text:
Joel R. Beeke
Ordained Servant: January 2012
Also in this issue
How Much Catechesis? The Case for a Maximalist Approach to Membership Classes
by Ken Golden
Confident of Better Things: A Review Article
by Wayne Sparkman
On Being Brought from Africa to America
by Phillis Wheatley (1753?-1784)
For an annual fee, you can be a member of your community recreational center, where you have access to its exercise equipment and swimming pool. If you choose never to visit the building, it's no problem. You can sit at home and eat ice cream all day and never get your membership revoked. So long as you pay your dues, you are a member. Similarly, you can be a member of a book club that offers great deals on books. Club mailings say you are under no obligation to buy anything; you can return a book at any time and cancel your membership.
In such a cultural setting, it is not surprising that membership in a local church has also become non-demanding. In many churches only a fraction of their "members" attend worship. The church leadership is partly responsible for this easy membership by not upholding biblical standards and discipline. Responsibility can also be laid at the feet of people's wrong views of the church, such as when people view the church like a museum, or a shopping mall, or a social club, or a community service program.
To correct a faulty view of the church, we must go back to the biblical concept of the church. The Bible tells us the church is the body of Christ. A Christian, then, is a living part of a larger body of people. That is the essence of Ephesians 4:10–16, which says the church is a living organism. It is a spiritual and relational body; each Christian is a member much as a hand or foot is a body part. Christ is the head of this body. He and all his members are bound together by the Holy Spirit and the bond of true faith.
This truth has profound implications for what it means to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:10–16 that membership in the church is all about Christ. We will focus our attention on five marks: Christ's Word, his person, his people, his kingdom, and his image. We will examine what it means to be a faithful member of the body of Christ in each of these areas in the (1) personal, (2) public, and (3) practical dimensions of our lives. Thus, the five marks will unfold into fifteen characteristics of a faithful church member.
Ephesians 4:11–13 tells us that Christ gives pastors and teachers to the church to the end that "we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."[1] The primary tool the exalted king uses to build the house of God is his Word as taught by the pastors and teachers of his church. Therefore, the first mark of a faithful church member is receiving Christ's Word—not merely as an individual reading his Bible at home but also as a worshiper listening to Bible preaching.
1. Personal hunger for the Word. In 1 Peter 2:2, the Apostle Peter urges all Christians to thirst for the sincere milk of the Word, "that ye may grow thereby." If you are sick and have no appetite, you only feel nauseous and restless when served a delicious meal. Some people experience the preaching of the Word like that; a sermon makes them uncomfortable. They blame a minister for preaching too long, but the problem is that they have no hunger for the Word. Even a simple meal of meat and potatoes is a feast to someone who is hungry. So it is with a person who has a healthy appetite for the preaching of the Word.
2. Faithful attendance at corporate worship. Hunger for the Word in church is expressed publicly by faithful attendance at church worship services. Hebrews 10:25 says we must not forsake assembling ourselves in corporate worship. Biblical worship makes "the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Col. 3:16). Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892) wrote, "There is no worship of God that is better than hearing of a sermon ... it stirs all the coals of fire in your spirit, and makes them burn with a brighter flame."[2]
3. Active listening to the Word. Jesus describes four kinds of listeners to the Word in the Parable of the Soils, only one of which receives the Word, perseveres in faith, and goes on to bear abundant fruit. In Luke 8:18a, Jesus says, "Take heed therefore how ye hear." Pray on Saturday for tomorrow's worship. As you come to church, remind yourself that you are going to the throne of God to hear him speak. John Calvin (1509–1564) wrote, "Whenever the gospel is preached, it is as if God himself came into the midst of us."[3] What an awesome thought! When you sit before a preacher, stir up your mind to listen actively, alertly, and reverently, as one who hears the living voice of God. Don't expect to be spoon-fed like a baby. Cut your food and chew it for yourself. Think about what the preacher is saying. Take notes on the sermon, giving special attention to the main points, Scripture references, and personal applications. Listen with humble self-examination. Listen with delight at the words of life.
The first mark of a faithful church member is receiving Christ's Word from his appointed pastors and teachers.
Christ gives his Word to call us into union with him (Rom. 1:6; 2 Thess. 2:14). In Ephesians 4:15–16a, Paul commands the saints of God to grow into Christ in all things. Christ is the head of his body; all our growth, which lifts us into closer communion with him, comes from him. Therefore, one must be a member of Christ to be a member of the body of Christ. Paul challenges us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" You are not truly in the church until Christ is truly in you. This too has personal, public, and practical characteristics.
4. Personally trusting in Christ. Colossians 2:6–7 says, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." True church members receive Christ personally as prophet, priest, and king (for that is what "Christ" means). We receive Christ by God-given faith (John 1:12–13). This faith is active trust; it rests upon God in Christ for salvation. William Ames (1576–1633) wrote, "Faith is the resting of the heart on God ... . We believe through Christ in God."[4] Do not assume you are a believer because of a response you made or something you experienced years ago. Ask yourself, "Am I trusting in Jesus Christ alone to make me right with God, to rule me and to guide me?"
5. Making diligent use of the sacraments. I am not suggesting that baptism and the Lord's Supper have the inherent power to save. Trusting in the sacraments for your salvation is idolatry. In its historic Reformed usage, sacrament means a public sign and seal of the covenant between God and man. Sacraments are also called "ordinances," for Christ ordained their use for the worship of his people. They are a means of grace, the Word made visible. They are not empty rituals. They are Christ's command (Matt. 28:18–20; Luke 22:19). Membership in Christ's church demands that we publicly receive holy baptism and partake of the Lord's Supper, trusting that, as Christ's ordinances, they are means by which he works in our hearts and lives.
6. Practical obedience to Christ. In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." He adds, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them ... loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (v. 21). Obedience is the best expression of love for Christ and the way to experience more of the love of Christ. Thomas Boston (1676–1732) was a champion for the gospel of free grace among the people of Scotland. Yet he reminded us regarding Christ's church, "They have delivered up themselves unto him, to be ruled by him, as well as to be saved by him; to be governed by his laws, and not by their own lusts, as well as to be saved by his grace, and not by their own works."[5] Does your obedience show that you are truly one with Christ?
Receiving Christ's Word is the first mark of a faithful church member. Union with Christ's person is the second mark.
The third mark of a faithful church member, according to Ephesians 4:16, is being "fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth." Joint here refers to a ligament or tendon that holds together the bones and parts of the body with great strength. Romans 12:5 says, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." This is more than outward association, like a shoe tied onto a foot; it is the way a foot is tied to the rest of the body, sharing the same life-blood and nervous system. The membership of a church is more than a voluntary association. Its members are interconnected and interdependent, as well as accountable to one another. How does this play out in personal, public, and practical characteristics?
7. We are personally connected by love. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:9–10, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more." Each member of Christ's body should love his brothers and sisters in the Lord, and each member should grow in love for the church. Perhaps you do many things in church. But do you love the people?
8. We publicly confess our faith. It was after Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ that the Lord said, "I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18). Earl Blackburn writes, "The first responsibility of church membership is loyalty to the church. By loyalty to the church, I mean fidelity to the teachings of the church so far as they are loyal to the Word of God ... . It is only right, then, for a church to ask someone who desires to be a member to be loyal to its doctrinal position as defined in its statement or confession of faith." A personal confession of faith is required for church membership.[6]
9. We practice hospitality. Personal love and public confession become practical in hospitality. First Peter 4:9 counsels, "Use hospitality one to another without grudging." The church aims to be a family, and nothing characterizes a family as much as maintaining fellowship and eating meals together. Extending hospitality to others in the church, however, is far more than sharing food; it is sharing love and life, especially with those who may otherwise be deprived of it. The church in the United States desperately needs to practice such hospitality, for many times visitors will attend a worship service for months without ever being invited into a member's home.
The third mark of a faithful church member is connecting with Christ's people. The stronger the tendons and ligaments which hold together a body are, the stronger the body will be. Likewise, the strength of the church depends upon the strength of our friendships.
Ephesians 4:16 describes the next mark of a healthy church as the "effectual working in the measure of every part." Every part of the church must do its job. We all have different gifts, and we all need each other. Some people are gifted in helping the hurting; others are good at teaching. One Christian can give much money to help the poor and spread the gospel. Another is anointed with the spirit of prayer. Each member has a role to play in the advancement of God's kingdom. To be the body of Christ, we must be Christ's hands and feet on earth and cooperate with each other in the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Father's will.
10. We personally serve with zeal. Serving Christ must arise from the zeal of our hearts. God's mercies to us propel us to sacrifice ourselves for him (Romans 12:1), and our service to him takes shape according to a believer's particular gifts (vv. 3–8). Every believer should be fervent in serving the Lord. Fervent literally means burning hot, like water heated to boiling or metal heated to the point of glowing. Are you burning for the Lord? If you are zealous, you don't need a title or personal invitation to serve at a meeting or ministry. Offer yourself humbly to the elders to happily take on the difficult and mundane jobs for the sake of Jesus Christ's kingdom.
11. We publicly witness for Christ. In Ephesians 4:15, Paul says we should speak the truth in love. In this context truth is the knowledge of the Son of God (v. 13), or Bible doctrine (v. 14). A faithful church member speaks the truth to his neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. Be confident that the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Behind its words stand the infinite power of God and the finished work of Christ. When you speak the gospel, you are unleashing a lion! It is God's instrument on earth to advance his kingdom. So seek first his kingdom by being a public witness for Christ.
12. We practice good stewardship. We make our commitment to Christ's cause practical by giving money. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19–21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our money is a temporary gift to us, like Monopoly money which is useless when the game is over. Our life is also over quickly. A wise church member gives as much money as he can to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Are you tithing to the church? Are you supporting the kingdom cause?
The fourth mark of a faithful church member is serving others for Christ's kingdom.
Christ "maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love," Ephesians 4:16 says. God wants the body of Christ to grow in him. Ephesians 4:13b says the goal of this growth is "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Our growth will not be complete until we, the church of Jesus Christ, reflect our Lord in his splendid holiness and righteousness. What a glorious destiny we have, to be conformed to the glorious image of God's Son! A faithful church member pursues this growth all his life long in personal, public, and practical ways.
13. We are personally humble. In Ephesians 4:1–2a, Paul says, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation [or calling] wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness." The first quality of a worthy walk with Christ is "all lowliness," that is, humility. We were once spiritually dead in our sins and trespasses, but in his great love, God made us alive with the miraculous power of Christ's resurrection from the dead (Eph. 2:1–5). That truly makes us humble. Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) said that by gospel humility we are "brought sweetly to yield, and freely and with delight to prostrate ourselves at the feet of God."[7] One test of our humility is how we respond to the leadership and correction of our church's elders. Do we clothe ourselves with humility and receive the Word meekly?
14. We faithfully attend prayer meetings. In addition to private intercessory prayer, we reveal our quest for spiritual growth by participating in prayer meetings of the church. Acts 2:42 says of the first Christ-followers, "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." The early church gathered often for prayer (Acts 1:14, 24; 3:1; 4:23–31; 12:5, 12). Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892) realized that though his church only had a few people when he came, "yet I could never forget how earnestly they prayed," as if they could see Christ "present with them, and as if they must have a blessing from him."[8] Christ teaches us to go to the Father seeking his Spirit like hungry children asking their father for bread. A faithful church member seeks spiritual growth for his church by joining in prayer.
15. We engage in meditation. In Christian meditation, your mind hovers over a biblical truth like a bee over a flower to draw out its sweetness. Meditation is taking time mentally and emotionally to digest what you learn from listening to and reading God's Word. Without proper digestion, you will not benefit from the nutrition you have received. Thomas Manton (1620–1677) said, "Faith is lean and ready to starve unless it be fed with continual meditation on the promises."[9] Meditation is crucial for growing in Christ's image. Psalm 1:1–3 says that the man who meditates daily on the Scriptures flourishes "like a tree planted by the rivers of water."
Ephesians 4:10–16 shows us five marks of a faithful member of Christ's body. A faithful member receives Christ's Word, unites with Christ's person, connects with Christ's people, serves others for Christ's kingdom, and grows into Christ's image. In every respect, church membership depends on the church's living head, Jesus Christ.
These marks unfold into fifteen ways to exercise faithful church membership. Can you circle each one of the fifteen characteristics as present in your life? If not, how do you need to change? Go to your pastor and tell him you want help growing in those specific areas.
Faithful to Christ
Private Dimension
Public Dimension
Practical Dimension
Receiving His Word
1. Hungry for Word?
2. Attending worship?
3. Actively listening?
Joined to His Person
4. Trusting in Christ?
5. Sacraments?
6. Obeying his laws?
Connected to His People
7. Loving the people?
8. Confession?
9. Hospitality?
Serving His Kingdom
10. Zealous to serve?
11. Witnessing?
12. Stewardship?
Growing in His Image
13. Humble?
14. Prayer meeting?
15. Meditation?
Remember that how we treat the church is how we treat Jesus, for the church is his body. Therefore, the stakes are high. How dreadful were Christ's words to Saul in Acts 9:4, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" If you abuse Christ's body, you abuse Christ. If you neglect Christ's body, you neglect Christ. On the other hand, what unspeakable joy the faithful servant will experience when the king of kings comes with his holy angels, sits upon his throne, calls you by name, recounts your acts of service to his people, and says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25:40). Strive therefore to be faithful members of the body of Christ!
[1] Dr. Beeke uses the King James Version throughout.
[2] Robert L. Dickie, What the Bible Teaches About Worship (Darlington: Evangelical Press, 2007), 53.
[3] John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, trans. William Pringle (repr., Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996), 3:129.
[4] William Ames, The Marrow of Theology, trans. John D. Eusden (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968), 80–81 (I.iii.1, 8).
[5] Thomas Boston, A View of the Covenant of Grace (Choteau, MT: Old Paths-Gospel Press, n.d.), 197.
[6] Earl M. Blackburn, Jesus Loves the Church and So Should You (Birmingham: Solid Ground Christian Books, 2010), 108, 121.
[7] The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 2, Religious Affections, ed. John E. Smith (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1959), 312 [III.6].
[8] Lewis Drummond, Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1992), 270–71.
[9] The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (London: James Nisbet, 1874), 17:270.
Joel Beeke is the senior pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Church (a Heritage Reformed church) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and serves as president and also as professor of systematic theology, homiletics, and church history at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Ordained Servant Online, January 2012.
Contact the Editor: Gregory Edward Reynolds
Editorial address: Dr. Gregory Edward Reynolds,
827 Chestnut St.
Manchester, NH 03104-2522
Telephone: 603-668-3069
Electronic mail: email@example.com
Ordained Servant: January 2012
Also in this issue
How Much Catechesis? The Case for a Maximalist Approach to Membership Classes
by Ken Golden
Confident of Better Things: A Review Article
by Wayne Sparkman
On Being Brought from Africa to America
by Phillis Wheatley (1753?-1784)
© 2024 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church


