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AdvancED (formerly known as SACS and SACS-CASI) is the accreditation agency for the Okaloosa County School District. Okaloosa County School District has been recognized as a district-wide accredited agency since December 9, 2006, with previous accreditations occurring at each individual school, with the oldest recorded school, Baker School, securing its initial accreditation in December 1923.
Students deserve the highest level of educational experience possible and benefit from their educational system's commitment to raising student performance and accountability. Students that attend an accredited institution gain greater access to federal loans, scholarships, post-secondary education and military programs that require students attend an accredited institution.
This ethic of excellence ensures that institutions will find rich benefits from accreditation and that parents can confidently make informed decisions about their children's education, knowing their child's school is accredited. Another advantage of accreditation is that it is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards of quality and successful professional practice.
The accreditation process leads teachers to critically evaluate teaching and learning with a focus for academic excellence. By engaging in accreditation a school will move beyond the internal and isolated discussions about continuous school improvement and submit their educational environment to a rigorous process of analysis and evaluation. And though continuous school improvement is a formal, disciplined structure of continuous monitoring, evaluation, and adjustments, it is the tireless dedication of educators and administrators to the continuous improvement of our schools and students that leads to true organizational effectiveness.
As a result of schools exhibiting educational excellence, communities are viewed as desirable for economic growth and business expansion.
Okaloosa County School District will continue to strive for excellence in education. District-wide accreditation, acknowledgment as a Quality System, has validated the district-wide system's outstanding accomplishments as well as recognized the efforts of every Okaloosa County School District employee.


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Individual, families, groups, and businesses need customized health insurance plans to ensure that they have to spend minimum out-of-the-pocket money for their healthcare needs. With the implementation of healthcare reforms, the options for buying health insurance are widened.
With the advent of internet technology, the concept of transparency of price is gaining momentum. Insurers in Florida health insurance are facing a compelling need of price transparency when they offer health insurance quotes to their clients. At the same time, application time and waiting time for health insurance has reduced significantly as compared to earlier times.
Types of health insurance plans offered in Florida
Apart from State and Federal governments' sponsored program including Medicare, Medicaid, etc., there is an option of buying health insurance from private companies. Like many other states, health insurance plans in Florida are offered to the residents in traditional format. These could be classified as:
1. Individual health coverage
2. Family health coverage
3. Group insurance
4. Student health coverage
5. Dental health insurance
6. Low cost insurance
7. Low-income families insurance
8. Short-term insurance
9. Small business insurance
Companies offering health insurance Florida
Below is the list of health insurance companies offering health insurance to the residents of Florida:
• Aetna
• Assurant
• Avalon Healthcare
• AvMed Health Plans
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• Celtic
• Cigna
• Coventry
• Golden Rule
• Humana One
• Solera Dental
• Vista
Types of health plans offered in Florida
A lot of consumer end up having discount coupons, which sometimes are termed as health plans; however, it needs to be understood that these discount coupons are not insurance. To buy affordable health plans in Florida, consumers need to equip themselves with proper knowledge about the same.
Traditional categorization of health coverage in Florida offers indemnity and managed care health plans. Indemnity health plans have the insured file claims for reimbursement. While managed care health plans allow the providers to file claims for the insured person.
Managed care health plans are further categorized as HMO, PPO, and POS.
Impact of the Affordable Care Act on insurance in Florida
• 290,000 small businesses in Florida will be offered tax credits for offering health coverage to their employees.
• Medicare beneficiaries in Florida will be automatically mailed a check of $250 to defray the cost of their prescription drugs.
• Early retirees will be offered reinsurance options.
• Uninsured Floridians with pre-existing condition will have a huge boost with $351 million federal dollars made available to Florida starting July 1 to provide coverage.
• Like many other states, for the first time ever, Florida will have the option of Federal Medicaid funding for coverage for all low-income populations, irrespective of age, disability, or family status.
• 8.8 million Floridians will no longer have to worry about lifetime limits on the coverage.
• Around 1.1 million individuals will not have to worry about getting dropped from coverage when they get sick.
• Children in Florida will be able to stay with their family insurance policy till the age of 26 years.
Costs involved in a health coverage plan in Florida
It is important to understand types of costs involved in a health coverage plan to make sure that Floridians have assessed everything before they finalize a health plan. We talk about the types of costs involved in a health coverage plan:
Premium-premium is the amount of money to be paid on monthly basis. Premium is the main cost that a health plan constitutes. It could vary from person to person and in plan to plan. It mainly depends on the age, gender, and health status of a consumer applying to get health coverage.
Deductible-deductible is the second major cost involved in a health plan. It is the amount of money that a consumer pays before the insurer actually begins to pay for the coverage. With higher deductibles, premium costs are reduced.
Coinsurance – coinsurance, as the name explains itself, is the amount of money that the consumer agrees to pay in percentage of the total cost of medical service after the deductible has been paid. Generally, it is usually 80/20 of the total value where 80% of the cost is paid by the insurance companies while the 20% is by the consumer.
Copay – copay is like coinsurance but it is not represente

subset: commoncrawl


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Hubblecast 49: Supersonic jets from newborn stars
In this episode of the Hubblecast, Joe Liske (aka Dr J) looks at newborn stars firing out jets of matter. These jets may cast new light on how the Sun formed 4.5 billion years ago.
An international team of scientists led by astronomer Patrick Hartigan of Rice University in Houston, USA, has collected enough high-resolution Hubble images over a 14-year period to stitch together time-lapse movies of these jets.
Find out how to view and contribute subtitles for the Hubblecast in multiple languages, or translate this video on dotSUB.
Credit:ESA/Hubble, STScI
Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser
Web and technical support: Lars Holm Nielsen and Raquel Yumi Shida
Written by: Oli Usher and Donna Weaver (STScI)
Narration: Joe Liske (Dr J)
Images: NASA, ESA and P. Hartigan (Rice University)
Footage: STScI, Rice University
Animations: Greg Bacon (STScI) and Patrick Hartigan (Rice University)
Interviews: Mary Estacion (STScI) and Jade Boyd (Rice University)
Music: movetwo and John Dyson (from the album Darklight)
Directed by: Oli Usher
Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen
About the Video
Id: | heic1113a |
Release date: | 31 August 2011, 15:00 |
Related releases: | heic1113 |
Related announcements: | ann1118 |
Duration: | 05 m 15 s |
Frame rate: | 30 fps |
About the Object
Category: | HD Hubblecast |


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This trip was, to a certain extent, a follow-up of the Second Yalta International Economic Forum that took place in Crimea in April 2016. The forum was co-hosted by the EU-sanctioned "Prime Minister of the Republic of Crimea" Sergey Aksyonov and Andrey Nazarov, co-chair of the All-Russian Civic Organisation "Business Russia" (Delovaya Rossiya) which is a union of businessmen working in non-energy sectors of Russian economy. It was the "Business Russia" organisation that officially invited and paid for the trip of the Italian delegation, and Nazarov was their main host in Crimea in October.
Italian collaborators travelling to Russia-annexed Crimea |
One of the leading Italian participants of both the Yalta conference and Crimean visit in October was Stefano Valdegamberi elected to the Veneto regional council on the personal list of the Northern League's member Luca Zaia. In May 2016, Valdegamberi initiated a resolution calling on Rome to recognise Crimea as part of Russia and to lift anti-Russian sanctions. The resolution, which was not legally binding, was adopted by the Veneto regional council in May 2016, while similar resolutions were adopted during summer 2016 by the Lombardy and Liguria regional councils. Despite the efforts of Valdegamberi and his right-wing populist colleagues from other councils, none of these resolutions had any impact on the Italian authorities.
During his October visit to Crimea, Valdegamberi talked about the sanctions again, and even declared that Ukraine had to compensate for the "economic losses" of the Veneto region allegedly inflicted by the EU's Crimea-related sanctions. It is interesting that several politicians from the Northern League, with which Valdegamberi is associated, have served as mouthpieces of Russian propaganda since 2014: Claudio D'Amico "monitored" the illegal referendum in Crimea; Gianluca Savoini, the spokesman for the Northern League's leader Matteo Salvini, is president of the Lombardy-Russia Cultural Association, which functions as a Russian front organisation in Italy; Salvini himself appeared in the Russian State Duma in October 2014 wearing a sweatshirt saying "No sanctions against Russia".
Like the conference in Yalta, the visit to Crimea in October had a clear propagandistic goal aimed at legitimising the Russian annexation of Crimea and showing that Crimea was not internationally isolated. To that end, Roberto Ciambetti, the Northern League's member and president of the Veneto regional council, signed – together with the EU-sanctioned "Chairman of State Council of the Republic of Crimea" Vladimir Konstantinov – a joint statement on the development of interregional cooperation. A member of the Brothers of Italy and a member of the council of the city of Padua Marina Buffoni signed – together with Simferopol's "mayor" Viktor Ageyev – an agreement proclaiming Padua and Simferopol twin-cities and announcing the intention to boost economic development and bilateral business contacts. Free Alternative's member Tancredi Turco promised to continue his work aimed at persuading the Italian authorities to lift the anti-Russian sanctions. While he was sceptical over the efficiency of his efforts, Turco expressed his hope that the political situation in Italy might change in case Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who supports the Ukraine-related anti-Russian sanctions, lost the constitutional referendum planned for 4 December 2016.
However, the economic aspects were perhaps the more important part of the visit to Crimea. Nazarov claimed that two contracts were to be signed during this visit. One contract apparently entails the construction of a 5-star hotel in Simferopol; the second one covers the joint purchase of a Russian magazine on architecture, construction and design by the "Business Russia" organisation and Italian businessmen. While it is not yet clear whether the contracts have indeed been signed or who exactly could have signed them from the Italian side, it is known that the participant of the delegation Fulvio Scandiuzzi is CEO of Scandiuzzi Steel Constructions, which is the only Italian company that had any relation to construction among those represented during the trip to Crimea.
Marina Bufoni's Russian visa that allowed her to illegally enter Russia-annexed Crimea |
The Western Crimea-related sanctions naturally remain a significant obstacle for foreign investments into the Crimean economy, and this was acknowledged by yet another participant of the delegation, director of the Chamber of Commerce of the Veneto region Gian Angelo Bellati. However, the Russians have long been discussing how Russian and non-Russian businesses could circumvent the sanctions, so it is important for relevant Western institutions to monitor closely the relations between European and Crimea-based businesses with regard to potential violation of the sanctions regime.
Members of the Italian delegation:
1. Stefano Albrigi (owner of the company "Albrigi Srl").
2. Stefano Bargi (Lega Nord Emilia e Romagna).
3. Gian Angelo Bellati (director of the Chamber of Commerce of the Veneto region).
4. Fabio Bosio (owner of the company "Brescia Hydropower S.r.l.").
5. Marina Buffoni (Fratelli d'Italia).
6. Attilio Carlesso (president of the company "Cantina di Soave").
7. Roberto Ciambetti (Liga Veneta–Lega Nord).
8. Jari Colla (Lega Lombarda-Lega Nord).
9. Alessandro Gonzato (journalist).
10. Antonio Nicodemo (a manager of the company "Veronesi").
11. Roberto Penazzi (?).
12. Alessandro Piana (Lega Nord Liguria).
13. Luciano Sandonà (Lista Zaia/Liga Veneta–Lega Nord).
14. Fulvio Scandiuzzi (CEO of the Scandiuzzi Steel Constructions Spa).
15. Luciano Soldà (?).
16. Tancredi Turco (Alternativa Libera).
17. Stefano Valdegamberi (Lista Zaia/Liga Veneta–Lega Nord).
18. Marcello Veronesi (owner of the company "Veronesi").
19. Manuel Vescovi (Lega Nord).
The Italian delegation was accompanied by Robert Stelzl, an Austrian and an employee of Ewald Stadler, the leader of the fringe right-wing populist Reformkonservativen party.
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Costa Brava
Photo by Nancy Stark Smith
Ninety-five percent of the music Mike Vargas made was performed once and never heard again. Since he first turned a Chopin prelude into a bossa nova in the late '60s, Vargas has been pursuing new and challenging situations in which to improvise, putting together sounds to suit the circumstance, gathering a wide range of styles, strategies and instruments along the way. (overview 1998-2016)
The guiding principles in his pursuits have been exploration and adventure. Choosing from the beginning to deliberately resist the commodification of his music, he has preferred to operate more or less invisibly, making the best music possible for relatively modest events around the world while striving to put into action the most exciting musical developments of the last hundred years.
Since around 2001, Vargas has found himself most often in rooms full of improvising dancers, collectively deciding on the nature of the dance in real time.
After forty-five years of inventing music on the spot, of investigating context-specific composition in diverse settings, he is currently looking into composing the situations themselves. He is currently retired.
here is an example
©2011 Mike Vargas all materials on site, Web site design by Tony Silva


