does not, helping with the optimisation of the page. We offer Google+ page builds as well as page maintenance and managing.
We use professional analytical tools to provide our clients with in-depth monthly (or ad hoc) SEO reporting. These reports are fully customisable and we craft each reporting system to suit the individual needs of each client. We report on information such as various traffic sources such as paid traffic, organic traffic and referral traffic, device usability (mobile, tablet, laptop etc.), location and other demographics, conversion rate, bounce rate and more.


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Monday, November 5, 2012
a lovely question (Money Shot Monday)
My day was filled with a morning of Bubby at preschool, which allowed me time to work one-on-one with Bugaboo - that is when he wasn't too busy asking for "Bubba?" and "Dadda?" We had terrible Campells'/Lipton soups for lunch, and my oldest spent way too much time with PBS while I put dinner in the crockpot, went through half a box of tissue, and tried to keep my coughing to a minimum.
When The Hubs got home early today (the one perk of exam days), one of the first things out of his mouth was, "How would you like a couple of hours to yourself?"
My yoga-pants-unwashed-hair-wearing-self got in the car before wasting any time on looks. I had two books, a journal, and hot cup of coffee waiting for me on this rainy afternoon. The girl almost half my age at Panera looked at me with a puzzled but happy smile. I wasn't sure if she was curious about my sweatshirt (which is for our local young adult community) or if there was some hidden food/snot/slobber remnant on my sleeve. For once I didn't care one bit what I looked like.
I made my way to a booth and enjoyed the almost-silence. (There is always that one person talking loudly on her cell phone about personal things to disturb the silence. But even that didn't bother me this afternoon.)
(Join the link-up at Shannan's for Money Shot Monday.)
6 comments:
Ah ... leisure time to yourself. It's one of the best things in life. Panera Bread is one of my favorite places to hang out.ReplyDelete
What a good mister!!!!!!!!! I love that you got to escape!ReplyDelete
I remember those desperate days that I needed to get out.ReplyDelete
So happy you got that treat :)
We have a new Panera, not quite open yet...we are so anxious.
- AnonymousNovember 7, 2012 at 6:58 PM
I read this awhile back and when I read your posts about your son and his delays I remembered this and thought you might find it interesting/worthwhile.Replies
Thank you for the information - the link shows up just blank on her website, but I will try it again soon.Delete
Girl, you KNOW I love those stay-in-yoga-pants days. Hope your feeling better. I loved every bit of this. :)ReplyDelete
ps - Please tell me you've tried the Med. Veggie sandwich at Panera. FAVE!