text: Windows only: There's no shortage of sticky-note-style reminder apps out there, but Hott Notes offers a lot of handy features in one package, making it worth a try on your desktop. The notes themselves can be colored, sized, and set at custom transparencies, of course, but the notes also come in three flavors: Standard, text-style notes, to-do notes with built-in checklists, and scribble notes that let you draw with your mouse cursor. Hott Notes also rocks a portable version, so you can bring your reminders from desktop to desktop, and an alarm can be attached to any note you create. And for fans of "zen applications" (not our phrase, we swear), Hott Notes offers a "Note Desktop" that shades over everything except your notes. Pretty handy notes, overall, in nice-looking packages. Hott Notes is a free download for Windows systems only.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hello gentlemen! What a pleasure to meet you. I'm Zoe Red - an exclusive British mixed African-Oriental ebony, independent escort and high class travel companion living in London, UK. I would love to visit you for a romantic weekend, dinner date or overnight in your city. I travel and outcall worldwide - distance is not a problem. Or better still, come and spend a night with me in London! I promise you will have an excellent time! I have a stylish and cosy flat in London, where you can unwind and play with my exotic hourglass body, busty 32GG juicy breasts, tiny waist and a big booty that will drive you absolutely wild! African born, British bred and educated, I am a mixed race Black-Asian ebony escort. I spent my early years between Africa and UK, before returning permanently to London, where I did my studies and graduated from a leading university. Against this backdrop, you would find me quite cosmopolitan, feminine, interesting and engaging, with a rather terrible British sense of humour. I laugh and giggle a lot more than most, have a down-to-earth bubbly and friendly personality... and perhaps a little talkative? :) I am told I have a cute mixed British accent that often comes out after a few glasses of champagne... Or before, depends on the mood... In any case, if you are a gentleman with a fond appreciation for accents, you just might fall in love with mine. I offer a unique and luxurious girlfriend experience to gentlemen who seek genuine chemistry, intimacy, connection and that elusive spark, and I make the perfect date for a man who desires a beautiful, sophisticated and naughty company for social and dinner dates, overnights, travels or brief encounters. I cater exclusively to mature gentlemen and couples from all walks of life, who enjoy the finer things in life, are respectful, kind, generous and know how to treat a lady. And maybe, have a little sense of humour too. I am a fun, sexy and affectionate black girl that you can relax with after business hours, and the best breakfast to keep you grinning throughout the day. I love sex, with deep passionate kisses, adore intimacy and cuddles, and enjoy dirty sloppy blow jobs and receiving pleasure. Outcall is available to your home or hotel in any country, and I would be delighted to visit you in your city or travel with you to other countries. Alternatively, you can visit me for Incall in South London, Streatham SW16 area. Whether we are meeting for a dinner date or a quick fumble, I assure you a relaxed, sensual and luxurious experience that will leave you with a warm glow and a big grin for days! ... And hopefully me too! :) I'm always excited to meet new people and honestly cannot wait to meet you... Yes, you! Please visit my website for booking and let's meet, now! Zoe
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all the rest © Punterlink 2000 - 2024.
Punterlink is an information resource, and as such has no connection or liability with any of the sites mentioned herein.
Unauthorized use of Punterlink by commercial organizations will be prosecuted...