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Hi everyone. I have a love / hate relationship with alcohol inks. :) I have had success with using them on pieces of copper and acetate, and with the floating alcohol inks technique. But when it comes to playing with them on yupo paper that is all the rage now, I have had little success. I made one a few months back and it turned out well ... turns out it was beginner's luck. :)
But, I'm stubborn! :) And it has paid off for me. I was determined to make things work and I found out that I had the best luck by smooshing alcohol inks. I placed some drops of colour on a piece of foil (red and magenta) and added a few drops of gold metallic fixative. Then I smooshed. :)
I ended up with several pieces that actually look pretty good. I'm happy! LOVE the vibrant colours from these inks and kept the cards super CAS by having just a single layer of my die-cuts along with splattering diluted gold acrylic paint in the background and stamping a sentiment.
I do struggle with a few products and techniques. I'm just happy that I have overcome my problems with alcohol inks ... for now. :)
Here's a close-up of the poinsettia ... LOVE these bold colours.
And I made another using an ornament die ...
Updated: Since I used snippets of my alcohol ink smooshed paper for the poinsettia and ornament, I'm heading over to the Snippets Playground to join the fun. :) Di and Parsnip are celebrating their 250th week --- congrats!!
Stamps: Peace - Merriest sentiments (Avery Elle); Be Joyful - Big Scripty Greetings Holiday (Simon Says)
Paper: White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo white
Ink: Alcohol inks: Poppyfield (Ranger); Senorita Magenta, Gold (Pinata); Gold Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools: Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps); Ornament Set 2 die (Elizabeth Craft Designs), gold beads, gold cording, gold acrylic paint (Lumiere) for splattering, paint brush
Snippets Playground - Week 250


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Circumstances of Death
In May, 1992, ATF commenced an extensive investigation of David Koresh (aka: David Wayne Howell) and the Branch Davidians, a cult group residing on a large and rural property near Waco, Texas. ATF's investigation centered on Koresh and the Davidians being involved in the illegal manufacture and possession of machineguns and the illegal manufacture and possession of destructive devices, including bombs and grenades. In fact, ATF's investigation showed that the group had acquired the following:
- 136 firearms, including assault rifles and handguns
- 700+ magazines for those firearms
- 200,000+ rounds of ammunition
- 110 upper and lower receivers for AR-15/M16 rifles
- Grenade-launcher attachments for AR-15/M16 rifles
- 400+ empty M31 rifle grenades, along with black powder and other explosive chemicals
The investigation involved many different facets, including: interviews with former cult members; inspection and interview of a federal firearms dealer; review of documentation showing the purchase of large quantities of AR-15 rifles, ammunition and inert grenades (which can be readily converted to live grenades); and records from interstate shippers. An ATF undercover agent became an associate member of the Davidians, albeit with limited access to their compound. In February 1993, sufficient evidence had been gathered to allow for the issuance of federal arrest and search warrants, to arrest Koresh and search the compound.
On February 28, 1993, Special Agent Conway Charles LeBleu was part of a large, specially trained and well disciplined force of ATF special agents from the Dallas, Houston and New Orleans Field Divisions; assigned to execute federal warrants at the Branch Davidian Compound. Unfortunately, the Davidians had been alerted to the impending raid by a local postman, who was also a cult member.
When the agents arrived, the fanatical, heavily armed, cult members were waiting in ambush as the agents disembarked from their vehicles. Koresh was outside on the porch, but as the agents approached, telling him they had a search warrant and instructing him to "get down," he retreated inside the house. When the agents approached, a burst of gunfire was fired through the door, wounding one agent.
A long and difficult gunfight followed over approximately 2 1/2 hours, with agents unable to penetrate the main house and having little natural cover to protect themselves from the Davidian gunfire. The Davidians had excellent cover and the tactical advantage had shifted to them.
Four ATF agents (Special Agents Conway LeBleu, Todd McKeehan, Robert Williams and Steven Willis) were killed; 20 ATF agents were wounded from gunshots or shrapnel, and 8 agents suffered other injuries. Six Davidians were also reportedly killed and four wounded from gunshots, although this could not be forensically proven because of the later destruction (by fire) of the compound. A cease fire followed and Koresh released 24 members (mostly children, but none of his own) from the compound.
A 51-day stand-off ended on April 19th when the Davidian Compound erupted in fire(s) set by cult members, as law enforcement attempted to force them out by introducing tear gas into the building. The fire destroyed the compound and more than 70 residents were killed, many from gunshot wounds apparently inflicted by fellow cult members. Nine cult members escaped the fire and were arrested, while eight of those members were later convicted in federal court on various firearms and/or other charges; all were sentenced to various lengths of imprisonment.
Contrary to popular news reports, the Davidian compound was actually located in the unincorporated area of McLennan County, and not within the city limits of Waco. The people of Waco were very supportive of law enforcement and often brought food to the agents and populated their front yards with homemade signs of support for what law enforcement was trying to accomplish.
A subsequent investigation by the Departments of Treasury and Justice regarding the actions of law enforcement agents during the siege determined that some tactics and decisions were poorly executed; and in fact, certain actions by ATF were criticized. However, the September 1993 U.S. Department of Treasury Administrative Review concluded:
"...the agency is made up of dedicated, committed and experienced professionals, who have regularly demonstrated sound judgment and remarkable courage in enforcing the law. ATF has a history of success in conducting complex investigations and executing dangerous and challenging law enforcement missions. That fine tradition, together with the line agents' commitment to the truth and their courage and determination has enabled ATF to provide our country with a safer and more secure nation under law."
Agent LeBleu joined ATF on August 31, 1987, and was assigned to the New Orleans Field Division. He carried badge #2134.
During his short career, Agent LeBleu was the recipient of Special Act Awards in 1988 and 1991 for investigative excellence. He was also recognized by Louisiana State University for his participation in a field service training program for students. Prior to joining ATF, he served with the Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff's Department.
Conway loved all sports and was an avid hunter. He graduated from McNeese State University (Louisiana) in 1987.
Agent LeBleu was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was survived by his wife, Paige and their sons, Scott and Cameron.


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Hunting/Fishing Licenses
Learn to Hunt
Report Your Harvest
Current Fishing Report
Taking Kids Fishing
Iowa's natural resources plates include the state bird and flower, pheasant, eagle, buck and a Brook trout. Support conservation in Iowa by buying a natural resource plate for your vehicle. Natural Resource Plates
Experience Iowa's natural beauty and all the fun our state parks offer. Make your online reservation for state park cabins, camping sites, shelters and lodges.
Support conservation in Iowa by buying a natural resource plate for your vehicle.
Natural Resource Plates
Iowa DNR Customer Service Mon - Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm CST p: 515-725-8200 f: 515-725-8201 Submit Online Inquiry Information / Records Requests Contact Information by County
The Iowa DNR offers many opportunities to explore the state's diverse natural resources, better understand the environmental issues it faces, and learn skills to help enjoy outdoor activities. Strengthen your knowledge about Iowa's amazing natural resources with these educational programs and resources:
Attend a workshop or camp for hands-on instruction to help you learn a new outdoor skills. Programs are available for all ages.
Many outdoor activities require specific safety training. There are a lot of options from hands-on to online.


