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My Little Book of Blessings Personalized Storybook
My Little Book of Blessings Personalized Storybook comes with ten personalized blessing to open up your child to the world all around them. Make every bedtime a special occasion for your child to treasure with this personalized baby book specifically dedicated to them.
Recommended for you
Shark Gift Set with Shark Chomp & Stomp and Shark Robe
Nothing is cuter than this baby blue shark gift set. Dress your little one up in the terry robe complete with shark fin, teeth, and tale. When it's feeding time, use the shark bib to keep clothes clean. Complete the look with adorable shark booties decorated with goofy shark teeth. Features and Facts: Color(s): Sea-blue terry robe with white cuffs. Chomp and Stomp booties and bib are white with blue-and-white-striped trim.Materials: Terry cloth robe. Bib and booties are 100% cotton with Velcro closure.Details: Robe with white cuffs, two terry ties in front, a hood with smiling, white shark's teeth, appliqued black eyes and a dorsal fin accent. Chomp and Stomp gift presentation includes a blue-and-white-striped box with sea foam-blue, grosgrain ribbon handle. Size: Size 0-9 monthsSelling Unit: SetMinimum Quantity Without Personalization: 1 SetMinimum Quantity With Personalization: N/AAssembly Required: No
My First Stroke of Luck - Personalized Baby Golf Club
These fully working golf clubs are a stroke of genius! They come personalized with baby's name, weight and height laser engraved on the head, but still function as clubs for the "little Tiger" in your family. Each club is also custom built to baby's weight and height, and its True Temper steel head and Junior grip mean they'll last for years to come. Excellent for display in family room, playroom, or nursery. Features and Facts: Color(s): Club head color varies from blue, dark blue to black.Materials: Titanium club head with Apollo steel shaft.Details: Custom built golf club. Uniquely personalized with name, date, weight and length. Ships in 2-3 business days.Dimensions: Approximately 3.75" w x 4.5" l x 2" h. Note: The length of the entire club is custom made to be the same as the baby's length (but no smaller than 19 inches).Selling Unit: Sold individually Minimum Quantity Without Personalization: N/AMinimum Quantity With Personalization: 1Assembly Required: None
Let the Fin Begin Blue Shark Robe (0-9m)
Say hello to the happiest, friendliest shark you'll ever meet! All this deep-sea darling wants to do is caress, cuddle and keep newborns warm after a bath, just until baby's all dry and ready for the rest of the day! Think of it as "catch and release!" Features and Facts: Color(s): Blue Materials: Terry Robe Details: Blue terry robe with white cuffs, two terry ties in front, a hood with smiling, white shark's teeth, embroidered black eyes, and a dorsal fin accent. The bottom of the robe resembles a shark's tail. Machine wash and dry (low). Size 0-9 months. Selling Unit: Individually Minimum Quantity Without Personalization: 1 Minimum Quantity With Personalization: N/A Assembly Required: None
Lobster Laughs Lobster Hooded Towel (0-9 Months)
Be it a day at the beach or just a simple bath, any baby could make use of a towel to dry off with and keep warm. When you're looking for a great baby gift, this lobster towel will be both functional and fun for any purpose that comes along. Features and Facts: Color(s): Coral Materials: Machine-washable terryclothDetails: Adorably designed, coral, terrycloth hooded towel with 3-D lobster head, claws, and tail.Size: Size 0-9 monthsDimensions: The towel measures 30" square with a 6" deep lobster hoodSelling Unit: Individually Minimum Quantity Without Personalization: 1 Minimum Quantity With Personalization: N/AAssembly Required: None


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Orientals for Urban Development (OUD) targets achieving EGP 300m in sales at their first summer real estate exhibition in 2019, which is due to start in July.
"The company is preparing to participate in a number of local and foreign exhibitions in Kuwait and Dubai during the summer season," said Shady Elzayat, sales director at OUD, adding that the company is preparing special and competitive offers for the exhibitions it participates in to suit all customers.
Elzayat explained that the company is offering a variety of projects in the exhibitions and is participating with the largest real estate portfolio that combines various residential, coastal, hotel, and industrial projects in various parts in Egypt.
He stressed that the company adopted a new selling and marketing plan during the current year, which started with television advertisements during Ramadan and will vary in summer to include several channels, namely real estate exhibitions. The company also increased its sales branches and opened branches in Giza and New Cairo.
OUD is a joint-stock company affiliated to Oriental Weavers Group. Established in 1994 to capitalise on the real estate boom in Egypt, the company has since bloomed into one of Egypt's largest real estate and urban development companies with investments in excess of $3.1bn.
The company is currently developing the J'noub project in the New Administrative Capital, Oriental Coast in Marsa Alam, Azadir in New Cairo, OIC industrial project in Ain Sokhna, and other projects in New Cairo, Obour, and Kattameya.

