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The epoch-making rupture this week in the Orthodox Christian Church has made some commentators refer to it as the biggest event since the Great Schism in the 11th century.
The latter historical watershed almost a millennium ago was when the unitary Christian Church split into Western and Eastern hemispheres, each subsequently centered on Rome and Constantinople, respectively.
That timescale suggests the magnitude and gravity of this week's rupture, when the Russian Orthodox Church decreed that it could no longer be in communion with the Constantinople Patriarchate.
The Russian move was prompted by Constantinople's controversial recognition of breakaway Ukrainian Churches, which have been in schism with the Moscow Patriarchate for several years now.
To many people in the Western world these developments may seem rather obscure, or even inconsequential. But they are a direct result of geopolitics, which are further fueling international tensions.
In particular, the dynamic follows the US-led NATO military alliance's relentless attempts to shift former Soviet countries into Washington's geopolitical orbit.
The use of religion as a vehicle for imperial conquest is certainly nothing new. Centuries attest to that unseemly business.
More recently, when the Soviet Union broke up in the early 1990s, the Vatican (Rome) and Western political powers exploited the dismemberment of Yugoslavia to undermine the Serbian Orthodox Church, and to encroach on Russia's sphere of influence, religiously, but primarily, politically.
The Ukrainian Churches' schism since the early 1990s with Russia has been driven by NATO and Kiev's partisan political agenda to repudiate Moscow. The Cold War didn't die. It was resurrected through religious means.
Since the CIA-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 by Neo-Nazi factions, the sectarian religious tensions have intensified, with the Ukrainian Churches expropriating properties and sanctities belonging traditionally to the Russian Church. Historically, the Moscow Patriarchate has included Kiev under its religious jurisdiction.
Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) is the titular head of the wider Orthodox Church. Its move earlier this month to grant recognition to the Ukrainian Churches as independent from Russia was reproached this week by the Moscow Patriarchate as unlawful and a breach of its clerical authority. That move has now led to the epoch-making rupture between Russia and Constantinople, which oversees the Greek Orthodox Church.
The present schism is an extremely regrettable fracturing of the entire Orthodox Church, which numbers some 300 million people among several countries. The Russian Patriarchate, while announcing the split with Constantinople this week, has expressed a desire for common sense to prevail in the future and for a reconciliation.
Nevertheless, there are serious implications from the latest schism. There is a real danger of an even sharper sectarian polarization in Ukrainian society and more broadly across Eastern Europe. Despite the breakaway Churches under Kiev, many Ukrainians still profess adherence to the Russian Orthodox faith and the Moscow Patriarchate.
It is ominous that the Kiev Patriarchate is now demanding Ukrainians to repudiate the Russian Church. That will further sharpen the West-East divide within that country. The sectarian tensions reflect the growing belligerence from the current Kiev political leadership towards the ethnic Russian people of Eastern Ukraine.
How deplorable that supposed religious aspirations are adding to the drumbeat of war.
Again, it must be stressed that Washington and NATO's agenda of enlisting Kiev into its ranks is a key factor in why the religious tensions have burst into a rupture. That, in turn, is leading to more divisiveness and conflict across Ukraine.
The irony here is that Washington and other Western capitals accuse Russia of interference in their countries, when in fact the much more extant interference is from the West in Russia and its region, as can be seen from the momentous schism unfolding in the Orthodox Church.
Another factor is that the Orthodox schism is consonant with Washington and NATO's agenda of trying to isolate Russia geopolitically. By fomenting a rupture in Orthodox unity, it is calculated that the Russian Church and the political leadership of President Vladimir Putin will be seen as more isolated internationally.
This NATO-inspired assault on Russia's religious standing is without doubt connected to the war in Syria. Russia's military intervention in Syria since late 2015 is viewed by Orthodox Christians in the region, as well as by other faiths, as saving that country from a covert, dirty war sponsored by NATO using barbaric Islamist proxies.
The latest intrigue to undermine and fracture the Orthodox Church, Russia in particular, is a very dangerous, not to say reprehensible, assault on the internal stability of countries, ranging from the Middle East, Africa to Asia.
By undermining religious institutions and forcing sectarian polarization, the fabric of societies is being tampered with. That potential instability is being propelled by Washington and NATO's agenda of trying to weaken Russia under Putin, who is viewed as a serious obstacle to US-desired global hegemony.
The unholy intrigues in the Orthodox Church are beckoned by completely areligious and profane political objectives. It is a shame that the Constantinople and Kiev Patriarchates are evidently willing to make an expedient, selfish pact with the devil of foreign imperialist ambitions.


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Bernice Maxton-Lee is a researcher on the political economy of sustainability and international environmental relations. She is particularly interested in the language of sustainability, or how societies talk about sustainability and the meaning they attach to certain words and phrases. She explores why nearly 25 years of environmental negotiations have increased both climate instability and global inequality.
She is currently a Research Associate at ETH University in Zurich, Switzerland.
See Bernice's CV.
Find Bernice on ResearchGate
Forest Conservation and Sustainability in Indonesia
A Political Economy Study of International Governance Failure
Despite carefully-constructed conservation interventions deforestation in Indonesia is not being stopped. This book identifies why large-scale international forest conservation has failed to reduce deforestation in Indonesia and considers why key stakeholders have not responded as expected to these conservation interventions.
Climate Change & Sustainability Masters course at Technical University of Vienna.
Four-day, accredited Master's course on climate science, mitigation and control, industry analysis, & global climate policy, on the ETIA programme at the TU Wien.
Guest lecture at Technical University of Vienna.
Bernice Maxton-Lee runs an annual three-day course on the political economy of deforestation in Indonesia, at the TU Wien.
Guest lecture at City University of Hong Kong.
Cutting-edge Cases of Institution Building and Development; 2017.
Guest lecture at City University of Hong Kong.
Themes of Development: Environment; 2016
Historical bloc, common sense and the illusion of consensual transformation.
Workshop: Transition Impossible? Ambiguous Transformations and the Resilience of Unsustainability; 19 – 21 September 2018; Institute for Social Change and Sustainability (IGN), Vienna University for Economics and Business
Participation as negation, engagement as disengagement. How environmentalism de-democratises genuine participation.
Workshop: Activation – Self-Management – Overload – Political Participation beyond the Post-democratic Turn; 27 – 29 September 2017; Institute for Social Change and Sustainability (IGN), Vienna University for Economics and Business
Throwing more wood on the fire: PES, MSI and enclosures; a critical analysis of conservation market leaders in Indonesia; De l'huile sur le feu: PES, MSI et clotures; une analyse critique des leaders du marché de la conservation en Indonésie
Maxton-Lee, B; Congrès Asie 2017; 26-28 June 2017; Sciences Po, Paris
The Deforestation Crisis in Indonesia: A Public-private Product.
Private-public interactions in shaping policy outcomes in East Asia, International Studies Association Conference Asia Pacific Hong Kong 2016.
Panel discussion with Juliette Schwak, Yee Man Yvette To, Miriam Laura Sanchez Cesar, Toby Carroll and Darryl S. L. Jarvis.
Co-moderator, Expert Forum on the State and Fate of the World's Rainforests.
Discussion with Claude Martin, Olivia Rickenbach and Martin Bauert on the state of the world's rainforests; hosted by Swiss Re.
Depoliticised Ecology: Streamlined participation in hegemonic neoliberalism
Democratization; Maxton-Lee, Bernice; 2020
Narratives of sustainability: a lesson from Indonesia
Soundings; Maxton-Lee, Bernice; 2018
Material Realities: Why Indonesian Deforestation Persists and Conservation Fails
Journal of Contemporary Asia; Maxton-Lee, Bernice; 2018
The Oil Palm Complex: Smallholders, Agribusiness and the State in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Journal of Contemporary Asia; Book Review, Rob Cramb and John F. McCarthy (eds) (Singapore: NUS Press, 2016).
Perspectives Internationales.
An ecosystem approach to understanding deforestation in Indonesia: From Frank and Grainger to Polanyi and Luxemburg.
Effects of pesticides on honey bees.
Pesticides have potential, mostly neurotoxic, consequences on the behavioural patterns of honey bees. Background for an email to European Commissioners Potocnik, Borg and Ciolos, on the restriction of neonicotinoid-based pesticides.
The challenges of monitoring honey bee (Apis mellifera) losses.
Deaths of honey bees, an indicator of ecosystem stability, seem to be rising. The reasons are complex.

subset: commoncrawl


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What are your 3 key priorities for this week?
Author: Russell SmithJuly 29, 2012
Sunday evening is a great time to start thinking through what to achieve in your business in the following week. For me, it is better to start this process before you go to bed on Sunday so that your brain starts working and concetraing on what needs to be done (I call it 'work mode', its a different setting in the brain to 'family mode' or 'leisure mode' – this is not based on any kind of science by the way).
One of the things I see in myself and in other business owners is that it is so easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of tasks and work that need be completed. Writing a task list is time management basics 101 but sometimes writing a task list can make the whole process demotivating rather than motivating (the old saying goes 'feeling listless, make a list) since it is difficult knowing where to start.
So thinking just about 3 key priorities is a good place to begin with. Often, finding these 3 key priorities isn't actually that difficult. The really, really important things are fairly obvious (a clue, by the way, is how much you want to do them – if you really don't want to do something it is often the task that really needs to be done – do the worst, first). The difficulty lies in having to turn down lots of other tasks which seem appealing or urgent, and they absolutely are, but compared to the 3 key priorities they are not AS important.
Waking up to the fact that because of time constraint you will never achieve everything you 'have' to achieve is at first alarming but over time it can become liberating. After all, there is not point doing something really well if it did not need to be done in the first place.


