text:
Ketubot 25 - 31
Second Look at Missing Brother Mystery
A surface reading of a gemara often reveals only the tip of the iceberg and we must rely on the commentaries for the whole picture. Let us illustrate this truth so familiar to Talmudists with an examples from our gemara.
Mori bar Issak was visited by a man from Bei Chozoah who claimed that he was his brother and demanded a share in the inheritance from his dead father. When Mori declared that he did not recognize him as his brother the case was brought before the court of Rabbi Chisda. "He may be honestly stating that he does not recognize you," said Rabbi Chisda to the visitor, "just as Yosef recognized his brothers when they came to Egypt but they failed to recognize him. When he left them they already had beards so that their appearance had not significantly changed. He, however, was then without a beard so that they did not recognize him now with a beard."
To clarify matters Rabbi Chisda asked the visitor to produce witnesses to testify that he was Mori's brother. "I have such witnesses," he responded, "but they are afraid to testify against so violent a man as Mori." Rabbi Chisda then turned to Mori and asked him to produce witnesses that the visitor was not his brother, reversing the normal rule that the burden of proof is on the claimant, because of Mori's violent reputation. To the gemara's question that we cannot believe witnesses which Mori brings because they may be intimidated by him to lie on his behalf, the answer is given that we only suspect that witnesses will refrain from testifying against him, but not that they will actually lie on his behalf.
Now let us retell this story based on the commentary of Tosefot.
The visitor was born in the community where Mori lived and went abroad as a youngster together with his father. When he returned and made his claim to the inheritance, Mori did not categorically deny that he was his brother but rather claimed that he did not recognize him. This would seem rather suspect for someone not to be able to recognize his own brother if not for Rabbi Chisda's comparing it to the honest failure of Yosef's brothers to recognize him. When the claimant produced witnesses to testify that he was Mori's brother, they declared that they would not testify. This was sufficient grounds for Rabbi Chisda to accept the charge by the claimant that they were afraid to testify against Mori because of his violent reputation. He then challenged Mori to get those very witnesses to testify either that the claimant was not his brother or that they did not recognize him as being his brother. Why will we believe them asks the gemara, if we suspect that they are intimidated by Mori? To which the gemara replies that intimidation is presumed only as a cause for the witnesses to refrain from testifying, but not as a cause for them to actually lie in Mori's behalf.
Ketubot 27b
When the Heat is On
Everything is from Heaven, say our Sages, except cold and heat. Tosefot explains that in regard to all threats to a person's security or comfort which Heaven directs against him he is helpless to prevent them. In regard to cold and heat, however, he has been given the ability to protect himself against their effect.
A challenge to this seems to emerge from a Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 16:8, not Bereishet Rabbah as mistakenly appears in our text):
The Roman Emperor Antoninus asked Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi (Rebbie) to bless him. "May Hashem protect you from the cold," said the Sage. "For this I need your blessing?" countered Antoninus who pointed out that all he needed to do to avoid the effects of cold was to add another blanket. "May Hashem protect you from the heat," came the new blessing of Rebbie. "This is indeed a blessing," replies the grateful emperor, "for it is written (Tehillim 19:7) 'Nothing is safe from its (the sun's) heat.' "
This Midrash would seem to indicate that man lacks the power to defend himself against the effects of extreme heat, and it was necessary for Rebbie to pray for such protection for the ruler who so befriended him.
Tosefot responds to this challenge by pointing out the difference between a person's ability to protect himself against heat while he is at home and when he is on the road or involved in battle. While at home, he can cool off in a stone house or basement (the ancient version of fans and air conditioning!), an arrangement not available when he is away. As the ruler of a mighty empire, Antoninus had to do a considerable amount of traveling and conducting wars. He realized that in those situations he would be unable to find refuge from the extreme heat of the sun to which he would often be exposed. He therefore appreciated the blessing of his friend, the Jewish Sage, that he receive special Diving protection from such discomfort.
Ketubot 30a


text: There are several opportunities for women to engage in serious study of the word of God and in prayer together. A regular Monday ladies class is held in the home of one of our members. There's a ladies class on Wednesdays at 10 AM at the building and an ongoing discussion class for women every Wednesday night at 7.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sometimes it's a good idea to go back to school.
On Earth Day, which was a week ago Monday, I spoke to a seminar class in the natural sciences at our local college, Lyndon State. It was fun talking to the students, and I was reassured to see how committed they are to doing something about global warming, which was the main subject of my talk. I learned the most, however, from a professor who sat in on the class, who changed my mind about wind power.
I had met physicist Ben Luce by chance at a lecture in St. Johnsbury over the winter. We enjoyed speaking to each other and decided to get together again sometime. I was surprised during that first conversation when this obviously intelligent person, an alternative energy and even wind activist who seems to have all the numbers and regulations at his fingertips, came out strongly against wind power, not only in our home state but pretty much anywhere on land anywhere in the Northeast. (He believes it makes sense in the Midwest, where the resource is "two dimensional," that is, it can be spread out over a plain, rather than along a one-dimensional mountain ridge. Ben's advocacy of wind in New Mexico helped lead to the installation of several hundred megawatts of wind generation there.)  He fears that industrial wind development of a magnitude that could make any significant contribution to the Northeast's energy needs would set us back years if not decades by giving alternative energy a bad name, both politically and economically.
That short conversation had me intrigued but not convinced. I've been aware of the resistance to the ridge line wind projects near my home in northern Vermont, Lowell and Sheffield in particular, but I assumed it was motivated by NIMBY-ism or knee-jerk environmentalism in people who aren't aware how important it is to cut  greenhouse emissions.  But last week when Ben sat me down and walked me through the numbers, he convinced me that economic and scientific logic comes down strongly on the side of resistance as well.
In a nutshell, wind power is not only highly destructive to Vermont's lovely and iconic mountain ridge lines, it also loses hands down to solar, technically and economically, while solar is nowhere near as destructive to the landscape. This would appear to be a no-brainer. It would take wind development on half the state's ridge lines to supply our small state's relatively modest electrical needs, while it would only take 1 percent of our already existing farmland to do the job with solar. Furthermore, Ben writes in an e-mail, "Focusing on just Vermont's energy demand is irrelevant to the climate issue (its a red herring so to speak): VT's consumption is only a few percent of the overall region's demand. … What really matters is how the overall region is going to significantly reduce emissions, and this is where wind falls down badly." If ALL of Vermont's ridge lines were dedicated to wind, they would supply only about 1 percent of the Northeast's energy demand. This is down at the noise level.
"Blasting and bulldozing ridge lines for wind power in Vermont is therefore analogous to cutting down a forest for a garden when there is already a large field prepared adjacent," Ben writes elsewhere. "It just doesn't make sense on scientific grounds, even from the standpoint of combating climate change."
Wind advocates tend to emphasize the potential for Vermont alone, conveniently neglecting to point out that solar could do the job much less destructively and also be capable of supplying a large fraction of the Northeast's needs and therefore having a real impact on the entire region's greenhouse emissions. The advocates also "hide the fact that we are not supplying wind energy to Vermont for the most part anyways," writes Ben, "because we are selling most of the credits to utilities in other states (while we double-count the same power towards our own 'renewable energy targets'). This latter part is basically just fraud. … The real reason there is a wind rush on is simply that people haven't studied it much, it became somewhat cheaper more quickly than solar, and because utilities despise distributed generation."
This brings up another of wind's drawbacks: transmission lines. Owing both to the small capacity of the local electrical grid and the fact that it's not a "smart grid," the Sheffield wind project (I'm tempted to call them "wind factories," as the performers at Bread and Puppets did last summer) actually has to discard power when its output exceeds local demand. A wind project is a centralized power station–in this respect it's like a fossil fuel-burning power plant–so significant wind development leads to the need for more transmission lines. Conservative goals for wind power in the Northeast over the next fifteen years would "carry transmission costs of between $7 billion and $12 billion" and require four thousand miles of new lines! These costs are not often mentioned by advocates. Even ignoring them, while the cost of wind dropped until about 2000, it has been increasing ever since, mostly due to the commodity costs associated with the enormous metal infrastructure involved. And in Vermont there is the added cost of massive road building in inhospitable terrain. Meanwhile, solar is by its nature distributed and less capital intensive, and its cost continues to drop. It's already competitive with wind on its face, while the future costs of wind from transmission corridors and so on remain hidden.
"If you add in all the impact and cost issues, then wind looks really crazy," Ben concludes.
Makes sense to me, and it is also refreshing to see such clear thinking and explaining. There is no easy answer to the daunting challenge of global warming, and dogmatism simply won't work. We need all the clarity and level-headedness we can summon.