subset: commoncrawl


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If I could be any spaceship in the galaxy, why I'd choose to be the Millennium Falcon. It's true! And this week on the show (which you can listen to below), I'm sharing why. As a big sci-fi fan, and someone who has loved Start Wars since I was five, the Millennium Falcon has been a spaceship that I feel I've come to know and love, and, it's role in the Star Wars Franchise has been one that's full of inspiration and impact. So, when this unusual (OK so it's pretty weird) idea hit me for the podcast, I decided to run with it.
So, here are the top 7 reasons why, if I could be any spaceship in the galaxy, I'd choose the Millennium Falcon.
1. The Falcon is a named character in the movies, with personality, and a story arc.
Unlike many ships in the sci fi genre, The Falcon is one that has a known name beyond it's make and model (which is a YT-1300 Corellian light freighter). In other stories, a ship is often referenced by a naming convention such as the USS Enterprise, or the Battlestar Galactica. Unlike these, the Falcon has a name that is used regularly, and that it keeps as it changes owners.
In it's own story arc, the Millennium Falcon is the vehicle, both literally and figuratively, that allows Han to become the character we know in A New Hope. When Han meets Lando and wins the Falcon in a game of Sabaac, the Falcon represents the means for Han to start a new life. He's left Corellia and his life as an orphan slave. By the time Han arrives on Tatooine, he's an established smuggler with a ship that has a reputation, and it offers him the ability to take on Luke, Obiwan, and R2 as his next passengers.
The ship itself is the butt of many jokes, and an easy and familiar running joke due to it's dilapidated appearance. The other characters in the franchise seemingly love the ship, and love to make fun of it, and it endears us all to The Falcon. The way the ship is portrayed makes it very much like the kid on the playground who is equal parts admired and joked with, this is a ship that has personality and skills.
2. The Millennium Falcon is fast, or, is it really just super smart?
Known for having the best navigation system in galaxy, we learn in Solo that the system is actually the hardware that was originally part of the female droid know as L3-37. L3-37 is a self built droid, and she created herself from both astromech and protocol droid parts. She's glitchy, ornery, funny as hell, an activist, and a feminist. And, she's a very "special" friend of Lando's, who has an extensive navigation system. When she is fatally shot, her nav system is loaded to the Millennium Falcon right before it's fabled (and record setting) Kessel Run.
How did a light freighter become the second fastest ship in the galaxy? Upgrades, sure – both Lando and Han talk about having made modifications to the ship. My point of view? The ship is fast because it has an advanced means of navigation, in addition to the modifications. L3 is and was quirky and unusual, and she's a great match for the ship. When you layer in the fact that both Han and later Rey seem to have an intuitive match for the way The Falcon works, you've got a powerful set of factors that make the ship so very fast.
3. This ship is part of something much bigger than itself.
The Falcon is a gun for hire, since it's Han's ship. It plays a part in the resistance, in aiding the Jedis, and fighting for the Force in the galaxy. If I were a ship, I'd want to be on the side that's fighting for good.
4. For good or bad, The Millennium Falcon has a reputation
On the positive side of the Falcon's story – The galaxy knows that the Falcon made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, and it's clear that this story/legend has been spread throughout the galaxy by the time we meet Rey on Jakku (which is a remote desert planet described by Luke as being "nowhere.'), which would make it reasonable to assume that the story was spread far and wide.
Less positive? The Empire and later the First Order hate the Falcon. Finn states as much when it arrives for a battle on Crait; and what's interesting about this comment ("Ah, they hate that ship!") is that the dislike runs so deep that it's remembered even though the Falcon itself has been sitting in a junkyard on Jakku for an undetermined amount of time. Even with the ship out of commission, the Dark Side knows it and detests it.
If I'm gonna be a ship, I'd love to have a reputation like that.
5. The Millennium Falcon is a symbol of hope
Whenever the ship shows up for a fight, you know it's a good sign. Sometimes it's because it's bringing fire power and backup to the fight, or, sometimes it's a good sign because it's carrying main characters who are about to impact the plot. We saw the way the Falcon embodied this hope when in "The Last Jedi," it's the ship that takes the literal last of the resistance off Crait and out to regroup. We saw it when Han started his new life with the Falcon.
6. The Falcon is always waiting for the right people, and it's a great get away vehicle.
My first and favorite Falcon scene is when Han, Luke, Leia and Obiwan are leaving A New Hope, and the trusty Falcon is waiting for them in the hanger. Time and again, the Falcon is the ship that is waiting for the heroes – it's there for Rey on Jakku (side note: it doesn't seem like a coincidence that both Rey and the Millennium Falcon are on this desert planet, and that they likely arrived at about the same time), it's the ship that picks up Luke as he's hanging off the Cloud City after losing his arm and fighting his father, and it's the ship that takes Rey to Luke and waits for them as Rey does her training.
7. The Millennium Falcon is a home.
The Falcon is home for both Han Solo and Chewie, both of whom are without their own people or family. While the audience knows that this is their abode, we all become fully aware of how important this ship is to Han when he returns to it in The Force Awakens. As Han and Chewie enter the ship, Han says, "Chewie, We're home."
It's a pinnacle moment for all three of these characters; Han has finally returned to a place that feels like home, and is acknowledging that Chewie is part of his chosen family. It's an odd juxtaposition that Han says this while we know that he's had a son with General Leia, and spent the better part of the last few years not knowing where the Millennium Falcon was.
For all of this, it's Han's return to a ship who's past and story has been intricately entwined with his own. The Falcon was built on the same planet that Han was born. Han's father worked at the company that built these very ships, and it's not a stretch to assume he helped build The Falcon. And so it makes sense that this ship, for all that it's been through with Han and Chewie, is recognized and embraced as their home. And if I was a spaceship, I would think that being considered someone's home would be the highest of honors.
Episode 3: Matthew Wood (The Voice of General Grievous in Star Wars) on Crafting Joy in the Crossfade
Episode 59: Finding Joy in "Star Wars in the Yard" with Russell Hurst
The Ways the Millennium Falcon Were Different in "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
L3-37's Story Changes Everything We Knew About the Millennium Falcon
Solo: A Star Wars Story on Wikipedia
Solo: A Star Wars Story Has Franchise's First Main Female Droid
Will Star Wars 9 Blow Up the Millennium Falcon?
Rey first meets Han Solo and the "Chewie, We're Home" line in The Force Awakens:


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Interactive visualization of volumetric data with WebGL in real-time
Autores: John Edgar Congote and Luis Kabongo and Aitor Moreno and Álvaro Segura and Jorge Posada and O. Ruiz
Fecha: 20.06.2011
author = {John Edgar Congote and Luis Kabongo and Aitor Moreno and Álvaro Segura and Jorge Posada and O. Ruiz},
title = {Interactive visualization of volumetric data with WebGL in real-time},
pages = {137-146},
keywds = {
Direct Volume Rendering, Ray Casting, Real-Time visualization, WebGL, Weather Radar Volume, Medical Imaging
abstract = {
This article presents and discusses the implementation of a direct volume rendering system for the Web, which articulates a large portion of the rendering task in the client machine. By placing the rendering emphasis in the local client, our system takes advantage of its power, while at the same time eliminates processing from unreliable bottlenecks (e.g. network). The system developed articulates in efficient manner the capabilities of the recently released WebGL standard, which makes available the accelerated graphic pipeline (formerly unusable). The dependency on specially customized hardware is eliminated, and yet efficient rendering rates are achieved. The Web increasingly competes against desktop applications in many scenarios, but the graphical demands of some of the applications (e.g. interactive scientific visualization by volume rendering), have impeded their successful settlement in Web scenarios. Performance, scalability, accuracy, security are some of the many challenges that must be solved before visualWeb applications popularize. In this publication we discuss both performance and scalability of the volume rendering by WebGL ray-casting in two different but challenging application domains: medical imaging and radar meteorology.
isbn = {9,78E+12},
date = {2011-06-20},
year = {2011},


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Fourth police officer in a month up for dismissal
ZIZ Newsroom, Aug 1, 2010, Basseterre – Another police officer is up for firing following an internal disciplinary matter.
ZIZ understands that the officer, constable Alister Huggins has been recommended for dismissal.
Although details surrounding the matter are sketchy, a senior police official has confirmed that the dismissal procedure is underway and the paperwork must be sent to the Police Service Commissioner.
In 2007 Huggins was convicted of larceny involving a member of the Bobo Shanty Rastafarian group. However, the senior official said this move to dismiss him came out of a separate, unconnected incident in 2010.
This makes the fourth officer recommended for dismissal in the past thirty days. Two male officers from the Nevis division and one male and one female from the St.Kitts division.


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Southeast Sales Manager
Knows everything from civil construction to TI renovations.
Say Hi to Tony
Based in Charlotte, NC, Tony is the Southeast Region Sales Manager for Priority Lighting. Tony came from the construction side of the building industry, where he worked in business development and project management for one of Southern California's premier electrical contractors. With more than 10 years in the building industry, his vast experience includes everything from large-scale civil construction projects to small TI and renovation projects.
A native New Yorker, Tony now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and their two sons. He is an avid golfer, enjoys cooking, entertaining friends and family, and will take on any DIY project.
How Does It Work?
Let us help you with your lighting needs!
Get your project done in 3 easy steps with Priority Lighting
Send us your plans
We do the takeoffs
Approve the packet
We stage, label, and ship
Receive your lighting
That's it!