text:
Accounting Data, Reporting & Automation Manager
This job is no longer accepting applications
See open jobs at Circle.See open jobs similar to "Accounting Data, Reporting & Automation Manager" Tusk Venture Partners.Circle is a financial technology company at the epicenter of the emerging internet of money, where value can finally travel like other digital data — globally, nearly instantly and less expensively than legacy settlement systems. This ground-breaking new internet layer opens up previously unimaginable possibilities for payments, commerce and markets that can help raise global economic prosperity and enhance inclusion. Our infrastructure – including USDC, a blockchain-based dollar – helps businesses, institutions and developers harness these breakthroughs and capitalize on this major turning point in the evolution of money and technology.
What you'll be part of:
Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we're expanding into some of the world's strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: Multistakeholder, Mindfulness, Driven by Excellence and High Integrity. Circlers are consistently evolving in a remote world where strength in numbers fuels team success. We have built a flexible and diverse work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.
What you'll be responsible for:
Circle is looking for an exceptional manager-level individual contributor with experience in both data automation and accounting operations. You will be responsible for identifying data and reporting solutions to help automate accounting reconciliations supporting month-end close, stablecoin activity reconciliation and key financial reports. To accomplish this you will partner with accounting and cross-functional team members and implement automated solutions as we continue to scale the business.
What you'll work on:
- Extracting and reconciling financial data from multiple sources, including ERP, internal databases, blockchains and spreadsheets.
- Ensuring data accuracy by performing detailed analysis and researching and resolving exceptions by providing scalable solutions to stop occurrences.
- Developing a comprehensive understanding of the processes that currently exist and how to automate them for the future and integrate into the ERP.
- Developing a deep understanding of the Company data schemas and data models to automate accounting reporting and reconciliations.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams (ex. Engineering, Data Engineering, Data Analytics, Treasury, Compliance, etc.) to understand business requirements and develop solutions to address reporting and reconciliation automation, including internal tool development and/or implementation of third party tools.
- Developing and maintaining documentation of reconciliation processes and procedures.
- Preparing and delivering regular reports on automation and financial data reconciliation activities to management
- Providing insights and recommendations to management based on data analysis
- Working cross functionally with the financial systems and data team to leverage automated tools/data to automate JE postings into ERP.
- Partnering with product and operation teams to make sure launches have appropriate automation for scale.
- Performing other ad-hoc projects as needed
You will aspire to our four core values:
- Multistakeholder - you have dedication and commitment to our customers, shareholders, employees and families and local communities.
- Mindful - you seek to be respectful, an active listener and to pay attention to detail.
- Driven by Excellence - you are driven by our mission and our passion for customer success which means you relentlessly pursue excellence, that you do not tolerate mediocrity and you work intensely to achieve your goals.
- High Integrity - you seek open and honest communication, and you hold yourself to very high moral and ethical standards. You reject manipulation, dishonesty and intolerance.
What you'll bring to Circle:
- 7+ years of accounting experience in data analytics within an accounting department.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
- Experience with database design, understanding complex data schemas and data extraction.
- Ability to work with large data sets to automate reconciliation processes.
- Knowledge of accounting principles, month-end close, and financial statements.
- Direct experience performing detailed and data intensive reconciliations with disparate datasets.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Organized, detailed, proactive, self-motivated, collaborative, multi-tasker, and creative problem-solver.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Proven ability to excel in a fast-paced environment is extremely important.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
- High integrity and ability to handle confidential information.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Computer Science or related field.
- Advanced proficiency in SQL, Alteryx, Excel, and other analytical tools.
- Experience with data visualization tools such as Superset, Tableau or Power BI.
- Experience in Technology industry, FinTech or Financial Services highly preferred.
- Familiarity with enterprise accounting systems such as SAP or Oracle.
- Experience/familiarity with Slack, Apple MacOS and GSuite.
Additional Information:
- This position is eligible for day-one PERM sponsorship for qualified candidates.
Circle is on a mission to create an inclusive financial future, with transparency at our core. We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.
The compensation range below is specific to San Francisco, CA. Actual starting pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to: relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation ranges may differ for candidates in other locations.
Base Pay Range: $145,000 - $190,000
Annual Bonus Target: 15%
Also Included: Equity & Benefits (including medical, dental, vision and 401(k)). Circle has a discretionary vacation policy. We also provide 10 days of paid sick leave per year and 11 paid holidays per year in the U.S.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Circle. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.
This job is no longer accepting applications
See open jobs at Circle.See open jobs similar to "Accounting Data, Reporting & Automation Manager" Tusk Venture Partners.


text:
This article is part of the Uncle Pep-Pep's Doodle Time series.
Something Awful is in the process of changing hands to a new owner. In the meantime we're pausing all updates and halting production on our propaganda comic partnership with Northrop Grumman.
Dear god this was an embarrassment to not only this site, but to all mankind
Landmarks and statues around the world: old, boring and could use an update.
Join the SA Forum photoshop goons in their quest to make horror wholesome!
Yes, there are finally enough games for a new round of One Sentence Reviews
Shmorky's Flash Tub. A collection of Flash cartoons and shorts, all crammed into neat little Flash Tub packages!
Uncle Pep-Pep is a manic-depressive host of a public access drawing show. Features actual drawings sent in from viewers.
Copyright ©2024 Jeffrey "of" YOSPOS & Something Awful


text:
Kitchen Fitters Bromley
- Kitchen fitters
- Kitchen Fitting
- Kitchen supply and installation
- Kitchen worktops in granite, quartz, solid wood, laminate
We'll work with you to achieve your dream kitchen by professionally help you plan, design and fitting your kitchen, by working with our suppliers we are able to offer you a design and planning service for your new kitchen.
We are happy to offer a kitchen fitting service for most kitchen brands, we can also supply a bespoke kitchen, made to your own specifications.
Our kitchens are not limited to standard measures or colour and within reason for a small extra charge we can adjust cabinet sizes, colour as required.
We have accounts with well known kitchen suppliers enabling us to supply your new kitchen within 5 days of ordering from us.
Whatever your project our kitchen fitters will ensure a smooth transition from your old kitchen cabinets to a brand new kitchen fitted to your specifications.
Every kitchen will require a different installation work and for this reason it is important for us to visit your home so we can understand your requirements and expectations to give you an accurate quote for the fitting you require on your kitchen installation.
At this stage we can either book an appointment with a designer for you at a local supplier or we can use the measurements we took together with all the information you provided and have a kitchen plan and design prepared for you.
After your approval of the kitchen design and plan we can order your kitchen and schedule the installation to start as soon as possible.
When having your kitchen refurbished we prefer to do all the work as this saves time and it is easier to resolve any problems that may arise during installation however we are happy to work with other trades if you only require us to do the kitchen installation.
If all you require is your kitchen worktop to be fitted we'll do it for you from a laminate worktop through to a bespoke granite worktop our installation is second to none and our prices are competitive.
Only need your kitchen doors revamped? Replace the kitchen sink? New kitchen sink taps? No problem we'll do it for you.
All our work is carried out to existing building regulations.
Let us do all the work from removing and disposing of your old kitchen to the installation of tiles, floors, plastering, decorating, electrics and plumbing.
Our kitchen fitting prices are competitive and we offer a free survey and free quote after initial consultation.
All our work carries a 60 months labour guarantee from date of final invoice.
*Subject to Terms & Conditions supplied with quote
You can pay by Cash, Bank transfer, Cheque.
We cover all of South London, Orpington, Bromley, Lewisham, Croydon and any area up to 20 miles from Orpington


text:
The high school debaters at the Bay Area Urban Debate League get together every week in downtown Oakland, Calif., to hone their arguments and debating styles. But the young debaters have had a chance during the recent presidential debates to see how it's done on the national stage.
They watch with pen and worksheet, taking notes and analyzing the candidates' debating styles, hoping to glean some lessons from the pros.
There is a lot for these young debaters to observe and compare, but they have also noticed some key differences.
The biggest difference between teen debaters and candidates is how one wins the debate. In high school policy debates, teens argue over current topics such as education and transportation, and a judge decides a clear winner at the end based on a formula of evidence, presentation and arguments made by each side.
In presidential debates, it's a lot harder to say who wins, says 17-year-old Sarafina Padilla.
"The judge tells you if you won or lost based on points," Padilla says. "In a presidential debate it's all critics saying their perspective and stuff. We just do the debate, we get a grade, and a prize then."
Another key difference is that debaters actually have to prove what they're saying in a youth policy debate, which is not necessarily true for the candidates.
Robin Bonner, who helps run the class, says she was disturbed by the lack of facts the candidates gave in previous debates. She says teen debaters have to meet a higher bar in their arguments than the guys sparring for the Oval Office.
"Ours actually has to have a plan, has to have solvency, impacts. ... What's going to happen to this population? What's going to happen to this budget?" Bonner says of her students. "It's more thought out in a real way."
The whole business of presidential debates is also more chaotic than what they're used to, says 17-year-old Elisa Saavedra.
"The way the presidential debates go is a lot messier than the way we do debates here," Saavedra says. "They do a lot more non-respectful yelling at each other. ... I guess that's the way they think they should do it, but it doesn't really look good to just overpower someone because when it comes down to it, it's not really who can yell loudest or who can talk more; it's about who can get the issues solved."
Of course, solving a national issue in a two-minute window is tough. Teen policy debaters get seven minutes to present their solutions.
The audio for this story was produced by Youth Radio.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
"With clearly drawn characters, a crisp storyline and illuminating details, Harpold succeeds in personalizing the story of agricultural-based migrants into the United States from Mexico--it felt honest and real; informative but not preachy. Something of value."
--Scott Bowlen, The Ketchikan Daily News "I really enjoyed the book and coming from an immigrant family it made me cry at times as well. Thank you for your depiction of the struggle that some people have to endure when they have to jump the line." -- San Juanita Gallegos, El Paso, TX In 1965, Congress ends the practice of bringing Mexican workers to the United States to harvest crops, but Miguel Hernandez still needs work. Despite border patrols, taunts, and "coyotes," Miguel jumps the line. Returning him to his country makes little difference. He continues to cross. And farmers continue to hire him, despite American farmworkers being available.
Over the years, laws change, but the demand for Mexican workers increases. Ignoring or obeying the rules, farmworkers on all sides - ranch owners, union organizers, immigrants, illegal border crossers, Mexican farmers - do their best to make a living. With sensitivity and, at times, heartbreaking realism, Harpold presents families caught in the web of migratory farm work spun by demand for cheap labor. Over the decades, the paths of the families interweave, break away, and then get caught together again. All struggle to create a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Some find success. Others keep trying. A few never make it. Like John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, Harpold's Jumping the Line puts a human face to those providing our food. Having seen many sides of the immigration issue through his work with the US Immigration and Naturalization Service along the Mexican border, Harpold presents a realistic view of the experiences of farmers, illegal immigrants, and American farmworkers where complex issues and humane considerations defy simple solutions. Cover art by Ketchikan, Alaska artist Dave Rubin. |


