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The existing Wikipedia app is fine, but there's nothing particularly special about it. Sure it's touch-friendly, and the interface is clean, but that's about all it has to offer. Wikiweb, however, puts the millions upon millions of articles on the online encyclopedia into a larger perspective, by showing how they all relate to one another.
What does it do?
It's a Wikipedia reader that visualize each article's connections to one another through colorful, firework-like webs. Double tap a nodule to read an article, hold one down to dismiss a topic, or tap another to see it's connections grow like vines on the screen.
Why do we like it?
If you're bored, maybe you find yourself playing a game of Wikipedia roulette, browsing through various articles, just aimlessly reading. This gives that game some direction, by showing how topics connect. It's so pretty, and just enough like a game that I could lose hours just playing with this app. The way subjects relate might surprise you, and hey, you just might learn something. [Friends of the Web via SwissMiss]
Download this app for:
- iOS, $4.99
The Best:
The Worst:


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The View From 1776
§ American Traditions
§ People and Ideas
§ Decline of Western Civilization: a Snapshot
§ Books to Read
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Bitten By Profligacy
The dollar edges closer to becoming a third-world currency.
Foreign central banks, suffering from the Treasury and Fed-engineered decline in the dollar's value, are moving new currency reserve investments from the dollar into Euros and Yen.
Long-range effects on the United States will be bad.
If foreign central banks continue to shift their currency reserves from the dollar to other currencies, the dollar will lose its international reserve currency status, damaging our nation's future. Interest costs on the national debt will rise, reflecting a higher level of economic risk for foreign dollar holders. To pay higher interest on the national debt, taxes will have to rise, crimping business and depressing employment. Costs of our imports, upon which we came to depend for inexpensive consumer and industrial goods, will rise, because the dollar is worth less on international markets. Those higher import costs will reduce business profits, further constraining creation of new jobs.
These are the unsurprising consequences accruing, among other factors, from President Obama's flooding the markets with Keynesian deficit spending under his $787 billion special-interest pay-off bill (aka the stimulus program). Needless to say, world currency markets also are spooked, both by the prospect of yet more trillions of dollars of deficit spending to finance National Socialist healthcare, and by business-killing and consumer-depressing pandering to "green" extremists, who lust to regulate energy costs up.
Despite propaganda from people like the New York Times's Paul Krugman, economic prosperity cannot be created by the secular political state. For that we must rely upon the effects of myriad individual actions. The more those actions are regulated the less the scope for return to prosperity.
Rather than removing constraints upon resumption of business activity that will create new jobs, the Obama administration is waging an ideological war to reduce the United States to third-rank economic and political status.
Democrat/Socialist policies are tailored to keep the economy depressed and unemployment high. Among them: straitjacketing our economy with more and more regulatory red tape, raising taxes on the productive portions of the economy, nationalizing parts of private industry, dictating compensation levels to private business, adding to labor unions' monopoly bargaining power, imposing tariffs and other trade barriers against our allies in order to protect high-cost labor union jobs, deliberately forcing major increases in energy costs for everyone in order to impose the mythology of man-made global warming, and continually keeping business off balance with threats of yet more regulatory and nationalization programs, along with continual threats of criminal prosecution of business leaders.
Democrat/Socialist economics are the equivalent of trying to pull yourself out of quicksand by employing people to shovel on more quicksand. Instead of dealing with the real problem, Democrat/Socialists attempt to leverage the crisis into more of what got us into trouble.
The nation got into the worst economic recession since the 1930s Depression in a multi-step process. First, Democrat/Socialist welfare entitlements programs, initiated under President Lyndon Johnson, grow far more rapidly than the underlying economy. Second, the Treasury and Federal Reserve have been funding the resulting deficit expenditures with ever-growing debt. Third, Federal Reserve creation of fiat money to fund the deficit expands the lending reserves of banks. Fourth, banks' increased lending reserves lead them to look aggressively for new loans and investments, a process that tends to lower credit standards. Fifth, encouraged by this flood of excess liquidity, businesses take on more debt to over-expand production, and individuals make consumer purchases far in excess of their capacities to repay the resulting credit card and mortgage debt. Sixth, when resulting bubble sectors of the economy - housing in the recent case - over-expand production and consumers can no longer pay their debts, a recession ensues.
Because of our poor educational system since the 1960s, voters have no clue to this basic economic cycle that is repeated in every recession. Excessive government spending, financed by creation of fiat money, leading to over-expansion of bank credit that encourages speculation and spending beyond our means with borrowed money, culminating in a bubble burst. This was exactly the pattern leading to the Great Depression: creation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, over-expansion of bank reserves by the Fed that produced, in six years, an increase of bank deposits to double the total accumulated in the entire history of the nation prior to 1920, excessive bank lending and investments that created a false boom in the 1920s, and a bubble that finally burst in 1929.
The president's actions signal that he, along with the general public, is uncomprehending with regard to the underlying realities of the economy. Instead he believes the remedy for excessive spending and excessive debt to be more Federal deficit spending and programs to make consumers spend even more beyond their means. Their initial stimulus program having signally failed to keep unemployment below the promised 8% level, Democrat/Socialist party leaders are now ballyhooing a new stimulus program that will pawn more of our future for short-term political gratification.
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Can someone please tell me what to do about the drinking and driving in Carroll County? It's gotten way out of control.
Do I turn in my spouse of 20 years? My 18-year-old daughter? My best friend? My boss at work? And if we do turn in the ones we love, then who is going to turn in the people who leave the bar? Or the people who leave the liquor store? Or the ones who leave the party?
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Stephanie Rose Adams and Youna Kwak
At the center of this poetry is hunger, a craving for experience, and these poets hurl themselves into language with energies of fierce need, searching and self-possession. For Kwak and Adams, words are physical; they are charged with bodily force. Their poems sculpt substance out of air with an explosive sense of purpose. They situate their poems at junctures of overwhelm—the overwhelm of feeling triggered by loss, for which they (differently) draw on the metaphor of the swarm, bees or cells. Adams: beneath the crown I / became a thousand swift masteries / of another order… They are both enamored of animals, attentive to their presence and suffering, and they peer deeply and thoughtfully into pain.
But they are most concerned with what is unnameable inside any creaturely life, with what doesn't give itself over to human understanding or greed. For Kwak, whose lyric intensity is reminiscent of Plath, the extinction of animals is intermeshed with the extinction of our moral sense, from which we've become helplessly estranged. She does not let your forget the angry, perished elephant inside ivory. Or let me / to love, she writes, as a cow
At the slaughterhouse gate, let
Me keen for the hook,
Steely and skyward, as a child
Whose dazzling array of
Teeth dropping, dream of
The flowering
Grave, shallow where new teeth are
Born, then bones, then souls,
Then animals, without souls, pecking.
Adams is heir to Roethke. She lingers in secret rituals, in the spirit-worlds of plants and animals, conversing in songs and codes. There is a distinct, composed wildness in her voice. She is preoccupied with solitude and its effects on the body, and you can find her, in poems, scouring a landscape for what lives there, then reaching into it:
My feelers search instead
beneath the moors
touching at some inscrutable
thing, wrenched between the stones
and mute loam, touching back at me
like sound, like the thin mews
of a violin.
Adams' talismanic word is "belonging," and often it means: for each thing to find a shelter, a habitat for its own strangeness. …her eyes with the dusk of cities / falling down into a sleep of moss.
Famished and unafraid, these two young poets are moving through the world with their dark powers, illuminating what is. Empathy, ferocity, sorrow, wonder. Astonishment, writes Adams. Miraculous, writes Kwak. Why shouldn't you say it.
—Joanna Klink
Joanna Klink is the author of three books of poetry, They Are Sleeping, Circadian, and Raptus. Her poems have appeared in many anthologies, most recently The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth Century American Poetry. She has received awards and fellowships from The Rona Jaffe Foundation, Jeannette Haien Ballard, Civitella Ranieri, and The American Academy of Arts and Letters. She teaches creative writing at the University of Montana.


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My cause, access to sports for individuals with disabilities, is important to me because I have seen how much these sports programs can help increase confidence, independence, and fitness, just by reducing the barriers to participation. This cause is close to my heart because I have a brother with Down syndrome. For as long as I can remember he has been playing baseball, participating in competitive sporting events, and engaging in other sports leagues specifically for people with disabilities. At the age of 36, my brother still looks forward to the start of baseball season and he really shines on the field. Donations through the CFC allow these organizations to build accessible fields, courts and other fitness facilities, acquire adaptive sports equipment, and provide the network of coaches and volunteers needed to allow individuals with disabilities to show off their athletic abilities and spirited determination!
Mary Coats, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services


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In Regina and area, residential construction was down slightly in March, with 182 total housing starts compared with 209 for the same period last year, according to the latest report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., (CMHC). Elevated supply levels from 2013 and prolonged winter weather have prompted some builders to delay initiating new projects so far this year.
Of the 182 total starts, 64 were single-detached homes, down from 87 in March 2013, while 118 were multiple-unit starts, very close to the 122 starts during the same period last year.
Year to date, Regina home builders poured foundations for 371 residential units - 206 multiple-units and 165 single-detached units. That compares with 565 total starts for the first three months of 2013, which included 361 multiple starts and 234 single-detached starts.
The Regina and Region Home Builders' Association forecast that housing starts will reach around 2,450 this year, about a 20% drop from 2013. However,it was noted that anything around 2,000 starts should be considered a healthy housing market in Regina.
The value of the residential projects - including single family dwellings, duplexes and semi-detached dwellings, multi-attached dwellings and apartments - totalled $384.3 million for the first eleven months, compared with $371 million for the same period last year.
If having a new place to call home is in your plan for 2014 contact me, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Click here to browse listings in and around Regina.