text:
[This article was contributed by the SQL Azure team.]
Developers are always interested in how to get the best performance out of applications that connect to SQL Azure. This TechNet wiki article provides a detailed introduction of SQL Azure and its network topology. It goes deeper by explaining some of the reasons for connection-losses or throttling cases and provides guidelines and best coding practices on how to manage the connection life cycle in SQL Azure.
Click here to view the article.
What connection scenarios have you experienced with SQL Azure? Let me know in the comments, as I'd love to discuss them.


text:
Which Wireless Networks Are Fastest? Verizon And AT&T
In a 21-city test of U.S. 3G and 4G networks, PC Magazine found that Verizon's 4G network performed the fastest overall in major metro areas, but AT&T won in the heartland.
PC Magazine performed an extensive test of the data networks run by AT&T, Cricket Wireless, MetroPCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. The goal of the experiment was to determine which 3G/4G technology is truly the fastest.
The magazine loaded up two cars with a total of 16 handsets, custom testing software, power sources, and sent them careening through 6,000 miles worth of American roads during the month of May. Six different drivers piloted the cars through both cityscapes and countrysides, tallying the speed performance in more than 140,000 individual tests of each network as they went. (PCMag did not test voice quality, dropped calls, or strength of the networks involved, only data speeds.)
PCMag broke down the results into a number of different categories, including major regions of the country, as well as individual cities.
Verizon Wireless's new Long Term Evolution network won many regions and the overall national title for sheer speed. PCMag explains, "Verizon's LTE system is remarkably faster than the technologies AT&T, MetroPCS, Sprint and T-Mobile are currently using for '4G.' Even with one hand tied behind its back--a 20% penalty to its speed score for its lack of rural coverage--Verizon's new 4G network trounced the other carriers. In many areas, it was even faster than some DSL or cable connections."
PCMag rated Verizon's network the fastest nationally, as well as in the northeast, southeast, central, and western quadrants of the U.S. It is worth pointing out that Verizon's network is still only six months old, and though adoption of LTE devices is growing swiftly, it is far from the saturation point. In other words, the metro areas that enjoy LTE coverage aren't yet chock full of users sucking down all the bandwidth. Even so, Verizon's results are commendable.
AT&T won for "rural America" and it also came in second to Verizon is many of the other regions tested. PCMag defined rural America as regions outside of the large 21 metro areas, including wide-open country and smaller cities in between. AT&T won this segment for its overall coverage footprint, and the average speed of its network over the larger swaths. Verizon's LTE network, by way of comparison, is limited to major metro areas right now and has a long way to go before it expands into rural America. Verizon's 3G network, which has a sizable footprint, is much slower than the other networks tested.
The individual city results are quite interesting. Drilling down into Boston, for example, PCMag found that Verizon's LTE network trounced the others in terms of download speeds with an average of 9.41 Mbps and a maximum of 15.34 Mbps. Sprint, however, was the closest to Verizon in terms of average download speeds at 3.23 Mbps, and T-Mobile was closest to Verizon in terms of maximum download speeds at 10.82 Mbps.
What's the take-away from all this raw data? First, that nothing is consistent. Network speeds vary by location, networking technology, network operator, handset, and many other factors. For the business looking for the fastest wireless data performance possible, this report is a good starting point. But doing your own homework is important, too. Whether you're a national enterprise or a local business, you have to explore what networks and technologies are right for your company and where it operates.
Given all the coordination and work that PCMag put into its report, I highly suggest you check it out here. The site explains its exact methodology, how it rated results, the exact location points where data was collected, and much, much, more.
Virtual Event: Business Mobility Unleashed. Zero in on the top mobile technologies and techniques to ensure your organization thrives in the wireless world. Learn about strategies and products that offer remote user applications support, Wi-Fi management, security features, and device management. Our virtual event happens Thursday, July 14. Register now.
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text: Retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. To succeed, they'll need to survive an army of relentless assassins, ruthless terrorists and power-crazed government officials, all eager to get their hands on the next-generation weapon. The mission takes Frank and his motley crew to Paris, London and Moscow. Outgunned and outmanned, they have only their cunning wits, their old-school skills, and each other to rely on as they try to save the world-and stay alive in the process.


text:
'Harry Potter' Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Felton and More React to Helen McCrory's Death
Harry Potter star Helen McCrory passed away after a battle with cancer.
On April 16, McCrory's husband, Damian Lewis, announced via social media that the actress passed away at 52. McCrory famously played Narcissa Malfoy, the mother of Draco Malfoy and wife of Lucius Malfoy, in the final three Harry Potter films.
Following her passing, Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter in all of the films, released a statement on his website.
"I truly couldn't believe this news when I heard it," he shared. "Helen was one of the most incredible actors I got to work with on the Harry Potter films. She was effortlessly commanding and captivating as an actor, as well as being kind, generous and incredibly good fun as a person. Also, as it happens, she's one of the absolute coolest people I've ever met, in that I can't ever imagine her being flustered or nervous, she always seemed totally assured of who she was and what she was doing. She was a supreme talent and a wonderful person and will be very greatly missed."
Author J.K. Rowling paid tribute via Twitter, sharing she was devastated to learn of the "extraordinary actress'" passing. "A wonderful woman who's left us far too soon," she tweeted. "My deepest condolences to her family, especially her husband and children. Simply heartbreaking news."
Tom Felton, who portrayed Helen's on-screen son Draco, revealed how much she meant to him. "So sad to say farewell so suddenly - I never took the chance to tell her, but she helped shape me as a person so much - on & off screen," he wrote. "She was always relentlessly herself- razor-sharp wit - silver-tongued - kind & warm-hearted - she suffered no fools yet had time for everyone - thank you for lighting the way forward & holding my hand when I needed it."
Meanwhile, McCrory's "Harry Potter husband" Jason Isaacs, who portrayed Lucius, wrote a letter about her talent and personality.
"Decades ago Helen and I auditioned together for a film. I came home and said to [my wife] Emma [Hewitt], 'I think I've just met the greatest actress I've ever seen,'" Isaacs shared. "After years of watching her mesmerize audiences, I don't think that any more…I know it."
"As continually starstruck as I was on the Harry Potter films, being screen-married to and [giggling] with the great Helen McCrory will always be a highlight," he continued. "Her proudest achievement, though, was building and loving the family that was her bedrock. They've lost so much and I send all my love to Damian and the kids."
See reactions from McCrory's wizarding world family, below.


