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Re: Hammered
Tim Wilson
on Oct 23, 2009 at 5:47:25 pm
I'm going to make some specific observations to speak to the general observation: the demographics are changing faster than you're watching. There's no hand biting here. Money talks.
It's not just greed talking, either. Audiences grow when they get what they want.
[Mark Suszko]
"racing each other towards mediocrity in pursuit of market share"
Market share is bad? This is a business forum for criminy's sake. I would think that you guys would understand business better.
So let's talk business. If you're selling something with your name on it, you better have the rights to that name. There is no combination of Sci and Fi and Science and Fiction that they were able to trademark. No legal name with ANY of those things in it. There's not enough money to make that problem go away. Enter Plan B. A goofy name that sounds the same, and can be protected.
And I will say as a company whose trademark has been a big part of how people feel about it, it's worth getting this right.
You may not like the new branding, but the money has spoken: Q3 09 was the channel's
best quarter ever
. (Do you people not read?)
I'm also not sure why you guys are complaining about the lack of science fiction programming on the channel. We can have that conversation another time, but Warehouse 13 and Stargate Universe have been setting records. The latter is outdrawing sci-fi god Joss Whedon's Dollhouse on Fox - that's right, science fiction on SyFy is beating science fiction on Fox in the same timeslot. But the premiere of SGU brought the highest ratings since BSG's premiere in 2005.
(Note that the show BEGAN in 2004. It only started airing on Sci-Fi in 2005.)
Whether you guys like it is beside the point. Eureka, Warehouse 13, Sanctuary, Stargate, original sci-fi movies every Saturday night - you're watching these, right? There's plenty of sci-fi on Syfy.
Three quick issues related to biting this particular hand.
1) Top rated show for H2 09? Warehouse 13. For the first half? Ghost Hunters. You might not like it, but the audience does. Place the blame where you may. Syfy can't hear you because the money is talking to them.
2) Sci-fi/Syfy/Psi Fye/etc has never been the only, or even entirely the best source for science fiction tv. I'll point to Fringe and The Seeker for now, but there are other examples.
Here's a favorite: MST3K originated on Comedy Central, and aired there for 7 of the show's 10 years. There's a certain extent to which you guys are longing for a very, very selectively-viewed past...if indeed it ever existed.
2a) The reason it went away wasn't ratings. It was that the cost of licensing was too high, and that the show was ultimately a victim of its own success. There weren't THAT many bad movies to mock, and as they started to spread the net wider, the studios wouldn't play along. And why should they? The show had a shelf life, which it passed.
3) A little rant about viagra. I don't know much about the drug, but I know demographics. The world has shifted under your feet, and you have missed why Syfy may be the highest-impact target buy that Pfizer makes.
First, Viagra's fastest growing demo is in their 40s, and the number has been trending down for years. (Down? Ha ha. Okay, enough giggling. This is real money.) Viagra gained traction among the kids in the rave days, when it was commonly mixed with ecstacy. Some of this was to counteract one of the side effects of e, but some of it is that sex-on-demand on e is so intense that people can die from it. The kids think this is a good thing. And some of THAT is related to all dilation, all the time.
This is around the time that Viagra started sponsoring Major League Baseball and Cialis tied to the NFL. Any thoughts on the dates? Corresponded with the widespread use of steroids, whose side effects include a condition treated with those drugs.
The NFL ended the relationship with Cialis when they found that -- all giggling about performance enhancing aside - it made for such a demonstrably positive effect on on-field performance that the NFL has banned it. Dilation is GOOD, people. So good that it created unfair advantages.
A more widespread cause of erectile dysfunction is stress, which is insanely on the rise of course, and it comes from every direction. Not making any political observations, but McCain supporters' testorone plummeted after the election, and the result was
most pronounced
among young men.
How does Syfy fit in? It's the
station among 18-54 year olds. Note that the key demo is trending upward - it was 49 just a few years ago. Combine that with the fact that folks at the upper range have more money to spend on pharm, and go to the doctor more often, and that ED drugs are targeted at ALL men, not just older ones, and you have in Syfy the best match outside of the sports networks. Better than the news channels. Why would they NOT be advertising there?
Guys, money talks. Pfizer has billions to spend, but will only spend them where they find ROI.
Pay attention: Syfy, Pie Guy, Sigh Fye, whatever = Viagra/Cialis/Levitra's target demo.
A separate rant on people missing the point on MTV.
Without the ability to aggregate viewers, they were losing them, and with them, advertisers. The first attempts to create SHOWS were music-oriented - 120 Minutes, Yo! MTV Raps were the first biggest ones. They were ultimately victims of their own success, as alternative music and hip-hop became ubiquitous.
First truly transformative ratings: The Real World, which had a bigger social impact than Survivor did when it was the top-rated show in the land. It was a big deal for MTV because it provided them their first laser-focused, post hip-hop audience, and it was huge. Massive, massive money.
Their biggest ratings in the past 5 years? The MTV Movie Awards, up a staggering 74% from last year. That's MOVIE awards, and NOT music awards.
One of my favorite non-music shows on MTV: The Jon Stewart Show. (He also did the very funny You Wrote It, You Watch It.) The ratings were so high that Paramount (related to MTV through parent Viacom) created a syndicated version, and tweaked the format more toward a straight talk show that ran in the late-night strip opposite The Tonight Show, Nightline, etc.
re: the popularity of the Movie Awards on MTV, movies have everything to do with music marketing to youngsters, and have since Rock Around the Clock, if not earlier. Recent licensing to movies, TV and commercials has had a (again) transformative effect on the business - greater control of presentation, bigger bang for buck, EVERY placement is a prestige placement, multiple ways to use artists (remember when Aimee Mann played The Bronze on Buffy? She brushed past Spike and said "I hate playing vampire towns"), andlegal ways to collect direct pay-for-play -- except that they're not PAYING, they're GETTING paid. It's win-win.
That said, radio continues to play its role, especially in the teen market where radio has always had its biggest effect. Big, big BIG in urban areas in particular.
Guys? You're not teens anymore. Radio isn't for you.
Alan Freed first found Little Richard and Chuck Berry through live performances. He didn't do much with The Beatles until after Ed Sullivan did. (That said, The Beatles heard Freed playing Richard and Chuck on Radio Luxembourg.)
At the end of the day, movies and TV have had a bigger, longer-lasting effect on breaking music than radio - always. Right, Elvis?
Anyway, The Weather Channel has found itself in the same position as MTV, but worse. They originally tried to keep personalities off the air, because "weather" was the star. They were idiots. Weatherpeople have always been successful because of their personalities, even when they're not being clowns. While TWC eventually let presenters have identities (stay tuned for THIS PERSON), they still had a problem: nobody had any reason to watch for more than a minute or two except when they were being affected.
Same process as MTV: start with "shows" (local on the 8s), then go a little broader (Killer Twisters or whatever), then a little broader still. People WILL watch movies even when there's no threatening weather. I don't think that weather will ever go away from TWC, and I think that they'll drop movies like a stone when there's a big storm, but they need to draw a crowd.
This is the OPPOSITE of biting the hand. They've got their hand out.
Race to the bottom? Gray, bland programming? We're in television's greatest golden age. The crest of the crest might have been with The Sopranos, but seriously, the dreck we will always have with us. But the only reason I can imagine why somebody can be missing just how good so much TV is these days is that they're pining for a past that doesn't exist the way they remember it.
Kind of like the one where MST3K is a Sci-Fi show. :-)
I could go on like this for a long, long time, but I feel much better now.
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How to Relate to an Introvert
Explore this Article Respecting Your Introvert Understanding Introspection Ask a Question Related Articles References
There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