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For much of the dance world, tradition is the backbone in the body of technique. Ballet and modern are perhaps at the helm of this, each with long histories of established customs. This rigorous structure allowed for an interesting tangent in the 1980s in the form of exploratory, creative movement; a sort of cubism of the dance world. These tendencies persist today, and not just in modern dance.
Russian ballet might not fall under the "unorthodox" category for most people, but that's how Tobi Tobias described recent performances by Mariinsky Ballet. Although Tobias undercuts the production of "Anna Karenina," he speaks candidly and gives fair voice to the dancers who "did their best under the unfavorable circumstances." The review also includes an assessment of Alexei Ratmansky's "The Little Humpbacked Horse," a remake of a ballet whose history began in 1864. Find a link to the story here.
The second installment in the wave of the unusual is enumerated in Deborah Jowitt's latest post about Jonah Bokaer and his pieces "Recess" and "Why Patterns." Paper and ping-pong balls both make appearances and contribute to larger questions: What is a pattern? When does it cease to be one? What do 10,000 small, plastic balls have to do with anything? Jowitt muses on these and other issues in her post on DanceBeat. Read it here.


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A lot of people have been asking how I found my agent. The long version of the story involves a chicken (seriously), but I'll save that for my interview with Oprah. The Secret says to put it out there, right? ;) Instead of just telling the story, however, I thought it would be more fun if I showed it to you:
Aug 22
Dear Ms. Rostan ,
I understand that you are drawn to fresh and engaging commercial fiction. I am submitting BEFORE EVER AFTER, an offbeat romantic novel complete at 85,000 words for your consideration.
Mosaic artist Shelley Gallus' happy ending ended when her husband died three years ago. Today she learns that her tour guide husband Max is alive and well. This is pinch-me-twice wonderful news, or at least it would be, if Shelley could just overlook two tiny details: Max was blown to pieces on the Madrid subway three years ago; and the bearer of this news is her thirty two year old husband's thirty two year old grandson, Paolo. Unfortunately, Shelley is a stickler for detail.
BEFORE EVER AFTER takes place along the back roads of European history as Shelley pursues the only clue she has to the mystery of her husband's vastly improved health - her memories of "The Slight Detour," the European budget tour package where she met and fell in love with her scruffily handsome guide. As a heartbreaking secret emerges from Max's accounts of bloody Parisian barricades, smelly medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.
BEFORE EVER AFTER is my first work of fiction and was inspired by my experience living, studying, and traveling through Europe. I have included sample pages below. I am committed to a long-term career in writing and would be happy to send you the complete manuscript. Thank you for your time.
Samantha Sotto-Yambao
Aug 24
Hi Samantha -- I read your pages and I think this is off to a fresh, fabulous start. I'd like to read the rest. Would you send me the complete manuscript as an email attachment and I'll get back to you as soon as possible?
Aug 24
Dear Stephanie,
Thank you for your interest and kind words. I have attached my novel as a PDF file for your review. I hope you enjoy reading the rest of the manuscript. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,
Aug 26
Hi Samantha -- Well, this hasn't happened to me for quite some time, but I have a habit of reading the first few pages of new material when it comes in to decide how to prioritize my reading, and every once in a great while, I can't stop. I had already read the first few pages of your book in your email, so I read a few more when the manuscript arrived and, as I said, couldn't stop. I stayed up late and finished the whole manuscript last night. I loved it -- and I'd love to represent you. Would you like to speak by phone? Which part of the world are you in now?
Which part of the world was I then? Nowhere. I was over the moon! :)


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The wait -- all three days of it -- is over.
After posting a cryptic video message on his website Thursday in which he said he was "ready," Justin Timberlake released a new single Sunday night, confirming what widespread social-media buzz over the weekend had supposed to be the case: Timberlake, the boy-band superstar turned Hollywood heavyweight, has returned to music.
A slow-rolling electro-soul jam with a guest appearance by Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie" was co-produced by Timberlake, Timbaland and Jerome "J-ROC" Harmon and precedes an album, "The 20/20 Experience," to be released this year, according to a statement from Timberlake's label, RCA Records. Listen to the song at Timberlake's site.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Golden Globes 2013: List| Winners | Ballot | Moments | Quotes | Best & Worst | Red Carpet
"Back in June of last year, I quietly started working on what is now, my next journey with that thing I love called MUSIC," the singer wrote in a so-called open letter to his fans. "The inspiration for this really came out of the blue and to be honest, I didn't expect anything to come out of it. I just went into the studio and started playing around with some sounds and songs. It was probably the best time I've had in my career... Just creating and with no rules and/or end goal in mind and really enjoying the process."
"The 20/20 Experience" will be the singer's first album since 2006's "FutureSex/LoveSounds," which spawned hits including "SexyBack" and "My Love" and has sold more than 10 million copies around the world.
In the intervening years, Timberlake, 31, concentrated on an acting career with roles in "The Social Network" and on "Saturday Night Live," and has been involved in a relaunch of Myspace.
At press time "Suit & Tie" -- still percolating here at Pop & Hiss headquarters after half a dozen spins -- was at No. 1 on iTunes' singles chart.
Black Sabbath to release new album, '13,' in June
Live review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs are positively explosive
Punk band the Bronx releases first new album in five years


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Weather Forecast for November 8 | Skymet Weather
08 Nov 2018 11:06 AM
Weather Forecast for November 8 | Skymet Weather
The well-marked low-pressure area has weakened into a low pressure area over Comorin and adjoining Sri Lanka.
A Cyclonic Circulation is over South China Sea and adjoining Gulf of Thailand which will emerge in the Andaman Sea, The system will induce a low pressure area over Andaman Sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal.
A Cyclonic Circulation is over East Assam and adjoining areas.
A Cyclonic Circulation is over South Chhattisgarh.
Massive preparations underway to fight cyclone Fani, Here's how you can protect yourself and family
More than 100 posts
Added new video
BCCI selection committee to announce India's 15 member squad for ICC World Cup today
The first round of polling in the seven-phase Lok Sabha election was held on Thursday.
Five violations, all from Karnataka, were reported on Facebook during this period and all have been removed.
Micro-blogging site Twitter has removed two accounts while action on 39 others is awaited.
LS polls: More than 500 posts, ads with objectionable content removed from social media platforms
Film industry in 'dangal' over Lok Sabha polls!
Shah Rukh Khan's 'Fauji' director Colonel Raj Kapoor dead at 87
Aditya Roy Kapur not DATING anyone, says happy and single
Actress-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar SLAPS a man who misbehaved with her during a rally in Bengaluru; VIDEO VIRAL
SC orders parties to reveal details of donations made via Electoral Bonds before May 30
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi files contempt plea in SC against Rahul Gandhi's 'Chowkidar Chor hai' remark
English post test
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Hi, I am quite new to OpenMP and I am trying to understand the concepts.
I have already used OpenMP instructions to parallelize a part of a Fortran program but I am not sure if I understand the function of the threads. By playing with the number of the threads (hardcoded inside the program) I see that there is no significant difference in speed. In fact, I would expect that using one thread would get me back to my serial setting (speed-wise). However, even with one thread, the code runs as fast as with 2,4, ..., 10 or more threads, and much faster than the serial version. After some point in thread number I see a slowdown.
Can anyone explain what all this means? The machine on which the code runs has 64 quad-core CPU's.


text:
As an organization, we want to thank those of you who have begun the discussion about Prajwala and the flesh trade on facebook. We appreciate your continued efforts as they truly make a difference.
To enhance your current efforts, please also "like" the official Prajwala fanpage on facebook found here.
Our dream is that the fan page will be a platform to hold discussions, share ideas, provide updates, and connect thousands of anti-trafficking crusaders from around the world.
Please join us and thank you for your support.