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A perfect destination to spend honeymoon is a place you can call your own for a certain period. It is a time for you and your partner to celebrate love in a paradise – away from your daily routines, away from workloads. Yes, there are lots of choices you can think of to spend honeymoon. Caribbean cruise is a dream honeymoon destination for many.
Are you on lookout for somewhere distinct for your honeymoon? A place not too crowded and not exploited? Feel the warm breeze and let your eyes feast in the panoramic view of these Southeast Asian islands. Whether you are newly wed or celebrating your second honeymoon, spending it in an island is sure a lasting memory to cherish a lifetime.
Langkawi, Malaysia
Once a haven for pirates, now a sanctuary for love birds. For nature lover couples, Langkawi is a great place to head to. It boasts several wonders of nature including lakes, waterfalls, beaches and forests – where you can find some of the most exotic flora and fauna species in the world. The Langkawi archipelago consists of 99 islands waiting to be explored.
Couples can spend quality time in this place while being close to nature. The combination of rich culture and nature attractions makes this paradise a perfect witness to your love. Outdoor enthusiasts? You and your better-half can play golf, which is a great bonding moment between the two of you. Love the water? Take your sweetheart underwater as you dive into a marine park to see the life of marine creatures beneath the sea. Or, you can charter a boat to get a glimpse of the unspoilt island and the crystal water surrounding it. Walk hand-in-hand along the white-sand beaches. Looking for more adventure in this place? See it for yourself what Langkawi has to offer.
Hokkaido, Japan
Do you want to spend your honeymoon in a cooler place yet you can enjoy a hot spring? Sounds challenging? Just book a flight to Japan and you are all set. Hokkaido is at the northern part of Japan and is known to be least developed among the other islands in the country. Being unspoilt makes Hokkaido a perfect representation of an untamed wilderness.
For a dramatic kind of date, take a stroll along the cherry blossom trees or in a flower farm. Or, you can visit any of the national parks in the island including Akan National Park, Shiretoko National Park and Shikotsu-Toya National parks where you can go on hiking. Hokkaido is best known for its hot springs. Couples can relax and rejuvenate while soaking in the warm water. Perfect honeymoon experience in a cold place.
Coron, Palawan, Philippines
Make your honeymoon more romantic as you spend it in a tropical paradise called Coron. Located in the province of Palawan, this island is widely famous for its rich underwater offerings. Honeymooners can do a lot of things while staying in the island.
One popular must-do in Coron is diving wherein you and your sweetheart can explore at least 6 big wrecks and 2 gunboats. There are lots of diving spots in the island so you will be able to truly enjoy this experience. Snorkelling is also another fun activity to do in Coron specifically in Barracuda Lake and Kayangan Lake. You and your partner can observe underwater scenery and creatures. If you want to explore the entire group of islands, go on island hopping. You can buy fresh fish, meat and veggies and ask the boat captain to cook them for you. Indeed, this island experience brings a different twist to your honeymoon.
Honeymoon can become an unforgettable experience if you truly enjoy the place. Don't limit yourself to typical honeymoon destinations – common places. Going to any of these Southeast Asian islands is likewise fun and a lot cheaper. Just be sure to book the best flight deal and find a hotel with good accommodation room. When you have these two things, you can look forward to a different kind of honeymoon experience.


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Steven Dybvad – Personal Journal – June 17, 2014
I signed up for a money smart program almost an entire year ago, so long I almost forgot I signed up for such a thing. Now just today I saw that I'm in the list to attend the course tonight and every Monday night for the next twelve weeks. Not that I mind taking the class, because I'm happy to do it. It's just that it seems like all these classes are coming on all at once, leaving me extremely busy which is good, but I'm just starting to feel a little overwhelmed. With running, strength training, yoga, spiritual readings, meditation, focus group, guitar practice and horticulture getting ready to start which is five days a week it makes it hard to manage time for other things like painting, soap carving, or card making for family birthdays and occasions, maintaining my blog, responding to emails and many other things. This really makes me think about how difficult it's going to be in society when I have to add a full time job, paying bills, maintaining a house and quality time with family and children. At the end of the day I'm happy to be busy all the time, its better preparation for the real world.


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Almost all public appearances of the controversial politician Renato Usatii during the election campaign and further were accompanied by the interpretations of the well-known songs. Usatii is accused by Roman Bilik and Russian rock band "Zveri" of violation of the copyright of the song "Raioni, kvartali", launched in 2004. The case Bilik vs. Usatii took place in 2015 and was examined in two instances: the Buiucani District Court and the Chisinau Court of Appeals. Both courts issued their decisions in Usatii's favor.
He performed the song on 13 concerts, declaring it the Party's anthem
In December 2015 the Chisinau Court of Appeals examined the case Roman of Bilik and the rock band "Zveri" against Usatii over violating the copyright and related rights on the song "Raioni, Kvartali". Bilik demanded to remove the illegal videos with the song from the internet and receive a payment of the moral injury and material damage.
The Buiucani District Court previously dismissed their lawsuit, because it set that Usatii got all the rights from the Association "Copyright and Related Rights".
The song "Raioni, kvartali" was launched in 2004. Later Usatii sang it without the band's permission on at least 13 concerts he organized in Moldova. Usatii also changed the lyrics and said the song was the anthem of his political party.
The band's lawyer claimed that the copyrights belong only to the band. According to the lawyer, Usatii had used the song to make his own personality and the electoral campaign more successful.
The group also claimed that Usatii had to pay 500 000 lei to Roman Bilik and band "Zveri" each for the copyright violation. As for the moral injury, Bilik and "Zveri" requested 1 million lei each.
The Chisinau Court of Appeals considered to dismiss the lawsuit because Usatii received the rights on performing the song from the Association "Copyright and Related Rights" and paid about 75 thousand for that. The Association, in its turn, paid the money to the copyright owners.
Also, it has been established that the song was sang before the electoral campaign and couldn't cause moral injury or material damages to the band.
The judges considered that the lyrics can be changed during the live performance and it is a common practice, so Usatii did it unmaliciously.
The Chisinau Court of Appeals decision can be appealed at the Supreme Court of Justice.
The hearing of this case was chaired by Iulia Cimpoi. She previously worked at the Supreme Court of Justice, now she activates at the Chisinau Court of Appeals. There were also another 2 judges: Natalia Simciuc and Nicolae Craiu.
Usatii was presented by Igor Pohila, about who Crime Moldova wrote in the article about the case Global Prestservice LLC vs. Renato Usatii.
See the movie with Usatii singing that song:


