text:
Major Iraqi militias to stand down
In plans announced Monday, some 100,000 men will join Iraqi police or security forces. Sadr's militia will not.
Nine political parties have agreed to dissolve their militias as part of a plan to integrate most fighters into the new Iraqi security forces. The move could be a significant breakthrough in achieving stability, say analysts, when the new Iraqi government takes control on June 30.
Excluded from the deal, however, is the Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr that has been engaged in fierce clashes with American forces in Baghdad and southern Iraq since the beginning of April.
Ayad Allawi, Iraq's new prime minister, announced Monday that negotiations had been completed to dismantle the militias and integrate some 102,000 militiamen into civilian life or the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi police, or the internal security forces of the Kurdish Regional Government, the semi-autonomous Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq. Among the militias included in the arrangement are those of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), whose Peshmerga forces have a combined strength of about 75,000. The Badr Brigades, the military wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, fields some 15,000 fighters. The Iraqi National Congress headed by Ahmed Chalabi; the Iraqi National Accord, led by Mr. Allawi; and the Dawa party, Iraq's oldest Shiite organization, have already dismantled their military wings, according to a senior coalition official. The remaining 12,000 militiamen are drawn from the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Iraqi Communist Party, and Iraqi Hizbullah.
Fighters belonging to the nine parties, and any other militias that choose to join the process will be described as "residual elements," a legal term to differentiate them from militiamen who remain outside the law. The nine militias fought Saddam Hussein's regime and therefore are being accorded the same treatment as Iraqi Army veterans.
"To reward former resistance fighters for their service, opportunities have been created for them to join state security services or lay down their arms and enter civilian life," Allawi said in a statement.
"By doing this, we reward their heroism and sacrifices, while making Iraq stronger and eliminating armed forces outside government control," he added.
Saad Jawad, a professor of politics at Baghdad University, says the deal is "very good news" and a "breakthrough for Ayad Allawi if he can really do it."
"The question is whether he can see it through," he says, voicing doubts about the commitment of the two Kurdish parties to dissolve their militias.
Furthermore, Associated Press reported that officials from the Badr Brigades were claiming that negotiations to dissolve the militia had not begun, contrary to Allawi's statement.
"The other problem is one of loyalty and allegiance," Professor Jawad says. "To whom are they going to owe allegiance? The Iraqi Army or their political leaders?"
The coalition outlawed all militias last summer and demanded that they disarm by mid-September. But the decree was ignored, with party leaders citing the deteriorating security situation as a reason to keep their fighters armed.
Analysts believe that the reason why those same leaders have yielded now is due to Allawi's strong security credentials. He handled the internal security portfolio as a member of the now-defunct interim Governing Council.
"I imagine that Allawi was already brokering this arrangement in the Governing Council and that one of the reasons why the independent council members liked him [as candidate for prime minister] is because he already had these security plans," says Juan Cole, professor of history at the University of Michigan and an expert on Iraq affairs.
A $200 million program run by the ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will retrain and integrate some 60 percent of the ex-militiamen into the new Iraqi security forces and help the rest return to civilian life. The program will also provide pensions for ex-militiamen, the sum depending on the length of service as a resistance fighter.
Although the largest militias in Iraq are included in the deal, coalition officials say the door is being left open for some smaller groups who may still be unaware of the arrangement. But a senior coalition official says it is unlikely that Sadr's Mahdi Army would participate.
"It's quite clear that that particular organization is trying to shoot its way into politics and we didn't feel we should reach out to that group, which wants to stay out of the process," the official says.
For the past two months, the Mahdi militia has fought US troops in Baghdad and the Shiite shrine cities of Najaf, Karbala, and Kufa.
While intermittent clashes have continued in Sadr City, a Shiite slum in eastern Baghdad, a tentative cease-fire appears to have taken hold over the past two days in the shrine cities after Sadr agreed to withdraw his fighters.
The agreement to disband the militias would appear to leave Sadr with few options. Disregarding the arrangement will leave him in the lonely position of few allies and at odds with the US-led coalition forces and the new government. But abiding by the deal could give him a face- saving way of entering the political mainstream.
"It can give Moqtada Sadr an outlet to his problem," says Jawad. "If all the other groups accept, then he can do the same and save himself the trouble of being alone." Sadr officials refused to comment Monday on the militia arrangement, but the sentiment being aired in the movement's office in Sadr City was one of defiance.
"Moqtada Sadr rejects Ayad Allawi and the new government," says a cleric who declines to give his name. "If Allawi forbids the Army of the Mahdi from building the new Iraq, then he is nothing more than an American."
Another man says he takes pride in the exclusion of the Mahdi Army and "the resistors of Fallujah," a reference to insurgents in the flash-point town, west of Baghdad.
Still, Professor Cole says, the Mahdi is not a militia comparable to the nine that are to disband. Instead, it is little more than a "ghetto force" of ill-trained youths who "answer to Sadr's call."
"I should think that poor Shiites will form the backbone of the new Iraqi Army," he says. "So the best way to deal with Sadr is to draw off these forces into the Army rather than confront them directly."


text:
Use one of our quick & easy tools to find out what you qualify for!
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
NMLS Entity ID# 2289
Elliott Bailey
Mortgage Advisor
2430 Herodian WaySmyrna, Georgia 30080
Phone: (404) 357-3397
Copyright ©2023 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. All rights reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply.
Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #21158

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hacking has become somewhat of an art form for those with the IT skills to unlawfully steal millions of dollars from companies. Whether it is about the money or simply the challenge, hackers are not individuals any company should ignore or underestimate. As an MBA candidate, it would be wise to learn more about the capabilities of hackers, and understand how much damage they can do to any business. This infographic can offer you and other prospective MBA candidates a short glimpse into the world of hacking, giving you an idea of what the past and present hold, as well as what you may have to one day deal with.