text:
In Memoriam
The Jewish Soldiers of Konotop
Killed, Died from Wounds,
And Missing In Action
On The War Front of the Fatherland
1941 1945
Families of these 349 War Victims Recorded
In the Ukrainian Memorial Book
Vol. 5, Vol. 14
Sumskaya, Oblast, City of Konotop
JewishGen, Inc. makes no representations regarding the accuracy of
the translation. The reader may wish to refer to the original material
for verification.
JewishGen is not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in the original work and cannot rewrite or edit the text to correct inaccuracies and/or omissions.
Our mission is to produce a translation of the original work and we cannot verify the accuracy of statements or alter facts cited.
Konotop, Ukraine Yizkor Book Project JewishGen Home Page
Copyright © 1999-2024 by JewishGen, Inc.
Updated 25 Jul 2008 by LA


text:
- Home
- Brown & Blonde Mix Messy Scrunchie Hair Bun
Brown & Blonde Mix Messy Scrunchie Hair Bun
Brand: Forever Young
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- May last 2-3 months before the hairs begins to frizz, however reducing the frequency of washing will prolong the life of the wig.


text:
With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks only a month away, former CIA Director George Tenet and two former top aides are fighting back hard against allegations that they engaged in a massive cover-up in 2000 and 2001 to hide intelligence from the White House and the FBI that might have prevented the attacks.
The source of the explosive, unproved allegations is a man who once considered Tenet a close friend: former White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke, who makes the charges against Tenet and the CIA in an interview for a radio documentary timed to the 10th anniversary next month. Portions of the Clarke interview were made available to The Daily Beast by the producers of the documentary.
In the interview for the documentary, Clarke offers an incendiary theory that, if true, would rewrite the history of the 9/11 attacks, suggesting that the CIA intentionally withheld information from the White House and FBI in 2000 and 2001 that two Saudi-born terrorists were on U.S. soil—terrorists who went on to become suicide hijackers on 9/11.
Clarke speculates—and readily admits he cannot prove—that the CIA withheld the information because the agency had been trying to recruit the terrorists, while they were living in Southern California under their own names, to work as CIA agents inside Al Qaeda. After the recruitment effort went sour, senior CIA officers continued to withhold the information from the White House for fear they would be accused of "malfeasance and misfeasance," Clarke suggests.
Clarke said that if his theory is correct, Tenet and others would never admit to the truth today "even if you waterboarded them."
Clarke's theory addresses a central, enduring mystery about the 9/11 attacks— why the CIA failed for so long to tell the White House and senior officials at the FBI that the agency was aware that two Al Qaeda terrorists had arrived in the United States in January 2000, just days after attending a terrorist summit meeting in Malaysia that the CIA had secretly monitored.
In a written response prepared last week in advance of the broadcast, Tenet says that Clarke, who famously went public in 2004 to blow the whistle on the Bush White House over intelligence failures before 9/11, has "suddenly invented baseless allegations which are belied by the record and unworthy of serious consideration."
The CIA insisted to the 9/11 Commission and other government investigations that the agency never knew the exact whereabouts of the two hijackers, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, inside the U.S.—let alone try to recruit them as spies.
Agency officials said the CIA's delay in sharing information about the two terrorists was a grave failure, but maintained there was no suggestion of deception by CIA brass. Tenet has said he was not informed before 9/11 about Hazmi and Mihdhar's travel to the U.S., although the intelligence was widely shared at lower levels of the CIA.
The 9/11 Commission investigated widespread rumors in the intelligence community that the CIA tried to recruit the two terrorists—Clarke was not the first to suggest it—but the investigation revealed no evidence to support the rumors. The commission said in its final report that "it appears that no one informed higher levels of management in either the FBI or CIA" about the two terrorists.
But in his interview, Clarke said his seemingly unlikely, even wild scenario—a bungled CIA terrorist-recruitment effort and a subsequent cover-up—was "the only conceivable reason that I've been able to come up with" to explain why he and others at the White House were told nothing about the two terrorists until the day of the attacks.
"I've thought a lot about this," Clarke says in the interview, which was conducted in October 2009. He said it was fair to conclude "there was a high-level decision in the CIA ordering people not to share information." Asked who would have made the order, Clarke replies, "I would think it would have been made by the director," referring to Tenet.
Clarke, now a security consultant and bestselling author, has hinted in his writings in the past that there may have been a CIA cover-up involving Hazmi and Mihdhar, although he has never made such direct attacks on Tenet and others at the CIA by name.
He did not reply to requests from The Daily Beast to expand on his comments or to explain why he has not repeated them publicly since the 2009 interview. The documentary's producers, FF4 Films, said they had been in contact with Clarke this month and that he stood by his remarks in the broadcast.
The producers, John Duffy and Ray Nowosielski, had previously made a well-reviewed film documentary, Press for Truth (www.911pressfortruth.com), on the struggle of a group of 9/11 victims' families to force the government to investigate the attacks.
In finishing the radio documentary, they recently supplied a copy of Clarke's comments to Tenet, who joined with two of former top CIA deputies—Cofer Black, who was head of the agency's counterterrorism center, and Richard Blee, former head of the agency's Osama Bin Laden unit—in a statement denouncing Clarke.
"Richard Clarke was an able public servant who served his country well for many years," the statement says. "But his recently released comments about the run-up to 9/11 are reckless and profoundly wrong."
"Clarke starts with the presumption that important information on the travel of future hijackers to the United States was intentionally withheld from him in early 2000. It was not."
The statement continued. "Building on his false notion that information was intentionally withheld, Mr. Clarke went on to speculate—which he admits is based on nothing other than his imagination—that the CIA might have been trying to recruit these two future hijackers as agents. This, like much of what Mr. Clarke said in his interview, is utterly without foundation."
Clarke, who led governmentwide counterterrorism efforts from the White House during the Bush and Clinton administration, has said in the past that he was astonished to learn after 9/11 that the CIA had long known about the presence of Hazmi and Mihdhar inside the United States.
"To this day, it is inexplicable why, when I had every other detail about everything related to terrorism, that the director didn't tell me, that the director of the counterterrorism center didn't tell me," Clarke said in the interview for the documentary, referring to Tenet and Cofer Black. "They told us everything—except this."
He said that if he had known anything about Hazmi and Mihdhar even days before 9/11, he would have ordered an immediate manhunt to find them—and that it would have succeeded, possibly disrupting the 9/11 plot.
"We would have conducted a massive sweep," he said. "We would have conducted it publicly. We would have found those assholes. There's no doubt in my mind, even with only a week left. They were using credit cards in their own names. They were staying in the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, for heaven's sake." He said that "those guys would have been arrested within 24 hours."