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UM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (STEMS REU) Program
The objective of the program is to provide educational science research opportunities at the University of Mississippi to undergraduate students who are seeking research experiences and considering a career in research or academia.
Eligibility: All UM and non-UM undergraduate students
Selection: Applicants rank-order the sponsoring faculty's labs they wish to join (Drs. Wei-Yin Chen, Nikki Reinemann, Likun Zhang, Erik Hom, Kristie Willett, David Colby, Nicole Ashpole, Cole Stevens, Jason Paris, Sudeshna Roy, or Hoang Le). The sponsoring faculty consider the applicants' rankings and select students from the application pool that fit best to a specific research project in their labs. If a student is selected by more than one lab, the Program Director will make the final decision on the lab the student will join, and the other sponsoring faculty will have another chance to select a different student from the applicant pool.
Duration: 10 weeks (40 h/week) of education, networking, and research activities
Stipend: $3,000 The stipend, averaging $7.50 per hour, is intended to be used to offset the living cost of students participating in the program. Please note that the total living cost in the summer in Oxford, MS might be more than the stipend. Funding for the stipend will come from the sponsoring faculty's research funds. The sponsoring faculty will also provide $100 per student to fund the extracurricular activities portion of the program. Research-related and lab-related costs will be covered by the sponsoring faculty. Please note that participating students are not allowed to take courses at UM for the duration of the program.
The program provides students with opportunities to learn about cutting-edge STEM-related topics, develop presentation and communication skills, and practice networking skills, as well as opportunities to explore and develop their interest in cutting-edge STEM-related research. The program aims to educate students beyond lab specifics and nurture students for successful careers in STEM, graduate, and/or professional programs. We will administer a test on general STEM awareness in week 1 and week 5 and a satisfaction poll at the end of the program. We will collect institutional and personal email addresses to be able to keep in touch with the graduates of the program. We will also issue a standard survey each year to track the graduation, publications/presentations, awards, and entry into graduate/professional programs of the students who graduate from the program.
Schedule: The program will run from May 28 to August 6, 2019. Each student is associated with a specific research project, on which he/she will work closely with the sponsoring faculty and other researchers. In addition, all students will participate in the following activities:
Mondays (1–2 pm): Lectures on cutting-edge STEM-related topics will be taught by the following faculty:
Sponsoring Faculty:
- Dr. Wei-Yin Chen (Department of Chemical Engineering)
- Dr. Nikki Reinemann (Department of Biomedical Engineering)
- Dr. Likun Zhang (Department of Physics and Astronomy)
- Dr. Erik Hom (Department of Biology)
- Dr. Kristie Willett (Department of BioMolecular Sciences)
- Dr. David Colby (Department of BioMolecular Sciences)
- Dr. Nicole Ashpole (Department of BioMolecular Sciences)
- Dr. Cole Stevens (Department of BioMolecular Sciences)
- Dr. Jason Paris (Department of BioMolecular Sciences)
- Dr. Sudeshna Roy (Department of BioMolecular Sciences)
- Dr. Hoang Le (Department of BioMolecular Sciences) (Program Director)
- Dr. Shan Jiang (Department of Mechanical Engineering)
Guest Faculty:
- Dr. Saumen Chakraborty (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry)
- Dr. Dao Nguyen (Department of Mathematics)
Wednesdays (1–2 pm): For the first 8 weeks, the students will give presentations on literature STEM related topics in a journal club setting. During the last 2 weeks, the students will give a 15-minute presentation on the research they have been conducting in the program. The effectiveness of individual presentations will be evaluated each week, and feedback will be provided to each student.
Fridays (1–2 pm): The students will interact with and get to know one another and faculty from the program and, when appropriate, gain career assistance, in a networking setting. Refreshments will be provided. There will be a welcoming event and a pizza bowl at Premier Lanes in Oxford, MS in the first week of the program and another major social event, such as a gathering lunch with the faculty, during the program. On the last Friday of the program, the students will have a pizza party.
Submission Guidelines:
- UM STEM REU 2019 Application
- Resume
- Letter of interest from the applicant including a justification for why they are interested in acquiring research experience and what the student hopes to gain from program participation (Limit 250 words)
- Copies of academic transcripts (Unofficial copies are acceptable)
- Students may participate in the program for up to 4 summers, depending on the selection from the sponsoring faculty
- All application materials should be sent as a single pdf file to the Program Director, Dr. Hoang Le (email@example.com) by April 1, 2019
Processing: The application pool will be forwarded to the sponsoring faculty, and they will opt to sponsor the students best fit to a specific research project in their labs. Announcement of selected students will be made on April 15, 2019.


