text:
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Panama — which broke ties with Taiwan last year and switched its allegiance to Beijing — for a visit aimed at extending his country's political and economic influence in Latin America.
Xi is set to meet Monday with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, and sign an array of cooperation agreements. He will also meet with business leaders and visit the Panama Canal's new Cocoli Locks.
In a column written for the Estrella de Panama, a local newspaper, Xi said he had "high expectations" for the visit, the first ever by a Chinese leader to the country.
"We must be cooperative partners of mutual benefit and shared profits," wrote Xi, who arrived in Panama late Sunday from Argentina, where he attended the G20 summit.
Beijing hopes that Panama can be a logistics hub for the expansion of trade in Latin America and the Caribbean — an idea that the business community here has fully embraced.
"Panama usually generates a lot of interest because of its strategic location in the region and because of the canal," Severo Sousa, president of the National Business Council (Conep), told AFP.
These factors — along with Panama's political stability, growing economy and deep financial network — are "very attractive" to China, Sousa added.
China is the second-biggest user of the Panama Canal after the United States.
Varela's government is hoping that Beijing will make multi-million-dollar investments in infrastructure projects. The two countries are negotiating a free trade agreement.
In June 2017, Panama established diplomatic relations with China, breaking off ties with Taiwan.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949, but Beijing sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification.
Beijing and Taipei have been engaged for years in a diplomatic tug-of-war in developing countries, with aid and economic support often used as bargaining chips to gain diplomatic recognition.
Washington, which has accused the Chinese of trying to use aid to drive a wedge between Taipei and its Western Hemisphere partners, recalled its envoy to Panama City in September this year.
Varela, who visited China last year, promptly asked the US to respect his country's sovereignty.


text:
Scripts that include certain constructs may produce errors if the table described in the script does not include the specified column.
if exists (select 1 from syscolumns where id = object_id("some_table") and name = "some_column") begin alter table some_table drop some_column end
In this example, some_column must exist in some_table for the batch to succeed.
If some_column exists in some_table, the first time you run the batch, alter table drops the column. On subsequent executions, the batch does not compile.
SAP ASE raises these errors while preprocessing this batch, which are similar to those that are raised when a normal select tries to access a nonexistent column. These errors are raised when you modify a table's schema using clauses that require a data copy. If you add a null column, and use the above construct, SAP ASE does not raise these errors.
To avoid such errors when you modify a table's schema, include alter table in an execute immediate command:
if exists (select 1 from syscolumns where id = object_id("some_table") and name = "some_column") begin exec ("alter table some_table drop some_column") end
Because the execute immediate statement is run only if the if exists() function succeeds, SAP ASE does not raise any errors when it compiles this script.
You must also use the execute immediate construct for other uses of alter table, for example, to change the locking scheme, and for any other cases when the command does not require data copy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Feature Film Online: Random Lunacy
It appears the phrase "footloose and fancy-free" was created to describe the life of career homeless adventurer Poppa Neutrino. Random Lunacy: Videos from the Road Less Traveled is a feature-length documentary masterfully crafted and directed by Victor Zimet and Stephanie Silber out of years of home video recordings taken by this wandering minstrel and his family. That's it embedded above. Watch it.
Poppa Neutrino is one of the most intriguing and fascinating characters ever caught on film — or, video, as it were. So, it's fantastic that so many of his and his family's adventures were well documented by themselves because you wouldn't believe what they did if you didn't see it firsthand yourself. Run a Mexican circus? Yep, they did it. Build a homemade boat and sail across the Atlantic ocean? Yep, they did it. Is that insane or inspired? You decide!
In addition to the home video footage, Zimet and Silber have also recorded modern-day interviews with Neutrino, his wife Betsy and their now grown children that you see as very young in the videos. While it's interesting to listen to Neutrino's philosophies of living on the open road and sea, it's the interviews with the children are the most enlightening, because you see them in the videos and you have to wonder, "What the hell's going to happen to those kids when they grow up?" Well, Zimet and Silber provide the answers.
Random Lunacy was reviewed on the Underground Film Journal several years ago and it was such a fun, engaging documentary that it's really stuck with me since. So, after a highly successful film festival tour, I'm thrilled that it's now available to loved and appreciated by an even wider audience online.
Random Lunacy photo gallery:


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Nevada Bills To Ban Fracking and Mandate Renewables Show New Influence Of California Billionaire Tom Steyer
A small group of Nevada lawmakers – backed by California billionaire Tom Steyer in the last election – are pushing bills to ban fracking and impose a massive new renewable energy mandate on the state economy.
The bills follow a major investment in Nevada politics by Steyer, a huge contributor to environmental activist groups and the largest single political donor to federal candidates of the past two election cycles. Steyer's spending in a hotly contested U.S. Senate race was widely reported, but his involvement in the battle for control of the Nevada state legislature went largely unnoticed.
Nevada campaign finance records show Steyer and his wife, Kat Taylor, personally contributed $70,000 to five state legislative candidates – all Democrats – in the 2016 election. Those candidates were Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, Assemblyman Justin Watkins, Assemblyman Chris Brooks, state Senator Joyce Woodhouse and state Senator Nicole Cannizzaro. Their victories helped Democrats wrest control of the state legislature away from Republicans, who had been in the majority since 2015.
Today, Watkins and Brooks are pushing a bill – AB159 – to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, an essential technology for developing oil and natural gas. The two state lawmakers are also primary sponsors of AB206, a bill that would set a renewable electricity mandate for Nevada of 50 percent by 2030, with a longer-term goal of 80 percent by 2040. Frierson, the speaker of the Nevada Assembly, is also primary sponsor of the renewable bill.
Steyer has called for a fracking ban in his home state of California. He is also a major donor and a key ally to "keep it in the ground" groups like 350.org and the Sierra Club. On the campaign trail last year, his political action committee, NextGen Climate, pushed candidates to support a 50 percent renewable mandate by 2030. In fact, according to the New York Times, supporting the mandate was a condition of the billionaire's financial support.
Aside from a few political insiders, almost nobody knew that Steyer was part of the effort to win back control of the state legislature for Democrats, Ray Bacon, executive director of the Nevada Manufacturers Association, told Western Wire. "It never got much traction in the press or with the public," he said. Instead, public attention was focused on the U.S. Senate race between Republican Joe Heck and Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, he said.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Steyer's NextGen Climate was a major player in the Senate race, which Cortez Masto won. Steyer spent almost $420,000 against the Republican and $290,000 boosting the Democrat in the contest to replace former Senate majority leader Harry Reid. Campaign finance disclosures with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) also show that Steyer built a significant ground game in Nevada. NextGen Climate spent roughly $260,000 on almost 50 campaign staff during the 2016 election cycle, according to FEC data.
The bill to ban hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas faces an uphill battle, even in a Democratic legislature, Bacon said. For starters, the bill would have to be signed by the state's two-term Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, to become law. But bipartisan support for developing Nevada's natural resources has thwarted anti-fracking proposals before, he said.
In 2013 and 2014, when Democrats last controlled the Nevada legislature, a campaign to ban fracking fell flat. Led by the Center for Biological Diversity, a national "keep it in the ground" group, activists pushed for a ban, then tried to derail a bill that would allow modern drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques in Nevada under a new set of regulations. But the bill to allow fracking passed with overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans. It cleared the Assembly in a 41-0 vote and passed the Senate 21-0 before it was signed into law by Sandoval.
"It's basically a common opinion among the regulators that hydraulic fracturing is a very safe process," Lowell Price, manager of oil, gas and geothermal programs at the Nevada Division of Minerals, said during the debate in 2013, according to the Elko Daily Free Press.
Historically, Nevada has only produced small volumes of oil and natural gas but the development of new technologies has spurred interest in exploratory drilling in parts of the state, said Bacon with the Nevada Manufacturers Association. "It looks like there's some reasonable potential," he said, noting that low commodity prices slowed the pace of exploration during the past few years.
The introduction of a bill to ban fracking was somewhat surprising, he said. "I think it was dictated from afar that we needed an anti-fracking bill because Democrats have control, but I'm not sure that there's any passion about doing the thing," he said. The bill to dramatically expand Nevada's existing renewable electricity mandate of 25 percent by 2025 also faces significant challenges, but it's possible an amended version with lower targets could pass, Bacon said.
The bill to ban fracking received a hearing on Feb. 21, which generated significant local and national media attention. "No amount of regulation can eliminate the harmful effects on human health of fracturing," Watkins, the Democratic assemblyman, told the hearing, according to USA Today. In response, Nevada's Mineral Resources Commissioner John Snow rejected the lawmaker's claims.
"Our current regulations meet and exceed all the best practices in the industry and allow the United States to continue to move forward on energy independence," Snow said, according to the Nevada Independent. Snow told the hearing five wells have been developed in eastern Nevada using modern hydraulic fracturing technologies since the state's regulations were updated. So far, just one of those wells is actively producing oil, he said.
Watkins' claims against fracking run counter to the findings of federal and state environmental regulators, and even senior members of the Obama administration. Ken Salazar, President Barack Obama's first Interior Secretary, warned against the "hysteria" surrounding hydraulic fracturing, which "has been done safely hundreds of thousands of times." Gina McCarthy, who led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during Obama's second term, said there is "nothing inherently dangerous in fracking that sound engineering practices can't accomplish."
Sally Jewell, who served on the board of a national environmental group before becoming Obama's second Interior Secretary, said "fracking has been done safely for many, many years." Jewell also said fracking bans are "the wrong way to go" and activists who push for state and local prohibitions "don't understand the science behind it." Much earlier in the Obama administration, a joint report from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ground Water Protection Council concluded hydraulic fracturing was "safe and effective."
Nevada is not the only western state Steyer has targeted in recent years. In 2014, he backed Democrats in state legislative races in Washington and Oregon. Last year, in Colorado, Steyer's NextGen Climate also donated heavily to a failed campaign to put Democrats in full control of the state legislature. Steyer is also a senior member of the Democracy Alliance, a network of wealthy liberal donors that seeks to "take power in the states" as well as in Washington, D.C., according to the Washington Post.
Simon Lomax is the managing editor of Western Wire. A former wire-service and trade-press reporter, he now works in Denver as an adviser to pro-energy and free market groups.