text:
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
Recalling the guidance provided in decision VII/30 on the identification, development and use of indicators and ways of communicating progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target,
Emphasizing the value of indicators to evaluate achievements and progress in the implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity,
Aware of the need for strengthening national capacities, especially in developing countries, in particular the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition, to enable them to contribute to the indicators used for assessing progress towards the 2010 target and, where so desired by Parties, to use the same indicators at the regional, subregional, national and local levels as tools for the implementation of the Convention and of national biodiversity strategies and action plans,
1. Welcomes the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Indicators for Assessing Progress Towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/10/INF/7);
2. Expresses its appreciation to:
(a) The Governments of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America for their financial support of the meeting;
(b) Other Governments and organizations for the participation of their representatives;
(c) The Co-Chairs and all the members of the Group for their contributions;
3. Confirms the suitability of those indicators considered by the Conference of the Parties as ready for immediate testing and use;
4. Considers the following indicators ready for immediate testing, while recognizing that data availability and/or indicator methodology may require improvement prior to 2010:
(a) Change in status of threatened species;
(b) Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated animals, cultivated plants, and fish species of major socio-economic importance;
(c) Area of forest, agricultural and aquaculture ecosystems under sustainable management;
(d) Trends in invasive alien species; [9]/
(e) Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems;
5. In respect to the indicators mentioned in paragraph 4 above,
given the broad nature of these indicators, recommends that various sources of data could be used, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) The application of the Red List Index approach, developed by the Red List Consortium (IUCN, BirdLife International, Conservation International and NatureServe), to selected taxonomic and ecological/functional groups for which data exist, as an indicator of Change in status of threatened species;
(b) The use of suitable data on both in situ and ex situ conservation, including genetic diversity of tree species of socio-economic importance, as an indicator of Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated animals, cultivated plants, and fish species of major socio-economic importance;
(c) The use of a range of parameters, including, where appropriate, but not limited to, the area under certified production systems, biological corridors, and areas under community management, as an indicator of Area of forest, agricultural and aquaculture ecosystems under sustainable management;
(d) Recognizing the limited global data on invasive alien species and the lack of a consistent approach towards calculating cost of alien invasions, to draw on the information available at the national level and data available through the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN);
(e) The initial application of the indicator on Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems to forest and inland water ecosystems;
6. Further recommends the urgent development of the indicators identified by the Conference of the Parties and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its tenth meeting as requiring further work;
7. Reaffirms the importance for the relevant open-ended working groups to develop global headline indicators on the Status of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and on the Status of access and benefit-sharing;
8. Invites the organizations listed in annex I to this recommendation to contribute the data and analysis required for the delivery of the indicators, and the Parties and other Governments to facilitate this task, including by collecting and sharing information relevant to each indicator, inter alia by contributing such information to relevant databases;
9. Invites Parties, other Governments, and national, regional and international organizations that have data sets relevant to assessing progress towards the 2010 target to contribute pro-actively through the provision of relevant information to the realization of the second edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook;
10. Notes that the indicators can be used to assess progress towards the goals and sub-targets adopted in decision VII/30 as set out in annex II to this recommendation;
11. Calls for urgent increased capacity-building efforts and financial support to developing countries, in particular the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition, to the organizations listed in annex I to the present recommendation to facilitate their contributions to the use, testing and further development of the indicators relevant to the 2010 target.
12. Requests the Executive Secretary to:
(a) Develop an overall delivery plan for the indicators, data and analyses, taking into account the timetable for developing the Global Biodiversity Outlook, clarifying the arrangements and responsibilities for development and delivery of the indicators, setting out the roles of the Secretariat, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-WCMC), and other relevant international organizations, taking into account information provided through national reports, voluntary reports, indicators in use by Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations;
(b ) Prepare a full characterization of the methods, technical limitations and the availability of data sources for the calculation of the indicators, and the validity of making global estimates;
(c) Report on progress made in the development of the indicators listed in annex I to this recommendation at the eleventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and, if necessary, and subject to the availability of resources, convene another meeting of an ad hoc technical expert group to facilitate this task and provide additional scientific advice to the Subsidiary Body;
(d) Develop and submit, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eighth meeting, an information strategy to ensure that the indicators, data and analyses are periodically available over the coming years to support policy intervention and communication with respect to the 2010 target;
(e) Explore options for reporting on the impact of climate change on biological diversity, using the framework of indicators relevant to the 2010 target and report thereon to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its eleventh meeting;
(f) Explore options for the identification of process indicators for the four global goals for the Strategic Plan of the Convention, and report thereon to the Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its eleventh meeting.
13. Invites the Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity to consider the linkages between the process for assessing progress towards the 2010 target, including the use of indicators, and national reporting, with a view to streamlining future national reporting.
Annex I
Headline Indicator [10]/
Potential Measures
Data available now?
Method-ology available now?
Possible sources of data
Organizations to coordinate delivery of indicator
Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems, and habitats [12]/
Forests, and forest types (e.g. mangroves)
FRA (FAO); EU-JRC, NASA Modland; Corine land cover (see appendix 2 to the AHTEG report)
UNEP-WCMC (with FAO, NASA-NGO Conservation Working Group and other relevant partners)
Various national datasets and remote-sensing (see appendix 2 to the AHTEG report)
Coral reefs
National regional datasets and remote-sensing (see appendix 2 to the AHTEG report), MA
(Natural) grasslands
Remote-sensing (see appendix 2 to the AHTEG report), MA
Remote-sensing( see appendix 2 to the AHTEG report), MA
Inland wetlands
Tidal flats/estuaries
Seagrass Atlas, MA
Dry and sub-humid lands
LADA, Remote-sensing (see appendix 2), MA
Remote-sensing (see appendix 2), MA
Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species
Living Planet Index
UNEP-WCMC (WWF, Birdlife International and others, encouraged to review and refine methodology for calculation of index; These groups and IUCN encouraged to compare and share data with that used for the Red List Index.) Indices could be developed from data disaggregated (e.g.: migratory species, wetland species))
Various species assemblage-trends indices
Birdlife International and partners, others
Coverage of protected areas
Coverage according to World List of Protected areas.
Ecological networks and corridors
Could be developed
MBC, PEEN etc.
Overlays with areas of key importance to biodiversity
WCMC, WCPA, BirdLife International
Inclusion on community and private protected areas
Management effectiveness
Change in status of threatened species
Red List Index (IUCN-SSC)
Red List Consortium
Red List Consortium (Methodological refinements requested)
Existing data sets for measuring sustainability of agriculture, aquaculture and forestry, including FAO reports, Certification, and Ecological corridors and community-based management areas, and wildlife sustainable management schemes
FAO reports;
Certification bodies (e.g., FSC, MSC, ISO, PEFC, CSA, SFI, LEI); MBC; Parties
UNEP-WCMC with FAO
Proportion of products derived from sustainable sources
Equilibrium/WWF/World Bank/TNC intend to propose some indicators
Ecological footprint and related concepts
Ecological footprint
Ecological Footprint network
Other measures of the area of land and sea needed to support production of goods and deliver services
SCBD and UNEP-WCMC
Nitrogen deposition
Available (INI)
models for 2010 could be developed with additional effort
INI with UNEP-WCMC
Trends in invasive alien species [14]/
Numbers and cost of alien invasive species
Yes - some areas
Various, particularly national data sets
Other measures to be identified and developed
Marine Trophic Index
Available (UBC)
Water quality of freshwater ecosystems
Indicator of biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrates and sediments/ turbidity
UNEP-GEMS/Water Programme
Trophic integrity of other ecosystems
SCBD to assemble available information
Connectivity / fragmentation of ecosystems
Patch size distribution of terrestrial habitats (forests and possibly other habitat types)
NASA Consortium; CI; WWF-US based on remote sensing data
UNEP-WCMC (with FAO, CI, NASA-NGO Conservation Working Group and USDA-FS)
Fragmentation of river systems
Incidence of human-induced ecosystem failure
(see notes)
SCBD to assemble available information for later consideration
Health and well-being of communities who depend directly on local ecosystem goods and services [15]/
To be identified
Biodiversity for food and medicine
FAO, IPGRI, WHO and others
Status and trends of linguistic diversity and numbers of speakers of indigenous languages
Under review
UNESCO World Atlas of Endangered Languages; Ethnologue: Languages of the World - Fifteenth Edition
UNESCO with UNEP-WCMC
(Smithsonian Institution requested to explore possible application of Red List methodology)
Other indicator of the status of indigenous and traditional knowledge
To be considered by the Working Group on Article 8(j) (possibly including land-tenure of indigenous and local communities)
Indicator of access and benefit-sharing
To be considered by the Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing
Official development assistance provided in support of the Convention
Official development assistance as marked
Donor countries encouraged to mark data
OECD (OECD is working on this for a trial period)
Indicator of technology transfer
Countries invited to submit information. The Expert Group on Technology Transfer may wish to consider this matter.
Annex II
Goals and targets
Relevant headline indicators
Protect the components of biodiversity
Goal 1. Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biomes
Target 1.1: At least 10% of each of the world's ecological regions effectively conserved.
Most relevant indicator:
Other relevant indicators:
Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats
Target 1.2: Areas of particular importance to biodiversity protected
Relevant indicators:
Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species
Goal 2. Promote the conservation of species diversity
Target 2.1: Restore, maintain, or reduce the decline of populations of species of selected taxonomic groups.
Other relevant indicator:
Target 2.2: Status of threatened species improved.
Goal 3. Promote the conservation of genetic diversity
Target 3.1: Genetic diversity of crops, livestock, and of harvested species of trees, fish and wildlife and other valuable species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained.
Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated animals, cultivated plants, and fish species of major socio-economic importance
Biodiversity used in food and medicine
(indicator under development)
Promote sustainable use.
Goal 4. Promote sustainable use and consumption
Target 4.1: Biodiversity-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed, and Production areas managed consistent with the conservation of biodiversity.
Most relevant indicators:
Area of forest, agricultural and aquaculture ecosystems under sustainable management
Proportion of products derived from sustainable sources (indicator under development)
Marine trophic index
Water quality in aquatic ecosystems
Target 4.2 Unsustainable consumption, of biological resources, or that impacts upon biodiversity, reduced.
Relevant indicator:
Ecological footprint and related concepts (indicator under development)
Target 4.3: No species of wild flora or fauna endangered by international trade.
Address threats to biodiversity.
Goal 5. Pressures from habitat loss, land use change and degradation, and unsustainable water use, reduced.
Target 5.1: Rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats decreased.
Goal 6. Control threats from invasive alien species
Target 6.1: Pathways for major potential alien invasive species controlled.
Trends in invasive alien species
Target 6. 2: Management plans in place for major alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species.
Goal 7. Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change, and pollution
Target 7.1: Maintain and enhance resilience of the components of biodiversity to adapt to climate change.
Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems
Target 7.2: Reduce pollution and its impacts on biodiversity.
Goal 8. Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods
Target 8.1: Capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services maintained.
Biodiversity used in food and medicine (indicator under development)
Target 8.2: biological resources that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care, especially of poor people maintained.
Health and well-being of communities who depend directly on local ecosystem goods and services
Biodiversity used in food and medicine
Goal 9 Maintain socio-cultural diversity of indigenous and local communities
Target 9.1 Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices.
Additional indicators to be developed
Target 9.2: Protect the rights of indigenous and local communities over their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including their rights to benefit-sharing.
Indicator to be developed
Goal 10. Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources
Target 10.1: All transfers of genetic resources are in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and other applicable agreements.
Target 10.2: Benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources shared with the countries providing such resources.
Goal 11: Parties have improved financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement the Convention
Target 11.1: New
and additional financial resources are transferred to developing country
Parties, to allow for the effective implementation of their commitments
under the Convention, in accordance with Article 20.
Most relevant
Official development assistance provided in
support of the Convention
Target 11.2: Technology is transferred to developing country Parties, to allow for the effective implementation of their commitments under the Convention, in accordance with its Article 20, paragraph.
Annex III
AHTEG Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group
BOD Biochemical oxygen demand
CBD Convention on Biological Diversity
CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
CI Conservation International
COP Conference of the Parties
CSA Canadian Standards Association
DADIS Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of FAO
EGTT Expert Group on Technology Transfer
EU-JRC Joint Research Centre of the European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FRA Forest Resources Assessment of FAO
FSC Forest Stewardship Council
GBO Global Biodiversity Outlook
GCRMN Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
GEMS Global Environment Monitoring System of UNEP
GISIN Global Invasive Species Information Network
GISP Global Invasive Species Programme
ICSU International Council for Science
IGBP International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
INI International Nitrogen Initiative: a Joint Programme of SCOPE and IGBP
IPGRI International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
ISO International Organization for Standardization
IUCN The World Conservation Union
LADA Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands, a project of FAO
LEI Lembaga Ekolabeling Institute
LPI Living Planet Index
MA Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
MBC Meso-American Biological Corridor
MSC Marine Stewardship Council
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NGO non-governmental organization
ODA official development assistance
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PEEN Pan-European Ecological Network
PEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes
PGRFA plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
REFORGEN The FAO Global Information System on Forest Genetic Resources
RLI Red List Index
SBSTTA Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice
SCBD Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
SCOPE ICSU Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment
SFI Sustainable Forestry Initiative
SINGER System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources (for CGIAR)
SOW1 first report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. FAO, Rome 1997.
SSC Species Survival Commission of IUCN
TNC The Nature Conservancy
UBC University of British Columbia
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP-WCMC World Conservation Monitoring Centre of UNEP
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
WCPA World Commission on Protected Areas of IUCN
WHO World Health Organization
WIEWS World Information and Early Warning System on PGRFA
WRI World Resources Institute
WWF World Wide Fund for Nature
WWF-US World Wildlife Fund United States
[9]/ SBSTTA recommends a rewording of the title of this indicator from that contained in decision VII/30 (Numbers and cost of alien invasions).
[10]/ Bold = Indicator considered ready for immediate testing and use (column B in decision VII/30);
Bold italic = Indicator considered ready for immediate testing and use and
therefore recommended for upgrading from column C to column B;
Regular = Indicator confirmed as requiring more work (to remain in column C)
[11]/ B = Indicator is considered ready for immediate testing and use; C = Indicator requires further work
[12]/ Based on current and short-term future availability of trend information, the following major ecosystem types are recommended for immediate indicator implementation: (i) forests (including different forest types, notably mangroves), (ii) peatlands (probably for certain geographic areas only by 2010), (iii) coral reefs, (iv) croplands, (v) grasslands/savannahs, (vi) polar/ice. Efforts should also be made to apply the indicator to the following ecosystem types, for which suitable global datasets need to be gathered, to ensure coverage of all thematic areas recognized by the Convention: (i) inland wetlands, (ii) tidal flats/estuaries, (iii) seagrass beds, (iv) dry and sub-humid lands, and (v) urban.
[13]/ New indicator recommended by SBSTTA at its tenth meeting.
[14]/ SBSTTA recommends a rewording of the title of this indicator from that contained in decision VII/30 (Numbers and cost of alien invasions).
[15]/ The indicator from decision VII/30 (Health and well-being of people living in biodiversity-based-resource dependent communities) was reworded to clarify the focus on local dependency.