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Currently, Baskin-Robbins operates 13 locations in and around Denver and 25 stores across Colorado. The company plans to open more than 60 locations statewide in Denver and other large and small markets over the next several years. Baskin-Robbins will open more than 400 stores globally in 2008.
Baskin-Robbins' Denver launch is part of an aggressive growth strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while entering new cities throughout the country. The company is actively seeking new franchisees willing to own and operate a minimum of three stores in Denver and the surrounding counties.
"As the Baskin-Robbins brand continues to develop in Colorado, we're now looking for franchisees in Denver with strong financial backgrounds to manage multiple stores and a passion for their local communities," says James Franks, national director of franchising, Baskin-Robbins. "We are excited about new franchisees joining our team who are ready to work on their business and not just in it. Our small business, small network approach allows owners to develop a strong presence in their market and play a vibrant part in the daily lives of people who live and work in and around Denver."
Baskin-Robbins offers franchisees a variety of store concepts including free standing stores, sites within shopping centers, kiosks, and other retail environments. Furthering its commitment to its franchisees, Baskin-Robbins also offers a range of support systems including: complete training, site selection assistance, design and construction, marketing, and technology assistance.
To share information about franchising opportunities in Denver, Baskin- Robbins is hosting a franchising seminar at the Denver Marriott Tech Center on August 5, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Included in the discussion will be the brand's new store design, new logo, marketing, training, and site selection. To register for the event and learn more, visit the seminars and events link at www.baskinrobbins.com/FranchiseOpportunities/ .
"Baskin-Robbins will satisfy a growing demand in Denver for high-quality ice cream, specialty frozen desserts, and beverages," Franks says. "Over the past 62 years, Baskin-Robbins has become the brand of choice for consumers and has consistently delighted them with our irresistible flavors and treats. We look forward to being an important part of the Denver community."


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Sani Danja and Davido entertain and made an electrifying performance at the just concluded PDP National convention in Port Harcourt where Atiku emerged as the party's presidential candidate. The Nigerian Superstar - Davido who recenty supported the PDP Party and also showed massive Support for his uncle Senator Ademola Adeleke in the highly controversial Osun State election days ago, Nigeria Afro-pop superstar and DMW boss David Adeleke, known as Davido performed at the ongoing People's Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention & presidential primary in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Sani Danja who is well known for his acting role and also regarded as King of the North also came down to show massive support for PDP As he also shared his latest record for the party which he performed live at the show
The PDP presidential primary is between gladiators such as Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, David Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Dankwanbo, Rabiu Kwakwanso and many others, according to report Taminu Turaki has step-down from the race in order to support Bukola Saraki presidential ambition.
Watch the performance and also pictures of Sani Danja with notable nigerian leaders below, and also download the new northern vibe song for PDP by Sani Danja!
Sani Danja New PDP Song link:-


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CADMitra was founded in the year 2015. Our team comprises of highly qualified Architects, CAD Drafters, Architectural Visualizers and BIM Specialists with vast experience in providing CAD services. We have an experienced and skilled quality assurance team which continuously works on improvisation of project execution methods.
We excel in providing high-quality 2D and 3D CAD Drafting Services to our clients. We focus on exceeding our clients' expectations and strive to be known for our competence, integrity, and contribution to the people and industries we serve. We use cutting-edge technology and constantly upgrade our technology to stay at par with global trends. We continuously drive to learn new skills and upgrade existing skills. This has enabled CADMitra to meet the stringent quality expectations of our clients. Our zeal to provide time-bound and quality services to our clients also helps them to concentrate on designing and maintaining relations with their clients, while we will take the entire responsibility of their deliverables.
We are highly concerned with the security and integrity of our clients. Our network is well protected with updated anti-virus software. All data provided by the client is kept confidential and will be the property of the client. The client is provided with a restricted access to client-specific drive.
We have been associated with Neelambari and her team from Cadmitra from the past over 3 years and they have been providing us with AutoCAD design and drafting services both product design as well as architectural design. Cadmitra has always performed well on all the 3 key performance parameters i.e. accuracy, on time and within budget and several times they have worked to very tight deadlines and still delivered. They always self check all drawings prior to sending them which really helps to save valuable time and cost. We wish them continued success for the future.Sanjiv, Inventor
Neelambri stuck to her promised timeline, and the quality of work was as she said it would be.
Will definitely be using again in the future.Shah, Architect
CADMitra team have wide ranging technical skills, and their communications is excellent.
I highly recommend them.Elie, Engineering Consultant
CADMitra has preformed beyond expectations. We use a less popular drafting program and they have quickly picked up our standards and style.
I would highly recommend using CADMitraJay, Principal Architect


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Björn Axén volumaster
Björn Axén volumaster plates.
This is how my hair looks after unsing volumaster on it. Make sure to leave the hair closest to your parting and hairline unstyled to avoid an afro-do'!
Left side - non-styled
Right side - styled with volumaster
|© 2008-2011 purity.webblogg.se
|About Purity | Contact | Policy


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Laucki Kheer (Bottle Gourd Pudding)
Lauki Kheer is a healthy and very refreshing dessert made with bottle gourd.Add to favorites
Lauki ka Raita – Bottle Gourd with Yogurt
Lauki raita is a refreshing yogurt-based dish made with spiced lauki and yogurt. Lauki is also known as bottle gourd, doodhi, ghia. Lauki raita is healthy and tastes delicious. Serve this as a side dish with any Indian flat bread or over the rice.Add to favorites


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Firearm Rights for Criminal Offenders in Oregon
In the state of Oregon, individuals with convictions on their criminal record, including certain felonies, may have the right to own firearms, which are taken away upon conviction. According to oregonlegistlature.gov, ORS (Oregon Revised Statute) 166.270 states that a person commits the crime of possession of a weapon if they are caught having either a firearm or blade instrument, and have been previously convicted of a felony in Oregon or any other state in the United States. Furthermore, ORS 166.470 sets several limitations and conditions concerning the sales of firearms, including a ban on sale to people convicted of a felony, those having outstanding felony warrants, or those having been convicted of a violent misdemeanor.
Restoration of Firearm Rights
Under ORS 166.274, individuals convicted of a felony may have the right to restore their firearm rights. According to Section 5 of this statute, a convicted individual can petition with the Psychiatric Security Review Board, the Department of Human Services, the Oregon Health Authority, and the district attorney for relief. Once received, the petition is discussed in a contested case hearing in which the board goes over the facts and draws a conclusion based on the law. The restoration of the individual's rights may be granted if he or she is able to demonstrate to the board that they would not be apt to commit a violent act based on their reputation, record, and circumstance of their firearm restriction. A petitioner can submit a request for judicial review of the board's decision and may also go through the process of appeal with the circuit court to the Court of Appeals.
Restoration Limitations
There are several instances that would bar or limit a convicted offender from gaining relief from their firearm restriction. Those convicted of a person felony, as defined by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, which involves the use of a deadly weapon, including firearms, will not likely be granted relief of their firearm restriction. Additionally, relief may not be granted to those convicted of felonies defined under ORS 137.700, which includes murder, manslaughter, assault, kidnapping, rape, and robbery, among others. Furthermore, there are federal laws that prohibit the possession, sale, and use of firearms to individuals convicted of certain crimes. According to justice.gov, the Lautenberg Amendment enacted in 1996 is an amendment that prohibits the possession of a firearm by those convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. To learn more about Oregon firearm rights restoration, visit RecordGone.com's Oregon firearm rights restoration page.