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Miami, FL - The USP team is extremely proud of the difference we make in every one of our players. From being part of the UM Vallverdu's tradition with Laura and Daniel to Nebraska's own German Dalmagro, our clients are the best exponent of our daily work and how much pride their success brings to us.
While going through rankings and the daily routine, there is not a most satisfying feeling that making sure the blue chip recruit that everyone wanted is accomplishing great things just as seeing that once under-the radar prospect that now has fully flourished and makes college coaches trust out assessment even more. I thought it will be a great exercise to go over in a more organized way all of our currents clients to see how they stack up with our predictions. Most of the results are expected while there are some surprising ones. The ranking uses Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), since is the most compelling way of measuring the level of current tennis players. #1 Girls Yolimar Ogando SO (Puerto Rico / UTR 10.94) Yolimar was the gem of the 2014 Class for UM. Ranked as high as #2 in her class. As a Freshman she posted an overall record of 5-3 in singles and 2-1 in doubles. Tallied a 3-1 mark in ACC matches. At the Miami Spring Invite, defeated 7-5, 6-3 over Astra Sharma, who went on to win NCAA Team Championship MVP and SEC Tournament MVP for eventual 2015 national champion Vanderbilt. This Fall, Ogando, ranked No. 29 ITA, took down a top-25 opponent for the first time in her career to move to 14-0. The sophomore won 6-2, 6-3 over No. 24 Brianna Morgan of Florida. #3 Girls Diana Kussainova FR (Florida / UTR 10.41) Diana was an extremely under the radar prospect. Due to well documented injuries and lack of results, she was passed by other programs. After being recruited out the 10th USP International College Tennis Showcase by George Washington, Diana becase the first women's tennis player to be nationally ranked for GW since 1993, due to having a flawless record of 8-0 in the Fall. #7 Girls Chantal Martinez -Blanco FR (Puerto Rico / UTR 9.51) Chantal was the third Fed Cup player from Puerto Rico in consecutive year after Ana Sofia Cordero (North Texas 13') and the previously mentioned Yolimar Ogando to trust USP in their placement. A full time student in high school, she was considered a 4 Star Recruit by the Tennis Recruiting ranking. Currently playing in the top position for the Bulls, Chantal is undefeated so far in the season and has a combined results for the year of 9-1. #1 Boys Rishab Agarwal JR (India / UTR 13.81) Rishab who peaked at 89 as a junior has been one of the most consistent players at #29 Mississippi State. A two time SEC Championship All- Tournament Team, Rishab has a 44-16 record including a 15-2 in the SEC. #4 Boys Justin Roberts SO (Bahamas/ UTR 13.10) Justin achieved a 162 ITF ranking. In his freshman year posted a 13-9 doubles record at the No. 1 and 3 spots all with Oliver Pramming, advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA tournament in doubles. Finished the year ranked No. 27 in doubles with Pramming. Defeated the No. 4 ranked Ohio State doubles team. Was 14-5 in singles in the lower three spots. Finished the year on a six-match win streak. Currently ranked #40 in doubles nationally. #8 Boys Sebastian Hawken FR (Norway/ UTR 12.70) Sebastian was a highly sought recruit out of Norway. Having peaked at 565 ITF and 1800 ATP , he garnered interest from multiple SEC schools but choose University of Washington due to the high academic standards. Currently playing as a freshman in the lower positions, he has a 6-2 Spring record with victories over Antonio Cembellin of #53 Indiana, Axel Damiens of #56 Cal Poly and John Mee of #12 Texas. Do you want to be next? Apply here


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Platia Meze Restaurant
Platia Meze Restaurant is a Greek and Cypriot restaurant and a fantastic place to indulge in some of the finest Mediterranean food available in the whole of Ayia Napa. Our unique modern restaurant has a great terrace and views of the 16thCentury Monastery as it sits on the edge of the Ayia Napa square. This modern Cypriot taverna has flair and is authentic in the atmosphere, but it is the delightful food that will keep you coming back for more.


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Thanks Matthew for all your great work on various parks, neighborhoods, and other topics! Much appreciated. If you have any questions or want any help, feel free to drop me a line.
Thanks, Kotra. I was having some fun learning a little of the Wiki lingo, and trying to help out my hood at the same time. I'll probably do a little more work in that area before too long. Little Nerd status, here I come!


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Southwestern Community College is on the hunt for a new women's basketball coach following the resignation of Head Coach Addae Houston.
Houston, who has been the head coach of the Southwestern Spartans since March 2013, is leaving the college to become assistant women's basketball coach at his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.
Prior to Houston's arrival at Southwestern, the Spartans were coming off a season of zero wins and 30 losses. Houston knew he had some work to do. He immediately set a goal of establishing a culture to set a standard of tradition and success for the program, not only on the court, but in the classroom and throughout the Creston community. Under Houston's direction, the Spartans most successful season was 2016-17 when they finished 17-15 overall.
Houston's players have boasted individual accomplishments as well. Nine of Houston's players have been selected to the all-region team and 32 have been selected to the all-academic team in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.
According to Beth Kulow, Southwestern dean of student services who oversees Southwestern's athletics department, the college appreciates where Houston has taken the women's basketball program.
"Addae has been a guiding force for the Southwestern women's basketball program," Kulow stated. "His direction and continuity have helped the program reestablish itself. We sincerely appreciate his efforts and wish him nothing but the best."
Houston said he will forever be grateful for the opportunity to coach at Southwestern.
"I want to personally thank [Southwestern President] Dr. Crittenden, Dean Kulow, Athletic Director Todd Lorensen, and Assistant Coach Morgan Knorr for their unwavering support," Houston stated.
According to Houston, being the head coach at Southwestern will remain one of the proudest moments in his coaching career.
"The institution, administrative support, loyal fans, and community grow on you from the moment you arrive on campus," commented Houston. "The process of remolding the program to relevance was a tremendous journey, and I truly believe it took everyone at Southwestern to reenergize the women's basketball program, which is what made it so special."
Houston said this experience, along with the friendships created at Southwestern, will be treasured memories forever.
Kulow said the college hopes to have a new head coach in place promptly to assist in providing minimal disruption to the recruiting process and the routines of Southwestern's current student-athletes. The program will also be searching for a new assistant women's basketball coach as Morgan Knorr, who has assisted under Houston for the past two years, announced last week she is leaving her position to pursue other interests. Knorr played for the Spartans from 2012 to 2014.