text:
switchedTuesday, February 18th, 2014 | tags: easily pleased, fix it, homestead history, user experience |
Flicking these white plastic switches had no effect on the lights they're supposed to control. Unscrewing the faceplate showed that a small piece of plastic that acted as a 'catch' for the switch was broken. I needed to replace the faceplate and switch mechanism.
All the light switches in the Wendy House are the same style. Another one feels like it will break soon, frequently failing to work. I wanted to replace all of them with switches that have a firm action, are well made mechanically, are good looking, compliment the House style. I took my design brief to a local retail DIY store.
The switches were displayed to show their faceplate, they were packaged in a way that prevented me seeing the mechanical action, materials and quality. Darn.
I chose flat, reflective-nickel, switches. Black to compliment the old oak beams in my ceiling and wrought Iron door furniture. Black to make the switches easier to see against the light walls in the dark when I'm fumbling to turn them on. Unfortunately, the behind the scenes mechanism is deeper than the back-fittings of my old plastic switches. Replacing them was not just a process of swapping the plates and re-wiring. The masonry drill came out and the wall hole had to be made deeper. A bigger job than anticipated. Why aren't switch box sizes a standard? Pah!
Now I'm loving my new sleek nickel switches, they have a very pleasing action with a good 'thunk' when they fall.


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The coach took shots at the U.S. team's quarterfinal appearance in the 2002 World Cup ("Just because you won a game in the World Cup in the knockout stage, you haven't won anything"). He called out his star player ("[Clint Dempsey] hasn't made s---. You play for Fulham? Yeah, so?"). And he questioned Landon Donovan's future with the national squad ("The ultimate call is mine on whether he fits into my plans or doesn't fit into my plans").
For the first time since taking over for Bob Bradley 18 months ago, Klinsmann is no longer filling the role of the positive players' coach that we have become used to seeing. Let's just say he is now sounding less like Tony Dungy and more like Bobby Knight.
Thing may have just gotten real.
While Klinsmann has often spoken about how consistent playing time on the club level was more important than the team or league in which they play for (Klinsmann advised Terrance Boyd to play in Austria and Freddy Adu to move to Major League Soccer rather than remain in bigger European leagues), he changed his tone during January's training camp in Carson, Calif. Klinsmann was pleased when Dempsey signed with Tottenham last summer, but now that's not good enough.
Tottenham isn't Barcelona, after all.
"Show me you can play for a Champions League team, and then you start on a Champions League team," Klinsmann told the WSJ. "There is always another level. If you one day reach the highest level then you've got to confirm it, every year."
At age 29, Dempsey may be running out of time to feature for a competitive Champions League team, but there is still hope. Spurs barely missed out on a Champions League spot last year and the club is currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League, meaning that if the season were to end today they'd be all but a lock to play in Europe's top competition.
Donovan, 30, on the other hand, had publicly contemplated retirement after last year's MLS Cup. The LA Galaxy announced earlier this week that he will return to the club for another season. The good news for his national team career is that he's playing steady minutes on a club level. The bad news is he's playing for an MLS club with no move to Europe in sight. The even worse news is that he's late for the Galaxy's training camp in what LA coach Bruce Arena described as "an extended leave of absence."
The new Klinsmann isn't pleased by Donovan's attitude. He told Donovan to stay home for this month's camp and next month's Hexagonal opener in Honduras. "It will be defined over the next year what his role with the national team is," Klinsmann told the newspaper. "But the ultimate call is mine on whether he fits into my plans or doesn't fit into my plans."
The timing of Klinsmann's criticism isn't all too surprising. It was just over three months ago when the U.S. team lost to Jamaica and dropped to third in its World Cup qualifying group, causing many to question if the Americans even deserved a spot in the Hex. The stakes are much higher now, and his players should be humbled before their trip to Honduras on Feb. 6. The next 10 games decide if the United States qualifies for the World Cup.
Klinsmann says "there is a difference between arrogance and confidence." He's trying to keep his stars on earth, and rightfully so. What has the U.S. team won lately – or ever?