If you are a social person who likes to interact with many different types of people, there is a good chance that one of your friends is an introvert. An introverted person may seem more withdrawn, shy, and need to make more an effort to socialize or interact with other people. This doesn't mean that the person is anti-social or has some kind of social phobia. Introversion is instead just one personality type in which individuals need to use more energy to engage in social situations, become more tired and drained in large groups, and regularly need to take time to recharge their social butterfly batteries.[1] Introverts are sensitive and aware people who can make great friends. It's important you understand the roots of introversion and how you can understand, respect, and relate to your introverted friend.
Part 1
Respecting Your Introvert
1Avoid passing judgement. People with introverted traits can seem like they have no problem socializing; they may be able to trade quips, be quick witted, put on presentations for school and work with seeming ease. Introversion is not shyness, social anxiety nor avoidant behavior. Just because introverts can pull out the social fireworks when necessary does not mean that they are not in fact introverted or are faking it. You don't know how "passing" by being social and extroverted in a given situation affected that person. Ultimately, introverts do have different needs for self care than people who tend to be more socially oriented.[2]
- Rather than jump to judgement, try to sit back and learn. Talk to the introvert, instead of assuming you've got him all figured out.
2Ask the introvert what he needs. The best way to find out more about your friend and how you can help him feel more comfortable is simply to ask him. Friendships are wonderful things to nurture, and the point of friendship is to get to know someone, care about him, and keep his best interests in mind. Take the time to find out about what introversion is like for your friend, what his challenges are, and how he feels. Ask concrete, complete questions, as these types of questions may be easier for someone with introverted qualities to answer.[3] Your friend may feel relieved that you are taking interest and showing that you care. Here are some questions and suggestions you may want to start with:[4]
- What are the easiest social situations for you to be in? What kinds of social situations are the most tiring?
- Is there anything I can do to help you when you feel socially overwhelmed or drained?
- Do I ever make you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed in social situations? How can I help ease that?
3Give introverts alone time. This rule is important and is often the hardest for most extroverts to understand. Introverts like people, but their inner electrical systems are wired very differently. When they're grouchy, crotchety, or just tired, they need time to themselves. If extroverts are solar cells, absorbing light and energy externally, then introverts are nuclear power plants, internally charging a 'self-battery'. They need time alone so the battery has time to charge up again.[5]
- In almost every case, the absences of introverts or their need for time alone has nothing to do with you. It's about them and what they need for their own well-being.
- Give your introvert plenty of space and don't try to pressure the introverted person in your life to be social when he feels tired or overwhelmed. Introverts have limits when it comes to social stimulation.
4Understand and respect boundaries. Don't try to pressure your introverted friend into going someplace or doing something that he isn't comfortable doing. If your friend tells you he is tired and not feeling like going to a party, don't get upset with him, don't try to manipulate or guilt him into going, and respect that he wants and may need time to himself. Call another friend or always plan to bring someone else with you so that you won't take your disappointment out on your introverted friend. Being a true friend means you nurture healthy, honest boundaries in your relationship.
- Don't barrage your friend with emails, texts, and messages if he hasn't been in touch for a bit. This can be overwhelming to the introvert; instead, trying sending ONE message that you're thinking of him.
5Embrace communication. Explore other ways of communication that may not be as draining for your introvert than talking in person. Some introverts find it easier to talk over the internet or in other non-verbal ways of communicating like texting. Get to know what makes your introvert most comfortable.[6]
- Keeping the lines of communication open can ensure that there aren't misunderstandings and that you don't take your introverts' need for alone time personally. You need to learn that when your introverted friend isn't feeling very social or breaks plans with you, it is not personal and is not about you. It is instead something that your friend needs and is related to their essential nature.[7]
- If you haven't heard from your introverted friend, rather than call or visit him in person, try sending a brief text message that says something like, "Hey, haven't heard from you in a bit. Just checking in and hope all is well." Remember that introverts sometimes prefer more distanced modes of communication.
- As a helpful tip, introverts often screen their phone calls, even those from friends, because they find it interrupting and also taxing. Often, introverts let their calls go to voicemail so they can return them when they feel it's the right time and they have sufficient energy. So your introverted friend isn't ignoring you when he doesn't pick up but will get back to you when he feels ready.[8]
6Listen. Listening is an essential part of any friendship. It is important to listen carefully to your friend that has introverted qualities because they may not be that comfortable expressing themselves frequently. In other words, pay attention! In addition, because of their tendency to reflect and think internally (instead of out loud, like extroverts), introverts tend to do the bulk of listening in conversations. They usually don't mind this, but it's also important to let them express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions while you sit back for once and take it in.[9]
- Be in the moment and focus your mind on what your friend is saying. Put away your phone or turn it off. Give your friend your full attention. Try not to immediately let your mind get flooded with responses. Listen closely, maintain eye contact, concentrate on his words, and take a moment to digest what your friend has said before responding.
- Try to avoid responding with minimizing statements like, "Oh everybody feels that way sometimes." Your introvert friend's experience is valid, what he feels is valid, and it's not always helpful to immediately nullify what you have just heard by generalizing or downplaying it. Instead try responding with active listening responses and leading questions like, "I hear you. It's interesting that you reacted that way. Why do you think you had that response?"
7Invite and reciprocate honesty. One of the marks of a true friendship is free-flowing and mutual honesty. Once you have learned more about your introverted friend and how his world may be different from yours, then it is healthy to encourage your friend to feel comfortable telling you how he feels. You aren't a mind reader, and you can't tap in to his energy or comfort levels at all times. A healthy friendship should include a level of communication where your introverted friend feels safe telling you what is really going on inside his head, even if it's something you may not want to hear.[10]
- Let your introverted friend know that he can always be honest with you. If your friend decides that he just isn't up for going out because even the thought of small talk feels exhausting, appreciate his honesty and react with empathy. You can express your own emotions, since honesty should be mutual, but avoid laying guilt or blame at your friend's feet. Instead, show empathy and compassion and let him know that you understand and respect his choice. Reacting compassionately will show your friend that he can be truthful and straightforward with you without fearing judgement or pressure.
- Introverts often feel that they have to put on social show just to appease their friends, and your friend may be very grateful that there is someone in his life he can be honest with about how he really feels.[11]
8Accommodate. Introverts generally prefer to spend time at work and home alone or in a small group. They also prefer to do one thing at a time and spend their time on it, rather than be doing multiple things at the same time. Try to accommodate introverts wherever you can; perhaps that means inviting only one other friend out when you're planning a movie night with your introverted friend, instead of a huge group. Avoid organizing gatherings in big, crowded spaces, like festivals, which may overstimulate your introvert (due to the people, music, loud noises, etc). Create an environment in which your introverted friend feels safe and like he can be himself.