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Inspiration That Will Unlock Your Potential and Release Your Destiny!
You were made for greatness, not mediocrity.
Every human being was formed in the image and likeness of the Creator―a God of purpose and destiny. In turn, it is Heaven's perfect plan for you to maximize your life, fulfill your destiny and live with a sense of divine purpose!
In the Living With Purpose devotional, you will receive access to Biblical wisdom and spiritual insights that will help you face your day with increased vision and live your life with a greater sense of destiny.
Dr. Myles Munroe was more than a revolutionary ministry leader and bestselling author; he was a prophetic voice who called forth potential in the lives of those to whom he ministered. Through this collection of his timeless teachings on purpose and potential, Dr. Munroe encourages you to dream bigger, inspires your vision, and empowers your potential!
It's time for you to live with divine purpose!


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Posts Tagged 'edm miami'
Ultra Music Festival 2020 | Ultra Music Miami
Seeking PLUR at Ultra Music Festival 2019 in Miami? Got your tickets all lined up? We'll see you there! PLUR community at rave and edm festivals like Ultra Music Fest in Miami. Who is PLURWAY? We are moms and dads who attend events around the country like Ultra Music Festival to help ravers like you…
Read More


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August 26, 2020
Vault by Vans and WTAPS Come Together Once Again. One of Vans' most coveted and anticipated collaborations is back for its 14th year: Vault by Vans x WTAPS release the latest footwear styles that combine Vans' timeless styles with WTAPS' military-meets-urban sensibility. The collection will unveil a secondary drop, including apparel, later this season.
Available August 22nd at select Vault retailers globally and additional styles will be unveiled later this season.
WTAPS is a Japanese brand founded in 2006 by Tetsu Nishiyama with a philosophy that is centered around placing things where they should be and draws inspiration from military clothing due to its practicality, production process, stitching and material details.
This fall, there are two themes prevalent throughout the collection that will emerge in footwear iterations, first with GPS. The GPS theme aligns with the military references for which WTAPS is well-known. The WTAPS logo and GPS coordinates are printed along the outsole of the OG Old School and OG Slip-On. The first release will be in black and white, featuring the WTAPS logo and GPS coordinates printed in white text against the black outsole, as well as the same design imagined on black featuring an orange outsole.
The Vault by Vans X WTAPS collection will be available August 22nd at select Vault retailers globally and additional styles will be unveiled later this season.


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Adafruit PT100 RTD Temperature Sensor Amplifier, MAX31865
Adafruit PT100 RTD Temperature Sensor Amplifier, MAX31865
For precision temperature sensing, nothing beats a Platinum RTD. Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) are temperature sensors that contain a resistor that changes resistance value as its temperature changes, basically a kind of thermistor. In this sensor, the resistor is actually a small strip of Platinum with a resistance of 100 ohms at 0°C, thus the name PT100. Compared to most NTC/PTC thermistors, the PT type of RTD is much most stable and precise (but also more expensive) PT100's have been used for many years to measure temperature in laboratory and industrial processes, and have developed a reputation for accuracy (better than thermocouples), repeatability, and stability.
However, to get that precision and accuracy out of your PT100 RTD you must use an amplifier that is designed to read the low resistance. Better yet, have an amplifier that can automatically adjust and compensate for the resistance of the connecting wires. If you're looking for a great RTD sensor, today is your lucky day because we have a lovely Adafruit RTD Sensor Amplifier with the MAX31865 breakout for use with any 2, 3 or 4 wire PT100 RTD!
We've carried various MAXIM thermocouple amplifiers and they're great - but thermocouples don't have the best accuracy or precision, for when the readings must be as good as can be. The MAX31865 handles all of your RTD needs, and can even compensate 3 or 4 wire RTDs for better accuracy. Connect to it with any microcontroller over SPI and read out the resistance ratio from the internal ADC. We put a 430Ω 0.1% resistor as a reference resistor on the breakout. We have some example code that will calculate the temperature based on the resistance for you.
We even made the breakout 5V compliant, with a 3.3V regulator and level shifting, so you can use it with any Arduino or microcontroller.
Each order comes with one assembled RTD amplifier breakout board. Also comes with two 2-pin terminal blocks (for connecting to the RTD sensor) and pin header (to plug into any breadboard or perfboard). A required PT100 RTD is not included! (But we stock them in the shop). Some soldering is required to solder the headers and terminal blocks to the breakout, but it's an easy task with soldering tools.
Please note: this does not include an RTD sensor! Also, the terminal blocks included with your product may be blue or black


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Adding a co-author who is already part of the Community
If your co-author has previously written a post for the Community, adding them to a post is very straightforward. In the post creation page, you will see a number of tabs on the right hand side. Select 'Contributors', type their name into the search box and click on their profile. Once you save and publish a post, they will be acknowledged as a co-author at the start of the post and the blog post will also appear on their profile page.
If your co-author is part of the Community, but hasn't previously written a post, it may be likely that we need to update their profile to ensure that they can be added as a contributor. First, check if you can search for them using the steps above. If you are not able to find their profile, please contact our team and we will be able to help update their profile so they can be added as a contributor.
Inviting a co-author to the Community
If your co-author has not yet joined the Community, you can send them an invitation to join. To do this, visit the 'Contributors' tab in the post creation page (shown above), type their email address into the 'Invite New Contributor' box, and click 'Invite'.
This will send them an invitation to the Community. If they don't receive this email, ask them to check their junk folder, and if it is not received please contact the team for further assistance.
Your co-authors should accept the invitation by following the link in the email, and set up their profile. Once they have completed their profile set up, they will be added as contributors.
Once the blog post is published, it will be displayed on all the co-authors' pages. We encourage you all to share your post with your networks and through social media.


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My snippets card this week was pretty quick and easy to make - once I decided on the design:
I used:
- 4.25" x 5.5" white card blank, tent style
- snippets of SU 'Real Red' and black card stock for the backing 'frames'
- a snippet of white card stock, embossed using SU's 'Happy Heart' embossing folder and trimmed to size
- all the backing layers were then glued in place using Collall All Purpose glue
- next I die cut the sparkly heart from a piece of Xcut red adhesive glitter sheet using the Creative Expressions 'Expressions - Love' die set
- stuck the die cut onto a snippet of white card and then trimmed it right down - much easier to do it that way than try and position the die cut centrally on a ready trimmed snippet
- added a backing layer of black card stock from a snippet then stuck the 'topper' in place on the card front using thin sticky fixers
I really loved making this heart - firstly because the die set is so versatile. You can use it as I did with the 'word part' die taped inside the outer border die. You could die cut just the word 'love' without a border into a card front. Or you could use the plain heart die on it's own to cut plain hearts or heart shaped apertures - the World is your
And the glitter sheet was a total delight to use! These are new to me (spotted something about them in a craft magazine when I was doing the 'grand cull' recently) and the red sheet I used came from the 'Dark' pack of 10 A5 sheets in five colours (red, lime, pink, purple and turquoise). There's minimal 'glitter shed', it die cuts perfectly, the backing which covered the self adhesive is sort of plasticised which makes removing it a doddle and it sticks really well onto card. Top marks to Xcut!
Onto the weekly picks now - and the usual hard time here whittling the picks down to just a handful:
I'm typing this whilst waiting for a grocery delivery so am cutting the picks short this week. As always, I could keep adding more and more - wonderful work girls, even if you aren't a weekly pick!
We have two new playmates this week:
Welcome to the Playground girls! We do hope you'll come back to play with us again.
Now let's do the prize draw for last week - the Inkadinkado set of clear stamps, called 'Flower Garden', very generously donated by Mary Anne and the Taylored Expressions 'Twirls and Swirls' embossing folder. Our winner is:
Karen (Ladd)
This next week's prize is very much connected to my snippets card. It's a three part prize this time - you can choose some or all of it - although it is being offered as one complete prize, if that's what you'd like and your number is drawn by Mr Random:
Yup, it's a Creative Expressions heart/love die set, a pack of that fabulous Xcut adhesive glitter paper (dark) and also an Xcut 'Hearts and Kisses' embossing folder. I'm hoping this prize (or parts thereof) will reach the winner(s) in time to be put to use for Valentine's Day - at least with luck and a following wind, should have done this prize a week ago really. Hindsight sure is 20/20 vision!
A slight difference though - the folder I used today isn't exactly the same (mine is a Stampin' Up one purely made up of hearts) but I suddenly thought just the other day, after making my snippets card, what a nice complete prize it would be if I offered the die set, a pack of glitter paper and embossing folder. Of course, Dumbo had left it too late to order the SU folder but I came across the Xcut one instead. And I like it - a lot :)
The Snippets Challenge will run for one week and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 6th February. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.
Maximum of three entries and please say in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. If you only want to play for either the heart die set, the glittered papers or the embossing folder (or for two of the three items) then just say so in a comment - if your number comes up then I'll do a further draw for the remaining part of the prize. But, all three items are up as one complete prize if you so wish of course. Please also link back to the Playground in your blog post to be eligible for the draw.
Mr Linky is below - please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)
Enjoy your week - whatever you have planned! So far I think my most exciting outing will be for a blood test - but, given some of the Spring-like days we've been having, I'm hoping for something more exciting than that to turn up!
Di and, of course, Parsnip!