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|The site of Pacific Standard
Pacific Standard Coastal Kitchen is set to open in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood on July 11. With a kitchen helmed by San Diego native and former Top Chef alum Giselle Wellman, the restaurant is excited to release its initial launch menu. See it here first!
Anchoring the northern end of San Diego's flourishing Little Italy neighborhood, Pacific Standard Coastal Kitchen is downtown's newest harbor side eatery perched at the corner of Pacific Highway and Hawthorn Street. The restaurant comes to fruition though a collaboration between Southern California-based hotelier T2 and veteran restaurant developers, New School—who draw on Executive Chef Giselle Wellman's expertise to curate a menu influenced by the surrounding Little Italy community. Located at 2137 Pacific Highway, the concept breathes new life into the site of one of the neighborhood's most distinctive landmarks, an iconic art-deco restaurant complex that formerly housed 'Fat City' and 'China Camp' restaurants, and offers picturesque bay views from its expansive 4,100 square-foot indoor/outdoor property.
"Over the past few years I've seen incredible growth and a re-energized passion throughout the local culinary community," says Wellman. "I'm thrilled to be back home, and to be in the kitchen with an amazing team."
|Chef Ami Cisneros
Highlights of the newly released dinner menu at Pacific Standard include Shrimp Toast with grilled Old Bay jumbo shrimp, sofrito, lemon confit, pea tendrils and Fresno chili; The PS Salad with red endive, Upland watercress, roquefort, dried cherries and hazelnut dressing; Fish & Chips with San Diego Bay lager battered rockfish, house-cut fries, fresh herb tartar sauce and malt vinegar; and Risotto with roasted wild mushrooms, whipped mascarpone, and tableside parmesan-reggiano (see full dinner menu below).
Placing heavy emphasis on West Coast varietals and producers, expert Sommelier Hayden Felice (Tom Colicchio's Craft, New York; Ludo Lefebvre's Trois Mec, Los Angeles) pours a predominantly local wine and beer list, sourced from craft, boutique and classic producers - offering nearly 30 by the bottle offerings along with 20 varietals available by the glass and over a dozen craft beers.
Pacific Standard's 4,100 square-foot restaurant property repurposes one of Little Italy's most distinctive landmarks: the iconic art-deco complex that was long emblazoned by the glowing neon lights of the city's former 'Fat City' and 'China Camp' restaurants. Upholding the building's exterior art-deco architecture, guests are greeted by Pacific Standard's bold geometric façade, complete with a 60-foot tall tower topped by a blue and white stripped ornament as an ode to the property's former 'Top's Nightclub.'
Pacific Standard introduces modern, coastal chic design influences into the interior space through the use of materials including hand-blown glass light fixtures, white marble countertops, chevron-print leather bar stools, coastal-inspired artwork and two 16-foot long natural walnut live edge communal tables. Two expansive outdoor patios with views of the harbor and bayside, plus an adjoining courtyard featuring a 20-foot linear fire pit and lounge seating, bring the outdoors in to create an open, airy environment throughout the space.
New School has also brought their spirits industry veteran, Dino Balocchi (Longman & Eagle, Chicago; Dirty Laundry, Los Angeles), and Sommelier Hayden Felice (Craft, New York; Trois Mec, Los Angeles), to curate a playful selection of craft cocktails ranging from pre-dinner aperitifs to boozy brunch sippers, to punchbowls, alongside Pacific Standards' lineup of local beers and an all West Coast wine list.
Pacific Standard is located at 2137 Pacific Coast Highway in San Diego's downtown Little Italy neighborhood. For more information, visit pacificstandardkitchen.com


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I'm slowly making my way through Online Card Classes' Clean & Simple 4 class. This birthday card I made for my mom is inspired by one made by Karolyn Loncon in the class. It was a fun technique, called velveteen stamping. I stamped My Creative Time's Grainy Wood Background on white cardstock with Hero Art's White Unicorn Pigment Ink. Once it dried, I stamped the butterflies from Papertrey Ink's With Sympathy stamp set using some PTI ink. Because PTI is a hybrid ink, the woodgrain pattern shows through. I love that effect!
Then I masked off the butterflies with masks I made with some Inkadinkado masking paper and stamped stamps from PTI's Lovely Leaves. The sentiment is from MCT's Celebrate Good Times. Some machine stitching and Glam Rocks (haven't used those for a LONG time) finished it off!
Products used on this card:


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by Jennifer Riggins
OK maybe it'll take you more than 20 minutes in the end, but creating a truly agile and actually useful business plan in about an hour ain't too shabby! Today we go into how to create a down-and-dirty prototype of a business plan to get you moving and to get you focused!
My good friend and fellow guiripreneur John Wolfendale has always shared the desire to work for himself and has been, quite frankly, very good at it, but he hasn't always been able to express his business strategies very well, when approaching potential business partners or investors. For his first big company that sold £10,000 dance holidays, it took them three years to write a super thick business plan with exec summary, background and history, financials, marketing opportunity, marketing strategy, team, etcetera. He still raised money, but, by the time his business plan—or should we say business tome?—was outdated with his company having pivoted numerous times.
That's why John, when he was building his current business Eco Vida Homes, was super attracted to the business plan process by Ash Maurya that promises to get you focused on you focused and functional in just 20 minutes. John shared his explanation of this lean change activity with all of us at our annual Writers and Bloggers about Spain conference, and now I'm here to share it with you.
John advised that the video above is about 20 minutes, but you have to pause it often for brainstorming sessions, so time-box yourself for about an hour to focus just on this.
"It's not perfect—it's your current thinking that you're going to test and modify," he said.
Start-ups that succeed are those that manage to find a plan that works before running out of resources.Ash Maurya
Step One: Your Customers
John says to make a long list of your current customers. "You're looking for customer categories that are 'just right,' not too broad and not too narrow." He warns that you need to be careful to distinguish between your "customers" and your "users"—the customers are the ones who pay you. If you have a website or blog, your advertisers are your customers, while your readership are your users.
He says to then pick your strongest customer segment because you've got the strongest channel to reach them. "Your success depends on your ability to define your early adopters."
Step Two: Identify Three Problems
John says your success is based on your ability to define the three problems of your early adopters. For each problem, perform the five-time root-cause analysis, asking "Why is that a problem?" five times for each question. Next ask: How do they solve these problems today? What is their current reality? For each problem, make sure there is a specific solution.
Step Three: Minimal Viable Product (MVP)
"The smallest solution that still delivers customer value. It solves the specific problem and gets you paid," John explained. If you're a start-up, survival hinges on you getting that traction.
Step Four: Unique Value Proposition
John calls this creating your finished-story benefit, the end result in a specific time period, where you deal with any objections. He reminded us that this is not set in stone, but rather "This is a guess or a hypothesis, back to the idea that this isn't a perfect business plan. You can test them and try again."
Step Five: High Concept Pitch
The high concept pitch is where you distill your unique value proposition into a memorable sound bite," like "Aliens is like Jaws only in space" or "YouTube is like Flickr for Video." For John's own business, it's: "EcoVida Homes is grand designs without the drama."
Step Six: Identify Channels
Where are you selling your product or service? Channels are where you communicate your UVP to your customer segments. This can be direct sales through your website or it can be indirect through different sites and resources like Google AdWords or even being mentioned anywhere else. You're testing your channels from Day One.
Step Seven: Customer Relationships
This is the seemingly simple bit that creates the all-essential customer experience. How do the customers interact with you through the sales lifecycle?
Step Eight: Drive Value
Here's where you're producing two metrics. The first is uncovering the customer action that drives value: What do you actually want the customers to do that's going to create value and get you paid? Now, how many customers do you need to hit that goal?
Step Nine: Pricing and Revenue Streams
John pointed out that pricing is part of your product, offering the common example of how two water bottles can have dramatic pricing differences—which do you respond to emotionally? Which one would you buy? This means that the price has to be relative to the customers' alternatives, not your costs. "The price determines the customers you attract
Step Ten: Fixed and Variable Costs
Do a rough estimate of your fixed and variable costs in order to determine how many customers you need to break even. How many customers do you need to meet success?
Step Eleven: Key Activities
What ongoing activities do you have to do to continue to increase value for the customer and/or decrease costs for you?
Step Twelve: Key Partnerships
For some companies, these are investors or fully contracted strategic partnerships. For others, it's simply those people who share aligning but not competing interests where you can help each other out. As best you can, you want to map Key Partnerships to Key Activities, making sure that you are partnering with those that move your objectives forward. Don't have any key partnerships yet? Then it's your time to think about what kinds of partnerships you need for which key activities and how you are going to cultivate them.
Step Thirteen: Your Unfair Advantage
What is your unfair advantage? John explains that the mistakes that most people make is thinking that having more features or passion counts here—they aren't unfair. "Essentially it's something that cannot be easily copied or bought," breaking down barriers to entry, like patents, dream teams, celeb endorsements, organic search rankings. He points out that the most likely thing is that you don't have one. But perhaps it's just that you don't know what you have. I mentioned that for our group, the fact that we are all native English speakers in Spain gives us an unfair advantage in the workforce. (In the case of your business, fair is good! If you're a bootstrapping business, you've gotta take all the advantages you can get!)
Step Fourteen: Next Steps
With any business venture, you need to be constantly looking back and thinking forward. Does your business model make sense? Is it competitive enough? Is it attainable? And, is it actionable? What are the next logical steps it leads you to? Does it put you in the right direction?
And if you have business partners or trusted teammates or advisors, what do they think?
Put it all in a Lean Business Model Canvas
All of these items go into brief bullets in a lean business model canvas, like the one provided by lean coach Alexander Cowan. But don't worry if it's not perfect—it shouldn't be! In fact, this is called lean because it's just what you need right now, but it comes with the assumption that it'll change over and over again, just like your business will change, in response to customer needs.
We want to know about your business! Tell us your High Concept Pitch below!
Photo: Unsplash