- Make sure that introverts have a "safe space" where they can go. For example, if you run an office, consider enclosed conferences rooms of varying sizes as an option either for introverts to have some downtime to gather their thoughts and work privately or for small groups that need to work together but who might otherwise interrupt or distract their introverted colleagues.[12]
9Be a friend. By encouraging honesty and creating space for your introverted friend to feel comfortable being himself, you are being a good example of a nurturing person who accepts him for who he is. The more this facet your friendship is nurtured, the more empowered, honest, and healthy your introverted friend can feel about his life and himself.[13]
Part 2
Understanding Introspection
1Learn about personality types. One of the great things about having a circle of friends is that they all have different personalities, viewpoints, and ways of being and doing things. An essential part of having friends is getting to know them and all of their unique personalities. One useful thing to do that can help prepare you for personalities that may be different from your own is to read up on personality types. Learning more about introversion can help you understand your friend in a way that doesn't lead to misunderstanding. Respect that enjoyment of life comes in many forms, and not just what you personally find fulfilling and fun. Learn about how your friend finds satisfaction and enjoyment.[14]
- Read up on introversion and extroversion as the first pair of psychological preferences in determining personality type using the Myer-Briggs test. You can also decide, after reading, which preference applies to you. Knowing more about ourselves often helps us understand why and how we view the world and the people we care about.
- Learning about differences might help you in turn learn to appreciate the various outlooks, perspectives and advice that an introverted person can offer. For example, they approach social situations from a very different vantage point than an extrovert. Your introverted friend may have noticed something at a party or social gathering while you were too busy gabbing away to catch wind.
- As a general rule in life, it's always to your benefit to learn about people who are different from you and share in their knowledge.
2Understand the core of introversion. Introverts require more energy to be social and find social encounters draining. Introverts find their energy in solitary, often creative pursuits, whereas extroverts are energized by others. While extroverts actually physiologically experience an intensification of the feel-good hormone dopamine when surrounded by others, introverts do not. They find contentment from within.[15][16]
- Introverts are not necessarily shy, nor are they afraid of people or fearful of social settings. They are also not typically misanthropic, meaning that they dislike mankind and human society. In fact, introverts often have heightened abilities for sensitivity, empathy, and creativity.[17] These characteristics can make introverts truly caring, solid friends.
3Realize introverts are deeply introspective. Introverts like to think. This does not necessarily mean an introvert's wonderings are any more meaningful or significant than an extrovert's. It's how they process the world and the people around them. They need to process their experience. Their introspection is in fact what makes them such excellent listeners.[18]
- Note that introspection is not the same as ruminating, which is a compulsively focused attention on your problems, distress or mistakes and has been connected to mental health conditions like depression. Introspection is rather the examination and observation of one's internal mental and emotional processes, like a kind of self-examination.[19]
- Introverts, because of their ability to internally tune in, tend to be drawn to more creative, detail-focused, and independent professions.
4Know that introverts are at their best one-on-one. Most introverts enjoy conversation with one person at a time. So don't take it personally if they're a bit quiet in a group situation. They're probably absorbing what everyone is saying, and turning it over a few times in their heads. This is part of their introspective and thoughtful nature. In addition, you may notice your introverted friend hanging around near the exit when surrounded by lots of people; this is how introverts cope in crowded places. They like to be able to make a quick exit if they need to.[20]
5Be aware that introverts might appear to be 'acting' sometimes. This is particularly true in social situations. Some introverts are not naturally social people. This can make it difficult to interact with others who are inherently more extroverted and gregarious. To make the going easier, many introverts have leaned how to be 'temporarily extroverted'; put differently, they act. Acting for them requires an extraordinarily amount of energy and effort. This is why many introverts need a little break or alone time after a big social event. But not to worry; if you and your introvert have a very close relationship, he'll be his 'real' self most, if not all of the time.
6Respect that your friend identifies as an introvert. Respect that this is a personality trait your friend lives and feels, and not a choice or lifestyle. It's a way of being.[21]
- Respect that your friend has a different way of dealing with the world and of processing social stimulation and decision.[22]
Community Q&A
- Learn to respect the boundaries and differences of your introverted friend and you could will likely experience have a giving and fulfilling relationship.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/introversion
- ↑ Do extraverts process social stimuli differently from introverts? By: Fishman, Inna; Ng, Rowena; Bellugi, Ursula. Cognitive Neuroscience. Jun2011, Vol. 2 Issue 2, p67-73.
- ↑ The Language of Extraversion: Extraverted People Talk More Abstractly, Introverts Are More Concrete. By: Beukeboom, Camiel J.; Tanis, Martin; Vermeulen, Ivar E. Journal of Language & Social Psychology. Jun2013, Vol. 32 Issue 2, p191-201. 11p.
- ↑ Codependency's Relationship to Defining Characteristics in College Students By: Wells, Marolyn C.; Hill, Michele B.; Brack, Gregory. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, v20 n4 p71-84 Jun 2006.
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/physical-behavior-of-introverts_n_6069438.html
- ↑ "On the Internet No One Knows I'm an Introvert": Extroversion, Neuroticism, and Internet Interaction. By: Amichai-Hamburger, Yair; Wainapel, Galit; Fox, Shaul. CyberPsychology & Behavior. Apr2002, Vol. 5 Issue 2, p125-128.
- ↑ (Understanding Extraverts' Enjoyment of Social Situations: The Importance of Pleasantness. By: Lucas, Richard E.; Diener, Ed. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. Aug2001, Vol. 81 Issue 2, p343-356. 14p)
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/physical-behavior-of-introverts_n_6069438.html
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/physical-behavior-of-introverts_n_6069438.html
- ↑ Codependency's Relationship to Defining Characteristics in College Students By: Wells, Marolyn C.; Hill, Michele B.; Brack, Gregory. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, v20 n4 p71-84 Jun 2006.
- ↑ INTROVERSION: A MISUNDERSTOOD "INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE" AMONG STUDENTS. By: Henjum, Arnold. Education. Fall82, Vol. 103 Issue 1, p39. 5p.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/self-promotion-introverts/201009/introvert-and-extrovert-friendly-workspaces
- ↑ The Relationship between Self- and Other-Perceptions of Communication Competence and Friendship Quality. By: Arroyo, Analisa; Segrin, Chris. Communication Studies. Nov/Dec2011, Vol. 62 Issue 5, p547-562. 16p.
- ↑ Explaining the Extraversion/Positive Affect Relation: Sociability Cannot Account for Extraverts' Greater Happiness. By: Lucas, Richard E.; Le, Kimdy; Dyrenforth, Portia S. Journal of Personality. Jun2008, Vol. 76 Issue 3, p385-414. 30p.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/introversion
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/physical-behavior-of-introverts_n_6069438.html
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/introversion
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/physical-behavior-of-introverts_n_6069438.html
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17122174
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/physical-behavior-of-introverts_n_6069438.html
- ↑ http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/302696/
- ↑ Personality and Affective Forecasting: Trait Introverts Underpredict the Hedonic Benefits of Acting Extraverted. By: Zelenski, John M.; Whelan, Deanna C.; Nealis, Logan J.; Besner, Christina M.; Santoro, Maya S.; Wynn, Jessica E. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. Jun2013, Vol. 104 Issue 6, p1092-1108. 17p.
Article Info
Categories: Extraversion and Introversion
In other languages:
Español: entender a una persona introvertida, Italiano: Gestire il Rapporto con una Persona Introversa, Português: Lidar com uma Pessoa Introvertida, Deutsch: Beziehungen zu introvertierten Menschen haben, Français: comprendre un introverti, Bahasa Indonesia: Berhubungan dengan Orang Introvert, Русский: найти общий язык с интровертом, Tiếng Việt: Tương tác với người hướng nội, 한국어: 내향적인 사람 이해하기