text:
How to setup your retractable banner display
Retractable Banner Features:
- Fabric Pop Up Banner graphic 31.5"x79"
- Base size: 32.5"W x 3.5"H x 3.5"D
- Black or Silver base
- Displays a 31.5"x79" banner
- Overall Height (base+banner): 82.5"
- Travel bag included
- Fast setup and tear down
Retractable Banner Graphic Template
How Fast Can I receive my Retractable Banner & Stand?
- Proofs are sent within 1 business day of the order if custom. Stock design with no
changes ship in 2 business days. - Once approval has been made by email (must have email confirmation)
the pop up banner will print and go to ship within 1-2 business days. - shipping will then take 2-4 days depending on your location.
We ship from our Dallas, TX warehouse. The closer you are, the faster
you will receive your awesome church display! View our shipping map here!
Ordering a custom retractable banner:
- Upload your artwork or let our designers make one for you
- To have us make one for you, choose a design you like on our site,
place that information into the "Production Notes" box, type out all
the changes you'd like (text, color, etc.) - Once order is placed, proofs are emailed within 1 business day.
- If you'd like to see a proof before ordering, please go to our free
proof request page. This process can take up to 2-4 days to receive a proof.
Custom Paid Orders are proofed and emailed first. (Free Proof Form)
The Retractable display comes with a fabric banner insert. We do not use the cheap vinyl that curls like most other printing places. We prefer the fabric which sits in the stand nice and straight with no curl ever. This light-weight stand setups in seconds and can be placed in most areas inside the church. Very popular with church planters and commonly used in welcome centers and hallways to direct visitors and members to areas of the buildings. The graphic is attached by double stick tape inside the base and then a clamp bar on top. A travel bag is also included. For questions please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com or please give us a call @ 888.453.0060. We're here M-F 9am - 6pm. Thanks!!!
- We ship all our pop up banners using FedEx ground and FedEx Economy Intl' for those outside the USA.
- Alaska & Hawaii do take longer to arrive than our closer 48 states.
- We can expedite shipping for express delivery, but you must call in to check available options.
- Stock retractable banner orders in limited quantities ship with in 2 business days upon the clearing of payment.
- Custom Orders vary depending on approval of artwork. Once artwork is approved and paid, the order will ship with the same time requirements as our stock banners.
- Customers can choose other carriers for their packages, but they must call in to place their order and shipping preferences. There may be additional charges for the different carrier requirements.
- Most packages in the 48 states will arrive within 3-5 business days upon leaving our warehouse.
- Tracking for your package is sent once it has been processed and an email is sent to the one provided at check-out.
EXAMPLE OF GROUND SHIPPING on all approved Retractable Banner orders
- Approved Custom Retractable Banner ordered online by 2pm CST Monday will ship Wednesday. Once shipped it will take 3-5 business days to arrive.(48 states, international shipping times vary)
- Custom orders will have proofs sent within 1 business day of the order placed. Once confirmation is approved on the custom proof, your pop up banner will ship within 2 business days of approval. Once shipped it will take 3-5 business days to arrive. Please check your junk/spam folder incase you do not see a proof.
- Suggestion: give yourself 10days (Advent, Christmas, & Easter we try hard even with the high volume to get the banner stands out fast for you in order to have on time for decorating your church)
- Do note that a custom order can not print until payment and an email approval has been received. If our design team does not receive an approval, it will not go to print. These times are based on APPROVED file orders.
Payment and Return Policies
- Orders must be paid in full before printing and shipping can be completed.
- Any defects or misprints on our behalf ChurchBanners.com will print and ship immediately new banners out to you on our behalf. We want to make sure you receive what your ministry ordered.
- Stock Retractable Banner designs are print on demand. Only a store credit towards your purchase will be given if it meets our store policy. If you wish to return them after receiving, customers must call to receive a RA NUMBER within 14 days of arrival. Shipping & Handling is not refundable. Once an RA is given the banners must arrive within two weeks or we will no longer be able to issue an in-store credit.
- For custom designs, we unfortunately can not take them back. If it is a misprint on our behalf we will gladly fix and reship out new pop up banner immediately.
- Shipping Expense on your invoice is non-refundable and shipping return items is paid for by the customer.
- For questions please ask a representative before placing your order.
Customer Service Contact:
888.453.0060 x103
M-Th | 9am - 6pm
Fri | 9am - 3pm
Sat | Closed
Sun | Closed


text: lecture tour to bring home just how many bright young people are desperate to work in development, and how hard we make it for them (is this a deliberate form of institutional Darwinism, in which only the most determined survive?) So I've gone back over a few previous bits of advice from me and others, to produce this revamped FP2P guide to throwing your life away getting a job in development. I won't give advice on what to study – if you're reading this, it's probably too late anyway. But in any case, qualifications are not enough – you need to get involved in organising relevant activities at your university, depending on your interests (e.g. Engineers Without Borders, Amnesty International, assorted International Development committees). You'll learn a lot, make great contacts and friends, and develop skills that NGOs prize (organisational abilities, putting on events, writing, debating etc). Then, decide what kind of work you are interested in. Research? Programme work on the ground? Emergencies (conflict refugees, disaster reconstruction etc)? Advocacy and lobbying? Public campaigning? Next think what kinds of experience will help – experience often marks you out more than gaining another post graduate qualification, but you have to find some way to get over the inevitable first-rung problem of 'how can I get experience when I haven't got enough experience to land a job' – it's not easy, but it can be done. For emergencies and programme work, try and get out there and get some experience in developing countries – it's very hard to arrange that from this end, unless you have a particular network (eg a Church or university connection) that you can call on, so many people just try and sort something out on the spot. For campaigners, a record of activism at university or afterwards is always helpful. For advocacy work, NGOs are often impressed by people who have worked in other sectors, especially the institutions we are keen to influence – governments north or south, multinational companies, aid donors. Many of them are much larger than Oxfam, and have good graduate entry schemes – a further advantage if you're trying to get your foot on the ladder. Many are highly competitive, but check out the schemes for DFID, the World Bank, or the Overseas Development Institute. And if successful, make sure you get out before you get too comfortable, as NGOs are likely to pay less! Show your face. Putting in a spell as an intern may not help with your student debt, but it enables you to make your mark and prove your commitment. It also enables you to apply for jobs that are only advertised internally, including short term jobs (maternity cover etc) that help you get on the paid employment ladder. But be choosy who you intern for, and what jobs you accept – even if there is no pay involved, you are offering skills and time to an organization, and should demand things in return. And remember that research, advocacy and campaigning jobs are often the most sought after and competitive. It may be advisable to try to get a foothold by applying for more 'corporate' areas such as marketing, HR and finance, and then start from there. Once you get an interview, follow all those useful guides to how to prep etc, but also, don't hide your passion (even if you're English). I've given jobs to interviewees because they were more passionate about development than the other candidates, (and never regretted it). And here are some thoughts from a couple of other development bloggers Alanna Shaikh 1. Get an office job while you're still in school. Most development work is office work. You need to prove you can handle an office every day. Really, the only way to do that is to have an office job. Do it in the summers if you can't hack it while in school. Office work is not the most profitable way to spend your time, but it will be worth it later. 2. Study something useful at university. For example, technical subjects like nursing and IT are useful. Epidemiology is useful. A master's degree is more useful than an undergrad degree. 3. Learn to write. I don't mean you need to be a novelist, but with practice everybody can write a clear, useful report at decent speed. Have writing samples to prove you can do it. 4. Study a second language. You don't have to get all that good at it, but making the effort demonstrates you are willing to commit yourself to international and intercultural work. If you are already bilingual, you don't have to learn a third language. People will assume you are good at intercultural navigation. 5. I think this is the hardest one: Have a goal for what you want to do, that's specific but not too specific. "I am interested in food security and emergency relief" has a good level of specificity. "I want to work for UNDP" is too specific. "I am interested in women's empowerment, reproductive health, and community development" is too vague. There is kind of an art to this; basically you want to give people a sense of who you are and what you want. Too broad and they don't have any sense of you. Too narrow and you've ruled out too many jobs. If you're having trouble with this, it's a good thing to talk over with a mentor. To which Chris Blattman adds 6. Be prepared to volunteer your first couple jobs 7. Pound the less-trodden pavement (e.g. try contacting program managers, country offices, etc. directly rather than applying through the front door) 8. Consider a private firm 9. It's a numbers game (so understand that 50 emails will yield 45 non-responses, 3 immediate rejections, 2 interviews – and one job) 10. Be willing to go to uncomfortable places. Alanna and Chris are both included in the exhaustive and excellent set of posts and links on Whydev.org And once you get the elusive job, you can of course get your disillusionment in early by signing up to the excellent Stuff Expat Aidworkers Like blog. With that, good luck to all. Anyone know of any books I can recommend on this?]]>


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Eiffel Side Table
HAYDepping & Jørgensen based their Eiffel Side Table on the same simple layering principle that inspired the rest of their Eiffel family of furnishings. These versatile side tables combine cast aluminum leg modules with triangular surface and shelf plates. Available in a choice of colors.
- Learn more at hermanmiller.com
- Interested in a Quote?


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This report deals with how to define what a Zero Emission Building (ZEB) is with explanation and analysis of different parameters related to embodied emissions of CO2 equivalents. The report can be used as a guidance tool on how to assess embodied emissions, and also on what parameters should be evaluated in such an assessment.
Different ambition levels for ZEBs may include life stages, operation, material, construction and end-of-life and can be documented according to EN 15978. Calculation procedures should include system boundaries, embodied emissions from materials, transport, the construction process and waste handling according to the ambition level. CO2 eq emissions factors, service life estimates and payback scenarios for CO2 emissions need to be considered.
The report does not contain one single clearly defined method, but rather a state-of-the-art summary on the different issues and refers to other relevant national and international work in the field of ZEB definitions. The issues presented here are in early stages of development and will need to be verified and further developed.
Net zero energy buildings (nZEBs) are understood as grid-connected buildings which do not require net inputs of non-renewable energy over a defined period of their life cycle. Energy requirements of nZEBs have until now been assessed based on the impact buildings have on the existing energy system. This paper introduces a new approach to nZEB energy balance that takes into account the actual amount of energy nZEBs require.
Energy balance methods previously proposed for nZEBs are illustrated in a new way and expressed in a series of equations based on a common terminology. Taking a different standpoint on the very logic that lies behind energy calculations; this article presents a new approach to energy balance in nZEBs. The paper highlights the important difference between preventing an increase in the demand for grid energy and ensuring that a building requires no net non-renewable energy. The authors argue that an energy payback approach constitute a more adequate way to tackle the environmental challenges nZEBs are meant to help solving, and to abide to a definition which stipulates that nZEBs should require no net non-renewable energy


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Product Overview
Web CFD Direct From the Cloud (CFDDFC) is a complete platform providing OpenFOAM (open source computational fluid dynamics) and supporting software running a long-term support (LTS) version of Ubuntu Linux. Users connect to an instance with a remote desktop from a web browser, and by SSH. OpenFOAM (Open Field Operation and Manipulation) is a free, open source CFD software package which has a large user base across most areas of engineering and science, from both commercial and academic organizations. OpenFOAM has an extensive range of features to solve anything from complex fluid flows involving chemical reactions, turbulence and heat transfer, to solid dynamics and electromagnetics. It includes tools for meshing, notably snappyHexMesh, a parallelized mesher for complex CAD geometries, and for pre- and post-processing. Almost everything (including meshing, and pre- and post-processing) runs in parallel as standard, enabling users to take full advantage of computer hardware at their disposal.