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SKY REPORTER: March 2011
by Steve Beyer on
On Tuesday March 1st the Sun is in the direction of stars in the constellation Aquarius.
In New York City that morning civil twilight begins at 6:03 a.m. followed by sunrise at 6:30. The following evening sunset is at 5:47 and civil twilight concludes at 6:14 p.m.
Sunrise is defined as the time when the top edge of the solar disk reaches the horizon. Sunset is when that edge is again at the horizon and descending. Civil twilight occurs at times before sunrise and after sunset when the center of the Sun's disk is less than six degrees of arc from the horizon. That angle is about equal to the width of three fingers of your fist, seen with arm fully extended. During civil twilight in good weather it is usually possible to read outdoors without the help of artificial light.
In March average overnight temperatures recorded in Central Park by Belvedere Castle rise from 31 degrees Fahrenheit on the first, to 39 degrees on the 31st.
Jupiter is low in the west and sets at 7:59 p.m. at the beginning of this month. The big planet is then in the constellation Cetus, just inside the northwest corner of its border with Pisces. Sixth magnitude Uranus sets at 7:17 p.m. on the evening of March 1st.
At the start of this month Mercury and Mars are too close to the Sun's direction for observation. Although Mars remains in this unfavorable zone throughout March, Mercury, in the evening sky, becomes increasingly separated from the Sun's direction as weeks pass. During this time Jupiter moves progressively lower in the west sky, and by month's end it's lost in the glare of twilight.
Meanwhile Saturn becomes more conveniently placed for evening observations. It rises at 8:32 p.m. on March 1st. Always brilliant Venus remains prominent in the eastern pre-dawn sky all month.
If the sky is clear on a night in early March, you might like to participate in the project called Globe at Night designed to survey astronomical seeing conditions at reporting locations worldwide. Observations for this endeavor are underway from February 21st through March 6th.
New Moon is on Friday the fourth.
Springtime evenings can often offer good opportunities for locating Mercury, during years when the planet is near its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun during this season. It is especially true on nights when a crescent moon is in Mercury's vicinity to serve as a marker. During spring evenings substantial angles the zodiac makes with the western horizon have potential for keeping Mercury in the sky for longer periods after sunset than at other times of the year. Corresponding good opportunities for seeing Mercury occur in the eastern predawn sky during autumn.
On the evening of Sunday March 6th at 7 p.m. a narrow crescent moon may be seen low in the western sky six degrees to the right of Jupiter and nine degrees above the horizon. This height is about the same angular span as the width of your fist seen at arm's length.
On Thursday March 10th the waxing moon is just a few degrees from the Pleiades (PLEA-ah-deez) open star cluster in Taurus. Located at a distance of about 370 light years from the Solar System, this cluster of several hundred stars, of which six or seven may be individually visible to the unaided eye, is also identified as Messier 45.
The night of Saturday March 12th, the First Quarter moon is in the direction of the constellation Taurus, between stars Zeta Tauri and El Nath, objects that traditionally marked horn tips of the celestial Bull. This night the supernova remnant known as the Crab Nebula, and number one in Messier's catalogue, is about halfway between the moon and Zeta, the more southerly of the two Taurus horn tip stars.
First recorded observations of a brilliant supernova that produced the Crab Nebula were made in China on July 4, 1054. The object is located 6,300 light years from us and has a diameter of about 10 light years. In its heart is a neutron star that spins 30 times per second. Also known as a pulsar, the object contains about the same mass as the Sun but crushed into a volume just a few miles in diameter. Its apparent magnitude is a faint 8.4 and M1 has an apparent diameter in our sky about 1/8 that of the moon. Although a telescope and dark sky are required to observe the Crab Nebula, on this night the moon provides an indication of where M1 is located in our sky.
Daylight Time begins at two a.m. Sunday March 13th, with our clocks springing ahead by one hour.
By 7:30 p.m. at the end of civil twilight Monday March 14th Jupiter is ten degrees, about one fist length seen at arm's length, above the western horizon. It's also just two degrees of arc to the upper left of Mercury. Use the lure of bright Jupiter shining at magnitude -2 to guide your view toward Mercury, currently 2.5 times less vivid. The following evening at that time Jupiter may be seen slightly lower than Mercury. Binoculars provide considerable benefit when seeking a glimpse of elusive Mercury. However, you also need a clear view toward the western horizon, such as vistas from the eastern side of the Hudson.
On the evening of Wednesday the 16th at 7:30, Jupiter may be seen as having lost altitude while Mercury is slightly further from the horizon than it appeared in previous nights at that time. The two planets are juxtaposed with Jupiter at an horizon elevation of 8 degrees at 7:30 p.m., now appearing two degrees to the lower left of Mercury.
Full Moon is on Saturday the 19th, when the lunar disk is located within boundaries of the constellation Virgo. March's Full Moon was referred to as the "Worm Moon" in Algonquian traditions. The general area between bright stars of the constellations Leo and Virgo is the direction toward the largest assembly of galaxies in the Milky Way's region. The gigantic elliptical galaxy M87 is located 50 million light years from us at the center of the Virgo supercluster that includes several thousand member galaxies.
The next evening, March 20th, a waning but still brilliant gibbous moon moves further east in Virgo to a location about four degrees east of the star Spica (SPY-ca) and 10 degrees south of Saturn. Use your hand to shield the eyes from lunar glare to more easily spot first magnitude Spica and the sixth planet from the Sun, shining at magnitude 0.4. Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo and is at a distance is about 260 light years from the Solar System.
Earth and Saturn are currently on the same side of the Sun. Earth is racing along in its solar orbit at 18 miles per second as it catches up to the more leisurely moving ringed behemoth which orbits nearly 10 times further from the Sun than Earth at just one-third Earth's speed. On the night of the 20th Earth and Saturn are about 790 million miles apart.
Spring begins in the northern hemisphere at 7:21 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time March 20th. At that moment, the center of the Sun's disk is directly above Earth's equator at a mid-Pacific point, about 1,600 miles southwest of Hawaii and 550 miles east of tiny Howland Island. That was the erstwhile stopover point never reached on Amelia Earhart's ill-fated around the world flight attempt in 1937.
During the late 18th century French astronomer Charles Messier sought fame by discovering comets. However, during this quest he often wasted time tracking fuzzy spots in the sky that resembled comets but lacked comets' motion relative to background stars. Not wishing to repeat the diversions, Messier kept careful records of his celestial red herrings. During subsequent years, as astronomical technology developed, many objects on Messier's list of bogus comets came to be understood as scientifically intriguing and often esthetically beautiful in their own right. In addition to providing gold mines of information for professional astronomers, many of the 110 objects eventually included on Messier's list (including some discovered by his colleague Pierre Méchain) are now seen as prime targets for observers interested in seeking and personally viewing cosmic gems.
Messier objects are often referred to simply by their "M" catalogue numbers, some are also known by names such as The Great Nebula in Orion (M42), and the Andromeda galaxy (M31).
Although several Messier objects such as the Pleiades star cluster and Orion Nebula may be visible to unaided eyes in urban locales, many others can be sighted with the help of binoculars, especially if one is looking from dark sky locations far from artificial lights. All objects on the list may be seen over time, with varying degrees of difficulty, by knowledgeable sky watchers from dark sky sites using moderate sized telescopes.
Although Messier objects are present in our night sky over a progression of evenings throughout the year, late March provides the best opportunity for seeing all 110 objects on a single night. Attempting to do so is a feat known as a "Messier Marathon." The distribution of these objects in our sky combines with the Sun's position along the ecliptic to allow this annual window of opportunity. However the venture is a considerable challenge, even for experienced, well-equipped observers. In years when a New Moon occurs during late March, thereby reducing interference from the lunar glow, many intrepid observers in mid-northern latitudes stay at their telescopes through the night with Messier's list in hand.
Unfortunately 2011 is not an optimal year for doing the Messier Marathon. During the last weeks of this month light from bright gibbous and crescent moons tend to overwhelm faint Messier objects. Although completing the full Messier Marathon is unlikely, the brighter catalogue members are certainly available this month for our viewing pleasure.
On Saturday March 26th the Moon is at its Last Quarter phase, located in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, and it rises at 2:19 a.m. EDT. The Moon is then located near some of the sky's basic references: the ecliptic, the summer solstice, the equator of the Milky Way, and the direction to a supermassive black hole located about 26,000 light years from us at the Galactic center.
March 31st, in the eastern sky at about 6:30 A.M., a thin waning crescent moon may be seen low in the east-southeast, five degrees to the upper left of brilliant Venus, shining at magnitude -4.0.
The daily duration of time the Sun is above the horizon increases during March by a total of one hour 21 minutes. On the last day of the month civil twilight begins at 6:14 a.m. with Sunrise arriving at 6:41. The Sun sets that evening at 7:19, followed 28 minutes later by the end of civil twilight. Our nearest star's direction is then within boundaries of the constellation Pisces.