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I am thankful that my brother heated everything up and put it out, and that he and my father are going to do the dishes.
I am thankful I got to stay at home today, and don't have to go anywhere.
Tomorrow is a workday for me -- and it will probably be quite busy. But traffic home should be lighter than usual. I will just avoid the shopping center.


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VIP Bonuses
Our bonus packages have been developed based on feedback from our most loyal players. You can expect a fantastic range of rewards every week – from weekly deposit bonuses and monthly cash back offers, to enhanced points and exclusive promotions.
As soon as you become a member of Genting Black, you will be sent more information on the bonus package available to you. Pick and choose as you wish but remember to opt in to email to ensure that you are kept up to date with our latest offers and promotions.


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We are a group of world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development companies with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at our core.
The Stronach Group (TSG) encompasses five distinct business areas that are inter-related and supportive of each other, enabling TSG to be the most dominant player in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry in the United States, with business relations around the globe.
Our business areas include Technology, Entertainment, Racing, Real Estate Development and Agriculture.
"Horse racing is the last great sporting legacy platform that has not yet fully modernized, we're doing that."
– Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President


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Dark comedies, nautical dramas, animated martial arts epics and prequel television top this week's list of things we definitely want to check out. You, Me and the Apocalypse chronicles the end of the world, while The Finest Hours gets deep into a Coast Guard save. At the same time, Kung Fu Panda 3 returns to the world of animated action, and Better Call Saul debuts on Netflix.
You, Me and the Apocalypse
Technically a British sitcom that debuted last year, You, Me and the Apocalypse debuts on NBC tonight at 8:00PM. This comedy revolves around a group of people around the world all preparing for the end of the world when a comet will hit the planet in 34 days, causing catastrophic damage. Previous NBC stars Jenna Fischer (The Office) and Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) are both in prison, while Parks & Recreation star Rob Lowe plays a priest in the Vatican looking for the Antichrist. With that much talent, here's hoping it's worth the 10-episode commitment.
The Finest Hours
Debuting this Friday, The Finest Hours revolves around the real life rescue of the men aboard a pair of oil tankers by the Coast Guard during an intense storm. Directed by Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, Million Dollar Arm) the stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Kyle Gallner, and Eric Bana in what looks like the most drenched film of the month.
Kung Fu Panda 3
Possibly Jack Black's best character, Po returns in Kung Fu Panda 3 this Friday. After learning to fight in the first installment and defended all of China in the second, Po finds himself playing the roll of teacher to a town of pandas under siege. Black returns along with Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, David Cross, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman, and Seth Rogen along with newcomers Bryan Cranston, JK Simmons, and Kate Hudson. These movies historically deliver when it comes to action packed kiddie comedies that also entertain grown ups, so hopefully this one continues the tradition.
Better Call Saul
If you missed out on AMC's inaugural season of the Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul or just want to give it another watch, the series debuts on Netflix on February 1. The show chronicles the evolution of Bob Odenkirk's Jimmy McGill as he eventually transitions into Saul Goodman. You can mainline the first 10-episode season starting then in time for the second season which debuts on February 15.


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Monthly Archives: April 2017
Coconut Oil – the BEST make up remover
Posted by Memoirs Of A Yoruba Girl
Coconut oil is the best make up remover I have ever used, ever. It literally dissolves and breaks down the makeup and lifts it off your face. Looking at common make up items a lot of them contain oil and as we all well know water doesn't dissolve oil, but oil dissolves oil, hence why coconut oil is such a good make up remover. Although coconut oil is my preference, I have used olive oil which worked just as well.
How to use oil to remove your make-up
You will need
- Coconut oil
- baby wipes/ make up wipes
- Skin cleanser
1. Add some oil around your face, you want all of your face to be coated but not dripping with oil
2. Gently work the oil into the face, not forgetting the eyebrows, eyelashes and lips. Rub the oil in circular motions.
3. You should notice the oil on your face should begin to discolour, especially around your eyes (you may look like a panda when you are done 🐼)
4. Wipe off the make up and oil from your face using the wipe. Most (if not all) the makeup on your face should be gone by this point.
5. Proceed to wash your face as normal
This is a technique I use and would recommend to you too.
Try it and let me know how it goes.
Until next time
Memoirs Of A Yoruba Girl
Posted in All Things Natural
Tags: Africa, Benin, coconut, coconut oil, delta, emulsify, emulsifying, eyebrow pencil, foundation, hausa, igbo, ijebu, itshekiri, make up, make up removal, makeup removal, mascara, memoirs of a yoruba girl, natural, natural makeup remover, nigeria, oil, skin, skincare, yoruba girl, your basket


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Cultural Studies Funding Guarantee
The Cultural Studies program has a minimum funding guarantee program for full-time students. This guarantees a set amount of funding over the lifetime of the program as follows.
- Domestic MA students $30,000 over two years, i.e. $15,000 per year
- Domestic PhD students $80,000 over four years, i.e. $20,000 per year
- International PhD students $92,000 over four years, i.e. $23,000 per year
- We do not offer tuition waivers. You must pay your tuition fees out of the funding that we offer.
- Part time students receive no funding.
- There is no guarantee of funding for international MA students, but they may receive some funding on a case-by-case basis.
- The minimum funding guarantee applies only when you do not have external funding from Provincial, Federal Government or other sources. The Cultural Studies program requires and will actively support you to apply for all external funding for which you are eligible. If you are unsuccessful then the minimum funding guarantee applies.
- The funding guarantee is contingent upon your successful progress in the degree program.
- If you receive funds from the program, this will be in a combination of scholarship funding and work as a teaching or research assistantships. Tax will be deducted on the work portion of your scholarship, but you may be able to claim this back by filing a tax return.
- If you graduate early, you may be required to pay back scholarship funding you may have received in advance.
- All funding rules and policies operate in accordance with the regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.


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Elite Games, Inc. and the Gyeonggi Content Agency, announced their partnership to bring quality games from South Korea to South-East Asia, as well as, to help develop the emerging game development scene in the region and expose these game development startups in Korea.
Elite Games, Inc. is a premier service provider based in Seoul, South Korea, with its regional operations is based in the Philippines. This month, the Philippines will get the honored spot to be the launch pad for four new mobile games before these are published in the rest of the region.
During the recently held Philippine-Korea Video Game Cooperation Conference at the Marco Polo hotel, Elite Games, Inc. or EGI showcased four new mobile games from the Gyeonggi Province. These are Fantasy Tales, Joy Planet, Next Exit, and Velator, with more games, including PC and console games, to come in 2018.
The Philippine-Korean Video Game Cooperation and Partnership
Game support and development is one of the sunshine tech industries in the Philippines. Today, we have Philippine companies working on AAA titles like Microsoft Studios' Gears of War 4 game, and Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed, to mention two. According to Statista.com, revenue in the Philippines Mobile Games segment has reached mor ethan U$175 million in 2017, and by 2022, mobile phone game revenues will reach U$256 million or more than a quarter of a billion dollars.
With the partnership with Gyeonggi Content Agency or GCA, EGI will publish games from the Gyeonggi Province in the Philippines and the rest of the South-East Asia region. The company will also provide bilateral exchange of business, expertise and technology, incubator programs for local and regional aspiring game developers or startups, and education, and have these products introduced in the South Korean market.
"We're opening the doors for both South Korean game developers and Philippine teams to work together and come up with great games that the whole world can enjoy," Mr. Johnny H. Paek, CEO of Elite Games, Inc. said. "This bilateral exchange between Korea and the Southeast Asian region also aims to help local educational institutions mold the future of the gaming industry by adapting to the ever-changing needs of the industry and its playerbase."
This is excellent news as there are untapped very good talents in the Philippines and the rest of the ASEAN region. He further said that, "There are diverse sets of disciplines needed in the development and publishing of games. From business management, marketing, programming, art, game design, quality assurance, sales, content writing, digital advertising, and many more. The aim is to create an ecosystem of young professionals, ready to usher in Southeast Asia, specifically the Philippines, as a global leader and hub of the global gaming industry."
Through the incubator programs planned, startups will be able to enhance, learn, and refine their passion, game, and goals. With an immediate chance to showcase their products not just in the region and Korea, but to the global market, with the experience, knowledge, and network that EGI and GCA brings.
Gyeonggi Content Agency representative, Sung Gil Moon, Director of GCA, is excited about their partnership with Elite Games, Inc., "With Elite Games, Inc. helping us provide support and development for our initial launch titles namely Fantasy Tales, Joy Planet, Next Exit, and Velator, they will help us turn them into the most popular, premium mobile games. Many more products will come to Southeast Asia from Korea for all platforms including PC and Consoles."
Moon also said that through this Philippine-Korean Video Game Cooperation and Partnership, Southeast Asian developers who create great mobile games, will get a shot at introducing their games in one of the most coveted markets in the world. "We look forward to helping startup development companies in the Philippines and others in the SEA region through cooperation and partnership with everyone together with Elite Games."
For more information about the first four games, simply click the following links: Fantasy Tales, Joy Planet, NextExit, and Velator.
Is a bibliophile and technophile other than being an early adopter, an avid gamer, anime otaku, trekker, and photographer. He is an advocate of "Free Culture", "Open Knowledge", "Creative Commons", "Free/Libre Open-Source Software", and the "Fediverse" (federated social-network).
His first online project was in 1998 when he launched the unofficial website for Ansalon MUD (a text-based online game) and his own community forums Laibcoms.Community. Today, he owns a variety of online properties and help others establish their online presence.
Confirm his identity through Keybase, and learn more by reading his central bio. Yuki's hubsite, Tomes of Knowledge, is located at jcsesecuneta.com.
Philippine-Korean Video Game Cooperation by gameshogun™ 🎲 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at Legal Notice.