text:
Guatemalan family mourns Jakelin Caal, 7, who died in US custody
Family of seven-year-old Jakelin, who died in Border Patrol custody, calls on Trump to allow her father to stay in US.
San Antonio Secortez, Guatemala – Nine-year-old Audel Caal carries a small bouquet of artificial white flowers as he runs down the dirt path leading to his grandfather's home in the rural Guatemalan village of San Antonio Secortez.
Paying attention to the details, he carefully places the bouquet in a glass and straightens a framed photo of the younger sister, Jakelin.
Keep readinglist of 4 items
Texas cities struggle to address influx of arrivals along US-Mexico border
'Alarming': US-Mexico border is world's deadliest migration land route
US border wall construction damaged Native burial site: Government report
"I'm really sad," Audel says, fighting back tears. "We played a lot."
Jakelin died earlier this month while in the custody of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. She was seven years old.
"We don't want what happened to us to occur to anyone else," says Jakelin's 61-year-old indigenous Q'eqchi' Maya grandfather, Domingo, who has lived in San Antonio Secortez since its founding more than three decades ago.
"Migrants need more attention and protection from the United States," Domingo tells Al Jazeera. "Every day, there are thousands and thousands of people migrating all over the world."
Family disputes US story
Jakelin died in CBP custody on December 8 after being detained along with her father, Nery, a day prior in New Mexico. US government officials initially claimed the seven-year-old died of dehydration, but her father refuted these claims. The official cause of death is pending as the autopsy results are being finalised.
The administration of US President Donald Trump blamed Jakelin's father and the people smugglers, often referred to as coyotes, who led the pair, along with more than 150 more across the border.
"This is exactly why we try to encourage migrants to go a port of entry. Unfortunately, they arrived in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere," Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security Secretary, said before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. "As soon as [the father] indicated there was a health issue, we did what we could do as quickly as possible to get her to medical care … the men and women of CBP did everything they could do."
But the family rejects that Jakelin was sick upon arriving at the border.
"The government and Donald Trump are negating the case of my daughter," Claudia Maquin, Jakelin's 27-year-old mother, tells Al Jazeera in her native Q'eqchi' language through a translator. "He is saying she didn't get sick in custody. It was in their country and they are responsible for her death."
Claudia, standing in her home in San Antonio Secortez, adds that she believes the US is trying to "protect their backs".
Claudia wants the Trump administration to allow her 29-year-old husband to stay in the US in order to find work to pay back the debt he accumulated while fleeing to the US. She also hopes he can stay to live out Jakelin's dream of living in the US.
"The worst and the most painful thing that could happen to us is that my husband returns without completing his and our daughter's dream," Claudia says.
Nery remains in CBP custody and may be deported as early as Sunday, according to the family.
Discrimination, poverty, climate change
Jakelin and her father fled to the US for the same reasons that have pushed hundreds from the area to leave. Guatemala has long suffered from systemic inequalities and discrimination against indigenous communities.
The extreme poverty and lack of government attention have pushed many to migrate as a means of survival, especially in San Antonio Secortez. According to Domingo, Jakelin's grandfather, at least 12 other families there have migrated to the US.
This is reflective of the rest of the communities across the municipality of Raxruha. According to Pedro Ico, the spokesman for the municipality of Raxruha, at least 200 families have migrated from the region.
"The extreme poverty is causing many to migrate from our municipality," Pedro tells Al Jazeera, adding that families started leaving in 2017 due to lack of opportunities in the town.
"The prices of the products that we produce here do not have any value," Pedro says. "Farmers have to work day to night, but there is no return. Because of this, many are migrating."
San Antonio Secortez sits in the lush Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz. Here, the land is among the most important assets for rural farmers.
For centuries, peasant farmers have faced the rampant expansion of agro-industry. This has led to extensive inequalities of land ownership, especially for the indigenous Q'eqchi' communities.
The community of San Antonio Secortez was founded in the early 1980s after years of struggle to gain access to the land, which according to Caal was once owned by General Fernando Romeo Lucas Garcia, the dictator of Guatemala between 1978 and 1982.
It was a difficult struggle. The Guatemalan military carried out massacres across the region during the dictatorship of Lucas Garcia and the subsequent administration of Efrain Rios Montt.
"It was dangerous and it was a long struggle," Domingo says. "There wasn't any liberty to carry out these type of actions."
Domingo was 27 years old when he won the rights to the land. He left this victory for his children.
Yet in the decades since the community has been heavily affected by the lack of opportunity and by climate change, these factors are driving many to make the dangerous journey to the US.
"There is less rain every day and it is getting warmer," Domingo says.
What little is produced is not enough to support the family.
"Here, there is no opportunity to work, we are receiving low pay for what we produce and everyday things are more expensive," Claudia says. "My husband decided to go to the United States to find the means to support our family."
Nery worked nearly 0.4 hectare of land. Through this, the family earns around 700 quetzals (roughly $90) every six months following the biannual corn harvest.
Expanding production was not an option.
"We could not sell more since we needed the corn ourselves," Claudia says. "And we could not plant any more since there was not any more land."
It pains us deeply that we lost our daughter while in search of a better life.
According to Claudia, her husband had attempted to find work on the nearby palm oil plantations the previous year, but no one was hiring.
It was earlier this year that her husband began to talk about migrating to the US. His goal was to earn money to buy more land to support the family.
Unlike other neighbours, Caal did not mortgage his land to get the money to pay the smugglers, locally known as coyotes, to arrange his trip to the US.
"My husband never had a debt with the coyotes. He has a debt with our neighbours and family members," Claudia says.
The stress of having to pay back the money weighs hard on Claudia, she says. For now, though, she must prepare to bury her daughter, whose body is scheduled to return to her community on Sunday.
"It pains us deeply that we lost our daughter while in search of a better life."


text:
Pear & Freesia Candle
Secure Payment
On-time Delivery
Crystal-infused candle with natural petals in a white jar.
Note: Available for delivery only if added to flower order
Weight: 340 grams
Scent: Pear & Freesia
Stones: Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz, Amethyst
How to send message with gift?
After adding items to cart, you will see a note or message section on Cart Page where you can put your message.
Delivery Info
- Free + Same-Day Delivery in Dubai above AED 199
- AED 30 delivery charge for orders below AED 200
- Minimum 90 mins. of cut off time for delivery timeslots
- Order received after 7PM (GST) will be moved to next-day
Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman:
- Next-day or future dated delivery from 3 PM to 9 PM
- Minimum order value is AED 250
- Delivery charge is AED 40
- Non serviceable area in Abu Dhabi: Garbhia, Bida zyed, Liwa, Riyasi, Western region, Khatam, Dafra areas, Al nahdha, Dafra airways
For more info, please check our Delivery Guide.
Need help?
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: +971 58 890 7788
WhatsApp: +971 58 890 7788
Contact Form: Send Inquiry
Flower Care
At Flower Station, our floral designer team creates each and every product with the finest quality of flowers around the world to make your loved one feel special. Please check our Flower Care Guide for our different products so that you can enjoy them for a long time.
If a flower is not available for any reason, we may substitute it with a flower of equal or greater monetary value and in a similar style and colour. Flowers being product of nature may be slighty vary in colour and size. For any reason, wrapping is not available, we reserve all the rights replace it with suitable one.


text:
Is Your Diet Making You and the Planet Sick?
A question I hear a lot from my clients is, what else can I be doing to go green? In addition to helping them to organize what they are already doing in a more systematic way, I always have suggestions of how to take it further. (For a first-hand experience of organizing your thoughts in a systematic way, tune into my special FR*EE call this Thursday, 11/12 at 4:00 p.m. EST, "How to Overcome Green Overload in Your Small Business: 5 Steps for Cutting Through the Clutter." Follow this link for more info, and to register.)
So. . . .on the topic of taking green a little further. . . .You're probably aware of studies that have been done on the links between eating animal protein and human health. But have you heard that commercial meat production is a major contributor to climate change? The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the global meat industry generates 18% of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation.
Why not try going meatless one day a week? Since everything is interconnected, you'll find that the benefits ripple through several other areas, including your health and your wallet. Read more at Meatless Monday, a great resource from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.


text:
Construction work has begun to create new Mazda, Kia and Honda showrooms for Hendy Group in Hampshire.
Part of an innovative partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council, which retains ownership of the site as part of its property portfolio, the new development by the AM100 retail group is expected to generate an additional 90 jobs.
As part of the expansion plans, the company's existing Leigh Road site will become a dedicated Ford franchise.
The new facility is being built on just over one hectare of land, with a development focus on sustainability and the environment.
Features include solar panels on the roof, water recycling in the valet bay and electric charge points to meet rising demand from motorists switching to hybrid and electric cars.
Hendy's chief executive Paul Hendy said: "We are delighted to put our Hampshire expansion plans into action with these three brand new dealerships which are due to open before the end of the year,
"We will be opening dedicated showrooms for Mazda, Kia and Honda on the new site with space for 27 new cars in the showroom, 120 used cars and a 20 bay workshop."