text:
A dressage horse and rider performing the extended trot. Image: Chefsna.
It's a great day for individual dressage today with the Grand Prix freestyle test taking place in Greenwich Park. It's amazing how those horses can perform elegant and complicated movements without getting their legs in a muddle. Coming to think of it, it's amazing that they can even go through their innate gaits without getting their legs in a muddle, given that there's four of them and they are very long. And what about animals who've got even more legs? It turns out that it's all down to symmetry in the brain. To find out more, read Ian Stewart's Plus article Walk, trot, gallop.
One area in which humans definitely have the edge over horses is ball games. Volleyball is a particularly exciting one and we're looking forward to the semi-finals today and tomorrow and the final on the weekend. As in tennis, spin's the thing in this game. But why does putting a spin on a ball make such a difference to its path through the air? John D. Barrow, mathematician, cosmologist and prolific popular science writer, explains:
One of the key skills for volleyball players to master is to serve the ball with a top spin so that it will drop down more quickly than the receiver of the serve might expect. This is possible because a spinning ball will follow a curved trajectory when a non-spinning ball will not. The reason for the swerve can be understood by looking at the air flowing past the ball. When the air flow impinges on the ball the flow lines are pushed together, so the pressure drops and the speed of the air passing the surface of the ball increases.
Air flow around a spinning ball.
If the ball is spinning then the flow lines of the air near the surface of the ball are significantly altered. In the picture on the left you can see what happens if the ball has been given a clock-wise spin in addition to its straight line motion at speed V from left to right. The non spinning motion is just as if the ball were stationary with air going past its surface at speed V. What is the effect of the spin? At the top of the surface of the spinning ball the air speed very close to the surface of the ball is in the opposite direction to the on-coming air whereas at the bottom it is in the same direction. This means that the net speed of the air near the top of the ball is less than that round the bottom. So the pressure on the ball is greater at the top than the bottom and there is a net downward force, F. The orientation of the picture shows how a ball served to the right with top-spin will always swerve downwards. This will reduce the time that it spends in the air and give the receiver less time to respond and return the ball.
You can read more about the effect of spin on the trajectory of a ball in our article Spinning the perfect serve.


text:
Goods of non-commercial character imported in travellers' personal luggage are eligible for relief from import duties, value added tax and excise duty if they are imported occasionally and intended for personal use of travellers, their family members or as presents. The character and the quantity of goods must not be such as to indicate the commercial purpose of their import. Relief from import duties may be granted within quantitative limits and monetary thresholds.
Monetary thresholds and quantitative limits
Relief from import duties, value added tax and excise duty can only be granted in respect of the goods the total value of which does not exceed EUR 300 per person. However, the threshold for travellers in air and maritime traffic is EUR 430. Travellers under 15 years of age may be granted relief from import duties in respect of the goods the total value of which does not exceed EUR 150.
If the total value of goods is higher, relief may only be granted up to a certain amount, whereby the value of individual items cannot be split up. It is not possible for travellers to cumulate their rights to relief in respect of goods of higher value (e.g. the value of an item totalling EUR 500 cannot be split up between two travellers in order to import the item duty and tax free.).
Monetary thresholds do not apply to the value of personal luggage which a traveller temporarily imports or re-imports after temporary export and to the value of medicines for travellers' personal use.
With respect to the import of excise products – tobacco, tobacco products, alcohol, alcoholic beverages and fuel, relief from import duties, value added tax and excise duty may only be granted provided that the following quantitative limits are not exceeded:
Tobacco and tobacco products (travellers over 17 years of age):
- 200 cigarettes or
- 100 cigarillos or
- 50 cigars or
- 250 grams smoking tobacco or
a proportional assortment of these different products
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages (travellers over 17 of age):
- 1 litre alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength exceeding 22 % vol, or undenatured alcohol of 80 % vol and over, or
- 2 litres alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22 % vol, or
a proportional assortment of these different products, and - 4 litres still wine, and
- 16 litres beer
- the quantity contained in the standard tank of any means of transport with an additional quantity of 10 litres contained in a portable container
Did you know?
With respect to relief from import duties, a traveller in maritime and air traffic means any passenger travelling by air or sea for purposes other than private pleasure-flying or private pleasure sea-navigation.


text:
This page was designed so users can have quick access to event schedules and results from recent events. Currently this page shows listings within one week of today. If you are looking for tournaments outside of this time frame please choose Tournaments/Leagues from the top menu under "Events".
Games From: {{cpLastWeek}} thru {{cpNextWeek}}


text:
Jacquard Pearl Ex-.5oz/14g Interference Blue - 671
Jacquard, Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments-Clay, polymer clay, encaustics, paper, shrink plastic, leather, glass, canvas, Wood, Epoxy and more!-Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments are Jacquard's most versatile product yet! Mix Pearl Ex into any viscous medium for a metallic/pearlescent effect. Pearl Ex is a safe, inert pigment that exhibits extreme colorfastness and stability, ideal for interior, fashion, fine arts and other archival applications. It has a use for every artist, from watercolorist to auto painter, faux finisher to rubber stamper. It can also be mixed with other artist mediums, oils, acrylics, encaustic, Dorland's Wax, polymer clays, or spread dry on porous surfaces. Pearl Ex creates a metallic effect without being a real metal—it will never tarnish or fade. The different particle sizes produce different effects, from a smooth pearly luster, to a highly metallic sheen. Have fun experiment!


text:
Peng Shuai is one of China's biggest tennis stars. In her prime, she was one of the world's top-ranked players, competing at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and other major tournaments.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: There it is - Shuai Peng, with her famous whip (ph) - an incredible performance.
CHANG: But recently she has vanished from the public eye. And as NPR's John Ruwitch reports, it follows a social media post in which she accused one of China's former top leaders of sexual assault.
JOHN RUWITCH, BYLINE: Early this month, Peng Shuai said she was sexually assaulted by Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier who retired in 2018. Zhang was among the ruling Communist Party's most elite officials. The social media post was quickly removed, but not before it blew up, says Leta Hong Fincher, an expert on feminism in China at Columbia University.
LETA HONG FINCHER: Her accusation was so explosive. I mean, nobody has ever accused a senior Communist Party official of sexual abuse before.
RUWITCH: Then Peng went silent. The CEO of the Women's Tennis Association, Steve Simon, issued a statement commending her for speaking out and calling for a full, fair and transparent investigation. The men's ATP Tour followed suit with its own statement expressing concern about Peng's well-being.
HONG FINCHER: Right after that, we started hearing from these other tennis stars, like Naomi Osaka, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, all tweeting with the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai. So that clearly must have put some pressure on the Chinese government.
RUWITCH: This week, Chinese state TV published what it said was an email that Peng sent to the WTA. It said the sexual assault allegation was not true, and she wasn't missing. Instead, Peng supposedly wrote that she was quote, "resting at home and everything is fine" - Hong Fincher, again.
HONG FINCHER: I think everybody almost (laughter) unanimously agrees that this is not Peng Shuai speaking.
RUWITCH: The Chinese Communist Party has a long track record of suppressing dissent and burying accusations against officials. Rights activists, lawyers, businessmen and several #MeToo activists have been threatened, silenced and jailed in recent years. WTA CEO Steve Simon doubted the letter was from Peng. On Wednesday, he issued a fresh statement saying he hasn't been able to reach the player and that the WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she's safe. The Chinese government has yet to oblige and, with less than three months to go before the Beijing Winter Olympics, finds itself in an increasingly uncomfortable spot.
John Ruwitch, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF KEANE SONG, "ATLANTIC") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Welcome to Long Ears Hawaiian Coffee LLC
On an 8 acre estate nestled in the foothills of majestic Mauna Kea Mountain on the "Big Island" of Hawaii is a picturesque Ahualoa, "the long hill". Here in the cool 2,000' elevation, kissed by the mist of our Hawaiian rains, is the Long Ears Hawaiian Coffee LLC, home to the unique "aged single estate" Hamakua Coffee. Here you can enjoy the experience of visiting the only coffee processing company on the Hamakua Coast that does the entire process on site. Come and learn about the little known history of coffee on the Hamakua Coast.


text:
Aplíca aquí para $3,000*
Buy now $1180.00 USD
Get Approved for $3,000*
14Kt Gold Christ & Virgin Medal
At VERONA JEWELRY, we only work with the most enduring and premium quality gold from Italy, all our jewelry 10k and 14k are pure real Gold.
Style | Gold Pendants |
Material | 14 Karat Gold |
Color | Yellow Gold |
Approx. Weight | 9.9 gr (weight can vary) |
Approx. Measures | M: Height: 50 mm Width: 40 mm |
Certify | Certificate Of Authenticity |
Our pieces are crafted to last for life with highest quality real gold. But, everything deserves some loving. To maintain your pieces lasting shine and durability, try to avoid prolonged sweat and water by pat drying your pieces with a dry microfiber towel to remove skin oils.