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[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Cards from our partners are mentioned below.]
Are you ready for summer? As the new season approaches, Americans often find themselves faced with certain expenses that are less common during the rest of the year. For example, the summer is a peak time for both airline travel and road trips, and many families incur other expenses, like summer camp for their children. The summer is also a season for giving gifts at weddings and graduations.
Savvy spenders can use a cash back credit card to help save money on your summer expenses. The right card for your needs might offer additional cash back rewards for some of your big summer expenses, or perhaps a competitive rate of cash back for all purchases. (You can find more on the best cash back credit cards in America here.)
Remember, before you sign up for any credit card, it is a good idea to look at the terms and conditions so you understand what you're agreeing to. It's also a good idea to check your credit before applying since a stellar credit score will help you qualify for the better cards on the market. You can do see where your credit stands by viewing two of your credit scores for free every 14 days on Credit.com.
With those caveats in mind, here are four cards that can offer the most cash back this June, July and August.
1. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Amex's Blue Cash Preferred offers additional cash back that makes sense during the summer (and throughout the year). For instance, when shopping for a summer barbecue, this card offers a remarkable 6% cash back for purchases from U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 (then 1%) in eligible spending each year. And if you are planning on taking a road trip, you can earn 3% cash back on at U.S. gas stations. Finally, cardholders earn 3% cash back at select U.S. department stores, which can be a great place to find wedding and graduation gifts.
You also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases, and new applicants can earn $200 statement credit after spending $1,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. There's a $95 annual fee.
2. Discover it Cash Back
Another way to earn cash back on your summer purchases is to use a card that offers discounts at select retailers and on merchant categories that change throughout the year. This summer, the Discover it Cash Back card offers 5% cash back on many common summer purchases, on up to $1,500 of eligible spending each quarter. During the second quarter of 2016 (April-June), the featured categories are restaurants and movies, which can be great for catching this summer's big blockbusters. In the third quarter, (July – September), the featured bonus categories are home improvement stores and Amazon.com. These categories can be useful for cardholders who will spend part of this summer adding on a deck or completing other projects around the house. Furthermore, Discover will match all of the cash back earned by new cardholders at the end of their first year. There's no annual fee for this card.
3. Citi Double Cash Card
While some cash back credit cards are ideal for summer purchases due to their bonus levels of cash back on specific categories of purchases, others make sense for offering strong rates of return on all purchases —including that aforementioned summer camp, which might not qualify for any bonus rewards categories. The Citi Double Cash card offers cash back twice, with 1% at the time of purchase and another 1% when the purchases are paid for. There is no annual fee for this card. (Full Disclosure: Citibank, as well as American Express and Discover advertise on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.)
4. US Bank Cash+
Since you might make different kinds of expenses throughout the year, the Cash+ card from US Bank allows you change your cash back bonus categories each quarter. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined spending each quarter on two categories that you choose. These categories include popular places for summer expenses including department stores, movie theaters and car rentals. You also earn 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores. You earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no annual fee for this card.
At publishing time, the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express, and Discover it Cash Back cards are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for these card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
Note: It's important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
Image: iStock


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The Top 10 Netbooks for the Holidays 2010.
This Black Friday shopping season you should not pay more than $199 for a standard netbook.
The Acer Aspire One D250 has already been offered below $200 several times by various retailers or advertised for Black Friday. Office Depot for instance will have the Acer Aspire One for $199 on Black Friday.
Target offers the Acer Aspire AOD250-1165 Blue in stores for $199 right now.
The Acer Aspire One D250 features the typical netbook specifications from the previous netbook generation. As a reminder these typical features include Intel Atom N270 CPU at 1.6Ghz, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM, 10.1-inch WSVGA screen, 3-cell battery and Windows XP.
So remember, for a netbook with the above configuration you should not have to pay more than $199 this holiday season. If you want more battery life or Windows 7 on your new netbook then the prices will still be much higher.
See the Target site to find this netbook deal in a Target Store near you.


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In the past, call history was something that was hard to come by. Monitoring call activity wasn't something in which phone companies specialized. But with today's technology and cell phone usage, you can obtain call history with just an Internet connection and the click of a button. The most common call history that can be viewed is cell phone call history. By accessing your cell phone's online account, you can view call history dating back almost six months.
Open your Internet browser. Click on your Internet icon to open your browser.
Access your cell phone carrier's official website. Clear the search bar data form at the top of the browser, and type in your cell phone carrier's URL address. Press "Enter" on your keyboard to be redirected to the site.
Login to your cell phone account. When your cell phone provider's site loads, type your account username and password into the two data forms provided on the site's homepage. Click "Login" to open your online account.
Video of the Day
View the online version of your bill. You should see account information and billing options along the top or left side of the screen once your cell phone account portal opens. Double-click on the link that reads, either "View My Bill," or "Billing Information." In most cases, an archive of bills will be listed from your most recent to approximately six months prior. Click on the billing dates that best fit the time frame of call history dates you'd like to see.
Access the itemized version of your cell phone bill. When the summarized version of your bill loads on the next screen, you will also have the option to view your itemized bill. Click on the "Itemized Bill" option, and select the PDF format. Your bill will then open in a pop-up browser window. The itemized bill will display your full call history for that particular month.


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Analysis Paralysis
Posted by Elf Sternberg as chat, personal, programming
There was an article highlighted in a variety of nerdy news sites called "I'm A Good Engineer But I Suck At Building Stuff," and while I was reading it, I felt the writer Lionel Barrow's pain.
Because I'm a better engineer, but I still suck at building (some) stuff. When Barrow writes: "I find myself instantly criticizing my technique, to the point of paralysis. This function is hard to test; this object's dependencies need to be injected rather than initialized internally; that module needs an integration test; and so on and so forth," I don't sympathize. Not only do I know how to do all those things, I know how to avoid them. A hard-to-test function should be broken down into public components; injected dependencies shouldn't be a difficulty, they should absolutely be the starting point of your composition; integration tests are mastered by giving your interface the smallest possible surface area. When Barrow writes, "Even when writing spike or proof of concept code, I find myself revisiting the same lines over and over again, looking for the best, most natural expression of the ideas it contains — obsessing over my own construct, rather than on the thing my code does," I remind my self that the very first thing my code does is communicate with other developers. Code is meant to be read first and compiled second. Yeah, maybe if you're doing a prototype you can cut that corner once or twice, but get it out of your habit.
Where I work, my fellow engineers have a joke about "Elf's de-cleverizing pass." I work in Javascript but am a Lisp programmer at heart, and I start by writing everything in terms of transformers and partials wrapped inside and around map/filter/reduce, and then at the end I will remove the partials and break out the transformers into functions and make the code look like something my peers expect. Most modules I write end up as long, easily-followable lists of var expressions that end with a single side effect, because that's what all code is: an expression that ultimately has some real-word consequence.
On the other hand, I feel Barrow's pain because I, too, suck at building stuff. Modifying other people's code is easy. Even if I've been tasked with building "something entirely new" for my employer, the skeleton of every application we've ever built is in our repository, and if I can find something that does 51% of what my new task calls for, the rest is more or less fait accompli.
But when it comes to my own projects, I get analysis paralysis. I wanted to write a simple compiler with a few ideas of my own, something that would make my life as a developer easier, at least for a few follow-on projects, and …
There's way too much to know about compilers. Stephen Diehl's wonderful (if woefully incomplete) articles on "Write You A Haskell," James Longster's expedition into his Outlet project, all the effort I put into Lisp In Small Pieces, parsing, hygiene and scope, type systems (oy! Type systems!), compiling with continuations… My eyes start to glaze over and I get this terror that I'm never going to be smart enough or have time enough to do anything at all. The size of my ambitions overwhelms me. I lose track of what I'm trying to do as yet another article on CPS Transforms and Nanopass Compilation comes to my attention.
The twin impulses of wanting something useful now and wanting to know everything now are, rather than helping each other, constantly at war with time itself. I'm sure it's an ADHD problem that no amount of Adderall is going to handle, because it's not about attention, it's about desire. I never have this problem professionally, because when it comes to money both what must be done and what I desire to be done are more or less well-aligned. It's about the projects I'm really passionate about; I don't want to screw them up, and there's no pressure to get them out the door. I really don't know how to make these impulses play well together.