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Game: Trine 2: Director's Cut
Developer: Frozenbyte
Publisher: Frozenbyte
Available on: Wii U only
Anyone who subscribes to that old sour chestnut that video games are not art has never played Trine 2. One of the most beautiful-looking and under-appreciated games of this year (the XBLA and PC version was actually released in the last week of 2011), Frozenbyte's adventure fuses together elements of platforming, puzzle-solving, RPG-like progression and exploration to deliver a fantastic final product that's just a little bit different to everything else.
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, it's worth saying that the Wii U version loses none of the colour and vibrancy of other editions, the fairytale splendour remaining intact throughout. The enchanted forest setting is as alluring as anything you'd expect to see in a Pixar movie, populated by towering, overgrown plants and cottage-sized wildlife. The world is a riot of colour, like someone smashed a rainbow into tiny pieces and covered Trine 2 in glittering, multi-hued confetti, and it's all brushed over with a dreamlike haze that further enhances the sense of wonder.
Trine 2 sees the three heroes from the first game reunited when a fresh calamity befalls their kingdom. Amadeus the Wizard (who'd rather be at home with his wife and kids), Pontius the Knight (who'd rather be saving distressed damsels) and Zoya the Thief (who'd rather just be stealing stuff) are all called upon by the titular Trine, a mysterious artefact that defends the world. Strange things are afoot in the enchanted forest, as animals grow to colossal heights and goblins stalk the shadows. It's all because of two witches, sisters torn apart by petty rivalry whose magic is corrupting the land, causing the forest to grow wild and encroach on goblin territory, which in turn is getting the green-skinned brutes all riled up.
The characters, as much as the world design, are part of what make Trine 2 so likeable, not just because of the script (which has a Pratchett-esque, Simon the Sorcerer kind of comedy to it), but because of how their differing skills come into play to solve puzzles, overcome enemies and explore the world. Each has a set of unique skills that complement the other two, creating a wonderful dynamic wherein none could complete the game alone, but together there is nothing that they can't tackle. It's handy then, that the Trine's magic combines them into one gestalt entity and allows you to switch between them at will.
Amadeus can levitate objects and enemies, or create boxes out of thin air; Pontius can block attacks with his shield, despatch enemies with his sword or smash down walls with his hammer, and Zoya can fire arrows, become temporarily invisible and use a grappling hook to reach high ledges or cross wider gaps. So, for example, say you come across a huge abyss with a stone wall on the opposite side and a huge spiked ball on a chain above it. You could use Amadeus to set the chain swinging by grabbing it with his magic hand, pulling it right up and letting it go, then switch to Zoya and use her grapple to hook to it as it swings, before jumping off and selecting Pontius to smash down the barrier. That's a simple example (and in fact Trine 2's conundrums are often way more challenging) but even that is only one way of solving the puzzle. Often, playful experimentation yields interesting results.
When a character is killed you'll be able to carry on by switching to one of the other two, and this is the only place where Trine 2 very nearly becomes a little imbalanced. Losing any character could potentially make a simple puzzle insurmountable, so Frozenbyte have included numerous checkpoints that bring everyone back to life. Often these are placed before either a puzzle, boss fight or large group of enemies, and make progression through the actual story (puzzles aside) incredibly easy. It's a minor grumble, as the game is way more focused on puzzles than combat, but it does remove a lot of the tension from fighting when you know you can retreat a few yards and resurrect your allies whenever you like.
Thankfully, there are many reasons to wander off the path such as collectibles and hidden vials, 50 of which, when collected, will allow you to level up. Each level climbed affords you a skill point to spend across all three characters, unlocking new abilities or upgrading old ones. You can even re-spec at the cost of one point whenever you like, allowing you to modify your tactics on the fly.
But all that aside, this is a port of an existing game onto new technology, so the big question is: How does the Gamepad affect things? To be honest, it's slightly hit and miss; though mostly hit.
For example, the touch screen controls make drawing a square to conjure one of Amadeus' boxes much quicker and easier, and levitating or moving objects with precision is a doddle. Likewise, aiming Zoya's bow is easy when you've got time to stand still and angle it right, but in combat it's simpler and quicker with the face buttons. Pontius, on the other hand, is made for button control, and the only thing more intuitive with touch is switching between sword-and-shield and hammer. While you can choose to turn off the telly and play the whole game handheld-style, I often found that the colours are so rich and the highly-detailed environments so busy that it's hard to see exactly what's happening on the smaller GamePad screen.
Local co-op is neither helped nor hindered by the GamePad itself, but by the fact that a second or third player will have to use a WiiMote and Nunchuck to play. It's not a major annoyance, but it's a hell of a lot more cumbersome and makes quick actions and character changes tricky. Online co-op is definitely the way to go, but communication is key, otherwise you'll end up standing around holding a gate open while everyone else gawps at the scenery. In co-op, Trine 2 becomes all about teamwork, especially as you can never have two of the same character active. You can swap characters, but both parties must consent to it, so it's best to simply pick a role you're good at and play it well.
You could argue that the game is intended to be played in co-op, as the combination of abilities really shines here where, for example, Pontius can give another character a boost on his shield, or Amadeus can conjure a box in mid-air for someone to vault from. Battles switch from the frantic melee-only affairs that they often are in single player and become more about having fun with your enemies, with Amadeus dropping magic boxes on their heads to soften them up while Pontius stands in front to soak up the damage and Zoya peppers everything with arrows. Played in 3-player co-op with friends who know what they're doing, Trine 2 is the very best of its kind.
The Wii U port is slightly longer than the original version, as it comes with the downloadable Goblin Menace expansion which continues the story that little bit further. It doesn't add anything much beyond the six levels themselves, though the handful of new skills are more than welcome. It shows that, with DLC, Frozenbyte had time to think on the puzzles a while, as there a few head-scratchers included, but nothing to trouble veterans. A new multiplayer mode was announced entitled Magic Mayhem, but sadly didn't make the final game; although the word on the street is that it'll be available as DLC at a later date.
VERDICT: Trine 2 is an excellent choice for a Wii U launch title, but that's more due to the game itself being great rather than the GamePad integration. It's a great puzzle-platformer in its own right, and the aesthetics are absolutely beautiful; it's just a shame some of the splendour and ease of control is lost on the smaller touch-screen. For a downloadable title, you're also getting a heap of content: Not only including the main game and the aforementioned DLC, but also the "hardcore" mode that offers a much tougher challenge, greater distance between checkpoints and harder enemies.
At a whopping 1943 MB, the download will trouble those who didn't buy a Premium Pack, but the file-size is expected and excused due to the quality and amount of content. If you're one of those who argues that games are not art, or who thinks the Wii U can't match the HD grandeur of the 360 or PS3, I implore you to download Trine 2 immediately and have your mind changed on both counts. It might not be perfect, but it's absolutely worthy of a spot in the Wii U's launch line-up.


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One of the first digital stamps I purchased from Ali Edwards was The Story Word Art. It has become another one of those go to tools for me. Especially when I want the story simply stated. The stamps that are included in this kit are timeless, and always seem to add the right touch.
On the second page of the digital layout is a stamp called Capturing the Moments of Life. It was a freebie element she gave away, but I cannot find the link to it right now. If I do, I will post the link.
I kept the background of this layout white and clean. After adding photos, and digital stamps, I uploaded the jpg to Persnickety Prints.
This company is fast becoming my new favorite resource for printing enlargements. I have an epson I use at home for printing photos, but when it comes to enlargements, and even 12x12 digital layouts, I think I am going to stick with them for fantastic print quality.
When the prints arrived in the post, I simply placed them in my 12x12 3-ring binder album, and had what I think is an awesome look at the beautiful day when number five came to be in my arms.
Thanks for stopping by today...tomorrow the baby story continues.


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An Absolute Classic.
Yellow Lehenga lehenga in Raw Silk with sequins highlight and gold ruffle border teamed with a matching raw silk blouse embellished with sequins, zardosi and stone work.
The yellow dupatta with sequins highlight and scallop border complements the elegant lehenga set beautifully.
Lehenga, Blouse : Raw Silk
Dupatta : Soft Net
All products can be customised for sleeves, length of blouse and neck design
Delivery : 2-4 weeks as the product is hand crafted.
Check Size Guide or choose MySize for free customisation
(All Sizes above XL can be made at 15% additional cost)
For more information and sizes please contact firstname.lastname@example.com or visit our Copenhagen studio.