text:
10 Tips for the First – Time Business Owner
Warning: Use of undefined constant user_level - assumed 'user_level' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/zzgspc5zic0z/domains/findthecapital.com/html/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-google-analytics/ultimate_ga.php on line 524
I write Entrepreneur.com 's Young Entrepreneur column because I believe there are far too few resources directly addressing the nonacademic trials and tribulations young entrepreneurs face along their journey. Whenever possible, I encourage up-and-comers and established entrepreneurs to mentor the next generation of dream-seekers; for it is this insight and insider education that will provide the foundation for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. With that, here are 10 pieces of advice that I wish someone had given to me before I launched my first venture.
- Focus. Focus. Focus.
Many first-time entrepreneurs feel the need to jump at every "opportunity" they come across. Opportunities are often wolves in sheep's clothing. Avoid getting side-tracked. Juggling multiple ventures will spread you thin and limit both your effectiveness and productivity. Do one thing perfectly, not 10 things poorly. If you feel the need to jump onto another project, that might mean something about your original concept. - Know what you do. Do what you know.
Don't start a business simply because it seems sexy or boasts large hypothetical profit margins and returns. Do what you love. Businesses built around your strengths and talents will have a greater chance of success. It's not only important to create a profitable business, it's also important that you're happy managing and growing it day in and day out. If your heart isn't in it, you will not be successful. - Say it in 30 seconds or don't say it at all.
From a chance encounter with an investor to a curious customer, always be ready to pitch your business. State your mission, service and goals in a clear and concise manner. Fit the pitch to the person. Less is always more. - Know what you know, what you don't know and who knows what you don't.
No one knows everything, so don't come off as a know-it-all. Surround yourself with advisors and mentors who will nurture you to become a better leader and businessman. Find successful, knowledgeable individuals with whom you share common interests and mutual business goals that see value in working with you for the long-term. - Act like a startup.
Forget about fancy offices, fast cars and fat expense accounts. Your wallet is your company's life-blood. Practice and perfect the art of being frugal. Watch every dollar and triple-check every expense. Maintain a low overhead and manage your cash flow effectively. - Learn under fire.
No business book or business plan can predict the future or fully prepare you to become a successful entrepreneur. There is no such thing as the perfect plan. There is no perfect road or one less traveled. Never jump right into a new business without any thought or planning, but don't spend months or years waiting to execute. You will become a well-rounded entrepreneur when tested under fire. The most important thing you can do is learn from your mistakes–and never make the same mistake twice. - No one will give you money.
There, I said it. No one will invest in you. If you need large sums of capital to launch your venture, go back to the drawing board. Find a starting point instead of an end point. Scale down pricey plans and grandiose expenditures. Simplify the idea until it's manageable as an early stage venture. Find ways to prove your business model on a shoestring budget. Demonstrate your worth before seeking investment. If your concept is successful, your chances of raising capital from investors will dramatically improve. - Be healthy.
No, I'm not your mother. However, I promise that you will be much more productive when you take better care of yourself. Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle, not a 9-to-5 profession. Working to the point of exhaustion will burn you out and make you less productive. Don't make excuses. Eat right, exercise and find time for yourself. - Don't fall victim to your own B.S.
Don't talk the talk unless you can walk the walk. Impress with action not conversation. Endorse your business enthusiastically, yet tastefully. Avoid exaggerating truths and touting far reaching goals as certainties. In short, put up or shut up. - Know when to call it quits.
Contrary to popular belief, a smart captain does not go down with the ship. Don't go on a fool's errand for the sake of ego. Know when it's time to walk away. If your idea doesn't pan out, reflect on what went wrong and the mistakes that were made. Assess what you would have done differently. Determine how you will utilize these hard-learned lessons to better yourself and your future entrepreneurial endeavors. Failure is inevitable, but a true entrepreneur will prevail over adversity.
"How to Finish Your Business Plan in 1 Day or Less!"
Watch this FREE Presentation to Discover A Simply Business Plan "Short-Cut"….


text:
To better cater to more customers' needs, we will update our Lolita clothes soon. Old products will be replaced with new arrivals. Classic styles will be still kept. But what's more important is that more Lolita clothes brands will be introduced into our site, such as Surface Spell, Classical Puppets, Dear Celine, Kids Yoyo, The Dream of Lolita etc.
As an eternal force in the fashion apparel industry, Lolita clothes will be continually explored by us. Our partner, Cosplay the Series will cooperate with us on this business again. We will bring you the trendiest & most deluxe Lolita clothes here. Girls, you can charm the crowd :P!


text:
My friend, Lisa Quinones-Fontanez, is the publisher of Autism Wonderland, a blog chronicling her experiences as a mother of a child with autism. She has graciously taken the time to share some of her thoughts and knowledge in this area...
My Experience:
I often wonder what kind of parent I would be if I had a different kind of child. By different, I mean a child without autism.
I remember when my son was first evaluated at 24 months. Doctors asked questions that I didn't know how to answer. Did he babble? Did he play peek a boo? Did he look us in the eye? Did he wave hello?
I continued to think about those questions after coming home from that initial evaluation and looked at my son's baby calendar. It was a baby shower gift, the kind that a new mom uses to record baby's firsts. At the back of the calendar was a page of milestone stickers. The calendar, as I flipped through it, was mostly blank. It was then I realized that I hadn't forgotten to update it; my son just hadn't reached many of the milestones.
Those first two years of his life went by so quickly. As a new mom, I was blinded by my love. I missed all the things he could not do. Now I look back at his baby pictures and study them, wondering: was autism there? And I chastise myself for not knowing enough of the signs of autism to see it.
After we received the diagnosis, I felt like a failure. I spent a lot of time trying to get my son to "catch up" with his peers. He was enrolled in a center-based program and I started using a compensation notebook to communicate with the teachers. That first year, I wrote to the teacher often. I asked questions about behaviors, I shared recent accomplishments.
By the second year, when he entered Pre-K, I sent my son to school on his first day with a five-page entry in a new notebook. I wrote about all the things my son could do. What he like and disliked. What he would work for. What he did when frustrated. I listed his self-stimulatory behaviors. I wrote about how far he had come in a year and all the potential he had. I also included a word document list of all the words he could say. I had worked on it for weeks. Recalling words from memory, constantly listening for words I may have forgotten or overlooked.
When I think about the kind of mother I had been and the one I've become. I am strangely pleased.
If it wasn't for autism I might not have remembered that my son's first word was spoken on a Thursday in the last weeks of July, the summer of 2008. If it wasn't for autism, I may not have remembered that my son gave his first real kiss on Christmas day of the same year. I would not know or appreciate all the work it took to get him to point his finger. I may not have been able to recall every single time he's spontaneously said, "I love you Mami." Because they are words I so rarely here.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what kind of mother I would have been. It's the mother I am now – the kind of mother my son taught me to be – that matters.
Early Signs:
I remember when I first had concerns about my son. They were so easily dismissed – by my family, friends and even my husband. At his 18-month check up, I expressed these concerns to our pediatrician. He repeated my mother's words, "He's a boy; they develop slower than girls." I was told to wait until my son turned two years old.
But the more I researched developmental milestones, the more I realized something was wrong. By 12 months my son did not gesture (point or wave). At 16 months he did not have any words. By 24 months he did not have any words. He had no sense of "pretend play." The more I learned about autism, the more I knew my son fit the criteria.
My only regret is not acting on my initial instincts; my son could have started Early Intervention so much sooner. Early Intervention is crucial in a special needs child development; the earlier one can receive a diagnosis, the earlier services can begin.
Dr. Lovass, a world-renowned autism expert believes: If a child cannot learn in the way we teach ... we must teach in a way the child can learn. I cannot stress the importance of this philosophy in teaching children with autism. I am not an educator and I have no formal training. But I have embraced the methods of the numerous therapists and teachers that have come into our home to work with our son. I have learned to think outside the box. I have mentally removed the timetable of milestones, allowing my son to learn at his own pace. I have learned that all children think, learn and process differently. What works for one child on the spectrum, may not work for another. Teaching children with autism is about trial and error and trying again. Eventually, with time, persistence and a lot of patience, you get it.
Autism isn't the disability people perceive it to. My son isn't Rain Man and he isn't trapped in a secluded imaginary world. And as a family, we don't suffer from autism, we live with it. Children with autism have the capacity to learn and to love; they have just as much potential as any other child.
Lisa Quinones-Fontanez is a secretary by day and MFA Creative Writing CCNY student/blogger by night. Her writing has been featured in BronxMama, Being Latino and Tiki Tiki Blog.
More importantly, Lisa is a mother to a child with autism. Her blog AutismWonderland focuses on her family journey with autism and also provides local resources for children/families with special needs.
In between work, school, blog writing and advocating for her 5 year old son, Lisa is also working on a historical fiction novel (working title) A Thousand Branches. A chapter excerpt (The Last Time of Anything) from A Thousand Branches received Honorable Mention in Glimmertrain's Family Matters October 2010 competition.