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Italian fashion makes appeal to government
In full recovery, the Italian fashion industry hopes to continue to benefit from the support of pubic authorities. With the arrival of the new government led by the League and the M5S (Five Star Movement), many in the fashion industry are wondering whether "Made in Italy" will continue to garner the same amount of support as before.
"The whole of the sector has returned to the state it was in before the financial crisis with an estimated turnover for 2018 at €90 billion ($103 billion), which is similar to the 2008 total. This was possible thanks to the support of the government. If the new government does not give the industry the same level of attention, it would be devastating," warned the President of the Chamber of Italian Fashion (CNMI), Carlo Capasa.
"I hope that the government will remain consistent and will pay just attention to fashion, a driving force behind the country's economy which has proven its vitality in recent years. Faced with crisis, businesses responded with full-scale restructuring and a focus on innovation. It would be foolish to ignore the second largest industry in Italy," said Capasa, President of the Camera della Moda, when announcing the schedule for Milan fashion week.
The fashion week will be held from September 18 to 24 and will feature 60 runway shows, 80 presentations, and 44 events.
"Government support is essential, especially because our sector is comprised mainly of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). Statistics are sometimes misleading and paint a picture that the fashion industry does not need help because everything is going well," said Capasa's predecessor, now Honorary President of the CNMI, Mario Boselli.
"Although large luxury groups are on the rise, this is not always the case with smaller businesses. When our SMEs go abroad, they encounter difficulties and it is not easy for them to bring buyers to Milan. Government aid is therefore very important. But we remain positive," said Boselli.
As Capasa pointed out, "The top 50 Italian fashion businesses make up 40 percent of the Italian fashion industry's revenue total."
The sector is made up of over 67,000 companies and employs over 620,000 people. If eyewear, cosmetics, and jewellery are also counted as part of the Italian fashion industry, then the 2018 revenue total is over €89.7 billion with is a year on year increase of 2.8 percent.
For the textile and clothing sector alone, the 2018 revenue total reached €66.7 billion with a growth rate of three percent and sales rising particularly in the second quarter. According to the CNMI's estimates, exports should grow by 4.3 percent to total €52.24 billion with a trade surplus of €18.7 billion.
"The new government took office in June. We should give it some time. For my part, I am optimistic. I am sure that the government will understand the value of our industry and will adequately support it," said Massimiliano Bizzi, the founder of the White Milano research trade fair. White Milano will hold its next edition during fashion week with a number of events.
Over the past three years between 2016 and 2018, public authorities have granted an extraordinary total of €520 million to the Made in Italy movement and €135 million of this was for the fashion sector alone. The funding was put towards major fashion events and trade shows such as Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week in order to promote the whole industry.
With the change of government, a new strategy is likely to be put in place. The first meeting between the Italian fashion industry and the undersecretary of the Ministry of Economic Development, Michele Geraci, is scheduled for September.
At the end of the month, Geraci is expected to unveil the growth and budget objectives. The budget itself is expected to be unveiled at the end of the year.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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This is probably my most exciting post to date — Kyle proposed! And I said yes!!!
I know you've probably already seen the news on my Instagram, but I still wanted to put up this post so these images had a little home on the web. They are truly my favourite images of Kyle and I EVER!
And here's a little backstory to them, in case you missed it:
Basically, I had been bugging Kyle to take a nice Christmas photo with me in this dress I had worn to a wine gala. I wanted to share with you guys how flattering it was, but Kyle kept putting it off! He finally agreed to it one night and said our friend could take the photo for us instead of using the tripod. What I didn't realize was that he had gone out and bought a little extra prop without telling me! 💍 I hadn't suspected a THING because getting a nice photo in front of the Christmas tree had been my idea all along — he was so sneaky! Afterwards he whisked me off to a dinner he had been secretly planning to celebrate with our friends, and we stayed up until 3 in the morning drinking and laughing. It was the MOST magical night of my life, and I'm so thankful we got it all on camera! I'll treasure these photos for the rest of my life. ✨💗
ALSO, in case you happen to need a fancy navy dress — I've got you covered. This dress from ASOS is not only super comfortable, and flattering, but affordable too! I got it in a size 4 and it fit me perfectly, so I would say it's true to size. I would highly recommend it!


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Shop Now
Blog Categories
keep it real
Thursday, February 23, 2012
I've been struggling with some things lately such as direction of the blog. If you blog you understand that blogging is actually something to enjoy. It's fun and a pleasure, but when blogging starts to feel like a job you begin to not enjoy it so much. Ya know what I mean? Yes you, I'm talking to you!
I'd like to hear your thoughts. Why do you read this blog? What do you like? What do you not like so much? Give it to me straight! One big thing I have been wondering is do you like to get personal? Meaning, how would you feel about more personal posts from me, the person behind Cap Creations? Until now I have not gotten very personal, I've kept it more professional. After all this is blog for a jewelry business. Right? Do you even know my name? Where do you draw the personal/business line? Yes this is a business blog but the business is part of me so can it be a personal blog too? Of course I will still have the other things you usually find here such as creations and printables cause y'all know I like to create stuff! Do you like to get to know the people behind the blogs you read?
So if you could help me out in the comments box I would truly appreciate you taking the time to chat. Hopefully I can unblock this bloggers/creative block and be inspired again. I personally do care to know more about my readers! Just FYI.
5 comments:
I find I like a mix on a blog, I love learning how to make things, see what you have made, a little about your life but i do say a post needs pictures. If you are decorating what you are doing, if you go or do something you really like where and why.ReplyDelete
I`d LOVE to know more about you :)ReplyDelete
Thanks for your comments ladies! I totally agree Susan, photos are a must! As you can tell I slacked in that dept. on this post lol!ReplyDelete
Hey Cathy...I so hear you when it comes to burn-out. Last year I converted my blog from one to five separate ones to keep things easier to sort and load for my readers. But then again...who was reading it anyhow? I felt like I was going through all this work and no one was even reading it...lol I also felt like I was living for the sake of blogging...you know like when you first start scrapbooking and buying stickers and papers for pages that you want to create in the future in lieu of for the boxes of photos you already have to scrap? So this year I'm slowed down on posting from 4-5 times a week to only 1-2 times and I feel so much better. The pressure is off...it was all self-imposed by the way...lolReplyDelete
I love to read personal posts and I always love it when you share your craft projects. Hope this helps. Fondly, Roberta
I would read your blog if it was once a week or every day, if it was professional, personal or perhaps both. I am the person who reads but not often leaves a comment, I just like how you present and write.ReplyDelete