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PEX, or cross linked polyethylene, has had some growing pains, like all building materials.
- The building industry doesn't like change, because that requires a new set of skills and knowledge, and learning on the job can be devastating in this litigious world.
- The failures and lawsuits related to PEX have mainly been from failure of the fittings and not the piping itself.
PEX is quickly replacing copper in use in homes. It is considered safe to use and approved in most jurisdictions. Manufacturer's recommendations must be followed to ensure the the quality of the product is not compromised.
Copper vs PEX
If you are trying to decide between copper and PEX you will be faced with a barrage of pros and cons and feel like a cartoon with a big question mark over your head!
Traditional copper can leach lead into the water system if it has been soldered with lead as older pipes were, but even later soldering fluxes can be corrosive to copper.
- Copper can be affected by acid in the water and can develop pin hole leaks.
- The longevity of copper is considered to be twenty-five years, although, of course, it is much older than that in many buildings.
- Lead in copper and brass piping systems are a documented serious health concern.
I have used PEX but am always aware that tomorrow a new study could come out that says I shouldn't.
- PEX is resistant to acid, better in freezing conditions, and doesn't scale or corrode.
- If properly installed, it is reputed to have the same life-span as copper. (ASTM F2023 assumes an adjusted lifetime of 25 years, while the NSF P171 standard assures a 40 year adjusted lifetime.)
- To be sure, Pex must be installed according to the manufacturer's requirements. First and foremost, no exposure to sunlight.
Also PEX is vulnerable to failing if over exposed to chlorine, which can cause oxidation to the inner wall of the pipe.
A study of leaching from PEX
The most recent study I've found on PEX chemical leaching is from 2011 by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, published in the Journal of Water and Health. They examined ten different types of PEX pipes used in delivering drinking water for odor and taste as well as evidence of leached chemicals from the plastic.
According to the abstract (here):
- "The objectives of this study were to investigate migration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipes used for drinking water produced by different production methods, and to evaluate their potential risk for human health and/or influence on aesthetic drinking water quality."
- "The levels of VOC migrating from new PEX pipes were generally low, and decreasing with time of pipe use."
- "2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were two of the major individual components detected."
As you can see from this, one chemical that showed higher than average leaching and is a carcinogen was Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), but it disappeared in most of the pipes after five months of use. MTBE has previously been a concern as something inhaled because it is a by product of gas production. Ingestion by drinking isn't as well studied.
The report is available to read and form your own conclusions here.
Other plastics
Other types of plastic, such as PolyVinylChloride (PVC), are used in the piping of water from reservoirs through municipal domestic water systems, and are more controversial than PEX.
Do you know what kind of pipe your water supply is using?
I hope I've helped
Or is the question mark still over your head? I think we all need to be diligent in following the reports as they emerge.
For more information:
Read "Is the use of PEX -- the plastic tubing for water piping in homes -- green?" a Q&A answered by Polly Osborne.