text:
You Are So Lucky To Have Me As A Wife - Valentine's Gifts Candle
You Are So Lucky To Have Me As A Wife - Valentine's Gifts Candle
FOR HER Nº 14 A sensual fragrance with sandalwood and musk base with hints of lavender, ginger, fennel, and amber. Perfect for Her.
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INGREDIENTS: Non-Toxic Soy Wax Vegetable Blend, Exotic Blend of Essential Oils, Cotton Wick, and of course LOVE.
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Always burn the candle on a stable, heat resistant surface. This can help prevent heat damage to underlying surfaces and prevent glass containers from breaking. Keep out of reach of children and pets.


text:
You would think that news of a high school student from a family of African immigrants getting accepted into all eight Ivy League universities would be met with universal celebration. If you thought that, think again.
First the news:
In the next month, Kwasi Enin must make a tough decision: Which of the eight Ivy League universities should he attend this fall?
A first-generation American from Shirley, N.Y., the 17-year-old violist and aspiring physician applied to all eight, from Brown to Yale.
The responses began rolling in over the past few months, and by late last week when he opened an e-mail from Harvard, he found he'd been accepted to every one. School district officials provided scanned copies of acceptance letters from all eight Monday. Yale confirmed that it was holding a spot for Enin.
The feat is extremely rare, say college counselors — few students even apply to all eight, because each seeks different qualities in their freshman class. Almost none are invited to attend them all.
The Ivy League colleges are among the nation's most elite.
Comments posted on the news website reddit leave little doubt that even with all of Enin's accomplishments, many people will never see beyond his race. The comments show appalling ignorance not only about race in the United States, but about the college admission process itself.
A person with the sign-in name of Hairlesswalkingchimp wrote, "I'm gonna get real with you reddit; no matter how pissed this makes you it doesn't change the fact that he would not have had this absurd success if he was a white kid."
A writer identifying himself as Jetusan asked, "Are you just as pissed that 30 percent of admissions at Harvard are legacies? How many are less qualified white people, I wonder?"
That's a point most critics miss. Universities, including Harvard and Yale, admit a certain number of students in each class based on whether a parent attended the Ivy League institution. They call them "Legacy Admissions" and that's how George W. Bush got admitted into Yale, following in the footsteps of his father and his father's father. Other students are admitted because a parent made a major donation to the university.
"I am surprised that no one has mentioned that for the seven other schools he chooses not to attend, 7 students will be chosen from the schools respective wait list, and let's be realistic, odds are they are white."
Overlooked in some of the posts is the fact that college admissions deans try to construct a balanced class, not robotically picking applicants based on grades and SAT scores.
"Ivy Leagues don't want well rounded applicants, they want a well rounded class," wrote house_music_420. "It's much easier to get in if you do something out of the ordinary and are really good at it instead of being pretty good at many things. I've talked to college admissions people and they all say that they are trying to build a well rounded class.
"For example 10 people from my high school applied to Stanford and the only one who got in had a 3.5 GPA (lowest of the 10) and a 2030 SAT (lowest of the 10) and he was in my class struggling mightily."
Comeonreally8 wrote, "I am an admissions interviewer for one of the top ivies and I see a HUGE number of minority applicants with top grades, great SATs, and great leadership in their extracurriculars and they are rejected just as often as the non-minority applicants. So everyone saying 'OMG IT'S ONLY BECAUSE HE'S BLACK' calm down, being a minority is not some free pass to get into college. It is still incredibly challenging and rare to get into the top ivies. This kid sounds brilliant and I wish him all the success."
Wrote retop56: "This comment section is nothing short of hilarious. Yes, schools look for diversity in admissions, but it seems like a lot of people really think he did nothing except check a box that he's black and waltz into 8 Ivys."
One person wrote, "There are 1000s of spots for white students to get in but when they fail to do so, they blame it on the 50 black students that they let in every year."
A White writer, JadeChaosTheory, noted: "Just by being white we have a ton of advantages in general – minorities need the boosts where they can get it."
He explained, "He [Enin] could graduate college with flying colors and still struggle to find a job/move up in the workplace because casual racism is a real and prevalent thing and there is an innate fear of people of color in positions of power."
George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.


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Concert Hall Installation / Daniel Balo, Dániel Eke, Zoltán Kalászi
Designed and built by Dániel Baló , Dániel Eke , and Zoltán Kalászi , the concert hall installation in the Archabbey of Pannonhalma was intended for the classical concerts of the Arcus Temporum Festival. Fitted for the gym of the abbey's boarding school, the installation uses just two elements as the artwork's clear but complex structure still engulfed the spacious dimensions of the gym. The light bulbs' strict geometrical grid and the parallel waving layers of the translucent textile, which also improved the gym's acoustics, were dropped from the ceiling into the space below. More images and architects' description after the break.
In order to create an interior suitable for classical concerts, first of all we had to somehow fade out the gym's characteristic appearance and find a suitable cover. But further on, we were eager to form such an atmosphere that frames musical events and partition the homogenous space through gentle transitions.
Therefore we created a spatial structure built from two items: an interacting system of a diffuse, translucent media and a geometric grid of point lights. The diffuse element's hanging layers are made from a thermally bonded non-woven geotextile fabric. With the fabric domineering over the beams and walls, the room's boarders are blurred by the different outlines and translucent, opalescent texture of the fabric's layers. Also, they define the locations of the two main functions: the auditorium and the stage.
The raster-like item of the point lights are made from light bulbs emitting equal intensity to hang in equal distance at the nodes of a square raster. These bulbs are hidden among the waving textile layers above the auditorium, while they come into view above the stage bringing the musicians into focus.
With the use of the textile layers, we succeeded in improving the room's acoustics: the hanging ribs by damping the sharp reflecting sounds and dispersing them through space acoustically generated a more comfortable atmosphere and musical experience.
Architects: Dániel Baló , Dániel Eke , Zoltán Kalászi
Location: Archabbey of Pannonhalma, Hungary
Electrical Engineering: István Kalászi
Construction Team: Dániel Baló , Tamás Bene, Dániel Eke, Zoltán Kalászi, Mar Vicens Fuster, Balázs Máté, Nóra Szüts, Eszter Takács
Gross Floor Area: 200 sqm
Material: Polypropylene (17 gram/sqm non-woven fabric)
Budget of the Project: 1160 €
Functional Period: August 24-26, 2012
Concert Hall Installation / Dániel Baló, Dániel Eke, Zoltán Kalászi originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website on 22 Sep 2012.
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Thailand has a thriving illegal trade in dog meat. While authorities have been cracking down on it recently, the demand is such that many dogs are stolen off the streets to supply restaurants in Cambodia and China, where the consumption of dog is legal.
Now a charity in Phuket, Thailand, is trying to save these animals. The Soi Dog Foundation has taken in hundreds of dogs seized by Thai border police and is asking for sponsors and adoptive families. Dog lovers as far away as Scotland have taken in some of the pets, but there are many more stuck in the charity's bursting facilities.
While stealing pets and smuggling them across the border is certainly wrong, not to mention illegal, is eating dog meat wrong? Different cultures have different standards as to what food is OK and what isn't. Hindus will tell you that eating any meat is wrong, and that eating beef is the worst of all. In Slovenia, they eat horse burgers, and while I've always loved horses I did give them a try. Horses are no less intelligent, loving and loyal than dogs, so what's the problem? Is it all a matter of perspective? Tell us what you think in the comments section!
Want to read about some more shocking foods? Check out our post on the weird things people eat around the world.