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Cytology exam of urine
A cytology exam of urine is a test used to detect cancer and other diseases of the urinary tract.
Alternative Names
Urine cytology; Bladder cancer - cytology; Urethral cancer - cytology; Renal cancer - cytology
How the Test is Performed
Most of the time, the sample is collected as a
The urine sample can also be collected during
The urine sample is sent to a lab and examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
How to Prepare for the Test
No special preparation is needed.
How the Test will Feel
There is no discomfort with a clean catch urine specimen. During cystoscopy, there may be slight discomfort when the scope is passed through the urethra into the bladder.
Why the Test is Performed
The test is done to detect cancer of the urinary tract. It is often done when blood is seen in the urine.
It is also useful for monitoring people who have a history of urinary tract cancer. The test may sometimes be ordered for people who are at high risk for bladder cancer.
This test can also detect cytomegalovirus and other viral diseases.
Normal Results
The urine shows normal cells.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal cells in the urine may be a sign of inflammation of the urinary tract or
Be aware that cancer or inflammatory disease cannot be diagnosed with this test alone. The results need to be confirmed with other tests or procedures.
There are no risks with this test.
Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Cytologic study of urine - diagnostic. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:430.
Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Cystoscopy - diagnostic. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:421-423.
Riley RS, McPherson RA. Basic examination of urine. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 28.
Smith A, Balar AV, Milowsky MI, Chen RC. Bladder cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JE, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 83.
Review Date: 08/26/2017
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2019 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information provided by UCSF Health. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.


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Nick Hawkins
Nick gained his BSC honors in Chemistry with Business Administration from Kingston
University. He then joined TA Instruments as an applications engineer providing technical
support in Thermal Analysis to customers from most industrial and academic sectors. Through
his career at TA Instruments Nick fulfilled a variety of roles which included Applications
Support, Service, Technical Sales and EMEA Distributor support. With over twenty years
experience in Thermal Analysis and Rheology, Nick is primarily responsible for the upkeep and
operation of the Thermal Analysis suite (DSC, TGA & DMA) at the Oxford Silk Group. However
he also has a good grasp of the other techniques in use here which include Tensile testing,
Scanning Electron Microscope and polarizing light microscopy. In addition Nick has carried out
some collaborative work with other Oxford University Groups and commercial organizations.
Nick had an Invention commercialized by TA Instruments which allowed non-supporting
materials to be investigated by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA).
Other roles within the group include general maintenance and upkeep of the laboratories and
instrumentation, Animal Husbandry and training and support to students.
In his spare time Nick enjoys Photography, Running, Archery, Football and Squash.
November 2019
Prof. Fritz Vollrath and colleagues from the Fudan University in China are widely covered in the news for their discovery of a means to produce fake Rhino horns using horse hair. Hopes are that this product may undermine the illegal market for rhino horn, and demistify the properties of rhino horn. View Here
Media Archive


text:
Ben Folds Five in Boston!
Photographic Evidence
by 5342 Studios
by 5342 Studios
Photos from
The House of Blues
10/13/12 Boston, MA
The House of Blues
10/13/12 Boston, MA
In September, Ben Folds Five released The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind (ImaVeePee Records/Sony Music Entertainment), the group's first album of new music in 13 years! We were there to capture their sold-out set recently in Boston and soon found what audiences everywhere are talking about - this is one of the best live shows and hottest tickets going. Pick up the album and see a show!


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Aquaculture research focuses primarily on water ecology management of integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems to ensure the sustainable and viability of such systems. Other research projects focus on the nutrition and physiological management of several species to optimize the production of freshwater and marine aquaculture species under commercial as well as small-scale or rural farming conditions. Species, among others, that are studied include several of the tilapia species such as the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), brine shrimp (Artemia naupli), and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), and abalone (Haliotis midae).
All rights reserved © 2013
Stellenbosch University
Private Bag X1,
Matieland, 7602,
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tel.: +27 21 808 9111


text:
Cowboy, leather, tassel
Any of these three elements are placed in the fashion circle
All enough to hold up a day
Can withstand the trend and classic torture
Hold the test of time and space
Single wear has been so classic
If you combine them
What is the chemical effect?
Let Xiaobian take you to see it.
Since ancient times, I can't stay in love.
Always set the way
Dressing and matching, wearing a routine
1, leather + denim combination
Black leather jacket + basic jeans
This is the easiest and most popular way for fashion professionals.
The essence is the same
Whether it is a small cloth shoe or a high-heeled sandal, ankle boots
Can be based on their own preferences and characteristics
Wear a style that is very personal with special garment accessories
Very plastic shape
Like the four sets above
Although it is leather + jeans
But each has its own taste, and it's not afraid of hitting the shirt.
Black and white striped small leather + cartoon embroidered jeans
Black and white striped small leather coat casually on the shoulder
Just like the feeling of big sister in the Hong Kong film in the 80s.
Classic is not afraid of obsolescence
This cartoon-print jeans comes from Stella McCartney's eponymous brand
This brand in the UK is not as good as LV and Chanel.
But still quite favored among the stars.
For example, our goddess Song Jia put her star print jeans on fire with special waterproof zipper.
Xiaohua's teacher's body is also hidden.
Leather jacket, denim and tassel elements
I will talk about this combination below.
Not only cumbersome, but fashionable
Song Jia's body is full of domineering
It's a street beat queen.
Colored leather jacket + jeans
Flowing line stitching color blocks
Stiff style
The whole person looks a lot more vivid
Jeans and black high heels with natural trimming
Looks exceptionally high and great.
Green smooth leather jacket with large design.
Bright green in a black pressed suit
Especially eye-catching
Who can't help but look at it more?
Dark red leather jacket + black wide leg jeans + British wind small shoes
The shape is very retro, the effect is very classic
Xiaobian really likes this set.
Black minimalist low key
The red atmosphere looks unusual
2, leather + tassel combination
Leather jacket + fringed skirt
Danish fashion blogger Pernille Teisbaek
Walking in the streets of Paris wearing leather and fringed skirts
Walking like dancing
People are as elegant and romantic as cities
Xiaobian is curious
This silky tassel
If you walk together, if you are entangled with ou dou kei?
Fringed leather jacket
Milan fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni
This leather and tassels are combined into one.
I'm wearing it on the Fashion Week Street where everyone's magical powers
Naturally attracts the camera's pursuit
But this exaggerated design accidentally became a mine
咱 Ordinary people are still difficult to control
After all, life is still low-key!
3, cowboy + tassel combination
Fringed coat + cowboy
Brown tassel jacket is very popular this year.
The coat has a tassel embellishment
Jeans with a tassel jacket
Don't have a sense of movement
Red fringed jacket + white Tee + denim skirt
This set of layers and tension
Take a look, it makes people fall in love.
Like the lyrics
Just because I saw you more in the crowd
Never forget your face again
Fringed Jeans / Denim Tee
Fringe jeans have become a new season trend
The basic models are worn out, and the hipsters have new ways to play.
Is to design the jeans trousers as fringed
This is just like the popularity of shredded jeans.
Those who have experienced the run-down have longed for perfection
Design the jeans to be well-formed
Now people are tired of the integrity of the rigid tradition
Again, let the jeans fall to the rupture
Or how to say
People are stupid creatures that are never satisfied?
But don't toss, don't live
If you want to toss it too
Put on a pair of tassel jeans
Just click on the video above and you can do it.
4, leather + denim + tassel combination
Just like Song Jia's dress at the beginning
The combination of leather, denim and tassel is a strong combination
This set of Norwegian fashion blogger Irina Lakicevic
Black fringed jacket and brown tassel shoulder bag
All from the French big name Yves Saint Laurent
Continued the brand's consistently cool and cool style
Plus tassel design is more dynamic
About leather clothing
The Italian fashion brand D&G design director once said:
"Even if you never take it off, you won't look embarrassed.
Because it represents the strong spirit in your soul. "
About cowboy
His connotation is that he will not return, be tough and stick to the truth.
About tassel
It is smart, free and unruly
What they represent may be more than just a trend of the times.
It is a force that can travel through time and space.
This power drives people to constantly pursue beauty and create beauty.
On how to transform from the dressing bun to fashion
Just look at the fashion elements on your body is not enough classic and popular enough
You are beautiful
It's time to let leather, denim or tassels create a sense of style


text:
Genevieve Steiner-Lim
LINKEDIN (opens in a new window) | X (opens in a new window)
PhD, BPsych (Hons, Class I)
NHMRC-ARC Emerging Leadership Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute
Clinical Platform Lead, NICM Health Research Institute
Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner-Lim is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, and NICM Health Research Institute's clinical platform lead.
As a cognitive neuroscientist, her research spans the early detection, prevention, and treatment of memory and thinking problems in older people with the aim of reducing dementia risk and improving quality of life.
The research Associate Professor Steiner-Lim and her team conducts examines changes in the brain's function and structure to discover biomarkers for dementia and test novel therapeutics that can provide early intervention.
Associate Professor Steiner-Lim is also Co-Director of the Age and Ageing Clinical Academic Group for the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research, and Enterprise (SPHERE), a 2018 recipient of the NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award, and Past President of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology.
Research focus
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Alzheimer's disease
- Learning and memory
- Medicinal cannabis
- Dementia prevention
- Neuroplasticity
Projects and grants
Associate Professor Steiner-Lim's research has been supported by numerous external funding agencies including an NHMRC, government and industry.
See a list of past and current projects.(opens in a new window)
Awards and recognitions
- 2018 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award, Australian Institute for Policy and Science
- 2016 Vice-Chancellor's Excellence as an Early Career Researcher Award, Western Sydney University
- 2016 Early Career Research Award, School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University
- 2016 Australia-China Young Scientists Exchange Program (YSEP), Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)
- 2016 Best Presenter, NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellows, NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research Australian Dementia Forum
- 2014 Best Postgraduate Oral Platform Presentation, 24th Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Annual Conference,
- 2014 Best Tutor Award (voted by students), School of Psychology, University of Wollongong
- 2012 Best Postgraduate Presentation, 22nd Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Annual Conference
- 2011 Student Publication Prize, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, University of Wollongong
- 2011 Australian Postgraduate Award, Department of Industry, Australian Government
- 2010 Dean's Merit List, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, University of Wollongong
- Co-Director, Age and Ageing Clinical Academic Group, SPHERE
- Committee member, Campbelltown Local Health Council, South Western Sydney Primary Health Network
- Committee member, World Young Leaders in Dementia (WYLD) Network
- 2016-2019 Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong
- 2016-present NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research
- 2016-present Australian Psychological Society
- 2016-present Australian Society for Medical Research
- 2015-present Brain Foundation
- 2015-present Reviewer, Journal of Psychophysiology
- 2015-present Reviewer, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
- 2015-present Reviewer, Psychophysiology
- 2015-present Reviewer, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
- 2013-present Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society
- 2013-present Reviewer, Clinical Neurophysiology
- 2013-present Reviewer, International Journal of Psychophysiology
- 2011-present International Organization of Psychophysiology
- 2011-present Society for Psychophysiological Research
- 2010-present Australasian Society for Psychophysiology
- 2015 PhD (Psychology) with Examiners' Commendation for Outstanding Thesis, University of Wollongong, Australia
- 2010 BPsyc (Hons, Class I), University of Wollongong, Australia
For a full listing of publications please see:
- WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PROFILE (opens in a new window)
- ORCID (opens in a new window)
- GOOGLE SCHOLAR (opens in a new window)
- RESEARCHGATE (opens in a new window)


