text:
« AnteriorContinuar »
that the extraordinary varieties found in books often owe tueir existence to the vagueness of their names, which represent ideas far removed from truth, and that the number of true varieties is much less than at first would appear.
Matlhius Sylvaticus says that the citrine apples (pomorum citrinorum, Pand. Med., p. 125,) are lour in number, the citron tree (citrus), the bi: garade tree (citrangulvs), the lemou tree (limon), aud the lime (lima vulgo dicta), which, apparently, is but the Adam's apple.
Hugo Falcandus talks of lumies (lamias), and I incline to the opinion that they are nothing else than lemons, because he says they are only fit for seasoning food (ad condicndis cibis idoneas). These are all the varieties known in Italy until the middle of the fifteenth century.
The orange tree of sweet fruit appeared about this time, and in Mathioli's day it had been followed by owly a very few varieties.
This botanist counts but three varieties of citrons—that of large fruit or citron of Genoa, the citron of Salo, and a third whose fruit is the size of a lemon.
He describes three varieties of orange trees— the sour, the sweet, and a third of mixed taste.
He speaks but of a single species of lemon tree, also ol but one species of Adam's apple, that be calls lomia.
Augustine Gallo, who wrote at very nearly the same epoch, names only three species of orangetrees—sweet, sour, and medium.
He mentions but one citron, that of Salo; only one lemon, the Adam's apple, and the limonea, which, he says, is a middle species between the Adam's apple and the lemon, and is, perhaps, a poncire.
It is surprising that Herrera, who lived after these authors, speaks only of the orauge, lemon, and azamboa or toronjo, which is the Adam's apple.
Olivier de Serres says "there are known in Italy lour species of orange trees, under the names of orange, citron, lemon, and limones, called, also, poneiles, and a filth, called Adam's apple; and of each of these four there are several sorts, differing among themselves rather in size and taste than in specie;, their form and color remaining nearly always the same." He cites the cedria, a kind of lemon, called thus in Provence, and the horned orange or bigaratle, much valued for its easy growth, adding, " there Hre sweet aud sour oranges, and others partaking of both savors. The same may be said of lemons, citrons, and ponciles." (Ouv., Theatre of Agriculture, p. 632.)
Such was the state of the family of the agrumi in Europe at the commencement of the sixteenth century, but at this tlme the commercial relations which extended themselves in the countries where these fruits were indigenous, and the multiplication and use of the seed in the culture of these plants increased prodigiously the number of varieties. Thus we see, one hundred years after, Tauara counts eighty-three species or varieties, and (his number has since increased still more rapidly, either/n tact or in appearance, until we see the numerous catalogues have become a subject of despair to the most wealthy and most zealous amateur who would form a collection.
It is impossible to follow the history of all these new varieties. Many have surely been brought from India or China; such as the little Chinese, the myrtifolium, the red orange, the monstrous citron, &c. Others have been formed in our own gardens—such as the citron of Florence, the bergauiolte, the poucires, the lust rat, and the bizaria. We have seen that this last named was born at Florence in 1644, according to the testimony of a Tuscan naturalist, who has preserved for us the history of its appearing in the gardens of that city.
We have also seen that the poncires form constantly in our gardens, whenever we follow the method of seeding.
This great multiplication of hybrids aud varieties was the natural result of this culture.
Leandro Alberti has left us details of its state in Italy, about the year 1523. Navagero, Venetian Ambassador to Charles V., has given us an idea of its progress in Spain; and the relation of the voyage in Provence of Charles IX., by Abel Jouan, enables us to judge of the prodigious multiplication at Hyeres. There remains for us to examine the progress of this culture outside of Europe.
Art. VIII.—Ihe Citrus Exotic in America— Naturalized after the Diseovery by Europeans— Proofs of this fact.
Perhaps no plant has ever spread with so much rapidity and success as the orange tree. After being propagated a short time in the temperate climes of Europe, they have passed into all the lands where Europeans carried their commerce and conquests.
The Portuguese naturalized them at Madeira, in the Canary isles, and in all their colonies in the Atlantic ocean. The Spaniards carried them to America, where, shortly after, we see those new countries, which possessed none of the trees of the old continent, presenting forests of orange trees.
It is surprising that this vast hemisphere, uniting in its extent nearly all latitudes, bad not received from Nature a tree thus suited to its soil, and which has found in its warm, moist climate a position favoring the rich vegetation with which it is endowed.
Had not the original narratives of the first Spanish discoverers of these regions, and the testimony of contemporary Historians assured us that America received from Europe these fine trees, oue would surely think them indigenous.
But this fact, reported in a very positive manner by all historians of that time, is still further strengthened by prwol's not to be doubted without renouncing the principles of just criticism.
We have but to run over the relations by the conquerors and Spamsh historians, to see that they never speak of orange trees, although they often give very brilliant descriptions of the delightful gardens of Mexico, especially those of Montezuma. The same silence respecting this tree may be noticed in relations of Peru, Brazil, and other parts of South America.
Now the orange tree is so well naturalized there, that one sees on all sides forests of them; but these forests are in places near habitations, and these trees do not exhibit marks of the great antiquity characterizing trees indigenous to the New World.
They arc generally of a medium size, although their growth is sufncieutly vigorous to smother the ancient vegetation, which is overcome on all sides where the orange tree grows.
This single fact convinced one learned traveller thut the orange tree did not exist in Paraguay and La Plata until after the discovery of America by Europeans (See Voyage in/Somu America by Felix A/ara, hk 1, p
But i> is unnecessary to resort to conjectures, when one can rely on unchallenged anthorities. I shall cite the Natural History of the Indies by Acosta, an author contemporary with the first conquesis by Europeans; the History of Peru, by Garcilasso de la Vega, and the Natural History of Brazil by Pison, whose authority is of the greatest weight. The first named thus expresses himself: |
"Among the trees carried to America by Eu- I ropenns not one has taken as rapidly as the or- I ange, lemon, citron, and other trees of this genus.
"There are now In certain parts woods of orange trees. Surprised by this. I asked the inhabitants of one isle, Who has filled the fields wilh such a great quantity of these trees? They replied that it was due to chance, as thefruils fallen from Hie trees first planted had given birth to numberless other trees; that thus, and by means ot rains carrying in all directions fruit and seeds, were formed the tufted woods seen now. This reply seemed to me very satisfactory.
"It is said tha< ibis is the most prosperous tree in the Indies, where one finds no section without orange trees, because this earth is warm and moist, a condition required for the growth of this tree.
"We do not see it in mountainous countries, but in flat lands and near the coast. I have never tasted a conserve of oranges as delicious as is made in these isles." (History, Natural and Mural, of ihe Indies, by Rev. Father Joseph d' Acosta, bk. 4. chap. 31.)
Pison expresses himself in the same way, in speakiug of Brazil. "I shall not speak," says he, "of a.l those plants of which we do not yet know the remedial virtues,or which,carried elsewhere in this country, have been well enough described before me by other writers. Such are the citron, Ihe lemon, the orange, ihe grenade, the bte of Turkey, etc." (guii.ielmi Pison Ix. History, Nat. and'Med., of Brazil, bk. 4. p. 107.)
Gareildsso de la Vega says as much relative to Pent und Chili, and this writer, descended from | the Iuchs, and who was born at Peru soon after the invasion by the Spaniards, ought In have known the state of that country before the conquest. Here are his words: "Before the Spaniards conquered Peru, it is certain that one saw there neither figs, grenades, oranges, citrons, j sour or sweet, pears, apples, apricots, quinces, | peaches, alberges, nor any of the plums which grow in Spain. But one can say wilh truth that all these truiis, and many others which I cannot remember, grow there to-day in such abundance that one cares almost nothing for litem, any more than oiher Spanish things which increase much more in those countries ol the Indies than in this realm." (Hist, of the Incas, Kings of Peru, hv the Inca, Oarcihisno de la 'Vega, bk. 9, c. 2R)
Witnesses thus positive leave no doubt upon the origin of the orange trees of America.
That vast hemisphere, whose soil is so fertile, and where is now found nearly all the plants of the Old World, had received from Nature but a certain number of vegetables, which belonged to it, and were unknown to the rest of Ihe world.
Not till after iis discovery by Europeans was it eariched with the greater part of those beautiful species given by Nature to countries far removed from it, of which the culture took rapidly in those fine climates.
This luct, whose certainty is so evident, is another convincing proof that ench country has had, originally, its species, aud that industry alone bus so mingled them in one climate as to greatly obscure their origin.
Ant. IX.—The Free Uuteet Orange Tree—Prejudices of Agricultural Writers Coneerning it* Existence—Followed by the Cultivators—Circumstanees which have made it Known in Liguria—Advantages of it* Culture—Conelusion.
It would be interesting to those investigating the history of the citrus, to know whether the orange, naturalized in America, was the sweet orange or the bigarade. I have uselessly read the writings upon the subject for the purpose of learning the truth; none of them speak in a manner to enlighten us. Yet, notwithstanding this silence, all agree that the sweet orange was carried there at the same time as the bigarade, or, at least, soon after.
The woods seen there now are, in part, of this species, and it is natural that, being cultivated iu Europe, it should be taken there by preference.
I have several times consulted planters of St. Domingo upon the nature of the orange trees of that country.
According to their reports it would appear that the sweet-fruited orange tree is still in that island—only a garden plant—multiplied by graft, and having no thorn. The bigarade tree, on the contrary, (called by them bitter oranges,) is found in the woods in a savage state; but the Spanish colonists have assured me that upon the Continent one may see woods of the two species.
It is surprising that the suceess of those plantations which renew themselves by seed, and give sweet fruii without being grafted, have not enlightened Europeans and led them to multiply these trees by seed. I have no means of ascertaining whether this method is known iu Portugal. As to Spaiu I think it is not practiced there. An attentive examination of the sweet orange trees of that country has satisfied me that all are grafted.
It is certain that the method is still ignored in Sicily aud Naples, and not more than half a century has elapsed since its introduction in Liguria.
1 do not know, indeed, of any writer on agriculture who has spoken of the sweet orange as a moiber-species, capable of perpetuating and reproducing itself by its own seed. All speak only of its multiplication by grafts, or by layers, and ihe greater part have given methods for moderating the harshness of free fruits by means of infusions of the seed, or other similar proceedings.
We read this, not only in the agriculture of Porta, Charles Etienne, Olivier<le Serres, Rozier, Gallo, &c , but again in that of Herrara, himself a Spaniard, and one who should have known the properties of lhi3 tree in America. Olivier de Serres expresses himself in these words: "It is requisite to graft these trees in order to make them produce fruits entirely good and delightful, without which means they could not be made to do so." (Theatre of Agri., p. 632.)
Tanara, whose writings date from a century later, is the first to reject all these methods as popular errors, but does not recogDize the existence of a free species of sweet fruit, aud advises recourse to the graft for multiplying this species, "because [these are his words] the natural orange delays twelve or thirteen years to give fruit, and only yields a bad quality!" This opinion is followed by all the best writers, and even by the more modern ones.
Ferraris is the only author who has known of the existence of the orange tree of sweet fruit growing from seed. This writer, the first to examine deeply into the culture of this tree, lived in a time (1646) when this method, already spread in America, bad probably passed into Portugal and other parts of Europe. He ought, then, to have had an idea of it. Nevertheless, he speaks of it as a peculiarity accorded by Nature to some of the more favored climates, as the Phillipine isles and China (Fer., pp. 44, 450), and he counsels European gardeners to supply by graft the defect of climate. Thus, "in some countries. Nature, more adroit, renders art useless, because the seed of domesticated orange trees give abundantly of sweet fruit without need of being grafted. But this same benefit, accorded not by the most propitious Nature to every climate, admonishes the gardener of the necessity of correcting by graft the natural defect of the wild orange." (Fer.-Hesperides, p. 450.) He also tells of some specimens seen at Corfu, and at Rome, but regards them as phenomena, seeing that he establishes as a maxim that the most perfect seed of the sweetest orange will yield only plants bearing sour and wild fruit, which require to be improved by the graft. (Fer., p. 450.)
Such is the force of habit and prejudice; when an opinion has taken root in the mind of men, it is not sufficient for its destruction that Nature reveals herself by her operations. Prejudice will long contend against belief of facts; and those who dare first toattacktheseprejudic.es, must expect censure, and be content to relinquish the honor of their discoveries during life.
More than a century has passed since Ferraris remarked that there were climates where the sweet orange reproduced itseif from seed, and still the prejudice in favor of the graft exists in the minds of the greater number of agricultural writers.
It is by means of the graft, or by cuttings, that this "tree is still multiplied at Salo, in Sicily, i and in Naples, and always upon citron trees. It is by graft upon the bigarade that the sweet orange is multiplied at Seville, at Valencia, in Crete, at Nice, and in Provence.
M. Vacca, a land-owner at Finale, and owner of many orange trees, when at Palermo in 1790, was at the country eeat of the Marquis Airoldi. then President of Sicily. Seeing only small
trees in these gardens, as well as in all parts of , the isle, he expressed astonishment, and gave so glowing a description of the Finale orange trees, that he was scarcely believed. But the details given by him were so positive, that M. Airolde, a great amateur of oranges, and a well informed man, decided to make a voyage to Finale, expressly to see our plantations. He came there in 1793-94, and was so surprised by the beauty of our trees, that, on returning to Sicily, he look with him a family of cultivators, in order to conduct his plantations according to the method in Finale.
I know not whether he was made to see that the beauty of these plants was only due to the nature of the tree, which, coming from seed, is more vigorous; nor whether he afterwards introduced at Palermo the culture of tree trees. 1 only know that even at that period the orange at Sicily was but a grafted tree, and that the most beautiful ones there gave only twelve or fifteen hundred oranges each.
This custom of grafting had in its favor several circumstances. The grafted orange gave fruit almost immediately, while a free tree produced fruit only alter twelve or fifteen years; this, of itself, would appear important enough to give the preference to the common method. Many other reasons united to sustain it. From the first, it was supposed that the bigarade resisted cold better than the sweet orange (nee hiemern reformidant utpute luibilu calidtora. Fer., p. 451), and this advautage seemed very important. Afterwards it was said that it had the real advantage of submitting more readily to cultivation in boxes, becanse it grew more slowly, and remained smaller, than the free orange tree. Finally, the custom of grafting suited the views of the speculating gardeners, as well as amateurs. Both had no other object than to be assured of the varieties they possessed, and which they desired to preserve. The success of the seed was distant and uncertain.
Thus it could interest none but the philosopher desirous to study Nature in her operations; and he would need, in addition lo an absorbing love for science, means and leisure in order to devote to this study land and time.
Thus we see why there has been such delay in learning the nature of lids species, whicfi, during a number of years, has existed but precariously upon a different species.
But at length chance led to this discovery. The frost of 1709 caused the destruction of all the orange trees in Liguria. To form the seedbeds of the nurserymen the seeds of the sweet orange were used, this being the only fruit seut from southern districts for consumption in Italy. ThesC plants were condemned by the gardeners to be crafted, the same as bigarades had been, but the frost, following that of 1709, destroyed many of these grafts, i Ordinarily, they grafted anew the vigorous sprouts from the trunk. Some were, however, neglected; and these gave, after some years, very fine oranges.
This phenomenon excited the surprise and attracted the attention of several cultivators. They experimented by allowing many of these rejelons to grow without grafting, until a constant and uniform success at length convinced
them that one might have sweet oranges without recourse to the graft.
I have, at Fmale, a country-seat, where, in 1718, my grandfather planted a great number of orange trees. The plants, all grafted, were furnished, according to custom, by the nurserymen of Nervi. Placed in these gardens, they made prodigious increase, so that every one was astonished, and imputed this rapid growth to the fresh earth brought to form these artificial gardens, or to the happy exposure of the field, and the abundance of water ornamenting and fertilizing the place.
Peculiar circumstances, which I propose to speak of in the second part of this work, secured them from the frosts occurring in that century (notably, that murderous freeze of 1763,) until 1782, when they were frozen to the stumps. Cut close to the earth, they grew in the spring vigorously, and the sprouts, known to be free, were raised without being grafted.
Unfortunately, a large number perished by the frost of 1799. Yet several stalks escaped, and each of them yielded, in 1806, as many as three thousand oranges.
Never before the frost did they bear so large a number, owing to the fact that then nothing was free but the foot The branches grew from the grafts, and did not develop as well as free trees. I shall enlarge upon this fact in the chapters wherein I treat of culture and of frosts.
It is necessary to state that the rejetons (sprouts from the roots) of a tree already adult bear fruit at the end of three years, sometimes even sooner. This has facilitated the observation just spoken of.
It is not easy to forget or neglect a small plant, leaving it ungrafted during a sufficient time for seeing it fruit, because it reaches this point only after fifteen or twenty years, but a rejeton is, necessarily, left to grow and gain strength for three or four years, before a choice is made of the most suitable for grafting, and in this interval the rejeton will certainly put forth flowers, which set themselves very easily and give-fruit. It is precisely this which has brought about the discovery in question.
The observation respecting free trees, made for the first time at Finale, drew the attention of all the amateurs, and they formed immediately in this country many nurseries of sweet orange trees. After the frost of 1763 these plantations were extended; especially where old trees had perished, the free trees were substituted.
The success of these plantations justified at once the method that was being tried. Not a single one of these plants failed to bear sweet fruit.
There was the satisfaction also of seeing that these free trees displayed a vigor in their vegeta10
tion, and a rapid increase, such as had never been seen in the old plantations. Tbe gardens of Finale were soon filled with this new race, called seed orange trees (araneio vU grand), and little by little it was also adopted in neighboring districts, chiefly at Savona, at Pietra, and at Spezzia, where they now raise only free trees.
The orange trees of Finale are perhaps the finest to be seen in Europe. Those of Sicily bear very sweet fruit, but not a tree produces more than twelve or fifteen hundred. The trees of the Archipelago, of Salo, of Nice, and of Hyeres, yielded no more than those of Stcity. I have seen those of Murcia, of Tariffa, and of Seville. They seem to me to be no larger than those at Finale.
The monks of Lo» Bemedios, who have, perhaps, the finest garden in Andalusia, assured me that they have gathered from their trees as many as 5,000 oranges each, but nowhere have I seen as large fruit as in the neighborhood of the city of Finale.
The garden of M. Alizeri contains a hundred sweet trees, the smallest of which gives from twenty-five hundred to three thousand oranges. More than half of them bear from three to four thousand.
One sees many of these trees in the garden of M. Aicardi, from which have been plucked six thousand oranges, and in M. Piaggia's garden there is one, distinguished as having yielded eight thousand. This beautiful tree grows to the height of nine metres (nearly thirty feet). Its branches, which form a globe, and descend even to the ground, present a circumference of thirty-four metres (more than one hundred and eleven feet). The stem, still young and vigorous, is nearly five feet in circumference.
It is solely by this method (of free trees) that the culture of the orange has been carried to a degree of success rarely seen in exotic plants. In less than sixty years this has advanced the naturalization of the tree much more than grafting and other methods had done in the space of several centuries, and offers an example of what we should expect of all vegetation multiplied by this means.
It has not been without interest, this search to ascertain by what steps this result has been reached, and what circumstances bad made it known.
This was the task I imposed upon myself, and which, I think, I have'accomplished in this chapter.
I am happy if my investigations ehall aid the progress of agriculture, which is the most substantial source of wealth, and the basis of the prosperity of nations.
JLIsT ADDRESS
Delivered before the Medical Association of the State of Flortda, at their Annual Meeting, held in the
By A, S. BALDWIN, M. D., President.
Delivered in Jacksonville, on Wednesday, March 24,1875,
By C. CODRINGTON, Esq., Editor Of "the Florida Agriculturist."
Extra large 8vo. pamphlet. Price 15 cents, post-paid. », ■»»—
So many conflicting reports of the character of the climate of the State of Florida have been disseminated by superficial observers, that this exhaustive treatment of the subject by a scientific and thoroughly well-informed member of the medical profession will be accepted as authoritative upon the subject. The data upon which the Doctor baxes his conclusions are reliable, being his own observations for the past thirty-six years, together with numerous records of observations made at various stations throughout Florida.
The lecture of Mr. Codrinoton on the Resources of Florida, as reported In The Florida Agriculturist, has excited so much attention that its publication in pamphlet form seems Imperatively demanded, and wo have therefore published the Address and Lecture in one pamphlet.
Addrxss OIAS. H. WALTON A- CO., Jacksonville, Kin.