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Alessandro Santin, MD
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; Disease Aligned Research Team Leader, Gynecologic Oncology Program, Yale Cancer Center; Co-Chief, Section of Gynecologic Oncology
Departments & Organizations
Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences: Cancer Biology Group | Discovery to Cure | Gynecologic Oncology Program: Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery Program; Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program | Reproductive Sciences: Discovery to Cure Internship; Santin Lab | Women's Reproductive Health Research Career Development Center
Virology Laboratories
WHRY Pilot Project Program Investigators
Yale Cancer Center: Developmental Therapeutics | Gynecologic Oncology Program: Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery Program; Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program | K12 Calabresi Immuno-Oncology Training Program (IOTP)
Yale Medicine
Office of Cooperative Research
Dr. Alessandro D. Santin, a native of Italy, graduated with honors from the University of Brescia, Italy and received his postgraduate training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the same University. He served a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of California, Irvine and an International Fellowship in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2000 he became a Clinical Assistant Professor and in 2004 an Associate Professor with Tenure in the same Division.
Dr. Santin joined the faculty in the Section of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale as Professor as of July 2008. He was the recipient of the American Association young investigator award and the Italian Society of Gynecologic Oncologists award for translational science. Dr. Santin has more that 100 original research and peer-reviewed publications including multiple review articles and book chapters and he has written extensively on various topics, including cancer of the ovary, endometrium and cervix as well as on tumor immunology and immunotherapy.
Dr. Santin's clinical interests include cancer of the ovary, uterus, vagina, cervix and vulva; intraperitoneal chemotherapy, tumor immunology and immunotherapy; tumor angiogenesis, radiation biology and experimental therapeutics in Gynecologic Oncology. His current research interests include immunotherapy for ovarian and endometrial carcinomas refractory to standard treatment modalities; development of therapeutic vaccines against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infected genital tumors, and the use of monoclonal antibodies against chemotherapy resistant gynecologic malignancies.
Dr. Santin is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the Gynecologic Oncology Group, the American Medical Association, the American Society of Immunologists, the Italian Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Education & Training
|University of Brescia School of Medicine (1989)
|University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
|University of California - Irvine Medical Center
|University of Brescia School of Medicine
|Board Certification
|Italian Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Obstetrics & Gynecology (1993)
Honors & Recognition
Genetics Institute Young Investigator Award.American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (1999)
Professional Service
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (2011 - Present) Scientific SGO Program Committee Member, 42nd Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer, March 6-9, 2011, Orlando, FL
Board Member (2008 - Present) 2008-present, Member, Board of Permanent Officer, Yale University. 2009-present, Member, Protocol Review Committee, Smilow Yale Cancer Center. 2009-present, Director Elective/Subinternship in Gynecol/Oncol Yale University. 2010-present , Member of the Senior Appointments and Promotions Committee Yale University. 2012-present: Leader Disease Aligned Research Team in Gyn Oncology, Smilow Cancer Center.


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Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
major macro economic indicators
|2018 (e)
|2019 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average. %)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e): Estimate. (f): Forecast.
- Abundant mineral resources (copper, cobalt, diamond, gold, tin)
- Significant hydroelectric potential
- International involvement and regional cooperation in resolving conflicts in the Great Lakes re-gion
- Debt relief under the HIPC and MDR initiatives
- Tensions in the east of the country, where there are many armed groups, including Forces Dé-mocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, Allied Democratic Forces and the Mai-Mai militia
- Precarious humanitarian situation in the Kasai region, leading to tensions with Angola
- Unsolved political crisis since the Supreme Court's decision to postpone the 2016 presidential elections
- Extremely dependent on commodity prices
- Weak infrastructure (transport, energy, telecommunications)
- Poor governance and weak institutions
- High level of poverty
The mining sector masks weakness in domestic demand
Growth is expected to continue to increase in 2019, mainly driven by the mining sector. Ore exports, particularly copper and cobalt, should continue to grow, in line with production trends. However, the temporary closure of the Kamoto mine, due to problems with uranium content in the cobalt hydroxide produced by the facility, will likely limit production gains in 2019. At the same time, the shut-down should support cobalt prices, which have fallen from a record high in March 2018. The mining sector should also continue to attract private investment, although implementation of a new mining code, which is of concern to firms in the sector, could dampen investments. Among other things, the new code increases taxes and royalties, requires at least 10% of mining companies' capital to be held by Congolese citizens, and prohibits, unless otherwise agreed, the export of unprocessed minerals under new mining permits. Thanks to the increase in mining revenues, but also thanks to external financing under the National Strategic Development Plan, public investment, particularly in infrastructure development, should also increase. A severe deterioration in the political and security situation in the country following the elections could, however, have an impact on external financing. The contribution from private consumption is expected to remain sluggish due to the many conflicts, the Ebola epidemic in the east, and persistently high inflation, in a country where nearly 75% of people live in poverty.
A fragile external position
After being burdened by the organisation of elections in 2018, the budget balance is expected to return to a small surplus in 2019. Still largely dominated by a heavy wage bill, spending is set to increase, particularly in security, health (to contain Ebola), and infrastructure. The increase in taxes and royalties in the mining sector (about 30% of total revenues) should nevertheless make it possible to absorb this increase in expenditure. As debt is still at a low level and largely concessional, the risk of over-indebtedness remains limited.
The current account is expected to remain in deficit, pulled down by the services and income balances, which remain in deficit owing to mining services and profit repatriation respectively. The current account deficit is expected to narrow slightly, supported by the increase in the trade surplus, thanks to mining exports, and with import growth limited by weak domestic demand. FDI, which is mainly directed towards the mining sector, finances the deficit, but remains exposed to any deterioration in the security and political situation, or to a drop in commodities prices. Foreign exchange reserves, which represent just over a month of imports, would be insufficient to prevent a sharp depreciation of the Congolese franc.
A critical political, security and humanitarian situation
After two years and a week of heated postponements, following Joseph Kabila's (in power since 2001) refusal to resign from the presidency at the end of his second and constitutionally last term, the presidential, legislative, and provincial elections were finally held on December 30, 2018. Marked by numerous dysfunctions and the postponement of the vote in some constituencies (Béni, Butombo and Yumbi), the results of the election – supposed to be the first peaceful transfer of power since the country's independence (1960) – have yet to be delivered at the time of writing. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, designated as heir apparent by Mr Kabila (who does not intend to withdraw from political life and could run again in 2023), and opponents Martin Fayulu and Félix Tshisekedi have all declared themselves winners. Given that UN assistance and certain international observers were rejected prior to the vote, the electoral commission is already accused of favouring Mr Shadary. Suspicions of fraud were reinforced by the authority's decision to cut off the internet after the vote. In an already critical security and humanitarian context in some parts of the territory, this chaotic electoral process could increase fears of a period of instability and an outbreak of violence, particularly if Mr Shadary is announced as victor. The situation in Kasai, where the Kamwina Nsapu insurgency against the central government had plunged the region into violence in 2016 and 2017, could flare up again. In addition, the many armed groups in the eastern part of the country (Kivu) are continuing their exactions. Already fragile due to violence and population displacements, these regions are also affected by the Ebola virus, which has been responsible for more than 300 deaths, and is difficult to contain due to the aforementioned conflicts. Despite the work of the UN Mission for the Protection of Civilians (MONUSCO), conflicts continue to displace people. The many conflicts in the border areas are also generating regular tensions with its neighbours, particularly Angola, Rwanda, and Uganda. These many sources of political and security instability – along with corruption, weak governance and poor infrastructure – contribute to the country's extremely deteriorated business climate (184th out of 190 countries in the Doing Business 2019 ranking).
Last update: February 2019


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…but while we're on the subject, we just wanted to send our Organizing for Action supporters this quick update about how your child is probably going to be less safe and not as well cared for at his or her public school now that the cuts are kicking in. Just a casual e-mail between friends:
Friend –
Megan Allen is a fifth-grade teacher in Tampa, Florida. At her elementary school, 90 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Many live in poverty, with unstable home lives — some have parents in prison, others go hungry over the weekends. But at school, they're winning science fairs, challenging themselves, and eating two hot meals a day.
For Megan's 36 fifth graders, school is a safe place. The budget cuts known as the sequester could change that.
In the county where Megan teaches, 142 schools stand to lose $3 million in funding. The sequester could also slash as much as $2 million in federal funding for special education.
When those cuts kick in, Megan's students could lose teachers that help them every day — for example, the folks who coach them through tricky arithmetic, or give those who are having reading trouble the special attention they need. The Head Start programs that got these students ready for kindergarten will be dramatically cut down. Their class sizes could go up, leaving less time for individual attention.
The sequester isn't a list of numbers made up to scare you. It's a very real thing that will negatively impact real people — like Megan's 36 students and their families. […]
Thanks for speaking up.
Lindsay Siler
National Director of Issue Campaigns
Organizing for Action
Hmm, wasn't it President Obama's Secretary of Education Arne Duncation who performed one of the biggest sequestration-scaremongering face plants on the effects the cuts would have on teacher layoffs? Are you guys sure you're not exaggerating, maybe just a little? 'Cause this is getting really old, really fast.


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Athletics reinstate OF Young
Oakland, CA – The Oakland Athletics reinstated outfielder Chris Young from the 15-day disabled list Saturday.
Young was placed on the disabled list May 4, retroactively to April 30, due to a strained left quadriceps, which he suffered during a 19-inning marathon game against the Los Angeles Angels on April 29.
The 29-year-old Young is hitting just .172 with four homers and 15 RBI in 23 games this season.
In addition, the Athletics designated first baseman Daric Barton for assignment. Barton was selected from Triple-A Sacramento on May 8 and batted .143 with one home run and three RBI in eight games.