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Family Movies
A Christmas Carol (1938)
Ebenezer Scrooge must contend with three ghosts in order to find his Christmas spirit. Try to find these movie mistakes in 1938´s "A Christmas Carol".
A Christmas Carol (1951)
Will Ebenezer Scrooge suffer the same fate as his partner, Jacob Marley? Try to find these movie mistakes in 1951´s "A Christmas Carol".
A Christmas Carol (1984)
Ebenezer Scrooge must face the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in this classic Charles Dickens tale. Try to find the movie mistakes in "A Christmas Carol" starring George C. Scott.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
The Baudelaire children find themselves shuffled from one unusual relative to another when their parents are killed in a house fire. Try to find these movie mistakes in "A Series of Unfortunate Events".
Addams Family Values
The Addams are back with a new baby...and a deadly new love for Fester. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Addams Family Values".
Josh learns to be careful what you wish for when he asks to be big and wakes up the next morning as an adult. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Big".
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
A young boy named Charlie becomes the fifth winner of a golden ticket contest to tour the chocolate factory of the enigmatic Willy Wonka. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
Childrens Movies Site
This is a great place to read about children´s movies and get some good ideas on what to watch!
Christmas With The Kranks
With their daughter away, Luther and Nora Krank decide to forego Christmas much to the chagrin of their neighbors. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Christmas with the Kranks".
Daddy Day Care
Charlie and Phil get more than they bargained for when they open their own day care business. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Daddy Day Care".
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
A young boy befriends a friendly alien when the creature accidently gets left behind on Earth. Try to find these movie mistakes in "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial".
Buddy the Elf travels from the North Pole to New York City to find his long lost father. Can you find the Christmas spirit and these movie mistakes in "Elf" starring Will Ferrell and James Caan?
George Of The Jungle (1997)
After being raised in the African jungle since an infant, George meets a new companion. Try to find these movie mistakes in 1997's "George of the Jungle".
A cute, lovable creature multiplies and causes chaos in a small town. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Gremlins".
Haunted Mansion
The Evers family find themselves trapped in a Haunted Mansion filled with ghosts and singing statues. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Haunted Mansion".
Home Alone
Kevin McAllister finds himself home alone when his parents accidently leave him behind during a family trip. This family holiday film stars Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O'Hara.
Home Alone 2 - Lost In New York
The McCallisters are traveling again during the holidays but this time around, Kevin accidently gets stranded in New York. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Home Alone 2 - Lost In New York".
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
The Grinch is up to his usual tricks in this adaptation of the 1966 animated classic. This family friendly version stars Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen and features these movie mistakes.
It´s A Wonderful Life
George Bailey gets the rare chance of seeing what life for people around him would have been like if he had never existed. James Stewart and Donna Reed star in this holiday classic. Get in the Christmas spirit with these movie mistakes!
Jack Frost (1998)
Traveling musician, Jack Frost, is killed on the way home to his family. A year later, returning as a snowman, Jack tries to make things right with those he loves. Try to find these movie mistakes in 1998's "Jack Frost".
Jingle All The Way
Howard promises his son Jamie a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas without realizing how hard it's going to be to find one. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Jingle All The Way".
Jumanji (1995)
A young Alan Parrish is sucked into a mysterious game. When he's freed years later by Judy and Peter, they realize the only way for things to go back to normal is to finish playing. Try to find these movie mistakes in 1995's "Jumanji".
Kindergarten Cop
LAPD detective Kimble is in a race against time to find the missing ex-wife of a drug kingpin he's trying to put away. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Kindergarten Cop".
A benevolent fairy turns vengeful when her wings are stolen after being betrayed by a lifelong friend. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Maleficent".
Meet Me In St. Louis
The Smith sisters are excited about the World´s Fair coming to their hometown. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Meet Me In St. Louis".
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
Kris Kringle finds himself on trial when he admits to being the real Santa Claus. Try to find these movie mistakes in this classic film starring Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara and Edmund Gwen.
Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
Kris Kringle goes on trial when others question the true existence of Santa Claus. Try to find these movie mistakes in 1994's "Miracle on 34th Street".
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
After the death of his grandfather, Jake goes on the adventure of a lifetime, meeting a group of unusual children and their teacher, Miss Peregrine. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children".
Monster Squad
A group of school friends known as the Monster Squad must fight Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Gill-Man and the Mummy when the creatures appear in their town. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Monster Squad".
Two brothers inherit a dilapidated house and intend on fixing it up to sell it. The home's resident mouse has other plans. Try to find these mistakes in "Mousehunt".
Nanny McPhee
Cedric Brown has his work cut out for him trying to handle his seven unruly children. But things change as soon as Nanny McPhee arrives on the scene. Try to find these movie mistakes while watching this family friendly film starring Emma Thompson, Colin Firth and Kelly Macdonald.
Nanny McPhee Returns
Nanny McPhee must teach five new lessons two three unruly siblings and their two cousins. While watching flying pigs galore, try to find these movie mistakes!
Oz The Great And Powerful
Oscar Diggs, a shady magician, gets whisked away to the land of Oz where three sisters are eagerly anticipating the arrival of a great wizard who will save the land. But is everyone who they appear to be? Try to find these movie mistakes in "Oz the Great and Powerful".
Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief
What happens when Percy Jackson finds out he's the son of Poseidon but also accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt? You'll have to watch this family fun film to find out and be sure to look out for this movie mistakes!
Peter Pan (2003)
The ongoing feud between Peter Pan and Captain Hook continued in this live action flick. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Peter Pan".
Things change for a little girl when she helps a wounded reindeer. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Prancer".
Santa Claus - The Movie
A kind toymaker becomes Santa Claus where he delivers toys to children throughout the centuries. But an evil toymaker in the 20th century may put a stop to it. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Santa Claus - The Movie".
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Four crime fighting turtles must save their mentor from the dreaded Shredder. Try to find these movie mistakes in 1990's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".
The Game Plan
Joe Kingman is the golden boy of football with the lifestyle to match. But all that changes when Peyton, the daughter he never knew he had, shows up. Try to find these movie mistakes in "The Game Plan".
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Kermit and friends put their spin on the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of past, present and future. Try to find these movie mistakes in "The Muppet Christmas Carol".
The Santa Clause
Things for Scott Calvin take an unexpected turn when he takes on the role of Santa Claus. This family friendly movie stars Tim Allen. Try to find these movie mistakes!
The Santa Clause 2
Scott Calvin has been Santa for a few years until he realizes that it could all go kaput if he doesn't get married before Christmas aka "The Mrs. Clause". Try to find these movie mistakes in "The Santa Clause 2".
The Santa Clause 3
Jack Frost is on a mission to become the new Santa Claus by getting Scott to invoke the "Escape Clause". Try to find these movie mistakes in "The Santa Clause 3".
The Smurfs
The tiny, blue magical creatures find themselves transported to New York City with Gargamel in pursuit. This family friendly movie stars Hank Azaria and Neil Patrick Harris.
The Wizard Of Oz
The tale of Dorothy's trip to the magical land of Oz is a classic feature. Look for these movie mistakes while traveling down the yellow brick road. Watch out for the flying monkeys!
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Five golden tickets are the key to touring the chocolate factory operated by the illusive candy maker Willy Wonka. Try to find these movie mistakes in "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory".
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From MTV News
Contrary to online rumors, 'Breaking Dawn' star has no plans to drop an LP, rep confirms to MTV News.
His legions of hopeful fans will be sad to hear it, but despite reports and rumors to the contrary, Robert Pattinson is not recording an album.
On Tuesday (September 20), Us Weekly reported that the "Twilight" superstar was itching to record his own songs, but according to the magazine's two sources, he felt torn between his acting commitments and his love of music. The story further alleged that the 25-year-old would be putting together a guitar-based record in the next few weeks, before the promotional tour for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" kicks into gear.
MTV News reached out to Pattinson's rep, who told us, "The report is untrue. He is not working on an album right now."
Of course, that is not to say Pattinson might not record music someday — he has previously recorded "Never Think" and "Let Me Sign" for the original "Twilight" soundtrack — but it's not happening now.
When we caught up with "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon at Comic-Con, he confirmed that there would be some familiar musical themes weaved into the fourth film, courtesy of composer Carter Burwell, who scored the first movie. And while the director would not confirm Pattinson's inclusion on the soundtrack, he hinted that some of the musically inclined castmembers might lend their talents.
"We're just figuring out [the soundtrack] now," Condon said during MTV News' "Breaking Dawn" Comic-Con takeover. "We have a lot of [songs]. We have like 15, I think."
From Gossip Cop
Robert Pattinson is "prepping to record an album imminently," reports Us Weekly.
Sources for the mag say that Pattinson, who's has previously recorded two songs featured on the original Twilight soundtrack, "has been kicking a few original songs around for a long time, but his schedule didn't allow it."
Adds one of the sources, "Now he's got some weeks to get everything in line before going back to promoting Breaking Dawn."
But when asked if the actor and talented musician is currently planning on recording an album, an impeccable Pattinson insider tells Gossip Cop, "He is not."
We're reaching out to more sources to see if there is a timetable for an upcoming Pattinson record, and we'll update as more information comes in.
The original US Weekly's article
Robert Pattinson, rock star?
The British actor, 25, is prepping to record an album imminently, two sources tell Us Weekly.
"Rob has been kicking a few original songs around for a long time, but his schedule didn't allow it," one insider explains of the superstar, who recorded two songs, "Never Think" (which he co-wrote with pal Sam Bradley) and "Let Me Sign" for the original Twilight soundtrack.
"Now he's got some weeks to get everything in line before going back to promoting Breaking Dawn."
But don't expect a chart-topping album with broad mass appeal and a string of top 40 hits. "The album Rob will make will be guitar-based and drums, very organic-sounding, nothing pop," explains a second source of the indie-music fan, "Like stripped-down Ray LaMontagne meets Van Morrison."
Pattinson frequently had hotel room jam sessions with other Twilight pals while shooting the flicks in Vancouver and elsewhere. His Twilight costar (and fellow musician) Jackson Rathbone said Kristen Stewart's man "loves to play the blues. He can hold his own on a guitar. We enjoyed jamming together when we had the time. Very humble and quiet guy."
"Music is his first love!" says the second source. "He's tortured because he avoids it. When he's sitting around jamming in the studio, it's his favorite moment of life."
To prep for the recording session, the guitar player has been "studying on on other instruments -- like piano and horns," the first source reveals. "It's an obsession for him."