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The Stepford Wives (1975 film)
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The Stepford Wives is a 1975 sci-fi-horror/thriller film about a woman who has come to the quaint little town of Stepford, Connecticut with her family, but soon discovers there lies a sinister truth in the all too perfect behavior of the female residents. The film was remade in 2004 under the same name, but was written as a comedy vs. a serious horror/thriller film.
- Directed by Bryan Forbes. Written by William Goldman, based on the 1972 Ira Levin novel of the same name.
Something strange is happening in the town of Stepford.taglines
Joanna Eberhart
[edit]- If I am wrong, I'm insane... but if I'm right, it's even worse than if I was wrong.
- I can't just call him up and say, "I used be called Joanna Ingalls. You deflowered me ten years ago. Would you test my water?"
Bobbie Markowe
[edit]- If I were to apologize for every time I got smashed, I'd spend my life wandering around saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry".
- I'm also an ex-Gothamite, who's been living here in Ajax country for just over a month now, and I'm going crazy. You see doctor, my problem is that given complete freedom of choice, I don't WANT to squeeze the goddamn Charmin!
- I just don't get it. It's like there's this contest, okay? And the housewife with the cleanest house gets Robert Redford for Christmas... but nobody will tell the rules!
- [after being stabbed] Joanna! How could you do a thing like that? When I was just going to give you coffee! When I was just going to give you coffee! How could you do a thing like that? I thought we were friends! I thought we were friends... I thought we were friends...
[edit]- Joanna: Why do they call you Diz?
- Dale: I used to work in Disneyland.
- Joanna: No, really!
- Dale: No. Really.
- Joanna: I don't believe you.
- Dale: Why not?
- Joanna: You don't seem to be the kind of person that likes to make other people happy.
- Joanna: [about the men's group] What do they do there?
- Bobbie: Who knows? Sit around and reminisce about The Good Ol' Days.
- Joanna: What were The Good Ol' Days?
- Bobbie: Back when Playboy still used the airbrush!
- Mary Ann: [about forming a women's group] I'm sorry. I just can waste my spare moments on something like that.
- Joanna: But you do go out sometimes don't you?
- Mary Ann: Go out? Of course I go out. I'm out now, aren't I?
- Joanna: It'll happen to me before then. When you come back, there will be a woman with my name and my face, she'll cook and clean like crazy, but she won't take pictures and she won't be me! She'll be... like the robots at Disneyland.
- Dr. Fancher: Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to give you a prescription that you get filled, then you get your children and GET THE HELL OUT! Don't tell your husband, don't tell anybody, just get in your car and drive somewhere you feel safe.
- Carol: I'll just die if I don't get the recipe.
- Joanna: Why?
- Dale: Why? ... Because we can. We found a way of doing it, and it's just perfect. Perfect for us, and perfect for you.
[edit]- Something strange is happening in the town of Stepford.
- A very modern suspense story from the author of Rosemary's Baby.
- Something strange is happening in the town of Stepford. Where the men spend their nights doing something secret. And every woman acts like every man's dream of the "perfect" wife. Where a young woman watches the dream become a nightmare. And sees the nightmare engulf her best friend. And realizes that any moment, any second - her turn is coming.
[edit]- Katharine Ross - Joanna Eberhart
- Paula Prentiss - Bobbie Markowe
- Peter Masterson - Walter Eberhart
- Nanette Newman - Carol Van Sant
- Tina Louise - Charmaine Wimpiris
- Carol Eve Rossen - Dr. Fancher
- William Prince - Ike Mazzard
- Carole Mallory - Kit Sunderson
- Toni Reid - Marie Axhelm
- Judith Baldwin - Patricia Cornell
- Barbara Rucker - Mary Ann Stravros
- George Coe - Claude Axhelm
- Franklin Cover - Ed Wimpiris
- Robert Fields - Raymond Chandler
- Michael Higgins - Mr. Cornell
External links
[edit]- The Stepford Wives quotes at the Internet Movie Database
- The Stepford Wives at Rotten Tomatoes


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Isaac Bonewits
Neopagan leader, author, and neo-druid priest
Phillip Emmons Isaac Bonewits (October 1, 1949 – August 12, 2010) was an influential Neopagan leader and author. Bonewits was heavily involved in occultism with an emphasis on Neo-druidism since the 1960s.
This article on an author is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it. |
edit- Never Again the Burning
- Christians have oppressed Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Pagans, and each other throughout their centuries of power, preaching religious intolerance as the word of Jehovah whenever they had the military, political, or economic power to make it stick — and then piously preaching brotherhood, peace, and toleration when they didn't.


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2017 is almost upon us (while I've barely gotten used to writing 2016, a symptom of growing old, no doubt). Do you make New Year's resolutions? As I've probably mentioned before, I gave up that concept a long time ago. I think more in terms of goals, plans, and hopes. Some goals for 2017 include: finishing the paper I have to deliver at a conference in March (a task I can't avoid unless I want to show up at the session with a rough draft!); submitting stories to two annual anthologies in which I've occasionally been included in past years; and completing a short novel I started several months ago but haven't worked on lately because of holiday prep, proofreading a re-released novel, and typing up my usual annual vampire fiction bibliography update.
The current issue of RWR (the Romance Writers of America members' magazine) includes an article about planning. It highlights the virtues of paper planners and discusses some advantages of mapping out long-term and short-term plans on paper instead of just relying on an electronic schedule. Brain research has shown that writing by hand is uniquely helpful in making material "stick" in the mind. While I haven't tried a planner, I do like making tangible lists. The older I get, the more I need the confidence of having things written down in order to remember them.
Along with some good things—my husband and I celebrated our 50th anniversary in September, with all our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren present, along with some other relatives and friends—2016 also brought some negative events for me. My two principal publishers closed this year, leaving most of my works "orphaned." Another publisher is picking up the books from Amber Quill, but of course it will take a while before everything becomes available again. I'm still considering what to do with the books and stories from the other closing publisher, so another project will be self-publishing a few of those pieces. Recently we've had illness and other trouble in our extended family. In the public sphere, we've witnessed the loss of iconic figures such as Leonard Cohen, John Glenn, and Carrie Fisher. And then there's the American presidential election, a source of "comfort and joy" to almost 50 percent of our population, but a cause of disappointment and anxiety for me.
On Christmas Eve our priest preached on Hope—as distinct from optimism, a feeling of confidence (whether substantiated or not) that things are inevitably getting better. Looking around at the world, we see many factors to undermine optimism. As one of my favorite carols, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," laments, "Hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on Earth, good will to men." All the more reason to practice the cardinal virtue of Hope.
Loosely quoting Colonel Potter from a New Year's episode of MASH, "Here's to the new year. May she be a durn sight better than the last one."
By the way, on the subject of the holiday season, which doesn't officially end until January 6 (Epiphany), I've just finished rereading Connie Willis's collection MIRACLE AND OTHER CHRISTMAS STORIES, as well as her two long stories not in that volume, "Just Like the Ones We Used to Know" (the cumulative effect of all those thousands of playings of "White Christmas" generates an unprecedented worldwide weather anomaly) and "All Seated on the Ground" (aliens land, and nobody can figure out what they want until they hear Christmas carols at a mall). Willis's keen wit infuses all the stories with her unique brand of humor-in-seriousness. Highly recommended!
Wishing happiness to all in 2017!
Margaret L. Carter
Carter's Crypt


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Crafty Cooks
Here at Crafty Cooks we believe that a love of cooking and an ability to do so is an important skill that every child should have!
That is why we start to teach children from as young as 2.5 years old how to cook a whole range of delicious, nutritious dishes. We cook both sweet and savoury, from beetroot cakes to mini quiches with a spattering of chocolate in the middle! All class leaders have undergone enhanced CRB checks and the relevant hygiene safety training to ensure that your child is in safe hands.
Time is now far more precious than it used to be and many busy families have neither the time nor the inclination to create the inevitable mess that will ensue when a toddler meets a bag of flour. That's where Crafty Cooks comes in – your child can come along to a fun and friendly environment with similarly aged children and learn how to create a variety of culinary delights -safe in the knowledge you'll have no cleaning up to do at the end!
Crafty Cooks is great for the fussier eating child, and anyone keen to teach their child about the food we eat. Whilst their food cooks we'll run an activity as a group tasting and discovering new foods and finding out where they come from.
Classes are timed to last 45 minutes but please allow an hour. At the end of each session you'll be given a recipe card to add to your very own recipe book so that you can make the recipes again and again, along with a reusable canvas bag to carry your goodies home in.
We also run holiday and weekend workshops as well as after school classes for older children, and parties for all ages.