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Warm weather and cocktails always make for great nights out on the town, but always best in moderation, of course. In New York City the options for social engagements are as plentiful as the number of venues available to unwind and unplug. This week we spoke to Genese Jamilah, the brains behind I Don't Do Clubs — the social calendar of many Brooklyn and Manhattan rooftop regulars. She shared her tips for staying relaxed and recharged despite her demanding work and social schedule.
As much as I love working on I Don't Do Clubs (IDDC), I always schedule me time in order to decompress and recharge. I relax by attending happy hours with my friends, binge watching Netflix, shopping, spending time with my family and dog, hitting the gym, and I recently started the project to tracing my family roots (I'm a history buff). I try my best to stay away from chaos. Without it I'm less moody and more creative, which is a good situation for everyone.
—Genese Jamilah is a fun and witty Black woman from the Peach State making it in the Big Apple. She is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of I DON'T DO CLUBS. And when she's not making your social calendar, she's crossing "T"s and dotting "I"s at EBONY.com as their Digital Production Manager.
Salon Chatter
What I love the most about my hair is being able to play with my beautiful natural curls. For most of my life, I've had long thick hair that I permed, roller set, and wrapped, but it started to become thin and lose it's bounce. I was so upset and started to wear weaves to get back the fullness, though it just added insult to injury. My only fix was to transition and now I'm about 90% natural and love it. — Genese Jamilah
Loved this feature? Then check out:
Save the Date! Our Pop-Up Chair is in NYC
Tips for Protective Styling, Don't Go Over Your Edge


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Letter to the Editor,
New York Times,
November 2, 2011
Re 'Jersey Shore' Arives in Academia, Discuss (Arts pages, Oct. 31):
The University of Chicago's decision to convene a conference extolling the degenerate stereotypes of "Jersey Shore" is a far cry from Enrico Fermi's attainment of the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction in a squash court under Stagg Field.
Scholarship that expands the boundaries of the arts and sciences is the sine qua non of higher learning. But "Guido" and "Guidette" are no Romeo and Juliet.
Indeed, the UChicago Conference on Jersey Shore Studies promotes ethnic intolerance and makes a mockery of education. Academia should be made of sterner stuff.
Mineola, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2011


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Radio interview with Sputnik News Agency of Moscow on 2 December, 2019. A Sputnik article of 4 December follows
Registered Office: c/o Alliotts, Tsoi CPA Limited, Room 1701, 17th Floor, 17/F, Fortress Tower, 250 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Reg No: 1469392
Tel: +852 2819 1323. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
©All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Disclaimer