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Etihad lounges
in Abu Dhabi
If you're flying in The Residence or First on an Etihad-operated flight, you can use any of our lounges at Abu Dhabi airport for free. Our Business guests are invited to use our lounges in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, or if you're travelling in Economy, you can pay to start your trip in any of our lounges.
Etihad Guest Tier member? If you're a Silver, Gold or Platinum member, you can access some of our lounges for free. Check your travel benefits
First Lounge & Spa
Choose from dishes inspired by the Middle East and our destinations, then take a seat at our feature bar and enjoy a drink from the Etihad cellar. Unwind in the tranquil sanctuary of our Six Senses Spa or work out in our Fitness Room. Flying in The Residence? Relax in your own exclusive Lounge within the First Lounge & Spa.
If you're an Etihad Guest Platinum member, a guest of The Residence or flying in First, you're invited to use our First Lounge & Spa at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Applicable only on Etihad-operated flights.
You can also pay to access our First Lounge & Spa
Welcome to a lounge like no other
- Inspired dining
- Six Senses Spa
- Feature Bar
- Fitness Room
- Relax and Recline Room
- The Residence Lounge
- Dedicated concierge
- VIP Room
Business and Premium Lounges
Use our Business Lounges in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport for free if you're an Etihad Guest Gold member or flying in Business on an Etihad operated flight. Etihad Guest Silver members are welcome to use the Al Reem Lounge in Terminal 1.
Flying in First or Business to the US? You can use our US Premium Lounge after clearing US Immigration and Customs.
Find out how much it costs to access any of our Business and Premium Lounges.
Need more time at the airport?
- Complimentary food
- Choice of drinks
- Individual TV pods
- Relaxation area
- Business Centre
- Family Room
You can also upgrade to a private area within our Business Lounge, with dining for up to four people, your own lounge and TV area.
Arrivals Lounge
Step off your flight into a warm shower and have a bite to eat before continuing the rest of your journey feeling totally refreshed. If you're flying in The Residence, First or on selected Business tickets, our Etihad Chauffeur service will take you from the airport to anywhere in the UAE.
Eligible Etihad Guest members, First and Business guests may enjoy our Arrivals Lounge for free.
You can also pay to access our Arrivals Lounge.
Freshen up before continuing your journey
- Relaxation area
- Shower facilities
- Baby-changing facilities
- Luggage storage
- Steam press and shoe shine
- International buffet, snacks and canapés
- Hot and cold beverages
- Business Centre and Wi-Fi


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Identifying the right idea for your extended project
Start with an open mind, and then narrow the focus
There's a lot out there to explore – but don't be daunted. If you already have a topic in mind, you can think about the best sort of project for exploring it. Our flow chart might help you choose.
Or, if you're not sure where to start, it could help to decide early what sort of project you want to do – library-based research, a scientific investigation or creating an artefact. Next, you'll need to pick a subject area.
The project will be challenging, so choose a topic that interests you; it will help keep you motivated. Ideas for topics can come from hobbies, TV programmes, current events, work experience, your studies, your leisure reading, or issues affecting you, your friends or your family. For example, if you play tennis you might be interested to explore the technology that goes into making tennis rackets.
Once you have an idea or a broad research area, try doing some preliminary research using books, the internet, scientific reports or popular science magazines. You could also look at what other students have done for their extended projects – yours could build on or follow up on previous work. This reading will help you to get a feel for what is relevant (or even point to a different topic to explore). Talk to others about your idea, too; their input can help you focus your ideas.
Make sure you make lots of notes at this stage! This should include making notes of what you read, such as particular websites or books. These notes will come in handy when you're writing up your work (see our 'Writing up' section on the main issue page, especially 'Bibliography basics'). When you're ready, try to pose a specific question to be answered. This could be a hypothesis you want to test using an experiment or a design brief for making something for a particular purpose. Sticking with tennis, your hypothesis might be 'stiffer materials transmit more vibrations to the handle of a tennis racket when a ball is struck'.