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You can import all theme demo content with one click (posts, pages, products, categories, menus, sample images, sliders, plugins configurations).
Import Automatically
1. Go to Appearance > Import Demo Data then click Import Demo Data to start.
2. The demo content will download and setup content and images automatically. This process can take about 2-5 minutes depends on your internet connection
3. When the importing process finishes you need to go to Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks then click Save to update the permalink structure.
Please install all plugins and compatible extensions before doing this step!.


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Billy Dexter graduated from SVSU in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and was a member of the 1982 Men's Track Team (which captured the University's first National Championship and was inducted into the SVSU inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame Class in Fall 2010 ). Presently, Billy is a partner at Heidrick & Struggles and is a member of the global Financial Sservices & Diversity practice that assists clients in creating diverse leadership teams.
"SVSU has given me a educational foundation that changed my life and taught me to have confidence in myself and continue to challenge myself to take risks," explains Dexter. "I left SVSU in the mid-eighties with the belief that everything was possible as long as I made a commitment to the challenge and stayed focus. I will be forever grateful to SVSU with giving me the confidence to 'Make it Happen'."
Before Heidrick & Struggles, Billy was Executive Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer of MTV Networks, a Viacom company. Prior to MTV Networks, Dexter was President of Hudson Inclusion Solutions, a business division of Hudson Highland Group (HHG), a diversity consulting practice he founded within Hudson Highland with clients in over 20 countries. Earlier in his career track, Billy held executive leadership positions with both Monster Worldwide (former parent company of HHG), Deloitte & Touche and United Airlines.
Billy also received a MA degree from Michigan State and has completed executive education program at the Harvard Business School. He has also received numerous honors over the years but most recently, 2011 Uptown Magazine recognized him "Top 100 Diverse Executives". In 2009, Chicago United named him as a 2009 recipient of the Business Leader of Color. The Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) named Billy one of the "Top 100 Global Diversity Thought Leaders" in 2008. The Savoy Magazine awarded him with the trailblazer award in 2002, and Black MBA Magazine recognized him with the "Top 50 MBAs under 50" in 2005.
Billy and his wife, Gisel, live in Lemont, IL. He is an avid golfer, skier and loves to travel the world.
(989) 964-7142(989) 964-7142
Department Chair
John Baesler
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The next Brighton ALT.NET Beers will be held at the co-working venue 'The Skiff' at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 4th May. I'll be hosting again.
The address is: The Skiff, 49 Cheltenham Place, Brighton, BN1 4AB
The format will be the same as usual, a quick round of suggestions for topics, voting and then an evening of beer and geekery.
See you there!