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Monthly Archives: March 2017
Week In Review; March 25-April 1
Saturday: 6 miles with my friend Megan. It was HUMID but I appreciate it after all the cold runs we have had this year!
Sunday: Planned rest day.
Monday: HRC group run. My fastest 4 miles of the year so far, with two of them sub 10!!!
Tuesday: Took a friend to the pool for her first swim and did 650 meters of my own.
Wednesday: Cooperloopers group run; 4 miles for me! I felt slow and sluggish but my pace was spot on.
Thursday: You know…spin class But this time, with a friend, which always makes it more fun!
Friday: Planned rest day in preparation for my Saturday race.
Weekly High: Every workout was with a friend or multiple friends.
Weekly Low: I feel stretched so thin. I need a nap!
Quote of the week:
I sure hope this is the case…cause I have a race tomorrow and I have trained so hard!
Week In Review; March 18-24
Saturday: Adrenaline 5K. You can read about it here!
Sunday: Planned rest day.
Monday: Solo spin bike ride with a video. I always thought the videos were cheesy, but they are definitely helping! Followed it up with a run just under three miles.
Tuesday: Swam 1200. Feels good to be back in the pool after a few weeks off due to my hand injury.
Wednesday: It was cold and the wind was brutal but I still met up with my group for a 4 mile loop. I absolutely credit my consistency with my progress, so no matter what, I make the runs happen!
Thursday: You know…spin class 🙂
Friday: I toyed off and on with swimming, but I have a long run tomorrow and my body was telling me to rest. I went for a 3 mile walk just to get out, and while I did want to swim, I think I made the right decision.
Weekly High: I am really proud of my performance at Adrenaline. While not a PR by far, I feel myself getting stronger.
Weekly Low: Really, I just want some consistently good weather! Spring, I am ready!
Quote of the week:
Race Report: Adrenaline 5k
This past Sunday, I hit up a local (very popular) 5k to check off my March race towards my goal of racing at least once every month this year. I have been looking forward to this race for over a year; before my accident, it was supposed to be my comeback race last year. I absolutely had to do it this year! And to think, it almost didn't happen since a second snowstorm was being predicted all week. Thankfully, it never happened and we had a nice dry morning!
Pre-Race: It was a late start and local, so I didn't even have to leave my house until 8am! Because the race director is also the owner of our local running store, and the founder of our #856 running club, I knew a ton of people running this race. Pre-race was mostly just chatting and catching up with friends.
Race: I started off with a friend who runs just over my typical race pace, because I did not want to go out too fast. Starting too fast is definitely my greatest racing flaw and I am working very hard at pacing myself! I was also worried about slick roads, but that was thankfully, an unfounded concern. After about a mile, I took off on my own and was feeling great. I know the course well, since it encompasses part of our bi-weekly Monday group run and I was really comfortable the entire race. There was great support on the course and the temperature turned out to be perfect! Their was a huge Ainsley's Angels turnout and it was awesome to see them on the course as well. So proud of and inspired by my friends who run with these kids! It was a great race and I was stoked to have come in under my goal time. It was a few seconds slower than my last 5k, but I paced myself much better and felt stronger overall!
Post-Race: Got a chocolate milk and bagel, chatted with friends and hit up the post-race party back at the running store. Later that night we celebrated the race director and store owners birthday, along with the 20th birthday of the store! The funniest part of the night was how many people commented about how much hair I have! Most of them only see me at group runs or races, when my hair is up or under a hat!
Overall, it was a really great day and night!
Next race: Hot Chocolate 15k
Week In Review; March 11-17
Saturday: Hit up a weekend spin class, which was actually being taught by an acquaintance of mine. That was a fun surprise! Followed it with a 2.5 mile run.
Sunday: Planned rest day.
Monday: Spring Break means morning workouts! Spin class and another 2.5 mile run! Later in the day, I was feeling antsy, so I went for a 2 mile walk. Pretty good day!
Tuesday: We had a blizzard. I still cannot believe it!
Wednesday: Thanks to all of the ice leftover from the storm, I was relegated to the treadmill. My planned outdoor 8 miler turned into a dreadmill 6.5 miler.
Thursday: Met my friend Becky at the pool in the morning. She is doing her first tri this summer and I am helping her with her swimming. I got in 1000 meters of my own while I was there. That night, I hit up a spin class. I am a "regular" now!
Friday: Planned rest day.
Weekly High: Spring Break!!!!
Weekly Low: I mean, it's my SPRING break and we had a blizzard. What the what?!?!
Quote of the week:
This. It just has to get done, even when the weather is cooperating!
Week In Review; March 4-10
Saturday: 10 miles on the spin bike using a cool video I found. I really like using spin class youtube videos and find it is a good substitute for when I don't go to a class. Followed it up with a 2.5 mile run.
Sunday: Planned rest day.
Monday: Didn't want to run, so opted for a spin class.
Tuesday: Not a planned rest day, but still not cleared to lift or swim and didn't feel like running. Went for a 2 mile walk just to do something.
Wednesday: Arrived early to my weekly run, so got in two solo miles before another five with the group. Nice to get a long run in on a weekday.
Thursday: Spin class, which is now a definite weekly thing!
Friday: Not a planned rest day but my legs were exhausted! Listened to my body and rested. Then listed to my heart and went to happy hour 😉
Weekly High: Pretty happy with my mid-week run!
Weekly Low: Still not cleared to swim or lift.
Quote of the week:
Week In Review; February 25-March 3
Weekend: Last Friday night, I headed up to Pittsburgh with my Dad and boyfriend. My boyfriend had gotten us tickets to a UNC game for Christmas (my dad and I are HUGE UNC fans) and offered to drive us up. It was a great weekend, and other than the walking I did around Pittsburgh, I did no such exercise!
Monday: Missed my Monday group run, so it was a 5.7 mile run on the dreadmill for me.
Tuesday: Not a planned rest day. (See weekly low, below.)
Wednesday: Due to the predicted crazy thunderstorms, I was once again relegated to the treadmill for a 10k. Turns out, barely even rained. So annoying when they hype up a storm. Also, dangerous, because when a real storm comes, people won't believe it and won't be prepared!
Thursday: Back to the hardcore spin class. Pretty difficult, but such a great workout.
Friday: Planned rest day.
Weekly High: Seeing UNC win, in person!!!
Weekly Low: I took a pretty bad spill at work on Monday. All of my weight landed on my left hand and injured my wrist/hand/finger. Other than the bad scrapes, I felt okay but because there was so much bruising, work sent me to get checked out. Spent most of Tuesday at the medical center getting x-rays and such. Tore up my skin pretty bad, a few bruised bones and a sprain. Thankfully, nothing is broken, but I am still all wrapped up for the time being due to the deep scrapes and sprain. No swimming for about a week and it was definitely a little harder to spin, but I am still making it happen! No excuses!
Three things I am grateful for this week:
- Getting to take a road trip with my dad!
- No break after my fall!
- The weekend- it's been a long week!
Quote of the week:
Twice I had to run on the treadmill. My hand is wrapped in a bandage. I had to modify for spin. Not allowed to swim or lift. But I found a way and had a good week of workouts!
❤ Jillian


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Our international network
There seems to be a good correlation: more than 50% of our transaction and engagements are crossborder or with an international focus and we are member of Globalscope, a most active international network of independent Corporate Finance boutiques and advisory firms in more than 25 countries. In the Reuters ranking of small and midsize transactions in Europe Globalscope is well present (ranking number 20). Globalscope is active on all continents and covers the most important developed and emerging markets.
Strategique is since 1988 one of the founder members of Globalscope's predecessor ICN. Frank and his colleague Claude from France formed in 2006 Globalscope by a merger the two networks and under Frank's presidentship the Globalscope network was expanded significantly. It is our saying: our clients benefit from the network and it provides us lots of positive energies.
Globalscope has an extensive reference base with over 400 transactions in all sectors and knowledge and expertise are shared with semi-annual conferences, extranet, trainings and joint data bases.
Click here for the Globalscope website and references.


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As reported by the BBC, two secondary schools in Hertfordshire have agreed to take on more pupils to ensure that the extra influx of children – following 2007-08's 'bulge year' – get places
Two secondary schools in Hertfordshire have increased their pupil intake, after 189 children were left without a place at all during the first round of allocations.
Samuel Ryder Academy and Townsend C of E School have agreed to take on more pupils, with a so-called 'bulge year' of births in 2007-08 creating 460 more applications this year than the previous year.
The local authority was awaiting funding allocation for a brand new school – Katherine Warrington – to be built in Harpenden, but it came too late for the application process.
After the second round of allocations, Terry Douris, Conservative cabinet member for education, announced that he was "pleased to say that, as expected, all Hertfordshire children have now been offered a school place".
115 of the previously-displaced children will be attending a school of their preference, with 74 being placed somewhere they did not prioritise.
The concern, from the perspective of parents, is that this is not a long-term solution.
One St Albans parent said: "Even with Katherine Warrington… actually they still needed to increase intake at other schools.
"It's not a long-term solution, as the forecast shows that over the next few years, the divide between places needed and places available will continue to grow even bigger.
"St Albans needs a new secondary school, and that must be the next campaign."
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn!


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On Oct. 6, the body of Viktoria Marinova was found in an alleyway in Ruse, a Northeastern city in Bulgaria. She had been raped and murdered. Marinova was a prominent investigative journalist, reporting on a wide range of topics, including government corruption. Her show, "Detector" premiered just before her death, on which she interviewed two fellow journalists about alleged fraud and misuse of European Union (EU) funds. Bulgarian authorities are insisting that her murder was motivated by sexual assault, denying any link between her career as a journalist and her murder, yet many pundits note the ever increasing threat journalists have been facing across the world.
Reporters Without Borders (RWB) (Reporters Sans Frontieres, or RSF, as they are a French organization) notes in their latest press release that "Marinova is the third journalist and the second woman to be murdered in an EU country in less than a year." RWB also called for a thorough investigation, as well as protection to be provided to her colleagues also working on similar issues of government corruption and fraud.
Bulgarian Prosecutor, General Sotir Tsatsarov, spoke forcefully about the Bulgarian government's assertion that her professional career and work as a journalist played no part in her murder, stating that "at this stage, it cannot be said that the murder is related to the professional activity of the victim." This statement was met with doubt by some colleagues, as her murder came only a few days after the broadcast, and not long after her focus of her work honed in on fraud linked to missing EU funds. BBC reported that a suspect has been arrested in connection with her rape and murder, and will face extradition from Germany.
In terms of press freedom, Bulgaria ranks poorly, coming in last among EU countries, according to RWB. They also rank 111 out of 180 in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, with the organization citing the increase in threats of violence and intimidation journalists face when reporting in Bulgaria. RWB also notes that "corruption and collusion between media, politicians, and oligarchs is widespread." Just recently, Bulgarian authorities arrested two investigative reporters looking into the same alleged link between Bulgarian firms and misuse of EU funds that Marinova was. Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, classifies Bulgaria as the most corrupt member state in the entire EU, leading to further concern about the safety of journalists who dare to venture into the murky waters of government corruption.
As more countries face challenges, ranging from rising autocratic leaders to right-wing populist surges, the basic tenets of democracy have come under siege, with freedom of the press becoming increasingly less sacred. Although historically journalists have always been caught in the crossfire of countries' political unrest, often reporting on government corruption and abuses of power, the job has proven progressively more dangerous. In 2018 alone, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 60 journalists were killed across the world, breaking it down to note that 43 of those had a confirmed motive and 17 lack a confirmed motive. These trends are also seen in the EU, with RWB noting that the anti-media rhetoric from political leaders and elites has contributed to what they term a "hostile climate for journalists."
Though Bulgaria is the most recent EU country to be in the spotlight, there have been two other notable murders of journalists, directly linked to their investigative reporting. First, there was the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a investigative journalist from Malta, who died in a car bombing not long after leaving her home. She was found by her son, who heard the explosion and raced outside. She had been investigating government corruption and money laundering. Secondly, there was the murder of Slovakian journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiance, Martina Kušírová, who were shot to death in their home. Kuciak's reporting on former Slovakian Prime minister Robert Fico's alleged embezzlement of EU funds. His death led to massive protests and calls for Fico's resignation, which came to fruition when he stepped down in March of this year.
Russia also proves notoriously dangerous for journalists and political dissidents as a whole, ranking 148 on the World Press Freedom Index. CPJ reports that 83 journalists have been murdered in Russia between 1992 and 2018. Most infamously were the murders of Anna Politkovskaya in 2006 and Boris Nemtsov in 2015, both of whom were shot dead in killings directly related to their work. Many political dissidents have died under mysterious circumstances, often times tripping and falling over balconies to their death, or allegedly committing suicide. The Russian government vehemently denies any involvement in these politically motivated killings.
As the political landscape becomes ever more complicated and the world faces numerous challenges, freedom of the press and safety for journalists becomes more tenuous. As this is being written, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist and Washington Post contributor is missing, with many suspecting him dead. He is among the many journalists, activists, and dissidents who have gone missing across the world.