text:
Independence Day Tea Party
Independence Day tea parties were the second round of over 2000 tax protests scheduled in all 50 states on July 4, 2009, as part of the Tea Party Movement.[1] This was the follow-up tax protest to the widely successful, grassroots Tax Day Tea Party that attracted hundreds of thousands of protesters nationwide.
The largest Tea Party held to date was the Dallas Tea Party, held July 4, 2009 at Southfork Ranch in Plano, Texas, which drew 37,000 attendees.[2]
One sponsor, American Family Association says "Our goal is simply to keep the grassroots organizations mobilized." AFA has created TEA (Taxed Enough Already). Their protests will be held July 4 at 12 p.m. in front of city halls across the nation.[3]
The TEA website asks,
" |
Are you fed up with a Congress and a president who:
" |
Links To Events
A Google mashup project by Freedom Works lists Independence Day TEA parties.[4]


text:
For those of you who don't know much about mind maps, they are like diagrams which include words, images and icons to explore ideas and make the connections between ideas. here's an example from Wikipedia
When I was at college, these were drawn by hand on large sheets of paper but nowadays they can be produced using computer programs, and MindMaple is one such program. Using a program like MindMaple to do this has a number of advantages (especially if you don'r draw well). The program comes with a library of images and graphics and you can import in your own photographs and illustrations too. You can also hyperlink words to website and webpages as well as upload files as attachments. Features like these make it much easier to produce a really useful finished mind map that you can share with other people.
MindMaple does this pretty well with a good clean interface which is pretty intuitive for anyone familiar with 'Office' type software.
MindMaple does this pretty well with a good clean interface which is pretty intuitive for anyone familiar with 'Office' type software.
MindMaple is software so you do have to download and install it and there are many pros and cons around that. If you work in a school or institution that has good IT support, or better still none, then you can get software installed pretty easily and especially if you done have a great internet connection MindMaple will be fast and easy to use. If you work in a school that has a very security conscious IT department it could take you months to get this installed whereas a web based tool you could probably use immediately - if you have a good connection.
So how do you use mind mapping with students?
There are a number of really useful ways of applying mind maps in your teaching.
- You can get students to create a mind map of the lesson as a form of note taking to help them revise later. Or you can create a mind map of each lesson and give them to students to see how much they can remember from the lesson.
- You can get students to make a mind map of a book, story or text they are reading. This could involve mapping the relationships of the characters, adding in characteristics, adding in actions that each one does etc.
- In an EAP context you could get students to create mind maps of more academic texts they are reading, so that they represent the information from the text visually
- You can get students to create vocabulary mind maps based around themes such as sport or politics and they can gradually add words to these and organise them in categories around the central theme.
- You could get students to research a topic and create a mind map to display their findings, such as research into a historical place or event. They could hyperlink their mind map to the relevant research sources they find.
- You could create or get students to create grammatical mind maps research a specific verb tense with break down of form, and pronunciation points as well as few examples and notes about concepts etc.
- You could get students to create infographics using MindMaple. Infographics usually compare contrasting ideas or display statistical information. Here are some examples: Infograpgics
There are many tools and software available for creating mind maps, but these are some of the things I particularly like about MindMaple
- It has some really useful formatting tools that help you make the mind map look nice. You can easily change the look of your mind map and in a single click apply a hole different colour palette.
- You can add callouts and notes to the mind map. These appear and pop up when you haver the mouse over parts of the mind map image.
- It's great that you can add your own images as icons within the topic blocks.
- You can drag the topic blocks around the screen to arrange them with your mouse, but MindMaple also has a really handy balance tool that with a single click will arrange the whole of your mind map so that it looks tidy and symmetrical
- MindMaple - in the premium version - exports to quite a few formats which makes it pretty flexible as a tool, you can export your mind maps to pdf and use them as wall charts or save them as Word documents. The Word document export also shows a breakdown of the different levels of your map so you can use this a the framework for structuring an assignment.
Things that I'm not sure about
- The concept of 'software that you download and install seems very 'old school' these days with so many browser based tools around, but as discussed earlier, there are some advantages to this.
- It would be great to have a mobile version of MindMaple or at least a function html 5 web based version (I'm told that they are working on a mobile version).
- It's great that MindMaple exports to html, but there isn't any hosting support, so if you ant to get your mind maps online you have to have access to some sort of server space. This can be a real stumbling bock for many teachers.
- The built in clip art and selection of backgrounds is still a little limited and it would be good to have more variety to choose from.
MindMaple has free and a premium version. You can compare he differences here: http://mindmaple.com/Products/ but the main ones seem to be the export features are more limited in the free version and there are fewer themes and images .
At $9.99 a year MindMaple is a pretty good buy for those who take their mind mapping seriously or you can buy a lifetime license for $50. There doesn't seem to be an institutional license option and you would probably need this if you wanted to get it installed in a school for students to use.
So if you work in a school where installing software is no problem or if you want to try it on your own computer then I think it's well worth downloading the 'lite' version and seeing how well it works for you. If you take your mind mapping really seriously and want a good reliable product that isn't going to disappear ( as many web based products do) then it's well worth thinking about MindMaple Pro.
I hope you find MindMaple useful and enjoy making some beautiful mind maps.
Related links:
- Create Image Books
- Great Time Line Tool
- Interactive presentations
- A Picture's worth
- Picture phrases
- Personalised flashcards
- Animating vocabulary
- Exploiting Image Sequences
Nik Peachey


text:
What Brought Snooki Back to 'Jersey Shore: Family Vacation'?
Why did Snooki return to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation after previously swearing it off?
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi makes her grand return to Jersey Shore on June 17. The second half of the currently airing season will feature the reality TV family exploring the Poconos in Pennsylvania.
"Super excited to be back with my roomies," Snooki shared in a Twitter message in late May, referencing her return to this hit series.
In the message, she explained her surprising decision to return to Jersey Shore. "I truly missed everyone and the show. I don't regret leaving, because I truly needed a break for my soul and to just be a mom," she wrote, adding, "but coming back has shown me how much I love this show, and my besties. I appreciate all of your support and understanding. Mawma needed a break, but now Mawma is back to bring the party for you & all good vibes."
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation fans have been waiting impatiently for Snooki's return. Weeks ago, a trailer for the second half of the season showed Snooki emerging from a fake cake with two bottles of champagne.
"Ladies and gentlemen, party's here," Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino exclaims in the clips. Watch the teaser for Snooki's return, below:
So, why did Snooki leave Jersey Shore in the first place? On her podcast, It's Happening With Snooki & Joey, the reality star revealed that the show was becoming a "nightmare" for her. She announced her official (albeit brief) hiatus in December 2019.
At the time, she said that she was not a fan of the drama surrounding Angelina's wedding arc, or the editing of the show in general, which she believed portrayed her in a negative light.
Snooki also revealed that her three young children received death threats. She told her fans that one of the major reasons why she left the show was so she could spend more time with her kids as they grow up.


text:
These terms and conditions apply between you, the User and the owner and operator of this website.
All content included on the website is the property of Brimelow McSweeney Architects Limited. In these terms and conditions, content means any text, graphics and images and any other form of information capable of being stored in a computer. By continuing to use the website you acknowledge that such content is protected by copyright and intellectual property rights.
You must not otherwise reproduce, modify, copy, distribute or use for commercial purposes any content without the written permission of Brimelow McSweeney Architects Limited.
Whilst uses reasonable endeavours to ensure that the website is secure and free of errors, viruses and other malware, we give no warranty or guaranty in that regard and all users take responsibility for their own security, that of their personal details and their computers.
You may not use the website for any of the following purposes:
You may not transfer any of your rights under these terms and conditions to any other person. We may transfer our rights under these terms and conditions where we reasonably believe your rights will not be affected.
These terms and conditions may be varied by us from time to time. Such revised terms will apply to the website from the date of publication. Users should check the terms and conditions regularly to ensure familiarity with the then current version.


text:
Create a short horror movie or halloween intro
Compatible Mac
Designed for Final Cut Pro X
Editable with Apple Motion 5
2 versions included
Instructions file included
Created in full HD 1920×1080
Size : 85mb
Template informations
- Halloween Intro is designed for Final Cut Pro X
- Created with Apple Motion 5
- Full HD 1920×1080 resolution
- 2 versions included, for Logo and Text
- Easy adjust all colors in one click with 5 prepared parameters
- All texts font, size and position are customisable in one click
- ReadMe.pdf with instructions included
- You don't need any plugin.
- Font is free for commercial use, link is included
- Music is included, "Halloween Intro" available on our Stock Music page
Music is included
Designed for Final Cut Pro X
Free Trial
Get access to the full version of the latest
release of Final Cut Pro X for a limited time.
Learn More
Video Tutorials
Create incredible motion graphics
and visual effects faster than ever.
Learn More
Featured Final Cut Pro X Templates
View all templates
Comments are closed.