text:
● By Ben Ibrahim
The first Malaysian to be appointed Country Head of Google Malaysia, Marc Woo takes on the huge responsibility of championing the company's values while steering it to success. He shares how he plans to do so.
When Marc Woo, Country Head of Google Malaysia (the first Malaysian to helm this role), embarked on that exciting journey of finding his first-ever job after graduating, he says it was all about "discovery and discovery." Woo was a London School of Economics graduatewhere he read actuarial science. Whilst studying, he was a part-time web developer.
Due to his passion for technology and business, he decided that a career about building and creating new possibilities would be ideal for him. "No disrespect to people who are working in the field that I studied but I wanted a job that help build things as I love challenges," says Woo.
He landed his first job at Ernst & Young, London, as a Technology and Risk consultant. After five years of consulting, he was ready for another challenge. Woo then moved to Singapore in 2009 and operated his own digital transformation business, helping clients set up their company's Facebook accounts.
In 2011, he was offered the opportunity to join Google Singapore. Not long after, he came back to Malaysia to be Google Malaysia's first employee taking on the sales and revenue generation role. With his excellent performance in the company, it was fitting then that he was recently entrusted with the position as Country Head.
You have to empower people and trust them. Once you do that then you can shape and foster a company culture of coaching and desire to be better.
Says Woo, "Doing this job is about learning how to fly without a parachute. I needed to learn how to fly. But I was lucky to have a good mentor – my former boss Sajith Sivanandan – who always allowed me to operate as senior leader of the company even though I did not have the official title. That gave me the confidence to always be creative and achieve results."
Woo also shares that when he tells people at social gatherings that he works for Google, the responses he receives are that he works with robots and he can eat good food all-day long. There are also moments where people actually asked him to fix their Gmail problems.
Funny anecdotes aside, Woo is enthusiastic about his role because it is not just about making profits and harnessing revenue streams but it is also about creating long term sustainability to uplift the ecosystem. What does this mean? Woo explains that Google Malaysia's vision is to have a society that possesses a good digital skillset, which will keep the realm of the Internet safe. Google's staff needs to constantly create and seek opportunities to work with Malaysians – children, students, parents, and working professionals – to educate them how Google can enrich their lives personally and professionally. If this can be accomplished, then the company will achieve its financial goals while also trying to make Malaysian society a better place.
Woo learned very quickly in his career that people don't want to be controlled and frequently micromanaged. He says, "You have to empower people and trust them. Once you do that then you can shape and foster a company culture of coaching and desire to be better."
His leadership heroes all have two things in common – humility and discipline. Three people who have always inspired him are Robert Kuok, Lee Kuan Yew, and his former boss and mentor Sajith.
When asked what advice Woo would give to his younger self if he had that chance to go back in time, his answer was straight to the point: "I would tell myself nothing different from what I told myself back then, and that is to do whatever you want, don't get into trouble, and be the best."
Many Google employees worldwide are very well qualified and graduates of prominent international universities. Woo says that qualifications are important, but the two most important traits that a Google person must have is ownership of his or her work, and 'Googleyness'.
It may sound like a magic superpower but Googleyness refers to being principled and having the right moral compass of always wanting to do something in the most integral way. If a deal or a contract will not be done in a professional and transparent manner, then business can't be conducted. Woo says, "That is what I love about this company so much. Yes, profit and revenue are important but ethics is always key."
United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd
United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd
Experian Malaysia
Tech Mahindra ICT Services
It's OK to give yourself a treat once in a while….
● Read
Gain experience in different roles to become an all-rounder at DKSH.
● Read
It's more common than you think.
● Read


text:
Gardena expands its range of irrigation lances and showers, to satisfy the different uses in the care of greenery. The novelties for 2019 are the Lancia Comfort ecoPulse and the Lancia with balcony shower.
The new Lance Comfort ecoPulse and balcony shower are equipped with a ring with soft components that guarantee protection from impact and an ergonomic handle with soft inserts that allow easy use of the tool. The water jet adjustment can also be carried out easily with one hand.
The Lancia Comfort ecoPulse is ideal for cleaning and irrigation, thanks to the possibility of having the jet tight, flat, soft and ecoPulse.
The new ecoPulse technology saves up to 40% of water by acting on a surface greater than 20% and with the guarantee of better cleaning performance on surfaces.
The water flow is activated thanks to an ergonomic button with soft inserts, also equipped with a convenient button to block the flow.
The Lancia balcony shower is part of the City Gardening Gardena product line and, thanks to the light and soft spray, it is perfect for irrigating delicate plants and flowers. Extremely compact, the lance is activated thanks to an ergonomic '' Click-on / Click-off 'button with soft inserts.
Like all the Gardena range of lances and showers, the new Lance Comfort ecoPulse and balcony showers are equipped with the innovative Antifreeze function to guarantee high quality consumers that will last over time.
GardenTV is also a community of producers, stores, services. Find the nearest to you.


text:
… by paper.li
What is content curation?
Simply said, online content curation is the organizing, filtering, presenting and sharing of the most relevant digital content for a specific audience. Good content curation requires both technology and people working together. Only by adding "the human element" can you truly bring relevance and context to content.
We often see that content curation is misunderstood, overlooked, or even dismissed in a bloggers' content development plan because the benefits have not been made clear.
As a blogger your unique value proposition to your readers is the expertise that you provide in a niche or micro niche. People have found their way to you based on recommendation and interest in your area of knowledge and they trust your opinion.
The addition of content curation to your content development strategy can help you strengthen your position as a knowledge holder as well as provide additional value to your readers.
A few good reasons to curate:
- Strengthen your reputation: Curation further strengthens your position as the "go-to" person in your niche or area of expertise. You elevate your status in the eyes of your audience by pointing them to good content discovery.
- Saves you time: Keep your readers engaged with the content you would like them to discover and win time in between writing your posts. You off-set your down time with a mix of interesting content.
- Reinforce loyalty: Provide your readers with fresh and valuable content. Good content is time consuming and not always easy to find. They will remember you for pointing them to it.
- Brand visibility: Brand managers are looking more and more to niche markets to connect with users. Compelling content can elevate your visibility by building the bridge between them and their users.
A few curation tips to remember:
- Keep it focused: keep your content focused on your niche and your area of expertise. Good curation is about quality, not quantity.
- Prefer quality over quantity: readers place phenomenal amount of value on the discovery of good content. Take the time once to research quality content sources, develop focused twitter lists and develop a good query.
- Keep it human: Good curation is not about automation. Technology, algorithms and data intelligence are the tools that make it easier for us to curate and provide value to our audiences. However, it takes the human touch to fine tune the message.
- Be aware of the echo chamber: It's easy to remain amongst specialists in one field. The outcome after time can be tunnel vision. Stay within the realm of your subject area, but weave your interest graphs and networks to allow also for sporadic discoveries that stretch to unknown territories.
Content curation helps bloggers put relevant content in front of the perfect audience. It provides you with an additional value proposition to your content strategy as well as a natural extension to your social media blueprint.
Good content curation requires the "human element". By taking the time to tailor your message through curated content you can help strengthen your position amongst your peers, and your readers, and helps further cement your position yourself as an invaluable "go-to" resource.
Paper.li is a content curation service that enables people to publish newspapers based on topics of interest to share with, and be discovered by, other like minded people.
Learn more about our services on our blog, meet our publishers on our community site and follow us on Twitter @smallrivers


text:
Hell To Pay
From DoomWiki.org
Hell To Pay is a partial conversion for Doom II created by Wraith Corporation in 1996 and published by WizardWorks. A 15 level demo version was distributed via the Internet and on the D!ZONE Gold compilation disc. In the plot of Hell To Pay, Earth is invaded by demonic aliens, and the player must journey to Planet Hell in order to activate the planet-killer bomb meant for Earth. The full version retailed for $14.99.
Compared to Perdition's Gate, which has only new music and some new textures, this conversion has new graphics for textures, monsters, and weapons.
Map design was shared by Jim Elson (Lich), Jimmy Sieben (ArchDaemon), Genesis Krzyzaniak, Pavel Hodek, and Mackey McCandlish (Avatar). Artwork for the project was created by Jim Elson, Tom Mustaine, Mackey McCandlish, Pavel Hodek, and Mark Gundy. The music was composed by Tom Mustaine, Jan Sinkmajer, and L.A. Sieben (Anavrin).
On the administrative side, production was handled by Jim Elson with the assistance of Jimmy Sieben, and Mark Gundy was in charge of marketing.
A decade ago, all of that changed. Near Jupiter, a wormhole opened. A vast alien armada quickly established on Io, Jupiter's volcanic moon. Without warning, the alien fleet descended upon an unsuspecting Earth.Many rushed to greet the alien visitors, only be dismembered by the killing machines disgorged by the hellish alien ships. It was soon obvious that the aliens were bent upon savage colonization. Some even tried to defend the planet, but it was hopeless.
Billions died. They were the lucky ones. Those that remain bowed down before their new metal masters and meekly accepted the living Hell that awaited them in the Slave Pits.The physically fit were pressed into labor under inhuman conditions. Those who weren't or who could not perform to the satisfaction of their masters were led away never to be seen or heard from again. No one really knew what happened to them, but there were rumors too horrible to believe.
But it wasn't the metal demons who were feared the most, rather the sadistic and twisted among you who were led away only to come back transformed into trustee guards. The way they looked at you with a hunger in their eyes was enough to send shivers down your spine.But unlike the other slaves who have given in to fear, you have let the hate burning in your heart give you strength while you waited for your opportunity to strike back. But the worst has happened, one of your fellow slaves whom you told of your plans was turned into a trustee. You have been arrested and thrown into a holding cell.
The opportunity you've been waiting for hasn't arrived. The other slaves had been looking towards you to lead the revolt. As the trustees lead you away, you saw in their eyes that they had lost of hope. As the trustee opens the cell, you shudder as you remember the rumors of a "Final Solution".Filled with rage, you slay the trustee with a savage blow. You grab his pistol and emerge from the cell screaming, 'There's gonna be HELL TO PAY!'"
There is no normal exit in MAP15 and MAP31, so MAP31 and MAP32 are treated as normal levels and placed between MAP15 and MAP16.
Front cover art
- The designers made deliberate use of the ghost monster bug in two levels: MAP14: The Habitat Deck and MAP22: Vile Temple.
External links[edit]
- Demo version of Hell To Pay at DOS Games Archive
- Intro Movie on YouTube
- Hell To Pay at the Doom Speed Demo Archive (includes download of demo version)
- Review at ONEMANDOOM: WAD Reviews
- ZDoom patch for Perdition's Gate and Hell To Pay by BlueFirez88