text:
Architect v2.0 - MAP
"The restoration was thoughtful and, luckily for the house, was handled by experts who kept what was great and gently fixed what was not."
Amanda Dameron, Editor in Chief, Dwell
Taking on the completion and restoration of this derelict residence was no small matter. That said, it was a challenge that MAP (Metropolitan Architecture Practice) was willing to meet. In the midst of the Great Recession, the second owner of this historic residence in Napa placed it on the market. Despite its architectural significance, its unique structural and environmental principles and rare pedigree, these factors simply weren't enough to dissuade many prospective buyers from plotting its teardown and demise.
The residence had never been fully completed and consequently the porous structure was populated by leaks thanks to the slapdash "renovation" of the roof atop the central core - which had been topped off by a single layer of acrylic glass held in place by rocks. Redwood beams, ceiling panels and an extensive network of built-in furniture pieces were blackened by use and displayed their history front and center.
The redwood doors to the exterior were deteriorating, lacked thresholds and invited a steady migration of critters, scorpions and spiders. Conduits had been left exposed along the floor and ceiling; uncovered wires led to fluorescent tube lighting. The boiler was inoperable, rendering the original radiant-heat system useless. Exterior eaves were pockmarked by the ever-shy Flickers and Carpenter bees which the previous owner had attempted to fix by stuffing holes with rolled tube socks. All to say, many prospective buyers did not find the residence to be alluring.
In order to maintain the materiality and integrity of the structure, MAP utilized the same reductive palette - the same four original materials used: old growth redwood, concrete, glass and stainless steel. They kept the original footprint but re-designed and expanded the kitchen and baths and improved the interior circulation to align with a 21st century sensibility.
Fortunately, most of the redwood was salvageable after a thorough sanding and milling - with the bulk of the repurposed wood pieces found within the house thanks to a large storage wall in front of the main entrance that was dismantled. As soon as the storage wall was removed and the view to the outdoors exposed, MAP knew the wall was never coming back. Every stick of wood was repurposed. They later discovered that their gesture had echoed the intent of the original design.
Specifically, MAP remediated the numerous infrastructural vulnerabilities and restored the interior to its original state. They replaced sections of the redwood ceilings, matching the size and tight grain pattern; and where possible, reused and salvaged many of the existing doors, panels and built-in furniture. MAP also replaced portions of the roof and the fascia which had suffered from severe weathering and damage; they repaired the individual concrete floor tiles (in the original molds) and replaced the millwork ensuring a seamless, reductive, contemporary look.
Additionally, MAP responded to the prescient environmental vision of this passive solar designed residence. Their environmentally responsible renovation added denim insulation, upgraded the radiant boiler-heated system and installed low-e window film to reduce heat loss and add safety to the floor-to-ceiling glass panels.
The original native plants and orchards had undergone a slash and burn clearing with only the remaining majestic heritage oak trees left standing. MAP has recently re-designed and planted throughout using smaller drought resistant vegetation and human scale sculptural components, making the Telesis House the ideal location for your special occasion.
"It's always a pleasure to preview a stunning restoration at the Dwell on Design Conference …."