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Nike's newest ad is garnering lots of praise for its fun, frenetic depiction of London life as experienced by the city's young athletes—as well as a bit of criticism.
Called "Nothing Beats a Londoner," it cuts quickly back and forth among the trials London's residents endure, and scrappily overcome day after day, for their sports, whether football, tennis, boxing, skating, rowing, or something else. The energetic and frequently funny ad shows young Londoners contending with long commutes, rain, wind, and other hardships as they cross through neighborhoods from Peckham to Dalston, and it has drawn a lot of appreciation from city residents who say the sneaker—ahem, trainer—brand nailed what it's like to live in their city.
Key to that authenticity are the cultural beats Nike hits, such as the local references to spots like Morley's Chicken, the music, the cameos from grime artists including Skepta and Giggs, and appearances by British athletes like Mo Farah and Harry Kane. The main stars, though, are 258 young Londoners that Nike used to put a spotlight on London's "vibrant youth culture and inclusive sports community."
But there's one group noticeably missing from the ad: South Asians, who are a sizable part of London's population. While many appreciate the ad's celebration of black culture in London, others have complained that failing to fully represent the city's diversity is a serious misstep. The issue has even led to some tension online as Londoners debate the reasons for the omission. We've reached out to Nike for comment and will update this story with any reply.
In June 2017, Nike identified London as one of 12 key cities across 10 countries that it will focus on in an effort to fuel its global growth. The company said it expects more than 80% of its projected growth through 2020 to come from those locations, which in addition to London include New York, Shanghai, Beijing, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Barcelona, Seoul, and Milan.
"Local business, on a global scale," is how Nike framed the strategy. The "Nothing Beats a Londoner" ad seems like an attempt to appeal to the city's potential shoe buyers by showing that Nike understands London's culture. Nike got a lot right in the ad. Though it may have alienated some potential customers too.


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Sound File Categories
|The Stripper is a stage musical produced in 1982 by the Sydney Theatre Company, adapted by Richard O'Brien from the 1961 book of the same name written by Carter Brown. Much of the Rocky Horror creative team was involved. In addition to Richard O'Brien composing lyrics, Richard Hartley wrote, arranged, and directed the music while Brian Thomson designed and directed.
Copyright © 1997 - 2023 Shawn McHorse. Send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Mining and Metallurgy Division consists of mining, concentrating and roasting units, with total 3600 staff working. Its production scale ranks first in Asia.
Jinduicheng open-pit mine is one of the 6 biggest primary open-pit molybdenum mines in world. The property has proven molybdenum reserves of 1 billion tons, approx. 1million tons of fine molybdenum.
Ores are extracted by conventional open-pit methods, drilling, blasting, loading and hauling. The annual stripping volume is around 20 million tons and 13.2 million tons of ores.
The ores from the mine are transported to concentrator and extracted through a series of crushing, grinding and flotating. The annual throughput is around 37 thousand tons of molybdenum concentrates and 600 thousand tons of sulfur concentrates. The uses of non-cyanide reagents during concentrating process have protected the environment effectively.
The molybdenum concentrates produced at the concentrator is further processed in Roasters located in Lianhuasi, Hua County. With the expansion and technology upgrades these years, we have achieved the capacity of roasted molybdenum concentrates 39 thousand tons, Ferro molybdenum 10 thousand tons, Briquette 5 thousand tons and high-soluble molybdenum oxide 14 thousand tons.
To effectively control the emission of SO2, we invested large amount of funds to set up an acid plant on site. This has effectively reduced the emission of SO2 by 6700 tons and achieved win-win benefits on both economy and society.


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Notice of Assessment
April 9th, 2013 by Questions
My trustee filed my pre & post income tax returns. I have asked for a copy of the Notice of Assessment and was told that they don't normally give out the Notice of Assessments for the returns, because they (the trustee) filed the tax returns and they (Notice of Assessment) are part of their records. Why can't I get a copy of my Notice of Assessment for my tax return?
Posted from: Alberta
One Response to "Notice of Assessment"
In my opinion, your trustee has no right to withhold that information. (There's also no reason). You may need your Notice of Assessments at some future time. Ask again in writing and if they refuse contact the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy and ask for their assistance.
Please post a follow up comment below:
(Note: comments are reviewed by moderators and then posted after approval. In addition, due to high volume some of the comments might not be posted.)
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Fethiye – Butterfly Valley – Blue Lagon – Gemiler Island
We depart Fethiye Harbor at 11.00am cruising to Butterfly Valley. Here you can hike up the natural gorge in Butterfly Valley and swim in the crystal clear waters before continuing our journey past Ölüdeniz. Our first overnight stop is at Gemiler Island, here you can explore the archaeological ruins in picturesque landscapes and watch an amazing sunset while we prepare dinner for you.
We leave early morning at 05:30 moving south towards Kalkan. We cruise along side Patara beach which is 12km long, giving a perfect sunrise opportunity, before stopping at Fırnaz Bay for breakfast and swimming. After breakfast we will cruise to Kaş harbour, here you will have some free time for exploring and shopping before we move to Limanagzi Bay for our second night onboard.
Kekova and Sunken city of Kekova
After we have breakfast in Limanağzı, we cruise to Sunken City on the northern side of Kekova Island. Here you will see the partly sunken ruins of Dolchiste/Dolikisthe, an ancient town which was destroyed by an earthquake during the 2nd century. After lunch onboard in Kaleköy you will have the opportunity for sightseeing around Simena castle and Kaleköy before moving to Gökkaya Bay for dinner and our overnight stay. At Gökkaya you can enjoy water sports and after dinner onboard, you can have fun at Smuggler´s Inn Bar.
Demre Andriake Harbour
Following a busy day and late party night (optional) we will have our last breakfast together in gorgeous Gökkaya Bay. Then we move to Demre Harbour (Andriake Port) where you will depart the boat at 10:30
Optionally we can organise transfers to Olympos and accomodation there for you.
Our nearest airport =Muğla/Dalaman Airport
Our nearest airport =Antalya Airport
Dalaman Airport to Fethiye Harbour =45 Minute
Antalya Airport to Fethiye Harbour =3:30 Minute
Check in Time =16:00
Check out time= 10.30
Weather dependency,
We are at sea and weather conditions can change, Ahmet and his crew will always be watching weather forecasts, if the forecast changes from the usual calm seas and sunny skies, Ahmet will recommend the best route at this point. Any recommended changes to the route are for your own safety and most importantly for your own enjoyment so that you have the most comfortable experience onboard Cheers.


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I was on the bus home to Venice, CA in February via Culver City and passed the Cyber Addiction Recovery Center. It was too good to be true. So I visited Chris Mullligan, its chief therapist, for The Guardian's Tech Weekly.
[Tech Weekly] A Visit to the Cyber-Addiction ClinicTuesday June 25, 2013 @ 12:29 PM (UTC)
Displaying posts 1 - 1 of 1


text: Went to Utah for the first time this summer, and headed straight for the famed and beloved Arches National Park. It was the height of their busy season, so I made sure to hike out to some of the more popular attractions at dawn to beat the crowds. In the afternoon a thunder storm blew in, massive towers of clouds billowing up and moving on in mere minutes. The landscape was inspiring, and the lighting conditions were surreal. Here's my end results. Day 8: Arches National Park.