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Important Steps to consider before starting an E-commerce Store
It is true that to run an e-commerce store is easy and even a 5th grader can achieve dream of starting an online store. And technology nowadays is supporting that. Only thing required is certain amount of planning and discipline to start with your idea.
Investment of time and money
- Any business needs investment. That investment is not only in terms of money but also in terms of time.
- You need to have sufficient time to Think, Strategize and Implement your business idea. Again, having time is not enough, what is more important is time management skills and ability to prioritize the work and time.
- Every business runs on capital. Make sure you have enough funds to start your online store and sustain it till starts to make earnings for you. Without number crunching, your dream can turn into a nightmare. So having money to back your dream should be the first thing to put in place.
Patience and Consistency
To have a dream is not enough, but the capability of sheer patience is required. There are uncountable cases where people have the dream, drive and investment but then too they are not successful. That is primarily because of lack of patience. There is a saying "Slow and steady wins the race"
- Do not think that very first day will bring you profit
- Learn from your and other people's mistakes
- Don't imagine that running a business is always thrilling, accept the monotony of the work.
- Don't be highly optimistic nor pessimistic. Stay grounded to reality.
Have a Business Plan
Having a right business plan is extremely important. If you are planning to raise funds from banks or investor, you need to have a business plan because looking at your plan only, they can decide whether to provide you with funds or not. To have good business plan is not important only from the investment aspect but it is the blueprint of how you will be steering your business in say next five years. Without concrete business plan is like hitting at something in dark.
- Wisely choose your product/services
It is not always required that product that you choose be unique or yield high profits. Most basic thing is, there should be demand for it. There is no point of selling products or services which have no usability, as no usability leads to no demand.
Again, E-commerce definitely gives you an advantage to introduce your products or services to immensely vast population but it also exposes to numerous competitors. There may be number of online businesses selling the same products. So either your marketing strategies should be different than your competitors or your products should offer some different features which gives you an edge. So thorough study is required for to narrow down these points. Jumping in the e-commerce just with an idea and no research will not help.
- SEO and SEM
SEO and SEM research is highly required for online business. Keyword research and competitors analysis is something which should be done at the first step itself before selecting your store's name and choosing the product for your business. After SEO research, it may strike to you that it may take a long time for you to come in SERP, hence SEM research has to be done as to how much money will it take per click to target your best keyword.
Register your business and domain name
After finalising the products and gauging the competition and having a concrete business, educate yourself with all rules and regulations you need to follow.
- You need to register your business in your state.
- Choose an official business name and do the paperwork
- Be sure to comply with all the regulations that are applied to your business. As it is very important to run business with ethics for a good reputation.
- E-commerce store is an online store, so your domain has to be registered. Which should be researched initially and have a name which is short, catchy and with relevant meaning.
- Select a webhosting service. Many a times ecommerce application developing companies like mart2web set it for you. So it may ease you all these hassles.
Set up a Merchant Account
Every business starts a merchant account for all the business transactions. A merchant account will accept credit and debit transactions. Since business is online, you will have to confirm with the bank that your business transaction will be done online and your account should be qualified for that.
Payment Gateways
When you start your ecommerce one of the first question which will rise in your mind will be "how my customers pay me?" As all the buying and selling processes will be done online. Payment Gateways is the answer to this question. Payment Gateway is the financial interface between your website and customer which will facilitate customer to pay through multiple modes and make shopping from your website a pleasurable experience.
Ecommerce application developers like mart2web pre-integrates your website with most authentic payment gateways of around the globe.
Website Security
Since all the business transactions are done online, your e-commerce store should have online security. It is extremely important that your website should have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate and PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance to protect the financial information of the customers.
These certification brings trust to your consumers. More trust more sales.
E-commerce Application Developers like mart2web helps you in achieving it.
Above are the few points for which will help you in having a good and a strategic start! As success lies in how well you start…
For more information, contact us!


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Advertising opportunities
Advertising with the Tourism Society is the simplest way to get your message out across the whole tourism and travel industry. The variety of advertising channels we can offer will suit any budget and a flexible approach to bundling the different options means you can put together the best campaign to achieve maximum exposure at the best value.
Job vacancies can be advertised on our website and in our weekly newsletter - these are free for Tourism Society members.
Read through the information below and then contact the office on email@example.com or 0203 696 8330 to discuss what will work best for you. All advertising rates are shown here.
Print advertising
Our journal 'Tourism' and our annual membership directory both present excellent opportunities to publish a long-lasting advertisement.
Tourism blends a mix of news, trends, reviews and Society meeting reports into one regular publication.
Format: A4 full colour
Published March, June, September, December
Circulation: approx 1700, to all Tourism society members, subscribing college and university libraries, MPs and members of the press.
Readership: approx 3000
See a recent edition of our journal here.
Inserts and flyers can be added to the mailings for the journal.
Online and email advertising
Website advertising. Our website attracts 2200 visits a month and 1600 unique visitors. You can take the banner space, which appears at the top of each page of our website, or advertise job vacancies on the dedicated 'Careers Marketplace' page. The packages also include advertising through Twitter.
Email advertising. The e-newsletter is written and circulated to all members. In addition, dedicated emails can be sent to members highlighting your products and services.
Promote yourself
Don't hide your light under a bushel. Post your CV on the Tourism Society website and promote yourself among the tourism world. It's simple - just send your CV as a pdf to firstname.lastname@example.com and we will do the rest. It is free for Society members and costs just £15 for non-member students or £25 for other non-members. Listing is for six months.