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VIDEO: WINEP's Director of Research: U.S. Needs A False Flag to Start A War With Iran
Many of the notables who served in the Bush Administration and played key roles in misleading the United States into war with Iraq have passed through the corridors of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP). In fact, the think-tank serves as an incubator for the hawkish Neoconservative ideology.
Here is how Harvard professor of Int'l Affairs Steven M. Walt describes the think-tank:
[WINEP] is a key organization in the Israel lobby. It was founded in 1985 by three individuals: Larry and Barbi Weinberg, who had formerly been the president and vice-president of AIPAC; and Martin Indyk, who was previously deputy director for research there. These founders understood that AIPAC's efforts would be enhanced if there was a separate, seemingly "objective" research organization to provide consistently "pro-Israel" analysis and commentary, while AIPAC concentrated on more direct lobbying activities. Although WINEP claims that it provides a "balanced and realistic perspective" on Middle East issue, anyone who spends a few hours examining its website and reading its publications will realize this is not the case.
In fact, WINEP is funded and led by individuals who are deeply committed to defending the special relationship, and promoting policies in Washington that they believe will benefit Israel. Its board of advisors is populated with prominent advocates for Israel such as Martin Peretz, Richard Perle, James Woolsey, and Mortimer Zuckerman, and there's no one on this board who is remotely critical of Israel or inclined to favor any other country in the "Near East."
Former AIPAC staffer MJ Rosenberg was literally "in the room" when WINEP was founded. Here he describes its birth:
I was in the room when AIPAC decided to establish WINEP.
It was Steve Rosen (later indicted under the Espionage Act, although charges were subsequently dropped) who cleverly came up with the idea for an AIPAC controlled think-tank that would disseminate the AIPAC line but in a way that would disguise its connections.
There was no question that WINEP was to be AIPAC's cutout. It was funded by AIPAC donors, staffed by AIPAC employees, and located one door away, down the hall, from AIPAC Headquarters (No more. It has its own digs).
It would also hire all kinds of people not identified with Israel as cover and would encourage them to write whatever they liked on matters not related to Israel. "Say what you want on Morocco, kid." But on Israel, never deviate more than a degree or two.
So, it probably shouldn't have come as TOO big a shock when this video became circulated on Twitter tonight, showing the depths the Neoconservatives are prepared to plunge to get their war against Iran.
Here is a video of WINEP's Director of Research Patrick Clawson, telling a gathering in the group's conference room that the United States should find a 'false flag' to get into war with Iran.
I frankly find that crisis initiation is really tough. And it's very hard for me to see how the United States President can get us into war with Iran. Which leads me to conclude that if in fact compromise is not coming that the traditional way that America gets into war is what would be best for U.S. interests.
Some people might think that Mr. Roosevelt wanted to get us into World War II, as David mentioned, you may recall we had to wait for Pearl Harbor. Some people think Mr. Wilson wanted to get us into World War I, you may recall we had to wait for the Lusitania episode. Some people might think that Mr. Johnson wanted to send troops to Vietnam, you may recall we had to wait for the Gulf of Tonkin episode. We didn't go to war with Spain until the USS Maine exploded. And may I point out that Mr. Lincoln did not feel he could call out the Federal Army until Fort Sumter was attacked which is why he ordered the commander of Fort Sumter to do exactly that thing which the South Carolineans had said would cause an attack.
So if in fact the Iranians aren't going to compromise, it would be best if somebody else started the war. One can combine other means of pressure with sanctions. I mentioned that explosion on August 17th. We could step up the pressure.
I mean look people, Iranian submarines periodically go down, some day one of them might not come up, who would know why? We could do a variety of things if we wish to to increase the pressure. I'm not advocating that, but I'm just suggesting that this is not an either or proposition, you know it's just sanctions have to succeed or it's other things.
We are in the games of using covert means against the Iranians. We could get nastier.
1 Comment
Sep 29th, 2012 at 1:57 am
He needs to see a very good and honest psychiatrist. He sounds like a kid who never grew up to become a mature adult and who had been given rotten home social education.


text: Last time, in Part I, we looked at the issues and methods that Feel Oud used to make its high-end artisanal oils, so today there will be 9 reviews covering the actual scent profiles of a range of different ouds and sandalwoods. What surprised me in several cases were the amazing number of complex olfactory facets and nuances that a single piece of wood could manifest, resulting in a bouquet that was really more like a fine French perfume with evolving layers and stages, rather than a mere distilled oil. It's due solely to the things we covered in Part I, the complicated, laborious way in which that one piece of wood was treated in order to extract the maximum number of scent molecules. When more than one type of wood was used or when a rich floral essence was added to the mix, the result could be quite mind-blowing indeed, and I say this as someone who doesn't always have the greatest degree of comfort around oud.


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'Songbird' Trailer: The First Movie Made in the Pandemic About the Pandemic
What's the opposite of escapism? Whatever word we use to describe it — Tragedy? Miseryism? Wallowingindespairism? — that's Songbird.
The film, about the deadly "Covid-23" pandemic, was the first production made in Los Angeles during the Covid-19 pandemic. Produced by Michael Bay, the film stars Riverdale's KJ Apa as a courier immune to a new and deadly virus who struggles to help his girlfriend (Sofia Carson) escape from quarantine imprisonment. Just the movie you want to watch while coronavirus cases are climbing for a third time throughout the country.
Here's the first trailer for the film, which also stars Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, and Demi Moore:
Heree's the film's official synopsis:
In the terrifying thriller SONGBIRD, the COVID-23 virus has mutated and the world is in its fourth year of lockdown. Infected Americans are ripped from their homes and forced into quarantine camps known as Q-Zones, from which there is no escape, as a few brave souls fight back against the forces of oppression. Amid this dystopian landscape, a fearless courier, Nico (KJ Apa), who's immune to the deadly pathogen, finds hope and love with Sara (Sofia Carson), though her lockdown prohibits them from physical contact. When Sara is believed to have become infected, Nico races desperately across the barren streets of Los Angeles in search of the only thing that can save her from imprisonment ... or worse.
Songbird does not currently have an official release date, what with the pandemic and all. The official press release only lists it as "coming soon." May we all live to see it (or choose not to see it, whatever the case may be).
Gallery — The Most Controversial Movies in History:


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NitraPhos Minus is a unique formula that aims to biologically remove nitrate, nitrite and phosphate from the aquarium.
It activates the metabolism in various types of bacteria, which are responsible for the management and removal of excess nutrients. Thanks to the special composition of multiple forms of organic carbon, amino acids and vitamins, all biochemical changes occur without any issues and bacteria easily absorb compounds to convert them into biomass.
That biomass becomes a valuable food for corals while the excess and residues of it are removed from water by filter or skimmer. NitraPhos Minus improves the overall condition of corals, provides better colouration and promotes their growth. Due to maintaining the biological balance in the tank it prevents the formation of undesirable green algae and the development of cyanobacteria.
What's great about this product:
- Effectively removes excess nitrate & phosphate
- Brings chemical balance
- Quickly reduces undesired algae
- Boosts coral coloration & growth
Recommended dosage:
It is recommended to start NitraPhos Minus at half of the recommended dose. It is recommended to monitor the concentration of NO3 and PO4 once or twice a week
Good to know:
Low nitrate and phosphate impose rich corals supplementation
Inefficient filtration may be the reason for high nitrate & phosphate
Too much food or supplements may also be the cause of too high nitrate and phosphate levels
A violent drop of nitrate and phosphate levels can destroy zooxanthellae and lead to corals death
NitraPhos Minus was designed to quickly remove from the high levels of nitrate and phosphate. You can use it together with Pro Bio S. -NP Pro is a nourishment for bacteria and there's no need to use it while dosing NitraPhos Minus.