subset: commoncrawl


text: Just like Santa's elves, we have been working furiously to finish up carving and painting this project in time for the Christmas services at Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, NJ. Like the other custom carved signs this one features raised prismatic letters and a custom decorative frame over a lightly textured background all carved out of durable PVC. This carved sign was particularly challenging because of how thin it needed to be in or to avoid casting dramatic shadows from the LED lights above.


text:
In this lesson, we'll give a friendly introduction to what nuclear fusion is and how it might be used by space faring civilizations.
Megastructures: Shkadov Thrusters
A Shkadov thruster is a type of megastructure which involves constructing a gargantuan orbital mirror next to a star. In this lesson, we'll start off by discussing how such a stellar engine works. The orbital mirror is placed in a position next to a star where it acts as a statite: that is, the star's gravity acting on the mirror is canceled out by the star's radiation pressure acting on the mirror. This allows the mirror to stay in a position that is stationary relative to the star's surface. The mirror bounces some of the star's light back at itself; when that reflected light collides with the star, it exerts a thrust on the star which causes it to accelerate and move. This will bring us to the second main focus of this lesson: namely, what are the possible uses of a Shkadov thruster? As we'll discuss, since a Shkadov thruster can move the star and since all of the planets, moons, comets, and asteroids in the star system is gravitationally bound to the star, not only does the star move but the entire solar system moves away also. In the distance future, our Sun will eventually die. But we might be able to use a Shkadov thruster to move the Earth to another solar system, but this would take many millions of years.
Megastructures: Shkadov Thrusters (VIDEO)
Alcubierre Warp Drive
A spaceship using an Alcubierre warp drive would involve assembling a ring of negative energy around the spaceship which would distort spacetime in this particular way: the spaceship sits in a "bubble" of flat, Minkowski spacetime which is "pushed" by expanding space behind it and "pulled" by contracting space infront of it. The spaceship does not move through space, but rather space itself moves and carries along the spaceship for the ride. Since general relativity places no limit on how fast space can move, the space can "carry" the warp bubble and spaceship away at faster than light (FTL) speeds.


text:
Gold Foil/
Friday is finally here!! What better way to start it with a little outfit inspo. Straight to point --our Abelynn Top comes with a black crew neck t-shirt, but the layered crop sets it apart and is one of my favorite pieces in stock. Easily to dress up or down top. Wearing it here with our Mon Amour Culottes, these paired together give it a little urban feel with a french flair.
These next days our studio hours are going to be posted through our social media and don't forget to follow our new recently added snapchat account: shopchictique. Appointments are available by calling us directly to 956.285.5991. Happy Holidays!!
Get the look!
photography by: Janai Cantua


text:
- Alle Neuheiten in einem Magazin
- Handverlesene Original-Kunst von unseren Kuratoren
- Hochwertiges Printmagazin
- Völlig kostenlos, jederzeit kündbar
Einführung"The last of his kind"
Bewegende Fotoaufnahmen von den Andamanen, einer faszinierenden und fast vergessenen Inselgruppe im Indischen Ozean: Die Fotografin Jody MacDonald reiste zu dem tropischen Eiland Havelock, um Rajan, einen asiatischen Elefanten, zu finden. Eine Dokumentation machte die Künstlerin zuvor auf diesen ganz besonderen Dickhäuter aufmerksam; denn Rajan ist der letzte im Meer schwimmende Elefant. MacDonald begleitete den grauen Riesen mehrere Tage. Die Werkreihe "The last of his kind" zeigt eindrucksvolle Momente aus der gemeinsamen Zeit.
Die Arbeiten berühren nicht nur auf Grund der einnehmenden Motive, sondern auch durch ihre einzigartige Geschichte: Elefanten wurden auf den indischen Inseln unter anderem für den Holztransport eingesetzt – auch zu Wasser. Um Stämme zu küstennahmen Booten zu bringen, lernten die Dickhäuter das Schwimmen. Nachdem die Fäll-Arbeiten 2002 auf den Andamanen verboten wurden, kann der Elefant Rajan wieder ein Leben in der Wildnis führen. Überraschender Weise zeigt er bei seinen (nun freiwilligen) Tauchgängen große Freude. Jody MacDonald ließ sich von seiner Geschichte inspirieren und zeigt Rajan voller Sanftmut, inszeniert den tropischen Regenwald fast schon zu einem Garten Eden. Wie aus einer anderen Zeit wirken die Arbeiten, in denen der Elefant durch den üppig grünen Regenwald spaziert oder durch das türkisblaue Wasser schwimmt. Kunstvoll fängt MacDonald die einzigartige Szenerie ein und lässt den Betrachter in ihren Aufnahmen spüren, wie nahe der Mensch den grauen Riesen eigentlich ist.
Ihre Technik beherrscht die Künstlerin so perfekt, dass sie auch unter schwierigsten Bedingungen mit einem untrüglichen ästhetischen Gespür Aufnahmen zu perfekten Kompositionen inszeniert. "Mein ganzes Bestreben liegt darin, einen entscheidenden Sekundenbruchteil einzufangen", so MacDonald über ihre Arbeit. Die Fotografin verbringt nahezu das ganze Jahr auf Reisen. Ihre Aufnahmen berichten vom Zauber der Ferne – und auch von MacDonalds Ehrerbietung vor der Schönheit unserer Welt. Ihre Inspiration bezieht sie unter anderem von Sam Abell und Steve McCurry.
Hannah Hör
2012 The World Open Photography CompetitionAusstellungen
2010 International Conservation Photography Award, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, USAInterviewWhat is your passion? What inspires you?
My passion is photography, there is no doubt. I have always been inspired by art, but once I began using a camera I knew that it was the perfect medium for me. Inspiration for me comes in many forms. Not only other photographs but also music, architecture, nature and so many other places. I think I find inspiration everywhere.
How do you find your subjects? Do you shoot spontaneously or do you plan ahead?
Most of my photography stems from people, places and stories that interest me. I like to shoot both spontaneously and like to plan ahead. It really depends on what I'm photographing, but I think both are very important.
Where was the elephant shot taken? How did it happen? Why does the elephant swim?
The photographs of Rajan were taken in the Andaman Islands off the South East coast of India. I had learned about Rajan from watching a Hollywood movie that showed him swimming in the ocean. When I saw it, I had to find out if he was real. I researched him online and found out that he was living in the Andaman Islands. I traveled to the Andamans and found him and shot a story on him for the BBC.
Rajan was a part of a group of 10 elephants that were brought to the Andaman Islands for logging in the 1950's. They were brutally forced to learn how to swim in the ocean so that they could bring the logged trees to nearby boats and then eventually swim on to the next island. When logging became banned in 2002, Rajan was out of a job. He had been living out his retirement on one of the islands, where I photographed him and his Majout (caretaker) named Nazroo who have been together for 30 years. They had an incredible bond and it was amazing to spend some time with them. Rajan was the last of this group to survive until his death in 2016.
What was your biggest adventure yet?
I would say living at sea for decade and sailing around the world twice during that period of time has been by far my biggest adventure.
What's next? Who/which animal would you like to get in front of your lens one day?
I'm currently working on a project with Asian elephants in northern India. I've always wanted to photograph the elusive snow leopard.
Do you ever get scared while shooting?
Sometimes. Mostly when I am paragliding or doing other adventure sports while trying to photograph at the same time.
What is your relationship with the ocean?
I lived at sea for almost 10 years, and I fell in love with it during that time. The ocean is filled with so much wonder, mystery, and unimaginable beauty. Sadly, over that time, I witnessed a lot of degradation and plastic pollution, and as a result I joined the Sea Legacy Collective as a photographer to help share stories from the ocean realm to help inspire all of us to fight to protect them.
Does your photography have an effect on your life/perspective on life?
Yes! Photography affects my life profoundly. I think curiosity is the foundation for photography and having a camera gives my curiosity a purpose. My camera has really been a tool for exploration and my experiences have broadened my perspective in so many ways. When you see a man walking 20 km a day to feed his family, or how climate change is sinking islands and relocating villages that have been there for hundreds of years… it gives you perspective. Perspective on my own life and the lives of others. It humbles you in the best and most profound ways. But while you see the hardship, you also see the beauty and it is this juxtaposition that I cherish and look forward to when I plan my next adventure or photography project, because it is when I get the most out of it – personally and photographically. It's what feeds my soul.
How long does it take to get the perfect shot?
Well, I don't think a photograph is ever perfect and I actually prefer the imperfections in art. A great photograph can be taken in an instant or after putting a considerable amount of time into it, but many elements need to come together to get a great photograph. In general I think the more time you can spend with your subject matter and being on location, the better the photographs will be.
How do you manage to get so close to such isolated valleys?
Persistence. If you really want to get somewhere, you can always find a way.