text:
+44 1223 790975
Light pollution also known as photo pollution or luminous pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial light. Pollution is the adding-of light itself, in analogy to added sound, carbon dioxide, etc. It includes adverse effects of artificial light sky glow, gare, light clutter,decreased visibility at night, and energy waste.
Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization. Its sources include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues. The fact is that much outdoor lighting used at night is inefficient, overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded, and, in many cases, completely unnecessary. This light, and the electricity used to create it, is being wasted by spilling it into the sky, rather than focusing it on to the actual objects and areas that people want illuminated.
Related Journals of Light Pollution
Hydrogeology & Hydrologic Engineering, Hydrology: Current Research, Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications, International Journal of Waste Resources, International Journal of Environmental Studies, International Journal of River Basin Management, Journal of Ecology.


text:
All 262 Arkansas public school systems and 1,050 schools are accredited by the state with none on probation and none even accredited-with-citations for the 2020-21 school year that has just ended.
The state Board of Education approved the annual school accreditation status report at a meeting in which it also approved another round of more than a dozen school district plans for offering remote, virtual instruction in the coming year.
The annual accreditation status report is an indication that schools and districts met state-set standards for operating or had obtained a state waiver of a standard for a period of time.
Act 1240 of 2015 as amended in subsequent years allows school districts and charter schools to obtain waivers of state laws and rules -- including standards for operating -- so the accreditation status of districts and schools is not cited for employing teachers who work out of their area of certification. Nor are schools and districts that have waivers placed on probation for failing to comply with requirements such as producing an annual report to the public, teaching a particular high school course or limiting students per classroom to state maximums.
[GRADE POINT ARKANSAS: Sign up for the Democrat-Gazette's education newsletter » arkansasonline.com/emails/gpa]
"This is a really big accomplishment," Education Secretary Johnny Key said about Thursday's clear accreditation report. He attributed it to the state's technologically enhanced system of tracking school data.
That leads to quicker identification of violations that can be corrected during the course of the school year, he said.
"It's not waiting until the end of the year to see what turns red and everybody is scrambling to get it fixed or do overrides or to rush in here to get waivers," Key said.
The state board on Thursday did approve waivers for the Pulaski County Special, Newport and Atkins school districts -- resulting in a recommended status of accredited for those districts just before the board's vote on the overall status report.
Key said those waivers were primarily the result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pulaski County Special and Newport districts asked for and received waivers for one year of the requirement for school board training. In Newport, a board member narrowly missed the minimum number of required training hours after the board member was dropped from a training session on the Zoom online meeting platform.
The Atkins waiver was for a teacher who was licensed to teach general science but was assigned to a high school science course for which the teacher was not licensed. The job assignment was made by a superintendent who died early in the school year from covid-19 and was replaced by an employee who was not an experienced superintendent and who had a number of teaching and administrative duties until a new superintendent was put in place in mid-April.
Education Board member Ouida Newton of Leola praised the state leaders and school system operators for the accreditation report and their hard work leading up to it.
"This is fantastic in any year," Newton said, "but to do it this year under the circumstances we had this past year -- keeping school going and making sure students were getting what they needed and just being able to keep that high bar set and not lowering standards during this past year -- it's amazing.
"You did it. Congratulations. It's a big deal," Newton said.
Also Thursday, the Education Board approved almost two dozen plans by school districts and conversion charter schools for offering online, remote instruction in the coming school year.
Those included the plans submitted by the South Conway County, Riverside, Kirby, East End, White Hall, Sheridan, Stuttgart, Centerpoint, Bismarck, Arkadelphia, Alma, Bald Knob, Deer/Mount Judea, El Dorado, Brookland and Elkins school districts.
The board also approved plans submitted by four district-operated conversion charter schools that were previously given approval by the state's Charter Authorizing Panel. Those are Siloam Springs High, Lincoln High, Harrison High and Mountain Home High School Career Academies.
The digital learning plans vary by district in terms of the grades that will be permitted to be online and whether teachers will be assigned to virtual instruction only or will have in-person and online students at the same time or at different times of the day.
In some cases local teacher-created lessons will be used with the online students and in other cases the districts will rely on outside organizations such as Virtual Arkansas and Pearson, a corporate education provider, to deliver material and/or instruction.
In some cases the state's education service cooperatives are providing the online instructional programs for their member school districts.
The Education Board late last month approved virtual instruction plans from the first 20 of 152 school systems that have submitted proposals and asked for waivers of some state laws and rules to carry them out.
The dozens of digital academy proposals that have been submitted to the state come after many Arkansas school systems scrambled in the just-ended 2020-21 school year to offer students an online instructional option as a way to combat the spread of the contagious and potentially fatal coronavirus.
States and school districts nationwide are now grappling with whether to continue with online learning options for the coming 2021-22 school year.
In January, the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Education Board invited school districts to submit virtual instruction plans for the coming school year.
With that invitation came the offer of waivers of state rules and laws that cap maximum class sizes to no more than 30 students, limit teacher workloads to no more than 150 students, require 120 clock hours of instruction per course and six-hour instructional days, set student attendance requirements, and require a minimum number of recess minutes.