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Credit unions and legislators donate 1,405 pounds of food
By: Tianna G. Hansen from the Southampton Spirit Paper
FORT WASHINGTON, PA. — Credit unions and legislators collaborated and launched a food drive this summer and donated 1,405 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food to Philabundance in an effort to replenish the diminishing supply in local pantries.
The credit unions' branches and legislators' offices served as drop-off sites for food donations from members and constituents. The credit unions worked with Philabundance to learn what types of food were most needed. They received an overwhelming response from people who wanted to help.
The staff at Philabundance was pleasantly surprised when Pennsylvania State Representative Mary Isaacson, representatives from Senators Leach and Kearney's offices, and representatives from Ardent Credit Union, Freedom Credit Union, Media Members Federal Credit Union, Reliance Federal Credit Union, TruMark Financial® Credit Union, and Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union visited its warehouse in North Philadelphia and delivered pallets of requested items such as peanut butter, tuna fish, beans, and cereal.
"We are always grateful to our community partners who give time, food, and money to fight hunger in the Delaware Valley. It was great to see different credit unions and legislative offices joining forces to help those in need. It really shows you what can be accomplished when the community comes together," said Olivia Edwards, Community Fundraising Coordinator.In addition, several of the credit unions made monetary donations to be used in pantries in the five-county region.
To read the full article, click here. Patch.com is an innovative way to find out about, and participate in, what's going on near you. Learn more about Patch.com by clicking here.


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Did you know it can take 700 years for one plastic straw to break down?
Crazy right? These straws are hand made in the beautiful Perth Hills area of Western Australia, and they are made from 316 (food grade) stainless steel (not all stainless steel are equal!).
These straws are a quality product that are made to last, and are reusable, non-toxic and eco-friendly. A great way to avoid the toxic nasties in regular plastic straws, making the change to stainless steel straws is not only great for the planet, but better for your body too.
We love The Last Straw Co. because we know they are made with the best quality stainless steel, and not only are they great quality straws, they look fantastic. too. We now stock varying sizes, ranging from from regular diameter straws, all the way up to bubble tea straws (custom made just for us!).
To keep clean, wash in warm soapy water, use a cleaning brush, or wash in the top shelf of the dishwasher.
Shop The Last Straw Co.
- Out of Stock
The Last Straw Co. Stainless Steel Shorty Straw (316 grade)
- $10.20
- Read more


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How To Make a WordPress WooCommerce Amazon Affiliate Store
Learn How To Build a Profitable Amazon Affiliate eCommerce Store with the capability of dropshipping physical products.
- Understand how to create a WordPress WooCommerce Store
- Create a profitable Amazon Affiliate Store
- Understand how to create full time business with an eCommerce store
- Learn about dropshipping & buying products wholesale
- Understand how to do keyword research
- How to do basic eCommerce SEO
- How to promote an eCommerce site with Social Media & Advertising
- Understand how to hire Virtual Assistants
- Learn about Amazon FBA
- A good understanding of WordPress CMS
- Registering a domain and getting it hosted
- Be able to apply to become an Amazon Affiliate (Some States do not allow this)
- Google Drive
- Evernote
*Last Updated August 2018*
Now Includes information on becoming an Etsy Affiliate!
I've also added modules on all of the major Amazon affiliate plugins including Prosociate, Azon Store Builder and Fresh Store Builder.
What is the course all about?
In this course you will learn how I've built a profitable Amazon affiliate store that works and functions as an awesome eCommerce site.
What should I expect to achieve after completing this course?
Your #1 goal should be to have built a profitable Amazon affiliate store that allows you to expand beyond being just an affiliate. You will have the choice of offering physical products to your buyers.
What will you learn in this course?
- Getting started with focus and mindset while organizing and planning tasks
- Setting up your eCommerce website the right way
- Picking a niche and doing keyword research for that niche
- How to design your site and pick a theme
- Maximizing conversions to get more buyers
- Basic overview of eCommerce SEO
- Promoting your eCommerce site with Social Media
- Using free and paid advertising to promote your site
- Outsourcing Virtual Assistants to help you build your site faster
- Learning the basics of Email marketing for eCommerce
- Moving beyond Amazon Affiliates – Selling on Amazon & eBay
- Working with Dropshippers and buying products Wholesale
How long is the course?
This course is split up into 6 weeks, each week you are provided with homework so you have tasks to complete after watching the modules and reading through the content.
It may take longer than 6 weeks to complete the entire program, the course is designed to allow you to create a part time or even full time eCommerce store if you choose to do so.
Most of the advice I provide allows you to make sales without a ton of commitment when it comes to purchasing physical inventory. You can start slow and grow as you make progress through the course.
Check out these awesome testimonials!
"Found this just as I started work on an Amazon site. Really useful advice on how to set up shop. I'm implementing now and honestly, that alone will save me the next few days of my life at this point in my project.
That's worth the price of entry alone!
But the course has a lot more to give: outsourcing tips, sensible approach to promotion. Also heaps of stuff on FBA and other things beyond Amazon affiliate that held no interest and I thought weren't really for me, but I can now see offer a lot of potential for growth of my store down the line. Great stuff. I also appreciate the straight up approach here.
No typical marketers fluff, filler, hype or BS. Just laying out what seems solid advice and an action plan that will get you up and running in short order. You know the course is solid, as John walks through the set up of one of his sites, which is a cut above the usual robo-Azon affiliate spam site.
Even outsourcing leaves the hassle of managing workers, as we all know. It'd also be better if the intro gave some idea of the minimum kinds of investment of time and money you should expect to put in to get any result.
Of course, you can keep it passive, but consumers are more savvy than they've ever been. So i'd suggest getting into this with a view to build out and up: in which case the the slog begins." – Paul Andrews
"Start off gently as an as an Amazon Affiliate and then transition into your own eCommerce juggernaut. John will show you how it's done and demonstrate the software that makes it possible, easy and profitable." – Dr. Phillips
"This course is way more than just about Amazon Affiliates. Anyone starting an online business will also benefit from this course there is so much information in here and very useful information. John does a great job keeping you engaged in what he has to say, he's very knowledgeable and shows proof that he knows his stuff! Thanks for a great course John." – S Howard
"I've used WordPress for years so when I saw this course focused on the WooCommerce plugin I decided to give it a shot. It really is a comprehensive course covering everything you need to know about starting your own Amazon affiliate store." – Glen Thonis
"I'm very happy to have subscribed and this is a perfect course if you want to setup your own ecommerce store. John is an expert and his advises are very practical and easy to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole course and i have already started implementing them into my own business." – Hussain Ahmed
- Interested in earning with the Amazon Affiliate Program
- Interested in running a part time or full time eCommerce business
- Interested in selling products with the Amazon FBA program
- Interested in dropshipping or buying products wholesale to sell online
- Not for those who are not willing to put time and effort into building a good site
- If you are not interested in selling products online this course might not be for you
Created by John Shea
Last updated 2/2019
English [Auto-generated]
Size: 1.65 GB


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reply to post by PurpleVortex
lol yes I must've missed it. See, "lucid" dreams could also fit in my theory. Obviously if my theory is correct we are connected mentally to our other selves. So we could end up experiencing something in our dream from another universe/dimension/reality and actively be involved in it. See, I have yet to master lucid dreaming but I am getting close