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Portland Housing Bureau Announces the Release of Two Solicitations
The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) announces the release of two solicitations:
- Winter 2017 Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
- Winter 2017 Affordable Housing Preservation Request for Interest (RFI)
The NOFA, RFI, and all associated information can be found online at www.portlandoregon.gov/phb/Winter17
Winter 2017 Affordable Housing NOFA
The NOFA is making available the following Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area (ICURA) resources:
- $4,000,000 for affordable multifamily rental housing development or acquisition and rehabilitation
- $9,000,000 for affordable homeownership development
- PHB-owned site at 5020 N. Interstate Ave.
Of the $9M available for homeownership, up to $5M is available to redevelop the PHB-owned site at 5020 N. Interstate Ave, and whatever amount is awarded must be used for this purpose. The remaining $4M is available for homeownership development elsewhere in the ICURA. A map of the ICURA boundaries can be found here.
A mandatory information session for those considering submitting a proposal for the NOFA ONLY will be held:
Thursday February 2, 2017
Noon – 1:30 PM
Portland Housing Bureau offices
421 SW 6th Ave., Suite 500
Portland, OR 97204
At least one representative from each development team MUST attend. Proposers interested in the RFI only need not attend this information session.
Winter 2017 Affordable Housing Preservation RFI
The RFI requests proposals from owners of projects that already have a PHB loan or regulatory agreement (or both) and have identified more than $100,000 in capital needs. Projects may be located anywhere within the city of Portland.
Questions about the NOFA or RFI may be directed to:
Lois Waugh
Housing Portfolio Finance Coordinator


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One of America's genuine heroes, Major General Smedley D Butler revealed in his memoirs the true, abhorrent nature of Washington's foreign policy. Butler had led countless military operations in Central America and the Caribbean as a US Marines Corp commander in the era of «gunboat diplomacy» during the early 1900s.
Years after his retirement, he spoke out candidly and ruefully of his highly decorated military service in a book entitled War is a Racket. Here is how Butler characterized with unsparing words his service for country in 1935, five years before his death:
«I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism».
Awarded twice with a Medal of Honor, Butler in his later life was scathing about official US government ideological pretensions, such as «Manifest Destiny», that presume to enlighten the rest of the world on the principles of human rights and international law. Under the veneer of maintaining foreign policy and relations, Butler knew from his own sordid experience that Washington's conduct was in essence to provide the military wing of American capitalism.
The retired US general described his role thus:
«I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903».
More than seven decades after Butler's death, another American hero is today revealing again the brute nature of the US government and its foreign relations. Edward Snowden, who formerly worked as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency, has lifted the lid on a global system of criminal spying and information gathering by his government.
The 30-year-old former CIA contractor has disclosed how Washington has systematically broken international laws and treaties against dozens of countries, violating the sovereign rights of governments, diplomatic institutions, private companies and millions of citizens around the world and within the US.
Not only this, but Snowden, along with journalists like Glenn Greenwald at the British Guardian newspaper, has revealed beyond dispute how senior US government officials and politicians, including President Barack Obama, have willfully lied to or misled their own people and Congress under questioning about this clandestine activity.
The secret activities that Snowden has unearthed through his courageous disclosures represent grave violations of the American Constitution and the subsequent mendacious «explanations» and «justifications» invoked by Obama and others represent further compound this vast impeachable criminality.
This systematic secret surveillance first began under President George W Bush soon after 9/11 and greatly expanded under the Obama administrations. Since Snowden's recent disclosures, these secret programs have been retrospectively justified as defensive measures necessitated by the putative «War on Terror».
When Snowden first began blowing the whistle after he fled the US to Hong Kong early last month, the US government has tried to play down the violations, claiming that they were minor infringements on personal privacy outweighed by the security needs of the nation.
But what Snowden has gone on to reveal explodes the myth about the so-called War on Terror. Earlier revelations showed how Washington has been spying systematically on Russia and China.
While this is not in any way legally justifiable, those transgressions could be expected and perhaps understandable given the lingering enmities of the Cold War.
But in subsequent reports, what has transpired is that the US, enabled by its partner-in-crime British intelligence, has been spying on supposed allies, including the governments and citizens of Western Europe. In the latest trove of disclosures, Washington has overseen blanket surveillance over the entire continent of Latin America, including those countries deemed to be allies or friendly states such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador.
Despite initial protestations by President Obama and senior officials, including General Keith Alexander, the NSA chief, and National Intelligence Director James Clapper, that the sole purpose of the surveillance programs was to counter terrorism, it has now become patently clear that the real purpose of American offensive spying is to target sovereign governments, their economies and their citizens.
Since when did the governments and citizens of Western Europe, including NATO member countries France and Germany, become havens for terror networks plotting to destroy the US?
Clearly, the US (and British) official justification for surveillance – the War on Terror – is a façade to mask what is otherwise criminal information gathering for other purposes. This is underscored by the recent revelations that Washington has been tapping and hacking into its South American neighbors.
At the weekend's 45th summit of the Latin American trade bloc, Mercosur, in the Uruguayan capital, Mondevideo, government leaders roundly condemned Washington's illicit eavesdropping and snooping.
Bolivia's President Evo Morales told delegates how his private communications and those of his senior aides have been violated by US intelligence. Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman also told the summit how his government has been transgressed.
Likewise Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Even the rightwing government of Colombia, which is a close ally of Washington and the third biggest recipient of American military aid after Israel and Egypt, has been spied on by the US, and is now angrily demanding an explanation from Washington.
It is not altogether surprising that Washington has been tapping into government communications in Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua since these countries are strident critics of Yankee imperialism.
Nevertheless even taking this antipathy towards Washington into account, there are no objectively justifiable grounds for US ubiquitous spying. None of the South American states have remotely any connection with harboring a terrorist threat towards the US. So right there, the official Washington rationale for its spying network collapses into dust.
What the revelations of US spying on Latin America expose demonstratively is not only the charade of the entire War on Terror pretext but also the real, imperialist motive underpinning this illegal activity.
Snowden's latest disclosures published in Brazil's largest daily newspaper O Globo show that a major purpose for Washington's snooping on the continent was to gather sensitive industrial and commercial information.
A predominant concern for Washington is to collate information on South America's energy industry. Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil and Ecuador are not only major suppliers of oil to the US, but with the latter's plans to reinvigorate its own domestic oil and gas industries, South America also represents a major energy trade competitor.
This imperialist attitude and policy – unacceptable in a world of equals and international law – is further revealed by Washington's campaign to intimidate Latin American countries from offering Edward Snowden political asylum.
The American whistleblower has been stuck in Moscow's Sheremetyevo international airport since he arrived from Hong Kong on 23 June en route to Ecuador, because the US government cancelled his passport.
Snowden has now applied for temporary asylum in Russia from where he still intends to eventually seek refuge in one of the Latin American countries, such as Bolivia, Venezuela or Nicaragua.
But Washington is stepping up the rhetoric to warn Latin American countries against receiving Snowden. Last week, the presidential aircraft of Bolivia's Evo Morales was forced to make an emergency landing in Austria during a return trip from an energy conference in Russia, hosted by President Putin.
During that conference, Morales voiced his support for Snowden. Hours later, Washington instructed European countries, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy to withdraw over-flight clearance for the presidential jet on the alleged suspicion that Snowden was onboard.
The young American wasn't onboard, but Morales and his cabinet ministers were made to wait 13 hours in Vienna's airport before receiving clearance to continue their onward flight.
The violation of Bolivia's sovereignty – at Washington's behest – was rightly denounced by the Bolivian government as an «act of piracy» and «aggression». It was an unmistakably blunt display of intimidation towards Bolivia and other Latin American countries to show the reckless measures that Washington is prepared to take in order to arraign Snowden and prosecute him for espionage in the US.
Washington has since followed up with threatening communications to all the Latin American capitals, including personal phone calls from US Vice President Joe Biden to heads of state. «There is not a country in the hemisphere whose government does not understand our position at this point», a senior State Department official told the New York Times.
The official added that if any Latin American country were to offer Snowden asylum that it «would put relations in a very bad place for a long time to come».
However, the Latin American countries are not backing down, as they might have done in times past. The four founding members of Mercosur – Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela – expressed solidarity with Bolivia over the infringement in Europe and announced that they were recalling their ambassadors from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
«We've taken a number of actions in order to compel public explanations and apologies from the European nations that assaulted our brother Evo Morales»,Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said.
In a statement, the Mercosur members condemned the «unacceptable behavior» by European countries «that breaches our sovereignty and harms relations between nations».
«The gravity of the incident – indicative of a neocolonial mindset – constitutes an unfriendly and hostile act, which violates human rights and impedes freedom of travel, as well as the treatment and immunity appropriate to a head of state,» the joint statement said.
Bolivia's Morales has also threatened to shut down the US embassy in La Paz. «We don't need it anyway»,he said. Already, France and Spain have been forced into offering apologies to Bolivia.
Whether Edward Snowden manages to obtain safe passage to his destination remains to be seen over the coming weeks. He has said that he has even more damaging disclosures about US government malpractices.
From Washington's desperation to apprehend the whistleblower, it would seem that the US government is also anticipating some very compromising revelations. So, from that viewpoint, it can be surmised that Snowden's safety is gravely at risk.
Meanwhile, we can take stock of several important historical insights drawn from the Snowden affair, accentuated by the latest revelations and tensions over Latin America.
Foremost is that the illegal global spying network set up by Washington over the past decade can be seen to have nothing to do with fighting terrorism. Indeed, it can be inferred from Washington's secret criminality against a host of neutral and friendly states that the «War on Terror» is a risible charade that not even the US government believes in.
The real purpose for Washington's violations of international law and the sovereignty of other nations is to do with maximizing political and economic advantages, or in a word – imperialism.
Needless to say such misconduct is wholly reprehensible and unacceptable. This is clearly the case when it comes to the countries of Latin America, which have never posed a security threat to the US.
In fact, the security threat that exists on that continent emanates, as it always has done, from Washington towards the countries of Latin America.
A long, baleful history of US-led coups, death squads, state terrorism, blockades and outright wars is consistent with Snowden's revelations of Washington's wholesale spying and manipulation against its southern neighbors.
When the so-called War on Terror façade is swept away, what we see is essentially the «gangster imperialism» of the US that Major General Smedley Butler spoke of nearly a century ago. In that way, not much has changed in terms of the brute nature of US foreign policy serving as a military wing of American capitalism.
On the other hand, times have changed substantially. US political and economic power is no longer what it once was. The country is undergoing a historic social meltdown that betrays the moribund state of capitalism in the 21st century.
The ordinary public, both in North and South America, are much more aware of international law and rights, even if the US government isn't, as well as being more aware of the transparent fraudulence of Washington's politicians and media on almost everything they say.
Snowden's immense support from the public, as shown in recent polls, demonstrates that the official accusations against him are dismissed in the court of popular opinion.
Furthermore, today the countries of Latin America are also more cohesive and confident in asserting their independence from Washington. They are no longer malleable to the devious desires of Washington's corporations and banks as in a bygone era.
It is still completely unacceptable that Washington and the old colonial has-been powers of Europe can presume to bully other nations to hound down an honorable truth-teller such as Edward Snowden.
Nonetheless, their evident impotency to effect their malicious objective shows that the world has changed significantly from the «good-old days» of unilateral gunboat diplomacy.
Finian CUNNINGHAM | Strategic Culture Foundation