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Not all pigs are created equal. Breeds vary in size, temperament, hardiness and suitability for meat production. So which breed is right for you?
What are your aims in buying pigs?
Once you've taken the decision to keep pigs, it's important to be clear about your reasons. Are you buying the animals primarily as pets, or for meat production? How much meat, and what sort, and how much annually? Do you have the space and physical strength needed to look after larger, more boisterous animals – or would you be best to stick to a smaller, quieter breed?
Thinking about these factors should influence the breed of pig you choose, but beware: buying piglets is a lot like buying puppies. Keep your aims in mind, and don't bring the kids!
Rare breed pigs
Pigs in the UK are generally described as 'modern' or 'rare breed' (also sometimes called 'traditional breed'). 'Modern' breeds have been bred to have comparatively little fat, and aren't suitable for raising outdoors – so the traditional breeds are of more interest to regular pig keepers. There is a list of some of the important breeds of pig at the bottom of this page.
Breeder and pedigree
Once you have an idea of which breeds of pig you might consider, it's time to look for a breeder. The British Pig Association can help here, either directly or by passing you on to the relevant breed club or society. It's important to look for a reputable source for your animals, as any experienced pig-keeper will tell you horror stories about livestock being offered for sale in terrible condition. A good breeder will probably be only too keen to offer help with 'after sales' questions or problems: after all, you're likely to be a repeat customer.
If you're just raising weaners for meat, pedigree may not be high on your list of priorities; but a pedigree offers you a guarantee that the animal you are buying has not been in-bred so there are less likely to be genetic difficulties. Also if you are planning to sell any of the meat on as rare-breed pork, you may need paperwork to prove your pig's bloodline.
Choosing your pigs
When it's time to select your pigs, try to take someone experienced with you. This is particularly important if you're not entirely confident in the breeder's reputation. You're looking for these signs:
- A glossy coat
- Bright eyes
- Good temperament – avoid unusually timid or aggressive animals
- Moving easily with no signs of stiffness or lameness
- Alert and interested in their environment
- If you offer food they should take it immediately and eat with obvious enjoyment
Check if the pigs have been wormed or vaccinated, but if you're buying from an organic farm, routine medication including vaccination is not generally allowed. If you're buying young animals, ask if you can see the parents if they're on the premises – this can give you a good idea how your investment will turn out, and gives you a chance to watch for any illness or breed defects. Finally, make sure the breeder gives you the animals' registration documents: you will need these to show transfer of the animals to you.
Note: keeping pigs is much more regulated than keeping poultry, so before you get started you will need to come to grips with local legislation. You need licenses to keep pigs and to move them from place to place, and there are forms to be filled in before your first pigs arrive. For England, visit DirectGov; for Scotland, Scotland.gov.uk; for Wales, Wales.gov.uk; and for Northern Ireland, DoENI. Unless you're keeping the pigs as pets, you will also need to find a local abattoir that will slaughter the pigs for you. The time to research this is now- not when your weaners reach slaughter weight!
Rare breed list
Berkshire: a black pig with a mild temperament. Good quality pork variety renowned for excellent crackling.
British lop: a very docile white pig with large lop ears. Extremely hardy and makes both good pork and bacon, but the breed is endangered and may be difficult to get hold of.
British Saddleback: hardy and a good grazer, ideal for organic production. Mild temperment, good for both pork and bacon.
Gloucester Old Spot: probably one of the best-known rare breeds of pig, the Old Spot is extremely hardy and docile which makes it a good smallholder's pig. Excellent for chops, roasting joints or sausages.
Large Black: The UK's only entirely black pig. Despite its size it is very docile, and is renowned for producing excellent bacon.
Middle White: Small and good natured, Middle Whites produce small joints of high quality meat.
Oxford Sandy & Black: Very hardy and with a good coat, it is rarely bothered by sunburn. A medium to large docile pig with a good temperment. Gives white-skinned pork and superb bacon. Very easy to handle and is a good choice for first-time pig keepers, especially ones with children.
Tamworth: A long-snouted and lively breed of pig that loves to dig, making it ideal for smallholders who need land turned over from time to time. Resistant to sunburn, and ideal for bacon and big hams. Tamworth meat was the clear winner in a 1990s Bristol University taste experiment.
Mini pigs
Kune-kune: This New Zealand pig does not grow to anything like the size of ordinary pigs. They eat mostly grass and don't tend to dig very much, and since they are also very docile and love the company of humans they make excellent pets. They do however (whisper it) produce excellent pork!


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The man is magical. He leaves for a decade and we spend the final eight years of the post-Griffey era in a playoff drought.
He returns, all of a sudden we're winning again.
Griffey's solo home run, his 400th as a Mariner, was the highlight of an 11-3 pasting of the California Angels of Orange County Wednesday night.
The momentous blast gave the M's a one-run lead in the fifth inning, and required a curtain call by the 39-year-old slugger upon reaching the dugout.
But the fireworks weren't just limited to Junior.
Immediately before Griffey stepped to the plate, left fielder Endy Chavez launched a solo homer of his own, which tied the game at two.
Another run in the sixth inning gave the Mariners a 4-2 lead, before the Angels countered in the top half of the seventh with a run, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
That's when all hell broke loose.


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The Town Elections originally scheduled for May 5, 2020 have been postponed to THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020, due to the COVID-19 emergency. The Town encourages all voters to vote absentee, if possible. Otherwise, social distancing measures will be in effect at the Town Office on election day.
To register to vote absentee or to get more information on the election, please visit the Loudoun County Registrar's Page about Town elections (being updated regularly). Please call 703-777-0380 for questions, or contact the Town Office at 540-687-5152.
The information below is from the Loudoun County Registrar's Page. Please note the dates to vote absentee will likely be extended for Middleburg elections due to the recent postponement to June 4th.
Can I Vote Absentee? How do I Apply for an Absentee Ballot?
Step 1: Eligibility - For this election ALL voters are eligible to vote absentee using reason 2A - Illness or Disability
Step 2: Decide how you want to vote absentee.
Due to the COVID-19 situation voters are strongly encouraged to vote by mail.
- By Mail - Have a ballot mailed to you, which you will fill out and mail back.
- How to Apply: Visit vote.virginia.gov and fill out the online absentee ballot application. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic ALL voters are authorized to use 2A Illness or Disability as the reason for requesting absentee by mail.
- Deadline to Apply: Applications MUST be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 (subject to extension).
- Deadline to Return: Your Ballot MUST be received in the office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 (subject to extension)
- In-Person - Appear at the Office of Elections and vote from your car.
- Please note that all in-person voters will be asked to vote from the comfort of their cars, please do not enter the office. Simply pull up to the sign and honk and a staff person will come out to assist you.
- Dates: Monday-Friday, starting March 20, 2020, through May 15, 2020, plus Saturday, May 16, 2020 (subject to extension)
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturday, May 16, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Loudoun County Office of Elections at 750 Miller Drive, Suite C, Leesburg, VA 20175 - pull up to sign and honk!
Voting in national ,state and/or local elections occurs at the Middleburg poll located in the Town Hall Council Chambers, 10 W. Marshall Street. To register to vote or for information on voting, contact the Loudoun County General Registrar. Contact and general information can be found by visiting Loudoun County's website.


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(written from a Production point of view)
Allison Hock is a writer who wrote the teleplay for the Star Trek: The Next Generation sixth season episode "Rascals". She was interviewed by Bill Florence in 1994 for The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine issue 26, article "Allison Hock: Mother of Rascals".
Hock worked as story editor and writer of three episodes on the television series Hunter in 1986. Two of these episodes were directed by Bob Bralver and James Whitmore, Jr.. Between 1987 and 1988 she was a story editor and writer of four episodes on Cagney & Lacey and in 1988 she worked as supervising producer on the drama series Heartbeat, starring Kate Mulgrew. In 1991 she worked as producer on the drama series Sisters, starring Elizabeth Hoffman and Ashley Judd and between 1995 and 1996 she was an executive consultant on Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years, starring Tracy Scoggins.
Between 1981 and 1999 Hock wrote episodes for McClain's Law (1981), Quincy M.E. (1983, with Garry Walberg, John S. Ragin, Robert Ito, Allan Miller, and Eugene Roche), T.J. Hooker (1983, with William Shatner, Richard Herd, and Leonard Nimoy), Press Your Luck, Knots Landing (1983, with Arlene Martel), Blue Thunder (1984, with Raye Birk), The Master (1984, with Michael Spound and Warren Munson), Miami Vice (1985), Lady Blue (1985, with Keone Young and directed by Mike Vejar), L.A. Law (1986, with Corbin Bernsen, Karen Austin, and George Coe), Heartbeat (1989, with Kate Mulgrew, Georgann Johnson, Allan Miller, and Steve Susskind), Sirens (1994, with Wil Wheaton), Amazing Grace (1995), Dead Man's Gun, and The Net (1998). She also wrote the television movies The Knife and Gun Club (1990, with Fran Bennett), Lebenslang ist nicht genug (1997), Gotta Have It (1998), and Doppeltes Spiel mit Anne (1999).