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Trying to find the right size and specification load foot can be a little tough. With so many sizes to choose from it can be a tricky task deciding on which one is best for the job. Read More...
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We would state that "RGS What a cracking little company, great simple catalogue and pleasant staff.
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Cherries, onions and chickens. Right now these are a few of the things "in progress" at our house. Dennis got in onion sets awhile back and they were one of the first things to go in the ground for the coming years garden. There have also been fruit trees, potatoes, brocolli and cabbage but just recently a few cherry bushes have arrived and await planting.
Gabs is extremely excited about the prospect of cherries. She got a little play kitchen for Christmas and will only offer one pie from her oven, cherry. At first we thought it was because her little plastic pie had red pie filling poking through the crust lattice but she seems all too willing to imagine brownies into being, despite not have any pretend brownies to offer. She will occasionally come into the living room and ask if anyone would like some pie and when asked for something like blackberry pie or chocolate pie she will promptly tell us that, "No. I only have cherry pie." So needless to say when Dennis explained that the little plants sitting on the kitchen table should someday have cherries Gabby was very happy. Now to explain that it will be a very long time before any fruit appears...
While Gabby has been dreaming of cherries my husband has spent the last month looking and longing for chicks on the interent. All of them feathered so don't worry, no war has broken out over his web viewing choices!
At this moment there are three egg cartons on top of the dresser in our bedroom. It's been a busy week and I've been a little oblivious to the fact that these were there. The other night when I finally noticed them and asked Dennis about them he explained that it's because our bedroom is pretty much the warmest room of the house and he has to keep the egg temperature stable for a few days. He is providing the 4-H kids at his office with some of the fertilized eggs from our flock for their hatching project. For the most part the kids merely want the experience of hatching but oddly enough their parents aren't always too keen on actually taking a chicken home. So the kids will be doing the work and we will hopefully be gaining a few new chicken children because of it.
All of those chicken websearches have also meant that Dennis has several new chicken breeds in route to the house. This time he went the egg route instead of baby chicks. I think the post office will be thankful although I have to say it was still fun getting a phone call telling us that we had chickens waiting for us. We'll be sending those eggs along to the 4-H ers with the offspring from our current chicken parents. I'm actually more interested in seeing what chicks hatch from our birds more so than the new ones. Wonder if it means I'm a grandma if any baby chicks actually come from the project? I'll definately have to tell the girls they'll be aunts, although I have a feeling Tori will try to start dressing them up if she feels she has a familial chicken connection!
I have to say that I'm more than ready for spring. It seems like this is the winter that never ends. I think if it had ever really produced a real snow I might not have been too tired of it. Neverending cold dark days with no snowflakes to give contrast to the darkness has left me realizing that I may be catching some of Dennis's dislike for the season. I've always been good with winter, even looked forward to it but for the first time ever I've started to wonder what it might be like to live in a place that has sunshine year round.
Front porch days are drawing near and I'm about as excited about it as Gabby is about her cherries. I even got to open the windows up and blow some of the stale air out of the house last night. It makes me feel like I'm in progress too. I love that feeling.
I'd gotten a little stale myself. I was sick last week and it left me feeling pretty stagnet. Once the body aches subsided I got this incredible urge to do something creative or productive or just anything that didn't involve being in the dark on the couch. My first course of action was to try and clean the house a little. I feel like my brain is cluttered when the house is a wreck. I've thrown any diet out the window and have baked banana ginger bread and brownies. I have a quiche planned soon.
I've been taking some pictures of the chickens and decided to start a new t-shirt line on our zazzle site called "Chicken Dating Service". I think it's a hazard of the trade but we librarians are a little too imaginative at times. I suppose some might think it odd that I've been sitting around coming up with dating profiles and headshots for chickens. They seriously have personalities though! And after all who wouldn't want to have a better idea of the personality of the chicken providing their eggs? Yeah...maybe I'm the only one!
Amy Morgeson - Covert Chickens http://covertchickenfarm.blogspot.com
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Daiso is a unique combination of dollar and convenient store, carrying over 100,000 types of high-quality stylish household and lifestyle products at unbeatable prices. Headquartered in Japan with business expanded to Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea, Daiso enjoys immense popularity in Asia and is opening up a new store at the rate of 1.5 store a day! In Japan alone, there are over 2,400 stores; and Daiso ranks second to Tokyo Disneyland, receiving higher brand recognition and customer satisfaction among Japanese female consumers than the world famous Sony, McDonald's, and Toyota.
First DAISO in North America
Daiso created a joint partnership with the Fairchild Group and opened its first North American location - a 26,430 sq. ft store at the new Aberdeen Centre in Richmond, B.C in December 2003. This North American flagship Daiso store was an instant success. The public immediately embraced this unique concept of a dollar store that offers the shopping experience of a trendy department store; so much so that the Richmond Daiso quickly achieved the No. 1 sales position among all 3000 + Daiso stores in Asia.
This is quite an accomplishment for a store that
just opened up for business in December 2003.