text:
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) R. Housley Request for Comments: 8103 Vigil Security Category: Standards Track February 2017 ISSN: 2070-1721 Using ChaCha20-Poly1305 Authenticated Encryption in the Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) Abstract This document describes the conventions for using ChaCha20-Poly1305 Authenticated Encryption in the Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS). ChaCha20-Poly1305 is an authenticated encryption algorithm constructed of the ChaCha stream cipher and Poly1305 authenticator. Status of This Memo This is an Internet Standards Track document. This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has received public review and has been approved for publication by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Further information on Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 7841. Information about the current status of this document, any errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8103. Copyright Notice Copyright (c) 2017 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved. This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Simplified BSD License. Table of Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................2 1.1. The ChaCha20 and Poly1305 AEAD Construction ................3 1.2. ASN.1 ......................................................3 1.3. Terminology ................................................3 2. Key Management ..................................................4 3. Using the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 Algorithm with AuthEnvelopedData ...............................................4 4. S/MIME Capabilities Attribute ...................................5 5. IANA Considerations .............................................6 6. Security Considerations .........................................6 7. References ......................................................7 7.1. Normative References .......................................7 7.2. Informative References .....................................8 Appendix A. ASN.1 Module ...........................................9 Acknowledgements ...................................................9 Author's Address ...................................................9 1. Introduction This document specifies the conventions for using ChaCha20-Poly1305 Authenticated Encryption with the Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) [CMS] authenticated-enveloped-data content type [AUTHENV]. ChaCha [CHACHA] is a stream cipher developed by D. J. Bernstein in 2008. It is a refinement of Salsa20, which is one of the ciphers in the eSTREAM portfolio [ESTREAM]. ChaCha20 is the 20-round variant of ChaCha; it requires a 256-bit key and a 96-bit nonce. [FORIETF] provides a detailed algorithm description, examples, and test vectors of ChaCha20. Poly1305 [POLY1305] is a Wegman-Carter, one-time authenticator designed by D. J. Bernstein. Poly1305 produces a 16-byte authentication tag; it requires a 256-bit, single-use key. [FORIETF] also provides a detailed algorithm description, examples, and test vectors of Poly1305. ChaCha20 and Poly1305 have been designed for high-performance software implementations. They can typically be implemented with few resources and inexpensive operations, making them suitable on a wide range of systems. They have also been designed to minimize leakage of information through side channels. 1.1. The ChaCha20 and Poly1305 AEAD Construction ChaCha20 and Poly1305 have been combined to create an Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) algorithm [AEAD]. This AEAD algorithm is often referred to as AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305, and it is described in [FORIETF]. AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 accepts four inputs: a 256-bit key, a 96-bit nonce, an arbitrary-length plaintext, and an arbitrary-length additional authenticated data (AAD). As the name implies, a nonce value cannot be used securely more than once with the same key. AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 produces two outputs: ciphertext of the same length as the plaintext and a 128-bit authentication tag. AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 authenticated decryption processing is similar to the encryption processing. Of course, the roles of ciphertext and plaintext are reversed, so the ChaCha20 encryption function is applied to the ciphertext, producing the plaintext. The Poly1305 function is run over the AAD and the ciphertext, not the plaintext, and the resulting authentication tag is bitwise compared to the received authentication tag. The message is authenticated if and only if the calculated and received authentication tags match. 1.2. ASN.1 CMS values are generated using ASN.1 [X680], which uses the Basic Encoding Rules (BER) and the Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER) [X690]. 1.3. Terminology The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [STDWORDS]. 2. Key Management The reuse of an AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 nonce value with the same key destroys the security guarantees. It can be extremely difficult to use a statically configured AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 key and never repeat a nonce value; however, the CMS authenticated-enveloped-data content type supports four key management techniques that allow a fresh AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 key to be used as the content-authenticated-encryption key for a single protected content: Key Transport: the fresh content-authenticated-encryption key is encrypted in the recipient's public key; Key Agreement: the recipient's public key and the sender's private key are used to generate a pairwise symmetric key-encryption key, then the fresh content-authenticated-encryption key is encrypted in the pairwise symmetric key; Symmetric Key-Encryption Keys: the fresh content-authenticated- encryption key is encrypted in a previously distributed symmetric key-encryption key; and Passwords: the fresh content-authenticated-encryption key is encrypted in a key-encryption key that is derived from a password or other shared secret value. In addition to these four general key management techniques, CMS supports other key management techniques. See Section 6.2.5 of [CMS]. Since the properties of these key management techniques are unknown, no statement about their support of fresh content-authenticated-encryption keys can be made. Designers and implementers must perform their own analysis if one of these other key management techniques is supported. 3. Using the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 Algorithm with AuthEnvelopedData This section specifies the conventions employed by CMS implementations that support the authenticated-enveloped-data content type and the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm. The AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm identifier is located in the AuthEnvelopedData EncryptedContentInfo contentEncryptionAlgorithm field. The AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm is used to (1) authenticate the attributes located in the AuthEnvelopedData authAttrs field, if any are present, (2) encipher the content located in the AuthEnvelopedData EncryptedContentInfo encryptedContent field, and (3) provide the message authentication code (MAC) located in the AuthEnvelopedData mac field. The authenticated attributes are DER encoded to produce the AAD input value to the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm. The ciphertext and the MAC are the two outputs of the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm. Note that the MAC, which is called the authentication tag in [FORIETF], provides integrity protection for both the AuthEnvelopedData authAttrs and the AuthEnvelopedData EncryptedContentInfo encryptedContent. Neither the plaintext content nor the optional AAD inputs need to be padded prior to invoking the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm. There is one algorithm identifier for the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm: id-alg-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1) pkcs9(9) smime(16) alg(3) 18 } The AlgorithmIdentifier parameters field MUST be present, and the parameters field MUST contain an AEADChaCha20Poly1305Nonce: AEADChaCha20Poly1305Nonce ::= OCTET STRING (SIZE(12)) The AEADChaCha20Poly1305Nonce contains a 12-octet nonce. With the CMS, the content-authenticated-encryption key is normally used for a single content. Within the scope of any content-authenticated- encryption key, the nonce value MUST be unique. That is, the set of nonce values used with any given key MUST NOT contain any duplicate values. 4. S/MIME Capabilities Attribute Section 2.5.2 of RFC 5751 [MSG] defines the SMIMECapabilities attribute, which is used to specify a partial list of algorithms that the software announcing the SMIMECapabilities can support. When constructing a CMS signed-data content type, compliant software MAY include the SMIMECapabilities signed attribute to announce support for the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm. The SMIMECapability SEQUENCE representing the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm MUST include the id-alg-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 object identifier in the capabilityID field and MUST omit the parameters field. The DER encoding of an SMIMECapability SEQUENCE is the same as the DER encoding of an AlgorithmIdentifier. The DER encoding for the AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm in the SMIMECapability SEQUENCE (in hexadecimal) is: 30 0d 06 0b 2a 86 48 86 f7 0d 01 09 10 03 12 5. IANA Considerations IANA has added the following entry in the "SMI Security for S/MIME Algorithms (1.2.840.1135126.96.36.199.3)" registry: 18 id-alg-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 RFC 8103 IANA has added the following entry in the "SMI Security for S/MIME Module Identifier (1.2.840.1135126.96.36.199.0)" registry: 66 id-mod-CMS-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 RFC 8103 6. Security Considerations The CMS AuthEnvelopedData provides all of the tools needed to avoid reuse of the same nonce value under the same key. See the discussion in Section 2 of this document. RFC 7539 [FORIETF] describes the consequences of using a nonce value more than once: Consequences of repeating a nonce: If a nonce is repeated, then both the one-time Poly1305 key and the keystream are identical between the messages. This reveals the XOR of the plaintexts, because the XOR of the plaintexts is equal to the XOR of the ciphertexts. When using AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305, the resulting ciphertext is always the same size as the original plaintext. Some other mechanism needs to be used in conjunction with AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 if disclosure of the size of the plaintext is a concern. The amount of encrypted data possible in a single invocation of AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 is 2^32-1 blocks of 64 octets each, because of the size of the block counter field in the ChaCha20 block function. This gives a total of 274,877,906,880 octets, which is likely to be sufficient to handle the size of any CMS content type. Note that the ciphertext length field in the authentication buffer will accommodate 2^64 octets, which is much larger than necessary.The AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 construction is a novel composition of ChaCha20 and Poly1305. A security analysis of this composition is given in [PROCTER]. Implementations must randomly generate content-authenticated- encryption keys. The use of inadequate pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) to generate cryptographic keys can result in little or no security. An attacker may find it much easier to reproduce the PRNG environment that produced the keys, searching the resulting small set of possibilities rather than "brute force" searching the whole key space. The generation of quality random numbers is difficult. RFC 4086 [RANDOM] offers important guidance in this area. 7. References 7.1. Normative References [AUTHENV] Housley, R., "Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) Authenticated-Enveloped-Data Content Type", RFC 5083, DOI 10.17487/RFC5083, November 2007, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5083>. [CMS] Housley, R., "Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)", STD 70, RFC 5652, DOI 10.17487/RFC5652, September 2009, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5652>. [FORIETF] Nir, Y. and A. Langley, "ChaCha20 and Poly1305 for IETF Protocols", RFC 7539, DOI 10.17487/RFC7539, May 2015, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7539>. [MSG] Ramsdell, B. and S. Turner, "Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) Version 3.2 Message Specification", RFC 5751, DOI 10.17487/RFC5751, January 2010, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5751>. [STDWORDS] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>. [X680] ITU-T, "Information technology - Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1): Specification of basic notation", ITU-T Recommendation X.680, ISO/IEC 8824-1, August 2015, <https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.680/en>. [X690] ITU-T, "Information technology - ASN.1 encoding rules: Specification of Basic Encoding Rules (BER), Canonical Encoding Rules (CER) and Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER)", ITU-T Recommendation X.690, ISO/IEC 8825-1, August 2015, <https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.690/en>. 7.2. Informative References [AEAD] McGrew, D., "An Interface and Algorithms for Authenticated Encryption", RFC 5116, DOI 10.17487/RFC5116, January 2008, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5116>. [CHACHA] Bernstein, D., "ChaCha, a variant of Salsa20", January 2008, <http://cr.yp.to/chacha/chacha-20080128.pdf>. [ESTREAM] Babbage, S., DeCanniere, C., Cantenaut, A., Cid, C., Gilbert, H., Johansson, T., Parker, M., Preneel, B., Rijmen, V., and M. Robshaw, "The eSTREAM Portfolio (rev. 1)", September 2008, <http://www.ecrypt.eu.org/stream/finallist.html>. [POLY1305] Bernstein, D., "The Poly1305-AES message-authentication code", March 2005, <http://cr.yp.to/mac/poly1305-20050329.pdf>. [PROCTER] Procter, G., "A Security Analysis of the Composition of ChaCha20 and Poly1305", August 2014, <http://eprint.iacr.org/2014/613.pdf>. [RANDOM] Eastlake 3rd, D., Schiller, J., and S. Crocker, "Randomness Requirements for Security", BCP 106, RFC 4086, DOI 10.17487/RFC4086, June 2005, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4086>. Appendix A. ASN.1 Module CMS-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1) pkcs-9(9) smime(16) modules(0) 66 } DEFINITIONS IMPLICIT TAGS ::= BEGIN IMPORTS CONTENT-ENCRYPTION FROM AlgorithmInformation-2009 { iso(1) identified-organization(3) dod(6) internet(1) security(5) mechanisms(5) pkix(7) id-mod(0) id-mod-algorithmInformation-02(58) }; -- EXPORTS All AEADContentEncryptionAlgs CONTENT-ENCRYPTION ::= { cea-AEADChaCha20Poly1305, ... } cea-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 CONTENT-ENCRYPTION ::= { IDENTIFIER id-alg-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 PARAMS TYPE AEADChaCha20Poly1305Nonce ARE required SMIME-CAPS { IDENTIFIED BY id-alg-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 } } id-alg-AEADChaCha20Poly1305 OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1) pkcs9(9) smime(16) alg(3) 18 } AEADChaCha20Poly1305Nonce ::= OCTET STRING (SIZE(12)) END Acknowledgements Thanks to Jim Schaad, Daniel Migault, Stephen Farrell, Yoav Nir, and Niclas Comstedt for their review and insightful comments. Author's Address Russell Housley Vigil Security, LLC 918 Spring Knoll Drive Herndon, VA 20170 United States of America Email: email@example.com 5353 (Verified) is as follows: Section: 6 Original Text: The amount of encrypted data possible in a single invocation of AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 is 2^32-1 blocks of 64 octets each, because of the size of the block counter field in the ChaCha20 block function. This gives a total of 247,877,906,880 octets, which is likely to be sufficient to handle the size of any CMS content type. Note that the ciphertext length field in the authentication buffer will accommodate 2^64 octets, which is much larger than necessary. Corrected Text: The amount of encrypted data possible in a single invocation of AEAD_CHACHA20_POLY1305 is 2^32-1 blocks of 64 octets each, because of the size of the block counter field in the ChaCha20 block function. This gives a total of 274,877,906,880 octets, which is likely to be sufficient to handle the size of any CMS content type. Note that the ciphertext length field in the authentication buffer will accommodate 2^64 octets, which is much larger than necessary.Notes:
The calculated total number of octets that can be encrypted in a single invocation is incorrect. See RFC Errata, Erratum ID 4858, RFC 7539.