text:
Covering 10 states, including diverse natural landscapes such as the Appalachian Mountains and portions of the Mississippi River Basin, the southeast region of the United States includes more than 325 animal species. Some of the region's largest zoos showcase these animals alongside a collection of critters from around the globe. Thanks to typically mild temperatures in the region, the vast majority of zoos in the area are open year-round, with the exception of major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Part of Walt Disney World Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom (disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/animal-kingdom) in Orlando is a 500-acre zoo with more than 1,700 animals. The theme park offers the Wild Africa Trek with a series of VIP adventures, like zip lining over hippos and a three-hour guided safari, all while accompanied by a Disney photographer who documents your journey. Attractions open to the public include a high-speed roller coaster, animal-themed stage shows and a roaring rapids ride.
Based in West Palm Beach, Lion Country Safari (lioncountrysafari.com) is a drive-through safari park with more than 900 animals, including zebras, giraffes and rhinos. You can drive your own car or rent a van from the park, available on a first-come, first-served basis. The zoo also includes a walk-through amusement park with six rides, including a Ferris wheel, carousel and paddle boats, and a 4,000-square-foot sprayground with 23 interactive contraptions.
Tennessee and Georgia
Opened in 1906, the Memphis Zoo (memphiszoo.org) is spread across 70 acres and home to 3,500-plus animals. Various themed exhibits include primate canyon, animals of the night, cat country, penguin rock and tropical birdhouse. The zoo also has daily stage shows, feedings and zookeeper talks highlighting animals like sea lions, pandas and grizzlies. Special events throughout the year include a Christmas lights show and an outdoor ice skating rink.
Inside the city's sprawling Grant Park and established in 1889, Zoo Atlanta (zooatlanta.org) is a 40-acre facility with close to 1,000 animals. Exhibits showcase critters from around the globes, such as kangaroos, tigers, American alligators and giant pandas. Special programs include safari day camps for kids from kindergarten through eighth grade, overnight sleepovers and behind-the-scenes tours.
The Carolinas
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (riverbanks.org) is a 170-acre venue in Columbia, South Carolina. Exhibits include a 20,000-square-foot reptile aquarium, lemur island and two-acre African savannah with giraffes, zebras and ostrich. The attached botanical gardens include rose, succulent and fruit and berry gardens. In January and February, the zoo offers free admission to Lexington and Richland county residents on Fridays, as of publication.
North Carolina Zoo (nczoo.org) is in Asheboro, at the base of the Uwharrie Mountains. The 500-acre zoo hosts 1,600 animals, including African bush hogs, American black bears, red wolves and chimpanzees. The zoo also has a carousel, 4D theater and playground. Seasonal events include Halloween, Easter and Earth Day celebrations.
Louisiana and Mississippi
In New Orleans' Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo (auduboninstitute.org) is home to jaguars, primates, rhinos and sea lions. Additional attractions include a train ride, ape-feeding sessions and a children's zoo. The nearby aquarium, IMAX theater and Dinosaur Adventure, complete with replica dinosaurs and fossil excavation sites, require a separate admission.
Covering 110 acres, Jackson Zoo (jacksonzoo.org) is in Jackson, Mississippi's Livingston Park. The zoo has close to 800 animals, including 12 endangered species. Animals on hand include zebras, tigers, orangutans and red pandas. The zoo also includes a carousel and train ride for kids. You can arrange to have a birthday party at the zoo, with possible perks including food, drinks, admission and rides.
Writer Bio
A travel writer since 2002, Leah Rendon has written countless articles for online pop-culture magazines and various travel-related websites, including Eurobooking and World66. Gosford also has experience in copywriting, having developed a series of articles related to network marketing. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts.


text:
Each year, there are a handful of shops that report some unbelievable numbers—KPIs that warrant a follow-up and a deeper look into how the operations are run. The cover story of this issue is our first crack at just that.
For "Ultimate Efficiency", associate editor Bryce Evans tracked down four shops that ranked in the 99th percentile of 573 KPI Survey respondents when considering technician productivity and efficiency, shop cycle time and touch time and both gross and net profit. These businesses are real, their success is inspiring, and the advice they offer in the story is executable just about anywhere—and well worth the read.
Keep an eye out for our next KPI Survey, as it's sure to be the most comprehensive to date. As tracking performance becomes more commonplace—not to mention essential—the survey pool grows.
If you're still trying to get a handle on what KPIs matter most, how to track them and how to use them to grow your business, we have an opportunity for you in the same month that our next survey is published. One of the workshops at the FenderBender Management Conference, May 18–20, is focused exclusively on this subject, with some of the industry's leading KPI experts weighing in and taking your questions.
You can find more about the workshop and other business-building sessions at fenderbenderconference.com. If you're able to attend, you should be able to return to your shop with enough know-how to make a real difference in performance. Maybe we'll be checking in with you the next time we're looking for models of efficiency.
Jake Weyer
[email protected]


text:
Sessions Blunder Puts Brakes on House Work
Updated: 8:40 p.m.
House Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) abruptly adjourned a hearing on a GOP health care repeal bill Thursday after he became aware that Rep. Pete Sessions was not sworn in as a Member of the 112th Congress, committee spokeswoman Jo Maney said.
The Texas Republican was not on the floor during Wednesday's swearing-in ceremony, and neither was incoming freshman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). Under the Constitution, which was read on the House floor Thursday, only sworn Members of Congress are allowed to conduct official business, but Sessions and Fitzpatrick have already voted eight times in the 112th Congress.
While it was previously thought that Sessions had introduced the motion to create the rules for the Rules Committee, Maney said it was later determined that Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) was the Member who offered the package.
Dreier is consulting with the parliamentarian about how to best craft a unanimous consent agreement to rectify the situation, Maney said.
"We should have an agreement shortly," she said.
It's unclear whether Democrats will allow a unanimous consent agreement to go forward and Democratic aides pounced on the Republicans' blunder.
"Despite the fact that they read the Constitution today, they should have read it yesterday, actually," one senior Democratic aide said. "I guess swearing in their Members wasn't part of their pledge."
Sessions, who is a member of the Rules Committee, stated the oath publicly in the Capitol but was not on the House floor, according to his spokeswoman, Emily Davis.
"To ensure that all constitutional and House requirements are fulfilled, Congressman Sessions officially took the oath of office this afternoon from the House floor. Public records and votes will be adjusted accordingly," Davis said in an e-mail Thursday.
Fitzpatrick has served in the House before: He was elected in 2004 but lost his Pennsylvania seat two years later to Democrat Patrick Murphy. He then defeated Murphy in November.


text:
Tag Archives: parks system
Parks Leaders from Across Canada Make History
Bill Kilburn, Program Manager for the Back to Nature Network, was invited to attend the Canadian Parks Summit as an advocate for the collective efforts of the B2N Network to reconnect children and youth with nature. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Canmore, … Continue reading →
Featured News and Announcements
This network is funded through the support of The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
Translate »


text:
Full Product Description
This luxuriously soft rabbit vibe has everything you need for a delicious blended orgasm! Its bulbous gently ribbed head and flexible shaft can effortlessly help you reach your G-spot, while the hard-working plump bunny ears deliver an intense clitoral massage. Reach your ultimate peak with two independently controlled motors that feature nine speeds each and over eighty combinations in total! Easy to use two-button controls. Water play is a joy since this toy is completely waterproof and submersible. Materials: Silicone Color: Aqua USB Rechargeable Height: 8.4", Width: 1.6" 5 year warranty


text:
Question: Why do we have to learn Greek and Hebrew? —Ministerial student
You've asked an ancient question. Before we look at the answers, let's review what happened when ministerial students didn't learn Greek and Hebrew. From 400 to 1400 AD, very few ministers learned Greek who didn't grow up speaking it. Virtually nobody learned Hebrew. Why should they?
Latin was the language of the "Christian" world. There were lots of different Latin translations. They're good enough, aren't they? Besides, there were lots of good Latin commentaries by Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, Cassiodorus, Venerable Bede, etc. And there were plenty of good theological works written in or translated into Latin: Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil, Origin, Clement of Alexandria, Augustine, and the list went on and on.
All the heavy lifting is already done, right? Who needs to study Greek and Hebrew? That's the question ministers asked Augustine in the 400s AD. Unfortunately, they didn't listen to his answer.
As a result, when the commentaries disagreed, ministers had no basis for independently analyzing the original text to see which interpretation best fit the evidence.
- When their Latin translations disagreed about what the original text meant, they had no basis for determining which translation was right.
- When bishops and popes taught error based on Latin translations, how could they be corrected?
- When Latin translations, which had to be copied by hand, were miscopied and corrupted, on what basis could they be corrected?
- When Augustine's understanding of justification was corrupted into gaining God's favor by works, how could this heresy be exposed?
Don't get me wrong. All the woes of the church in the Middle Ages did not result from ignorance of Greek and Hebrew. But ignorance of Greek and Hebrew was at the root of many. On the other hand, consider what happened when men began to study Greek again. Erasmus edited the first widely disseminated Greek New Testament in 1516. With it he offered a new Latin translation and a commentary on the Greek text. His comments exposed to public view the flagrant and egregious errors of the church of his day.
Ignorance of Greek and Hebrew was at the root of many of the woes of the Middle Ages.
For example, Erasmus comments on the requirement that elders be the "husband of one wife" in 1 Tim. 3:2:
Other qualifications are laid down by St. Paul as required for a bishop's office, a long list of them. But not one at present is held essential [by the church], except this one of abstinence from marriage. Homicide, parricide, incest, piracy, sodomy, sacrilege, these can be overlooked, but marriage is fatal. There are priests now in vast numbers, enormous herds of them, seculars and regulars, and it is notorious that very few of them are chaste. The great proportion fall into lust and incest, and open profligacy.
As historian J. A. Froude notes, "The clergy's skins were tender from long impunity. They shrieked from pulpit and platform."
How did the church stray so far from Scripture? It first started down the pathway of error when it neglected the languages of Scripture. The longer the neglect, the deeper the darkness. Eventually, the light of the gospel was extinguished in many parts of Europe. This isn't just my opinion. It was the opinion of all the Reformers, including Martin Luther, whose knowledge of Greek and Hebrew helped him emerge and lead others from that darkness.
Martin Luther's knowledge of Greek and Hebrew helped him emerge and lead others from that darkness.
Luther writes,
For as soon as the [knowledge of Greek and Hebrew] declined to the vanishing point, after the apostolic age, the gospel and faith and Christianity itself declined more and more until under the pope they disappeared entirely. After the decline of the languages, Christianity witnessed little that was worth anything; instead, a great many dreadful abominations arose because of ignorance of the languages.
On the other hand, now that the languages have been revived, they are bringing with them so bright a light and accomplishing such great things that the whole world stands amazed and has to acknowledge that we have the gospel just as pure and undefiled as the apostles had it, that it has been wholly restored to its original purity, far beyond what it was in the days of St. Jerome and St. Augustine.
Ministers ought to know the languages! More in my next article.
Originally published in God's Revivalist. Used by permission.