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Hi, My name is Eduardo (Harry Abreu on forum).
I don't know if it happen only with me, but I found some bugs (I think so)
I'm trying to do some simple Uv texture export like tga, I'm test it with a cube and Suzanne.
And I get this error, if I try to export map Uv I can't modify it.
I watched new tutorial on Blender org but nothing happen different.
I do some test on Linux Ubuntu 32 and 64 and Windows to.
If some one Know the solution I'll be very happy.
I do a simple record on my desktop to show the problem, the link is below.
Sorry my English.
Sorry this isn't the right place for it
Uv map problem 2.46 Solved
Feedback to the Blender Foundation and the moderators of this website
Moderators: jesterKing, stiv
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Uv map problem 2.46 Solved
Last edited by harryabreu on Thu May 29, 2008 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Letters from the Brujo
by Lord Malinov
Last week, our server became intoxicated and misdistributed a fair amount of mail. I know that politeness should have forced me to toss the letters which were obviously not mine away unread but curiosity has always had a stronger influence on me than good manners. Most of the letters sent by fate were less interesting even than my own, and I promptly obeyed etiquette and discarded those at once.. This one, however, proved more intriguing than the rest. I leave you to judge how much so.
From: email@example.com
Organization: Hotel Brujo
To: email@example.com
Date sent: Wed, 4 Dec 1996 01:49:09 -0005
Subject: Promises Kept
Priority: normal
My Darling;
I promised you that I would write you at once should any thing interesting happen to me on this trip. It had at first seemed there would be nothing to tell – the business meetings yielded no more than the crap table – but tonight has proved unexpectedly strange, and so in consideration of my promise, I will forgo a few hours of sleep to relate the episode which I have just witnessed. I think you will agree that the tale which composes this evening warrants these complimentary sheets of description.
I retired early from the tables, eager to escape the bout of poor luck that had followed me to this resort. You know how the rooms are laid at the Brujo, with the back deck overlooking the sea. I stepped out onto the deck at around eleven, breathing deeply the mist of brine, listening to the steady roar of falling waves. The moon made no appearance in the vault of heaven and the night fell dark around me. I took a seat in one of the wrought iron chairs and wondered if my luck would ever change.
No more than twenty minutes had passed when light suddenly erupted from the room next to mine – the deck is common to all of the rooms, you might recall, and so though I sat straight back of my room, nothing prevented me from seeing directly into my neighbor's room. Indeed, how could I prevent watching the goings on behind the glass, when it was illuminated with the only light in many miles, and sat no further than twelve feet from my shadowed face? A young woman and an older man of maybe fifty stood in my view.
She stepped toward me. She was an exceptionally pretty woman, with blonde hair and I fancied her eyes were blue. She dressed, at any rate, in a tight indigo cocktail dress which draped in a flattering manner over her very feminine curves. Her manner bespoke some experience, so although she looked rather young, I would have guessed her to be in her late twenties or early thirties; A young woman has natural assets in her youth, but passing time teaches a woman to make the most of those attributes. As she stood for a moment in the corner near the window, I thought she seemed nervous, or at least cautious, but at the same time I detected a bit of provocation in the easy sway of her hips.
The man seemed strong, big and muscular, although considerably older than his companion. He took off his dark suit coat and then laid it deliberately over the back of a chair, taking care to smooth any unnecessary wrinkles. He sat down on the bed and smiled.
"You are a lovely woman," he said casually. "I'm beginning to be glad that I agreed to this arrangement. You must understand this is not usually the way I do business, but your offer was simply too intriguing to be dismissed out of hand. I'm still skeptical, however, about the ultimate wisdom. Johnny owes me a great deal of money." She looked at him with a twinge of fear in her eyes.
"I can make it worthwhile – I promise." Her voice sounded desperate and yet seductive. I, myself, had little doubt she could in fact make good the debt, whatever the price. As the man eyed her carnivorously and broadened his already wide smile, he seemed to agree. This innocent looking woman had large breasts, a delicate waist, a round little ass and an angelic face. I suspected his imagination had little trouble recouping his debts.
"The thing I like," he said as she began to dance slowly and pulled a comb from her golden hair, "is that such a wholesome looking woman could be married to a crumb like Johnny. You look like a good girl, like a mother." She unzipped her dress and began to slip it off her white shoulders. "And now you're promising me satisfactions. Lady," he growled, "I'm gonna enjoy this."
The blue fabric fell to the floor, and this young mother stood before me in white lace panties and bra and the man on the bed was almost drooling as this sweet looking blonde, noticing his hunger, starts to cower in the corner, overcome by the powerful masculine demands she seems to sense in his apparent appetite. He snarled low and rolled his eyes as if to tell her that he was losing patience. She turned around so that her lacy butt was pushed towards him, and as she leaned against the window pane, I could see the glimmer of a tear streaking down her cheek. He reached forward and took hold of the elastic of her lace panties, and exposed a bit of her voluptuous behind. She pulled out of his reach, and adjusted her panties to restore the little modesty she suddenly seemed eager to retain.
"Look, lady," he said gruffly. "I'm not passing on twelve grand and a chance to fuck up Johnny just to play cat and mouse with your undergarments. I want you to drop your drawers and show me some of that pink little pussy this instant, or the deal is off. And don't get me wrong, I'll fuck you anyway, sister – maybe prorate Johnny for what I decide you're worth. But if we're really going to do business, I expect you to smile and enjoy yourself. Remember, sister, this deal was your idea, and I expect something for my money."
"Yes," she said as she abruptly pushed her panties down her white thighs. "Forgive me for trying to slow the pace, but I want to give you everything you want from me, and I just wanted to get used to you, so I can relax myself and fuck you the way you deserve to be fucked." She rubbed the naked blonde hair of her muff as she spoke. "You're a masculine man, and I'm not used to giving myself to such raw power. I usually command the rapt obedience of fancy boys with my sweet cunny. I like to see them kneel and fight for my attentions. But you are not like them. You care nothing for my favor, so long as you can steal my virtue. I'm a good woman, and you want to stick your dirty prick into my shrine," she began as she pushed her pelvis forward toward him, rubbing herself vigorously, "I despise you, and yet I think I could truly enjoy myself. I want you to forgive Johnny but not nearly as much as I want your prick in my mouth. I want your prick…" She swallowed the words in a deep throated moan and her panties fell to the floor.
"Turn around," he said, "I want to see your pussy beg for me." She turned away from him, and bent at the waist. His tongue darted from his mouth to touch the moist kiss of her cunt. She shuddered and put a hand against the glass. No more tears coursed her cheeks, but only the deep flush of her arousal as she ground her fertile gap against his face, revealing to him and to me the eagerness with which this seemingly demure woman could seek pleasure. His tongue slipped into her ass, and she growled deliriously as she fingered her clit in accompaniment.
You might, I suppose, wonder how I managed to compose myself while I witnessed these remarkable incidents. Naturally my hormones were incensed at the first display of naked flesh, a situation which had only grown more severe as the scene grew more and more sexual. It would be impossible to pinpoint the minute when my prick stiffened, and equally unlikely to discriminate the moment when I released my staff from the cloth confines and began to stroke the dragon in appreciation of the tableau that was unveiled before me. It shall suffice to say that I participated fully in the decadence as a voyeur, and took my satisfactions with as much abandon as the two lovers who entertained me.
She released his cock, and gasped when she witnessed the size of his ravenous member – it was a heavy club with a life of its own, and a hunger to match. She took hold of his staff with both hands and brought her pretty face close. The serpent leaped forward and struck her on the nose, which made her laugh a sweet giggle of exploded tension, and she slipped the hard rod between her lips, sucking down the full engorged length of his virility.
She licked his dick with enthusiasm, her yellow hair swaying with the rhythm of her devotions, her fingers teasing his dark balls and keeping the sword well aimed as she drove the head down into her throat. As she ate this ogre's cock, her pussy writhed before my eyes, her lips thickly swollen and scarlet in aroused anticipation of the invasion she craved, dripping profusely as she teased her clit with her grind. I was sorely tempted to move myself closer to the window, to take a closer look at the ass that blossomed before my eyes, but I feared the slightest movement might call their attention to me, and bring the scene to an abrupt close, or create another, far less pleasant one.
Of course, given the decadence these two randy lovers had sunk into, perhaps they would have welcomed me as another partner in their passion. As innocent as this woman had seemed at first, it had quickly become clear that two pricks would not be unappreciated by this wanton femme.
"I want you to come in my face," she said as she rubbed his cock in her hand while kissing the purple head. "I want the spray of lust that is locked in your balls to explode on my red lips and flushed white cheeks. I want to suck the fuck out of you."
He took fistfuls of golden hair in his large hands and furiously pumped her mouth over his staff. Her face grew wide-eyed with surprise and tried desperately to accept the rhythm he forced upon her, searching for moments to breathe, eager to drink the juice she teased from his balls. Suddenly he tossed her aside, leaving her staring reverently, lustfully at him and the massive glistening prick that writhed atop him.
"Take off the bra," he said and he stood as she fumbled with the clasp. "Now lay down on the bed and show me how you fuck yourself." She did as she was told, and I sat watching her fingers fiddle the pink of her soft blonde cunt. Her big nippled breasts begged to be squeezed. The guy stood alongside her, pulling on his big prong, encouraging her with promises to fuck her little cunt. At first she performed perfunctorily, but as she watched that huge dick dance, she spread her legs wide and toyed with her erect clit until she could hardly stop herself from leaping up to skewer herself on his weapon. She fucked her dripping wet pussy with her fingers madly, and even slipped a finger into her asshole during one intense flurry.
Finally, he leapt atop her, and they melted into a vast array of feverish fucks. Her blue eyes spoke helplessly of her surrender to his forceful assaults and her lean legs spread wide to welcome and encourage his dark rod deeper inside. He pounded her long and hard and she lifted her hips to meet each insistent stroke, grunting and squirming in her ardent attempt to lose herself in his fuck. Pulling her atop him, he took hold of her tense nipples in his fingers as they bounced with the same rhythm she used to ride her cunt along his staff. He took her from behind like an animal, smacking the white round flesh of her up-raised bottom, and like a horse firmly coaxed into a gallop, she moaned deeply with each slap and fucked him even harder. Her full breasts brushed the carpet as he drove his prick down into her womb. Pressing his cock into her mouth for a moment, he returned again to kneel behind her and sunk his thick cock into her asshole. The moans mixed with screams as he began to screw her down in earnest, and in an anxious moment, her whole body began to spasm with squeals and groans and I knew that all the tension of her fear was finally finding release in her orgasmic convulsions. When the tremors finally died down, I knew she would offer no more resistance, that lust had finally stolen her soul.
He withdrew the firm prick from her ass and turned her around for a kiss before he placed his staff into her mouth again. She sucked his cock like a woman crazed, eager to declare her submission and desperate to taste his hot lust. He lay her down on the bed and with a possessive kiss, he dove his prick down hard into her cunt, and after a few determined strokes, arose and was soon spewing a huge mess of sperm over her pretty, pretty face.
We all lay back in a general feeling of satisfaction, they on their bed and I in my iron chair. After a few minutes, the man rose and after pawing her drenched cunt for a lascivious moment, he dressed and after again arousing the woman's attention with a familiar fondle, he took a piece of paper from his pocket and tore it down the middle. "Tell Johnny," he said, "that you're a righteous whore. He can lose money to me anytime. You have a beautiful ass, lady. I'll give you a call." With that, he left.
She got up off the bed, and pulled her clothes back on. She picked up the torn paper, and placed the pieces in her bra. She departed.
You were brilliant. I am quite proud of you. I have no doubt that Tony left fully satisfied – decidedly more so than I am. Indeed, tonight has easily been the best performance of your career – and for such a princely sum. Twelve grand is by far the best price we've collected thus far – or at least the worst disaster we've averted. I'm feeling good about our attempt tomorrow – I can't always lose, and so long as you pay the debts, we keep our winnings. We have hit upon a perfect scheme. Rich and well-fucked.
You look so peaceful, sleeping there. I shall not wake you and satisfy the lusts you have brewed within me, but will instead let you rest. Tonight has been quite an ordeal. What will tomorrow bring? A sincere fuck from your husband, at any rate. I couldn't believe the way you sucked his prick. My jism splattered the window, and I was twelve feet away. Sexy mama.


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I found this book whilst reading some Asian Bridal Magazine (For American readers, Asian as in Indian and Pakistani descent as opposed to Chinese. I know that in the US, Asian tend to refer to Japanese/Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese etc.)
I love the strong bold looks that carry well on the strong Asian bone structure so I sourced this from Amazon.
There is a foreword in this book by Ruby Hammer, of Ruby & Millie fame, supporting the artists Naveeda & Nina Haider.
The looks are divided via color (hurrah, brides with colour!) and split into contemporary and classic looks. The classic looks are smokier and redder whereas the contemporary are fresher, has more natural lips and bright eyes.
It is a great book to look in, BUT, there is a problem with this book in that products are not listed well and the models appear to have exactly the same skintone in each section.
The models are using shades like Becca Foundation is 30 Cashew (a strong yellow tone – a lot of Asian skintones are red based), MAC Face & Body Foundation in C4 (also yellow based and I used C6 and I am not as dark toned as the models in this book. It makes me wonder if the overall effect was to give the girls lighter skin for the cameras, which would look terrible in daylight as the skin in the neck and body would be much darker.)
All the models are lighter skinned Asian models and it's a shame she doesn't try the colours on a darker tone.
For example, Stila Lip Glaze is listed a few times – but in what colour? Even if it is clear, it needs to say so.
Additionally there are absoultely NO tutorials. No advice on choosing base, on how to make up last (important for brides) or how to apply. Just a point and pick book, and presumably, should you want to do the make up yourself, you would have to figure out how to do it. I know it is called a 'look book', but I think most people buying this would expect some constructive advice,
But nevertheless, its a nice book to look at, the make up is glamourous and flawless. I recommend buying Asiana Bride Magazine instead, since it is cheaper, and has up to date looks with real s you can use if you like the look of the make up.