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Re: Walmart Health: Just had a great dental visit this morning, which was preceded by helpful reminders from Epic, and…
DOCtalk with Dr. Gregg 1/12/16
HIT by Any Other Name
Perhaps it was the passing of iconic rock legend David Bowie that got me thinking about my rock and roll years. Perhaps it was some Ziggy Stardust-type strangeness that inspired my weird side. Perhaps it was just one of those days. Regardless, it recently occurred to me that HIT might benefit from a little rock-n-roll-ness. Specifically when it comes to nomenclature, and even more specifically when it comes to product names.
My current EMR has a pretty good name; they used a synonym for the word "happiness." I was told this name was chosen because they wanted clinicians to feel "elated" by its simple and intuitive interface and wonderful workflow design. As an end user for some time now, I'd have to admit that the name sorta fits. Maybe I'm not exactly "elated," but its ease-of-use does make me happy.
I wonder if such product branding would actually help other providers feel better about the HIT products they use? What if you added a little rock-ness to the name game for EHRs? Would it enliven the whole spirit behind using HIT products, especially for those less likely to inspire such joie de vivre on their own merits?
Let's try a little name game to see…
- From heavy metal: MEGABLOODSTAR EHR
- From classic rock: THE EHGLES EHR
- From blues rock: B.B. EHR
- From reggae: Bob EMRley
- From pop: Ziggy EHRDust (Had to be in there.)
- From glam rock: EMRli Vanilli
- From country rock: Down Home EHR
- From hip hop: Master E.H.R.
- From disco: KC & The EMR
- From 50's rock: Elvis EHR
- From psychedelic rock: The EMR Experience
- From folk rock: Bob (Just "Bob")
- From grunge rock: Alice in EHR
- From punk rock: The Ramones EMR (How can you mess with their name?)
- From techno rock: Daft EMR
- From surf rock: Surfin' EHR
- From stoner rock: High-On EHR
- From southern rock: Lynyrd EMRnyrd
- From ska punk: EHRbone
- From rockabilly: Stray EHR
As we near the end of another long, here-we-go-again football season, one more came to mind. For all you fellow long-suffering (some call us just plain stupid) Cleveland Browns fans, here's one more from a Cleveland-based band, the industrial rock-inspired: Nine Inch NEHR (NIИ).
I dunno … even with a little adapted user interface and some logo reworks to match, maybe others wouldn't find sitting down to peck away at an EHR with a rock-inspired name to be all that inspiring, but for most folks who seem to suffer in front of their electronic health systems, I bet it couldn't be any worse!
From the trenches…
"I re-invented my image so many times that I'm in denial that I was originally an overweight Korean woman." – David Bowie (RIP)
Dr. Gregg Alexander, a grunt in the trenches pediatrician at Madison Pediatrics, is chief medical officer for Health Nuts Media, an HIT and marketing consultant, sits on the board of directors of the Ohio Health Information Partnership, and is the semi-proud author of "Monsters Don't Fart!"
Jennifer, Mr. H, Lorre, Dr. Jayne, Dr. Gregg, Lt. Dan
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Winter: Time for Root Vegetables
When you think about healthy eating, salads and green vegetables usually come to mind. But how about adding a little more variety to your plan? Roots like carrots, sweet potatoes, and turnips, are a rich source of nutritious complex carbohydrates. Instead of upsetting blood sugar levels like refined sweet foods do, they help regulate them. Why Eat More Root Veggies? Long roots – carrots, parsnips, burdock, and daikon radish – are excellent blood purifiers and can help...Read More »


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Cool-season flowering plants
In my view, autumn doesn't have to spell the end of the show in the garden. Fall containers offer countless ways to still enjoy seasonal splashes of color. Moreover, these mini gardens no longer have to be all about flowering kale or mums. With a little ingenuity, you can create autumn planters every bit as beautiful as their lush summer cousins. Continue reading


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by Kyle Koso
KANSAS CITY, MO -- Looking to get back in the mix after dropping its first match Saturday, the Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite (MO) played a steady brand of volleyball and took a one-game lead against Sunshine South Bay (CA) at the Triple Crown NIT.
And when Sunshine began to fly around and scrap and scuffle for every point in Game 2, the Thunder turned up the dial themselves, coming back from a 17-14 deficit to power ahead and claim the victory, 25-20, 25-21.
Jordan Iliff (a Missouri commit) gave Rockwood a great base to start with, punching kills and quality serves as her squad took a 17-12 lead in Game 1 that forced a Sunshine timeout. The California team responded with four straight points, but too many mistakes blunted the rally, and Rockwood swept it up with winners from Anna Taylor and Alexa Harris.
Sunshine definitely got inspired in Game 2, as Amanda Burns began to pound her way to multiple points, with Breonne Benoit also driving the offense. That's when Rockwood measured up in the moment, doing great work at the net to maintain a say-so in what was happening.
"We talked a lot about confidence, that was a big thing for our team. We had to play together more in that situation, and had what we needed to shake off (bad points) and play better," said Lana Gerard, who showed up in multiple moments, including kills that kept the score tied at 17-all and 18-all in the second set, along with a kill to make it 22-20 for the Thunder. "It did get a bit snug, but we went back to the basics and thought about, maintained that confidence. I'm the only new piece of the team this year, but I did play with them two years ago, and our chemistry is great.
"Our defense is the strongest part of our game, but our ability on offense to run a lot of different things with our lineup across the front is huge."
Which is where Iliff definitely factors in -- the rangy left-hander was difficult to slow on her serve, and she was there for many big swings, including a winner off an overpass to give Rockwood a big 24-21 lead in the final game.
"The biggest piece of our game is picking each other up. It got tight, Sunshine started playing scrappy, and I think we really had to come together and play as one instead of as individuals," Iliff said. "I am used to having the pressure and accountability on me, and I think it's something that drives how I play. That pushes me harder, for people who need me to play hard.
"I definitely think being left-handed is super cool. I'm very lucky, because not many people are. There are a lot of right-handed right sides, and that's not easy to do. I'm very lucky; it's not easy to block or defend, and that really helps my game."
"At the end of the day, we play an emotional roller coaster game sometimes, and the last couple weeks we've done a better job calming ourselves," said Rockwood coach Billy Rhodes. "We might be a little undersized, we are very explosive. We do a good job digging balls as well, and allowing the attackers to get good swings.
"Jordan brings a lot both on and off the court; she's working through the flu right now, so she's not feeling her best. But she's digging a bunch of balls, too, which is something she's worked hard on the last couple months, and definitely a go-to attacker."
May 2023


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2014: Porsche Holding Salzburg on track for another record year
According to preliminary figures, Porsche Holding Salzburg (PHS) is again set to post a record year although market conditions were difficult at times in 2014. Alain Favey, CEO of the Porsche Holding Management Board, reported the news at the annual press conference in Vienna in mid-December.
With new car deliveries in 24 markets worldwide expected to total 615,000, the company will achieve an increase in the sales volume in wholesale and retail of just under 4% over the prior year. The number of retail dealerships rose to 592 this year (+3.9%). At 32,400, the number of staff also saw an increase (+1.7%).
At an international level in wholesale, Porsche Holding Salzburg not only works for the Volkswagen Group brands in Austria but also another 13 markets in Central and Eastern Europe and two markets in South America. In 2014 the sales volume will reach a new record of 274,000 new car deliveries (+2.4%). Austria accounts for 43% of the total wholesale volume.
The overall car market in the CEE region was 5.9% down from the previous year with around 640,000 new registrations. The reason for this was the market slump in Ukraine, where new vehicle registrations more than halved year on year. "Our goal is to maintain our retail activities there as far as possible. We hope the conflict will soon be resolved so we can return to normality quickly with our existing dealer network," says A. Favey remaining confident about the future.
The situation is extremely encouraging in large parts of Central and Eastern Europe, where PHS operates in both retail and wholesale. Although they started at a low level, the car market trends there are positive. The highest growth rates were recorded in Croatia (+21.5%), Hungary (+20.7%) and Romania (+20.1%).
Market performance for the Volkswagen Group brands that PHS sells in the CEE countries therefore continued to show a rise. This year the market share reached a new peak of approximately 18.5% (+2.5%).
Austria at high level but declining
In 2014 the overall Austrian market declined by about 4% compared to the previous year. Around 305,000 new registrations are expected, which still makes it a successful car year.
With four brands and six models in the top ten, the Volkswagen Group brands maintained their market position. Holding a 35.6% market share (1-11/2014), they kept up last year's high level. According to current forecasts, PHS will again close the year in Austria with a market share at record level.
Sustainable technologies in trade and service
PHS is increasingly investing in online services and technologies relating to vehicles. They include the largest online used car platform in Austria, Das WeltAuto, which people access for roughly 80% of the second hand car business.
The Mobile Service Reception, where the advisor uses a tablet PC to check in the vehicle for servicing, determines the work to be done and gives the customer a quotation on the spot, will be rolled out nationwide in 2015.
Unveiled a few weeks ago, the DiBOX is a unique, simple and convenient feature enabling car owners to keep in touch with their vehicles. The DiBOX is a small, digital box that can be retrofitted and connected to the vehicle's CAN bus. It records all kinds of useful data in real time which vehicle owners can access via the internet using the app on their smartphones.
The authorised garages for the Volkswagen Group brands with 400 service centres throughout Austria employ 14,000 people and ensure that the 1.8 million vehicles on the road receive the highest level of care. "The nationwide dealer and service network is one of our success factors. Closeness to customers and stability in our business model create trust and loyalty in the long term," says A. Favey. This is also corroborated by a recent GfK study on customer expectations of authorised service centres. It showed that 69% of customers claimed to use their brands' authorised centres regularly. About 91% of these customers would recommend "their" garage.
Investment drive to be continued
In addition to capital expenditure for online developments, Porsche Holding Salzburg is also increasingly investing in infrastructure, thus safeguarding jobs. PHS's average investment volume in Austria totals approximately 35 million euros a year. 2014 was an exception with 53 million euros allocated for construction. One focus of investment was Salzburg, where the Parts Distribution Centre was expanded, the Alpenstraße training centre extended and the new Porschehof office building completed. In addition, more capital was also invested in expanding and modernising the Austrian dealerships in the Porsche Inter Auto Group. "We will again be investing in sustainable development for our distribution and service organisation in 2015 and consequently safeguarding jobs in Austria," says A. Favey, underscoring PHS's key role as a local employer.
Outlook for 2015
Low interest rates, falling fuel prices and a stable economic situation in general bode well for positive overall market performance in Austria. Unless the government imposes higher taxes on motorists, PHS actually sees opportunities for slight market growth in the coming year. The company is striving to achieve a market share for the Volkswagen Group brands in 2015 on a par with the two previous years.
In the CEE markets, where PHS operates in retail sales, the company expects the current trends to continue and therefore looks forward to further growth. This does not however apply to Ukraine. Given the present situation, no forecasts can be given.