text:
You can apply the Five Ps of Marketing: Product, Place, Price, Promotion and Persona (which is my personal addition) to your job search since you're basically marketing yourself when in job search mode.
Product: How do you prove that your functional skills match the job specifications?
You need to prove that you can do the exact job that needs to be done.
Of course, it's easiest if your latest job is very similar to the opening. Regardless, if you truly believe you have the necessary skills, you should be able to craft your message to establish that your experience is appropriate and sufficient.
Place: Do you have experience in the same category… even in the same location?
The core meaning of Place is closely related to Product. Think about your Place as the categories in which you've earned the right to practice your functional skills.
Although companies are looking for an exact fit of "been there, done that" for both skills and categories, most are somewhat open to considering your skills if they have been developed in categories that are obviously related.
A secondary meaning of Place is that it's a bonus if you're located within commuting distance. Sometimes this is a requirement, especially for mid-level jobs.
Price: Do you have the right level of experience and success?
Your latest salary is the initial screen out for whether you're appropriate to even be considered for the open position. That's one reason coaches recommend not providing your salary history until the potential employer has chosen you as their favorite candidate.
Your latest salary can't be so far outside the job's salary range that it raises concerns about how you'll fit into their organizational structure. Even if you'd be happy to accept the salary being offered, a significantly higher previous salary raises issues about whether you're desperate (never good) or will stay once a better offer comes along.
Being under the salary range raises an equally important issue about your suitability for the job. The tighter you fit their category and skill requirements, the more likely you can jump up significantly in salary.
Note that it's not unusual for a company to hire someone:
- From the same category with skills only somewhat related to the job spec.
- From a related category with the exact desired skills.
- Whose previous salary was one level outside the job specs.
Regardless, it is unusual to hire someone who requires breaking more than one of these factors.
Promotion: There are several definitions of Promotion that apply to your job search, including:
- Have you been promoted into a similar role? (Answering: How good and appropriate are you?)
- Can you promote your company, department and project to accomplish what needs to be done? (Answering: Can you do the job?)
- Can you promote yourself? (Answering: Can you get hired?)
Promoting yourself successfully requires both:
- Educating the firm about how great you will be once you're hired; and
- Remaining likable while self-promoting.
Persona: I believe Persona is the fifth and most important P of job search.
To me, Persona is a good substitute for the phrase "personal brand." In fact, Persona may be a better communicator than this typically used phrase since it is more descriptive of your intended image.
My online dictionary defines persona as an assumed identity or role. I disagree with this because the word "assumed" can communicate both false and expected. First, I hope that we're all presenting ourselves accurately (even if using the best light) and with a little twist so that we're distinctive and memorable.
I'm much happier with the following phrase that I edited from a definition presented by Google. My best definition of Persona is: the aspect of someone's character that is presented to AND IS perceived by others. This is another way of saying that the hiring manager perceives you as you intended.
Next time you're searching for a job, ask yourself how you can leverage the Five P's of marketing, especially your persona.


text:
Hay River police and the NWT coroner's office are investigating after a man was found dead on a trail near Riverview Drive.
The man's body was discovered at around 1:15pm on Saturday, RCMP said.
Police, along with emergency medical services and the coroner service, attended the scene along a ravine trail where the 54-year-old was found.
He has yet to be publicly identified.
RCMP and the coroner are working together on the investigation, police said, adding no further information can currently be released.
NWT chief coroner Cathy Menard told Cabin Radio the man's body has been sent to Edmonton for a post-mortem. The death is not suspicious in nature, Menard said.


text:
We are proud to sponsor various local organisations, charities and teams.
If you would like All Lifting to consider your charity, team or organisation for sponsorship please email outlining the criteria below.
- Sponsorship Investment Amount
- Duration of Sponsorship
- Exclusivity (Industry)
- Brand Awareness & Exposure
- Current Sponsorship Partners
- Investment Inclusions (Logos
- Events Calendar
- Outline Benefits
- Any Additional Costs Associated (Promotional Materials etc)
Send Sponsorship proposals to email@example.com – Attention: Marketing Manager
Please understand that while we would love to be able to sponsor or donate to every great cause and team that we are approached by, as a business we do have to be selective. All proposals will be reviewed objectively and ethically. We thank you for considering All Lifting as a Sponsorship Partner.


text:
Whether a suave gentleman's retreat or luxury bachelor pad, creating an elegant masculine interior is a balancing act of function and form. Defined by strong natural materials, well-selected anchor pieces, uncomplicated lines and comfortable dark colours, a successful execution of elements can create a sophisticated lad's lair that everyone will lust after.
Key elements
1 Clean and uncomplicated lines
2 Bold anchor pieces of furniture
3 Strong natural materials
4 Comfortable dark colours
5 Balance of function and form
6 Classic accents, such as heritage, mid-century or Art Deco décor
We love a sophisticated masculine interior… think Don Draper reclining into a soft leather sofa with some moody jazz and a very dry martini. You know this dude… you are this dude… he knows how to fill out an Armani suit. He carries a leather shoulder briefcase and owns a cocktail shaker.
This dude doesn't want to be bogged down by unnecessary disorder. So, step one to creating your suave gentleman's retreat is to clear the clutter. Your new life as a debonair dude has no room for broken Xbox controllers and a full dirty-laundry basket.
Think big when it comes to a few anchoring pieces of furniture, like a sizeable sofa, statement entertainment unit or sideboard to really moor your spaces. Consider a mid-century or Art Deco-style sideboard or TV unit that draws the eye (let's not be ashamed of the size of our televisions in a suave gentleman's retreat). A few well-selected pieces of quality furniture will help to define your rooms and set a tone of quality and sophistication.
A classic chesterfield or leather sofa screams gentleman's retreat. Leather is super strapping, easy to clean and pretty darn swanky. Velvet or linen also make a sexy statement and can be a little more relaxed when you want to Netflix and chill.
While we're at it, let's just say: a dignified dude has moved beyond lap-lasagne on the couch. Now's the time to invest in a dope dining table to start hosting friends and flaunting your MasterChef skills. Don't forget the cocktail station! You could install a built-in bar or simply splash out on a drinks trolly — keep it fully stocked with spirits, wines and cocktail glasses, from shot to champagne.
A 21st-century Renaissance man is all about using his smarts and skills to rake in the pineapples. Parade your professional accomplishments (or those yet to come) with a dedicated workspace complete with a big desk, multitiered bookshelf packed full of books and plenty of room for your framed accolades to be hung on the wall. Move the Jack Daniels posters to the mancave — your home office should ooze class. Select a moody shade of paint with hints of heritage chic, like forest-green, deep maroon or spruce.
When it comes to the bedroom, it's worth investing in the most comfortable mattress known to man. Add an unforgettable bedhead, like a Royce or something beautifully upholstered. Things should always be uncomplicated in the bedroom, so stick with soothing, neutral shades in beige, white or grey. Keep the décor minimal but don't scrimp on essentials, like a sumptuous rug, plush throw blanket, monochromatic framed print and ambient table lamps on elegant bedside tables.
Avoid having a television in your room as it can interfere with sleep. The bedroom's also not the place for a bicycle, skateboard and surfboard, either… unless you're literally a 15-year-old boy. Finally, never, ever neglect to change your sheets. Crisp white linens with a high thread count are timeless and absolutely luscious.
Whether helping your boyfriend or empty-nesting son get a suave and stylish look in his home, updating your own space or making a divine den for dad, we've got plenty of decorating essentials in-store and online for creating your suave gentleman's retreat. And don't miss our guide to achieving the luxurious Rococo style.