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January 24, 2019
Audra Ahumada, Deputy Associate Superintendent of Assessments
Arizona Department of Education
Assessment Section
1535 W. Jefferson, Bin 6
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
RE: Raising Special Kids public comment
Dear Ms. Ahumada,
Raising Special Kids, the Arizona Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) operating under Section 671 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA), appreciates the opportunity to provide public comment on the Arizona Department of Education's request for a waiver from the requirement that our State submit evidence demonstrating that the chosen nationally recognized assessments meet the requirement of the Department's peer review guidance prior to the first administration of the nationally recognized assessments in Spring 2019.
On behalf of the Raising Special Kids Board of Directors, staff and Arizona's families of students with disabilities we thank the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) for their dedication to the success of all Arizona's students including the more than 130,000 Arizona children eligible for special education and related services as defined in IDEA.
In 2018 an estimated 700,000 students in Arizona took the AzMERIT single statewide assessment that aligned with the rigorous AZ State standards adopted by the ASBE. Thousands of students with disabilities were eligible, and used, standard testing accommodations in order to demonstrate their proficiency on what they had been taught in their classrooms.
We are concerned that waiving the requirement for evidence of peer review of nationally recognized assessments, such as the ACT and the SAT, specifically to examine alignment with Arizona State content standards, places our students at a disadvantage as they may be assessed on content that they may not have had any explicit instruction on or even exposure to.
In addition to the specific concern above, we have broader concerns about the use of a menu of assessments available to Arizona's traditional public and charter schools, outside the limited scope of this public comment, and look forward to future opportunities to expand on our more general concerns including:
Thank you for this opportunity to provide public comment on this important issue. We look forward to our continued partnership with Arizona's parents, teachers, administrators, the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona State Board of Education in the education of students with disabilities.
Christopher Tiffany, M.A.Ed.
Executive Director
Raising Special Kids
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COVER STORY Loy Yang just latest critical asset to go offshore
EDITORIAL Behind the power shift in the Middle East
CANBERRA OBSERVED Freedom of religion just an afterthought?
GENDER POLITICS Family Court washes hands of gender-dysphoric kids
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Western sanctions have forced Russia to upskill
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS China exerts soft power on our southern neighbour
ENVIRONMENT Senate committee puts marine life before people
SEXUAL ABUSE Royal commission report ignores cause of abuse
HIGHER EDUCATION Critical thinking and the culture of skepticism
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS U.S. urges Taiwan rearmament to counter China threat
PHILOSOPHY A reflection on thoughts of Richard Dawkins
MUSIC Group theory: A good band is greater than its parts
CINEMA Darkest Hour: A long time till dawn
BOOK REVIEW 'Populism' and the new social divide
BOOK REVIEW Poems outshine dross of inept introduction
Since shortly after my church boarding school failed, despite what then appeared to me to be its chaplain's and headmaster's best efforts, to convert me to Atheism, I have been looking, like some Bravo swaggering down the Rialto, for an atheist publication or argument that would be a foeman worthy of my intellectual steel. Not with a great deal of luck so far.
In a famous passage Professor of Atheism Richard Dawkins has written of his beautiful dream of a religionless world in which there would be:
"No suicide bombers, no 9/11, no Crusades, no witch hunts, no Gunpowder Plot, no Indian partition, no Israeli/Palestine wars, no Serb/Croat/Muslim massacres, no persecution of Jews as 'Christ-killers', no Northern Ireland 'Troubles', no shiny-suited bouffant-haired televangelists fleecing gullible people … no Taliban to blow up ancient statues, no public beheading of blasphemers …"
Imagine what an idyllic 20th century we would have had if Professor Dawkins' Godless world had actually existed! Apparently the only blemishes upon it would have been 100 million dead killed by militantly atheistic communism on various continents, about 12 million dead murdered by the anti-religious Nazis (I don't mean killed in battle, I mean murdered), and then the various war casualties, including those of the Boer War, the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, the Chaco War, World War II, various conflicts in Africa and a few others.
That is a total death-toll, at a rough guess, of at least 200 million, in conflicts and massacres which were either brought about by the militantly anti-religious and Godless, or at least in which religion played no part.
Auschwitz and the Gulag existed not because there was no God but because men had forgotten God. In any case it is a ludicrous category error to equate "public beheading of blasphemers" with, say, the average suburban Baptist church as being all "religion".
A first-year philosophy student would be ashamed of succumbing to such a conceptual fallacy. It is on a par with the profoundly stupid proposition that offensive wars and defensive wars (like the Crusades) are morally equal.
An Amazonian rainforest Indian may be "religious". So may learned Western philosophers like, say, Pascal and Descartes, or C.S. Lewis, steeped in a couple of thousand years of the Western tradition of thought, or a Bible-reading astronaut. Without judging which is superior, who, except possibly Professor Dawkins, would suggest that their mental universes were identical and could be treated with the same contempt?
The suggestion that more science will liberate man from superstition and cruelty can be answered by a single fact that must fill anyone who contemplates it with horror. A German doctoral degree is not easily awarded. To obtain one bespeaks intelligence and education far above average – and more than half the participants at the Wannsee Conference, which put the Holocaust on a production-line basis, had doctor's degrees!
Go forward to the 21st century, and the hundreds of thousands (at least) starving in North Korea and Zimbabwe, and dying in the endemic wars and famines in Africa – religion ain't the reason.
Or go back to the 19th century. Without religious wars there would have been only the militantly atheistic French Revolutionary Terror, the Napoleonic Wars, every other major war in Europe, such as the wars of German and Italian Unification, the colonial and imperial wars in Africa and India, endemic cannibalism in the Pacific and parts of Africa (the Maoris did not eat the gentle Chatham Islanders one and all because they had a different religion but because they were hungry) and the American Civil War.
The American Civil War entailed a fair bit of suffering, a hint of which, for those with imagination, is conveyed by the fact that after the war the fifth-largest item on one state's budget was the manufacture of artificial limbs. Religion was not a significant cause of any of these affairs.
This, of course, takes no account of the fact that in a religionless world, religion could have played no part in mitigating any of this, nor, by establishing the first systems of international law and permanent diplomatic services (set up by the Vatican), in preventing conflicts that were in fact prevented, nor taken part in providing education, including establishing and protecting the first universities, no part in setting up hospitals, orphanages etc. (I haven't noticed too many atheist orders setting up hospitals and orphanages, for some reason.)
There is no evidence there would have been any impulse to abolish slavery, which was common all over the world until Christian nations began the move against it. As a matter of fact, there would probably have been no modern medicine. No ancient statues for the Taliban to blow up, either. Probably no art of any kind. In a world with "no Crusades", there would probably have been no modern Europe or Western civilisation.
Also, in a religionless world, there would have been no Professor Dawkins, at least not as a professor. As a matter of fact, with no universities established by the Church, there would have been no professors at all, which may or may not have been a good thing. No one to discover the Big Bang (until modern times the Church was a greater patron of science than all other institutions combined).
But at any rate, Professor Dawkins' academic specialty, on which he built his academic career before turning to professional atheism, was genetics, a science discovered by Gregor Mendel, a Catholic monk and abbot, experimenting with plants in a monastery garden.
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COVER STORY Wildfires: Lessons from the past not yet learnt
GENDER POLITICS In trans Newspeak, parental consent is a 'hurdle'
EDITORIAL America 'resets' foreign policy on China and Russia
CANBERRA OBSERVED After the fires, we still need an economy and to power it
LAW AND SOCIETY Cardinal Pell and the Appeal Court judges
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On the other side of the tracks from the strip-joint business, La Jolla–based influence-peddler Matt Peterson continues to pull down heavy money from ex-GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife Anne, hard at work on a scrape-and-rebuild project by the sea in the exclusive Barber Tract. Their tab for the third quarter: $15,087. Lois and Dave Butterfield, still trying to demolish two houses and build a new McMansion on a single lot on Calumet, coughed up $9881. But that was nothing compared to the $183,000 development giant Pardee Homes paid the big downtown law and lobbying firm of Sheppard Mullin to get approval for a long list of projects, including "Castlerock in the East Elliot Community Planning Area, Las Casitas in [the] Dennery Ranch Precise Plan Area of Otay Mesa, Nakano Park in Otay Mesa and Chula Vista, Planning Area 61 in [the] Ocean View Hills Precise Plan Area of Otay Mesa, Crescent Heights and Sunset Point in Mira Mesa Community Planning Area, and South Otay Mesa Project in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego." In addition to its building mode, the Sheppard Mullin lobbyists also mounted "opposition to development of adjoining properties where development is adverse to Castlerock."
More from SDReader
- More stories by Matt Potter
- Kilroy's killjoys — March 4, 2015
- The Swiss Connection to BBG Communications — Aug. 10, 2011
- Trash Talk — July 29, 2009
- In the lobby — June 4, 2008
- Sunroad, McMillin, Pardee pay to rewrite Otay Mesa community plan — July 19, 2007


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State Senator Frederica Wilson has Practical hats. She has dramatical hats. She also has pragmatical hats, fanatical hats, oratorical hats, delphioracle hats, skeptical hats, dispeptical hats, romantical hats, pedantical hats, critical hats, parasitical hats, and so on and so forth.
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Wilson, it should be noted has declared her intention to run to replace Rep. Kendrick Meek (who is running for Senate) in the US House of Representatives. Is Nancy Pelosi ready for all these hats? Let's hope so.