text:
BowerBird Life Apartments
The image of a bowerbird, feathering its own nest, is often used to describe the proud homeowner of the detached house however, as the concept of home is now morphed to include apartment living, we felt it essential to re-imagine apartment living. BowerBird Life, the concept of k20 Architecture sets to provide a new standard in apartment living. For those looking for carefree living knowing their impact on earth is reduced BowerBird Life is the meaningful owner.
BowerBird Life is eco-centric living: it places people at the centre of the building experience and the building at the centre of its ecology. It's architecture for wellness and prosperity of people and the wellbeing and restoration of the land. Located in leafy and tranquil north facing Ormond, BowerBird Life is a stone's throw from North Road, it's strip shopping and the Ormond Train Station. BowerBird Life will sit comfortably between a house, townhouse and penthouse style living.
k20 Architecture were mindful of the generic apartments dotted around Melbourne and its suburbs and took the path of responding to the needs of the local community, as much as the many streets lined with Californian bungalows from the 1920s and '30s. The deep terraces of Bowerbird, with their operable timber-battened screens, re-contextualises the Californian Bungalow, with their deep and protective porches. However, unlike the bungalows, air will move freely through the front windows via large sliding glass doors. A lantern-style roof, with highlight celestial windows will purge warmer air for those living on the top floor.
Conceived as 24 unique and individual handcrafted apartments, BowerBird Life will allow people to customise their homes and this can extend to include owners going vertically or horizontally within the building should they prefer the option of combining apartments. The timber-battened operable screens, a feature of the first and second-floor apartments, will not only animate the building, but create a 'veil' for both light and privacy. Even when these screens are closed, there's a diffused dappled light entering kitchens, living and bedroom areas.
The idea of weaving twigs together by a bowerbird is also reinterpreted at the entrance to the apartments. As with the bowerbird, residents will also appreciate customising their own nests, choosing materials or even rearranging spaces to suit their own individual needs.


text:
When: Saturday January 23, 2010
Where: AmeriSchools Parking Lot
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (volunteers 12 – 4)
What: An event to teach real-world bicycle safety via 5 stations that simulate actual biking situations bikers encounter on their bikes.
Who: Open to current bike club members and to any other student (grades 5-8) and parent(s). A parent must be in attendance with the student.
Bring: Your bike, helmet and a parent
Sponsored by: AmeriSchools Academy, Valley Metro, Karma Racer, Arizona Bicycle Club
Volunteers needed! We need 25 volunteers to help make this a successful event for your child and the students. Please help….call 602.532.0100 ASAP to sign up. Thank you!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Dec Issue of Sprocketeer Published
You can view the latest Sprocketeer online here.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
January General Membership Meeting, Agenda
Meeting Date/Time: 1/18/2010, 6:30 pm
General Membership Meeting
Meeting Location: Boulders on Broadway, 530 W. Broadway,
- Call for general member items for agenda and discussion
- Call for new/additional business from Board/Advisory members
- Upcoming meetings and attendance by CAzB
- MAG Bike/Ped Committee meeting: Tuesday, 1/19, 10:00 am (Bob B)
- Valley Metro Bike Month Planning Committee Mtg: Tuesday, 1/19, ? (?)
- ADOT/LAB Bike Friendly State application mtg: Friday, 1/22, 10:00 am (Bob B)
- Receipt of any nominees/suggestions for open CAzB positions:
- Open Board seat due to Charles Sobczak resignation
- Open Treasurer position
- Open Advisory seat due to Peter Mather resignation
- Open Newsletter editor position
- 2010 Goals/Objectives – Working Session
- New business/other matters
- Adjournment
Labels: meetings
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Anyone who cheats is guaranteed to try everything under the sun in an attempt to get away with it.
However, I can assure you that no-one has ever pretended to be a sex doll before which is simply the most ridiculous and stupid 'trick' yet.
In a video that has gone viral online, a young woman can be seen walking into a room where her half-naked boyfriend is dancing around with another woman in a similar state of undress.
Catching them red-handed you would think that there is no point him even coming up with an excuse as there is no way to get out of this one.
Well, you would be wrong as this plucky chap decided to try and convince his girlfriend that the girl wasn't actually a real woman but a sex doll.
Yes, you really did read that right – a sex doll!
In the video the girlfriend can be seen bursting into the room yelling:
Aw hell no! What the f*** is going on here? Who the f*** is this?
Screaming at each other the boyfriend shouts back that the girl is a 'sex doll' which of course the girlfriend sensibly doesn't believe.
She replies disbelievingly with:
This b***h is not no sex doll! She just moved.
I thought I had seen it all but I was so fucking wrong?????. The cheating bitch pretended to be a sex doll pic.twitter.com/qq7Ud21P8p
— Vybz (@BlueCheeseGh) January 23, 2018
Not giving up the boyfriend gives her numerous lines including 'I don't know why she is moving', 'it comes with reflexes' and my personal favourite 'I have a receipt'.
Meanwhile the 'sex doll' stands as frozen as she can be in the most cliched robot position you have ever seen.
Whether you believe the video to be fake or not you can't argue with the fact it is hilarious!
Sex dolls have increasingly become a thing over recent years and they can now look like whoever you fancy dating.
That's where the hideous creation of a Justin Bieber sex doll comes in which although wasn't designed with Beebs in mind, fans can't help but notice the likeness.
The so-called Bieber doll is 160cm tall (around 5ft 2in) and available on website AliExpress, a site that sells both male and female sex dolls.
Buyers also get to choose what penis size the doll comes with for the astonishing price of £1,000.
The doll's description says:
This sex doll is made from the most advanced medical thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) with a full metal skeleton.
It can flexibly do all sorts of different sexy poses.
Clearly the demand is there but really – a Bieber doll?!?
Emily Murray is a journalist at UNILAD. She graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in English Literature and History before studying for a Masters in Journalism at the University of Salford. Emily has previously worked for the BBC, ITV and Trinity Mirror. When Emily isn't writing about topics including mental health and entertainment, you can find her at the cinema which is her second home.


text:
Tides are the rise and fall of water levels as dictated by the moon. High tide occurs every 12 hours and low tide also every 12 hours. The tide rises for 6 hours, then falls for 6 hours, over and over, every day for all time.
The incoming tide is called a "Flood Tide" and the outgoing tide is called an "Ebb Tide". It makes since when you think about it because a floor tide will flood low level tidal land and when the tide recedes, it "ebbs" away.
Tides are simple to comprehend as they are easily visible, but currents are what can be really fascinating! It may seem obvious that as the tide comes in, the current will also flow in and as the tide ebbs, the current also flows out.
What might not seem too obvious at first is that at slack tide, when the high tide is at its highest and then begins to fall, the current can still be flowing! As the tide ebbs, the current can still be flooding! It is even possible for the current to never change direction as the tide floods and ebbs. This begs the question: How can water flow in while it is flowing out?
Currents and tides may seem interlocked, but they are actually two separate animals. Tides are merely the height of the water level, and current is the flow of water. If you have a large river that drains into the ocean through a narrow inlet, the current may always flow out even with a strong tidal variance. Having more water present will cause the tide to climb, but the current can still flow regardless of water levels.
When you are looking at waterways, it will be a huge help to learn the local water patterns. Look up tides and the currents in areas to see if you can figure out how they operate. If you can't get the information, it would be helpful to just anchor and observe it for a while.
While transiting the ICW, we have encountered some very strong currents and we use them to help us travel south, towards our destination. The tides will rise and fall, but the currents seem to run on their own schedule, several hours delayed of the tide's shedule. By anchoring, we can visually see the intensity and direction of the tide by looking at the anchor rode.
When the current is strong, it will actually form a wake behind the rode. When the current reverses, the boat will actually shift direction, letting us know the change has occurred. Writing down the times it changes is helpful as this lets you know when you will be traveling and makes sure you are prepared to leave when the tide will become in your favor.
Once moving, looking at other stationary objects will help you determine the intensity and direction. The wake will always form on the downstream side of the object and the larger the wake, the stronger the current. Buoys will also tip over and create a wake when the current is strong!
When the current is helping you, enjoy the bonus speed that it gives you. When the current is on your nose, drop anchor and wait for conditions to improve. Pushing along against the current is foolish when in a few hours, you will get a hefty push.
If you are unfamiliar with how the local waters operate, simply ask a local fisherman and they will give you all the clues and know-how available to navigate the waters safely and easily.
On a side note, flood and ebb tides are when water comes in or out. Slack tide is when the tide is at its peak or trough and the water level is not changing. With currents, you have the same setup, but the time with no current is called "Slack Water" and this is the time to navigate narrow or dangerous areas, as there will be no current pushing you into obstacles. Slack water only lasts around 15 minutes and occurs only 4 times a day, so if there is an area that requires slack water to pass through it, it will be imperative that you time it perfectly and don't be late!