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[Viewpoint] Illusions of democracy
The Internet is an extraordinarily powerful tool. It has changed how we do business, how we do politics and even how we change our leaders - at least some of the time.But the ease with which we now communicate, the efficiencies we take for granted, can give us a false sense of how easy it is to follow through on some of these changes. Despite the importance of social media in fomenting revolution, and even in deposing deeply unpopular leaders, governing in the real world is not as easy as governing online.
This struck me last week when I listened to one of Egypt's new online generation talking enthusiastically about the future. His thesis was that once people have tasted freedom, once the oppressive leader is gone, they will naturally live as free people and build a new, democratic society without much central oversight. I wish I could believe that it will all be as easy for Egyptians as running a Facebook group was.
Generally, the Internet is a tool for people whose basic needs are already being met. Members of the upper middle class in any country, including Egypt, often seem to forget that for most people, the value created on the Internet cannot feed, clothe and house their families.
In centuries past, revolutionaries were farmers, blacksmiths or merchants; now they are Google executives and Facebook friends. The Internet joins the elite of the world. But it also cuts people off from the past and a sense of history. The exciting things that happen online are not the same as what happened offline in countries such as Romania and Kyrgyzstan, let alone in Libya.
In fact, habits are often stronger and more persistent than either insights or presidents. People may want a world free of corruption but it's hard to understand how such a world works. When you are starting a new company and you need to get it registered quickly, how can you get the bureaucrat to do his job and move your paperwork along?
In many countries the answer is obvious. And, from the bureaucrat's point of view, his or her salary might be pathetic but it comes with a steady stream of facilitation payments. That bureaucrat does not feel corrupt; he plays by the rules he signed on for when he got his job and he does not want them changed mid-game.
There are many people in this or a similar position, and they all depend on one another to make a corrupt system work. It is difficult for them to understand how it could be any other way. Of course, they know from the media - indeed, from the Internet - about transparency and freedom but without quite understanding how it works.
I am often reminded of the Russian tech entrepreneur I talked to many years ago, back when the Soviet Union was falling apart. "It's great!" he said. "Our government is going to set free-market prices just like yours."
I don't want to be gloomy. People in the Middle East and other emerging democracies have definitely changed from their recent experiences and their expectations have been raised. But they need to understand the challenges they face in building a new society. The Internet may have made this transition seem too easy. In Internet communities, it's fairly easy to build consensus. Membership is voluntary and people who don't like the rules can leave. Or they can be kicked out: there is no requirement for due process.
Moreover, many resources are infinite on the Internet. People aren't fighting over scarce housing or lucrative jobs. They are befriending one another, sharing information and accumulating status, points and experiences.
But in the real world, even online, things aren't so easy. Consider eBay, a wonderful and mostly successful melding of the online and offline worlds. It has a huge budget devoted to deterring and detecting fraud, and it can simply ban fraudsters. The company's success makes governance look easy, but that success is misleading. Unlike eBay, a country needs to put its criminals in jail and keep them there; it can't simply cancel their accounts.
Every society has its bad actors, and it needs an established (and accountable) authority to deal with them. Otherwise, the bad guys will take advantage of the good ones.
What that means is that the newly freed people of the Middle East must toughen their idealism with hard realism. They need to figure out how to negotiate and work with existing power structures - such as the army and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Like it or not, they cannot do that as a brigade of flower children; they need to pick leaders who can speak for them and negotiate for them. The modernizers need to form a coherent force, and most likely a political party, rather than simply relying on the wisdom (and good behavior) of the crowd to govern the country.
That does not mean that activists should abandon the cause for which they are fighting. But it does mean understanding that even democracy has many rules - ideally rules that a majority has chosen. But they are mostly not chosen directly; those rules generally reflect compromises among elected representatives who can argue and negotiate in person, reflecting the overall preferences of those who elected them.
That may sound a little too much like the old system, but it doesn't have to be.
Online, if you don't like the rules, you can simply leave and form a new community. Offline, you need to stay and help to change the rules for everyone.
*The writer is CEO of EDventure Holdings and an active investor in a variety of start-ups around the world.
By Esther Dyson


text: Trouble is brewing in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. For the driven inhabitants of this visionary world, control of Westeros' Iron Throne holds the lure of great power. But in a land where the seasons can last a lifetime, winter is coming…and beyond the Great Wall that protects them, an ancient evil has returned. In Season One, the story centers on three primary areas: the Stark and the Lannister families, whose designs on controlling the throne threaten a tenuous peace; the dragon princess Daenerys, heir to the former dynasty, who waits just over the Narrow Sea with her malevolent brother Viserys; and the Great Wall–a massive barrier of ice where a forgotten danger is stirring.


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Pamela Moran's Blog
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Eleven sexy, new stories in Sexy to Go, Volume Five
Volume Five includes
Dreamwalker: This Time
by Pamela Moran
Something is stalking Tessa's dreams. Is Cole, her Dreamwalker ex-lover, willing to risk his heart to save her, or has that bridge been completely burnt to ashes?
Fog swirled in the gloominess, its tendrils stretching and wrapping around Tessa's legs. She stood on a hill overlooking a wide valley littered with dim lights in the distance.
This was a dream.
Only a dream.
She rotated her shoulders and tried to ignore the throb in her left arm. In daylight hours, the gash had appeared as an old scar. But she'd never been hurt there. Except in last night's nightmare.
Now, the wound ached as if new.
Only a dream.
This didn't mean a damn thing.
She settled on the ground, arms around her bent knees. High ground. Above everything. Away from everything. The better to see anyone or anything approaching.
At least that was her working theory.
Her regular day had been intense. That sense of being followed had strengthened to the point she'd wondered if she'd picked up yet another stalker. In spite of what she'd told Cole in his dream the night before, she didn't feel as if she'd overreacted.
Someone or something followed her.
And she had no idea why.
Sleep terrified her.
She'd kept the lights in her bedroom on and had stayed awake as long as she could, but obviously had succumbed.
Just a dream.
A low growl from somewhere behind her sent shivers up her spine and coursing through her blood.
Wake up.
Not working. Okay, then. She was a damn researcher. Find the logic.
This was a damn dream and whatever owned that growl couldn't hurt her.
Her arm throbbed.
Logic didn't work in dreams.
The fog thickened. Coiled around her body. Coldness seeped through the thin fabric of her T-shirt and even the heavier denim of her jeans.
She swallowed once. Wake up.
Fur, rough and bristly, brushed her right arm then slid behind her to rub against her left arm.
Her movements slow, she angled her head to glance at the ground to her side.
Yellow eyes blazed from the darkness, held her gaze. A warm wetness scraped her arm, like damp sandpaper. Or a big cat's tongue.
Cole! The scream stuck in her throat.
She squeezed her eyes closed.
"Shh. You're okay, sweetheart." Cole's words whispered against her ear. His arms tightened around her. "I have you."
Brightness pressed against her eyelids and she opened her eyes a slit. Light shone from a lamp in the corner. No shadows. No fog. No big cat, or whatever the hell it was, wanting to devour her.
Shakes racked her body.
"Hey." Cole rubbed his big hands up and down her arms. "It's okay. You're safe."
Safe. She nodded. Kept nodding. Lord, she had to move. Adrenaline spiked. She pushed out of Cole's arms. Shoved her hands through her hair.
Swung around to face him.
God, he was still so damn handsome. So appealing. So hard to resist. Those shadowed eyes. So full of concern and caution.
Could she blame him?
For the concern or the caution?
She spun away.
Yes, she was safe here. Had always found safety with Cole.
Her rock.
Back when. Before her own demons had gotten in her way. In their way.
Available at Amazon, Amazon UK, BN, Kobo, iTunes, and ARe
Volumes One, Two, Three, and Four are also available.
Volume Six, available on June 30th, is up right now for PRE-ORDER!