text:
- Abhooshan Designer pendant in 92.5 Silver. They are simply beautiful and the best you can buy. Comes in ready to wear condition. Chain is for presentation purpose only, not part of sale.
- It's an ideal gift for anyone close to your heart. It can also be used to propose to your loved ones gifting it. Besides looking elegant, it also reflects the loving nature that you possess. Comes in attractive gift box as well.
- Available in different Shapes, Size and Designs. Explore our catalogue and understand the design/size most suitable to your utility.
- High Finish and Unique Designer Piece with High Quality Non Allergic 92.5 Sterling Silver Composition. Abhooshan expertly finishes each piece of jewellery to a smooth, fine polish. They are simply beautiful and the best you can buy.
- Make an Admirable Gift for your girl friend, sister, mother, Bhabhi or wife. Suitable for party, Office or Daily Wear. Beautifully Designed Pendant Can Be Used On Birthday, Marriage, Engagement, Valentine And Any Occasion Gift.
|92.5 % Pure Silver ( Sterling Silver)
|Moon Stone
|Ideal For
|Unisex Pendant
- Special Offer: Avail 10% Flat Discount on total Invoice value use Coupon Code : JEWELS10
- Free shipping : All over India only
- Cash on Delivery (COD) also available
92.5 Silver Pendant with Moon stone Antique look for Men and Women
Ex Tax: $7.00
- Model: SPWS10
Check Delivery Options.
Tags: Latest Gift , Stylish , Gemstone


text:
Mean vs. Median: A runner friend posted this last night in that social media space which must not be named: "Just read that Americans average 4000 calories per day. Mind boggled. Also really want to know the standard deviation."
The immediate responses were mostly on the order of OMG THE JUNK-FOOD-SWALLOWING AMERICAN FATTIES. So, I countered with "This could be a right-skewed distribution, in which case the average is greater than the median." In plain English, this means that if there are a lot of Americans who eat, say, a reasonable 2000-to-3000-calorie-per-day diet and there are fewer who eat 4000 to 6000 calories per day, the average number of calories consumed will work out to around 4000, but a lot more people are eating fewer calories. If you still don't get it, read this. "Typical" or "average" numbers can only be trusted from bell/symmetrical curves. Furthermore, the standard deviation will tell you something in the case of a skewed distribution, but not a lot.
Naturally, my comment was glossed over and there were more responses on the order of OH THE HORRORS OF OBESITY AND THE AMERICAN FAST FOOD INDUSTRY. This one was my favorite: "I see the way a lot of 'average' eaters eat. It's not good. Not good at all." Oh, sweet mother of statistics. I had to reply. "It's not about what average eaters consume, but the average calories consumed by this population sample. Again, the average without a mode and median, i.e. whether or not the distribution is a bell curve, is pretty pointless. Sorry, how statistics are presented in the media [and understood by the public] is a bit of a peeve of mine."
The next time someone gives you a mean/average number to make you think it's typical, ask for the mode and median as well.
Suggested reading: Mean, median, mode and range; Summary statistics for skewed distributions; Life is log-normal!
Risk vs. Uncertainty: Both of the terms reference unknown outcomes, but there is a difference between risk and uncertainty. Please don't use them interchangeably. If you're uncertain whether something will succeed or not, that is a risk, not an uncertainty, i.e. you risk failure. Risk is "a set of possibilities each with quantified probabilities and quantified losses." If you are out driving today, the risk you take is getting in an accident. There is no uncertainty involved here – you always run the risk of an accident when in a moving vehicle, a flood during rainy or hurricane season, the failure of an oil and gas well, a broken heart if in a romantic relationship, etc. Uncertainty is then used to describe the range of outcomes, i.e. How Badly? Will you be in a simple fender bender or will you be killed? Will your house flood by 0.2 inches or 20 feet? Will your failed well release 2 gallons of oil or 2 billion gallons? Will you get over your breakup in two days or be wounded forever? (Who knows? That's where Bayes comes in. What, you don't think the a priori probability distribution of your reaction to being dumped can be calculated?)
I bring this up because of something Engineer Tim said today as a response to error bars in engineering calculations: "It's really hard to talk to the public about uncertainty and fragility; they just want to hear it's fixed and safe." Ack. Ok, look: 1) Nothing about human life implies 100% safety at all times. Just being alive means you are at risk of failure with any set of outcomes. 2) "Fixed" and "safe" are illusions when there is risk, uncertainty and (in)variables that are truly unknown. You may predict a set of outcomes for a low- or no-risk situation, but how do we know all factors have been taken into account? We never do.
Yes, great engineering, proper precautions, understanding the risks and uncertainties and a robust post-failure response mechanism may greatly alleviate things, but much of human living inherently involves risk with an uncertain set of outcomes. Furthermore, there are truly things we do not know or have not taken into account, but let us not use the words "risk" and "uncertainty" to characterize them.
Suggested reading: What is the difference between risk and uncertainty?; Defining risk versus uncertainty; The stock market: risk vs. uncertainty ("Whereas risk is quantifiable randomness, uncertainty isn't.")
#OverlyHonestMethods: A few days ago, scientists on Twitter started this hashtag to describe how real-life experiments are done and how data is collected in the real world. Some of the tweets bordered on confessional in terms of real number of samples used, unrepresentative population samples and methodology, but the majority of them displayed how experimentation is done and the limits of data capture and analysis. Popular Science rounded up a number of #overlyhonestmethods tweets into an article entitled #OverlyHonestMethods Hashtag Reveals How Science Is Really Done.
Which, of course, makes me wonder how the public thinks we do science.
Scientists seem to have one of three responses to this meme: 1) Hahahaha, story of my life!, 2) This is bad PR as laypeople will get the impression we're a bunch of frauds because they lack the context of knowing how science is really done [e.g. @EruptionsBlog] and 3) We owe this to the public to teach them that the range of science is –>known, experimentation, uncertainty, unknowns as well as hypotheses that are built upon or changed as more data is captured and better techniques are developed<– [e.g. @SciObservatory].
I am of the (first and) third opinion. I find no problem in telling the public
what we know: Evolution is an observable fact; childhood vaccinations prevent horrible diseases.
what we don't know but can guess at: Geophysical reservoir thickness calculations bear hundreds of feet of uncertainty based on the ability to seismically image top and base of the reservoir at great depths; these uncertainty bounds change as we drill more wells and the seismic data set becomes clearer or murkier,
what we don't know at all: I have no clue whether aliens exist or not, and
we are human: The best measurements I made in my field area in Mexico using the Lacoste-Romberg gravimeter came from when I was sitting, which is easier on my back, and not kneeling in a tight spot.
Science is not done with all the data possible (in which case it wouldn't be science but pure knowledge) and in a neat and linear fashion by automatons in white lab coats. Most of the time, we work very hard to acquire enough good data, make sense of what we do have, offer intelligent theories to explain any observable trend and even state that we must not over-science a problem until we have more data. Whether it works or not is immaterial, the science is in that we robustly attempted to find an answer from observations.
In fact, the onus is on the consumers of science and engineering to appreciate the concepts of statistics and uncertainty I wrote about earlier in this post AND on scientists and engineers to be transparent about our methods. If the intermediate result is the misunderstanding of science and the outing of some bad science, so be it. I'd rather that laypeople think about what science is and may be, rather than being completely disinterested or categorically "confident" of nothing of import.
What questions and concerns do you have about science?