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Scoot Hard DX – A Post Mortem
This is in no way comprehensive. I left out a bunch of stuff for the sake of brevity. I also in one case hid the name of someone. If you piece together who it is, please keep your nose out of it.
With that said… the Scoot Hard DX Post Mortem
Scoot Hard DX started out as a Wolfenstein 3-D mod called Scoot Hard SDL. In a sea of mods that took place in the Wolfenstein 3-D mythos – with shooting Nazis, mowing down Hitler in a mecha, and other such stuff. This stuff isn't bad – but I wanted to create something that stood out more in a sea of Wolfenstein 3-D mods that stuck to the original setting.
So, being the autistic (no, really) person I am, I decided to draw inspiration from the My Little Pony Community. I had recently discovered Rainbow Factory by WoodenToaster (or better known as Glaze). The song talks about Cloudsdale – a city in the My Little Pony mythos where Pegasi reside, harboring a dark secret in the clouded walls of the Rainbow Factory, and how it ties into Clousdale's responsibility of weather stability with the use of something called the Pegasus Device. Aurora Dawn, recovering from an illness, wrote the story very quickly after being introduced to the show, the fandom, and the song.
By late 2011, Aurora Dawn's fanfic, Rainbow Factory, was hot off the presses. The story elaborates on the premise of the song – with Scootaloo, a filly and secondary character in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, failing her flight exam, thus meeting the same fate as her friend Orion and another pony, Aurora, did. For this they are sent to exile.
Except… it turns out there's no exile. Instead failures are ground up into the components to make Rainbows. This infernal machine is called the Pegasus Device. And who's running the show? Scootaloo's sister figure – Rainbow Dash!
The themes of extreme nationalism, failing a system rigged against the weak, and wanton and gratuitous violence. For me, this story had it all. Despite how crazy the story was compared to the source material, I related so hard to Scootaloo. I still do to this day. I fucking love this story so goddamn much, flaws and all.
A year after it's release, and it was still sending chills and controversies through the Brony community. Some loved it, some hated it, and some wanted it banned, claiming kids could see it easily – even though many people, including Aurora, tagged it and hid it behind content warnings. It was made abundantly clear this was not for kids, and was for a mature audience, as well as for horror fans and not… you know… people with a weak stomach.
I started thinking… how cool it would be to actually make a Wolfenstein 3-D mod based off of this concept. By November 2012, Scoot Hard: Rainbow Factory was released… to a bunch of my friends. It unfortunately didn't get very far, aside someone mentioning it on a Wolf3D forum somewhere.
Scoot Hard: Rainbow Factory (now called Scoot Hard SDL) was overly ambitious. Breakable glass, touchplates that opened traps, live wires you could turn on and off… and crude attempts at making a flamethrower. It was buggy… and it wasn't finished. I remember working on adapting an idea I had – making an alternate universe where it was Rainbow Dash's rival – a character on the show named Lightning Dust. Lightning Dust had motives… she hated Rainbow Dash for getting kicked out of the Wonderbolts Academy. What better way than to punish Scootaloo.
This plot point was being integrated into the codebase, when I decided just to scrap Scoot Hard and start working with the GZDoom engine.
Reinventing The Wheel… Twice
Since it was effectively a deluxe edition of Scoot Hard, I decided to call it Scoot Hard DX… and I dropped the Rainbow Factory to make it clear this was not officially sanctioned nor intended to be canon to Aurora's story.
By mid 2013 I had a rough prototype – I believe this is the one I showed my friend Tom at the time, who was in the Brony community around this time. Tom kept ahold of the prototype. I'm glad he did, because at some point I got frustrated with what I wanted to do with Scootaloo – making her glide – and I decided to drop the project. I have no idea if there was anything else, but I remember the scripting – still relying on DECORATE and ACS kludges – wasn't quite there yet. At some point these prototypes were lost. Not even screenshots or the asset trees remain. I know it got farther than the prototype Tom showed me later on… a shame no other prototypes exist.
Fast forward to 2020. Daytime Drama was released, has a cult following. I met one of my partners because of it, and I met my other partners because of her. We were thinking of a followup, and I really wanted Scoot Hard's plot to be relevant, as it technically was a prequel to the Daytime Drama mythos. However, Scoot Hard SDL was still buggy and I lost the Scoot Hard DX prototypes. Oddly, Scoot Hard SDL's source code was still up there… and I still had a copy of that. I attempted to fix it to no avail. Wolf4SDL's code is just too jank for me to understand.
While taking a break from what was going to be Daytime Drama 2, Tom hands me an old prototype. It has not only an old WIGZDoom build from the day – but also a prototype PK7 of Scoot Hard DX from 2013. It was a glorious find! I wondered, could I actually get this running in modern GZDoom… and fix the problems with it.
And I did. Slowly but surely, I refactored the code and updated E1M1. We were really excited at this prospect. A team formed around Scoot Hard DX. Development on DD2 stalled for reasons beyond the scope of this post mortem. However, we were having more fun working on Scoot Hard DX, and it was technically a new entry. Thus I decided to rebrand Scoot Hard again – as Scoot Hard DX: Daytime Drama Zero. Ellie and I worked on the levels. Rod was composing an ambient soundtrack. An initial beta was released on October 31, 2020.
This beta of the game… were received lukewarm at best. Massive amounts of hitscanners, bad air control, and other issues plagued the game early on. Plus me and Rod were having creative differences over the soundtrack. Plus… I was not sure if ponies was a good idea. It was getting to the point that I was about ready to slap a 1.0 on it and call it a day and go back to working on DD2… a cursed project on it's own.
However, one of Rod's friends – Metal Neon – is brought on the playtest. After some initial silence, he gives his feedback. He also shows off a track he made – a remix of Ecco the Dolphin that has yet to be released (so I won't demonstrate it here). That said, his ideas on how to make the game better – improve the lighting, make the weapons stand out, make enemies that are meant to challenge the player than just lettting them spam the Fillyseeker (a Heat Seeker). At this point, the project was starting to get some actual feedback from someone who knew the genre as much as me and Ellie did – if not even more. While implementing these ideas, Metal ended up composing a track to go with Dr. Atmosphere's boss battle. I was impressed with it.
Me and Rod had some admittedly nasty arguments over our creative differences and his tendencies to be a bit difficult to work with… I regret having those arguments and I could have done better. Eventually after some discussion, Rod left the team for personal reasons, and Metal was brought on to replace him. Me and Metal both feel bad about what happened. I do assure people that I have talked to Rod since, and there's no bad blood between the three of us.
However, Metal's sudden contributions was starting to affect one of our team members – someone I hired by giving them a laptop as a form of payment – to help with game assets. A risky move I know, more on that later. This person, we'll call Person A, was starting to cause problems for the team. Metal could be a bit direct at times, and sometimes a bit temperamental. However, he handled it professionally and apologized and made genuine strides to improve… this person wasn't having it. I should have seen it early on that this was going to be trouble.
Metal also introduced a colleague of his who could help us rig a pony model so I could use it for reference. The guy however, was incompetent at what he did, and constantly failed to save his work. However, worse yet, the guy kept using ethnic and racial slurs and making trans jokes that even I was uncomfortable with. I tried several times to tell him to stop, but he wouldn't. Ironically a rule change got him to leave, and he Alan Smithee'd the project. Oh well.
New Blood
One of the things Metal thought could use improvement was the weapons. Person A helped redesign the weapons… however their weapon designs were overly complex, requiring me to simplify them at times to fit the art style more. They were as much theirs as mine at this point.
Back to Metal's contributions – he designed an enemy called the Enforcer. It used a shield to deflect explosives, and later on in development, react to certain damagetypes with a volley of grenades. A heavy variant had cluster MIRV grenades and a psychic "whip". He also suggested balance changes to the Tornadozer – a weapon that gave us so much trouble in development because balancing it was hard.
We also replaced Scootaloo's VA with Victoria Prater – the sister of a friend of Metal, who did a bangup job. She really captured what I was going for with Scootaloo. The original VA, alabeanz, has not been on their Tumblr since the pandemic hit. I genuinely hope they're okay.
Much of the original voicework was re-done as well – Ben, Tabby, Cake, redsoilder55… and Metal himself voiced the cast of characters. However, Jenna Pepper voiced the delightfully effeminate fellow known as Maimbow – Lightning Dust's new identity. Originally Maimbow wasn't going to be a trans femboy Nazi, but at some point we decided on that
AuroraDawn notices!
At some point during development, I mention on my recently recreated Twitter that we were making a game based on Rainbow Factory. At some point AuroraDawn – who had been away from the fandom last I checked – had responded on Twitter. When Ellie told me about that… I was so overjoyed. He liked the concept.
I started messaging him to see what he thought and if he was okay with it… he was okay with it, as long as I made it clear it was not canon to his works. I agreed. We talk on occasion – more on that some other time, as it's important to what we do next.
Requiem For A Friend
However, not everything was grand around this time. I hit a wall. My depression was severe. The ZDoom community's relationship with me was collapsing.
Also trouble with the game's code. Most of the code was a weird hybrid of Scoot Hard DX's old code and Daytime Drama 2's source code – all in ZScript, save for some auxiliary ACS functions for maps. Oh and there was a bit of SWWM_GZ in there. It seems ironic now, but Marisa and I were good friends for the longest time – she was my first friend outside Accensus and WatchDaToast in the community. I still have very mixed feelings about what happened – but it's mostly not good.
Most of the SWWM_GZ code, save for custom subtitles for dialogue and some other functions, was removed – not even because of any bad blood between me and Marisa, but because the code was causing unpredictable issues. The way stackable armor worked was completely re-written to use my own formulas, and we went back to using the default explosion code because SWWM_GZ's explosion code – which offered spherical, rather than cylindrical, damage, was causing inconsistent results. Direct hits sometimes caused no splash damage – even on enemies that take splash damage, the velocity of enemies thrusted was weird… in general the code was not usable.
I frankly have no idea why I even used this code, looking back. The way I did it works much better. I typically write my own code now. Using other people's code – even with permissive licenses like MIT – sometimes causes trouble for me.
That said, I still am sad about losing my first friend in the Doom community, as well as being ostracized. This put me in a real bad spot for several months… I still am recovering.
It's been hell. Many sleepless nights with Metal and Jenna helping me.
The issues with the code causes many frustrating work sessions… again, it seemed like the best thing to do was to write my own and just keep at it. I feel really bad for the stress that caused all of us.
That said… my coding was not the best either. I was often frustrated, especially with adding UI elements. The worst one was reworking the Boss' Health Bar. Christ that was bad.
Shaking Things Up
The worst part, was Person A was starting to grow even more manipulative. As the project got more recognition, they kept stressing the work they did. They knew my mental state was not the best, and they started gaslighting me. The level that nearly broke us apart was Tchernobog Laboratory. We couldn't agree on that level. Person A started gaslighting me. This lead to an argument between me and Metal that nearly ripped the project apart. We worked it out – and I'm really sorry now that I listened to my friend of two years. No wonder I'm paranoid as fuck.
Person A kept causing trouble… and at one point we calmly approached them to work out something. What happened next was infuriating – basically deflecting the blame entirely on us for why they were being so awful. Basically a thirty minute tirade. I should have fired them there… why I did I have no clue.
As time went on, Person A's role became less and less, and I think that's what started to upset them. More people started coming on – Dane of MovieUnleashers fame came on as the voice of the Engineer. One of the in-jokes with his role is the line "Looks like we caught ourselves a bogie". I think it comes from a movie, and the line was being used to troll someone in Tower Unite. Oh the fun shit we come up with.
That's one thing that absolutely makes Metal really cool. I'm not the best with putting myself out there – but Metal is so energetic and puts himself out there where I can't. He gets us noticed. He also is willing to learn. He started working with voxel editors and Blender to make voxels to give the game even more of a Build-like aesthetic. The voxels in this game are all his.
Because Metal got around – We got noticed by In The Keep's Motherload. He was interested in our work, despite the connection to pony.
By March the project was reaching the final stretch. Most of the music was done, with a few tracks being worked on. There were some bugs still needing to be done, and Maimbow's arena had to be completely redone.
April 3, 2021 was the day Scoot Hard DX Beta Version 3.1 came out. I made a boxart based on Windows NT 3.1 to commemorate this release.
This would be the final beta released to the public. 3.5 was going to happen, complete with a Windows NT 3.5 inspired boxart, but we decided against it as we were so close to release.
Release Day
Scoot Hard DX Version 1.0 – the first stable release – was released April 16, 2021. You play as Scootaloo, who has been sentenced to death at the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation. She gets away, kills a guard, and works to rescue her friends from the fascist Pegasus Reich.
Weapons at your disposal? Rocket launchers, a freezer called the Hailer, a gun that shoots ball lightning, a giant gun that fires a wave of rainbows that atomize everything in it's path, and a gun that generates tornadoes that home in on enemies, or barrages them with gusts of wind. You could also turn into a chicken – which was a two pronged joke. First, the joke is an old fandom gag where, because of one scene, and Scootaloo canonically not being able to fly… made her doomed to be called a chicken even today. I turned the cringe into a powerup! Also the chicken? Graf's avatar. I have no beef against Graf by the way. People have not picked up on it yet. I'll probably get in trouble if it's found out. Oh well.
For those who haven't played it – Scoot Hard DX is a mix of Shadow Warrior, Rise Of The Triad, and Blood. It has a lot more vertical movement than most Doom projects. Scootaloo can glide and control her descent. This up/down motion makes it play differently than many things. I think the movement stood out to most people. Also you can't deny playing as a disabled filly fighting against a fascist corporation is kind of a neat, albeit hilarious concept.
Also from a technical standpoint it was cool. Many projects are still using ACS and DECORATE. Scoot Hard DX, like Daytime Drama before it, was entirely written in ZScript – save for some functions in ACS where ZScript would be overkill, like cutscene stuff. The boss routines were entirely ZScript. The Rise Of The Triad weapon system? ZScript. Everything was powered by ZScript. I don't think Scoot Hard DX could exist without ZScript… well, it could, but it would be very, very jank.
I have no beef with people who use ACS or DECORATE still. But many things are requiring ZScript now – such as getting the date, cross-mod services without hard-coded dependencies, overriding how items work, fine turning damage control… many things ZScript can do but DECORATE alone and ACS can't. I see so many people on the ZDF ask how to do something. It's easy to do in ZScript… but they insist upon supporting Zandronum or sticking with ZDoom 2.8.1. It's annoying to say the least.
So Scoot Hard DX wasn't featured on Icaruslives yet. I don't think it got much recognition from the ZDoom regulars… except one who happened to see the Doomworld thread…
It got covered by DavidXNewton, who does Doom related videos. He says Scoot Hard DX was the most violent thing he ever featured and added a disclaimer at the beginning, lest YouTube Kids accidentally picked it up and showed it to kids.
I was honored by David covering it and saying that.
As an aside – I really wish YouTube allowed for more than just "for kids" and "not for kids" and more than just "age restricted". I prefer the old RSAC advisory myself – based on content and not just age. I also wish they'd not force their bots to decide that. Let us decide for ourselves.
The video shows off most of the campaign. We fixed the Enforcers to be more fun to fight.
Also BryaStar covered it in a Twitch stream. I was there for two of the three streams. She seemed to enjoy it, especially after the many bugfixes and balance changes.
The movement took some time for BryaStar to master. It was this and feedback from other people that made it so we introduced a run/walk speed modifier – which defaults to shift. Q became the quick kick.
Version 1.2 fixed the enforcers. Several mini-hotfixes were pushed to the 1.2 release to fix bugs that I felt didn't warrant a major release, such as a bug with the titlemap that caused a print formatting error and caused ZScript to abort.
We were featured on In The Keep's podcast. Me, Metal and Jenna were there talking with The Motherload about Scoot Hard DX and the history behind it.
I didn't discuss some of the things discussed on this page because I wasn't quite ready to – mainly some of the specific things with the ZDoom community. I'm now at the point I feel I can be honest about that shit to the public. I do talk candidly about some of the issues I faced growing up too, as well as my experience with the LGBTQ+ community not being the best, despite me being trans and all that jazz.
And it was here we announced… this was not the end. Scoot Hard DX was a decent enough of a hit we were going to adapt it into a commercial project – and that AuroraDawn was helping with some of the concepts to get us started.
… but that's another story for another time. Around this time, Scoot Hard DX forked into Project Absentia, but we still maintain bugfixes for Scoot Hard DX. 1.3 was released, updating WIGZDoom to a 4.6 version of the GZDoom engine, as well as addressing an issue with newer devbuilds.
It was around this time that two major things happened. First, Person A and I had a falling out because I had enough of their bullshit. I let them go as gracefully as I could. They started spreading rumors that I didn't pay them (despite me doing so) and dragging my friends into the dispute. I was angry to say the least.
On top of that… Jenna, my girfriend, and one of my best friends, fell ill. For those who don't know, Jenna is blind, and has been since 2017. She had hearing loss and severe vertigo. This put her into a bad mental spot that terrified me. I was worried I was going to lose her. It took her about a month to get back to normal. It nearly broke our relationship apart because she was acting so nasty at times, taking out her anger on us. I felt like a horrible partner.
However, love prevailed in the end and we're stronger than ever. And she wants to come back for Project Absentia. And we're excited. The strife and turmoil made us stronger… and we're going to make this even better than Scoot Hard DX.
I want to talk about Project Absentia so bad. But you are all going to have to wait another day.
So… here we are. The end of Scoot Hard DX's development. This development cycle was… all over the place.
… but it was worth it. We got a project out the door. It got us noticed in a sea of boomer shooters. I am happy about that.
We've made safeguards to make sure the drama that plagued the development is no longer going to be a problem. We've grown as a team, and as individuals, and as friends. And for that, I am grateful.
In Conclusion
Scoot Hard DX was my first big project as a team. I thank everyone involved. There's so much other stuff I want to mention – like Korzodin helping us out a bit, Zan telling us how to change the air control, my conversations with AuroraDawn, the fact we got to meet General Mumble and Koa, two MLP fan musicians, and the bunch of injokes we accumulated during development. And of course, the Atmosphere family – Cake's pride and joy. There's even more than that.
Alas, I don't want to ramble too much.
As tough as it was – I feel like I'm a better person now, and I strive to keep improving.
I feel with Project Absentia, I hope to accomplish my dream of going commercial… and making my grandparents proud.
Love ya Grandma Sue and Grandpa Bob. ❤