text:
All graduates gain practice experience before graduating.
Be part of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project award-winning team. Once in a lifetime training for law students.
Start law school in January, May or September.
A leader in modern legal education.
WMU-Cooley's LL.M. Programs for lawyers give you the opportunity to focus your legal expertise and propel your career.
All law schools must post ABA-required disclosures on their websites. WMU-Cooley goes far beyond ABA requirements.
WMU-Cooley law professors base their teaching on vast experience as practicing lawyers. They bring a real and tangible perspective to the classroom, making learning robust and relevant.
Unlike any other law school in America, WMU-Cooley enables you to choose the perfect setting for your law school experience and your lifestyle, where students embrace a culture of professionalism and ethics.
Read about WMU-Cooley's award-winning Professionalism Program.
The Grand Rapids campus is located in the dynamic, urban Heartside District with its culture, arts, restaurants, and clubs; and access to Grand Rapids legal and business communities.
The Lansing campus allows you to work and study in the heart of Michigan's capital city, with great neighborhoods, affordable housing, reasonable cost of living, and a diverse population.
The Tampa Bay campus is minutes from downtown Tampa, major law firms, courthouses, and Fortune 500 companies; all known for its worldwide beautiful landscape, myriad attractions, and thriving arts and entertainment scene.
Study the law and take advantage of the amenities offered at the home of Western Michigan University; a national research university enrolling nearly 24,000 students from across the United States and 100 other countries.
The Auburn Hills campus sits on 67 serene wooded acres, yet in the heart of Oakland County near major business and Fortune 500 company headquarters.
The diversity of our student body creates a dynamic learning environment that enriches the educational experience and promotes careers of our graduates.
Victoria Vuletich, the assistant dean at the Grand Rapids, Michigan campus of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, was interviewed by the State Bar of Michigan's Legal Talk Network to discuss what the law school experience is like for the current generation of students.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General and Western Michigan University Cooley Law School have teamed up to receive two federal grants totaling more than $1 million to assist in reviewing 600 post-conviction claims of innocence.


text:
With Halloween fast approaching, SME Insider is getting into the spooky spirit of things with this frightening infographic. Discover what small business owners fear the most, as well as finding out how optimistic they are about the economy.
> Business Tips & Advice > What are small businesses most afraid of? (Infographic)


text:
6 Adventurous Things to Do This Year
It's officially 2018 and with a new year comes new year's resolutions. This year, don't settle for the same old goals—why not try something exciting? If you're looking to add a little adventure to your new year, here are 6 things to do to broaden your horizons in 2018.


text:
Pricing for Profit
Out of all the questions I am asked by other photographers, the most common is "how do you know what to charge?"
Figuring Out Your Pricing Is A Tricky Thing
Set your prices too high and no one will hire you. Set your pricing too low and you'll put yourself out of business. So how do you go about figuring out the perfect price point for your business?
At the beginning of my career I thought the best way to figure out what to charge was to see what other photographers were charging and do the same.
I was wrong.
Every business is different and has different needs and expenses. Learn from my mistakes and don't base your pricing off of what someone else is doing. Instead, be smart about it!
Do This
Here is a simple formula to figure out what you need to be charging to stay profitable!
Figure out your costs of doing business (a.k.a. C.O.B.s) C.O.Bs are ALL of your costs. Film and processing (if you are a film photographer), CF or SD cards (if you are a digital photographer), rent, insurance, products, marketing, phone, internet, equipment, camera repairs…. Everything you spend money on in your business. Write it down and add it up!
Figure out (realistically) what you will be paying yourself per year (yes, you should be paying yourself!!!) Do you pay yourself $1000.00 a month or $10,000.00 a month? And remember what your business brings in ISN'T your salary. That is your gross income, or what your business makes. You should be paying yourself a salary out of your gross income.
Add your COBs to what you are paying yourself. That number is the minimum your business needs to be bringing in per year.
Figure out how many clients, on average, you work with each month and multiply that by twelve. That is the number of client you want per year.
Divide the minimum amount that your business needs to be bringing in with the number of client you plan on working with each year. Write it down. That is the minimum that you need to be charging per session.
Don't Panic
Now, if that number seems HUGE to you for where you are in your business, that is okay! At least now you know where your pricing needs to be and you can start building your business around making sure you are bringing that money in. More on how to do that later.
Remember, business by definition, is about making a profit. If you are not making money, you are not in business, you just have a very expensive hobby! So be smart, and make sure you are setting your pricing for profitability!
Need some help figuring out your pricing? Download my Pricing for Profitability Worksheet below.


text:
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has come up with the new job opening for the post of Project Associate (Biotechnology) to be appointed at the National Cancer Tissue Biobank at the Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras. M.Sc degree holders are eligible to be appointed on this job vacancy. It is a good platform for the research job seekers to get appointed in this vacancy. More information about the post like age limit, pay scale, how to apply etc. given below:
Who is Eligible to apply for this post?
B.Sc degree holders are eligible to apply for this post.
How much can you earn from this post?
Selected candidates will be paid as per norms of organization.
Deadline to apply for this post?
Applicants may apply till 23rd November 2017.
Name of the post:– Project Associate
Last date:– 23rd November 2017
Total Posts:– 01 Post
Location:– Chennai
Education Qualification:- Candidates must have done Graduation in Science stream in Biotechnology from a recognized university.
Age Limit:- As per Norms
Salary:- As per Norms
Selection process:– Interview
How to apply:- Interested job applicants may send their latest resume to firstname.lastname@example.com on or before 23rd November 2017.
Click Here for Arithmetic Aptitude Quiz
Click Here for Official Site
Click Here for Official Notification
Click Here for more Government jobs of Tamil Nadu
Project Technician Job Openings in NIRT Chennai
RGNIYD, Chennai Vacancy for Manager and Office Assistant
Nursing Trainee Job Openings in IIT Madras
IGMCRI, Pondicherry Job for Junior/ Senior Resident
Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Google+


text:
Cherry - Aglow Singles
Cherry - Aglow Singles
'Cherry' is an intense semi solid shade with raspberry pink and cherry red, hand dyed by Lottie in Cheshire, UK.
Aglow Singles 4ply is a beautiful single ply fingering/4ply weight yarn made from a wonderfully soft combination of superwash Merino, silk and yak which combine to produce a delicate sheen and glorious depth of colour when dyed.
The generous 120g skein is perfect for shawls with 480 metres of gorgeous yarn!
Yarn details:
Aglow Singles 4ply
65% Superwash Merino 20% Silk 15% Yak
480 metres per 120g skein
Care instructions:
Cool handwash only


text:
2.25/5 (65 users)
My Rating
By Divya Solgama(10 May 2008)
Rikki(Abhishek Bachchan) & Alvira(Preity Zinta) wait for their respective fiances. Rikki is a fun loving Punjabi boy from Bhatinda who lives in South Hall and Alvira is a middle class Pakistani girl from Lahore. They share a coffee table in a restaurant and talk about their would-be partners. Rikki talks about his fiance Anaida(Lara Dutta) saying that he had met her at Paris. Alvira says she had fallen in love with a dashing lawyer(Bobby Deol) at Madame Tussands in London. They both talk and enjoy each others company. They exchange numbers and go to meet her relatives. When they both leave the station they have fallen in love with each other. They both meet again at disco where there is a dance competition. Reality then comes alive here. Rikki loves Laila and Alvira loves Steve as their fiances. Watch the film to know how distorted realities throw shadows on this relationship.
Copyright 2010-2013: Gomolo. All Rights reserved. | Terms | Privacy


text:
About Seymour Rosenthal
Seymour Joseph Rosenthal was born and raised in the Bronx part of New York City in 1921 and was a child of the "Great Depression". He was a self taught artist who started drawing at the age of 5 and didn't stop until his dying year.
He had a great passion and respect for the struggles of working Americans as well as a deep love of his Jewish faith, both of which are amplified in his renderings. He is survived by his beloved wife Frances, a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.
His works are in the permanent collection of various museums around the world such as the "N.Y. Metropolitan Museum of Art" and the "Technion Museum" in Haifa Israel.