text:
Rappers Fiend and Talib Kweli were among the participants at the recent GRAMMY GPS: A Road Map For Today's Music Pro hosted by The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter. During the event, Fiend and Kweli participated in an exclusive interview with GRAMMY.com, discussing memorable GRAMMY moments and the difference between commerce and art, among other topics.
"Taylor Swift had performed like 5 feet away from me, in the middle of the [51st Annual] GRAMMYs [in 2009], and I thought that was amazing," recalled Fiend. "[I was at] this colossal-sized show of American heritage, and this huge artist [was] performing so elegantly. It was so nice."
Born Ricky Jones in New Orleans, Fiend released his debut album, Won't Be Denied, in 1995. He subsequently signed with Master P's No Limit label and appeared on the rapper's Top 20 hit "Make 'Em Say Uhh!" Several albums followed, including 1998's There's One In Every Family, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200, 1999's Street Life, which topped Billboard's R&B Albums chart, and 2006's The Addiction. Most recently, in 2011 Fiend released the mixtape The Sweetest Hangover.
"We're not in an industry that's flush with cash, so there's no more room for fluff," said Kweli. "You really shouldn't be doing [music] unless you really care about it. … The people who are going to have longevity are going to be the ones who don't concentrate on commerce [and] concentrate more on art."
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Kweli began his career as a member of the rap group Black Star, which also featured Mos Def and Hi-Tek. Kweli's debut solo album, Quality, was released in 2002 and peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard 200. The Beautiful Struggle followed in 2004 and peaked at No. 14. His most recent release, 2011's Gutter Rainbows, peaked at No. 29. Kweli's new album, Prisoner Of Conscious, is due Oct. 22 and features collaborations with Busta Rhymes, Melanie Fiona, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, and Nelly, among others.


text:
A top manager who supervises the Environmental Protection Agency program responsible for cleaning up the nation's most contaminated properties and waterways told Congress on Thursday that the government needs to plan for the ongoing threat posed to Superfund sites from climate change.
The testimony by EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Barry Breen before a House oversight subcommittee conflicts with the agency's policy positions under President Donald Trump, who has called climate change a hoax. Breen's boss, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, is an ardent fossil fuel promoter who questions the validity of mainstream climate science.
During a hearing Thursday, Rep. Jerry McNerney, a California Democrat, asked Breen whether extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires could damage the highly toxic sites and cause contamination to spread.
"We have to respond to climate change, that's just part of our mission set," replied Breen, a career official who leads EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management. "So we need to design remedies that account for that. We don't get to pick where Superfund sites are. We deal with the waste where it is."
There are more than 1,300 Superfund sites in the U.S.
Under the Obama administration, EPA issued a robust plan for prioritizing cleanup and protection of toxic sites located in flood zones and areas vulnerable to sea level rise. However, a Superfund Task Force appointed by Pruitt last year issued a 34-page list of recommendations that makes no mention of climate change, flooding risks from stronger storms or rising seas.
EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox did not respond to questions Thursday about whether Pruitt agreed with Breen's testimony or precisely what the agency is currently doing to address to risks posed to Superfund sites by climate change.
The Associated Press first reported in September that more than a dozen Superfund sites in the Houston area were flooded by heavy rains from Hurricane Harvey. Spills of potentially hazardous waste were reported at two of those sites, including a release of cancer-causing dioxin into the San Jacinto River.
A subsequent AP review of EPA records and census data revealed that more than 2 million Americans live within a mile of 327 Superfund sites located in flood-prone areas or those at risk from rising sea levels.
The Government Accountability Office told Congress earlier this month it was assigning investigators to study the risks to human health and the environment posed to Superfund sites by natural disasters.
EPA's 2014 Climate Adaptation Plan noted that prolonged flooding at low-lying Superfund sites could cause extensive erosion, carrying away contaminants as waters recede.
Pruitt says he has made faster Superfund site cleanups a high priority for the agency. Pruitt's task force on the issue is led by Albert "Kell" Kelly, a former Oklahoma banker with no experience as an environmental regulator.
Kelly had been expected to testify at Thursday's hearing, but was replaced by Breen due to what EPA told the House committee was a scheduling conflict.
AP reported in August that Pruitt hired Kelly as a senior adviser at EPA after federal financial regulators cited Kelly for unspecified violations while serving as the top executive at a community bank in Oklahoma. Kelly previously served as chairman of Tulsa-based SpiritBank, which provided a $6.8 million financing when Pruitt and his business partners purchased Oklahoma City's minor league baseball team in 2003.
Asked by Democrats for details about why Kelly was barred by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from working for any U.S. financial institution, Breen said Thursday that Kelly had elected to settle the case against him and "is fully willing to discuss this matter."
An email and voicemail to Kelly seeking comment on Thursday received no response. Wilcox also did not respond to a request seeking details about why the FDIC barred Kelly from the banking industry.


text:
How To Make Valentine's Gifts with Canvas Corp Handmade Papers
- Canvas Corp, Cardstock, Cord - Hemp Jute Rope, Crafts, decorative gift box, DIY, DIY Gifts, E-flute, Kraft Papers, Paper Crafts, Valentine's Day
- No responses
Creative non-traditional color gifts at Valentine's Day will make your gifts stand out. We love the look of these handmade treat boxes made with Canvas Corp's unique handmade papers. These heavy duty, 100% cotton papers are perfect for boxes, cards and more. Each piece is hand screened and simply beautiful. Featured today is a combination…


text:
What Is the Broom Challenge?
By now we're sure you've heard of the viral broom challenge that has taken over the internet.
So, what is the broom challenge?
The mysterious broom challenge phenomenon all began after a Twitter user claimed NASA said February 10 was the "only day" a broom can stand up on its own "because of the gravitational pull." Naturally, people wanted to test out the theory for themselves and — lo and behold! — their brooms could indeed stand upright.
The challenge led to millions of videos and over two million Google searches for "broom standing up."
However, it also prompted some to wonder if the NASA facts were real...
Are the NASA broom standing up claims real?
It turns out, the claims are completely false and you can stand your broom any day of the year if you get the center of gravity right. In fact, two actual astronauts set the record straight.
Even celebrities like Paula Abdul, Ally Brooke and DJ Khaled got in on the fun and released their own videos of their brooms.
Even though this week's social media viral challenge was based on fake information, the internet learned that brooms can stand up on their own because they have a low center of gravity, which allows them to balance on their bristles.