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Bring summer fun to your kids' room with this cute Watermelon Turtles Amigurumi! Their pink and green shells and smiley faces are an instant cheer-up. Make whole family in different sizes and colours! They will also be useful as a pincushion to accompany your creative adventures. They are easy to make – step-by-step tutorial is amazing. Check out this free pattern and follow us on our Facebook Fanpage and on Pinterest for more creative ideas!
Level: upper beginner Author: Amigurumi Today
You will find the pattern here.
[quads id=4]


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Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
SkyDrive and Hotmail are related because they are both services offered in a Microsoft account. You can use the SkyDrive account and ignore Hotmail to whatever degree you want to.
I use SkyDrive. Fine. But I have to sign in to the Hotmail email account to get it. I don't use Hotmail and wonder if there's a way to access SkyDrive in a more direct manner. I searched your blog, but couldn't find anything related.
In this excerpt from Answercast #73, I look at some confusion about features, such as Hotmail and SkyDrive, that are offered in every Microsoft account.
Well, I'll put it this way. In order to access SkyDrive, you must log in with your Microsoft account. That's all that's required.
As it turns out, your Hotmail account is your Microsoft account. In fact, your Microsoft account often looks like, I will say, a Hotmail account.
You can set up another Microsoft account using a different email address that is not a Hotmail account, and you can access SkyDrive using that. But it does require setting up a separate account that does not use your Hotmail address as your login ID.
The bottom line is that you need a Microsoft account to access this technology.
My recommendation is use the one you've got. Moving is probably going to be
much more effort than it's worth. If you're not using Hotmail, you know what?
That's OK. Don't go there. Just use SkyDrive. Use it to whatever degree you want
to; ignore the Hotmail.com email address completely and you'll be fine. There's
absolutely nothing wrong with doing that and that is in fact what I recommend
you do.
(Transcript lightly edited for readability.)
Next from Answercast 73 - I have problems with Firefox. What's a good alternative?
Article C6069 - November 26, 2012 « »
i was under the impression Sky drive was exclusively video messaging. why would i want it if i don`t have video?
Skydrive is Microsoft's cloud storage. It is not only for video sharing. You can store anything you want up with up to 7 GB of free storage.
I set up my Microsoft account with my Yahoo address. I don't use Hotmail, Outlook, or MSN.
Comments on this entry are closed.
If you have a question, start by using the search box up at the top of the page - there's a very good chance that your question has already been answered on Ask Leo!.
If you don't find your answer, head out to http://askleo.com/ask to ask your question.


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Want to know when this item is back in stock? enter your email address below and we'll let you know when it's available to order!
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Oz Comic Con Brisbane (and Sydney) are just around the corner with Supanova Comic Con & Gaming very soon, and since one of my favourite things to see is the cosplay ideas, I thought I'd help you out with some last-minute cosplay ideas!
Anyone From Archer
Archer has a variety of unique, funny characters that makes it pretty easy to spot an Archer cosplayer, but it's the iconic illustration look that really attracts attention, especially when cosplayers do the strong shading and markings highlighted in the show.
I can't find the original source or cosplayer's social media, but this is one of the more popular examples out there. For Archer himself, a marked-out suit and makeup are really all you need. For Pam you could have a bear claw and 'cocaine' or her underground fight club look (with back tattoo), for Cheryl/Carol/Cristal etc., you really just need pearls, wig, and her scariness.
A Walker (from The Walking Dead) Or A Walkerised Character
If you have some skin safe paint or makeup, glue, tissues and some clothes to make dirty, you can always go as a walker from The Walking Dead. Depending on time, supplies and how crazy you want to get, the end result can really be as 'human' or as crazy as you want to get.
Here's a video of The Special Effects Gurus, Greg Nicotero and Andy Schoneberg illustrating how simple products can get you a good zombie look.
To really amp it up, you can always go for a show character as a walker, like Shane when he turns or even Negan or Maggie.
Clark Kent
If being a walker is too messy and you want something simple but easily recognisable, go straight to the dude that's apparently Superman! Clark Kent (with the Superman outfit underneath) only needs a suit (or at least formal pants and a white shirt) with a Superman shirt underneath and glasses. It's super cute when little kids do it or whenever something minor, like someone tripping over happens and a 'Clark' comes in to help.
Civilian Steve Rogers, Jessica Jones
If you want to stay in the superhero world, go with characters in their civilian clothes, like Jessica Jones or Steve Rogers. Props that hint to who they are (the shield, Tony's arc reactor, Gamora being her flawless self) are always fun.
Of course, you can always change it up a bit. Go as Black Widow holding the shield
…or you know… maybe Steve with Mjolnir…
Walter White
Sure, two iconic looks for Walter White have been done over and over again (Heisenberg and the yellow hazmat suit), but you rarely see anyone baring their legs for the above look which is still very recognisable- and possibly the cheapest- if making you feel a bit.. chilly..
Mario or Luigi
Maybe comic book characters aren't your thing, perhaps you want to go the gaming route and pick the most popular brothers, Mario and Luigi!
The only thing you need is the colour of your choice and your moustache, although overalls are a bonus if you're going with the original vibe, but I love a good cosplay crossover so.. maybe Luigi can wield Mjolnir… hmm…


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Photos by Rick Nation and Kevin Nagle
The Bryant White Hornets eighth grade team of Bryant Middle School was inside the red zone three[more] times against the Lake Hamilton Wolves eighth graders at Bryant Stadium Thursday night. Another time, they were at the lip of the red zone (inside the opponents' 20).
Unfortunately, turnovers and big losses kept them from putting points on the board and, though Lake Hamilton committed three turnovers of its own, the Wolves were able to take advantage of a short field for one score then drove the length of the field after another Bryant White miscue forging a 16-0 win.
The Hornets, now 1-1, play again on Thursday, Sept. 13, at Cabot South.
Bryant White opened the game with a drive from its own 48 to the Lake Hamilton 22 behind the running of De'Amonte Terry and an 11-yard pass from Beaux Bonvillain to Jake East. But, on a fourth-and-4, Bonvillain had to scramble to cover a bad snap and the Hornets turned the ball over on downs.
Lake Hamilton drove to the Bryant 19 but fumbled. Though Bryant recovered at its own 18, the very next play, a fumbled pitch cost the Hornets possession at 11.
The defense rose up again and, on a second-and-8 at the 9, forced quarterback Andrew Bennett to cough up the ball and Marvin Moody recovered for the Hornets.
A pair of solid runs by Cameron Coleman had the Hornets out to the 26 but another bad snap resulted in a loss back to the 9 and, after an incomplete halfback pass by Terry, the Hornets were forced to punt.
The resulting kick was downed at the Bryant 32 and, in two plays, Lake Hamilton put up the first points. Noah Rengstorf scooted 17 yards for the touchdown. And when Bennett threw to Dexton Robertson for the conversion, it was 8-0.
Bryant came back with the help of a nice return on the kickoff by East. A 19-yard dash by Terry on a third-and-9 sparked the drive. Austin Despain added a 9-yard run and the Hornets reached the Wolves' 15. On a third-and-5, Terry broke a run to the goal line but the ball got loose and Lake Hamilton recovered in the end zone for a touchback with just :42 left in the half.
Bryant's defense created another opportunity early in the third quarter when Landon Smith intercepted a pass at the Lake Hamilton 36. A pair of Terry runs picked up a first down then Bonvillain connected with East again for 13 yards to the 11. Trying for the end zone on the next play, however, Bennett jumped in front of the throw and intercepted at the goal line.
Lake Hamilton then marched 86 yards for a second score. Rengstorf broke a 19-yard run early in the drive then Johnathan Buss added totes for 17 and 10 yards to the Bryant 28. The Hornets' Garrett Misenheimer combined with Terry to drop Buss for a 4-yard loss and, moments later, an illegal block in the back, pushed the Wolves back to the Bryant 36.
A third-down pass from Bennett to Rengstorf picked up 7 then Rengstorf got behind the secondary on a 29-yard completion on fourth down to make it 14-0. Bennett's pass to Ramar Freeman set the final score with 6:54 left to play.
Bryant threatened to answer. After another good kickoff return, this time by Despain, Landon Smith, in at quarterback, dashed for 11 yards. Coleman added a 20-yard burst but then a fumble lost 13 stripes.
Smith came back with a 20-yard completion to East and a run by Terry had the Hornets 11 yards away from paydirt. Smith kept to inside the 5 but the gain was nullified by an illegal block. Moments later, Smith tried to go to the end zone only to have Bennett intercept at the 3.
He returned it out to the 29 and the Wolves melted the final 3:13 of the game to sew up the win.


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Nourishing Hair + Scalp Conditioner
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This conditioner will leave your hair and scalp incredibly moisturized, without the added effect of weighing your hair down. With the use of Tea Tree Leaf Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Peppermint Oil, it will help reduce itching and dryness while nourishing the scalp.
This conditioner is suitable for all hair types.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil ) Extract*, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Mentha Arvensis Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Biotin, (Organic) Glycerin*, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cysteine, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Menthoxypropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-24, Phenoxyethanol. *Certified Organic
Directions for Use: To use, massage a quarter size amount into wet hair and scalp following shampoo. Leave on remainder of shower. Rinse.