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Weekly Address: End the Sequester to Keep Growing the Economy
WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama said that businesses have created jobs every month for three years straight – nearly 6.4 million altogether, and have added 246,000 new jobs in February. We must keep this momentum going, and that's why the President recently met with Republican leaders to discuss how we can replace the harmful, arbitrary budget cuts, called the "sequester," with balanced deficit reduction. By working together, the President is confident we can reduce the budget by investing in areas that help us grow, and cutting what we don't need.
The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 9, 2013.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
March 9, 2013
Hi, everybody. My top priority as President is making sure we do everything we can to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth – a rising, thriving middle class.
Yesterday, we received some welcome news on that front. We learned that our businesses added nearly 250,000 new jobs last month. The unemployment rate fell to 7.7% – still too high, but now lower than it was when I took office.
Our businesses have created jobs every month for three years straight – nearly 6.4 million new jobs in all. Our manufacturers are bringing jobs back to America. Our stock market has rebounded. New homes are being built and sold at a faster pace. And we need to do everything we can to keep that momentum going.
That means asking ourselves three questions every day: How do we make America a magnet for new jobs? How do we equip more of our people with the skills those jobs require? And how do we make sure that your hard work leads to a decent living?
That has to be our driving focus – our North Star. And at a time when our businesses are gaining a little more traction, the last thing we should do is allow Washington politics to get in the way. You deserve better than the same political gridlock and refusal to compromise that has too often passed for serious debate over the last few years.
That's why I've been reaching out to Republicans and Democrats to see if we can untangle some of the gridlock. Earlier this week, I met with some Republican Senators to see if there were smarter ways to grow our economy and reduce our deficits than the arbitrary cuts and the so-called "sequester" that recently went into place. We had an open and honest conversation about critical issues like immigration reform and gun violence, and other areas where we can work together to move this country forward. And next week, I'll attend both the Democratic and Republican party meetings in the Capitol to continue those discussions.
The fact is, America is a nation of different beliefs and different points of view. That's what makes us strong, and frankly, makes our democratic debates messy and often frustrating. But ultimately what makes us special is when we summon the ability to see past those differences, and come together around the belief that what binds us together will always be more powerful than what drives us apart.
As Democrats and Republicans, we may disagree on the best way to achieve our goals, but I'm confident we can agree on what those goals should be. A strong and vibrant middle class. An economy that allows businesses to grow and thrive. An education system that gives more Americans the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future. An immigration system that actually works for families and businesses. Stronger communities and safer streets for our children.
Making progress on these issues won't be easy. In the months ahead, there will be more contentious debate and honest disagreement between principled people who want what's best for this country. But I still believe that compromise is possible. I still believe we can come together to do big things. And I know there are leaders on the other side who share that belief.
So I'll keep fighting to solve the real challenges facing middle-class families. And I'll enlist anyone who is willing to help. That's what this country needs now – and that's what you deserve.
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The city of Shanghai is approaching the end of its third week of a near-total lockdown to fight the pandemic. And as the number of new COVID cases keeps rising, so does the frustration of many in this city of more than 25 million people. NPR's John Ruwitch has more.
JOHN RUWITCH, BYLINE: On Friday, Shanghai reported 23,000 new cases, which was down a little from the day before. But there's no end in sight to the lockdown policy, and the city is expecting more cases. It's converted schools, exhibition halls and even some residential buildings into emergency quarantine centers.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Shouting in non-English language).
RUWITCH: In a township called Zhangjiang, residents took to the streets this week to protest the requisition of apartments by the government.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Shouting in non-English language).
RUWITCH: Men in white hazmat suits with the word police written on the back can be seen dragging away two protesters. One woman screams, the police are hitting people. Others are seen kneeling in supplication before them. The town put out a statement promising two months' rent as compensation, but video of the scuffle spread far and wide on Chinese social media. So have other recordings, like this one.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
RUWITCH: In it, a couple can be heard pleading with police who have come to take them to a central quarantine center, but they say there's been a mistake and that they, in fact, tested negative. Recordings like this are hard to verify, and many have been scrubbed from the internet, but they reflect real fears and frustrations and are a problem for the government.
VICTOR SHIH: Despite all the censorship, all of China can see signs of governance failure in Shanghai.
RUWITCH: Victor Shih is an expert on Chinese politics at the University of California, San Diego. He says surveys had shown an uptick in confidence in the government after it got the pandemic under control following the initial outbreak.
SHIH: What is happening in Shanghai - and, of course, we don't have access to survey data at this point - I think certainly will have an impact on this previously very high trust and belief in the government's competence.
RUWITCH: This is all happening in what many consider China's best-run and most cosmopolitan city, but it's not alone. The Japanese bank Nomura estimates that 373 million people across dozens of Chinese cities are living under some kind of lockdown. That's more than the populations of the U.S. and Canada combined, and China's government seems unlikely to change tack anytime soon.
John Ruwitch, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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This image of Hurricane Sandy was acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite around 2:11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (06:11 Universal Time) on October 29, 2012.
The storm was captured by a special "day-night band," which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe dim signals such as auroras, airglow, gas flares, city lights, fires, and reflected moonlight. In this case, the cloud tops were lit by the full Moon. Some city lights in North Carolina and South Carolina are also visible through the clouds.
At 2:00 p.m. on October 29, 2012, the U.S. National Hurricane Center estimated Sandy's location to be 38.3° North and 73.1° West, 110 miles (180 kilometers) southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and moving northwest at 28 miles (44 kilometers) per hour. Maximum sustained winds were 90 miles (150 kilometers) per hour, and the minimum central barometric pressure was 940 millibars (27.76 inches).
For more views of the storm—including a time-lapse video of the storm from dawn to dusk on October 28—visit our Hurricane Sandy event page and the NASA Hurricane Resource Page. The National Hurricane Center, operated by NOAA, provides the official U.S. storm forecasts and regular updates on conditions on its home page.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using VIIRS Day-Night Band data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP). Suomi NPP is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense. Caption by Adam Voiland.


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EU Rivers
Europe has so many navigable rivers that offer wonderful river cruise experiences that travellers are spoilt for choice.
The Danube is the key to river cruising in Europe as the great river crosses from Germany through Serbia, Austria and Hungary into Romania before emptying into the Black Sea. It offers the greatest range of river cruise itineraries.
The Saone and Rhone Rivers let you explore the famed region of Burgundy, the lavender-scented hills of Provence and the wild, majestic scenery of the Ardeche region.
The Seine is of course the river that Paris sits on. Cruise along the Seine from Paris, through the historic heart of Normandy, to the endless beaches of the Atlantic Coast.
The Elbe/Havel/Moldau rivers cover Czech and Germany. The Elbe rises in the mountains of Bohemia and flows via Prague through the Czech lowlands into Germany. The river continues north-westwards towards Hamburg and the North Sea. The Havel and Moldau rivers branch of the Elbe and allow river boats to travel from Prague to Berlin (Postdam).
Oder River cruises are a great way to discover the Old World charm of interesting and little-known towns in Germany and Poland.
The Rhine is one of Europe's major arteries. It flows into the North Sea from its beginnings in the Alps, through Switzerland, Germany, France and Holland. Rhine cruise itineraries can include the Moselle and Main rivers. The Moselle branches from the Rhine at Koblenz and flows down to Trier. The main leaves the Rhine at Mainz and flows to Basle. The Main-Danube canal also allows River cruises to offer Rhine and Danube itineraries.
The Douro is one of Europe's most untouched and beautiful rivers. Rising in the hills north of Madrid the river meanders through northern Portugal to the fascinating city of Porto and then into the Atlantic. Most cruises are round trips from Porto.
The Volga river in Russia allows you to discover the stunning architecture and unique cultural heritage of Russia's most interesting cities. Moscow and St. Petersburg, can be visited on a cruise that combines the Volga River, the Moscow Canal and other waterways.
Cruise types
All cruises are on River Boats and today these are mostly luxury 5 star boats with all the comforts of top hotels and many of the facilities of cruise ships. So the cruise choice is really destination driven.
Cruise season
Cruises generally commence in Spring (March) and the main season ends in September/October, however a limited number of cruises are available up to Christmas and New Year. The Russian season is shorter and runs from April to October.
Main ports
Danube – Prague, Budapest, Passau, Bucharest, Nuremburg,
Rhone – Chalon-sur-Saône, Avignon, Arles Seine – Paris, Harfleur (Le Havre) Elbe – Prague, Dresden, Berlin (Potsdam) Oder – Berlin (Potsdam), Wroclau (Breslau) and Szczecin (Stettin) Rhine – Amsterdam, Passau, Basel Duro – Porto Volga – Moscow and St Petersburg
European river cruises operate from Spring to Autumn, so the weather will change with the seasons. Cruises also run from Portugal in the South, where temperatures in mid summer reach the 80's to Russia In the north where the daytime temperature is around 50f/10c at the start of the season and rises to the high 60's by mid summer.


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The collapsing can demo is one I loved seeing for the first time when I was at school, although my teacher used a tin with a screwed down lid which took a little more time to cool down. In some ways I prefer the version using a can with a screw lid because the additional waiting time makes for an even more dramatic "collapse". Doing the demo with a drink can is of course far cheaper (and I think, more reliable as it doesn't depend on the lid being screwed down properly) and I suspect this is why the approach we use in our video has become far more widespread in schools.
I like the demo a lot but, as I hope we've managed to convey in the video, I think we need to be careful how and why we use it in our lessons. This is a really fantastic demo for using the Predict, Observe, Explain (POE) approach as the explanation of what's going on is not entirely straightforward – there are a couple of things relating to the behaviour of particles and the action of forces that need to be considered and this can lead to some really interesting discussion with students, providing they're familiar with the relevant concepts.
We've suggested in our video that the collapsing can demo can be used in conjunction with another demo, as a way of "scaffolding" (I really hope I've used that term correctly – I think this may be the first time I've used it in writing in this context).
Once you've done the demo live in class, you've got the perfect justification for showing your students this video of a rather more spectacular demonstration of the same physics at work:
This film was produced for the Get Set Demonstrate project. Click through for teaching notes, and take the pledge to perform a demonstration to your students on Demo Day, 20th March 2014.


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Table 76 Data Declaration
Full-time State Law Enforcement Employees, by State, 2019
The FBI collects these data through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
General comments
- This table provides the total number of state law enforcement employees, the number of male officers, the number of female officers, the number of male civilian employees, and the number of female civilian employees listed alphabetically by state.
- Caution should be used when comparing data from one state to that of another. The responsibilities of the various state police, highway patrol, and department of public safety agencies range from full law enforcement duties to only traffic patrol, which can impact both the level of employment for agencies as well as the ratio of sworn officers to civilians employed. Any valid comparison must take these factors and the other identified variables affecting crime into consideration.
- The information in this table is derived from law enforcement employee counts (as of October 31, 2019) submitted by participating agencies.
- The UCR Program defines law enforcement officers as individuals who ordinarily carry a firearm and a badge, have full arrest powers, and are paid from governmental funds set aside specifically to pay sworn law enforcement.
- Civilian employees include full-time agency personnel such as clerks, radio dispatchers, meter attendants, stenographers, jailers, correctional officers, and mechanics.