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After one year of an examination of racism in the United States through a Racial Justice Reading Group, facilitated by Rabbi Lauren, we reached out to Grace Congregational Church in Harlem (310 W. 139th Street) and began a special partnership.
Since the fall of 2017, SAJers have met monthly with members of Grace Church — facilitated by Rabbi Lauren and Reverend Nigel Pearce — with this call:
"We believe that we are called, as people of faith, towards truth, justice and love. In that spirit, we aim to create a safe and sacred space for courageous conversations about race and identity. To do so, we will listen, learn, teach, examine, reflect, honor our truths and experiences and strive to grow as individuals and as a community."
Topics have included: The Radical Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., History & Present of Jewish-Black Relations, Beauty Standards & Racial/Ethnic Identity, and Music as Resistance in African-American & Jewish Traditions. We will also visit each other's services as our spiritual leaders do a "sermon swap."
- Wednesdays at SAJ: November 6 & Potluck Meal, February 26, April 22 at 7pm
- Sunday at Grace: December 15 at 11am
- Saturday, February 1: Grace Visits SAJ and Reverend Pearce is our guest darshan (teachers/speaker) . 10am
- Sunday, March 15: SAJ Visits Grace and Rabbi Lauren offers a sermon to their congregation during worship services. 11am
To join the list for Sacred Conversations, email email@example.com.