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Hi y'all. Happy (almost) Valentine's Day! In celebration of the holiday, I wanted to share with y'all my top ten contemporary romance authors. Contemporary romance has always been one of my favorite genres. Even though most romance books aren't necessarily life changing or perhaps the most profound literature…they make me happy. There is just something heart warming about reading someone's love story. So – enough rambling – here are some of my favorite contemporary romance authors (in no particular order).
Elle Kennedy
I have to start out by recommending any book by Elle Kennedy. Kennedy was the first author that really got me to love the contemporary romance genre. I started out with the Off-Campus series and absolutely fell in love. There are four books in this series – but if I had to choose my favorite (and I really love them all, so this is hard) … I would tell you to check out The Deal (book 1) or The Score (book 3). Kennedy does a great job of creating a dynamic cast of characters that you can keep up with throughout the series. Kennedy also creates some funny and strong-willed female leads, which I love. Plus, the series is about hockey. I mean… need I say more?
Also: recommend trying out her Briar U series (spin-off from the Off-Campus series). Kennedy also has a series Him which she authors with Sarina Bowen. This series is very sexy, but also very heart-warming. It follows the love story of Jamie and Ryan (and again, includes hockey!)
Mariana Zapata
Mariana Zapata continues to give me life with her romance novels. Before you go into one of her books, though, you have to know – her books are sloooow burn. If you're not into the slow build up between the leads, her books are not for you. However, I will say I have loved the books of hers that I've read. She just finds a way to make me fall in love with the leads based on their friendly interactions and the love between them – not necessarily for the sexy scenes. I have to recommend that you try The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (my favorite!) Find more of her books here.
Sally Thorne
Sally Thorne has written one of my favorite books, The Hating Game. This is a romance novel that was so funny and just truly warmed my heart. This is also a enemies-to-lovers romance, which always entertains me. Plus, I love how quirky and happy the main character was. 99 Percent Mine is her new release, and I have a full review on that here. Please don't miss out on this author! Both books are so witty and she clearly has a talent for writing.
Linda Kage
Ok I have to recommend Linda Kage to y'all. I started the Forbidden Men series and fell in love. First, there is just something I love about a good trope. In this case, it's obvious, forbidden love! I think I find this trope so entertaining because this trope tends to align closely with slow-burn. I love when the anticipation builds between the two leads. In this series, I have to recommend Price of A Kiss (although trigger warning: includes prostitution), Be My Hero, A Perfect Ten, and Priceless.This series includes ten novels, so it can keep you entertained for quite some time! However, for full disclosure, I could never get into Worth It or The Girl's Got Secrets. But please – let me know your thoughts!
Sawyer Bennett
I'm starting to think my love of hockey really shines through my romance choices. Regardless, I can't help but recommend Sawyer Bennett to y'all. I have read quite a few books from her Carolina Cold Fury Series, and I really loved each one I read. She has a mix of tropes in there, but she truly just writes very complex characters with dynamic backgrounds. She writes real people with real issues/baggage – and some of these "issues" aren't just resolved in one book. She has a spin-off series Arizona Vengeance Series, which I also have loved. Although, if I have to recommend my favorites: try Alex, Garrett, and Bishop.
Kristen Callihan
When I first found Kristen Callihan, I was obsessed. The idea of contemporary romance surrounding famous band members? Um, count me in. The VIP series is one of my favorites! The characters have complex back stories and it's so fun to see them all interact together. Plus, the setting (a band on tour) makes for such an entertaining read. Out of the three books that are currently out in this series, if I had to choose, I would say that Managed is my favorite – but only barely. I really love them all.
Sarina Bowen
Ok so I guess hockey is a theme for me? Should I be embarrassed or embrace it? Regardless, Sarina Bowen is one of my favorites. I know I've already mentioned Bowen's book Him that she co-authored with Elle Kennedy, but she has another series I love: Brooklyn Bruisers. I love Rookie Move and Brooklynaire. Also, Overnight Sensation. Basically – read the series, I love the whole thing! I fall in love with all the heroes. Plus, I love when a series has a cast of characters that you get to follow throughout each book (although one book is clearly their focus.) Please check this author out if you haven't already.
Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
Listen, we have to talk about Hate Notes. Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward kind of broke my heart with this one. It's a stand alone, which is a change up from the series recommendations above. I honestly don't want to give much away, because I went into this unspoiled and it was so worth it. This book was really so much more than your typical surface level romance. This one just hit me right in the heart. Ugh, I can't recommend it enough. Please check this one out!
R.S. Grey
R.S. Grey has written quite a few of my favorite romance novels. She writes dialogue that makes me laugh out loud and characters that really pull at my heartstrings. One of my favorites from R.S. Grey is The Foxe and The Hound. I'm gearing up to read one of her newer releases soon, so hopefully a review on that one will be up shortly!
Hooray if you're still here after reading all that! I can't wait to hear some of your recommendations for contemporary romance authors (seriously! please! I need more!). Let me know if you've read or loved any of the ones I've recommended above. I hope to eventually have more in depth reviews of some of these books on the blog, because I really do love them that much.
Happy Valentine's Day y'all.
This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. All links provided are for your convenience only – none are affiliate links.


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Public participation implies people taking part in government programs. The community has the right to participate in the shaping and development of such a program. This way the services of the government can become more transparent for the citizens and they have the chance to engage in certain changes that may occur in the community. Through public participation, the government's programs can be improved and with the help of the right agency of digital public participation a more efficient Bürgerdialog / citizen dialog may take place.
Nowadays citizen participation has been made easier through a special software that makes the implication of the public, concerning problems of the community, more efficient and simplified. A communication platform will raise the number of people involved in important matters of the community. Every citizen can have the opportunity to be part of the decision making, feeling this way more valued in the community he lives in. Major decisions concerning the well-being of a town, should be made together with all the locals. The digital era has simplified the entire public participation process, bringing the entire community closer and making it be more involved. Matters, such as Kommunalkredit / citizen credit, can be discussed with more ease, and people are able to bring ideas and solutions to the table. All major projects can be discussed and each person has the chance to vote or express a solution concerning finances.
A specially designed software can facilitate interaction between large groups of people, making public participation more accessible for people. The citizens can answer different questions, coming from the city hall for example, and express this way their opinions. In a large community it will be nearly impossible for every single person to make his opinions public. People tend to feel excluded if important changes are done in their town or neighborhood without their approval. Through a public participation program, everyone can vote certain projects, such as the building of a new mall, or the restoration of a street. Feeling that their opinions and beliefs are being listened will make the community be more satisfied with the government's actions.
City or municipality leaders can identify the common citizen's needs and make changes together with the population. A digital public participation project can help the city hall come up with better and innovating solutions; and perhaps crowd funding will help certain civil projects take place. The population needs to be involved in the decision making process, and with the help of technology this can easily happen. Keeping the citizens implicated in different civil programs will have benefits for the entire community. The residents of the city can have a say in what projects should be implemented with the public funds available. Each individual is able to express his opinion concerning the city's priorities. Public participation will raise the trust people have in the governance. Matters from all areas can be addressed, such as environment, new buildings construction or city festivals. The people will not feel like passive spectators to the issues of their city, but active participants.
For more information about Bürgerdialog or Kommunalkredit please click on the links here!
Copyright 2015 Economic News Articles


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At Angelo Lambrou, we make your experience with us a one-of-a-kind journey built uniquely for you, so that when your special day arrives you are at your very best in every sense.
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Academy for Blended & Online Learning
The Academy for Blended & Online Learning offers a series of online courses for both district leaders and teachers. This team based framework allows leadership to create a roadmap for the district while learning how to effectively support teachers in these new modalities. Teachers learn research-based best practices for designing and delivering blended and online learning experiences.
Aligned to iNACOL's Standards for Quality Online Courses and Standards for Quality Online Teaching, course content is research-based with culminating projects that are applicable to supporting a blended or online program. These practical job-embedded activities result from an instructional design and organizational philosophy of "learn it today; use it tomorrow."
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Ocean Blue News Blog
Are our tides changing?
On August 11th 2017 something really strange is currently happening as waters recede ahead of a possible tsunami, However no signs of large quakes and tsunamis, weather specialists believe that offshore storms and wind direction may also cause this Phenomenon. For example for Punta del Este in Uruguay, when there are storms with a south wind, the waters rise and hit the rambla. In contrast when the storms are accompaied by a north wind, the water recedes.
Well it seems that this water disappearance hasn't found an end now. On August 13, 2017, the same phenomenon was observed in the city of Caraguatatuba, Brazil:
This gives a wild experience and a little alarming to watch the ocean disappearing right before your eyes, and everyone that the confusing that happens. Many are running for their life, as others are filming this with confusion. I have also read that the ocean is heating up and this may happen often and not sure if we will every understand this mysterious or disaster?
I looked over many articles and did not hear anything about fish or other animals being affected by the ocean residing. Read More:
If you would like to give back to the Ocean or an River, Ocean Blue Project:
Thank you for sharing the Ocean Blue News!
Environmental News
December 2019


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Flypets is a specialist pet travel service focused on the comfort and safety of your beloved pets.
We pride ourselves on providing a caring and personal service and understand, being dog and cat owners ourselves, that you want the best for your furry four legged family members.
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