text:
Yes, my biggest fear in this world is drowning. I am soo scared to go past 4'6 feet in water because I have yet to master my swimming skills on top of water and I cant tread water...smh.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Posted by WeirdoQ at 10:11 AM
0 comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Flock is an HR management platform that enables businesses to fully automate their HR and administrative processes. It offers users with solutions for employee engagement, payment processing, onboarding, benefits enrollment, reports, and more. We compiled available Flock reviews online and found that it has generally positive ratings.
Summary of Flock Reviews
What Flock does well:
Users who gave Flock a positive review like how robust its features are and how easy it is to use the mobile app.
What Flock does not do well:
There weren't a lot of negative Flock reviews, but some users find it a bit complicated to learn and get used to in the beginning.
Most Helpful Positive User Review
A reviewer from G2 Crowd said that Flock simplifies the benefits process for both the HR team and the employees. He added that Flock has made Open Enrollment a dream because employees can easily review plan changes and pricing, elect their changes, and then with the use of the ADP plugin, the payroll deduction changes are automatically updated to ADP.
Most Helpful Negative User Review
A reviewer from Capterra said that you will soon outgrow the system once it stops meeting your HR needs. She talked about inconveniences such as not being able to upload your own documents or templates for onboarding, limited customization on leave of absences, and lack of payroll functionality.
Flock Pricing
Flock's pricing structure is available on the website, but the actual costs are not declared. They have three different modules depending on what the business needs: Benefits, HRIS, and HRIS+Benefits+Payroll. Similar software pricing can range from $8/user/month for basic functionalities to $1,000+ flat fee per month for more sophisticated platforms.
Top HR Software Companies 2019
Best for
Flock Features
Check out the list below of some of Flock's features.
- Benefits Enrollment
- Onboarding
- Field-Level Permissions
- Time Tracking
- Compliance
- Payroll
- New Hire Setup
- ACA Tracking
- Dedicated Support Portal
- And more
Helpful HR Software Resources
Best HR Software for Small Businesses – Read our buyer's guide for a comparison of the top three HR software for small businesses. We compare BizMerlin vs. BambooHR vs. WebHR to give you an idea of which HR software will work best for your business needs.
Top 25 HR Tools the Pros Use – Check out this article to find out the best HR tools pros use depending on a business' size, budget, and needs.
5 Best HR Outsourcing Options for Small Businesses – Find out what your options are if you prefer to delegate employee management tasks such as benefits administration, payroll, recruiting, or training to a professional HR firm instead of hiring internal HR staff.
Flock FAQ
Can I see a demo of the software for free?
Yes. Interested users can request for a demo here.
Do they offer initial training for new users?
You can attend one of their free webinars. Details may be found here.
Overview of Flock Video
The video below is a quick introduction to Flock and what it can do to help users manage their HR tasks better.
Popular Integrations
When choosing an HR software, it's important that the software integrates with other applications your business is currently using. Here is a list of some of Flock's popular integrations.
Top Flock Alternatives
Not sure if Flock is the right fit for you? Read our reviews of all top HR software.View Top Alternatives


text: Decluttering your kitchen may be a tough task, especially when it has been unorganized for a very long time. This task is however very crucial to ensure work in the kitchen continues smoothly. The kitchen just like any other room in the house needs to be properly maintained and organized. … [Read more...]


text:
First Mixtape/project from the upcoming artist Chris Keys From Texas. Project was originally released May 2009. This was his first project released at the age of 17, which displayed his raw talent as an artist and also was the perfect introduction into the rap scene in his hometown.
- 88
- 9
- Favorite
- Share
- Like
- Dislike


text:
Today it is a true misconception to say I am cursed because of the wrongdoings/sins of my ancestors, my parents or my family members even though I am a believer and true follower of Jesus Christ.
Old Testament
"The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ezekiel 18:1-2)
The Israelites were using this proverb to justify their sins by saying our problems are not our fault; they are because of the sins of our ancestors. And the Father made that very clear He says "as l live you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel" Ezekiel 18:3
Ezekiel 18:4-9 (NASB)
4 Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. 5 But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, 6 and does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7 if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—he is righteous and will surely live," declares the Lord God.
New Testament
Today, some are teaching and preaching still the same thing, saying that a family can have a "Generational curse" because of something one of their ancestor did. The answer is "No" because through repentance and Faith in the only Savior we are saved.
God says to all of us "No way!!" nice try!
In the Old Testament God cursed the nation of Israel to the third and forth generation for turning away from Him, and for they had committed the same sin their ancestors did, "Idolatry".
We are made new through Christ the old is dead and gone! (2 Corinthians 5:17) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
How can a child of God still be under God's curse (Romans 8:1) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Chris; through repentance, Faith in Jesus Christ and life consecrated to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2). 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Then, there is NO generational righteousness and there is NO generational curse; rather each person will be dealt with based on his own sins. Each person answers to God individually, and makes a choice using his own freewill.


text:
Idea Pitch 2017 and Onward
Problem - Is the problem compelling and the value proposition strong?
5 - Very compelling, well conveyed,
3 - Was compelling, but problem or value prop needs improvement
1 - Not compelling, both need improvement
Product - Is the solution the best way to solve the problem?
5 - The product is well thought-out and solves the problem efficiently
3 - Product is alright, and seems to likely solve the problem
1 - The product is weak and or does not solve the problem
Market - Will the market size will allow a sustainable business with reasonable income
5 - The market is well-defined and has potential for substantial growth
3 - The market is discovered, and has some room for growth
1 - The market is not well-defined, and or has little room for growth
Model - Is the business model the best for this market and product?
5 - The business model spoken to is most appropriate for this case
3 - The business model needs improvement
1 - The business model is very weak and or needs a fresh start
Ask - Is the call-to-action clear? Do you want to know more?
5 - The call to action was very clear, and I was captivated to learn more
3 - The call to action was kind of clear, and I was somewhat wanting to learn more
1 - The call to action was not clear, and I did not want to learn more
Delivery - Was the pitch clear, concise, and captivating?
5 - The pitch was very well rehearsed, and very captivating
3 - The pitch was somewhat rehearsed, seemed fairly concise, and somewhat captivating
1 - The pitch was not rehearsed, didn't seem very concise, or captivating


text:
Kaupapa Māori businesses in the retail sector are set to win big as Christmas shopping ramps-up nationwide.
This comes as New Zealanders are once again on track to trump national spending averages over December.
It only takes four days for Kawakawa-based clothing brand Tūkau Legacy to sell out completely before a restock is needed.
"Kaupapa and the knowledge and values that sits behind what you do is really fundamental in what you do- that's the message that connects with people and connects with te ao Māori" says Season-Mary Downs, founder and owner of Tūkau Legacy.
Much can be said about the many Māori businesses following that path nationwide.
One Māori regional economist says the capacity for Māori to be self-determining is a part of business.
"We're not going to wait here for someone else to provide capacity for Māori business success. We have the means to be able to be self-sufficient in this sector" says George Riley, General Manager of Māori Economic Development at Northland Inc.
Retail NZ estimates New Zealanders will spend a total of $17.4bil from November through December across all retail categories, up around 5 percent from last year.
Tūkau says that forecast reflects what they are seeing.
"For us internally, we've had to do the biggest order yet to date which has put our print company under a lot of pressure as we try to get our product out because you have to have it out a long time before Christmas" says Downs.
The highest spend overall for December last year was in the Northland and Auckland regions, recorded at $2.4bil.
Downs says there is a growing contingent of kaupapa Māori businesses active nationwide.
"Your dollar, and your order really does make a difference for those people who are trying really hard to bring you and to bring our area local products" she says.
Official records for this year's annual Christmas spending nationwide will be calculated until December 27.


text:
Students from across the UK have competed in the second Lunar Rover Competition
Seven student teams consisting of over 60 participants from across the UK reached the final stage of the Lunar Rover Competition, which saw them design, construct and test a lunar rover over a period of 9 months before testing them in the technical facilities at RAL Space.
The challenge is based on a potential future robotic mission to a crater on the lunar south pole, and designs had to meet a strict set of engineering and science requirements.
Dr Chris Mutlow, Director of RAL Space, said, "It's been a pleasure to open our facilities to students to give them a real flavour of the rigours of testing for space. This competition provides the right skills and experiences they need to get jobs in the industry, so it's great to see some of the innovative solutions the teams have developed and the effort they've put in. With the UK space sector growing at 6.5% each year we need new talent, like the competitors in the Lunar Rover Competition to come and work with us in the space industry."
The rovers were put through their paces on terrain similar to that found on the Moon at the RAL Space robotics trials area and had to withstand the stresses and strains of launch in the RAL Space vibration test facility.
Several rovers lost wheels in their attempts and one snapped its sample collection arm in half. Those who made it to the crater made use of a variety of designs, including scoops, brushes, and belts, to collect ice samples before attempting the drive home, some making it tantalisingly close to the end before foundering.
The Imperial College London team took first place in the competition and won an additional prize for the best Critical Design Review. Morgan Nightingale, leader of the winning team said "The rover competition has been an amazing and insightful experience throughout the year! We are so thrilled to have won and look forward to improving on our design for next year."
Further information
Please sign up to our weekly newsletter to keep up to date:


text:
Aaron and I have some Big Goals for 2019 and one of them is to grow in our Marriage. We have a good relationship, but let's be honest we all get tired and we can lose sight of what makes each other run. One way we are going to be reigniting some areas in our relationship is by committing to Re:Engage at our church ever Monday night for 16 weeks.
If you are going through some rough patches or are in a all out storm, or just want to grow stronger like us, join us and so many others at Re:Engage. You don't have to register you just show up. Monday nights at 6:30pm, Hope Fellowship Church, Frisco West Campus.
In our latest video below we talk about "why" we are doing re:engage as well as some other fun things, Check it out!
Would love for you to watch it and comment and tell us some of your favorite movies. (You will understand once you watch the video!)
Don't be afraid to get marriage resources or help. We are firm believers that you can't or shouldn't build a storm shelter in the middle of the storm, we believe you should build a storm shelter before the storm!
You ARE valuable,
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 Subscribe too! 🍿💯


text:
Come to a full 5 day session of training in graphic art and doing murals as ministry for Camp Penuel http://www.camp-penuel.org/ in Ironton, MO. Students receive all materials and supplies for the week. Accommodations are provided. Students will complete murals for the camp, receive a Bible and Art and also a preschool and early elementary teaching program and series of power points, and will work on putting together a digital portfolio. Cost is $475.00 for the week. Room and board are included in the cost. Students receive a certificate for 45 hours of art training. Email me at email@example.com for details.
Paint Parties, Art Intensive Training Retreats, Art Tea Parties... Does that sound fun? It is all about encouraging creativity and excellence in visual media and communication. Join us and we'll teach you how to bring this to your local communities!