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Coordination of the clusters
The cluster coordinators ensure that the various centres follow the procedures set by the National Coordination Committee and respect the CLES exam charter.
Training the stakeholders
The topic designers and test examiners must follow national training courses in order to be accredited as a "CLES Designer" or a "CLES Test Examiner".
These training courses are organised and run by the National Coordination Committee and the Assistant Director responsible for teacher training and development.
Exam Paper Design and Revision
Exam papers are produced by teachers working in higher education.
Each topic is revised by at least two teachers specialising in the language concerned, who have already designed a CLES exam paper, and who belong to two separate institutions distinct from that of the topic designer. They are assisted throughout the design process by members of the Validation Committee.
Composition of the Validation Committees
The Validation Committees are organised by language. Each Validation Committee is composed of a supervisor and at least two designers from different institutions.
The Validation Committee ensures that the papers are consistent with the CLES specifications and it is the first and last instance that approves exam paper design.


text: BUSINESS Katharine McPhee Signs With Verve 1/27/2009 by Jonathan Cohen FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Katharine McPhee Signs With Verve Former "American Idol" star Katharine McPhee has signed a new deal with Verve, Billboard.com can reveal. The artist is recording her label debut, due before the end of the year. McPhee released a lone self-titled album for RCA in late 2006, which has sold 375,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Since then she's dabbled in acting, including a role in the 2008 comedy "The House Bunny." "The album she is working on will show many new sides to her talents as an interpreter and a songwriter, and show everyone just how special she is," Verve Music Group president/CEO Bruce Resnikoff says. For complete "American Idol" coverage from show expert Shirley Halperin, visit the Billboard blog by clicking here. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME


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Randall, Realtors Announces $3.6 Million Sale of Waterfront Home
Posted by Kerry Park — May 26, 2017
CHARLESTOWN, RI - The Randall, Realtors Watch Hill office announced today the sale of a home at 8 India Point in Avondale, Rhode Island, for $3,600,000.
The waterfront estate is situated on a four-acre private peninsula setting with 360 degree water views. The light-filled, two-story home boasts impeccable architectural details, a unique kitchen, and custom woodwork. The property features four bedrooms and 2.5 baths in 4,200 square feet.
The sale of the shingle style coastal cottage also included a floating dock and deep water mooring for open ocean access.
The property was listed by Randall, Realtors Serene O'Connor.
About Randall, Realtors
Randall, Realtors owns and operates five Rhode Island and three Connecticut real estate offices specializing in the coastal, southern New England real estate market. For the past 26 years, Randall has been a part of more real estate transactions in Washington County than any other real estate firm.
Randall, Realtors is part of The Randall Family of Companies, which also operates Pequot Commercial and Page Taft Real Estate in Connecticut, and Kinlin Grover Real Estate on Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. For information on the southern New England coastal market or Randall, Realtors, visit www.randallrealtors.com.


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Recent Publications
New 2019 The German Occupation of the Channel Islands 1940-1945 – The immediate impact of the occupation on the postal services and postage stamps during the occupation period by Ron Brown FRPSL, 2019. 114 pages. £15.00 plus postage and package.
NEW 2017 "waists getting waspish" – A monograph of the Guernsey Red Cross messaging service by Leo Mayr, 2017, £6.00 plus postage and package.
CD-ROM of LL Postcards of Jersey, 2012, £10.00 inc P&P.
This CD-ROM contains 333 images of the numbered black and white LL postcards of Jersey, from the collection of the late Andrew Hinks. It includes all but 2 of the numbered black and white Jersey cards listed in the book LL Postcards of the Channel Islands by the late Stanley Newman.
The CD-ROM is available from the Archivist, Mark Bailey, 36 Jerrymoor Hill, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4UG, email: email@example.com. Any cheque should be made payable to the Channel Islands Specialists' Society.
Still available from the Book Secretary
The Postal History of Guernsey Sub-Post Offices, David Gurney, 1995, 265pp, £10.00
Red Cross Postal Message Scheme with the Channel Islands during the Occupation 1940-45, David Gurney, 1992, 389pp, £8.00
Islanders Deported II, 246pp, £4.00. The second volume, dealing specifically with mail to and from the Islands and the Internees in Germany and France.
The Postal History of the Jersey Sub Post Offices, David Gurney, 2001, 376pp – special price due to some staples being rusty, REDUCED to £7 as secondhand copy but in good condition. NOW SOLD OUT
A Study & Checklist of Jersey Definitives Booklet Panes, JG Hesketh, 1997, 2 COPIES NOW AVAILABLE AS SECOND-HAND COPIES, THEREFORE £2.00 each
Jersey & Guernsey Slogan Postmarks of the 20th Century, 2007, 85pp, £7.50
Boat Services to the Smaller Channel Islands, Second Edition, 2010, £24.00 (Members' discounted price £20.00) NOW SOLD OUT
Channel Islands Specialist Society 60th Anniversary Booklet, 2010, £4.00.
For SOLD OUT stock, occasionally books are returned so please check with email@example.com to see if any secondhand copies are available at reduced price.
Registered Mail of the Guernsey Sub-Offices 1968-1990: Volume 2 , George Curtis, 1991, pages 83-168,£3.00
Registered Mail of the Guernsey Sub-Offices 1968-1990: Volume 3, George Curtis, 1991, pages 171-244, £3.00
Society ties available in maroon or blue with CISS motif @£8.00 each
Also available from the Book Secretary
Binders for Les Iles Normandes to hold 16 issues @ £4.50 each or 3 for £12.50
Society Tie, new design, in blue or maroon with CISS motif, £8.00 each
For more details or to place your order, please contact the Book Secretary Richard Flemming, 64 Falconers Green, Burbage, Hinckley, LE10 2SX or email email@example.com
Remember to quote your Membership number when ordering.
Payment can now be made by cheque, PayPal or bank transfer. Please indicate with your order if you wish to pay by PayPal or bank transfer, when details will be included with your invoice. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com and ensure you include your address.
Bulletins and Journals
We have stocks of some of the past issues of the Bulletin and the Society Journal, Les Iles Normandes.
Most back issues have been donated to the Society by Members. Back issues of Les Iles Normandes are £1.00 each and the Bulletin is priced at £0.50. Postage and packing is not included in the price of each item. Please refer to the indexes of the Journals and Bulletins for the contents.
To enquire about past Journals and Bulletins, please contact Mark Bailey, 36 Jerrymoor Hill, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 4UG or email email@example.com
Recommended Reading
Inevitably many key reference books are out of print. These out of print books do become available from time to time and are made available in the Society auctions.
A list of key reference works recommended and used by our members is available here: Recommended Reading
*** November 2012 ***
Forwarding Agents of Great Britain handling Channel Islands letters 1673 -1855, by David Gurney FRPSL, 170 pages, A5, profusely illustrated in black and white, ring bound, £9.50. This book is available from The Stuart Rossiter Trust www.rossitertrust.com


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Philo, a skinny bundle service for non-sports viewers, has reportedly raised $40 million from previous investors AMC Networks, Discovery, and Viacom — all of whom operate channels on the service.
At the same time, the nine-year-old company — which offers a total of 40 channels for $16 per month (competitors YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV, which offer a few more channels and pricier sports programming, are priced at $40 per month) — announced that it has launched on Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, Deadline reports. Philo was previously available on Roku and via iOS and Android apps.
Philo will use funds raised from its Series C to invest in new product features and enhancements — including a "social media TV experience," according to Deadline — as well as to expand its marketing efforts. Philo's other existing investors include A+E Networks and Scripps Networks, who participated in a $25 million round last November. Per Crunchbase, Philo has raised roughly $107 million in venture funding to date.


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This very popular walk brings you through the back streets of the 500 year old Grand Bazaar past the touristy clutter and into the areas where time stands still. We go through it's narrow passages, a labyrinth of streets, onto its rooftops and into its dignified Byzantine Caravansaries, where we visit Armenian silversmiths and Kurdish textile wholesalers. Unusual shops and so much more.
A delight for the eyes, from the crowds to oases of silence.
We are fortunate to have Monica Fritz with us to make this day a most memorable experience in Istanbul. Monica delights in sharing her curiosity and enthusiasm exploring the subtleties of the city.
Optional lunch (not included in the price) in a local kebabci and a chance to shop at the end.
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Me and the wife stopped at the services recently for some breakfast. We got two fry ups, two coffees and two jam doughnuts. I got to the cashier and I said, "I'm sorry, love, but I only have a 50 note."
"That's okay," she said, "just put the doughnuts back."
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Re: business buy outCorpCons08 Oct 15, 2011 10:16 PM (in response to voreal)
I represent clients in business acquisitions. I would be interested in taking a look at your business plan and reviewing the figures, etc. If you want assistance from a professional source in these acquisitions, you can contact me at the e-mail address listed in my profile.
Re: business buy outBizOptimizer Oct 16, 2011 11:28 AM (in response to voreal)
It doesn't matter what they are grossing - and you don't want to PAY for what it could be - or "should" be - you pay the owner for what they've made it. If the banker sees this, and probably does, you telegraph your knowledge level. LISTEN to the banker - you wouldn't pay 120% for a house today - don't do it for a business. The business is worth the cash flows - or profitability. At less than $500,000, their multiple will be fairly low.
Learn what cash flows are worth and buy your competitors right. Let them hold some of the risk - as you oare depending on what they say and from the sounds, you might not be well equipped to verify well. If they are holding risk - they will help - they will be less likely to misguide. If you cash them out - they've got nothing to lose.
Show the banker you KNOW there are many ways to skin a cat - that you are flexible. And I'll bet after he sees those actions and you make a good case - you could get him to go up - IF YOU EVEN NEED him to go up by then. His business is risk - he understands it - learn from him, don't treat him as an advesary and you'll get much farther with him.
Good luck,
Re: business buy outModerator_MoniE Oct 19, 2011 1:02 PM (in response to voreal)
Hi voreal! You have gotten some really good answers so far! I am interested in learning more about your business and am awaiting the outcome of your situation. Please do let us know how things progress and what results worked for you. It would definitely be helpful to others who come to the community with situations similar to yours!
Best of luck to you as you find your way to cornering the scooter and rental market in your area!
Hello i have been in the tourist market for over 5 years now. i do scooter and bike rentals here. i am trying to buy out two business competitors in the market my boss and a another. problem is is that for both it would cost close to 300,000 my lender want to only spend 90,000 even know i tell him thru experience and the business plan numbers for just a third of what we would get we would gross over 500,000 a year together both business and the like i estimate alot more if done right and a slow cornering of the market. question is even know i know the business the numbers and the such try to stay small ? buy out is the only method start up is impossible right now. there is a Moratorium! so no other people can come in to give competition. ???? looking on advice i can not contribute with the loan i just know all the business running and aspects of it as well as all the ways to make money doing it. should i try to find another avenue wait for the possible lifting of the Moratorium? take this chance and go big?