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For the traditionalist, Monterey offers a 3 button styling with traditional flap pockets, and hidden interior zipper providing a proper presentation with a perfect fit. This collection highlights a completely unconstructed design, eliminating lining and shoulder pads which allows for maximum freedom of movement. The fabrics are premium imported Italian Jersey that allows air flow between fibers for cooling, eco-friendly fabric construction, quick drying, UPF 50 sun protection, resistant to pilling and wrinkle free for easy travel. Eco fabric construction ensures high quality product with minimal materials or energy wasted during the production process. Durable fabric features pill resistance to maintain original appearance through time and wrinkle free fabric which allows the garment to travel easily.
• Unconstructed design for ultimate freedom of movement
• Premium Italian Jersey fabric
• Hidden interior zipper
• Machine washable


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Recipes — peppers
Chow Chow Fried Rice
Posted by Kelle Barnard on
This delicious dish is fast and easy and full of flavor! It fuses exotic Asian flavors and deeply Southern rich traditions to create a power house meal! Our Southern Chow Chow which is a green tomato, cabbage, pepper and onion pickled relish is very similar to the Asian Kimchi that's so popular! Both are fermented creations that are usually a garnish, but here, it's the star of the show! Both in Asia and in the US South, these relishes are enjoyed with pork so this Chow Chow Fried Rice is the perfect pairing and a recipe you'll have to try!...
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- Tags: 30 minute meal, asian food, asian fusion, asian southern food, ball jars, cabbage, canning, chow chow, eat your veggies, foodie, fried rice, fusion, good eats, green tomato relish, green tomatoes, hoisin, kellebjammin, peppers, pork, preserving, relish, retro eats, rice, rice dish, southern food, vintage, what I ate


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In three days the embryonic Icelandic race warrior gained 700 teenage members on his forum, calling for Poles to 'get out'. And much worse.
It got so bad, says the newspaper, that the police were brought in to investigate.
"A xenophobic mood is on the rise in Iceland. The number of immigrants is skyrocketing, which makes native inhabitants uneasy and confused," says Einar Skulason, of the Intercultural Centre in Reykjavik.
Uneasy, confused, racist Icelanders on the march! Eek!
In January 2008, claims wikpedia, Iceland had a population of just 313.736. Not really very many Icelanders, are there? But 12,000 Poles have migrated in - which, as a proportion of not a lot, is quite a lot. And maybe Iceland is rather large for a population so small, but most Icelanders live in the capital (it's probably warmer to stay close) so Poles are perhaps fighting for a small space, for a small amount of jobs, and for a small amount of light hours.
Or maybe not.
An Icelandic source has contacted me – rootlets spread everywhere – saying that the Rzeczpospolita story is out of date. The anti-Polish 'association' that the kid founded is no more, after feeling the full force of Icelandic censorship. Icelanders, you see, are sensitive, Scandinavian types, who would not be so crude to rise, en mass, to xenophobic temptation.
The source says that there is no more negative feeling against Poles than there is in 'any other country.' I believe him.
And a well-known Icelandic pop star, popular with the kids, has organized a concert to 'fight against racism and xenophobia'. Good.
The singer has - oddly in my opinion - '[...] challenged the prime minister of Iceland, who is half-Norwegian, to sing a song in support of anti-racism'[!].
That's a brilliant way to protest. Ask the prime minister to sing!
I know a journalist who once asked Polish prime minister Donald Tusk to say something in English about his Kashub roots. He refused. But he did, endearingly, sing him a song in Kashubian! Which was nice.
But other postulates could be made by a new political movement demanding elected leaders belt out a tune. Bush should be made to sing 'Yellow Rose of Texas' while dressed up as Dolly Parton. Putin could sing 'These Boots are Made for Walking....'
And ex-PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski could be asked to repeat his barn storming performance of the Polish national anthem, where he demonstrates that he has clearly no future in the music business.
The fact that there are anti-racist movements appearing in Iceland does tend to suggest that there are racist sentiments there. Which is sad. Icelanders are one of the most inoffensive people in the world. I can't imagine Bjork in jackboots. On the other hand...


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1001 Video Games
Elite appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
The book Game On! From Pong to Oblivion: The 50 Greatest Video games of All Time contains a chapter on Elite.
A World Championship was organised by Acornsoft in 1985, with a £1000 prize, the final held at the Electron & BBC Micro User Show in 1985. 17 year old student Paul Shonk of Croydon was victorious, against 11 opponents, nine of them teenagers, and all from the UK despite the 'world championship' moniker (unsurprisingly given that, when the competition was launched, the BBC Micro was the only version released)
Elite's two creators, Ian Bell and David Braben, were not on the best of terms for a long time, ever since development on Elite 2 was cancelled. This erupted into open confrontation during 1999-2000 when Bell decided to release all versions of Elite as freeware. The dispute was settled and all files relevant to Elite and Braben's version of the matter can be found in Ian Bell's website.
Copy protection
The ZX Spectrum version used Lenslok as copy protection. Lenslok was a physical device with a lense unique to the game which had to be used to decipher a code (more information here). The first few hundred copies of the game were delivered with a faulty Lenslok device, rendering the game unusable.
DOS version
Two versions were supplied with the DOS release, Shaded and Line Drawn. At the selection screen this message is displayed regarding the shaded version: "...but unless your machine is powerful (6MHz 80286 or greater) it will not run very quickly and you should select the line drawn version."
The package came with a novella about how your father sacrificed himself and saved you by dumping you in the lone escape pod in the ship, and how you managed to "acquire" this ship that you are driving at the beginning of the game.
Many of Elite's original releases are now available on Ian Bell's (one of the game's developers) homepage. These include hard to find MSX, NES and BBC Micro versions, to name a few.
Fan club
This was apparently the first game, or among the first games, to have a fan club.
Game On exhibition
Elite is being exhibited as part of the "Game On" exhibition in places like the London Science Museum. David Braben also gave a lecture as part of the exhibition in 2006.
Ian Bell's brother, Aidan Bell, enjoyed a spell of success writing for musical theatre; sooner or later his muse led him to his brother's enormous success story, which (believe it or not) resulted in 1989's completion of Elite: the Musical, furthering the storyline set forth in Robert Holdstock's novella The Dark Wheel. The book and lyrics, with mp3 recordings, (c) Pink Hippo Productions Ltd, can be perused.
Whether or not this musical has ever been produced on the off-Broadway stage is unclear, though one figures the chances are slim to nil.
Elite (as of 2009) holds fours Guinness World Records. These are for the most format releases for a space trading game, being released on 25 different formats, the first space trading game, the first game to use Lenslok copy protection (the ZX Spectrum version) and the first space game to use procedural generation.
- The docking sequence is borrowed from the movie 2001 - A Space Odyssey. Also, the music ("On the beautiful Blue Danube") used in this sequence is the same as in the movie. The only difference is, that the space station looks different, but the one who played the sequel to Elite, namely Frontier: Elite II, knows that this got corrected...
- The second worst pilot rating, "Mostly Harmless", is an obvious reference to Douglas Adams's "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" book series. In the books, "Mostly harmless." is the entire contents of the Hitchhiker's Guide article about Earth. One of the books is also called "Mostly Harmless", though it was published after Elite hit the shelves.
Most of the ships, which can be cycled through in start-up with F9/F10, in the game are named after snakes. There's a few exceptions such as the Moray and Gecko.
ZX Spectrum 128K version
Enhanced version for ZX Spectrum 128K was released which introduced three new missions and fixed a number of bugs.
Game Art Beyond
In 2018, Elite was selected as one of the biggest classics on the Commodore 64 by the creators of the C64 graphics collection Game Art Beyond. Elite was honoured with a high resolution title picture (based on Atari ST title screen artwork) in a special C64 graphics format called NUFLI, along with a new, much extended C64 interpretation of the C64 Elite theme and docking computer music.
- Amiga Power
- May 1991 (issue #00) - #75 in the "All Time Top 100 Amiga Games"
- Commodore Format
- February 1991 (Issue 5) - listed in the A to Z of Classic Games article (Great)
- July 1993 (Issue 34) - Modern Classics: FRP & RPG
- March 1994 (Issue 42) Heaven – The Path to Righteousness: 20 Essential Games
- November 1994 (Issue 50) – #6 The All-Time Top 50 C64 Games
- Computer Gamer
- 1985 - Game of the Year
- February 1986 (issue #17) - Included in the list Spectrum Collection (the best Spectrum ZX games since 1985 by editorial staff choice)
- Crash
- 1985 - Best Game Overall
- GameStar (Germany)
- Issue 03/2013 – One of the "Ten Best C64 Games"
- Golden Joystick Awards
- 1984 - Best Original Game
- Happy Computer
- Issue 02/1986 - #2 Best Game in 1985 (Readers' Vote)
- Issue 04/1987 - #12 Best Game in 1986 (Readers' Vote)
- 2000 - #12 Top PC Games of All Time
- Next Generation
- 2008 - #1 Best Game of the 1980s
- Retro Gamer
- October 2004 (Issue #9) – Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)
- Telespiele (trade show)
- 2007 - One of the 16 Most Influential Games in History
- Times Online
- 2007 - #3 Most Influential Video Game Ever
Information also contributed by Kasey Chang, Pseudo_Intellectual, SDfish, sgtcook, SharkD, Silverblade, woods01 and FatherJack
Trivia contributed by Rebound Boy, Chentzilla, Martin Smith, Coreus, Zeppin, Patrick Bregger, mailmanppa, Malte Mundt, Jo ST, FatherJack.


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The Apple 13" MacBook Air features Apple's first chip designed specifically for Mac. The Apple M1 integrates the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, I/O, and more into a single system on a chip (SoC). Tackle your projects with the fast 8-Core CPU and take on graphics-intensive apps and games with the 7-core GPU. Accelerate machine learning tasks with the 16-core Neural Engine. Complete with a silent, fanless design and up to 18 hours of battery life, the MacBook Air is still portable, but now a lot more powerful. It also has 8GB of unified RAM and a 256GB SSD.
With over 4 million pixels, the 13.3" Retina Display features a 2560 x 1600 screen resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio for 227 pixels per inch (ppi). The display also features up to 48 percent more color than the previous generation. With True Tone technology, the white balance automatically adjusts to match the color temperature of the light around you for a more natural viewing experience.
Connect to the internet via Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and use compatible wireless peripherals and accessories with Bluetooth 5.0. The two Thunderbolt 3 ports provide USB4 support and can even connect to the Apple Pro Display XDR in full 6K resolution. Apple also included studio-quality mics for clear recordings and calls. There is also Apple's latest camera ISP in the M1 chip, which enables sharper images and more details in shadows and highlights in video calls. Keep your MacBook Air secure with Secure Enclave in M1 as well as Touch ID. The backlit Magic Keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience, and the Force Touch trackpad allows for precise cursor control, pressure-sensing capabilities, and Multi-Touch gestures.
Please note that this MacBook Air can only output to a single external display with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz.
This Mac comes preloaded with macOS. Updates can be downloaded for free via the Mac App Store. Please check Apple's website for upgrade eligibility.