text:
Supplier Homepage > Welcome
Zhongshan Zenlea Lighting Technology Co.,Ltd(China), located in China Lighting Capital-Guzhen, is a professional manufactureer of LED Lights, which specializes in LED Street Light, LED Panel Light, LED Flood Light, LED Down Light and LED mining light. Our company has strong supply ability for different orders. Zenlea Lighting also exports LED Lights to enterprises worldwide, such as Asia, Mid East, Europe, South America and etc. We aim to provide high quality LED prod... [Detail]


text:
(+44) 2920451000
We're a legal training company that believes in doing what we love and love doing it well.
This video format is not supported
You need a training provider that gives you an experience, not just a course.
Kaplan Altior not only takes budding lawyers and solicitors through the early stages of the legal profession but stays throughout entire careers, helping to maintain skills and create and expand knowledge that will aid in every aspect of legal work.
That's what makes us different. We understand our clients and delegates needs and recognise where they could be with our help and expertise. At the heart of Kaplan Altior, are you; our clients and delegates that deserve the best service that can be offered. We succeed when you succeed.
If you are new to us and would like to get to know us better, we'd love to hear from you. Simply fill out our 'Contact Us' form and one of our team will give you a call.
Excellent client service is our ethos. Keeping this ethos alive is down to the great team of people who work at Kaplan Altior.
We are bonded by one common goal, and that is to help legal professionals reach and exceed their career potential.
Meet the team
We don't just teach Legal knowledge and skills – it's who we are. We have 30+ years of carefully selecting and working with a panel of expert trainers and assessors to deliver our programmes. With many being practising legal professionals, hoarding years of demonstrable experience, their passion and knowledge for the industry provides the best platform to deliver high quality legal training.
Find out about our trainers
Our values define our culture and provide the framework for what we deliver to our customers and employees each day.
We have a broad training portfolio, including SRA approved courses to meet the continued professional competence requirements, Professional Skills Course (PSC), Trainee Litigation Programme (TLP), Higher Rights of Audience, Management Courses, and a selection of law firm compliance training programmes.
We also offer In-house training, aimed at legal companies in England and Wales, providing a flexible and cost-effective solution to staff training. All public courses delivered by Kaplan Altior can be customised and delivered in house.
For those who need a bespoke training to meet a specific requirement, our tailored training can help you to devise the solution.
We help those in the legal sector achieve their professional development and career goals and excel in their field.
Our programmes offer an interactive and practical learning experience that delivers lasting results and is easily put into practice.
We have vast experience in legal training and assessment and have been developing legal talent for over 35 years.
When tailoring programmes, we take the time to understand your business and create solutions to suit your unique training needs.
Strong client service is at the heart of our business and underpins everything we do. It's what sets us apart from other providers.
Kaplan Altior have always been exemplary and they truly understand the meaning of great client service; nothing is too much effort.
Kaplan Altior have always been exemplary and they truly understand the meaning of great client service; nothing is too much effort.
Kaplan Altior have always been exemplary and they truly understand the meaning of great client service; nothing is too much effort.
Join the conversation


text:
The world of running is all too familiar, strong legs, body, gait, greatness and glory - we've all seen it before. To launch the GEL-KAYANO 25, ASICS's biggest shoe release to date, we focused on the most injury prone muscle – the mind. As it's not the strongest legs that stand the distance, but the strongest mind. This lead us to 9 months of developing our idea and vision with sports scientists to create the world's first running track to train the mind – ASICS Blackout Track.
Without having any reach of TV or mass media we stole the spotlight on Global Running Day and started a new conversation on mind training. 35 athletes and running enthusiasts flew across the world to put their mind to the test. We stripped them of distractions - phones, music, smart-watches, scenery, competition and finish lines. Running on a 150-metre track in complete darkness through a vacuum of white noise, blocking out the sound of their own footsteps. Athletes saw a decline in their 5K times by an average of 60 seconds - the difference between winning a medal or not in competitive endurance sports.
Globally, runners took on their own ASICS Blackout runs, through a feature we created on the Runkeeper app - over 10,000 users took part in the first few days of going live.
Results: Over 100 global earned media stories in 48hrs from launch - including live coverage on Sky News & CNN | Agency: Edelman Deportivo & Production Partner Unit9
{Pre-launch teaser + launch day 10K Mental Marathon}
{Behind the scenes: 10 Runners. 10 Minds}
{Bespoke social content for runners}


text:
For an optimal view of our website, please rotate your tablet horizontally.
"UNERWARTET / UNEXPECTED – From Islamic Art to Contemporary Art" is a project of the Kunstmuseum Bochum in the framework of the Ruhr art museums's joint presentation titled Mapping the Region and marking the occasion of the European Cultural Capital RUHR.2010.
The exhibition operates on three levels. The starting point is large-format photography by the Finnish artist Tuomo Manninnen that presents ten families with roots in Islamic countries. Some of these families are already living in the third or fourth generation in various cities of the Ruhr Valley; they show themselves in their current surroundings.
On a second level, works are shown by contemporary artists (Hamra Abbas, Arahmaiani, Lara Baladi, Mounir Fatmi, Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Özlem Günyol & Mustafa Kunt, Arash Hanaei, Shady El Noshokaty, Zineb Sedira, and Nebojša Šeric Shoba) from the respective ancestral countries of the chosen families. This creates a link between migration and contemporary art. To further illuminate the reference points between the successfully integrated families and current art from the respective Islamic-molded home countries, examples of classical Islamic art are presented as the exhibition's third level. This intertwines tradition, the present, and fractures in the tradition in the context of their current meaning. The interdisciplinary exhibition operates with mirrorings and interactions among these three levels and consciously rejects simplifying and clichéd statements and determinations.
The terms "Islam", "culture", and "contemporary art" have divergent associations in the cultural-political interactions between East and West. A final clarification of these problematic concepts is complex and not the goal of this project, especially since the contemporary part of the exhibition is not able to and does not seek to depict general Islamic art or culture as such, but primarily focuses on the strategies of the younger generation of artists. The latter demonstrate quite autonomously their view of the world in which they live. The "contemporary image making" of their works is determined by a perception that often makes use of fragmentary, surrealistic, or poetic means and components, independent of regional, ethnic, and historical circumstances.
For observers of present-day constellations between the Orient and the Occident, it is easy to understand why writers and artists whose roots lie in Islamic-molded cultures reject being politically, sociologically, or aesthetically categorized on the basis of their religious affiliation; they rightly point out that these categories originate primarily in Western ideas and prejudices. Central Europeans find it hard to understand why such categorizations have negative associations in Islamic cultures. The supposed superiority of the European value system over the art of other cultures, especially countries molded by Islam, derives from colonialism. To this day it is hardly possible to view contemporary art from these countries from a viewpoint of equality, without oversimplifications and overgeneralizations.
The title "UNERWARTET / UNEXPECTED" reflects a Eurocentric art public's usual first reaction to current art from Islamic cultures. A primary aim of the exhibition is the attempt to perceive the transfer of new cultural experiences and exchange relationships. Up to now, kindred exhibitions in the German-speaking world (for example, DisORIENTation, Contemporary Arab art production from the Middle East, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin 2003; TASWIR, Islamische Bildwelten und Moderne, Martin Gropius-Bau, Berlin, 2010) have concentrated on simple "presentations" or on a "call for dialog"; but a different form of depiction is being tested in the Kunstmuseum Bochum. Making the viewers aware of migration from Islamic countries to the Ruhr Valley is thereby the thread running through the exhibition.
Immigrants to the Ruhr Valley initially came with no further perspective than residence for a limited time, but soon they began coming with the firm prospect of spending the rest of their lives in this region. Despite initial difficulties, the successful integration of the second and third generation of "Gastarbeiter" children shows the progress that has meanwhile been made in terms of equal chances and equality between natives and immigrants in the Ruhr Valley. This is one of the most important statements of the photos by Tuomo Manninen. In their prose, the poets Nazim Hikmet, Mahmoud Darwish, and Adonis often call creative people "internal immigrants" who, with differing motives, take new paths. So a comparison is definitely possible between the "Gastarbeiter" of the old days and artists, and this exhibition has experimentally carried it out. Curiosity about a "new life" in unknown, alien surroundings and the wish to flee social, political, and cultural constraints are comparable motives and driving forces for both groups. The biographies of migrants and artists often read like processes of emancipation. The certainty of returning soon to their homeland was a prerequisite for most "Gastarbeiter" to be willing to go to another country.
Almost half of the artists invited to the exhibition live and work "away from home". They constantly commute between the place where they work and the place where they were born, seeking new ideas that frequently become the objects of their artistic projects. Some aspects of the exhibition may seem "transitory", because they reflect various traditions of the old homeland in transition to the new one. Almost all these works combine interest in history and its continued effects in the new living circumstances. But the point is not the history of the Orient as a delimited area, but rather world history, whose political consequences are especially palpable in countries shaped by Islam. The "wind" that seems to blow in all corners of the exhibition rooms comes mainly from the south and southeast.
Tuomo Manninen
* 1962 Jyväskylä, Finland. Lives in Helsinki, Finland.
Hamra Abbas
* 1976 Kuwait; Pakistani origin. Lives in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Boston, USA.
more info & photos
* 1961 Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Lives in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
more info & photos
Lara Baladi
* 1969 Beirut, Lebanon. Lives in Cairo, Egypt.
more info & photos
Mounir Fatmi
* 1970 Tangier, Morocco. Lives in Paris, France, and Tangier.
more info & photos
Tarek Al-Ghoussein
* 1962 Kuwait, Palestinian. Lives in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
more info & photos
Özlem Günyol
* 1977 Ankara, Turkey. Lives in Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
Arash Hanaei
* 1978 Tehran, Iran; lives there.
more info & photos
Mustafa Kunt
* 1978 Ankara, Turkey. Lives in Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
Shady El Noshokaty
* 1971 Damietta, Egypt. Lives in Cairo, Egypt.
more info & photos
Zineb Sedira
* 1963 Paris, France; Algerian background. Lives in London, United Kingdom.
more info & photos
Nebosja Seric Shoba
* 1968 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lives in New York, USA.
Necmi Sönmez
Independent curator. Born in Istanbul, Turkey; based there and in Düsseldorf, Germany.
From Islamic Art to Contemporary Art
18 June - 10 Oct. 2010
Necmi Sönmez:
contemporary artists
Claus-Peter Haase:
Islamic art
See the list below the text


text:
Taj Mall (now Airgate Mall) managing director Ramesh Gorasia has dismissed a notice of demolition of his premises as "nonsense" and called the multi-sectoral committee on unsafe buildings "stupid".
Mr Gorasia, in a no-holds barred address to the media, defended the legality of the mall, even daring President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Governor Mike Sonko to go to the mall for the demolition and not send their junior officials.
"We have been there arguing with KURA (Kenya Urban Roads Authority) all this time. KURA cannot demolish for the last five years. Now some stupid agency has been created to frustrate investors in the country, we will not accept that nonsense," said Mr Gorasia.
His outburst came after the chairman of the committee Moses Nyakiongora asked the tenants to vacate the building before the August 30 to pave way for the demolition of the structure.
The committee, which has overseen the demolition of several buildings in the city, has told the owners of the mall to bring it down by August 30 failure to which it will be knocked down.
On Thursday, Mr Gorasia also refuted claims that Deputy President William Ruto has any shares on the mall.
"Hata Ruto hakuna kitu hapo, hata share moja hana, hiyo ni propaganda sijui nani ametowa, neither Uhuru nor Sonko own anything here. Mall tumetengeneza na jasho yangu na mimi sitaki sweat yangu iende waste," he said.
"That is what I am saying mzuri, Uhuru, Ruto, Sonko akuje. Hata Sonko amekuja juzi juzi hapo, si anaona vile hii jumba iko, anajua barabara haitakikani sahii. Kama ni fifty years baadaye tutaangalia vile itakuwa."
He maintained that at the time the mall was constructed, the National Construction Authority was not in place and all approvals were done by the county Gonernment and the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).