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Cute rustic wedding invitations with floral mason jar. Wedding invitations for casual and whimsical style weddings with rustic and country decor. Bunch of matching items: mason jar RSVP cards, floral mason jar save the date postcards, whimsical mason jar thank you cards, florals address labels, thank you tags with mason jar and more.
As low as $1.08 per card on zazzle.com – choose quantity and see your discount


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JUST like Father Christmas, the Salvation Army needs plenty of helpers over the festive season.
Soldiers and members are gearing up for a busy few weeks, culminating on December 25 itself.
They are now recruiting volunteers to help out on the big day.
Places for the traditional Christmas lunch at the Salvation Army Hall in Prospect Street are already sold out.
The day includes a lunch, party, carol service and tea.
Drivers are needed to help pick up diners in the morning at about 10am and take them home at night.
Helpers are also being sought to prepare the food, serve and wash up.
Entertainers willing to perform on the day would also be warmly welcomed.
"It's a good day. The volunteers get their dinner as well so they don't miss out," explained Capt Ernie Huby.
"They pick people up and drop them off. They can stay if they want or go home, come back at 5pm and start taking people home."
Last year, dinner was served for 80 people and Capt Huby expected similar numbers this time.
Throughout December Salvation Army `troops' will also be singing carols round Huddersfield. They can be found in the Packhorse Centre at 6pm on both Thursday December 11 and 18 as well as singing in New Street or King Street on Saturdays.
Anyone wishing to help on December 25 should contact 01484 513045.


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Believe it or not, all those Aqueduct Racetrack headlines conceal a touching story of reconciliation and forgiveness that no one has noticed. The story either proves that time, or plausible profit, heals all wounds, or it shatters the notion that blood is thicker than water.
Roberto Ramirez is representing real estate titan Stephen Green, a bidder for the Aqueduct deal.
If your memory reaches back as far as the hotly contested mayoral election of 2001, when Mike Bloomberg beat Stephen Green's brother Mark Green, you just choked on that sentence.
Green's campaign manager publicly blamed the loss on Ramirez, who was then the Bronx Democratic boss and is today an influential lobbyist close to the Paterson administration and the Democratic legislative leadership. Ramirez despised Green for defeating his candidate in the Democratic run-off, Fernando Ferrer, and, oddly for a Democratic leader, threw a victory party in the Bronx celebrating Bloomberg's win.
The racially-charged tensions between Ramirez and the Greens — Stephen, the city's largest commercial landlord, helped finance Mark's campaign — were legendary.
But last October, SL Green Realty Corporation signed an agreement with Ramirez's lobbying firm, MirRam Group LLC, "to provide legislative and strategic counsel" with state officials. The purpose of the lobbying is "racing and wagering." SL Green and Hard Rock International combined to submit a bid for the racetrack's video slots, potentially the state's biggest contract, but lost recently when the governor and the two legislative leaders picked another politically-wired bidder.
So many questions about the award have been raised that the process may have to be reopened.
Asked about the irony of his brother's representation by Ramirez, all Mark Green would say is: "I have nothing to do with the SL Green-Aqueduct bid." Stephen Green and Ramirez didn't call back. Mark Green lost the race for public advocate last year and has retired from politics.
Ramirez has been included in the most intimate strategy sessions organized by the Paterson campaign inner circle. These meetings have sometimes been hosted by Bill Lynch, who was, until recently, another lobbyist for SL Green. The Post reported recently that Green dropped Lynch, who apparently arranged a post-selection meeting between Paterson and the winning bidder (Green is challenging the award of the contract). Though not as voluble as Ramirez, Lynch, too, was disaffected from the Green campaign after Ferrer's loss. Many observers, including Bloomberg's campaign manager at the time, Bill Cunningham, said Bloomberg would not have won had Ramirez and other leading minority Democrats supported Green.