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Drinking during Pregnancy
8 reasons why you shouldn't drink during pregnancy – not even one glass of wine!
A study conducted among women in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, drinking during pregnancy is common. Here's why you should avoid alcohol when you're expecting. By Keneiloe Kotlolo
Although most women give up alcohol once they know they are pregnant. Drinking during pregnancy is actually common, a study conducted among women in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand has revealed.
According to the study published in the BMJ Open medical journal, substantial numbers of women pay no attention to safe drinking guidelines. Health authorities in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia recommend that women abstain from alcohol for the duration of their pregnancies, whereas the UK advises that one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week will not harm the baby after the first three months.
Drinking During Pregnancy
The research, based on the results of several studies in those countries, found that 80% of more than 17 000 women may have consumed alcohol during their first trimester of pregnancy.
Dr. Linda O'Keeffe of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge University said, "It is possible that some of these women were drinking before they knew they were pregnant and that could be contributing to the high rates." She added that the researchers were not blaming women, but emphasized that women of childbearing age should be provided with better information about the risks of alcohol to the foetus.
In all countries, drinking dropped significantly in the second trimester of pregnancy, according to the study.
Drinking during pregnancy can lead to foetal alcohol syndrome
South Africa has the highest recorded rate of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the world. Scientists estimate that as much as 10% of the population is affected by either FAS or the spectrum of disorders related to it.
While there is no cure for FAS, it is entirely preventable and can be completely avoided by simply abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy. Because a fetus's developing brain is very sensitive to alcohol, even small amounts may cause permanent brain damage. There is no "safe" amount of alcohol during pregnancy, and no safe time to drink. It should be avoided completely, says Dr. Mhleli Masango, Medical Director of the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR).
If you drink at any time during your pregnancy, the alcohol can affect your baby. Here are some reasons why:
- Drinking alcohol is potentially most harmful to your baby in the first three months of pregnancy when it is linked to miscarriage and birth abnormalities.
- Alcohol crosses from your bloodstream through the placenta into your baby's blood. How a baby will be affected depends on how much the mother drinks and at what point in her pregnancy.
- Damage to the organs and nervous system of your baby through heavy drinking.
- Therefore Drinking in early pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.
- Drinking in the second half of your pregnancy can affect how your baby grows and develops.
- Sometimes Drinking heavily throughout pregnancy can cause your baby to develop a serious condition called foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
- The effects of FAS include restricted growth, development delays. low IQ, brain damage, facial abnormalities, and learning, social and behavioral disorders.
- Binge drinking, or regularly drinking over the recommended level, may be associated with lesser forms of FAS. The risk is likely to be greater the more you drink.
Experts are still unsure about exactly how much alcohol is safe during pregnancy, so the best approach is not to drink at all while you are expecting.
Can I drink while breastfeeding?
Yes, but in moderation. "While a baby cannot develop FAS from ingesting alcohol in breastmilk, excessive amounts can still cause harm," warns Dr. Masango. "Mothers should limit themselves to one drink per day or less."
Because alcohol passes freely into a mother's breastmilk and peaks 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion. Nursing should be delayed until at least two hours after the alcohol has been drunk. Always keep in mind the baby's age when considering the effect of alcohol. A newborn has a very immature liver, so even really small amounts of alcohol would be more of a burden. Up until around 3 months of age, infants process alcohol at around half the rate of an adult. An older baby or toddler can metabolize the alcohol more quickly.


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Posted by Kimberley Meijers on August 8, 2016 at 3:57 pm
The 21st International AIDS Conference 2016 (AIDS 2016) took place from 18-22 July 2016 in Durban. Share-Net International joined the more than 18,000 delegates from 183 different countries. Here are some of the most important key takeaways.
Since the last IAC in Durban 16 years ago, lots of progress has been made: more than 17 million are on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment out of the 36,9 million people living with HIV (PLWH) (UNAIDS, 2016). Although this is 22 times higher than in the year 2000, in order to end the AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030, our fight needs to continue! We need to pursue the UN Fast-Track targets and leave no one behind.
During the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS last June, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized that AIDS is far from over. He said: "Over the next five years, we have a window of opportunity to radically change the trajectory of the epidemic and put an end to AIDS forever. Despite remarkable progress, if we do not act, there is a danger the epidemic will rebound in low- and middle-income countries."
Although additional funding is needed, 13 of the 14 donor governments have decreased their funding in the last year. We know that realizing efficiencies in the available budget alone will not be sufficient. A strong call echoed to fully replenish PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Increased funding remains essential to not lose the created momentum and back up the commitments made.
Even though several significant advances were presented in HIV cure & vaccine research, it was stressed that we already have the tools we need to stop AIDS. The WHO guidelines advice to start ARV treatment immediately after diagnosis and provide access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for most-at risk populations (MARPs). We need to close the HIV prevention gap. Quality HIV prevention and ARV treatment programs urgently need upscaling, especially targeting MARPs who are often left behind by the AIDS response.
Further attention should be given to reduce new infections and AIDS related deaths under adolescents, specifically young girls and women, MSM, transgender, intravenous drug users, sex workers and their clients. Countries often under-prioritize these key populations in their national policies and programs and refuse to honor their human rights. In many countries some MARPs including PLWH are still criminalized by law. Criminalization, stigma and discrimination should be addressed and eliminated. To be able close the prevention and treatment gap men need to be actively involved and our youth needs to be empowered and educated as they are the future generation who need to use the tools at their disposal to end AIDS.
South African actress Charlize Theron attended AIDS 2016 and delivered a passionate opening ceremony speech during which she said: "It's time to face the truth about the unjust world we live in, the truth is we have every tool we need to prevent the spread of HIV… let's ask ourselves why haven't we beaten this epidemic. Could it be because we don't want to?"
The 22nd International AIDS Conference will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Let's make sure together that in 2018 we will still be on track to end AIDS in 2030!