text:
Just a little over a year ago Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election. It was historic from many standpoints. A perceived outsider defied nearly every poll and won against one of the most politically savvy campaigns and candidates in modern history. Not only did Trump win the electoral college, but he did so by winning traditionally blue states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The so-called "blue wall" was broken. The Trump campaign did this by calling out Clinton for her clear contradictions on some of the hottest issues in contemporary America – feminism and Islamic extremism.
The belief that Hillary was "pro-women" was crucified by the fact that she and her husband routinely assaulted (Bill) and intimidated (Hillary) women over the past few decades. The move to invite Bill Clinton's accusers to not only a press conference, but also a debate, was incredibly powerful and allowed Trump to push Hillary off her phony feminist pedestal.
Another issue repeatedly brought up not just by Donald Trump, but by his many surrogates on television and radio, was that the Clinton Foundation had taken large donations from Saudi Arabia, a country renowned for its brutal treatment of women, homosexuals, and religious minorities. How in the world could Clinton claim to be pro-women, pro-gay, and pro-religious tolerance, while at the same time taking money from Saudis? This was another sharp attack to her consistency, character, and backbone.
Today, however, it seems Saudi Arabia is back to being America's "ally", and it is seen as a good thing. If Saudis donating to the Clinton Foundation was a sign of corruption, why is Saudi Arabia buying billions of dollars worth of arms not also met with outrage?
Let's go back to the 2016 election cycle and reexamine why Saudi Arabia donating to the Clinton Foundation was bad.
Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Record
As many know, Saudi Arabia has one of the worst records when it comes to human rights. Amnesty International reported that,
"Women continued to be required by law to obtain the permission of a male guardian before getting married, travelling, undertaking paid employment or enrolling in higher education. Saudi Arabian women with foreign spouses, unlike their male counterparts, could not pass on their nationality to their children. Women continued to be prohibited from driving, although the "Women2Drive" campaign by local activists challenged the ban. Discriminatory rules relating to marriage and divorce appeared to cause some women to remain trapped in violent and abusive relationships."
"The courts continued to impose sentences of flogging as a principal or additional punishment for many offences. At least five defendants were sentenced to flogging of 1,000 to 2,500 lashes. Flogging was carried out in prisons."
"The courts continued to impose death sentences for a range of drugs and other offences. Several hundred prisoners were believed to be on death row; some for many years. At least 79 prisoners were executed, mostly in public. They included at least 52 Saudi Arabians and at least 27 foreign nationals, including at least one woman. Some prisoners were executed for non-violent offenses."
If Hillary Clinton supported LGBT rights, how in the world could she not do more to protect their rights abroad, especially during her tenure as Secretary of State. In 2014, for instance, a gay man was sentence to three years and 450 lashes just for being gay. Regardless of how a person may feel about same sex marriage, Hobby Lobby, or bakeries, I'd hope that we can all agree that a person should not be imprisoned and tortured just for being a homosexual, yet this is common in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia and Terrorism
One of the worst incidents on Clinton's record was her response to the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, which claimed the lives of four Americans – U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, along with USFS Officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. For weeks following the attack, Clinton and her team played fast and loose with the facts surrounding the Benghazi story. It was one of the worst foreign policy blunders in recent memory.
Of course, the attack came as no surprise, as it went hand-in-hand with the "Arab Spring" movement, championed by Barack Obama and Clinton herself. This movement, as we all know, eventually gave rise to ISIS. Trump even claimed that Obama "founded ISIS" along with co-founder "crooked Hillary Clinton".
It didn't stop there though. Wikileaks released the emails of John Podesta, Clinton's campaign manager and close confidant. In one email, Clinton admitted to knowing that US allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar were supplying funding to ISIS.
"While this military/para-military operation is moving >> forward, we need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence >> assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, >> which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIL and >> other radical Sunni groups in the region."
It wasn't the first time Saudi Arabia had been linked to terrorism. Remember this?
Hijackers by Airplane:
American Airlines Flight 11
Mohamed Atta – Egypt, tactical leader of 9/11 plot and pilot
Abdul Aziz al Omari – Saudi Arabia
Wail al Shehri – Saudi Arabia
Waleed al Shehri – Saudi Arabia
Satam al Suqami – Saudi Arabia
United Airlines Flight 175
Fayez Banihammad – United Arab Emirates
Ahmed al Ghamdi – Saudi Arabia
Hamza al Ghamdi – Saudi Arabia
Marwan al Shehhi – United Arab Emirates, pilot
Mohand al Shehri – Saudi Arabia
American Airlines Flight 77
Hani Hanjour – Saudi Arabia, pilot
Nawaf al Hazmi – Saudi Arabia
Salem al Hazmi – Saudi Arabia
Khalid al Mihdhar – Saudi Arabia
Majed Moqed – Saudi Arabia
United Airlines Flight 93
Saeed al Ghamdi – Saudi Arabia
Ahmad al Haznawi – Saudi Arabia
Ziad Jarrah – Lebanon, pilot
Ahmed al Nami – Saudi Arabia
(Don't forget Osama bin Laden – another Saudi himself.)
"Saudi Arabia—not Iran—is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world today and Wahhabism remains the source of most radical Islamic extremism. For years Iran has borne the unenviable title of "world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism." However, out of the 61 groups that are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department, the overwhelming majority are Wahhabi-inspired and Saudi-funded groups, with a focus on the West and Iran as their primary enemy."
If Hillary Clinton was accepting donations from people with strong links to not just terrorism in the middle east, but also terrorism seen on America's home front, it was a huge red flag! Where were Clinton's loyalties? Obviously NOT to women, NOT to the LGBT community, and NOT to American national security.
How Quickly Things Change
Of course, despite Saudi Arabia's treatment of its own people, and its numerous links to terrorist groups, most of that has been swept under the rug unless it can be used as ammo against a political opponent. During the 2016 campaigns, any ties to Saudi Arabia were used as missiles to hurl at "Crooked Hillary", but all was forgiven and forgotten as soon as the politics changed.
Once in office, Donald Trump signed the largest arms deal in history with Saudi Arabia. The Week reported in May,
"The immediate sale is worth $110 billion and includes "Abrams tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, radar, and communications and cyber security technology," officials familiar with the package told The Associated Press Friday. "When completed, it will be the largest single arms deal in American history," said Vice Admiral Joe Rixey, chief of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency."
I thought doing business with Saudi Arabia was bad! Now, we're selling them hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tanks and ships? Don't worry – it gets worse! According to Bloomberg,
The Trump administration is encouraging Saudi Arabia to consider bids by Westinghouse Electric Co. and other U.S. companies to build nuclear reactors in that country and may allow the enrichment of uranium as part of that deal, according to three people familiar with the plans.
Bloody hell! Not one of the 9/11 attackers was Iranian, but we're constantly hearing about the negative consequences of Iranian nuclear development. The vast majority of the attackers were from Saudi Arabia, and we're encouraging them to get more into the nuclear sphere. What's going on here?
It Continues Today…
Saudi Arabia was recently conducting a massive blockade of food and goods to be shipped into Yemen. The United Nations had warned that as many as 8 million people were facing famine due to these actions. Everyday 130 children die from starvation in Yemen. This continued with what could have been considered at worst American support, or at best American indifference. In early December, Donald Trump thankfully asked for Saudi Arabia to end their blockade, which they have partially and temporarily complied with. How long it will be before that blockade is reinstated is anyone's guess.
Radical ultraconservative forms of Islam continue to be pushed both inside and outside of the Saudi kingdom by their government. The majority of terrorist groups hold greater allegiance to Saudi Arabia than Iran or other middle east governments. Arms are still passed from Saudis to groups that carryout terrorist attacks around the world. Hell, the pilot training for the 9/11 attackers was paid for by the Saudi embassy. This is a huge problem. We addressed it briefly during the 2016 election cycle, and we shouldn't forget about it.
Here we are today with another president being "honored" by King Salman of Saudi Arabia – our "best friend" (other than Israel, of course) in the middle east. If we were outraged by Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation accepting millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, we should be equally as outraged when "our guy" does the same thing. Right and wrong don't change based on a political party. If it was wrong for Hillary last year, it is wrong for Donald Trump and Republicans today. Stand up for women. Stand up for our LGBT friends. Stand up for human rights. Stand against Saudi Arabia!
Tim Preuss is the host of the Tim Preuss Podcast, available Monday-Friday on iTunes, the Liberty Radio Network, Talk America Radio, and everywhere else. More of his work is available at PreussPodcast.com.
- The Marxist Origins of Labor Day - September 3, 2018
- Trump Needs to be Cautious About the Economy - May 6, 2018
- Mattis Doesn't Understand Article II - April 14, 2018
- Tariffs and Inflation - March 10, 2018
- Imagine Gun Control - March 4, 2018