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Dental Insurance Covers for Your Worries
Dental treatments can put a serious dent on your finances, and it's but fitting that you take advantage of every opportunity to finance it through insurance coverage. The problem with this option is its limitations; cosmetic dental procedures are hardly covered by insurance, if at all, and you're often required to pay for the treatment and professional fees out of your own pocket. The next time you consider teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, think of the cost first, if you're able and willing to commit. Some treatments also come with a significant upkeep. Dental implant placements require several sessions, and the cost of the procedure is placed on each tooth, depending on the placement area.
Make sure your dental treatments are covered as far as your plan will accommodate, and your dentist should always be aware that you prefer subsidized treatment. The cost is always determined during the consultations, and it helps if you're up front with your dentist. In this way, all cost-efficient alternatives are considered, and you can choose which one you're willing to settle for. You'll spare yourself the problem of paying for the treatment after the fact. Delayed gratification is always the better option. Some treatments require recovery periods, and you don't want to add the costs of the procedure to the workdays you'll lose recovering from it.
The rates also vary between states, and you're better off familiar with the average costs of procedures. Finding out estimates is easy enough, just check out your local dental association's website, enter your zip code, and confirm the going rates. Your dentist can't contest this, but you shouldn't settle for averages just the same. Negotiate the price until you're comfortable or satisfied, dentists will accommodate requests by reducing the professional and laboratory fees. Your bargaining skills will pay off, in the hundreds or thousand dollars.
An alternative to dental insurance you can consider is a discount plan, and it also varies between states. These depend on the participating dentists and clinics and your area, but you can avail as much as 60% discount on certain dental procedures, a significant lop-off of your treatment's cost. Dental coverage is usually voided in discounted treatments, but consider yourself fortunate if your clinic accommodates compounded savings. If you're really desperate about cheap savings, then you can sign up for treatments at dental schools instead. Students welcome volunteer to participate in their practicums, and the treatments are absolutely free. The only tradeoff: students have yet to earn their license, so there's a risk your treatment could turn for the worse.


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After entering the record books last year as Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu will once again make history when he becomes the country's first sitting leader to go on trial.
Surrounded by security guards, Netanyahu is set to march into Jerusalem's district court for arraignment on a series of corruption charges on Sunday. The stunning scene will push Israel into uncharted political and legal territory, launching a process that could ultimately end the career of a leader who has been undefeatable at the ballot box for over a decade.
Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases. He is accused of accepting expensive gifts, such as cartons of champagne and cigars, from wealthy friends and offering favors to media moguls in exchange for favorable news coverage of him and his family.
In the most serious case, he is accused of promoting legislation that delivered hundreds of millions of dollars of profits to the owner of a major telecom company while wielding behind-the-scenes editorial influence over the firm's popular news website.
Netanyahu has denied the charges, claiming he is the victim of an "attempted coup" by overaggressive police, biased prosecutors and a hostile media.
"It's the classic deep state argument," said Gayil Tashir, a political scientist at Israel's Hebrew University. Netanyahu claims "an unelected movement is trying to remove him from power just because he is a representative of the right," she said.
Netanyahu is not the first Israeli leader to go on trial. Both former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former President Moshe Katsav went to prison in the 2010s — Olmert on corruption charges and Katsav for rape. But they stepped down to fight the charges.
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As opposition leader in 2008, Netanyahu led the calls for Olmert to leave office, famously saying a leader "up to his neck" in legal troubles had no business governing a country.
But as the investigations have piled up, culminating with his indictment last November, Netanyahu has changed his tune. He has rejected calls to resign while repeatedly lashing out at the country's legal system.
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Among his favorite targets have been a former police chief and the current attorney general — both Netanyahu appointees — and the country's Supreme Court. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit recently filed a complaint to police over anonymous threats sent to his mobile phone.
Netanyahu's conspiratorial claims of victimhood have played well with his base of religious and nationalist supporters. But it is unclear whether they will hold up in court, given the lack of evidence.
In the courtroom, the legal arguments are more likely to focus on his claims that his gifts were genuine shows of affection from close friends and that he never received anything in return for the favors he is accused of offering.
The case is expected to last for several years, given the vast number of witnesses and documents that are expected to be presented.
Netanyahu has done his best to avoid this moment. During a three-year investigation, which was slowed by Netanyahu's trips abroad and occasional security crises, he repeatedly claimed that investigators would "find nothing because there is nothing."
He briefly tried, but failed, to win parliamentary immunity from prosecution. In March, his hand-picked justice minister delayed the trial by two months, citing coronavirus restrictions.
This week, judges rejected Netanyahu's request to stay home on Sunday and allow his lawyers to represent him. Netanyahu had argued that his presence was unnecessary and costly, and that having his security detail in the courtroom would violate social-distancing requirements.
Nonetheless, he enters the courtroom with renewed strength.
After three bruising elections over the past year, Netanyahu was sworn into office this week for a fourth consecutive term.
All three elections were seen as referendums on his fitness for office, and all ended in deadlock. After the most recent vote in March, his rival, Benny Gantz, appeared to have mustered enough support in parliament to pass legislation that would have disqualified Netanyahu from serving as prime minister while under indictment.
But in a stunning turnaround, Gantz, citing fears of a fourth expensive election and the coronavirus pandemic, agreed to shelve the legislation and instead form a power-sharing government with Netanyahu.
The Supreme Court cleared the way for Netanyahu to remain in power. In a key ruling, it said an indicted politician may serve as prime minister — even though Israeli law requires all other office-holders to resign if charged with a crime.
Under their deal, Netanyahu was forced to yield some powers to Gantz, with each wielding a veto over most key decisions. Gantz will hold the title of "alternate prime minister," and after 18 months, they will swap jobs.
Tashir, the political scientist, said the agreement creates troubling conflicts of interest. Netanyahu made sure he would be involved in the appointments of key officials, including Supreme Court judges and the next attorney general, who could influence any appeals process.
"Netanyahu's perspective all this year was interfering with his own trial," she said.
Under the deal, the alternate prime minister, like the premier, will not be required to resign due to criminal charges. That could ensure that Netanyahu remains in office throughout his trial and even into a possible appeals process.
It will also give him the opportunity to continue to attack the legal system. Netanyahu's eldest son Yair, who often acts as his unofficial spokesman, posted a profile picture on Twitter that spells the word "prosecution" with a sewing machine as the first letter. The message: the case against the prime minister is unfairly "stitched up."
Amir Fuchs, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, said such attacks on the courts have caused great damage by persuading many Israelis to question the authority and integrity of Israel's democratic institutions.
"It might be the most harmful thing that has happened to Israel's democracy, this one and a half years of attacking the whole basis of the rule of law," he said. "I hope we will have a long rehabilitation from that. But we're not even in the start of it."


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