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mlpack IRC logs, 2018-06-10
Logs for the day 2018-06-10 (starts at 0:00 UTC) are shown below.
--- Log opened Sun Jun 10 00:00:57 2018
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08:40 < ShikharJ> zoq: I received some good results on the full dataset as well :) Posting in the PR now.
08:48 < ShikharJ> zoq: It took about 3 days for the GAN to converge, but the results we got were also better than what is posted as the output for the O'Reilly example here (https://github.com/mlpack/mlpack/pull/1066#issuecomment-322415665).
08:49 < ShikharJ> zoq: I think we can cut down a lot on the time elapsed, once the support for batches is implemented. We are all set to merge the GAN PR now!
08:50 < ShikharJ> zoq: Take a look at our outputs here (https://github.com/mlpack/mlpack/pull/1204#issuecomment-395187579).
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09:37 < zoq> ShikharJ: The results are really promising, great.
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09:37 < travis-ci> ShikharJ/mlpack#173 (GAN - 2635d6b : Shikhar Jaiswal): The build has errored.
09:37 < travis-ci> Change view : https://github.com/ShikharJ/mlpack/compare/9014d65def05...2635d6b5966f
09:37 < travis-ci> Build details : https://travis-ci.org/ShikharJ/mlpack/builds/390338785
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09:49 < ShikharJ> zoq: Thanks for your help. I was able to debug our DCGAN MNIST test, I'll run the 10,000 image and 70,000 image tests on that as well.
10:18 < jenkins-mlpack> Project docker mlpack nightly build build #345: STILL UNSTABLE in 3 hr 4 min: http://masterblaster.mlpack.org/job/docker%20mlpack%20nightly%20build/345/
10:19 < ShikharJ> zoq: Do you think we can merge the GAN code now?
10:22 < zoq> ShikharJ: Yes let's merge the code, one last thing can you remove the output from the test (https://github.com/mlpack/mlpack/pull/1204/files#diff-7ad5b550c447d8de902a03acc4d31736R90)?
10:24 < ShikharJ> zoq: Do you mean the `std::cout << "Loading Parameters" << std::endl;` statement?
10:25 < zoq> yeah
10:25 < zoq> If you like keep the output, but we should use Log::Debug.
10:26 < zoq> That way a user can disable the output.
10:27 < ShikharJ> zoq: I'll make use of Log::Info?
10:27 < zoq> yeah, that's fine as well.
10:34 < ShikharJ> zoq: Done!
10:35 < zoq> ShikharJ: Okay, once the travis build finished, I'll hit the merge button :)
10:36 < ShikharJ> zoq: Great. COuld you also tell of a source where I can find the CelebA dataset in the csv format? The original author's link seems to have gone dead, and I'm only able to find the jpg or png format files.
10:43 < zoq> ShikharJ: Not sure the dataset exists as csv, but we could use the hdf5 format: https://github.com/tdeboissiere/DeepLearningImplementations/tree/master/GAN/src/data
10:43 < zoq> ShikharJ: Another idea is to create one as csv, I can do this if you like.
10:44 < ShikharJ> zoq: Does armadillo::load support hdf5 format?
10:45 < ShikharJ> zoq: Ah, I see now, it does. Thanks for that.
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11:34 < ShikharJ> zoq: I've tmux'd the two DCGAN MNIST builds as well. I'll get to debugging the CelebA test as well.
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12:02 < zoq> ShikharJ: Good, I guess we could use a subset for the DCGAN as well to see some initial results.
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12:10 < manish7294> zoq: I was using BigBatchSGD with adaptive stepsize and it turns out that effectiveBatchSize is surpassing permissible value leading to errors, whereas backtracking line search works fine. Here is the backtrace https://pastebin.com/q0LWjM4V
12:13 < manish7294> initially I kept batch size of 50
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13:09 < Atharva> zoq: In ffn_impl.hpp line 188 : res += Evaluate(parameters, i, true); is their some reason to writing the third parameter as a boolean, because there is no definition of Evaluate with the third parameter as a boolean and I think it's just getting converted to size_t = 1? Am I missing something?
14:07 < ShikharJ> zoq: One build runs the 10,000 image subset, should be done in 8 hours from now.
14:44 < zoq> manish7294: Ahh, can I use the code from the PR to reproduce the issue?
14:44 < zoq> Atharva: There is an Evaluate function (https://github.com/mlpack/mlpack/blob/master/src/mlpack/methods/ann/ffn.hpp#L159) which takes a boolean as the last parameter; it's used to distinguish between training and testing.
14:45 < zoq> ShikharJ: Nice, let's see if we get some reasonable results.
14:45 < zoq> manish7294: Another optimizer you could test is SGRD with CyclicalDecay.
14:46 < Atharva> zoq: That's true but that function has four parameters, the one I pointed to has three.
14:46 < Atharva> The evaluate function with 3 parameters has size_t as the last parameter
14:52 < zoq> ohh, you are right, nice catch
14:52 < zoq> this should be Evaluate(parameters, i, 1, true);
14:53 < zoq> Do you like to open a PR or should I fix this?
14:53 < Atharva> It's just one line, if you can directly push it, it will be better.
14:54 < Atharva> Is it okay?
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15:09 < manish7294> zoq: I haven't pushed the change regarding optimizer on the PR yet because of the issue but you can reproduce it by just passing the BigBatchSGD through lmnn_main.cpp --- you will just have to make a very short change in the last part of lmnn_main.cpp
15:32 < zoq> Atharva: Yeah, no problem.
15:32 < manish7294> zoq: I tried SGDR. The results were similar to SGD and comes up with the same problem of coordinates matrix divergence we are facing with SGD. So, I guess BigBatchSGD and L-BFGS are the best for us.
15:32 < zoq> manish7294: Okay, I'll take a look into the issue.
15:33 < manish7294> zoq: great, Thanks for help.
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16:41 < ShikharJ> zoq: You there/
16:41 < ShikharJ> ?
16:42 < zoq> ShikharJ: yes
16:42 < ShikharJ> I think we can close off the old PR and issues now. Like (https://github.com/mlpack/mlpack/pull/1066) and (https://github.com/mlpack/mlpack/issues/1206).
16:43 < zoq> agreed, let me close the issue/pr
16:46 < ShikharJ> zoq: For the next one week, I would like to focus on getting the support for batches and optimizer separation (and debug and test the DCGAN tests on the side). Would that be fine?
16:47 < zoq> ShikharJ: Absolutely, let us put some time into tuning the existing code.
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By MG
November 12 2019
We have a new man at the helm in the shape of former Wolverhampton Wanderers Chief Exec Laurie Dalrymple..
Dalrymple left Wolves in July after four-and-a-half years at the club amid rumours of a breakdown in the relationship between him and chairman Jeff Shi and the Molineux board, and has now moved into the sport which he has regularly spoke of his passion for.
"While I've worked in football most recently, rugby has always been my passion," he told the club website.
"Harlequins is one of the best known brands in club rugby and I can't wait to help it realise its potential."
Dalrymple has a wealth of experience on his side having been the executive director at the Ricoh Arena and international sales director at global event producer EMAP before becoming managing director at Wolves.
Harlequins are currently tenth in the Premiership and just two points ahead of Leicester Tigers, but Dalrymple comes to the club knowing that he was instrumental in Wolves' transformation from a struggling Championship club to a well-established and Europe-searching Premier League side with a significantly increased turnover for the club including a number of record sponsorship deals.
In his time at the club he helped in the transition from previous owner Steve Morgan to current owners Fosun.
In fact, Dalrymple was a greatly popular figure at the Midlands club, visiting fans in pubs and famously buying a round of drinks in Wolves' promotion season in 2017-18.
And, Quins will be hoping that Dalrymple can have the same effect off the field at the Twickenham Stoop with supporters frustrated at the lack of results in the first four games of the season.
Quins chairman David Morgan praised outgoing chief executive David Ellis who has left his role after eight years at the club.
"I would again also like to thank David Ellis (Harlequins' outgoing chief executive) for all his dedication, hard work and achievements over the past eight years."
Harlequins are in action this weekend at Clermont Auvergne in the European Champions Cup and you can find all the latest Rugby Union free bet offers with Bet and Skill.
View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.


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Politics of Monday, 24 June 2019
Source: My News GH
A Chief stalwart of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh has stated unequivocally that Ghanaians will never forgive President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo considering what he has turned the country into.
He described the President as someone lacking diplomatic qualities to solve the brewing tension between Ghana and Nigeria and questioned what he used his days at the Foreign Affairs ministry for.
In a submission on Kumasi-based Pure FM with Kwame Adinkra monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejisu-Juabeng intimated that, God is exposing President Akufo-Addo event after event as his serial exhibition of crass incompetence eventually has shown Ghanaians the kind of liar he is.
"Kwame Ghanaians will never forgive President Akufo-Addo and you mark it on the wall, this is the beginning of the collapse of the NPP. The NPP will cease to exist after the 2020 elections as their talisman man is barely living them with a legacy to trumpet. What a shame!" He exclaimed.
The vociferous former MCE further questioned Prez. Akufo-Addo's experience as a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, explaining that, he [Akufo-Addo] always has nothing to offer neither does he learn hence his inability to bring to bare his diplomatic experience in solving the tension between Ghanaians and Nigerians in the country.
"Kwame, this is a matter of diplomacy. You employ certain powers by appealing to even our traditional overlords like the Asantehene to intervene and call both factions to order especially when the heart of the faction is on his kingdom but this man [Prez. Akufo-Addo] doesn't know anything so little can he do." He said.
A number of Nigerian traders in Suame Magazine in Kumasi last week deserted their shops after over fifty of them were closed down by some rampaging Ghanaian retailers over their involvement in local retail trade.
The mob went around to forcefully order the closure of the shops while other reports claim they ransacked some of the shops.
Benjamin Yeboah, the National Welfare Officer of the Ghana Union of Traders' Associations (GUTA) while expressing regret over the actions of the retailers said that its members acted out of frustration and the failure of authorities to enforce laws that ensure that foreign traders in the country comply with existing laws; the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act which limits retailing in Ghana to only Ghanaians.
Some suggested solutions to address the problem.
Kofi Bentil, IMANI Vice President has proposed 'reciprocity' to end the tension between the two countries.
According to him, there should be a meeting between the two countries where whatever Nigerians agree will be reciprocated by Ghanaians and vice versa.
Kweku Baako, the Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper agreeing to Mr. Bentil's proposal added that there should be a 'combination of diplomacy and law enforcement'.
"if we realize that these laws are in conflict with the ECOWAS protocol, diplomacy must come in…let the two countries talk…beyond that let legislative bodies do the appropriate domestication" he suggested.
Send your news stories to and features to . Chat to us via WhatsApp on +233 55 2699 625.


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Ben Simmons has one of the rarer skillsets that the NBA has ever seen.
It rivals that of Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, so it would make sense that the Philadelphia 76ers forward wants to learn from Johnson. Prior to Sunday's game between the Lakers and Sixers, Johnson revealed that Simmons wants to be mentored by him in the offseason and Johnson would be willing to share his knowledge if the league signs off on it.
Considering the fact that Simmons is under contract with another team, the league opened an investigation into whether or not the Lakers and Johnson had violated the league's tampering rules and they announced their findings on Tuesday afternoon.
"We have concluded that Magic Johnson's statements regarding Ben Simmons do not constitute a tampering violation. The Philadelphia 76ers initiated the contact with the Los Angeles Lakers by requesting a meeting between Johnson and Simmons. Both organizations ultimately concluded that such a meeting did not make sense at this time but in that context, Johnson's response to a media inquiry regarding Simmons does not run afoul of league rules."
While the league has cleared the Lakers of any wrongdoing, Sixers GM Elton Brand, is not interested in letting the two get together at this point in time. "Rob Pelinka called me and said that Ben [Simmons] wanted to talk to Hall of Famers after the season," Brand told a Philadelphia radio station. "Magic was on the list. He asked for authorization ... I said no."
On Monday, Brand further clarified the situation in a comment to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
"No issue," Brand told ESPN on Monday. "I have a great relationship with Ben and [his agent] Rich [Paul] and we expect him to be a Sixer for a long time. He has taken interest in chatting with some of the game's all-time greats and we're supportive.
"I had brief dialogue with [Lakers GM] Rob Pelinka, who I've known for a long time, but nothing is planned. Our collective focus is on making a postseason push.
"Again, we're not sweating this -- end of story."
In yet another twist, however, the Lakers sent out a statement saying that it was the Sixers who approached them about Simmons speaking with Johnson, which the league ultimately confirmed during their investigation into the matter.
Statement from the Lakers on the Magic Johnson/Ben Simmons intrigue: pic.twitter.com/pSiEQ0u6hD— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 11, 2019
Simmons, it should be noted, is represented by Klutch Sports, the agency run by Rich Paul. If that sounds familiar, it's because Paul is LeBron James' longtime friend and business partner, and also represents not only LeBron, but Anthony Davis. That led to a very awkward few weeks ahead of the trade deadline, and the league looks to be trying to put a stop to any shenanigans surrounding Simmons before they begin.
Johnson and Simmons have similar playing styles as both filled the point-forward role that is very rare. Simmons stands at 6-foot-10 while Johnson stands at 6-9, so their build is also similar, which is certainly one of the reasons that the Sixers forward might want to get together.
Despite not having a consistent jump shot, which he will continue to work on when the Sixers take the floor next against the Celtics on Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET -- Watch on FuboTV with the NBA League Pass add-on), Simmons has already blossomed into one of the more talented young players in the NBA. Earlier this month, Simmons was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve and will be suiting up for Team LeBron in this month's All-Star Game in Charlotte.