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This week's Economist urges the countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to turn down the U.S. request to waive restrictions against nuclear trade with India. India refuses to sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is officially the main international bulwark against the spread of nuclear weapons. Relaxing the restrictions against nuclear trade with non-signatories—the very rules around which the NSG was created—makes a mockery of the international anti-proliferation regime. Or so says The Economist (see article).
Really? The biggest threats to the international anti-proliferation regime have actually come from NPT signatories—Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and Libya—in collaboration with another non-signatory, Pakistan. Whether Pakistan's collaboration with these rogue states was officially sanctioned or not is still to be determined. Regardless, if the U.S. were pushing for trade with Pakistan instead of India, then Pakistan's refusal to sign the NPT would be a relevant argument against such a deal. But the deal is with India, and there is obviously a world of difference between India and the other countries just mentioned.
Nobody, least of all Canada, is happy about how India got its bomb. But nobody can say India has facilitated the nuclear activities of countries like Iran or North Korea. They, not India, are the problem. Recognizing India as a de facto nuclear weapons state only formalizes a situation that will continue, recognition or no recognition, whether we like it or not. Having India a member of the weapons club strengthens diplomatic opposition to Iran and other miscreants. Refusing to recognize her as such keeps her out in the cold, and does nothing to address the Irans of the world.
Canada has made its point, for more than three decades. It is time to move on. Anti-proliferation efforts can be stepped up, beginning with strengthening IAEA safeguards. The world appears poised on the brink of a renaissance in civilian nuclear power. The light water power reactor (LWR) will play a major role in this. Iran's claim of legitimacy in its nuclear program is based on the peaceful status most of the international nuclear community has bestowed on the LWR. To close this loophole and prevent future Irans, the IAEA should monitor nuclear facilities with cameras, in real time, to detect diversions of spent fuel.


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The New York Knicks (4-4) take part in their fourth game of a five-game homestand at Madison Square Garden on Sunday Night (Nov. 5) against the Indiana Pacers (5-4).
The Pacers entered Friday (Nov. 3) with a three-game winning streak, but that disappeared after their 121-110 road loss at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers led by seven at halftime but were outscored 65-47 in the second half. The 76ers connected on half of their three-point tries (18-of-36).
The Knicks will come into Sunday night's tilt as winners of four of their last five games after Friday's 120–07 home victory over the Phoenix Suns.
New York shot 51.7 percent from the field while holding the Suns to just 35.1 percent shooting.
Projected starters
Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Victor Oladipo, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Knicks: PG - Jarrett Jack, SG - Tim Hardaway Jr., SF - Courtney Lee, PF - Kristaps Porzingis, C - Enes Kanter
Team stat leaders
Pacers: Scoring - Victor Oladipo 24.6, Rebounding - Domantas Sabonis 10.6 (Myles Turner 11.5 in two games), Assists - Darren Collison 7.0
Knicks: Scoring - Kristaps Porzingis 29.0, Rebounding - Enes Kanter 10.5, Assists - Jarrett Jack 6.0
Injury report
Pacers: Out - Glenn Robinson III (ankle), Edmond Sumner (knee), Questionable - T. J. Leaf (ankle), Damien Wilkins (personal)
Knicks: Out - Joakim Noah (suspension), Questionable - Ron Baker (ankle)
What Knicks fans should know and watch for
After missing seven games with a concussion, center Myles Turner returned to action for the Pacers on Friday.
The big man had a nice four games against the Knicks last season, scoring at least 17 points in three of the meetings and also finishing with a double-double in three of four games. Expect to possibly see more of Kyle O'Quinn if Turner gets it going early.
While New York still has to play five more games before his suspension is over, one has to wonder where Joakim Noah will fit into the rotation.
His contract makes him seemingly untradeable with three years/$55.5+ million still remaining. The 32-year-old was a major disappointment in his first season with the Knicks in 2016-17. If Willy Hernangomez can't crack the Knicks' center rotation, can Noah? He may end up becoming the league's most expensive player that sits the bench.
There has been a large discrepancy between a number of points the Knicks have scored and allowed in their wins versus the losses. In their four victories, they are averaging 114.3 points per game. The four times they have been defeated, their average falls 20 points lower to 94.3. They are allowing an average of 99.5 points in wins and 111.3 in losses.
History of Pacers vs. Knicks
The Knicks and Pacers had some historic playoff battles in the 1990's, meeting five times, with New York winning three of those series. The two teams have met 171 times in the regular season with the Knicks holding a 90-81 edge in the win column.
New York won the four-game series by taking three games over Indiana last season. Three of the four games were close and decided by seven points or fewer. Before last season, the Pacers had won seven straight against the Knicks.


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Ripping Up Checks Will Not Necessarily Prevent ID Theft
If you make an error while writing a check, how thoroughly are you shredding it when you toss it out? And in an era where some banks let you deposit checks just by taking a photo with your smartphone, what are you doing with those pieces of paper after the money has cleared?
A couple in California are accused of piecing together ripped-up checks stolen from the trash at a self-storage facility. Rather than just take those taped-together checks to a bank, where they would likely be caught, they used the account and routing numbers on the checks to create counterfeit checks for their own use.
Police say at least 20 people were taken for a total of $16,000 by the scammers, who cashed the bogus checks all around Southern California.
The pair have been charged with 45 felony counts of identity theft, forgery, burglary, grand theft, receiving stolen property, among other charges.
While we're obviously glad these people were eventually nabbed, they wouldn't have been able to create these fraudulent checks if the people that had thrown them out had disposed of them properly in the first place.
If you don't have a proper shredder that will render the documents useless, we recommend that whenever you cut up a check, be sure that the account and routing numbers have been obscured. It also doesn't hurt if the remnants of the cut-up check are spread out over different bags of trash.
Overkill? Perhaps, but we bet that the victims of this crime are wishing that the folks who disposed of their checks had gone the extra mile.
Couple Allegedly Pieced Together Shredded Checks To Steal $16K From 20 Santa Clarita Victims [CBS L.A.]
Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.


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This promises to be an enormously helpful resource for students of the life and works of Aleister Crowley. Available now from Weiser Antiquarian.
CORNELIUS, J. Edward – Signed (Edited by Erica Peterson):
The Fringe Datebook
From Jerry: "I began writing this book began well over forty years ago. I was looking at my desk calendar, reading the names in the square with a magnifying glass. One was an actor, the other a politician and I had no idea who the third was. I yawned, was not impressed. Part of me wondered who they were, but I was not motivated enough to seek answers. I had other interests. I was always bathed in the fringes of society. I have walked in the shadows of dark alleys most of my life. I have taken great pleasure in subjects that are usually ignored as being the actions or babblings of outlandish and delusional people. But in these people, with their bizarre exploits and strange tales, I found my solace. They constantly caused me to question my reality, to sharpen my wit and realize how little I knew beyond the proverbial white picket fence of my family. My curiosity sparked by the boring calendar, I started jotting down the birth dates of every person that confronted my sanity into a huge, blank book. Many of the birthdates in this book are extremely rare, even by Internet standards, which makes this book very unique. The entries included biographical sketches of everyone from famous occultists like Aleister Crowley, many, many of his followers, his friends and acquaintances, his numerous Scarlet Women, lovers, as well as a multitude of modern Thelemites, OTO historical figures, Scientologists, to famous Masons, New Agers and Satanists, witches, alien contactees and UFO specialists, astrologers and famous psychics, psychologists, occult oriented musicians, poets and writers, actors and actresses of the less-than-mainstream movies, sci-fi and fantasy authors, cartoonists and artists, freaks, cowboys and murderers, less-than-nice people who amused me and virtually anyone who made me impishly hold my hands over my mouth like Linda Blair in The Exorcist after she watched the priest have a heart attack and die. With each name I include a biographical sketch. It's taken me years, but little by little, with each new entry the book grew and grew until one day I realized I had created a monster while gleefully admitting that it has been nothing less than pure frivolity that drove me to produce it. 1,770 entries."
Price: $65.00
Source: The Fringe Datebook | J. Edward – Signed CORNELIUS, Erica Peterson | First Edition


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You are in your bath tub, and instead of water, two seats, and curtains to your right and left, and your bathroom has a window- outside that window is movie screen, playing landscapes of California. It's like Instagram stories in 3D no scrolling or skipping necessary the landscape changes automatically for you, Colorful graffiti wall, cows in open pasture, industrial spaces. Now you know what's its like to travel in a roomette. Book your ticket. #thisisnotapaidad
It's private and has a door, there is a reading light, and an electrical outlet, as well as a small fold out table to hold your plastic cup of wine. Meals included- vegan options as well.