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Netflix is known for keeping its viewership numbers a secret, sharing them rarely and typically only when the number is outrageously high.
Like now. @NetflixIsAJoke, the official Twitter account for the company's comedy projects, just announced that the recent Jennifer Aniston-Adam Sandler starrer Murder Mystery was viewed by around 30.9 million accounts in its first three days since premiering on June 14.
Of those 30 million, over 13 million were from within the U.S. and Canada while the other 17 million or so were from across the globe.
Tweet may have been deleted
With this no-way-to-really-fact-check information, the claim is that Murder Mystery broke records to be the biggest opening weekend film for Netflix (check them out, flexing "weekend opening numbers" like the Big Screen). However, we don't know fully what this means.
Did these viewers watch all of the 95 minutes or just the first 15? While I can believe that stars like Aniston and Sandler would draw in crowds of this magnitude, there's just no obvious way to know the entire basis of this number just yet.
Netflix said back in January that the Sandra Bullock horror movie Bird Box was watched by 80 million or so households in the first four weeks since it dropped on the platform on December 21. Variety reported that ratings measurement company Nielsen sort of verified this information as correct and Netflix later added it only counted accounts that watched at least 70 per cent of the film. Similar details weren't released for Murder Mystery.
Some of the other significant numbers Netflix has released in the last few months include the 40 million viewership for both You and Sex Education, 20 million households for Spanish-language original Elite, and 45 million for comic book superhero adaptation The Umbrella Academy within one month of their respective releases.
Unlike networks and cables whose viewerships are monitored by Nielsen daily, streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu have the autonomy to not reveal that in the same way, an extremely weird power to have when they release an overload of content so often.
Topics Netflix


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May 21, 2015
FRESNO, Calif. – Like many students, Trong Chang has dreamed of going away to graduate school after she gets her bachelor's degree.
But Hmong women just don't do that.
Chang, a 22-year-old psychology student at California State University Fresno who grew up in this Central Valley city, chose to study close to home, and she'll probably remain on campus for her master's degree. But for someone from an ethnic group that contradicts the Asian-American "model minority" myth, even this is a rare achievement.


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What's right is what's left if you do everything else wrong. Robin Williams Robin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He started his career as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-seventies Later on he went on to establish a cuccesful and unforgetable career in both stand-up comedy and film acting. Loved and appreciated by ... Read More »
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World's largest fabless chip designer, American company Qualcomm is used to design its own mobile CPUs and their respective integrated graphics processing units (iGPU). We know that the company's famous Snapdragon processors are based on the ARM architecture, but the designs are original.
Many other ARM CPU makers usually license the graphics IP from companies like Imagination Technologies or ARM. Qualcomm is making its own iGPUs also and the architecture inside the Adreno series has nothing to do with ARM and everything to do with AMD instead. The Adreno architecture was initially developed by AMD, and Qualcomm has just bought the entire mobile division form the Texan company. Even today's Adreno iGPUs are based on AMD's mobile DirectX 9 designs from back in the day. Qualcomm is having problems in designing a satisfactory DirectX 11 architecture, and the company is looking at AMD for the solution, Fudzilla reports.
Rumors say that the fabless giant might go so far as buying AMD, but we're having a hard time believing that. Even so, considering that AMD's ex graphics CTO, Mr. Eric Demmers is now Qualcomm's main graphics guy, there is the possibility of a future collaboration between the two companies.
|AMD Imageon Concept
Images credits to AMD