text:
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Luke 24:1-8
14 comments:
- AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 10:13 AM
He is risen indeed!! Amen.ReplyDelete
and Amen!ReplyDelete
He is risen indeed :-)
- AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 10:59 AM
I have been blessed enough to be able to visit the tomb. Truly a moving, religious experience.ReplyDelete
Further words fail me as I remember the visit.
- AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Though our society tends to make a big deal of Christmas, Easter is the truly important day. This is the day that gives us the promise all people search for. As mankind runs wildly around trying to retain their youth, builds monuments to make sure someone remembers their name in posterity, mourns their dead with engraved marble, the answer to their worries and fears was born on this day. All you are and all you hold beloved shall not perish with your body. A day of resurrection awaits us all, and that is the gift Christ gave us. Now there's a gift!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 8:35 PM
Who cares that he is risen? Lets hope we all do. Our country was born on biblical principles that came from the belief that Jesus Christ was Saviour and Lord and all inalienable rights came from him. If we don't stand up for those beliefs & principles, our country is doomed.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 9:02 PM
I am a Christian and a conservative. No one who knows me would ever consider questioning either. But over the past year or so my knowledge of God's Word has increased substantially, as has my awareness of certain aspects of history. All of this has lead me to question BOTH of the holidays you mentioned. I do NOT question the events that we believe we are celebrating, namely the birth and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Events more worthy of celebration do not exist. But there are many disturbing secular aspects to these "holidays" and perhaps more importantly, no Biblical reference or exhortation for observing EITHER. Observing them in the "traditional" way of the masses is becoming increasingly uncomfortable as I truly wonder if we are doing as God would have us do.ReplyDelete
Just food for thought. Fire at will! :)
Jeff - Tucson
- AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 9:33 PM
Jeff-- observe as you see fit. Celebrate, or quietly ponder. Color eggs, or sit in contemplation and prayer. Why should I mind? Sleep late and play in the park, for all I care. God the Father speaks to us all, and as any good parent does, tells each individual what he wants from them. Your message is yours, and my message is mine. So long as we agree that we are each free to do as we are led, I'm fine with you.ReplyDelete
- Linda in SoCalApril 24, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Well, I know it's late, but Happy Resurrection Day! Even though we don't know the actual day, remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for us so that we don't have to pay our penalty for sin is something to celebrate, today, and everyday.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Jeff - you're so right on. God and Christ commanded us to observe the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy, and to commune occasionally to remember Christ's sacrifice. Anything else is secular intrusion, even Santa Claus. (Though based on a real historical figure, St. Nicholas, he's still a man and shouldn't be idolized the way he is.)ReplyDelete
Green trees, eggs and bunnies - all secular to separate you from Christ, and your money!
Steve Davis
Anchorage, Alaska
- AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 4:11 PM
If you are right(and I think you may be) what is the harm in letting the dambed have their fun? Teach the truth to anyone you see commiting these atrocitys or else shut your yapper. I watched a Catholic family across the street from me have the time of their lives over there. They are nice people with a buttload of grandkids. Somehow I couldn't make myself go over there and raise hell with them. It was fun to watch those kids tracking down the goodies. I just couldn't do it.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 5:28 PM
They are not damned just because they celebrate with joy instead of solemnity. I will believe to the end that God enjoys the happy frolics of children and the sound of their laughter. So long as they are taught, somewhere within the "good times" what this all represents, and the true impact of it, let them play. Let them search for toys and eggs. Let them sing and laugh.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 4:35 PM
There is no music ever conceived that can match the sound of children laughing and squealing with delight.ReplyDelete


text:
New Line Anime Shop
Flash Drive Masou Gakuen HxH the complete series
Regular price $80.00 Sale price $40.00
Hello everyone up for sale is the complete animated series of Masou Gakuen HxH English Subtitled on a flash drive
this item works great on Smart TVs, Laptops,Tablets, and Desktops Computers as well, this is the perfect gift for everyone in the family if you have love ones overseas in the Military or if your just going on Vacation and you want to take your favorite shows or movies with you then this is for you, no more trying to pack all your favorite dvds and blu-rays sets in your suitcase possibly scratching or worse breaking the disc all together
So Drop The Disc For A Flash!
For whatever reason something
goes wrong or your Flash drive and doesn't play right
DO Not HESITATE TO LET US KNOW!
we would be more than happy to help you out
or send you a replacement in it's place.
thanks for looking.


text:
Anomaly 2 is Available for Pre-Order, 10% Off and Get a Free Copy For a Friend or Enemy
11 bit studios announced today that preorders for Anomaly 2 are now available from the game's official website at anomaly2game.com and via Steam and other digital outlets.
The release is set for May 15th on PC, Mac and Linux. Players that preorder now get the game for 10% off the already-low $14.99 retail price and also get a free additional copy to give to a friend or jealously hoard for themselves. If that's not enough, anyone who preorders directly from 11 bit viaanomaly2game.com will receive another bonus gift on launch day.
Anomaly 2 is a real-time strategy game that takes the tower offense concept from the award-winning Anomaly Warzone Earth and adds a number of important new features.
- Morph your troops into war mechs to discover the new face of strategy: each unit has a different mech form with various abilities to help you overcome specific combat situations.
- Engage in a multiplayer experience unique to Anomaly 2: tower defense vs. tower offense. Play as the towers and destroy the humans or lead the humans to annihilate the alien towers.
- Fight across a post-apocalyptic world in a new single-player campaign that offers a more intense strategy experience than the acclaimed original.
- Carve your own path to victory and create your ultimate battle squad. With more than a million tactical combinations to build your squad, your options in combat are nearly endless.
- Dive into a beautifully rendered world, thanks to the team's new and improved visual engine.
- Experience alternative endings dependent upon your approach to enemy machines in the campaign.


text:
CARLSBAD, CA – June 4, 2018 – Astura Medical, a high growth, innovative spine technology company, today announced that it received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its ALTA ACDF Interbody Spacers and HALF DOME Lumbar Interbody Spacers in PEEK-OPTIMAä HA Enhanced from Invibio Biomaterial Solutions.
Combining the clinically proven strength and versatility of PEEK-OPTIMA with Hydroxyapatite (HA), a well-known osteoconductive material that enhances bone apposition, PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced provides an innovative biomaterial for interbody fusion devices. HA is fully integrated, not coated, into the PEEK-OPTIMA matrix, ensuring it is present on all surfaces and throughout the implant.
"As surgeons continue to explore different surface technology options, we are excited about the addition of HA PEEK to our suite of interbody solutions," said Thomas Purcell, Vice President of Astura Medical. "It once again reinforces Astura's commitment to providing our surgeon partners with differentiated technology to enhance their ability to provide the best in patient care."
ALTA and HALF DOME HA PEEK are now commercially available in multiple footprint, height, and lordotic options for ACDF, PLIF, and TLIF procedures. In addition to the launch of their HA PEEK lineup, Astura will be introducing its MIS Percutaneous Screw System and Expandable Posterior Lumbar Interbody Cages later this year.
About Astura Medical
Astura Medical was formed in 2014 with the objective of creating a disciplined, multi-phased approach to developing, manufacturing, and distributing medical devices. With surgeon input and feedback at every stage of development, Astura has created an extensive line of devices of the highest quality and sleekest design.
The two essential pillars that contribute to Astura Medical's success are high quality products and robust distribution channels. These pillars, combined with passion and innovation, are what drive the Astura team to achieve great success with developing devices and entering them into the marketplace.
For more information, please visit www.asturamedical.com or find us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Steve Haayen
Astura Medical